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 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 angry 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 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 angry. 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 Zhiquan 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. 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."
"Send it." Xia Juhua felt that since she had already borrowed the money, it would be okay to send breakfast. As long as the breakfast did not end up in the stomachs of Sun and Liu Sizhuang's family, she would be able to accept it.
Liu Zhiquan didn't expect his mother to be so happy about it. Even though he already felt that his mother would agree when he said those words to Liu Erzhuang, he still said gratefully, "Thank you, Mom." He didn't let his words fall on empty air.
In her previous life, Xia Juhua would have said that there was nothing to thank her for. But in this life, Xia Juhua said, "You are a mother now. I cannot let people think that you are not responsible when you say things at home. Look at your second and third uncles. They are real men when they go out, but who in the village dares to go to them when they have problems?"
Liu Zhiquan stood there with emotion, watching his mother return to the house, and then watching the lights in the main room go out, his heart was still churning and he couldn't calm down. Wang Caifeng had heard the noise a long time ago, and seeing that the man hadn't returned to the house, she came out to see what was wrong with him, and found that he was standing stupidly under the window of the main room, lost in thought.
Wang Caifeng asked: "Zhiquan, why don't you go back to your room to sleep?"
"Yeah." Liu Zhiquan just hummed in response to his wife's answer, and glanced at the main room where the lights had been turned off. Then he remembered that his mother had neither asked him what happened in the old house nor asked who took his third uncle to the hospital.
Is his mother worried or not? Liu Zhiquan was a little confused.
Xia Juhua had nothing to worry about - was it useful to worry? Would asking solve the problem? Her family had already separated from the old Liu family, and they helped financially and physically because Liu Sanzhuang and his wife treated them well. Xia Juhua felt that no matter how much she worried, it was not as practical as helping them.
Wang Caifeng was not as patient as Xia Juhua. As soon as Liu Zhiquan entered the room, she asked questions non-stop, from why Liu Sanzhuang was beaten and how he was injured, to the attitudes of Sun and the fourth room, and who went to the hospital with him...
Liu Zhiquan was annoyed by the question and replied directly: "If you want to know, go to that hospital to ask. I was there to help push the wheelchair, how could I know so much?"
Wang Caifeng was a little unwilling: "So you went there once and didn't hear anything at all?"
"I heard it." Liu Zhiquan pulled back the quilt and suddenly became more interested in talking: "I heard that grandma was partial to my uncle and insisted that my uncle give all the wages for carrying the food bags to her, otherwise she would not let my aunt take my uncle to the hospital. I also heard that my mother felt sorry for me and knew that I was tired after running for such a long time, so she told me to rest without asking any questions."
Wang Caifeng was so angry that she almost tore the quilt in the dark, which meant that she didn't know how to feel sorry for the man. But Liu Zhiquan had said so much, Wang Caifeng really couldn't ask anything else, so she could only cover her head with the quilt silently.
Even under the quilt, Liu Zhiquan's voice could not be heard: "You need to get up early tomorrow to bring food to your second uncle and the others."
"How much does that cost..." Wang Caifeng's distressed words were not finished yet, but she was interrupted by Liu Zhiquan: "I was the first one to suggest sending food to my second uncle, and my mother agreed. You don't want me to be someone who doesn't keep his word, do you?"
Wang Caifeng, who had been taught by her mother since she was a child, had some plans in mind, but she always acted within the tolerance of men. Now that Liu Zhiquan had raised a life-threatening question, Wang Caifeng remained silent and pulled the quilt tighter over her head.
"Don't be ungrateful." Liu Zhiquan still wanted to speak: "Mom is not partial. Whoever earns the money in the family can keep half for himself. Go out and ask other people if they can do it. Who of us is as well-off as we are?"
This was the truth. Wang Caifeng couldn't help but think of Liu Baoguo's rice porridge and new mattress. She admitted that Liu Zhiquan was right, and half of her head emerged from the quilt and said, "I didn't say anything bad about my mother."
"You know mom is good, so you should listen to her from now on." Liu Zhiquan gave his wife an order: "Mom won't treat us unfairly. If you really treat us like the old lady, you won't be able to cry even if you don't know how to do it."
Liu Zhiquan actually mentioned the old hospital himself. Wang Caifeng forgot his impatience just now, turned over and lay facing Liu Zhiquan, and asked: "Do you think it was Sun Guizhi who instigated it? I heard that she also asked grandma to talk to second uncle, wanting fourth uncle to take over your and Zhishuang's job of carrying food bags."
"Don't worry about them, just live your life well." Liu Zhiquan sighed with satisfaction: "Mom is not someone who will be easily instigated by others."
Wang Caifeng smiled silently after hearing this. Her mother-in-law would not be provoked by others. What she wanted most was to see the brothers and sisters-in-law get along well with each other. If Wang Caifeng were to say, for someone like Sun Hongmei, her mother-in-law reluctantly let her into the family. She should not have been treated well from the beginning.
But my mother-in-law gave it to me anyway, probably to keep the family harmonious. But Sun Hongmei was always trying to stir up trouble, is she being obedient now? I have to curry favor with my mother-in-law in the future, haven't I seen men listen to her more and more?
Life is smooth if I listen to my mother-in-law, and she doesn't suffer any loss.
Wang Caifeng, who was supposed to listen to her mother-in-law, woke up early the next day. Unexpectedly, her mother-in-law was already in the kitchen. She hurried forward to take over and said, "Mom, why did you get up so early? Zhiquan came back and told me to get up early to cook, but I didn't expect that mom got up earlier than me."
"Zhiquan said he would bring food to your aunt and the others in the evening. I thought it would be better not to be late and let everyone go hungry, so I got up a little earlier. Please light the fire for me so that you don't take up all my hands." Xia Juhua did not let Wang Caifeng take over, but only let her light the fire for herself.
While Wang Caifeng was lighting a fire, she repeated to Xia Juhua what she had heard Liu Zhiquan say yesterday. Finally, she sighed, "No one can stand living like this every day."
The faint footsteps at the door stopped. Xia Juhua, who had already heard them, pretended not to know. She followed Wang Caifeng's sigh and said, "Otherwise, why would I hope that you guys would get along with each other every day? When this family is harmonious, even eating coarse food is sweet. Most of the people in Ping'an Village heard about the commotion in the old courtyard yesterday. Others would not say anything about your grandmother because she is old and a mother, but Liu Sizhuang and Sun Guizhi, just wait for people to point fingers at your backs."
"That's right." Wang Caifeng felt that her mother-in-law was her soulmate: "It's okay if Zhiliang is a boy, but Hongjuan is a girl. When the time comes to get married, once people find out that she has a mother like Sun Guizhi, who would dare to marry her?"
Xia Juhua glanced at the tip of the shoe sticking out of the doorway and smiled: "Sun Guizhi has her own ways. Why are you worrying about Hongjuan? She can get Hongjuan married."
Wang Caifeng also laughed: "That's right, otherwise Zhishuang wouldn't..."
"Shut up." Xia Juhua's words were indeed meant for the eavesdroppers, but it would be better if Wang Caifeng didn't make it clear: "You're talking nonsense. Isn't Zhishuang your brother?"
Wang Caifeng shrank her neck when she was scolded: "Mom, I was just talking..."
"Don't even bother talking. If someone hears us, Zhiquan and Zhishuang will still be brothers. Do you want our family to be like the old hospital? You look down on me every day, and I don't see why you can't fight me?"
The serious expression and angry tone of her mother-in-law frightened Wang Caifeng into silence. She obediently lit the fire and watched her mother-in-law scoop up a ball of dough skillfully. With two strokes of her left and right hands, a pancake was already formed. It stuck firmly to the edge of the pot with a snap, and soon the pot for eight was filled up.
In the end, Liu Zhiquan's cakes were not delivered because Li Daya specifically asked her eldest son Liu Zhifu to come over and tell Xia Juhua that his mother had already taken Liu Zhigui to the hospital to deliver meals.
Fortunately, it is winter now, and the steamed cakes can be kept for a few days and can be eaten hot at the next meal. Xia Juhua sent Liu Zhigui away, leaving the cakes for breakfast, and put away the rest.
Sun Hongmei didn't show up until the meal was served. She had two big dark circles under her eyes. She only called out "Mom" and then quietly served the meal. Wang Caifeng wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but she swallowed it when she remembered what her mother-in-law had just said, and pretended that she didn't notice that Sun Hongmei hadn't appeared in the kitchen all morning.
Not long after picking up the bowl, Liu Zhishuang came back. Xia Juhua asked in confusion, "Why are you back? Didn't your aunt say she went to bring food to the grandfathers? Have you eaten yet?"
"I haven't eaten yet. My third uncle needs to check me again after the doctor comes to work. My second uncle said that the hospital doesn't need so many people, so he told me to go back to work and not to miss work." Liu Zhiquan was obviously very hungry. He reached out to grab a cake while speaking. Xia Juhua hit his hand with the end of her chopsticks: "Go wash your hands."
"Mom, you don't know how I spent the whole night, why are you washing your hands?" Liu Zhishuang also had dark circles under his eyes. Regardless of whether his mother hit his hands or not, he held on to the biscuit and stuffed it directly into his mouth. He swallowed it without chewing it twice, and then took a second bite.
Liu Zhiquan looked at his brother a little angrily. Just when he was about to ask something, he found that his mother was shaking her head at him and served his brother a bowl of porridge. Knowing that his mother was worried about his brother, he just buried his head in eating his own.
Liu Zhishuang didn't keep everyone waiting too long. After he ate a pancake and felt full, he drank some porridge while talking about his experiences that night.
On the way to the hospital, □□ had already told him the reason why Liu Sizhuang dared to take action. Just as Xia Juhua and Wang Caifeng guessed, after Liu Sizhuang received his salary for carrying food bags yesterday and went home, Sun blocked him at the door and asked him to hand over the money.
Because something happened to An Baoling's family some time ago, Liu Sanzhuang had promised her that when she got the money for carrying the food packages, he would take it to her family for emergency use. He wanted to discuss with Sun to give her the money after the An family paid her back.
Sun naturally refused to agree, and insisted that An Baoling was a married daughter and that the An family had no right to An Baoling's management. Besides, she had already given a lot of financial support to her parents' family over the years, and she would not lend money to the An family again this time no matter what.
An Baoling didn't complain much, but she wanted to have a good accounting with Sun about who had eaten all the work points she had earned in the fields over the years, and whether she had given more to her parents' family or Liu Sizhuang's family had more to eat and use.
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.
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