(1970 年代的台灣記憶，Taiwan Memories of 1970s)
《Painful Familial Struggles》
On a certain day in 1977 July, at a crossroads in the town, Ajun had a serious accident, putting his life in jeopardy. The police informed neighbor Aunt Hua to notify Ahua. Unaware, Ahua responded with, "Let him die."
Ajun's eldest daughter, Yan'er, was born in 1964, making her 13 years old. She was also Ajun's right-hand helper. In that incomplete family, with assistance from Yan'er, Ajun's difficulties were somewhat alleviated. However, this led Ahua to regard Yan'er as a thorn in her side, and the relationship between mother and daughter seemed like a spy game. In discordant parental relationships, it's often the children who suffer the most.
Yan'er knew her father couldn't die. Regardless of the scorching sun, she dashed barefoot to her grandmother's house two kilometers away, as only her grandmother could help Ajun now. Ajun needed urgent treatment at the town clinic and had to be transferred to a major hospital in the city.
What did Ahua hate? No one understood. She was blamed by everyone for Ajun's misfortune. Did Ajun's accident forebode a grim future?!
Ajun's parents wanted to "Get rid of Ahua and send the children away," deeming it the best plan. Ahua's maternal family couldn't intervene either. During Ajun's hospitalization, Ahua's mother came to help take care of the children.
Ahua had never ventured into society, so how could she leave now?! To be abandoned is life's greatest tragedy. From then on, Ahua restrained her arrogance. You don't bother me, I won't bother you.
Fortunately, Ajun narrowly escaped death. After over a month in the hospital, he returned home. The children anxiously awaited Ajun's return, fearing they would be separated.
Upon hearing they might be sent away, the children cried bitterly, coming up with many hypothetical scenarios.
The eldest son, Jue'er, was born in 1967, making him 10 years old, mischievous, and the apple of Ahua's eye. Jue'er even suggested that if they were sent away, they should scar themselves with cigarette burns to identify each other in the future. Childish words often reveal deep frustration and anger.
The entanglement between Ajun and Ahua might be akin to ancestral grievances. Ajun's ordeal was something no one could help. The only option was acceptance.
Ajun's accident changed his attitude towards Ahua, no longer tolerating her unreasonable behavior and cutting off her financial support. He would cook breakfast early every morning, ensuring the children were fed before leaving for work. Lunch would be left for Ahua and the children to figure out, as income still needed to be earned.
Cutting off Ahua's financial support was like disabling her kung fu, forcing her to rely on credit elsewhere. Using Ajun's name, she racked up debts around town. In those days, one's name equaled credit. Good people refused to take advantage of her, bad people returned spoiled food or damaged goods to Ahua. "Ahua has really lost her mind!" became a confirmed fact in the small town.
Was Ahua feigning madness to cope with Ajun's reality? She had her ways. When in a bad mood, she would vent her frustrations on the children. Then she would demand they kneel at the door, waiting for Ajun to return. It was like a scene from a relative's passing. What a tangled relationship!
《痛苦的家庭》
民國 66 年 (1977 年) 7 月某一日在鎮上十字路口，阿俊發生車禍，相當嚴重，有生命危險。警察通知鄰居阿華嬸告知阿花。無知阿花還應一句「死了算了。」
阿俊大女兒燕兒 53 年 (1964 年) 生，也 13 歲了，也是阿俊左右手。那個不完整的家，也因燕兒幫忙，少許減輕阿俊的困境。也因為這樣，阿花視燕兒為眼中釘，母女像是諜對諜。父母感情不睦，最可憐的往往是孩子。
燕兒知道爸爸不能死。不管豔陽赤腳，飛奔前往 2 公里奶奶家，因為現在只有奶奶可以幫阿俊。阿俊在鎮裡小診所急救，必須送往大城裡的大醫院。
阿花恨什麼？沒人懂。千人所指，都是阿花的錯。阿俊遭遇，帶來整肅未來前景？！
阿俊父母要「把阿花離掉、孩子分送人家」，這就是最好打算。阿花娘家也無法插手。阿俊車禍住院期間，阿花母親過來幫幫孩子、照護。
阿花從未出社會，怎麼離？！被放棄，也是人生最悲哀。從那起，阿花收斂起囂張焰氣。你不犯我，我不犯你。
所幸阿俊在鬼門關走一回，平安無事。在醫院住了一個多月出院回家。孩子引頸期盼阿俊的歸來，深怕被分崩離析。
自從孩子聽悉要被分送，就抱在一團痛哭流涕，還想出許多假設性鬼點子。
長男爵兒民國 56 年 (1967 年) 生，10 歲，頑皮，也是阿花最疼得意兒子。爵兒還提議，如果被分送了，就用菸燙疤，往後認親。童言童語，也憾出悲憤怒氣。
阿俊跟阿花的糾結，可能是前輩子冤親債主吧！阿俊的遭遇，沒人能幫。唯一面對，就是接受。
阿俊的車禍，改變以往態度，不再容忍阿花的無理取鬧，斷絕阿花的金錢。每天起早煮早餐，給孩子一頓飽，再出門做生意。午飯就讓阿花跟孩子解決，畢竟還是要有收入。
阿花被斷掉金錢，等於廢掉功夫，使出在外賒帳。拿著阿俊的名號，四處賒帳。在那年代，名號等於信用。好人拒絕；無良人使壞心眼，餿掉的食物或已經壞掉物品給阿花。「阿花真的瘋了！」小鎮裡更加確定的事實。
不知道？阿花是不是裝瘋賣傻，應付阿俊真的有一套。心情不好，打孩子出氣。然後要孩子門口跪下，等待阿俊回家。那情境就像親人往生。冤家啊！