Chapter 53: Grandfather's Teachings

Xiao Weiguo hurried forward to support Xiao Pingle, asking anxiously, “Dad, how are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Let’s go to the commune hospital for a check-up.”

Xiao Pingle coughed twice, his voice weak. “I’m alright. It’s nothing. A couple of days of rest will do. No need to go to the hospital and waste money.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he sighed heavily, gazing up at the sky.

Grandfather scolded loudly beside him. “Sighing, huh? Can’t even manage your own wife, causing such disgraceful trouble. You’re making me, Xiao Tieniu, lose face! Weiguo is so capable, how did he end up with a father like you?”

Then, showing a bit of concern, he continued, “Go to Old Zhang. Let him take a look at you, make sure your bones aren’t broken.”

Old Zhang was the brigade doctor, usually treating the members’ minor ailments.

“Alright, I’ll go now. But Dad, how should we handle this matter afterward?” Xiao Pingle asked Xiao Tieniu.

Grandfather Xiao Tieniu replied gruffly, “Handle it? You’d better prepare to live as a bachelor!”

With that, he took a pull from his dry tobacco pipe, then walked toward the house with his hands behind his back.

Once home, Xiao Tieniu strode past Grandma, who looked worried, into the main room. He began to unpack all the things Xiao Weiguo had brought, counting each item carefully as he muttered to himself.

“Grandpa, why are you sorting these things? Just keep them for you and Grandma to enjoy slowly,” Xiao Weiguo said as he followed him inside.

As for his father, Xiao Hongmei and Xiao Weijun accompanied him to Uncle Zhang’s. Fortunately, Xiao Weiguo had intervened early—otherwise, things could have turned out much worse. Now, it seemed to be just some bruises.

“Don’t worry about it. I plan to distribute these things around. I was already intending to do so, but now, after all this, it’s even more necessary.”

Xiao Weiguo was puzzled. “Who are you planning to give them to? These things are so valuable—it feels like we’re losing out.”

“You brought such a big bundle home, our family cooked so much meat for two meals, soon you and your siblings will be wearing new clothes all over the brigade, and Grandma and I will be glowing and strolling about every day. If we keep this up, we won’t be able to stay in this village.”

Grandfather explained point by point. After a brief pause, he continued, “The most important thing in daily life is to blend into your surroundings. Don’t stand out too much, neither high nor low. When you have benefits, share some of them. It’s not a big deal, but it makes the atmosphere around you much better.”

Listening to Grandfather, Xiao Weiguo agreed, especially in a world of acquaintances—this was the proper way.

Regarding these items, Xiao Weiguo wasn’t too concerned. He didn’t value them much, so he pressed, “So, Grandpa, how will you divide them?”

Grandfather pondered a moment before making his arrangements.

“Give Uncle Gonglin and Uncle Dahai each a bottle of liquor and a can of yellow peaches. Without Uncle Dahai, you wouldn’t have gotten out of the brigade so easily to find work.

“Take a rabbit, a chicken, a can of beef, and a bolt of cloth to Second Grandpa. Let him distribute the cloth to those Xiao family members who are struggling. Some families have only one or two people going out each day, the rest stay home because they don’t have clothes to wear.

A bolt of cloth is forty feet.

“Set aside thirty feet to share with our neighbors and those close to our family.”

Xiao Weiguo calculated. “That leaves us with almost nothing.”

“But there’s still plenty of oil and rice, and thirty feet of cloth left—enough for our family,” Grandfather concluded. “Hurry up and eat. After dinner, call your father, and we’ll go to Second Grandpa’s. The Xiao family will gather together: first, to celebrate you becoming a city worker, finally one of us is a city dweller; second, to discuss how to handle your father’s situation.”

“Grandpa, why do you all like to gather at Second Grandpa’s? Don’t we have space at home?” Xiao Weiguo asked.

Grandfather gave Xiao Weiguo a meaningful look. “Weiguo, do you know how many people in Xiao Family Village—oh, now it’s the Xiao Family Brigade—share our surname?”

Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “Seventy percent. All these people, decades or a hundred years ago, shared the same ancestor.

“Why do we go to Second Grandpa’s? Though we don’t care about clan leaders anymore, in this generation, the clan leader in everyone’s hearts is Second Grandpa. Next generation, it’ll be Uncle Gonglin.

“We all have the surname Xiao. Gathering together prevents outsiders from bullying us. But even a flock of sheep needs a leader. Look at this afternoon—when you weren’t there and your father was beaten, no one stepped up to help, because there was no one to lead.

“When you arrived, someone took the lead, and people stood up behind you. That’s how collective strength forms.”

After listening, Xiao Weiguo replied, “I understand, Grandpa. The Xiao family is naturally united. No matter the internal conflicts, if someone bullies a Xiao, we must stand together.”

“Yes. Remember: in the brigade, everyone surnamed Xiao is your ally. When you’re capable, help others in the brigade as well,” Xiao Tieniu said.

“Good grandson, old man, come eat!” Grandma called from outside.

Grandfather quietly whispered to Xiao Weiguo, “After dinner, take this bolt of cloth and slip out without letting Grandma see.” He stuffed the cloth into Weiguo’s hand.

Xiao Weiguo was amused. Clearly, Grandpa hadn’t told Grandma yet.

He could already imagine Grandma’s reaction when she found out so much cloth was gone, and there was still thirty feet to be shared out later. If things went badly, Grandpa might not even have tobacco to smoke for days.

Xiao Weiguo tucked the cloth into a corner, planning to retrieve it later, then turned to go eat.

When Grandma saw him, she complained, “You just had to stew the chicken. All the things you brought home today are nearly gone. You’d better be frugal from now on.”

“Yes, Grandma, let’s eat.” She didn’t know that everything brought home today would soon be gone, and she might feel heartache enough to shed tears.

Xiao Weiguo looked at the meal: a pot of chicken meat and broth, several large bowls of thick corn porridge—so thick the pickles wouldn’t sink to the bottom—and a bowl of shredded salted pickles.

He scooped chicken for Grandpa and Grandma, knowing that if he didn’t, they’d probably just pick at it and stop.

Then he ladled himself a bowl of chicken soup, taking a satisfied sip, savoring the flavor.

Whether it was psychological or not, Xiao Weiguo always felt that the chickens from the space tasted better than any he’d had before. The rich flavor lingered, likely due to the unique environment of the space.

Not just the chicken—the corn porridge from the space seemed better, too. He’d have to study it more thoroughly later.

After dinner, Grandpa gave Xiao Weiguo a knowing look, and Weiguo understood.