The first day after the division of the family, Tang Wei Min handed over his work to Tang Da Kui, then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy necessities like salt, oil, and rice. After bringing the bricks back and organizing them, he also bought some potatoes and sweet potatoes from the elder sister next door.
He boiled some sweet potatoes and potatoes, and then hurried to deliver them to the mother and daughter who were still at school and hadn't eaten breakfast.
After delivering the food, he rushed back to plaster the kitchen.
After the second class of the morning, Jun Jiu Li took out the sweet potato from the desk drawer and peeled it, eating it in small bites. This thing was easy to choke on if eaten too quickly.
At this moment, Tang Wei Wei suddenly spoke, "Tang Tang, you are truly pitiful. Following your second uncle from now on, you'll only be able to eat sweet potatoes every day. After all, your second uncle and second aunt also need to save money for their old age, hahaha."
"How could Tang Tang's family be so poor? Tang Tang's mother is a teacher. Tang Wei Wei, don't talk nonsense." This was said by Jun Jiu Li's deskmate, Tang Xiao Lin.
"What's the use of her mother being a teacher when her father is just a farmer? Her family doesn't have any sons to carry on the family line, so she will definitely be poor and pitiful in the future. My second uncle might even sell her for betrothal gifts later."
Her words caused the class to erupt in laughter. Many boys clapped and cheered, singing a common saying they often heard from the elders: "Daughters are worthless, exchanged for betrothal gifts to fund an elder's retirement."
Just then, the class bell rang. Teacher Xiao Wen, standing at the door with a bamboo cane, had veins bulging on her forehead in anger.
She was a sent-down youth. When she graduated from high school, her parents wanted to sell her to an old widower for betrothal money to marry a wife for her brother. It was only through her quick wit and enrolling in the sent-down program that she escaped this fate. Therefore, she could not stand this kind of talk.
She entered the classroom and slammed her palms on the lecture desk. After the entire class quieted down, she began to speak.
"I heard you all arguing before I entered. Your parents sent you here to study, not to gossip like old women about everyone's business. It is the new era now, and discriminating against women is unacceptable."
"What's wrong with being an only child? All the family's assets will eventually belong to Tang Tang, and she will enjoy all her parents' love. Her father is young and strong; even if he lost his job, he would be a good hand at farm work. Teacher Wu earns 12 yuan a month, with a subsidy of five work points per day. Tang Tang's life will be very comfortable in the future. Why would she need your pity? Some people should just mind their own business."
"Don't let me hear you discussing anything unrelated to your studies again. Tang Wei Wei, I see you have too much idle time. You are the ringleader in mocking your classmates. I sentence you to clean the classroom for a month. Do you accept?"
Tears welled up in Tang Wei Wei's eyes. She nodded with a wronged expression and returned to her seat, thinking she would teach her a lesson after school.
"Alright, let's start the lesson now."
While Teacher Xiao Wen turned to write on the blackboard, Jun Jiu Li secretly cast a rebound charm on her, just in case.
After school, Jun Jiu Li and her mother went home together. Tang Wei Min had already prepared dinner: a basin of fragrant rice and stir-fried shredded potatoes with chili.
Tang Wei Ming, who was setting the table, smiled when he saw his wife and daughter enter. "Yan Qing is back. Hurry and take Tang Tang to wash up, let's eat. There's no cornmeal added to the rice today, you'll love it."
"Okay."
The family happily sat down to eat. At this moment, Wang Jin Hua deliberately walked past the door of the second branch with a basin of chicken.
"Oh, second brother, you're eating? Let me see what you're eating. Tsk, tsk, tsk, just stir-fried shredded potatoes? Come and see what we're eating." As she spoke, she lowered the basin and waved it in front of Tang Wei Min's family of three.
"Heh heh, this is a pheasant my Wei Wei caught in the mountains a few days ago. We've been hanging it in the well. Wei Wei is amazing, she just strolls in the mountains after school and can catch pheasants and rabbits. It's a pity that the family has been divided now, and you in the second branch won't have this good fortune."
After saying that, she shook her head and tutted as if in pity, then strutted out with the basin of potato and chicken chunks, her head held high like a victorious rooster.
"I've worked hard for you both, only being able to eat shredded potatoes with me."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Our lives will definitely get better and better, thriving and prosperous."
"Mom is right."
The atmosphere instantly became warm, and the family ate and talked happily.
After school, Tang Wei Wei followed Teacher Xiao Wen. On the way back to the educated youth dormitory, they had to pass a small river. She found an opportune moment and controlled a vine to trip Teacher Xiao Wen.
However, for some reason, the vine disappeared before it could wrap around Teacher Xiao Wen's feet. Tang Wei Wei also lost her best chance, and Teacher Xiao Wen had already walked far away.
Tang Wei Wei stomped her foot in annoyance and thought of turning back to go home for dinner. However, she was tripped by something and fell into the river with a splash. Perhaps it was due to some heroine's halo, but the fish in the river rubbed against her.
The slippery sensation triggered unpleasant memories for Tang Wei Wei. She couldn't swim, and the fish surrounded her, keeping her afloat so she wouldn't drown. She was terrified and shouted, batting away the fish, and swallowed several mouthfuls of dirty water.
Meanwhile, everyone in the first branch was waiting for Tang Wei Wei to start dinner, but she was still nowhere to be seen. They were all a little worried.
"It's been a long time since school ended, why isn't my precious daughter back yet? That good-for-nothing has been back for over an hour."
"Grandma, don't worry, sister might have gone up the mountain to hunt wild game. Shall we eat first?" Tang Da Kui's eyes were glued to the chicken on the table.
"Eat, eat, eat, all you think about is eating. When Nian Nian goes to hunt wild game, she always informs the family beforehand. Old man, why don't we go out and look for her?"
Mentioning looking for Tang Wei Wei made everyone a little uneasy. After all, Tang Wei Guo lost both his legs last time when he went looking for Tang Wei Wei.
Tang Da Kui and Tang Dong Liang both felt a pang in their legs. They glanced at their father, who was sitting in his chair with a somber expression, and lowered their heads in silence.
"You, are you trying to anger me to death? If none of you go, do you expect your old mother to go herself?"
At this moment, Tang Wei Guo, who had been silent, said, "Mom, don't worry. Da Ya has her own luck and will come back herself. Let's eat first."
Old Man Tang: "Jin Hua, you go and look for her."
Wang Jin Hua pointed a finger at herself in disbelief, her mouth agape, her face full of shock and reluctance.
Old Man Tang coughed harshly, "She's your daughter, who else would go if not you? Hurry up and go, don't delay everyone's meal. Just look around the school, no need to go into the mountains."
"Oh, okay."
Wang Jin Hua inwardly complained but dared not resent the old man. She inwardly resented her daughter for being so disobedient, not returning home even after dark, and forcing her mother to go find her.
Soon, Wang Jin Hua arrived at the small river beside the school and saw Tang Wei Wei floating and sinking in the water.
At first, she didn't dare to confirm it was her daughter, but a voice in her heart kept telling her, so she went closer to look carefully.
"Oh my, Da Ya, my Da Ya fell into the water." She still had some sense and knew she couldn't swim.
"Da Ya, hold on. I'll go find someone to save you."
Not long after Wang Jin Hua left, she encountered two brothers walking outside. They were cousins of Tang Wei Wei, named Tang Da Zhu and Tang Er Zhu. They were the two sons of the village head, both in their second year of junior high.
After learning the cause and effect, the two found a bamboo pole and rushed to the river. They threw the pole into the water, and after Tang Wei Wei grabbed it firmly, they pulled her towards the bank with all their might.
Tang Er Zhu: "Big brother, look, there are so many fish where Tang Wei Wei was just now."
Tang Da Zhu: "What are you still愣着干什么, hurry and find a net!"
"Oh, oh, okay." Tang Er Zhu said, then ran off like a gust of wind.
After Tang Wei Wei got ashore, the Tang Da Zhu brothers, seeing that she was fine, went into the river to catch fish.
Meanwhile, Wang Jin Hua, instead of first checking if her daughter was alright, started wrapping the few fish that had bitten her daughter's clothes with her own clothes.
"Mom, aren't we going home yet? Dad and the others must be waiting anxiously."
"What do you know? Those two boys are catching fish you attracted. We should at least get a big share."
"Mom is right."
It was only then that Wang Jin Hua came to her senses and asked her daughter a few more concerned questions before saying, "Your clothes are wet, go back and change into a dry set. And call your brothers to help. I'll watch here, and those two brothers won't get away."
"I know."
Tang Wei Wei ran home. As soon as she entered the house, she saw that they had almost finished eating. Her lower lip pouted, and she told everyone what had happened.
Grandma Tang saw her pouting and said, "Wei Wei, go and change quickly, don't catch a cold. Grandma will cook you a bowl of ginger soup and reheat the chicken I specifically saved for you."
Hearing this, Tang Wei Wei's mood instantly turned from gloomy to sunny, and she happily went inside.
"Grandma, do you still have chicken left?" Tang Dong Liang asked, gnawing on the bone in his hand.
Grandma Tang shot him a sideways glance and didn't say much. She picked out a small bowl of chicken from the basin with her own used bowl and took it back to the kitchen to reheat.
Meanwhile, Wang Jin Hua had already started arguing with the Tang Da Zhu brothers.
"These fish were attracted by my Da Ya, so the majority should belong to our family."
"Auntie, how can you be so unreasonable? These fish were caught by my brother and me through hard work in the water. We even saved your Da Ya's life, so how can you turn your back on us?"
"Who asked you to save her? You saved her on your own. My Da Ya was in the water for so long and was fine. If you didn't save her, I could have asked someone else to save her. Anyway, I don't care, these fish must be ours."
Just as the three were arguing fiercely, Tang Dong Liang and Tang Da Kui arrived. The brothers were older and stronger than the Tang Da Zhu brothers, and they immediately started to fight the Tang Da Zhu brothers. The four of them got into a scuffle, and Wang Jin Hua took the opportunity to snatch the fish.
"Stop, what are you doing?" A stern shout came from a distance.
"God damn it, you're bullying my sons just because you're older. Wang Jin Hua, I'm not done with you!"
It was the village head and his wife who arrived. Their younger son had told them about the fish being caught when he went back to get the net. The couple, worried, had come to check, and they witnessed this scene.
The Tang Da Zhu brothers were beaten black and blue. After separating the four, the village head sternly reprimanded them.
On the other side, the village head's wife swung her nails towards Jin Hua, scratching her. Wang Jin Hua was no match for her and retreated with bloodstains all over her face.
While hitting her, she also scolded, "You old hag, bullying my two underage sons. Have you no shame? I'm not done with you today."
The Tang Da Zhu brothers, seeing their mother protecting them like this, grinned from the side, feeling incredibly smug. Tang Da Kui and the others thought they were the only ones with a mother; everyone was a baby at home.
The village head gave them a fierce look, and they dared not be presumptuous, quickly curbing their smiles.
Seeing that his wife had had her fill of beating, the village head pretended to go over to mediate. This Wang Jin Hua was always so dramatic. He couldn't say much about a woman, but today, he would teach her a lesson through his wife.
Wang Jin Hua knew she was in the wrong and didn't dare to escalate the matter, or she would lose face completely. She was also intimidated by a few words from the village head. Taking the few fish she had grabbed, she led her sons home sheepishly.
After everyone left, the village head asked, "Are you two brats alright?"
"We're fine. Those two are just paper tigers, all brawn and no brains. They also deliberately hit the conspicuous places on our faces. We only hit the places that others can't see, hehe." Tang Er Zhu said, scratching his head with a silly grin.
The village head's wife said happily, "You two little rascals, let's go and take the fish home to make fish soup."
"Yes."
The family hurried home, chatting and laughing.
Meanwhile, Wang Jin Hua returned home with a stomach full of anger. All that was left were scraps. She didn't feel like eating and wanted to go back to her room to rest, but she was stopped by Old Madam Tang.
"Where are you going? Hurry up and clear the table and wash the dishes. Your airs are getting bigger every day. I, your mother-in-law, have to call you for everything."
Wang Jin Hua dared not retort, enduring the anger and going to clean up.
Old Madam Tang also gave her a sideways glance, spat, and said, "Such a drama queen." Then she returned to her room. Only Wang Jin Hua was left alone in the entire courtyard.
As night deepened, Jun Jiu Li entered Tang Wei Wei's room. She waved her hands and drew a beautiful magic circle that enveloped Tang Wei Wei's body. An ancient silver ring popped out from Tang Wei Wei's body. Jun Jiu Li stored the ring in her space.
With her right hand, she gently waved over Tang Wei Wei's dantian, and the energy core carrying her wood-elemental ability was instantly crushed. Tang Wei Wei, in her sleep, frowned. She didn't know that her two biggest assets were now gone.
Jun Jiu Li left as swiftly as she came, her deeds hidden and her name unsung.