Xu Xinning vowed never to dine at a state-run restaurant when it was so empty again; being stared at like a monkey was really unpleasant.
However, it seems that only Xu Xinning had this feeling among the three people. The other two didn't seem to care and ate with great relish, eventually even sharing Xu Xinning's half bowl.
Xu Xinning really admired Xu Laosan; she didn't know how his small belly could hold so much food.
After leaving the state-run restaurant, Xu Xinning went to the supply and marketing cooperative next door. She didn't like owing favors overnight, so she was thinking about what kind of gift would be appropriate in return.
As long as Xu Laosan isn't forced to study or write, he's happy doing whatever he wants.
Finally, Xu Xinning picked out a thick leather-bound notebook. While buying the notebook, she unexpectedly received a badge of a great man, which she immediately gave to Mu Jingheng.
Mu Jingheng knew that Xu Xinning was still upset about paying for the ticket at the state-run restaurant, but he couldn't bear to refuse the gift she bought him. It was the first gift his little sister Xinning had ever given him, and he had to cherish it. He decided that from today onwards, he would record his feelings and thoughts in this notebook every day.
The second oxcart wouldn't return until noon, so the three of them, not wanting to waste time, decided to walk back.
Mu Jingheng thought he should buy a bicycle. Having one would make taking Xin Ning out much easier, even with Xu Laosan (the third wheel) along. He could just let him sit on the front crossbar. If Xin Ning wanted to sit on the crossbar, that would be even better! ^0^
Actually, the distance from the commune to Xujia Village is not very far, although the walking route and the bus route are different.
Walking back involves crossing a small hill, which would significantly shorten the journey.
Hongxing Commune is located in a mountainous area. Although the mountains are not high, they are layered and continuous, with lush green forests everywhere you look.
Over the years, thanks to everyone's continuous efforts, a lot of mountain land has been reclaimed, which looks like ribbons from a distance.
Xu Laosan seemed tireless the whole way, his mouth never stopping. Mu Jingheng, who never seemed to grow up, was also chasing and playing with Xu Laosan. They even had the energy to pick some wildflowers to make a flower wreath for Xu Xinning to wear.
Xu Xinning was speechless, but she didn't refuse. However, seeing how energetic they were, she didn't feel so tired anymore.
Chatting and laughing, chasing and playing, they soon returned to Xujia Village Brigade.
Seeing a large crowd gathered at the village entrance from afar, Xu Xinning wondered, "Shouldn't they all be at work right now?"
Xu Laosan had sharp eyes and spotted the eldest daughter of the second wife who had married out in the crowd. She was the second oldest daughter in the Xu family, named Xu Xialian, and the younger generation called her Second Aunt.
Xu Laosan: "Sister, what happened to Second Aunt?"
Xu Xinning: "Why don't you go and see for yourself?"
Xu Xialian was the least favored person in the second wife's household, second only to Xu Mingyang. If it weren't for the fact that so many of her children had died young, Xu Xialian's treatment might have been even worse. Before she got married, she was comparable to Xu Daya now, doing the most work and eating the least. But at least Xu Daya knew how to cheat and sly, while Xu Xialian was too honest.
When she reached marriageable age, she was married off by her stepmother for a dowry of fifty yuan. She left with only one set of clothes on.
Grandma Xu couldn't bear to see her suffer, so she waited for her on her usual route and gave her ten yuan as a treasury, along with a set of clothes and a pair of shoes, hoping that she wouldn't have to endure such hardship in her husband's family anymore.
She has hardly ever come back since she got married. If Xu Yaozu and Xu Mingyang hadn't visited her once a few years ago, they would have had no idea what kind of life she was living.
Xu Xialian married into a place in the mountains, where the people used to be hunters, and it is said that they were bandits who reformed in their early years.
Such places are too remote and life is very inconvenient. Marriages in the village are very difficult, and there are even cases of brothers sharing a wife.
Xu Xialian was treated as a wife of a gay man.
Xu Yaozu and Xu Mingyang were very angry when they found out.
I heard that Xu Xialian had also run away before, but reality was what it was. She had several children, and most importantly, both of her husbands treated her well. Over time, she decided to settle down and live a good life.
Aside from the difficulty of finding a spouse, life in that place was not bad. At least they were relatively free to eat meat. They would also make cured meat from the game they hunted and carry it out of the mountains to exchange for daily necessities.
In order to make Xu Xialian's life a little better, Xu Yaozu and Xu Mingyang even used their comrades' connections to help them sell their prey.
If we look at it that way, Xu Xialian's life is actually quite easy.
Xu Xinning only realized that one of Xu Xialian's men had gotten into trouble when she got closer.
The man on the stretcher was pale, with a bloody hole in his stomach and injuries of varying degrees on his legs and arms. It was clear that he had been injured by a large animal. If they hadn't used some effective hemostatic medicine, he probably would have died long ago.
It turned out that Xu Xialian and her family didn't have money to go to the hospital, so they went to the Xujia Village brigade to ask the second branch of the family for money. However, when the second branch saw the situation, they refused to come out and said that they had married Xu Xialian off to the eldest son, so they didn't recognize her.
It's really shameful to be someone's wife. The second wife has never told anyone about this. Today, Xu Xialian brought people to the house so openly. The second wife feels that Xu Xialian has completely disgraced the family and is arguing that she wants to break off the relationship with her.
Old Mrs. Xu was kind-hearted and told them to take the person to the hospital first. Yang Chunqin even asked Xu Mingyang to drive the tractor to take them, but the second wife refused, insisting that the brigade first issue them a letter of severance, which is why so many people blocked the village entrance.
When Yang Chunqin saw Xu Xinning return, she finally felt relieved. She thought that if Xu Xinning could save the person, then the person wouldn't die; if even Xu Xinning couldn't help, then there was no need to send the person to the hospital.
With tears in her eyes, Grandma Xu pulled Xu Xinning to the side of the stretcher. "My dear, please take a good look at her. Your second aunt has had a hard life!"
These were the first two men Xu Xinning had met from Xu Xialian. They were both tall and strong, with features that were not particularly handsome but were still decent. If such men lived outside the mountains, they wouldn't have trouble finding wives.
What a cruel twist of fate!
They were accompanied by three of their brothers from the same clan.
No one except her family knew about Xu Xinning's medical skills. Now that they saw Old Mrs. Xu dragging Xu Xinning to see someone, they all assumed that Old Mrs. Xu was desperate and trying anything.
Xu Xinning carefully examined the wound and took her pulse. Fortunately, it was treated in time, and the person who did it must be an expert.
Xu Xinning looked at Xu Xialian seriously and said, "Second Aunt, if you trust me, please carry him to the brigade's medical station."
In fact, Xu Xinning no longer knew this second aunt, and similarly, Xu Xialian did not know Xu Xinning.
But Xu Xialian believed in Old Mrs. Xu and Yang Chunqin; they were the people who would stand up for her during her most difficult time.
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