Linxia

Chapter 7, Return of Grain

After leaving Xiagou Village, we hurried on to Xiaohe Village and stopped at a water source around noon.

While cooking, Sister Guihua came over with a grain bag and her daughter. "Sister Fang, because of my mother-in-law's matter, they gave me some things, and my family is a little better off now. I came to return the grain. And I want to thank Linzi for saving Ye Zi that day, but I didn't have time to thank him!"

"Brother Fang!" Chen Ye tilted her little head and looked over, with the braids behind her head raised like sheep horns, and called out sweetly to Fang Lin.

Fang Lin looked at the little girl. She looked much better than the day before, so he couldn't help but touch her head.

Fang Sunshi didn't act pretentiously. She took the grain bag and realized something was wrong as soon as she weighed it. She pushed it back and said, "Too much!"

I lent out five taels, and now there are two or three pounds in the bag.

"My sister-in-law's family is also in a difficult situation, and she is willing to lend me money. It is only right that I pay more back. Also,"

Sister Guihua pulled her daughter over. The indescribable shock and fear on her face flashed away, and then she smiled brighter than the sun: "If Linzi hadn't saved her, I don't know how to live. Fortunately! These are not enough to repay you, just a little token of my appreciation."

As she said that, she pushed the grain bag back and turned around with Chen Ye.

"Osmanthus is a person who knows how to repay kindness."

Fang Sun sent Guihua and her daughter away, sighed, put away the grain bag like a treasure, counted on her fingers to calculate the remaining grain at home, and suddenly became happy: "Now we have more than enough, I calculated that we can still hold on for three to five days after we get to the county! When we get to the county, I don't know if there is much firewood there, so we should make more rice balls when we have time in the evening..."

Uncle Fang listened to Mother Fang's chatter and his expression relaxed.

Although he didn't say anything, Fang Lin could clearly feel that Fang's father was in a very good mood.

——They have been dealing with the loess land for most of their lives. In their eyes, the land is their roots and food is their life. Having surplus food in hand gives them peace of mind. This sense of security cannot be compared with money.

"Dad, Mom, Lindi, the meal is ready!" Tian Xuan turned her head in front of the pot. Her face was flushed from running around. In the sunlight, the tiny, crystal beads of sweat on her forehead were shining.

"Well, let's eat!" Fang Sun waved her hand, walked over and picked up the spoon.

……

The second branch of the Fang family.

Fang Lin’s second aunt, or Second Lady here—Fang Wang turned her head and withdrew her gaze from Fang Lin’s house, saying enviously, “The day before yesterday, I saw Linzi asking for food back from the Song family, and Guihua just took some more. The Third House is no longer short of food, unlike our family…”

Fang Zhonggui asked her, "Did you go to Xiagou Village to buy food?"

“It’s still Grandma Guihua…” Mrs. Fang Wang’s face darkened.

Because of the death of Mrs. Chen, the people of Xiagou Village were not very willing to deal with the people of Xiaohe Village, fearing that they would be blackmailed. They would not lend them their huts, let alone sell them food. Of course, if you offer a high price that you can't refuse, you will definitely be able to buy it, but we are all poor people, who would be a sucker? It's only a day or two away from the county town, so just bear with it.

"How about, head of the family, why don't you go and ask our parents for help?" Fang Wang suggested.

Fang Zhonggui was silent for a moment, then said, "Wait a little longer."

"Too."

Fang Wang's eyes suddenly lit up as if she remembered something: "I heard from the fourth son's wife that her family will run out of food in the next one or two days. It's worse than ours. I'll ask mother for help when the fourth son's family gets ahead."

When she said this, her tone was filled with resentment towards Grandpa Fang and Grandma Fang for being partial to each other: "Dad favors the eldest, after all, he has to rely on the old family for support in his old age; Mom loves the youngest and is partial to the fourth room; as for us and the third room, Dad doesn't love us and Mom doesn't care about us..."

……

Room 4. "The rice is so watery today!" Fang Lin's cousin Fang Sui'an picked up the bowl, looked at it, and pouted.

"I didn't let you eat grass seeds, so they are all good."

Fang Lin's fourth wife, Fang Qin, scolded her son, then turned around and said to Fang Jiping, "An An's stomach started growling in the morning. This is not a solution. Head of the household, why don't you go to the third room and borrow some?"

"They don't have much. They are enough for us to eat. If we borrow, there will be nothing left."

Fang Jiping shook his head, looked at his son, was silent for a moment, and finally said, "I'll go check on mom while we cook dinner tonight."

Why at night when cooking? Because usually at that time, Fang Lin's aunt, Fang Liu, was out fetching water and was not there.

"Mom loves our family, so she will definitely give it to you if you go. But she is the eldest sister-in-law and she can't stand others taking advantage of her." Fang Qin was worried.

"Oh!" Fang Jiping also sighed after hearing this.

He knew that his wife was telling the truth. Fang Yu loved her youngest son and would definitely provide aid. But even if the aid food was taken back, his eldest sister-in-law would be so embarrassed as to ask for it back. She was definitely capable of doing such a thing.

……

Every family has its own problems. Fang Lin’s family was unaware of the troubles of the second and fourth rooms. The family rested after dinner.

Continue on your journey in the afternoon.

Humans are highly adaptable, and perhaps because there was an abundance of food and he could eat more, Fang Lin gradually got used to this intensity and no longer felt as uncomfortable as he did at the beginning.

evening.

When Fang Lin came back from fetching water, he saw Fang's mother holding a grain bag in her hand.

"This was sent by your uncle, who said it was given by your grandmother. Not only our family, but also your second uncle's family has some. This is really the sun rising from the west."

Fang Sun said in a sarcastic tone, "Your uncle is a taciturn person, and your aunt is someone no one can take advantage of. Your second uncle is reasonable, but he has to deal with your fierce aunt. I used to think your father and uncle were honest, but now it seems that your uncle is also a scheming person. He is afraid that your aunt will go back and make our two families bear the blame!"

She is not stupid and can see that the fourth room is sincere.

"Mom, since you knew it, why did you accept it?" Fang Lin asked jokingly.

"Do you think I want to?" Fang Sun tapped her son's forehead and said, "It's your uncle. He put it down and ran away like a rabbit."

At this time, the silent Fang Shuyou suddenly said, "Send it back. Let the sister-in-law come over to ask for it. It will be embarrassing."

"Too."

Fang Sunshi, who treasured food so much, actually agreed with Fang's father's opinion: "Our family still has plenty of food, so there is no need to help the fourth room. We can't eat mutton and end up wearing dirty clothes."

The other three families are not easy to deal with, and Fang's father is very concerned about his reputation. In the past, they suffered losses every time they were together, and Fang's mother has a psychological trauma.

"Dad, Mom, since it has been sent here, there is no need to return it in a hurry. Let's wait until Auntie comes!" Fang Lin thought for a while and said so.

Fang Sun naturally trusted her son; Fang Uncle had some confidence in Fang Lin since he had asked for food the day before yesterday, and his silence was considered as his agreement; as for Tian Xuan, she was suppressed by Fang's mother at home and had no say, so she only gave him a trusting look and spiritual support.

……

(End of this chapter)