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

A normal person wouldn't continue at this point, but this guy doesn't seem to be a normal person either. He couldn't tell Bao Ya was being perfunctory and actually wanted to continue the awkward conversation. Even Li Jinxiang couldn't stand it anymore and chimed in:

"I heard from Aunt Pang that the Jiang family has prepared three turns and one sound, thirty-six legs, and the dowry should be no less than two hundred."

Bao Ya frowned. She remembered it very clearly. Could it be that she's got her eye on it?

"My aunt remembers even better than I do. How much dowry does the Shi family plan to give Siya? It can't be less than mine, can it? Don't end up like Daya, who had to pay her way into marriage."

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not talking nonsense. The Shi family hasn't given you any information about the betrothal gifts even after the engagement has been going on for so long. I heard that Ishikawa Sho borrowed money to buy his job and hasn't paid it back yet. If they don't give him money, how will he marry Siya? They've already dug up cornfields."

As she said this, Lin Siya gripped the chopsticks in her hand even tighter, her fingertips turning slightly white. Bao Ya was tearing her face off again, throwing it on the ground and stomping on it. This was never going to end.

Xiang Chunhua was also extremely jealous after hearing her mother-in-law's words. Working in the city, she could barely scrape together 200 yuan by living frugally, but buying the "three turns and one sound" (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) was no joke. It would cost at least six or seven hundred yuan to buy all of them. More importantly, money alone was not enough; you also needed the ration coupons. Each factory only issued a few coupons each year, and you couldn't get them without connections or influence. It seemed that the Jiang family was indeed very wealthy.

Why? Why should a country girl like me get such a good marriage? I only asked for 100 yuan as a bride price back then, and my mother-in-law openly and secretly belittled me.

If Bao Ya could hear her thoughts, she would definitely say: "Because you're ugly."

Just as Xiang Chunhua was about to speak again, there was a noise at the door. It was Lin Lao Er and Lin Lao San returning from the city.

"father!"

"father!"

"Father, Mother, we're back!"

"You're back. How were you? Are you tired?"

"It's alright, not too tiring. I went early today and came back early too."

Bao Ya was a little nervous, afraid that Granny Lin would take out the steamed bun with the added substance. She needed to hurry to the barefoot doctor to get some more antidiarrheal medicine. Looking at her father, who was about to be accidentally injured, Bao Ya felt a little guilty.

"Take a break, third son's wife, go and make something to eat for second and third sons."

Old Man Lin gave his instructions solicitously. He even stopped the old lady from asking her son for money. He then turned and went inside to get the grain.

"Okay, sure." Su Ruyi quickly finished the last few bites of rice in her bowl and waited at the door.

Granny Lin used a gourd ladle to scoop out a bowl of cornmeal and handed it to Su Ruyi.

Huh? No steamed buns? She overestimated Granny Lin's maternal love; she didn't even bother pretending. Was this old lady going to save one steamed bun for herself? Wouldn't it be a problem to eat so many?

Bao Ya was feeling annoyed, so she blurted it out:

"Wait, this is all we get to eat? Where are the steamed buns? Is this what my dad eats after working all day?"

People are still around, if we don't cause trouble now, when will we?

Zhang Laidi nervously wrung her hands, her eyes furtively glancing at Bao Ya. "Isn't it better if we don't have her? Why do we have to?"

"If we don't eat this, what will we eat? Do you want to eat dragon liver and phoenix gall?" The old lady protested, her face turning as black as if it were about to drip water.

"How come my eldest uncle's family gets to eat white flour, while my father and second uncle go out to earn money but don't get to eat? Grandpa, isn't this too unfair?"

The old man wasn't happy about being accused of favoritism in public; it was a challenge to his authority. But with his two sons watching, he couldn't exactly get angry.

"Baoya, there's no time to make dough and steam buns now. Look how hungry your dad and the others have been all day. Let them eat first, and we'll make them something better later."

Old Man Lin suppressed his impatience and explained.

"Going back to fix it again, this 'going back' could take years. What if my dad's grave is overgrown with weeds by then and he still can't afford a steamed bun?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? This is how we've always eaten. Why are you making such a fuss at home?"

"Have you been mistreating my father like this all this time? Why is it that when Lin Xiaoquan comes back, he gets all the good food and drink, but my father and second uncle can't even eat anything decent when they go out to work and support the family? The eldest son's family are landlords and rich people, while we, the second and third sons' families, are just farmhands and servants, right?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? You want to get us killed." Hearing this, the eldest son's family members couldn't sit still anymore.

"Then how do you explain that those who do the work get the worst pay, while those who don't work get the best?"

"Xiaoquan is a city worker, what's your dad? You want to eat well? Why doesn't your dad just fly to the moon?"

Granny Lin said to Bao Ya with a sneer. "That brat never stops. All my grandsons are here today; I can't let her get away with this."

"If you give my dad wings, he can fly; if you can't, it's because you're incompetent. What, you even look down on your own son? Or are you saying that only your eldest uncle is your biological son, and my dad and second uncle were adopted?"

Old Man Lin suppressed his impatience and continued to persuade him:

"Bao Ya, it's not that I don't want to give it to your father, it's just that there's no time to make it now, why are you so fussy?"

The old man quickly stepped in to put out the fire; if the old woman continued, his sons would have even more objections. He knew that his second and third sons were considering dividing the family property, but now was not the time.

"Those who take advantage always tell others to be generous and not to fuss. Grandpa, don't you think so? We farmers work hard all year round just to eat, how can you say we're fussy? Besides, Lin Xiaoquan's job was bought with public funds, how can it be his own achievement? Our second and third wives also have a share, there's no reason for them to eat all the food."

"What nonsense are you talking about? What job did you buy it for? If you don't know, don't spout nonsense!"

Hearing her say that, Lin Xiaoquan couldn't help but speak up.

Bao Ya wasn't going to back down either, and continued to retort:

"I don't understand? But I have a mouth. Why don't we go to your factory together tomorrow and ask why they gave you a job for no reason?"

"you……"

"What? You're scared now? Pfft!"

Grandpa, if you don't have time to make steamed buns, you can make noodles or dumplings. If all else fails, there's always dried noodles, right? I've seen Grandma collect dried noodles, but I've never seen her eat them. How can they possibly keep them to produce offspring?

Lin Lao Er wanted to say a few words of advice, but he shut up after hearing what Lin Lao Tai said. He knew that he was not liked by the old lady, but he also felt uncomfortable listening to his mother's words. So when he saw the look that his parents were giving him, he looked away.

Lin Laosan thought much more simply. His daughter cared about him, so he had no reason to undermine her. He was always ready to help her out.

"Xiaoquan, your job was originally bought by the family. Why are you denying it now? Are you trying to keep it all for yourself? That won't do. We haven't separated the family yet. Even if we do, one-third of the job is still mine. Dad, I need to go to work for a few days too. What if Xiaoquan doesn't acknowledge it later?"

Old Man Lin: "You..."

"That's right. My dad is still young and clever. He's much more considerate in his words and actions than my uncle's family. It's better to let my dad go."

Old Man Lin was so angry that he couldn't speak.

"Go cook!" Old Mrs. Lin yelled at Su Ruyi.