Liu Zhiren and Liu Zhishuang stood in front of Liu Sizhuang, blocking his spit. Liu Sizhuang was no match for his two nephews who worked in the fields, and he jumped up and down in anger:
"Who asked you two to come? You have been separated from the Liu family a long time ago. You don't have to worry about what's going on here. Get out of here."
An Baoling had already helped Liu Sanzhuang up with her son. Seeing that Liu Sanzhuang could still move on his own, she felt relieved and finally had the strength to scold Liu Sizhuang: "Just because they gave money to his uncle for medical treatment, they have the right to manage. You didn't leave the old Liu family, but what did you do? You beat your own brother to a bloody pulp just for twenty or so dollars. You are really capable."
"Liu Sizhuang!" An Baoling supported Liu Sanzhuang like an old hen protecting her calf, gritting her teeth and shouting Liu Sizhuang's name, her voice hoarse: "No matter if Sanzhuang is in trouble or not, I will go to the commune to sue you, just wait for me."
Liu Sizhuang was frightened by these words and took a step back. He said hard words but his legs were already weak: "Why do you sue me? This is our family matter. We still have mother at home. She has the final say."
"Assault is against the law, and I can sue you based on this!" Ever since Mrs. Sun refused to pay for Liu Sanzhuang's medical treatment, An Baoling no longer took her mother-in-law seriously. Liu Sizhuang still wanted to use Mrs. Sun to pressure her, but he was dreaming.
"Third brother, third brother's family, how is third brother?" Liu Erzhuang and Li Daya came back hurriedly pushing a cart. Only then did Liu Zhishuang realize that the reason he didn't see his second uncle and second aunt just now was because they had gone to borrow a cart.
An Baoling wiped the tears from her face and said to Liu Erzhuang, "Sanzhuang can still move on his own. Second brother, my sister-in-law just lent me some money. I will take Sanzhuang to the county to see a doctor now."
"Whoever dares to leave this door, don't say that I don't recognize him as a member of the Liu family." Sun appeared with her feet backwards, and then she sat down in front of the cart, slapping her thighs and howling: "What sin have I committed to raise such little beasts, each of whom forgets their mothers after marrying a wife, and never sees a penny of the money they make, but uses it all to honor their father-in-law. Old man——"
Liu Erzhuang went up to Sun and said, "Mom, haven't you made enough trouble? If you continue to make trouble and delay Sanzhuang, and something serious happens, will you blame me for Sanzhuang's accident?!"
"Oh, old man, I knew I should have followed you at that time, so that I wouldn't have to look at these bastards and get angry every day. It was he who stole his eldest brother's cakes and starved his eldest brother to death, and he didn't even let me say anything--" Sun Shi didn't even listen to what Liu Erzhuang said, and cried for the old Liu who had died eight hundred years ago with her neck straight.
Liu Zhiquan and Liu Zhishuang looked at each other. It was the first time they heard how Sun Shi linked his father's death to his second uncle in such a magical way. It's not like they haven't heard people talk about it before, but it's never been as straightforward as it is now. Both of them saw disbelief in each other's eyes, but no one said anything.
Before leaving home, mother had told them not to talk nonsense or give random advice, and that they were just there to help.
There was no need for Brother Liu Zhiquan to say anything. Li Daya had already stood beside her man, pushed away Liu Erzhuang's hand that was so angry that it was throbbing with pain, and pulled Sun up by herself, saying as she pulled her up, "Yes, mother, you are right. Liu Erzhuang is not a human being. He takes everything from his brothers, eats from his brothers, and takes advantage of his brothers everywhere. Not only does he take advantage of his brothers, he even takes advantage of his nephew. He grew up eating shit."
"Li Daya, who are you talking about?" Liu Sizhuang got angry and started shouting at Li Daya.
Li Daya shook off the hand holding Sun's and stood up straight with a pout: "I will criticize whoever answers, and I will criticize whoever has a guilty heart."
At this time, An Baoling had already helped Liu Sanzhuang to the side of the cart. Liu Zhiquan hurriedly stabilized the cart. Liu Zhishuang saw that it was not a big deal, and said to the man who was helping An Baoling: "Zhijun, go into the house and get the quilt to spread on the cart, and then get another quilt for your uncle to cover himself, otherwise your uncle will not be able to bear the journey." Then he took over from Liu Sanzhuang and supported the cart himself.
Fortunately, Sun was stunned by Li Daya's sudden move and didn't care about Liu Sanzhuang's family. Liu Zhiguo took this opportunity to run into the house and fetch two quilts. After making the bed, Liu Zhishuang and he helped Liu Sanzhuang lie down on the car. An Baoling had to cover Liu Sanzhuang's wound and couldn't leave. Seeing that Liu Zhiquan and his brother had ideas and were willing to help, tears came down again. She said to Liu Erzhuang who didn't say a word:
"Second brother, I'm telling you this today. San Zhuang's beating is not over yet. If anyone dares to stop me from taking San Zhuang to see his wounds, don't blame me for setting your Liu family's house on fire. Damn it, if anything happens to my man, I won't be able to live well if I don't!"
□□'s heart was boiling with anger when he heard his mother's words. Regardless of Sun's current state, he went forward and picked her up. He took two steps and put her on the ground, just in time for the cart to pass. He said to Liu Zhiquan who was holding the cart, "Brother, let's go."
The few people ignored the crying behind them and pushed the cart towards the county town. After running a few steps, they heard chaotic footsteps behind them. Looking back, they saw that it was Liu Erzhuang and his family members Liu Zhifu and Liu Zhizhong catching up. An Baoling breathed a sigh of relief.
It wouldn't be a problem if Liu Sizhuang just caught up with us. Liu Sanzhuang's situation couldn't be delayed any longer.
Liu Erzhuang stepped forward and tried to take the cart from Liu Zhiquan. Seeing him panting, Liu Zhiquan hurriedly said, "Second Uncle, I'm not tired. You take it easy first."
Liu Erzhuang insisted, "Give it to me. Just let Zhishuang go with you. You can go back. Your mother is the only one left at home with her two wives. Your wife is still pregnant. There can't be no man at home."
Hearing him say this, Liu Zhiquan's hands that were pushing the cart relaxed a little. Liu Zhishuang thought about it and felt that what his second uncle said made sense, so he took the cart from Liu Zhiquan and said to him, "Brother, what my second uncle said is right, you should go back first. Otherwise, mother will be worried." With mother's personality, she would definitely not go to the nursing home to find out why the accident happened, otherwise she would worry and not be able to sleep all night.
"Then I'll go back first. I'll bring you food tomorrow morning." Liu Zhiquan saw that his third uncle's family had all come out, and there would be no breakfast for tomorrow. It would not be practical for so many people to buy food, so he said he would bring food to everyone tomorrow morning.
He knew in his heart that although his mother was very careful about the family's food supply, she would not ignore such a major event - Liu Zhiquan and his brothers had seen An Baoling's relationship with Xia Juhua over the years.
Liu Erzhuang's breathing became lighter, and he waved his hand at Liu Zhiquan who was still following the cart and said, "You go back. You don't have to deliver food tomorrow. Your aunt is here to take care of you." The third brother had just been bleeding and he couldn't come up with any money. It was the third brother's wife who borrowed the money from the eldest sister-in-law. How could he afford to eat the food from the eldest sister-in-law's house?
Liu Zhiquan looked at Liu Erzhuang with some disbelief: "Why don't I take her home? What if grandma..."
If it wasn't dark now, Liu Erzhuang's nephew would have seen his face full of shame. How could he not be ashamed? How could his family's life become like this? Even his nephew, who had been separated from his family for a long time, knew that he, the production team leader, had no say at all after returning home.
No! Liu Erzhuang rubbed his face hard and decided to have a good talk with Liu Sanzhuang after he got better. He couldn't live like this any longer. But now he had to get rid of his nephew who questioned him: "Your aunt has a way, don't worry about it, just go back and tell your mother not to worry."
Liu Zhiquan walked home half-believingly. He pushed the gate and found it was bolted. He knocked on the door gently and looked into the yard through the crack. Facing the crack was the main room, and a dim light was emitted from the east window - his mother was not asleep.
"Mom, open the door, I'm back." Liu Zhiquan stopped knocking on the door and instead raised his voice to call out, so as not to scare his mother with the sudden knocking on the door. In his heart, he was glad that he was back, otherwise his mother would have been worried all night.
Xia Juhua heard Liu Zhiquan knocking on the door the first time. She had already put on her shoes, but was a little afraid to open the door. In the two years after Liu Dazhuang passed away, the three of them lived in front of the shed. It was not that no one had ever knocked on the door in the middle of the night. She had to put a kitchen knife under her pillow every night.
The experience at that time left a shadow in Xia Juhua's heart. When she heard someone knocking on the door in the middle of the night, her heart would beat wildly. When she recognized Liu Zhiquan's voice, she slowly relaxed and slowly opened the door for him.
When she opened the door, she complained, "Didn't I tell you to follow your third uncle to the hospital? Why are you back at this time?" I was scared to death.
Liu Zhiquan rarely heard his mother complain, so he found it a little strange. However, he still explained that his second uncle asked him to come back because he was worried that there would be no man in the family.
"Your second uncle is always worrying about nothing. He doesn't do what he should do and does a lot of useless things." Xia Juhua complained again. She had to live in a shack with two half-grown children by herself back then, and there was no adult man around, but she still managed to get through it.
Why is it another day? Xia Juhua herself couldn't help laughing. Liu Zhiquan was listening to his mother continue to complain, and suddenly heard a strange laugh. He thought his mother was laughing at his second uncle, so he defended him: "Grandma has that temper, and there's nothing your second uncle can do about it."
Oh, if you have a bad temper, you can take it on yourself. You exploit other sons every day to support your youngest son's family. Isn't that reasonable? Xia Juhua glared at Liu Zhiquan, making him confused: "Mom, what's wrong?" Why did she glare at him these days?
The son was not very smart, but he was her own son. Xia Juhua said without any temper, "You are tired too, go back to sleep."
"Well, mother." Liu Zhiquan recalled what he had said to his second uncle and said with some embarrassment: "I told my second uncle before I came back that I would bring breakfast to him and his family tomorrow morning."
“送吧。”夏菊花覺得錢都借了，送早飯也沒啥，只要送的早飯不進孫氏和劉四壯一家肚子裏，她都能接受。
劉志全沒想到娘應得這麽痛快，即使跟劉二壯說那番話的時候心裏早覺得娘會同意，還是感激的說：“謝謝娘。”沒讓自己說出的話落到空地上。
要是上輩子，夏菊花會說親娘兩有啥可謝的，這輩子的夏菊花則說：“你是有兒子的人了，娘不能讓人覺得你在家裏說話不頂事。看看你二叔三叔，出了門倒是條漢子，可村裏人有事誰敢找他們。”
劉志全感動的站在原地，看着親娘回了屋，又看着正房的燈滅了，心裏仍然翻江倒海的不能平靜。王彩鳳早聽到動靜，見男人一直沒回屋，有些擔心的出來看他是怎麽回事，發現人就那麽傻愣愣的站在正房窗戶下出神。
王彩鳳問：“志全，咋還不回屋睡覺？”
“嗯。”劉志全對媳婦的回答只是嗯了一聲，又看了已經滅了燈的正房一眼，才想起來娘既沒問自己老院發生了什麽事兒，也沒問都有誰送三叔去醫院的。
娘究竟擔心不擔心呢？劉志全有些糾結。
夏菊花倒沒什麽可糾結的——她擔心有用嗎，問了能解決問題嗎？她們一房早已經從老劉家分出來了，出錢出力的幫忙，是因為劉三壯兩口子對她們娘三個不錯。夏菊花覺得再多的擔心，都不如實打實的幫忙來得實在。
王彩鳳可沒夏菊花沉得住氣，劉志全一進屋她就問個不停，從劉三壯為啥被打到傷的怎麽樣，問到孫氏和四房的态度以及都有誰跟着去了醫院……
劉志全被問煩了，直接回了一句：“你想知道自己去那院問去，我去了就幫着扶人推車，哪知道這麽清楚。”
王彩鳳有些不甘心：“那你去了一回，就一點兒也沒聽見啥？”
“聽見了。”劉志全拉開被子突然多了說話的興致：“聽見奶奶偏心，非得讓三叔把扛糧食包的工錢都交給她，不然不讓三嬸送三叔去醫院。還聽見我娘心疼我，知道我跑這麽長時間累了，啥都不問就讓我趕緊歇着。”
王彩鳳氣的在黑暗裏把被子快摳破了，這意思就是自己不知道心疼男人呗。可劉志全都把話說到這份上了，王彩鳳還真不好再問什麽，只能默默把被子蓋到頭上。
被子蓋頭上也擋不住劉志全的話音：“明天你早點兒起來，得給二叔他們幾個送飯。”
“那得多少……”王彩鳳心疼的話還沒說完，已經被劉志全打斷了：“給二叔他們送飯是我先說出來的，娘也答應了。你不是想讓我做說話不算數的人吧？”
從小被娘家媽言傳身教的王彩鳳，雖然自己心裏有些小算盤，卻都是在男人能容忍的範圍內發揮。現在劉志全發出送命的疑問，王彩鳳不吭聲了，把頭上的被子又拉的緊了些。
“你別不知好歹。”劉志全的仍然有說話的欲望：“娘不偏心，家裏的錢誰掙的誰自己能留下一半，你出去問問別人家能做到嗎？跟咱們年紀差不多的，誰手頭有咱們寬裕。”
這倒是實話，王彩鳳不由想起劉保國的米糊和新褥子，承認劉志全說的對，把頭從被子裏露出半拉來說：“我沒說娘不好。”
“知道娘好，那以後就聽娘的。”劉志全給媳婦下了命令：“娘又不會虧待咱們。要真跟老院似的，你哭都找不着調。”
劉志全竟然自己提起老院，王彩鳳一下忘了他剛才的不耐煩，翻身面向劉志全躺着，問：“你說是不是孫桂芝挑唆的，我聽說她還讓奶奶跟二叔說過，想讓四叔頂了你和志雙扛糧食包的活兒呢。”
“別管他們咋樣，咱們過好自己的日子就行了。”劉志全滿足的嘆了一口氣：“娘可不是随便就被人挑唆的人。”
聽見這話的王彩鳳無聲的笑了，婆婆的确不會受人挑唆，最願意看到的就是家裏兄弟妯娌和睦了。要讓王彩鳳說，就孫紅梅那樣的，婆婆勉強讓她進了門，從一始就不該給她好臉。
可婆婆偏偏給了，想來是為了讓一家子和和氣氣的。倒是孫紅梅蹬鼻子上臉的老想挑事，現在老實了吧？以後自己可得好好巴結着婆婆，沒見男人都越來越聽婆婆的話了。
聽婆婆的話日子過的順心，她又不吃虧。
要聽婆婆話的王彩鳳，第二天果然早早起來，沒想到婆婆已經在廚房裏和上面了，她忙上前想接過來：“娘，你咋起這麽早。志全回來還囑咐我早點起來做飯，沒想到娘起的比我還早。”
“志全晚上說得給你三嬸他們送飯，我想着別去晚了讓大家餓肚子，就早起了一會兒。你給我燒火吧，別占手了。”夏菊花沒讓王彩鳳接手，只讓她給自己燒火。
王彩鳳一邊燒火，一邊把自己昨天聽劉志全的一言半語學給夏菊花聽，最後感嘆一句：“天天這麽過日子，擱誰也受不了。”
門口細微的腳步聲停了下來，早已經聽到的夏菊花只做不知，随着王彩鳳的感慨說：“要不我咋天天盼着你們幾個和和氣氣的呢，這家裏和氣了，吃糠咽菜也是甜的。昨天老院鬧這一出，大半個平安莊的人都聽見了，別人看在你奶奶年紀大、又是當娘的份上不會咋說她，可劉四壯和孫桂芝，等着讓人戳脊梁骨吧。”
“就是。”王彩鳳覺得婆婆就是自己的知音：“志亮是男孩還好說，紅娟可是閨女，将來說親的時候，人家一打聽有孫桂芝這樣的媽，誰敢娶她。”
夏菊花不經意的看了一眼門口露出來的鞋尖，笑了：“孫桂芝有手段着呢，你替紅娟操什麽心，她能讓紅娟嫁出去。”
王彩鳳也跟着笑了一下：“那倒是，要不志雙也不會……”
“閉嘴。”夏菊花剛才的話的确是說給偷聽的人聽的，可這話最好還是別讓王彩鳳說明白了：“啥都往出咧咧，志雙不是你兄弟？”
王彩鳳被罵的一縮脖：“娘，我就是話趕話……”
“話趕話也不許說，讓人聽見了，志全和志雙兩人還做兄弟不。你也想讓咱們家跟老院似的，天天你看我不順眼，我看你不得勁，打的沸反盈天的？”
婆婆嚴肅的表情、生氣的語氣，吓得王彩鳳不吱聲了，乖乖的燒着火，看着婆婆熟練的挖起一團面，左右手倒兩下一個餅子已經成形，啪的一聲牢牢貼在鍋沿上，很快就把八人鍋貼的滿滿當當。
最終劉志全的餅子并沒送出去，因為李大丫特意讓她大兒子劉志福跑過來一趟，告訴夏菊花他娘已經帶着劉志貴往醫院送飯了。
好在現在入冬了，蒸出來的餅子可以放幾天，下頓熱熱就能吃，夏菊花打發走劉志貴，留出早飯的餅子，其餘的都收了起來。
孫紅梅直到端飯的時候才冒頭，頂着兩只明晃晃的大黑眼圈，只叫了一聲娘就默默端飯。王彩鳳本來想嘲諷兩句，想起剛才婆婆說的話，自己就咽下去了，裝成沒發現孫紅梅一早晨沒出現在廚房。
剛端起碗來沒一會兒，劉志雙竟然跑回來了，夏菊花不解的問：“你咋回來了，不是說你二嬸給爺們送飯去了，你吃了沒？”
“沒吃呢，三叔還得大夫上班後再檢查一下，二叔說醫院不用留那麽些人，就讓我回來上工別誤了工。”劉志全顯然餓壞了，邊說邊伸手抓向一個餅子，夏菊花拿筷子頭打了一下他的手：“洗手去。”
“娘，你都不知道我這一宿是咋過的，還洗啥手。”劉志雙也是兩只黑眼圈，不管娘打不打他的手，都抓着餅子不放，直接塞進嘴裏，沒嚼兩口就咽下去，接着咬第二口。
劉志全有點兒生氣的看着兄弟，剛想問話發現娘正向他搖頭，還給兄弟盛了一碗粥，知道娘是心疼兄弟，也就埋頭吃自己的。
劉志雙倒沒讓大家等太長時間，吃了一個餅子肚裏有了底，才一邊喝粥一邊說他這一晚上的經歷。
在去醫院的路上□□已經跟他說了劉四壯敢動手的原因。正如夏菊花和王彩鳳猜的一要，劉四壯昨天領了扛糧食包的工錢回家後，孫氏就堵在門口讓他把錢交出來。
因為前段時間安寶玲娘家出了點兒事，劉三壯已經答應她等發了扛糧食包的錢，就拿着先給她娘家應急，想跟孫氏商量等安家還了錢再給她。
孫氏自然不答應，非得說安寶玲是嫁出門的閨女，老安家人死活都不歸安寶玲管，再說她這些年已經補貼娘家不少了，這次說啥也不能再借老安家錢。
安寶玲嘴上不大吃虧，就想跟孫氏好好算算，這些年她自己下地掙的工分，都吃到誰的肚子裏了，究竟是她補貼娘家的多還是劉四壯一房吃用的多。
This was like stirring up a hornet's nest. Sun sat on the ground and howled. Liu Sizhuang jumped out to vent his anger for his mother and picked up a bench to hit An Baoling. Liu Sanzhuang couldn't bear to watch his wife being beaten, so he went up to block it, but was hit in the head by Liu Sizhuang.
Seeing Liu Sanzhuang bleeding, An Baoling wanted to take him to see a doctor immediately. However, Sun and Liu Sizhuang blocked the door and refused to let them go. They insisted that Liu Sanzhuang pay his wages before they could leave, let alone pay for Liu Sanzhuang to see a doctor.