Wei Chang held his wife, First Aunt Jing Pan, who was pale with pain and sweating heavily. "A few days ago I pulled every string I could just to get a little alcohol. We wiped the wound but it kept festering. It was only getting worse. I called today thinking it might be to say goodbye. Jing Shu, thank you and your whole family. I'll remember this favor forever."
With no medicine, a large wound like this rotting and festering meant nothing but waiting for death.
First Aunt Jing Pan lowered her head in embarrassment. "Go get some apples for everyone."
Wei Chang went down to the cellar and came back with some shriveled apples. "They've been stored too long. Make do."
Jing Shu's palate had grown picky. She was no longer used to these dry, wrinkled apples. She sat quietly in the corner, peeling and eating Brazilian pine nuts one by one. Second Aunt Jing Zhao, however, grabbed a few apples and bit in greedily, while Li Yun wolfed his down in two bites, looking half-starved.
"Where's my grandson Wei Zheng?" Grandma Jing looked around, not seeing him.
"He's digging a well in the orchard. The water shortage is too severe. Even with military rationing, each family only gets one bucket of water. It's nowhere near enough for the vegetable patch, and many apple trees have already dried up. We've dug two wells. They had water at first, but they're bone dry now. The whole town is short on water and food." Wei Chang sighed.
He went on to describe the robbery. The town was small; half the people knew each other. The first time someone borrowed grain, they all lined up after. Familiar faces knocked on the door, but as soon as it opened, knives came out and they looted the place. A fight broke out.
Wei Chang didn't need to spell out the end. Everyone understood: the one left alive was the one telling the story. First Aunt Jing Pan had been wounded.
"We traded a thousand jin (500 kg) of wheat half a year ago. After removing the bran ourselves, we have about seven hundred jin (350 kg) of white flour left. Mom, this time I'll send half with you. You and Jing An live together with a bigger household. You'll need it more. Next year's harvest is unlikely. If the government doesn't distribute grain, a lot of people will starve," Wei Chang said.
Second Aunt Jing Zhao's eyes lit up. "Brother-in-law, could you lend us some too?"
The conversation turned to her.
Grandma Jing glared at her disheveled second daughter. "What happened to you? How did you end up in prison?"
Second Aunt Jing Zhao mumbled, "We needed money. I sold some cigarettes and alcohol at high prices, and they arrested me. They confiscated everything in the shop too. Dozens of thousands worth of stock… gone." Tears welled as she spoke.
"You needed money? Out of the three sisters, you had the best life. Running that shop brought in over a hundred thousand a year. What money did you need?"
Grandma Jing jabbed her daughter's head repeatedly, scolding harshly. Years ago, country families would yank a girl by her hair when reprimanding her.
"We bought a villa in Wu City. Just finished renovations… then the housing market crashed. It's worthless now. Wuwuwu…" Jing Zhao's plump hands wiped her tears. In her agitation, her cracked lips bled again. She nearly toppled from her chair under her mother's scolding but didn't dare fight back.
"This…" Wei Chang looked hesitantly at Jing Pan.
First Aunt Jing Pan sighed. "Wei Zheng's been single for thirty years and finally found a girl. But her family demanded two hundred jin (100 kg) of white flour as a bride price. We gave them that and kept some for ourselves. With another mouth to feed, we won't have much left. The most I can spare is twenty jin (10 kg)."
Li Yun stopped gnawing his apple and scowled. "My dad's in prison starving too. They don't feed them properly, and there's endless labor every day. Without grain, they'll starve him to death, Grandma."
Grandma Jing fixed Jing Zhao with a glare. This daughter had always been sly. Jing Zhao only had to raise her backside and Grandma Jing knew what pile she was going to leave behind. Li Yun's complaints were clearly orchestrated by her.
"Enough. Jing An and I won't take any grain. Give the share meant for us to Jing Zhao. Give her one hundred jin (50 kg). The rest you keep. You'll have another mouth to feed soon. Maybe next year I'll be holding another grandchild." Grandma Jing's expression softened at the thought. Old folks always brightened at the idea of new life.
"But you… stop trying to squeeze your family for every advantage."
Grandma Jing jabbed her second daughter's head hard. "Last year I called each of you, told you to stock up on food. Your sisters all hoarded grain, afraid it wouldn't be enough. Only you… and you bought a house! This is the last time I'll help you. Next time, don't come shamelessly begging. Call that sweet-talking mother-in-law of yours who vanishes at the first sign of trouble."
Jing Shu covered her mouth, stifling laughter. So that famous saying of Grandma Jing's—"If I were younger, I'd have..."—was the real deal.
When the old lady spoke, everyone listened. The decision was made.
Just then, a pig's squeal rang out from outside. Jing Shu exclaimed, realizing she'd forgotten something important. The family hurried out to find someone had thrown a stone that struck the pig.
Jing Shu and Jing An rushed to unload the several-hundred-jin black pig from the car roof.
"This pig is…?" Wei Chang was stunned. He hadn't even noticed what was strapped to the car earlier.
"Find a cool place, tie it up, and give it some water."
Wei Chang tied the black pig in the cellar and fed it some of the three hundred jin of wheat bran they had on hand.
Back inside, Jing Shu explained about borrowing money and now paying back the debt with the pig. When First Aunt Jing Pan and Wei Chang realized the pig was a gift, they were too moved to speak.
"This sow is pregnant. I felt at least six or seven piglets inside," Wei Chang said.
"We have enough food. This pregnant pig is too precious. We don't dare take it. It's hard enough for you, supporting your elders. Take it back, slaughter it, or raise it for piglets," Jing Pan said. "We never expected you to repay that loan anyway. Mom said to treat it as the three sisters chipping in."
"No, we brought it all the way here. Jing Shu managed to get several pigs. This one settles the debt. You focus on healing," Grandma Jing said with pride. Her granddaughter was a sharp one—thoughtful, thorough. Grandma Jing had raised her well.
"Then we'll keep it and let it give birth. This pig is priceless. And we've still got wheat bran. Jing Shu, I don't even know how to thank you. You saved my life and gave us this treasure. Whatever you need in the future, just say the word."
Jing Shu smiled politely. She wasn't counting on help. She just wanted them not to betray her. Once bitten by a snake, she feared even a rope. Her vigilance never wavered.
Jing Zhao, however, couldn't take her eyes off the dark, glossy pig. The moment she heard there were more at home, she blurted excitedly, "Jing An, I pitched in when you needed money too. You've got extra pigs, right? How about you give me one?"