It's not like Tang Cuihua and her friends left Taoyuan Village just a day or two ago. It's not like there aren't women from Taoyuan Village in Xihe Village, but the territory is only so big, and no one has told them yet. That can only mean that Tang Youtian's actions are despicable, so no one has bothered to tell him that the sisters have settled in Xihe Village.
"I didn't expect everyone to be so loyal. It's been hard for us to stay quiet for so long. But I feel that most people are just watching with a 'let's see what happens' attitude."
Cuihua dismissed Cuiju's words, saying, "The Tang family these days, they're practically universally reviled, if not universally hated. Look at the things they've done, who in the village respects them? Besides, how could someone like Tang Youtian possibly marry two wives? Zhang Yanhong isn't bad-looking either, so why did she fall for him? So many men are secretly jealous. Now look what's happened, we've had our fill of drama, and who knows, they might come knocking on our door soon, because some people can't stand seeing us living so peacefully!"
Speaking of the Tang family, who are outsiders and are living in the Zhou family's house, why hasn't anyone in their family starved to death? Why are they going in and out of the county town and the town every day, and now they even ride bicycles? And why do they have such a good relationship with the Tao family? What kind of family is the Tao family?
Three of them are college students, which is even more hateful than the Zhou family having a remarkable grandson!
A family that produces three college students is one that even the commune secretary would look at with special regard.
Moreover, Tao Changyi and his wife are still workers in the county town. Even with such a family background, they still managed to have their daughters recognized as godparents.
Last year, even their fifth and sixth children got into university. They were about to become successful. Who wouldn't feel resentful?
The world is never short of people who kick you when you're down and can't stand to see you doing well. So Cuihua's premonition was right. In less than three days, Tang Youtian appeared in Xihe Village like a beggar, causing a scene at the Zhou family's house, claiming that his daughter was unfilial and that she was living a life of luxury while he, her father, was ignored.
Cuihua is the kind of person who would back down? Don't be ridiculous!
Whenever Tang Youtian made a fuss, they would open the door and then unleash their dogs to chase him. Several times, the dogs bit his thighs, and if it weren't for the cold weather and his thick clothing, they would have pierced his skin!
After being bitten a few times, Tang Youtian realized that these girls really didn't take him seriously.
But he wasn't stubborn, so he went to the Tao family to make a scene because he had heard that the Tao family were the godparents of the sisters. He thought it was possible to ask his godparents for a meal.
However, the Zhou family and the Tao family were neighbors with front and back yards, so how could the front yard not know anything about his commotion?
It's one thing to make trouble for yourself, but to make trouble for the Tao family, isn't that intentional?
Without saying a word, Tang Cuihua sent Cuihong out, "The farther away the better!"
Cuihong was strong and dragged Tang Youtian away like a dead dog, not caring howling at all, since she couldn't hear him anyway.
Unafraid of anyone's gaze or opinions, and needing no fear of what anyone says, Cuihua boldly steps forward to denounce her father's various misdeeds.
“He sold my mother and married a stepmother. Now his stepmother has run away with her child. He can’t survive on his own and he wants to think of us. Is there such a good thing in the world? My mother raised us since we were little. I learned to cook and take care of children after I turned three. I’ve never had a child to enjoy. Every day I’m faced with arguments and complaints. He complains that my mother only gave birth to a daughter for him. Ask him himself, is this son he finally gave birth to really his?”
“Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, we’d still throw him away. We don’t want this father of ours. Whoever wants him can take him home. Our branch of the family has long since broken away from the Tang family. I, Tang Cuihua, have established my own household. From now on, I am the head of the household for my sisters. In this family, my word is law. Tang Youtian has nothing to do with us. We’ve already paid off all our debts. Don’t expect us to support you now. Even if you sue us, we still won’t support you!”
Cuihong threw Tang Youtian into the stinking ditch. Enraged, Tang Youtian actually sued Tang Cuihua and her sisters, all the way to the commune, saying that they were unfilial to their father, disregarded morality and shame, and were inhuman. He even demanded that the commune take his side and move the Tang sisters' household registration back to Taoyuan Village.
I don't know if he had some expert guidance this time, but even though he was half-starved, he still had the energy to cause trouble. After reporting them to the commune, he acted like a smug little man, and even said that he would sell them all and use the money to live a life of luxury.
How can no one discipline such a scumbag? It's truly illogical.
But it doesn't matter. Tang Cuihua is no longer the cowardly Cuihua she used to be. She will never tolerate such a person. She beat him half to death and threw him at the entrance of the commune.
Doesn't your commune like to meddle in other people's business? Then you can keep this old codger around.
Tang Youtian said they were the ones who hit her. Okay, where's the evidence?
On the contrary, every time he went to them, he could always find witnesses to his offensive remarks.
That's what a father would say to his own daughter?
Is that the language a father uses to curse his own daughter?
He's just spewing insults like that, and he expects people to support him? What's he thinking?
The commune was left with such a mess, and they had to fight a lawsuit for him, take care of his food, drink and toilet needs. In the end, the person who took care of the matter just washed his hands of it, and Tang Youtian's leg was beyond repair and he became completely lame.
After he became lame, it became even harder for him to find a job. Nobody wanted to hire him, so he just drifted through life in the town, stealing food from children, climbing over walls to steal chickens and dogs. After doing so many bad things, he magically disappeared.
Without Tang Youtian causing trouble, the New Year was quite peaceful. Although the sisters all had a bad feeling, none of them said it out loud.
If Tang Youtian really ends up like that, it's his own fault, and it has nothing to do with them.
The Spring Festival of 1960 passed quietly. Although my three older brothers came back for the New Year because my grandmother had a stroke, the atmosphere was still a little sad compared to previous years. Fortunately, the old lady recovered well and most importantly, she was obedient. Cuihua and her sisters took good care of her and she was able to get out of bed and walk a few steps.
The work at the distillery was all finished before the Lunar New Year, and we'll be taking a break for a few months afterward. We can only go back when the grain is purchased.
“Life is getting harder and harder. Grain prices are rising every day. Many families in the factory are going hungry. People faint from hunger every day at work. Your sister Cuilian and I are also starving every day. But we carry some dried radish greens with us. When we are really hungry, we will stuff them in our mouths. Anyway, having something to chew on is better than having nothing to eat.”
Seeing Xiao Jiu looking at her hesitantly, Zhao Lingli affectionately patted her head.
“Silly child, your mother is young and can handle it. We can’t let everyone go hungry while we’re all well-fed and plump. That would make people hate us. So even if we have food, we have to pretend to be just like everyone else. Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing and we won’t let ourselves starve.”
Tao Changyi nodded in agreement, "Ever since I fainted from hunger in the workshop last time, far fewer people have been paying attention to me. Have you and Cuilian ever fainted from hunger?"
Zhao Lingli looked at her children with embarrassment and nodded sincerely, "Don't look at me, I've fainted before, and more than once."
They hadn't expected their family situation to be so dire, which made Tao Zui and Tao Ran feel somewhat guilty.
“We all knew life was tough, but we didn’t expect it to be this tough. Why didn’t they tell us? We were okay at school. Although we could clearly feel that the food was getting worse and worse, we were still able to eat our fill because we had training every day.”
Tao Qing was studying at a university in the province, so he could feel the horror of the famine most directly. However, university was much better than high school. At least you could still choose your three meals a day. As long as you had money, you could still eat relatively delicious food.
However, Tao Qing was used to being frugal, and she only ate enough to be full every day. She never cared about the quality of the food, which is why she looked even thinner than her two older brothers when she came back this time.
"It's good. At least our family is still here. Famine is difficult, but if we hadn't prepared a few years ago, we'd probably be searching for tree bark and digging up tree roots like everyone else. So many people have left their homes to escape famine, and we're already very content that we can still make a living."
Xiao Jiu's words silenced Da Ju, because it was indeed true; many families couldn't hold on and fled to the south or northwest to escape famine.
Don't think that the Northwest or Northeast is harsh and cold. They are vast and rich in resources, with a small population, fertile land, high yields, and much better food than the inland areas. Not only can you farm, but you can also graze livestock, and there are lakes for fishing. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to find the right place.
People live off the land and water; even when fleeing famine, one must have a plan. If the route is well-planned, life can still be manageable.
It's one thing if we don't eat well normally, but during the Lunar New Year, we definitely have to eat white flour dumplings, white flour steamed buns, and dumplings.
This year we planted fresh vegetables like radishes and cabbages. Before the New Year, Sister Cuihua made a slab of tofu, weighing seventy or eighty jin (35-40 kg). We divided it between the two families. Even without meat, we'll still have a delicious New Year.
Pork is extremely difficult to buy this year, and while I'd like to bring out some liquor, I don't have a suitable excuse.
So the only meat dish this year was two big fish brought over by my sisters, each weighing over ten kilograms.
The parents and grandparents refused to accept such a precious thing, but the older sister brought up a bunch of past favors, leaving them no reason to refuse.
With tofu and fish in the meal, even her parents began to suspect that Cuihua had found a reliable boyfriend and was receiving some kind of perk.
However, since Cuihua didn't say anything, they were too embarrassed to ask, and this beautiful misunderstanding was simply ignored, which was fine!
With tofu, we have a side dish for stews and braised dishes during the New Year, and we even have a side dish for steamed buns. My father even specially asked Xiao Jiu to bring out their treasured glass noodles.
"Steamed buns just don't taste right without glass noodles. Now it's perfect, we have cabbage, tofu, and glass noodles. On New Year's Eve, we'll stew some fish and make cornbread. Oh, I need to find my wine. A cup of it then will be heavenly!"
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