Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

The villagers whispered among themselves as Tang Susu, holding Yang Xiaobao's hand, went to Yang Ersha's house to offer her congratulations.

In the courtyard, Ersha's parents were welcoming guests and handing out wedding cakes, made of cornmeal with a red center, which looked very festive.

Inside the room, Shen Cuihe sat quietly on the edge of the bed, while Yang Ersha stared blankly, his face flushed. When he saw her come in, he stammered, "Third Aunt, you're here."

He pulled Shen Cuihe over and introduced her shyly: "Cuihe, this is Yang's third aunt, Tang Susu. Third aunt, this is my wife, Shen Cuihe."

His face was as dark red as a roasted sweet potato, and he didn't dare to lift his head.

Shen Cuihe looked up, her smile freezing instantly, and she murmured softly, "Third Aunt."

His eyes darted away, and his expression was extremely unnatural.

Tang Susu handed over three feet of homespun cloth: "Cuihe, there's nothing good in this famine year, but this cloth can be used to make shoe uppers, don't be disgusted by it."

He added, "May the young couple live well and have a son soon."

After saying that, he took Yang Xiaobao's hand and left.

Xiao Bao clutched the wedding cake, took a small bite, smiled with narrowed eyes, and wrapped it up with a handkerchief: "Mom, save it for my older brother, Gou Sheng. He kept sighing secretly today."

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She wondered, "Why didn't Aunt Cuihe choose the eldest brother, who's more handsome than Uncle Ersha?"

Tang Susu said calmly, "Because Shen Cuihe looks down on your older brother."

"If you truly like someone, you won't be picky. You only nitpick when you don't like them. When you choose a wife in the future, keep your eyes open and don't be blind like your older brother."

Xiao Bao frowned and retorted, "But Aunt Cuihe is beautiful, it's normal for Big Brother to like her!"

Tang Susu shook her head helplessly and sighed inwardly: Men, regardless of age, always judge by appearance first.

When they arrived at Yang Houcai's house, the courtyard was unusually deserted. The guests left in a hurry with grim faces shortly after entering the house.

As soon as they entered, they heard Yang Houcai cursing, "The grain is almost gone, and he insists on getting married now! Every extra mouth to feed means more expenses!"

He pointed at Houcai's wife: "It's all because you're so unreasonable! I originally planned to do this after the grain was collected, but you insisted on coming now!"

He then complained about his new daughter-in-law: "She's as skinny as a monkey, what kind of heavy work can she do!"

Enraged by the scolding, Houcai's wife slammed down the plate and retorted sharply, "I'm ignorant? When have I ever held a grudge about your secret rendezvous with Widow Lan?"

"You've been idle since you were a child; you don't deserve to be a father at all!"

She gritted her teeth: "Since you think the new bride is a burden, then let Tieqiao and Cui'er separate from the family. There's a dilapidated house here; it'll be enough for them to live in!"

The new bride, Tieqiao, turned pale with fright and was about to speak when Yang Tieqiao stopped her.

He stepped forward, his tone resolute: "If Father thinks Cui'er is a burden, then Cui'er and I will separate and live separately. You won't need to worry about me anymore!"

Yang Houcai trembled with rage: "I haven't had anything to do with the Lan family for a long time, but your mother is still clinging to the past!"

"You can divide the family property, but you won't get a single piece of land. Even if you starve to death outside, don't come back begging me!"

"I'll leave with the shovel! There's no place for me in this house anymore!" Hou Cai's wife said firmly.

Ten-year-old Yang Tiegun grabbed her clothes and cried, "Mother, I'll go with you and my older brother, I won't stay here with Father!"

The two daughters joined in, their voices soft but firm: "Mother, we'll go with you too!"

With tears in her eyes, Houcai's wife asked, "After the family splits up, we'll have no land, no food, and we'll live in a dilapidated mud house. Life will be very hard. Are you really willing to do that?"

The children answered in unison, "We're willing! With Mom, we're not afraid of any hardship!"

Yang Houcai was furious. He slammed the low stool down and overturned the wedding cakes on the table.

The cakes fell to the ground, covered in dust, and all the joy was gone. The happy occasion was completely ruined into a family separation farce.

The news quickly spread throughout Yangqu Village.

Finally, Houcai's wife, carrying a shovel, an iron rod, and her two daughters, moved into the dilapidated mud house of the Yang family empty-handed, leaving all the furniture and belongings to Yang Houcai.

After delivering the congratulatory gift, Tang Susu made a special detour to hand three feet of homespun cloth to the new bride, Tie Qiao, and asked Hou Cai's wife, "Sister-in-law, without land or food, how will you survive?"

Hou Cai's wife had a firm look in her eyes and a cold tone: "Don't worry, Su Su. The work in the fields has always been done by me and the children. Now that we're gone, if Yang Hou Cai wants to harvest the grain, he'll have to come back and beg us sooner or later."

"We, a mother and her children, are all healthy and strong; no matter how hard life gets, we won't starve!"

Yang Tiegun suddenly spoke up: "Mother, a few days ago I saw Lan Shi lingering in the backyard of the original courtyard. I'm afraid she's having another secret rendezvous with Father."

Suppressing her anger, Houcai's wife instructed the children, "If he can change his ways and stop associating with the Lan family, then you can acknowledge him as your father; if he continues his absurd behavior, then pretend he doesn't have a father!"

She took Cui'er's hand again and said guiltily, "Cui'er, I'm sorry to have wronged you. You've only been married into the family and you're already suffering."

Cui'er quickly shook her head and said with a smile, "Mother, it's alright, let's tidy up the house together!"

The family immediately divided the work and got to work.

When Tang Susu returned home, her neighbor, Aunt Liu, immediately came over and whispered, "Susu, Houcai's family just left, and Lan shamelessly barged into the Yang family's house. She's utterly shameless!"

"Last time Yang Houcai was critically ill, she wouldn't even bring him a sip of water, but now she's quick to do it!"

Tang Susu sneered: "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Yang Houcai has always been like this."

"But this is good too. At least Houcai's wife can finally have a few comfortable days and doesn't have to suffer anymore."

She paused, then continued, "I'm just worried that Yang Houcai is shameless and will drag them down in the future. If Yang Tieqiao doesn't care about him then, the old folks in the village will scold him for being unfilial."

As she was about to go to work in the yard, Aunt Liu quickly grabbed her, her face full of expectation: "Sister Su, I have a favor to ask of you. Can you let my son, Xiaoyuer, study with Tang Chengyu and learn to read? I'm willing to pay tuition; I promise you won't be shortchanged!"

At that moment, Tang Chengyu was feeding the puppies in the yard when he heard the noise and looked up.

Tang Susu called out to him, "Chengyu, come here for a second."

As he approached, Tang Susu smiled and said, "Aunt Liu wants Xiaoyuer to study with you, but I can't make that decision. It's up to you."

Aunt Liu immediately put on a smile and pleaded with Tang Chengyu, "Chengyu, please, let Xiaoyuer come with us. We promise to study hard and won't cause any trouble!"

Tang Chengyu readily nodded: "Auntie, you're too kind. Let Xiaoyuer come over tomorrow, bring a stool to listen to the lesson, and there's no need to pay tuition."

Aunt Liu looked embarrassed: "Chengyu, my family didn't harvest any grain this year, and we don't have much left over. We can't afford a decent tuition fee. How about we have Xiaoyu'er's father send some more firewood as tuition? Is that alright?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Old Mrs. Deng walked in through the door. She was in her seventies or eighties, with a full head of white hair, but she walked steadily.

She took out a small cloth bag from her bosom and stuffed thirty copper coins into Tang Chengyu's hand: "Chengyu, I heard you teach children to read; you're a good boy."

"The tuition fees for private schools on the street are too expensive, and this old woman can't afford them. I only ask that my grandson, Xiao Mao, learn a few words so that he won't be cheated. Please accept these copper coins as tuition fees."

After saying that, without waiting for Tang Chengyu to refuse, he turned around and slowly walked away.

Seeing this, Aunt Liu quickly said, "Chengyu, you just wait!"

He turned and ran, and soon arrived with four bundles of firewood on his back. He put them down and ran off quickly, afraid that the Tang family wouldn't accept them.

Tang Susu looked at the copper coin in Tang Chengyu's hand, then at the dry firewood in the yard, her expression slightly dazed.

Memories of my childhood in Xihe Village flooded my mind—back then, the old teacher never accepted tuition fees, and the villagers remembered this kindness and spontaneously sent him firewood, homespun cloth, chicken and duck eggs, all of which were worthless but full of goodwill.

The old gentleman saved every penny to run his private school for decades, teaching batches of children to read and write.

Now that the old man is old and his health is not as good as before, he has long since stopped teaching. Fortunately, his son has taken over the responsibility and continues to teach children in Xihe Village, passing on this spirit of dedication.