Chapter 5: A Preliminary Resolution

"How dare you! Wang Tiehua is your mother now, you should call her 'Mom,'" said his father, Xiao Pingle, sternly.

With a sneer, Xiao Weiguo retorted, "Father, you can spend your whole life being spineless, letting her control you completely."

The village chief, Xiao Gonglin, addressed everyone, "Uncle Tieniu, what do you think we should do in the end? If it can't be settled today, let's talk about it in a couple of days. The children are angry right now, their words don't count. Everyone calm down, both of you take a step back, all right?"

Wang Tiehua, seething, replied to Xiao Gonglin, "Don't even think about it. Either he stays and I leave, or I stay and he goes. You decide for yourselves." She turned her head away after speaking.

Xiao Weiguo said, "Uncle Gonglin, don't worry. I can take care of myself. I must leave today."

"But where will you live? You don't even have a place to stay. And what about food?" Xiao Gonglin asked him.

Xiao Weiguo replied, "If I'm splitting from the family, shouldn't I get some grain? At the very least, I want my share of this year's provisions. Also, the two pigs and two chickens at home—whatever odds and ends, just give me my share."

"You wish! Pigs and chickens? You'll be lucky if I'm generous enough to let you leave with the clothes on your back," snapped Wang Tiehua.

At that moment, Xiao Tieniu looked around and said, "Enough arguing. For now, let's have Weiguo find a place to stay. If you all remain under one roof, there'll only be more fights tomorrow. Pack up his rations for him to take, along with his clothes. The rest can be discussed after he gets married."

"It's settled. Weiguo, take your food and clothes and come with me to the old house. I'll clear out the west room for you. From now on, you'll live with your grandmother and me."

"All right, Grandpa."

"Uncle Gonglin, please help draw up a separation document for the family. We'll sign it," Xiao Weiguo said.

Xiao Tieniu immediately scolded, "What's this obsession with documents? You think you're some official? When you get married, then we'll talk about paperwork."

"Sorry to have troubled you today, Gonglin. You can head back now."

Xiao Gonglin stood and spoke to Xiao Tieniu, "It's no trouble, Uncle Tieniu. I'll be going, then. Weiguo, come play with my son Weidong when you have time." With that, he left the main room.

Xiao Tieniu then gave Xiao Pingle a smack on the back of the head. "Keep your wife in line from now on. If she stirs up trouble again, I'll deal with both of you." He cast a sharp glance at Wang Tiehua.

"Hurry and pack up some grain for Weiguo. He'll be coming with me to the old house in a bit."

Xiao Weiguo returned to his room to gather his clothes from memory. There wasn't much: aside from the set he was wearing, there was a patched-up thin garment, a cotton-padded jacket and trousers, and a pair of cloth shoes, all in black or gray.

Little Radish Head, Xiao Weijun, quietly approached him and whispered, "Big Brother, are you really leaving? What will we do without you? Can't you stay?"

Xiao Weiguo affectionately stroked his brother's head. "Don't worry, I'm just going to live with Grandpa and Grandma. You can come find me whenever you want. Be good at home, and don't follow my example."

Xiao Tieniu stood with a bag in his left hand, filled with Xiao Weiguo's rations for the coming days. It wasn't much—autumn harvest was near, so everyone was running short, barely enough to get by on porridge until the new grain came in. Every household was the same.

Xiao Weiguo also took a bundle and followed his grandfather out of the courtyard toward the old house. Villagers along the way whispered and pointed.

Reviewing all that transpired today, Xiao Weiguo found things had gone just as he'd hoped. Most importantly, he was finally free from his stepmother's control.

It had been essential to force the stepmother to say the words about splitting the family. Xiao Weiguo could never be the first to say it. Now, the villagers would blame her, seeing him as the wronged party. Had he spoken first, he would have been labeled unfilial.

In the countryside, where filial piety was paramount, anyone seen as unfilial would find it nearly impossible to get by. In those days, a single statement from the village chief or the party secretary could keep you from ever leaving the village.

The lack of a signed separation document was no surprise, considering how much of a farce today's events had been. Besides, Xiao Weiguo was still too young, unmarried, and without a home of his own.

Living with his grandparents might seem restrictive, but it was the best solution for now. It wasn't as if he could just sleep in some random corner of the village.

Of course, Xiao Weiguo knew he needed to build his own house as soon as possible and move out, turning this farce of a family split into a reality.

Otherwise, it was only a matter of time before gossip forced him back into that fenced yard.

Lost in thought, Xiao Weiguo followed his grandfather to the old homestead.

The old house wasn't far from Xiao Pingle's yard—just about two hundred meters away. It, too, was a fenced enclosure with two thatched cottages, a livestock shed, kitchen, latrine, and other half-covered structures. There was also a persimmon tree in the yard, its leafy branches giving the place a refreshing air.

His grandmother was already waiting at the door. Her name was Zhao Xiuxian, a tiny old woman who had once been the daughter of a landlord in a nearby village. By a twist of fate, she had married the poor farmer Xiao Tieniu and spent her life raising three sons and three daughters for the Xiao family.

Tears streaming down her face, she hurried to Xiao Weiguo and hugged his head. "My dear Weiguo, you poor thing. I always said that woman shouldn't be married into the family, but your grandfather wouldn't listen. Now you three siblings have suffered so much, my precious boy."

"From now on, we won't set foot in Wang Tiehua's house. This will be our home, all right? Look how thin and hungry you've become. It breaks my heart."

"You must be hungry. I'll make you two poached eggs with a bit of brown sugar to sweeten your mouth."

"There's no need, Grandma. Just a bowl of corn porridge is enough. Don't use the eggs—they're better saved for trading," Xiao Weiguo replied quickly.

In those days, everything from needles and thread to soy sauce and salt was traded for eggs in the countryside. Eggs were practically currency at the grassroots level.

Even famous revolutionaries used to joke about the 'egg bank.'

"Just this once, to welcome my dear grandson. Eggs are meant to be eaten." With that, she made her way to the kitchen.

As Xiao Weiguo ate the poached eggs with brown sugar, he felt they were the most delicious thing in the world. A deep sense of contentment filled his heart, strengthening his resolve for the future in these hard times.

Otherwise, he knew, there would only be hunger awaiting him next year.

"Weiguo, the west room is almost ready. From now on, you'll sleep there while your grandmother and I stay in the other room. For now, you'll eat your meals with us—don't cook separately."

"Take a few days to rest and regain your strength at home. Once you're better, then go to work. No need to rush," Xiao Tieniu told him.

"All right, Grandpa. Later, I plan to go wash in the river and see if I can catch some fish."