Best Mom in the 60s
六零之穿成极品他妈
She Wasn’t That Desperate!
For some reason, this novel has a abysmally low rating on NovelUpdates. While I’m not claiming it to be a perfect novel, it certainly does not deserve the current score it has received. If you have a moment, could you please spare it to rate this novel more fairly?
Thank you!
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( )………( )
(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)
The day of the first test dawned, bringing with it a palpable sense of anticipation.
Qian Shu Lan tasked Zheng Kang and Wang Dan Na with creating test papers for each other. The prize? A coveted egg for the one who managed to outwit the other.
This sparked a friendly rivalry, with each student meticulously crafting questions designed to stump their opponent, all while adhering to Qian Shu Lan’s rule that the content must come from the first ten chapters. This restriction pushed them to delve deeper into the material, searching for hidden complexities. The day slipped away as they wrestled with their task, finally emerging with four test papers, each showcasing their cunning.
Qian Shu Lan reviewed all four test papers, scanning the pages with a discerning gaze. She was impressed by the cleverly devised questions, each one a testament to the duo’s ingenuity.
As the oil lamps cast a warm, golden glow, the exams began, one session following another. Qian Shu Lan easily tackled the questions, finishing swiftly and submitting her papers with confidence. Zheng Kang, responsible for invigilation, was the first to grade her results, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
This, this, this? A perfect score? The notion left him reeling.
Despair washed over him, threatening to overwhelm his senses.
Qian Shu Lan retreated to her room, where she began counting the eggs that would soon be distributed as rewards. As it was just a small test, the number of questions naturally couldn’t compare to a formal examination. Each test paper contained only twenty questions, merely sampling the students’ knowledge.
The language portion consisted of fill-in-the-blanks, sentence construction, and antonyms/synonyms, designed to assess their linguistic prowess. The mathematics section included fill-in-the-blanks, true/false questions, arithmetic problems, and word problems, providing a comprehensive assessment of their numerical skills.
An hour and a half was more than sufficient for both tests, allowing ample time for the students to showcase their abilities.
When the time was up, Qian Shu Lan noticed that the two had almost finished grading the papers. Another half hour ticked by, and finally, the last paper was evaluated. The moment of truth had arrived – the results were about to be revealed.
To Qian Shu Lan’s surprise, besides herself, Little Apricot (Xiao-Mei) had also achieved perfect scores in both subjects. While she herself benefited from memories of her past life, how did third son’s daughter accomplish this feat? She had never attended school before, except for a few days at the literacy class. However, due to her responsibility in caring for her younger siblings, she never returned. It seems she was led astray.
Among the children, aside from Little Flower (Xiao-Lian) who preferred gossip to studying, most had scored better than the adults.
Qian Shu Lan instructed the children to leave the room. Facing her sons and daughters-in-law with a solemn expression, she slammed her hand on the table and scolded, “Look at yourselves! How old are you? Your self-discipline is so poor that you can’t even surpass your own children. With such results, do you still expect to receive your graduation certificates?”
She pointed at Li Chun Hua’s paper, the lowest scorer, with 50 in language and 40 in mathematics. “Chun Hua, you have truly disappointed me.”
Her gaze then fell upon Wang Shou Ren’s results – 55 in language and 65 in mathematics. With a pained expression, she said, “Eldest son, you have three sons. Are you going to set an example for them with these scores?”
Sun Da Qin, sitting beside him, cautiously raised her head and muttered, “Mother, children naturally have better memory than adults. Besides, they have already learned these things at school, unlike us.”
Qian Shu Lan pointed at herself, “Am I a child? Did I learn these things at school?” Although it felt a bit like bullying, she still shamelessly spoke.
Sun Da Qin was speechless, her courage deflated by her mother-in-law’s words. Embarrassment flushed her face as she involuntarily took two steps back.
Qian Shu Lan scanned the faces of her sons and daughters-in-law and said earnestly, “Each of you wishes for your children to excel, but you never consider setting an example for them. Think about it, if you yourselves cannot achieve something, how can you expect your children to do so? What gives you the face to demand that?”
- (“Face” (脸) is a Chinese idiomatic expression that refers to one’s dignity, reputation, or prestige.)
Everyone lowered their heads, shrinking back like quails. Qian Shu Lan, however, grew increasingly frustrated. With such results, what was the point of even taking the exams?
- (“縮頭脖子裝鹌鹑” (suō tóu bó zi zhuāng ān chún): Literally translates to “shrinking one’s head and neck like a quail.” This idiom describes someone who is timid, cowardly, or trying to avoid responsibility.)
It was simply too embarrassing!
She pursed her lips, her voice firm. “I believe we should not only offer rewards but also strengthen the punishments.”
Raising her voice, she called out, “Everyone, gather around!”
The children, who had been eavesdropping at the door, pushed it open and tumbled in, their eyes wide with excitement. Seeing their parents being reprimanded by their grandmother, some of the mischievous ones covered their mouths, giggling.
Li Chun Hua’s face flushed with embarrassment as the younger generation laughed at her.
Qian Shu Lan’s gaze swept the crowded main room, her eyes lingering on each face. She sat at the dining table, a woven basket filled with eggs before her. “Now, it’s time to distribute the rewards. As agreed, the teacher with the higher average score will receive seven eggs.”
She consulted the scores she had calculated earlier, her eyes scanning the numbers. “And the winner is… Little Six!” The room erupted into cheers and applause as Qian Shu Lan counted out seven eggs and handed them to her beaming daughter, Wang Dan Na, who accepted them in a small, hand-woven basket.
The applause died down, and Qian Shu Lan continued, “Next, we have the top three scorers: myself, Little Apricot, and Zheng Guo.” She counted out seven eggs each for Xiao Mei and Zheng Guo, deeming it unnecessary to reward herself.
Another round of applause followed, and Sun Da Qin’s eyes shone with greed as she gazed at Zheng Guo.
Qian Shu Lan’s eyes flicked to Sun Da Qin, but she didn’t pause, her voice firming. “And now, for the new rule: the three individuals with the lowest scores will be responsible for cleaning duties for a week. No substitutes, no exceptions.”
The room fell silent, with everyone exchanging surprised glances.
Qian Shu Lan returned to her room, the basket now holding only seven remaining eggs. Her mind was still reeling from her students’ dismal test scores.
‘How can I possibly reform them?’ she wondered, her frustration and worry etched on her face as she collapsed onto the kang bed.
She sank onto the rough surface of the kang, its familiar coolness offering little comfort to her troubled mind.
‘How can I possibly reform them?’ she thought, her fingers tracing the worn patterns on the bedding. ‘Why are they causing me so much worry?’
A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
The door creaked open, revealing her eldest son’s hesitant figure. He approached the kang with cautious steps, his eyes downcast.
He sat down beside her, taking in her darkened expression, her wrinkles deepened like folds in fabric.
“Ma, are you angry?” he finally whispered, breaking the silence.
The harsh words she had spoken earlier still lingered, making him feel uneasy.
Qian Shu Lan responded with a single, curt “Mn” from her nose.
Wang Shou Ren shifted closer, his hand clenched into a fist as he prepared to massage her legs. But his sudden movement startled Qian Shu Lan, causing her to spring up from the kang. Their eyes met, and she realised her reaction had been excessive.
With a quick recovery, she feigned a frightened expression. “Mother was just lost in thought, and your sudden action gave me quite a fright.”
Wang Shou Ren’s “Oh” was followed by a gentle massage of her back instead.
Qian Shu Lan let out a relieved sigh as the aches in her back and waist began to dissipate. “Mmm, that feels good. Why are you being so filial today?”
Wang Shou Ren’s eyes welled up, his lips pursed in a mix of sadness and determination. “Mother, I… I try. I truly do. But the words, they just slip away like sand through my fingers. Zheng Guo can remember anything after writing it fifty times, but even after a hundred… I…” His voice trailed off, choked with frustration. “Am I really that stupid?”
Qian Shu Lan’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Ah.” She patted the edge of the kang, gesturing for him to sit closer. “Your memory… Do you think your memory is that poor?”
Qian Shu Lan felt compelled to reason with him, “Eldest son, your thinking is skewed. When encountering difficulties, you immediately doubt your own intellect or blame your age. Mother is even older than you, yet I manage to remember things. Besides, learning requires the right methods, you know. Do you know how I memorise things? Every morning, I review what I learned the day before, not by writing it down, but by reciting it out loud. If you practise every day, I don’t believe you won’t be able to remember!”
She then rattled off a string of learning methods, all based on her own experiences. Although she wasn’t sure if her methods would work for Wang Shou Ren, having some approach was better than none.
Upon hearing his mother’s words, Wang Shou Ren felt a sudden sense of enlightenment.
During the next test, his results showed a marked improvement.
Qian Shu Lan shared this study method with the others, and the overall learning atmosphere improved considerably.
Early each morning, the sound of boisterous studying emanated from the Wang family home in the village. Initially, people assumed it was the children, but later discovered that even the adults were participating.
This became a source of amusement and gossip. When questioned about it on the road, Qian Shu Lan didn’t deny it, but instead openly admitted, “I believe literacy is essential for better understanding the new directives issued by Chairman M.”
- (m主席: Refers to Chairman Mao Zedong (毛泽东), the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. )
Qian Shu Lan started to consider whether she should inquire about the graduation certificate exams. She couldn’t let them put in all this effort only to find out they couldn’t take the exams in the end; that would be a waste of time.
Previously, Qian Shu Lan had made inquiries about Wang Li De, the principal of Wang Family Village Primary School.
He was a cousin of her late husband, Wang Li Yong. However, as the only child in his family, while others struggled to feed and clothe themselves, his family could afford to send him to school. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, due to his good family background and literacy, he was elected as the principal of Wang Family Village Primary School.
- (“堂兄弟” (táng xiōng di) means “paternal cousins”, or cousins who share a common paternal grandfather.)
This person was relatively upright and didn’t like to engage in the practice of giving gifts, so Qian Shu Lan didn’t bring anything.
“Third Brother,” she called out, using the familiar address instead of the formal title, “Third Eldest Uncle.”
Wang Li De, startled, rose from his desk. He recognized his sister-in-law, a woman known throughout the village for her staunch preference for boys. Her focus had always been on educating her grandsons, neglecting her granddaughters entirely. With her youngest grandson, Zheng Jun, still too young for schooling, her visit was unexpected, to say the least.
After exchanging pleasantries, Qian Shu Lan, observing Wang Li De’s friendly demeanour, hesitantly broached the subject, “Third Brother, do you think it’s too late for me to teach the older children to read?”
A gentle smile spread across Wang Li De’s face as he nodded, “Certainly not. It’s never too late to learn. As the saying goes, ‘Live to old age, learn to old age.’”
Emboldened, Qian Shu Lan continued, “You must have heard the whispers about our family. I recently visited the city and saw how everyone there could read. It made me realise our children should learn too. Even the older ones, they shouldn’t remain illiterate.”
Wang Li De expressed his admiration, “Your thinking is progressive. Keep striving, and you have my full support!”
Qian Shu Lan, however, wasn’t there for mere compliments. She had a clear objective, “Third Brother, I believe learning should be like planting crops – we need to reap what we sow. Could the school perhaps organise an exam for them? If they pass, could they be granted graduation certificates?”
Wang Li De’s jaw dropped in surprise as he stared at Qian Shu Lan. He hadn’t seen this request coming. Tilting his head, he scrutinised her from top to bottom, searching for any sign of jest. But her serious expression told him she wasn’t kidding. He furrowed his brow, genuine concern etched on his face.
He was in a predicament, venturing into uncharted territory. Refusing her might unleash his sister-in-law’s infamous shrewish temper, a verbal assault that could shake the streets. The mere thought gave him a headache.
Qian Shu Lan waited expectantly, her eyes fixed on him. Wang Li De pondered for what felt like an eternity, his mind racing with possibilities. Finally, he gritted his teeth and gave a reluctant refusal.
Qian Shu Lan’s face fell, anxiety creeping into her eyes. Without those graduation certificates, their job prospects would be dire.
Just as she was about to speak, Wang Li De offered a lifeline. “How about this? In a few days, I’ll visit the Education Bureau in Liu Pass County and ask about setting up adult learning classes in our village. They can take the final exams and receive completion certificates, designed specifically for adults. Primary school graduation certificates are meant for young students.”
Qian Shu Lan’s face lit up like a lantern. She grasped Wang Li De’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “Thank you, Third Brother! You’re truly a good person!” Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Wang Li De couldn’t help but smile.
In her previous life, she had never met a teacher as honest, incorruptible, and enthusiastic as Wang Li De. She felt like she’d struck gold.
Just as Wang Li De was about to respond, a cough from the doorway interrupted them. They turned to see Chen Yue Qin, Wang Li De’s wife, standing in the doorway, her hair neatly combed, a frown creasing her face.
Qian Shu Lan followed her gaze, realising she still held Wang Li De’s hand.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, she quickly released it and explained to Chen Yue Qin, “Third Sister-in-law, oh dear, I’m so sorry! I got carried away.”
She hoped Chen Yue Qin wouldn’t misconstrue the situation and think she was trying to seduce the old man. She wasn’t that desperate!
Chen Yue Qin’s cheeks flushed crimson. She averted her gaze, fiddling with the hem of her shirt, a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment bubbling within her. With a sideways glance and a stern face, she muttered, “Who knows what you meant?!”
Qian Shu Lan was taken aback by Chen Yue Qin’s unexpected possessiveness over Wang Li De, she thought, ‘Goodness, Third Sister-in-law is quite protective of her husband. I wouldn’t dare stand next to him again!’ Aloud, she quickly changed the subject, “Third Sister-in-law, do you still have any eggs? Our family is building a house recently, and we can’t exchange for meat. I want to exchange some eggs with you.”
In the countryside, feeding workers well was crucial when building a house, and eggs were a valuable commodity.
Chen Yue Qin’s face lit up. “Yes, yes, how many do you want?”
With the hot weather making storage a challenge, the price of eggs had dropped from three fen to two fen per egg. Many families were unwilling to sell, opting to pickle salted eggs instead. Chen Yue Qin had wanted to do the same, but her coarse salt was already used for pickling radish sticks, and this month’s quota was gone. She was planning to sell them at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative soon.
- (Radish sticks 萝卜干: A type of pickled radish, often dried and preserved with salt and spices.)
Qian Shu Lan’s offer was a welcome relief, especially since she was known for being more generous than before. Chen Yue Qin was thrilled to take advantage, exchanging ten eggs for twenty-two fen. She had saved twenty eggs, earning a total of forty-four fen.
After the exchange, Qian Shu Lan carried the eggs home, where she was greeted by the sound of Sun Da Qin arguing with Zheng Guo in the distance.
The little boy sat on the ground, his eyes red and swollen from crying, his hands waving incessantly, “Mother, where are my eggs? Did you take them? Give them back to me!”
Sun Da Qin stood at the door with her hands on her hips, frowning and scolding, “You little brat, what’s wrong with me eating a few of your eggs? I even gave birth to you, can’t I even eat a few of your eggs? You’re so unfilial now, what can I expect from you in the future?”
Zheng Guo’s cries and wails abruptly ceased., but still, the thought of his few precious eggs brought a pang of heartache.
He pouted and yelled, “If you want to eat eggs, why don’t you study hard yourself? If you can also score in the top three, you can have eggs too. Why do you have to steal mine?”
His voice grew hoarse as he shouted the last sentence, as if he were ready to fight someone to the death.
Qian Shu Lan felt a headache coming on. So, she had awakened Sun Da Qin, and now Sun Da Qin had started stealing her son’s food?
How absurd! The original Qian Shu Lan had spoiled her children excessively, and coupled with her lack of parenting skills, she had raised ungrateful offspring.
Sun Da Qin, on the other hand, was purely selfish, and thus, she raised a child who was equally self-centred.
Was this karma?
While Qian Shu Lan was lost in thought, Zheng Guo suddenly scrambled to his feet, dusted off his pants, and glared fiercely at his mother. “From now on, I won’t study anymore, so you won’t have any eggs to eat either!”
Sun Da Qin was enraged by his words. Pointing at his retreating figure, she began to curse, “You little punk! I’ve worked so hard to raise you, and this is how you repay me? You can’t even bear to see me do well?”
- (瘪犊子 biě dú zi: A derogatory term, literally meaning “flat calf,” used to insult someone, similar to “punk” or “brat” in English. )
Her words were cut short by the loud slam of Zheng Guo’s door.
Turning to Wang Shou Ren, who had been standing silently behind her, Sun Da Qin lamented, “Did you see that? This is the good son I raised. I ate a few of his eggs, and he treats me like this. How can I count on him in the future? I think we’ve raised this child in vain.”
Wang Shou Ren pursed his lips, his brow furrowed with disappointment evident in his eyes.
Qian Shu Lan approached Sun Da Qin and scolded, “Why didn’t you ask Zheng Guo before taking his eggs?”
Sun Da Qin, startled by her mother-in-law’s voice, turned around and spread her hands in feigned innocence. “Mother, you think I didn’t ask? I only took them secretly because he wouldn’t give them to me.”
Qian Shu Lan was somewhat speechless; they were all a bunch of selfish ghosts. Both were equally guilty, so neither could blame nor criticise the other.
She glared at Sun Da Qin. “Since Zheng Guo didn’t agree, taking them without asking is stealing. I’m punishing you by forbidding you from eating dinner tonight.”
Sun Da Qin was stunned. As realisation dawned, her voice rose in a fit of rage. “Mother, why? I’m eating my own son’s eggs! What’s wrong with that? What kind of mistake did I make?”
Qian Shu Lan swept her with a cold glance. “He may be your son, but he’s an independent individual now. He’s a living person with his own thoughts. You need to respect his wishes. He’s not just your son anymore. You should reflect on how inadequate you are as a mother!”
Sun Da Qin’s leg-slapping ceased abruptly. She increasingly believed the old lady was losing her mind, but she dared not argue back. Feeling utterly wronged, she retreated with a hunched back towards the east room. As the door creaked open, her voice rose again in an argument with Zheng Guo.
Qian Shu Lan turned to her eldest son. “Children learn from their parents. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower one will be crooked.”
- (上梁不正下梁歪 shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi: A Chinese proverb meaning that if a leader or role model behaves improperly, those under their influence will likely do the same.)
Wang Shou Ren, his heart heavy with disappointment, entered the east room to mediate the escalating argument between Zheng Guo and Sun Da Qin. The result? Both mother and son were banned from dinner, their squabble leaving a bitter taste in the air.
True to his word, Zheng Guo’s academic performance took a nosedive. Apathy replaced his former diligence, and his latest test score landed him third from the bottom, even below his mother’s. Sun Da Qin, though frustrated by the loss of the eggs, found herself powerless against his newfound defiance.
Their relationship had become a battlefield, a constant push and pull of resentment. Qian Shu Lan, despite her resolve to remain uninvolved in her grandson’s affairs, couldn’t help but lament his self-sabotaging behaviour.
Sun Da Qin, on the other hand, was even more incapable of being a mother than her previous self. At least her previous self had Wang Shou Ren, a mama’s boy who was filial to her. Sun Da Qin, however, was extremely selfish.
While she took pride in having given birth to three sons, she failed to discipline them in the slightest. Instead, she set a bad example, and her children naturally learned from her. They followed in her footsteps, and her lack of guidance only made things worse.
Qian Shu Lan summoned Zheng Guo, her gaze meeting his defiant young face. “Is your hatred for your mother so deep that you’d rather forgo eggs than share them with her?”
Zheng Guo, his anger still simmering, retorted, “She never gave me any of her eggs, so why should I give her mine?”
His words struck a chord with Qian Shu Lan, leaving her momentarily speechless.
With a sigh, she reasoned, “She may not be the most loving mother, but she is your mother nonetheless. Must you resort to self-destruction when faced with challenges? Surely, with your intelligence, you can find a win-win situation?
Zheng Guo pondered for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought.
“Grandma,” he finally asked, “how can we achieve a win-win situation?”
Qian Shu Lan pondered for a moment before suggesting, “For instance, if you get seven eggs, you could give one each to your father and mother. This way, you still get to keep the eggs while also demonstrating filial piety. You’d still have five left, which is better than having none at all, right?”
Zheng Guo, though feeling somewhat wronged, considered her words carefully and realised the wisdom in her advice. His mother might not be affectionate, but she was undeniably his mother, a fact that would never change. Since he couldn’t alter the past, why not focus on what he could control?
Five eggs were still a decent amount.
With a newfound resolve, Zheng Guo faced Qian Shu Lan and declared, “Grandma, I understand. I’ll do my best.”
A blush crept onto his cheeks as he added, “I’ll give you an egg too, Grandma. You and Dad are both good people.”
His innocent remark brought a smile to Qian Shu Lan’s face. She ruffled his crew-cut hair playfully and gave him a light flick on the forehead. “You little rascal! Prove your words first. You might not even make it to the top three next time. Your Fourth Aunt is quite the scholar too, you know.”
In the recent exam, Zhou Xue Mei had secured third place, and all her eggs had gone to Little Peach (Xiao-Tao).
Zheng Guo, his pride slightly wounded by his grandmother’s teasing, lifted his chin and declared with a pout, “Such child’s play! It’s impossible for me not to be in the top three. I usually just let Aunt Xiao Mei win. I can easily get first place.”
Seeing his confidence, Qian Shu Lan chuckled and said, “Well then, you better work hard. Grandma is waiting to enjoy your filial piety eggs.” She added with a wink, “Your father is waiting too.”
Embarrassed, Zheng Guo rose from the kang, his previous boast losing some of its conviction.
With a flushed face, he mumbled, “I’ll go back to my studies then.”
Qian Shu Lan nodded, and Zheng Guo promptly turned, opened the door, and dashed out.
True to his promise, he achieved perfect scores in both subjects on his next exam, resulting in a three-way tie for first place.
Clutching his hard-earned eggs, Zheng Guo followed Qian Shu Lan’s advice and began distributing them among his family members.
When he presented an egg to his father, Wang Shou Ren, the man was momentarily stunned. As realisation dawned, his eyes welled up with emotion. He placed a hand on the boy’s head, repeating “good” over and over, his voice filled with heartfelt pride.
Qian Shu Lan played along, expressing her gratitude with a touch of formality that caused Zheng Guo to blush bashfully.
But not everyone was pleased.
Sun Da Qin frowned in discontent upon receiving only a single egg, and was about to reprimand Zheng Guo when Qian Shu Lan intervened with a sharp glare. “You keep quiet!”
Qian Shu Lan was disappointed in Sun Da Qin’s reaction. The child had finally shown a glimmer of filial piety, and instead of encouragement, his mother was ready to criticise him. She truly seemed like a hopeless case.
- (烂泥扶不上墙 làn ní fú bù shàng qiáng: A harsh Chinese idiom used to describe someone who is considered beyond help or improvement, similar to the English expression “a lost cause.”)
Sun Da Qin shot her son a resentful look and snatched the egg from him, as if venting her frustration. Zheng Guo, accustomed to his mother’s volatile reactions, remained unfazed and held onto his remaining eggs tightly.
Observing his wariness towards his mother, Qian Shu Lan proposed, “Let Grandma keep your eggs safe for you. You can have one each day, so they’ll last you four days.”
Without hesitation, Zheng Guo placed his eggs in Qian Shu Lan’s care, trusting her to protect his precious gift.
─── ❖ ── ☆ ── ❖ ───
( )………( )
(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)
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