Xia Ruzheng sat up suddenly, startling Xia Ruqian: "Sister, if you feel uncomfortable, just lie down, it's okay."
Xia Ruzheng asked hoarsely, "Is there any more food?"
Xia Ruqian was startled. This was not the same as the agreed script. After realizing it, she hurriedly said, "Oh! Yes! Yes! Come with me to the kitchen. Let's heat up the food before we eat!"
Xia Ruqian was afraid that Xia Ruzheng would use some trick to get her out of the way and kill her, so she dragged her into the kitchen. Xia Ruzheng, with his hair disheveled, sat in front of the stove and started to light a fire.
Seeing Xia Ruzheng's reaction, Xia Ruqian felt relieved.
"Sister, I made fish today. Dad and I didn't eat much. You should eat more later."
Xia Ruzheng nodded.
Xia Ruqian wanted to say something but didn't know where to start, for fear that her words would hurt her sister's feelings again.
Xia Ruzheng sat there staring at the fire in the stove in a daze.
I already knew Huang Zhong was like this, so why was I still so angry? I even... I even had thoughts of committing suicide! It wasn't worth it for a man like that! I'd already sacrificed my entire life, and now I finally had a chance, so why would I have to die for him again? If I died, I'd regret it in hell! In this life, I wouldn't be willing to die without getting rid of Huang Zhong and seeing him end up in a miserable state!
Xia Ruzheng bit his lips, which had turned white from being bitten. He wished Huang Zhong was right in front of him and could smash his head to pieces with the tongs in his hand.
When the food was served, she discovered that Xia Ruqian had prepared several dishes, all for her.
While we were eating, Xia Chunfu came back. It hadn't been long since he left. He didn't look very good when he came back.
Seeing Xia Chunfu's displeasure, Xia Ruqian's face fell and she asked, "What's wrong? Did they show Dad their displeasure?"
Xia Chunfu saw Xia Ruzheng got up and was eating, and he felt his depression dissipate a little. He replied, "Not really, it's just that the situation is too infuriating."
Most fathers would not be happy if someone spoke of their innocent daughters in such a way.
Xia Chunfu was a relatively prestigious man in the village, a senior figure from a wealthy family. He lent everyone his farm tools, cattle, seeds, and other items. He was also fair and impartial. Sometimes, when two families were at odds, he would mediate, and both families were grateful. Therefore, the Xu family couldn't do anything to him. Xu Xianhua's father even slapped her. Xia Chunfu felt only vented anger, not pity. A girl like that would become a nuisance if she were allowed to go free.
This time, Xia Chunfu declared that, no matter what, he would have no further dealings with the Xu family. He could accept apologies if others treated him poorly, but if they treated his daughter poorly, there was no room for negotiation. The Xu family, naturally, offered favorable terms. The Xia family's resources were crucial to every household in the countryside. For example, the Xia family's oxen and plows were always lined up for borrowing each year. If they couldn't borrow them, their farming would be delayed, and the harvest would suffer. The people's commune had only been disbanded a few years earlier, and few families could afford plows or oxen.
Xia Chunfu recounted the Xu family's affairs and whispered, "That's just how people are. If you give them too much, they'll think it's your due. It's easy to understand the principle that a pinch of rice breeds gratitude, but a pinch of rice breeds hatred. Do you know anything about your uncle?"
"uncle?"
The sisters' mother died early, and their grandfather's family was in decline. There were only two uncles left, both of whom were very old. Xia Chunfu occasionally provided help, and they could still get by.
"Actually, you had several uncles, all your mother's younger brothers. Two of them were only slightly older than Zhengzheng! Your grandpa's family was a landlord. They sold salt back then. Salt was expensive, and many people couldn't afford it. So your grandpa made a big jar of pickles and left it at the door. Folks could just take whatever they wanted without paying. Later, when New China was founded and the landlords were overthrown, your grandpa's family became increasingly poor. During the Three Years of Hardship, your young uncle went out to find food and was teased with leftovers. They said they would give him food if he barked like a dog. Your uncle refused and argued, and was beaten. It's not going to be good when he goes back. Those people also ate your grandpa's pickles..."
The two sisters had never heard of the old days, and they didn’t have much contact with their uncle’s relatives, so they didn’t expect that there was such an old story.
It is said that people in rural areas are simple and lovely. There are some simple and lovely ones, but there are also many ungrateful ones, many who are greedy, many who gossip, and many who are petty.
Xia Ruzheng looked at Xia Chunfu's face under the dim light of the oil lamp. He looked very old and had seen so much ugliness in the world. It was not easy for him to be kind to others. But her father's kindness was also based on principles. He helped others, and when others helped him, he would not refuse. This is called giving and receiving. When giving favors, he also gave them according to the habits of different families... With a father like this, what was there for her to be afraid of? What was there to worry about? She was even more reluctant to abandon such a father!
"Dad, Qianqian, I'm sorry to have worried you today." Xia Ruzheng put down his bowl and chopsticks.
Xia Ruqian quickly replied, "Hey, that's nothing. We're all close family, why are you being so polite?"
Xia Ruzheng said, "I'm not being polite, I just need to say what needs to be said. I was really angry today, but now I've figured it out. People's words can be scary, but I can't just let myself get away with it. I don't want to just keep getting angry. I want to get back at them."
Xia Ruqian's eyes lit up and she said, "Sister, what do you want?"
Xia Ruzheng said, "Huang Zhong won't let me have an easy life, so of course I can't let him have an easy life."
Xia Chunfu immediately said, "Zhengzheng, don't get angry with others. You'll only end up hurting yourself! I won't let you do anything stupid."
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