Chapter 3

The houses in this communal courtyard were separated by just a single wall. With a slight turn in bed, one could hear the sounds next door. Jiang Shuangshuang spoke in a voice neither too loud nor too soft—not hiding it, nor deliberately raising it—but those inside the house who were meant to hear still caught it.

Yet what could they do after hearing it?

Back in her own room, Old Lady Wang slapped her thigh in frustration, though she dared not curse outside. Instead, she nudged the old man beside her. “Aren’t you going to scold her?”

Old Man Jiang sat cross-legged, unmoving. “My recliner was just fixed yesterday. If it breaks again, it can’t be repaired.”

He had suffered through a bitter life, and his only solace was the recliner placed in the yard.

When idle, lying back and rocking gently, his heart felt a little lighter.

Bought two or three years ago, it was his precious treasure.

And yet?

When Jiang Shuangshuang lost her temper, she hoisted his beloved chair and smashed it on the ground, breaking it beyond recognition. He had to beg and plead, offering a half-pound of pork just to get it fixed.

The carpenter warned that if it broke again, no repair would be possible—they’d have to buy a new one.

But given the family’s current situation, where could they find money for another?

“Then you don’t care anymore?”

“What’s the point?” Old Man Jiang’s face was calm as still water. “Did she mention anything to you? Nothing at all. So why are you so worked up? Just pretend you didn’t hear their whispers behind your back.”

Old Lady Wang clutched her chest. “But it stifles me!”

Old Man Jiang closed his eyes.

What could they do about feeling stifled?

If there was blame to be placed, it was on their own inability.

None in this household was capable; sons were useless, grandsons no better. Why then had Xu Yingxia, taking over the job, managed to raise her salary to over forty yuan, while others could not?

Because of that salary, they were already trapped.

Frankly, the third son’s wife was easier to deal with. Though she fought hard for her children over the years, she never refused to pay her share. If the family hadn’t been so utterly broke this time, buying a job for Jiang Shuangshuang might not have caused such a ruckus.

But the family truly had no money.

Never mind Shuangshuang’s share; even trying to scrape together funds for a grandson’s job was uncertain.

Monthly income was meager, the household large and bustling. Food, drink, and daily necessities all cost money. Over the years, the family’s assets had not grown a bit; they had only dwindled.

He had long since wanted to stop managing the household.

At their age, why cling so tightly to so many people?

Every day they worried about what to eat tomorrow. No matter how much they managed, everyone accused them of favoritism. There was no good to be gained.

Better to divide the family, let the descendants live their own lives.

After all, they would still pay their pensions. Then he could be like Old Liu next door—playing chess, fishing every day, living a comfortable life.

Unfortunately, the old woman just couldn’t see it.

She stubbornly clung to the money, unwilling to let go.

“I definitely don’t agree to split the family,” Old Lady Wang said stubbornly. “I don’t believe we can’t handle a little girl. If she dares to break things at home again or lay hands on the Xiaohe brothers, I’ll… I’ll call the police to deal with her.”

Old Man Jiang kept his eyes closed, silent.

Let them make a fuss.

If it ended in splitting the family, so much the better.

Though Old Lady Wang was tough in words, once outside the room she was silent and subdued.

She slipped into the kitchen alone, busily helping Jiang Ersao prepare dinner.

Except for the four who worked away from home and didn’t eat there, every day they cooked enough for eight or nine mouths over two meals.

When Old Lady Wang got the grain, she counted every grain as if afraid there would be too much.

“Mother, shouldn’t Third Brother’s wife and Shuangshuang stay for dinner too?” Jiang Ersao reminded her, fearing she might forget to allocate enough food, which would mean she herself would eat less later.

Old Lady Wang paused, then added another small bowl of cornmeal.

Muttering quietly, “Those two are so heartless, they get their grain every month and still come freeloading on my family’s food…”

Jiang Ersao pretended not to hear.

Previously, she had overheard Third Brother’s wife and daughter outside.

She almost laughed out loud at Jiang Shuangshuang’s idea, but after laughing felt uneasy. If Third Brother’s family split off, she feared they truly wouldn’t survive.

There were four jobs total in the old house.

One each for the eldest brother and his wife, one for her family’s second son, and one for the youngest brother.

If they divided, they’d have to rely on the son to support them all. But the son only took over the job last year and was still on a temporary worker’s wage. How could he support a family?

“Regret it now, don’t you?” Old Lady Wang, a mother-in-law for most of her life, saw right through her thoughts and snapped, “If you hadn’t transferred the job without telling us last year, you’d regret it now.”

Jiang Ersao smiled awkwardly.

She didn’t want to, but her husband insisted their son take over.

Saying the work was too exhausting, and if it continued she’d soon be a widow.

What choice did she have?

“It’s good to have Xiaopeng take over; otherwise, he’d have to go down to the countryside too,” Jiang Ersao said. She was willing to let her daughter go down, but not her son—especially since one son was already there. Losing another would break her heart.

Unlike the youngest brother’s family.

Last year, Jiang Xiaoguo, the youngest brother’s son, was old enough but had dodged going down until this year.

If he still couldn’t find a job, he’d have to go to the countryside.

Every time she saw them flustered, she was grateful her second son had taken the job.

But she suspected the youngest brother’s family was also planning for their son to take over.

They had only one son and one daughter; there was no way they would let their son go to the countryside.

That would cause more family quarrels.

Curious, she asked, “Mother, are you really planning to buy a job for Xiaoguo?”

“Buy? What buy?” Old Lady Wang’s face darkened. “Do you think job quotas are just something you can buy whenever you want?”

“So Xiaoguo will have to go down to the countryside?”

“It’s none of your business, why do you care so much?” Old Lady Wang shot her a glare.

If she were honest, she couldn’t bear to send a single grandson down.

But with their limited means, even if a job opened up, they couldn’t afford it. “Enough talk. Stop wasting time and get the meal ready.”

Ignoring her, Old Lady Wang turned to leave the kitchen.

But after a few steps, she saw the two women sitting outside the door.

Without any hesitation, she turned back into the kitchen with a blank expression. “Fine, I’ll help you. With your slow ways, who knows how long it’ll take.”

Jiang Ersao felt wronged.

She was clearly just scared of those two outside—how was that her fault?

But without the confidence of Third Brother’s wife, she quietly resumed her work.

Half an hour later, those who needed to leave did so.

On the surface, everyone was friendly, but who in the family had no private thoughts?

Xu Yingxia stayed to mooch dinner, really intending to bring up the subject of splitting the family at the table.

First, to gauge the elders’ attitudes; if that failed, then try Jiang Shuangshuang’s idea. It wasn’t that she truly wished to remarry—if she had wanted that, she would have done so long ago.

Just testing the waters.

Given the stubbornness of the old man and woman, they didn’t want a public dispute.

After a couple of spoonfuls of cornmeal porridge, Xu Yingxia began, “Father, Mother, I came today to…”

“Oh dear! How did the second daughter-in-law cook? There was a big stone that almost broke my tooth!” Old Lady Wang suddenly exclaimed in a strange tone, searching for an excuse to complain ceaselessly.

Was it unusual to find a stone in the food?

Since Jiang Shuangshuang had come, who knew how many little stones had been found in meals?

At first, they thought the food simply hadn’t been cleaned properly.

After complaining, Old Lady Wang snapped, “If you don’t like it, don’t eat,” then grabbed the bowl and finished the cornmeal porridge.

Then what?

Jiang Shuangshuang tilted her head and thought.

Right. Then she smashed the old lady’s bowl. If she couldn’t eat, no one else would either.

Now, for a single small stone, they made a fuss to prevent Xu Yingxia from speaking up.

And sure enough, that was the case.

Old Lady Wang complained until she was hoarse, finally forced to stop.

When Xu Yingxia tried to speak again, Jiang Ersao looked guilty and babbled, “I’ll keep an eye out next time. Don’t let mother break a tooth again. If it hurts badly, just tell me, I’ll…”

Old Lady Wang gave her an approving look. “You should be more careful.”

The two women exchanged barbs.

Even those who had just come home sensed something was wrong.

They glanced around nervously, then ate faster, afraid that any trouble might mean missing the meal.

After all, such outbursts—slamming the table, smashing bowls—had happened often recently.

“Mother,” Xu Yingxia called out.

Raising her voice to drown them out, she said, “I’ve thought about it these past days. Old Jiang has been gone for many years now, and Shuangshuang and her two siblings have grown up. Still…”

“Oh my!” Old Lady Wang clutched her chest in a wail, grabbing the old man nearby. “Quick, take me to the clinic! Whenever I hear about the third son, my chest hurts so much! Oh, I’m struggling to breathe!”

With this act, who could focus on the meal?

Her flushed face looked nothing like someone in pain.

But whether real or feigned, she had to be taken.

Several grandchildren rose, stumbling over each other as they helped the old man and woman out.

Within two minutes, only three or four people remained inside.

Xu Yingxia faltered, unsure how to continue.

Glancing sideways, she rolled her eyes again. “You can still eat?”

Jiang Shuangshuang had a good appetite; she was an easy person to feed.

With money, she’d have delicacies; without, she’d make do with plain rice and water.

Only after eating well could one have strength.

“If I don’t eat, what else? Everyone’s gone; what’s the point of talking?”

Across the table, Jiang Dasaoyang rolled her eyes, hesitating a moment before asking, “Sister-in-law, what did you want to say earlier?”

Xu Yingxia gave her a glance. “Nothing, just small talk.”

Among the sisters-in-law, she least wanted to deal with Jiang Dasaoyang.

Beneath her affable exterior was sharp cunning; one misstep and one would suffer.

Otherwise, why would only the couple each hold a job in such a large family?

To survive here, some things required not only fighting but craftiness. Otherwise, how could they get their hands on anything?

If anyone was happiest about splitting the family, it would be Dasaoyang.

The eldest brother and his wife each had a job; splitting would make life much easier.

But anyone could bring up dividing the family—except the eldest sister-in-law.

Her job was secured through her own efforts. The family had paid over five hundred yuan for it. She had promised everyone that she only wanted the job; the salary would be handed over entirely, and she would never mention splitting.

“Good if there’s no problem,” Jiang Dasaoyang smiled lightly, “but you really should think fast. You’ve already sent one daughter away; you can’t let Shuangshuang go to the countryside too. Her cousin sent a letter before, soaked with tears. As a mother, that hurts my heart.”

Xu Yingxia felt that pain too.

Not for Shuangshuang—once the decision was made, if no suitable match was found, she would take over the job. Shuangshuang would never be sent down.

But the eldest daughter had already gone two years ago, and no one knew how her life was.

Oddly, she had complained bitterly in letters at first, but later letters were no longer filled with tears, even once sending two pounds of white flour.

Two pounds was not much.

But among all the children sent down, only Huanhuan sent things home.

Seeing Xu Yingxia silent, Jiang Dasaoyang added, “If you’re planning anything, better plan early. Waiting until the day to go down is too late.”

“This is none of your concern, sister-in-law,” Xu Yingxia knew what she meant.

It was just an attempt to stir up division, letting her benefit from it.

She tossed the topic back. “I heard your brother was arrested again? You know my Shuangshuang has some connections with the police bureau. If you’re worried, have her check and report back to you.”

“No need, he’ll be out in a few days,” Jiang Dasaoyang said sourly.

What good would a check do? It wasn’t to help with connections, just to gawk and see her misfortune.

Without interest in stirring trouble, she found an excuse and went inside.

Once they were gone, Xu Yingxia sneered, “I knew she had bad intentions.”

“Mom, you’re quite the talker,” Jiang Shuangshuang smiled, eyes narrowed. “‘My Shuangshuang has connections with the police bureau’—what connections do I have?”

Xu Yingxia picked up some pickled vegetables for her. “At least you know a few people, right?”

At that moment, Jiang Nannan came inside and greeted softly.

Xu Yingxia asked casually, “How’s your grandmother?”

“Nothing serious, just needs to rest more,” Jiang Nannan began clearing the dishes and took them into the kitchen.

Xu Yingxia realized if they didn’t leave, the old lady probably wouldn’t return.

Without time to waste, she decided to leave first. She came every day anyway; she wasn’t worried about missing a chance to talk.

The two women left arm in arm.

Jiang Nannan, having just finished tidying, watched their backs, standing dazed for a while, lost in thought.

She stood there for several minutes until Jiang Ersao came out. “Why are you standing there like a fool? If you have time, go through the clothes in my room and mend anything that needs fixing.”

If she went down to the countryside, she wouldn’t have her daughter patching up her clothes.

“Mom,” Jiang Nannan called softly, “Did Grandma find a match for Shuangshuang? Could it be…”

“Impossible. Who told you you were missing a father to save you?” Jiang Ersao cut her off, knowing what she was about to say. “Just focus on going down. Didn’t you read your cousin’s letter? The countryside isn’t as bad as you think. Stay a few years, then it will be easier to find someone.”

It wasn’t that they couldn’t find a match for Jiang Nannan.

But privately, she had done the math and realized it would cost money to make a proper match. Jobs for young men were scarce, and dowries were low. It wasn’t worth the trouble; going down was better.

“I’m going outside for a bit. You hurry up and sort through the clothes in my room.”

Jiang Nannan once more stared after the departing backs.

Her cousin’s letter didn’t complain, but it didn’t mention how a girl in the backstreet was bullied to death, sent home with both legs broken, now paralyzed and never leaving the house.

She dared not gamble.

She had never had good luck.

If the place was bad, she might not be able to return even if she wanted to.

She glanced subtly at a closed door.

Taking a deep breath, she quietly slipped into her grandparents’ room unnoticed…