Chapter 6: Grandmother Huang

After finishing a bowl of noodles, Sun Shan felt full and satisfied. Naturally, this made the four Sun sisters drool with longing.

The four little girls were munching on sweet potatoes. Since they had no proper meal at noon, they had to fill their stomachs with sweet potatoes; otherwise, they would be starving by the afternoon.

The eldest sister, Sun Guyu, took Sun Shan’s bowl and chopsticks to wash, smiling as she asked, “Shanzi, do you prefer fried eggs or boiled eggs?”

The family raised more than a dozen chickens, but only four laid eggs. Those eggs were saved specifically for their younger brother.

The doctor had said their brother was physically weak and required careful nourishment.

In a farming family, there were no fancy supplements; the cheapest and most nutritious food was eggs.

Their mother and grandmother insisted that the brother must have an egg every day. Only if he stayed healthy could the sisters rely on him.

On their way to the kitchen with the bowls and chopsticks, they ran into the third and fourth sisters, who were sneaking into the grain storage to steal peanuts.

Guyu tapped their small heads and scolded with a smile, “No stealing! These are saved for our eldest aunt.”

The family grew some peanuts to press for oil.

Some peanuts were kept as seeds, while the rest were boiled in salted water, dried in the sun, and stored away to be given to their eldest aunt when she returned.

Grandma said their eldest aunt loved the salty dried peanuts from home.

The third sister, Xiaoman, stuck out her tongue and whispered, “Big sister, it wasn’t us who secretly took them. It was brother who gave them to us.”

Who would dare take the family’s peanuts without permission?

At most, grandma and grandpa might scold a little, but if their mother found out, that would be trouble. She not only scolded but also hit hard—and it really hurt.

The fourth sister, Hanlu, quickly shelled a peanut and slipped it into big sister’s mouth, whispering, “It really was brother. He has a little box with plenty more inside.”

Only their brother had access to snacks like peanuts—or any treats at all. But he was generous and often shared his snacks with them.

Sun Guyu believed their words. Not only did their brother generously share food, but he also fought for their welfare.

For instance, their mother forbade them from eating sweet potatoes at noon.

But their brother said that if they didn’t eat anything midday, they’d be too hungry. Being hungry made work difficult, but worse was falling ill from hunger, which would cost money to see the doctor—an unwise expense.

Everyone knew Sun Shan cared deeply for his sisters and wanted them to eat well, but there was truth in what he said.

So the family began cooking some sweet potatoes and taro at noon to fill their stomachs.

It did use up some grain, but it was better than falling ill and needing a doctor.

At that moment, the second sister, Lixia, came in. She had just closed the cattle shed and pulled out two sweet potatoes from a small sack, handing them to the eldest sister in a low voice: “Big sister, I found these outside. They’re roasted. Please eat.”

Then, as if remembering something, she added, “Brother ate some too.”

Sun Guyu didn’t hesitate. She had spent the entire morning cooking pig feed, feeding the household pigs, and busy with chores. After such a hectic morning, her stomach was a little hungry.

She broke one sweet potato into two pieces, handing them to the third and fourth sisters, then reached to break the other.

Lixia quickly said, “Big sister, I’ve already eaten. You eat it yourself.”

Guyu was always considerate, taking care of her siblings.

Only after confirming that Lixia had eaten did she feel at ease to eat.

They heated some mud with fire, then buried the sweet potatoes in the hot soil, sealing them tightly.

This method of roasting sweet potatoes in hot mud made them especially fragrant—much more so than boiling them at home.

The four sisters ate together in the kitchen.

In the main room were Huang, Sun Shan, and the couple, Sun Bomin and his wife.

Sun Bomin poured a cup of hot water for Huang and smiled: “Mother, let’s plant some radishes this afternoon. After the New Year, we’ll have something to eat.” The period after the New Year was always lean, with less fresh vegetables, so radishes were a good choice.

Huang held Sun Shan and nodded: “You two handle it as you see fit.”

All the farm work was entrusted to the couple. Huang did not interfere much, only helping during the busy season as she could.

Sun Shan saw the smile on his grandmother’s face and smiled too.

Huang was completely different from other village elders.

Outsiders might see her as weak, unable to control her daughter-in-law.

But Sun Shan believed Huang was the best grandmother in Sunjia Village.

When the third aunt demanded a division of the family property, Huang complied.

When Su, who bore four daughters in a row, was despised by Sun Bomin, Huang comforted the couple, telling them to be patient.

She never quarreled with outsiders; she would chat when possible, otherwise remained silent.

She helped with village matters when able but refused directly and decisively when she could not.

Though the family favored sons over daughters, she only scolded the granddaughters a few times and never raised a hand.

She doted on Sun Shan even more.

Items bought by the eldest daughter were carefully saved for the grandson.

Money given by the eldest daughter for her parents’ support was saved, and small amounts were occasionally taken out as Sun Shan’s pocket money.

Sun Shan thought Huang was the kindest, most gentle grandmother in the village.

Seeing that Huang had no objections, Su smiled and said, “Mother, there are about 40 days until the New Year. Should we slaughter the ducks to make preserved duck?”

The family not only raised chickens but also six geese and twenty ducks.

The ducks were raised to make preserved duck, which was a nice gift during the New Year and good for their own consumption.

Huang looked at the weather outside. Yesterday, the Winter Solstice was cold, but today was warm.

Judging by the sun and sky, it probably wouldn’t rain in the coming days.

She nodded and said, “After planting the radishes, we’ll slaughter the ducks for preserved duck.”

Then she added, “Ten ducks for preserved duck. Don’t kill them all—save some to eat.”

Sun Bomin and his wife nodded in acknowledgment.

Sun Shan lay in Huang’s arms, yawning. Full and sleepy.

Sun Bomin touched Sun Shan’s forehead and smiled: “Shanzi is sleepy again. Let father carry you to bed.”

Sun Shan was carried to his small bed. Sun Bomin tucked him in warmly and went back to work.

When he woke, it was dark outside. Sun Shan quickly got up and put on his cotton jacket.

He ran to the yard. It was quiet. Looking at the sky, it was probably around five in the afternoon; dusk was approaching.

Winter nights were long and days short, but rural folk worked until dark before returning home.

Sun Shan returned to his small bed and opened his treasure box. It was a small wooden box about fifty centimeters in each dimension, made by Sun Bomin to store Sun Shan’s belongings.

Inside were heaps of peanuts and candies.

He picked up a small embroidered coin pouch holding fifty wen—his private savings.

These were pocket money occasionally given by Huang.

He took a few pieces of candy and popped one into his mouth.

The sweet was simple, not even tasty. Sun Shan hadn’t liked candy before, but in the resource-scarce Sunjia Village, candy was a rare treat everyone loved.

His family was probably still working in the fields. Sun Shan walked along the village path, shyly greeting some clan members: “Uncle, auntie.”

They smiled warmly in return and asked where he was going. Before he could answer, they moved on.

The Sun family’s fields were not far from the village—about a twenty-minute walk.

Sure enough, the whole family was busy turning the soil, preparing to plant radishes. The family’s water buffalo grazed leisurely along the ridges.

Sunjia Village was green all year round, a far cry from the barren northern plains.

“Grandma, grandpa, mother, I’m here,” Sun Shan called as he entered the field. Staying at home was dull; playing in the fields was better.

Huang replied with a smile, “So late and still coming? We’re getting ready to go home.”

Sun Bomin put away his hoe and called Lixia to lead the buffalo home.

Sun Shan quietly approached his sisters, slipping a few candies into their hands without being noticed.

The little sisters understood immediately, giggling as they quickly popped the candies into their mouths.

They mustn’t let their mother see—she would scold them for tricking their brother into giving them candy.