They were busy until sunset, when the evening glow made Sun Miao'er's pretty face blush.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the fields, whipping up mud and sand that filled the air. Sun Miao'er couldn't open her eyes and could barely hold onto Sun Xiaoman's hand. The haystacks not far away were even blown several feet away.
"What a strong, eerie wind!"
The sky suddenly darkened, and a strange wailing sound filled the air. Sun Miao'er hugged Sun Xiaoman tightly. Could this be the legendary tornado?
I dared not think too much, and could only use the hoe to grip the ground tightly for support, holding the little one in my arms close.
"Sister, I'm scared."
Xiaoman had never seen such a scene before. Her small body curled up into a ball, trembling.
"Miao'er, stay there and don't move!"
Grandma Sun has lived for so many years and has seen a lot of the world. This strange wind blows every few years, but it only lasts for a short while.
Half a quarter of an hour later, the sky brightened again, and the sun was almost completely hidden behind the mountains.
Grandma Sun fell to the ground. Sun Miao'er panicked and rushed forward to help her, "Grandma, are you alright?"
"It's alright, Miao'er. How are you? Did I scare you?"
"Grandma, I'm fine. It's all Miao'er's fault. I shouldn't have called you here today."
Sun Miao'er felt a pang of guilt when she realized that she had almost caused her grandmother's injury.
"Miao'er, what's so special about this? Grandma has seen much more powerful things before. You probably haven't even seen the Dragon Swings its Tail before."
After a moment of lingering fear, Sun Miao'er sighed at how arduous life must have been for people in ancient times, having to cope with famine on one hand and guard against such natural disasters on the other.
After this strong wind, it is estimated that many more people's crops will be damaged.
"Xiaoman, were you scared just now?"
On the way home, Xiaoman's eyes were unfocused and she seemed absent-minded, which made Sun Miao'er worry.
Xiaoman pouted, looking preoccupied, and refused to speak.
"Tell me, what's wrong? Were you scared just now?"
Sun Miao'er pressed on, and tears welled up in Sun Xiaoman's eyes. "No!"
"Waaaaah! Xiaoman was just thinking, why can't I become a man and protect my sister? Aunt Wu's son, Hu Zi, told me that when boys grow up and become men, they can protect others. Waaaaah, when will I be able to become a man and protect my sister?!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Miao'er was momentarily speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
These are the kinds of things that are on the mind of this little brat.
But it's him who needs protection.
Such a small, soft little dumpling, yet she never received a single day of true maternal love. No matter how well I, as her older sister, do, I can never make up for the emotional pain Xiaoman suffered in her childhood.
"Xiaoman, let's pinky swear. Let your older sister protect you first, and when you grow up to be a man, you'll definitely protect your older sister."
Xiaoman asked in confusion, "What is a hook?"
"Pinky promise?" Sun Miao'er was taken aback, then laughed, "Pinky promise means your little finger hooks around my little finger, and we make a promise, understand?"
"good!"
Xiaoman couldn't contain her joy and hooked her finger with Sun Miao'er's, "Sister, you have to keep your word!"
"Okay, if you don't keep your word, I'll turn into a little pig!"
"Yes! If Xiaoman can't protect her older sister in the future, Xiaoman will turn into a little pig!"
Before even returning to the Sun family home, one could already hear Madam Jin's voice from afar.
Jin was calling out to several women in the courtyard, who had set up a table and were preparing for a few rounds of leaf-playing games.
Sun Miao'er looked over in response. Leafy game was a game similar to modern poker, with numbers and New Year's picture dolls on the cards. That was roughly it.
Jin has had a taste for this for quite some time now.
The women who came to play cards were all unmarried women from the village, either living as widows or too old to find a husband.
Upon seeing the three generations of the family return, Wei Dalong's wife said irritably, "Since you're back at this hour, we sisters might as well call it a day."
"That's right, Mrs. Sun. Your wife is back now. Wouldn't it be annoying if we stayed here?"
"Haha, everyone, let's go, everyone disperse."
The other two, always eager for a good show, joined in the commotion.
Jin raised an eyebrow and said bluntly, "This house is not up to my wife to make decisions. You can all relax and have fun here."
"This is outrageous!" Sun Miao'er stepped in front of Old Lady Sun and spoke up.
“Aunt, let’s not even talk about this being the Sun family’s courtyard. Although my father is gone, his bloodline is still here. If you don’t want to respect Grandma, you’ll have to wait until I, your granddaughter, get married. Besides, Xiao Ning and Xiao Man are both members of the Sun family. How can you make the decisions all by yourself?”
This girl's tongue is getting harder and harder to stick out. Jin retorted, "Oh? Then tell me, in our family, is it your grandmother who makes the decisions, or are you the one who can take the lead?"
Sun Miao'er had already prepared a whole host of words to deal with her, just waiting for her to start the conversation, "Taking on the main responsibility? Is this how Auntie takes on the main responsibility? Grandma comes back from the fields at this hour and can't even get a hot meal. Can't I, as her granddaughter, take care of her?"
Jin was embarrassed after being exposed in front of everyone, and her voice rose several octaves, "Who said that? There's food in the kitchen. You have hands and feet, can't you do your best to be filial to your grandmother?"
"Grain? I clearly remember that the rice jar was almost empty a few days ago, and I had to borrow rice from Aunt Wang next door! If the aunties don't believe me, they can go and ask Aunt Wang!"
Jin was a woman who cared a lot about her reputation. She always boasted about how hard her husband worked outside and how he would make a lot of money in the future. If outsiders knew that the family was struggling to make ends meet, wouldn't she lose all face?
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