Chapter 169: A Very Miserable Life

“Father, Mother, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Brother.”

Su Xiaoling was very obedient. She was already capable of cooking. She could do housework very well.

Su Chong and Su Hua had also become sensible.

“Father, mother, don’t worry. We’ll take care of ourselves. Don’t worry about the family.”

Su Chong said seriously to Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao. He was the eldest brother, so he should be responsible.

“Third Uncle, Third Aunt, don’t worry. There’s still me.”

Zhou Heng was also very sensible.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao were relieved and left home.

Su Sanlang carried 50 catties of white flour on his back while Madam Zhao carried cloth on her back. As soon as the two of them went out, Chen Hu and Madam Qian came over. When Chen Daniu and Chen Erniu returned, they told them. When the couple came over, they also told Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao to rest assured.

They were at home.

Su Sanlang looked at Chen Hu and felt a warmth in his heart. He patted Chen Hu’s shoulder and said, “Alright, I’ll get going with my wife.”

Chen Hu’s leg was only slightly crippled now.

Because Su Xiaolu said that he should do stretching exercises every day and that he would not limp one day, Chen Hu practiced every day. Now that he was walking slowly, no one could tell that he was limping.

The two families were close and supported each other. This was what it meant to be brothers.

After Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao left, Madam Qian told Su Xiaoling not to cook anymore. She would cook and eat together at night.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao were also rushing towards Xiaohu Village.

After taking a breather, they continued on their way.

It was a little tiring to climb a few mountains.

Su Sanlang was worried. As they got closer to the village, Su Sanlang suddenly said, “If only our third and fourth sisters got married nearby in the future. Then, we could visit them every year.”

In the world’s understanding, a married girl is like water that has been poured out. She wouldn’t come back to her maiden home for a few years.

If the mother-in-law wouldn’t let her go, she wouldn’t leave for the rest of her life. Even if they were close, they wouldn’t see each other for years.

Su Sanlang sighed at the thought.

Madam Zhao smiled and said, “Sanlang, it’s still early. They will meet good people.”

Madam Zhao was sad that they couldn’t meet for too long, but she didn’t want Su Sanlang to be too depressed.

So she changed the subject.

Su Sanlang looked at the village not far away, where people could already be seen, and didn’t think too much about it.

There were forty to fifty families in Xiaohu Village, and half of them had the surname Hu, so it was called Xiaohu Village.

When the two of them entered the village, a villager saw unfamiliar faces and stopped them to ask warily, “Who are you? What are you doing in our village?”

Su Sanlang said gently, “We’re from Southern Mountain Village. My sister, Su Xiaozhi, is married to Hu Daniu’s family. I’m Su Xiaozhi’s third brother. I’m here to see her.”

“So you’re looking for Hu Daniu’s house.”

The man suddenly realized that Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao were Su Xiaozhi’s brother and sister-in-law. The man revealed a sympathetic expression.

Su Sanlang looked at the man with a strange expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Brother, is this because something happened to Hu Daniu’s family?”

There had to be a reason for the man’s sudden sympathy.

Madam Zhao also became worried.

The man nodded. “Hu Daniu’s family has had a very bad year. Hu Laogen died of an illness at the beginning of the year. Hu Daniu fell down in the summer and hit his head. He’s still lying unconscious. Madam Cao’s eyes were blinded from crying. Now, your sister is the one holding up the house.”

Then the man sighed.

One could imagine how miserable it was for Su Xiaozhi, a woman, to have to support a family.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao’s hearts tightened. Such a big thing had happened to the Hu family, but they didn’t know anything about it.

Su Sanlang felt terrible. He said to the man, “Thank you.”

Su Sanlang glanced at Madam Zhao, and both of them hurriedly left.

The man’s anxiety when he saw the couple was not fake. He just waved his hand and ignored Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao also hurried into the village.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao had only been to Xiaohu Village once, when Su Xiaozhi was getting married.

It was over ten years ago.

At that time, Hu Daniu was very generous and kind. He was the only son in the family. His parents also looked kind. Although their family was not rich, they had never tortured Su Xiaozhi.

Su Xiaozhi would return to her maiden home to take a look every year. In the beginning, Hu Daniu also came, but because Madam Wang was always eccentric and despised them for bringing fewer gifts, Hu Daniu felt embarrassed, so only Su Xiaozhi came back in the future.

Su Xiaozhi had three children. The eldest daughter, Hu Shuangshuang, was twelve years old this year. The second son, Hu Changshou, was nine years old. The youngest son, Hu Changyang, was two years old.

It was currently autumn harvest time. Su Xiaozhi was busy with the autumn harvest alone and fell asleep the moment she lay down every day.

It was almost dark. She had just returned from the fields and brewed medicine for Madam Cao before cooking.

Her mother-in-law, Madam Cao, was blind and could not do anything. Her husband, Hu Daniu, was lying unconscious in bed. He had emptied his family’s savings by treating her mother-in-law and husband. Su Xiaozhi was really too tired. She could not leave home and spun like a top every day.

She had received the letter from her third brother. She was very happy to know that Su Chong and Su Hua had enrolled. In the past, she would definitely have gone to congratulate them personally. But now, she did not dare to go. It had not been easy for her third brother’s family. If they knew that she was not doing well, they would have to take care of her.

She didn’t want to burden her third brother and his family.

“Mother, Grandma won’t drink the medicine.”

Hu Shuangshuang came out of the house with the medicine, not knowing what to do.

Su Xiaozhi looked exhausted. She got up from the stove and carried the medicine into the house. Madam Cao was lying on the bed, crying with her back facing someone.

Su Xiaozhi’s heart ached. She walked over and said gently, “Mother, drink the medicine. The doctor said that this medicine is good for your eyes.”

Madam Cao’s eyes were red and swollen. She could no longer cry. Her husband had passed away and her son was unconscious. It had crushed her. She had sunk into despair and washed her face with tears all day. She had cried until she was blind and had become a burden.

Madam Cao said hoarsely, “Xiaozhi, I don’t need to drink medicine. You don’t have to spend money on me. You don’t have to care about me.”

Madam Cao was in pain. She wanted to die, but she still wanted to live, hoping that Hu Daniu would wake up.

Su Xiaozhi sat down by the bed and gently helped Madam Cao up. “Mother, if you don’t drink the medicine, Daniu would be so sad to see you like this when he wakes up. Quickly drink the medicine. After you’re done, I’ll cook for you.”

Su Xiaozhi was exhausted, but she was still very patient.

Madam Cao felt extremely guilty. Su Xiaozhi fed her medicine and she drank it. She sobbed as she searched Su Xiaozhi’s hand and said hoarsely, “Xiaozhi, I’m sorry. I can’t do anything for you.”

Su Xiaozhi patted Madam Cao’s hand and said, “I’m not suffering. I believe Mother and Daniu will get better.”

Her heart also hurt, and tears silently flowed down her face. How could she not be bitter? She just couldn’t fall. The children were young, and she was the only one in the family who could work. If she also fell, what would happen to this family?

“Who are you guys?”

At this moment, Hu Shuangshuang’s shocked voice came from outside.