Chapter 31 Every Family Has Its Own Problems

Before leaving, Zhang Ruifeng looked at the old man who was collecting medicinal herbs. He was still resting with his eyes closed.

Zhang Ruifeng didn't go over to say hello. She knew that there was indeed such a person in the commune. He looked okay and was sitting openly in the supply and marketing cooperative. That was enough.

She didn't want to interfere too much in her daughter's interpersonal relationships, as that would be disrespectful to her daughter and would also make others think that she had too many household chores and was difficult to deal with.

When she reached the edge of the commune, she met Xu Cheng's mother again.

This time it was not a coincidence, Xu Cheng's mother was waiting for her here.

"I thought it wouldn't take you long to sell an egg, so I'll wait here for you to go back together."

Zhang Ruifeng laughed and said, "You're so quick! I thought you were going to chat with Lao Duo for a while."

"What are we talking about? He's at work today and doesn't have time. I told him about Lao Wu's marriage proposal, and he said he knew about it. Just like her four sisters, we can just take the betrothal gifts back with her. We raise these girls, but we don't expect them to take care of us in our old age, and they can't expect us to either. When they are all married, it will be time to arrange marriages for Xu Cheng. By then, Lao Xu's job will probably be taken over by Xu Cheng. We can't help even if we want to. We can't help now either. There are so many people to feed at home. How can we care about getting them married?"

This sounds quite sad.

Zhang Ruifeng said, "You have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. The children are doing well now and don't need your help. If they really encountered difficulties and came to you for help, you would really help them. You are just talking about it, but when the time comes, you will help more actively than anyone else."

Xu Cheng's mother smiled and said, "Even if I wanted to help, how much could I do? I only earn a few work points a day. Ultimately, it all depends on their father. If Old Xu wants to help, we can help. If Old Xu doesn't want to help, we really can't. I'm not as capable as you, earning eight or nine work points a day. I only make four or five."

Zhang Ruifeng said, "You can't compare them like that. You've got eight children to raise, and they must have taken up so much of your energy. I only have Binbin and Mumu, so it's still much easier than you. Besides, having children is harmful to your health, and you don't get enough nutrition. It's a rare achievement that you can still work in the fields. Besides, we still have Old Xu, the children's father. You can't shoulder the burden of this family alone."

Xu Cheng's mother sighed, "I shouldn't have come today. I just wanted to tell him that something big had happened at home and I wanted him to know as soon as possible. He didn't take it seriously at all and just dismissed me with just a few words. It was all unnecessary for me. I should have waited until he got home to tell him and that would have been it."

Zhang Ruifeng: “…”

She didn't know how to respond to this.

Ultimately, you shouldn't have any hope for Lao Xu. If you pretend he doesn't exist, you can still get by. At least he pays his way home, and I haven't heard of any bad things happening outside. If you have any hope for him, you'll definitely be disappointed. He's really no good.

Xu Cheng's mother wanted to discuss things with him and let Old Xu care about her and the children, but that was simply asking for trouble.

Old Xu was extremely patriarchal, and aside from Xu Cheng, he probably didn't care about the other seven girls. She still vividly remembered Old Xu's expression, longing for a son before Xu Cheng was born. If Xu Cheng's mother hadn't stopped him, he would have given the first few girls names like Zhao Di and Pan Di.

Xu Cheng's mother firmly disagreed and even argued with him, only then did the matter fall through. All the girls in the Xu family were named Xu Mei. From Da Mei all the way up to Qi Mei, while a bit of a formality, it was still much better than calling them Zhao Di. At least they were the ones who were beautiful, not just adding a younger brother to the Xu family.

Xu Cheng's mother continued, "Do you think Zheng Lao San is the same as Old Xu?"

Zhang Ruifeng thought for a moment and said, "He's a soldier, trained by the army. He should be more conscious than Old Xu, right? Isn't there a saying that goes, 'Each generation is stronger than the last'?"

At least he shouldn't be as patriarchal as Lao Xu.

It’s hard to say anything else.

———☆———

When Zhang Ruifeng returned home, Xie Yun and Xie Shen were hanging out clothes. They had both washed all the clothes.

To the west of Liushutun Village lies a river. No one knows where it originates or where it flows to, but everyone calls it the West River. Normally, people wash clothes by the river, but when it floods, the water can reach the village.

The river was full of fish, shrimp, and giant turtles. One year, during a drought, the river was nearly dry. People went down to dig mud and unearthed numerous giant turtles. The people of Liushu Village didn't eat turtle meat; they only pried off the shells and sold them, which were also used as medicine.

As a professional chef, Xie Yun felt it was a pity just thinking about it.

Zhang Ruifeng looked at her diligent daughter and son, and a smile appeared on her face unconsciously. "The river water is cold now, right? Next time we can wash at home instead of going to the river, which would waste a lot of firewood."

Xie Shen said, "We still need to fetch water."

"Then you can go and pick it up twice."

Recently, Xie Shen goes to the well to fetch two and a half buckets of water every morning and evening. Xie Shen then goes to fetch two more buckets, which is basically enough.

Xie Shen agreed with a smile.

Xie Yun smiled and said, "It's not cold yet, but it will be too cold after a while. Today, Mumu was the one washing it, and I was the supervisor. He was really serious about pounding it."

"Really? Mumu is great. Mom bought you a pencil and a large piece of white paper. I'll cut them up and make two notebooks for you. Also, I bought some candies today. I'll split them between you two. You can keep them and eat them whenever you want. But I agreed that I'll only buy them this once, before the New Year."

Xie Shen put down the clothes in his hands, wiped the water on his pants, and walked over to Zhang Ruifeng. He said, "Mom, why are you buying candy? Just buy some hard candy. Two pieces for one cent. You buy the two-cent ones. My sister and I will each have one, and you can have two."

Zhang Ruifeng patted her son's head and said with a smile, "We've been so tight on money these past few years that we haven't bought anything nice for you two. Life is getting better, so let's enjoy it once in a while. It's okay, it's just once in a while. I won't buy you anything often."

Xie Shen chuckled.

Zhang Ruifeng took out a candy bag and gave it to him, saying, "Share it with me."

Half a pound of milk candy wasn't much, so Xie Shen counted it and found a total of twenty-eight pieces. "Thirty-nine is twenty-seven, nine for sister, nine for me, and ten for mom. Sister, is this okay?"

"I can do it for just 8 dollars, 10 dollars each for you and mom."

"Then I'll take 8 yuan, and you and mom will each take 10 yuan."

Zhang Ruifeng said, "I don't like sweet things. Just give me two pieces to try, and you two can split the rest."

Xie Shen simply didn't believe it. Who doesn't like sweet things? Everyone loves hard candy, not to mention milk candy. His mother just wanted to save the delicious food for him and his sister, she just made up a bunch of nonsense.

Xie Shen counted out 8 pieces and put them in his pocket. He then divided the rest into two piles, one for Zhang Ruifeng and the other for Xie Yun. "Since you asked me to divide it, then let's do it this way."

He peeled a piece of candy and put it in his mouth, slurping it and saying with emotion, "It's delicious."

He couldn't bear to throw away the candy wrapper, so he stuffed it into his pocket.

Xie Shen turned around to continue hanging the clothes, and Zhang Ruifeng called him: "Wait, what's wrong with your neck? Why is it red?"

Xie Shen: "...Hehehe, well, I got stung by a bee, just once, and my sister pulled the sting out."

"How did you get stung by a bee? Where did the bee come from?"

There are only hornets' nests in the village, and they are found under the eaves of many houses. If you don't provoke them, they won't sting you.

Xie Shen smiled happily, "My sister and I went up the mountain this afternoon. As we walked in, we saw a big beehive. My sister climbed up the tree and picked it off."

Zhang Ruifeng was furious: "Do you know how dangerous that is? Even if there are too many bees, they can sting someone to death!"