Dressed as a farmer's widow, she brought her daughter to stock up on food and reached the top

Her eyes were wide open and her mouth was slightly open, and she didn't close it for a long time.

The second aunt was thinking quickly in her mind that Xiuying was rich now and she couldn't miss this opportunity. She had to hold on to Xiuying's thighs.

Thinking of this, a hint of shrewdness and calculation flashed in her eyes, and a flattering smile immediately appeared on her face.

The second aunt took Zhao Cunliang's hand and said in a warm tone: "Cunliang, we can't let Xiuying forget her roots. We have to find a way to get closer to her so that we can benefit from her in the future." As she spoke, she nodded continuously, as if she had already seen a bright future.

Second Aunt was so focused on how to hold on to Xiuying that she had no intention of paying attention to Zhao Cunliang. She sent him away with just a few words.

She said perfunctorily, "Cunliang, you go back first. I know what to do about this matter." After that, she turned around and went into the house in a hurry without even looking at Zhao Cunliang.

After Zhao Cunliang left, the second aunt did not stop for a moment and immediately rushed to the homes of her other sisters.

The other sisters in Zhao's mother's family all lived in the same village, but Zhao's mother was the only one who married into Futian Village.

Along the way, she walked very fast and kept muttering to herself. As soon as she entered the door, she couldn't wait to tell everyone the news of Xiuying's success.

The second aunt was beaming with joy and said with gestures of the hand: "Sisters, you may not know that Xiuying, the second daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, is now rich! The family has more than 200 chickens and ducks, more than ten sheep, four big fat pigs, and they have built a magnificent brick house!" She described it vividly, as if she had seen it with her own eyes.

Zhao Cunliang dragged his heavy feet back home. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Tian Guilan pacing anxiously in the room.

He smiled tiredly and said to Tian Guilan, "Guilan, I have already taken care of the matter."

After saying that, he sat down on the chair, picked up the glass of water on the table and took a few gulps.

Tian Guilan hurried over, her eyes full of anticipation, and asked, "How's it going? What did Second Aunt say?"

Zhao Cunliang snorted coldly and said, "Hmph, I've seen through her snobbish nature. But it doesn't matter, our plan will work. My aunts are like turtles in a pond. Once they bite someone, they won't let go."

A sinister smile appeared on Zhao Cunliang's face.

Tian Guilan laughed too, and the two began to imagine the scene of Xiuying being harassed by her aunts: "Those fierce girls will definitely make Xiuying a mess." Tian Guilan said excitedly, as if she had already seen Xiuying's anxious look.

Zhao Cunliang continued, "When the time comes, we'll see how arrogant she is. I'll make her suffer."

The two men became more and more proud as they spoke, with a sense of revenge flashing in their eyes.

The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, Xiuying's family started to get busy.

The cocks were still crowing, and wisps of smoke were already rising from the chimney.

Yang's father and mother came to the pigpen early and took good care of the sixteen piglets.

Father Yang carefully adjusted the sleeping position of the piglets, while Mother Yang carefully checked the physical condition of each piglet, fearing that they would feel unwell.

These sixteen piglets are important assets of the family and nothing can go wrong with them. Now is the time when the piglets are most likely to die.

Inside, sisters Taohua and Shiliu were also busy in the kitchen, making corn pancakes. They expertly kneaded the dough, adding brown sugar and red dates, and the sweet aroma gradually filled the air.

Xiuying bought the brown sugar and red dates at the mall and gave them to Taohua, who placed them in a ceramic jar in the kitchen.

Xiuying, on the other hand, was at the stove, concentrating on simmering a pot of lean meat porridge. She stirred it from time to time, controlling the heat to ensure it was thick and fragrant. Sweat trickled down her forehead, but she didn't even bother to wipe it off.

The meal was ready, and Xiuying and her family gathered around the table to eat. The table was filled with rich food, steaming hot and fragrant.

While eating, Xiuying said, "When these piglets grow up a little, we will give some to the villagers to raise. Or we can use the exchange method, so that everyone can benefit." Her eyes showed sincerity and kindness.

Father Yang nodded and replied, "That's right. It's not easy to raise so many pigs." After saying that, he picked up a piece of food and put it in his mouth.

Raising pigs is no easy task. The pigpen must be meticulously cleaned and flushed daily. I have to get up before dawn, broom and bucket in hand, enduring the pungent smell, to sweep away the feces and dirt, then rinse again and again with clean water, exhausting my back and waist.

They also have to go out under the scorching sun to look for fresh pig grass in the fields, and then chop and mix it when they come back, which is very busy.

Four or five pigs were manageable, but if all the piglets were left behind, the pen would suddenly be filled with over 20. Just thinking about that scenario was enough to give me a headache, and preparing the pig feed alone would take up a lot of time and energy.

Even if we kill all these pigs and eat them, we still can't finish them all. There's so much pork, even if we eat it every day, there's no telling when we'll finish it.

Furthermore, as the piglets grow larger, the existing pig pens will no longer be able to accommodate them. The pigs will be so crowded that there won't even be enough space to turn around, making them more susceptible to illness.

Yang's mother agreed: "Pork is delicious, but pigs are hard to raise. It's a good thing for us to be able to help the villagers. Four or five pigs in our pigpen are enough."

Taohua swallowed the food in her mouth and said, "Yes, when the time comes, we will all work together to raise the pigs well so that we can all eat delicious pork during the New Year."

Pomegranate also echoed: "That's right, we can't let these piglets suffer any injustice."

As she spoke, Xiuying's thoughts drifted, and she suddenly remembered the little song singer who lived in the back mountain. Her eyes became a little distant, as if she was recalling the past.

At that village banquet, their performance was brilliant and brought endless joy to everyone. But after that village banquet, they were never seen again.

The man was called Moyu, a handsome man with a melodious zither voice. The woman was called Bai Piaopiao, a graceful woman whose dancing was like a fairy descending from the heavens. Xiuying still remembers their perfect rapport on stage, like immortals reclusive from the world.

After the hailstorm, no one knew what had happened to that family. Xiuying frowned slightly, and a wave of worry surged in her heart, wondering if their house could withstand the attack of this severe weather and whether their lives would be in trouble because of it.

That family has no land in the village, and it is a year of famine, so I'm afraid not many people would spend time listening to music.

Thinking of this, Xiuying's face showed a trace of worry. She gently put down the bowl and chopsticks in her hands and looked at Shiliu and Afan with a firm gaze.