Seeing the sun rising to the top of the tree, Ling Yao packed up and prepared to go home.
Toffees, boiled eggs and books were carefully packed into the patched yellow schoolbag. With his left hand, he grabbed a handful of green onions that he had picked on the hillside that morning, and with his right hand, he pinched a long branch to drive the pigs
away. He drove the pigs back to the stilt house and locked them in the pigpen.
The pigpen was under the stilt house, in the space supported by the pillars.
When they first settled down in Fengming Mountain, the three of them were very uncomfortable with the living environment. The living environment was really dirty and smelly. Who would sleep in a pigpen? But after living there for a few years, they have now completely gotten used to it.
Think about it, most people live in cowsheds after being sent down to the countryside, so living here is considered good.
This stilt house is a house in the village, but it was not originally used for living, but for raising livestock, storing food and some agricultural tools. When their family of three came, the captain simply vacated a room for them to live in.
One room, a family of three eats, drinks and sleeps in it.
Ling Yao closed the door of the pig pen and stepped on the wooden stairs to the stilt house. As usual, after entering the house, he put down his schoolbag and turned around to scoop a bowl of rice from the wooden bucket. Pour the rice into the winnowing basket and shake it up to shake out the bran, which should be swept up and kept to feed the chickens.
Put the washed rice into a basin and rinse it, then pour it into the pot to steam the rice.
When he was in the city, Ling Yao didn't know how to do these things. After arriving at Fengming Mountain, he learned to do all kinds of housework in order to help his parents share the pressure. He did everything well, from washing clothes to cooking to raising pigs and chickens.
After the rice was steamed, he carefully washed the wild onions he had picked, not throwing away the roots, and washed them until they were white and not sticky with any mud. He cut them into half-inch long sections with a knife, and then scooped some sauce from the pickles on them.
When the sauce and onions were mixed, his father Ling Zhiyuan and his mother Zhou Xueyun had just returned home from work.
Ling Yao served the rice, and Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun washed their hands and sat down to eat.
Ling Yao picked up the chopsticks but didn't eat. He suddenly stretched out his left hand and put two eggs and a candy on the table.
Seeing the eggs and candy, Zhou Xueyun was stunned for a moment, looked at Ling Yao and asked, "Where did you get them?"
Ling Yao said, "The girl I rescued yesterday sent them here."
Zhou Xueyun turned to look at Ling Zhiyuan, and after a moment she replied, "Oh."
She looked like she didn't know what to say, and then she said, "Then you eat it."
Ling Yao put the eggs in front of Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun respectively, "You have worked hard, you eat it."
Ling Zhiyuan didn't want it, and put it directly in front of Ling Yao, "You and mom eat it."
Two eggs and a piece of candy, no one in the family wanted to eat it, and after a long time of pushing and shoving, it was finally decided that Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun would eat the boiled eggs, and Ling Yao would eat the candy, and no one was allowed to have any doubts.
Zhou Xueyun sat at the table cracking eggs, breaking the shells, and suddenly said in a low voice: "Our family background is not good, and people look down on us wherever we go. It's better to stay out of the crowd, because too many people will gossip and gossip."
Ling Yao knew that his father was here because he was outspoken when interacting with others.
When his father first came, he was still handsome, but after these years of wasting time, he seemed to have aged by more than ten years, and he was as dark as a countryman. He used to love to talk loudly, but now he doesn't like to talk anymore, and sometimes he is like a piece of wood.
Ling Yao pinched the chopsticks and swallowed the rice in his mouth, "Hmm."
There were nine people from three generations at the Ruan family's dining table, and people were crowded shoulder to shoulder.
After a night and half a day, Ruan Xi had almost adapted to this new home. She couldn't care about other things. She was thinking about becoming a disciple first. So she asked her grandmother Liu Xinghua while eating: "Grandma, is there only one tailor on our Fengming Mountain?"
Liu Xinghua said: "Yes, an old tailor, in the Jinguan Village below."
Second aunt Sun Xiaohui was very sensitive and asked: "Xiaoxi, why are you asking this? Do you want to make clothes? There is no money to buy cloth at home. The clothes sent are so fashionable. Our old tailors can't make those styles."
Ruan Xi didn't care about her. She shook her head while eating rice, "I don't want to make clothes, I want to learn to make clothes."
Hearing this, everyone at the table was stunned and looked at Ruan Xi.
Grandpa Ruan Zhigao asked in confusion: "Want to learn to make clothes?"
If he remembered correctly, his granddaughter couldn't even do needlework well.
Ruan Xi nodded, "I have to learn some skills."
Ruan Zhigao said, "Why learn it? What skills does a girl need? Your family doesn't need you to make money. You can learn needlework well and stay at home for a few more years, then find a husband and get married. Don't look for work to do."
Ruan Xi felt uncomfortable after hearing this, but she didn't scold Ruan Zhigao, after all, he was her grandfather.
She said in a small and somewhat self-willed tone, biting the rice on the tip of her chopsticks, "I just want to make trouble."
Ruan Zhigao looked at Ruan Xi, "Are you still arguing with me?"
Ruan Xi still said in the same tone, "You can't control me, I will learn if I want to."
Ruan Zhigao obviously raised his voice, but did not say anything harsh. His face and tone suddenly changed, and he said, "You want to learn the craft from an old tailor, right? I really don't mind you, just go ahead, and see if he will accept you or not."
Speaking of the old Tailors, there is a lot of gossip to talk about. Second Auntie Sun Xiaohui became excited and continued, "Xiaoxi, don't you know? That old tailor is not a normal person. He has never married in his life. Do you know why?"
Ruanxi searched her memory and found nothing relevant, so she asked, "Why?"
Sun Xiaohui said, "When he was young, he was handsome and had skills. In fact, he didn't have to worry about finding a wife. Many girls liked him. But he was stubborn. It's strange, he can't get along with anyone, so he's single. You're asking for trouble by asking him to teach you a skill."
Liu Xinghua added, "He wants to find a beautiful woman, and if he can't find one, he won't have a wife."
After hearing this, Ruan Xi said, "You're quite principled. If you can't find someone you like and are satisfied with, what's the point of getting along? It's better not to get married. If I can't find a man I like and am satisfied with, I won't get married."
Liu Xinghua glared at her, "Bullshit.
" Uncle Ruan Changgui put down his bowl and said, "We are popular tailors. Many people go to old tailors to learn the craft, but none of them can learn it. Xiaoxi, you were not born to be a tailor, so don't think you can do anything."
Ruan Xi looked at Ruan Changgui, "The more he says he is good, the more I will go to meet him."
Ruan Zhigao snorted, "You won't turn back until you hit the south wall."
Ruan Changsheng was not serious, and suddenly slapped the table and said, "You won't cry until you see the coffin!"
Ruan Zhigao raised his hand and hit him on the head, "Stupid boy!"
Ruan Yuejin, Ruan Yuehua and Ruan Jie laughed out loud when they saw Ruan Changsheng being beaten every day.
After dinner, Ruan Xi took the initiative to wash the pots and dishes. After washing, she went to Liu Xinghua and said to her with a smile: "Grandma, can I borrow the half basket of eggs at home? I will return it to you after I learn the craft and make money."
She was going to find the old tailor to become his apprentice, and she must bring a gift. There is a supply and marketing cooperative in two or three villages in Fengming Mountain, but there is basically nothing for sale inside. It is difficult to buy some sugar. The only thing she can give is the eggs laid by the old hens at home.
Liu Xinghua looked at her and asked, "Do you really want to learn?"
She still felt that Ruan Xi was just being enthusiastic for a short time. After all, Ruan Xi couldn't even sew well and didn't like it the most. He suddenly said he wanted to learn to make clothes. Was he kidding?
Besides, the old tailor was really weird and hard to get along with. Others couldn't learn the craft from him, and Ruan Xi couldn't do it even more. Not only could she not learn the craft, but she also had to endure his difficulties and put a lot of things in it. It was really not worth it.
Ruan Xi had already made up her mind and nodded: "Yes!"
Liu Xinghua looked into Ruan Xi's eyes and said after a moment: "If you are serious, grandma won't stop you."
Ruan Xi raised her hand and swore, "I will definitely learn something!"
Liu Xinghua hesitated for a while, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Then you can take it."
Ruan Xi kissed Liu Xinghua heavily on the face, "Thank you grandma."
Liu Xinghua laughed at her kiss and said "naughty" very happily.
She agreed not because she thought Ruan Xi could learn it, but because her parents were not around, she always spoiled Ruan Xi and spoiled her.
Ruan Xi was happy, but it made others unhappy.
After hearing what was said in the corner, Sun Xiaohui returned to the room and said to Ruan Changgui with a frown: "Xiaoxi casually said that she wanted to learn how to make clothes, and we all thought it was a joke. Who knew that your mother really gave her all the eggs that the family had saved with great difficulty, and asked her to find that old tailor to become his apprentice. Isn't this like throwing meat buns at a dog? Is there anyone who is so spoiled by children? And that girl is worthless!"
Ruan Changgui sat on the edge of the bed. He didn't want to manage these things in the household. He just said: "Just give it to her."
Sun Xiaohui was unhappy. She had been oppressed by this mother-in-law for more than ten years after her marriage. Recently, she didn't want to be oppressed anymore. She also wanted to be the master of the family. Why did Liu Xinghua have the final say in all matters of the family? She was the one who made the final decision on everything.
She was still upset last night, and now she was even more upset. She was almost suffocating.
The idea of splitting up the family started to clamor in her mind again, so strong that it almost burst out of her head.
She calmed herself down, sat down next to Ruan Changgui, looked at him and said in a calm tone, "Have you noticed that the food at home has been getting worse and worse recently? We are almost starving. There used to be two plates of hot dishes on the table, but now there is not even a drop of oil. We finally managed to get some eggs, but we didn't even eat a bite. We just gave them away."
Hearing this, Ruan Changgui touched his stomach and said, "That's right. I've been feeling a little hungry lately."
Sun Xiaohui deliberately sighed, "I think we can't go on like this."
Ruan Changgui turned to look at her, "What's the matter?"
Sun Xiaohui said, "You haven't noticed, but your mother has put away all her money recently, and is going to spend it all on Xiao Wuzi and Xiaoxi. Your parents are partial to each other. They gave the opportunity to join the army to your eldest brother, and let you stay at home to farm and support the family. Now, they favor Xiao Wuzi and Xiaoxi, but these two are good-for-nothings. One is idle and always causing trouble, and the other is spoiled and does whatever she wants. She can't even sew well, but she says she wants to learn how to make clothes. Your mother really gave her all her eggs."
Speaking of partiality, Ruan Changgui held his breath in his heart, but said nothing.
Sun Xiaohui continued, "What can she learn? She's just giving things away for free. That old tailor is the best at making things difficult for people. Many people who went to learn the craft in the past threw things at him and learned nothing."
She moved her body and said, "Your mother is now planning to spend all the family's money on two prodigal sons. She doesn't plan for us, don't you think we should plan for ourselves? Yuejin is already fifteen years old. Won't he get married for money in a few years?"
Ruan Changgui was soft-hearted and was immediately shaken after hearing what Sun Xiaohui said.
Sun Xiaohui had calculated everything in her mind. Previously, the money that the eldest brother Ruan Changfu sent back was spent at home. Their family was considered to have taken advantage of it. They had good food and clothes, and lived a comfortable life. So she did not mention anything and let her mother-in-law Liu Xinghua oppress her.
Now Liu Xinghua wanted to save money for Ruan Changsheng's wedding. They had to save money on daily basis. Not only could they not take advantage of it, but they had to pay back to the family. She could not bear the slightest loss since she was born, otherwise she would feel uncomfortable.
She thought to herself that Ruan Changsheng, that idle and prodigal son, should not have married a wife, and it was even more ridiculous for Ruan Xi to learn to make clothes. These two were both prodigals. Liu Xinghua was willing to spend money on them, but she was not willing to pay back to let them take advantage of her.
When Ruan Changsheng gets married and his wife has children, the family will have more people, and they will probably have to continue to support the whole family. So for them, the sooner they split up, the better. Get rid of Ruan Changsheng and Ruan Xi, two people who only waste money, and with the work points they earn, the family of five will live better than now, at least they will eat better than now.
Ruan Changgui understood what Sun Xiaohui meant, and they had talked about splitting up a few times before. He pursed his lips and thought for a while, then said, "When my eldest brother is not around, I am the eldest son. My fifth son hasn't found a wife yet, so I should help support the family and share the hard work and pressure with my parents. My eldest brother also sends money back. If I mention dividing the family now, won't people point at my spine and scold me?"
Sun Xiaohui said in a heavy voice, "I don't want to endure it anymore. This matter must be resolved today. I'm not afraid of being scolded. Let me be the bad guy."
She made the decision while gritting her teeth and holding her breath, but Ruan Changgui didn't understand what she meant at once.
The couple looked at each other for a moment, Sun Xiaohui's eyes filled with resentment became redder and redder, and her breath became more and more urgent. Then she suddenly jumped up, as if she was extremely upset, and shouted at Ruan Changgui: "Get out! I'm going back to my parents' home now. Ruan Changgui, if you have the ability, don't beg me to come back! Why? I'm doing this for this family! For your two sons!"
After that, she burst out of the door with tears in her eyes and a red face.
Ruan Changgui was startled by her and was stunned for a moment, but he reacted quickly and soon understood Sun Xiaohui's intention.
Liu Xinghua heard the voice and went out of the house with Ruan Xi, only to see Sun Xiaohui running away with red eyes.
Seeing Ruan Changgui coming out of the house again, she asked concernedly, "What's wrong?"
Ruan Changgui deliberately frowned and panted, holding his waist with both hands, and said with a slightly poor acting, "Suddenly she yelled that she wanted to split up the family, let her go, I...I'm not used to her!"
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