A century of poverty

Chapter 21 Japanese Devils

On Zhang Gaoshi's side, Zhang Litianguan Changli Oil Mill had a sum of money. When the family divided the property, the land, farm tools, and useful household items were all taken into their hands under the pretext of "giving to the old man and his fourth uncle." Therefore, they have been living a life of abundance since the division of the family property.

The three daughters all got married one after another when they reached marriageable age.

The eldest daughter was a few years older than Xiaodie, and her husband's family lived in Leijiapu. She got married before Xiaodie.

The second daughter is one year older than Xiaodie and married into Mengjiagou.

The third daughter is two years older than Xiwang and married into Hezuo Village.

His two sons, Zhang Xifeng and Zhang Xigui, first studied at a private school under the care of the Third Master at the Sanguan Temple in Liuzhuangtuo, and later went to Lulong for middle school.

Later, when the Japanese were recruiting laborers, Third Master was killed by the Japanese while digging a "traffic ditch".

The old man died in grief after burying his third son. On his way back from Tangshan after suing Chang Ziyin, he was pushed into a ditch and then murdered by Chang Ziyin.

Both funerals held during the chaotic times were simple and did not involve much expense.

The old master had entrusted his son-in-law with the task of "finding peace for the mother and son in the east house after I pass away," but Zhao Si, the son-in-law of the east village, did not fulfill that request.

Currently, only Zhang Jingtian, the disabled fourth master who has never married, lives with them. His needs are simple; he simply eats at the table when it's mealtime and doesn't concern himself with household affairs. This was true when the old master was alive, and it's even more so now that the old master has passed away.

After the heads of Zhang Gao's family passed away one after another, she was over fifty years old. From then on, she made the decisions on all matters, big and small, in the family. Thanks to the property she had obtained when the family divided the property, the family continued to live a wealthy life.

Zhang Xifeng's niece, Gao Shuzhi, often came to stay. She was a year older than Zhang Xifeng, with high cheekbones, small eyes, a large chin, thin lips, fair skin, and medium height. She had a calm and profound demeanor. She secretly took a liking to Zhang Xifeng, who had double eyelids, big eyes, and a good temper.

After Xifeng and Xigui returned from middle school in Lulong, their cousin continued to live there instead of going home.

Zhang Xigui and his brother are about the same height, of medium build, with a puffy nose and cheeks. He has slightly smaller eyes, a slightly darker complexion, and a straightforward personality; he speaks his mind.

As time went on, Madam Zhang Gao realized her niece's feelings, and her eldest son seemed willing as well, so she wanted to arrange the marriage. She thought to herself, "The East Courtyard has been poor for so many years, and now she's married and even pregnant. I'm better off than her in every way, and I can't fall behind in this. My son is eighteen, he's not young anymore. Since both of them are willing, I'll grant their wish."

Zhang Xigui expressed his disagreement: "I don't agree with my cousin becoming my sister-in-law."

Madam Zhang Gao: "If you don't agree, fine, we're not giving it to you anyway. Your cousin isn't an outsider, it's like family, it'll make things even closer! I'll make the decision, it's settled then, vacate the two west wing rooms for their wedding."

Zhang Xigui's objections were ignored, the west wing was repainted inside and out, and the two got married.

The family's food and clothing expenses remained the same. Every five or ten days, when they went to the market at Shimen, Zhang Gaoshi would deliberately tell her son loudly, "Cut two catties of meat," so that Second Madam would hear that we have meat to eat while you can't even afford porridge.

His eldest son would obediently cut the meat back, and the whole family would stew it together.

The two brothers were educated from a young age and not good at farming, so they hired help for spring planting and autumn harvesting. The younger brother, Zhang Xigui, disagreed with this way of life: "We two brothers are still hiring help at home? Doesn't that cost money?"

His mother said, "You don't know what's good for you! I'm just worried about you!"

Zhang Xigui: "You just sold my grandfather's few acres of land on the ditch by the main road, without even asking why he died?"

His mother: "You've really grown up, daring to talk to me like that." She cried out and plopped down on the ground, "My husband—look at the good son you raised, what's the point of me still being alive…"

Zhang Xifeng hid in his room and wouldn't come out. Gao Shuzhi hurried over, pulling his mother-in-law up from the ground while saying, "Mom! Don't cry, people will laugh at you." As he spoke, he glanced towards the east courtyard. Hearing this, the mother-in-law indeed stopped crying and turned to her brother-in-law: "How can you talk to your mother like that? Quickly admit you're wrong!"

Zhang Xigui snorted at them and walked away. He had been holding back for a long time—the festival was only a few days away, and they still insisted on cutting two pounds of meat.

He couldn't stand his mother's way of life, and he couldn't stand his brother's indulgence of their mother and sister-in-law. After the Dragon Boat Festival, he went to western Beijing with several people from the village.

He carried the heavy load on his shoulders, working tirelessly day and night, no matter how rugged and muddy the road, step by step, walking countless miles a day, sacrificing his young life to make a living. After more than two years of perseverance, they were reluctant to spend the meager sum they earned, saving every penny.

Since marrying into the family, Xiuying has always listened to her mother-in-law, working like a machine, managing the household and the fields with remarkable skill.

Second Grandma had endured many years of hardship, getting used to a life of eating coarse food and wild vegetables.

The grain harvested from a few acres of barren land, after deducting taxes and levies, with only a small amount left for personal use, was sold off, leaving them to live on bran and vegetables for half a year.

On rainy days, the yard was flooded, and a layer of chaff floated on the outhouse.

They practiced strict frugality, saving every penny they could.

Hoping to buy a donkey from the market, on the open ground outside the second wall, there were newly buried wooden stakes, a newly built stone platform, and a newly carved stone trough filled with finely chopped dry grass. Xiuying was using a flat shovel to place fine soil under the donkey's feet.

Hope and Zhang Xiaoyong watched the donkey graze. Hope's mother looked at the long-haired, listless little donkey and said, "What kind of donkey did you buy? It looks like a listless dog."

Hope: "This is a donkey foal. Its previous owner didn't feed it properly, so it's listless, but its hair is long. If you feed it well this winter and add some feed, it will stretch and grow a lot in the spring. If you take good care of it, it will be a good fellow."

Zhang Xiaoyong's eyes lit up with hope: "Uncle, selling earthenware pots is still profitable, right?"

Hopefully, the answer will be "Yes!"

Zhang Xiaoyong: "I'm also looking forward to working with you. Take me with you tomorrow too."

Hope: "Doing this? Haven't you heard of those who sell earthenware pots, working from dawn till dusk chasing after dead ghosts?"

Zhang Xiaoyong: "These days, if you don't go out and earn some money, life is hard... Also, you have to help me buy a donkey so we can go together."

Hope: "No problem, I'll buy it for you in the next episode."

At the livestock market on market day, Zhang Xiaoyong, with the help of a good friend, bought a donkey that was both good-natured and strong.

To ensure his donkey grew up well, he gritted his teeth and bought a bag of black beans, feeding it with great care. He provided it with mixed hay and water, and if he came back early from selling the earthenware pot, he would take it outside to roll around in it. In less than a year, the donkey, braying loudly, grew into a fine piece of livestock.

Hope and Xiaoyong worked from dawn till dusk every day. To carry more goods, they would load earthenware pots and lead their donkeys, only riding them after they were sold out. This was much faster and easier than carrying loads on shoulder poles.

With companions, they carried more earthenware pots, traveled farther, and returned farther.

Both were young, in the prime of their lives. That day, they packed their loads, led their donkey, and said hopefully, "Today we'll head east, a long way, to pave the way for the future."

Xiaoyong agreed: "Okay, wherever you say, we'll go. I'll listen to you."

Having said that, the two quickened their pace and walked eastward down the mountain. After crossing Anshan, it was just beginning to get light. Hope saw it clearly ahead and exclaimed, "I was wondering what it was! That swishing sound... it's that one! It's followed us all the way from Anshan!"

Zhang Xiaoyong: "We were the ones who were startled; it got up early too."

"Hahaha—hahaha—" The two men laughed loudly, which startled the bird, which suddenly disappeared into the dense grass.

Arriving in Changli, just after breakfast, the two men sat down at a breakfast stall that was about to close. The stall owner came over and greeted them, "If you two don't mind, here's another basket of sesame cakes." He also brought over half a bowl of porridge and a plate of pickled vegetables. The two men were really hungry, and they ate with relish. It took them longer than half a day to travel sixty li from home.

After finishing the meal, Hope said, "Let's part ways here, one heading south and the other north. We'll meet again around the same time later this afternoon, no exceptions. Which way are you going?"

Xiaoyong said, "I'm going south."

The two went their separate ways, each selling their own goods.

Xiaoyong headed south, sold his wares for a while in Liutaizhuang Town, then went to the villages below and sold almost everything. Back in town, he traded the remaining two slightly misfit bowls for a roll of bean curd sheets, and went to the agreed-upon meeting place to wait for his friends.

They hoped to head north, from Jieshi Mountain to Liujia Mountain, Puziyu, and then to Suizizhuang, and sell everything on their way back.

When the two met, they took off their fodder bags, fed the donkey, and rested for a while. Then they saw trucks carrying Japanese soldiers coming from the east and heading west. After the Japanese convoy passed, the two rode the donkey back home.

They arrived at Gujiadian in no time, about twenty li from home. They dismounted the donkey and walked around a bit. They also let the donkey rest, taking a shortcut away from the main road, chatting as they walked.

Hope said, "You see? The Japanese devils are like rabbits whose tails can't grow long."

Xiaoyong asked, "How did you know?"

Hope: "Didn't you see that Japanese soldier was over sixty years old? He's already shaved, and his beard is all white stubble. It shows that Japan has no one left..."

Hsiao-yong: "That feels good. Japan is finished, and we can finally live a good life."

Hope: "That makes sense, but I don't know whether the Eighth Route Army or the Central Army will win the country."

Xiao Yong: "Whoever wins the world, we're all just living our lives."

Hope: "That's different, just you wait and see!"

Zhang Xiaoyong was unaware that Xi had joined the Chinese Communist Party and was transmitting intelligence to the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.