When Grandma Wu arrived, the pig had almost been slaughtered, and pieces of bright red, bloody pork were cut up and laid out on a board.

Blood was dripping everywhere on the ground, and a large basin of pig's blood had been collected next to the board.

"Mom, look, what a fat pig! It must weigh over 300 pounds."

Grandma Wu glanced at it briefly; it weighed over 300 jin (150 kg).

The village secretary smiled and handed the butcher a red envelope, saying, "It's almost Chinese New Year, I can't let you make a wasted trip. I dragged you out before dawn, I'm really sorry."

The butcher wiped his hands on his clothes at his waist, took the bag, and said, "Hey, look at what you're saying. This is what I do. Besides, I understand."

Both parties were very satisfied. The village secretary was thinking that the pigsty now had seven pigs, both big and small, and that he would need to trouble them quite often in the future.

After seeing the butcher off, everyone looked at the still-steaming pork, their eyes reddening, and they urged the village secretary to start distributing it quickly.

The village Party secretary nodded repeatedly, then pulled a thick notebook from behind his waist. "Let me see..."

Li Jin'e blinked, somewhat puzzled, "Mom, what's the village secretary saying?"

Before Old Lady Wu could speak, a woman not far from them said enthusiastically, "The village secretary is reading out the work points for each household. That's how the pork will be distributed."

As he spoke, he looked at the whole trough of pork laid out, his voice filled with regret, "The pigs are big, and there's a lot of pork, but there are a lot of people in our Shanyao Village. If this is divided up, each household will only get one piece of pork."

Wang Huijun and Li Jin'e nodded.

"Wu Mingxia!"

Grandma Wu immediately broke up with her conversation and replied, "Yes, I am."

Following the village secretary's instructions, Gou Cuifen packed the cut pig ears into bags and asked, "Do you want pig ears or pork?"

After all, pig ears are dry and have no oil at all. Wu's family, including Huang Mancang who was staying in the cowshed, consisted of nine people. After the pig ears were chopped off, each person could only get a few.

Grandma Wu smiled and said, "That's fine. Let's distribute the pork to the villagers. I'll ask for pork again next year."

When the village secretary heard Gou Cuifen say that, he realized that his earlier promise of pig ears seemed a bit inappropriate.

However, after hearing what Grandma Wu said, my understanding of her reasonable and understanding mindset has been elevated to a new level.

Those around her were grateful, since someone always had to take the bad parts. Now that Grandma Wu had taken them, they would have a better chance of getting their share of the pork.

As they left with the bags, the villagers made way for them, and treated Grandma Wu and her two daughters-in-law with kindness.

After Li Jin'e and the others had walked a distance, she asked in confusion, "Mom, why don't you want pork? You can render oil from it, and it makes the cooking taste better."

Wang Huijun remained silent, but she seemed to understand what Old Lady Wu meant.

Grandma Wu turned her head and glanced at her second daughter-in-law, and couldn't help but compare her to how she looked in her previous life.

Li Jin'e waited for a while, and seeing that she didn't respond, she opened her mouth and called out again, "Mom?"

Grandma Wu came to her senses and said, "Even if we divide the pork, what good will it do? It's just a thin strip of pork. How much lard can we render from it?"

“If you mix it into the dish, you won’t be able to taste any pork flavor. Since that’s the case, why not do a favor and give this opportunity to the villagers?”

"They remembered what happened today, and we will get along better with them in the village in the future."

Wang Huijun nodded, "Mom is right."

After understanding the situation, Li Jin'e didn't say anything more and hurriedly rushed home.

As the year draws to a close, Old Mrs. Wu forbade her four sons from going out and told them to stay home and clean up the house to welcome the new year and bring good fortune.

In the cowshed on the other side, Huang Mancang laid out his bed and huddled under the covers, looking desolate and forlorn as he gazed at the bottom of the shed, two lines of clear tears slowly sliding down his cheeks.

All that effort was for nothing, it was all for nothing.

None of his four sons came to see him. Didn't they know that he was all alone here?

Now that it's almost the end of the year, even the village's large canteen has closed.

What does he eat?

What did he drink?

It's outrageous! Having a son is worse than not having one at all, at least there's no hope.

When the four Huang brothers arrived, Huang Mancang was all huddled up in a small ball, his blanket puffing up into a little bulge.

Huang Xiaofu's lips twitched, and he stepped forward and shoved his father, saying, "Dad! Are you spitting out silkworms here? Like silkworm pupae."

Huang Mancang was taken aback. He listened carefully and heard footsteps, which sounded like the second brother's annoying voice.

He immediately sat up after throwing off the covers, a sly smile playing on Huang Xiaofu's lips as he looked at him. "What? It's not even dark yet, and you're already asleep?"

Huang Mancang reached out and slapped him across the face. "What are you saying, you brat!"

After finishing, he glanced at Huang Xiaoguo's hand and asked, "Have you eaten?"

Huang Xiaofu rolled his eyes. Wasn't he just asking a question he already knew the answer to?

His eyes were practically glued to his older brother's hand.

"I haven't eaten, I haven't eaten, so Mom told us to bring it here to eat, and to have you watch it."

Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, Huang Mancang disregarded the presence of his four sons and cursed, "You vile woman! How could a person do such a thing?"

"I want a divorce! A divorce!"

Huang Xiaofu grabbed the excited Huang Mancang, "Stop, stop, Dad, I was just joking with you. Look, you're getting agitated."

Huang Mancang seemed to be blinded by anger, ignoring Huang Xiaofu's advice and continuing to curse.

Huang Xiaofu curled his lip, "If you keep cursing, I'll go back and tell my mom every single word."

'bite!'

Huang Mancang immediately fell silent, like a duck whose throat had been choked.

Seeing that he had calmed down, Huang Xiaofu took the winnowing basket from Huang Xiaoguo's hand, lifted the small blanket on it, and took them out one by one.

I just brought it out when I hissed. Where am I supposed to put this?

Huang Mancang patted the foot of the bed and said, "Just put it here, I'll eat it right here in bed."

Huang Xiaofu nodded indifferently.

Huang Xiaoqiang frowned, glanced around, and saw that the surroundings were still the same as when it was first set up, with nothing there.

There wasn't even a table.

He immediately turned and left.

The remaining four men, father and sons, didn't pay attention and chatted casually with Huang Mancang.

"I've really suffered a lot." After stuffing a mouthful of rice into his mouth, Huang Mancang glared resentfully at Huang Xiaoguo and Huang Xiaomin. "It's all because of you two brothers. If it weren't for you, would I be living in this drafty cowshed?"

"When it rains, it's pouring outside, but it's drizzling here. It's hot during the day and mosquitoes bite at night."

"I have never suffered so much in my life."

Huang Xiaoguo and Huang Xiaomin exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with helplessness.

Huang Xiaofu leaned close to Huang Mancang's ear and said, "Dad, this is nothing. Do you know what it's like for those who were sent down to areas north of Changping?"

"What's going on?"