Although electric wires and lights were installed, people were reluctant to use electricity. Electricity was still expensive for ordinary families in those days, so they preferred to eat early and go to bed early. If there was really no other way, they would only use kerosene lamps for light.
However, the power line wasn't installed for nothing; it represented prestige. A brigade that could afford to install such a power line was certainly not bad. With this electricity, it would be much easier for the young men and women in the brigade to find spouses.
It was getting a little dark by then, and before she even left the alley, she heard someone calling Xu Xinning's voice from behind: "Nannan, Nannan! Wait for me."
Xu Xinning turned around and saw Old Mrs. Chen rushing up.
Xu Xinning: "Grandma, is there something you need?"
Grandma Chen: "What could be wrong? I just know you're going for a walk after dinner and I'd like to ask you to keep me company."
Grandma Chen wasn't actually that old; she was in her early sixties. She probably hadn't done any heavy work in her life, and her skin looked fine. Unlike Grandma Xu, whose hair was meticulously combed back and tied into a small bun, Grandma Chen had a trendy short bob. She wore a thick white-gray khaki blouse, black pants, and a pair of square-toed shoes that she had made herself.
It has to be said that Mrs. Chen is a fashionable old lady, unlike Mrs. Xu who always wears dark-colored diagonal-front blouses.
These things are probably related to each person's life circumstances. Grandma Xu had many children, and her mind was focused on her family. Grandma Chen, on the other hand, was the only daughter who was pampered by her parents when she was a girl. After getting married, she only had one son, and her husband was a son-in-law who moved into her family's home. So their mindsets are completely different.
Two rural women of similar age, but living in completely different ways.
Xu Xinning looked at Old Mrs. Chen teasingly and said, "Why don't you go for a walk with Uncle Chen, Auntie?"
Grandma Chen: "What's the point of talking to him? His mouth is like a gourd with its mouth sawed off. He doesn't say a word all day. He's really boring."
Xu Xinning: "My uncle is an honest man. He works hard for the family and is good to you, my aunt. He can't bear to see you overworked."
Hearing Xu Xinning say that, Grandma Chen immediately perked up.
Grandma Chen: "My husband is incredibly good to me. When the matchmaker first introduced us, I didn't want to be with him because I thought he was ordinary-looking and dull. But my mother said that you can't just look at a man's appearance, especially since my family was looking for a son-in-law who would live with us. If a son-in-law is too dull, it's hard to handle him. After we got married, I realized my mother was right. Although my husband doesn't talk much, he's very considerate to me."
Xu Xinning thinks this is fine.
Grandma Chen said, "As the saying goes, 'A walk after a meal will help you live to ninety-nine.' You're a doctor, so you know these things much better than we do. From now on, I'll take a walk with you after every meal."
Xu Xinning smiled, "Okay!"
Old Mrs. Chen may be a bit gossipy, but she has no bad intentions.
Xu Xinning felt that Grandma Chen's nagging was related to her being too bored in her daily life.
The two walked and talked all the way, and when they arrived at Xu Xinning's great-uncle's house, they heard the sound of her great-aunt scolding Xu Mingyang.
Xu Xinning really likes her cousin Xu Mingyang, and even feels closer to him than to her own two uncles.
It's hard to say why, maybe the two people's magnetic fields are more compatible?
Because Xu Xinning is related to this cousin, she pays extra attention to his affairs.
However, it's quite strange about this great-uncle's family. It seems that his great-aunt particularly dislikes Xu Mingyang. He never gets any good things, and bad things always seem to happen to him.
The fact that Xu Mingyang and his wife had been married for several years but had not consummated their marriage was spread by his stepmother; otherwise, who would know about such a sexual affair?
The young lady even went around spreading rumors that Xu Mingyang was no good.
Listen to this! Is this something a mother should say?
Logically speaking, Xu Mingyang was the son that his great-grandparents had been eagerly awaiting, so they should have doted on him. This situation was something Xu Xinning couldn't understand.
Xu Mingyang had four older sisters, two of whom died young, leaving two.
In those days, not being able to have a son meant the family line would end, so the great-grandfather and great-grandmother went to great lengths to have a son, trying all sorts of folk remedies. Finally, on their fifth attempt, they had Xu Mingyang.
Grandma Chen: "That old man is bullying Mingyang again. What a good child he is, he was just born into the wrong family."
Xu Xinning: "Wasn't my uncle the one they were hoping for? Why are they..."
Grandma Chen: "Who knows what they were thinking? Before Yaoyang was born, they really doted on Mingyang. But as soon as Yaoyang was born, Mingyang became like grass. Everyone says that you will spoil your youngest child, but the difference shouldn't be this big. It was fortunate that your great-grandparents were there back then, otherwise it would be a question whether Mingyang could have grown up."
Xu Xinning felt a pang of sadness, and a thought suddenly popped into her head.
Xu Xinning: "Grandma, is my uncle my stepmother's biological son?"
Grandma Chen: "How could this be faked? Back then, they were still living in your old house. There's nothing that could escape our eyes since we live next door. Besides, your great-grandparents always doted on me and truly treated me like their own daughter. By the way, your grandmother and she got pregnant around the same time, but unfortunately, your grandmother lost her baby, and she also suffered health problems."
Xu Xinning was very surprised; she had never heard of such a thing in her family.
Grandma Chen: "This was a taboo for your grandpa and grandma. Because of this child who died young, your grandma was so heartbroken that she couldn't get out of bed for half a year. She would go crazy whenever she heard the baby cry. Your great-uncle and the others were also separated from the family around that time. That child was so pitiful! Not only was he stillborn, but he was also a freak. His skin was dry and yellowish-brown. My father and your great-grandfather carried him up the mountain to bury him. I took a look out of curiosity, and it scared me to death."
Before long, a crowd had gathered outside the wall of the great-uncle's house. At this time, the villagers were bored and no one wanted to miss this free spectacle.
"Come on, let's go see what this old witch of your great-grandmother is up to now." Grandma Chen pulled Xu Xinning along and quickly walked a few steps, squeezing to the front door of her great-uncle's house.
In rural areas, people generally leave their courtyard gates open, and even their house doors are rarely closed, unless they are going on a long trip. This makes it convenient to watch the excitement happening at any house.
Xu Xinning doesn't usually like to join in the fun, so this is the first time she's stood so openly at someone's front door watching the excitement.
While Xu Xinning was still feeling embarrassed, Grandma Chen had already started chatting with someone.
Grandma Chen: Do you know what happened?
Member A: "Who knows? I just arrived too."
Member B: "What does it matter? Let's just take a look first, we have nothing else to do anyway."
Member C: "Do you think they'll start fighting later? It would be even more exciting if they did."
Commune member Ding: "Mingyang has been oppressed for so many years, why doesn't he resist?"
Member C: "The songs all sing about the serfs being liberated and singing, so why doesn't this spirited young man from Mingyang sing about the serfs being liberated?"
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