Ge Sanmei stormed out of the house in anger, which Li Erfu could not stop, nor did he go after her. His wife was becoming more and more outrageous, and he could not stand it anymore.
Li Xianglu frowned as she took the spatula from Li Jianqing's hand and shoveled out the pig food, then she hefted the huge wooden bucket and carefully walked forward, almost moving her foot with every step.
Upon seeing this, Li Jianqing darted over, squeezed his sister to the side, and took hold of the other end of the bucket, saying, "Sister, let's do this together. I don't even know how you usually manage to carry this huge bucket of pig food to the pigsty."
Li Xianglu looked somewhat embarrassedly at her father standing aside, then at her brother who insisted on helping her and said, "Ge San, don't help me. Mom will scold me if she sees this."
Li Jianqing's ears turned red in an instant. His Mom was biased; his sister was younger than he, did harder work, and yet she was scolded more. Ashamed, he scratched his head and said with irritation, "Hurry up, don't worry; from now on, I'll help you carry it out."
Li Erfu was very pleased to see his son being sensible, and the unpleasantness from earlier dissipated. He said, "Jianqing, you've grown up now. Don't go messing around outside when you have the time, help your sister with some chores."
Li Jianqing nodded without objection, and Li Xianglu reluctantly lifted the other end of the bucket. Together, they carried the heavy bucket out, then shoveled the pig food into the trough, and poured what was left, nearly half a bucket, into the chicken coop.
Not long after Ge Sanmei left, Li Jianhong came in with a basin and pushed it forward, saying, "Go, wash my clothes. You're so spoiled, and you even dare to complain about me in front of your brother-in-law!"
Li Xianglu, with a basket in hand and a small sickle, left without paying any attention to the yelling behind her.
Li Jianqing coldly sneered at An Cuicui, who was yelling at the doorway, "Big sister, stop yelling. My sister and I are going to the back mountain to gather some grass for the donkey. You can do your own washing. If you, a married woman, can't do chores and have to come back home asking your younger sister to wash clothes for you, the whole eight villages around us won't have anyone else like that." With that said, he ignored Li Jianhong, who was stomping angrily behind him, and caught up with the sound of Li Xianglu.
Li Jianhong was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth. This good-for-nothing trash, calling her a lazy wife—humph, just wait and see, I'll make things difficult for you!
Even though she was also a daughter and could not measure up to the favoritism towards her younger brothers, her situation was still much better compared to Sanmei, especially since marrying Yuan Cheng, her family was in better conditions, and her status in the family rose.
On this side, seeing her brother catching up, Li Xianglu smiled and said, "Why bother with her? It'll only make her angrier, and she will cause more trouble."
Li Jianqing scratched his head, "Big sister was fine before, but ever since she got pregnant, she's been like a different person, so lazy."
Li Xianglu's eyes widened as she slightly opened her mouth in surprise. Since traversing into this body that was so skinny it was skin and bones, she secretly ate extra meals, drank milk, ate eggs every day, and sneakily consumed a considerable amount of cooked meat that she had stored in a space. Her cheeks had gained flesh, and her originally dry and yellowish hair had become darker.
Her big eyes were now round and didn't look as fierce as before, rather somewhat cute, which instantly melted the heart of her brother Jianqing. Unconsciously, he rubbed Li Xianglu's head and smiled, "Don't worry, it's alright. From now on, Ge San will help you!"
Li Xianglu sighed, knowing that it was not something she could control. All she wanted now was to grow up faster and get beaten less. Today at the dinner table, when she heard that the county high school started recruiting, she really wanted to study. But the body's memory has not even completed the second grade; she couldn't possibly say she learned everything in her dreams, or else people would think she was a monster and dissect her.
Li Xianglu was preoccupied and looked unhappy. Li Jianqing thought his sister was still worried about being bullied by their big sister, and assured her by patting his chest, "If you ever have trouble, just call me. I'm your brother Jianqing, I will protect you."
Li Xianglu, looking at her young brother beating his chest with assuring gestures, smiled and called out softly, "Ge San~~~"
Her sweet and tender voice made Li Jianqing's ears turn red with slight embarrassment as he loudly said, "Let's go quickly, let's go check the traps."
Li Xianglu squinted with a corner of her mouth turned upwards, thinking that perhaps the only gain from coming to this place was her brother, even though her Daddy was also quite good, just a bit too weak. As soon as Ge Sanmei was persistent, he was ready to give up.
Sighing, she quickened her pace.
Over the hilltop and near the river dam, li Xianglu cut dry grass along the path and put it in her backpack basket, while Li Jianqing rushed towards the woods, his anxious shouts making Li Xianglu laugh.
Following the routine, she kept cutting until she reached the edge of the woods and saw Li Jianqing excitedly carrying a rabbit and two field mice, a face filled with excitement.
Li Xianglu looked somewhat disdainfully at the field mice – though edible, she could not help but think of big rats and decided to pass.
All three animals were injured; the field mice were not severely hurt, but the rabbit seemed almost dead.
There was a good amount of grass collected. Li Jianqing dragged a dead tree stump behind him, and Li Xianglu walked ahead, carrying the rabbit and grass. Of course, the rabbit was at the bottom of the basket. In those days, everything belonged to the state, even wildlife – if caught, they had to be handed over to the local cooperative stores. Eating them privately was fine, but private trading was not allowed; that constituted speculation and profiteering, a criminal offense.