Chapter 35
Although Zhao Dahua complained that the things Tang Qingqing brought back were a little too little, the Tang family was still very happy to have gotten the things for free.
Especially since they had no expectations at first, thinking that Tang Qingqing would come back empty-handed just like last time.
I didn’t expect that this time was different. I actually got something in return. I immediately felt like I got a good deal.
Old Lady Wu looked at the jar oil and praised Tang Qingqing with a smile:
"It seems that people still need to learn some skills. Look, even girls can win good things from the government."
Tang Qingqing felt uncomfortable when she heard these compliments.
"Qing girl, you have to promote your brothers more in the future. They are your backers."
Tang Qingqing suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, and ignored the words that were almost like wind passing through her ears, not taking them to heart.
Tang Xingwang had just snatched away the canned fruit and ate it all outside, leaving nothing for his family.
Tang Xingqiang only managed to snatch a little bit. If he hadn't been given candy later, he would still be crying and saying it was unfair.
Three brothers just had a fight outside on New Year's Day over a can of food and all their clothes were soiled.
The adults in the family did not teach Tang Xingwang the importance of being friendly and respectful to his brothers.
Old Mrs. Wu even said with a hint of praise: "He is a food snatcher. He will definitely not be able to eat at a loss in the future."
I didn't do much to comfort the two little ones, I just used candy to comfort whoever cried.
Tang Xingqiang was a crybaby, so he got the candy. Tang Xingsheng, who was hurt the most, was a quiet person, so he didn't cry or make a fuss, and ended up getting nothing.
Tang Xingqiang did not share the candies with his second brother who helped him. He stuffed all of them into his own pocket and even showed off in front of Tang Xingsheng.
"Brother, I have candy and you don't, I can go to school but you can't."
Tang Xingwang sneered: "You think going to school is a good thing? I'm too lazy to go even if you ask me to."
"If it's not good, why did the police let me in? Do you dare to say the police are stupid?"
Tang Xingwang was speechless and just snorted coldly, "Little brat."
Tang Xingqiang was a shrewd man, and he added: "Not wanting to go and not being able to go are two different things, right, big sister?"
Tang Qingqing saw that Tang Xingsheng’s face had turned pale, and she felt a little sorry for her second younger brother.
In this family, she is definitely the least favored one, and she is not on the same level as her three younger brothers.
But fingers are of different lengths, and even if they are all boys, parents and elders will inevitably have their own preferences.
Old Mrs. Wu loved Tang Xingwang the most and considered him her eldest son and grandson.
Tang Jianjun and Zhao Dahua also respect Tang Xingwang, but they love their younger son more.
Tang Xingsheng was stuck in the middle, neither moving up nor down, which was quite awkward.
Plus, he is a quiet person, which makes it easier for him to be ignored.
But no matter how much you ignore it, the situation is much better than Tang Qingqing's, so it didn't show much before.
Tang Qingqing had never paid attention to these things before, after all, she was busy with her own affairs. Now that she has left this family, she has seen some things clearly.
Favoring sons over daughters can easily corrupt a boy. If there is also unfairness among boys, will there be problems as well?
At this time, Tang Xingsheng looked at Zhao Dahua and said, "Mom, I want to go to school, too."
Zhao Dahua didn't even look at him: "Study, what kind of books are you studying with your stupid head!"
"Why can the elder brother and younger brother go to school, why can't I go?"
"I think you shouldn't go!" Zhao Dahua was very impatient. "It's New Year's Day, are you saying this to upset others?"
Zhao Dahua couldn't understand why her mother-in-law always wanted to send the child to school, even though it was useless and cost money.
Tang Xingwang can't do anything now because he has damaged his brain due to studying too much.
Now the youngest one has to go to school. Zhao Dahua thinks it is just looking for trouble.
If it wasn't Chinese New Year, Zhao Dahua would have insisted on grabbing the child and giving him a beating. He was really talking out of nowhere.
Old Mrs. Wu was unhappy when she heard this and rubbed Tang Xingqiang's head.
"Don't listen to your mother's nonsense. You also want to live the life of your uncle, right? He is living the life he has today because he studied well."
Tang Xingqiang's eyes lit up, and he flattered her, "Grandma, I will study hard, and when I make a lot of money in the future, I will come back to honor you, even more than I honored my uncle."
Old Mrs. Wu became even happier after hearing this. She said hello several times and handed him a candy hidden in her pocket.
Tang Xingqiang's words became even sweeter, and Tang Xingwang rolled his eyes at him unhappily.
Mrs. Wu was very particular about fairness at this time, and she also gave a piece to Tang Xingwang, "and to my eldest grandson."
Tang Xingwang took the candy reluctantly, but his stern expression improved slightly.
Tang Xingsheng still had nothing, and felt so wronged that he couldn't help but ask:
"Grandma, why don't you let me study?"
Zhao Dahua looked at Old Lady Wu with a schadenfreude to see how she would answer this question.
"Xingsheng, how can you compete with your brother? Our children are not allowed to do that."
Tang Xingsheng's eyes immediately turned red.
I didn't want to get involved in this family's affairs, but seeing Tang Xingsheng's expression, I couldn't help but speak up:
"Just let Xingsheng go to school. We can't leave him out, right?"
Tang Qiaoqiao is also studying with Zhai Hongyi now. Her uncle and aunt know that she likes reading, and they plan to send her to school in two years.
I haven't been sent to school yet because Tang Qingqing said the teachers in grades one to three don't teach well and it would be useless if I went there.
Tang Xingsheng looked at Tang Qingqing with gratitude.
Among these three younger brothers, Tang Qingqing likes Tang Xingsheng the most.
Tang Xingwang was spoiled, and seeing that her family members treated her badly, she also treated him badly, often ordering him to do this and that like a maid, as if she owed him something.
He was also particularly irresponsible. Every time he did something wrong, he liked to blame it on her, which resulted in him getting beaten up.
In fact, he had a similar attitude towards his other two brothers, but he was even worse towards Tang Qingqing.
My little brother Tang Xingqiang is a naughty kid. He likes to talk a lot and what he says is often nonsense. He is really annoying.
Tang Xingsheng is a quiet person, but he will help.
Although Tang Qingqing had not been able to control him before, after all, the attitude of the parents and elders also affected the attitude of the children, and he was much better than his other two younger brothers.
Zhao Dahua glared at her unhappily: "Why are you involved in everything? You're not at home all day, and you don't go to work to earn points, but you talk so easily. I'm sending them to school, and you're paying for it?!"
Tang Qingqing: "Tang Xingsheng is not my son. If you don't like him, you shouldn't have given birth to him. Is he not a member of this family like me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about! Tang Qingqing, don't think I dare not slap you on New Year's Day!" Zhao Dahua raised his hand.
Tang Qingqing was not afraid of her: "Then why did you miss Tang Xingsheng? I am a girl so you don't like me, but Tang Xingsheng is a boy."
Tang Xingsheng's dark eyes just stared at Zhao Dahua without blinking, which made Zhao Dahua feel inexplicably guilty.
"Don't ask me, it wasn't me who asked you to go to school."
This problem was thrown onto Old Lady Wu's head again, making her so angry that she fell backwards.
Feeling the gaze of her second grandson, Old Lady Wu said with a wry smile: "Xingsheng, you are a good child. It doesn't matter whether you go to school or not."
"Grandma, that's not what you said before."
Old Mrs. Wu didn't understand why Tang Xingsheng was so stubborn today and insisted on getting an answer.
I couldn't help but blame my daughter-in-law in my heart. Tang Xingqiang would have to wait until this summer to go to school. Why did she bring it up so early? It was as if she was afraid that others would not know about it.
He also blamed Tang Qingqing for being nosy, as he had almost gotten away with it just now.
Tang Xingsheng asked again: "Grandma, why can't I go to school?"
"I'm useless. My family can only afford to send one child to school. I've always thought you were an obedient and sensible child. You definitely won't make things difficult for me, right?"
Tang Xingsheng pursed his lips.
"Besides, your brother is not as capable as you. Our family cannot do without you as a laborer. Your brother is so smart that he should go to school and let the teacher discipline him. You have done a good job and do not need the teacher to teach you."
Tang Xingsheng still remained silent. Although he was young, he was not a fool.
Old Mrs. Wu often talked about the benefits of studying. Every time my second brother didn't want to go to school, she would coax and deceive him.
She was sad for a long time when Tang Xingwang decided not to go to school and worked as a shepherd.
Now it's him, but he has a different story.
Old Mrs. Wu saw that she couldn't fool her grandson, and she didn't want to be the bad person and get blamed, so she covered her forehead and started to cry out in discomfort.
This time, Zhao Dahua did not go against Old Lady Wu. She sent the children out to play and told them not to stay in the house.
Tang Qingqing grabbed a handful of melon seeds and left, preparing to go to her uncle's house.
Although the family did not split up, each of them had his own house.
Uncle comes to the main house less and less now, and prefers to stay in his own little house.
My aunt and Tang Qiaoqiao rarely go to the main house. They only come here when they need to work or eat. They don't usually sit there and do nothing.
When Tang Qingqing left the main room, she found Tang Xingsheng following her.
"Why are you following me?"
Tang Xingsheng didn't say anything, just followed her silently, all the way to her uncle's room.
Normally, the three brothers seldom came to their uncle's room, because their uncle's legs and feet were different from those of ordinary people. When Zhao Dahua was disciplining his children, he liked to say that if they were not obedient, their legs and feet would be like their uncle's.
The children in the village also joked that they had an uncle with scary legs.
Besides, their uncle had a strange temper and was rarely heard speaking. He always seemed gloomy, so they had kept their distance from him since they were young.
Uncle and aunt were very surprised to see Tang Xingsheng.
The eldest aunt quickly greeted him: "Xingsheng, why are you here? Is there anything wrong?"
Tang Xingsheng shook his head and followed behind Tang Qingqing without saying a word.
大伯母望向唐青青，唐青青聳了聳肩，也沒有重提剛才的事。
大伯母也沒多問，只是招呼着唐興盛坐下，還将唐青青剛才送來的罐頭拿了出來。
“來，興盛，吃個罐頭，甜甜的，可好吃了。”
罐頭已經開封，因為唐青青一拿過來就直接開了，否則他們不知道能守到什麽時候。
回頭又被趙大花給搶了，那可就冤枉了。
唐青青是看着他們每人吃了一塊，這才離開的。
現在罐頭裏也就比唐青青之前離開的時候少了一點，估計後來又給了唐巧巧一塊。
唐青青對大伯母的大方并不意外，她就是這個性子。
唐巧巧明顯也習慣了，雖然心疼，卻也沒有流露出不滿。
這也跟唐興盛不會搶她的東西有關，要是換做唐興旺或者唐興強，她依然不會做聲卻會覺得很委屈。
唐興盛看向唐青青，唐青青卻一點表示也沒有。
他最終搖了搖頭：“這是大姐給你們的。”
大伯母看向唐青青，唐青青道：“興盛說得沒錯，大伯母，你就別分了。你們自個吃，往年家裏有也輪不到你們，今年不管怎麽也得多嘗嘗味道。”
“巧巧一個人能吃多少。”
“不光巧巧吃，你和大伯也要吃。對了，明天大姐要回娘家吧？你也讓她嘗嘗味道。”
唐青青心想明天要是大堂姐回來，她得偷偷送她一罐。
這個大堂姐雖然不是唐家人，可她跟着大伯母嫁過來以後，小時候沒少照顧她。
以前她就是個邋遢的孩子，沒人告訴她該怎麽整理自己。
都是這個大堂姐教的她，出嫁以後，還時不時補貼娘家，有些東西也進了她的肚子裏。
之前沒有能力，雖然攢了錢也不好直接送錢，大堂姐肯定不會要的。
現在不一樣了，她有理由送東西表達自己的感激之情。
大伯也難得出聲：“收下吧。”
大伯母這才沒執意要唐興盛吃罐頭，不過還是拿出了糖果。
相比之下，糖果更常見。
唐興盛又望向唐青青，唐青青這時候有了反應，拿了一顆遞給了他。
唐興盛的表情頓時發生了變化，不再那麽耷拉着了，身體跟唐青青貼得更近了。
唐巧巧見狀皺了皺眉，也朝着唐青青擠了過來，生怕她被搶走了似的。
“姐，你給我們講講這次你去公社，發生了什麽事呗。”
這話一落，大家夥的目光都投了過來，就連大伯也瞟了一眼。
公社大過年地把唐青青叫過去，不用問就知道肯定是個麻煩事，否則也不能這麽幹。
大隊長也沒有瞞着大家，說是公社有供銷社被盜了。
唐青青之前過來，也就簡單說了小偷已經被抓到，其中發生了什麽事，怎麽抓的對方是什麽人卻沒有來得及說。
提起這個案子，唐青青有一肚子的話。
她整理一下語言，按照連環畫上的調調開始說起整件事。
中間還不忘賣關子，故意引導大家覺得張廣義是個壞的，尤其聽到設計孟大妞嫁給自己的情節時，屋子裏的氣氛都變得凝重了不少。
大伯都忍不住罵了一句‘混賬’，這大概是有女兒且心疼女兒的人家父母，都會有的反應。
大伯母更是擔憂地握着唐巧巧的手，滿眼裏都是擔心。
要是自家女兒被設計，嫁給這麽一個人，那可該怎麽辦啊。
可聽到最後，屋子裏沉默了好一會。
大伯母感嘆：“那個老公安說得對，孩子必須得好好教。”
唐巧巧則惋惜不已，“張廣義是個好人，他被抓了好可惜啊。”
唐青青：“他對妻兒确實不錯，可做錯事就是做錯了，他就得為他的行為負責。”
“可是他也是被逼的。”
“那也沒有被刀架在脖子上，他是可以拒絕的。不管他心裏是怎麽想，可做了就是做了。”
唐青青一開始其實也想不通，這些話還是翟弘毅跟她說的。
大伯母也認真道：“所以說，不管發生啥事，都不能做錯事。”
唐巧巧這才沒有再糾結。
唐興盛一直默默聽着，并沒有說些什麽，也不知道他是怎麽想的。
第二天一大早，楊招娣帶着丈夫孩子回娘家了，手裏還提了不少東西。
一袋面、一刀肉、一籃子雞蛋，以及一大包自己做的紅薯幹粉。
吳老太看到，都不由對這個沒有血緣關系的孫女露出了笑臉。
吳老太重男輕女，對唐青青和唐巧巧都沒有好臉色，更別提這個孫女了。
一直悶不吭聲，宛若隐形人的大伯，第一次頂撞吳老太也是為了楊招娣。
當年楊招娣到了結婚的年紀，吳老太就想着把她嫁給一個有三個孩子的鳏夫，因為對方給的彩禮錢多。
她覺得白養了這孩子這麽多年，總得收回來一些。
大伯當時死活不同意，也沒讓大伯母出頭，就直接說楊招娣的親事跟唐家沒關系，吳老太也不能插手。
當時差點沒把吳老太氣死，一直咒罵他不知道感恩。
在鄉下，健康孩子都很難立住，更別提大伯這種殘疾人。
要不是當年她精心養着，唐建設發病的時間又比較晚，現在墳頭的草都比人還高了。
若是往常，大伯也就忍氣吞聲了，覺得自己這情況就是拖累家裏，不敢提什麽要求。
當時什麽難聽的話都出來了，聽得大伯母一直在哭，楊招娣都想要放棄了。
那些話實在是太紮心了，外人聽着都不舒服，何況是一直被殘疾所困擾的當事人。
可這一次大伯難得硬氣，不管吳老太怎麽罵也不動搖。
他為了楊招娣親事，還難得出了一趟門。
楊招娣現在的丈夫，就是大伯牽線搭橋的。
楊招娣的丈夫叫朱玉山，長相很普通，可為人很老實忠厚。
要不然楊招娣也不能時不時跑回來補貼娘家，都是丈夫默許的。
楊招娣和朱玉山有兩個孩子，一個男孩一個女孩。
男孩叫朱驚蟄，今年六歲了。女孩叫朱麥穗，今年才剛兩歲。
一家四口進家門的時候，朱麥穗是騎在朱玉山的肩膀上的，可把唐興強給眼饞的。
唐建軍從來不讓孩子騎他肩膀上，也從來不跟孩子們一塊玩，嫌棄他們會把自己的衣服給弄髒弄皺了，不管唐興旺或者唐興強小時候怎麽鬧都沒用。
楊招娣看到唐青青的時候，都有些不敢認。
“這是青青？”
她每次回來都行色匆匆，都沒碰到唐青青，所以她們已經幾個月都沒見到了。
唐青青親昵地挽着她的胳膊：“大姐。”
“哎喲喂，真的是女大十八變啊，這才多長時間，就變得這麽高這麽好看了！要不是在家裏遇見，我都不敢認了。”
楊招娣難以置信，圍着唐青青驚嘆不已。
以前她就覺得唐青青是個美人坯子，現在看來還真是沒錯。
現在都長得這麽好，以後長大了指不定得多漂亮呢。
大伯母也笑道：“可不是嗎，別說你那麽久沒見到她覺得變化大，我們天天看着，都這麽覺得的。”
唐巧巧也與有榮焉，跟誇自己一樣特別開心。
朱麥穗是個小人精，一進門就盯上了唐青青，主動張着手要唐青青抱抱。
楊招娣都忍不住笑說：“這孩子平常騎在他爸肩膀上都不肯下來，一看到好看的人，就主動要抱抱。”
“哪能讓女孩兒這麽騎在肩膀上啊，你們也太寵着了。”
大伯母心裏是很高興的，可嘴上卻忍不住說道。
在鄉下，有這個待遇的孩子基本都是男孩。
朱玉山笑道：“媽，麥穗是我女兒，當然得寵着了。”
大伯母聽到這話很是高興，越發覺得丈夫挑的這個女婿真是好。
跟主屋吳老太打了聲招呼，一家人就進到大伯屋裏說話。
到了屋裏，大伯母忍不住埋怨：
“你們咋帶回來這麽多東西，別的就算了，怎麽連肉都拿來了。”
那一刀肉至少有三四斤，看得大伯母眼皮直跳。
可吳老太他們都已經看見了，又沒法讓他們帶回去。
“媽，今年我們大隊收成不錯，我們家負責養的那頭豬也養得特別肥，所以分的肉也就比較多。”
“那也不能都拿來啊，留給孩子們吃多好。”大伯母看向朱玉山，“你也不說說招娣，怎麽任由她胡來呢。”
朱玉山笑道：“媽，這都是我爸媽讓帶的。”
大伯母聽到這話，懸着的心這才放下來。
她最怕的就是會惹得女兒公婆不高興，這樣會讓她的日子會很難過。
大伯母将藏在櫃子裏的罐頭拿出來，招呼兩個外孫：
“驚蟄、麥穗，看姥姥這裏有什麽，來，都來吃。”
朱驚蟄和朱麥穗都瞪大了眼，尤其是朱驚蟄，他年紀比較大，所以不是第一次來姥姥家。
他一直知道姥姥家不大好，每次過來都沒什麽好東西吃，還得提防幾個叔叔跟自己搶食。
沒想到今年竟然還有水果罐頭這種稀罕物，着實感到稀奇。
He had only seen other people eating canned food, but he had never tasted it. He couldn't help swallowing his saliva, but didn't go forward to take it. He was still holding back his sister who was eager to take it.
Yang Zhaodi was also surprised: "Mom, where did you get the canned food?"
"It's all Qingqing's fault!" The aunt recounted the story of Tang Qingqing solving a case before.
Yang Zhaodi and Zhu Yushan were fine, as they had heard about Tang Qingqing's prowess before.
It was the first time that Zhu Qian heard this. He was so shocked that he forgot to close his mouth and even forgot about the canned fruit.
Seeing that Zhu Maisui was drooling, Tang Qingqing smiled and picked up the can to give a piece to each child, even Tang Xingsheng.
When Tang Xingsheng got it, he was stunned. He didn't expect that he would have a share.
The children all smiled when they ate the canned fruit.
There were only a few pieces left at this time. Tang Qingqing wanted to share some with Yang Zhaodi and the others, but they refused to take any, saying that these were for the children to eat and they didn't like them.
It's not that I don't like it, I just want to leave all the good things for my children.
Tang Qingqing didn't force it and distributed all the fruit pulp in the can to the children.
Seeing that she kept giving the food to others but didn't take any herself, Yang Zhaodi quickly stopped her from doing so:
"Eat it yourself, don't always share it with them."
Tang Qingqing smiled and said, "I won't treat myself badly. Don't worry, I've eaten it."
As he was speaking, a small hand came over with a broken and dirty orange.
"Ah, Auntie, eat."
Tang Qingqing looked down and saw that it was Zhu Maisui.
Looking at the orange that was obviously taken out of the mouth, Tang Qingqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Auntie doesn't want to eat it, Mai Sui will eat it by himself."
Zhu Maisui insisted on feeding the baby, and acted as if he would not let go of the baby unless the baby ate it, which made Tang Qingqing ask Yang Zhaodi for help.
Yang Zhaodi smiled and handed the remaining piece of fruit pulp in the can to Tang Qingqing, "Mai Sui, auntie has some, you can eat your own."
Zhu Maisui still stared at Tang Qingqing until Tang Qingqing ate the piece of fruit flesh. Then Zhu Maisui happily ate the fruit flesh in his hand with a look of satisfaction on his face.
Everyone couldn't help laughing when they saw this, and my uncle also smiled, which was a rare occurrence.
The eldest aunt hugged Zhu Maisui and kissed her fiercely: "My eldest granddaughter is so adorable."
Zhu Maisui giggled non-stop.
Zhu Yushan was very proud: "If you say my daughter is a caring little cotton-padded jacket, then my son Jingjing is also a good kid, but when it comes to caring, Wheat Ear is the best."
Tang Jianshe's house was full of joy, but Old Lady Wu's house was very deserted.
The children all went out to play, Zhao Dahua went back to her parents' home, and no one knew where Tang Jianjun had gone.
Old Mrs. Wu's room was empty, with no one to talk to.
She was too embarrassed to invite her eldest brother's family to her main house. It was quite unpleasant because of Yang Zhaodi's marriage.
Although Yang Zhaodi would greet her every time she came back and was polite on the surface, there was still a layer of distance between them.
Old Mrs. Wu didn’t care about it before because the child was not of the Tang family and was a girl.
But today is New Year's Day, and I hear the laughter and joy over there, while it's so desolate here. The contrast makes me inevitably have some thoughts, and I feel that this family is really ignorant.
Old Mrs. Wu looked outside the door from time to time. This year was the second day of the Lunar New Year. According to local customs, married daughters usually returned to their parents' home on this day.
But at this point, there was no sign of the two daughters.
Forget about the eldest daughter. She married far away and it is not convenient for her to come back. She has only come back a few times in all these years.
The younger daughter shouldn't be like this. She's been married for a long time and visits her parents frequently. According to previous years, she should have been home long ago. But it's almost noon now, why hasn't she appeared yet?
Old Mrs. Wu was very satisfied with her youngest daughter's marriage, because she married into the town and her son-in-law was a public servant, which made her very proud for a while.
The reason why the younger daughter Tang Guizhi was able to marry such a good man was also due to Tang Jianguo, otherwise she would not have been favored.
When Tang Jianguo returned home, the Tang family enjoyed a period of prosperity.
Everyone knows that although Tang Jianguo was adopted and no longer ranked high in the family, he still cares about his family.
Just as she was thinking about whether to ask Wang Simei to go to the village entrance to take a look, Old Lady Wu saw Tang Guizhi running into the yard with her face covered.