Chapter 210 Two in One
As they were talking, Huang Meihua and Ding Zhige came over.
The couple looked much thinner than the last time she saw her.
Especially Ding Zhige, he was so thin that the skin on his face was loose. He looked like he was fifty even though he was just forty years old.
This is the age where one skips the blooming phase and withers away directly.
Ding Guo was puzzled and asked Auntie San quietly, "Didn't Dayong send back half of the food last time?"
She remembered that Ding Tao bought it for the family.
But it's obvious from the look of it that he's become thin due to starvation.
Peng Guihua whispered, "Yes, they have food at home. It's your second aunt who is afraid that her family will find out that they have food, so she strangled your second uncle and refused to eat."
Fortunately, their little daughter didn't suffer much, and the couple saved money for themselves.
Ding Guo's mouth twitched.
Huang Meihua's personality is similar to before, she still likes to ask questions.
But if you are good at talking, you will know when to stop.
I am also curious about what Ding Guo thinks of her stepmother and her new brother.
Ding Guo was speechless: "I haven't seen it yet."
She had never even met the mother and son, so how could she see it?
Huang Meihua didn't understand: "Ah?"
She wanted to ask Ding Guo how she felt, but what did the girl say?
Peng Guihua said from the side: "You are also free, why are you asking the child about this? What does that family have to do with Guoguo!"
Isn’t Guoguo’s attitude obvious enough?
Huang Meihua smiled awkwardly. She knew that Ding Guo had no contact with that place, but she couldn't help but want to hear what Ding Guo had to say.
She also wanted to ask how Yue Hongmei was doing, but she was interrupted by her sister-in-law and didn't know how to ask.
She then talked about this year's situation, complained about her troubles and talked about next year's situation. She didn't ask Ding Guo about this matter, but asked Pei Che, who had not spent much time in the countryside, what he thought about next year's situation.
Ding Guo couldn't help rolling her eyes, as if she felt some kind of discrimination from her second aunt.
What? Pei Che has better common sense than her in this area?
Pei Che glanced at his wife with amusement, and responded to Second Aunt's question, but in a way that made it seem like he had said nothing at all.
Huang Meihua could only sigh: After all, she grew up in the city, so the words she speaks are cultured.
But I didn't hear anything about the situation next year.
Peng Guihua said speechlessly: "Second sister-in-law, can't you see it from the snow this winter?"
It rained again after the fall, and there were several heavy and light snows after the winter. The weather next year will definitely be good.
You have been a farmer for many years, don’t you have this experience?
Ask whoever you catch.
The second wife sat for a while and then left.
Peng Guihua didn't keep anyone today.
Food is scarce in every household now, and no one can say anything if we don't leave them food to eat under such circumstances.
But Dayong will have to be the one to invite guests for tomorrow's event.
Ding Guo and the two kids stayed at night. After dinner, Pei Che went to Huiyang with Gao Pengyuan, found a guesthouse near the station, and went to pick them up the next day.
For this reason, Peng Guihua did not act politely towards her nephew's husband, as he was helping her family to save face.
Dayong mailed back some wine, sausages and other things a few days ago. He should pack some for Gao Pengyuan. He can't let them run away in vain.
The stove at home was not turned off all night. Peng Guihua got up at night, changed the diapers of the two children, and then went out to add some charcoal.
Ding Zhicheng lived in the same room with his two sons and also woke up twice, without letting the charcoal fire in the stove go out.
Several heating pads were burning warmly, driving away the chill of the winter night.
Of course it’s not like this normally, it’s purely because of the two little guys.
In the morning, after the family had breakfast, Peng Guihua cleaned the house and laid out melon seeds, peanuts, pine nuts, sugar, and the apples that Ding Guo brought back.
Ding Guo was feeding and changing diapers for the two babies. Dabao's cotton pants were wet with urine, so his uncle swept the loose dirt off the radiator in the inner room and put the cotton pants on it to warm them.
Of course, Dabao has more than just this pair of cotton pants. The two big backpacks his old father and mother carry are not for nothing.
At around nine o'clock in the morning, Dalin came running back from outside: "Dad, Mom, my brother and the others are here!"
Dayong and his friends got off the train in Huiyang early in the morning. After a short rest and breakfast, they came to Yangjiawo.
Not all members of the Song family came along. The ones who came included Song Chengli, Wu Fang and his wife, eldest son Song Kai, and today's protagonist Song Yuling.
One car was definitely overloaded, but few people care about that these days.
The two pairs of parents shook hands and greeted each other warmly at the door.
Pei Che felt like he was a member of the family and helped greet Song Kai.
Song Yuling immediately saw Ding Guo smiling at her, and she quickly ran over: "Sister!"
Since we were all acquaintances, there was less restraint.
Peng Guihua held Wu Fang's hand and led them home.
They should have proposed the marriage first, but the Song family took the initiative to skip this step.
The Song family has seen Dayong's performance over the past year. They recognize Dayong as a person and don't care too much about some etiquette-related matters.
However, Dayong brought a lot of gifts with him yesterday and did his best to save face. It was also Dayong himself who discussed the issue of the bride price at the Song family.
The one thousand yuan included three turns and one ring, and Ding Dayong also bought clothes for Song Yuling, Uncle Song and Aunt Wu, showing his sincerity.
After entering the house, Wu Fang asked Ding Guo: "Where are the two children?"
Ding Guo smiled and said, "He's sleeping in the house."
But I don’t sleep much during the day, so I guess I’ll wake up soon.
The two families sat down and chatted lively. Peng Guihua asked them if the journey was smooth and invited the whole family to eat and drink.
After some pleasantries, the topic turned to the bride price.
This was already agreed upon long ago, and both parties agree to it, so there's nothing to get involved with.
At noon, Ding Dayong took Song Yuling to the second house and invited his second uncle and his family of three to come over.
Huang Meihua also gave Song Yuling a red envelope.
Today, in addition to the betrothal gift, Peng Guihua also gave an extra red envelope to the bride price.
Pei Che drank two cups with him.
Dayong didn't drink. They would go back in the evening and had to take care of his father-in-law and others on the way.
The Song family set off after lunch, and Dayong followed them back, planning to stay in the capital for a few days before coming back to celebrate the New Year.
When Peng Guihua brought the gifts back to them, the two mothers-in-law pushed and shoved each other for a long time, and finally put the things in the trunk.
I also didn’t forget to give the portion given to Gao Pengyuan.
Gao Pengyuan saw that his aunt was too enthusiastic, so he had to look at Pei Che. Pei Che smiled and said, "My third aunt gave it to you, so just take it."
Gao Pengyuan: No, she is your wife’s third aunt, not your own family, so why are you so honest with her?
Peng Guihua smiled and said, "Don't be polite to your aunt. Drive slowly on the road. If you have time, please pass by here and come to my house for dinner!"
"I understand, auntie."
Song Yuling also lowered the car window and said shyly, "Dad, Mom, it's cold outside, you should go back quickly."
Wu Fang waved to Peng Guihua with a smile in the car.
Peng Guihua responded loudly, with a smile on her face: "Okay, okay, I'll be right back. Have a safe trip! Dayong, take good care of your parents."
"Okay mom!"
After watching her in-laws leave, Peng Guihua called Ding Guo and Pei Che back to the house, and said with great energy: "Today is the Little New Year, clean up and make cabbage and pork dumplings for dinner."
The staff quarters of Fengning Steel Plant are also preparing to celebrate the Little New Year.
But there was nothing to do. Zheng Wenfang didn't mention making dumplings, and Ding Zhigang didn't say anything either. Ding Xiang naturally wouldn't take the initiative to ask. Even if she did, she wouldn't be able to get any other information except to hear her stepmother say that life was difficult at home.
Ding Jiandang came back in the afternoon and called Ding Xiang: "Mom and second brother asked you to come over for dinner. They are making white flour dumplings today. Brother Dingfeng is back too."
White flour dumplings?
I haven’t eaten white flour dumplings for a long time.
When I was a kid, I could eat white flour dumplings every Chinese New Year. I ate them even during non-Chinese New Year holidays, but it was always when Ding Nianjun came back from the factory and acted like a spoiled child with her mom, and she would make dumplings for him.
Has she ever successfully gotten dumplings by acting cute to her mother?
Dingxiang flipped through all her memories and smiled sarcastically, but there was nothing.
Not only did she not do anything, but she was actually so happy just to have the chance to eat dumplings, and she even had to thank Sister Nianjun.
When Dingxiang thinks about those things now, she wants to slap herself in the face.
"No, you guys eat." Dingxiang lowered her eyelids and refused directly.
Ding Jiandang sighed: "Actually..."
In fact, it's just to go along with my mother and second brother. It won't cost me anything, but I can get some meat instead.
When the second brother came back, it seemed as if the happy days before had returned. The second brother was more capable than the eldest brother, not only could he bring back food, but he also brought back some meat every now and then, so he benefited a lot from it.
Alas, Dingxiang is just stupid.
Ding Xiang raised her eyes and glared at him: "Five, you don't have to say anything, I won't go there."
Ding Jiandang was puzzled: "Don't you obey the Zheng family at home? But what can you get if you obey them? They are our biological mother and second brother, why are you so awkward?"
Ding Xiang sneered: "My dear mother and my dear second brother, do they treat me as their own daughter or sister? If they treat me as their own, they won't offer conditions in exchange for me to bow to them."
It is said that she is obeying Mr. Zheng, but she is just using her labor to exchange for a bed and three meals a day. When she reaches the age to leave this home, she can leave with a clear conscience because she owes no one anything.
As for your biological mother, if you eat her food, you have to owe her something. In the next few years, if something does not satisfy her, the food she ate today will be mentioned again and again, and you will be called an ungrateful person.
Fifth brother didn't understand her, but Sister Ding Tao did. She gave her some advice that when doing housework, she must let the neighbors see it, especially when doing heavy work, and she must never do it in secret.
"You, ah..."
Seeing that he couldn't win the argument with Ding Xiang, Ding Jiandang sighed, threw a dollar to Ding Xiang, and said, "I earned this dollar by following my second brother. I didn't tell anyone else about this dollar. You can go out and have something nice to eat secretly."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Dingxiang looked at the one dollar in her hand with a calm expression, and put it into her trouser pocket after a while.
Yue Hongmei is very proud now.
The sadness of last year's Chinese New Year is still vivid in my mind. Now that my second son is back, I have a backbone. He not only can contribute to the family, but also loves Huihui very much.
Today is Xiaonian, and my two sons and son-in-law are with me. The dumplings are generously filled with two kinds of fillings, carrot and cabbage meat.
When Nianjun comes back this year, my daughter and son-in-law will remarry, and their family will be reunited at the end of the year. Those days will be even better.
Yue Hongmei didn't care that her youngest daughter didn't come.
That’s the second Ding Guo, also an ungrateful person.
Love comes or not!
"Come on, let's prepare the meal." Yue Hongmei brought the cooked dumplings to the table, "Dingfeng, cool a few for Huihui."
Pan Dingfeng looked tired and his expression was a little dull.
He mechanically put a few dumplings into the bowl and put it aside to cool.
Ding Jianshe noticed his movements and said, "Brother-in-law, these are vegetarian. Give Huihui some more meat."
Pan Dingfeng smiled embarrassedly, picked up a few more pieces of meat, and said, "Jianshe is still careful."
He's not in good shape.
This year, grain production has decreased, and every family is having trouble finding food to eat, so village cadres like them are under great pressure.
He was under great pressure, and many of his work proposals could not be carried out, making him a poor guy in both the workplace and the society.
Ding Jianshe had visited him once in the countryside before and knew Pan Dingfeng's situation. He asked with concern, "Brother-in-law, are those peasants giving you trouble again?"
Pan Dingfeng glanced at Ding Jianshe with a complicated expression and quickly said, "No!"
At that time, there were several families who had no food to eat. Seeing that those people were really pitiful, he gave away some of the little grain he had saved.
Everything was going fine, but who knew that the team would start to quarrel the next day.
Many village cadres were visited by members and asked to share their own food rations to support the members.
The village cadres were confused, and finally realized that it was Pan Dingfeng who was the leader.
He was besieged by the women from several village cadres' families, who scolded him for being well-intentioned. If he was so kind, why didn't he just take out all the food rations and distribute them instead of causing trouble for others!
Other members who wanted the village cadres to contribute grain also kept pestering him, wanting him to do ideological work on other people.
He didn't understand. He was clearly doing good things, so why was he considered a pushover and offended everyone.
When Ding Jianshe went there, he happened to encounter this farce. He beat up a few villagers to stand up for his brother-in-law, then he patted his butt and left. Pan Dingfeng paid money and came to apologize one after another.
After this incident, Pan Dingfeng's popularity in the village dropped a bit.
Ding Jianshe nodded and said, "That's good. If anyone bothers you again, just let me know and I'll beat them to death."
Yue Hongmei disagreed and said, "Your brother-in-law is a cadre, how can he always use violence? You should stay out of it."
After saying that, he sighed as usual about the poor Junjun, and then started eating.
Ding Jiandang couldn't wait any longer and buried his head in eating.
Pan Dingfeng found that there was more food at home than he expected. He thought of something and pulled Ding Jianshe aside to talk: "Did you go to the black market to buy food?"
Ding Jianshe: "Which family didn't go to the black market to buy food this year? If they don't buy food, the whole family will starve to death."
Because of Ding Nianjun's incident, Pan Dingfeng hated the black market. He said, "Jianshe, you've worked hard these days. I heard from the old people in the village that next year's situation will not be too bad. We can dig wild vegetables in the fields after the New Year and the beginning of spring. There is no need to go to the black market. You don't want to follow your sister's path, do you?"
Ding Jianshe then understood why Ding Nianjun had repeatedly told him not to let his mother and Pan Dingfeng know before coming back, as the latter was the one he had repeatedly told them.
Why are you so timid?
He was too lazy to say more and nodded repeatedly: "Got it!"
When Pan Dingfeng saw him like this, he knew that he didn't listen. He sighed helplessly, feeling a little annoyed.
If Ding Jianshe goes to jail again, his mother-in-law will cry all day long and urge him to find someone to use his connections to save the person.
He is the one with the headache again.
Nianjun is not at peace, and her brothers from her mother's side are not at peace either, so no one considers his situation.
Until something happens, they will rely on him for everything.
Pan Dingfeng felt very aggrieved, but didn't dare to say it.
His son still has to rely on Yue Hongmei to help take care of him, and he can also see that Jianshe is really good to Huihui and loves him very much.
For the sake of his son, he had to suppress any dissatisfaction he had, and said helplessly: "It's good that you know the answer!"
I hope it's a real number.
There was another quarrel in the family compound.
Ding Jianguo's family of four went back home to celebrate the New Year's Eve, but they came back empty-handed, which made Zheng Wenfang a little embarrassed.
Now that she has given birth to a son for her Zhigang, she feels very confident.
I used to put in some superficial effort, but now I don’t even want to do that.
There were four people in the family, three mouths to feed, but they didn’t bring back even a single sweet potato.
If the eldest couple usually gave gifts to the family, she would not say anything and would just come back to eat for free.
Ding Zhigang was very happy to see his eldest son and his family coming back for dinner. He hurriedly asked Ding Xiang to add a few more dishes. Before he finished speaking, Zheng Wenfang asked quietly, "Xiang Xiang, do you have much food at home?"
Ding Xiang listened to the words and the tone. Although she didn't like her eldest brother's family, she didn't like her stepmother either. But she wasn't so blunt in her response now. She said, "Aunt Wenfang, I didn't notice it just now. Why don't you go and take a look?"
Zheng Wenfang choked, and the cold expression on his face became less obvious.
Lu Xiaomei was not a good-tempered person either. Seeing this, she asked her father-in-law directly: "Dad, doesn't Aunt Wenfang welcome us back for dinner?"
Ding Zhigang also noticed that Zheng Wenfang looked unhappy. He frowned and said, "Wenfang..."
Zheng Wenfang widened his eyes in surprise: "I, I didn't say anything? Old family, why are you asking your dad like that?"
Lu Xiaomei said with a fake smile: "Oh, I saw that you looked unhappy, so I thought you were not welcome."
Zheng Wenfang forced a smile: "How could that be? You guys rarely come back, how could I not welcome you?" Then she glanced at the child in her arms, smiled and pointed to the room, "Put her on the bed quickly, let your niece play with your uncle for a while."
As he spoke, his eyes looked meaningful.
The fact that the second child is not a son is a pain for Lu Xiaomei and Ding Jianguo.
This stepson's wife made her unhappy, and she didn't want to make them happy either.
Sure enough, Lu Xiaomei's face looked a little gloomy.
Although she would argue with Ding Jianguo because he disliked the second child being a daughter, she actually felt very sorry about it.
Ding Jianguo also looked unhappy.
After successfully regaining his position, Zheng Wenfang turned around and opened the cupboard to get some food.
The little bitch was still trying to put on eye drops in front of Zhigang.
In this state, the reunion dinner on the Little New Year tastes like a white banquet.
When Lu Xiaomei returned home, she had another quarrel with Ding Jianguo.
She didn't argue with Ding Jianguo about Zheng Wenfang's hint that she couldn't give birth to a son, but she argued about the standard of tonight's meals.
"During the Little New Year, we went back to see Dad, and they let us eat corn cakes. There was not even a trace of meat in the dishes. What's the meaning? Is that family still called Ding?"
Ding Jianguo was very tired: "You eat a lot of corn cakes."
"Ding Jianguo, what's your attitude?"
The children were crying, the adults were making a fuss, and the house was in chaos.
After the Little New Year, Ding Guo’s family of four returned to the capital.
She didn't take the return gift from her third aunt, using the excuse that it was inconvenient to bring the child with her.
Pei Che also said that one person had to hold a child and he would not be able to spare any hands.
The food they sent back was not to exchange for New Year gifts with Aunt San, and life at home was better than back home.
Uncle and Aunt San gave Dabao and Xiaobao New Year red envelopes in advance, so it would be inappropriate to take things back.
Peng Guihua also knew that they were just making excuses. They had brought back more than 200 kilograms of grain for her, so why couldn’t they take back some New Year’s goods?
But both of them held a child in their arms and neither of them took the child, so in the end they had to give up.
After returning to the capital, Aunt Qiao and Wang Chunhua, who had taken a three-day holiday for the New Year, also came back. They lit the stove at home in advance, filled the thermos, and steamed two pots of steamed buns.
The two of them were so surprised to see Dabao and Xiaobao.
I have never been separated from my child for such a long time since he was born.
When Dabao and Xiaobao saw the familiar Grandma Qiao and Aunt Chunhua, they waved their arms happily and laughed until their mouths were watering.
There was a bustle in the room.
Dayong, who heard the noise, also came over from next door.
Ding Guo asked about the follow-up and the situation on the road.
Dayong: "Everything is fine, but my dad is very tired. He went straight to work after returning to the capital."
Ding Guo couldn't help laughing. He was calling him "Uncle Song" just two days ago, but now he is calling him "Dad" smoothly.
Ding Dayong noticed his sister's teasing and couldn't help but chuckle.
At night, Aunt Qiao and her family loved the children, while Pei Che loved his wife, and the young couple stayed together for most of the night.
Ding Dayong stayed here for another two days and then returned to his hometown directly from the capital.
Ding Guo worked for a few more days, during which time he arranged for Pei Che to deliver New Year gifts to each family, and he also received a lot of gifts.
We had a holiday on New Year's Eve, and gave Aunt Qiao and Sister Chunhua their wages, red envelopes, and some New Year gifts, and then gave them a holiday.
Then she packed up her things and took the children to the compound.
My parents-in-law also had their day off today and were busy in the kitchen.
Aunt Zhang has already gone back.
Pei Che took the initiative to go to the kitchen and take over the battlefield.
His mother’s cooking skills are not as good as his.
Shao Xunping was so happy that she had her hands free to hold her grandson and granddaughter.
This year's Spring Festival, the Pei family was relatively complete, except for the eldest brother's family of four who did not come back and Pei Yu's family who just left last night.
The old man also came back from the army early and spent the Spring Festival with his family.
On the first day of the new year, Pei Che paid New Year's greetings in the compound and went to Yu's house with his wife and children.
Old Mrs. Yu and Old Man Yu finally met Dabao and Xiaobao, whom they had heard Yu Shaofen mention several times.
As soon as Mrs. Yu saw the two children, she couldn't take her eyes off them and smiled from ear to ear: "What pretty little babies! They are so cute. They inherited the good qualities of their parents."
After paying New Year's greetings and receiving a lot of red envelopes, Ding Guo also found an opportunity to add some well water to the water jars of the two elders.
After leaving Yu's house, he went to Huang's house and Song's house. When he returned home, the two little kids were already asleep in the warm cloak.
The next day, I went to my grandparents' house with my parents-in-law and it was a busy day.
Ding Guo also took advantage of the excitement to replace the water in two thermos bottles and gave a lot of well water to grandma and grandpa to drink.
Dayong came here on the third day of the Lunar New Year. He visited his grandmother's house yesterday. After paying New Year's greetings to his father-in-law on the third day of the Lunar New Year, he stayed at his sister's house for a while, gave red envelopes to his nephew and niece, and then returned to Fengning.
This year, the Ding Tao sisters did not return to their hometown, but stayed in Fengning to celebrate the New Year.
After the Chinese New Year, time seemed to speed up. After experiencing a late spring cold snap, I completely changed out of my thick cotton clothes and put on thin spring clothes.
On the day that Ding Guo had a day off, he went to the post office to mail a package and was riding his bike on the street. When he was about to reach the alley ahead, he saw a man running out from inside. He looked very disheveled, with his coat covered in mud and blood slowly flowing down his forehead.
There seemed to be injuries on his hands as well.
Ding Guo was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened.
He's not a gay, he's a mosquito who dresses himself up as a boy.
"stop!"
Two men chased after him, holding sticks in their hands and shouting, "We'll kill you!"
"Don't run if you can!"
Not red armband enforcement.
Mosquito ran past her quickly. Ding Guo seemed to be frightened. She moved the handlebars to the side crookedly and calmly selected her target and used the banana peel.
Plop!
The young man who was slightly in front suddenly fell on his back to the ground. The person behind him didn't brake in time and was tripped by his companion, falling flat on his face. Both of them groaned.
When the two of them got up again, they only saw Mosquito turn his head and turn into the alley ahead.
The two men got up from the ground with grim faces, one rubbing his arm and the other rubbing his tailbone, cursing under their breath.
Ding Guo left calmly, turned into the alley in front, turned on the small speaker to collect sounds, and soon locked onto the sound of Mosquito's footsteps.
Then he threw out his shoes to show the way ahead and followed from a distance.
The girl was running so fast even with a head full of blood. During the run, she pulled out a shabby bicycle from somewhere and rode it wildly on the street.
Ding Guo followed her all the way from the vicinity of the Temple of Heaven Park to the vicinity of the Temple of Sun Park, and then she turned around and disappeared into an alley.
Disappearing was only on the surface. Ding Guo could find the person, but she didn't. She just made sure that he was safe. She pushed her bicycle and looked around the houses here.
She looked at a few courtyards with open doors, which looked a bit like the slums she had seen in TV dramas.
Just after looking at a few houses, an old lady stopped her and said vigilantly: "Are you the relative that the Zou family mentioned? Forget about the house. We have lived here with our family for several years, and they will evict us if they want to. If you have the guts, step over this old lady."
Seeing that the old lady was about to lie on the ground, Ding Guo quickly stopped her: "Auntie, please don't lie down. I don't like to step over people. I'm not a relative of the Zou family. I'm just passing by."
After saying that, she turned around and left with the cart, found a corner to enter the space, and when she came out she became an old lady.
Who isn't an old lady?
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