Chapter 19: Now that it’s your turn, you find it difficult?
When Xu Yu came back, the yard was filled with a rich aroma of rice, and Sang Zhixia was serving the stewed potato rice from the pot.
The evenly sized potato grains absorbed water and became incredibly soft. The distinct rice grains and the mixed wild onion chopped grains gave off an enticing aroma under the steaming heat. Even the old man, who didn't have a strong appetite, looked at it with a sidelong glance.
"Your approach is quite novel."
In the past, I always ate dishes with rice separated, and this is the first time I saw potatoes and rice stewed together.
Sang Zhixia smiled and said, "Grandfather, if you like it today, I'll make it more often in the future."
The old man was very pleased with her open flattery, and the old lady next to him lowered her lips silently when she saw it.
"Your second uncle and third uncle have been out all day and worked hard, and this is all you prepared for dinner?"
Second Uncle Xu and Third Uncle Xu came in a step later than Xu Yu, and both of them looked extremely embarrassed.
The clothes that were relatively clean when he went out were now covered with mud and dirt, and his hair and face were covered with a layer of gray dust, just like a clay figure dug out of a mud pit, which was unbearable to look at.
Xu Yu seemed fine.
But the remaining two staggered when they entered the room, and it was obvious that they had suffered a lot outside.
Sang Zhixia didn't understand the nitpicking in the old lady's words and said calmly, "Grandma is right. Xu Yu and his men can't work hard outside without meat and fish."
"I was just about to tell you that we're short of a lot of things at home. Why don't you take some money to the market tomorrow to buy some more so they don't suffer any harm?"
If you want to eat good food, then take out the money first.
You can create something obscene just by moving your lips. Do you think I'm a god who can create something out of nothing?
The old lady holding the purse was choked and speechless.
When Sang Zhixia saw Xu Yu carrying dirty clothes to the river to wash, she immediately said, "There's hot water in the wooden tub inside the house. You can wash inside."
The wind in the northwest becomes chilly after October, and even a body made of iron cannot withstand it.
Xu Yu's first reaction was, "Didn't I say you should wait for me to come back? Did you go by yourself?"
“No.”
Sang Zhixia said with a smile: "Minghui went to carry it."
"Don't worry, Uncle Two and Uncle Three have already boiled hot water for washing. Just go wash up and come out to eat."
Xu Yu couldn't figure out why she asked Xu Minghui to fetch water. After a moment's pause, he smiled and said, "Okay."
He cleaned up quickly, and when he came out with dripping hair, Sang Zhixia was cooking.
Various vegetables are mixed together and chopped into small pieces, added with some crushed garlic and salt, and rolled in a pot before being served as the only side dish.
Xu Yu took the initiative to bring the dishes to the table. Before he sat down, he saw Aunt Xu San walking out with red eyes.
"Dad, Mom, Third Master won't be coming out to eat, you guys eat first."
The old lady subconsciously asked, "What's wrong with him?"
Aunt Xu San, who had been holding back tears for a long time, burst into tears. She covered her mouth and choked out, "Third Master went to the brick kiln today to move bricks. His skin is all bruised and purple. The flesh on his shoulders and hands is completely worn away. There's a bloody mess everywhere."
"He was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he entered the house. I..."
"I couldn't bear to wake him up."
"Do you think only my third brother can't stand it?"
Unwilling to be outdone, Second Aunt Xu rushed out, screaming at the top of her lungs, "There's not a single piece of intact skin on Second Master's body. Everywhere you look is blue or purple! There's a huge bloody cut on his hand. I've been scrubbing it for ages, but the bleeding won't stop!"
"How could a living person endure such a crime?!"
Sang Zhixia placed the prepared rice next to Xu Wenxiu's hand. The bottom of the bowl knocked lightly on the table, making a dull sound, and the tone also sounded muffled.
"Yes, no living person can endure such suffering, so only Xu Yu can bear it?"
She looked at her aunt, whose face was filled with heartache, with a look of uncertainty, and said delicately, "So, in the eyes of the two aunts, Xu Yu is not a living person, but a beast who deserves to suffer?"
Aunt Xu was surprised and said, "That's not what I meant."
"What does Third Aunt mean?"
Sang Zhixia thought of Xu Yu's sullen mouth and said angrily, "Second Uncle and Third Uncle are only going on their first day, and they're already crying out that they can't stand it. And Xu Yu's been there for two days in a row, and why isn't he crying out?"
"Aunt, Xu Yu is not made of iron or clay. Who wouldn't feel the pain if we did the same job?"
When Xu Yu went out to move bricks, every pair of eyes stared at him eagerly, fearing that he would work less and embezzle a penny.
Now that it’s your turn, you find it difficult?
You wish!
This sin must be endured fully before anything else can be discussed!
Sang Zhixia ignored the depressing atmosphere in the yard and calmly stuffed the bowl of rice into Xu Yu's hand.
"I'm tired after a day, let's eat."
"Today you have earned eighteen cents together. Tomorrow, Grandmother will give you some more money to make up for it. Then you can have some meat and fish for dinner. Just make do with what you have today."
Xu Yu didn't complain anyway, he just lowered his head and started eating quietly.
His exposed wrists, palms, and backs of his hands were all cracked and broken, with the wounds from blisters turning white and peeling. Who wouldn't be miserable?
Aunt Xu originally wanted to come out and cry, and use the old lady's sympathy for Uncle Xu to avoid this life-threatening task.
But who could have thought that Sang Zhixia was so tough?
Seeing that the old man and the old lady just had gloomy faces and didn't say anything, her face turned pale and she was unable to speak. Aunt Xu was also so angry that she kept gasping for breath.
Sang Zhixia was merciless in slapping people in the face, and he also knew how to advance and retreat very well.
Since her second and third uncles didn't come out to eat, she took two large bowls and kept a portion of the food for each of them, as well as a small bowl of prickly ash she had picked from the vegetable garden.
"Aunt, grind this into powder and apply it to the broken skin to stop bleeding and relieve pain. I did this to Xu Yu when he came back yesterday, and it worked quite well. Apply it to Uncle San later, and don't let the pain delay your work tomorrow."
"Aunt, Uncle's share is here, remember to take it in."
After she had done the favor, she winked at Xu Wenxiu, who had put down his bowl and looked uneasy.
"Mother-in-law, you've been busy in the vegetable garden all day. Take Mingxu and Jinxi into the house to rest early. Auntie San will do the dishes and clean up."
Xu Wenxiu is not very brave, but she is good at following instructions.
Seeing that the only vulnerable person had fled into the house, Aunt Xu sneered in anger.
"Well, I underestimated you!"
"A sharp tongue is a good thing!"
Sang Zhixia laughed and said, "What are you saying, Second Aunt? Xu Yu and my two uncles are the only ones in the family who can earn money. I only regret that I haven't served them well enough. I'm afraid that if the income stops one day, the whole family, young and old, will be forced to starve."
As soon as she said this, the old lady, who was extremely dissatisfied, had to swallow her scolding.
It's a small matter to work hard and suffer, but the livelihood of the whole family is a big matter.
Faced with the threat of not being able to eat enough, there seems to be no need to express the heartache.
Sang Zhixia was not surprised by this. She picked up another small bowl and said, "Come on, I'll apply the medicine on you. You have to go out and earn money for the livelihood of your family tomorrow."
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