After returning home, Grandma Gu handed the six little rabbits to Gu Daya and Gu Meng. “From now on, you two sisters will raise these rabbits. When they’re grown, their fur can be used to make clothes for you.”
Gu Meng and Gu Daya were overjoyed to hear this. It meant they would each get three rabbit pelts in the future.
While Grandma Gu processed the rabbits, Gu Yihan cleaned the wild vegetables herself, removing the roots and yellowed leaves. Looking at the wild vegetables Grandma Gu and the others had dug up, she realized cleaning them was quite a hassle.
Watching Grandma Gu butcher the rabbits, Gu Yihan noticed the scratches on her coarse hands and said with a pang of heartache, “Grandma, don’t always be thinking of others. You should make something for yourself with these rabbit pelts. Wear it as an inner layer in the winter to stay warm.”
Grandma Gu replied, “No need. I’ll save them to make clothes for you when you’re a little older.”
Gu Yihan feigned anger and said, “No, that won’t do. By the time I’m older, they won’t be any good. This one is for you. I’ll want a new one in the future.”
Grandma Gu could see that the child was just concerned for her, so she smiled and agreed, “Alright.”
After settling the little rabbits, Gu Meng and Gu Daya also sat down to clean the wild vegetables.
Gu Yihan looked at Gu Meng and Gu Daya, who were thirteen and fifteen. In modern times, they would still be at an age to be doted on by their parents.
But now, they weren’t in school and were already being treated as adults, having become the main labor force of the family.
Gu Meng asked, “Eldest Sister, what kind of family do you want to marry into?”
A faint blush appeared on Gu Daya’s wheat-colored, sun-tanned skin. You couldn’t even tell she was shy without looking closely. “I’ll listen to my parents. As long as I can get enough to eat, that’s fine.”
Gu Meng didn’t offer an opinion. “Hanhann, what do you think makes a good marriage partner?”
Gu Daya scoffed, “She’s just a little kid. What would she know?”
Seeing Gu Meng staring at her intently, Gu Yihan moved her lips. “Has a car and a house, and both parents are dead.”
Gu Meng wore a contemplative expression upon hearing this.
Gu Daya, however, laughed so hard she fell on her bottom, her finger trembling as she pointed at Gu Meng.
“See? I told you she doesn’t know anything. If you find someone with a car, a house, and dead parents, you’ll have no one to back you up when you get bullied in the village.”
See? Gu Yihan thought to herself. This was also why she tried every means possible to coax Grandma Gu every day.
This era couldn’t be changed by a single person’s will. She could only change herself and work hard to find a way to escape this environment.
It was just as they say: when a crane stands in a flock of chickens, it’s the crane’s fault.
No one ever says it’s the chickens’ fault, because they are surrounded by chickens, and to the chickens, everything about the crane is wrong.
Meanwhile, in the Production Team’s fields, Gu Aidang had grown tired of carrying water. He quit and prepared to go home.
Widow Zhao swayed her hips as she walked up to Gu Aidang. “Aidang, when are you going to marry me?”
Gu Aidang jumped in fright. “When did I ever say I was going to marry you?”
“You said it when we were together. You said you’d marry me after you divorced,” Widow Zhao said ambiguously, reaching for Gu Aidang’s clothes.
Gu Aidang immediately dodged to the side and sneered, “You’ve been with so many men. If every one of them married you, would you even have time to marry them all?”
“Stay away from me. Don’t ruin my good name.”
Widow Zhao feigned disbelief. “I’ve only had one lover. You can’t just sleep with me and not take responsibility.”
Gu Aidang tutted. “Wasn’t that Gu Laizi at your house? Marrying him would be great for you. He’s still a young bachelor.”
Widow Zhao hadn’t expected Gu Aidang to know about Gu Laizi visiting her.
Gu Aidang, also worried that Widow Zhao would keep pestering him, said, “It’s time to go home for dinner.” With that, he walked right past Widow Zhao and left.
Widow Zhao spat angrily at his retreating back. “Bah! Taking advantage of me for nothing.” She then walked away, swaying her hips.
Walking down the road, Gu Aidang smelled the aroma of meat and his mouth watered. He wondered who was being so extravagant, eating meat when it wasn’t even a holiday or New Year’s.
When he got home, he smelled the rich fragrance of meat. “Mom, are we having meat? I could smell it from far away.”
Hearing her son mention the smell of meat, Grandma Gu said, “Are you trying to sweet-talk your way into a few extra pieces?”
Gu Yihan chimed in, “Grandma, the rabbit stew you made smells truly amazing. My mouth has been watering for ages.”
“You little flatterer, you just know how to make me happy. Come on, let’s see how your grandma’s rabbit stew tastes.” Grandma Gu happily took her little granddaughter’s hand and strode toward the kitchen.
Gu Yihan first took a piece and held it to Grandma Gu’s lips. “Grandma, you worked the hardest. This first piece of rabbit is for you. Here, let your granddaughter feed you.”
Grandma Gu couldn’t bear to refuse her little granddaughter’s filial piety and ate the piece of rabbit.
Gu Yihan eagerly ate a piece herself. She had to admit, it was incredibly delicious.
She gave her grandmother a thumbs-up, and this time, Grandma Gu understood.
Grandma Gu lightly patted her little granddaughter’s head and chided with a smile, “You little rascal.”
Gu Aidang, having waited for the grandmother and granddaughter to have their taste, said anxiously, “Mom, you can’t be biased. I want to eat too.”
Grandma Gu shot him a look and gave him a piece of rabbit meat.
Gu Aidang didn’t mind. He accepted it with a grin and popped it directly into his mouth. Even though it was so hot he hissed, he couldn’t bear to spit it out.
Seeing her second son like this, Grandma Gu also started to laugh.
When it was time to eat, everyone who had been working came back. Gu Hao saw the rabbit. “Grandma, where did the rabbit come from?”
Grandma Gu said proudly, “Hanhann smoked them out on the mountain. Four big ones and six small ones! We’ll have enough to eat for several days. You all are blessed by my little granddaughter’s good fortune.”
Uncle Gu, a quiet and honest man, sat down without a word.
Gu Hao, who had a better relationship with Gu Yihan, joked, “Then I’ll eat more rabbit meat so I can soak up more of my cousin’s good fortune.”
Hearing what Gu Hao said, everyone laughed in agreement and started grabbing for the rabbit meat. The family members didn’t yield to one another, each afraid someone else would eat an extra bite.