After my stepmother was shot, I took my brothers to the countryside

Chapter 131 A Mouth of Sweet Potato and Eight Trigrams

"Aunt San, do you think their family can be divided successfully?"

Shen Nian took a bite of the steaming sweet potato in his hand and continued to gossip with curiosity glittering in his eyes.

Aunt Zhang shook her head slightly and lowered her voice even more: "This matter depends on Xiaolong's attitude."

"Xiaolong's wife suffered injuries when she gave birth to Xiaoying prematurely, and she hasn't been able to conceive since. Because they haven't had a son, the couple has been the subject of a lot of gossip. Someone in the brigade even suggested that Xiaolong help his brother Dalong raise a son, saying that at least he'd have someone to see him off in his old age."

Shen Nian frowned, puzzled, "What era is this? How can there still be people who are so biased towards boys and girls? Aren't boys and girls all born from their mothers? What makes boys better than girls?"

Aunt Zhang sighed and said slowly, "Xiao Nian, you're from the city, so naturally you don't know the customs and people's hearts here. In this country, most people believe that no matter how good a daughter is, she will eventually get married when she grows up, and become someone else's family. So, many people still hope to have a son, even if it's just for face and dignity."

Shen Nian shook her head and retorted, "Aunt San, I think this concept really needs to change. In fact, daughters and sons are the same. As long as they are raised well, they are both the pride of their parents. Besides, society is progressing now, and men and women are equal. Women can also hold up half the sky."

Aunt Zhang nodded, a hint of agreement flashing in her eyes. "I think you're right. Take my family for example. I think my sons are just here to collect debts. They're not as caring as my daughters!"

After hearing what Third Aunt said, Shen Nian's heart moved. She asked curiously, "Third Aunt, I see that you like daughters very much. Why haven't you and my uncle given birth to a daughter?"

Hearing this, Aunt Zhang smiled bitterly. "Why didn't I give birth? I did, but unfortunately I got sick and lost the baby. I gave birth to a few more babies, but they were all sons. Your uncle said I was crazy, so he secretly went to get a sterilization. Later, I figured it out myself. Even if I did give birth to a daughter, it wouldn't be her."

Aunt Zhang's words were filled with endless sorrow and helplessness. The daughter who died in her arms had become an irreparable regret in her heart.

Shen Nian looked at Aunt Zhang's face, which was full of stories, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart. She had never expected that Aunt Zhang, who was always smiling, had such a deep past!

"Auntie! Come, drink some water!" Shen Nian said softly, handing over a glass of water.

Aunt Zhang took the cup of water and took a sip. While Aunt Zhang was drinking, Shen Nian quickly turned the topic back to Xiaolong and his wife.

"Aunt San, do you think Xiaolong will agree to split up the family?"

After finishing her water, Aunt Zhang sighed and said, "Xiaolong is considered an honest man in their family. He must be on his wife's side. After all, it was Zhang Fengfeng who went too far this time, which made Xiaolong's wife determined to split the family. But he is also a filial son. He probably doesn't want to make his mother sad, so he must be in a dilemma now."

"This fight completely shattered the superficial harmony in their family. Xiaolong's wife was completely disheartened and determined to split the family. Although Xiaolong didn't say it explicitly, from what I know about him, he should also support the separation. He just doesn't know how to bring it up with his parents. After all, in his parents' minds, splitting the family is unfilial."

"However, maybe Xiaolong's brother Dalong is behind this." Aunt Zhang lowered her voice even more, as if she was afraid of being heard.

"Hmm? Is there something about his brother involved here?"

Shen Nian asked doubtfully, obviously not expecting that the division of the family would also involve Xiaolong's brother Dalong.

Aunt Zhang nodded and continued, "The Dalong couple have so many children. These days, food is always tight. If they hadn't split up, everyone would have eaten from the same pot, and there wouldn't even be any distinction between yours and mine."

"But once the family splits up, Dalong and his wife will have to raise their own children, and life will be difficult! How can their work points be enough to support so many children? As the saying goes, a young boy will eat his father out of poverty. Xiaolong's family only has one daughter, Xiaoying, and she doesn't even have much to eat. So who do you think Xiaolong and his wife are supporting with their work points?"

"If you ask me, the idea that the family can't be divided while the parents are still alive must have been something Dalong said to his parents. My eldest brother separated his family after he got married, and Zhang Ergen also separated his family after he got married. However, the relationship between us siblings is not good, and the people on the team often laugh at our Zhang family for being disunited."

"And if Dalong tells Xiaolong that if they split up the family business, he'll be old and there'll be no one to take care of him, Xiaolong will probably hesitate."

Shen Nian couldn't help but frown after hearing this: "This Dalong couple is too much. They are calculating that their younger brother will help them raise a child? If they can't afford it, then they should just have fewer children."

Aunt Zhang sighed and looked at Shen Nian: "Things in the countryside are just these twists and turns. Everyone is thinking about how to take advantage and how to avoid being at a disadvantage. Family affection often seems less important in the face of these things."

Aunt Zhang looked at Shen Nian, her loving eyes filled with admiration.

When she first saw Shen Nian bringing his two younger brothers to the countryside, she simply felt that it was not easy for the children, so she took better care of them.

However, as time went by, she found that although the little girl was young, she raised her two younger brothers very well and lived a colorful life.

The little girl is not only brave and careful, but also responsible beyond her age. She is a rare good child, and I like her more and more the more I get along with her.

Aunt Zhang couldn't help but sigh in her heart, thinking how great it would be if her daughter were still alive.

This is how she had imagined she would raise her daughter.

"Sister! Are you home?"

Suddenly, a clear child's voice came from outside the door, interrupting Aunt Zhang and Shen Nian.

The two of them turned their heads at the same time and looked out the window, only to see Shen Nian'an and Shen Nianle coming back, followed by Goudan carrying a small basket, and they entered Shen Nian's yard together.

Aunt Zhang glanced at the clock on the cabinet and said, "Oh, Xiaoan and Xiaole are back, and Goudan is here too. It's getting late, so I'll go back first." Then she stood up.

"Aunt San, please sit for a while. It's still early." Shen Nian also stood up.

Aunt Zhang smiled and waved her hand, pointing to the clock on the cabinet: "No, no, I'm going to go back and see if Chuntao forgot to feed my two chickens. I'll come back tomorrow."

"Okay, Auntie San, come tomorrow!"

Shen Nian knew Aunt Zhang's personality, so he didn't try to keep her and stood up to see her out.

"Aunt San, you're here! Why don't you sit for a while? Is my sister home?"

Shen Nianle asked as he saw Aunt Zhang San coming out of the house, while looking into the house for Shen Nian's figure.

Aunt Zhang smiled and pointed to the back: "Your sister is in the back, you guys go in quickly."

"I'm here!" Shen Nian also responded with a smile from behind.

After seeing off Aunt Zhang, Shen Nian returned to the house with the three of them. Goudan handed the small basket to Shen Nian, "Sister Nian, this is what my mother made today. She asked me to bring some over for you to try."

Shen Nian took the basket and looked inside, only to see that it was filled with some dumplings, which looked like the fried dumplings she had eaten in her previous life.

Youdunzi?

Isn’t this a snack from the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai regions?

Shen Nian's heart moved. Could it be that Goudan's mother... is from Jiangsu, Zhejiang or Shanghai?