Chapter 7: Little Grey Dog and the Cold of Winter

The northern winter was extremely cold. Lin Yue had been here for almost a month, and she hadn’t gone out much, only sneaking out a few times at night.

There was no farm work in winter, so everyone stayed at home.

After the aunts and elder sisters visited Lin Yue and her children, they all had a good impression of her and often came over to chat, needles and thread in hand.

They claimed to be chatting, but they were actually there to take care of Lin Yue and her two children.

They would help with tasks that a new mother couldn’t do, as long as it wasn’t too much trouble.

When the babies needed to be fed, they would tell the other women present to help heat the goat’s milk.

When they saw that the water jar was empty, after the aunts went home, they would simply give a word, and a young boy would come over in the evening to help fill the water jar.

The previous owner, Lin Yue, didn’t like socializing, so people didn’t interact with her much. Some people actually believed Sun Hongmei’s words and thought Lin Yue was clueless.

However, after spending more time together, they discovered that Lin Yue’s personality was nothing like what her mother-in-law had described. Although she had changed a lot, no one thought anything else. They just assumed that she had just given birth and had been close to death, so she had become more insightful.

Seeing that no one questioned her change, Lin Yue felt relieved.

Lin Yue was very grateful for everyone’s help.

She wanted to repay them, but she couldn’t explain where the vegetables from her space came from. So, she often fried peanuts and soybeans and placed them on the kang for the aunts to snack on when they came over.

She also secretly added spiritual spring water to the water, diluting it several times before daring to offer it to everyone.

Zhang Dalian saw Lin Yue bring out another plate of peanuts and concluded that she was a spendthrift. She started nagging, “Little Yue, the New Year is coming soon. You should save the peanuts for the New Year. Don’t waste them on us.

The soybeans you fried are very good. We can just munch on those.”

Peanuts weren’t grown much in the brigade, so they were considered a rare treat. Most families wouldn’t dare to eat them. They would save them to exchange for some coarse grains or use them to entertain guests during the New Year.

“That’s right, Lin Yue, you’re too generous. We come over to chat every day, why are you being so polite? There’s no need to entertain us.”

Jin Ajie scratched her scalp with the sewing needle in her hand. Although she said that, she quickly put most of the peanuts in her pocket.

Lin Yue smiled and said, “I planted a lot of peanuts in the vegetable patch before. My house is close to the vegetable patch, and I often go there to water them, so I harvested a lot.

I can’t eat that much by myself, so I’m giving some to the aunts to snack on.”

The original owner’s private plot was near her house. Before, few people came here, and no one had seen her vegetable garden. Now, Lin Yue could say whatever she wanted.

“Oh, your sewing is terrible. Children’s skin is delicate, and the stitches should be sewn on the outside so they don’t chafe.”

Jin Ajie, having gotten her share of the peanuts, became very enthusiastic. She reached out to take the needle and thread from Lin Yue’s hand to teach her how to sew.

Despite her weathered appearance, Jin Ajie was only in her early thirties, not much older than Lin Yue in her previous life.

She had no in-laws or brothers to help her, and she had two young sons to support. Her life was very difficult.

Although she loved to take advantage of small favors, she was diligent, capable, and also kind-hearted.

Lin Yue knew she was taking advantage of her generosity and felt a little uncomfortable, so she let her take the clothes and stood beside her, listening to her explanation.

Jin Ajie taught Lin Yue how to sew while sighing, “Your children are about to leave confinement, and they don’t even have a decent piece of clothing.

Your mother-in-law doesn’t help you with anything, and she makes you, who is still in confinement, do needlework.

She’s truly heartless.”

She then laughed sarcastically, “But you can’t expect anything from her. Your grandchildren are about to leave confinement, but their grandmother, besides coming over to cause a scene last time, hasn’t come to see them once, let alone send over anything.

I don’t know what she and Zhang Zhiwei are thinking. They don’t treat Huigouzi like their son at all.”

Huigouzi was Zhang Yuandong’s nickname, and Lin Yue felt awkward no matter how many times she heard it.

When it came to Zhang Yuandong’s past, almost everyone in the village could gossip about it.

Little Grey Dog had a very bad childhood. Zhang Zhiwei and Sun Hongmei didn’t like their eldest son. The villagers’ impression of him was that he had long, messy hair that almost covered half his face, his clothes were always old and torn, and he was thin and short until he was in his teens, looking malnourished.

Although Little Grey Dog had no parents to care for him, he did a lot of chores around the house. He had to help with work even before he was as tall as an adult’s leg. Later, he was responsible for things like collecting firewood, fetching water, and washing clothes.

Children without a mother’s love are often bullied from a young age. Even children younger than him would bully him.

However, after he turned eight, he was never bullied again. He was a fierce fighter and quickly became the leader among the children. No one dared to provoke him anymore.

Many people in the village felt sorry for him and took care of him.

With the help of his uncle, he was able to grow up safely.

Little Grey Dog knew how to be grateful and often helped out at other people’s homes.

Sun Hongmei would often beat and scold him for this.

He would be beaten for helping other people, and he would be beaten for accepting a bite of food or a piece of clothing from others.

In 1955, The army came to the village to recruit soldiers.

The villagers had all experienced war and didn’t want their children to risk their lives.

Sun Hongmei was the first to respond, determined to send Little Grey Dog to the army.

That year, Little Grey Dog was only 16 years old, thin and small. The brigade leader, Zhang Zhiqiang, felt sorry for him and wanted to persuade Sun Hongmei, but she bypassed the village and secretly registered him.

The recruiter thought the name was too unpleasant and wanted to give the boy a new name.

Sun Hongmei said, “I’m uneducated, but I think this name is good.

They say a bad name is easy to raise. I think it’s absolutely true. Look at my Huigouzi, how strong he is.”

Many years later, her words were still circulating in the village.

Zhang Zhiqiang couldn’t stand it anymore. He asked his eldest son, who was studying in the city, to ask a teacher at his school to give Zhang Huigou his current name.

When Lin Yue heard about this, she didn’t know how to feel.

In this era, there were many evil mothers-in-law who tormented their daughters-in-law, but it was rare to see someone tormenting their own son like this.

If they didn’t like children, they were incredibly good to their three younger children.

Seeing the expression on Lin Yue’s face, Jin Ajie awkwardly laughed, “I’m just used to hearing your in-laws call him that. I just blurted it out.

Don’t take it to heart, niece-in-law.”

She then added, “But your husband is a capable man. Look at your mother-in-law’s house. They’ve expanded it, and they’re living a good life now. It’s all thanks to Huigouzi! Look at how many people from our village went to the army, but most of them came back after a couple of years. He’s the only one who managed to stay in the army, and his allowance keeps increasing every year.

Although your mother-in-law is heartless, at least you’ve separated. Your life will definitely get better and better in the future!”

Lin Yue smiled. She didn’t think that separating would allow her to escape her two in-laws.

Zhang Dalian heard Jin Ajie say so many bad things about Sun Hongmei, but she didn’t agree with a single word. She changed the subject, “Have you decided on names for your two babies? They’re almost out of confinement. At least give them a nickname.”

Lin Yue smiled, “You keep urging me, how could I dare to delay?

I’ve decided. The boy will be called Zhang Lingshan, and the girl will be called Zhang Linghan.”

Jin Ajie asked, “Shouldn’t they be in the ‘Xian’ generation? Why didn’t you follow the family name for the boy?”

Lin Yue smiled and didn’t answer. Zhang Xian sounded nice, but adding another character didn’t sound as good.

The Zhang family in Tian Da Village were all from the same lineage. Most boys were named according to their generation, but there were also some who were named randomly, just not many.

Zhang Dalian repeated the names in her mouth, “It’s not a big deal to not follow the generation name, but their father’s name is also different. And these two children’s names sound so similar. I’m afraid some people in the village will have something to say.

Change one. Don’t let people gossip.”

Lin Yue thought about it and realized that it did seem like she was trying to create a separate lineage. She offered another name, “What about Zhang Wanli for the eldest? Actually, I wanted to wait for their father to name them, but I’m afraid he won’t like the names I chose.”

Jin Ajie laughed and said, “The Long March was 25,000 miles, Zhang Wanli is good. It’s a reminder of the hardships and sweetness.”

Little Wanli and Lingling were growing fast. Their features were already developing, and their faces were chubby, no longer wrinkled like when they were born. The two babies weren’t sleeping all the time anymore. Both of them were awake now, not crying, just staring around with their bright black eyes and kicking their little hands and feet.

Lin Yue placed her two babies on their stomachs so they could practice lifting their heads.

The few of them chatted and played with the babies. The slight resentment they had towards Zhang Yuandong quickly dissipated.

Zhang Dalian didn’t go back with Jin Ajie. After they left, she told Lin Yue about Sun Hongmei again.

“Don’t blame your mother-in-law for being heartless. She has her reasons.

We all saw how she treated Huigouzi, but the elders in the village never said anything about it. It’s because she’s also had a hard life.”

Lin Yue heard this and knew there was gossip coming. She immediately perked up her ears and looked at Zhang Dalian with bright eyes.

Seeing her like this, Zhang Dalian slapped her back, “What are you trying to get out of me? She’s your mother-in-law, how could I tell you bad things about her? You’re really daring to think that!”

Lin Yue, after being slapped, sat up properly and asked unwillingly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to tell me how hard my mother-in-law’s life was? I didn’t want to hear anything else!”

Zhang Dalian said, “Yes, and I’ve finished saying it.”

After thinking for a moment, she added, “I’m not telling you this to persuade you to be good to your mother-in-law.

Whether she’s pitiful or not is not your fault, and it’s not an excuse for her to torment her daughter-in-law.

I’m not one of those old-fashioned people who think that a daughter-in-law can’t complain about her mother-in-law. You need to find the right way to do it so that people don’t think you’re disrespectful.

Like last time, you were lucky that Liu Jinfeng was making a fuss and covering for you. Otherwise, you would have been drowned in people’s spittle for daring to fight back against your mother-in-law!”

Wang Xiuxiang had said similar things a few days ago. Lin Yue knew that Zhang Dalian was genuinely concerned about her.

She pretended to be receptive to advice and quickly nodded in agreement.