Of course, Yang Xinghua's dislike for the second son's wife was not without reason.

In previous years, the Huang family also pickled bacon at about this time. After it was marinated, they would hang it neatly above the stove in the kitchen.

Hanging bacon over the kitchen stove is both a tradition and has its own rules.

Firstly, the fumes from cooking every day can be used to smoke the bacon to achieve the effect of air-drying and preservation. Secondly, after long-term smoking, the bacon will taste more fragrant and the meat will be firmer.

In previous years, whenever the Huang family’s bacon was ready, the second son and his wife would find all kinds of excuses to come and “borrow” the bacon.

I have to entertain guests today and give gifts tomorrow. I borrowed it once and never returned it.

After suffering losses several times, the old couple no longer paid any attention to the shameless behavior of the second brother and his wife who came to "borrow" meat.

Last year, after the second son and his wife failed to borrow money twice, they stopped trying.

Later, as the year was coming to an end, the second brother and his wife took the initiative to come to help clean up the dust. Yang Xinghua was moved by their filial piety for a long time. As a result, in the evening, Liu Zhi discovered that two pieces of bacon hanging above the stove were missing.

Two pieces of bacon weigh at least two kilograms, and the Huang family only pickled six pieces of bacon in total. If this one was thrown away, one-third of it would be lost.

This was like adding insult to injury for the already poor Huang family. Yang Xinghua was so angry that she cried for several days.

Although everyone could guess who had "taken away" the bacon, there was no evidence, and making a fuss about it would only make the villagers laugh at them.

The Huang family can't afford to lose face when their son and daughter-in-law stole into their parents' home.

Yang Xinghua has been holding this grudge until now, but she still hasn't let it go.

So, when the second son and his wife came home today, Yang Xinghua immediately secretly instructed the eldest daughter-in-law to take down the cured meat, chicken and duck hanging on the stove and hide them in the big jar in the woodroom.

The big jar used to be used to store water. It was about 1.5 meters high. Later, the family dug a well and the big jar became unused and remained abandoned in the woodshed.

Now Peng Fang was asking about her bacon again, obviously trying to get the bacon again. Yang Xinghua was not happy at all and could not help scolding her, "If you want to eat, eat well. If you don't want to eat, leave the table. Don't stand here and be annoying."

Peng Fang was also a hot-tempered person, so he put down his bowl and chopsticks immediately, "So you don't welcome an outsider like me? Fine, I won't eat anymore, you guys can enjoy yourselves!"

As soon as Peng Fang left, Liu Zhi put down his bowl and chopsticks and followed him out.

Although the bacon had been hidden by her and her mother-in-law, the woodshed was not very hidden and could still be found if one looked carefully.

The village is so small that any little disturbance will spread quickly.

Peng Fang had heard about the Huang family buying meat, chickens and ducks, and she had already made up her mind.

There are 30 kilograms of pork and several local chickens and ducks. It shouldn't be too much for her to have two chickens and a duck.

But it’s strange. There’s nothing in the kitchen. Where could it be hidden?

Peng Fang subconsciously looked towards the woodshed and was about to go in to take a look when Liu Zhi suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Sister-in-law, how have you discussed the matter of setting up a bamboo weaving factory with Jianguo?"

Peng Fang had to suppress her thoughts and said sourly, "Sister-in-law, Jianguo and I are not as lucky as you. We have a niece to support us and give us money to start a factory. We would like to make money together, but we don't have any money on hand.

How about, sister-in-law talk to my niece and ask her to lend us a few hundred yuan to start our business?"

Liu Zhi responded in a neither soft nor hard way, "Why, has your sister-in-law spent all the money she borrowed from Huang Yao?"

Peng Fang's heart skipped a beat. How did Liu Zhi know that she had asked Huang Yao to borrow money? She was confused, but she quickly denied it. "No, I don't even know where Huang Yao is. How could I ask her for money?"

Liu Zhi snorted, "Could it be that Huang Yao was lying? She said that you called her and threatened her to lend you 500 yuan, otherwise you would spread the news that she stole the money.

Unfortunately, she didn't have enough money on hand, so she only sent 200. Why didn't my sister-in-law receive the money? "

Peng Fang was suddenly shocked and anxious, "Huang Yao is coming back?"

"Of course I do. The Huang family raised her for 18 years, and she ran away without saying a word. She should come back and give an explanation."

"Then, when will she come back?"

"He said he would come back during the holidays. I guess he would come back with Yun Mo during the winter vacation."

Peng Fang didn't know that Liu Zhi was talking nonsense, and thought that Huang Yao was really going back to the village for the New Year, and her heart was suddenly in turmoil.

Huang Yao came back, and she could no longer hide the fact that she had borrowed money. And knowing that her son Huang Zhao did not make it to a technical school, Huang Yao would definitely ask her to pay back the money.

What should I do?

At this moment, Peng Fang's mind was full of thoughts about borrowing money from Huang Yao, so he had no time to look for the bacon that Yang Xinghua had hidden.

Seeing that his goal was achieved, Liu Zhi turned around with a sneer and went back to the main room, where he quickly cleared the dishes on the table and took them to the kitchen to wash them.

In the main room.

After having a full meal, Huang Jianguo casually broke off a piece of thin bamboo thread for weaving bamboo and talked about setting up a factory while picking his teeth.

"Dad, Peng Fang and I have discussed it and we're going to get involved in the bamboo weaving factory. Firstly, we don't have the spare money to do it, and secondly, Peng Fang and I have decided to go out to work after the Chinese New Year."

Huang Kailin was mentally prepared that the second son and his wife were unwilling to engage in bamboo weaving, but he did not expect that the second son would actually go out to work.

"If you and Peng Fang are both out, who will take care of the farmland?"

In this era, land was contracted under the responsibility system, and each household had to pay public grain for the land they received.

If you don't pay the public grain tax or don't pay enough, you will be criticized and punished. The village even has the right to take back the land, and you won't be able to farm in the future.

For rural people, land is more important than heaven and is a support more important than their life.

Huang Jianguo naturally understood this truth, and laughed, "Dad, I'm here to discuss this with you. Our family has a total of 7 acres of land, 2 acres of dry land, and 7 or 8 acres of private land, which adds up to just over 10 acres. I want you and big brother to help us farm it."

Hearing this, not only Huang Kailin had a gloomy face, but even the honest Huang Jianjun had a gloomy expression.

Huang Zhiqiu couldn't suppress his anger. "Second brother, Dad is almost 70 years old, and Mom is not in good health. My eldest brother and his wife are now farming more than 15 mu of land for the whole family. They are exhausted already. How can they have the energy to farm your 10 mu? "

Huang Jianguo disagreed, "Don't we still have you? You're idle at home every day, why don't you help plant some? Don't worry, as your brother, I won't treat you unfairly. Apart from the public grain you hand in, we'll split the rest 50-50, you get half and I get half..."

Huang Zhiqiu was incredulous. "So I helped you farm the land, and I have to give you half of the harvest?"

"Of course, the land is mine. You just put in some effort and provided fertilizer and seeds. In fact, you've made a profit..."

"Since you feel you're at a disadvantage, then just grow the crops yourself."

"I have to go out, but I can't plant anything, so I ask you for help..."

Huang Kailin slammed the table hard, interrupting the argument between the brother and sister.

Huang Kailin looked at the second son Huang Jianguo with a gloomy face, "I won't stop you and Peng Fang from going out to work, but you should find someone to farm your land. I'm too old to farm anymore, and your eldest brother is busy with the bamboo weaving factory and doesn't have the energy and time."

"Dad, I can't find anyone, otherwise I wouldn't beg you and my brother..."

(End of this chapter)