country bumpkin

The sun shines brightly, and the grass grows tall and birds sing. In late March, people are busy with spring plowing and planting in the fields; children run and play in the streets and alleys.

In this season full of vitality and hope, everyone's face is beaming with smiles.

However, chaos reigned in Kong Xiujuan's home. Her mother-in-law had started causing trouble again.

Because her second son, Sun Zihao, couldn't fit everyone in his house, Gao Qinglian wanted to take over the eldest son's house for her second son to live in.

Last year, Liu Xiuju gave birth to twins. The babies were small and could sleep together in one bed. This year, the babies are one year old, and her eldest son is four. With the two adults, the double bed is very crowded.

Gao Qinglian didn't want to spend money building a new house, so she set her sights on her eldest son's family.

At this moment, Gao Qinglian is crying, cursing, and causing trouble at her eldest son's house.

“Your whole family are ungrateful wretches, heartless! You’ve been worrying your old mother until her hair has turned white, and you won’t even let her leave the house. You’re neglecting your old mother, that’s unfilial…” Gao Qinglian cried and cursed, looking pitiful to outsiders.

The neighbors all knew about their family situation, and they all pointed and gossiped about Gao Qinglian.

A neighbor, Granny Huang, said, "Oh dear, this eldest son's family is suffering too much! The eldest son hands over all his earnings, and his wife helps sell breakfast all day without getting paid, and she gets scolded every day. Granny Gao is so biased."

“That’s right, that’s right,” another neighbor, Granny Lin, chimed in.

"What a pipe dream! Trying to take over the eldest son's house? We can't expect him and his family to live on the street! Is he even his own son? Was he adopted?" Old Mrs. Huang said, covering her mouth with an expression that said, "I know the truth."

Other neighbors who came to watch the spectacle also felt they had guessed the truth correctly.

Gao Qinglian also heard the neighbors' gossip, turned her face to Huang Pozi's face and spat out a mouthful of yellow phlegm.

Old Mrs. Huang was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly raised her sleeve to wipe it away. She even gagged a little.

"You stink! Did you eat shit? Your mouth smells so bad!" Granny Huang retorted to Gao Qinglian.

Sun Zitao and Kong Xiujuan, who were just angry at Gao Qinglian for being unreasonable and trying to take over their house, are now dumbfounded.

"What's going on? Why are Granny Huang and Gao Qinglian fighting?"

At this moment, Granny Huang and Gao Qinglian were exchanging profanities. They pointed at each other, cursing and spitting, it was an eyesore.

At this moment, Sun Zitao's younger brother, Sun Zihao, rushed over upon hearing the news. He was also dumbfounded when he saw the scene before him.

"What's going on? Why are his mother and Granny Huang fighting?"

Upon seeing this, Gao Qinglian immediately stopped crying and pulled her grandson, Sun Zihao, saying, "Son, look how heartless your brother and sister-in-law are! How are we supposed to live?"

Sun Zihao felt a little dissatisfied looking at his mother, but he still advised her, "Mom, please stop making a fuss. My brother and sister-in-law have it tough too."

Gao Qinglian, however, persisted and cried even harder.

When Granny Huang saw Sun Zihao arrive, she retreated into the crowd and fell silent.

After all, it's just a family fighting and causing trouble; what business is it of hers? No matter what, she's in the wrong. It's much more satisfying to just watch the show and enjoy the drama.

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, the brigade committee's director arrived at the scene. After understanding what had happened, he said sternly to Gao Qinglian, "Aunt Qinglian, what you're doing isn't right. They're both your children; you can't be so biased!"

The director's words made Gao Qinglian feel ashamed, and she silently lowered her head.

Finally, with the village chief's mediation, Gao Qinglian acknowledged her mistake and promised not to covet her elder brother's house again. The family dispute was thus resolved.

But Gao Qinglian did not stop after the director left.

She yelled at Sun Zitao and Kong Xiujuan, "Since you won't let your brother have the house, then we'll divide the family property today. Whatever happens to you in the future is your business. Even if you starve to death, don't even think about asking me for a single grain of food."

As she spoke, she took a handkerchief from the pocket of her inner garment. Inside the handkerchief was a bundle of rolled-up money.

取开钱面值50元10元的有好几张，还有两张100元大钞。其余的就是5元2元1元的。

She didn't carry 5-cent, 2-cent, or 1-cent coins with her; they were all in her money box. She only kept large denominations on her person, fearing someone would steal her money, and was always on guard.

She pulled out five yuan and slammed it on the table. "Here, this is for you. Also, the chipped pot in the yard, two bowls, two chopsticks, a bag of noodles, and half a bag of rice." Then she left before they could react.

"Flying noodles" are noodles that fall off the machine when it's running at a noodle-making station. Over time, when they accumulate, they are collected and sold to "connections" for consumption.

This spaghetti is very cheap; you can only buy it if you know someone who works here, otherwise it's very difficult to get one.

Gao Qinglian's older brother, Gao Yunfei, works here, which is why she was able to buy it.

Gao Yunfei is not filial to his mother, but he is slightly better to his two younger sisters. This is because he also needs his brothers-in-law to take care of him.

Especially my second sister's husband, whose family sells meat, he can get more meat for less money when he goes to buy meat.

He knew his second sister's husband treated her badly, and he also knew his sister was mistreated by her mother-in-law. As long as his own interests weren't harmed, he couldn't care less.

Kong Xiujuan and Sun Zitao stared blankly at the 5 yuan on the table.

Sun Zitao hands over all the money he earns every day, and he also farms the small plot of land at home, and the harvest belongs to his mother.

His mother only gives him 5 yuan now, and he has to earn at least 5 yuan a day. This is only the wages for one day.

His heart was completely broken.

Kong Xiujuan picked up the money on the table and prepared to tear it up.

Sun Zitao saw this and quickly stopped him, saying, "Don't tear it. Five yuan can buy enough food to last a long time."

He casually took the 5 yuan and carefully placed it under his pillow.

He raised his head and said, "Xiujuan, I'm sorry for making you suffer."

Kong Xiujuan didn't say anything. She was also angry. She was angry that her mother-in-law was biased and stingy, and she was also angry that her husband was spineless. What could you do with 5 yuan? Why take it? If you don't take it, it's much easier to cut ties directly.

But she didn't want a divorce. Sun Zitao always listened to her and never argued with her or scolded her.

Although the family didn't have much money, she was in charge of everything. What she said, big or small, was final.

Sun Zitao panicked when he saw that his wife was ignoring him.

"Xiujuan, I'll work hard to earn money in the future and make sure you live a good life. You have to believe me, okay?" Sun Zitao promised, holding Kong Xiujuan's hand.

Kong Xiujuan looked at him and said, "Alright, it's good that we've broken up. From now on, all the money you earn will go into our pockets, and we'll save money faster that way. As long as we're not lazy, things will only get better and better for us."

Sun Zitao felt relieved after hearing his wife's words. He was really afraid that his wife would get angry and go back to her parents' home, or even get a divorce.