For someone like Zhang Xiaoqin, how could she bear to watch others take away all the good ginger while she had to carry rotten ginger home?
She began to take shortcuts and followed those who were digging ginger. Once she saw others digging out good ginger, she would shamelessly go over and dig some too.
"Zhang Xiaoqin, how could you do this? Aren't they just some cheap Jerusalem artichokes? Why do you have to be so shameless?"
The girl who was digging ginger really couldn't stand Zhang Xiaoqin's behavior and complained loudly.
Zhang Xiaoqin wasn't going to fall for it! She swung the hammer furiously, digging out bunches of tender, white Jerusalem artichokes from the soil. She happily put them into her backpack.
"What do you mean by shameless? I think you're being too overbearing! These are wild Jerusalem artichokes, not grown by your family. If you can dig them, why can't I?"
The girl knew Zhang Xiaoqin was a sharp-tongued person, and knowing she couldn't win an argument, she stopped talking. Instead of engaging in a verbal battle with her, she might as well grab some more.
The two began to dig and grab frantically on their small plot of land, pushing and shoving each other like two vicious dogs fighting over food.
Zhang Xiaoqin was busy grabbing the food when she suddenly heard two fellow villagers chatting about Shumei. She immediately became interested and stopped her frantic grabbing to listen carefully.
"Have you heard? I heard Kang Shumei has cancer and is now missing."
"I heard it! Such a big thing has already spread everywhere. Alas! She and Tang Boyi are really a pair of star-crossed lovers!"
"What do you mean by 'poorly-fated couple'? I think she is just destined to be alone, unlucky for her husband and daughter. This time, it's Tang Boyi who is unlucky and has brought disaster upon himself."
…
People passing by were all talking about Shumei and Boyi. Although they didn't quite understand what breast cancer was, everyone knew that it was a terminal illness that could take lives.
Zhang Xiaoqin was in high spirits after hearing this news by accident. A gloating smile appeared on her face. She no longer wanted to compete with others for the Jerusalem artichokes. She carried her basket and hoe and walked down the mountain.
She returned home, threw the backpack and hammer aside, went back to the main room, poured a glass of water, sat on a chair in the main room, crossed her legs, hummed a little tune, and slowly savored the water in her hand with a leisurely and contented expression.
Seeing Shumei's hardship, she finally felt at peace. She had always believed she was no worse than Shumei, so why was she, Kang Shumei, so happy while her marriage was broken? It turned out it was simply that the time hadn't come yet. When the time came, what wasn't yours wasn't yours anymore. Being too greedy couldn't even save your life.
As she thought about it, she couldn't help laughing. Wu Ju, not knowing why, got goose bumps when she saw Zhang Xiaoqin, who was so crazy about her.
"Xiaoqin, what's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to go dig Jerusalem artichokes? Why are you back? And you're still grinning like an idiot. Are you sick?"
"Mother, how could you say that about your own daughter? Do you think I can run and jump like a sick person?"
Zhang Xiaoqin stood up from the chair and turned around several times.
"Then what are you laughing at?"
"I'm just smiling because I'm happy! There's no reason, mother. I have some terrible news for you. Your daughter-in-law has cancer and I'm afraid she won't live long. Her marriage to Tang Boyi is off, too."
Zhang Xiaoqin pretended to be mysterious, leaned close to Wu Ju's ear, and told her the news she had just heard.
Wu Ju was a little surprised when she heard this, but her expression didn't change much. She didn't feel any heartache or pity for Shumei's illness.
She lowered her head and pondered for a long time before muttering to herself, "If she dies, what will happen to our living expenses? And this little girl, is it possible that we can't even support her? No, she can't die, she can't die."
"Mother, you are too delusional! If the King of Hell wants you to die at three o'clock in the morning, how can he keep you alive until five o'clock? Life and death are not something we can decide."
Hearing Wu Ju's mumbling, Zhang Xiaoqin laughed disdainfully, with a hint of sarcasm in her words.
"How am I going to live in the future? I didn't expect that I would have to suffer such a hardship at the last moment. Oh! Why is my life so miserable? Oh..."
Now that she no longer had her long-term meal ticket, Wu Ju felt like someone had pulled out a muscle. She slumped down on the stool, beating her chest and stamping her feet, blaming the world and complaining with sighs.
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