HCB Chapter 109: Gratitude and enmity
Chapter 109: Gratitude and enmity
The soil on the ground was compacted, and nothing was planted in the yard.
Su Niannian guessed that there should be a backyard as well.
After all, many people grow some vegetables at home to eat on a regular basis.
Of course, each household also has a small plot of land, but the area is not large and the location is not very good.
The fertile land all belonged to the production brigade and was owned by the public.
Widow Wu invited Su Niannian and Gu Nan into the house, because there was only a low table and a few small stools in the yard.
It's really not appropriate to invite guests to sit down.
After Su Niannian entered the house, she saw newspapers pasted on the mud wall. Over time, the newspapers had turned yellow, indicating that they hadn't been cleaned for a long time.
Unlike Gu Nan's house, which at least has brick walls and has been painted white.
The only thing they did was paste some newspapers on the mud walls of the house to prevent dirt from falling down.
On a heated earthen bed, Baozi was lying there.
When Baozi saw Su Niannian arrive, he put down the comic book he was reading.
Gu Ningning lent him this comic book yesterday.
He looked at it very carefully and cherished it.
Next to the earthen bed, there was a small winnowing basket containing needles and thread.
There were also some quilt covers that had been taken apart, indicating that Widow Wu had just been sewing quilt covers.
"Please sit down, my place is a bit simple." Widow Wu gestured for Gu Nan and Su Niannian to sit down, her hands fidgeting nervously on her body.
Then it dawned on me that I should pour some water for the two of them.
Su Niannian sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), while Gu Nan sat on a chair next to her.
A short while later, Widow Wu brought over three cups of water.
The cup was a bit old, but it was cleaned very well.
Widow Wu handed out cups to Su Niannian and Gu Nan, and also gave Baozi a cup.
Su Niannian secretly added two drops of spiritual spring water to Baozi's water cup.
"Little Su, thank you so much for what happened with Baozi and me."
"How much do you think is appropriate for our medical expenses?"
Widow Wu stood to the side, somewhat uneasy, and asked.
She knew Su Niannian was a kind-hearted person, but she felt uneasy if Su Niannian didn't want a single penny of her money.
However, if there is too much money, you may not be able to come up with it yourself.
"Sister Wu, just wait at home. Xu Chenggong will definitely bring you money in the next couple of days."
As Su Niannian spoke, the smile on her face deepened.
"Why do you say that?" Widow Wu asked, puzzled. She hadn't gone to the threshing ground that morning, so she didn't know what Jiang Aiguo had said there.
Moreover, because Widow Wu's family was poor, the villagers deliberately kept their distance from her, fearing that if they became too close, Widow Wu would come to their door to borrow money, and they would be too embarrassed to refuse.
Therefore, Widow Wu did not have any particularly close friends.
If Su Niannian hadn't come over and told Widow Wu about what happened at the threshing ground that morning, Widow Wu really wouldn't have known what had happened.
After hearing Su Niannian's words, Widow Wu felt a lump in her throat.
When you're bullied too often, you stop knowing how to fight back and stand up for yourself.
If it weren't for Su Niannian, this matter would probably have ended up being left unresolved.
There's no way to find out the outcome.
Hearing Su Niannian say that Secretary Jiang had taken the initiative to cover all the expenses for him, he felt much more at ease.
“When Xu Chenggong comes to ask, just say that my medical expenses are fifteen yuan,” Su Niannian added.
Widow Wu gasped in shock; fifteen yuan was a considerable sum for her.
But seeing Su Niannian's serious expression, Widow Wu nodded.
Widow Wu knew that besides the anti-inflammatory medicine for Baozi, there was also ginseng-infused water in the container.
That stuff is incredibly valuable. Although she didn't understand the value of ginseng, judging from its effects, it was definitely worth the money.
“Okay, I’ll talk to Xu Chenggong and ask him to give it to me,” said Widow Wu.
"Yes, and as for the money for your hospital visit, Secretary Jiang will ask Xu Chenggong for it directly when he looks for him. Just remember that my treatment fee is fifteen yuan," Su Niannian continued.
Widow Wu nodded.
Fortunately, Xu Chenggong paid for it; if she had to pay for it herself, Widow Wu probably wouldn't have been able to scrape together the money even if she sold everything she owned.
Seeing the expression on Widow Wu's face, Su Niannian guessed what she was thinking.
"Of this fifteen yuan, only sixty-five cents is for anti-inflammatory medicine. I've estimated the cost of the ginseng water. Just ask Xu Chenggong for it, and once the money arrives, give me half," Su Niannian continued.
After several encounters, Su Niannian realized that Widow Wu was not someone who would take advantage of others. If she didn't take anything, Widow Wu would probably feel bad.
It's not that Su Niannian is short of seven or eight yuan, but rather that a small favor is appreciated, while an excessive one breeds resentment.
It's always best to be clear-headed about everything.
"No, no, I'll give it all to you then." Widow Wu waved her hands repeatedly, indicating that she couldn't accept the money.
Su Niannian didn't include the cost of her own medical treatment in the calculation; she only included the cost of the medicine and ginseng.
How could I possibly want to take half of it?
"Let's share it half when we meet, Sister Wu, please don't be so polite."
"Look, you promised to make me clothes, and I brought the fabric with me today."
As Su Niannian spoke, Gu Nan placed the cloth he was carrying onto the earthen bed.
"Yes, yes, I'll take your measurements right away," said Sister Wu, as she rummaged through the basket containing needles and thread on the earthen bed for a soft measuring tape.
They took Su Niannian's measurements.
When her bust measurement was taken, Ms. Wu's eyes lit up.
"I never expected you to be so thin..." Sister Wu realized that Gu Nan was sitting next to her.
So the words that were on the tip of my tongue were swallowed back down.
Gu Nan lowered his head, but he already understood the meaning behind those words.
Although...but...when I was holding Su Niannian, I could feel it to some extent.
Su Niannian's face also turned slightly red.
Unlike Widow Wu, she was already married and had children.
Su Niannian's skin is still a bit thin after all.
After taking the measurements, Su Niannian and Gu Nan prepared to say goodbye.
Widow Wu had dried a lot of wild vegetables herself and wanted to give Su Niannian two packs, but Su Niannian refused.
"Aunt Gu's family has dried a lot, enough for us to eat. You can keep this for yourself and Baozi."
"Also, since this is my first visit, I didn't bring anything special. Here are eight eggs, just to give you and Baozi some extra nutrition." Su Niannian took the small basket containing the eggs from Gu Nan's hands.
"No, no... I already owe you enough, how can I take your eggs?" Widow Wu refused to accept Su Niannian's eggs.
"That's not right of you. You even made clothes for me, and I didn't pay you for it. What's wrong with giving you steamed buns and a few eggs?"
"So you don't consider me a friend anymore?" Su Niannian said, about to put on an angry posture.
"..."
Friend? Is Su Niannian referring to a friend?
Widow Wu wondered if she had misheard.
Since her husband passed away, she has had no friends. People around her avoid her like the plague when they hear that she is a widow with a child, afraid that she will take advantage of them.