The sun goes down slowly.
The sunset is all over the horizon, and Dahe Village is shrouded in golden clouds. The scenery is beautiful.
The heat of the day faded away, and the cool evening breeze caressed the faces of the mother and son.
When they reached the door of their house, Zhao Sidan and Wu Huiniang came out with anxious faces.
Cheng Wanwan said quietly: "Wash your hands and get ready to eat."
Wu Huiniang quickly brought out the hot food in the pot. Zhao Dashan took out a bowl and placed half of the chicken in his arms in the bowl.
On the wooden table, there are four dishes and six bowls of corn rice.
Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sanniu were shocked. They got into trouble outside and thought they would be beaten when they came back. Unexpectedly, there were so many delicious foods, including a rabbit stewed with radish, mushroom egg soup, and a stir-fried string bean. , plus the big hen they brought back, so much food, more abundant than the Chinese New Year, and the two people's saliva kept flowing down.
Zhao Sidan's stomach was already growling with hunger, and he couldn't wait to pick up his chopsticks.
Cheng Wanwan said: "Hui Niang, go get another bowl."
Wu Huiniang immediately went to the kitchen and took out a bowl. Cheng Wanwan divided some rabbit meat and radish out: "Four eggs, bring them to your grandpa and grandma."
Zhao Sidan licked his lips, took a sip of the bowl and ran out.
It was getting dark, and the Zhao family had already had dinner at the old house. They cooked some wild vegetables with some buckwheat flour, and each of them had a steamed bun with some long beans in it. It was enough to make you half full, which is considered the best in Dahe Village. of food.
"Old man, why do I seem to smell the aroma of meat?" Old Mrs. Zhao sniffed, "Who's family can afford to eat meat now?"
Old Man Zhao took a puff of dry cigarette: "If we wait another three to five days, at least half of the people in the village will be without food. What do you think we can do?"
"Didn't the locust plague also come last year? The court will not ignore us." Old Mrs. Zhao said while sewing, "I went to the town today. The county magistrate said that the court was preparing to pray for rain. I hope it rains. Ah, come down quickly..."
Just as he was talking, someone in the yard shouted: "Grandma!"
Mrs. Zhao hurriedly put down her sewing: "Why is this kid Sidan here again? Wasn't he beaten by his mother?"
The old lady opened the door and walked out, and saw Zhao Sidan holding a bowl in his hand. She couldn't see clearly from a distance. She thought the boy was here begging for food. When she got closer, she realized that it was actually a bowl of meat! The aroma of meat that I just smelled came from this bowl!
"Grandma, mom asked me to get this, I'm going back first!"
With his mouth full of saliva, Zhao Sidan put the bowl into Mrs. Zhao's hand and ran away. He wanted to go back and eat rabbit meat!
Old Mrs. Zhao was stunned. She always felt that there was something wrong with her ears. That prodigal daughter-in-law of the boss would actually send her a bowl of meat?
The smell of meat spread in the yard, and other members of the Zhao family also came out.
Zhao Laoer's youngest son, Zhao Erwang, said: "I heard from Brother Tiezhu that Si Dan caught a rabbit today. This must be rabbit meat. It smells so good!"
Zhao's second daughter-in-law was a little surprised: "Sister-in-law would actually give me food?"
My sister-in-law always brings food to the Cheng family. She has only come to Lao Zhao's house for so many years to ask for things. When has she ever given her a grain of rice?
"Si Ping took away three radishes, a handful of beans, and an egg." Zhao San's daughter-in-law said softly, "It's almost worth it."
Mrs. Zhao didn't think it was worth it.
That prodigal woman gave her five cents during the day, and now she brought over a large bowl of broth. When has the eldest daughter-in-law ever been so generous?
The eldest daughter-in-law would only suddenly show her kindness when she needed help from the old Zhao family. She wanted to see what the eldest daughter-in-law wanted to do.
Mrs. Zhao heard several grandchildren around her swallowing their saliva. Two grandchildren and four granddaughters couldn't even eat enough for each person. It would be unreasonable to give only to the grandsons but not to the granddaughters.
She waved her hand: "This is your aunt's honor to my old lady, so I won't give it to you to eat."
She brought a bowl of rabbit meat back to the back room, and even the old man was shocked: "When did the boss's wife become so filial?"
"She's holding back her bad moves." The old lady sneered, "Since she took the initiative to send it here, if you don't eat it, it will be free. If you don't eat it, you won't have the energy to deal with her."
The old lady took a bite. The rabbit meat was smooth and delicious, and the radish was soft and delicious. She had lived for sixty years, but she had never eaten such delicious food. When did Dashan's wife's cooking skills become so good?
As soon as Zhao Sidan got home, Cheng Wanwan announced that dinner was ready.
The four boys were all cooks. They lowered their heads to chop the rice vigorously, not forgetting to eat rabbit meat. Even Wu Huiniang, a cautious and delicate little daughter-in-law, also opened her belly to cook silently.
Cheng Wanwan thought there would be leftovers, but unexpectedly, she drank all the leftover soup.
The family of six leaned back on the chair and burped contentedly.
"This is the first time I've eaten so full..." Zhao Sidan touched his belly, "Mom, can you still have a full stomach tomorrow?"
Several other people all raised their heads and looked at the backbone of the family.
Cheng Wanwan took a sip of water and said, "There is indeed no food at home."
The five faces fell. There was indeed no food at home. Fortunately, I had enough to eat today, so I should be able to take care of it for three days...
"But -" Cheng Wanwan put the silver hairpin on the wooden table, "This is a token of love given to me by your father more than ten years ago. At first, I was deceived by lard and gave it to the Cheng family. Now, I have completely broken up with the Cheng family, and I don’t want to keep this silver hairpin anymore. I will take it to the street to be pawned in exchange for some food tomorrow.”
At the mention of dad, the eyes of the four boys suddenly turned red.
Zhao Dashan was the one who had the most impressive impression of his father. He clenched his fists and said, "This is something father gave to mother. It cannot be used as a gift!"
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said: "If you don't wear a silver hairpin, you won't have money to buy food. I think your father in heaven doesn't want to see his sons hungry, right?"
The four sons were silent.
Father can give mother a silver hairpin, but they are unable to keep the hairpin.
Zhao Ergou said slowly: "One day, I will redeem this silver hairpin."
Today, my mother broke up with the Cheng family for their sake.
One day, he will let his mother wear a gold hairpin and silk satin.
The four children were in a low mood, so Cheng Wanwan changed the subject: "Da Shan, why don't you go to Uncle Da and ask if the ox cart will go to town tomorrow morning?"
It takes more than an hour to walk from Dahe Village to Taiping Town, which is farther than the two Chengjia Villages. If she walked there, she would be completely disabled.
Zhao Dashan nodded and went out.
When Zhao Sidan was still in her mother's belly, her biological father went to the battlefield and never came back. The news of his death in battle was not heard until last year.
He had never met his biological father, and he was not as sad about his death as the rabbit on the plate in front of him.
He collected all the rabbit bones on the wooden table, wrapped them in leaves, and buried them in the yard... This was the only thing he could do for the rabbit...
