Today, Sun Shufen was at a meeting at the township government. She didn’t expect that when she came out, she would run into Su Xiangwan and Zhao Guodong standing together.

It seemed like they were having a conversation, so Sun Shufen stopped and decided to see what was going on.

Recently, she had heard that Su Xiangwan was not as affectionate toward Song Tingxiu as before, and that she had grown closer to Zhao Guodong instead.

However, the two of them were just talking about normal things.

Sun Shufen listened for a while and only heard Su Xiangwan repeatedly saying “thank you” and “I’m grateful.”

What really caught her attention, though, was Gou Dan.

There, hanging from Zhao Guodong’s bicycle, were a few oil foods.

The child, though not daring to eat them, was gently rubbing his hand on the oil rings and, while his mother wasn’t looking, tiptoed to feed a bit of the oil to Zhi Zhi.

Zhi Zhi’s mouth was wide open, like a bird hungry for food, eagerly stretching her head down from her mother’s back, greedily licking her brother’s finger, sucking the oil from the thin little finger.

Strangely, Sun Shufen felt a pang of jealousy.

It wasn’t pitiful to be poor, but it was especially pitiful to see children suffer from hunger.

“Comrade Zhao, I heard you’re going to publish a poem in The Wilderness soon,” Su Xiangwan’s words snapped Sun Shufen back to reality.

Zhao Guodong, who was holding his bicycle, replied, “That’s true. How? Have you seen my manuscript?”

“Don’t publish it for now. I heard that some people in the village are looking for flaws in your poem and might try to criticize you,” Su Xiangwan said.

She remembered that, in the original book, Zhao Guodong had been sent to the cow shed because of a poem.

The current criticism was like a game of musical chairs. Today, you might be criticizing someone, but tomorrow, someone could be criticizing you instead.

Hopefully, her warning would save Zhao Guodong this time.

Zhao Guodong, being from a high-ranking family, understood immediately that someone might be trying to target him.

Naturally, he decided not to publish the poem.

Seeing Su Xiangwan about to leave, he hurriedly took the oil rings off his bicycle and handed them to her. “Here, you take these for the kids. I bought them for them.”

Gou Dan’s mouth watered, and he smiled pitifully, thinking the oil rings were for him.

Su Xiangwan replied, “Six oil rings? That’s nine cents. We can’t accept them, Comrade Zhao. You’d better go back now. I still need to visit the township credit union.”

Sun Shufen watched for a long time, seeing how Su Xiangwan and Zhao Guodong exchanged a few words and finally didn’t accept the six oil rings. Gou Dan, his mouth dripping, followed Su Xiangwan as they walked away. He couldn’t stop sighing, thinking about how the children were all so hungry, skinny, and rough, and wondering when these hard times would end.

….

The scorching sun was unbearable. Since her son was around, Old Lady Song didn’t have to go into the fields to earn work points.

As for the third couple, they, along with their little lucky child, were afraid that Song Tingxiu would scold them for being lazy. After leaving the house, they didn’t go to work. Instead, they sat under a mud brick wall at the village head, enjoying the cool breeze.

It was so comfortable to nap under the wall in the hot sun.

Only Old Master Song, early in the morning, was working hard with two donkeys. After working for most of the morning, he returned for a quick drink of soup before heading off to dig an air-raid shelter to earn twelve work points.

“Old Lady Song, Old Lady Song, your eldest daughter-in-law is calling for the whole family to go to the township,” the postman rang the bell as he passed by the Song family’s door, calling out loudly.

“What? Why does she want us to go to the township?” Old Lady Song asked.

The postman replied, “She says she’s going to make a big scene at the township office, accusing you of mistreating the martyr’s widow and orphan, and then splitting the family.”

Old Lady Song let out a sharp scream: “Tingxiu, did you hear that? It’s not us causing trouble, it’s your sister-in-law who insists on causing a scene! Now she’s even involving the government!”

Song Tingxiu furrowed his brow but didn’t say anything. He gathered the whole family and headed towards the township office.

However, when they arrived at the township office, it was quiet. There was no sign of any trouble.

Instead, Township Head Han Yuejin, surprised to see so many people from the Song family coming in with angry expressions, jumped up. “Song Tingxiu, what’s going on with your family?”

“Township Head Han, is my daughter-in-law causing trouble at the township, trying to split the family? Don’t let family matters spill outside. Bring her out, and we’ll take her home,” Old Lady Song yelled loudly.

Han Yuejin looked confused. “This is not the case.”

“There is! How could there not be? Fang Baoyu and Old Lady Song are always gossiping, saying that I’m infatuated with my younger brother. I can’t stand this accusation anymore! I want to split the family, I want to get away from the Song family!” Su Xiangwan, holding little Zhi Zhi and a round little boy, walked in slowly, her voice unusually loud.

Song Qingyu quickly said, “Sister-in-law, everyone in the village is talking about this, how can it just be what my mom says?”

“Then let’s split the family. I’ll live my own life in a separate household, with the gate locked tight. No one will gossip anymore, right?” Su Xiangwan shouted even louder.

To clear her name, she had to make sure as many people as possible heard her.

Fang Baoyu remarked, “Eldest sister-in-law, as long as you’re upright, why should you care what others say? Splitting the family over this, isn’t that just a joke?”

Old Lady Song raised her hand to the sky, shouting, “As long as I’m here, you’ll never split the family!”

She then clutched her chest and continued, “No, no, my heart condition is acting up!”

Using the threat of death, she tried to intimidate them.

“Fine, then. I’ll take the 500 yuan of insurance money from Song Qingshan, take the children, and leave. You can live your life, and I’ll live mine. How about that?” Su Xiangwan suddenly pulled out a large envelope from her pocket, one that was stamped with the Credit Union’s logo. She opened it, revealing a thick stack of ten-yuan bills.

“What? Isn’t the money in my passbook?” Old Lady Song screamed.

Song Laosan picked up a wooden pole and shouted, “Oh my god, the eldest sister-in-law actually stole the passbook!”

This lazy, cowardly man was especially fond of money, which had now sparked something resembling manliness in him.

Han Yuejin quickly stopped him. “Song Laosan, the new era doesn’t allow men to hit women. If you dare raise that pole again, I’ll send you to labor reform. Besides, the money isn’t Song Qingshan’s insurance money, what do you mean by ‘stealing’? Your wording is wrong.”

Well, there it was. The so-called family division was just a cover-up for grabbing money.

In the blink of an eye, Old Lady Song, who had sworn she wouldn’t allow the family to split, started rethinking: “The 500 yuan insurance money? I raised Song Qingshan with great difficulty. I’ll take 480, give 20 to Su Xiangwan, and she can leave.”

The township head replied, “Su Xiangwan has three children. The money shouldn’t be divided like that. If you’re going to divide it, everyone’s share should be equal according to the number of people.”

“We should also get at least 200, since Song Qingshan was my elder brother,” Song Laosan quickly interjected.

But it was clear they were all panicking.

How had the money that was supposed to be in the passbook ended up in Su Xiangwan’s hands?

Song Laosan glared angrily at Old Lady Song, who was pointing at Song Qingyu. It seemed she had been the one who lost the passbook.

The passbook had been kept tight, and only Qingyu had seen it.

Su Xiangwan found a shaded spot under a big tree, sat down, and motioned for her two children to sit with her.

“Martyrs’ insurance money is regulated by the state. It’s for supporting parents and providing for the wife and children. According to the law, this money must be divided by the number of people. As his wife, I’m entitled to half, which is 250 yuan. The remaining 250 yuan should be divided by the six of us, so each person gets 41.5 yuan. I’ll give 83 yuan to the two elders, and the rest should be mine.” She spoke leisurely.

“You’re talking nonsense!” Old Lady Song shouted.

“Big sister-in-law, that’s a bit too much,” Fang Baoyu said.

“My elder brother died because of you,” Song Laosan was almost pointing at Su Xiangwan’s nose.

Han Yuejin raised his voice again: “Let’s all speak properly. Song Laosan, what do you want to do? With your habit of raising that pole, I’m actually supporting the family split. It’s a miracle Su Xiangwan hasn’t been beaten to death yet.”

However, Song Laosan had something else to say: “Township head, look at this kind of eldest sister-in-law. How can we give her my elder brother’s insurance money? I say, she shouldn’t get a single cent.”

He had even hidden a letter from Su Xiangwan to Song Laosan and was ready to show it to Han Yuejin.

Out of nowhere, a slap landed on Song Laosan’s face, nearly knocking him senseless.

“I support the family split, and I support my sister-in-law’s decision,” Song Tingxiu shouted, slapping Song Laosan across the face. “For such a small amount of money, just look at how ugly your true faces are.”

Old Lady Song, dazed for a moment, jumped up and yelled, “Song Tingxiu, if you even think about splitting the family, I’ll die in front of you!”

“Separate! Why not? If not, just move me to the eldest family, and I’ll help them raise the children.” With another loud shout, like the booming of a bell, it was Grandpa Song.

He grabbed the carrying pole from Song Laosan’s hands and shouted, “This family must be split today!”

When pushed to the brink, the old man finally realized that if he didn’t take charge and separate the family, the eldest daughter-in-law and her whole family would be devoured alive by the third son and his wife, and the old lady.

“What about the money? How will the money be divided? If I get less, I’m not having it.” Even though Old Lady Song was still throwing a tantrum, she was somewhat stunned by her husband’s outburst, and her voice had softened.

The Song family had a tradition of filial piety, and Song Tingxiu, despite being agitated, held back his anger and spoke, “I’ll give you my allowance. That should settle it, right? Your eldest son, my eldest brother has been dead for two years. The condolence money should go to his wife and children. Mom, you’ve been feeding off my eldest brother for your whole life. Can’t you stop draining him after twenty-odd years?”

“Song Tingxiu, raising you three brothers wasn’t easy! And now you say I’ve been draining your blood? You’re digging out my heart! I’ll die right here!” Old Lady Song suddenly grabbed her hair, turned around, and even tried to run into a big willow tree.

Well, both Song Tingxiu and Song Laosan immediately ran to chase after the old lady.

But Grandpa Song didn’t move.

He shook hands with the village head, saying, “The condolence money? I don’t mind if the eldest daughter-in-law takes it all. If she wants to give us a little more, that’s fine too. This family will be divided according to her wishes. If there’s anything with the children, I’ll handle it.”

Grandpa Song’s words were firm and powerful.

The old lady still tried to charge ahead, but the village head, Han Xianzhang, picked up the loudspeaker and said, “Today, I’m taking charge and dividing the family of the martyr Song Qingshan. Anyone who dares to object will be sent to the labor camp!”

His words finally frightened both Song Laotai and Song Laosan into silence.

The two stared at each other, looking as if they had been struck by lightning.

At this moment, Su Xiangwan stood up and directly counted out 83 yuan, handing it to Han Xianzhang. “This money is for the two elders. Since Song Qingshan is dead, this money is for him to support his parents. From now on, my children and I will have nothing to do with the Song family.”

She was willing to give the elders some money, instead of just complaining about how they treated her.

In Han Xianzhang’s view, this was a noble act.

After all, Grandpa Song’s bottom line was that not a penny should be given.

“But where will you live? You don’t even have a house. The village is short on housing, and as a widow of a martyr, I want to arrange something for you, but it might be tricky,” Han Xianzhang said.

Su Xiangwan had already thought about it.

“There’s a labor camp outside the village, and it has a lot of empty houses. We can stay there.”

“You, stay at the labor camp?” Han Xianzhang was even more puzzled by this woman’s thinking.

Su Xiangwan explained, “It’s called a labor camp, but there’s no one there, and it’s all empty. I’m fine with it. It’s just a bit large and dark at night, but the kids aren’t afraid, really.”

She was actually quite pleased with the idea.

After all, landowners and rich peasants were despised by everyone at that time. The big manor of a landlord had even been turned into a labor camp.

But so what? The people of Songjia Village were simple and straightforward. They didn’t do this or that under the guise of “reform,” and the landlord’s big courtyard was empty and spacious, with militia patrols every now and then.

Living there, even thieves would be scared off. It was quite comfortable.

“Alright, then. You and your children can stay there. I’ll notify the village militia. Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I’ll have them arrested.”

The more Han Xianzhang saw the old lady crying and running into the wall, the angrier he got.

Of course, the angrier he became, the more he supported Su Xiangwan, the widow.

He purposely used the loudspeaker to say, “I think your mother-in-law is making such a scene that the whole village will know about it. Don’t go back to get anything. I’ll personally give you bedding, quilts, work clothes, pots, pans, and bowls. You can pick them up at the commune. This is a new society, and women are people too. Don’t use your old ways to suppress your daughter-in-law. In our village, that kind of behavior won’t be tolerated.”

This was a pleasant surprise.

Su Xiangwan was delighted. “I really have to thank you, Han Xianzhang, for being so considerate of the martyr’s family.”

It didn’t even need to be said.

The old lady and Song Laosan were now completely out of their minds.

It wasn’t just about the money anymore—they were so furious they could hardly contain themselves.

After leaving the township office with 420 yuan, the child, Ludan, kept bumping into Su Xiangwan’s legs. “Mom, we’re really splitting up the family, right? We’re really splitting up!”

“And the bedding and pots and pans from the village, they’ll definitely be all new,” Gou Dan said, his eyes sparkling.

“Ludan, why are you bumping into me?” Su Xiangwan was in pain from the repeated bumps.

Lüdan spread his arms wide and said, “Mom, it’s like walking on cotton. Really.”

That’s how it was—freedom in the liberated zone, with the sky clear and the people full of hope.

Ludan not only wanted to sing, but also dance and tumble.

He had never imagined that the family would be split up, and now, from this moment on, the work points he earned wouldn’t belong to the whole Song family, but only to his mother.

He was ecstatic, excited, and almost wanted to run around.

However, after calming down, Ludan realized there were still many things to worry about: “Mom, what about our two donkeys? Aren’t they ours? Should we just leave them behind? If you’re not here, Grandma might make the donkeys work and exchange them for work points. Also, if we want to receive grain or work points, will they still be counted under Grandpa’s name? Third Uncle will probably bully us.”

Indeed, there were also two donkeys, which were the most important part of the original body’s dowry.

However, now that the money had come, and the children were still with her, those two donkeys that the original body had raised for six or seven years would have to suffer for a little while longer.

With the continued deepening of policy reforms, those two donkeys would soon be included in the commune’s collective farming system.

As for the grain book and work points, she wasn’t in a hurry for those at the moment.

Once Song Laoer finished his visit, Song Laoer would be returning soon.

In the original body’s memory, it seemed like she had once told Song Qingshan that he was just like a male donkey, good only for breeding.

Su Xiangwan didn’t know much about Song Qingshan and didn’t dare jump to such a conclusion.

But since the money was already in hand and she had comfortably moved out, the remaining matters would be dealt with once Song Qingshan came back.

“Let’s not talk about these things for now. You two wanted to try oil rings, right? I bet you’ve never had oil rings dipped in honey, and let me tell you, it’s simply delicious, beyond words. Do you two want to try it?” Su Xiangwan changed the topic.

Before Lu Dan could speak, Gou Dan’s eyes lit up. “Mom, I’ve tasted honey before. It was so sweet!”

Su Xiangwan had noticed a family in the village selling wild honey.

Now, with over 400 yuan in her pocket, she bought a few big oil rings and went to the honey seller.

For just two yuan, she bought a kilogram of honey.

After opening the honey jar, she tore open the soft and fluffy oil ring, dipped it generously in honey, and handed it to Gou Dan. “Here, hurry and eat.”

This child, who had been craving Zhao Guodong’s oil rings in the morning, kept dipping his hand in the oil.

Su Xiangwan looked at him, and her heart ached for him.

Gou Dan took a big bite, chewed it around in his mouth, and suddenly his eyes reddened. “Mom, now I don’t lack anything, but what I really lack is a dad.”

He longed for a dad like Zhao Guodong—tall, gentle, someone who could carry him on his shoulders or place him on the back of a bicycle.

Gou Dan thought that if he had a dad like that, life would be so much better.

“Then eat your fill and grow strong. Mom will grab a dad for you sometime,” Su Xiangwan teased, trying to make the child smile.