novellhall Chapter 5 has a son born in the Year of the Dog.
Chapter 5 has a son born in the Year of the Dog.
The villagers, always eager for a good show, shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Liu Huying, you should really have some decency! Aren't you afraid of retribution when you're old for bullying your daughter-in-law like this!"
"Qiao An gave birth to a son for your family, and you still treat her like this? Do you think you can let her off the hook when Huo Lao Er comes back?"
"If I were you, I would give her the money as soon as possible, so as not to cause trouble for myself."
These people kept talking, and Liu Huying's face turned a deep purplish-red.
Of course, she wouldn't dare let Qiao An send a telegram to Huo Jiyun. Of her three sons, the second son earned the most, and she and Huo Shoutian would have to rely on him when they got old.
After weighing the pros and cons, Liu Huying decided to give her the money first. As long as Huo Jiyun didn't send a telegram, he would continue to send them money every month.
Qiao An was illiterate, and she didn't know how Huo Jiyu would write it.
"Okay, I'll give you the money. Your second son is so busy in the Northwest, don't let him worry about such a small thing at home."
After Liu Huying finished speaking, she looked at Huo Jiyu and said, "Go inside and get 200."
Wang Shuyun watched with a sullen face as her husband obediently went back into the house to get the money, and she was furious.
Huo Jiyu was the youngest son in the family and was already pampered. After Wang Shuyun entered the family, she gave birth to two more children in three years, both sons.
Liu Huying took special care of their family, and most of the money Huo Jiyun sent went into their pockets.
As soon as Huo Jiyu returned to the room, Shen Xiufang, who was sitting on the ground, was practically spitting fire in her eyes.
That damned old woman, and the third son's family, they're making a fool of them!
Liu Huying also turned around and went back into the house.
Not long after, she and Huo Jiyu returned to the courtyard. Liu Huying took the money from his hand and counted it three times.
"You counted carefully, there are 240 in total, not a penny less."
Joanne smiled and put it away. "I have one more thing."
She turned around and said, "Secretary Tian, I would like to ask you to be my witness today. Our second branch of the family separated four years ago. Huo Jiyun let me live with my in-laws because she was afraid that I would suffer. Now that the children have grown up, I will not trouble them anymore."
"Isn't there an abandoned mud house at the east end of our village? I'll move there with my children."
Tian Yongfu immediately understood that Qiao An was trying to completely cut off Huo Jiyun's money to the Huo family.
"No!"
"No!"
Liu Huying and Wang Shuyun spoke almost simultaneously, their tone urgent.
"Why not?" Joanne retorted.
Liu Huying was sweating profusely, but didn't know what to say.
On the other side, Wang Shuyun's eyes darted around, "Second sister-in-law, you're uneducated and clumsy, how can you take care of two children by yourself?"
"If Huo Chen and Huo Ning went to live with you, wouldn't they starve to death?"
Huo Chen, who was standing behind Qiao An, immediately turned pale.
Auntie was right. Qiao An had never cooked for them. Sometimes when the two of them complained of being hungry at night, Qiao An would give them cold water, which is why Huo Ning sometimes still has stomach aches.
Last winter, when he was just old enough to remember things, the temperature suddenly dropped, and Joan didn't even bother to find them blankets.
In the end, he had to beg his grandmother, and she finally gave him two quilts, the cotton of which was almost crumpled into clumps.
If he really went to live with Joan, it would be questionable whether he and his sister could survive the winter.
"My sister and I want to nurse..." Huo Chen was interrupted by Qiao An halfway through his sentence.
"So the reason I couldn't feed them was because I didn't have money? You guys, on the other hand, have money, 20 a month."
"Come, everyone, look at the ragged clothes my children are wearing! Their toes and hands are covered in chilblains! My daughter and son are so hungry they're unrecognizable!"
"If you hadn't taken advantage of my illiteracy and embezzled all my man's money, would I be unable to raise my child?"
Wang Shuyun shrank back and hid behind.
The second son's wife has a bright future, and she can't argue with her.
Liu Huying only knows how to curse; she becomes quiet and withdrawn when it comes to reasoning.
Shen Xiufang is usually quick-witted, but now that she's glaring fiercely at Liu Huying, she's even less likely to speak up for her.
In the end, Joan separated from them completely.
Not only that, they also took two chickens with them.
Liu Huying clutched her chest in distress.
But in front of the village secretary and so many villagers, she couldn't say anything.
Two hours later.
Qiao An led Huo Chen and Huo Ning out the door.
She had a chicken in her left hand and a chicken in her right hand, and a bundle on her back.
An adult and two children walked on the edge of the field, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.
Huo Chen, holding Huo Ning's hand, walked forward woodenly.
He seemed to have already seen his and his sister's future.
What are we going to do now?
Are they going to die before they've even grown up?
The mud house at the east end of the village that Qiao An mentioned originally belonged to a landlord. Later, the landlord was criticized and struggled against, and the whole family died. No one lived in the house anymore because they thought it was bad luck.
She had no reservations; she had already died once, so what was there to be afraid of?
The original owner had almost no luggage.
The small bundle contained a few pieces of clothing and shoes, three bowls, three pairs of chopsticks, and a washbasin.
Upon arriving at the earthen house, Qiao An first put the two chickens in the side room and locked them up.
Then we went into the main house.
The room was fully furnished, but covered in a thick layer of dust.
It was also thanks to the villagers' superstition that they dared not take such fine wooden furniture, which allowed Qiao An to benefit from it.
Huo Chen and Huo Ning stood in the room, at a loss.
Joanne turned her head and glanced at them.
Huo Ning immediately hid behind Huo Chen, his shoulders trembling.
Huo Chen clenched his two small fists, trying his best to appear less afraid.
Ugh......
The sins committed by the original owner must be redeemed by her.
These days are just too hard.
"You two go stand outside."
Upon hearing this, Huo Chen didn't dare to breathe and quickly pulled Huo Ning out.
Very good!
They didn't hit anyone; they just made them stand as punishment. It was early autumn, and even if they stood there all night, they wouldn't freeze to death.
After kicking the two children out, Joan rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
The house is so dirty that it's impossible for anyone to live there.
There's a water pump in the yard, it looks like it hasn't been used in a long time, I don't know if there's any water left.
Joan tried it, sweating profusely, and finally heard the "splashing" sound of water.
After filling a basin with water and returning to the house, Qiao An began her frantic housework mode.
I wiped all the furniture in the house inside and out three times.
They even mopped the floor twice.
Seeing the newly renovated room, Joan clapped her hands.
Then I turned my head again.
The moon is already hanging on the treetops.
But the next second, she froze.
Huo Chen and Huo Ning, the two children, were leaning against each other, looking as if they might collapse at any moment.
Joan suddenly remembered that it seemed like the two of them hadn't even moved from their seats.
Could it be...?
Have you been standing there for the past few hours?
"What are you two doing standing here?"
Qiao An ran out and found that Huo Ning's legs were shaking.
She tried to lift Huo Ning up and take her back into the house, but Huo Chen grabbed her leg instead.
"You're not allowed to hit your sister! Hit me instead!"
"Put her down! Put her down!"
"Bad woman!! Bad woman!"
As Qiao An was wondering what was going on, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her outer thigh, making her gasp.
"--hiss!"
Looking down, she saw Huo Chen's face contorted in a ferocious grimace as he bit her thigh.
"You little brat, are you a dog or something?"
Although Qiao An said that, she actually felt a little sour inside.
Every time the original owner hit Huo Ning, Huo Chen would try to provoke her and transfer the anger onto himself so that his sister wouldn't be hit.
Such a good kid, if he hadn't been spoiled by Mu Yu, how could he have become a gang leader, and how could he have been shot?