On the way back, Wang Xiuxiu couldn't contain her curiosity.
She stopped in her tracks as she passed a quiet, unnoticed corner, looked around to make sure no one was following her, and then reached out to feel around.
As her fingers touched the few flatbreads wrapped in rags, Wang Xiuxiu felt a complex mix of emotions.
Exactly three pieces, no more, no less.
The Cui family was indeed wealthy; even in such a difficult time of fleeing from disaster, they still had bean cakes.
Wang Xiuxiu weighed the pancake in her hand; it was heavy and very substantial.
She couldn't help but think of the Wang family's predicament these past few days, where cooking tree bark and wild vegetables together had become a daily routine.
These few bean cakes, if eaten sparingly, would be enough to last her for three days.
But if I take it back...
Wang Xiuxiu frowned slightly.
Given the Wang family's consistently selfish nature, I estimate I'll only get a small piece at most.
Thinking about this, I couldn't help but hesitate.
Wang Xiuxiu stood in the corner, holding the few pieces of bread in her hand, with two voices arguing fiercely in her mind.
A voice told her that this was something she had worked so hard to obtain, and she should keep it for herself;
Another voice reminded her that she shouldn't be so selfish.
Wang Xiuxiu bit her lip, but in the end she wrapped the cakes up again, stuffed them back into her bosom, and walked towards the camp.
As Wang Xiuxiu lingered on her way back to her tent, she saw the Wang family members gathered together as if for a trial.
Her heart tightened, and she paused slightly in her steps.
All eyes were fixed on her, as if she had committed some heinous crime.
Wang Xiuxiu silently walked to the side and stood still, quietly waiting for Chen Chunhua to make the first move.
Unexpectedly, it was Hong Xiaodong who spoke first.
She snorted coldly and yelled, "You ungrateful little slut! You got so much food and you don't even know to bring it back to your family. Look at you, you must have eaten your fill outside before coming back!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu finally understood the source of the family's outburst.
Overwhelmed by resentment and anger, Wang Xiuxiu opened her mouth, wanting to explain, "No..."
"Nothing, nothing!"
Hong Xiaodong turned his gaze to Chen Chunhua and her husband, his tone somewhat instigating: "Father, Mother, in my opinion, it would be better to sell Xiu'er! A girl like her is just a waste of food if she stays in our family! We might as well take this opportunity to sell her, so that our family can have an easier time!"
After Hong Xiaodong finished speaking, Wang Xiuxiu clearly saw that the two of them looked at each other and both showed thoughtful expressions.
Wang Xiuxiu felt a chill in her heart, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head.
She gritted her teeth, pulled out the few bean cakes she hadn't been able to bear eating from her bosom, and cried out, "Father, Mother, Aunt Qin gave me these bean cakes because she saw how pitiful I was. She didn't dare eat a single one unless you and Father said so. I brought them all back. Mother, please save me! I still need to embroider handkerchiefs to support my younger brother's education..."
Chen Chunhua only then realized what was happening.
Having been on the run for so long, she had almost forgotten why she had chosen to bring Wang Xiuxiu, this burden, with her in the first place.
Once they settle down in a new place, things will be fine for them, but Xiao Lang still needs to continue his studies.
Wang Xiuxiu, despite being just a young girl, has become increasingly skilled in embroidery in recent years, and her earnings have been growing day by day.
They can be considered the main force supporting the young man in the family.
Keeping this goose that lays golden eggs is far more important than the short-term gains from selling her!
Chen Chunhua took the bean cake as if nothing had happened, opened it, and found that there wasn't even a missing corner.
Wang Degui couldn't help but look embarrassed.
Immediately afterwards, Chen Chunhua turned around abruptly, raised her hand, and delivered a resounding slap to Hong Xiaodong's face.
"You troublemaker! All you do is spout nonsense all day! You even dared to say you'd sell your sister! I think you're utterly heartless!" Chen Chunhua pointed at Hong Xiaodong and cursed him.
It must be said that Chen Chunhua's move to shift the blame was extremely clever.
If it were the old Xiuxiu, she might have actually been fooled by this act.
Afterwards, in order to appease Wang Xiuxiu's grievances, Chen Chunhua specially took out half a pancake and handed it to her.
On the other side, Wang Chengwu kept muttering and complaining: "Why did you have to get involved in this mess? Now look what's happened, I'm stuck in this mess too!"
Chen Chunhua punished Hong Xiaodong in a grand manner, but she decided not to give the couple a single piece of bread.
Of the remaining two and a half bean cakes, Wang's father and Chen Chunhua each took one, and half was left for Wang Chengwen, who was out searching for water with the villagers.
When Wang Chengwen returned, Chen Chunhua's maternal instincts kicked in, and she felt sorry for him. She took it upon herself to take half of her bean cake and insisted on putting it into Wang Chengwen's hand.
Hong Xiaodong covered her face as she watched the family affectionately dividing the cakes, and she was furious.
She gritted her teeth and secretly vowed, "You little bitch, just you wait!"
---
Holding the half of the alms bowl in her hand, Wang Xiuxiu moved away from the scene of motherly love and filial piety, walking as far away from the Wang family camp as possible.
She sat on a rock, looking down at the cake in her hand.
Today's events are like a thorn stuck in her heart, impossible to pull out or swallow.
She remembered Cui Erlang's kindness, Qin's gratitude, and also Chen Chunhua and Wang's father's indifference.
Wang Xiuxiu took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the bitterness in her heart.
At this moment, she had to learn to be patient, to pretend, and to find a way to survive in the cracks.
She can't change others, but she can change herself.
She won't stay in the Wang family for long.
No matter how difficult it is, she will find her own way to live a wonderful life in this oppressive world.
When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first...
Before Wang Xiuxiu could finish reading, a light footstep sound came from behind, as if someone had deliberately slowed their pace.
She looked up and saw a tall, thin figure standing not far away, carrying something in his hand, looking somewhat uneasy.
Wang Xiuxiu quickly wiped away her tears and tried her best to appear calm and normal.
Wang Xiuxiu and her younger brother were never very close.
Since she came to the Wang family, the two have rarely spoken. When they occasionally meet, they only exchange a cold and indifferent greeting.
His sudden appearance today surprised her.
Wang Chengwen stood not far away, seemingly hesitant, shuffling his toes on the ground before finally stepping over.
As she got closer, Wang Xiuxiu could see clearly what he was holding: a section of water from a bamboo tube and half a bean cake wrapped in leaves.
He stuffed everything into Wang Xiuxiu's hands and said in a low voice, "I just went to get some water... You've been wronged, so here's half of it too..."
His voice was somewhat stiff, as if he hadn't spoken softly to anyone in a long time, and his tone carried a hint of awkwardness.
Wang Xiuxiu felt a warmth in her heart, looked up at him, and said softly, "Thank you."
Wang Chengwen turned his head away, avoiding Wang Xiuxiu's gaze, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his cuffs.
He seemed to want to say something; his lips moved, but then he pursed them tightly.
After a long pause, he finally uttered in a low voice, "Don't take it too seriously."
These words, though spoken vaguely, sent a shiver down Wang Xiuxiu's spine.
She knew he was referring to what happened today.
It turns out he had heard about it too.
She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but saw that Wang Chengwen had already turned and walked away.
His back looked somewhat thin, but his steps were quick, as if he was afraid that if he lingered any longer, he would reveal something.
After walking a few steps, Wang Chengwen paused, seemingly wanting to turn back, but ultimately didn't. He simply raised his hand to rub his nose and quickly disappeared from sight.
Wang Xiuxiu stared in the direction he had left, remaining motionless for a long time.
She looked down at the water and bread in her hands, recalling Wang Chengwen's protective actions when they encountered refugees a few days ago, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.
Perhaps this home isn't all coldness and calculation; at least there's a faint trace of warmth.
She took a small bite of the pancake, a slight smile playing on her lips.
It's okay, there's still a long road ahead...
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