Cuihua left after eating. She could have gone straight into town, but she was worried that if Cuimei were surrounded by onlookers, her two younger sisters wouldn't know how to argue. So she came back with her. It was afternoon now, and it would be dark in an hour or two, so Cuihua had to hurry.
"I don't have much to pack. You all stay home and behave yourselves. If Grandma, Auntie, and the others come over again, don't even open the door, just throw water on them. These people are really something else. They can live a good life at home, but they insist on watching us. They're so bored!"
Cuihua cursed under her breath, then used her long legs to her advantage, prioritizing getting on the road. By the time she reached the town, it would probably be dark, and she wouldn't have time for dinner, so she just grabbed two vegetable buns.
Despite my reluctance, I have to go to make a living, even if I don't want to.
As soon as Cuihua left, Cuiju and Cuilian busied themselves preparing food for the New Year, while Cuimei had long since collapsed and gone to sleep.
——
The Tao family was also happy to have found Xiao Wu, especially Xiao Jiu, who felt a great sense of accomplishment.
But the way things unfolded puzzled her. How could a fire have started out of nowhere?
And what about Fifth Sister? Why was she burned and beaten? What exactly did Gong Honghong do to her?
That evening, my brother and his friends went to see a movie in another village. Xiao Jiu wasn't interested, so she didn't go with them. Grandma was worried because there were too many people and she was afraid they would run into kidnappers.
"Grandma, Niu Tieniu from Niujia Village died. His family had no money, and the village couldn't afford it either, so they gave up on treatment and took him home. The man died that very night, and the woman was taken to her parents' home by the villagers. Her husband's family refused to take care of her, and their house was burned down. Now that idiot is still eating at one house here and drinking at another. He's stupid and has a bad temper. He only knows how to eat well, and if he's not given anything, he'll smash up other people's houses. In the end, they just kicked him out and sent him to Dongliuzhuang, where his maternal grandparents live."
"Let's go to Dongliuzhuang again tomorrow to inquire. I heard that the woman is half-dead and could die at any time. Her family doesn't want her to go either, since everyone in the surrounding villages knows about her abusing her child bride."
That's how it is in rural areas; the most mobile people are the wives in the village. Sometimes when they go back to their parents' home, the news automatically travels with them.
In addition, these teenagers are full of energy, and there are no other forms of entertainment in this era, so gossip is what they are most interested in.
The fire in Niujiazhuang happened to coincide with the village's pork sales, so the news spread far and wide.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jiu pursed her lips, saying nothing outwardly, but inwardly she thought, 'Serves you right! You two dared to abuse my sister?!'
It's a pity she can't go to Peach Blossom Village; her face looks too much like the Tang sisters'.
Even though Cao Amei is married, she might cause trouble in the future, and she doesn't want to implicate the Tao family.
So if everyone tells her not to go, she'll just stay home.
It's cold in winter, and there's a kang (heated brick bed) in her grandparents' room. She sleeps with her grandmother, so it's not easy for her to sneak food at night.
However, I've been busy making New Year's goods during the day lately, steaming buns, dumplings, and bean buns, and also frying meatballs, fish pieces, and chicken pieces.
She always obediently stayed in the kitchen to tend the fire. Her brothers would try to sneak in and eat, but her grandmother wouldn't let them. However, her grandparents would always feed her regularly.
"Grandma, you're being unfair again. You always gave me the food before."
The young man protested, "Look at the young lady's face, it's all chubby! Look how skinny I am! Quick, give me a piece of meat so I can get some meat too!"
Grandma glared at him, annoyed. "You still have to talk! You all go to school every day and don't have to do anything. Why don't you study properly? Look at our Xiaojiu. She not only helps us with chores but also cooks for us. She does a lot of work at home and in the fields. It's only right that she eats."
The grandparents also dote on the older brothers, but they are mindful of boundaries. They believe that boys should endure more hardship, while girls are currently enjoying their time. In a few years, they will belong to someone else's family, and you won't have time to pamper them then.
This is something my grandparents often sighed about when they talked.
She clearly had two daughters, but in the end, she felt like they were born to someone else.
She did have three sons, but the war took two of them away. The remaining one gave birth to all her grandsons, but she still felt that the softest part of her heart needed her little granddaughter to soothe it.
They do not have a preference for sons over daughters, but they have to acknowledge that boys are indeed a continuation of a family line.
On the contrary, for girls, marrying nearby is fine, but for those who marry far away, it's good if they can see each other once a year.
This explains why, in this era, it is mostly boys who take care of their parents in their old age and see them off in death, while girls are often referred to as "water spilled from a cup," because when you need them, they may not actually be by your side. Instead, it is often the grandchildren, granddaughters, and daughters-in-law who are around.
Therefore, the old lady couldn't understand those mothers-in-law in the village who abused their daughters-in-law.
“Old man, what are they thinking? Why do they have to treat other people so badly when they have a perfectly good life? What, is your daughter-in-law someone else’s daughter? She comes to your house to give birth to your child, serve you, do chores, and raise your child. What more could you ask for? Why do you have to act like your mother-in-law, otherwise you’re considered unfilial?”
Actually, similar things happen in the town, but most people are busy with business and don't have much time to argue about these kinds of trivial matters.
Unlike in the countryside, where people are idle after winter sets in and make a ruckus every few days, it seems that they feel uncomfortable living without making some noise.
Grandpa said something surprising: "I'm still not hungry. I'll stop when I'm too hungry to speak."
Little Jiu pursed her lips and chuckled to herself. Her grandmother saw this and teased her, "Oh, our little Jiu understood, huh?"
“I understand. Grandma Liu’s eldest daughter-in-law is their servant. She does all the dirty and hard work. She’s eligible to accompany the soldier, but they won’t let her go. They just think that family can’t function without Aunt Xia. If I grow up and get married, I’ll just be serving other people’s families. I’m not going to marry into that family! I was raised with love and care by my grandparents and parents. Why should I be treated badly in their house?”
Xiao Jiu's words made his grandparents pause at the same time. Although the child often surprised them like this, his words were too sober. If others heard this, who knows what they would say about their family!
“Jiu’er, don’t tell anyone this. Be careful you don’t end up not being able to get married. People will laugh at you. Don’t be fooled by how well your sister and her family are doing now. In our area, it’s considered a disgraceful thing for a woman to establish her own household, especially since her father is still alive and she has uncles and brothers. Do you know what kind of family can establish their own household?”
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