Xu Changshou and his companions walked and stopped, climbed the mountain and turned the corner of the cliff. The repaired kiln shed came into view, and their strength, which they had just mustered, dissipated.
They leaned against the tree trunks, resting, one by one.
"Good heavens, this road is really hard to walk on. I never want to walk it a second time." Xu Changshou gasped for breath, feeling like his throat was on fire.
“Exactly, if there were any food to eat, I wouldn’t want to come all this way.” Xu Yaozu pulled his sleeve to wipe his sweat.
Yaozu's wife, licking her chapped lips and enduring the back pain from carrying the child alone, reminded him, "Xiaobao is hungry. Let's hurry over and have Uncle cook and kill a rabbit!"
Xiao Bao refused to get down and walk, only clinging to his mother's back and whining, "Mom, I want to eat eggs, noodles and meat."
Upon hearing about food, the group mustered their last bit of strength and staggered along the gravel path toward the houses.
In the courtyard, Grandpa Xiaoman stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky, motionless as if he were a clay or wooden sculpture.
However, upon seeing the four people appear before him in such a disheveled state, he was only slightly surprised before lowering his eyelids, turning his head to go inside... and closing the door!
Seeing a string of dried radishes and dried sweet potatoes hanging under the eaves, Xu Changshou was overjoyed but before he could even speak, he was turned away and immediately jumped up and down in anger, cursing: "Xu Changgeng, you turtle bastard, I climbed up the mountain with great difficulty to see if you were dead or not, and you won't even open the door!"
From inside the door came Xiaoman's cold voice: "I'm not dead. Even if you die, I'm still alive."
Seeing that things were not going well, Xu Yaozu quickly stepped forward and knocked on the door: "Uncle, our family has been thinking about you every day, and... Dazhu and Xiaoman too! Open the door and let us in to talk."
Xiao Man remained indifferent: "There's nothing to say. I don't recognize anyone anymore. You'd better get lost."
Xu Changshou was a senior figure in the village, and everyone in the small Xu Family Village had to give him some face. However, after being humiliated by Xiaoman, the two families stopped having any contact.
But now that he had shamelessly come to ask for help, he had no choice but to swallow his embarrassment and say something conciliatory: "Brother Chang Geng, I'm a straightforward person, please forgive me if I said the wrong thing before."
There was no movement inside!
Xu Changshou blushed, and Xu Yaozu quickly pulled him aside, telling him not to get angry.
Xu Changshou gritted his teeth, but still tried to soften his tone: "Brother Changgeng, you can scold me and beat me if you want, but Yaozu and Xiaobao didn't offend you, did they? No matter what, you are their uncle. The children came to visit you, you can't just shut the door and ignore them!"
"Uncle!"
"Grandpa!"
Xu Yaozhu and Xu Xiaobao started shouting, and Yaozu's wife also burst into tears.
Xu Changshou acted arrogantly and domineeringly, banging on the door so loudly it made a loud noise: "I don't care anymore, I'm here now, if you don't open the door I'll just smash my head against it and die."
Inside the room, Grandpa Xiaoman closed his eyes, his fingers trembling slightly.
This is what blood relatives are like. When his own family was in trouble, he not only didn't help, but also wanted Dazhu to die. Now that his own family is barely getting by, he's eager to cling to them again.
Beside Grandpa Xiaoman, Grandma Xiaoman shook her head and sighed: "This is a family of scoundrels, the kind of people whose daughters can't get rid of even after they've gotten married!"
Xiaoman's face was ashen, her fists clenched tightly: "Grandpa, Grandma, let me go out and beat them to death. There's no reason for us to be forced to our doorsteps and not say a word."
Although both Jiang and her family members were small, Aunt Jiang used to be known for her shrewish behavior in the village. Although she had a bad reputation, no one dared to bully her.
Grandpa and Grandma have developed a habit of keeping quiet and avoiding conflict, always keeping their own family members in check and trying not to argue with others. Now, they've even had their door blocked.
In fact, there was only a door panel separating the inside and outside, with a gap the width of a finger in between. Xu Yaozu and his men had already seen and heard what was going on inside.
Seeing that Xiaoman was also there, he immediately shouted, "Nephew, I'm your Uncle Yaozu! Open the door quickly! Your grandpa's getting senile. You need to learn to be sensible and not be so petty..."
He shouldn't have said anything, because once he did, Xiaoman's already pent-up anger flared up: "You don't want to be petty, huh? Then be more forgiving!"
As he spoke, he suddenly opened the door. Before Xu Yaozu could even laugh, he was slapped across the face with a broom: "Who the hell are you, uncle? If you don't know me, get lost!"
Xiaoman has become more rational now, and no longer mentions his oak staff inlaid with sharp stones, but only uses a newly made broom.
Xu Yaozu was still stunned by the beating, and blood started flowing from his nose. He cried out and retreated repeatedly.
Upon seeing his son being beaten, Xu Changshou immediately rushed over and grabbed Xiaoman, saying, "Xu Changgeng, how dare a junior in your family hit an elder? You've raised such a disobedient and unfilial child."
No wonder your ancestors punished you by causing the death of your son and grandson, bringing misfortune to your son and grandson.
I'm going to tell the entire Xu family, to let them all know where their bad luck came from, and see which girl would dare marry into this family then.
These words made Xiaomanye turn pale.
The early deaths of his son and daughter-in-law, and the injury to his grandson, made him blame himself every night, repeatedly wondering if he had done something wrong to anger his ancestors.
This was his sore spot, and also the place where the Xu family could easily hurt him. It even made him give up on himself when the whole village was fleeing.
"Stop!" Little Man roared angrily.
Xiaoman stopped, but Xu Yaozu, who was hitting Xiaoman, was not let go by his wife. She held onto Xiaoman's clothes tightly and kept shouting that she was killing him!
Xu Yaozu wiped the blood all over his face, grimacing as he said, "My chest hurts, my head hurts, I got beaten up!"
Just then, Nini, who was sleeping alone in her room, was woken up.
She dressed herself, opened the door, rubbed her eyes, and came out. When she saw strangers outside and that they were fighting with her uncle, she was startled and called out in a childish voice, "Great-grandpa and great-grandma!"
Jiang Zhi and Xu Errui also arrived and shouted for them to stop.
In fact, from the moment Xu Changshou and his group entered the courtyard, they only exchanged a few words before starting to fight.
Upon seeing Granny Jiang, Xu Yaozu said warily, "This is none of your business, don't meddle."
Jiang Zhi, hands on her hips, said, "Your voice is so loud that it scared my chickens away from home. Isn't that a big deal?"
Xu Changshou was exhausted and hungry, and all he could think about was how to get someone to support him with a clear conscience. He had no energy to argue with this shrew. He pulled his son aside and said, "Don't get entangled with a woman who has nothing to do with you."
He immediately turned to Jiang Zhi and said, "This is a matter between the men of this household. You, a widow from a concubine's side, should not interfere and break the rules."
He's going to start talking about rules again now.
When dealing with an honest person, you have to use your fists; when dealing with a wicked person, you have to reason with them. Even a piece of tofu with yellowed sides is better than him.
Jiang Zhi stood there with a frown. This was Xiaoman's family matter, and she shouldn't interfere unless Xiaoman took the initiative to speak up. Otherwise, this proud and stubborn old man would have a hard time getting over it.
Xiaoman suppressed his anger: "I said I don't acknowledge any relatives, so leave on your own and stop arguing!"
Xu Changshou almost lost his life to get up here, and he was unwilling to leave. He sat down on the threshold and shouted to Xiaoman's grandmother, "Sister-in-law, bring some food. Otherwise, I won't be able to control my eating when I go back, and Xiaoman will never find a wife."
Haha, where's your Dazhu? I haven't seen him around. He must be dead by now.
He left behind a good-for-nothing girl. If Xiaoman ruins your reputation, your family line will end.
This is a blatant threat, and in the rural society where personal connections matter, it's the most fatal weakness; even a few words can drown a person!
At this time, Dazhu was not at home, and the couple were busy in the earthen cellar on the other side of the terraced fields.
We've already harvested one batch of old wood ear mushrooms and are now trying to inoculate them by drilling holes in the wooden sticks.
Jiang Zhi did not inform them of Xu Changshou's arrival for the time being, so as not to make Xu Dazhu anxious and unable to help.
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