The Ups and Downs of the Commoners Page #15

This non-fiction novel tells the life of ordinary commoners in the middle of the 20th century in China, from the series of movements such as "Land Reform", "Great Leap Forward", "Cultural Revolution" and "Educated Youth Going to the Countryside" to the early days of Reform and Opening-up. The book has four volumes, and was published by Hong Kong Chinese International Publishing House in 2015. The protagonist of this book, Fang Zhengben, was born into a bankrupt family of landowners. Their family has lived in Taiqing Town for generations. When he was six years old, he left Taiqing Town with his parents and came to Longyun Mountain, where the mountains overlap. From then on, he began an unusual life: their family hard work, but they couldn't eat enough; he yearned for reading, but he has dropped out of school three times before graduating from junior high school; he is diligent and studious, with excellent grades, but the door of colleges is

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Fang Zhengben is very fortunate to be able to stand on such a high place today and see the vast world beyond the mountain. It turns out that the world outside the mountain is so big and beautiful! 
After lunch was made that day, Wang Qihui's face was gradually covered with a layer of worried. In the evening, she quietly discussed with Fang Xinwen, and said: "The food at home will be finished soon, but there is still more than a month before the autumn harvest. What can we do about the food for the few people in this family?" Fang Xinwen pondered for a moment, and said : "I'm afraid I can only find someone to borrow." Wang Qihui said embarrassingly: "The relatives have all gone to the countryside, and the situation is similar to ours. If we want to ask relatives for help, we will not be able to get through this stage. We just migrtion to this mountain not long ago, and we don’t recognize a few people. Others don't know us, who is willing to lend us!" Fang Xinwen thought for a while, and said, "If you can't ask relatives, just borrow from Zeng Sanxing's family!" Wang Qihui said, "It seems that, can have a try ."


Chapter 5

After having breakfast the next day, Wang Qihui came to Zeng Sanxing's door and knocked on the door frame and greet sb: "Third uncle Zeng! Third uncle Zeng!" Wang Qihui called him according to what the children called him. Zeng Sanxing smiled honestly and greeted her, and asked, "What's the matter with you? Sister Wang." Wang Qihui said embarrassingly, "This is because there is something to ask Third Uncle Zeng for help!" Zeng Sanxing put aside his smile and said seriously: "If you have anything, just tell me, see if we can help?" Wang Qihui said, "I'm not afraid that third uncle Zeng would have laugh, and our family will be out of food in two days. We used to do a little business on the street, and we were not rich. We moved to the countryside during this time, all items depend on buying, and the money is almost running out. So I want to find third uncle Zeng borrow some grains to help us cross this threshold and repay you when the situation improves. I'm not sure if it's possible?" After listening to Wang Qihui’s relate, Zeng Sanxing replied: “There is still a little bit of grain, but I’m going to discuss this with Zhang Chunxiang. Let’s give you an answer tomorrow.” Wang Qihui said, “Then we will just wait for your news!" After she said goodbye, go to home.
The next day, Zhang Chunxiang came over and replied: "Sister Wang, we have discussed what you said yesterday. In fact, our family is not wealthy. Since you said it, anyway we have to squeeze some grains out to help you; but we don’t have anything else. I can only lend 20 kilograms of Grey peas. I wonder if you think it’s can?" When Wang Qihui heard that he could lend to them, she was of course happy, she had no other choice, and said: "If you can lend us grains, it helps us. As long as it is grain, just can." Zhang Chunxiang continued: “After the autumn harvest this year, return the same amount of corn to us, just fine." Wang Qihui immediately followed Zhang Chunxiang over. Zeng Sanxing measured 20 kilograms of Grey peas with a measuring device, packed it in a basket, and sent it to Wang Qihui's home. Wang Qihui accepted the Grey peas and thanked him again and again.
It turns out that this Grey peas is not like white peas, its skin is grey with black spots. Probably because of the soil quality and climate in the mountains, it is said that the yield of white peas is very low, so local farmers are accustomed to planting Grey peas. This Grey pea does not look good. As for how it tastes, you have to eat it before know it.
There are many ways to eat peas. When Fang Zhengben was on the street, he once saw some fried pea cakes, which tasted really crispy and delicious; He also saw some Peas with pig's trotter soup, where the peas were stewed soft. They are as bright as pearls, and put them in your mouth, just like eating a seedless cherry. There are also pea jelly and crispy peas, all of which are quite good to eat. But now, they borrowed peas to in order to make a living, how dare they expect the above-mentioned ways to eat them? Wang Qihui first wanted to cook the peas softening, but this Grey peas is not like white peas, she stewed it for a long time without softening, and it tasted astringent; She tried to fry the peas directly, chew it, or stir-fry, add water to boil, mix with salt to eat, but not suitable for continuous consumption; She grinds the peas into flour again, and makes a paste like wheat flour, but no matter how long it is cooked, it has an obvious raw smell,  which is difficult to eat. Later, Zeng Sanxing told them: "The peas must be made into fried noodles, so it can get rid of its raw smell." They did it, and they tasted much better, but they didn't taste as good as rice and wheat flour.
Fang Zheng ben did not like to eat peas since he was a child. When it comes to eating peas, he always pout his mouth and not eating them. At this time, the adults must always find ways to add more lard to his peas, add more seasonings, and coax him to eat. He now eats peas at the every meal, although he was reluctant, but he had no choice. Hearing Mom and Dad often say: "As long as there is pocked pea, it's good." He can only force himself to swallow in his stomach. 
Life becomes getting worse.  Fang Zhengqing and Fang Zhengben often went outside to pick some peaches to eat, because they can't eat enough. After Wang Qihui knew about it, she told them: "These peaches have to wait until they are ripe, and sold them for money, so that can buy some grains and come back to live." 
Peach’s face gradually changed from green to white, and gradually from white to red. When people come under the tree, they can already smell a strong sweet fragrance. Fang Xinwen and Wang Qihui are planning to sell peaches. Wang Qihui said: "The peaches are already ripe. We'd better invite two people to come tomorrow, pick them off, and go to Taiqing Town to sold them in the day after tomorrow, so that we can buy some grains back." "I'm thinking about this too." Fang Xinwen said, “I did a calculation. We have a total of 8 peach trees. I estimate that we can pick more than 100 kilograms of peaches. If we sell them, we can exchange them for dozens of kilograms of grain, and it can basically solve the problem of this time food shortage." Wang Qihui asked: "Who do you plan to invite to help pick it?" Fang Xinwen said: "Others are not familiar, just go and invite those two distant cousins, Meng Anmin and Meng Anning." That night, Fang Xinwen went to tell the Meng Anmin brothers about it, and they all agreed.
The next morning, Wang Qihui got up to cook. Fang Zhengqing and Fang Zhengben are washing their faces after getting up. Fang Xinwen suddenly ran back from outside the house and said in a panic: "Not good! Our peaches have been stolen!" It turned out that Fang Xinwen had always had an old cough problem. He had to go outdoors every morning after getting up, breathe a burst of fresh air to expel the sputum accumulated in the lungs overnight. After getting up today, he went out and wanted to take a walk to take a look at his peaches. When he arrived at the outside of the house, he looked up and saw that the branches and leaves of the peach tree were abnormal. He hurried to the under tree and t closer look, and found that there were not many Peaches left on the tree. So he anxious, and didn't know what to do, he hurried home to tell the news. Wang Qihui was surprised when she heard it, and hurriedly from kitchen and ran out. Fang Zhengqing and Fang Zhengben rushed to follow their mother. They ran to a place not far from the peach trees and saw that the peach trees with the most fruit were ruined by people: the bright red and shiny peaches, without wings, but don't know where it flew; The lush branches and leaves of the peach trees are broken, scattered all over the ground. It's terrible! Fang Xinwen came under the tree again and looked at the peach tree, his face cyan, because with anger. Wang Qihui's face became very pale, and there were still tears in his eyes. Fang Zhengqing and Fang Zhengben stunned, when they saw the situation.

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