So the three Tang sisters settled down. The town was only so big, and everyone knew each other, so the Tao family didn't think of having them help with the farm work to avoid being accused of being landlords. Instead, they arranged for them to take care of the household.
The three sisters quickly divided their tasks. Tang Cuihua, thirteen years old and the oldest, was responsible for selling small bottles of wine. Tang Zhaodi, a year younger than Cuihua, was responsible for cooking and washing clothes. Tang Pandi fed the chickens and ducks, swept the floor and tidied the house. When they had free time, they would help their grandmother plant a small plot of land in the backyard, as well as help with chores such as carrying things while selling wine in the front.
After being there for two or three days, Tao Changyi could clearly feel that everyone in his family was much more relaxed, so he couldn't help but say to his wife.
"These three girls are really capable, but... is it appropriate for us to take that money back?"
As Zhao Lingli folded and dried the clothes she had brought back, she spoke to her husband.
“My mother agreed, so I don’t think it’s a big deal. At worst, we can give it to them when they leave. It doesn’t matter. They’re not lazy. They’ve tried everything for that family. They’re so pitiful. If I had such a thoughtful daughter, I would wake up laughing in my dreams. But look at those parents. They’re just outrageous.”
Tao Changyi leaned against the bed, gently rocking the cradle beside him, watching Xiao Jiu sleep soundly.
“Sometimes I wonder, we already have four sons, is it really necessary to adopt this daughter? But when I hold her in my arms, I feel that she should be ours. That smile, really, it touches my heart. She's so soft and sweet, she smells better and is cuter than any of the boys.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lingli turned around to look at the adorable child in the cradle and smiled.
“I believe in the reality of this dream. Think about it, how could an ordinary dream tell me such a detailed address and date, allowing me to find my way there? I think this is God's arrangement. Brother Yi, do you believe in fate?”
"I didn't believe it before, but now... maybe I can believe it?"
The baby in the cradle seemed to be having a happy moment; even in a deep sleep, the corners of his mouth kept turning up in a smile that was enough to melt anyone's heart.
As expected of the experienced elder sister, she took care of her with great efficiency and cleanliness. Whether it was changing or washing diapers, or playing with her and carrying her around in the yard, she seemed more energetic than the old lady. She was also willing to giggle and cooperate with her childish teasing methods.
Because everyone will be happy that way, and if everyone is happy, won't her life be even more beautiful?
After dinner, she heard her mother say, "Cuihua, I've asked around your family. After the three of you left, your family has fallen into complete chaos. The couple argues every day about who does more work and who does less. Were they always this lazy? I heard that because they're blaming each other, your crops are growing the worst. No one waters them, no one fertilizes them, and no one even tends to the fields. No wonder the crops aren't growing well."
Upon hearing this, the three Tang sisters showed no surprise, as if it were all within their expectations.
“Anyway, they’ve never been hardworking since I was born. I started working when I was just over two years old. The most heartbreaking thing in my life is that they gave away their children one by one. If they didn’t, my grandma would strangle them, throw them into the river, or throw them directly into the pigsty. Don’t believe me? My grandma really did these things. My fourth child was thrown into the pigsty right after he was born. I had to carry him out.”
Grandma Tao, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel sorry for them and patted her thigh.
"That old woman, she's really a scoundrel. Isn't she a woman herself?"
“My grandma was illiterate and never went to school, but she was known in the village as a troublemaker. When she was young, she and my grandpa fought every day. When my dad was a child, she would chase him down several streets and beat him. After my mom married into the family, there was never any peace in the house. I never imagined that a family could be as peaceful and harmonious as yours. From a young age, I knew to hold my bowl tightly when I ate, and when it was time to eat, I would stuff the food into my mouth as fast as I could, because if I was slow, I might not get any.”
When Cuihua said these words, her facial expression remained completely unchanged, which showed how numb she was and how little she wanted to go back to that home.
"In my opinion, they can still eat their fill now. They'll regret not working when they run out of food. There are people in the village lazier than them, but they're all old bachelors. They may not have sons, but at least they have daughters. Aren't they better off than those families who can't have children? But they're never satisfied. They're calculating and comparing themselves to others from morning till night. If someone says something on the street, she can relate it to herself, thinking that the two people are definitely talking about her inability to have a son. This curse has messed with her mind. We were forced to run away because we had no other choice. Now it seems that it will be very difficult to get them to change!"
When she mentioned her biological parents, the eldest sister's eyes were filled with helplessness and uncertainty about the future. When she unconsciously lowered her head, you could almost see her envy and longing for the Tao family's children in her eyes.
We are all born of the same parents, so how can there be such a big difference between people?
If they were born into such a family, would they not have been looked down upon from a young age?
Wherever I go, the children chase after me, calling me a "money-losing brat"?
The more chaotic things were in the Tang family, the more peaceful the Tao family became. When it wasn't the busy farming season, the old man and Tao Zui would stay home to brew wine, while the couple would take the remaining children to the fields to water and fertilize. The fertilizer mainly came from their septic tank and the excrement from their chickens, ducks, and geese. Ten acres of land was simply not enough, so they had to contact people in the neighborhood to clean the public toilets. Because if you don't fertilize, the crops won't grow, and you can't just fertilize randomly. You have to learn from the old farmers. If you're not careful, the seedlings will be burned by the fertilizer.
Farming is a skill in itself. Luckily, we have the old man in our family. Although he has never farmed before, he has been a small landlord for many years and often goes to the fields to observe and learn about farming. He combines this knowledge with his own experience and practices. Both father and son are people who are not ashamed to ask questions. When they encounter older farmers, they will go and ask them for advice. It is precisely because they have a learning mindset and constantly summarize their experience in practice that their ten acres of land have never had a crop failure and the crops are growing very well.
When people are diligent, the crops in the fields will grow well. If people are lazy, the crops will have to rely on the weather. Some crops may not die from drought, but they will be overrun by weeds. They won't grow big, but they won't die either. It's really frustrating.
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