Reborn in 1966

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Cause and Effect

Mr. Shen glanced at Mrs. Shen, who then picked up Pei Yin and said, "Pei Yin, stop crying. Your third brother has made a mistake and needs to be punished. If he doesn't get punished, he'll cause even bigger trouble in the future."

Hearing his mother say this, Peitian wiped away his tears and endured the pain as Shen's father slapped him a few more times. After he finished, Shen's father said, "Peitian, you should remember what I told you. Our family's class status is not good now. When you're playing with your friends in the village, you must not quarrel with them. Why did you get into a fight with them?"

Peitian lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), sobbing as he said, "Tian Xiaomin said bad things about our family. I told him not to say it, but he insisted, so I hit him."

Father Shen said, “Peitian, you don’t care what people say about our family. Just listen to them. You’ll be ten years old after the New Year. You need to know that our family’s class status is not good now, so we have to keep a low profile. No matter what people say about us, we have to listen to them and not argue with them. Otherwise, it will cause trouble for the family.”

Peitian said, "Dad, I understand. I will never do it again."

Mr. Shen said, "Get up, I believe in you."

Seeing that everything was alright, Pei Yin quickly ran to Pei Tian's side and helped him pull up his pants while he grimaced. The two siblings then held hands and went to the yard to wash their hands before eating.

Shen's mother said, "Shengsi, wasn't the beating a bit too harsh?"

Mr. Shen said, "If we don't take a firm stance, he won't remember. Yue Ran, if we don't show some attitude this time, some people in the village will have a problem with us."

Mother Shen sighed deeply and said nothing more. Her child was the apple of her eye. Seeing Peitian being beaten like that by Father Shen, Mother Shen felt as if her heart was being fried in oil. Seeing Father Shen swing his hand and leave five finger marks on her son's buttocks, Mother Shen felt extremely distressed. This third son was born in the most difficult year. He had never eaten anything good since birth and his health had always been poor. In the past two years, the family had more food, and they had gradually grown up and were no longer skin and bones. This time, he had been slapped on the buttocks. Not only Mother Shen, but Father Shen was also extremely saddened.

Peiyin felt terrible seeing her parents grit their teeth and slap their proud child, enduring their heartache. She looked at the other families in the village, and when their children argued with other children, some of the adults would even stand up for their children. But because of her family's bad class background, her child had to be disciplined when he came home after arguing with others. In such a stifling environment, how could her child develop a healthy personality and cheerful temperament?

The family already knew about Peitian's fight with Tian Xiaomin at the village entrance, so when Peitian limped to the main room for dinner after Shen's father hit him, the family didn't have any strange expressions. Peitian's second brother, Peijun, even said to him, "Serves you right. You never learn. Now look what happened, you got beaten up."

Peitian pouted, looking at his grandmother with teary eyes. His grandmother said, "You child, how could you go and fight with someone? Alright, your father hit you this time for your own good. From now on, you must remember that no matter what happens, you must not start a fight with someone first, understand?"

Peitian said, "Grandma, I know." After a while, Peitian tugged at his grandmother's sleeve and whispered in her ear, "Grandma, Tian Xiaomin said bad things about our family. He said that people from his side said that our family is spoiled. It's just having a baby, why do we have to stay at home and not do any work? Why do we have to keep asking Grandma Hua to take care of the baby? He also said that our child is spoiled. Look at Peiyin, such a young child is wearing new clothes. How many children this young in the village wear new clothes?"

Grandma's face turned red with anger after hearing Peitian's words. Tian Lingling was at home preparing for childbirth for a few days. The workers there now all had maternity leave, unlike the pregnant women in the village. Some of the pregnant women in the village were working yesterday and the next day they were heard to have given birth. Some even started labor right there in the fields. Looking at the tears that hadn't dried on her little grandson's face, she took a few deep breaths to suppress her anger and said, "Don't listen to their nonsense. They're just a bunch of idle people who have nothing better to do than chatter. In the future, don't pay any attention to them. People who gossip and talk about others' faults are no good people."

Peitian nodded and said, "I don't care anymore. If I care about these things with them, I'll be just like them. I'll just listen to dogs barking."

Grandma patted Peitian's head and said, "Okay, just treat them like dogs barking."

Because of the several solid slaps he received from Shen's father, Peitian's bottom was swollen. He dared not sit while eating and slept on his stomach. His grandmother looked at the sleeping child, who occasionally sobbed because of the beating he had received from his father that evening. She felt extremely sorry for him, but what could she do? This was the reality. Now, not only adults but also children had to behave themselves like adults. Looking at the fate of landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, bad elements, and rightists in other villages, she thought her own family was already considered good. People should be content.

Because Peitian was beaten, the atmosphere at home was somewhat somber. Peiyin felt quite aggrieved. She was in the right, but because of her class background, she became the one in the wrong. Thinking about some of the little tyrants and darlings in later generations, they would get into fights outside and then come home and their parents would have to teach them how to fight again. Some parents even believed that they should support their children when they fought, otherwise they would be bullied in the future.

When it was time for bed, Shen's mother waited in her grandmother's room until Peitian fell asleep before returning to the east wing. Shen's father asked, "Is Peitian asleep?"

Mother Shen nodded and said, "She's asleep. Sigh, Peitian has learned his lesson this time."

Mr. Shen said, "That's just how our family is. How can we not learn our lesson? You should go to sleep too, you have to go to school tomorrow."

Shen's mother asked, "Hmm, is Pei-yin asleep?"

Mr. Shen said, "She went weeding with Jinhua and Ruolan during the day. She must have been tired. I saw her fall asleep shortly after lying down."

In the middle of the night, Pei Yin was awakened by a knocking sound on the window.

Mr. Shen was already getting dressed. He said to Mrs. Shen, who was also getting dressed, "I'll go call Aunt Hua. You hurry to our mother's room and see if there's anything you can help with."

Mrs. Shen agreed and took a thick coat out of the closet, saying, "Put this on, it's chilly at night."

Mr. Shen agreed, put on his coat, and went out.

When Pei Yin heard Shen's father say he was going to find Aunt Hua, she knew it must be because her second aunt was about to give birth. She immediately sat up.

As Shen's mother was getting dressed and about to leave, she saw that her youngest daughter had woken up and said, "You little rascal, how come your ears are so sharp? Alright, go to Grandma's room and keep your third brother and sister company."

After putting a coat on Pei Yin, Shen's mother carried Pei Yin to her grandmother's room.

The oil lamp was already lit in Grandma's room. Peitian and Peizhi were sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed). Grandpa was boiling water in the kitchen. Shen's mother put Peiyin on the kang and went to her second uncle's room first.

Uncle hasn't gone to work yet, and he's standing on the floor in the room looking a bit lost. Tian Lingling is lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), her face covered in sweat. Grandma is wiping her sweat as she says, "It's alright, it's alright. Your older brother has already gone to call Aunt Hua. Didn't Aunt Hua say that your pregnancy is going well and you'll definitely have a smooth delivery? Don't worry, don't stand here. Go to your in-laws' house and call your mother-in-law over."

Shen Shengqin readily agreed and headed out, bumping right into his sister-in-law as she entered. Shen's mother, not having time to talk to her brother-in-law, quickly stepped aside and waited for him to leave before coming in and asking, "Mother, how is his second aunt?"

Grandma said, "I think she's about to give birth. Check again to see if Lingling has everything she prepared. If not, we'll think of something quickly."

Mother Shen agreed and opened the red leather bundle placed on the kang (a heated brick bed). Inside were two swaddling blankets, a stack of diapers, and a small piece of oilcloth. Mother Shen said, "It's all there." After putting the bundle away, she said, "Lingling, don't worry. Your mother and I are here. Giving birth is hard work. I'll make you something to eat so you'll have the energy to give birth."

When they went out, Second Grandma came over. As soon as she entered the house, Second Grandma helped Grandma wipe Tian Lingling's sweat and comforted the somewhat flustered woman in labor. Second Grandma said, "Don't worry, your mother-in-law and I have both given birth before. Besides, your mother will be here soon, as will Aunt Hua, who is the most famous midwife in our area. You will definitely give birth to a healthy and chubby baby."

Tian Lingling nodded, frowning as she endured wave after wave of pain. She thought about what her mother had told her: "Giving birth is painful everywhere. Don't scream. Just grit your teeth and use your strength where you need to. Some people just love to make a fuss. They scream and shout until they lose all their strength and can't give birth. When the time comes, just listen to Aunt Hua. If she tells you to push, then push."

Shen's mother went to the kitchen and cooked a pot of noodle soup. She added several eggs, a handful of green vegetables, and served it in a bowl. She also poured some sesame oil on it. The color, aroma, and taste were all very tempting. Then she took it to Tian Lingling's room.

Grandma helped Tian Lingling sit up. Tian Lingling was in so much pain in her stomach that she felt a little anxious. She couldn't eat the noodles in the bowl. Grandma said, "You have no appetite right now. You should at least eat something, otherwise you won't have the strength to push yourself later."

Tian Lingling gritted her teeth, leaned against the quilt behind her, and slurped down most of a bowl of noodles, then ate a few poached eggs. She only put down her chopsticks when she felt she couldn't eat anymore.

Pei Yin leaned against the wall, listening to her second aunt's soft moans from the next room. She felt very nervous. Although she had never been pregnant or given birth, she had seen news reports about how many women had difficult labors, and those were in hospitals. How many young lives were lost every year because of childbirth? Her second aunt was giving birth at home.