It had been drizzling for several consecutive days, and the riverbank was still damp. The calm water in the river began to awaken from its winter austerity, adorned by nature’s colors to look even more verdant.
"You damn girl, these are my and my brother’s clothes. If you don’t finish washing them, don’t think about eating lunch." A haughty sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl looked at another girl, who was a head shorter than her.
"Big sister, your clothes are always washed by Auntie; I only need to wash my family’s clothes." Xu Wan bit her lips in grievance, daring not to speak up, her eyes brimming with tears. She had already helped her big sister wash clothes many times.
And after washing clothes, she still had to gather firewood and forage for wild vegetables. If she didn’t gather enough firewood, she definitely wouldn’t have lunch.
"Your clothes, you wash them yourself. We won’t help you wash them." Another slightly taller girl looked at Xu Mumu angrily, and then threw the basin Xu Mumu brought over right at her feet.
"This is outrageous; I’m going to tell Grandma you’re bullying me." Xu Mumu’s eyes turned, and she was about to turn around and run to complain.
"Don’t go." Xu Xue was startled—Grandma held absolute authority in the Old Xu Family, and most importantly, Grandma doted on Xu Mumu.
Xu Xue reached out to grab Xu Mumu’s clothes while Xu Mumu stood on a moss-covered stone.
Xu Mumu was intent on moving forward, and Xu Xue couldn’t hold on.
With a splash, the sound of someone falling into the water was heard, and Xu Mumu began floundering in the water, yelling, "Help."
Suddenly, her ankle cramped, and Xu Mumu lost her strength, gradually sinking down.
Xu Xue and Xu Wan stood there, still somewhat dazed and frightened.
Suddenly, a tall figure ran over quickly and then jumped in.
"Sis, big sister, she fell into the water." Xu Wan trembled, terrified.
"Wanwan, don’t be afraid, it seemed like someone jumped in to save big sister earlier." Xu Xue was also very scared at this point.
"I saw, it seemed to be the educated youth." Xu Wan pursed her lips, silently praying that big sister would be okay. If anything happened to big sister, Grandma would definitely beat both her and her sister to death.
The words had just left her mouth when someone swam up. A slightly immature-looking teenager was quickly swimming towards the shore, holding a girl.
"Are you from the Xu Family? I already saved the person." Yin Yang wiped the water from his face and looked at Xu Xue and Xu Wan.
"Thank you, Yin Zhiqing. Could you help us take big sister to the village clinic?" Xu Xue gratefully looked at Yin Yang.
Xu Xue recognized Yin Yang; he was an educated youth who had come down to the countryside a couple of years ago. Yin Yang was good-looking and had a great personality. He had a good reputation in the village and got along well with everyone.
"No problem, serving the people, of course." Yin Yang’s face lit up with a bright smile, clean and sunny.
Yin Yang picked up Xu Mumu; this girl was quite heavy. It was said that the Xu Family was doing well, and he had always been looking for an opportunity to exchange for some grain. Having saved the Xu Family’s girl, their relationship was bound to improve significantly now, and he could test the waters.
Yin Yang was calculating in his mind. Initially, he hadn’t planned to interfere, but seeing Xu Xue and Xu Wan in shock, if he hadn’t gone to save the person, the girl might have drowned.
Now that he had saved her, he naturally needed to make the most of it.
Xu Mumu’s favored status was something he often heard villagers mention. He had met people from the Xu Family too and often worked with them.
The Xu Family had a relatively large household with many children. Although not everyone earned full work points, there were plenty of people working, so at the end of the year, the grain distribution was naturally more substantial.
Yin Yang quietly calculated the Xu Family’s grain. The risk was too high to go to the black market; it was more reliable to exchange directly with people in the village.
Yin Yang carried Xu Mumu swiftly towards the village clinic, with Xu Xue and Xu Wan nervously following behind.
"Wanwan, you go with Yin Zhiqing to the clinic first; I’ll go and tell Grandma and them about this." Xu Xue suddenly stopped.
"Okay, Sis, you hurry." Xu Wan nodded seriously. This matter indeed needed to be reported to Grandpa and Grandma, although she was still afraid Grandma might hit her sister.
Xu Xue patted Xu Wan’s head, then turned and ran off towards the field.
At this time, the field was bustling with planting soybeans and sweet potatoes. The corn had already been planted, and the seedlings would need a few more days before they sprouted.
"Grandpa, Grandma, something bad happened." Xu Xue called out anxiously.
"What happened?" Old Xu frowned as he placed beans into the pit, looking at Xu Xue. What’s going on with all this bustle? Shouldn’t they be at home collecting firewood and digging for wild vegetables?
Spring wild vegetables were very tender. Collecting them was entirely Xu Xue and Xu Wan’s job, and when gathering wild vegetables, they also needed to collect firewood. Their family raised two hens, which required some tender grass to be brought back for feeding, and they had to tidy up the house as well.
The workload on the sisters was indeed not small.
However, in rural areas, it’s the same for children everywhere. The two girls from the second family have been fortunate to grow up safely to this age; other families would either abandon their girls or drown them immediately after birth.
"Big sister, she fell into the river." As Xu Xue said the last sentence, she instantly felt several death stares. Needless to say, these stares came from the three people in the main family and the two elders of the Xu Family.
"What did you say? Where’s Mumu?" Madam Chen’s shrill voice was almost piercing the eardrums, and the surrounding workers all looked over.
"Big sister was saved by Yin Zhiqing. She should be at the clinic by now." Xu Xue shrank her neck; being stared at by Madam Chen and them made her feel like she was about to be executed.
"Mom and Dad, Mumu fell into the water, we need to go see her. If anything happens to Mumu, I’ll rip this damn girl apart." Li Caixia said anxiously.
"Right, Grandma, we need to go check on little sister." Xu Minghui immediately said, he was very worried too. Seeing Xu Xue running over so anxiously, how could he feel at ease?
"I’ll go too. Old man, you stay here and work. Fourth’s wife, go request a leave for us." Madam Chen immediately arranged matters.
"Mom, I’m going." The fourth daughter-in-law, Sun Huiping, immediately said, then put down her work to find the team leader.
The main family, along with Madam Chen, headed towards the clinic in a mighty procession.
By this time, Xu Mumu had already vomited up the water and was alive again.
When Xu Mumu woke up, she only felt a severe headache, her throat uncomfortable, and her whole body feeling unwell.
Xu Mumu looked around at the walls plastered with countless old newspapers, and the room had a faint medicinal smell.
"Big, big sis, are you okay?" Xu Wan looked at Xu Mumu cautiously,