Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 101: 101 Su Family

The days on the train were actually the most leisurely time for Su Yuanyuan since she crossed over.

Ever since she crossed over, she had been striving for a living. Although she spent New Year’s Eve of 1958 on the train, it was always just her alone, and she had gotten used to this kind of loneliness. It didn’t feel all that bad.

She was quite relaxed on the train, but Su Daqiang and his family of three were extremely distressed.

Although the firewood at home seemed to be piled up in the woodshed, it was mostly corn leaves, which weren’t very good for burning.

Su Yuanyuan only left a bag of corn kernels, less than ten pounds of cornmeal, and a bag of sorghum for them.

At that time, Su Yuanyuan’s thought was to leave them double. More than that, she didn’t have.

In this cold winter, and it’s already the last month of the year, they’ve just come back, and the grocery store isn’t open anymore either. They really have nothing.

”That jinx must have sold all the food, and you even gave her money.”

Su Daqiang now didn’t even want to deal with Tian Xiaohua anymore. The words that girl said had left a mark on his heart.

Thinking carefully, Tian Xiaohua really was a jinx. After all these years, whenever she wanted to do something, it didn’t end well.

Su Daqiang couldn’t help but think that if it hadn’t been for Tian Xiaohua, his life would have been better now.

Looking at this low clay house, it couldn’t compare to his previous house. He had gotten nothing after being away for two years, and instead, those years only brought exhaustion. The money in his hand grew less and less, and the house became more and more dilapidated.

No more food, nothing left? If it weren’t for her insisting on having a formal job, he wouldn’t have listened to her.

At this point, not even pickled vegetables were left, and they couldn’t just eat porridge.

Su Daqiang had no choice. The Su Family were not locals by descent; they moved here when his father was young. So they had no relatives and had to go find Yang Hongwen.

”Big brother, we can’t get by anymore. There’s only a bag of corn kernels, a bag of sorghum at home, and not even pickles.

I went to the town, but the grocery store isn’t open now, and nothing can be bought. It’s already the 27th day of the last month of the year. So what should we do?”

Yang Hongwen now detested the three members of the Su Family the most.

”I can’t do anything either; it’s not like you can buy supplies just because you have money.”

”Big brother, think of a way. We three have to have at least some vegetables, some salt.”

”I really have no way either. There’s not much salt in our house anymore.”

Xu Chunjiao came in, ”Hey, Da Qiang, your days are hard, but that’s exactly how you left it for your daughter. You only left her a bag of corn kernels.

Da Qiang, what comes around goes around. That girl spent the whole winter by working for others in exchange for some cabbage and radish.

You didn’t even leave a single firewood leaf; she had to go up the mountain to gather firewood herself.”

Su Daqiang felt very embarrassed by her words. Back then, he was excited, and time was pressing, so he forgot many things.

He left the village chief’s house dejectedly. This absolutely wouldn’t work. He could endure anything else, but firewood and salt couldn’t be compromised.

So he went home and called upon the mother and son, and the three of them went to the field to gather firewood. They dared not go up the mountain.

His father’s health used to be very good, but after a wolf bit his leg, he couldn’t do heavy work anymore.

Tian Xiaohua and Su Liangliang also knew the situation at home, so even if they were not happy, they had to work.

They borrowed three baskets from the villagers, and the three of them went to the field with rakes.

Now, what kind of firewood could be found in the field? It was just corn stalk leaves and wild grass.

But that would do. The three of them returned each carrying a basket on their back, only to see someone carrying meat.

”Auntie San, which family slaughtered a pig?”

”Zhao San’s house. If you want to buy meat, go quickly; there’s still quite a bit left.”

The old lady hurried off after speaking. She also heard that Tian Xiaohua was a jinx, especially in this last month of the year. She didn’t want to catch bad luck.

”Da Qiang, we should buy some meat too. We have to eat dumplings, right?”

”Eat what? There’s no flour.” Su Daqiang also wanted to eat meat, but they didn’t even have salt now.

”Dad, I want to eat meat.” In Jiangbei, even during two years, only two pieces of meat were given per person during New Year; nothing more.

Su Daqiang said nothing. He had to go out in the afternoon, at least get some salt, and they had to eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve no matter what.

Forming a cooperative was a matter that was set in stone now. It wouldn’t take long, but they still had to get through this period.

Back at home, they made a fire to cook, but they could only make porridge as there was nothing else to eat.

”That jinx must have sold everything, not even leaving anything for us,” Tian Xiaohua mumbled while drinking porridge.

Hearing her words, Su Daqiang recalled that girl might have been living just like this after he left.

Forget it, no point thinking about it; they were people they wouldn’t have any ties with in the future.

In the afternoon, he went to town again, and again there was nothing. He had to go to the county.

He finally managed to buy a pound of salt, a kerosene lamp, and matches.

Upon returning home, he saw that the mother and son were drinking porridge, and the leftover in the pot wasn’t enough for him to eat.

Tian Xiaohua appeared a bit sheepish when she saw Su Daqiang return.

Su Daqiang held back his anger, waiting for Tian Xiaohua to cook for him again. He was thoroughly disgusted with Tian Xiaohua in his heart.

In the evening, Yang Hongwen’s family ate dinner.

”Dad, I saw Su Daqiang return, so I guess he must have bought salt or something,” Yang Xiushan said while eating.

”Hmph, he deserves it,” Yang Xiubo snorted coldly.

”Yeah, he deserves it. Still, that girl’s kind-hearted. If it were up to me, I’d only leave them a bag of corn kernels and not a single grain more.”

Both Yang Hongwen and his wife nodded, ”That girl is a generous child.

We don’t even know if she’ll come back in the future?” Xu Chunjiao sighed. The girl even left them food when she left. Truly a good child.

”She surely won’t come back. She’s living well on her own, so why come back to find unhappiness? If she stayed at home, who knows what kind of situation she’d be in with Su Daqiang’s family?” Yang Hongwen said.

”Yes, if it were me, I wouldn’t come back either. With that Su Daqiang family, if Yuanyuan really stayed at home, they’d be thinking every day about how to take advantage.”

Once ties are cut, in their eyes, it means nothing. That Liangliang is really not good enough; you three must not associate with him in the future.”

The three boys nodded. These past two years, seeing how Su Yuanyuan lived, they all admired her. They detested those she hated, too.

Besides, they didn’t play with Su Liangliang before. They would even less likely pay him any mind in the future; just looking at him made them feel annoyed.