Chapter 301: Land Reclamation
The village chief arranged for people to reclaim the wasteland, and Taohua Village began to become lively again.
At first light, smoke rose from the courtyard. A woman's shout shattered the morning tranquility. "Sheep, hurry up and wake your dad. He'll be late for work," the woman shouted, spatula in one hand, turning back toward the house.
Seven-year-old Zhang Yangzai slowly opened his eyes when his mother called him. He sat up suddenly when he smelled the aroma of corn cakes floating in the air.
He dressed himself, got out of bed, and opened the door to his room. He went to his parents' room and nudged Zhang Dabiao, who was still snoring in bed. "Dad, get up."
Zhang Dabiao pulled the quilt up to cover his head, trying to block out the outside sounds.
Zhang Yangzai had no choice but to go out early. Seeing his mother helping, he quickly went forward to help. "Mom, let me carry it."
Wang forced a faint smile. "Is your father up yet?"
"No."
Wang sighed. "Then eat first and go to the school. I'll go get your father."
After entering the house, she looked at Zhang Dabiao, who was completely hidden under the quilt. She took a deep breath and tried to be gentle with her movements. "Boss, hurry up and get up. You'll be late for work."
Zhang Dabiao turned over and ignored him.
But Wang was not a child. Seeing no response, she even reached out to pull the quilt.
On any other day, Wang wouldn't have woken Zhang Dabiao up, but today they were reclaiming wasteland, and each of them would be given thirty cents a day.
And it was something they had discussed last night. It was Zhang Dabiao himself who asked him to get up this morning so that he could go and open up the wasteland with them.
So although Wang was a little scared, she still persisted in trying to wake Zhang Dabiao up.
After all, if she didn't scream, she would be severely beaten.
Since he is going to be beaten anyway, it is better to wake him up and go to work, where he can earn a few cents.
Zhang Dabiao, who was annoyed, suddenly raised his foot and kicked Wang in the stomach.
Wang was caught off guard and was kicked to the ground by him.
"Bitch, if you keep whining, I'll beat you to death!" After saying that, he went back to sleep.
Wang covered her stomach which was hurt by the kick and her face was very pale.
She struggled to sit up, but after several attempts, she couldn't stand up. Her stomach felt like something had been kicked and was falling down hard.
Looking at the man lying on the bed, she felt infinite sadness in her heart.
How could she marry such a man?
The entire Taohua Village is full of hardworking families, and there is not a single lazy person in the Zhang family.
But when it comes to Zhang Dabiao, he becomes an exception.
He was not only lazy but also greedy. He would do nothing every day and still crave delicious food. If something did not go his way, he would even hit people. He often beat Wang until there was no trace of healthy skin on her body.
If it were any other time, Wang wouldn't have gone to the trouble of calling him.
But yesterday the village chief announced that the village was going to reclaim wasteland, and anyone who was willing to work could go. Men would be paid 30 cents a day, women 20 cents a day, and children over ten years old would be paid 10 cents a day.
Zhang Dabiao didn't go to the school when it was built, nor did he go to the paper mill when it was hiring workers. He even neglected the family farmland. Every day he just lay at home doing nothing, and his only exercise was going to the toilet.
Wang was just a woman, and it was very capable of her to take care of the family's fields and children.
But now, seeing that everyone in Taohua Village is about to live a good life, her family is almost unable to make ends meet. Do you think she is anxious?
Seeing other men either working in the fields or trying to find other things to do every day, she began to have some expectations.
She hoped that Zhang Dabiao could make some progress. Zhang Yangzai was a good student, so she wanted him to continue his studies.
But she asked, and found out that the annual tuition fee for the school in the county town was two taels of silver, not including living expenses and pens, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Even if the village school is cheap, it still costs some money.
She definitely couldn't earn this much money by herself. Coincidentally, the village chief mentioned the land reclamation project, so she thought of asking Zhang Dabiao to go along.
Working together, they could earn fifty cents a day, which was no small sum.
So she tried her best last night and finally got Zhang Dabiao to agree to join in the land reclamation this time.
But what about Zhang Dabiao? Not only did he change his mind after sleeping with her, he also kicked her.
"Mom, what happened to you?" Zhang Yangzai was eating breakfast when he heard a noise coming from the room. He ran over worriedly and saw his mother fall to the ground.
With the help of Zhang Yangzai, Wang finally stood up.
"It's okay. Your dad isn't feeling well. Let's go out first."
Zhang Yangzai looked at his father lying on the bed, looking like he was dead, and his mother, whose face was pale. He understood everything.
But he didn't say anything, just took his mother's hand and went to the kitchen. "Okay, let's go have breakfast first."
The Zhang family's breakfast was simple: two boiled potatoes, a corn pancake, and a plate of pickled mustard greens. It wasn't oily at all, but it was enough to fill them up.
"I'm going to the mountains with the uncles and aunts in the village to open up wasteland recently. I'll be back very late. After school this afternoon, go home and do your homework. Don't run around. Okay?"
Facing Wang's patient instructions, Zhang Yangzai nodded in response. "I understand, mother."
Wang touched Zhang Yangzai's head lovingly.
Fortunately, her son is different from his father, otherwise, she doesn’t know how to survive.
The slight desire to die in her heart disappeared when she faced her well-behaved and sensible son.
At least, you have to raise the child.
After closing the gate, mother and son parted ways at the door. One carried a hoe and headed up the mountain, while the other carried a schoolbag and went to school.
Along the way, they met villagers. Zhang Yangzai saw that other families, regardless of gender, went out together. Then he thought about his child and his father lying dead on the bed. Resentment welled up in his heart!
"Sheep, wait for me."
Someone tapped my shoulder.
Zhang Yangzai looked back and saw Zhang Dapiao and Li Sandan.
Li Sandan put his arm around Zhang Yangzai's shoulders. "What's wrong with you today? We called you several times, but you didn't respond."
Zhang Yangzai looked at the uncles and aunts he met on the road and asked, "Have your parents gone to the mountains to open up wasteland?"
Li Sandan nodded. "Of course. Not only did my parents go, but my grandparents and eldest brother went, too. They said it would be great to go and earn some money while they're not busy."
Zhang Yangzai looked at Zhang Dapiao. "Where's your family?"
Zhang Dapiao nodded. "They've all gone. My dad even brought the axe from home. He said if he comes across a suitable tree, he'll chop one down and make me a spinning top. Do you want some? I'll ask him to carve a few more."
Li Sandan's eyes lit up instantly, and he lowered his arm from around Zhang Yangzai to hug Zhang Dapiao instead. "I want it, I want it!"
"Okay, I'll tell my dad to make three identical ones. After school we'll go get some palm leaves to make whips."
The two of them talked as they walked, and didn't notice Zhang Yangzai's lonely look at all.
No matter what other families do, their parents are always together.
Only his father lay in bed every day, often unwilling to even get up to eat, and needed someone to bring him food. So Ye placed the wine bottle at the bedside and put a straw in the bottle so he could drink it by turning his head.
He was unwilling to do anything and took his mother's care for granted. Even so, he would occasionally beat her.
What’s the point of living with a father like this?
"Sheep, what's wrong with you today? You seem absent-minded?"
In response to his playmates' questions, Zhang Yangzai told them what happened at home that morning.
"I feel like my mom is working too hard, and my dad is like a useless person. He can't do anything."
Li Sandan had a different perspective on his companion's loss. "Look at what you said. The headmaster's father even had a broken leg, and he still works every day."
He stared at Haoyou blankly, then opened his voice and said, "Woo, woo, woo, my dad is not even as good as a useless person."
The crying was so deafening that it not only scared the two children but also attracted the attention of passers-by.
Zhang Dapiao glared at Li Sandan, then anxiously pulled Zhang Yangzai to comfort him, "Don't cry, if that's the case, why not just make your father a real cripple?"
Wouldn't that make him a useless person? Zhang Yangzai wouldn't be sad because his father is not as good as others.
He felt that he had come up with a brilliant idea!
Hehe, he is so smart!
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