Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 127

Zhao Da'e knew about his grandmother Wang Guixiang's background; Wang Guixiang had once been a "princess" from a wealthy landowning family. Her family reportedly owned thousands of acres of fertile land. However, not long after Wang Guixiang's birth, their land was divided among ordinary people, but her parents still bound her feet and raised her like a pampered young lady. Perhaps Wang Guixiang's parents dreamed that one day they could continue their landlord lifestyle, but that day would never come.

The issue of foot binding meant that Wang Guixiang was only suited for walking; she was truly incapable of doing any work. This wasn't Zhao Da'e making excuses for Wang Guixiang; it was simply that her "bound feet" genuinely prevented her from working. However, being unsuitable for work and not working at all are not the same thing. Wang Guixiang was truly a good "mother-in-law." Before her sons got married, Zhao Da'e had heard that the eldest and second aunts were the ones who did all the cooking at home. In her previous life, the second aunt had complained that she wasn't even as tall as the stove and had to stand on a small stool to reach it before she could cook. This was because, except when giving birth, Wang Guixiang never cooked a single meal, completely embodying the "rich young lady" demeanor of a so-called "wealthy family."

As for Zhao Tiegang, theoretically, his third uncle was capable of working. However, after marrying Zhang Cuilan a couple of years ago, Wang Guixiang and her husband said, "Third brother just got married. It wasn't easy to find a wife like her. We need to take good care of Zhang Cuilan and not let Zhao Tiegang run around. He should just stay home with his wife." As a result, Zhao Tiegang basically did no work during the first year of their marriage.

In the second year of their marriage, Zhang Cuilan gave birth to Zhao Yongbo. Wang Guixiang also naturally welcomed her grandson, and the whole family was overjoyed. Wang Guixiang then said, "My third son's wife just gave birth and is weak; she needs someone to take care of her. Since I'm not in good health, it'll be up to my third son to take care of her. My daughter-in-law just gave birth to a big, healthy grandson; she needs to be well cared for. My third son must take meticulous care of her." Thus, while others observed postpartum confinement, Zhang Cuilan spent a full year in confinement, and Zhao Tiegang didn't work for a year.

In the third year, Zhao Tingxu said the family should separate, with Zhao Tingxu and Zhao Tiegang's family, and Zhao Da'e's parents' family. However, it was clear the old couple wouldn't work. Zhao Tiesheng and Zhao Da'e's mother, Cheng Jinxiang, saw that the farming season was almost over, and Zhao Laosan (Zhao Tingxu's son) wasn't going to farm either, so they were forced to help with the planting. Later, Zhao Tingxu changed his mind and said they wouldn't separate, since Cheng Jinxiang and her husband would finish the work.

In the fourth year, the old man was not very proactive in his work, but because Zhao Chunni, Zhao Da'e's aunt, had just bought a new tractor, Zhao Tingxu sent Zhao Laosan to help with loading and unloading. It was all work involving hauling bricks and sand. Zhao Laosan went out and didn't come back, and Zhang Cuilan was busy taking care of the children. As a result, Zhao Laosan and his wife did not work again that year.

This year, for some unknown reason, Zhao Laosan started drinking small amounts of baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor) three times a day, consuming either half a jin (250ml) or eight liang (400ml) each time. He would drink more, then fall asleep, wake up, drink again, and get drunk again, eventually falling into a state of seclusion...

So, to sum it up, Zhao Laosan and his wife haven't done much work in recent years. This land was entirely cultivated by Zhao Da'e's parents. From spring planting to autumn harvest, summer hoeing, thinning, and watering, autumn harvesting, corn picking, and then threshing and bagging—it was all done by Zhao Da'e's parents. Sometimes there wasn't even anyone to help. If they were planting millet, they also had to thresh it and watch over the stacks.

Zhao Da'e's parents did the work, and Zhao Tingxu took the money. Afterwards, Zhao Tingxu couldn't explain where the money went. He didn't dare to tell the truth and said that the money was given to Zhao Da'e's aunt, Zhao Chunqin, insisting that it didn't exist.

He actually said he lost it.

Zhao Da'e thought the whole thing was disgusting.