Upon hearing this, Zhao Datian was visibly conflicted.

As Wang Qingsong had said, the families who had moved into the house all claimed it was haunted, but none of them had actually encountered any real trouble.

He then looked up at Wang Qingsong and asked, “Are you sure about this? Think carefully. Once you make this decision, there’s no going back.”

Wang Qingsong smiled indifferently. “Third Grandpa, don’t worry. I don’t do things I’m not sure about. Think about it—my second brother gives me five yuan almost every month, and my eldest brother sometimes helps me out too. If things really get tough, I can always go back and apologize. Do you think Sun Xiuhe would really give up that five yuan?”

Over the past three months, Wang Qingsong had racked his brains to prepare for every possible scenario.

This included what to do if his second brother stopped sending him money.

He had a fixed ration, so he could save a bit from the food he got from the canteen every day and sell it. He could use the high price of grain to save some money.

Although cooked food was cheaper than raw ingredients, it wasn’t by much.

From his monthly ration of 32 catties, he could set aside five catties, which would be enough for his school expenses and daily needs.

Life would be a bit harder, but it would be worth it.

Once he got into technical school, the monthly subsidy of nine yuan and the ration would be enough to live on.

Hearing this, Zhao Datian’s eyes lit up. “Ah, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders! If things really get tough, Sun Xiuhe would have to take you back for the sake of that five yuan, right? That’s sixty yuan a year!”

Not to mention during these difficult times.

Even in the past, a family working for a year would be lucky to save a few dozen yuan. Most families ended up owing money to the production team by the end of the year.

This plan was indeed feasible.

“Right, Third Grandpa! I think it’s doable. Even if Sun Xiuhe refuses, I can give the money to someone in the village. Whoever is willing to take care of my sister can have the money.”

Go back?

Even if he starved to death, he wouldn’t go back.

At worst, he could swallow his pride and go to his second brother.

His second brother wouldn’t let him die, would he?

But for the sake of his second brother’s peace, he didn’t want to go to him unless absolutely necessary.

He had already sacrificed too much for this.

Food was scarce in the city too.

It was only because his second brother had a wealthy father-in-law that he could help them out. Otherwise, the five yuan a month would have caused chaos at home.

He was well aware of that.

Zhao Datian remained silent, deep in thought.

After a long while, he finally nodded. “Alright, if you’ve thought it through, I’ll help you with it. I’ll call some elders from the team to witness the division. But the house isn’t repaired yet. Where will you live?”

Hearing this, Wang Qingsong was overjoyed.

“Ah, thank you, Third Grandpa! I’ll leave it to you then. Don’t worry, I’ve already figured out where to live. But… you’ll have to talk to Sun Xiuhe. I’m not going back. If this doesn’t work out, my sister and I will just sleep here!”

At the end, he started acting shamelessly again.

Zhao Datian shook his head helplessly and pointed at him. “You little rascal… Fine, I’ll go take a look. I’ll let you know if there’s any news.”

With that, he finished the porridge in his bowl, stood up, and prepared to leave.

“Ah, great! Thank you, Third Grandpa.”

Wang Qingsong thanked him happily.

Zhao Datian waved without looking back and left.

After he was gone, Wang Qingsong turned to the others in the room and smiled. “Third Grandma, can Xiaomai stay here for a bit? I’m going to Widow Feng’s place. I’ll be back soon.”

Li Guizhi was puzzled. “What are you going there for?”

A widow’s reputation was always a sensitive matter.

Wang Qingsong was already fifteen. In the past, that would have been old enough to marry. Even now, if it weren’t for school and his mother’s early death, he would have been looking for a wife in a couple of years.

“Third Grandma, don’t ask too much. I need to talk to her about something.”

Hearing this, Li Guizhi didn’t press further.

She smiled and nodded. “Alright, go ahead. Xiaomai can stay here. Don’t worry.”

“Great, I’ll head over then. Xiaomai, stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

Wang Qingsong comforted his anxious younger sister and then left.

Zhao Datian had gone to talk to Sun Xiuhe, and it would probably take a while. She was a tough nut to crack.

But Wang Qingsong believed that as long as Zhao Datian stood firm, the family division would happen today. He could wait.

As for why he was going to Widow Feng’s place, there was a reason.

Widow Feng was both pitiable and formidable.

After her husband passed away, she lived with her daughter.

She was also quite beautiful, and there had been men in the village who had their eyes on her.

But after one incident, no one dared to mess with her anymore.

A few years ago, a local troublemaker named Wang Laizi set his sights on her, using both soft and hard tactics to try to take advantage of her.

If he had wanted to marry her, it might have been negotiable.

But he only wanted to take advantage of her and didn’t want to marry her because she was a widow with a daughter.

Since she had no relatives in the village, few people stood up for her.

If she was bullied, she was bullied.

But one day during a midday break from farm work, Widow Feng ran out of the cornfield, disheveled and screaming that Wang Laizi had tried to rape her.

When everyone rushed to the cornfield, they found Wang Laizi naked, clutching his lower body, howling in pain.

At the sight, the men in the village instinctively clenched their legs.

This woman was not to be trifled with.

But that wasn’t all.

Widow Feng took the matter to the brigade, the commune, and even the county, threatening to go to the city if necessary.

She managed to get Wang Laizi executed.

After that, no man in the village dared to have any improper thoughts about her, and even those who genuinely wanted to marry her gave up.

Not only was she formidable, but her daughter was also fierce. Once, Wang Laizi had been chased by her daughter, Xiaozao, with a knife.

Wang Qingsong was going to Widow Feng to temporarily settle his younger sister.

After all, he would be going to the city for school after the New Year.

With someone like her looking after his sister, he felt reassured.

The only question was whether he could convince her.

But he had some confidence he could.

Because Widow Feng was sick and couldn’t afford treatment. The reason was that she had given most of her food rations to her daughter.

Due to long-term malnutrition, she was bedridden.

Soybeans could be prescribed at the hospital.

But at the very least, he would have to go to the county hospital, and even then, it wasn’t guaranteed. To be safe, he would need to go to a big hospital in the city.

His sister’s malnutrition was severe, so he planned to take her to see a doctor.

At the very least, he could get some brown sugar and eggs, or even just soybeans.

As for why she couldn’t afford treatment, it was because of the food shortages. In recent years, ordinary city folk had been drained of their savings trying to feed their families.

And rural people had it even worse.