This was the anti-theft stamp.
This was the anti-theft stamp.
Lu Dewen carried half a bucket of water and walked back and forth on the porch.
Gradually,
He filled more than half of the bucket. Before the sky turned dark, it was finally full.
He was so tired that he wanted to cry.
His clothes and pants were wet. Xue Huahua asked him to put them on the stool in the room and wear them tomorrow.
As soon as he fell onto the bed,
He didn't even have the strength to turn over.
"Caizhi, how did mom know that my injury has healed?" Lu Dewen grunted as he pulled the bedding over to cover himself.
He didn't understand how Xue Huahua could tell that his injury had healed to the point that he could walk. The scar on his wound was almost gone.
It didn't hurt much, but it itched so much that he wanted to scratch it. In order not to expose himself, he only dared to scratch it through the gauze.
Chao Caizhi could only lie down and sleep at night.
Seeing that the bedding had been snatched away by Lu Dewen,
She gently pulled it back and whispered, "In the morning, Liu Huaxian said that she was going to look for the captain.
Mom is afraid that the captain will bring people over. Your injury is lighter and you can help with some work.
They won't make a scene. "
In this day and age,
Work points were food.
No family had enough food to eat. If it dragged on for too long, the villagers would think that they were deliberately acting shamelessly. Even if they were in the right, they would become unreasonable.
Lu Dewen was unhappy. Should he work just because he was lightly injured? It was even the work of carrying manure … Just thinking about it made his shoulder burn with pain. He didn't need to look to know that a layer of skin must have been rubbed off.
However, the worst was yet to come. The next day, before dawn, Xue Huahua woke him up. He yawned all day long. Even if he was dispirited, he had to carry water. If he couldn't, he would carry stones.
Lu Dewen's back was sore, and his entire body felt like it was falling apart. He could carry a bucket of water last night, but it was difficult for him to carry half a bucket of water in the morning. However, Xue Huahua didn't care. If he didn't carry water, he wouldn't have food to eat. She told him to do as he saw fit.
"Mom, can I carry it with my hands?" His shoulder was really hurting.
"Boss, will I starve you to death?" Xue Huahua carries a bundle of straw and places it at the door. She sits on the threshold and twines the rope. She rubs the straw until it is smooth. She will save it for the production team when they slaughter the pigs at the end of the year.
Lu Dewen was miserable. He picked up the shoulder pole and walked back and forth in the corridor. Xue Huahua was like a leader supervising the members of the club. Whenever he stopped, Xue Huahua would frown. He was so scared that he didn't have a chance to rest the whole morning.
Eat lunch, continue.
Lu Dewen was going crazy. He almost fell to the ground and pretended to be dead.
Even if he pretended to be dead, it would be useless. Xue Huahua's attitude was very strong, and her face showed that there was no room for negotiation.
After three consecutive days, Lu Dewen was more tired than a year's worth of work. Seeing Xue Huahua carrying the basket out of the door, he immediately put down the shoulder pole. "Caizhi, Caizhi, get me a bowl of water …"
Just when his butt touched the stool, he saw Xue Huahua standing outside the yard with a fierce look. Lu Dewen staggered and stood up. "Mom, didn't you leave?"
"Why do you care if I leave or not? Hurry up."
Lu Dewen was caught red-handed and his face turned red. His son was still leaning against the threshold, looking at him with his bright eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "Xixi, watch how Dad carries water. You will carry water for me in the future."
Xixi blinked, turned around, and walked away. Before she left, she said two words clearly, "Get to work."
Lu Dewen fell to the ground.
He didn't know if Xue Huahua was hiding in the dark and watching him. He didn't dare to be lazy anymore and carried water obediently. He walked from west to east, east to west …
Xue Huahua didn't know that Lu Dewen was afraid that she was hiding in the dark and worked very hard to carry water. She carried the big basket on her back and wore a patched cotton shirt. She held a bamboo pole in her hand and staggered to the production team four next door.
Along the crisscrossed country road, there were dilapidated mud houses scattered here and there. A few wisps of smoke slowly came out from the chimneys. After passing through a few barren fields, she arrived at Liu Huaxian's house.
The layout of the mud houses in the countryside was similar. The central house was connected to a big house, and the east was the kitchen and firewood shed. Liu Huaxian was carrying firewood out of the shed when Xue Huahua called out to her, "Comrade Liu Huaxian …"
Liu Huaxian was stunned. She recognized that it was Xue Huahua and her calm face suddenly became angry. "What are you doing here? I haven't looked for you yet and you still have the face to come?"
She complained to Lu Jianguo but it didn't work, so she came back to find the captain of the production team four. The captain urged her to hurry up and sow more seeds before the rain. If there was anything else, they could talk about it when they didn't have to work.
Yesterday, she went to talk to the captain again. The captain asked her to wait until the new educated youth settled down and adapted to the life in the countryside. She made up her mind that no matter what, she would ask the accountant to credit them for the rest of the work. Otherwise, she would go to the commune to pester her brother and ask him to help.
She had thought of everything, but she didn't expect Xue Huahua to come to her.
The rain fell on Xue Huahua. Apart from itching, she didn't feel anything.
"I'm here to talk to you about something." There were many footprints in the yard. Xue Huahua didn't go in. She stood outside and talked to Liu Huaxian. "From today onwards, the work you earn will belong to you."
Liu Huaxian smiled happily, but she didn't believe it. She stared at Xue Huahua suspiciously. "Are you serious?"
Xue Huahua nodded. "Yes. But, you have to do me a favor. "
"I knew you wouldn't be so kind …" Liu Huaxian thought quickly. She put down the firewood and walked out. "What favor?"
"Tell Captain Lu about my family's situation before you go to work." Xue Huahua had already planned to put some pressure on Lu Dewen and the others. The work of carrying dung would never fall on him, but she could change it to something else.
Did he really think that she went to the village before she recovered? She had other plans.
After talking to Liu Huaxian, Liu Huaxian agreed almost without any hesitation. As long as she got her work back, anything could be discussed.
After the two of them came to an agreement, Xue Huahua went back. Lu Dewen was swinging the shoulder pole listlessly, and the two buckets were swinging until they were almost at the height of his shoulders. When he saw Xue Huahua coming back, Lu Dewen instantly became well-behaved. He went back to the house and poured the rainwater in the basin into the buckets, then steadily carried the water and walked back and forth.
Xue Huahua didn't bother to look at him and went back to her room.
The sky was clear, and the dawn light shone through the clouds. The crops in the fields were washed clean and translucent by the rain. They floated with the wind in high spirits.
This year, Fenggu Township was divided into four groups of educated youth. Taking advantage of the rain, Lu Jianguo taught them how to use a hoe and sickle, how to sow seeds, and how much of each kind of seed to sow. While the members were not working, he took the educated youth to walk around the production team, which was a simple familiarization of the environment.
After that, he took them to the storage room to get a hoe and asked the old educated youth to take them up the mountain to work. As soon as he sent them away, Xue Huahua came limping, followed by the overbearing Liu Huaxian and the emaciated Lu Dewen.
Lu Jianguo's eyebrows twitched, and he wanted to turn around and leave.
Both of them were not easy to deal with. Liu Huaxian didn't matter because she had a powerful brother, but Xue Huahua was the one who gave him a headache. In the past, when he heard half a word from her in the village, he didn't know when she started to talk. From the hardships of the Red Army's Long March to Jian She's fighting spirit in the countryside, the commune cadres had to read the quotations, but Xue Huahua just came out of her mouth.
There was a member who was more eloquent than the cadres, so he couldn't refute her. He could only listen to her for everything. How could he not have a headache?
"Captain Lu, Comrade Xue Huahua and I are here to talk to you about the work points." Liu Huaxian had to go back to work in the team. Time was tight, so she went straight to the point. "Comrade Xue Huahua has a high level of awareness. She said that in response to the slogan of 'self-sufficiency', they will earn their own work points from today onwards. We want you to be our witness."
Lu Jianguo smiled. "Okay, okay." Self-sufficiency. Hearing this, it sounded so smooth. Last time, he was tricked by Xue Huahua to stand up for her.
He didn't know what Liu Huaxian was tricked by.
"But." Liu Huaxian changed the topic. "You know about her family's situation. Her leg injury hasn't healed, and Dewen's daughter is about to give birth. Only Dewen's health is slightly better. Can you give him a job with higher work points?"
Lu Jianguo frowned and glanced at Lu Dewen, who was so skinny. He didn't have the strength. He was already struggling with the work of a Level 3 laborer. What else could he do?
"I don't think he can do other work."
"Why not?" Liu Huaxian frowned. "The bolder a person is, the more productive he will be. You are the backbone of the production team. How can you not believe in your own members? I think carrying manure is suitable for Comrade Dewen. "
Lu Jianguo started to have a headache again. Liu Huaxian puffed out her chest and continued to speak valiantly. "He is not afraid of hardships, and he is not afraid of death. Comrade Dewen has the spirit of hard work. You should give him a chance. If he doesn't try, how will he know if he can do it?"
Lu Jianguo interrupted Liu Huaxian in time. "Those who carry manure are old members in the village who know how to farm. The whole village is watching. Dewen is too thin. He can't do it."
Xue Huahua pulled Liu Huaxian and said very softly. "Dewen's injury hasn't healed completely. It's a little difficult for him to carry manure."
"How can you do that? He is the only laborer in your family. If he doesn't earn more work points, the harvest won't be enough for next year." Liu Huaxian's face was tight and serious.
Lu Jianguo couldn't help but wonder when their relationship was so good that Liu Huaxian stood up for Xue Huahua. Lu Dewen couldn't carry manure, but Lu Dewen could be arranged to transplant rice seedlings.
"After sowing the corn, the next step is transplanting rice seedlings. If you are willing to work, you can go to the field to transplant rice seedlings." Transplanting rice seedlings cost 8 work points. With Lu Dewen's performance last year, it was impossible for him to do it. Lu Jianguo also saw that their family was in a difficult situation this year, so he wanted to help. "But I have to warn you first. If you are still like last year, I will replace you after I catch you once."
Lu Dewen immediately promised that he would not be lazy anymore. He carefully glanced at Xue Huahua. When he came here, he said that he would carry manure, but now he suddenly changed to transplanting rice seedlings. He didn't know if Xue Huahua would be happy or not.
"Captain, rest assured. I will improve his awareness and will not let him be a burden." Xue Huahua interrupted.
Lu Jianguo nodded. Since Lu Dewen came, he asked him to register with the accountant and go to the field to sow corn seeds. It was 6 work points and he earned it day by day.
Lu Dewen sighed and put down the shoulder pole in his hand. After saying hello to Xue Huahua, he ran away. His steps were steady and strong. Lu Jianguo was surprised. He caught Lu Dewen going to the mountain to be lazy many times. Why is he so enthusiastic today?
"Captain, this is the shoulder pole I borrowed from you last time. Thank you." Xue Huahua handed the shoulder pole to Lu Jianguo and chatted with Liu Huaxian for a while. Then she turned to the field. After the rain, plants grew wildly. Bright green wild vegetables could be seen everywhere. She walked along the side of the road while digging. The sun slowly climbed up the mountain and shone on the people working in the field. It was warm and full of hope.
In the crop field, the person responsible for digging pits is an old educated youth. In previous years, he and Lu Dewen cooperated to sow the seeds. He found that today Lu Dewen was not normal. In the past, when he dug two rows of pits, he still slowly counted the seeds behind.
When it came to sowing seeds, a person with a little experience could count them with three fingers. Lu Dewen was lazy, so he counted them one by one. He could count four or five corn kernels in a pit for a few minutes. When the old educated youth first came, he was full of enthusiasm. He couldn't stand Lu Dewen's scheming and laziness, so he ran to Lu Jianguo and made a small report.
Lu Dewen's work points were deducted, but next time he worked, he still found opportunities to be lazy.
Slowly, the old educated youth got used to it. When he met Lu Dewen, he would slow down.
But now, Lu Dewen was as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood. He dug a pit with the hoe, and Lu Dewen's corn seeds fell into the pit. He secretly counted. Each pit had four or five seeds, no more and no less.
The new educated youth was excited to see it. They also had two hands. They couldn't let the members of the club lose to them. They rolled up their sleeves and started to work.
Hearing the new educated youth praise Lu Dewen, the old educated youth couldn't keep his face. He spat and rubbed his palms, rolled up his sleeves, and sped up with high fighting spirit. When he dug a pit, it was not deep nor shallow. It was just right. He didn't hear the new educated youth praise him, but a few corn seeds fell into the pit.
Lu Dewen seemed to be playing with him. He chased after him, digging a pit and planting a seed. After he finished the field, the sun had just climbed to the top of his head.
Unlike the new educated youth who were excited, the old educated youth gritted his teeth and persisted. He waved the hoe into the ground and stared at Lu Dewen. "Comrade Dewen, what do you mean?"
Who didn't know Lu Dewen's conduct in the past … Who was he showing his diligence to?
Lu Dewen was tired and sweating. Seeing the old educated youth glaring at him with a livid face, he waved his hand and couldn't say anything about it.
"He found someone to eat grain and abandoned your Mingwen. As his mother, why aren't you worried?" Li Mingxia patted her thigh and looked angry. Xue Huahua turned her head and said sarcastically, "Yes, I'm not worried. Why are you worried?"
Birds of a feather flock together. She didn't think that Li Mingxia did it for Mingwen's good.
Her waist was a little sore. She put her hands on her knees, twisted left and right, and then continued to pull the weeds. The weeds in the field were soaked in water for a few days. The roots were a little loose, so it was not difficult to pull them out. The weeds were thrown into a pile and carried to the ridge of the field after work. There were two baskets to hold the weeds. When the weeds were dried, they could be used as firewood. Every family liked it very much.
Li Mingxia stood on the ridge of the field for a while, but she didn't see Xue Huahua showing any dissatisfaction. She was so angry that she stamped her feet. With Xue Huahua's attitude of blackmailing people, she thought that Xue Huahua would find ways to make a scene with Sun Guixian. She didn't expect that Xue Huahua would act as if nothing had happened.
She spat at Xue Huahua and left in a hurry.
As soon as she left, the old man who was digging the field praised Xue Huahua for ignoring her. She was always gossiping and couldn't stand others. "Huahua, your house is far away, so you don't know. She wanted to drag you into a fight with Sun Guixian. They fell out. Don't bother."
Xue Huahua was puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"They are fighting to cut the pigweed. They whispered behind your back all day that you and Lu Ming's wife are lazy. The captain asked them to cut the pigweed in order to be fair. They were very good before, but when they heard that there was an easy job, they all wanted to do it. But now, they suddenly fell out." There were only two people cutting the pigweed. There were five of them. Of course, the three who didn't get the pigweed were unwilling. Especially when they heard that Sun Guixian didn't work hard after getting the pigweed and went back to the Sun Family Village. The remaining three were even more unhappy. If they knew that Sun Baoqin got married again, they would put eye drops on Xue Huahua and help to scold Sun Guixian.
Xue Huahua bowed and shouted, "My Ming Wen and Sun Baoqin are divorced. We have nothing to do with each other. Who cares if she got married for the second time or the third time? Instead of worrying about it, it's better to pull more weeds. The weeds will grow better and we can get more food." After that, she threw the weeds to the side. The weeds fell in the field and splashed some water. Xue Huahua clapped her hands and continued to focus on pulling the weeds.
The people around her saw that she thought it through and couldn't help but give her a thumbs up. Yes, who cares if Sun Baoqin got married or divorced? There is a lot of work waiting for her.
People in the countryside are honest in their work. Except for a few cases of cheating, most of them are very active. If they can't stand bending for a long time, they will sit on the ridge and rest. The field is full of weeds, but the ridge is different. In addition to weeds, there are a lot of folding ear roots growing on both sides of the field. At this time of year, the children in the village love to pry ear roots.
Everyone takes a sharpened bamboo stick and pry the ridges one by one. The ridges are of different heights. The children step in the field and search along the field wall. Three to five children form a group. Whoever finds the ear root first will be surprised and surprised to attract the attention of their companions. Then, they will immediately point out the ear root that belongs to them. This is easy to distinguish. Whoever sees it first will get it. The others are not allowed to pry. If anyone doesn't know the rules, they will definitely quarrel. Not only that, prying ear roots is not a competition to see who can pry more, but to see who can pry the ear root. For this reason, the children can spend a whole day in the field.
Xue Huahua carries the grass in the field to the ridge to dry. She sits under a tree with her female comrades to rest. Seeing that the children who are prying ear roots are so focused after the noise, she smiles. Especially when she sees Lu Xixi lying on the ridge, she can't help smiling. The female comrades next to her follow her gaze curiously.
Under the bright sunshine, a child in patched clothes is lying on the ridge, pointing at the field wall and shouting something. The girl in the field holds the field wall and strides in the direction of the child's finger. The girl in the field holds the field wall and strides in the direction of the child's finger. One big and one small, it is very harmonious.
Recognizing that it is Lu Hongying, someone asks Xue Huahua, "Huahua, I remember that Hongying and my fourth son were born in the same year. She is 15 years old, right?"
Xue Huahua knows what the other person is trying to say. 15 years old, one can start dating and get married in two years. 17 years old is just right.
In the countryside, both men and women marry early. Anyone who is not married after 20 years old is a monster in the eyes of others, especially girls. If they are not married by 20 years old, no one will want them as they get older. Even if they want to find someone, they can only find a man who is married twice.
Xue Huahua looks at her daughter who is prying ear roots and says with a smile, "Hongying is still young. I want her to get older. Does your fourth son have a partner?"
"Not yet. Let's talk about it after the autumn harvest." At this time, if they are not looking for a partner, they will go to someone else's house to work when the farm is busy, so there is no rush for the time being. "Huahua, isn't your Mingwen looking for a wife?"
Sun Baoqin is married twice. Lu Mingwen should hurry up and find a wife in order to make himself look good.
Xue Huahua shakes her head, "Our family conditions are not good. Let's wait for two years when they are better." Xixi's head is hanging outside. Xue Huahua accidentally fell into the field. She gets up and walks over, shouting, "Xixi, come to Grandma. Grandma will catch some fish for you."
She still wants to say something, but seeing that Xue Huahua has left, she can only swallow the words that are at the tip of her tongue.
Xue Huahua uses a bamboo basket to catch some fish. She puts the basket in the field and puts a small stool in it. Xixi sits on the stool and catches the fish in the basket, playing by himself excitedly. From time to time, he can't stop giggling.
Hearing the child's crisp laughter, the villagers also laugh. Children are always the motivation of parents. When they think of their children and grandchildren, they can't help but be full of energy. When they are in good spirits, they chat while working. When they talk about Sun Baoqin's second marriage, many people scold that Sun Baoqin is a b * stard. She got married right after the divorce, and the two of them must have been together long ago.
Lu Mingwen has been cuckolded.
If you ask them, Xue Huahua is the only one who is easy to talk to. As long as they get back the dowry and Sun Baoqin's rations from the Lu Family, it's fine. If it were them, they would definitely bring people over to bring Sun Baoqin back. Even if she wants to get a divorce, there is no way.
People always sympathize with the weak. When Sun Baoqin didn't get married, people think that Xue Huahua is too heartless. But when Sun Baoqin gets married, the public opinion turns against Sun Baoqin. They all accuse Sun Baoqin of being fickle and unable to bear loneliness. Xue Huahua listens to the side and doesn't interrupt, as if listening to a stranger's story.
Gradually, people calm down and concentrate on the work at hand.
The women pull the weeds and the men dig the fields. They cooperate well. As the sun gets hotter, people work slower. When they hear Lu Jianguo's loud and clear voice calling for the end of work, the villagers stop working and shout for the end of work. Xue Huahua carries Xixi and drags the basket to the ridge of the field. The grass on the ridge of the field no longer drips water. She puts it into the basket and carries the grass in the field up to dry. She and Xixi wait for Lu Dewen to pick them up. After all, Xue Huahua is a woman with limited physical strength. She has no problem carrying two baskets of dry grass, but she can't carry two baskets of wet grass.
The situation in the surrounding area is the same. The men carry the baskets home while the women stay where they are. It doesn't take long for Lu Dewen to come back. "Mom, wait for me with Xixi. I'll come back as soon as I get back."
Every household is short of food and firewood. If they don't carry the grass back to dry in their yard, there won't be any left in the afternoon. Lu Dewen's job is to dig the fields. After work, he has to return the rake to the storage room. He runs here and his face is covered with sweat. He takes the shoulder pole, coils the rope of the basket twice and passes it through the shoulder pole. Then, he carries the basket and leaves.
Lu Shuisheng's wife looks at him and teases, "Dewen is so capable. Your mom can finally relax. In the past, your mom couldn't carry the basket and could only carry it. The weight of the basket is so heavy that her back is almost touching the ground. Who wouldn't scold you brothers for being heartless …"
Lu Dewen blushed and grinned awkwardly. His waist swayed as he strode home.
The sun is scorching. Xue Huahua spreads out the grass and hugs Xixi to sit under the shade of a tree. The children who were picking the ear roots are nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, one or two birds fly over the barren fields. Xixi points in the direction where the birds flew and babbles non-stop. Xue Huahua pats his head and teaches him gently, "Bird, bird …"
Xixi is still babbling, he doesn't understand.
Xue Huahua points at the grass on the barren fields and teaches him to say 'grass', 'tree', 'flower' …
She says the surrounding words, but Xixi doesn't know any of them. He raises his head and points at Lu Dewen who is walking over from afar. He says clearly, "Get to work."
Xue Huahua is overjoyed.
Lu Dewen doesn't know what Xue Huahua is so happy about. He puts down the empty basket. Seeing that Xue Huahua puts down Lu Xixi and wants to carry the grass, he quickly stops her. "Mom, you sit down. Let me do it."
He stuffs the grass into the basket and compacts it. It's done in a few moments. He picks up the pole again and talks about Sun Baoqin's second marriage. "Mom, they said that Sun Baoqin has been with someone else for a long time. Otherwise, she wouldn't be in such a hurry to divorce. Second Brother was cheated on by her. We have to ask the Sun Family for an explanation." Sun Baoqin married an educated youth. The other party is from the city and has money and food. If they really quarrel, Sun Baoqin's second marriage will definitely not last long. They can quietly discuss with the Sun Family first and ask for more food back. He thinks this is a good idea.
He carries the basket and walks quickly. He doesn't hear Xue Huahua's voice for a long time. He turns around and sees her holding Xixi's hand, picking the tips of the wild vegetables as they walk. She doesn't want to waste any time. Thinking of his aunt's words, he feels depressed. "Mom, Third Sister is waiting for us. Let's go home and eat first."
Auntie was right. They were too much of a scumbag. How the hell did they survive in the past?
"Oh, I'm coming." Xue Huahua takes back her hand and carries Xixi. She strides to catch up with Lu Dewen. She shakes the mint leaves in her hand. "Let me make some water for you in the afternoon. I will sprinkle some sugar on it. Does Xixi want to eat it?"
Xixi knows what sugar is and nods repeatedly.
Lu Dewen still wants to talk about Sun Baoqin. But when he meets Xue Huahua's cold eyes, he can't help but shiver. "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Who asked you to go to the Sun Family?" No one knew a son better than a mother. She knew Lu Dewen's personality very well. He wouldn't be able to come up with this kind of direct confrontation even if he had ten brains. Someone must be instigating him behind the scenes.
Lu Dewen quickly shakes his head. "No one, no one. I just said it. I don't really want to go."
"I asked you who said it?" Xue Huahua's expression is very serious. Lu Dewen doesn't dare to hide it. "It's Aunt Mingxia …"
Xue Huahua stares at him for a while and finally sighs.
"Okay, I got it. Let's go home and eat first." Her face is no longer angry but gentle. Lu Dewen thought it was his illusion just now and carefully calls his mom.
"Let's go back. We can talk about it at home."
On the dining table, looking at the half bowl of wild vegetable porridge in front of him, Lu Dewen knows that he did something wrong. But he doesn't quite understand what he did wrong. Sun Baoqin made Mingwen a cuckold. What's wrong with compensating him with some food? He didn't do anything wrong.
Xue Huahua eats seriously. She glances at Lu Dewen from the corner of her eyes and said coldly. "Think about it yourself. You can add half a bowl of rice when you think about it."
A 21-year-old person will be cheated to commit a crime sooner or later.
Lu Hongying is quick-witted. She stretches her leg and kicks Lu Dewen. "Brother, she and Sun Guixian used to be like sisters. She must be up to no good by suddenly encouraging you to go to the Sun family. Why don't you think about it?"
Lu Dewen's mind is a mess. He doesn't quite understand the meaning of Lu Hongying's words. He feels wronged and goes to work after eating half a bowl of rice. He can't help but ask Lu Tong next to him.
Lu Tong had a lot of people in his family, and his mother was a person who couldn't stop talking. If she didn't scold her own family, she would scold others. She went door to door and scolded all the men and women who failed to live up to her expectations. It was hard for him not to know about Lu Mingwen's divorce.
"Brother Dewen, fighting won't solve the problem. If you win, you have to pay for the medical expenses and go to the police station. If you lose, you have to bleed. Auntie is afraid that you will get hurt. You should know that Auntie has eaten more salt than we have eaten. If she says that we have nothing to do with each other, then we have nothing to do with each other. Don't go against her." Lu Tong almost never talks to Xue Huahua. He said this purely because his parents said that Xue Huahua handled this matter decisively. She won't be at a disadvantage and is smart.
If it's someone else, forget it if they can't get the betrothal gifts back. They might not be able to gain the upper hand in a fight.
Lu Dewen humbly agrees. In the evening, he carries two baskets of grass and walks in front. He sincerely apologizes to Xue Huahua. He shouldn't listen to others. The betrothal gifts are returned and the marriage is considered a divorce. It's a waste of time to continue to pester her.
"Lu Tong told you that?" Xue Huahua thought that he would need three to five days to understand. The human heart is complicated and selfish. There will be a lot of such things in the future. If Lu Dewen doesn't improve, he will only be used as a gun. She patiently explained, "There is no certificate. Sun Baoqin has wronged Mingwen, and we can't do anything about it. If we fight, both sides will suffer. Li Mingxia and Sun Guixian had a falling out. She wanted to find someone to help her vent her anger. She first came to the field to find me. I ignored her because I know that instead of quarreling with Sun Guixian and causing a ruckus in the Sun Family Village, it's better to work for a few more days. At least, I can earn a few more jobs and get more food. What can I get from quarreling?"
Lu Dewen whispered, "Nothing?" If he can't win, he will have to lie in bed for another month or two.
"Yeah, if that's the case, why do you still do it?"
Lu Dewen fell into deep thought.
Doesn't she feel angry that Sun Baoqin cheated on him? What's the use of being angry? Being angry can't punish others. Instead, it will interrupt the rhythm of one's life. There is no need to be angry.
"Mom, I'll listen to you."
The fields of Ren 'an Village stretched from the front of the village to the back. Xue Huahua's family lived at the end of the village. The mother and son took a shortcut along the ridge of the fields to go home. Halfway through, they heard the sound of Lu Jianguo cursing from the storage room, mixed with two women's cries.
As far as Xue Huahua knew, it had been many years since Lu Jianguo had cursed someone at the top of his voice. What had happened?
Lu Dewen chewed the egg bit by bit into his stomach and licked the egg paste clean. Only then did he rub his stomach and burp contentedly. Sister-in-law Cui and Sun Guixian did the same. They went to the kitchen and scooped up half a bowl of soup, stirred the white sugar at the bottom of the bowl, and drank it before wiping their mouths and leaving.
The moon had already risen halfway through the clouds, and they still had to get up early for work tomorrow. Xue Huahua didn't ask them to stay and sent them out of the yard. In the house, Lu Dewen happily kept the bowls and chopsticks. Two bowls of egg soup and half an egg white made him feel even more full than a bowl of rice. When he saw Xue Huahua coming back, he shouted, "Mom, go back to sleep. I'll wash these bowls."
"There's still some wild vegetable paste in the iron pot. You can scoop a small bowl and give more to Caizhi." Xue Huahua stood at the door and deliberately raised her voice.
Lu Dewen was stunned and said, "There's wild vegetable paste to eat?" He was already full.
However, he was naturally happy to eat one more bowl. Immediately, he happily carried the bowl into the kitchen, picked a big bowl from the cupboard, and scooped a small bowl for Caizhi. When he went out, he deliberately showed the bowl to Xue Huahua and said, "I scooped this for Caizhi."
Xue Huahua snorted and turned to go into the house, "Eat it and wash the pot. Get up early tomorrow."
Lu Dewen hurriedly answered, carried the bowl, and strode into the room with his head held high.
The morning in the countryside was very quiet. There was a trickling stream, birds looking for food, and the gentle breeze sending beautiful sounds into the ears of the people who were sleeping soundly.
Xue Huahua spread out two small corn pancakes and cooked a poached egg for Chao Caizhi. She sprinkled some sugar on it and sent it to her room. Lu Dewen was already up. He was holding the child and rocking it gently, humming a tune, "Little boy, grow up quickly. Tomorrow, follow daddy to herd sheep …" There were no sheep in the production team, so he changed the tune smugly, "Tomorrow, follow daddy to carry manure … What's so good about carrying manure? You'll earn work points and save up food …"
Xue Huahua coughed, and he immediately stopped talking. He looked at the window nervously, "Mom, you're here. I'll go to work immediately."
He handed the child to Chao Caizhi and was about to leave when Xue Huahua stopped him, "The child hasn't been named yet. Think of a name for him."
Xue Huahua dragged a stool to the bedside, put the bowl down, and glanced at the sleeping child under the small quilt. She said to Chao Caizhi, "I'll take Xixi out. You stay at home and take care of the child. Throw the changed diapers into the basin and run. I'll come back at noon to wash them." The countryside did not pay much attention to confinement. Those who were well-off would rest for about ten days before going to work. Those who were not well-off would give birth in the fields and continue to work after the birth.
Chao Caizhi was born the day after she gave birth to Lu Xixi, but this time was different. Xue Huahua did not want her body to collapse. There was a man at home, why would a woman work so hard?
"Me?" Lu Dewen scratched the back of his head helplessly, "I don't know how."
He had studied in school for a few years, but he could only recognize a few words and recite a few poems. He was not good at naming. "Why don't you ask the captain? He often goes to the commune for meetings, and he knows all the good names." In the past, there were many people with the same name in the village. When he shouted, many people would respond in unison. Lu Jianguo felt that it was not a good idea. Every time he went to the commune, he would ask about the names of other villagers. If there was a good name, he would write it down and tell it to the family who was about to give birth.
In recent years, there were more and more names in the village.
A few years ago, you would stand in the yard and shout 'Son of a dog', and all you could hear was, "Hey, I'm working …"
Xue Huahua looked at him, "Is it your son or the captain's son?"
Lu Dewen was terrified. He looked at his son who was sucking his fingers seriously. He racked his brains but could not think of a good name. He looked at Xue Huahua, "Why don't we call him Dong Dong? Put together with Xixi, people will know that they are brothers." Just like him and his second brother, one was Lu Dewen and the other was Lu Mingwen. As for the fourth brother, Lu Jianxun, it was because his father saw that Lu Jianguo was the captain and wanted to share the glory. Lu Jianxun should have been called Lu Xunwen.
Things, things, how could they not be brothers? Xue Huahua did not say much. She asked Lu Dewen to look for Lu Jianguo to register the child's household registration. There was no police station in Fenggu Township, so they had to go to the county. Without Lu Jianguo, the child could not be registered.
"Mom, I'll tell him when I see him. I'm going to work now." There was not enough food at home. In February, they did not eat breakfast at home. They went to work the moment they woke up. He was used to it, especially since he had a good meal last night. He was not hungry at all.
"I'll go with you." Xue Huahua stood up and carried Xixi, who was eating corn pancakes. "Xixi and grandma are going to cut the pigweed."
The breeze was refreshing. Xue Huahua let Lu Dewen carry the child and walked behind them. Before they could walk out of the yard, they heard a shout from behind. "Mom, Big Brother, wait up. I'll go with you." Lu Mingwen walked out with a sprained foot. Lu Dewen was puzzled. "Mingwen, your foot is not healed yet."
"It's almost healed. I can go to work now." Lu Mingwen supported his limping foot with one hand and walked very slowly. Lu Dewen was puzzled. He was only one year older than Lu Mingwen. He knew his younger brother's character very well. He was hardworking, but he was hardworking when it came to helping others. If there was a female who was not feeling well and asked for leave, he would immediately go over to help. He would get their work, but his own work would be deducted.
Lu Dewen found it unbelievable that Lu Mingwen was so enthusiastic all of a sudden. He thought of Sun Baoqin who came home yesterday and asked, "Mingwen, where's Bao Qin?"
Speaking of Sun Baoqin, Lu Mingwen's expression changed. She was fine when she was dating, but changed after she got married. She stayed at home all day and went back to her mother's house when she saw him injured. She even took all her clothes with her yesterday, saying that she could not help at home and that she had to eat more. She went back to her mother's house to help lighten the burden at home.
He felt that something was wrong, but he could not tell what it was.
"She went back to her mother's house. Big Brother, let's not talk about her. Let's go to work."
Lu Dewen didn't like Sun Baoqin at all. Before they got married, she always used sweet words to trick Lu Mingwen into helping her brother. After they got married, she complained that the food at home was not good. Every time she opened her mouth, she would talk about how good her previous partner's family was. It was annoying.
It was better if she left, but don't come back.
After all, they were brothers. Lu Dewen could not bear for Lu Mingwen to go to work with an injury, so he let him rest at home.
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