Chapter 9: I Can Afford to Support You and Your Mother

A dreamless night passed.

When Su Miaomiao woke up the next morning, there was no one else beside her.

She got up and pushed open the door. Outside, Tang Chunlan was crouched on the ground.

In front of her was a makeshift stove built from a few broken bricks. On top sat a worn-out pot.

Something was bubbling inside the pot—golden yellow in color—it looked like corn.

“Miaomiao, you’re awake. Sit and rest a bit. Breakfast will be ready soon,” Tang Chunlan sensed someone behind her, turned her head, and when she saw Su Miaomiao, a gentle smile immediately spread across her face.

“Mm.” Su Miaomiao nodded and glanced around. “Where is everyone else?”

“Your grandparents are still resting in the room. Your dad took your three older brothers to collect firewood,” Tang Chunlan explained.

“Mm,” Su Miaomiao replied and continued to scan her surroundings.

It was more or less as she’d observed the night before.

The cowshed was located on the outskirts of the village, around 200 meters away from the main settlement.

It was early morning, and smoke from cooking fires was curling up in the distance. If one ignored the barren surroundings, this place actually wasn’t so bad.

“Little Sis, you’re up,” a familiar voice called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Su Miaomiao turned around to see that Huo Zhenbo and the others had returned.

Each of them carried a small bundle of firewood.

However, all four looked quite weary.

Only Tang Chunlan had come back to the house last night. The four of them must have slept elsewhere—or perhaps didn’t sleep at all.

Su Miaomiao acknowledged them with a soft reply.

“It’s done. We can eat now,” Tang Chunlan said, pushing the burning embers out from the stove.

She picked up a bowl and scooped out two servings.

“Take these inside to your grandparents,” she instructed Huo Zhenbo.

“Okay.” He took the bowls and went into the house.

“Miaomiao, this one’s yours,” Tang Chunlan said, handing her another bowl.

“Thank you,” Su Miaomiao said as she accepted it.

“What are you thanking me for? I’m your mother,” Tang Chunlan said, her voice starting to choke with emotion again.

Her daughter was actually thanking her.

Huo Lingxiu had never said anything like that before.

Su Miaomiao stood holding the bowl, a little confused. Had she said something wrong again?

Why did Tang Chunlan always seem on the verge of tears, like she could cry forever?

“Don’t let the child feel awkward,” Huo Jianguo said, taking the ladle from Tang Chunlan’s hands and scooping a bowl for her.

“It’s my fault for being useless,” Tang Chunlan said, forcing back her tears.

Huo Jianguo didn’t say anything more. He divided the remaining porridge into four portions and shared them with his three sons.

But Su Miaomiao noticed clearly: the three of them had much thinner portions than hers.

Especially Huo Jianguo—his bowl was practically just water.

Yet his expression didn’t change. He drank it calmly as if it were normal.

Su Miaomiao looked down at her own bowl, filled with golden corn kernels, and a wave of indescribable emotion rose in her heart.

But she said nothing and quietly finished every last bite.

Just as they finished breakfast, a sharp whistle rang out.

A moment later, they heard someone familiar shouting from a distance.

“Time for work!”

It was Shanya Zi.

“Alright! We’re coming now!” Huo Jianguo quickly put down his bowl and got up, ushering his three sons to get ready for work.

Su Miaomiao also instinctively started to prepare to go with them.

But unexpectedly, Huo Jianguo stopped her.

“You stay home and rest,” he said firmly.

“Yes, take a good rest at home,” Tang Chunlan added. “Your dad, brothers, and I will handle the labor for now.”

“You stay home too,” Huo Jianguo said as he lowered his eyes to look at Tang Chunlan.

“I can’t. Right now, food rations are distributed based on work points. If I don’t work, we’ll be missing a laborer, and there won’t be enough food come winter,” Tang Chunlan had already thought it through the night before.

Since they were already here, they had to make the best of it. Crying wouldn’t change anything. She could only pull herself together and work hard.

“I haven’t let you do a single bit of work since you married me, and that won’t change now. The work points I earn are enough to support you and our daughter,” Huo Jianguo said firmly.

Tang Chunlan still wanted to argue, but Huo Zhenbo spoke up.

“That’s right, Mom. Just stay home with little sister and take care of Grandpa and Grandma. We’ll earn the rations.”

“Yeah, one of us counts for three!” Huo Xinyuan added enthusiastically.

“But—” Tang Chunlan still wanted to say something, but Huo Jianguo had already led the boys away.

Tang Chunlan stood there, doing her best to keep her emotions in check.

How nice—it was the first time she didn’t end up in tears.

“Miaomiao, you take a rest. I’ll go wash the dishes,” Tang Chunlan said after regaining her composure and looked over at Su Miaomiao.

“Okay,” Su Miaomiao replied.

Tang Chunlan carried the bowls and chopsticks over to wash them.

There was a water bucket nearby, and the water inside was clear—it must have been fetched earlier by the Huo brothers before she woke up.

Su Miaomiao glanced at the village in the distance, her eyes flickering. Then she turned toward Tang Chunlan.

“I’m going to walk around the area.”

She needed to find a good excuse to bring out the supplies from her space. If she had to drink cornmeal soup every day, she’d fall into depression.

“Be careful. Don’t wander too far, and come back early for lunch,” Tang Chunlan instinctively wanted to refuse but thought it might be good for Su Miaomiao to go out and get some air—better than staying cooped up and feeling worse.

“Okay,” Su Miaomiao answered and started walking toward the village center.

After she left, Tang Chunlan finished washing the dishes.

Now she was distressed about lunch. With such limited food, how could they make it to the next ration distribution?

They’d have to tighten their belts and get through somehow.

Meanwhile, Su Miaomiao had already entered the village.

At this time, most of the villagers were out working, so the village was eerily quiet.

Only a few elderly people who couldn’t move around, and some children, remained.

Su Miaomiao observed the surroundings. Most houses were one-story buildings with small courtyards fenced in.

There were some vegetables planted in the corners of the yards. Though everything technically belonged to the collective now, it seemed planting a few vegetables by the door was still allowed.

The elderly people looked thin and frail, with sunken eyes, sitting numbly at their doorsteps—uncertain whether they were waiting for life or for death.

The children were even worse—so skinny they looked like mantises, barely any flesh on their bones. Some were even running around completely naked.

Su Miaomiao sighed softly. This place was truly poor.

No wonder Huo Lingxiu had said coming here was like going to hell.

Compared to Beijing, this was hell.

Just as Su Miaomiao was about to explore further, a sharp cry suddenly pierced the air.

It was a child’s voice—shrill and piercing, stabbing into the sky.

Su Miaomiao immediately ran toward the sound.

At the small slope behind the mountain, she saw a group of children gathered around something.

When she got closer, she saw a boy around six or seven years old lying on the ground, clutching his eyes and writhing in pain.

Bright red blood was trickling from between his fingers.

“What happened here?” Su Miaomiao’s tone instantly turned serious.