RIRW – Chapter 8

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Leaving the orchard, Zuo Dan instinctively glanced around to check if anyone was nearby before heading out of the woods and making her way home.

When she returned, it was only a little past three in the afternoon. Most of the family members were out working, leaving only Xu Fengxia and Zuo Huan at home. Zuo Dan thought that apart from her—the “patient”—these two were the most idle in the entire Zuo family village. And it wasn’t just a temporary idleness; they were always like this.

In an era brimming with enthusiasm and hard work, being so idle wasn’t easy to pull off. Zuo Dan couldn’t fathom why the old lady of the Zuo family indulged the eldest household so much.

After all, while Li Hui’s maiden family might currently have a bad political label, the Zuo family’s only male grandchild had come from her womb.

By the logic of the times, shouldn’t her status have been elevated because of her son?

Yet, while her younger brother was sent to study in the county, Li Hui’s position in the family remained low. Aside from working hard every day, she had no voice in family affairs.

What was the old lady even thinking?

“Hey, Dandan, you went to meet the newcomers today, right? What are those educated youths like? Do they look different from the people in our village?” Zuo Huan, reclining on the bed, legs crossed and munching on sunflower seeds, asked while spitting out the shells.

Carrying a towel to fetch water for washing her face, Zuo Dan raised an eyebrow. “What would be different? They have the same pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth.”

“I meant are they good-looking or not!” Zuo Huan impatiently frowned.

“Go see for yourself. How would I know who you’d find good-looking?” Zuo Dan replied with a smile, then carried her basin and walked out.

If someone wanted information, they should have a better attitude. She wasn’t about to put up with that.

Anyway, among the educated youths, only Shen Yiming was notably handsome, and that Li Chenliang fellow had a somewhat rugged appeal. The rest were just average.

But those two? One had a bad temper, and the other looked sly. Neither was her type.

Back in the house, Zuo Huan scowled. “What’s so great about her? I’ll just go see for myself.”

As usual, the Zuo family returned home after dark.

That evening, they ate pumpkin dumplings. Since Zuo Dan had eaten fruit earlier, she wasn’t hungry. When Li Hui served her portion, she immediately returned it and even transferred some from her bowl to Li Hui’s.

Watching this display of mother-daughter affection, Xu Fengxia felt a twinge of jealousy. She had raised two daughters, yet neither ever offered her anything.

Setting down her chopsticks, she looked at Zuo Grandmother. “Mom, now that the educated youths have arrived and Dandan is fine, isn’t it about time she started working in the fields?”

Zuo Dan, mulling over ways to sneak some good food for Li Hui and her husband, heard Xu Fengxia’s words and smiled. “Auntie, I was thinking the same thing. I’ll go work in the fields with Sister Huan tomorrow.”

In this era, she wasn’t planning on shirking work. But she wasn’t about to let others laze around while she toiled away either.

“Why me? My stomach hurts; I’m not feeling well,” Zuo Huan immediately protested.

Every year, she only worked during the spring planting season. The rest of the time, she avoided the fields, unwilling to risk her fair skin under the scorching sun. Besides, it was harvest season, meaning the workload would be heavy.

Zuo Dan responded, “Funny, you didn’t mention any stomach pain yesterday while eating eggs. I think it’s better if Grandmother rests tomorrow. She’s getting older and has been working so hard lately. Young people like us should take over and let Grandmother stay home.”

She looked at Zuo Grandmother with a face full of filial concern.

Zuo Grandmother hadn’t expected Dandan to say that. She felt a little moved. Normally, she only worked during harvest season, but even then, her aging body could barely keep up.

Yet, such words were hard for her to say aloud.

She had worked all her life. If she stopped while still physically capable, people might gossip.

Zuo Dacheng, smiling, chimed in, “Dandan’s such a thoughtful child. Mom really has been overworking herself these past few days. Mom, how about you rest tomorrow and join us later?”

Zuo Grandmother deliberately put on a stern face. “How could I? There’s still so much work to do.”

“Don’t worry, Grandmother. With Sister Huan and me helping out, we’ll handle it. Uncle is so filial; I’m sure he agrees. Right, Uncle?” Zuo Dan said sweetly, looking at her eldest uncle.

Caught off guard, Zuo Hongjun nodded reflexively.

“Hongjun, how could you agree to that?” Xu Fengxia exclaimed angrily.

Zuo Grandmother’s expression immediately darkened.

Her eldest daughter-in-law’s words made it clear she expected the elderly woman to keep working in the fields.

She didn’t care about doing a bit more or less work—it was the younger generation’s attitude that mattered. But now, the attitude of the eldest household was far too disappointing.

Zuo Dan said, “Auntie, if Uncle wants to be filial, why are you so reluctant?”

“You can’t expect your Sister Huan to work in the fields. She’s not feeling well,” Xu Fengxia retorted, realizing she had misspoken earlier and stiffly standing her ground.

Hearing this, Zuo Dan put on a troubled expression. “Then how about this: let Sister Huan and Grandmother stay at home to cook, and Auntie, you can go to the fields. That way, it’s also your way of showing filial piety to Grandmother.”

Just as Xu Fengxia was about to voice her displeasure, Zuo Hongjun suddenly slammed the table. “Enough! That’s how it’ll be. Let Mom rest at home. Tomorrow, you’ll come with me to the fields.”

Normally, Zuo Hongjun didn’t get involved in household matters, but when it came to being filial to his mother, he didn’t fall short.

With Zuo Hongjun making the decision, Xu Fengxia gritted her teeth and reluctantly agreed.

Zuo Huan, seeing that she didn’t have to go to the fields, visibly relaxed and focused on eating her meal. As long as she wasn’t the one doing the work, it was fine.

After dinner, as usual, Li Hui washed the dishes, and Zuo Dan helped her in the kitchen.

“Dandan, you shouldn’t have said that earlier. Your aunt and uncle must be upset now,” Li Hui sighed.

As she boiled water, Zuo Dan raised her head from behind the stove and said, “I didn’t say anything wrong. Letting Grandmother rest at home—isn’t that a good thing?”

Li Hui opened her mouth to respond but then hesitated, lowering her head and continuing with her work.

Looking at her slightly hunched figure and weathered face, Zuo Dan couldn’t help but feel sad. She didn’t resemble her father, Zuo Dacheng, but instead took after Li Hui.

Though her skin was tanned, her features were delicate, with classic almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and a small mouth. One could easily imagine how beautiful Li Hui must have been in her youth. But now, all traces of her former elegance were gone.

“Mom, with the way Grandmother and Auntie treat you, why do you endure it? Even if Grandpa’s family has political issues, your marriage to Dad was mutual. The Zuo family has no right to look down on you for it.”

Deep down, she was frustrated with Li Hui’s inability to stand up for herself.

Given Zuo Dacheng’s affection for her, if Li Hui had been more assertive, her status in the family wouldn’t have been this low.

Li Hui’s face paled. “I… I don’t think it’s so bad. Your Grandmother is just set in her ways. She’s actually a good person. And your Auntie… well, she’s just harboring resentment.”

“I haven’t seen where Grandmother is so good.” She was nothing like the grandmothers Dandan knew.

She probed cautiously, “Mom, have you ever thought about splitting off from the family?”

Li Hui’s hand slipped, nearly dropping the bowl she was washing. Startled, she quickly grew serious. “Dandan, what are you talking about? Don’t say such nonsense again. If Grandmother hears that, she’ll be furious. Your father wouldn’t agree either. It’s unfilial!”

As long as the elders were alive, separating from the family was unthinkable.

Seeing her mother’s intense reaction, Zuo Dan’s heart sank. She quickly said, “Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up again. I was just asking. I won’t say it again.”

But inwardly, she couldn’t help but grimace. It seemed there was no hope of change from her parents—they were thoroughly brainwashed.

“Hongjun, life is unbearable. Look at that girl today, acting so arrogant—deciding who does what as if she’s in charge! Am I even an elder anymore?”

After dinner, back in their room, Xu Fengxia was still fuming. She couldn’t stop thinking about how Dandan had dominated the dinner conversation and manipulated everyone into agreeing with her. The thought that she herself had been roped into working the fields tomorrow only made her angrier. She felt like a fool, outsmarted by a younger generation.

Zuo Hongjun puffed on his pipe, growing irritated at her complaints. “What’s so unbearable? It’s just some work. If the second couple can work, why can’t you?”

“How is that the same? It’s their responsibility. If you became the brigade leader, the work points would be higher, and I wouldn’t have to go to the fields at all. It’s all because of the second household. Tomorrow, if all three of them go work, and we also send three, aren’t we losing out? It’s unfair!”

The mention of becoming the brigade leader soured Zuo Hongjun’s mood. He took a heavy drag on his pipe and snapped, “So what do you want to do?”

Xu Fengxia’s eyes darted as she schemed. “Don’t get mad at me, but I think we should have the second household split off. Then every season, they’d give us a share of the grain. That seems fair.”

“What?!” Zuo Hongjun shot to his feet in shock.

“Keep your voice down! Don’t let Mom hear,” Xu Fengxia quickly pressed him back onto the bed. “I’m just discussing it with you.”

With a stern expression, Zuo Hongjun said, “I disagree.”

He had promised his father that the Zuo family would never break apart.