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

As soon as these words left his mouth, Tuantuan, who had been hiding nearby, shrank back in fear. She quickly twisted around and ducked behind Liu Fu, clutching her grandfather’s coat tightly with her small hand. She stared timidly at Du Jianguo, terrified that he might really come over and take her away.

Du Jianguo’s heart felt as though it had been pricked by a needle. It was all the sin he had created in his previous life.

In the past, he had committed a series of absurd acts, beating and scolding Xiuyun and their daughter.

The most heinous act of all was that he had actually considered selling Tuantuan to a family in the same village that collected child brides in exchange for money.

If it had not been for the timely discovery by the elderly couple, Liu Fu and his wife, who had rushed the child to the city overnight to protect her, this foolish father would have ruined his daughter’s life long ago.

Du Jianguo placed the bottles and jars he was holding on the ground and bowed deeply to the elderly couple.

“Mom and Dad, I know you probably still suspect me right now and fear I am trying some trick to cheat you out of money. But this time I am serious. The gifts have been delivered, so I will not stay long today. Once I earn a lot of money, I will definitely fulfill my duty as a son-in-law and take Xiuyun to see you.”

Du Jianguo’s words left Liu Fu and his wife stunned. They had never heard this good-for-nothing Du Jianguo speak like this before. It felt strange.

Liu Fu frowned and called out to stop Du Jianguo. “Wait! What exactly is all this in your bag?”

“It is all gifts bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, along with toys for Tuantuan. You two can just tidy them up later.”

“Is that whole bag full of gifts?” Liu Fu looked at him in disbelief. Just by the volume, these gifts must have cost a lot of money.

His suspicion grew, and he asked, “Where did you get so much money? Did you cheat Xiuyun out of her money again?”

“This money was earned by hunting in the mountains. It has nothing to do with Xiuyun,” Du Jianguo replied.

“You can hunt now?” Liu Fu looked him up and down, his face sneering and full of mockery. “Don’t make me laugh! With your meager skills, you were previously scared half to death just by encountering a pheasant in the mountains. Now you dare to claim you went hunting?”

Seeing that his father-in-law simply did not believe him, he did not argue further. He only bowed again, squatted down, and quietly instructed Tuantuan.

“Daughter, be a good girl and listen to Grandma and Grandpa. Once Dad earns more money, I will come and take you home.”

After speaking, he stood up, turned around, and walked out the door without looking at Zhang Desheng even once.

However, Zhang Desheng’s eyes darted rapidly in his sockets. His shifty appearance clearly showed he was secretly plotting some unspeakable scheme.

Hunting in the mountains?

He had been worrying about how to mess with Du Jianguo, and now the young man had walked right into his trap.

Although it was normal for poor people in this era to catch small wild animals to find food, such matters could be interpreted in many ways. If someone with influence caught wind of it, the consequences could be bitter. One could easily claim it was speculation and profiteering, and no one would dare to argue otherwise.

[Tl: in the 1960s under Mao’s reign being suspected of being a capitalist can result in persecution, torture and even death]

Unluckily for Du Jianguo, Zhang Desheng was exactly that person with influence.

Du Jianguo, Du Jianguo, just wait until I get to the village. I will make you submit completely.

I will make you hand Xiuyun over to me with your own hands!

Zhang Desheng was overjoyed. He no longer wanted to stay at Liu Fu’s house to foster any affection. He immediately went back to prepare for his transfer to Xiao An Village.

After several hours of commotion, by the time Du Jianguo left his father-in-law’s house, it was nearly dusk.

He dared not delay and hurried toward the entrance of the grain depot. From a distance, he saw Old Man Sun squatting on the ground, holding a cigarette in his hand. Several cigarette butts had fallen at his feet, showing he had been waiting impatiently.

“Brat! I thought you went to visit a brothel again. I was just about to give up on waiting and head back!”

Seeing him, Old Man Sun frowned and stood up. He flicked his whip lightly against the cart. “Hurry up! If we wait any longer, it will be completely dark. Who knows what mosquito the size of an ox head might jump out on the road? If you don’t mind getting your blood sucked, I still want to live a few more years!”

Du Jianguo hurried forward, apologizing with a smile, and rummaged through the things he had bought to pull out a pack of mung bean cakes. He handed them to Old Man Sun.

“I am sorry, sorry for making you wait so long. Please taste these.”

Old Man Sun’s eyes were sharp. As soon as he saw the mung bean cakes, his expression instantly softened.

He smiled, took the cakes, tucked them into his bosom, and waved his hand. “It’s fine, it’s fine! Being a little late is not a big deal! Even if we have to travel at night, it’s not that terrible.”

This old man is truly fickle.

Du Jianguo muttered to himself but did not say much. He climbed onto the cart and followed the old man.

The two rode the swaying cart toward the village. By the time they finally reached the village entrance, Du Jianguo jumped off the cart carrying the remaining items. His steps felt light as he hurried toward his home.

He could not help but start imagining the joy on his wife’s face when she saw all the things he had brought back.

Du Jianguo had just pushed open the front door when a sharp crack echoed, and a solid slap landed squarely on his cheek.

He covered his face and stood there in utter shock. Before coming here, he had hoped that bringing these gifts would make his wife, Liu Xiuyun, calm down a bit, or at least stop thinking about the poisonous dumplings.

Instead, this was what he got.

“Wife, why did you hit me?” Du Jianguo asked, rubbing his burning cheek in confusion.

“Why did I hit you?” Liu Xiuyun trembled all over, staring at him with fierce eyes, her chest heaving violently.

“Earlier I met Sun Liu An’s wife. She told me you did not go to the fields today. You borrowed Sun Liu An’s donkey cart to sneak into the city. Did you go to my parents’ house to beg for money again?!”

“I did go, but listen to my explanation…” Du Jianguo tried to defend himself but was cut off.

“Listen to what you say?!” Liu Xiuyun suddenly let her hair down, grabbed the kitchen knife from the stove, and swung it around.

Du Jianguo’s heart instantly rose to his throat. However, she did not swing it at him. Instead, she placed the blade against her own neck.

“Wife! Don’t be impulsive! Put the knife down quickly! Let’s talk this through calmly. Do not hurt yourself!” Du Jianguo urged, nervously taking half a step forward. He dared not force her too hard and could only stand frozen, trying to persuade her.

Tears rolled down Liu Xiuyun’s eyes. Her voice trembled with pleading. “I beg you, Du Jianguo… stop harming my parents! I accept that you abuse me, beat me, and scold me. I accept this fate for this life! But do not drag my parents into this!”

Only then did Du Jianguo realize she had misunderstood. He quickly raised his hand and solemnly swore. “I swear to the heavens! This trip to my in-laws’ house was purely to bring gifts and fulfill my duty as a son. I did not ask for a single cent!”

“You are fooling a ghost?” Liu Xiuyun still did not believe him. She pointed at the things in his hands and the two feet of new cloth. Her voice trembled. “Did you pick these up on the road?”

“I earned these myself!” Du Jianguo explained hurriedly. “Last night, I dug up some Fo-ti and that poisonous snake that scared you. I sold them all to He Chun Tang pharmacy! If you don’t believe me, I will take you to ask the shopkeeper tomorrow!”

“Fo-ti? What is that?” Liu Xiuyun frowned. Although she had read books, she did not know about Chinese herbs, and she still held the kitchen knife.

“It is a Chinese medicine, and it is very expensive!” Du Jianguo pointed to the pile of potatoes in the corner. “Do you remember that big potato I dug up yesterday? That thing was it.”

Saying this, he hastily took out the twelve yuan folded neatly in his pocket and handed them over. “Look, this is the remaining money! If I went to cheat my in-laws out of money, given my past nature, I would have lost it all at the casino long ago. How could I have saved any of it?”