“Hehe… hehehe…”
“Alright, alright, stop laughing. Look at your silly expression – a pair of Labor Protection Shoes has made you as foolish as can be. Quickly take off the shoes and soak your feet properly to relieve the fatigue.”
Wang Jianjun sighed and lovingly stroked the Labor Protection Shoes in his hands once more. This was the first time his mother had ever bought him such a fine thing!
His eldest brother, being the firstborn, had their mother’s reliance; Yongqiang, as the youngest son, had her affection; Lao Qi, serving in the military with an allowance, was her pride; Third Brother, with his working wife, also earned her favor; and Lao Liu, though as honest and simple as himself, had a wife who was eloquent and articulate.
Only he, all these years, hadn’t been able to utter half a pleasant word. He had always thought he held no weight in his mother’s heart. He never expected that she still remembered him, that she still cared for him!
Zhang Xiulan sighed. Having been married for so many years, how could she not understand her husband’s thoughts? She brought over the hot water for him to soak his feet.
By the kerosene lamp, she took up needle and thread to stitch shoe soles.
“Ah, I don’t blame you for not believing it. These days have felt like a dream to me too. Today, I distributed the fabric – Yuzhen, Guiying, and Yanping each got one and a half meters of cloth.”
“Hey, you’re quite generous. What about our own daughter?”
“I’ve saved one meter for our Qiuli, and there’s another one and a half meters to make a set of clothes for Zhiying. There’s still a bit of cloth left from last time – I’ll make her a new pair of shoes. Oh, husband, my heart feels so warm, as if it’s already the New Year.”
Wang Jianjun glanced at her with a smile. Silly woman, thinking of everyone else – why not consider yourself? Look at the clothes you’re wearing – if they tear again, there’ll be nowhere left to patch them.
“Don’t always think only of the children. Didn’t Mother give you two yuan? Check the saved Cloth Coupons, and later buy some fabric to make yourself a new set of clothes.”
“I don’t need it. At my age, why fuss over food and clothing? Let’s save it for Zhiying’s dowry later.”
Similarly unable to sleep from happiness was Wang Baoguo, who slept hugging his Labor Protection Shoes that night. Qian Maizi, clutching the two yuan in her hand, felt uneasy no matter where she put it. She was already a grandmother of three, yet she had never held more than ten yuan in her hands before!
Getting two yuan at once was a huge sum to her.
Whether in terms of food, drink, or treatment, the Wang family’s circumstances were now incomparable to before. Everyone actually thought the old lady’s recent behavior was due to being stimulated, which was why she had become more generous.
Wang Weidong and Liu Aijun gave two meters to their eldest son and kept the rest in their hands. She had money – when wages were paid, sometimes various coupons were issued too. Though few, having them was better than not.
Soon after autumn, the weather would turn cold. She wanted to save up to make new clothes for each of her three golden flowers. Her youngest son Guoqing was already engaged – later she could make a pair of cloth shoes for her future daughter-in-law as a decent New Year’s gift.
Calculating all the things to be made while clutching the money, Liu Aijun and Wang Weidong deeply regretted previously suggesting dividing the family. Everyone in the household knew the old lady had good things in her hands – why had they been so impulsive?
Fengzhi was right – they had indeed done something foolish.
Now that Mother had come around, with her fingers slightly open, the good things that trickled out could be shared by the whole family. Wasn’t this tangible benefit?
Some felt grateful, some remained bystanders, some were satisfied—but there were also those seething with anger and frustration.
Sun Guiying flung the 1.5-meter fabric she had received onto the kang and paced back and forth in the room, still fuming. She raised her hand and punched Wang Xiangdong hard twice.
“Why didn’t you speak up when your mother was handing out the goods just now? What can this little bit of fabric even do? And the money—Grandma clearly distributed money. What does your mother mean by keeping it all in her hands? Grandma said how the money is divided is up to us. Why only distribute fabric? Where’s the money? Why isn’t the money being shared?”
“Ouch, ouch, alright now. Don’t be angry—be careful not to upset my son. You still think 1.5 meters of fabric is too little? It’s plenty, wife. Sit down quickly, and I’ll fetch some hot water for you to wash your feet.”
“Wash what? You useless fool! Your mother is hoarding the money for that wretched Wang Zhiying. Let me tell you, our second branch has three brothers. If the old couple’s belongings are to be divided, it should be among you three brothers. It has nothing to do with Wang Qiuli or Wang Zhiying!”
Ever since Sun Guiying became pregnant, Wang Xiangdong had been indulging her—giving her face in public, preparing foot wash for her at home, and always thinking of her first when he gathered wild fruits from the mountains.
As a man, he believed treating his wife well was only right. But that didn’t mean he feared Sun Guiying, nor did it mean she could freely insult his family.
Wang Xiangdong’s face darkened, and he said sternly, “Sun Guiying, you should be grateful you got so much fine fabric. As for the money Grandma distributed, it’s up to Mom and Dad whether they share it or not. If I hear you insult Zhiying one more time, don’t blame me for teaching you a lesson!”
Sun Guiying snorted coldly, walked up to him, and thrust her belly toward him.
“Go ahead, teach me a lesson! I dare you, Wang Xiangdong! Do you even have the guts? I’m carrying your child, remember? I don’t care—tomorrow, you must get one yuan from your parents, or I’m going back to my family home!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? That money was distributed by Grandma. If she finds out, I…”
“So what if that old hag finds out? I’ve seen through her—your grandma is all bark and no bite. She acts tough, but it’s all an act. Do you know why she’s been so generous lately, buying meat, shoes, and fabric? She’s getting old and afraid that Dad, Mom, Uncle, and the aunts won’t support her in her old age. She’s putting on this show, thinking no one can see through it. Hmph!”
Slap!
“Ah! You—Wang Xiangdong! How dare you hit me! I’ll fight you to the death!”
Wang Xiangdong gripped Sun Guiying’s shoulders tightly to keep her from thrashing, his face already scratched with several deep marks—each one made with vicious intent.
“Sun Guiying, I’m telling you—you can hit me, you can curse me, but you will not insult my family. You will not insult my grandma!”
“Ah! I’ll fight you to the death!”
Su Qing only learned about the fight between her grandson and granddaughter-in-law the next day. At breakfast, Wang Xiangdong took a few bites before heading out to the fields with his hoe. Sun Guiying, on the other hand, ate her fill, then slammed her bowl on the table.
“Grandma, my belly is so big now. Starting today, I won’t be going to work.”
“Alright then, if you’re not going to work, you’re not going. Staying home to rest before the birth is fine too. Xiulan, your second son’s wife is about to give birth. You’ll need to pay extra attention to her!”
“Yes, Mother, I know.”
Sun Guiying let out a smug, cold laugh, rubbing her hand over her belly repeatedly. Su Qing couldn’t help but frown at the sight. That’s a pregnant belly, not a walnut for you to fondle incessantly.
“Grandma, I heard from experienced folks in the village that my pointed belly means I’m definitely going to give you a plump great-grandson. When that happens, I’ll be the Wang family’s hero. So I was thinking… shouldn’t you give me some reward? Like money or something?”
Su Qing raised an eyebrow. She had anticipated that showing generosity might lead to people becoming presumptuous, and sure enough, before the month was even over, someone had popped up.