The 1960s: The Story of a Country Girl's Journey to the City

After sewing the pocket shut, Bao Ya stuffed all the 1.85 yuan into it, thinking that having some spare change on her person would come in handy someday.

She didn't understand the current purchasing power, so she put the 1.85 yuan in her pocket.

While Bao Ya was counting her secret stash of money, the Lin family members had already started their preparations. One after another, they ran to the outhouse, creating quite a scene.

Knowing the inside story, the second and third wives had already slipped away under the pretext of going to work. When they went out, they made a point of checking on them and found that they only had diarrhea. Su Ruyi and Zhang Laidi were relieved; the stuff Bao Ya had prepared would only cause diarrhea and wouldn't kill them.

In no time, the Lin family's house reeked. They only had one outhouse, and the outhouses of several neighbors were also occupied. Old Mrs. Lin was slow and even soiled her pants. Later, the three Lin brothers simply dug a hole in their private plot at the back and squatted there.

Unable to get a toilet, Xiang Chunhua and Lin Siya simply sat on the chamber pot and didn't move. For the entire afternoon, the Lin family's house was as lively as a market.

It wasn't until Old Man Lin was so exhausted that he collapsed on the road and was discovered that someone ran to call the barefoot doctor, Su Mancang.

When Su Mancang arrived at the Lin family's house, he was shocked. The whole family looked sallow and were breathing heavily. In particular, Old Man Lin and Old Woman Lin were lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) groaning. After asking about their symptoms, Su Mancang concluded that they had eaten something bad.

But looking at these people, only the Lin family's eldest branch and Old Man Lin and his wife, a bad premonition welled up in his heart.

No way, no way, what a coincidence! She wanted to say something, but then shut her mouth again.

That thing was given to Bao Ya by him. He only said that she had eaten something bad, and that he had prescribed some medicine and sent someone to get it. By now, someone had already gone to the field to call Lin Lao Er and Lin Lao San back.

Seeing the Lin family like this, people started to gossip about why only the eldest Lin family and the elderly couple had diarrhea, while the second and third Lin families seemed perfectly fine.

Some curious people actually came to our house to ask. Zhang Laidi and Su Ruyi just said they didn't know.

They didn't even spare Wuya and Liuya.

"Wuya, what did your grandpa and the others eat? Why are they the only ones with diarrhea?"

The man's eyes were fixed on Wuya and Liuya, who had been sent to the river to wash clothes.

"have no idea."

Wuya kept her head down washing clothes, not daring to look up at the person.

The man was still persistent. Seeing that Wu Ya ignored her, he turned to Liu Ya instead.

"Liu Ya, what did you guys have for lunch?"

Liu Ya was younger and less shrewd. She looked up at the aunt who had asked the question and asked, "What did you eat? Every family eats about the same thing. Why are you asking me that?"

"Steamed cornbread, stewed vegetables, and porridge."

"That's it? Your grandma and the others had such bad diarrhea, how come you're okay?"

This question stunned Liu Ya. She hadn't thought about it. At noon, she saw her mother kneading dough and knew that there would definitely be no steamed buns for them again. She was unhappy and left after carrying firewood. She didn't touch the cooking and didn't see Bao Ya add any ingredients to the dough.

"My grandma? They ate steamed buns!"

After saying that, he pounded his clothes hard with a stick, his face long and drawn.

They didn't get any of the good food, and the two sisters were made to wash their pants stained with poop. I felt so disgusted.

Seeing Liu Ya's expression, the woman seemed to understand something, and tentatively asked:

"Your grandmother didn't give the steamed buns to your second and third wives? Only to the first wife?"

"snort!"

Liu Ya is young and can't keep things to herself. She was already unhappy, and now it's all written on her face.

"Tsk tsk tsk, are your grandparents really that biased?... "

Wu Ya was afraid that Liu Ya would be asked too many questions and accidentally reveal something, so she added:

"No, my cousins ​​are coming back today, and my grandma just steamed some buns..."

"Oh? You gave it to your cousins, but your aunt and Siya also have diarrhea? So only your grandparents and the eldest son's family ate it, while you second and third sons just watched?"

The woman's eyes burned even brighter with the fire of gossip.

Wu Ya looked at her, wanting to say something, but after opening her mouth, she deflated. "What's the point of explaining? It's always been like this. Why should I explain for them?" she thought. Then she lowered her head and continued washing clothes.

"Your grandparents are so biased, so blatantly favoring the eldest son's family. Tsk tsk, no wonder Bao Ya is always causing trouble."

Seeing that Wuya and Liuya ignored her, she moved closer to another woman washing clothes and chatted with her about the Lin family's troubles.

By evening, news of the Lin family elders' favoritism towards the eldest son's wife had spread throughout the entire brigade. Bao Ya was quite surprised when she found out; she hadn't even had a chance to speak up, and everyone already knew. All the prepared remarks she had made were useless.

The next day, when everyone gathered in front of the brigade headquarters, Bao Ya went there to see the Lin family. Old Man Lin, Lin Dahe, and Lin Xiaohong were all there for work. They all had sunken eyes, looked pale and sickly, and seemed completely drained. Li Jinxiang and Lin Siya didn't come.

Bao Ya secretly walked up to Su Ruyi and Zhang Laidi and whispered, "Why didn't my aunt come to work?"

"Your aunt had such severe diarrhea yesterday that she was completely exhausted and still can't get out of bed."

"Huh? You're faking it! You ate a quarter of a steamed bun, is that impressive?"

"It's true, I went to her room this morning and she couldn't even stand up. It's much worse than Siya and Xiaoquan's wife."

Su Ruyi and Bao Ya were whispering to each other, while Zhang Laidi nervously looked around at the people. Suddenly, he said, "Your aunt brought the steamed buns yesterday."

Su Ruyi and Bao Ya glanced at her and suddenly realized that one of the steamed buns on the table yesterday was missing.

"That old thief, he steals and then eats all by himself. Serves him right!"

Zhang Laidi and Su Ruyi nodded. After seeing Li Jinxiang's appearance today, Zhang Laidi's guilt turned into relief.

She also calculated her family's work points according to Bao Ya's method. And what she found was surprising: among the three families, the second branch was the most disadvantaged, the third branch was slightly better off, and the eldest branch benefited the most.

She had discussed it with her husband that night, and according to the eldest son's wishes, they would only agree to separate the family property after all three sons were married, which would take forever.

His children were the youngest, and by the time they were old enough to get married, the eldest son's grandchildren were already running around, and the two of them were too old to work. All three of their daughters were married, and the dowries were in the old lady's hands. The third son's family had the help of the brigade leader, and Bao Ya had married a worker, so they weren't worried about anything.

Lin Xiaoquan bought a job and married a city girl. Now Lin Xiaohong is also clamoring for a job, which will cost several hundred yuan. There's also Lin Xiaowen; by the time the family property is divided, there probably won't be much left.

The three brothers are in the worst situation, and who can their sons rely on in the future? The eldest son's family is unreliable. Lin Xiaoquan doesn't even want to help his own brothers, let alone his cousins ​​from other branches of the family.

Lin Lao Er might not care about other things, but when it comes to his son, he thinks a lot more. He had only had one son after more than ten years of marriage, so he had to make plans for him.

If they were to separate the family now, the couple could still work and save some money. Their two daughters weren't married yet, and they could keep the dowries for their son. He didn't dare to suggest separating the family himself, but if the third wife suggested it, he would go along with it.