Sister-in-law Wang felt sad when she recalled this. They have been childless for many years after their marriage, and the hospital examination revealed that it was the husband's fault. This has always made Mrs. Wang unhappy because she has never been able to experience the happiness of being a mother that ordinary people can experience.
The strange old woman in front of her asked Mrs. Wang about her birthday, which she had been confused about for many years. She couldn't answer it, so she asked, "Old lady, why are you asking?"
I know the hour of your birth. My mother took a sip of tea and smiled strangely.
I know the year and month of my birth, but I don’t know the day and hour, do you know? Sister-in-law Wang was surprised at first, and then eager to ask her mother about the situation.
Not only do I know the day and time you were born, I also know that there is a small thorn that looks like a louse next to your belly button. Mom looked at her and said.
Sister-in-law Wang nodded. There was indeed that thing growing next to her belly button. She immediately untied her belt and took a look at her fair belly, and asked her mother puzzledly how she knew. Mom told her:
34 years ago, she was walking on the river bank when a gust of river wind suddenly came up. The wind was mixed with the cry of a baby. She followed the sound and found it under a willow tree. She found a swaddling clothes leaning against the roots of the tree trembling slightly. She bent He lifted up the covering strip at his waist, and inside there was a baby girl crying with her hands and feet.
The baby girl's head still had a black fetal belly. One look showed that the baby was born not long ago. Another look revealed that there was a note marked with the time of her birth. There was no doubt that it had been discarded. illegitimate son.
She suddenly felt pity and took the baby home to raise for two months. Because her husband didn't like girls, she gave the baby to a couple in Jiangbei who made a living by ferrying on the river in the third month. The couple had no money at the time. The child was later said to have given birth to a boy...
Old lady, that baby girl you picked up from under the willow tree is me, right?
Mom nodded.
Since it was me, why didn't you give the note marked with the date of my birth to my adoptive parents?
Forgive me to be honest, I fed you for two months without any credit or hard work. When I gave you up for adoption, your adoptive mother and father were too mean. They never plucked out the male of the porcelain chicken, which is equivalent to saying that I fed you for two months in vain. Your adoptive parents didn't appreciate it. They seemed to have done me a favor and adopted you with peace of mind. I am mentally unbalanced, so that note has never been given to your adoptive parents.
Is that note still there?
My mother didn't answer. She immediately took out the yellowed note from the pocket of her green cloth jacket, handed it to Mrs. Wang and said, "This is it."
Sister-in-law Wang unfolded it and saw that the words on the note were written in small regular script. Although the handwriting had faded due to the age, she could still see it clearly. It said: This girl was born on the day of Wuyin on the Dingyou day of the Guichou month of the Renchen year, and below. A yellow character.
Mom pointed to the yellow characters on the note and said, this means that one of your biological parents must be surnamed Huang. In other words, your surname is not Wang but Huang.
Sister-in-law Wang suddenly remembered that not long ago, a young man with yellow hair on his face came to her and asked her if her surname was Huang. She replied that her surname was Wang, so why did the young man want a woman named Huang? She felt that it was an unsolvable mystery.
This note is specially sent to you. My mother said that after taking another sip of tea and seeing Mrs. Wang collect the note, she felt it was time to leave, so she stood up and grabbed the crutch placed on the back of the chair to leave.
Sister-in-law Wang persuaded her to stay and said, "Old lady, after all, you have fed me for two months and you can be considered my adoptive mother and benefactor. Why don't you leave? Stay at my house and let me repay you well."
My mother decided to leave, saying that her husband was in a village not far ahead. He was deaf and hunchbacked and had difficulty taking care of himself and needed to be taken care of.
Seeing that she couldn't hold him back, Sister-in-law Wang followed her out, locked the door, and asked her mother to wait. She walked into the melon shed, picked out the big ripe watermelon she had chosen, and handed it to a middle-aged man who was working here. He asked him to help the mother deliver the big watermelon to the village not far ahead on his behalf.
After Ma Huangmao made peace with his parents, he went out that afternoon and put on a big straw hat to prevent outsiders from recognizing him, especially those who were acquainted with the bettors on North Street in the city, so as not to get into trouble.
He was so nervous and cautious, but it was nothing. He walked calmly to the ferry on the Yangtze River, but there were no boats for the time being. Looking at the shed vegetable base and the tile-roofed house a hundred meters south of the river bank, he naturally thought of Wang Sister-in-law, he thought of the benefits that Sister-in-law Wang had given him, especially the 10 coins she gave him, which played a big role.
Because using it as capital, you have won so much money, just like a hen laying eggs and hatching chicks. The female among the chicks can grow up and lay eggs. This gives people a sense of endless joy of harvest.
Out of gratitude, Ma Huangmao, covered with the afterglow of the setting sun, walked across a piece of sand toward the tile-roofed house next to the shed vegetable base. When he walked to the door, he saw an "Iron General" hanging on the door.
Ma Huangmao walked into the vegetable shed to take a look. Mrs. Wang was searching in the watermelon field. With her back facing him, he called out, "Sister-in-law Wang, what are you looking for?"
When Mrs. Wang heard someone shouting, she suddenly turned around and saw that it was Ma Huangmao. She was very excited and said with a smile on her face, "Oh, I said I have a visitor, so it's you." I'm just looking for a bigger watermelon to prepare for guests.
How did you know I was coming?
I don’t know, but if spiders in my house pull threads and fall from the windows, I guess there are visitors.
Sister-in-law Wang, I am not a guest, I am here to pay you back 10 coins.
I don’t want you to give it back, it’s given to you. She also gestured happily, "I'm also telling you, my surname is not Wang, my surname is Huang. You can just change your name to me Mrs. Huang now."
Ma Huangmao was stunned, and then remembered what the fortune teller had said. There was a woman named Huang in the southeast who was in love with him. Ma Huangmao also thought that he had some feelings for her. Could it be that she was the woman he was looking for? impossible!
Seeing Ma Huangmao standing there numbly, Mrs. Huang smiled hoarsely, then picked a big watermelon from the watermelon field and approached Ma Huangmao and said, "Little Ma, come to my house to eat watermelon."
Don’t eat, don’t eat, Mrs. Huang. Ma Huangmao finally changed his mind. He took out the 10 coins from his body and handed them to her.
She pushed Ma Huangmao's hand and said, who wants you to pay back the money? Aren't you looking for a woman named Huang? I am you. Come on, come sit with me at home, and then I'll kill the watermelon and you eat it.
When Ma Huangmao saw that Mrs. Huang didn't want the 10 coins, he put them away. I thought: Next time I will use these 10 copper coins to buy something for her.
When he arrived at the door of Huang's house, he asked, "Sister Huang, I want to go to Jiangbei to do business. I will take a boat there tonight. I wonder if there is a boat now?"
Not now. There will be a passenger ship crossing the river at the ferry tomorrow morning. Mrs. Huang said as she took the key to unlock the door.
Ma Huangmao carried the watermelon for her and entered the house. Needless to say, Mrs. Huang was very polite to Ma Huangmao.
She only said that he would have a dinner for him. The food was very rich. Mrs. Huang specially added a bowl of egg soup for Ma Huangmao to drink. Half an hour later, for some reason, Ma Huangmao felt very uncomfortable. Lift up with control.
Due to the hot weather, although he wore underwear and outer pants, they were both thin. Ma Huangmao turned around in embarrassment and moved the straw hat that was placed on the wooden cabinet by the wall when he entered the door down, quietly covering his lower body. Mrs. Huang said, it’s so dark, you still want to leave?
Not walking, I'm just holding it. Ma Huangmao still held down the straw hat covering his lower body with one hand, and made up a lie, but he couldn't justify it, so he changed the subject, "Sister-in-law Huang, can you set up a bunk for me to sleep in?" I'll go to the ferry early tomorrow morning to catch the boat.
It doesn't matter. Mrs. Huang deliberately walked around in front of him and grabbed the straw hat, saying that you put the things away and I would give them to you tomorrow.
When she said this, she glanced at the increasingly voluptuous place on Ma Huangmao's lower body. Ma Huangmao instinctively touched it with his hand, and his movements were unnatural.
Mrs. Huang smiled strangely and said, "I won't eat your food. What are you afraid of?" As she spoke, she put the straw hat in her hand back on the wooden cabinet by the wall, then opened the cabinet door and took out some colorful clothes and walked towards the bedroom.
After a while, she came out, dressed in colorful clothes, showing off in front of Ma Huangmao. Ma Huangmao was not in the mood to admire what she was wearing, so he asked with a blushing face, "Sister-in-law Huang, is the decoration good?" I want to sleep!
After you wash up, sleep on the bed. Mrs. Huang poured a basin of warm water, put a towel and soap on it, and led him to the side room to wash himself.
