Chapter 4: Escalating Conflict

The eldest daughter, Hongmei, eyes filled with tears, spoke urgently, “Mom, that’s for my big brother. He’s been sick, and these days I’ve always set aside food for him and taken it to his bedside.”

Wang Tiehua, pointing at Weiguo, who had just walked out of the room, said, “Look at him. Does he look sick to you? He’s fine. I’ll say this one more time—my rules are rules. If you say another word, watch out or I’ll slap you senseless, you little wretch.”

Xiao Weiguo walked slowly to the stone table and said in a low voice, “Where’s my food?”

“Coming late and you still want to eat? You must be dreaming. Now that you’re better, get yourself to work. You’re wasting five work points a day—three days, that’s fifteen points lost. What will you do at the end of the year if you come up short? And you still have the nerve to ask for food? Go eat dirt!” Wang Tiehua shouted loudly.

Because Weiguo was just sixteen, he was only counted as half a laborer, earning five work points a day, while a full laborer earned ten.

“I’ll ask again: where is my food?” Xiao Weiguo stared directly at Wang Tiehua, his voice rising.

Wang Tiehua grew even angrier, put down her bowl, and grabbed the broom from the floor, ready to strike. “You’re getting out of hand. Watch me beat you into shape.”

The younger siblings looked on anxiously.

Their father, Xiao Pingle, hurried to block Wang Tiehua, saying, “The child’s just gotten better. He needs proper food to recover. Of course he should eat.” Turning to Weiguo, he said, “Weiguo, I still have more than half a bowl here. Come, take it and eat.”

Weiguo ignored his father’s suggestion and addressed Wang Tiehua again, “I’ll ask just once today—where is my food? Put it in front of me, all of it, just as it should be!”

Thinking of how his predecessor had died from nothing more than a fever, Weiguo’s anger flared.

He shouted, “Why didn’t you take me to the township clinic? Just to save the round-trip fare of sixty cents, registration fee of thirty cents, tests at seventy cents, and at most a yuan for medicine? Altogether, two yuan sixty at most. You just left me to endure it alone. What if I died? I’m asking you—what if I died? Would you be happy to save another mouthful of food for your youngest son?”

“Tell me! As a mother, is this what you should do? Do you deserve to be called a mother?” Weiguo yelled in fury.

Blocked by Xiao Pingle, Wang Tiehua, unable to hit Weiguo, threw down the broom and pointed at him. “Two yuan sixty, you say? Do you know our family had just eight yuan cash left at the end of last year, and that’s all long gone? We don’t have a penny left. Where am I supposed to get it?”

“Oh, now you’ve grown up, have you? Daring to go against me? If you’ve got the nerve, leave and live on your own!”

“Just the right age too—sixteen. We’ll split the family, and you can fend for yourself.”

“You’re all ungrateful wretches. I, Wang Tiehua, break my back for this family every day, and what do I get? This! There are only two and a half laborers in this house, earning twenty-five work points a day, with seven mouths to feed. Do you have any idea how hard that is?”

“Today, get out and live on your own. Don’t you set foot in this house again!”

Weiguo retorted loudly, “That still doesn’t give you the right to beat and curse the four of us brothers every day. Look at big sister’s mouth—it’s still red. At the slightest dissatisfaction, you hit or scold. Look at second sister’s hand—still marked with blood. Would you only be satisfied if all four of us died?”

“Look at the youngest, all chubby and well-fed. Then look at the four of us—we get thinner by the day. You’re heartless enough with the three of us who aren’t your blood, but you even treat Lianxin, your own daughter, just the same. Are you even human?” Weiguo glanced at his second sister.

“You’re the most vicious stepmother in the world. Let’s be clear—today I’ll become independent, split off from the family, just as you wish.”

Wang Tiehua clenched her fists and took two steps forward, but Xiao Pingle held her back firmly. “Fine! I’ve really raised an ungrateful wolf these six years. If you walk out of this yard today, you’re never coming back. I’ll see how long you last before you starve to death.”

The escalating argument drew the neighbors, who hadn’t yet gone to work. Many crowded into the Xiao family’s courtyard.

Weiguo addressed them, “You’ve all heard it. Today my stepmother is demanding I split from the family. From now on, I’m a household of one.”

Then he turned to Tie Tou, the village chief’s son in the crowd. “Tie Tou, go fetch your father and my grandfather, so we can draw up a family division agreement today.”

Tie Tou’s real name was Xiao Weidong, and he and Weiguo had grown up together.

“Nonsense!” Xiao Pingle let go of Wang Tiehua and spoke to Weiguo. “You’re not even married—how can you split the family? Come apologize to your mother, eat your meal, and go rest. Everyone, disperse—it’s just a little quarrel between mother and son.”

Weiguo signaled to Tie Tou—Xiao Weidong—who immediately turned and ran off to find the village chief and Weiguo’s grandfather.

Weiguo said to his father, “Dad, don’t interfere. The family must be split today. I can’t bear her for another moment.”

It wasn’t long before the village chief, Xiao Gonglin, hurried in, followed by Weiguo’s grandfather, who entered the yard with his hands behind his back.

Grandfather’s name was Xiao Tieniu. His face was full of wrinkles, dark and ruddy, wearing a small round cap with a brim, a grayish-white undershirt, black trousers with the legs rolled up to his calves, and a pair of cloth shoes with holes.

Upon entering, he addressed the gathered villagers, “Sorry to let everyone witness our family’s embarrassment. Please, all go home. Gonglin, come into the main room with me. Pingle, Tiehua, Weiguo, you too. Always making a scene, aren’t you!”

In the main room, Weiguo stood by the door. The village chief, stepmother, father, and grandfather sat at the four sides of the table.

“Weiguo, close the door. And have Hongmei take the younger siblings out to play,” said Xiao Tieniu.

Weiguo waved the siblings outside, closed the door, and remained standing.

Grandfather scolded Xiao Pingle, “You spineless fool, can’t even keep your family in order—making us a laughingstock. If you ever call yourself my son again, I’ll never acknowledge you.”

Xiao Pingle looked as if he wanted to speak but didn’t. At this, Wang Tiehua said, “Father, today’s trouble was all caused by Xiao Weiguo, that little brat. If he wants to split from the family, let him. Let’s see if he can survive on his own. I guarantee he’ll come crawling back crying in two days.”

“Hah!” Weiguo said to them, “First, Wang Tiehua, you’re the one who wants me out—I’m just fulfilling your wish.

Second, don’t worry. Even if I starve to death, I, Xiao Weiguo, will never come back.

Finally, Grandpa, Dad, don’t try to gloss things over. I truly can’t stay in this house any longer. Today, it’s either I leave, or she does—you choose.”