Su family's New Year's Eve dinner was ready. Because Su Manxiu and Chen Zi'an had arrived, Grandma Su, along with her daughters-in-law, prepared two extra dishes.
Recalling Chen Zi'an's relationship with the Chi family, Grandma Su quietly consulted Grandpa Su and then asked Su Ciliang to invite the people from the cowshed over.
Su Ciliang happily went.
Grandma Su then remembered Su Taohua, sighed a few times, and asked Liang Xiu to prepare some food for Su Taohua and her children.
"Those three only have that little bit of meat, and Kang Yiye, that woman, snatched it all. Poor things, bring them a bit more," Grandma Su said, adding a few more chopsticks of meat to a large bowl.
Although their family couldn't eat meat every meal, they could have meat for more than ten days a month, which was much better than other families. It didn't matter if they ate a little less.
"Mom, I was just thinking, Sister Taohua has been good to our family. When we went to Xiangyang Brigade, she helped us a lot." Liang Xiu smiled, wrapped herself up tightly with a red headscarf, and went to Su Taohua's house.
When she arrived at Su Taohua's house, she happened to see Su Changjiu's daughter also bringing dumplings.
"Auntie, you're here too?" Su Xiaocao asked with a smile.
"Yes, Xiaocao, you're here too?" Liang Xiu's eyes crinkled with a smile.
The two knocked on the door together, and Xiao Liang opened it.
"Xiao Liang, where's your mother?" Liang Xiu asked.
"Auntie, Xiaocao, why have you come so late at night?" Xiao Liang, though sad, managed a smile to welcome them in.
As they entered together, Su Taohua was making dumplings, with meat, but more vegetables than meat.
"Oh my, why have you come?" Su Taohua patted the flour off her hands and stood up.
"We made fried winter fruit at home, and there was quite a bit. I remembered you liked it, Sister Taohua, so my mom asked me to bring some over." Liang Xiu spoke politely, but took out several large bowls from her basket in one go: a bowl of dry-fried meatballs, a bowl of dumplings, and a bowl of fried winter fruit.
"Auntie, my mom said you like her dumplings the most, so she asked me to bring some over too." Xiaocao also busied herself and placed the dumplings from her basket on the table.
"Why are you bringing so much? We made some ourselves," Su Taohua quickly declined. "Quick, take it back."
"Sister Taohua, I see your dumplings aren't finished yet. With these, you don't need to make any more. Just feed the three children," Liang Xiu said with a smile. "It's New Year's Eve, I have to go back too. You mothers and children eat well, and you'll get through this." After chatting with Su Taohua for a few more words and seeing that Su Taohua looked reasonably spirited, Liang Xiu took Su Xiaocao and left.
Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Su Taohua could only pour the dumplings and meat brought by Liang Xiu and Su Xiaocao into her own bowls, wash the bowls and plates clean, pack her own peanuts and melon seeds, and then see them off.
"Mom!" Xiaogang called softly, "Was it my fault!" If he hadn't gone to make trouble with Kang Yiye, they should have been eating at home together now, and Mom wouldn't be sad.
Su Taohua, uncharacteristically, affectionately stroked her son's forehead. "Xiaogang, you're not wrong, your father is wrong."
Xiaogang listened and asked, "It's really not my fault?"
"No, your father's heart isn't at home anymore. Even if you hadn't gone, he wouldn't have come home tonight." Su Taohua had also figured it out. A man whose heart isn't at home is meaningless even if you keep him. Didn't Manxiu also get divorced? Life still goes on. After the New Year, she would divorce Li Changming and then raise her children well. In any case, this time it was Li Changming's fault. Even if there were gossip, people would probably be merciful. The mother and children fastened the door and went home, and no one mentioned sending food to Li Changming.
At the same time, Li Changming, lying in the dilapidated ancestral hall, was in so much pain that he couldn't move, and he still had to listen to Kang Yiye's whimpering cries. Kang Yiye was in pain. Her body had been pinched all over today, with no good spots left. These country bumpkins were really ruthless, especially those shameless ones who didn't forget to pinch her most private parts. But now, she didn't even have the strength to curse and could only cry softly. If it were in the past, Li Changming would have been heartbroken and would have rushed to comfort Kang Yiye. But at this moment, he was also in pain and hungry, with no energy to comfort Kang Yiye.
"Brother Li, will anyone send you food?" Kang Yiye asked when she was tired of crying.
"I don't know, probably!" Li Changming said hopefully. Speaking of which, although Su Taohua was crude, she was very good to him. Even though he had been lingering on Kang Yiye's kang these days, the meals at home were still prepared for him. Thinking of this, Li Changming suddenly felt that he might have been really wrong. Kang Yiye was beautiful, but she wasn't as good to him as Su Taohua was. He regretted it!
"Brother Li, why haven't they sent it yet? It's getting dark." Kang Yiye's hands and feet were tied, but she still struggled to move closer to Li Changming. Li Changming's body stiffened. Kang Yiye's soft warmth made his slight regret disappear. This woman, although she was calculating towards him, was truly passionate when they were intimate.
"Don't worry, as soon as they send food, I'll give it to you first," Li Changming said magnanimously. Unfortunately, no one thought of sending New Year's Eve dinner to this pair of scoundrels. Before sending them to the commune, they were only given some cold, icy thin gruel to barely keep them from starving to death.
Meanwhile, Liang Xiu first sent Xiaocao to her doorstep and then hurried home. When she returned home, the four people from the cowshed had also arrived. As everyone was busy with the New Year, no one noticed that the old Su family had quietly gained a few more people.
That night, more than twenty people were together, very lively. This was the best New Year the Su family had experienced in years. One table was for adults, and another was for children, all very lively. Su Xiaotian was naturally the little lucky star doted on by her ten brothers. With delicious food on the table, her brothers prioritized her. But Su Xiaotian felt that Chi Yiyuan was not in good health and should eat more, so she kept urging Chi Yiyuan to eat.
Su Ciliang grumbled, "Xiaotian, why are you only taking care of him? I'm your brother!" Why were you calling him "Brother Yiyuan" so affectionately? This Chi Yiyuan was also unperceptive. His sister was part of their family, so why did it seem like she belonged to the Chi family? Little Five was even more dissatisfied. Xiaotian was his own sister, so why was she better to others than to her own brother? The other children in the Su family had similar thoughts to these two. They couldn't have opinions about Su Xiaotian, so their opinions could only be directed at Chi Yiyuan. The boys teased Chi Yiyuan with their words. Fortunately, Chi Yiyuan was not petty and didn't mind the childish teasing from a few young boys. After teasing for a while without a response, the boys found it boring and gave up. Forget it, let's just consider Xiaotian to have one more brother! One more brother would make it exactly ten brothers.
"How about we become sworn brothers?" Su Ciliang suddenly suggested. "In the Three Kingdoms period, Liu, Guan, and Zhang swore brotherhood, it was beautiful!" Chi Yiyuan glanced at him. This guy actually knew about the Oath of the Peach Garden? That's good. However, becoming sworn brothers was probably not a good idea. "It's not appropriate." With that one sentence, Chi Yiyuan saw the clearly cooled expressions of the boys and Su Xiaotian's bewildered look, and felt that he might have spoken too harshly. "Just consider me your brother, whether older or younger, you don't need to worry about formalities," Chi Yiyuan added. Su Shouwen thought about Chi Yiyuan's identity and felt it made sense, so he let the matter go. At this time, Su Shouwen didn't know that this brat's target was his own little sister. Many years later, when talking about this, Chi Yiyuan would frankly say that if he became sworn brothers with them, he would be Xiaotian's brother, and it wouldn't be appropriate for a brother to pursue his sister as a wife! It was only then that Su Shouwen and others understood what Chi Yiyuan's "not appropriate" meant that New Year's Eve.
While the children were having a happy and lively time, the adults at their table were also drinking and chatting merrily. Chen Zi'an brought two catties of wine. The men drank, the women ate meat, and they talked, creating a wonderful atmosphere. Even Yu Ruiyuan, a woman from a wealthy family, found herself getting along very well with the village women. After returning, she still said that although the women of the Su family had different personalities, they were all very good to people. At this time, Du Tonghe, with his eyes hazy, said, "Before I came, I never expected that life in Hongxin Brigade could be like this. To be honest, some of my old friends are... I'm truly here to enjoy life!" Several of his old friends were no longer alive, and the remaining ones were barely surviving. He was fortunate to have come to Hongxin Brigade. The people here, especially the old Su family, were indeed truly red-hearted!
"Old Du, it's New Year's Eve, don't say such discouraging things. After the New Year, you'll have to help with farming properly," Chi Ge said quickly. "Our Xiaotian is more capable than me!" Du Tonghe said with a smile, clearly a bit tipsy. "Brother Su, I have an impolite request that I've wanted to make for a long time, but I've never had the courage!" "Old Du, please tell me whatever you need. As long as I can agree, I will definitely agree!" Grandpa Su had also drunk some wine and spoke more magnanimously, even losing his usual inferiority complex when facing Chi Ge and Du Tonghe. "My son died in the war many years ago, and I have no children. I was thinking..." Du Tonghe hesitated, unsure whether to continue. "Brother Su, let me say it for him. The couple wants to recognize Xiaotian as a god-granddaughter, so they'll have someone to perform the final rites in the future." With that sentence, the originally very pleasant atmosphere fell silent. Grandpa Su wanted to say no. He only had this one granddaughter, so how could he give half of her away? However, Du Tonghe's son had died in the war, and their only child had sacrificed for the country. Grandma Su looked at Grandpa Su without saying a word. Everyone in the old Su family knew about Du Tonghe's family's situation, and they couldn't utter the word of refusal.
"How about this, Old Du, why don't you take a look at my grandsons? Which one do you fancy?" Grandpa Su finally said through gritted teeth. Grandsons were the foundation of the old Su family. If it weren't for Old Du making the request, he would never have agreed. But his granddaughter was his only one. If she were given away, she would be gone! The boys eating at the table underneath heard this and almost choked. What did their grandfather say? Pick from the grandsons? So, the granddaughter was their own flesh and blood, and they were grown in the fields? But they couldn't bear to give their sister away, so what should they do? Little Nine was about to speak when Su Shouwen covered his mouth. Their grandfather and grandmother weren't speaking, so there must be a reason. They, as juniors, shouldn't speak rashly. For such an important matter, their opinions as juniors didn't count, so they shouldn't speak.
"Brother Su, sons are the ones who carry on the family line. You can't give away too many. I wouldn't dare to ask for that. Don't worry, I'll just recognize a god-granddaughter, and she'll still be a child of your old Su family." Du Tonghe spoke very politely, but in reality, he intended to recognize Su Xiaotian and have her inherit his legacy. This child's understanding of agriculture was truly comprehensive, and she would surely achieve great things in time. If he were still as glorious as before, taking her home wouldn't be a problem, but now, it was just a mental solace. Taking her to the cowshed would be harming her! Hearing this assurance, Grandpa Su's hesitation dissipated.
"Alright, I'll agree to this on behalf of her parents!" Grandpa Su said through gritted teeth. "My dear treasure, come and pay your respects to your god-grandfather and god-grandmother!" Du Tonghe didn't expect Grandpa Su to be so decisive. He not only agreed immediately but also asked the child to pay respects to her grandparents directly. He subconsciously omitted the word "god." Anyway, he had no other children; he only had this one grandson. Su Xiaotian naturally heard Grandpa Su and Du Tonghe and others. She obediently walked over, looked around, and seeing everyone nod, she knelt and kowtowed. "Xiaotian pays respects to God-grandfather and God-grandmother!" Chi Ge smiled and said, "Why call them God-grandfather and God-grandmother? In the future, when you go to offer sacrifices to your god-father, call him God-father. Call God-grandfather and God-grandmother directly Grandpa and Grandma, it's more intimate." Du Tonghe looked at his old friend with deep gratitude. His friend understood his thoughts. Grandpa Su thought about it and simply nodded. What's wrong with calling them Grandpa and Grandma? She's still their own dear treasure! She would still live with their family.
"Xiaotian pays respects to Grandpa and Grandma. When Xiaotian grows up, she will filial to Grandpa and Grandma!" Su Xiaotian's mouth was as sweet as honey. Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, however, suddenly felt a pang in their hearts. Their own child, why was she being sent to be filial to others? And as her biological father, Su Laosan felt uncomfortable thinking that his daughter would have an extra god-father in the future. But no one listened to him, and no matter how uncomfortable he felt, he had to endure it.
"Good child, for recognizing god-parents, we should have prepared golden bowls and silver chopsticks for you, but Grandma and Grandpa are now... Don't worry, when there's time in the future, Grandma and Grandpa will definitely make it up to you!" Chi Ge glanced at his two good friends. They were revealing their true intentions! It seemed that the couple truly intended to become one family with the old Su family. Fortunately, no one in the Su family thought too much about it. Grandpa Su said politely, "What's there to say? It's a blessing for Xiaotian to recognize you as god-parents. Besides, golden bowls and silver chopsticks are not something ordinary people can have." After the New Year, Su Xiaotian gained a pair of grandparents, and the relationship between the old Su family and those in the cowshed became even better. Although some people said it wasn't good, Su Changjiu said it was to help the people in the cowshed improve their ideological awareness. The brigade then stopped talking about it. After the Lantern Festival, the commune reopened for work. Accountant Li, who no longer looked human, oh, he was no longer the accountant. The new accountant was Su Shouwen. Li Changming and Kang Yiye, looking pale and inhuman, were sent to the commune and soon underwent a public trial. They were sent to the mine for hooliganism. Before Li Changming was sent away, Su Taohua met him for the last time. Li Changming no longer had any of his frivolous thoughts. When he saw his former, despised, plain-faced wife, he immediately begged.
"Peach Blossom, you're my wife. Find a way to save me. As long as I get out, I'll wholeheartedly live with you and never make mistakes again." Li Changming hated that Su Taohua hadn't sent him any food, not even on New Year's Eve. If Su Taohua had considered their marital bond, he wouldn't have ended up like this. But he didn't dare to say these words. At this moment, the most important thing was to coax Su Taohua into changing her mind.
Su Taohua looked at this man and said with a cold smile, "You don't think about your educated youth Kang anymore? You want to live with me now?"
"I was just infatuated, Taohua. Forgive me this once, and I won't have anything to do with her again." Li Changming pleaded desperately. He had suffered all the suffering he had never experienced in these days, and he didn't want to suffer in the mine. "It was all Kang Yiye who seduced me. I made a mistake that any man would make." Yes, that's right. There were more than one or two men in the brigade who had relationships with Kang Yiye. Kang Yiye was too promiscuous. Any man would be unable to resist if she took the initiative.
Su Taohua looked at the man she had lived with for nearly twenty years with great disappointment and suddenly smiled. "Taohua, you're smiling. Have you forgiven me?" Li Changming seemed to see a glimmer of hope. "I'm smiling, not because I've forgiven you, but because I think it's not worth it. I, Su Taohua, am also a capable girl. Why did I live a lifetime with scum like you?" Su Taohua cursed, but couldn't help but shed tears. Twenty years, it really wasn't worth it. Although Li Changming was a live-in son-in-law, she had given him face outside and tried her best to prevent him from feeling inferior. But what about him? Had he ever considered her reputation? "I have to thank Kang, the educated youth, for letting me see your true colors. Li Changming, you disgust me." "When you were trying so hard to please a slut who slept with everyone, did you feel dirty? Such a woman, and you treated her like a treasure. You're truly as cheap as she is!" Li Changming didn't expect Su Taohua to curse him directly. After a moment of愣, Li Changming became enraged. "Su Taohua, are you even a woman? I am your man, your sky. How dare you curse me?" Li Changming had a smooth life. Even though he was a live-in son-in-law, his parents-in-law were long gone. He had never been offended. "Soon, I won't be!"
[Author's Note]
Babies, the author is from Lanzhou. The disaster came suddenly, and the writing dog who had no drafts had to put everything down and rush to the front line, having to stop updating for a day. I apologize to everyone here. Fortunately, I found time to write today. In the next few days, if work is too busy, I may have to stop updating again. I apologize in advance to all friends who follow the author. Thank you for your support, muah, I'll do my best!