Chapter 109 Borrow Some Grain
At home, Liu Cuihua reared livestock like chickens and pigs. Pigs were fed on fodders while chickens were easy to feed and their eggs could be sold for money at the market.
Income was already lower than her mother-in-law's family in two aspects, not to mention that her mother-in-law would embroider handkerchiefs with new patterns learning from the town and made money from selling them as well.
Although the money they made every time was not much, they could be a big fortune if added up.
Normally, she was very industrious and asked other family members to work hard.
Su Jiuyue knew she shouldn't judge her natural mother, but to be honest, her natural mother was not as quite good as her mother-in-law was in household management.
Seeing Su Jiuyue thinking, Liu Cuihua showed a satisfied smile.
She knew Su Jiuyue was clever enough to get her point. If Su Jiuyue could manage the household well by herself, she then would be free from worry.
"If you figure out, then put this bracelet away. Don't let others know." Liu Cuihua pulled the Su Jiuyue's sleeve to cover the bracelet when she was talking.
Su Jiuyue slightly frowned and nodded, "Mom, I see."
That night, the Wu family had another sumptuous dinner served with good rice and even fresh meat.
Although the bacon tasted good, it couldn't compare with the fresh taste.
The smell of meat wafted all over the village, and Dajin, the family who lived next door was lucky enough to share the meat.
"What kind of life Wu family are living? This is a disaster year for all of us but I find they have a better life than before." Guihua stood in the yard, looking up at the other side of the wall.
Dajin was standing beside her, cigarette pipe in his hand.
"Why do you care about others? They share with us when they have meat. It's lucky for us to have such neighbors like them!"
Guihua looked back at him and said, "I don't deny it isn't lucky for us. I'm just curious! We all live our own but I wonder why they live a much better life."
"Then you can go and ask!" said Dajin who then turned to walk into the room.
Guihua stamped her foot angrily and followed into the room.
Replete, they went to sleep after taking a shower. However, different from Wu family's life, numerous people in Xiayang village were struggling for their life.
Early the next morning, when Su Jiuyue got up to sweep the snow, she heard a knock at the door.
"Who's it?" asked she.
"It's me. Genshen's wife," the person outside the door answered.
Till then, Su Jiuyue had almost known all the villagers. Getting the answer, she knew who it is.
But she was still wondering what she came for.
With doubt, she opened the door and asked, "Aunt, what's the matter?"
Genshen's wife didn't expect it was Su Jiuyue, the youngest daughter-in-law of Liu Cuihua, who opened the door for her. She was a bit reserved to talk about her matter with Su Jiuyue.
Then she asked, "Is your mom at home?"
"Yes. Aunt, I'll inform her of your visit."
Before Su Jiuyue informed Liu Cuihua, she had come out after hearing the voice.
Judging by the expression of Genshen's wife, Liu Cuihua had guessed the reason why she came here. Liu Cuihua turned to tell Su Jiuyue, "Little girl, go to the kitchen and look out for range fire."
The firewood stuffed in the kitchen range was enough for burning for a while. There was no need for her to look out for it. Su Jiuyue inferred her mother-in-law wanted her to leave for a further conversation with Genshen's wife.
Su Jiuyue nodded, leaned the broom against the wall and turned into the kitchen.
Then Liu Cuihua turned to Genshen's wife and asked, "Xiuying, what brings you here? Is anything troubling you?"
Xiuying was her original name before she got married. When Liu Cuihua just got married here, they two were pretty close. If Xiuying was in trouble, Liu Cuihua thought she should help her.
Xiuying was ill at ease, keeping pinching her fingers. After a long time, she uttered, "Cuihua, could you..."
Liu Cuihua waited for her unfinished words for a long time but she got nothing. Then Liu Cuihua continued asked, "And what? Go ahead. I and you go way back. Don't stand on ceremony!"
Xiuying bit her lips, lowered her head and finally spoke, "To be honest, the reason why I come here is that I want to borrow some rice from you. I know we all live a tough life this year. If I had another choice, I wouldn't bother you. Do you have spare grain? Can you borrow me some? When we get through this period, I will give you back twice as much."
Liu Cuihua surmised that Xiuying came here to borrow the grain before she spoke. It turned out that she was right.
The fine rice sent by Yi sister was put away by her so Liu Cuihua wouldn't lend that to Xiuying.
Liu Cuihua went to the kitchen to scoop up a big bowl of rice, took it out and handed it to Xiuying. She said, "Rice we have is not very good either, but I think this will be enough for you to eke out for a few days."
Xiuying hadn't eaten rice for almost two months. She stuffed her stomach with sweet potatoes every day. In recent days, she almost ran out of sweet potatoes.
Xiuying nearly cried out when she saw Liu Cuihua lent her a big bowl of rice. She wiped her eyes and said with gratitude, "My good sister, I'll bear your kindness in my heart. When my family gets through this, I will definitely give rice back!"
Xiuying's husband lost a leg some years ago who collected firewood on the mountains but fell into a dead fall. Besides, it took her much effort to let her son marry a wife. Originally, she thought her family's life would get better, but unexpectedly, a disaster year fell on them. Life was tough for her.
Liu Cuihua felt sad about Xiuying and said, "No rush. When you live a better life, then you can give it back. It's not a big deal. We all have a tough life in the disaster year. We got rice because my youngest daughter-in-law helped a distinguished Miss a few days ago who sent us some food in return."
Liu Cuihua mentioned that Miss on purpose. She believed she had to give a proper reason for her family's life without starvation and at the same time outsiders could know Wu family was no push-over because they got in touch with a wealthy family.
Having been a friend with Liu Cuihua, Xiuying knew all the potential meanings of Liu Cuihua's words.
Xiuying believed that what Liu Cuihua hoped for was that she could spread what Liu Cuihua told. It was quite simple for Xiuying as long as she chatted with other villagers on the way. It wouldn't take a long time for all the villagers to know about that.
When Liu Cuihua saw Xiuying off, Su Jiuyue came out of the kitchen. She looked outside and asked, "Mom, did aunt Xiuying come here to borrow the grain?"
Liu Cuihua sighed with a nod, "Well, she does live a hard life. Since we borrowed her rice, I'm afraid more people will do the same thing later!"
Su Jiuyue had the same ideas. Previously, each family was struggling for their living so they were embarrassed to borrow the rice. But things changed now. One of the family turned to live a better life, which urged others to borrow the grain.
Unfortunately, this one here referred to Wu family.
As expected, after lunch, a couple of families came to borrow the grain one after another.
They didn't come back empty-handed as they were lent a bowl of rice not as much as what Xiuying got. Even so, a bowl of rice inspired them with deep gratitude.