Having witnessed his clansmen drifting further and further away, Uncle Huang was heartbroken, but there was nothing he could do.
After all, everyone wants to live a better life, which is understandable. It's normal to be a little calculating when relationships aren't as close anymore.
However, I still feel an indescribable sense of regret.
Although it seems unrealistic, I still miss those days of mutual support even more.
“How could I not remember?” Old Huang gazed into the distance. “Back then, everyone was of one mind. When we had something to do, we worked together. If anyone had a problem, a whole group of people would help.”
Although people might not have enough to eat, they rarely starved to death. Even in families without offspring, the clan would prepare a simple coffin so that the person would be buried safely.
Old Huang used to have a lot of complaints about what his elders did, thinking that if they didn't subsidize others, his own family would definitely get better and better.
And that's exactly what happened. After the separation, the second wife's life got better and better, and she acquired more and more land.
However, Old Man Huang later discovered that there was an unfillable regret in his heart.
I only learned today from Uncle Huang Wu's words that he had been longing for the kind of kinship rooted in blood, and for the kind of kinship where people depended on each other for survival.
Huang Shi couldn't understand the elders' feelings; without experiencing such a scene, he couldn't empathize. But he knew that this suggestion could bring the clan members closer together.
“Since that’s what you’ve said, let’s plant the rice together this year,” he thought for a moment and then added, “Let’s see how this year goes before deciding what to do next year.”
“It’s the same with wheat harvesting,” Uncle Huang sneered. “If anyone’s not satisfied, let him come find me!”
“Harvesting grain is a big deal, and it should be done this way,” Old Huang stroked his beard. “Things are different now than before. Everyone has long since separated, and it’s not good to force them together again. How about this, from now on, we can plant rice and harvest grain together, and do whatever we want at other times.”
As for the few households in the village that are unable to work, the clan will supplement their food rations, and whoever has time will lend a hand with their daily chores; otherwise, it's fine.
Although he missed the old days, Old Man Huang knew that things were different now, and doing everything together would only breed resentment.
“Okay,” Uncle Huang Wu understood this principle, “some things really can’t be forced.”
“Oh, right,” Uncle Huang suddenly remembered something, “Second Brother, how many rice seedlings does Huang Mu’s wife still have? My family wants to try three mu of land.”
"Three mu of land for a trial planting," Huang Sheng exclaimed, "Seventh Uncle, what courage you have!"
"I originally wanted to replace them all," Uncle Huang said helplessly. "This year's grain seeds were exchanged from my eldest daughter-in-law's family, which cost two hundred coins. I heard that the grain yield is high, but the kids absolutely refused to switch."
"You actually think highly of these seedlings?" Uncle Huang was somewhat surprised. "These are different from winter melons; they are life-saving food. If something goes wrong, we won't have any food for a year."
Even knowing that Jiang Nuan wouldn't joke about something this serious, he still didn't dare use the new seedlings. It concerned the food supply for his entire family, and he couldn't trust her so easily.
“I trust my second brother,” Uncle Huang said without hesitation. “Over the years, he has never made a mistake in anything he has done.”
"No way," Old Huang chuckled. "I didn't want to plant it either, but my daughter-in-law begged me so pitifully that I couldn't bear to refuse."
I don't believe you!
This sentence flashed through the minds of everyone present at the same time!
The second wife's current prosperity is inseparable from Old Man Huang's influence.
The second branch of the family used to be better off, but only slightly better; their rice porridge was only slightly thicker than the others'. After Old Man Huang took over as village chief, the second branch's life gradually improved.
Everyone knows that he is a very shrewd person and has almost never done anything that results in a loss.
Hearing their conversation, everyone had their own thoughts.
"Second Brother," Uncle Huang asked, blushing, "could you spare a little more? I'd like to try too?"
"No, the seedlings were planted a long time ago, and the number is limited; we can't distribute them evenly."
"That's such a pity!"
"Let's leave that aside for now and talk about tomorrow's arrangements..."
When Jiang Nuan arrived at the old house, she was puzzled to learn that the whole village was planting rice together. "Why are we suddenly planting rice together? There doesn't seem to be a precedent for this in previous years."
"It was suggested by the elders," Sister-in-law Huang glanced at her mother-in-law and then explained in a low voice, "Forty or fifty years ago, before our ancestors passed away, the village worked like this. Later, conflicts increased, and since no one was there to keep things in check, that's when they separated."
"There was nothing we could do about it," Old Mrs. Huang sighed. "Back then, the harvest was bad, and the weather was much colder than it is now. After a year of hard work, we still couldn't harvest much grain. On top of that, there were deadly corvée labors. If it were like now, I really don't know how many of us would have survived."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan frowned deeply, "Does this mean things will have to be the same as before from now on?"
It just doesn't seem realistic!
Although we are of the same clan, our bloodlines are actually getting further and further apart. We are not yet beyond the fifth degree of kinship, but we are not far off. It will take at least ten years or as little as four or five years.
"Only when transplanting rice seedlings and harvesting grain do we work together; at other times, each family does their own work."
"That's good," Jiang Nuan breathed a sigh of relief, "It can both enhance cohesion and reduce conflicts."
"That's how it is. Everyone has a heart; no one wants to keep suffering losses. Let's not talk about this anymore," Sister Huang changed the subject. "Did you come here today for something?"
“The chefs we invited have arrived,” Jiang Nuan said with a smile. “There’s not enough room at home, so they’ll have to stay somewhere else for now.”
"Didn't you say you were staying in town?" Sister-in-law Huang asked, puzzled. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Something came up, I'll go to town later."
"Alright, there's a small courtyard near the school. It's unclaimed and hasn't been inhabited for five or six years. Let's see if it's habitable tomorrow!"
After saying that, Sister-in-law Huang went back to her room to get a key and continued to instruct, "Even if it's habitable, it still needs to be tidied up in advance. The craftsmen are all wealthy people from the prefectural city. The conditions in the countryside are not good, and it's hard on them."
“I understand,” Jiang Nuan reassured her. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, I know what to do.”
"What about transplanting rice seedlings tomorrow?" Sister-in-law Huang suddenly thought of this problem. "Our family will also have to send people, especially your family, with so many men. Xiao Chuan and the other two can't escape it."
"Let's focus on transplanting rice seedlings first," Jiang Nuan said with a hint of helplessness. "It's the first time we're working together, so it's not appropriate for our family to make an exception."
This sudden event left her feeling very passive.
You can arrange your own work however you want; if you're doing it together, you definitely won't feel as comfortable.
“Indeed,” Sister-in-law Huang said, somewhat angrily, “I don’t know what your brother was thinking. This kind of thing is thankless and exhausting, so why did he agree to it?”
“It was your father’s idea,” Old Mrs. Huang explained. “They wanted to unite the clan as one.”
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