Chapter 14 Never to Return
The second brother only mentioned it once, so it was probably just talk.
Moreover, Song Chunxue knows the second son well; he has no intention of getting married at the moment.
“He didn’t mention it, and getting married these days is irresponsible towards the girl. What if my second son doesn’t come back? Wouldn’t that be a waste of several years?” Song Chunxue said seriously. “That’s your niece, so please don’t harm her.”
Zhao Yufang laughed, "Haha, that's true. You eat first, I'll go weed, and we can chat while we work."
At noon, Song Chunxue saw that the smoke from the chimney had stopped, and she returned home just in time.
However, as soon as I entered the yard, I heard several children arguing.
"Don't think I won't hit you just because your mother is protecting you now. You used to be the one watering the sheep and mixing the hay. Don't order me around." The eldest son pointed at the youngest son and cursed, "Who do you think you are, trying to ride on my head?"
"This is what you promised Mom you'd do today. I dislocated my arm while shepherding the sheep and throwing away clods of dirt. Why are you making such a fuss about carrying two buckets of water? Fine, don't do it then. Don't take it out on me. You're the eldest, who dares to order you around?" Sanwa retorted defiantly, sticking his neck out.
"Big brother, that's enough. I've seen Sanwa's arm, it's definitely dislocated. I don't know how to set it properly. If you won't go, I will. Stop arguing." The second brother tried to mediate, but was suddenly pushed to the ground by the eldest brother.
Standing at the door, Song Chunxue couldn't help but think of the past.
They had argued like this before, but in the end, the eldest brother beat Sanwa, which made Sanwa so angry that he lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and slept for two days, ignoring the sheep that he usually cared about the most.
At that time, she protected the eldest son, and the second son also sided with the eldest son.
She now understands that her second son's attitude depends entirely on her attitude as his mother.
Sanwa suffered so much injustice, all because of her.
"What are you doing?" Song Chunxue shouted. "Can't even lift a few buckets of water? Have you become useless after getting married?"
Song Chunxue walked over and separated the three brothers, annoyed. "If you don't want to bring it up, I will. Second brother, you bring the water up."
“I’ve already hoisted it up.” The second brother pointed to the water bucket on the cellar platform. “The eldest brother didn’t do much work today; he just ordered me around.”
The eldest brother glared at the second brother but didn't say anything.
Song Chunxue looked towards the kitchen, "How's the food?"
"Chen Feng doesn't like to cook, and she's been complaining of an upset stomach several times already. I don't know if she'll even get to eat today." The second son stomped his foot. "It would be better if we separated sooner rather than later. I get so angry just looking at her."
Song Chunxue looked at her boss, whose face was ashen, and knew that what she had said last night had been in vain.
Chen Feng, perhaps still angry, urged the eldest son to quickly divide the family property.
Isn't this exactly what Song Chunxue wanted?
"Boss, you want to split up the family business sooner rather than later, right?"
The eldest brother didn't say anything.
"Then let's divide it up as soon as possible. Tell Chen Feng that this meal is the last one she'll cook for everyone, and you should all stay out tonight."
Song Chunxue said with a half-smile, "You cleaned out the thatched kiln outside the door just so you could divide the family property, right? Well then, let's divide it up as soon as possible, and you can focus on building your houses."
The eldest brother looked at Song Chunxue in surprise, not expecting that she would not only not get angry, but would also agree directly.
"Then how do we divide the other things?" he pressed, a smile barely concealed on his face. "Pots and pans, grains, and the like?"
Actually, what he really wanted to say was money.
"In the dilapidated kiln behind the courtyard, there is a broken wooden box. Go inside and take a look; pots, pans, and utensils are all prepared."
She had been with the things in the house for many years and had developed an attachment to them, but later she threw them all away.
Now she'd rather give the new one to the eldest son.
"Don't rush the food. We'll distribute it little by little this afternoon," Song Chunxue said calmly. "Let's eat first, and we can talk about other things after our afternoon nap."
Chen Feng seemed full of energy in the kitchen; she simply couldn't listen to her mother and keep wasting time with them.
Once a person has an idea, if they keep putting it off, they will become extremely impatient.
At this moment, Chen Feng had only one thought: to separate from Jiang Yeming and live a quiet life behind closed doors.
She really didn't want to cook for such a large family, not to mention the endless livestock and poultry to feed.
Upon hearing that Song Chunxue had agreed to separate the family, Chen Feng not only promptly served the food, but also washed the dishes after the meal.
She was so excited and happy during her afternoon nap that she couldn't fall asleep.
She kept holding Jiang Yeming's hand, fantasizing about a better future.
Song Chunxue slept soundly in the north room. Her afternoon nap was very important, as it affected whether she would have the energy to argue in the afternoon.
Sure enough, an hour later, Chen Feng and Jiang Yeming couldn't wait to arrive at the north room.
"Wait a moment, I'll be right there after I wash my face."
Chen Feng smiled and touched her pointed belly. "Okay, let's go outside and pack our things first. Let's move the bedding out of the west room first."
Song Chunxue remained silent, got up and slowly combed her hair, then washed her face and changed into her old clothes.
The room where the grain was stored was dusty, and she didn't want to get her new clothes dirty.
Song Chunxue took a charcoal pencil and an old notebook and went to the granary.
She pointed to the grain inside, "I know the quantity of this grain. You brothers and I, the eldest brother, need to divide it out. You can take one share out of the five portions."
The eldest brother frowned upon hearing this, "But there are two of us now, how can one portion be enough?"
“You’re married, but the rest of them aren’t. They’ll all get married eventually. Are you, as the eldest brother, going to pay for their weddings?” Song Chunxue thought for a moment. “If that’s the case, then you can take an extra share.”
The eldest brother waved his hand repeatedly, "No need, one copy is fine."
The second brother stood on the steps of the west room and said to the third brother, "Did you hear that? How can the eldest brother be so greedy?"
Sanwa remained silent, squatting on the steps putting on his old shoes, watching his mother and elder brother and sister-in-law divide the grain.
When they were little, their older brother cared a lot about them. Whenever they were bullied while playing with other kids, their older brother would lead them to demand justice in a fierce manner.
Later, everyone said that the brothers were very united.
He also knew that many people in the village envied the four brothers.
But now, the eldest brother wants to divide the family property, and the second brother wants to go to the army to seek his future. They will never be the same as before.
Sanwa silently turned and went to the kitchen, filled himself with some water, and then went to herd the sheep.
Sheep are the best; although they love to eat other people's food, they will turn around immediately if you call them.
The fourth brother will also leave eventually; from now on, only he and his mother will be left on this village.
He brandished his whip and drove the flock up the mountain without looking back.
In the courtyard, Song Chunxue watched as the eldest brother carried out a large bag of white flour, two bags of mixed grain flour, some wheat bran, and dark flour.
Black flour is also made from wheat flour, but it's made by milling the flour four or five times. It looks black and its texture is becoming more and more like wheat bran.
"Mother, I don't want this black powder. Could I have some more vegetable oil instead?"
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