Deng Yuyuan was amused by her childish words. A faint smile appeared on her shriveled, chapped lips. "She does. She was just too hungry and fell asleep. Could you lend me some rice water? I'll pay you back when I have money."
Tian Tian held the baby stiffly, not daring to move for fear of hurting her. "Why do you want rice water? My family sent me some malted milk extract; I'll lend you some. Sister Yu Yuan, take her back first. I'm afraid I might break her."
Tian Tian realized she had spoken out of turn. She wondered how she could possibly curse Sister Yu Yuan's baby to death. But the Zhang Family really were scoundrels. Bah! To think they starved a wife and child to this state. She had seen Zhang Jiahua and Granny Zhang before. Although he was thin, he wasn't skin and bones, and she had a ruddy, plump complexion. Clearly, all the good food had gone straight into the stomachs of the Zhang Family!
Seeing Tian Tian's indignant expression, Deng Yuyuan knew she had secured her first step. Both the village chief's wife and a sent-down youth had witnessed the miserable state of her and her daughter with their own eyes. Even if they wanted to persuade her to reconcile later on, they would have to weigh the situation carefully and would feel far more sympathy for her.
Penniless and without any elders to protect her in the village, she could only position herself as the victim to get through this immediate crisis. Fortunately, there were still many good people in this era, and most of the youths at the Knowledge Youth Institute were warm-hearted. She would always find a way to survive.
Deng Yuyuan smiled and took her baby back. The movement was a bit rough, and the baby opened her big, round eyes, looking blankly at her mother. Her little mouth quivered as if she were about to cry, and she emitted two weak, kitten-like whimpers. Then, she sucked on her thumb and fell asleep again.
She was a very well-behaved baby. Deng Yuyuan's arms rocked gently, hoping the child would sleep more soundly.
Only after making eye contact with this baby did she truly feel like a mother. Her heart ached with a bittersweet pang. From now on, in this unfamiliar world, the two of them, mother and daughter, would have to rely on each other to survive.
"Just boiling a pot of rice water will do." Seeing Tian Tian's disapproving expression, Deng Yuyuan hurriedly explained, "Malted milk extract contains cocoa powder and sugar, which isn't good for babies. I know you mean well, and I'm not turning you down on purpose. Thank goodness you all are here, or else I really wouldn't know how to survive."
Tian Tian had no choice but to drop it. Changing her train of thought, she asked, "Then can the baby drink goat's milk?"
Deng Yuyuan nodded. "The baby has been starving for a long time, so goat's milk might be a bit too harsh right now. She should drink some rice water to warm her stomach first. I'll go buy some goat's milk tomorrow."
"Okay," Tian Tian replied. She grabbed Deng Yuyuan's bundle, went inside, and placed it on the table. Pulling out a chair, she said, "Sister Yu Yuan, sit here at the dining table for a bit, or go lie down in my room. I'll go boil it for you... Don't help me, just rest."
Deng Yuyuan did as she was told and sat down, looking around. The Knowledge Youth Institute had once housed many people, so the dining table was a large round one, separated from the stove and placed in the main hall for receiving guests. Including the one she was sitting on, there were only six chairs around the table, meaning four people had already moved out. It shouldn't be hard for them to spare an empty room for her.
She didn't intend to live with her former roommates. No matter how well-behaved a baby was, there would still be times when she cried and fussed. She couldn't cause trouble for others.
Tian Tian emerged from the kitchen shortly after, holding two bowls filled with a white, soup-like liquid.
"Sister Yu Yuan! Here, this bowl is malted milk extract for you to drink. This bowl is watered-down goat's milk—one scoop of milk powder to a bowl of hot water. The porridge won't be ready for a while, and I can't let you two go hungry." Tian Tian pushed the bowls in front of her.
Seeing Deng Yuyuan remain still, Tian Tian grew anxious. "You know my family's financial conditions are pretty good. They're always sending me things, so I have plenty of this malted milk extract. Sister, don't be polite. When I first came here, I was clumsy with the fieldwork, and you helped me a lot. I remember all of that. While you're staying at the Knowledge Youth Institute, eat and drink whatever you want, and get some meat back on your bones."
Deng Yuyuan lowered her head and drank the malted milk. She gently rocked the baby awake, picked up a small spoon, and slowly fed her the milk. Her smile faded as she said softly, "Tian Tian, I didn't come here this time just for a temporary stay because I had a fight with Zhang Jiahua. I want to divorce him, return to my status as a single female youth, and live permanently at the Knowledge Youth Institute. Thank you for your kindness. In the future, if I really need rice or malted milk extract, I'll write you an IOU. I can't let you suffer a loss."
Tian Tian's expression changed drastically. Resting her elbows on the table, she plopped down right next to Deng Yuyuan. "Why do you want a divorce all of a sudden? No, wait—if you're getting a divorce, why are you worrying about IOUs? Don't think too much right now. Just focus on your postpartum confinement, and ask me if you need anything."
She reached out to squeeze the flimsy bundle on the table, asking in disbelief in a low voice, "Did they kick you out with nothing? Is the Zhang Family's man treating you badly? Or do they not want you because you gave birth to a girl?"
She had learned a bit about the Zhang Family's affairs after Deng Yuyuan married into them. They were a difficult bunch. Although Zhang Jiahua was a decent man, he was a cowardly husband. She had run into Deng Yuyuan in the fields a few times before, and the woman had only grown darker and thinner.
"No, I chose to leave on my own. Jiahua might even come over and bother you all," Deng Yuyuan explained. "I just couldn't take it anymore. I worked every day in their house, yet when the baby was born, they only fed her hot water, and I didn't even get to eat a single egg. I figured that even if I raised the child by myself, my life wouldn't be this miserable. So I secretly packed some clothes and left."
Hearing this, Tian Tian's heart ached even more. She grasped Deng Yuyuan's calloused, cold, and bony hands. "Sister Yu Yuan, you did the right thing. You're so weak right now; if you fought with them and made yourself sick from anger, it wouldn't be worth it. Give me a straight answer: are you really divorcing him, or are you just trying to scare them? If you're really getting a divorce, Sister Er Dong and I will both stand by you. If he dares to show his face here, I'll sweep him out with a broom!"
There had been cases before where sent-down youths argued with their village husbands. They would talk about divorce, but in the end, after being persuaded by village officials and having no maiden family to rely on, they would choose to stay and make do. This often left their sent-down youth friends caught in the middle and looking like the bad guys. Even when local wives argued and returned to their maiden homes, the matter would usually be resolved as soon as the husband came over to apologize.
In this village, no one had ever actually gotten a divorce. Everyone just muddled through life.
"Divorce!" Deng Yuyuan raised her fingers. "I swear..."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Tian Tian grabbed her hand and pressed it down. "As long as your mind is made up, I understand. What's the point of swearing oaths? You're better off saving your breath to curse those heartless people. It's good that you've thought it through. Watching you get thinner and thinner after getting married, not even having the time to chat with me... whenever I asked, you'd always say you were doing great."
"I was just being stubborn before. Tian Tian, if you have time, could you help me invite the brigade captain who manages the Knowledge Youth Institute's housing?" Deng Yuyuan felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn't expected the original owner of this body to have such terrible taste in husbands, yet make such warm-hearted friends.
"Of course." Tian Tian stood up and patted her chest. "I'll go right now. On my way, I'll stop by the fields to tell Sister Er Dong that you're back."