(Word Count: 1680)
Mrs. Han and Han Xilan came out of Han Ze’s house, and the expressions on their faces were not as good as when they came.
After walking for a while, Mrs. Han tugged at Han Xilan’s clothes and said dissatisfiedly: “I saw your eldest brother bought a lot of meat. After we left, didn’t we leave it for those girls to eat? Your eldest brother has really changed now. Usually, when the family bought meat, it was eaten by Junjun and the other boys. Just now when he saw us leaving, he didn’t even mention it.”
Han Xilan didn’t care whether her eldest brother gave meat to his nephews or not. Nephews or nieces, in her heart, there was no difference. Now she just wanted to know why her eldest brother changed. She asked tentatively: “What happened? ”
Mrs. Han sighed gloomily. Thinking of the reason for her eldest son’s change, her heart ached. She said viciously, “It was because of Old Blind Han who talked nonsense in front of your eldest brother, saying that your eldest brother would never have a son in this life. Your eldest brother believed it and thought that since he would never have a son, he might as well marry a son-in-law and rely on his daughters for support in the future. Now he has brought the fourth girl back, and he doesn’t care about your nephews anymore.”
Han Xilan was surprised and asked, “Why didn’t I know that my eldest brother was so superstitious?”
Mrs. Han felt a little uncomfortable and said stiffly, “It was all because of Old Blind Han’s fortune-telling for you and your third brother. Your eldest brother felt that the fortunes told by Old Blind Han for you and your third brother had all come true one by one, and he must be very capable, so he believed in him.”
“Ah?” Han Xilan stopped and looked at Mrs. Han in a daze, “Did my eldest brother never suspect that there was something fishy about the fortunes told by Old Blind Han for me and my third brother? ”
Mrs. Han glanced at her and said angrily, “Your eldest brother has been stubborn since he was a child. Do you expect him to doubt it?”
Han Xilan thought about it and it was true. The eldest brother always listened to his mother. How could he doubt his own mother?
“Then what should we do? Should we let the eldest brother believe it like this?” Han Xilan asked. Mrs. Han glanced at her daughter and said, “What else can we do? Tell your eldest brother that we cheated him at the beginning? How can I face your eldest brother in the future? Can you and your brothers still live in harmony?”
So, the truth must not be told.
Han Xilan’s heart trembled. Her mother was right. She really couldn’t tell the truth. If she told it, how would the eldest and second brothers feel? If they didn’t know the truth, they might help her. If they knew the truth, could they still help her?
Thinking of this, she said with sorrow: “Mom, my job has not been implemented yet. I am so worried and have no idea. I am 24 years old and I really don’t know when I can get the job. ”
Mrs. Han looked at Han Xilan and said comfortingly: “You have graduated from college, why are you in a hurry? You will be assigned a job sooner or later, don’t think too much. Do you feel that you are too old to eat and drink in your brother and sister-in-law’s house?”
Han Xilan’s face froze. She was not married. After returning from school, she lived with her brother and sister-in-law. She didn’t think there was anything to be embarrassed about. Why did her mother feel embarrassed? Did she graduate from college and no longer belong to this family?
Thinking of relying on her mother to talk to her brothers, she could only smile and say: “Mom, the rich and powerful students in the school have already been assigned to good units. Only students like us who have no background have not yet found a job.”
In fact, the school assigned her a job, teaching at Shuangji High School. She had finally been admitted to college and left the farm. How could she be willing to return to this broken place.
Mrs. Han was incredible and said angrily: “Does the school assign jobs based on the person?”
Han Xilan nodded heavily.
Mrs. Han thought about it and felt that this was very likely. After all, there are connections everywhere. She looked at her daughter worriedly: “What should we do?”
Han Xilan cried and shrugged: “What can we do? If you have no money and no power, just wait for the school to assign you a job, but it is impossible to get assigned to a good unit.”
Mrs. Han rolled her eyes and held her daughter’s hand: “If you pay someone to help you, can you get a good unit?”
Han Xilan hesitated: “Yes, but the money should not be small. Where can I get the money to find someone to do things?”
“You have no money, but your brothers and sisters-in-law have money. The autumn harvest is coming soon. Once the grain is sold, won’t we have money?” Mrs. Han said as a matter of course.
Han Xilan was not as optimistic as her mother, but since her mother was willing to let her brothers and sisters-in-law pay, she just waited.
……
Han Zhaodi sat on a stool picking vegetables, and every few seconds she secretly glanced at her father who was cutting vegetables, her eyes hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but stopped.
Han Ze had long noticed his daughter’s inquiring eyes, but he ignored her until he finished cutting the meat and put it on the plate, then he asked lightly: “What’s wrong, is there anything wrong?”
Han Zhaodi hesitated, not knowing what to say. During the time when her grandmother lived in her second uncle’s house, their family’s life could be described as a fairy day. They didn’t have to worry about being dropped out of school all the time, nor did they have to worry about tuition fees. Their father found ways to make delicious food for them every day, and their fourth sister was also brought back from their eldest uncle’s house. Today, their father even took them to the town to buy new clothes and new shoes…
All these wonderful lives made her temporarily forget that her grandmother once disliked them. Until she came back from the market and saw her grandmother in the yard, she woke up as if from a dream. Her grandmother went to her second uncle’s house, but no one stipulated that she couldn’t come back.
Grandma was the nightmare of their childhood. They had no love or hatred for her, only fear. When they saw grandma at home, they were terrified. When grandma came back, would they face the hard days of being beaten and scolded again?
The conversation between her father and grandma and aunt made her feel relieved. It was okay for grandma to dislike them. As long as they believed that their father, who had no son, loved them, they would be valued in this family. Grandma was angry and angry, but there was nothing she could do.
Thinking of this, Han Zhaodi was completely relieved and no longer entangled. She said, “Dad, when the braised pork is ready, send some to my second uncle’s house. After all, grandma and aunt are eating at my second uncle’s house, and my third uncle’s family is not leaving. My second uncle and aunt `are busy purchasing goods and have no time to buy vegetables. My cousins should also be craving for meat.” Grandma
was so angry that she didn’t even eat lunch at her house. She should be generous and send them some meat. She couldn’t let outsiders say that her father was unfilial for a little meat and break the image of her father as a simple, honest and filial person in everyone’s mind.
Han Ze was a little surprised. The child was thinking about this and that by herself. Was she thinking about sending meat to her second uncle’s house?
Thinking of this, he was full of relief. Why don’t people in this world like girls? Girls are more sensible and considerate. Their grandmother doesn’t like them so much, but when there are delicious food at home, the eldest girl is still willing to share it with their grandmother. This kind of sincerity is really rare.
“Okay, you can send it to them later.”
Han Zhaodi stuck out her tongue quietly. Her father’s proud expression made her feel a little guilty. Her father must have thought wrongly. She was not as kind as her father imagined. She had her own little thoughts. She wanted her sisters to live a better life. She wanted her grandmother, second uncle and second aunt, third uncle and third aunt, three aunts and cousins, who disliked them for not being sons, to look at them differently. Although they are girls, they are never inferior to boys.
She wanted the villagers to praise the girls in Han Ze’s family, and let them know that although their family is full of girls, they are all diligent, filial, sensible and polite girls, at least more sensible and filial than the cousins of the second and third uncles, so that they all understand that it is grandma’s loss that grandma doesn’t like them.
Han Zhaodi carried a bowl of meat with a smile on her face and walked quickly towards the second uncle’s house. When she met villagers on the way, she would greet them warmly. Then they all knew that although Mrs. Han lived with Han Laoer during this period, Han Laoda had not forgotten his mother. He brought any delicious food at home to his mother, and he was worthy of being the filial son of their village.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152