"Soon it won't be?"
"What do you mean?"
Li Changming suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
There's a problem!
"What do you mean by that?" Li Changming's confidence wavered, and his voice couldn't help but thicken.
"Let's get a divorce, Li Changming!" Su Taohua said calmly.
When she said this, it was as natural as saying at home, "Husband, let's eat!"
But to Li Changming, it was like thunder rolling in.
She wants a divorce?
This won't do!
"I don't agree, I won't agree! Su Taohua, you bitch, you actually want to dump me!" Li Changming shouted with all his might.
"Shut up, what are you shouting about? Is something happening?" Someone watching Li Changming beside him immediately spoke up.
Li Changming had been beaten quite a few times recently. When this person spoke, he flinched and didn't dare to shout anymore.
"Sister-in-law, you're doing the right thing. A man like this is better off without than with." The man even said proudly to Su Taohua.
Li Changming was almost furious, but he didn't dare to speak loudly. He could only beg in a low voice, "Taohua, we've been together for decades. Which man in the brigade is not like this?"
"Besides, if you get divorced, a woman no one wants, won't people point fingers at your back?"
"You know people will point fingers at my back? If you knew, you wouldn't have done what you did!"
"Taohua, I don't agree, and you can't divorce me. Give up this idea, I won't let you divorce." Li Changming finally dropped all pretense.
Su Taohua was his only lifeline. Even if he had to go to the mine, he would still have a home and a fallback plan in the future, right?
"Whether you agree or not, this marriage can be divorced!" Su Taohua said and turned to leave.
***
In the blink of an eye, it was spring plowing. Su Xiaotian, who wasn't going to school, spent her days running in the fields with Du Tonghe.
During this time, Su Xiaotian also read many books on agricultural planting and even superior seed cultivation, and learned a lot of knowledge from Du Tonghe.
As the system's functions became more powerful and Su Xiaotian became smarter, she absorbed all this knowledge and put it to her own use. It could be said that she was already a giant in agricultural knowledge theory.
But without a doubt, Su Xiaotian, who only had theoretical knowledge and no practical experience, had shortcomings, and she was now doing her best to make up for them.
The eight-year-old child, very resiliently, followed behind the adults, busy in the fields. Her small face was red from the sun.
The Su family truly felt heartbroken.
Their treasure, their treasure who could walk without legs, had to walk so much every day. Her little feet had blisters, yet she was still diligently working.
"Tian'er, let's rest. Can we not go tomorrow?" Grandma Su persuaded with tears in her eyes.
This child had never suffered such hardship since she was born.
"Grandma, no. Grandpa Du and I have to walk through every piece of land and then determine what fertilizer to apply." Su Xiaotian shook her head, "These blisters look serious, but they don't hurt, really."
Even though she said that, the expression on the little girl's face couldn't deceive anyone.
Liang Xiu could only silently take out the clean washed cotton cloth to wrap Su Xiaotian's little feet.
Qi Liangying and Wang Xianghua hurried to sew soft insoles and carefully put them in for the little girl.
"Xiaotian, let Big Brother carry you from now on, okay?" Su Shouwen said with concern.
"That won't do, Big Brother. You have to be busy with the brigade's work and also find time to study. How can you have so much time?" Su Xiaotian waved her hands repeatedly.
"Then Second Brother will carry you!" Su Ciliang quickly said. He wasn't the brigade accountant, so he didn't have much to do.
"That won't do, Second Brother. I'm grown up, I'm already eight years old. How can I always wait for you to carry me?" Su Xiaotian said with a smile.
"If I really let you carry me all day, wouldn't people laugh at me?"
"But, you're like this..." Little Fifth spoke, unable to hide his heartache.
Su Xiaotian suddenly remembered that in the books she had read before, there seemed to be a method for making ointment.
She immediately smiled.
"Big Brother, you and Second Brother help me buy some medicine from Doctor Li. I'll make the ointment myself and apply it."
Although they didn't know what Su Xiaotian intended to do, the two of them quickly went to the pharmacy to find Doctor Li and bought the few medicines Su Xiaotian needed.
Fortunately, the medicines Su Xiaotian needed were not obscure, and they were available in the rural pharmacy.
Su Xiaotian ground, steamed, and dried them herself, and indeed made a small jar of black ointment.
After applying the homemade ointment twice, the blisters on Su Xiaotian's feet indeed shriveled up. Most importantly, they no longer hurt, and she would be completely healed in another two days.
"This medicine is effective." Su Xiaotian smiled happily, "I'll send some to Grandpa Du later. His soles are also worn out."
Grandpa Su listened, but his heart was filled with sorrow. How could his own child be given away like this?
Look, now she only thinks of that old man Du.
Who knows his suffering!
"Xiaotian, why do you only think of Grandpa Du and not Grandpa?" Grandpa Su finally couldn't help but ask.
Su Xiaotian was stunned. Only then did she realize that her grandfather was jealous.
"Grandpa, do your soles have blisters?" Su Xiaotian asked with wide eyes.
Her grandfather had worked in the fields his whole life. His soles were covered with a thick layer of calluses. Let alone walking a few steps with shoes on, even walking barefoot was not a problem.
Grandpa Su felt even more heartbroken. How could that grandfather be more precious than his own biological grandfather?
Su Xiaotian chuckled and then said, "Grandpa, I know your leg hurts. In the summer, I'll carefully make some ointment for you. Apply it for a summer, and it won't hurt in autumn and winter!"
Hearing his granddaughter's thoughtful words, Grandpa Su's face bloomed into a smile.
Grandma Su looked at the old man's proud smile and felt a little dissatisfied.
"Xiaotian, why do you only think of your grandpa?"
"Grandma, don't worry, there's also yours. Coincidentally, there's an ointment that's suitable for you." Su Xiaotian quickly hugged Grandma Su's arm and said coquettishly.
After a big circle, she finally appeased her family. Su Xiaotian also took the homemade ointment to the cowshed.
Chi Yiyuan was cleaning the cow pen. Seeing Su Xiaotian coming, he smiled and greeted her, but didn't come over.
"Brother Yiyuan, wait for me, I'll help you!" Su Xiaotian shouted loudly.
Chi Yiyuan quickly said, "No need, there's only a little left. Your brothers helped clean it thoroughly yesterday, and there's only a little bit left." Chi Yiyuan quickly stopped her.
What a joke! How could a delicate and cute little girl work in a cowshed and get dirty and smelly?
Hearing this, Su Xiaotian didn't insist.
"Grandpa, Grandpa Chi, are you here?" Su Xiaotian shouted with a bright smile.
"They went to dig wild vegetables. They said the wild vegetables are the tenderest at this time. If you dig them and dry them, you can eat them for a long time." Chi Yiyuan replied with a smile, "Are you looking for them for something?"
"It's nothing major. I just made some ointment myself, which is most effective for treating foot blisters." Su Xiaotian said cheerfully.
"Grandpa Du's soles have been hurting so much that he can't sleep at night." Chi Yiyuan immediately said, "I live next door and can hear his groans."
"I tried it, and it's very effective." Su Xiaotian placed the ointment jar outside Grandpa Du Tonghe's door.
Seeing Chi Yiyuan still busy in the cowshed, Su Xiaotian skipped with her short legs and ran over.
"Run slower, just stand over there. Why are you running over?" Chi Yiyuan quickly shouted.
"Brother Yiyuan, if you don't come over, I'll come find you!"
"I smell bad. I'll play with you after I finish cleaning the cowshed and wash up." Chi Yiyuan said with a smile.
"But..."
"No 'buts'. You just stand there, and we'll talk." Chi Yiyuan was quite insistent.
Su Xiaotian then stood not far from the cowshed and talked with Chi Yiyuan.
"Brother Yiyuan, has Grandpa Chi's stomachache gotten any better?"
"Much better. He's eating better and recovering slowly." Chi Yiyuan said.
If it weren't for Su Xiaotian, he didn't know if his grandfather could have lasted until now.
Chi Yiyuan felt scared just thinking about it.
"Ask Grandpa Chi to go to Doctor Li for a diagnosis and tell me the pulse-taking results. I'll see if I can prescribe some medicine for Grandpa Chi."
Su Xiaotian didn't dare to say she could take pulses herself. This was a technical skill that required long-term training. However, based on others' diagnoses, she could try taking pulses herself and then confirm.
Then prescribe some medicine. Su Xiaotian felt that this would definitely work.
It wasn't that she was being arrogant, but because of the lack of doctors and medicine, she estimated that few people around could match her medical skills.
"You can also prescribe medicine?" Chi Yiyuan obviously didn't expect it and asked in surprise.
But then, he remembered that his grandfather's stomach got better because Su Xiaotian put the medicine she gave him into millet and cooked it.
"A little bit, but not professionally!" Su Xiaotian said quickly.
"I believe you." Chi Yiyuan said.
A few days later, Su Changjiu took people to the county town and brought back a tractor. This was the reward for being the first to pay public grain last year.
Su Changjiu sat in the brand-new tractor, feeling extremely proud.
But he also knew that if Chen Zi'an hadn't helped, Hongxin Brigade wouldn't have had the chance to get this tractor.
This was all thanks to the old Su family.
Therefore, the final driver of this tractor was determined to be the third son of the Su family.
The reason for choosing the third son of the Su family was that he was the best tractor driver in the entire brigade, and he explained it clearly. Even the eldest and second sons of the Su family couldn't compare.
Even if other members were dissatisfied with this decision, there was nothing they could do but accept it.
When asked why the third son of the Su family knew so much, the third son of the Su family proudly said, "That's because I studied the hardest in the literacy class. You were all busy bragging when you were supposed to be learning to read!"
Everyone thought about it and realized it was true. Every time in the literacy class, the third son of the Su family was the most diligent.
No, it should be said that everyone in the Su family, regardless of gender, studied diligently.
Could it be that literacy had so many benefits?
But thinking that one driver came from the Su family, and there was a brigade accountant, even the youngest Su Xiaotian could help in the fields, they truly believed it.
For a time, when people in the brigade attended the literacy class, they became much more serious.
With the addition of the tractor, Hongxin Brigade's farming speed increased significantly.
The tractor rumbled through the brigade's fields every day, causing envy among the members of the surrounding brigades.
But no matter how much they envied, it was useless.
Hongxin Brigade couldn't even use the tractor themselves, let alone help others.
As the driver, the third son of the Su family was also a prominent figure in the brigade.
Grandpa Su was so happy!
What could be happier than his children all having promising futures?
Even his eldest daughter, who used to be tormented by her in-laws, was now living better.
In the lunar month of June, summer harvest began.
The members found that the crops in Hongxin Brigade this year had a good growth. They worked even harder while working.
When the entire brigade worked together to bring the crops to the threshing ground, the speed was four days faster than last year.
The third son of the Su family drove the tractor, rumbling and threshing on the threshing ground. With the help of others in the brigade, the speed was even faster.
"Comrades, comrades, we just received a notice from the commune that there will be a heavy rain in three days. We must all work hard and load all the grain into the warehouse within three days."
Su Changjiu's voice, transmitted through the brigade's loudspeaker, reached every household.
The Su family, who were eating breakfast, quickly shoveled the sweet potato congee in their bowls into their mouths and rushed out the door.
Outside, many people were also rushing towards the threshing ground.
After months of hard work, they couldn't let a heavy rain ruin all the crops.
Hongxin Brigade's harvesting speed was relatively fast, but the speed of other surrounding brigades was slower.
Several brigades still had crops in the fields, and these brigades were in a panic.
These brigades regretted it. Why didn't they grab the first chance? If they had been more proactive in paying public grain last year and surpassed Hongxin Brigade, they would be the ones not worrying now.
Especially Dongfanghong Brigade, they regretted it even more. Captain Luo almost beat his chest in regret.
Why did he lose the tractor for a few hundred catties of grain? They were clearly the first, and for that little bit of grain, it was truly short-sighted.
Not only did Captain Luo regret it, but other members of Dongfanghong Brigade also had many complaints about Captain Luo.
Even the members who used to think Captain Luo was smart and could save them grain now complained about Captain Luo.
Captain Luo had indeed lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet.
Unlike Dongfanghong Brigade, which directed all its complaints towards the captain, the members of Xiangyang Brigade directed more of their anger towards Granny Wang and the entire Wang family.
The Wang family was originally a single household in Xiangyang Brigade, with no one to support them. Now, they were even more disliked and resented.
Why the resentment?
The members felt that if the Wang family hadn't mistreated Su Manxiu and bullied her, Su Manxiu would still be a member of Xiangyang Brigade. With her third brother being a driver, wouldn't he help Xiangyang Brigade a little?
Granny Wang herself also regretted it. Liu Xiaocui's child was born, and it didn't resemble anyone from the old Wang family at all. Even if she didn't want to believe that the child wasn't from their Wang family, she couldn't deceive herself.
She had driven Su Manxiu away for that cheap woman, and she really regretted it.
But now, Su Manxiu was married and was about to have a child. It was too late to say anything.
In three days, with the joint efforts of all the brigade members working day and night, the last load of grain in Hongxin Brigade was also stored in the warehouse.
The members, who had been busy for many consecutive days, finally had time to rest well.
But soon, brigades that knew Hongxin Brigade had already stored their crops immediately had people come to ask for help.
Su Changjiu quickly convened a member meeting for the brigade.
It had to be said that people at this time truly put collective interests above all else. Although everyone was exhausted, they quickly gathered, brought tools, and went to help other brigades.
Even the four people in the cowshed went out to help with their gear.
The people from the cowshed going to help other brigades didn't seem like anything to the people of Hongxin Brigade, but it surprised people from other brigades.
But at critical moments, even if they had doubts in their hearts, they didn't have time to say anything.
Time was life. They couldn't possibly finish threshing. They cut the wheat heads with a chaff cutter and placed them in temporarily cleared granaries. Many families, in order to save their crops, cleared out all the storage rooms they could.
Even so, when the heavy rain came, some grain was still left in the rain. Fortunately, it was placed in relatively high places and protected by straw mats. As long as the weather wasn't continuous rain, it could be salvaged.
Fortunately, after a heavy rain, the dark clouds dispersed by the afternoon of the next day, and everything was in order. Most of the crops were saved.
The biggest losses in crops were in Dongfanghong Brigade and Xiangyang Brigade.
Because Hongxin Brigade helped several brigades, they avoided these two brigades.
Without external help, their losses were naturally severe.
In this battle to protect the grain, Hongxin Brigade helped several brigades and received praise from several brigades. Some brigades even came to Hongxin Brigade specifically to express their thanks.
When the captains of several brigades saw that Hongxin Brigade's grain was actually much more than theirs, they felt envy and jealousy.
"Captain Su, your brigade's land is about the same as ours, right? Why is the grain so much more than ours?"
Those who could work in the brigade were all shrewd people. With just one glance, they could see the difference.
Su Changjiu smiled proudly. It was much more, and it was all thanks to Du Tonghe.
But could he say that? No!
He just smiled and chatted. The captains of other brigades knew they couldn't get anything out of him.
But it didn't matter if they couldn't get anything from Du Tonghe. With so many people in Hongxin Brigade, they could always find out.
No one bothered Su Changjiu anymore. Su Changjiu immediately went to find Su Shouwen to confirm the specific grain yield for this year.
Jin Niang's crops had indeed yielded much more than last year, but the question was how much more.
"Captain, according to last year's records, our brigade's grain yield per mu has increased by 20% compared to last year." Su Shouwen was also extremely excited, his eyes full of smiles as he spoke.
When Su Changjiu reached this conclusion, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Did it really increase this much?" Su Changjiu asked Su Shouwen.
Su Shouwen nodded solemnly, "I've calculated it three times, and this is the data. There's no problem."
"Good, that's great. Our brigade can feed everyone this year, and we don't have to eat congee all the time." Su Changjiu was so excited he was almost in tears.
As a seven-foot man, being unable to feed everyone was a pain in his heart.