Chapter 1

1968, Shahe Township, Gan Tang Village, Division 5, Cheng Family.

Gan Tang Village was located on the edge of the mountains and was notoriously poor.

Especially the Cheng Family of Division 5, they were so poor that they didn't even have a roof tile.

The house was a mud house. It was unknown how many years ago the building had collapsed.

The roof ridge and roof beams were exposed, and two or three roof tiles were hanging shakily from the roof.

The house was dark and there was only one bed. There wasn't even a quilt on the bed and it was covered with straw.

A young woman, who looked quite delicate and pretty, stood at the door barefooted in tattered clothes and looked silly.

Her husband was not at home. Her parents-in-law were outside the yard cooking wild vegetables with a small stone stove.

The introducer smiled and led Tang Huaijin's wife into the house. "Look, this is the house. They're the only family that wants to give their child away."

Tang Huaijin's wife asked, "Is it a daughter?"

The introducer smiled and said, "It's a daughter.

Look at how poor their family is. How can they afford to raise a freeloader? If no one adopts her, she'll probably be thrown to the mountains to feed the wild wolves in a few days. "

Tang Huaijin's wife hissed, "That's so cruel. How can they bear to do that?"

"They're poor. There's nothing they can do."

The introducer greeted the old man and woman who were cooking in the yard. "Hey, there's a guest!

Your family is really something. They don't even pour water or move chairs when they see a guest. "

The old man and woman's faces were gloomy and they didn't greet them politely at all.

The introducer pulled Tang Huaijin's wife into the house. "This family has no eyesight at all. The old and the young are all silly. Let's ignore her."

The introducer stuffed a candy into the silly woman's hand and smiled at her. "Xiuxiiu, hurry up. There's a guest here. Bring your daughter out and let us see her."

Xiuxiiu was very active. When she heard that someone wanted to see her daughter, she immediately ran into the house to take the doll.

The introducer saw that the house was dark, so he didn't want to go in. He stood outside the door and waited. While eating pumpkin rice, he introduced the house to Tang Huaijin's wife, "His family doesn't have any infectious diseases. They're all healthy. It's just that this Xiuxiiu is a little silly. There's something wrong with her head.

But don't worry, her illness isn't congenital, it's acquired. I guarantee that she won't pass it on to her child.

Tang Huaijin's wife said, "How did you become a fool the day after tomorrow?"

The introducer said, "I'm not too sure either.

She seemed to have quarreled with her parents and took things too hard.

Her parents wanted to marry her off to someone from the Sixth Platoon, but this girl didn't agree. It was as if she had a secret lover.

She got into a huge fight with her parents and ended up banging her head against the wall.

What do you think?

It turned out that the man's family saw that she was stupid and went back on their word. The man she found was also a snob and didn't want her anymore.

How pitiful. In the end, she married this Fourth Brother Cheng and was so poor that she couldn't even afford to eat porridge.

Her parents-in-law weren't anything good either. They beat her all day long and ordered her around like an ox or a horse.

They tortured this good girl. "

Tang Huaijin's wife was a kind-hearted person. When she heard this, she immediately sympathized with him. "How can there be such a bad person?

It's fine if other people don't care about her, but that sweetheart of hers became like this because of him, and he didn't care.

He's too cruel and evil. "

The introducer smiled and said, "Well, even husband and wife fly away separately when disaster strikes, let alone outsiders."

"Don't say that."

The introducer revealed to Tang Huaijin's wife, "You said that Xiuxiu has become a fool, but I think she's quite clear-headed.

Didn't her parents-in-law threaten her and say that they'll feed their daughter to the wolves in the mountains after she gives birth?

She must have understood. A few days ago, she asked if she wanted a girl when she saw someone.

If anyone said that they wanted to see her daughter, she would immediately let them carry her. She's very clever.

I think she understands it in her heart. "

Tang Huaijin's wife said, "After all, she's her own flesh and blood."

The introducer said, "This child is pitiful. If you adopt her, you'll be doing good deeds.

Although she's a girl, she's still a life. "

While speaking, Xiuxiu had already carried the baby out.

The baby was wrapped in diapers. Although Xiuxiu had become a fool, she still cleaned the child up quite well.

The baby girl was very fair and looked very beautiful. Her hair was more than an inch long, and she seemed to be two or three months old. She smiled when she saw people.

Tang Huaijin's wife liked her as soon as she saw her. She reached out and carried her. "This baby is really good-looking. She's prettier than any baby I've ever seen."

Tang Huaijin's wife smiled. "Have you named her?

What's her name? "

Xiuxiu shook her head.

The introducer asked Xiuxiu, "Do you still have milk on you?

Hurry up and feed her. If you take her away, she won't be able to drink milk. "

Xiuxiu had milk. Hearing the introducer's words, she lowered her head, rolled up her clothes, and held the baby in her arms to feed her milk.

The introducer pointed to Tang Huaijin's wife and asked Xiuxiu, "Xiuxiu, do you know this woman?"

Xiuxiu timidly raised her head and glanced at Tang Huaijin's wife. She shook her head and lowered her head to feed the baby again.

The introducer pointed to Tang Huaijin's wife and said, "She's from the Tang Huaijin's family. Her husband is the captain of a brigade. Her family is quite well-to-do. They can afford to eat and wear clothes.

It's better to let her raise your daughter than to keep her in your own home. Do you understand?

If you give her away, she won't be with you anymore. "

Xiuxiu didn't raise her eyes. She just lowered her head in fear.

The introducer said, "Don't worry. This Tang Huaijin's wife is famous for being kind-hearted. She won't treat your daughter badly.

She has a son at home, but he's not in good health. She's an only child and wants to raise a few more.

Your daughter is lucky to be in such a good family. She doesn't have to starve to death with you.

You should thank the heavens.

You should make things clear. She'll be their child in the future.

Even if you see her in the future, you're not allowed to call her that and make her unhappy. "

Xiuxiu timidly glanced at Tang Huaijin's wife again. She still nodded and said, "I understand."

The introducer clapped her hands and said, "Okay, it's fine as long as you've made things clear.

You're all mothers. You can talk. "

Tang Huaijin's wife saw that Xiuxiu was pitiful and felt sorry for her. She couldn't bear to take the baby away. She moved a stool over and said to Xiuxiu, "Don't worry, don't worry. Sit down and feed her.

I'll wait for a while.

Feed her slowly. "

Xiuxiu sat down at the foot of the wall with her baby in her arms. Tang Huaijin's wife also moved a stool over and sat down. She stared at the baby in a daze.

The baby looked so delicious when she was drinking milk. She sucked with her little mouth and grabbed with her hands.

Tang Huaijin's wife said with a smile, "It's not easy to have a baby. After all, she's a mother. You can see her if you want to in the future. The village isn't far from here anyway.

Just don't tell her who you are. Otherwise, she'll be upset if she knows. "

Xiuxiu muttered honestly, "Thank you."

Tang Huaijin's wife saw that she was about the same age as her daughter. She took pity on her and said, "What about your parents? Why don't they care about you?"

Xiuxiu spoke clearly and said in a low voice, "My parents don't have money. They can't afford to raise me."

"They're my biological parents. I just need to feed myself. How difficult can it be?"

Tang Huaijin's wife said, "I think you're not stupid."

Xiuxiu lowered her head and didn't say anything.

Tang Huaijin's wife said, "If you need any help in the future, just let me know.

We're all from the same hometown. "

This was just a polite remark. Xiuxiu lowered her head and didn't say anything.

The person who introduced Xiuxiu teased her and said, "Do you regret it?

You hit your head against the wall for a man. Now, you've knocked yourself silly. The man doesn't want you anymore. "

Xiuxiu blushed. She lowered her head and didn't say anything.

They sat and chatted. Xiuxiu's parents-in-law didn't care about such a big thing like sending their son and daughter off. They didn't ask about it either.

Tang Huaijin's wife sat there for the whole morning. Xiuxiu gave the baby to her, along with the baby's toy, a small rattle-drum.

Tang Huaijin's wife took out 20 yuan from her pocket and stuffed it into Xiuxiu's hands, saying, "You're not in good health. Go buy something nutritious to eat." Xiuxiu repeatedly waved her hands and refused. She said with a red face, "I'm not selling my child."

Tang Huaijin's wife forced the money into her hands. "Take it, take it. I'm not buying your child. It's a small token of my appreciation."

Xiuxiu blushed and reluctantly took the money.

Tang Huaijin's wife wrapped the baby tightly in a cloth and carried her home.

Tang Huaijin's wife's surname was Wang. She was the fourth child in her family. Her name was Wang Sier, and she didn't have a proper name.

Her husband, Tang Huaijin, was the captain of the brigade in Gantang Village. He had always been smart and capable. He was considered a well-known figure in the entire Shahe Village, so the villagers were used to calling her Tang Huaijin's wife.

Tang Huaijin's family was considered well-off in the village. They didn't have to worry about food and clothing.

Tang Huaijin and his wife loved each other dearly. Tang Huaijin's wife wanted to adopt their daughter. Tang Huaijin worked at home for more than half a month. He chiseled wood and made a small rocker. The day he brought the baby home, the rocker was completed.

Tang Huaijin and his wife were in their forties this year. Tang Huaijin's wife was in poor health, so she gave birth to a son the year before last.

The couple both wanted children. They felt that a son was not lively enough, but they also wanted a daughter. When they heard that the Cheng Family was going to give the baby to them, they decided to adopt the baby to accompany their youngest son.

After the baby entered the house, the couple boiled water for her to take a bath. They wrapped her in a diaper and put on clean clothes that they had prepared beforehand. Then, they put her in the rocker Tang Huaijin made.

Tang Huaijin's wife asked her husband, "What do you think of the baby?"

Tang Huaijin's face was like an old pickled cucumber. He was very serious as he described the baby. "She looks pretty good."

His wife heard his tone and knew that he liked the baby. She couldn't help but laugh. "We're lucky to have picked up a beautiful girl."

At noon, the Tang family set the table for lunch.

Tang Huaijin's wife fried some bacon and stewed a soup with mushrooms that were dried in the autumn. Then, she invited the introducer to lunch and discussed a name for the baby.

After thinking of a few names, none of them were good. The introducer said, "Her original surname was Cheng. Why don't we call her Cheng Cheng? It's easier to pronounce and easier to write."

Tang Huaijin's wife said, "That's a good name. Let's call her that. Old Tang, what do you think?"

Her husband didn't care much about this kind of thing. "If you think it's okay."

It was a beautiful autumn day. The leaves of a maple tree planted by the Tang family's courtyard were red.

The Tang family's son was called Yanhua. He was three years old. He was wearing open-crotch pants and learning to walk. He was holding a windmill and blowing it.

Cheng Cheng, who was lying in the rocker, was playing with a rattle. When she saw Yanhua's windmill, she stretched out her little hand and squeaked. She insisted on that windmill so that she wouldn't cry.

When Tang Huaijin's wife saw this, she took Yanhua's windmill and gave it to Cheng Cheng. "Little Hua, be good. Let your sister play with the windmill.

You can play with your sister's rattle. "

Yanhua listened to her mother and didn't make a fuss. She handed over the windmill.

When Cheng Cheng got the windmill, Tang Huaijin's wife wanted to take away her rattle for Yanhua to play with. However, the girl refused to let go. She held the windmill in one hand and the rattle in the other. Her little hands were clenched tightly, and she refused to let go.

The adults were all amused and laughed.

"She's a strong-willed girl."

The introducer saw that Yanhua was young and cute. She had a nose and eyes, so she smiled and said, "You have a son. When this girl grows up, she can be your son's wife. You can also save on the betrothal gifts. Just treat her as a child bride."