My mother-in-law
Although my mother-in-law cannot read a single word, she is knowledgeable in Dharma. She is a talkative, outspoken, simple, hard-working, helpful, and kind-hearted person. Whether it is farm work in the fields or needlework at home, she is an expert in everything, especially cooking. People in the village praised her as a warm-hearted person.
? 1. An expert at cooking
Ever since I entered the Zhao family, I have been mixing thick soup with my mother-in-law in the same pot for more than 30 years, so I know her very well! My mother-in-law is a warm, cheerful, outspoken, simple and hard-working person. She is also a good person in managing the family. When she was young, she was an expert at home-cooking. Proficient in cooking, frying, stir-frying, deep-frying and steaming.
? In the 1970s, rural soil and water conservation, yellowing construction sites in the county, etc. Let’s put it this way, as long as there is a construction site in the village, you can definitely see her busy on the stove when she needs to cook for the migrant workers. figure. Elders in the village said that at that time, the mother-in-law was cooking a big pot of rice on the stove, steaming buns, rolling noodles, and making rice soup with skillful and neat movements. When the migrant workers walked in the door, the food was immediately served on the table. Sometimes there are many people eating, and some women dare not come to the table for fear that they will lose their temper. It is better for her to take the initiative and recommend herself. As time went by, the village cadres knew that she was capable, and they were willing to put in the effort. She was the only one who could do all the cooking! The meals he cooked were delicious and everyone loved them, and he held the title of "expert cook" for many years.
When I was chatting with my mother-in-law, I said: "Mom, you used to cook a big pot of rice on the stove. So many people ate, and everyone was full. Some people had a big appetite. The team stipulated that each person should have a bowl of rice per meal. What if a steamed bun is not enough for people with big appetites?" She said with a smile: "Most of the people with big appetites are young people. After cooking for a long time, they have figured out who doesn't have enough food. For example, if you want to eat noodles, you can scoop them out. When eating, use chopsticks to pick out more noodles and less soup on top; as for the porridge, scoop it out thicker. "I really admire her ability to respond, adapt, and adjust!
? If any family in the village encounters a wedding or wedding, the enthusiastic mother-in-law will always appear in the kitchen. Selecting vegetables, washing vegetables, cutting vegetables, preparing vegetables, and stir-frying vegetables are all so busy that your feet don’t even touch the floor. It’s such a joy! She often said: "The affairs of my fellow villagers are more important than my own affairs. When you help others, you are also helping yourself. If you are a coward when things happen, you are not a real person." After her mother-in-law reached the age of 70, she no longer took the initiative to help in the kitchen. She felt that her hands and feet were not flexible. Come on, you are messing around at work, and your eyesight is not good, so let the young people go out of their way to save people's reputation!
? My mother-in-law said to me with a smile: "A few years ago, during the slack season in winter, in order to activate the cultural life of the villagers, Murakami hired Zhao Sanmin, a veteran of the county's major theater troupe, to teach the villagers She sings Qin opera and cooks in different ways every day. The teacher has been teaching opera in our village for several years, and she also eats and stays at our house. She is very talented, can sing, and can also play the erhu. She is the best in the opera troupe. He loved the technique and taught it seriously. The villagers were very kind and enthusiastic, and they learned seriously. Since then, the village has established a self-entertainment class, bought a theater, and even performed the rehearsed program in the village!
During the autumn harvest season in this alley, the fruits are fragrant, and every household is very busy. Even my mother-in-law has no time to spare. In the past few years, she helped the neighbors unload the fruits. Now that she is older, she does whatever work she can to help tear them apart. The host was very happy to bag and pack fruits, or cook for everyone in the kitchen. After buying the meat and vegetables, she gave them to her and went to work. The delicious food was put on the table, and everyone smacked their lips with the fragrance. Some women from this alley shouted happily: "The food cooked by my sister-in-law is delicious. When we sell fruits, we will also ask you to cook..." The mother-in-law was very happy after hearing this. He grinned from ear to ear: "Okay, okay, I've got half of us covered!" ”
During the holidays, my mother-in-law helps everyone make wontons and steam steamed buns. The steamed buns she prepares are delicious and contain oil, salt, fennel, pepper noodles, pepper leaves, and sesame seeds. , spicy noodles, etc., with appropriate seasonings and moderate saltiness.
The noodles made by my mother-in-law are delicious. Every time my sister-in-law and son-in-law come to visit her, they always want to eat hand-made noodles. They always say: “Mom, we’re all from our own family, don’t cook so many fancy dishes, you’ll get tired of eating big fish and meat! I just want to eat a bowl of handmade noodles made by you. "When my mother-in-law heard about it, she would immediately roll up her sleeves, knead the dough, and roll it out to the right softness and hardness, even thickness. Add some minced meat, tomatoes, fungus, mushrooms, tofu, celery, diced potatoes, etc. to the sautee to make a delicious sautee. The noodles are fragrant, slippery and have an endless aftertaste.
When my mother-in-law was 72 years old, she suffered from cerebral infarction. She took medicine all year round and went to the county hospital for treatment twice a year. By the age of 76, he suffered from brain atrophy, arteriosclerosis, cervical spondylosis, gallstones and Alzheimer's disease. Now in his old age, he pushes his wheelchair around the alleys all day long, always saying to himself: "Let me see who makes steamed buns, and I will help..."
2 , helpful and warm-hearted
? My mother-in-law has never been to school, cannot read a lot of words, and can't even write her own name. She is an out-and-out farm woman. But she understands Dali, understands the general situation, takes care of her husband and children, is diligent and thrifty in running the family, is willing to help others, and is kind to others. This simple sentiment is obvious to the folks in Guixiang, the village and even the surrounding villages, and is passed down as Good story.
Grandma has a sister who is from Fufeng County, Xifu. After my grandmother passed away a few years ago, my mother-in-law was really caring and filial to her ninety-year-old aunt. My mother-in-law lives in Chidong Village and her aunt lives in Chixi Village. The two villages are separated by an alley, making it easier to communicate with each other. Her aunt is very old and her children are working in other places, so it is difficult to find time to take care of the elderly. My mother-in-law took the initiative to take care of her aunt. She usually made steamed buns, dumplings, some sesame seeds, steamed vegetable rolls and other "fine rice", and delivered them to her aunt's house in time. She ate them while they were still hot. Then I went home satisfied. In mid-spring of 2016, my aunt accidentally fractured her leg, unable to get off the kang, and unable to take care of herself. The mother-in-law pulled a cart and took the old man to her home to serve him. She had three meals a day, washed and mended the old man, carried excrement and urinated, and was so busy that her feet did not touch the floor. Seeing the hard work of my mother-in-law, I felt heartbroken from the bottom of my heart, but I still asked her with a smile: "Mom, I have children in my aunt's family. They are all retired and younger than you. You serve the old man. If you fail, What should I do if I get injured again?" A few days later, her mother-in-law sent her aunt back and followed her, taking care of her during the day and accompanying her at night. One day, my sister-in-law came to see my mother-in-law, but she didn't come home either. I said, "Mom, is there anyone at my aunt's house?" She said, "Yes! My wife is here, I can't do it alone." My sister-in-law knew my mother's temperament, so she stayed for two days and went back knowingly.
A few months passed and winter entered. One day, the weather was cold and the northwest wind brought heavy snow. When I came back from the county, I saw my mother-in-law walking with a limp. I hurriedly stepped forward to help her. On such a cold day, I saw her wearing a pair of single shoes and the top of her right foot was swollen. I said angrily: "Mom, you I have no objection to looking after my aunt, but the road is slippery. Can you go back when the weather clears?" My mother-in-law said: "It can be done! It can be done!" But what I said went in her left ear and out her right ear, and she ignored it. When the chicken was on the shelf, she secretly went back with a cane! There's really nothing you can do against her. I persisted like this for more than a year. Due to her age, my aunt suffered from several illnesses and passed away soon after.
How are you living after seeing off your aunt? The mother-in-law saw this and was anxious in her heart. She took the initiative to find her home, took Aunt Jin's hand and said, "Sister, don't be too sad. You can go on with your life. You can do your responsibilities during the day." Do you think it’s okay for me to take care of the two babies?” From then on, my mother-in-law took care of the two babies during the day, cooking, ironing milk, and washing clothes. She was so busy that she was always cheerful and never complained about hardship. No matter how tired you are, you should do your duty, do your best, and fulfill your commitments conscientiously, so that your two children will not suffer any grievances or make any mistakes.
Aunt Jin was forced by life and had to work hard in the fields. After some help, she formed a new family. Her uncle was loyal and honest, and she was willing to work hard, and her life quickly improved. . Aunt Jin adopted her eldest daughter as a godmother to her mother-in-law, and would always visit her mother-in-law during holidays and festivals, carrying large and small bags. But something unexpected happened, and my uncle had an accident while riding his motorcycle, and Aunt Jin lost her second man. My uncle's ninety-year-old mother is still paralyzed in bed. My mother-in-law has been with Aunt Jin for more than 50 days and has taken good care of my mother. Aunt Jin had already regarded her mother-in-law as one of her own. She would work in the fields or go out to do errands. She would leave the keys to her mother-in-law and ask her to take care of the family. It was not until her mother passed away and the two children went to school in the town that her mother-in-law felt relieved.
? Several times, it was the apple and pear bagging season and everyone was very busy. When I got home, I couldn’t find the two fruit ladders, so I asked: "Mom, where are the fruit ladders?" "She said: "Someone else borrowed it. If you want to use it, borrow it yourself. They have many bags and are using it!" She always thinks about others and worries about others.
She often warned me: "If you can help others, do your best to help. Far away relatives are not as good as close neighbors. When you help others, you are also helping yourself!" This is her principle of dealing with others, her philosophy of life, and her philosophy of life!
My mother-in-law is now in poor health. When our family is sitting and chatting, we often mention my mother-in-law's past. She proudly recounts every detail of herself, and her deeds also affect future generations. They make us know how to be a human being and the joy of being a human being.
About the author: Wang Ailing, a native of Chicheng Village, a farmer, hobbies reading, reciting, singing and writing.