The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

When Xia Mianwan and Zhou Niangzi arrived at Xiaowu's house, all the dishes had just been served.

Xiaowu and Zhou Chengze reserved seats for Xia Mianwan and Zhou Niangzi at the main table. After the two sat down, the first New Year's Eve dinner in the mountains officially began.

"Everyone is staying up tonight. We can light candles until dawn and the fire will burn all night, so from now on, let's eat to our heart's content!" Everyone wanted Xia Mianwan to say a few words. Before Xia Mianwan traveled through the book, she was not good at giving speeches, but when she was sitting in the audience, she was most afraid that the leader would talk too much. So after a few simple words, Xia Mianwan signaled that everyone could start eating.

Tonight's New Year's Eve dinner was particularly sumptuous. Xiaowu and Zhou Chengze raised their glasses and said together as if they had agreed: "Wish us peace and happiness!"

Xia Mianwan's eyes were filled with a warm smile. She stood up, raised her glass and said, "Peace and happiness!"

After the first toast, everyone started to eat.

It should have been a warm scene, but the sound of broken dishes was heard from the table next to them. Everyone looked over curiously and found that it was a child named Zhang Xiaolian who broke the bowl in front of her.

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Zhang Xiaolian became even more flustered. She shook her head gently, with tears in her eyes, looking particularly pitiful. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it..."

Zhang Xiaolian has her own name and was not a beggar from the beginning.

Zhang Xiaolian lost her mother when she was young, and her father remarried a stepmother. With a bad-hearted stepmother, her biological father became her stepfather, especially since the stepmother gave birth to a younger brother.

Originally, Zhang Xiaolian had little presence at home. When she was less than five years old, her stepmother ordered her to do chores, but at that time, she still had enough food to eat. But since she had a younger brother, Zhang Xiaolian's presence has become even less, and she still hasn't had enough food to eat.

The Zhang family was so poor that all their food was provided for their son. So Zhang Xiaolian went from having to do a lot of work every day to having to do a lot of work on an empty stomach.

Zhang Xiaolian was hungry and very tired, so she became thinner day by day.

The six or seven-year-old child looked like she was only four or five years old. With her small body walking on the road, a gust of wind seemed like it could blow her down.

Zhang Xiaolian thought that she couldn't go on like this, or she would starve to death in this house. But the world was so big, where could a little girl like her go?

So Zhang Xiaolian stayed in that family. However, as the family's situation became more difficult, her stepmother gave her less and less food. In the end, she only gave her one steamed bread every two days, and hot water was always available. But her stepmother said that boiling hot water was too wasteful of firewood, and Zhang Xiaolian must not be allowed to use the firewood at home. But Zhang Xiaolian picked up firewood to boil water, and she didn't care.

So, in order to drink more hot water, Zhang Xiaolian went to the foot of the mountain to pick up dry branches whenever she had time. In this way, Zhang Xiaolian met Xiaowu and the group of beggars in the dilapidated temple.

After Xiaowu learned about Zhang Xiaolian's family situation, he felt that Zhang Xiaolian was really pitiful. However, Xiaowu himself was just a little beggar and there was no way he could help Zhang Xiaolian, so he could only pick up more firewood for Zhang Xiaolian.

Later, for unknown reasons, something happened to Zhang Xiaolian's family. Zhang Xiaolian's biological father, stepmother, and younger brother all died, leaving Zhang Xiaolian alone. The Zhang family had few relatives in the north, and with all the family members gone, there was no one to take Zhang Xiaolian back home to raise her, so Zhang Xiaolian became an orphan.

Zhang Xiaolian's home was burned down and she had nowhere to go, so she ran to the foot of the mountain and waited for Xiaowu every day. In the end, Zhang Xiaolian became a little beggar.

……

"Xiao Lian, it's okay. If the bowl is broken, just get another one. Everything will be fine." Xia Mianwan said with a smile.

Zhang Xiaolian looked at Xia Mianwan's warm smile, her face turned red, and she said timidly: "Sister Xia, I didn't mean it. Xiao Jiang accidentally bumped into me just now, so I broke the bowl. Sister, don't blame Xiao Jiang."

The little boy Xiao Jiang who was sitting next to Zhang Xiaolian was stunned for a moment, touched his head, and apologized embarrassedly, "I think I bumped into it, I'm sorry..."

Xiao Jiang had no idea whether he had bumped into Zhang Xiaolian or not. He just focused on eating. The food was so delicious!

Xia Mianwan looked normal and said with a smile: "What's the big deal? Bumps and bruises are nothing. Just be more careful next time."

Zhang Xiaolian hesitated and said, "Hmm..."

Seeing that everyone had stopped eating, Madam Zhou hurriedly called out to everyone, "Eat quickly, everyone, the food will get cold soon!"

After Xia Mianwan returned to her seat, Yu Jie'er quietly pulled Xia Mianwan's sleeve, leaned close to Xia Mianwan's ear and whispered, "Mother, I don't like her."

Xia Mianwan nodded, but didn't let Yu Jie'er continue.

Madam Zhou sighed, "Xiao Lian is such a miserable child. She lost both her mother and her father at such a young age..."

Xia Mianwan: "..."

Except for my family and the Zhou family, everyone present here is an orphan... That's what I said.

"Sister Zhou, it's New Year's Day, let's not talk about these unhappy things. Come, I'll toast you!" Xia Mianwan raised her glass and changed the subject.

Mrs. Zhou realized that she had said something wrong and said embarrassedly, "I am really confused. I will punish you with a glass of wine, a glass of wine."

As she spoke, Madam Zhou finished the wine in the teacup in one gulp.

"Sister Zhou, drink slowly, this liquor is very strong!"

What happened just now seemed like an episode, and no one took it too seriously.

"Mother, Brother Chen and I toast to you!" Yu Jie said, holding a tea bowl.

"Oh, what are you two toasting me with?" Xia Mianwan asked with a smile.

Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er nodded to each other and said in unison: "I wish mother good luck and may all her wishes come true."

"Okay, you too!" Xia Mianwan smiled and clinked glasses with Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er.

With Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er starting the conversation, everyone gradually relaxed and started drinking with each other. Of course, Xia Mianwan, Zhou Niangzi and some older children drank wine, while the younger ones like Chen Ge'er and Yu Jie'er drank milk tea.

At this time, Zhang Xiaolian came to the main table with a tea bowl and looked at Madam Zhou timidly.

Seeing that Zhang Xiaolian didn't say anything, Xia Mianwan didn't say anything either. Madam Zhou drank a bowl of wine and was a little drunk. Seeing Zhang Xiaolian like this, she hurriedly asked, "Xiaolian, do you want to toast to your godmother or your sister Xia?"

Zhang Xiaolian nodded and asked cautiously, "Can... can I?"

Madam Zhou felt distressed again, "You are such a lovely child, what's wrong with that? God has pity on you, you must have been used to being tortured in the past..."

When Zhang Xiaolian heard Madam Zhou say this, her eyes suddenly turned red, "Godmother... I'm fine..."

Xia Mianwan: "..."