C32 Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

The woman in front of him looked somewhat well-fed. She was Su Xiaomei, the sister-in-law of Du Jianguo.

To be honest, Du Jianguo never liked her from the bottom of his heart. This woman had wicked intentions. When he separated his household from the family, more than half of the reason was her scheming behind the scenes.

He was afraid she would drag his older brother down. He was also afraid she would take his brother’s money to use for gambling.

As for money, Du Jianguo could understand that.

But Su Xiaomei was stingy even with grain.

His parents, seeing Liu Xiuyun’s pitiful situation, had tried many times to give them some grain. But Su Xiaomei always blocked them secretly. She even found ways to take back the grain they had given.

Because of this, Du Jianguo had no good feelings toward his sister-in-law at all.

However, Su Xiaomei had no such awareness. She wore a fake smile on her face and deliberately cleared her throat. She said, “Jianguo, I came here specifically to find you.”

“What do you want?” asked Du Jianguo, frowning with a completely puzzled heart.

“Well… I heard you managed to catch a bear using your skills?”

Su Xiaomei rubbed her hands together. Her eyes glanced at the sack he was holding. She sighed, “Look at how poor our family branch is doing these days. Your parents are old and work slowly, so they don’t earn much grain. The whole family relies on me and your big brother to support it.”

“In the past, it was fine. But now, I am pregnant with a child.” She said this while specifically rubbing her belly, pretending to be weak.

Du Jianguo understood what she meant. He spoke directly, “Sister, if you want smoked bear meat, just go to the Village Committee and speak to the old village head. Tell him I approved it. You can take some home to taste.”

Su Xiaomei’s eyes lit up. She quickly licked her lips. “Oh! Okay! Jianguo, I knew you had a kind heart!”

Du Jianguo saw that she agreed. He turned to leave. Unexpectedly, Su Xiaomei hurriedly stepped forward and blocked him.

“Sister, do you have anything else?” Du Jianguo’s frown deepened.

“Jianguo, don’t rush to leave. I have another matter I want to ask you for help.” Su Xiaomei leaned closer. Her voice dropped even lower.

“Look, the bear meat is just one thing. But a black bear has many treasures. There is bear bile, bear paws, and even bear skin. You surely cannot keep all these good things just for your own small family. Your family only has three people now. Your child is sent to live in the county town. You do not need so much.”

She paused, then finally stated her purpose. “My idea is, you give us a bear paw. I will take it back to stew for your father and your brother. It will help them nourish their bodies and gain strength. What do you think?”

Did this woman not have a brain?

Du Jianguo looked at Su Xiaomei in utter shock. Even though he knew his sister-in-law was shameless before, seeing her come to ask for a bear paw made him truly understand just how far she would go.

He said coldly, “Sister, not only does my father and my brother not need this. Even if they did, it is no business of an outsider like you to tell me what to do. If they truly lack this, let them come find me themselves.”

Su Xiaomei’s face changed instantly. Her voice rose higher. “Jianguo, what do you mean? Am I not part of the Du family? I have maintained this family for so many years in the Du family. You still do not trust me?”

“To be honest, I really do not trust you.”

Du Jianguo spoke in a flat tone. “Although I have separated from the Du family, I have heard many rumors over the years. Sister, you always take things from the Du family to your own maiden family. I am afraid if I give you the bear paw, you will sell it immediately. Then you will take all the money to your maiden family.”

“Du Jianguo! Explain yourself clearly! When have I stolen things to my maiden family? Do not ruin my reputation here!” Su Xiaomei suddenly screamed loudly.

For a married woman to not support her husband’s family, but instead to subsidize her own maiden family, was something villagers would talk about. Su Xiaomei naturally did not want to bear this shame.

“Whether it is gossip or the truth, I definitely will not give you the bear paw. Just give up the idea.”

Du Jianguo waved his hand. His tone was full of impatience.

“Go to the Village Committee and pick up a dozen jin of bear meat to eat at home. I have other things to do. I will not talk with you further.”

He said this and directly walked around Su Xiaomei. He walked quickly toward his own home. Su Xiaomei stared at the two large sacks behind him. Her ears caught the sound of chickens clucking from inside the sacks. She also spotted the words “Premium Grain” printed on the right side of the bag.

This kid. Did he already sell the bear bile and bear paws? She tightly clenched her fist. She watched his back with an expression full of heartache and unwillingness.

“Why can this useless thing have such ability now?” Su Xiaomei bit her teeth. Her heart was full of resentment.

Some days ago, she had mocked Du Jianguo with others. She said he offended the stationed cadre. He could not even enter the fields to dig potatoes. He would likely starve to death this winter.

But who could have guessed that his luck had been invincibly good. First, he dug up valuable Fo-ti. Now he even killed a bear!

It was this feeling of jealousy that clouded her mind. That is why she foolishly came to him, trying to get some valuable things from Du Jianguo.

In her past impression, Du Jianguo always feared her as his sister-in-law. As long as she spoke, he would surely obey her.

But today, this boy only agreed to give her a few jin of worthless bear meat. He would not even mention those truly precious treasures.

Su Xiaomei gritted her teeth. She turned and walked toward the Village Committee. After all, Du Jianguo had said she could take some. It was free. Why not take it?

When she arrived, she did not hesitate. She cut twenty jin of bear meat. The old village head knew she was Du Jianguo’s sister-in-law. He did not ask many questions. He let her take it away.

When Su Xiaomei brought the twenty jin of bear meat home, her father-in-law Du Daqiang saw it. He was immediately surprised. “Daughter-in-law, what is this you are carrying? It is so heavy!”

“What else? It is just worthless trash. Your good son gave it to me.” Su Xiaomei put the bag on the ground. Her tone was full of disdain.

“Bear meat? How can this be worthless trash!”

Du Daqiang quickly picked up the bag to weigh it. His face showed great surprise. “I see this must be twenty jin! With this, we can dry it into meat jerky. We can survive the winter. We can sell more meat from the year pig. We can save quite a bit of money!”

Her son, Du Qiangjun, also nodded happily. He looked at the bear meat in the bag and said, “Second brother really had us in mind, dad. Your hard work over the years was not in vain. He just caught a bear. He still thinks of us and brings home so much bear meat.”

Du Daqiang felt comfortable in his heart. He laughed out loudly, “That is right! This son was not raised in vain!”

“Just this little bit of bear meat, and it buys you father and son?”

Su Xiaomei pursed her lips. She coldly poured cold water on them. “You must not forget. This bear meat is the most worthless thing! Second brother still has bear skin, bear bile, and bear paws! Earlier I asked him to give a bear paw to honor our father. He refused to give it.”

She turned to look at Du Daqiang. Her tone carried a tone of provocation. “Grandpa, do you still think you have a high standing in your second son’s heart? I think not!”

[Tl: ts b*tch]