The flowers bloom and fall, and another year of winter is approaching.

In the small courtyard of the Su family, Aunt Su and Liu Sanniang knelt in front of the altar and kowtowed respectfully, looking at the statue on the altar, Aunt Su asked worriedly: "Second sister-in-law, has Chen'er never heard from me since then?" ”

Hearing Aunt Su's question, Liu Sanniang pulled her grayer and grayer hair, and said heavily, "No!" Your second brother asked people to inquire many times in the county seat, but they all said that there was no news. I don't know where this child is now, whether he is okay or not! ”

Aunt Su's teary eyes were hazy, and her voice was choked: "I don't know if Chen'er has anything to do, it's really worrying." The second sister-in-law, the seven people who went with the village, have sent five death letters! Your brother-in-law, a big man, would sit in his eldest brother's yard and cry for a long time every time he heard such news. In the past two years, every corner of the land left by Chen'er has planted food for him, but he can't open the pot at home, and he is not willing to take out one or two to eat! ”

Liu Sanniang understood this behavior of Second Uncle Su, if it wasn't for Ji Wenchen's persuasion, she would have blamed Second Uncle Su for sending his obedient apprentice to the battlefield too ruthlessly. But after thinking about it, she also understood Second Uncle Su's sadness, so she comforted Aunt Su and said, "Eldest sister, go back and tell your brother-in-law that Chen'er's lack of news is good news." We have to believe that he will come back alive. ”

Sister Su stretched out her hand to wipe her tears: "I've told him many times, but he just can't let go of it!" He also said that if . . In the novel, Chen'er really had something, so he let Fu'er take his eldest brother's sect. He said he couldn't let his big brother be gone! ”

Hearing this, Liu Sanniang said in a daze: "Eldest sister, Fu'er is your eldest son?" Is my brother-in-law really willing to do this? Are you willing? ”

Sister Su immediately cried: "Second sister-in-law, Chen'er is the only son of the eldest brother, he can replace his own uncle to fight, where are we reluctant to have an eldest son?" Although Fu'er is the eldest son, he is still a little short of Chen'er, how can I be reluctant? Chen'er left his life to his uncle! ”

With a sigh, Liu Sanniang, who was sour in her heart, stood up and said, "Okay, eldest sister, don't worry too much and be too sad, I have always felt that Chen'er, this child, is blessed with a great life, and God bless him." There is no letter now, because it is still fighting, and there is definitely no time to write a letter. Why don't you stay here for another day today and then go back, I think Ju'er and Qiqi can also have fun, it's rare to go down the mountain, let her play for two more days, right? ”

Sister Su patted the dust on her body and stood up and said, "No, second sister-in-law, how can you leave the house for a few days?" A few big men are at home, and they don't know if the pigs are fed! Come back next time, I'll have to come back to see you before the Chinese New Year anyway. ”

"Aren't you going to see them?"

Sister Su knew what she was referring to, shook her head and said, "Second sister-in-law, since the day I got married, I swore that I would not recognize this father and mother in this life." In fact, where could I be considered to be married back then? In order to let the Ji family pay the money, she also asked the master in the village to write a deed of sale to the Ji family, and I have nothing to do with them.

The second sister-in-law said that they pity the hearts of parents all over the world, and my eldest sister Su has nothing to enjoy in this life. I also have daughters now, and I will never sell them as objects unless I have to. Was it really difficult for the family back then? You know, I had someone in my heart at the time, and they only thought of me as a person at all. ”

Liu Sanniang still remembers the appearance of this sister-in-law getting married at that time, if it wasn't for the fact that she talked to her and comforted her so much, she was afraid that she would really not be able to think about it back then. Actually, that young man is so suitable for his sister-in-law. And the uncle of the Ji family, who is many years older, is too mountainous, and only this Aunt Su will be willing to send her own daughter to the mountain for the sake of silver.

Feeling the sister-in-law's kindness to her daughter, Liu Sanniang said embarrassedly: "You still came to give Qiqi a tenth-birthday gift so far away, and I didn't have anything to bring back to my sister-in-law, I played a few catties of vegetable oil in the first half of the year, you can bring some of it, it can be regarded as a little bit of my sister-in-law!" ”

Sister Su knew that she would be upset if she didn't take this sister-in-law, so she had to say gratefully: "Second sister-in-law, you and your second brother are such a child, if you are a good year, everyone who has the conditions will have to get a few tables to congratulate." My aunt is also a poor aunt, so I can only give a chicken to the child! ”

Liu Sanniang said very politely: "Eldest sister, don't say that, there are a lot of chickens, and you can afford to look at Qiqi." Qiqi and her second aunt also came the day before yesterday, she has so many children herself, she can't open her mouth, and she has to send eggs to Qiqi! ”

Sister Su sighed: "This is also how it should be." What kid can have another 10th birthday? When they reach their twentieth birthday, that's his daughter-in-law's business. Besides, second sister-in-law, which of our children did you not send? I heard the third brother and sister say, the eldest brother, the children, you just didn't pull down and give something no matter how hard you worked, what did the sister-in-law give Qiqi this time? ”

Liu Sanniang smiled and said, "Isn't that how it should be?" Speaking of which, nephews and nieces are all relatives, and you should give something on your birthday. Sister-in-law, she also sent a pound of fat to Qiqi yesterday, and her third aunt also pulled a piece of cloth for Qiqi. Lanzi sent a bucket of rice over, and I don't know what to give back to her! ”

Sister Su comforted her: "Second sister-in-law, just mean it, everyone brings it to Qiqi, it's all sincere, don't feel embarrassed!" You and your second brother are the best to us brothers and sisters, how many of the girls in this village get along like our family? Last time, I heard from my second cousin that my second brother took the time to build a new pigpen for her, and she didn't have a penny of silver! ”

Liu Sanniang smiled lightly and said: "Speaking of cousins, aren't they actually the same as brothers and sisters?" Can my brother still ask for silver to build a pigpen for my sister? It's a joke to say! If you don't have enough oil and salt at home after you go back, let your brother-in-law or rich child come down, and then your second brother will also receive the salary and silver, buy some for you, don't save too much food, the children are growing! ”

Sister Su's nose was sour, and tears fell down: "Second sister-in-law, my mother was half as good as you back then, and I was also at peace!" I don't have to marry someone else's family, but how can she care about my feelings? She sold me for ten taels of silver, and she didn't even give me decent clothes. ”

said that her mother-in-law was not the one who said in front of her daughter-in-law, even if she knew that this mother-in-law was indeed not an elder, Liu Sanniang couldn't answer. So she patted Sister Su's hand and said, "At that time, it was also a poor word!" Don't think about it so much. Fortunately, my brother-in-law is a good person, and it is good for you, so you don't have to think too much. In fact, she is a person, whether you blame her or not, can she take it to heart? Why bother making yourself uncomfortable? ”

When Sister Su heard this, her heart was clear: "Yes, what do I have to be sad about?" It's better to be born an orphan. In her eyes, except for silver and the eldest son, nothing else entered her eyes. The second sister-in-law is right, why should I make myself uncomfortable? Now I only miss Chen'er, after returning to the mountain, I give incense to the Buddha every day, so that he can bless Chen'er to come back safely as soon as possible. ”

Aunt Su only stayed for one night and insisted on leaving, and Liu Sanniang had to send them out with Su Qiqi.

"Liu Sanniang, I said that you have no conscience and a black heart, the eldest sister went home, why did you drag her and not let her go back to see her father? Is there such a thing as a daughter-in-law like you? As soon as she went out, Aunt Su stopped at her door as if she was going to eat people.

Su Qiqi became more and more disgusted with this old woman, but she couldn't disrespect her, so she had to pull Ji Qiuju to stand aside and bow her head as a wooden man.

"Eldest sister, you are also a conscienceless thing, don't say that you have come back to be filial to your father and mother for so many years, at least you have to come to see us during the New Year's Day, right? Now that you are at the door of the house, you don't even go into the house to see your father, you think you are jumping out of the cracks in the stones! If the daughter of a married woman in this world does not return to her parents' house, I am afraid that you are the only one in our village! I used to say that you are not a person with a conscience, and you really bring people bad! ”

Looking at Aunt Su who opened her mouth to scold, Liu Sanniang stood at the door and smiled bitterly, she couldn't answer this mother-in-law's words. Why doesn't my sister-in-law go home? And what is the purpose of letting her go home? Do you really miss your daughter? The devil will believe it!

"Daddy? I don't have a father and mother for a long time! Fifteen years ago, I was sold by that ruthless father, how can I come to be a father? Auntie, are you confused to recognize your daughter everywhere? "Sister Su is not Liu Sanniang, the guy in her heart hasn't been vented for more than ten years, and when she heard Aunt Su's scolding, her heart suddenly became angry.

"I'll beat you to death this conscienceless thing, you're so blind that you don't even recognize your own mother, I'll kill you!" Aunt Su is about to pounce on Sister Su.

Facing the old woman she didn't want to look at for more than ten years, seeing that she not only didn't feel a little guilty when she saw herself, but only let her temper come as before, she roared angrily: "Old woman, don't mess with me!" You fell to your death when you were old, but don't blame me for not reminding you! ”

Aunt Su was stunned for a moment, her hands trembling with anger: "What do you call me?" ”

Sister Su was completely unmoved: "What do I call you?" If you are worthy of respect, I will call you Aunt Su, but you are not worthy. When you sold me, I was no longer a member of the Su family, but you were not old and confused when you wrote the deed of sale, right?

Su Chunmei, who was following behind Aunt Su, saw that her mother was angry, she stood up and deliberately pretended to be pitiful and said, "Sister, how can you talk about your mother like this?" Wasn't there anything I could do at home back then? Which family in the village doesn't marry their daughters? Why is it in your mouth, marrying a daughter becomes selling a daughter? ”

Suddenly, Sister Su's eyes fell on the little sister in front of her...