A century of poverty

Chapter 4 Malice 1

On the first day of the new year, Second Grandma got up early and washed and dressed herself.

She was petite, dressed in a black cotton-padded jacket and trousers, with a black padded coat over it, and leggings tied around her feet. Her feet were bound in tiny lotus shapes. Perhaps because she had been crying, her eyelids were red and swollen, her nose was red, and a white ribbon was tied in her hair at the back of her head.

Regardless of my mood, I must pay my respects to the old man during the Chinese New Year.

Seeing the Second Madam arrive, the Third Madam also paid her respects to the Old Master before returning to her room. The Third Madam was pregnant and needed to take good care of herself.

Most of the housework fell to the second grandmother. She shoveled out the ashes from under the stove, gathered firewood to start a fire, kneaded the dough, and chopped vegetables—dumplings were to be eaten on the first day of the Lunar New Year. She prepared all the ingredients, and the third grandmother came out to help make dumplings. After making the dumplings, the third grandmother went back to the old master's room to talk with the grandfathers and other family members, waiting to eat dumplings. The third grandfather also returned from Changli to celebrate the New Year.

Grandma steamed the dumplings and brought them to the table. Grandpa pointed to the neatly arranged dumplings and said, "Next time, make them like this."

"I made these few, but I didn't make the ones that are split open," the third grandmother said, gesturing with her hands to indicate the names, taking the opportunity to attack her widowed sister-in-law.

Second Grandma was displeased, but she didn't know how to say anything in response, so she could only keep her unhappiness to herself.

The next day was the second day of the Lunar New Year, the day to return to one's parents' home. Second Grandma was even more eager to go back to her parents' home and stay for a few days.

This year is different from the past. She lost her husband, her child is so young, and her third grandmother deliberately belittled her. She has a lot of bitterness to confide in her family.

Grandma Li simply comforted her, saying, "Don't stoop to her level. If she wants something sharp, just give it to her. Just hope your son 'Hope' grows up, and you'll still have good fortune to enjoy."

Her second maternal uncle also told her, "Sister, don't be afraid. She won't dare to do anything to you. Just let her have her way with small things, and she can't do anything to big things either. You still have the old man to keep things in order. If you need anything, just say the word, and the family will help you."

Her family's words brought her great comfort. As long as she worked hard and lived a good life, why should she worry about them not feeding her? As for expenses, she didn't need to rely on the household help anyway; the old man managed the household finances, and all necessities were provided by the helpers. Personal expenses were paid out of her own pocket. Every year during the spring and summer when they picked fruit on the mountains near her parents' home, her second brother would load several wooden boats and take them to Luanzhou to sell, sometimes even going to Tianjin with others. In the autumn, when the walnuts were dried, they would be sold as well, and when she returned home, they would always give her a few yuan. She and her three young children didn't need much money.

What else was there? Second Grandma didn't think about anything else; that was all she could think of. She'd stay at her parents' house for a few days, then return home to live a peaceful life. She eagerly awaited her son's growth, hoping he would one day achieve success and be worthy of Xiutian's trust.

Third Grandmother Zhang Gaoshi, a native of Xigaozhuang Village in Luanhe, also returned to her parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year. On the sixth day, Third Uncle returned to the Changli Oil Mill, and the whole family came to Changli.

As soon as they entered the city, Third Grandma's eyes couldn't take it all in; she loved watching the excitement. Third Uncle was in a great mood; they were back at their family business, and his wife and children had all come. Food and lodging were convenient, and the young apprentice wouldn't return until after the fifteenth. The mother and children could stay for a few days, and the whole family could explore. The shop led to a small courtyard and two rooms at the back for their daily needs. Third Uncle led them in, saying, "We're home now. Everything here is usable; there's nothing inconvenient."

Upon hearing this, the daughters relaxed and went to play in the yard. The couple tidied up the house briefly.

He ran the oil mill for several years, managing it all by himself. No one from his family ever came to check on it, so they didn't know how the business was doing. He just did whatever he said he would give to his partners. He always said that the world was in turmoil and business was tough. He only gave a small portion of the profits to his partners; the majority went into his and his wife's pockets. Over the years, they had saved up quite a bit of money.

After getting ready early on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, he happily took his wife and daughter to the Yuantong Temple to attend the temple fair. Every year from the seventh to the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, Yuantong Temple holds a temple fair, which is very lively and crowded with people.

They followed the flow of people to the front of the main hall.

Third Grandmother: "Father, please go and offer incense to the Bodhisattva here for me, and pray that the Bodhisattva will protect my child and me."

Zhang Litian entered the main hall carrying his wife's instructions. He devoutly lit incense, knelt on the prayer mat, and kowtowed, silently praying, "May the Bodhisattva bless my wife with peace and safety, and may she give birth to a healthy son."

Afterwards, we went to a sugar figurine stall and made a lifelike sugar figurine for each of my daughters. Then we went to watch the acrobatic performance for a while.

Grandma San suggested, "Let's go to the fabric stall and make a set of clothes for each of the children."

"Let's go," Third Master casually agreed, and they strolled over to the cloth stall.

Grandma asked her daughters, "Look, which one do you like?"

The three girls each chose their favorite fabric, and the tailor came over to take their measurements and told them to come back in a few days to pick up their clothes.

The Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, brought another lively scene. The riddles at the Han Wen Ancestral Hall attracted scholars and writers from near and far. Shops and vendors lit up their unique lanterns. Grandma San and her husband led their three daughters, dressed in new clothes, strolling along the brightly lit streets.

Third Grandma has finally seen the world; the five mountain villages are no match for her!

She instructed her three daughters not to mention that they had come to Changli when they got home, and to say that the new clothes were made by their maternal grandmother's family.

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the mother and her children returned home with their heads held high.

Yu Qiushang's third grandmother gave birth to twin boys, which brought her great joy. One was named Copper Head, and the other Iron Head. The second grandmother took care of her during her postpartum period and helped with the care.

In late autumn, after the cotton harvest, every household spins thread and weaves cloth.

The people in the alleyways were no exception. Every year, after the cotton was harvested and the seeds were extracted, the lint was divided between the two households. The clothes and shoes for the whole year—cotton for winter and thinner fabrics for summer—all depended on these few pounds of cotton.

The old man and his youngest son made the clothes for themselves. Fourth Uncle was disabled in both legs and couldn't work in the fields, but he could spin thread, sew clothes, and make shoes and socks—he could even figure out what women couldn't do. He was proud of his abilities in front of his sister-in-law.

The work of laying the warp is not something that can be done by one or two people; it requires several people to drive stakes into a spacious, clean area and to complete the task on a good day.

Second Grandma would spin the thread by herself, then help others warp the cloth. Once on the loom, she could weave it all by herself in the house. The cloth would be woven in autumn and winter so that it could be used to make bedding and clothing for the New Year.

Autumn is the busiest season for farmers. Second Grandma was busy outside during the day and had to spin thread at night to finish weaving the cloth on time.

Third Grandma should be like that too, but she's not in a hurry, and her family doesn't worry about using any more fabric.

These past two days, Lao Ba's grandmother from Beiyuanzi passed away. Because she was elderly, it was considered a happy death. The mourning period has lasted for three days. They hired opera singers, trumpet players, and even a group of monks to perform a ritual for her soul.

Tonight is a "farewell".

Third Grandma couldn't keep doing her work and her mind kept wandering to that place. But she was afraid of the old man and didn't dare to go see him, so she came to Second Grandma to encourage her.

"Second Sister-in-law, Hei Jie is seeing people off in the street today. Shall we go watch them?"

Second Madam: "I'm not going, I don't have time, and besides, Father won't allow it!"

Third Grandmother: "Let's not let him know. There are so many decorations for Hei Jie's farewell today, stretching from Xidang Street all the way to the village. Let's go take a look. They're a well-off family, so this is a big event with lots of relatives and friends. I dare say you've never seen such a lively farewell before."

Second Grandma stopped spinning: "Really?"

Third Grandmother: "If it weren't true, would I be teasing you? Jingtian went to see it this afternoon and told me about it when he came back."

Second Madam: "What would happen if Father found out?"

Third Grandma: "I have a plan. We won't let her know. Hei Jie's father will definitely go to see today. We'll wait until he leaves, then climb over the wall to watch. Before he comes back, we'll come down and watch the excitement. He won't even see us yet."

"Okay, you really have a way with things." Second Grandma agreed, thinking that watching the excitement wouldn't hurt.

Sure enough, after dinner, the old man put down his bowl and went out. The two sisters-in-law tidied up the house inside and out, and calmed the children down, when they heard the loudspeaker on the west wall.

Third Grandma came over and pulled Second Grandma along, walking towards the shed in the back courtyard.

"Why did you drag me here?"

Third Grandma didn't reply, but picked up a basket and pointed it at Second Grandma, gesturing for her to pick some. Second Grandma suddenly understood, reached out and pulled, picking one basket after another. Each of them had a basket. Third Grandma put down her basket, then moved a piece of wood and climbed onto the wall to look outside. Second Grandma followed her. The two looked through the basket holes and saw a long line of white things flowing out of the street drain.

At the very front, someone was helping a person dressed in mourning clothes walk backwards, scribbling on the ground with a white broom. Following them were dozens of men and women in mourning clothes, and behind them, in turn, people dressed in various mourning garments and sashes. One after another, various colorful decorations were carried—oxen, sheep, sedan chairs, and children; there were all sorts of banners, tassels and long ribbons fluttering…it seemed endless. Onlookers stood on both sides of the procession.

The street was full of people, who were slowly walking out of the village.

"Cough! Cough!"

Two loud coughs. Oh no! The old man is back.

The two women had just finished their work and stood up when the old man began to scold them: "Haven't you seen me crying with my mouth wide open? And you were even peeking over the wall, what kind of behavior is that!"

Third Grandma hurriedly said, "I said I wouldn't come, but Second Sister-in-law insisted that I come."

Before Second Grandma could even utter the word "you," Third Grandma quickly ran back into the house. Second Grandma had no choice but to wipe away her tears as she went back inside.

She felt terrible. She hadn't intended to watch; it was her friend who had encouraged her to. After being scolded, she shifted the blame onto me and ran away. How could someone be so mean? Feeling wronged and unable to defend herself, she cried for a long time.

Grandma San was running back into the house, secretly gloating. She'd handled things brilliantly today; that fool had fallen for it again. She'd gotten away with it, watching the spectacle while the fool got a scolding, leaving her speechless. The real show was yet to come. She was furious; she was going to drive the fool away.