Siheyuan: a better life

Chapter 143 Lack of Food!

At around ten o'clock in the morning, in a village on the outskirts of Kyoto, a middle-aged woman lifted the lid of the rice vat and saw the rice vat that had bottomed out. The man said: "Father, my son! Our family's food is almost finished. When will our family's rations for this year be distributed in the village?"

The middle-aged man sitting in front of the kang smoking a cigarette heard his wife's inquiry and thought of what he had learned about the situation at the village chief's house in the morning. He habitually tapped the cigarette rod in his hand against the sole of his shoe before speaking. Said: "Xiuying! I went to the village chief's house in the morning. The village chief told me that the grain harvest in the fields was poor this year. After paying the public grain, there was not much left. Now the village is counting,"

Hearing her husband's answer, the middle-aged woman thought of the three children at home, and said with a sad face: "Father! Zhao Qiang! Zhao Li! Zhao Zhong and the three of them came back from the village today to ask for food for the next week. We are hungry. Stomach is okay, you can’t let the children go hungry, right?”

Hearing his wife's words, the middle-aged man thought of the three children who were studying in the village, and said to his wife, "Xiuying! I'll go to the old man's house and see if I can borrow some more food from the old man."

When the middle-aged woman heard what her husband said, she thought about the fact that her family had borrowed food from her uncle's family three times this year. She grabbed Zhao Guoqi's arm and said to Zhao Guoqi: "The child's father is not rich, and our uncle's family is not rich this year." I have borrowed grain from my uncle three times, and I don’t think there is much food left at home.”

At this point, the middle-aged woman Ying thought of an idea in her mind, finally gritted her teeth, and said to her husband: "Father the child! After the children come back later, I will take the three children to the city for a visit." trip."

When the middle-aged man heard his wife's words, he immediately guessed the purpose of his wife's coming to the city. Thinking of what happened back then, the middle-aged man said to Wu Xiuying with a guilty face: "Xiuying! I'm sorry! It's all because I'm useless. Have a good life, kids."

When the middle-aged woman heard her husband's apology, she recalled the efforts her husband had made for the family over the years, and said without regret: "Father the child! Marry a chicken and follow the chicken! Marry a dog and follow the dog! Since I chose You won't regret the decision you made."

This middle-aged couple, the male is named Zhao Guoqi, and the female is named Wu Xiuying. They have two sons and a daughter named Zhao Qiang, Zhao Li, and Zhao Zhong.

Zhao Guoqi is a mason. When he went to the city to help people repair houses, he met Wu Xiuying. The two looked at each other and secretly decided to live forever.

Wu Xiuying's eldest brother is Wu Pingshan, Wu Aiguo's father. Back then, Wu Xiuying proposed to marry Zhao Guoqi. As the eldest brother, Wu Pingshan disagreed with everything, because during this period, Wu Pingshan and Wu Xiuying's brother and sister were still There was a big quarrel.

Wu Pingshan saw that his younger sister was determined to give up the superior life in the city and marry to the countryside to suffer, so he uttered harsh words, and then Wu Xiuying wanted to marry Zhao Guoqi, so he severed the brother-sister relationship with Wu Xiuying, trying to stop Wu Xiuying from marrying to the countryside.

However, what Wu Pingshan didn't expect was that between love and brother-sister relationship, Wu Xiuying finally chose love and followed Zhao Guoqi out of Kyoto city without hesitation.

Wu Xiuying's decision moved Zhao Guoqi very much. Before leaving, Zhao Guoqi made a promise to Wu Pingshan that Wu Xiuying would live a good life.

In order to fulfill this promise, after Zhao Guoqi and Wu Xiuying obtained the permits, in addition to farming in the village, they would go to the city to find some mason work during non-busy farming periods to supplement their household expenses.

However, the ideal is very full, and the reality is very skinny!Since the three children of the Zhao family all went to school in the village, the tuition fees for the three children, plus half the children, made me feel overwhelmed, and I felt a lot of pressure to find Zhao Guoqi, the head of the family.

Due to the drought this year, the grain harvest in the fields failed, and this already overwhelmed family soon fell into trouble.

Thinking of the promise he made to Wu Pingshan at the beginning, Zhao Guoqi reminded Wu Xiuying with a troubled face: "Xiuying! At the beginning you had a big fight with my uncle in order to marry me. Now you go to find my brother. Will Uncle help us?"

Wu Xiuying heard Zhao Guoqi's reminder, thinking of what happened back then, she was ashamed to face her elder brother, but thinking of the future of the three children, Wu Xiuying could only bite the bullet and go to the city to beg Wu Pingshan.

Thinking of Wu Pingshan's character, Wu Xiuying said to Zhao Guoqi regretfully: "Father! I know my brother's character. Besides, even if he doesn't recognize my sister, he won't deny his nephews, right? For three Even if I don't want my own face, I still want a child's future!"

"Father! Mother! We are back!" Just as Wu Xiuying finished speaking, her daughter Zhao Li's happy shout came from outside the courtyard gate.

Hearing her daughter's cry, Wu Xiuying wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hand, looked at the three sweaty children, and said kindly, "You three hurry up and wash, I'll cook for you. After lunch, I'll take you into town."

When Zhao Qiang heard Wu Xiuying's words, he asked Wu Xiuying with a puzzled face: "Mom! Why did you suddenly think of taking us into the city? What are we going to do in the city?"

"Yes, Mom! Why are you taking us into the city?" Zhao Li was very surprised when she heard the news announced by Wu Xiuying, and immediately asked Wu Xiuying.

Wu Xiuying heard Zhao Qiang and Zhao Li's inquiry, thought of her purpose of bringing the children into the city, and said with a smile: "Mom plans to take you into the city, and go to your uncle's house to recognize the door."

"Mom! What are you talking about? We still have an uncle? And we still live in the city? How come we have never heard you mention it to my dad?" Zhao Qiang heard what Wu Xiuying said and confirmed this to Wu Xiuying with a face full of shock. information.

Hearing Zhao Qiang's inquiry, Wu Xiuying thought of her elder brother and younger brother whom she hadn't seen for almost 20 years, and introduced to the children kindly: "You have two uncles in total, your eldest uncle works in a steel rolling mill, and your uncle works in a rolling mill. My uncle works at the Shanghai Shipyard."

When Zhao Li heard the situation introduced by Wu Xiuying, an expression of disbelief appeared on her face, and she asked in surprise: "Mom! What did you say? We also have two uncles, and they are both workers in the city. Why have we never listened? Have you mentioned it to my dad?"

Wu Xiuying heard her daughter's words and saw the surprised expression on her face, and said to Zhao Li angrily: "You children, please stay away from adult matters. Go and wash up quickly. I will take the three of you into the city later. "

(End of this chapter)