(取自 台灣鄉土畫家-林榮 臉書，山坡上的人家)
《Rural Love Story》
Ajun was born in Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan Province. He married and had 7 children. His eldest daughter died at the age of 3, leaving him with 4 daughters and 2 sons.
Born in a rural area, Ajun belonged to the tenant farmer class and benefited from a 375 rent reduction policy. His father only owned farmland at that time. With limited resources and many siblings, as the eldest son, Ajun had to work hard but often faced scarcity. In the rural society of that era, life was equally challenging for everyone.
It was only after the victory of the Republic of China in the War of Resistance Against Japan that people could start to build their homes.
But what was "love" in those times? Matchmakers played a pivotal role in arranging marriages, with personal preferences taking a backseat.
Ajun was one of 13 siblings. When potential brides heard about this, they often hesitated. In those days, with many complications, even daughters from poor families were reluctant to marry farmers. Then came Ahua, a woman without foresight. Her family was poor, but the matchmaker didn't mention the large family, only focusing on having enough to eat. With Ajun being tall, 28 years old, handsome, and willing to work hard without fear of hunger, so she took the gamble of a lifetime.
Ahua was born in 1939. Being from a poor family, attending primary school and knowing a few words was considered fortunate. She had never done any farm work. No opportunities were given! At the age of 18, she married a farmer, hoping to support the family, which was a real struggle. With 12 in-laws, she was considered a sister-in-law by relatives. She had to handle all the farming tasks—planting in spring, weeding in summer, harvesting in autumn, and storing in winter. She cried in the early morning and late at night, with sorrowful brows.
Ajun felt sorry for her and shouldered his responsibilities. However, he sometimes acted like a tyrant or left for his parents' home when angry. Even when children were born, there was no joy. In those days, it was common for mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law to take care of the newborn together. The one who suffered the most was Ajun.
He followed his mother's wishes but defied his wife's desires, unable to express his grievances. He never understood the "Sandwich Philosophy" but developed his own way of avoidance.
After the war, there was a shortage of labor everywhere, especially in farming. Ajun joined a contracted farming team, working hard to plant and harvest rice for meager wages. He left Ahua at home, out of sight, as a temporary escape, but it only led to greater regret.
The following year, Ahua gave birth to another daughter, receiving little care from her in-laws and no love from her husband. Feeling unacknowledged, she fortified her defenses.
One day, she had a disagreement with her mother-in-law and left her child to run back to her parents' home, a taboo in those conservative times. Little did she know, the child was feverish and crying incessantly. While adults quarreled, the child suffered.
《農村愛情故事》
阿俊生於台灣省苗栗縣通宵鎮。娶一妻，生 7 子。長女 3 歲夭折，所以剩 4 女 2 男。
阿俊生於農村，屬佃農身分，恩澤於 375 減租。父親在當下才擁有農地。而僧多粥少，兄弟姊妹多，又是長子。做有份、吃沒有。農村社會在那年代，幾乎是大家一樣。
民國抗戰勝利，百姓才有日子開始建設家園。
「愛」是什麼？那年代沒有自由戀愛，全憑媒妁之言，好壞就看媒人的標準立杆。
阿俊、兄弟姊妹 13 個。人家姑娘一聽，就退壁三舍嚇死了。那年代地多事多，自家女兒都不願嫁給莊稼人。就有那... 不長眼的女人阿花。家裡窮，媒人沒說兄弟姊妹一事，只說有米飯吃，男生高大 28 歲，英俊肯做餓不死，就賭上一生了。
阿花生於 1939 年。窮人家孩子，有讀國民小學，識了幾個字，也算不錯。從沒做過農事。就都沒有！當然沒機會做。18 歲嫁做農婦，想端大家子飯碗，真有得拚。基於夫婿只得忍，姑叔 12 人視為嫂。家裡農事全要做。春耕、夏耘、秋收、冬藏。晨起夜裡哭，哀戚眉鎖。
阿俊看了心疼，理當一手攬得，來白眼就是妻奴，鬧脾氣就往娘家走，生了孩子也不得歡欣。那年代多得是婆媳一同做月子。最糟心就是阿俊。
順了娘心，逆了妻意，有苦說不出。「三明治哲學」從未搞懂。倒是理出一套逃避。
戰後到處缺工，尤其是農耕隊。阿俊參加代工農耕隊。農忙到處插秧收稻，賺取微薄工資。把阿花留在家裡，眼不見為淨，短暫的逃避，留下更長的悔恨。
阿花第二年生下一女，公婆不疼、男人不愛。自己往死胡同裡鑽，得不到認同點，就鞏固起自己的防護牆。
有天，又跟婆婆起了疙瘩，放下孩子，自已跑回娘家。在民風未開的年代是犯大忌。殊不知孩子發燒，哭鬧不停。大人鬧性子，卻也害苦了孩子。