Chapter 6

“Dad, it’s Chunzhi causing trouble.”

Song Chunhua had just realized that Zhao Wanmiao was actually afraid of Song Chunzhi. She was deeply shocked. What was really going on? Now, seeing that Song Xingguo had returned, she immediately ran over to complain.

“She stole eggs and didn’t even wash the pot. She scared Mom like that, and look at my face, she hit me! She even tried to take my clothes and my room,” she said tearfully, her swollen face full of grievance as she looked at Song Xingguo, trying to win his sympathy so he would punish Song Chunzhi harshly.

But to her surprise, Song Xingguo didn’t even look at her. He shoved her aside and cursed, “You need to know when to stop lying. Don’t I know what kind of person your elder sister is? Get out of my sight.”

“Dad, you don’t believe me?”

Song Chunhua stumbled, nearly falling. She turned to look at Song Xingguo with eyes full of hurt. What was going on? Song Chunzhi had done so many outrageous things, so why didn’t her mother beat her like she used to? She was telling the truth, so how could her father think she was lying?

“Song Chunzhi really did steal them. I saw her with my own eyes making a chicken egg and mushroom soup. She used six eggs. Six eggs could be sold for thirty cents!”

Song Chunhua tried again to prove she wasn’t lying. She couldn’t stand the fact that Song Chunzhi had gotten away without any punishment. She was determined to make her pay the price.

Song Xingguo had originally planned to grab Zhao Wanmiao, who was still acting like she had gone mad, and give her a beating. But when he heard what Song Chunhua said, he turned and looked at Song Chunzhi, who stood nearby. His face showed his anger, and he glared as he questioned her, “Chunzhi, did you steal six eggs?”

His eldest daughter had always been an honest, timid person. He didn’t believe Song Chunhua’s words at all. But it was strange, since his second daughter usually didn’t even dare to speak up in front of him. Something about today felt unusual.

“Dad, I gave the mushroom and egg soup, and the eggs, to someone else. If they hadn’t saved me on the mountain today, I would’ve died.”

Song Chunzhi cast a sidelong glance at Song Chunhua, who looked full of resentment, and calmly explained to Song Xingguo.

After two lifetimes, she knew her father’s personality very well. He was extremely biased in favor of sons and was selfish and obsessed with appearances. He acted modest and meek outside, but at home, he was violent. He was a scumbag in every sense.

“Six eggs, and you gave them all away? To who?”

When Song Xingguo heard this, he clearly disapproved. His voice rose as he scolded her.

Even if someone saved her, saying thank you was enough. Why give them anything? Six eggs were enough for his precious son to eat for several days. He was just about to ask if she could get at least half of them back, when Song Chunhua jumped in.

“Dad, don’t listen to her. She’s lying. She ate them herself. There are used bowls and eggshells in the kitchen!”

Song Chunhua refused to accept Song Chunzhi’s explanation. What did they take her for, blind? How did that girl not fall to her death in the mountains? If she ever found out who saved Song Chunzhi, she would give them an earful for meddling.

“Uncle Ye said I’m malnourished and need to start nourishing my body… or else I won’t be able to have children in the future. So I ate two eggs.” Song Chunzhi lowered her head, putting on a shy, careful act. “I gave the soup and the remaining two eggs to the army camp. The man who saved me was a company commander, I think. So I gave a little more. Please don’t be mad, Dad.”

“A company commander saved you?” Song Xingguo looked surprised.

He glanced at Song Chunzhi’s bowed head and concluded she wasn’t lying. His eyes gleamed. A company commander! That was a real officer. Quickly, he said, “It’s fine. It’s right to be generous with someone who saved your life. From now on, Chunhua’s morning egg goes to you. You need to build up your health.”

He looked her up and down, eyes darting. Though his eldest daughter was a bit skinny, her appearance was striking. If she couldn’t bear children, no good family would want her, and how would he collect a proper bride price?

“Mm. Our aluminum lunch box is still at the camp. I’ll go get it tomorrow,” Song Chunzhi said.

She hadn’t expected her made-up excuse to bring benefits. Eggs were for nourishment, after all. She was skinny as a stick; she’d take anything that helped her recover. Whether Song Chunhua agreed or not, she didn’t care.

“Dad, how could you give my egg to Song Chunzhi? I’m weak and need the nutrition too!” Song Chunhua immediately protested, glaring at Song Xingguo in dissatisfaction. What was happening here? Not only was Song Chunzhi not punished, now her own egg was being given away? She was furious.

But Song Xingguo didn’t tolerate dissent. At her complaint, he raised his foot and kicked her hard, scolding, “I’m your father. I can give the eggs to whoever I want. Say one more word and I’ll beat you to death. You’re stronger than your sister and you still say you’re weak? Get out of my sight!”

Song Chunhua was kicked to the ground. Her belly had already been hurting, and now the pain was unbearable. Tears welled up instantly, but she hurriedly covered her mouth and dared not make a sound, afraid of being beaten more. She was used to seeing Song Chunzhi getting hit like this. She never expected it would happen to her one day. Usually, Zhao Wanmiao would rush over to protect her. Why was it different this time?

“Zhao Wanmiao, what are you pretending for? Get up already!” Song Xingguo kicked the still-trembling Zhao Wanmiao in frustration. “If you’ve gone crazy, I’ll send you back to your parents. I won’t support a useless woman!”

“Ahh… ahhh…” Zhao Wanmiao, still dazed and flailing at imaginary ghosts, suddenly jolted awake when she heard those words. Her eyes cleared. She glanced around and, seeing the furious Song Xingguo, scrambled up and stammered, “Husband, I-I’ll go cook right now. You should rest inside.”

“Chunhua, why are you still on the ground? Get up quickly.”

Zhao Wanmiao saw Song Chunhua crying on the ground and quickly helped her up, her face full of concern. Glancing at Song Chunzhi, who stood nearby, she instructed, “Chun… Chunzhi, your father’s back. Hurry and go make dinner.”

“Mom, my arm is fractured. I need to rest and can’t do any work,” Song Chunzhi replied, pulling a medical leave note from her pocket and handing it to Zhao Wanmiao.

She reminded her to register with the production team the next day when she went to work. Glancing at Song Chunhua, who was still sobbing while leaning on Zhao Wanmiao, she said with a smile on her delicate face, “Just let Chunhua cook. She’s already seventeen, yet she doesn’t work for labor points and still freeloads at home. People in the village are calling her lazy. You should consider her reputation.”

“Song Chunzhi, who are you calling lazy!” Song Chunhua nearly rolled her eyes in anger. Her body was just too weak to do labor, that didn’t mean she was lazy. She always greeted villagers with a smile, and everyone liked her. Her reputation was perfectly fine without Chunzhi interfering.

“Chunzhi, how could you say your sister is lazy? Her health isn’t good. She can’t be overworked,” Zhao Wanmiao disagreed, still believing Chunhua was perfect in every way. She took the sick note from Chunzhi, and the events from the afternoon echoed in her mind again. She wanted to ask about the remaining money, but didn’t dare to.

“Chunzhi is right,” Song Xingguo spoke up from where he sat at the main hall entrance, fanning himself with a large straw fan. “Chunhua’s already seventeen, she can’t just idle at home. She’ll go work starting tomorrow. Chunzhi’s hurt her arm, so Chunhua will take her place. Otherwise, there won’t be enough grain for us to eat.”

Song Chunhua was stunned. She never imagined her father would actually make her go to work.

Work was exhausting, and she had never done much since childhood. Even her laundry was always handled by either Chunzhi or Zhao Wanmiao. If she went to work, wouldn’t her hands become as rough as Chunzhi’s, like tree bark? Horrified at the thought, she clutched Zhao Wanmiao’s arm, urging her to say something.

“Husband, Chunhua’s health is too fragile for fieldwork. Do you want to drive her to her grave?” Zhao Wanmiao gently patted Chunhua’s hand to comfort her and quickly tried to persuade Song Xingguo.

Even though she feared being beaten by Song Xingguo, Chunhua was her precious one and there was no way she would let her go to the fields. “What if we let Chunhua stay home to cook instead? Chunzhi can teach her a bit. That way we’ll have food ready when we return from work.”

“Of course someone has to cook. You think I want to starve while waiting for a fresh meal every day?” Song Xingguo’s face turned stern, and he glared at her.

With a snort, he added, “She still has to earn work points. If she can’t do the heavy work, she can do lighter tasks. Or does she think the whole family can just survive on air? A useless girl who wants to eat without contributing should take a look at her own worth!”

“Dad’s right. There are kids younger than Chunhua already going to work. Even little ones go into the mountains to collect firewood, pigweed, or mushrooms. If someone only eats and never works, isn’t that the life of some capitalist’s pampered daughter? This is the new society. That doesn’t fly anymore,” Song Chunzhi chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.

“I’m not some capitalist’s daughter,” Song Chunhua snapped, her eyes filled with fury as she glared at Song Chunzhi.

It seemed she would be forced to work no matter what. If people saw her as a capitalist’s spoiled child, she could end up publicly criticized or even worse. That thought alone made her shiver. Reluctantly, she agreed, “Fine, I’ll go to work. I’ll start tomorrow.”

Zhao Wanmiao wanted to protest again but was silenced by the fierce look in Song Xingguo’s eyes. Trembling, she dragged Song Chunhua into the kitchen, terrified of provoking him and risking another beating.

The kitchen was a mess, and Zhao Wanmiao’s heart thumped nervously. Just as she was about to scold someone, she thought of how strangely ominous Song Chunzhi had been acting earlier, and swallowed the words.

“Chunhua, don’t worry. I’ll think of a way to handle this,” Zhao Wanmiao said softly while quickly preparing the meal. Still, she couldn’t help but feel resentment toward Chunzhi. If it hadn’t been for her speaking up, Xingguo wouldn’t have forced Chunhua to go to work. As long as he was fed and clothed, he usually didn’t care about anything else.

But Chunhua’s heart was full of frustration. She even began to resent Zhao Wanmiao. So much for calling her the apple of her eye, not only had she failed to defend her and punish Chunzhi, now she was being sent to work and still had to cook? Even a beast of burden wasn’t worked this hard. And Zhao Wanmiao said she’d find a solution? What could she possibly do? Even if she got light tasks, she still had to work.

“Chunzhi, take good care of that arm. No rush to start working again,” Song Xingguo said, leaning back and sipping the cool, sugar-sweetened water Zhao Wanmiao had brought him. He was extremely content.

Seeing Chunzhi lazily scooping water to wash her hands, he looked her over again. His eldest daughter really was quite beautiful despite being thin. Smiling, he said, “Tomorrow when you see that company commander, speak nicely. He saved your life. Don’t forget what you owe him.”

“Okay,” Song Chunzhi replied languidly, her mood light. She poured the water into the vegetable plot in the southeastern corner of the yard and slowly returned the basin to its place. After all, her “broken arm” persona had to be maintained.

She didn’t even have to look up to know what Song Xingguo was scheming.

Seeing her enter the first room of the west wing, Song Xingguo was surprised. He had thought Chunhua was lying earlier. But now it was clear: Chunzhi had really swollen Chunhua’s face with a beating and taken both her clothes and her room.

How strange. What on earth had Chunhua done to provoke even the normally docile and timid Chunzhi into hitting her?