This was the first time Bai Shuhua had seen Bai Dad be so serious, even going down to the fields with pen and paper in hand.
Those pen and paper were all her friendly contribution.
When Bai Dad came back, he even told them about the habits of medicinal herbs. Some medicinal herbs liked shade, so this barren land had to be opened up on the back slope.
Some medicinal herbs liked rotten soil, so they even had to go into the mountains to rake up rotten leaves.
Bai Dad studied hard every day, but a person’s energy is limited after all.
He wasn’t the kind who was willing to work hard either, so the usual labor was even more draggy.
Naturally, his work points were even lower.
Bai Mother had always followed suit with her own man, and that made Bai Granny and Bai Eldest Sister-in-law especially dissatisfied.
Just then, Bai Youngest Aunt ran into trouble again, she had actually gotten involved with a gai liuzi.
Bai Youngest Aunt wasn’t stupid. She probably hadn’t intended to have any real future with that gai liuzi, and still wanted to marry a city person.
But she was vain, and enjoyed that feeling of being admired. The key was that she had accepted the other person’s gift.
But that gai liuzi didn’t have a job, where would he get the money? When he and a few brothers went to the production brigade below to steal chickens, he was caught. At the police station, he confessed everything, only hoping for a few fewer years in prison.
Bai Youngest Aunt’s gifts were all bought with stolen money, so she naturally couldn’t get away.
Even though the public security officers didn’t directly come to the production brigade to arrest people, but instead sent word to the brigade captain and had him bring Bai Zhenzhen to the police station to make a statement, the matter still spread.
The school even expelled her outright, and she finally didn’t have to take the high school entrance exam for the third time.
But this matter really had nothing to do with Bai Youngest Aunt. Once the stolen goods were returned, and the used ones were compensated for, she was let back.
Grandfather Bai personally drove the ox cart to pick her up.
As soon as the two of them entered the courtyard, Grandfather Bai turned around and gave Bai Youngest Aunt two hard slaps.
Smack, smack, they were so loud that she was slapped straight to the ground.
Bai Shuhua had originally wanted to watch the drama, but when she saw this scene, she immediately pulled Little Brother back with her, so they wouldn’t get splashed with blood.
“Oh, the child’s father, what are you doing? Our daughter has suffered so much, and you still hit her. How could you bring yourself to do that!”
Bai Granny heartbrokenly pulled Bai Youngest Aunt over.
Bai Youngest Aunt didn’t get up, she lay on the ground and cried woo-woo.
Those who were watching the excitement were about to gather around, and Grandfather Bai cursed, “Get back inside and cry.”
Bai Youngest Aunt covered her face and cried as Bai Granny dragged her into the main room.
Bai Shuhua was so disappointed, there was no show left to watch.
That night, the Bai family all came back from the reclaimed land.
Grandfather Bai called his three sons and daughters-in-law into the main room.
He had something to say.
As a child, Bai Shuhua knew she wouldn’t be let in, but she could eavesdrop.
So she and Little Brother played throwing stones under the window sill. The window was open too, because it was hot.
How could she possibly not hear anything?
First, Grandfather Bai spoke. “You all know about Zhenzhen’s matter, right? Everyone say what should be done.”
Bai Eldest Aunt muttered under her breath, full of complaints. “I said long ago not to let her keep studying. If she had married early, none of this would have happened, and we could’ve even collected a betrothal gift…”
“Shut up, you filthy-mouthed thing, keep your damn mouth shut!”
That was the furious Bai Granny.
After that came a very long silence, and no one said anything.
Grandfather Bai said again, “Zhenzhen doesn’t need to go to school anymore in the future, and she’s old enough too. Hurry up and find her a match.”
Still no one answered.
Bai Shuhua knew her parents wouldn’t take on this rotten mess.
For her little aunt to marry off was practically to dump trouble onto someone else.
How black-hearted would you have to be to praise her little aunt with your eyes closed?
Grandfather Bai angrily cursed Bai Granny, “It’s all because you spoiled her, look at what she’s become. I’m telling you, she has to be married off this year. If we can’t find someone nearby, then marry her farther away.”
“Dad, I don’t want to marry far away! Woo-woo-woo…”
Bai Youngest Aunt actually ran out.
After that, chaos erupted. Grandfather Bai wanted to hit someone, Bai Granny screamed as she tried to stop him, and even shouted for Bai Eldest Uncle and the others to stop him too. Anyway, it was especially lively.
Bai Shuhua couldn’t hold back, so she leaned on the windowsill and peered in through the not-so-transparent little glass panes that had been smeared dirty, those old window panes were all palm-sized little pieces, very thin and easy to break. Wasn’t this just eagle catching chicks?
Her parents were already dodging to the side.
Her father was protecting her mother, probably afraid she’d get hurt by mistake.
A wise choice!
“Jie, jie, I want to watch too!”
Little Brother Bai was very anxious, tugging at Bai Shuhua’s clothes and trying to climb up, but his legs were too short.
Bai Shuhua was afraid of being discovered, and then becoming the punching bag, so she quickly jumped down and covered her brother’s mouth.
After Bai Dad and the others went back inside, Bai Shuhua couldn’t hold back her gossiping urge. “Dad, Mom, what’s going to happen to Bai Youngest Aunt?”
Bai Mother snorted. “What’s going to happen? Hurry up and marry her off, or else she’ll be a burden in our hands. The child’s father, tell me, is she not stupid in the head? Who isn’t avoiding that group of gai liuzi, only she went up and got close to them. No wonder she took the exam twice and still couldn’t get into high school, she’s just plain stupid.”
Bai Shuhua was a little surprised. She had thought her parents would be unconcerned, but she hadn’t expected them to be so angry.
“It’s only because Shuhua is still young. If she affected my eldest daughter, I’d curse her to death!”
Bai Shuhua finally understood. Her parents were angry for her, and her heart felt warm.
Still, she said, “Dad, Mom, don’t worry, Bai Youngest Aunt can’t affect me. My brain is smart, and I can tell at a glance that I’m not the same kind of person as her.”
As soon as she said that, both Bai Dad and Bai Mother couldn’t help laughing.
“Heh heh heh…”
The one laughing the most exaggeratedly was actually Little Brother Bai.
Bai Shuhua gave him an affectionate bop on the head. “What are you laughing at? Did you even understand? Go play by yourself.”
“Child’s father, do you think that gai liuzi will retaliate?” Bai Mother was a little worried.
Bai Dad didn’t care. “He’s about to go sit in the can already, how is he going to retaliate? Besides, even if he comes, what can he do? In our production brigade, does he dare to cause trouble? We’d beat him to death.”
Bai Shuhua also agreed, “If he’s not stupid, he probably won’t come.”
Bai Mother was reassured. “That’s good, that’s good.”
They didn’t know this reassurance came a little too early.
Bai Mother had already started gloating. “Child’s father, Mom said that when her daughter got married, the dowry would be thirty-six legs’ worth of furniture. Now that Grandfather is so angry, it’s already good enough if he doesn’t let her marry with empty hands. Her dowry is definitely not happening.”
Thinking about it that way, the family could save a large sum of money.
Bai Shuhua was rather curious. “Dad, Mom, what are the thirty-six legs?”
Bai Mother poked Bai Dad. “You tell her.”
Bai Dad started counting on his fingers. “There’s a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, what else… a kang cabinet, a dressing table, and a writing desk. We’re still short a few legs, and the rest are wooden chairs.”
Bai Mother nodded. “More or less. There are also dining tables and floor cabinets. Anyway, as long as it adds up to thirty-six legs, there’s no exact rule.”
Bai Shuhua: New knowledge point, remembered.