Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 481: Stealing Thread

Yi Chichi and the others didn’t know what Qin Jiu was thinking.

But after spring began, when the child returned from visiting the commune middle school with the school teacher and announced his successful promotion as a proud eighth-grader, Yi Chichi and Wen’s mother were stunned.

Wen’s mother dropped the vegetable from her chopsticks, and Yi Chichi, in a daze, asked, "What did you just say?"

"I’m starting school at the commune tomorrow!"

Qin Jiu calmly announced, still in the mood to serve food to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

The atmosphere fell into silence.

Qin Jiu glanced at Wen’s mother, then Yi Chichi, scratching his head nervously. Oh no, he’s scared Grandma and the others, what to do.

Just as he was about to explain, Yi Chichi suddenly asked—

"Who took you to the commune?"

"Principal Liu."

This referred to Liu Xianfeng, the principal of Mingguang Primary School, a responsible teacher and principal.

An old-generation university student.

With a very impressive resume, he was also extraordinarily smart and open-minded.

Two years before a special period, he gave up everything to avoid trouble and returned to his hometown.

He low-key started teaching.

But Mr. Liu’s contributions here, plus his good relationships, meant he was surprisingly unaffected.

Finding out that it was him who took Qin Jiu to the commune middle school for the exam, Wen’s mother blinked and looked at Yi Chichi, "How do we manage this now?"

What else can we do; it’s decided, and there’s no choice but to accept it.

"What time do you arrive at school tomorrow?"

"Before eight."

"Does attending middle school mean boarding?"

"I can also return home daily."

"No, you should board."

Going back and forth daily is tiring, even with a double top bar bicycle.

Yi Chichi urged, "Finish eating, and then go tell Grandpa and the others the news..."

Then she remembered something, "Do your grandpas know you’re going to middle school?"

Qin Jiu shook his head. Yi Chichi and Wen’s mother exchanged glances and spoke in unison, "You cheeky kid, you’re really doing big things."

He’s got determination; truly, he’s very determined.

Fortunately, this is about school. If he were to act first and report afterward on bad things, we wouldn’t be able to stop him.

"Mom, I’ll pack his things later; you take him to the back and let Grandpa keep Qin Jiu under his watch."

It’s good for a child to have determination, generally parents should support this, but Qin Jiu is so determined that if not kept in check, he could become unruly.

Wen’s mother nodded, "Yes, he needs to be kept under watch."

Who does something this big quietly?

So, after dinner, Wen’s mother took Qin Jiu outside, while Yi Chichi swiftly packed his things.

Although it’s spring, the temperature is still low.

Especially with the temperature difference between day and night, warm bedding, clothes, shoes, and socks need to be adequately prepared for him.

Then there’s the ration tickets and food.

Essentials like a thermos flask are a must to bring, so there’s hot water in the morning to drink, and at night to wash up. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

And then...

She busied herself and packed heaps of things.

Liu Lan came in and was shocked to see the scene, "Chichi, are you going to the island again?"

Wasn’t the departure planned for August; why so early?

Yi Chichi said, "It’s a misunderstanding; this is for Qin Jiu, who skipped a grade to eighth grade."

"Oh, so Qin Jiu skipped a grade, wait a moment..."

Liu Lan, who had instinctively responded, was stunned, "What did you say? Qin Jiu skipped to eighth grade?"

"Yes!"

Getting confirmation, Liu Lan was dazed, unsure of Qin Jiu’s age.

She opened her mouth to ask but felt it would be useless, so she decided to help.

However, Yi Chichi had everything almost packed, so she didn’t need her help at all.

"What are you here for?"

Liu Lan stood by, watching her pack the things, and said, "I’m running short on red thread, I’ve come to ask you for one."

This was a serious matter, Yi Chichi couldn’t refuse, but she was curious.

"The thread should have been sufficiently allocated, why are you lacking?"

This question triggered Liu Lan.

"Don’t mention it. My sister stole my red thread."

"??? Your sister stole thread? Where do you have a sister?"

Liu Lan is the only daughter of Old Liu’s family; there’s a bunch of brothers and cousins, but she’s the only girl from her generation.

Where did this sister pop out from now?

"My eldest cousin Ma Xiulian."

Yi Chichi suddenly understood; she knew this person, who came back with her mother a few days ago, causing problems and offending basically everyone in Old Liu’s family.

She was expelled from Kao Shan Village.

Yi Chichi didn’t say much, but asked if one thread was enough.

"Enough, I almost finished embroidering the red parts, not much thread needed."

Liu Lan was still quite upset, "My mom just went to the bathroom, and she sneaked into my room. Because it’s thread, I didn’t notice until today when I needed it and found the red thread was gone. I thought I remembered wrong, but my big nephew told me she stole it."

With a hint of resentment, she complained, "Such a shallow-minded thing, if she’s going to steal, why not steal a watch, at least that’s valuable? What’s the point of stealing thread."

Yi Chichi’s mouth twitched slightly, "Silk thread is expensive."

But she doesn’t think Ma Xiulian knows the price of silk threads; probably, she just liked the color and thought it would make a good hair ribbon, so she stole it.

Why else not take other colors?

"As for why she didn’t steal valuable things, probably she didn’t dare."

"If she’s bold enough to steal things, why would she care about the value?"

Liu Lan couldn’t understand this logic, so Yi Chichi laughed, "If she steals your watch, you’ll report her to the police. Steal thread; you won’t notice right away, and even when you do, you won’t report such a trivial thing to the police, she might think that way."

Liu Lan thought about it and found it reasonable.

Sighing as she followed Yi Chichi to fetch threads, "Next time, she must not be allowed in my house again; every visit, something’s missing."

Yi Chichi didn’t comment and handed her the red threads to choose, "Pick one."

Red has differences, quite noticeable differences.

Plus, as the patterns they embroider are different, the shades needed are also different.

Might as well let her pick.

Liu Lan came over, and after choosing seriously, picked one, "This one!"

"... Take a closer look again."

Seeing the red Liu Lan chose, Yi Chichi reminded her helplessly.

Liu Lan, originally confident, started trembling as she listened, "Did I choose wrong?"

"There’s a slight difference from your original red."

Two very close shades of red, but not the same kind.

She signaled with her eyes, "Put down what’s in your hand, and take the third red on your left."

Indeed, she shouldn’t have too much hope for Liu Lan’s sensitivity to colors.

When it comes to color sensitivity, Liu Lan is not even close to Niu Niu.

Liu Lan laughed awkwardly and switched threads, "How do you remember the colors I need?"

What silly questions she’s asking.

Yi Chichi rolled her eyes dramatically at her, "They say being pregnant makes you silly for three years, but you’re silly for six years after having a baby. Your embroidery patterns are designed by me, the silk and embroidery threads were carried back from Yangcheng by me, so how could I not remember."