The two men made quite a commotion by carrying so many banana trees back, attracting the attention of many people even after dark.
Many refugees who hadn't yet rested gathered around to watch, exclaiming, "Did they really catch a fish?"
Lu Shichang lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. "Where can you find fish in this drought? Our water bladders are empty, so we cut down a few banana trees in the mountains to drink from."
Some villagers went to see Jiang Tangtang, their expressions showing anticipation for a good show. But most villagers looked at the banana trees the two had brought back with envy.
“This banana tree is huge, it must be laden with fruit, right?” Gao Shumei squeezed in front of Lu Shiyan, leading her child. “Uncle, give the child two bananas! My child hasn’t eaten for two days, look, he’s so hungry he’s practically on his last breath.”
The refugees around him were all staring at Lu Shiyan, wanting to see his reaction.
Several villagers from Dawan Village also pulled their children forward, thinking that if Lu Shiyan agreed to give Gao Shumei bananas, they would also ask for a few.
Madam Su was furious. This Gao woman, she'd already taken advantage of the Lu family all along, and now she was doing it again. If they gave her what they wanted, wouldn't the other villagers come after them? And if everyone gave her what they wanted, what would they eat?
If they don't give them food, everyone else will be left without it, and only their family will find it. Won't that incite hatred among everyone?
Just as she was getting anxious and frustrated, Jiang Tangtang walked up to Lu Shiyan and said unhappily, "Husband, where are the fish you caught for me?"
"We didn't catch them." Lu Shiyan put the large bundle of banana leaves he was carrying onto the oxcart.
"You took so long even though you didn't catch them?" Jiang Tangtang frowned, looking like she was about to get angry.
"My second brother and I walked along the river for a long time, but the whole river was dry. There was no water, so we had to come back."
Lu Shiyan picked up a banana tree, cut open the outer shell with a knife, took out the core, and handed it to Jiang Tangtang, saying, "We found bananas by the roadside. Try them and see if you like them. If you do, I'll go and cut down the rest."
Jiang Tangtang was stunned by Lu Shiyan's reaction.
Wow!
Their coordination was so perfect, it was as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.
She took it and took a bite.
It's crunchy with a hint of sweetness, but not as delicious as the bloggers on Douyin (TikTok) boast. However, in this environment, it's already quite good to be able to eat a crunchy and sweet banana core.
At that moment, no one cared whether the banana core tasted good or not. They just wanted to know where the banana trees were and how many were left.
Many people surrounded Lu Shiyan and Lu Shichang, asking them questions.
Lu Shichang couldn't help but admire his younger brother's intelligence.
Actually, Lu Shiyan only cut down the banana trees that were bearing fruit; he left some smaller banana trees that weren't bearing fruit. His plan was to cut them all down, but his younger brother stopped him.
At that moment, he suddenly understood his brother's intention.
If they cut down all the banana trees, everyone will be watching them closely. Leaving some banana trees will distract some of the disaster victims.
Lu Shichang said, "It's easy to find. Just keep walking upstream along the river. It's just far and difficult to walk."
As long as there's food, who's afraid of a difficult journey!
Many refugees, disregarding the darkness, rushed upstream along the river.
After some of the refugees left, the resting place gradually quieted down. Gao Shumei was still unwilling to give up and wanted to ask the Lu family for some food.
Seeing Jiang Tangtang eating banana hearts without a care in the world, and recalling her usual behavior, Gao Shumei concluded that she was a spoiled and pretentious good-for-nothing with only a pretty face.
So they decided to start with Jiang Tangtang.
She walked up to Jiang Tangtang, her eyes darting around at the banana leaves Lu Shiyan had just placed on the oxcart, and said, "Sanlang's wife, please have pity on us. Your husband is capable; he can find whatever you want to eat from the mountains. Unlike us, we don't have a man in the family, and we have a bunch of children to support."
As she spoke, she reached into the banana leaves. She guessed that the bananas must be hidden inside the leaves.
In her mind, as long as she held the banana fruit in her hand and said a few words of pity for Hua, the Lu family wouldn't be so inclined to snatch the banana fruit back from her.
But as soon as she reached in, Jiang Tangtang shrieked, "Auntie, why are you stealing my things?"
Gao Shumei was startled by her sudden loud voice, her hand trembling. "I didn't steal anything, didn't I tell you? My child is pitiful—"
Jiang Tangtang interrupted her, saying, "Taking something without permission is stealing. If I didn't agree to you taking it by force, that's robbery."
Did I just agree to give it to you? I didn't agree. You're robbing me, which is worse than stealing!
Besides, who isn't pitiful? My family also fled from disaster; we have a bunch of children to support. How are we any better off than you?
"You little wife, we're all from the same village, how dare you bully a widow like me..."
Gao Shumei sat down on the ground and was about to cry. Several other women who were also trying to take advantage of her followed Gao Shumei's lead and accused Jiang Tangtang.
"Sanlang's wife, that's not right of you. We're all from the same village, shouldn't we help each other out?"
"Your Aunt Gao's husband hanged himself so as not to be a burden to his family on the way to escape the disaster. Your family has many men and they are capable. If you help everyone, everyone will remember your kindness."
"Of course, everyone has their difficulties. Is it necessary to be so harsh?"
...
"What? Just because she's pitiful doesn't mean she's right?" Jiang Tangtang wasn't heartless and unmoved, but she couldn't stand their robber logic. "There are so many pitiful people on the road, why don't you help them?"
Gao Shumei's cousin, Zhou Qiaoqiao, said, "We don't even know those people, why should we help them? We're from the same village. You, my dear wife, this is where you're wrong—"
When Su saw a group of women surrounding and criticizing Jiang Tangtang, she immediately became furious. She stepped in front of Jiang Tangtang, put her hands on her hips, and scolded, "What's wrong with my wife? So what if we're from the same village? You ungrateful wretches, no matter how good we are to you, I don't think you know how to be grateful."
As she spoke, she pointed at Gao Shumei and said, "Gao, back in the village, let's not even mention the things our Lu family did for you. Just the other day, when my Sanlang went to find water, didn't he take your water bag to help you fill it up?"
At that moment, water was life itself. My son was saving your family's lives. Instead of being grateful, you're inciting everyone to criticize my daughter-in-law. Have you lost all your conscience?
After scolding Gao Shumei, Su pointed to the villagers who chimed in and said, "And you, wasn't your water found for you by my Sanlang?"
When my house was without water, you all pretended not to see it. You're all ungrateful wretches.
Now that my family has cut down a few banana trees to use as drinking water, you're trying to take advantage of us again. Let me tell you, no way. From now on, everyone should mind their own business and survive on their own merits. Don't bring up those familial ties stuff.
Gao Shumei's sobs caught in her throat, and the women who had chimed in also looked at Su Shi with shocked expressions.
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