Chapter 20, Willow leaves

In the afternoon, the bright golden sunshine enveloped the earth, and the huge willow tree stood in Willow Alley, dividing the sunshine into light and shadow like broken gold, twinkling in the breeze.

Uncle Fuquan was sitting on the threshold, weaving a bamboo basket; Sister Caigen was a little inside, holding the soles of shoes; Erdan was sent to take a nap by Sister Caigen in the name of 'lying in bed to rest and save energy'.

"Song Dashan was executed at noon. The body that Sister Caihua went to collect was rolled up in a straw mat and buried outside the city... Not many of us in Liushu Hutong went to deliver it..."

"Who would have thought that our old neighbor for so many years would just leave like that? Brother Rui of the Fang family is also cruel. I looked at Song Dashan and he was probably behind it..."

Sister-in-law Cai Gen babbled: "However, Brother Fang Jiarui has indeed made his mark and is a top-grade warrior! We can't reach that level!"

Uncle Fuquan, who was just listening quietly like a gourd, suddenly said: "Then you still offended someone last night?"

Snap! Snap!

Aunt Cai Gen slapped her mouth, her face full of regret: "Master, I regret it when you mention this! Last night, I spoke quickly and echoed the words... However, I was jealous of the Fang family's life in my heart.

Okay, it’s true too…”

"Oh, if I had known that Brother Rui was a first-class warrior, I wouldn't have dared to say anything!"

"You..."

Uncle Fuquan shook his head: "The Fang family lent food to our family. This is a matter of affection. Our family must remember... At that time last night, no matter whether the Fang family was right or wrong, you should not have spoken to Song Dashan..."

This kind of behavior, if you really want to say it, is a bit like repaying kindness with enmity.

"That's why I regret it...but the Fang family won't hold grudges, right? There are so many people!"

The more Sister Cai Gen talked, the more confident she became, and she muttered: "Even if our family borrows food from the Fang family and speaks for Song Dashan, there are still two or three families...Brother Fang Jiarui will not come to us, nor will he come to us."

…”

Just talking.

At this time, Fang Rui's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Uncle Fuquan! Aunt Caihua!"

He wasn't wrong.

——The two families are not related. Uncle Fuquan's "uncle" only represents the other person and his father's contemporaries; while Mrs. Caihua's "sister-in-law" can be called "sister-in-law" by married women who are not too old in this era.

'Sister-in-law' also makes the other person look younger, so everyone calls her that.

As for Aunt Caihua from Song Dashan’s family?

That's because: Aunt Caihua is almost ten years older than Sister Caigen, so she is called "Aunt".

"What's that? Brother Rui, are you here? Sit down and I'll get you some water." Aunt Cai Gen's face stiffened and she forced a smile.

Clearly feeling guilty.

Just now he was still swearing that Fang Rui wouldn't come, but as soon as he said that, Fang Rui actually came, maybe to settle the scores for what happened last night!

In a sense, this is indeed why Fang Rui came here.

Like the other neighbors, they were just acquaintances. Even if they were morally kidnapped last night, it didn't matter to him, and they wouldn't retaliate.

But the two or three families that borrowed food were different.

Fang Rui could not allow the incident of "picking up the bowl to eat, putting down the bowl and scolding the mother" to happen to his own family.

"Sister Cai Gen, my family is having a hard time, maybe the two kilograms of wheat bran that I borrowed the day before yesterday have been returned?" Fang Rui didn't hesitate and spoke directly.

Aunt Cai Gen's face was full of embarrassment, but she still said: "Um...Brother Rui...can you give me some grace?"

Is the Fang family having a hard time?

She absolutely didn't believe this.

Who doesn't know that the Fang family's situation is among the best in Liushu Hutong.

In fact, the Fang family did not lack food.

Fang Rui said this because he was trying to clean up the situation last night when Cai Gen's sister-in-law helped Song Dashan and kidnapped the Fang family morally in the name of "having a hard time". It was just to save the other party's last bit of face.

Of course Aunt Cai Gen understands, but she has already eaten some of the wheat bran she borrowed and cannot make up two kilograms...

Even if you can make up for it with other things, it will definitely not be comfortable. If nothing else, just ask: How will you spend the next days? Is the whole family hungry?

'This is completely shameless!'

Fang Rui's face turned cold.

Yes, the other party may have difficulties, but what does it have to do with him?

Now, if the Fang family borrows grain, Cai Gen's family must give it to them whether they give it to them or not.

'Since you are shameless, then there is no need to give face, just break it up!'

Fang Rui's eyes flashed and he was about to speak.

"Brother Rui,"

At this time, Uncle Fuquan suddenly spoke: "What happened last night was because my family did not do it properly... Damn it, there is still more than a pound of wheat bran left, right? Bring it... Also, I have been making baskets these two days.

I also brought the two big bucks from the sale..."

"The head of the family..." Sister-in-law Cai Gen hesitated.

"go!"

Uncle Fuquan's tone became more serious, leaving no room for doubt.

After all, she was the head of the family. Although Cai Gen's wife was in great pain and reluctant to leave, she still went and took the remaining wheat bran and two large coins.

There is still more than a kilogram of wheat bran, and less than two or three taels have been used. It is far from enough to compensate for the two big bucks for this little wheat bran.

But recently, food prices have skyrocketed, changing every day. Coupled with the mentality of compensating for wrongdoings, it is within a reasonable range.

'Uncle Fuquan is quite sensible.'

Fang Rui accepted it calmly, without any embarrassment.

thank?

No need to, this is just getting back something you borrowed from home.

"Okay, Uncle Fuquan and Aunt Caihua, if you are busy, I will leave first."

Fang Rui didn't say anything more, got up with his things, and left directly.

The two families are not the same people, so they should be clearly separated from each other. Bridges will return to bridges, roads will return to roads, and it will be good for everyone.

After Fang Rui left.

Aunt Cai Gen couldn't hold it in any longer, she wiped her tears and sobbed: "Head of the family, how are we going to live in the next few days? It's all my fault... It's all my fault..."

At this moment, the regret in her heart was biting her heart like a poisonous snake, causing her to blame herself and suffer.

——Just because she was quick to speak and said something she shouldn't have said, the Fang family directly asked for the borrowed food. As a result, the whole family of three was starving together.

That's all if it's just her, but she also has a husband and children. You know: Erdan is just a half-grown child of seven or eight years old!

They all have to pay for her mistake alone.

Blame the Fang family?

It makes no sense at all.

They just want to take back what belongs to them... To be honest, it was her family that had to apologize to them first.

Outside the door, under the big sun, the heat is steaming, and the chirping of cicadas and insects are mixed together, making the noise annoying.

Uncle Fuquan was weaving a bamboo basket in his hands and was silent for a long time before sighing deeply: "Oh, let's just... teach you a lesson!"

…

Fang Rui did not forget about the other two families, and went to get the lent grain back one after another.

The two families were very sensible. Even if they ate some, they would still compensate them with other items of equal value, such as wild vegetables or hemp seed oil.

After visiting Cai Gen's three homes, Fang Rui had a lot in hand: five pounds of wheat bran, one pound of wild vegetables, half a pound of hemp seed oil, and two big coins.

To other people, these things are life-saving supplies, but to the other family, they are nothing.

Fang Rui wanted to come back because he didn't want to feed the white-eyed wolf. At the same time, he wanted to make a complete break with these people.

He didn't take any of these things back with him, so he walked to Uncle Zaohuaai's house.

A few days ago, Fang Xue borrowed grain from six neighbors in total, but it was not much, it was all wheat bran, and each family only had one or two kilograms.

Last night, like Cai Gen's wife, three families sat with their buttocks crooked and helped Song Dashan speak; two families were silent; only one family spoke on the side of the Fang family.

The only family was Uncle Zaohuaai's family - although their voices were drowned in the crowd's 'persuasion' and had no effect, Fang Rui still remembered it.

The grudges are clear.

Among the six families, those who participated in moral kidnapping and stood up to each other asked for the borrowed food back; those who remained silent did not do anything and stayed as they were, waiting for their return; those who spoke for the Fang family...

He must repay this love.

…

"Dad, Mom, when will our food be ready?" Ah Huai ran over.
To be continued...