A century of poverty

Chapter 22 Descends!!

As they were talking, the sun set, and they were still more than ten miles from home.

They mounted the donkey and, clapping the reins, started to trot. Soon they were close to home; once they entered the east gate, they would reach the village, which meant they were home. Every time they returned and entered the east gate, the donkey would know they were almost home, excitedly braying loudly. Xiuying and her mother-in-law, working under the lamp at home, would receive the signal. Xiuying would get off the kang (heated brick bed) to prepare the meal, fetch water for washing their faces, and bring the food home—just in time for dinner.

It's this time again today, and I haven't heard a donkey bray.

Suddenly, two loud booming sounds were heard.

"Oh no, the landmine went off!" Xiuying blurted out. The mother and daughter-in-law couldn't stay inside any longer and went out the front door to look eastward.

After waiting a while and still not seeing anyone, Xiuying wanted to go east to check, but her mother-in-law stopped her: "You're not exactly agile, what are you doing going around in the dark! Just wait patiently."

I don't know how much time passed, but when I woke up, it was pitch black all around me. Where was I?

He thought about it—it was when he and Xiaoyong were returning from selling earthenware pots, and they had just entered the East Pass when, boom—they knew nothing more.

He could lift his arms and move his legs without any problems, but when he stood up and called out "Xiaoyong—", he couldn't utter a sound before his jaw started to hurt terribly.

In the darkness, he found Xiaoyong and asked, "Xiaoyong, how are you?"

Zhang Xiaoyong: "Uncle, my leg is injured in the explosion, I can't move it."

Hope: "I'll help you up to the roadside and wait for you." After settling Xiaoyong by the roadside, he said, "I'll go find the donkey, bring it back, and carry you home."

Hsiao-yong: "You'd better be careful! Do you know if there are any landmines left?"

Hope's donkey hadn't gone far, so she brought it back, put the reins in Xiaoyong's hand, and went to look for Xiaoyong's donkey. Searching in the darkness, Hope found Xiaoyong's donkey by the river. Looking at it, the pack animal was still there, so she led it back.

"Xiaoyong, is there anything else you need?"

Xiaoyong touched his wound, enduring the pain: "It's nothing, just a roll of bean curd slices."

He wanted to say, but couldn't bring himself to, "I'll find it for you!"

Xiaoyong: "Forget it, uncle, we don't need those things."

"Don't be afraid!"

Hope returned to the road, and on both sides, he groped with his hands and found the roll of bean curd.

He lifted Xiaoyong onto his donkey, holding the reins in one hand and leading Xiaoyong back with the other.

Animals also have a spirit; I hope this donkey doesn't need to be led and will stay close to hope as it walks home.

As they climbed the hill east of Zhangzhuangtuo Village, Xiuying saw someone approaching. The mother and daughter went to greet them: "Is it Xiwang who's back?" the mother asked.

"Mmm! Mmm!" Hope tried to say loudly, but her jaw hurt so much that she dared not open her mouth.

As she spoke, she came up to them and asked with concern, "Are you alright? Is anything damaged?"

Hope shook her head, looked at Xiaoyong, and indicated that Xiaoyong's leg was injured and she had to take him home.

Xiuying led her own donkey, hoping to carry Xiaoyong down the big slope and then up the steep embankment on the west side. After a while, she climbed the stone steps and stepped into the gate, arriving at Xiaoyong's courtyard, and carried Xiaoyong into the house.

Xiaoyong's mother and wife were shocked to see Xiwang, his face covered in blood, carrying Xiaoyong on his back. Xiaoyong's father quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed): "What happened?!"

"It was caused by a landmine. We stepped on a landmine when we entered Dongshankou," Xiaoyong replied.

The family suddenly realized what had happened.

"No wonder we heard a rumbling sound back then, but we didn't know what was going on," said Xiaoyong's father, as he helped Xiwang put Xiaoyong on the kang (a heated brick bed).

I hope to turn around and come out.

"Huh? Huh?" Xiaoyong's father wanted to say something more, but saw that Xiwang had already walked out of the house.

When Xiwang returned home and entered the house, Xiuying saw blood on Xiwang's face and chin under the lamplight.

He asked nervously, "Your face is all puffed up? Is it puffed up elsewhere?"

Take the basin outside, add warm water, and bring it back for Xiwang to wash. There's a cut more than an inch long on her right lower jaw, and it's still oozing clear blood.

Xiuying gently washed away the congealed bloodstains and brought a bowl of noodles to Xiwang to apply.

I hope it hurts so much that he hisses and cries out in pain.

"It looks like he's broken a bone, otherwise why would it hurt so much?" The mother said with heartache as she looked at her son, though she couldn't see clearly.

Hope's jawbone was unable to chew, so he only drank two bowls of thin porridge.

The mother, still shaken, exclaimed, "How dangerous! You even managed to find the donkey. If you had stepped on a landmine, you would have been dead! How incredibly brave you are!"

I hope I don't say, "I didn't think that much about it. They're together, shouldn't I care?"

"Yes! Thank God you're both alright and not too badly injured, it's a stroke of luck amidst misfortune," Xiuying said, putting down her bowl and chopsticks and leaving the table.

They then found some strips of cloth and wrapped Hope up in them.

I was in so much pain all night that I couldn't sleep, but after thinking about it, I'm really lucky.

After a few days of pain subsided, I hope to visit Xiaoyong at his home. These are true friends who have been through life and death together.

Xiaoyong was extremely grateful: "Uncle, thanks to you—that Hei Jie risked his life to save me and even found everything for me. You are my savior! This life-saving grace is like a second birth; I will never forget it."

Hope: "Don't talk about that. If it were you, you would have done the same thing."

Xiaoyong's mother, moved and filled with hope, said, "Uncle, it's goodbye today. Your sister-in-law will cook you something delicious."

"No need, no need. You have all that good food for Xiaoyong to eat, so he can get better soon," Hope said.

Xiaoyong's mother: "You're injured too?"

Hope: "I'm okay, I'm all better now."

"What's so good about it? You're already better after just a few days? Don't be shy, let me, your sister-in-law, express my gratitude." Xiaoyong's mother said, then instructed Xiaoyong's wife, "Chop up the biggest rooster, and prepare a couple of dishes. We'll celebrate for the father and son today."

The mother and daughter busied themselves inside and out, hoping to take the opportunity to get out.

Xiaoyong's mother stopped him, saying, "I've been watching you all along. You can't leave today, so come inside and chat with Xiaoyong and me!"

Just then, Xiaoyong's father returned home and was delighted to see the scene at home: "This really touches my heart. I hope you take off your shoes and get on the kang (heated brick bed)—get on the kang!"

I'm usually busy, but I finally have some free time this time.

Hope still turned to leave, saying, "I have things to do at home, I have to go back, otherwise my mother will worry."

"I'll send a message to my second aunt right now, telling her not to let Xiwang come back this afternoon, and to postpone anything else," Xiaoyong's mother said as she walked out.

Xiaoyong's father pushed Xiwang to sit down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and took off Xiwang's shoes and put them aside.

Seeing the family's sincere invitation to stay, he couldn't refuse, so he sat down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) and said, "Then I won't leave. Brother, you can come up to the kang too."

Xiaoyong's father also took off his shoes and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Have you seen Xiaoyong's legs?" Hope asked.

Xiao Yong's father replied, "I had Da Li, the bone-setter, examine him. He has a fracture at the top of his ankle. It can heal, but it's likely that his ankle won't be able to bend properly and he'll need a replacement."

Xiaoyong asked Xiwang, "Have you seen it?"

Hope: "I'm fine, I just couldn't chew on my jawbone too hard, but I didn't hurt anything else."

"Take good care of you two. You're still young. If you recover well, you can do anything again. Stepping on a landmine and getting blown up like this is a light injury. Thank goodness!" Xiaoyong's father exclaimed.

Several months later, the lump on Xiaoyong's ankle did not disappear, and although he could walk, he became lame.

I hope that after the injury to my jawline heals, it will leave a scar, making my originally well-proportioned face slightly uneven.

Japan surrendered.

When the news reached the small village of Zhangzhuangtuo, the people were overjoyed. They came out of their homes, spread the word, and gathered in front of the temple. Some jumped up and down with their arms linked, shouting "Oh-oh-!" and the sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time.

Soon after, the Hope family had another joyous occasion: his wife gave birth to a daughter, who became our eldest sister.

The Zhang family, from a humble background, met the fourth generation of people.