Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 308: Mindfulness

Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Mindfulness

Shen Yixiang and Shen Yiguang bore a striking resemblance around their brows and eyes, which lent Shen Yixiang a somewhat masculine aura. She looked incredibly spirited, the kind many sought in a daughter-in-law. People with such an appearance usually come across as competent, and even if they’re not exceptionally capable, they are easy to get along with—straightforward and direct individuals, generally speaking.

Moreover, apart from her handsome features, Shen Yixiang was also a pretty girl, with a rosy and healthy complexion. She sat there, neither shying away nor blushing, exuding a confidence that made her stand out. Some observant guests remembered her earlier assistance in the kitchen, recognizing her as a diligent and capable girl who could manage a household. She got along well with her sister-in-law, had taken the initiative to help take care of her pregnant sister-in-law, and her sensible and kind-hearted actions only made her more endearing as time went by—they felt she was someone not to be missed.

However, Shen Yiguang, her older cousin, was not someone easily fooled. It was impossible to bypass him. Although the leader was known to crack a joke in private from time to time, he was utterly stern and authoritative when it mattered, with no room for personal feelings. His strong and superior methods demanded respect, which made those around him nervous and cautious in his presence.

Shen Yiguang glanced over at them with a hint of a smile, teasingly saying, "Scram, I invited you all to eat today, no hidden agendas."

A few groaned in dismay below.

Yet some daring souls, risking their lives, prepared to step up and take a chance. The first to do so poured Shen Yiguang a glass of wine, the 1.1 yuan per bottle Jingzhi Bai Gan, a liquor usually too precious for regular consumption. Thus, some guests had been secretly pleased by its appearance at the table, looking for an opportunity to drink more. Now, pouring for Shen Yiguang, their gestures fittingly respectful, "Look at what you’re saying. If there’s anything amiss here, just tell us, and we’ll do our best to set it right. You see, these are all tried and true matters..."

The tone suggested this was no joking matter. This comrade named Lu Haijun was spirited and well-proportioned.

Everyone perked up as if energized with excitement.

Knockabout smiles spread across the faces, sweeping toward Shen Yixiang.

Yang PeiMin didn’t want to upset her young aunt and was about to speak out to shield her; however, Shen Yixiang took the field herself, needing no assistance, "Honestly, I’m not interested in considering this right now, but I do admire military men. It’s just that I’m still young and want to work for a couple more years, earn some money, and take care of my parents first."

Shen Yixiang’s eyes were bright and clear, her expression earnest and confident.

Shen Yiguang laughed, his gaze towards Shen Yixiang filled with admiration, "Well said. Dad and Mom were indeed right to dote on you."

With her brother acknowledging her so formally and affirmatively in front of everyone, Shen Yixiang couldn’t help but feel elated. She lifted her chin slightly, a mix of reserve and pride on her face.

The other women, who were married, gave Shen Yixiang a knowing look—Luo Dahua even smiled and commented, "That’s really well put. It’s not that you stop honoring your parents after marriage, but the ability to do so becomes limited. For one, you’re further away and can’t always be by their side. Secondly, your financial autonomy isn’t the same anymore. After all, once you’re married, you’re not just one person. You have to think about your in-laws, your husband’s feelings, and once there are children, it’s even more so. You have kids to raise and a family to look after. You can’t just make money and buy your parents meat whenever they haven’t had it in a while... Yixiang, I really admire that way of thinking."

Yang Peimin began to see Shen Yixiang in a new light; she had always seemed to be the least sensible child at home, squandering her parents’ affection at will. It was as if she had grown up overnight and suddenly became wise.

Even though Shen Yixiang had made her stance clear, certain bachelors looked at her with even greater fervor, especially the audacious Lu Haijun, who poured another half glass of wine for Shen Yiguang, to the astonishment of Yang Peimin.

No matter the era, children who are filial tend to be more easily liked than those with other traits.

Some, acknowledging the difficulty, turned their attention to Yang Peimin instead, inquiring whether she had any sisters, their tone joking though sincere. However, Shen Yiguang’s face darkened upon hearing this—not that he needed to say anything, as someone else chimed in, "Save it for yourself! Look at the sister’s condition; do you think everyone is as lucky as Shen Ying? She’s a college student. If she has a sister, how bad could she be? Not only beautiful but also well-educated. Tell me, can you even compare with that?"

Though the comment was joking, it carried a grain of truth.

However, nobody took it seriously, and the dinner table was filled with harmonious laughter.

A nearby sister-in-law leaned in and whispered to Yang Peimin, "Sister-in-law, does your family really have another sister?"

Yang Peimin laughed, "Yes, she’s the youngest child in our family."

The women sitting close by, combining this with the joke made earlier, gossiped, "Then she must also be a beauty. To be honest, sister-in-law, does your sister look like you? But even if she doesn’t, she can’t be far off, since she’s born from the same parents."

Yang Peimin smiled and shook her head, "No, she doesn’t look like me. I take after our mother, while she takes after our father. But she’s much more capable than me, exceptionally diligent and sensible. When I was younger and unreliable, she took care of my responsibilities."

Thinking about it, she did miss Peiying, that little girl. She was always silently toiling away with none of her peers’ liveliness and cheer. Was she being bullied at home now?

Hearing this, the sisters-in-law’s eyes sparkled, keen on discussing more profound topics. They were familiar with each other’s circumstances and inquired further, "Sister-in-law, how did you come to have a blind date with Shen Ying? Some people don’t think highly of marrying soldiers, not to mention the hardships of only seeing each other a couple of times a year—something not every person can understand. I also married my fella because we’d grown up together since we were little and had feelings for each other, which made our bond strong. How does your family feel about you marrying a soldier? Did they agree to it happily?"

Yang Peimin nodded; this wasn’t a secretive matter, "This blind date went through my parents first, and only came to me after they approved. If they hadn’t agreed, how could I have become a Military Wife?"

Mo Xin’s wife, who had asked the earlier question, smiled, her eyebrows raising suggestively. She lowered her voice and said, "In that case, your parents must like soldiers quite a bit. If your sister were to marry a soldier, they probably wouldn’t object, would they?"