Chapter 7: Using Sons as Stepping Stones

Qiao Jiangxin raised her voice, “Grandpa, they say that when you get a stepmother, you get a stepfather.

Even if Dad and Uncle aren’t your stepchildren, they’re still your own sons, right?  In the entire brigade, Uncle and Dad are among the most capable. Why are they living like this?

It’s Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Little Aunt who have been eating, wearing, and using things since childhood, and the money spent on their education and marriage, wasn’t that earned by Uncle and Dad?

Don’t say you earned it. Grandma doesn’t work in the fields.  If you work alone, you’ll barely earn enough for you two to eat and drink. Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Little Aunt rarely work in the fields, even on holidays. 

Dare you say that this family hasn’t been supported by Uncle and Dad all these years?”

Lei Honghua, who had been sitting there pretending to be kind, jumped up from her stool when she heard Qiao Jiangxin’s words, “Nonsense! I raised them both. Isn’t it their duty to work for the family? 

They’re so audacious! They claim that Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Little Aunt were raised by your father and uncle. 

Don’t you worry that people will laugh their heads off when you say that? Your grandpa is old, still working in the fields under the sun, and I’ve raised two ungrateful brats….”

Ignoring Lei Honghua, Qiao Jiangxin stared at Qiao Jiuwang, “Grandpa, tell me, is it true or not? Over the years, do you think you’ve been fair to Uncle and Dad?”

Seeing that both sons were waiting for his response, Qiao Jiuwang, his face flushed red, said, “Yes, I admit that your mother was biased before, but ten fingers aren’t all the same length.

Jianhua, Jianguo, and Fangfang are much younger than you two. In the countryside, which family doesn’t have the older siblings take care of the younger ones?”

“I know you two have been wronged. I’ve already talked to your mother, and from now on, the family will treat everyone equally.

No more special treatment. As for Fourth Uncle, when he comes back, I’ll tell him to work in the fields with us tomorrow.”

“Heh, Grandpa…” Qiao Jiangxin tried to say something.

Qiao Jiuwang angrily interrupted, “Adults are talking, you child shouldn’t interrupt. I’m not dead yet, and you don’t get to make decisions in this family.”

Then Qiao Jiuwang quickly said to Qiao Youfu and Qiao Youcai, “If you still recognize me as your father, don’t say anything else.”

Having said that, Qiao Jiuwang went into the inner room. Lei Honghua snorted coldly and followed Qiao Jiuwang triumphantly.

Want to split the family? Want to divide the houses and land?  Dream on! These two brothers are only fit to be stepping stones for their children.

Did Qiao Jiuwang really not notice her intentions?  To ask Qiao Jiuwang to help them was simply ridiculous.

Lei Honghua had accurately gauged Qiao Jiuwang’s thoughts.  These two sons were hopeless, so he placed his hopes on the other two sons.  No matter which one succeeded, they were his own sons.

If all four sons were unsuccessful, it was better to sacrifice two to elevate the other two.

Blame your mother for dying early.

Seeing her dejected father and uncle, Qiao Jiangxin felt terrible.  Her words had been so direct, and her uncle and father weren’t fools.

They knew that if the family didn’t split, they would always be exploited and would never have a chance to improve their lives.

But Grandpa still refused. He chose to side with Lei Honghua.

Qiao Youfu wiped his face with his rough hands and said to his brother, “I don’t mind, but you have a family, and your sister-in-law is pregnant. We don’t have money or food…”

Qiao Jiangxin took a deep breath, “Uncle, Dad, don’t be sad. They don’t want to split up because we’re easy to control. When Lei Honghua realizes things aren’t going as she planned, she’ll beg us to split up. 

When that happens, don’t give in easily. I won’t agree until she does, understand?”

Qiao Youfu and Qiao Youcai looked at Qiao Jiangxin simultaneously, “Jiangxin, what are you planning?”

Qiao Jiangxin snorted coldly, “What am I planning? Since we’re all so unhappy, let’s make sure no one is comfortable. I’ll make Lei Honghua regret keeping us.”

Qiao Jiangxin glanced at the simple food on the table, “Let’s put other things aside for now. Dad, go boil some water.  Our family’s health is the most important thing right now.

No one will starve to death, but look how thin we are. We still have three chickens. If we don’t eat them, someone else will get them…”

It wasn’t until Qiao Jiangxin came out of the chicken coop carrying a hen with a broken neck that Qiao Youfu and Qiao Youcai reacted.

“Jiangxin, this, this…”

“Dad, stop hesitating. You and Uncle are over halfway through your lives. Have you ever had a good meal?  Since I was born, except for lunch, I’ve never had a decent meal. Everything in the house belongs to Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle.  Even their leftovers aren’t given to me.  They’re given to Little Aunt first.”

Liu Afang’s eyes were already red.  Jiangxin was the youngest, but when Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Little Aunt ate candy or other good things, Jiangxin always watched from the side.  Despite her good grades, she was forced to drop out of school and work at home.  It was their fault as parents.

Qiao Youfu looked at his niece’s face with pity. He didn’t have children and always treated Jiangxin as his own, “It’s because Uncle and your father are incompetent. Uncle will boil the water. If your grandma… just say it was Uncle who did it.”

With more people, things went faster. In just over an hour, a pot of stewed chicken was brought to the lower house where the brothers lived.

Liu Afang smelled the aroma and sipped the chicken soup, hesitating, “Should we wake up Grandpa and Grandma to eat together?”

Qiao Youfu and Qiao Youcai also looked at Qiao Jiangxin. Qiao Jiangxin picked up a chicken wing for herself, “We’re eating well. Why would we go looking for trouble? Is the soup not good, or is the chicken not tasty? Don’t you want to sleep tonight?”

“Eat quickly. If we’re going to be scolded, it’ll be tomorrow.  Our family needs to be healthy and live longer than them.”

Qiao Youfu and Qiao Youcai immediately started eating. They hadn’t received much education, only a few days of literacy classes after liberation.

They weren’t eloquent or knowledgeable, only good at farming. In their hearts, Qiao Jiangxin, having attended three years of school, was smarter than them.

Since they were already eating, they trusted Jiangxin’s judgment.

Even if they brought a bowl to Qiao Jiuwang and Lei Honghua’s bed, they would only get scolded.  Only a fool would do such a thankless task.

The four of them ate a three jin chicken, soup and meat, clean. Qiao Jiangxin contentedly burped.

After eating, she specifically addressed her uncle and parents, “Chairman Mao said, ‘The body is the capital of revolution.’  Having a healthy body is more important than anything else.  If we’re not healthy, do you think Lei Honghua will pay for our medical treatment?

Don’t place too much importance on reputation and filial piety. If we can’t even survive, what’s the point of reputation and face?

Haven’t we been filial enough all these years?  We’ve practically given our hearts away, but what have we gotten?  Has anyone outside said a good word about us?

People look down on us, thinking we’re stupid, indecisive, and spineless.  We’re being controlled by Lei Honghua…”