Zhang Hongmei still didn't give the corn to Li Juying, because it looked like this year's new grain, and it wasn't corn harvest time yet, so she absolutely couldn't take it out.
Let's wait and see how things go. I'll never forget anyone who has helped me or shown me kindness, and I'll definitely repay them within my means.
Knock on the door and go in. Li Juying is reading the newspaper in the office. Nowadays, very few families come to the Women's Federation. Women are not even aware that they can fight for their rights here. So the Women's Federation's work is particularly easy. Even when there are conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, they rarely come here. Mainly, everyone feels ashamed to come here now.
"Hongmei is here? You look like you're doing well. You've grown taller and fatter, and you haven't gotten a tan yet."
"Aunt Li, have I gained weight?"
"Yes, you've gained weight; you look quite prosperous."
"That's right, the people in my village are so good to me, I don't even have to fetch water."
"I've heard that your village didn't grow the grain quota? Now the whole township knows."
"Is the rations for the mission corn?"
"Yes. Other villages also planted crops but didn't get a harvest. This year is a disaster. Now the village chiefs of these villages are all cursing your Uncle for being treacherous. Anyway, you at least have a harvest."
"That's right, my great-uncle and great-grandmother were both very shrewd! Our village only grows sweet potatoes, and the sorghum harvest wouldn't be good either."
"That's good. Hongmei, I heard Wang Jianguo got humiliated in your village?"
Since it was just the two of them in the office and the door was closed, Li Juying asked without hesitation.
"Yes. During the summer harvest, the head of the grain station in our village complained that our wheat was not good enough, but he came back the next day to ask for it back. However, we had already distributed the grain that day, so they didn't get any grain, and our village paid the money."
"Hmph, Wang Jianguo's wife and brother-in-law are idiots. If it weren't for Wang Jianguo, how could he have become the station chief?"
The money your village is paying, other villages with money are also paying money, and those without money have to pay grain. I know many families have already run out of food. Now the village chiefs from various villages are coming to besiege Wang Jianguo, demanding relief grain. He's so scared he doesn't dare stay in his office anymore.
I think things will get out of hand if this keeps up. Your village needs to be careful. I overheard Zhang Hongqi and Wang Jianguo secretly discussing dividing up your village's sweet potatoes last time.
I didn't know Zhang Hongqi was this kind of person before.
“Aunt Li, you don’t know, Zhang Hongqi and his wife came to my house wanting their son to become my son-in-law. After I refused, they even made a scene at the market in their village, trying to get my parents’ compensation money.”
"That guy is really a scoundrel. You'd better be careful in the future. It's not the thief you should be afraid of, but the one who's eyeing you. If I hear any news that's bad for you, I'll have someone tell you."
"Thank you so much, Aunt Li."
"What are you thanking me for? You're all alone, so you have to be careful about everything."
"Aunt Li, you've lost a lot of weight. Is there no food left at home?"
"That's right. The family hasn't split up yet, so there's more people and more food. The land hasn't yielded any crops yet, so of course we have to be careful with our food. We're lucky if we don't starve to death right now."
"Your village is so much better; it's right next to the river, so you can fetch water to irrigate your fields. We don't even have water; the wells in our village are almost dry now," Li Juying sighed.
Zhang Hongmei hadn't really noticed; fetching water was Zhang Xingguo's job.
"Will Aunt Li's relief food arrive?"
"I don't know. I reckon it'll be difficult. There are too many affected areas, and the government is willing but unable to do anything about it."
"Aunt Li, I have to go now, class starts soon."
"Come visit me sometime."
"Okay, I'll come again next time." Zhang Hongmei returned to school with a heavy heart. She hadn't brought any food with her, mainly because she couldn't eat because everyone was staring at her so intently.
After finishing their two afternoon classes, Zhu Zi, Er Ya, and the other two went home together.
I got home covered in sweat, washed my face with water that had been drying in the yard that morning, and prepared dinner.
Just make simple rice and mung bean porridge, and some pancakes; no need to prepare anything else. Just stew tomatoes, eggplant, and a small chili pepper together.
When Zhang Xingguo returned, he cleaned up the sheepfold, took a bath, and then came back to eat.
“Hongmei, your brother Zhang brought a bicycle with him this time. You can learn to ride it, and then you won’t have to walk to school anymore.”
"Then what will happen to my brother Zhang's work?"
"He has Xiao Shun, right? Besides, he only goes there two or three days a month, so he can manage."
"Uncle Zhang, aren't you going to work?"
"Go ahead, I'll go next month, stay for a few days and then come back. Even if you find me annoying, I'll still go with you."
“This joke isn’t funny.” Zhang Hongmei rolled her eyes at Zhang Xingguo and continued drinking her porridge, ignoring him.
Er Ya hadn't even put down her schoolbag when Liu Daya blocked her way, saying, "Tell me, why did you go with Comrade Zhang? And even ride in his car? I've never ridden in one before."
Er Ya ignored her, put down her schoolbag, pushed her aside, and went to the kitchen to help Li Cuihua cook.
Liu Daya, unwilling to give up, chased after her, saying, "You brat, that's your brother-in-law! How could you go near him like that?"
Li Cuihua sensed something was wrong. "What's wrong with Er Ya?"
"I don't know, as soon as I got back she started saying things I couldn't understand."
"Da Ya, what happened?"
Liu Daya was startled when she saw Li Cuihua looking over, but then she felt angry again when she remembered what happened that morning. "Er Ya left with Comrade Zhang this morning. That Comrade Zhang is her brother-in-law. How could she be so close to him?"
After hearing this, Li Cuihua swung the shovel at Liu Daya, yelling, "You shameless bastard!"
After being beaten, Liu Daya ran out of the kitchen and stood in the yard with her neck stiff and a look of resentment on her face, but now she didn't dare to challenge Li Cuihua anymore.
"Er Ya, ignore her. How could I have given birth to such a shameless thing?" Er Ya didn't say anything. This had nothing to do with her, and she wasn't going to walk into the line of fire. If she really went along with her mother, her mother would be unhappy again.
The couple lay in bed. "Honey, Da Ya really has taken a liking to Comrade Zhang. Today, she saw Er Ya riding in his car, and they had another fight when she got back."
Liu Maocai turned over and looked at Li Cuihua. "What? You agree with your eldest daughter's opinion too?"
"How could I have such thoughts? They wouldn't even be interested in our daughter!"
"You know that much, don't be as clueless as your daughter. Don't you even know how many bowls of rice you can eat?"
"But it's not a good thing for this girl to keep thinking like this, is it?"
"Don't worry about her, just keep an eye on her. After the autumn harvest, I'll send her to my maternal grandmother's house. I already found her a husband in the last letter. We'll go together then, consider it as sending her off on her wedding."
Li Cuihua fell silent. How could she not feel sorry for her own flesh and blood?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com