Chapter 10: Speak a Fair Word

Wang Ping scratched his head and smiled shyly: "Mom, I don't know what happened either. After being hit by Li Bing, I had a strange dream. In the dream, I was attending an agricultural university, surrounded by many remarkable teachers and classmates. Later, I joined the army, where there were many soldiers from various countries, including the United States, the Soviet Union, France, and the United Kingdom. We trained together, sparred, practiced shooting, and engaged in all sorts of chaotic activities. When I woke up, I realized that my mind was different from before; I had learned a lot of things, hehe."

Grandmother and father were whispering something at the entrance, while Wang Ping was called into the kitchen by his mother

Wang Ping took the bowl of sweet potatoes and saw that there were only two sweet potatoes on top, while underneath was tightly packed white rice.

Wang Ping scratched his head, while his second brother Wang Liang and third brother Wang Jian secretly gave him a thumbs up by the door. Their sister Wang Yu's eyes sparkled with laughter, but due to their mother's strictness, they all dared not be too unruly

The sound of footsteps came from outside, and the young man next door, Wang Xianhua, entered holding a bowl of sweet potatoes. Without a word, he shoved the bowl into Wang Ping's hands: "Brother Wang Ping, about this morning's incident, it feels great! I've long had a grudge against Li Bing and Kong Xiaohu; it's just that I lacked the ability to take action against them."

Second brother Wang Liang said with a smile: "Yes, mother is right. In our family, mother is the most educated. When she was young, she even taught first grade in elementary school."

Sister Wang Yu was tending to the fire at the stove, occasionally glancing up at Wang Ping, her bright eyes deliberately blinking. Wang Ping also blinked back at his sister, and both siblings suppressed their laughter. Seeing that Wang Ping had dealt with Li Bing and Kong Xiaohu, Wang Yu felt happy inside, but she did not dare to show it, as both their mother and father wore gloomy expressions, creating a heavy atmosphere in the home

Carrying two eggs while saying this, Wang Gongfu felt an immense pressure in his heart

Elder brother Wang Liang and third brother Wang Jian leaned against the kitchen door, watching Wang Ping with flickering eyes and excited expressions. This morning, their mother unusually cooked, even using lard, which was naturally due to the unusual behavior of their younger brother Wang Ping earlier today

Wang Ping was a special forces soldier in his previous life, having undergone wilderness survival training. He had experienced eating wild vegetables, gnawing on tree bark, digging up grass roots, and even consuming poisonous snakes and frogs raw. However, upon witnessing such a life, he still felt a pang of sadness in his nose. If it weren't for his time travel, he would never have believed that in the late 1970s, rural common people were actually living such a life.

Uncle Wang, take back the eggs; I will help you deliver the message! The spirit of Wang Ping, a special forces soldier, pierced through like a bullet. "After we finish eating, Kong Xiaohu and Li Bing will measure my family's land. Uncle Wang, come with me."

Isn't it Yin transmission? Mother thought in confusion, without speaking. Yin transmission refers to a person descending to the underworld in their dreams, receiving the true teachings of ghosts and deities, known as Yin transmission, commonly referred to as descending to the Yin. In the countryside, the older generation tends to believe in Yin transmission even more. A young girl from my mother's family, the Geng family courtyard, named Hu Xiaomei, is someone who can descend to the underworld to inquire about life, death, and the future, as well as to exorcise evil spirits. Hu Xiaomei was originally an ordinary woman, but one day she suddenly fainted. When she woke up, she was incoherent, acting erratically, claiming to be a deity. Later, people discovered that she had indeed descended to the underworld and acquired the abilities of Yin transmission. If someone in the nearby courtyard was possessed, fell ill, or if children spoke nonsense at night, they would seek out Hu Xiaomei. After taking a bowl of divine water, most illnesses would be cured. Especially for those tormented by wronged souls, those who encountered malevolent spirits on dark roads, or those who felt sudden fear while passing graves, finding Hu Xiaomei would result in immediate relief from their ailments, proving to be remarkably effective. Hu Xiaomei is now famous far and wide.

"Yes, Mom, I remember! However, they can't provoke me either!" Wang Ping winked at his sister Wang Yu, who covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh.

A bowl of white rice was, at that time, a significant gesture of etiquette and human sentiment. Wang Ping did not decline; he intended to share the white rice with his grandmother and mother, and he accepted it with a smile under his mother's reproachful gaze

"Xianhua, what do you mean by this?" Wang Ping asked in surprise

Wang Ping said, "I know that when my mother was young, she worked as an accountant at the grain station"

Mother took out a thick piece of fat, three fingers wide, from the dilapidated wooden cabinet. Holding it between two fingers, she pressed the fat against the scorching bottom of the iron pan, making it sizzle. The fat released a bit of oil, leaving two circles of grease on the pan's surface. Mother quickly lifted the fat, placing it back in the bowl for future cooking. This strip of fat, just two fingers wide, represented the entire household's cooking oil. By using it sparingly, it could last for at least a month. Most of the time, no cooking was done! Of course, under the bed, there was also a small jar of lard saved for special occasions like New Year, festivals, or birthdays, which would be used for cooking.

Wang Ping stood by the stove watching his mother silently wash and cut the vegetables. The vegetables being washed and cut were cowhide vegetables, which were originally the staple food for pigs but have now become a main dish for humans

Mother lifted the lid of the pot and raised her voice, saying: "Wang Ping, do not offend others over trivial matters; it is better to offend a minor spirit than to offend a petty person"

My mother is about 80% convinced of the legend of the underworld. However, it is evident that what Wang Ping mentioned is not an underworld transmission, but rather a divine transmission received in the earthly realm. Nevertheless, the situation is quite similar to that of Hu Xiaomei, as both involve acquiring innate abilities in a dream.

Wang Xianhua had just gone out, and footsteps were heard outside the kitchen. Another neighbor, Wang Gongfu, came in. This man was middle-aged, very tall, but had a very honest appearance. He was barefoot, his trousers patched, and his large hands had prominent knuckles, covered in calluses. As soon as he entered, he opened his mouth a couple of times, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, but he didn't know what to say. Then he fished two eggs out of his pocket and placed them on the stove, timidly saying: "Nephew, the fertile land of one mu and two fen that I received the day before yesterday is over 80% of what is actually the poorest land in the team. Nephew, could you help me tell Kong Xiaohu and Li Bing to ensure that the fertile land that should be allocated to my family is properly given to us, alright?" After finishing these few sentences, this honest man’s face turned the color of pig liver, and he kept rubbing his large hands together, his expression extremely humble

"What does it mean? You and I are like family, two brothers, that is what it means," Wang Xianhua said generously. "My brother Wang Ze works part-time at the grain station, and we still have a bit of rice at home. Today, my brother helped us vent our anger, and I am happy, so I cooked a bowl of white rice for my brother." Wang Xianhua's voice was quite loud, and he wore a broad smile.

Go, Wang Liang, you are the most eloquent among us, it's time to eat, serve the corn porridge.

"Wang Ping, can you explain what is going on? Why have you suddenly changed so much?" Mother poured the cowhide vegetable into the pot, stir-fried it a couple of times, and then covered the pot. Due to the lack of oil, the vegetable was not stir-fried but rather boiled.

It seems that there are quite a few members who are dissatisfied with Brother Li Bing and Captain Kong Xiaohu. However, in the past, no one dared to stand up against them, whether in terms of civil or martial matters, no one could confront them.

Wang Ping spoke these words, and sweat was already crawling on his back! Who would have thought that a look of relief appeared on his mother's face as she said: "Pingwa, you suddenly have some strength now. Although I do not know the reason, you must not provoke Li Bing and Kong Xiaohu, these formidable characters, as we cannot afford to offend them."