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

“Exchange them for what?”

Liu Xiuyun’s heart tightened as she quickly ran through her mind all the things her family owned. After several calculations, she realized that any valuable items had long been taken by Du Jianguo for his reckless schemes.

“What did you use to exchange them?”

Du Jianguo replied, “While I was digging for potatoes in the field earlier, I happened to catch a nest of wild rabbits. There were six in total. I gave four to Liu Chun’an in exchange for some cornmeal and pork lard scraps.”

“Lately, you’ve been working hard and haven’t had anything decent to eat. I was worried your body couldn’t take it, so I thought about using the pork lard scraps to give you some extra nourishment.”

As he spoke, Du Jianguo put down what he was holding, quickly stepped outside, and returned carrying a bamboo basket.

“These are the potatoes I dug up earlier. They’re a bit small, but they’ll do as a staple food. Let’s make do with them for now. In the next few days, I’ll go back up the mountain to see if I can catch more wild animals. Once I do, I’ll trade them for money and make sure you and the child can eat big potatoes!”

Am I dreaming?

Liu Xiuyun felt dazed, as if everything before her eyes wasn’t real.

She was about to reach out and touch the items when she suddenly realized she was still clutching a packet of rat poison in her hand. Startled, she quickly shoved it back into her pocket.

As she touched the small potatoes in the basket, her nose tingled with emotion. Even these unwanted little potatoes had rarely been eaten by her family.

Usually, the village’s collective work left her breathless. After a full day of labor, she was completely exhausted. Even if she managed to dig up a few potatoes in her spare time, she could only get a handful. She had to save them and only cook them when the family was on the verge of starvation.

Liu Xiuyun couldn’t remember how many times she had seen her daughter staring longingly at those few potatoes, eyes full of desire. Yet she couldn’t even cook a single one for her child. Those potatoes were their lifeline.

But now, Du Jianguo had actually managed to bring home these potatoes. Why didn’t he do this sooner?

The more Liu Xiuyun thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Wife, don’t cry!”

Seeing her like this, Du Jianguo panicked.

He raised his hand to wipe her tears, but then noticed his fingers were covered in dirt. Embarrassed, he quickly pulled his hand back.

“I understand. Are you starving? Wife, I’ll go cook this bowl of pork lard scraps for you right now!”

Saying this, Du Jianguo took the ingredients and headed into the kitchen.

First, he looked at the two rabbits in the sack, staring at each other. After a moment of thought, Du Jianguo sighed and set them down.

“Just a few ounces of meat. It would be a waste to eat them now.”

He decided to keep the two young rabbits to raise at home.

But he had no intention of saving the pork lard scraps and cornmeal. He trusted in his own abilities to get more food in the future. Right now, the most important thing was to nourish his wife.

He poured half a bowl of pork lard scraps into the pot, sliced the previously dug small potatoes into thin pieces, and stir-fried them together with the pork lard.

Though the method was simple and rough, he had no other choice. Besides a jar of dry salt, the house had no seasoning or vegetables left. Not even a single green onion or clove of garlic was available to enhance the flavor.

However, it was this most authentic mountain-style cooking that made it so delicious.

After finishing the stir-fried potatoes with pork lard, Du Jianguo shaped a few steamed buns from the cornmeal and placed them in the steamer.

About half an hour later, he brought both dishes to the table.

The explosive aroma filled the air, making Liu Xiuyun swallow hard. Her stomach’s cravings were completely awakened.

The last time she had eaten pork lard was half a year ago during the New Year. Her in-laws had slaughtered a pig, and her mother-in-law had secretly given her two pounds of meat and a bowl of pork lard scraps.

As for the pork, it was unimaginable. Du Jianguo had already stolen and sold it early on to fund his gambling.

But the remaining bowl of pork lard scraps had truly been delicious.

Liu Xiuyun stared intently at the bowl of pork lard scraps, unwilling to take her eyes off it even for a moment.

Du Jianguo noticed her expression and smiled, saying, “Wife, eat quickly! I made all of this for you.”

Even hearing this, Liu Xiuyun stubbornly pushed the food aside, saying, “Let’s put it in the cabinet first. Wait until the child returns from my parents’ home. We’ll heat it up for her.”

Du Jianguo paused, then smiled again. “Wife, you eat first. If the food runs out, I’ll get more. The child is young and will have many more opportunities to eat good food in the future. Look how thin you are. Eating something nourishing is more important than anything else.”

Liu Xiuyun shook her head and glanced at him faintly, saying, “This food was exchanged using the money meant for buying the child a New Year’s coat. She’s been longing for that coat for years. Now that hope is gone, we have to find something else to comfort her.”

At this point, she curled her lips in self-mockery. “Coat exchanged for a full meal. That should be worth it, right?”

These two words struck Du Jianguo like knives. He wanted to slap himself. How could I have done such a terrible thing?

His daughter was truly pitiful. Since she was born, she had never had a single good day.

In his past life, the best meal of meat dumplings she had ever eaten was actually mixed with rat poison…

Du Jianguo clenched his fists and said, “Wife, give me another chance. I promise I’ll live properly from now on.”

Liu Xiuyun sighed. “Du Jianguo, how many times have you said this? Every time, you make a promise, and then immediately go off to gamble with those bad friends of yours.”

“This time is different!”

Du Jianguo hurriedly tried to explain, but suddenly, a noise came from the courtyard entrance. A roguish voice called out.

“Jianguo, are you home? Let’s go play cards!”

Upon hearing this voice, Liu Xiuyun’s face instantly turned cold.

Then, with a creak, the main door was pushed open.

A disheveled rogue walked in, wearing tattered clothes and with a blade of dogtail grass dangling from the corner of his mouth. He carelessly rushed into the inner room.

As soon as he entered, his eyes lit up, fixated on the large bowl of pork lard scraps on the table. “Oh, Brother Jianguo, you’re treating yourself today! Even having pork lard scraps! Come on, grab another pair of chopsticks for me. Let’s eat first, then go play cards!”

Du Jianguo stared coldly at the man. This was Li Ergou, a fellow villager and one of his bad companions.

This guy was different from Liu Chun’an. He was a complete scoundrel.

Years ago, Du Jianguo had used some cunning tricks. He set his sights on Liu Xiuyun and insisted on marrying her. His bad friends had given him a shady idea: to stage a “hero saves the beauty” incident by blocking Liu Xiuyun’s way.

Li Ergou was among them.

Over the years, Li Ergou had used this incident to blackmail Du Jianguo.

Whenever Du Jianguo acted even slightly against Li Ergou’s wishes, the latter would whisper in his ear, threatening to reveal the truth to Liu Xiuyun.

This was the fundamental reason why Du Jianguo gradually fell into gambling and went astray.

He was truly afraid. Afraid that Liu Xiuyun would leave him if she found out the truth.

With such a good wife, he couldn’t risk losing her. He had no choice but to keep giving in to Li Ergou, allowing himself to sink deeper and deeper.

In short, Li Ergou was the true culprit behind the disintegration of their family.