Chapter 16: Bragging
When the ox cart swayed back to the village, smoke was rising from the chimneys of every household. A few children gathered together, lying on the ground playing with paper clapboards.
There were also villagers who had just come back from work and were sitting at the door to rest for a while. When they saw Song Youliang and Song Chuhong, who had been away from home for many days, they all smiled and greeted them, "Captain, you're back?"
"Uncle Song, you are back."
Everyone's attention was attracted by the two sacks on the ox cart and they were curious about what was inside.
Song Youliang also knew what everyone was thinking, and nodded happily, "I'm back. My second daughter brought some candies back from Shencheng. Let the children come and get some later."
He knew that country people loved to gossip, and since his second daughter and Zhong Guobing had broken up, people would definitely gossip about them behind their backs.
Li Qiang was also walking around the village, which made some people feel uneasy, so they took the opportunity to suppress him.
Anyway, based on what his daughter had accomplished this time, he dared to dream of becoming a team leader, let alone a commune secretary.
On the way back, the father and daughter discussed it and decided to tell everyone in the village about Chu Hong getting the tractor.
Chu Hong wanted to live a comfortable life in the countryside for the next ten years, so she said there were five or six kilograms of hard candy in the sack and she would give a handful to each family later.
Although he was reluctant to give the candies to everyone, he didn't feel particularly bad because his daughter said they were free.
It is said that if you receive favors from others, you will be grateful. You can say a few more good things about your family in the future.
Sugar is a precious commodity nowadays and people only buy some during festivals or weddings. When everyone heard that Captain Song's family was so generous, they were stunned and prepared to bring their children to join in the fun.
I didn't go immediately because I wanted to give Captain Song's family some time to talk.
Captain Song thought of his wife gritting her teeth and saying that she would punish her daughter, and he was worried that the second girl would be beaten.
Unexpectedly, when his wife saw his daughter, she hugged her daughter and burst into tears: "You damn girl, you are finally back!"
"If you dare to run alone again, I'll break your legs."
Chu Hong also cried.
Even though I knew from my memory that life in the countryside was hard, when I returned from Shanghai, a city with tall buildings and asphalt roads, I saw mud brick houses and bumpy dirt roads all over the countryside. I really wanted to go back to the city.
She was crying because of the house, shop, car and most importantly, all the delicious food she used to own. Now she could only enjoy them in her dreams.
Mrs. Song also wiped her eyes and advised kindly: "It's good that the child is back, you two should stop crying."
"Wash your face first. I'll go cook the noodles."
Old man Song also went to light the fire and asked with concern: "What's the matter with the boss asking you to go to the commune?"
Song Youliang had not previously told his family that he had been criticized and was very likely to be dismissed from his position. He only told his family what had happened now.
Of course, it also said that Chu Hong went to Shencheng, went through a lot of hardships, and almost lost her life before she got the approval for five tractors.
Old Lady Song's hands were shaking as she stirred the batter. She couldn't hide her excitement: "I said the second girl is most like her grandmother, smart and capable."
More than thirty years ago, Old Man Song fell into a ditch while digging and broke his leg. The country doctor couldn't cure him, so he asked them to go to the city to see a Western doctor.
As it turned out, they didn't have enough money and the hospital refused to treat them. The couple could only sit outside the hospital and cry.
At that time, the two sons of the Wu family were still young, and Old Man Wu was the main labor force in the family. If he passed away, life would be difficult.
It just so happened that Wu Xiu and her mother were also in the hospital for treatment. Aunt Wu rarely showed any concern for them and paid for their medical expenses.
The Wu family has many rules, and as a concubine, she is not allowed to have private property.
Later, when Old Man Wu recovered from his illness, he secretly bought some land and asked them to look after it for him, intending to leave it as a dowry for his daughter.
Later, something happened to the Wu family and almost all of the Wu family members died. Before her death, Aunt Wu entrusted her only daughter to the Song family.
Old Man Song and his companions also have a conscience and have not forgotten the life-saving grace.
Besides, even though she has been released for so many years, some deep-rooted ideas have not changed. Wu Xiu doesn't have to do any of the dirty or tiring work at home, and there is no conflict between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at all.
After the younger daughter-in-law came into the family, she couldn't stand the fact that her elder sister-in-law was so idle, so Old Man Song simply separated his younger son and daughter-in-law.
Otherwise, how could a woman in the countryside who couldn't give birth to a son live such a comfortable life?
Especially Song Chuhong, who looked like her grandmother, so Old Man Song and his family couldn't help but be a little partial to her.
Old Man Song added, "It's a mess outside now, so you must not run outside in the future."
"Grandpa is right." Chu Hong took the hot towel that her cheap father wrung for her and washed her face, then untied the sack and searched for it: "I brought a few cigarettes for Grandpa on purpose."
"I also brought malted milk, biscuits, and candies for grandma."
"I brought watches for Mom and Dad."
"And clothes, fabrics."
She first wrapped the fragile liquor in a towel and stuffed it into an iron box, then wrapped it in three layers of clothes inside and three layers outside. Now it is still intact when she takes it out.
As for the money, she kept 800 for herself, and gave 200 to her grandparents and 200 to her parents in a very fair manner.
Wu Xiu put on the watch and looked at it, and was very satisfied: "This style is good."
Chu Hong quickly offered her courtesy: "The Plum Blossom watch that was taken from Aunt Yao must not be too bad."
As for Cheap Dad's watch, he actually stole it from the wrists of the two men who kidnapped him.
As I recall, my mother would beat her with a feather duster.
She was also afraid that her stepmother would settle the score with her later, so naturally she had to please her.
Wu Xiu rolled her eyes at her daughter: "Little bandit."
Song Youliang didn't mind the scratched dial of the watch, and put it on his wrist carefully, saying happily, "It's much more convenient to check the time this way."
When Wu Xiu saw someone coming, she urged her husband to move the sacks into the room.
The villagers all came with bowls in hand to inquire about the news. If they had a chance to eat for free, they would not forget to bring their children along.
The words were also nice: "My little girl was thinking about Chu Hong, and when she heard that she was back, she rushed to see her."
The original statement to the public was that Wu Xiu and her mother were driven out by the mistress of the Wu family, so they were not considered to be the main family, but rather oppressed and miserable women.
However, the policy had changed so much in recent years that she did not dare to be careless. When she saw someone coming in, she would ask her father-in-law, who was in charge of the fire, to come out and greet the neighbors.
Old man Song grabbed a handful of candy and gave it to the little girl, then boasted in a vivid manner that his granddaughter went to Shencheng to ask for a tractor.
The fact that her granddaughter had been kidnapped was concealed, and it was only said that the Zhong family did want a divorce, and therefore they had no choice but to agree to their granddaughter's conditions.
Seeing that more and more villagers were joining in the fun, Song Youliang also took the opportunity to say a few words, mainly to highlight that his daughter was wholeheartedly working for the welfare of the brigade and had been praised by the commune leaders.
The villagers who originally thought Chu Hong was abandoned were shocked: "So you can get so many tractors for a divorce? Chu Hong's divorce was worth it!"
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