Zhao Chenguang climbed the mountain with the hopeful gazes of his two children, thinking that even if he couldn't find meat, getting a couple of bird eggs would be good.
Ideals are often grand, but reality can be harsh. The half-grown children in this village loved climbing trees and going into the river. If there were bird eggs in the trees, they wouldn't be waiting for him.
He returned, panting and exhausted, with no gains. Only a few birds flew by; he didn't have the skill.
Not wanting to see the disappointed eyes of his two children, and with no roads in the mountains, he turned his attention to the river.
This river wasn't deep, but it was quite long, flowing through several villages, and he didn't know where it ultimately led.
The water was exceptionally clear, and there were no fish in it. Turning over stones, he discovered very small river crabs.
He excitedly got into the river to catch them. After about an hour, he'd only caught a dozen or so small river crabs, which could all be held in one hand.
Looking at these small river crabs, he smiled with great joy. At least they counted as meat, didn't they? They could supplement the children's nutrition.
Zhao Xin Nuan rushed forward excitedly when she saw him return. Her eyes were filled with curiosity as she saw the small river crabs he carried in his clothes.
"They're still moving. How do we eat them?"
"Just throw them directly into the fire and roast them."
"Okay."
The fire used for boiling potatoes was just right for roasting the crabs. Once they were almost cooked, he used a wooden stick to retrieve them.
After brushing off the dirt, Zhao Chenguang peeled the meat and handed it to the siblings. The meat from one crab was smaller than a fingernail, making it a very unsatisfactory meal.
Zhao Zhi Li and his sister directly waved him away. They rinsed them with water and popped them into their mouths to chew. The taste was strange, but they were reluctant to spit them out.
Seeing them like this, Zhao Chenguang sighed again. "It's Dad's fault, I'm sorry."
Life continued like this, with feasts one day and hunger the next for three years. Zhao Zhi Li was already nine years old and had to work to earn work points every day. Zhao Xin Nuan stayed home to cook and clean.
Zhao Chenguang's most common tasks were digging and carrying manure. The smell clung to him, no matter how much he washed. The two children didn't get very close to him.
The strenuous and tiring work, coupled with poor eating and sleeping habits, caused his health to rapidly decline. His mental state also deteriorated, making him silent and withdrawn.
Zhao Wen Cong's situation was also not optimistic. Jun Jiu Li had not managed to remove Ye Zhao Qiu's space.
She had only taken away many of the items within it, leaving insufficient supplies for him alone.
Therefore, Ye Zhao Qiu was no longer as generous in supporting Zhao Wen Cong and his family. Zhao Wen Cong also noticed something amiss with her.
In his previous life, he had also noticed it, but his wife had been impeccably good to him and the two children, so he hadn't investigated.
In this life, both children had sensed the difference and were indifferent to the image Ye Zhao Qiu had previously cultivated.
"Dad, where did Aunt Ye get the money to buy these things? Weren't all the things we hid when we were sent down confiscated?"
"I don't know. Your Aunt Ye might have her own ways. We just need to live our own lives well."
"Hmph, she acted so nicely when she was a nanny in our house. She cooked delicious food for my brother and me, and bought toys.
After marrying you, she even said she would treat us as her own children. Now, she secretly hoards food and is unwilling to give it to us.
Wuu wuu, my brother fainted from hunger, how could she be so heartless? Didn't she marry you? Shouldn't those things be yours?"
"Alright, Xiao Yu, don't be difficult. Those things belong to your Aunt Ye, and I have no right to them. Don't blame her either; it's natural for people to look out for themselves."
The logic was sound, but there was also affection beyond the law. The family, once so close, had become unpleasant over such small things.
"Who here on the farm isn't skin and bones? She alone is shapely, fair, and plump.
She has money for cosmetics but is unwilling to exchange it for food, not considering our family's current situation at all. Does she think everyone here is a fool?"
"Alright, your Aunt Ye isn't fat."
"Hmph, is that the main point? You're just infatuated with her. I'm never talking to you again."
The conditions on the farm were more arduous than in the village, and the winters here were especially cold. Last year, someone had frozen to death in the cowshed.
At that time, he had help and brought enough supplies. Otherwise, with his health, he wouldn't have been able to support two children.
Over these three years, he had seen Ye Zhao Qiu's true character clearly. They were now on outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile terms.
At night.
"Be more discreet. Don't show yourself too much."
"Hmph, useless man. You can't protect me, or are you afraid I'll bring disaster to you and the children."
"Yes, I am incapable. But I am sure you were penniless before you married me. Whose money did you use to buy those things?
I know you have secrets, and I don't want to probe, nor do I mind your selfishness. But you'd better behave yourself. If the two children get caught up in it, I can't guarantee what I'll say."
"You're threatening me. I haven't had a good day since I followed you. If it weren't for you, would I have ended up in this dump?"
"Hmph, I gave you the chance to divorce. This was your choice. In your heart, you still think I have a chance to recover, or perhaps you know something?
Don't think that just because you've been acting for a long time, you're truly a victim. Your inner thoughts are no match for me."
"I understand."
Ye Zhao Qiu was quite frightened by these words. She was willing to go down to the countryside because of the security and to strengthen her relationship with Zhao Wen Cong and his children.
She hadn't expected her golden finger to have problems as soon as they arrived at the farm, and she didn't know how long they would be stuck here. In her haste, she revealed her true nature and couldn't control her temper.
The golden finger was meant to serve herself and make her life better. Now that supplies were insufficient, how could she possibly share them with outsiders?
Although the items were bought with the Zhao family's money, the items themselves belonged to her, Ye Zhao Qiu. No one could guess she had a space. Thinking this, she closed her eyes with peace of mind.
The next morning, Zhao Wen Cong was startled awake. A bag of fine grain and two bags of coarse grain were placed by the corner of the bed.
He glanced at Ye Zhao Qiu, who was still sleeping beside him, and discreetly moved the items to where the children slept.
When Ye Zhao Qiu woke up, she was beside herself. "Where is my space? Where is my space?"
"Be quiet. What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I... wuuu... What should I do? My golden finger, all my things are still in there. Ahhh, God, why are you doing this to me?"
"I think you've gone mad. Wake up properly and go to work."
As Zhao Wen Cong spoke, he moved to leave. Ye Zhao Qiu grabbed him with one hand, her palm landing on his back.
"It was you, wasn't it? Yesterday you said you stole my golden finger. Give it back to me, give it back!"
Zhao Wen Cong violently shook her off. "I don't understand what you're saying. I think you're seriously ill."