Chapter 2: Cursing the World, Unmatched in Power

Wang Ping's mother got up early to cook corn porridge. There were still some broken rice grains in the rice jar, which had to be saved for the New Year and holidays when guests would come. His father sat alone on a wooden bench outside the front door, smoking rolled leaf tobacco. In the supply and marketing cooperative on the street, there were 'Wang'er Mountain' cigarettes priced at 0.11 yuan per pack, unfiltered paper cigarettes with a stiff texture that required a strong draw to keep lit. Even for such low-quality cigarettes, Wang Ping's father was reluctant to buy them just to try. One word: expensive

The movement ended in 1978. In 1979, the commune brigade implemented a new policy of household production responsibility, no longer relying on collective meals. Li Bing, a member of the third production team of the first brigade of Zhenwu Commune, along with the team leader Kong Xiaohu and others, remained influential figures within the production team. During the land distribution, they secretly prepared two bamboo poles with different measurements. At that time, land was measured by using fingers to mark segments on a bamboo pole, with one segment representing one zhang. They then marked the measurements on the bamboo pole to gauge the width of the land and calculate the acreage each household should receive. Wang Ping's family consisted of two older brothers, one older sister, parents, and a grandmother, totaling seven members. They calculated that they should receive two mu of fertile land, seven fen of poor land, four mu of paddy fields, and eight fen of dry land. However, during the measurement yesterday, Wang Ping discovered the tricks of Li Bing and others, who used another bamboo pole to measure his family's land. Wang Ping was dissatisfied and, during a struggle, was struck by Li Bing with a carrying pole.

Wang Ping looked around and saw a row of farming tools such as hoes, firewood forks, carrying poles, and dung scoops placed against the earthen wall. The dung scoop was very clean, and it was about two meters long. Without saying a word, Wang Ping picked it up with one hand and walked towards Liu Guohua.

There is not a single private shop along the entire street of Zhenwu Company, let alone a convenience store, which I have never even heard of. For small items like soap and matches (there are no lighters at all), one can only go to the collective supply and marketing cooperative. Spending fifty cents on brown sugar is already a luxurious indulgence. On the street, one can buy an egg for ten cents

Everyone in the Wang family courtyard feared Liu Guohua, and every household had been 'scolded into submission' by him. It was not just the Wang family courtyard; the entire San Production Team had encountered Liu Guohua, including every family, even the relatives of the Li family were no exception. When faced with a tough opponent, Liu Guohua would resort to his ultimate tactic: crying, making a scene, pulling down his pants, and soiling himself, lying on their bed and refusing to leave until the other party admitted defeat and acknowledged their mistakes. Each time, Liu Guohua would inevitably return victorious.

You son of a b****, your family's ancestral grave is smoking, are you trying to fake your death to extort people? You son of a b****, I am not someone to be trifled with. The land measurement, that bamboo pole was personally measured for length by the production team leader and the brigade leader, and all the members of the team witnessed it with their own eyes. Every household divided the land, all measured with the same bamboo pole for width and length. Yet you, Wang Ping, insist that my family’s soldier changed the bamboo pole when measuring your house. You son of a b****, I, Liu Guohua, am not someone to be trifled with. Wang Ping, come out here, you son of a b****.

Early in the morning, on the sun-dried earth outside the Wang family's courtyard, a woman's voice resounded powerfully, waking the entire land.

The woman who came was Li Bing's mother, named Liu Guohua. In the third production team of the first brigade (at that time still referred to as the commune brigade production team, not the current terms of township and village), she was renowned for her unmatched ability to scold. When provoked, she would take off her pants and roll around in your living room, with snot, tears, and excrement flying everywhere, earning her a reputation as a notorious troublemaker. She was illiterate, unable to recognize even her own name, yet she possessed a natural gift for oratory. Since the Cultural Revolution had just recently ended, the timing of its conclusion was even more delayed in remote areas, and the farmers were suffering from food shortages and malnutrition. However, whenever there was a quarrel, her voice would become exceptionally loud, echoing for several miles along the Qingwan Ditch. Households in dozens of courtyards could hear her voice, carried by the waterway of Qingwan Ditch.

On the bed lies a quilt, featuring a large, old-fashioned red flower in the center, with blue patches on either side

The Wang family is honest. After Wang Ping brought him home, the person woke up and appeared to be in good spirits. They did not seek out the Li family to discuss the matter, as they knew they could not win against Liu Guohua, a well-known figure, and would only invite scorn upon themselves. The Li family has four brothers, each a fierce and notorious individual, feared by all, which led the family to choose to endure and seek peace. Moreover, the Zhenwu Commune does not have a police station; to report a case, one must walk at least two hours to the district (now a town), and that is just one way.

Wang Ping's father silently smoked a hand-rolled cigarette, ignoring Liu Guohua's curses. However, Wang Ping's mother could no longer endure it and finally rushed out to engage in a verbal battle with Liu Guohua. Meanwhile, Wang Ping's two older brothers and one sister, under their father's stern gaze, glared at Liu Guohua, feeling both angry and unable to speak. The seven neighboring households in the courtyard all gathered at the entrance of their thatched houses, watching this verbal conflict, the outcome of which had long been determined.

Wang Ping's mother went to the supply and marketing cooperative on the street to buy red sugar for fifty cents, and borrowed two eggs from a neighbor. At that time, only the bold farmers dared to start raising one or two chickens. Previously, anyone who dared to raise chickens or ducks for profit would be criticized and labeled as cutting off the tail of capitalism

Wang Ping sighed, feeling deeply moved by how the older generation endured those difficult years. Having received a university education, Wang Ping understood that when land was redistributed to farmers and the country opened its doors, the days when farmers had no food to eat ended with a bountiful harvest. Reflecting on his previous complaints about living on fast food and instant noodles, compared to now, those were truly days of paradise.

Wang Ping was beaten by Li Bing. Liu Guohua, Li Bing's mother, who had been secretly inquiring about the matter, learned that Wang Ping had survived, was in good spirits, and had even eaten a bowl of brown sugar egg soup. Therefore, the villain took the initiative to strike first. At dawn, she came to scold him, incessantly cursing, her voice shaking the heavens and the earth.

Yesterday, it was Wang Ping's family's turn to divide the land. During the measurement, Liu Guohua's son, Li Bing, secretly replaced a measuring stick with a prepared bamboo pole, which Wang Ping noticed. A conflict ensued between the two. Li Bing was used to being domineering in the village; he had previously been the leader of the Red Guards, with a group of loyal followers. He had even vandalized the school, the commune, and the local public security office (the commune did not have a police station, only a security officer, and was semi-agricultural; at that time, only districts had police stations, which are now known as towns). He was accustomed to acting recklessly in the village. In a moment of rage, he struck Wang Ping on the back of the head with a shoulder pole, causing Wang Ping to fall to the ground. He was carried home and soon passed away. If it weren't for another Wang Ping who had crossed over, Li Bing would have already killed someone. Of course, during previous movements, he had already killed several people, all of whom were teachers, doctors, and other so-called 'reactionaries' or 'stinking old nine.' At that time, the organization led by Li Bing was called the Zhenwu Commune Red Five-Star Revolutionary Team.

Liu Guohua's disputes extended even to the members of the Fourth Production Team. Since the fields of the Third and Fourth Teams are adjacent, there are occasional disagreements over the width of the ridges and other matters, such as the irrigation of paddy fields and dry fields during the seasonal work. Minor frictions between the two production teams are inevitable. Liu Guohua achieved complete victory in both external and internal conflicts

At that time, the most prestigious Hongmeijiao cigarettes, equipped with a filter tip, cost 0.21 yuan per pack! Only those with means would buy them to smoke during the New Year and festivals, flaunting their sense of superiority.

Wang Ping got up and touched the back of his head; the wound had scabbed over, and moving it no longer caused pain. He stood up, got dressed, and only then realized that the clothes he had thought were very dirty last night were actually quite clean. They had appeared dirty because they had been washed too long, worn too often, and faded; in fact, the clothes and pants were very clean. The floor of the room, being the earth itself, was also spotless, with not a speck of dust.

Wang Ping pushed open the door and walked out, seeing a tall and robust black woman, who was a whole head taller than his mother. Her voice was overpowering his mother's, as she shouted angrily, her mouth full of white foam