There were some vegetables in Yu Zhi’s noodles. Everyone in the Sang family knew that she liked to eat them and she was the only one who liked to eat them.
Vegetables were rare so Wang Xinfeng and Sang Dazhuang didn’t want them.
Besides, in their opinion, meat was much better and it didn’t matter whether they ate vegetables or not. Eating too much of it would make them get hungry easily.
But Yu Zhi really liked them, especially if they were clean and fresh. Her mouth was watering when she saw the green and juicy vegetables.
She sniffed with her nose. “The chef is really good, but it’s not as good as Mom’s cooking. Mom, you should try the vegetables too. Eating more vegetables is good for your health.”
Yu Zhi flattered Wang Xinfeng and picked a few vegetables for her. They were fresh and green, and they looked delicious at first glance.
“What’s so good about this?” Wang Xinfeng was almost worried to death. Her daughter-in-law’s small body never gained weight because she ate too many vegetables.
But since her daughter-in-law liked it, she couldn’t stop her.
“Zhizhi, don’t just eat vegetables. You also have to eat some meat. Eat the chicken leg and eat the rest at noon. Be obedient.”
Yu Zhi looked at the chicken leg with worry, but she couldn’t say no under Wang Xinfeng’s earnest gaze. She had to grit her teeth and eat it, as she didn’t want to waste the old lady’s efforts.
Finally, she was done eating. She finished all the vegetables, and she also ate half of the noodles and half of the chicken leg. The rest went into Sang Dazhuang’s stomach.
Wang Xinfeng looked at Sang Dazhuang, who was like a bottomless pit, and she couldn’t contain her disgust. How could I give birth to such a heartless thing?
She advised Yu Zhi earnestly, “Zhizhi, you are not in good health. You should eat more meat to nourish your body. That brainless thing is tall and strong. It won’t lose a piece of meat if he eats less for two meals. Don’t give him any more.”
The brainless Sang Dazhuang absorbed all of his mother’s love and went out to wash the lunch box. He didn’t deserve a name, nor did he deserve to stay there. People who were tall and strong should work harder.
Yu Zhi covered her mouth and laughed. If she said that she really couldn’t eat, Wang Xinfeng would definitely not believe it and would think that she was reluctant to eat because she felt sorry for her man.
If she said a few more words, it might be regarded as Sang Dazhuang snatching food from her mouth, and then the old lady’s maternal love would gush out.
“I know, Mom. It’s still early. You should go to bed and rest. You are exhausted from running back and forth every day.”
Wang Xinfeng waved her hand. “Why will I get tired? I take the bus to get here and I don’t have to carry or lift anything. It’s very easy. Mom won’t sleep. I said before that I would send some mountain products to your Aunt Zheng. I have to send it to her so that it will be convenient to buy meat later on. After sending them, Mom will go back directly. The pigs are in the fattening period during this time. They can’t be hungry.
“The fields are not completely frozen yet. When I came back yesterday, the village chief told us to tidy up the fields this afternoon to facilitate spring plowing and not delay the work in the fields. The winter crops in the fields must also be protected. There is still a lot of work to do and it can’t be delayed.”
The Sang family did not have a good reputation in the Gubai Village. The reputation of shrews and gangsters had always been at the top of the list, but they still lived freely and easily.
People in the village couldn’t do anything to them. It was not that they were really lawless and others were afraid of them, but they were just reasonable and well-founded. Others couldn’t find any fault with them, had nothing to say, and had no leverage to manipulate them.
For example, when it came to going to work, if there was no unexpected situation, Wang Xinfeng and Sang Dazhuang would both go, and they were even the most important labor force, the object of everyone’s envy and pursuit. They never cheated or skipped work without reason. When the twins, Sang Shen and Sang Ye, were not in school, they would also go to the fields with them, just to avoid giving people a chance to talk about them.
During grain distribution, they could arrogantly jump the queue and walk in front to pick the best. They could work several times more than others, but the work points were only that much at most. They suffered a loss in labor, so they had to make up for it in other ways.
It was just a matter of jumping the queue. Even if others were unhappy, they couldn’t find a reason to refute it.
So, even if they had bad tempers and domineering styles, they were still right and others couldn’t say a word.
Wang Xinfeng asked for leave in the morning to come to the hospital to see her daughter-in-law, and no one dared to say that she always asked for leave. After all, illness was unpredictable, and no one knew when it would be their turn. Wang Xinfeng didn’t delay her work, so she could ask for leave with confidence.
Yu Zhi didn’t see this before and only thought that Wang Xinfeng and her son were really overbearing.
After being reborn, she could see them without prejudice and more comprehensively, only then could she find the truth and evil side of the people. They were much better than those hypocrites with lofty ideals.
Wang Xinfeng wanted to maintain the relationship with the Gao family and Yu Zhi had no objection. She used to be stupid, aloof, and self-righteous. She couldn’t be stupid again after having a new life. “Okay, Mom. Be careful on the road and don’t come tomorrow. The doctor said I’m fine and will be discharged tomorrow, so I can go back with Dazhuang.”
“Is your body really fine now? You can’t lie to Mom just because you don’t want to spend money? Only when your body is good can the other things be good, understand?”
“I know. The doctor even said I could be discharged today. I will be much better after lying in bed for another day. There is no kang in this hospital and I feel cold lying here, so I want to go home.”
The words ‘go home’ moved Wang Xinfeng so much that she almost cried. Did Yu Zhi finally regard our Sang family as her home?
“Okay, I’ll pick you up tomorrow then. You’re not in good health and can’t stand being tired. There are so many things to bring back. Sang Dazhuang won’t be able to take care of you if he brings all the things alone. Listen to Mom, this is settled, okay? You have a good rest and don’t worry about anything else.”
“Okay.” Wang Xinfeng and Sang Dazhuang were always stubborn about such things.
“Then I’ll trouble you, Mom.”
“What trouble are you talking about? It’s not a big deal, so just have a good rest. When you go back tomorrow, I’ll stew pork ribs for you.”
“Okay.”
Wang Xinfeng waited for Sang Dazhuang to come back, and then she carried her cloth bag to Gao’s house after giving him instructions for a long time.
Yu Zhi was about to be discharged from the hospital. The next day, Wang Xinfeng came early in the morning. Sang Shen and Sang Ye also asked for leave to pick her up.
Yu Zhi knew that the children didn’t like her and had complaints about her, so she always had a shrinking mentality. She thought that as long as she didn’t see them, she could still stay alive for a while.
If she didn’t have to return home and see them, then she didn’t have to worry about how to face them.
As a result, when they suddenly came to pick her up, she didn’t have time to make any psychological preparations, and she became nervous all of a sudden.
She was not a good mother. She had never made any compensation for her children in her previous life until she died.
She could not be a good mother either. As soon as the children were born, Wang Xinfeng was the one who took care of them. She resented the man, the family, and the children. She only had herself in her heart, so she always avoided and ignored them, and did not learn how to be a good mother.
After repentance, there was no resentment, but full of guilt. She didn’t have the courage to face them, let alone how to get along with them.
With a far-fetched and awkward smile, she said nervously, “Little Shen, Little Ye, you also came to see Mom. Mom is fine now. Thank you.”
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere was a little weird. Yu Zhi blinked and looked at Wang Xinfeng and Sang Dazhuang with a stiff face. Have I said anything wrong?
She panicked.
Sang Ye sneered and looked at Yu Zhi with disdain. “We came on the first day you were confined. Didn’t you see us?
Yu Zhi was stunned and looked at Sang Dazhuang and Wang Xinfeng blankly. The two children came that day? Why didn’t I see them? Did they come when I was asleep?
Sang Dazhuang touched his nose. “Yes, when the two of them came, you were sleeping. It’s not an important matter, so we forgot to mention it.”
Yu Zhi secretly let out a sigh after hearing that she was asleep and not because she was crying too much.
Wang Xinfeng also laughed it off. “It’s getting late. Zhizhi, have you had breakfast? Have you completed the discharge procedures? We’ll leave once you’re done. Just give all your stuff to Little Ye and Sang Dazhuang, that idiot.”
“I have eaten and Dazhuang has just completed the discharge procedures. And Mom, I’ve also got your laboratory results. Mom, how about you? Have you had breakfast? If not, let’s go to the state-owned restaurant.”
“We have eaten too, so let’s go. We can still catch the nearest bus if we go there now.”
Wang Xinfeng helped Yu Zhi walk out of the door, fearing that she would ask about what happened just now.
Sang Dazhuang carried most of the stuff and followed behind.
Sang Ye rolled her eyes and lazily threw the bags on her shoulders. Her words were full of sourness, “It’s not a big deal, it’s not worth her protection. If she didn’t see it, then she didn’t see it. It’s not the first time I’ve been ignored anyway. What else can I do?”
Sang Shen was expressionless and silent from beginning to end. He shared a small bag with Sang Ye, carried it in his hand, walked leisurely, and called Sang Ye out, “Let’s go.”
Sang Ye snorted and her naughty little face was full of unhappiness.
After leaving the hospital, Wang Xinfeng was afraid that Yu Zhi was tired already, so she wanted to take a ride to the station.
After Yu Zhi was reborn, she hadn’t taken a good look at the place she had left in her previous life and never returned, so she wanted to take a walk.
***Original translation is from enchantesstranslations.com. Please read it on the translator’s website.***
Wang Xinfeng thought that she might had been bored in the hospital, so she agreed.
“It snowed all night last night so it’s cold. Just walk for a while. Don’t catch a cold.”
“I know, Mom. I’ll just take a look.”
Yunguan County was still the same as she remembered. She remembered that on this day in her previous life, she left Yunguan County with reluctance, anger, and expectations for the future.
At that time, she secretly swore that she would never step into this place again in her life.
After that, until her death, she really never set foot in it again.
But not anymore, this time, she would be with her family, guarding their home and their future.
Yu Zhi didn’t look around for too long. Under the concern of Sang Dazhuang and Wang Xinfeng, they went to the station.
The dilapidated bus was very popular in this era. Sang Dazhuang took a seat for Yu Zhi using his large frame and then stood in front of the seat so no one could squeeze Yu Zhi.
The road was uneven and snowy, so the bus made a lot of noise and swayed for more than an hour before arriving at Maoan Commune.
As soon as the bus stopped, the passengers could not wait to get out and noisily went to the roof to get their luggage.
Sang Dazhuang walked at the end with Yu Zhi and handed her to Wang Xinfeng before striding to the luggage rack.
He was used to being overbearing. He didn’t care who came first, whether they were old, weak, sick, or young, he just shoved away all those who were in the front and went to look for their own stuff.
Everyone cursed but didn’t dare to resist. Sang Ye took the bags from Sang Dazhuang who was next to him. She was as overbearing as her father. Those who tried to vent their anger on her were blocked by her little arms with her contemptuous smile.
Sang Shen and Yu Zhi stood together. The young boy stood straight with a calm expression as if nothing caught his eye.
Yu Zhi tried to find something to say several times, but every time she tried to say something, she held it back.
After a few times, she gave up and didn’t know what to say. She felt like a complete failure.
Sang Shen’s eyes moved but his indifferent face showed no emotion.
Sang Dazhuang and Sang Ye came over with bags on their shoulders. “Let’s go! Let’s go to the entrance of the commune to see if there are any donkey carts.”
“That’s right! I told Old Man Li when I came out this morning to wait at the entrance of the commune,” Wang Xinfeng said hurriedly.
“Okay, let’s go now. It’s going to snow again soon.”
Old Man Li’s name was Li Quan. He was over sixty and his face was full of wrinkles from the hardships he’d been through. He wore a shabby old jacket and a dog-skin hat with black cotton wool exposed. He huddled in the cold wind while sitting on the bullock cart and smoking a pipe.
Seeing Yu Zhi and the rest, he hurriedly took a few steps to greet them and complained, “Sister Sang, you are finally here. This old man almost froze to death. Why didn’t you tell me when you would be back? I’ve been waiting here since early in the morning. If you come back after dark, do I have to wait that long?” He didn’t dare to be late for fear that Wang Xinfeng would skin him alive.
Wang Xinfeng glanced at him with disdain and waved her hand impatiently. “Oh, come on, let’s go now! You talk too much nonsense. Get out of the way, hurry up! Didn’t you see that my daughter-in-law is freezing? You are old but don’t have any sense at all. You are living like a dog. Go away, stay there!”
He was driving an ox but there was no courtesy at all when she asked for help.
The old man Li didn’t dare to say anything. Sang Dazhuang was so big and was standing there, and he couldn’t resist it when Wang Xinfeng, the old widow, started to tear people apart.
He shrank his neck and stood aside stammering.
Wang Xinfeng snorted and asked Sang Dazhuang to bring the bags to the cart. There was also some dry straw she brought in the morning in the bags to ensure that Yu Zhi would not be uncomfortable when sitting on the cart.
Sang Ye looked so angry that her mouth almost turned upside down. She is really an ancestor.
She poked her brother who almost looked like a monk and said, “What do you think? When that old bitch complains to her after she goes back, will she make a scene?” She pointed at Sang Dazhuang and Wang Xinfeng, her eyes full of teasing. “Will those two be as happy as they are now?”
Sang Shen silently walked two steps to the side. He didn’t know if she would make a scene, but his sister’s arms would definitely turn blue.
He looked at Yu Zhi next to him. Her pupils moved slightly but she didn’t say anything.
Yu Zhi felt embarrassed to see her mother-in-law and her husband acting so overbearingly. Li Quan was old and he really couldn’t stand waiting in the wind and snow for a long time.
In the past, she didn’t consider herself as a member of their family. No matter how they bullied the village, she felt that it had nothing to do with her. She just despised and hated them.
Now, she couldn’t be like that anymore. She had to protect her family by herself. She raised her head and looked at the old man Li. “Uncle Li, I’m sorry for the trouble.”
The old man Li choked on his throat with a puff of smoke and coughed until tears came out. He looked at Yu Zhi with horror. His eyes were full of shock and thought Yu Zhi might have encountered evil spirits.
Yu Zhi’s smiling face froze for a moment. In the past, she not only ignored the Sang family, but also ignored the people of Gubai Village as a whole, thinking that they helped the tyrants and bullied her together.
So, it was really surprising for her to smile and change her attitude all of a sudden.
Sang Ye was amused by the old man’s reaction and was even more amused when she saw Yu Zhi’s embarrassed face.
Hmph! Keep pretending! You deserve it!
Wang Xinfeng couldn’t bear to see Yu Zhi being bullied, so she pushed the old man viciously. “This useless old thing, why don’t you choke when you take a sip of your piss? What’s the point of you being alive? Just jump into the cesspool and drown! Zhizhi, let’s ignore this old guy, this old guy is so shameless, good for him! Let’s go! Get on the cart and go home. Damn this weather, it’s freezing cold.”
Yu Zhi got on the bullock cart awkwardly and the twins followed slowly.
The old man didn’t dare to say anything. He ran to drive the bullock cart submissively and felt strange about how Yu Zhi had called him ‘Uncle Li.’