Chapter 4

Zhou Andong poured half a bowl of liquor, picked it up and took a sip, then picked up a dumpling and took a bite, saying with a satisfied face: "Dumplings with liquor, the more you drink, the more you have."

"Dongzi, pour me two 100g, Dad will drink a little with you." Zhou Xiao propped himself up with the rolled-up quilt and was about to sit up, but was pressed back down by Yuan Liying.

"Just finished taking medicine and you want to drink liquor? No."

Zhou Xiao was very dissatisfied, but there was nothing he could do, so he rolled a cigarette of dry tobacco and started smoking. This made Zhou Andong frown. He wanted to persuade him, but finally gave up because he couldn't persuade him anyway. His father was acting like this, smoking and drinking, actually just wanting to die early so as not to burden this family.

Therefore, what he needed to do now was earn money. First, to make the family's life better, and second, only with money could he let his father regain confidence in life, and then go to a big hospital in Beijing to see if there was a possibility of standing up again. If it really didn't work, he would go abroad. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would go all out.

Zhou Anqin went out to burn the *kang* in the side room, came back, saw that Zhou Andong had finished eating, and nimbly took the lunchbox out to wash it clean.

At this moment, Zhou Anbei's shout rang out in the courtyard: "Mom, older sister, hurry up and bring the big basin, I caught a lot of fish."

Zhou Anning ran out, followed by the little one's exclamation: "Wow, really a lot of fish."

In the courtyard, Zhou Anqin and Zhou Anbei were carrying a urea bag, pouring fish into a large laundry basin with the opening facing down. Grass carp, carp, crucian carp, and wheat-ear fish the size of a thumb—*pitter-patter*, a whole large basin.

"Brother!" Zhou Anbei called out. This kid was sixteen, dark and thin, and a head shorter than his peers.

"These two grass carp are not small." Zhou Andong squatted down: "The big one must be over four *jin* (2kg), and the small one must be over three *jin*."

Zhou Anbei said proudly: "Last night I smashed an ice hole in the East River bend and set a net. This morning I went to lift the net, and there were only a few small wheat-ear fish. I wasn't reconciled, walked upstream for two or three hundred meters, dug another nest and set a net. I didn't expect the net to be full when I lifted it at night."

Yuan Liying also came out, pointing at the largest grass carp and saying: "Xiao Bei, take this largest fish to your grandfather in a while."

"Dongzi is back." Grandfather Zhou Xiaode, wearing a cotton hat and a coat with cotton showing, walked into the courtyard with his hands tucked into his sleeves: "I heard Xiao Bei's shout from the room."

Zhou Xiaode had dark skin, thick lips, and small eyes, looking very honest, but Zhou Andong knew that this grandfather of his was a monkey if you stuck fur on him, and he also liked to take advantage of others.

"Yo, there really are quite a few fish." Zhou Xiaode bent over, looked at the fish in the basin, pointed at the two grass carp, and said very impolitely: "Your older sister brought the children, and your older brother's object is here too. There's nothing to eat at home, so I'll take these two grass carp back to stew; it should be enough for a meal."

Xiao Bei was a bit at a loss, and Xiao Qin stared, her cheeks puffed up with anger.

Yuan Liying said with a sullen face: "Uncle, there are only two grass carp, and I was planning to send one to Mom and Dad."

Zhou Xiaode waved his hand: "Just send them two crucian carp. The grass carp is so big, they can't finish it, it's a waste."

"We still have to keep it for the New Year." Zhou Anqin muttered.

Zhou Xiaode glared: "There's still a month until the New Year; let Xiao Bei go to the river bend to catch more tomorrow."

Zhou Andong said: "Uncle, why don't you let Zhou Anbin and Zhou Anlei go to the river bend to catch them?"

Zhou Xiaode snorted and said as a matter of course: "It's so cold."

Zhou Andong laughed in anger: "So, your two sons know it's cold, but Xiao Bei doesn't know it's cold? Is he stupid?"

Zhou Xiaode said angrily: "Isn't it just eating two of your fish? Look at your family, not looking like family, giving who a look? Since you don't even want family affection for two broken fish, I have nothing to say. You owe me 70 yuan, it's been a long time, pay me back 70 including principal and interest." After speaking, he reached out: "Give me the money!"

Looking at Zhou Xiaode's rogue face, Zhou Andong sighed silently. When his father had the accident, his older aunt Zhou Xiaoping and younger aunt Zhou Xiaoli, including his stingy younger uncle Zhou Xiaozheng, each took out 100 yuan and took turns guarding the hospital.

You have to know, that was a lot of money back then; the salary of an ordinary worker was less than 60, and 100 yuan was nearly half a year's income for a rural family.

And this grandfather of his? His own younger brother was hit by a car and almost lost his life. He didn't go to the hospital, and when he came back, even though they lived right next to each other, he didn't even show his face. The old man was so angry that he grabbed a stick and beat his eldest son, forcibly grabbing 70 yuan and sending it to his house.

Zhou Andong said: "Not to mention whether you should be given the 70 yuan, let's settle other accounts first."

Zhou Xiaode said angrily: "Besides your family owing me money, what other accounts are there?"

"You're fifty, your memory shouldn't be that bad. But it doesn't matter, I'll tell you about it to help you recall."

Zhou Andong took a drag of his cigarette: "Before my dad's accident, I won't mention it; let's start from 1987. March 2nd, you borrowed half a bag of salt; April 17th, borrowed two *jin* of corn flour; 19th, borrowed a bowl of soy sauce; the next day, you borrowed half a bowl of vinegar; 20th, borrowed two heads of garlic; 26th, borrowed a bowl of soybean oil..."

"Wait!" Zhou Xiaode said guiltily: "You little brat, don't talk nonsense. I did borrow things from your house, but how could there be so many?"

"Uncle, I'm not talking nonsense; my mom recorded it all in a small notebook." Zhou Andong gestured: "So thick, it's almost full. When I have nothing to do, I take it out and flip through it. Just right, a while ago, I also did some statistics. The value of these things you borrowed from my house over the years is not 800, but at least 700. Shouldn't you pay it back too? By the way, I won't ask for interest."

Zhou Xiaode snorted coldly: "Without evidence, you'd better not talk nonsense, otherwise I'll sue you for defamation."

"Yo!" Zhou Andong said sarcastically: "You old man even know about defamation; you must have watched too many Hong Kong and Taiwan videos. Fine, I'll go get the account book, you can see for yourself."

Seeing Zhou Andong really going to get the account book, Zhou Xiaode said "Oops" and patted his head: "Suddenly remembered, there's something at home, I have to go." After speaking, he turned and left.

Yuan Liying entered the outer room with a not-so-good face, and then saw Zhou Andong squatting by the stove, covering his mouth and laughing.

Yuan Liying rolled her eyes, lifted the curtain and entered the room, then couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The little girl stood on the side, staring with round eyes at her older brother: "What are you laughing at, you look stupid."

"Uh!" Zhou Andong couldn't laugh anymore, grabbed the little girl who was about to run, slapped her on the butt, and then carried her into the room.

"Stinky girl, see how I deal with you."

"Mom, help, an adult is hitting a child."

"..."