31

The entire autumn harvest lasted for more than half a month before it could be regarded as finished. Not only the men of the Yang family were tired to death, but even the women were also collapsed with exhaustion.

The autumn harvest was considered to be as finished successfully. Although there was a bit of unpleasantness in between, it was also not much of a significant matter. Furthermore, the heavens were also helpful, and there wasn't even a bit of rain with the sun shining each and every day brightly. Seeing this, Yang laoyezi gave an order to have a feast to reward everyone for their hard work. So this day, the family would be having a good meal.

无伤大雅 (wúshāngdàyǎ): to be of no great matter (idiom) / harmless

Momentarily everyone in the family was happy and excited.

兴高采烈 (xìnggāocǎiliè): happy and excited (idiom) / in high spirits / in great delight.

This time, He-shi not only killed a family's chicken but also took out a bit of money for once to buy a few jins of meat. It would have been truly surprising if only she didn't have that painful look on her face.

斤 (jīn): catty (weight equal to 500 g)

Even Wang-shi, who was always fond of eating but disliked working, helped her kill the chicken and pull the feathers.

Apparently, Wang-shi has also been craving to meat for a while. Although the meat in the food has increased after that event, the 'meat' was only a bit. The meat was quite rare for them. Even Lin Qingwan, who had been finding food unappetizing these days, was also craving meat.

Lin Qingwan went back to the vegetable garden in the backyard and picked a few beans, green pepper, cucumber, and the likes along with Yao-shi before taking them to well to wash them.

Today, the kids at home also didn't go out to play. Instead, they stayed at home in a well-behaved manner. They also must have known that there was meat at home today, and all of them waited to eat it.

After that incident, the Yao-shi became even more taciturn.

But these were all aimed towards He-shi. She no longer took the initiative to speak with He-shi, and even when He-shi spoke with her, she kept her face indifferent. Although the effect was the same, it can be considered as some sort of improvement.

After Lin Qingwan washed the vegetables, she took them to the kitchen to slice them. While Yao-shi helped her cook steamed sorghum rice.

Because of He-shi's rare generosity, today there was no restriction to use ingredients, oils, condiments, and the likes. As such, Lin Qingwan was planning on using this opportunity to finally let her reins loose when cooking.

First, she cleaned the pork before placing it on a chopping board and sliced them into thin strips.

People here like to eat pork fat as they feel pork fat has more meat. Thus, He-shi bought one large chunk of pork fat with two strips of lean meat on its side.

The meat at home was usually sliced into thick slices, and after casually stir-frying a little while, a few potatoes, white cabbage, and such vegetables were added into the pot and were then allowed to cook. This kind of dish gave a bit of meaty taste, and when taken a bite, it left a bit of oily and greasy feeling in the mouth. Lin Qingwan could not eat this kind of awfully greasy food; thus, today, she planned to cook using her own recipe.

She sliced the meat before putting it aside. She then took nicely washed chicken and chopped up them. After processing the meat, she then began to deal with the interiors of the meat. After which, she took a potato and green pepper and chopped them into small pieces and julienne strips, respectively. Next, she chopped green onions, ginger, and garlic as well after washing them. In the end, she washed ear fungus, shiitake mushroom, and others as well.

After she was done processing the ingredients, she prepared the pot.

First, she blanched the chicken in cold water and put it aside for later use.

After cleaning the pot, she put the pork in it and fried it for a while. Waiting till the pork fat was roasted till golden yellow and a bit burnt, she quickly added green onions, garlic, Sichuan pepper, a bit of hot pepper into the pot and deep-fried them until a pleasant smell wafted out. She then added a bit of soy sauce before stir-frying them with a spatula. Once the soy sauce was nicely absorbed by the meat, she added the water till the meat was completely soaked and covered it with a lid.

As the meat was cooking in the pot, a pleasant aroma permeated the entire kitchen. While lighting the fire, Yao-shi asked her, "It smells so good. Second sao, what do you add?"

嫂 (sǎo): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

When children playing in the yard also got a whiff of an appetizing aroma from the kitchen, they too ran over and stood by the doorway to peep in.

"Second bomu, what tasty food are you making?" Yang Dalang asked with drool at the corner of his mouth.

伯母 (bómǔ): wife of father's elder brother/aunt

Lin Qingwan replied with a smile, "Second bomu is cooking meat for you." Then, turning back again, she said to Yao-shi, "Third dimei, I didn't add anything much in it. I just used a different method from what you usually do."

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife/ younger sister-in-law

After cooking every day post-marriage, Lin Qingwan had found that there weren't many seasonings and condiments here. Naturally, condiments like MSG, the essence of chicken, and the likes weren't found here. However, common household condiments were still available. Like green pepper, chili pepper, star anise, cinnamon, and such ingredients were still available, including black pepper and Sichuan pepper. It's just that their usage is different compared with her previous life.

Star anise, cinnamon, black pepper, Sichuan pepper were all not used in cooking but were regarded as medicinal herbs and were used in medicines here. Here too, green peppers were used in cooking. However, chili peppers were also used like green pepper and were stir-fried in side dishes, unlike in her previous life, where chili peppers were sun-dried after frying in a pan before use. Usage of black peppers was even more strange; rather than sun-drying before grinding them into powder for use, they boil the entire herb plant to form a decoction which was then given to the patients; the same was the case with Sichuan peppers.

She only came to know about the usage of star anise, cinnamon, black pepper, and Sichuan pepper in medicine when she asked Yang Tiezhu while casually chatting with him. Previously Yang Tiezhu used to go hunting in the mountains all year round. Sometimes, he would pick a few of the herbs sold in medical clinics and sell them upon returning. It was just that the selling price was relatively meager; as such, he rarely picked them. So as soon as she heard the description of them, she at once knew what they were.

Upon listening to this, Lin Qingwan kept them in her mind. This time, Lin Qingwan had Yang Tiezhu buy a little bit from the village physician to try it out.

She can also use Sichuan pepper, but the sun-dried pepper powder wasn't available; thus, she can't use it today.

Lin Qingwan stir-fried the meat in the pot for a little while before adding a bit of star anise and cinnamon. After letting it cook for a while, she added green beans and salt and let them cook for a while. Seeing that the color of beans seemed to be cooked, she served them into a dish.

She then moved on to the cooking chicken. Once the chicken was cooked, she followed the steps similar to the previous method. After the chicken was cooked, Lin Qingwan added diced potatoes and shiitake mushrooms together and waited for them to cook.

While stir-frying the vegetables in the pot, Lin Qingwan simultaneously explained the recipe to Yao-shi, "From what I have seen, when you and eldest sao usually cook, you too stir-fry the vegetables, but the pot isn't hot enough. The pot should be heated to a very high temperature, such that fumes of white smoke should come out when oil is added into the pot. Furthermore, every time you stir fry the vegetables, you just fry them for a little while and add water to let them boil. But for some vegetables, you don't have to boil them; once the pot is hot enough, you can quickly stir-fry them until they are crispy and delicious." She tried to use simple words to make Yao-shi understand easily, but it seems Yao-shi was still unable to understand.

In the Daxi dynasty, cooking was not as comprehensive as in her previous life. Of course, the dishes were stir-fried here too, but it was no different from that of boiling vegetables, except in this method, a little bit of oil was added in the starting..

After a while, Lin Qingwan smashed the potatoes with a spatula. Once the potatoes were cooked till they were soft and mushy, and the chicken was cooked until crisp, she added ear fungus into it and stir-fried them a bit before serving them into the serving dish.

After washing the pot, she then started frying garlic chives and scramble the eggs. Following this, she also stir-fried water cabbage. Finally, she made soup with Chinese cabbage and mushroom, while Yao shi made a cucumber salad. Altogether, there were six dishes. Each of them was divided into two sets of serving bowls; one set in big bowls and another set in small bowls.

"Why are they here?"

At this moment, Yang Dalang, who was standing by the door with saliva dripping from his mouth, murmured in a low voice.

Lin Qingwan wiped her hands on her apron and stood by the door to take a glance outside. The guest seemed to be over 20-year-old married woman with three children – two sons and one daughter. The woman wasn't particularly well-dressed, with a blue coarse cotton dress and pants; even the kids' clothes also had several patches.

Yao-shi also poked her from behind to take a look and said, "That's the elder sister."

Elder sister? Only then Lin Qingwan recalled that the Yang family also had the eldest Yang sister. Ranked second in the family, she was eldest sister of Yang Tiezhu, Yang Tiegen and Yang Xuzhang. She was only two years younger than Yang Tieshuan, and it had been several years since she had been married off.

Lin Qingwan never met her because when she married Yang Tiezhu, elder sister Yang seemed to have not come.

Eldest branch's few children looked at guests with gloominess and resentment on their faces. Even Wang-shi, who was standing in the yard, also didn't have a good face.

He-shi welcomed them with joy on her whole face, but her mouth couldn't help but reproach her, "You damn girl, how long has it been since you stepped your feet in natal family, even when your younger brother sent a letter about his wedding, you didn't come."

Elder sister Yang pulled her youngest son's hand and narrated with her face full of grievances, "I also can't do anything about it. My mother-in-law happened to be sick, and I had to wait upon her. Now that she is fine, I rushed to come here."

Lin Qingwan found elder sister Yang to be utterly similar to He-shi. They both had their face shaped narrow at the top and bottom and wide in the middle, just like the shape of jujube kernels. Both of them also had monolid eyes; eldest sister Yang, because she was still young, could be said to have perfect red phoenix eyes, while He-shi, because of her old age, her eyelids became saggy, making her eyes triangular shaped. Both of them also have thin lips, signifying their mastery in eloquence.

丹凤眼 (dānfèngyǎn): red phoenix eyes

Red phoenix eyes are slender, with their outer corner slightly upturned while the inner corner of the eye is slanting down. In China, red phoenix eyes are considered an ideal shape, and it is said that one who is born with such eyes possesses charming beauty.

From the side, Wang shi snorted, "First younger sister, why is your mother-in-law always sick? When your second brother was marrying, your mother-in-law happened to be sick. Our family's Dalang turned 10 years old, your mother-in-law also happened to be sick. At the time of the third younger brother's two daughters' full moon celebration, again, your mother-in-law happened to be sick. Your mother-in-law surely knows to pick-up a day to become sick every day; she gets sick when other people have some occasion going on."

*Here Wang-shi calls her by 大妹 (dàmèi), which translated to first younger sister. In China, if you have more than one family member with the same relationship, it is important to address them according to their birth order, status, and seniority relative to yours.

Lin Qingwan almost laughed out loud before she quickly covered her mouth. This Wang-shi really dared to say anything aloud.

Yao-shi also could not stop herself from having a smile on her face. Just like Lin Qingwan, she also stood by the kitchen door to speculate the bustling scene over there.

Elder sister Yang became embarrassed at once, "Eldest sao, you must by all means not think of this younger sister as such. I also don't wish for my mother-in-law to be bedridden with an illness like that either. But who asked her to be my mother-in-law, can I even possibly abandon regardless of her sickness?" She said with tears welling up in her pair of eyes, looking extremely miserable.

He-shi quickly stepped up to help her daughter out of embarrassment, glancing at Wang-shi with a glare, "Eldest wife, if you don't know how to speak properly, then shut your mouth. Still not going to serve the meal." Then she called her daughter and grandson to enter the house and have a seat till the meal is served.

Yang Erlang angrily stomped his feet and yelled to Wang-shi, "Mother, Dahu and Xiaohu will again snatch my meat!"

Wang-shi rolled her eyes at her son, "Can I, this old mother, even do anything. Didn't you see how much your grandmother treasures them? Dahu and Erhu's mother will also snatch your mother's meat to eat.

Wang-shi angrily walked into the kitchen while muttering, "Every time she comes, she mooches off good food, and when every time there is some occasion, her mother-in-law happens to get sick. What kind of person is she, ah?

Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi didn't dare to open her mouth. Both of them shared a look and silently carried the dishes, bowls, and chopsticks to the main building.

Lin Qingwan turned around to bring the remaining dishes also, but who would have imagined that as soon as she entered the kitchen, she would be greeted by the sight of Wang-shi carrying a dish with one hand while twisting a piece of chicken in her mouth with another hand.

While eating, she didn't forget to praise Lin Qingwan," Second dimei, the chicken you cooked is delicious." Not even a bit of shame could be seen for being caught stealing red-handed.

Lin Qingwan suddenly felt as if she swallowed a fly, feeling extremely nauseous. She closed her eyes and suppressed the discomfort in her heart before she picked up the remaining dishes, walked around Wang-shi, and left the kitchen.

"Eldest sao, come quickly; mother is urging us."

Wang-shi quickly rubbed the oil on her mouth with her sleeves and quickly caught up with her.

32

Soon all the dishes were arranged on the table, rice was served into the bowls, and everyone took their seats. Since all of them were here, they began to eat.

Lin Qingwan knew that when it came to eating, Wang-shi was never slow and was a good eater. But only when she saw Elder sister Yang, did she know that what it means to have excellent skills in eating.

Wang shi's table etiquette was unsightly and dislikeable. But Elder sister Yang's eating was even more unpleasant to the eyes

What does unpleasant to the eyes mean?

When eating, apparently, she never cares about other people. As soon as she started, she quickly moved her chopsticks to the dishes with chicken and pork, and at the most incredible speed, she picked up all the possible meaty or delicious pieces and then piled them up in her bowl. She didn't care even if the bowl was full; she directly piled up till she reached the tip. While doing so, she also put the chopsticks in her mouth every three or five times and licking them a bit….

every three or five times: Frequently

Nima! Others have not even lifted their chopsticks; she had already picked more than half of them, only leaving bits and pieces. Moreover, she also licked the chopsticks with her saliva…

尼玛 (ni ma): Literally, your mother. It also means Come on! God! Jesus! Really?

Is it to deliberately disgust people?!

Lin Qingwan was at once left speechless.

Seeing his elder sister eating like that, Yang Tiezhu also quickly picked up two chicken pieces and put them in Lin Qingwan's bowl.

If changed to other times, surely if he wouldn't have done this thing normally. But, he knew that his wife has been exasperated to death in these busy times of Autumn harvest. His mother, He-shi, was also highly reluctant to buy a bit of meat or some nourishment for everyone. There wasn't even a bit of meat or fish any day.

Seeing that his wife had lost a lot of weight during this time, Yang Tiezhu couldn't help but feel distressed in his heart. Her originally thin body became even thinner as if with just a gust of wind, she would be blown away.

Elder sister Yang upon seeing Yang Tiezhu picking food for his wife, she said with a mouthful of meat, "Lao'er, now that you know how to love your wife, you don't know how to be solicitous to your parents."

老二 (lǎo'èr): appellation used to address second eldest of the family

Elder sister's mouth was stuffed entirely with meat, but her chopsticks still continued to fish them up into her bowl; however, she didn't eat from her bowl. The movement of picking up was also very swift and precise. Her manner of fishing up the food, coupled with her peculiar tone, simply made one wish to throw their chopsticks.

Yang Tiezhu did not speak, and Lin Qingwan also didn't throw chopsticks.

But someone else couldn't help but fling their chopsticks; that person was precisely Wang-shi. Wang-shi watched as elder sister Yang picked more than half of the meat in few seconds but still didn't stop scooping the meat from dishes and stuffing her mouth. By the time, Wang-shi lifted her chopsticks, there were only bits and pieces leftover. No wonder she couldn't help but fling her chopsticks.

"First younger sister, you don't have to speak about second younger brother. Do you eat like this? Before others could even lift their chopsticks, you picked all the meat. What do you want others to eat?" Wang-shi was fuming with anger.

If it was some other matter, Wang-shi wouldn't have ignited like a firecracker. But this was about food; whoever stops her from eating, she can fight with them with all of her might.

Yang Tieshuan too flung his chopsticks, "Younger sister Yang, if it was normal times, it would have been fine, but with great difficulty we were able to eat meat. You being like this, without even restraining as if you are a reincarnation of some hungry ghost, it doesn't look good."

If it was in the past, no matter how he disliked his first younger sister Yang, Yang Tieshuan wouldn't have spoken such words. After more than half a month of tiring work every day, that too without any meat and fish in the meals, they were able to eat a bit of meat with great difficulty. Yet, first, younger sister Yang behaved as such; no wonder Yang Tieshuan became angry.

Over there, at the children's table also, it wasn't quiet. Yang Dalang and Yang Erlang broke into tears and yelled, saying First younger sister Yang's two sons, Dahu and Xiaohu, snatched their chicken.

The meat in sister Yang's mouth hadn't been swallowed, yet tears streamed down her face. She swallowed the meat and put down her chopsticks in one smooth motion before sobbing aggrievedly, "Eldest brother, you also hate me. You don't know how I am passing my days…when I was at home every three or five days we used to have a big meal. But, but at my husband's house, it's been several months already since I have tasted meat…boo hoo…"

Listening to her eldest son's and daughter-in-law's angry words, He-shi wanted to let her daughter restrain a bit. But after listening to her daughter's story, her complexion immediately became ugly, and she started bawling as she hugged her daughter.

"My pitiful daughter, what kind of crime is this…"

"Mother…" Both of them cried on each other's shoulders.

Yang laoyezi hit the table, "For what are you crying? Eat properly!" He also didn't mention the matter of eldest sister Yang picking all the meat, probably he also felt bitter about it in his heart.

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): polite appellation for an elderly person, old man, ones father

Sister He and sister Yang slowly stopped crying, sat properly, and began to eat. Wang-shi and Yang Tieshuan also held back their anger and picked up the chopsticks. Yao-shi and Yang Tiegen, however, from start to finish, didn't utter a word. When other people put down their chopsticks, they also put down chopsticks. When Yang laoyezi asked to resume having the meal, they at once picked up the chopsticks and ate the meal carefully.

Yang Tiezhu again picked up scrambled eggs and put them in his wife's bowl. From the start, his expression didn't change one bit; apparently, he had 'experienced this sort of battlefield for a long time'.

Lin Qingwan picked the rice in the bowl and ate the dishes given by her husband, feeling the dishes prepared today are quite delicious. Moreover, after their dispute, strangely, she didn't feel blocked up in her heart anymore. En, it seems that her natural temperament was also a bit evil.

She found one thing. A moment ago, when He-shi and Elder sister Yang were bawling, He-shi didn't have any tears. She was merely crying out loud without tears. But elder sister Yang had genuine tears.

Evaluating from her string of actions in this short amount of time, this woman was definitely not a good crop and seems to be several ranks higher than He-shi. Speak about pretending to be pitiful; she can at once acts as being pitiful. Speak about crying; at once, she can summon out her tears. Speak about fanning the flames; she can simply jab at other people's hearts. If it weren't for Wang-shi's timely interruption, she and Yang Tiezhu would have had to eat He-shi's 'ribs'.

善茬(shàn chá) : (literally means good crop) It is used as a metaphor the people who are easy to deal with.

吃排骨 (chī páigǔ): Eating ribs, is an idiom colloquially used by the people of northern Jiangsu and southern Shandong. It's meaning is to receive criticism.

Her face was even thicker than Wang-shi's, and she can cry even better than He-shi's forceable crying out loud without tears and can simply change her face as if turning the pages. Lin Qingwan secretly decided in her heart that she would stay a bit far away from this woman.

This kind of person is a hybrid version of "White Lotus", and is even more difficult to deal with than an ordinary one.

When they were having a meal, the entire time couldn't be considered calm at all with Wang-shi's continuous mutterings that all the meat was finished. Over there, kids also had some conflicts and fought among each other, and Yang Dalang ended up pushing Dahu onto the ground.

This Dahu must have perhaps snatched his meat. Having lost his meat, he must have decided to use force.

Dahu sat on the ground and started bawling. An 8-9-year-old kid ended up crying while kicking his feet, with his tears running on his oily face.

Elder sister Yang also could not bother about eating meat anymore; she quickly hurried over and picked her son up into her embrace.

"Dalang, you are older than Dahu. How can you bully your younger brother?"

Yang Dalang was also aggrieved. "He snatched my meat. After eating the meat in his bowl, he took one from my bowl too." Dalang also felt he was wronged, alright. Who puts their chopsticks in other's bowl and take their food.

When Wang-shi heard elder sister Yang criticize her son, she also stopped eating and ran to give her son support.

"Does anyone eat like this? You can snatch meat from other people's bowls, but they can't push you?" Wang-shi pulled her son towards her and angrily retorted.

"Besides, Dalang didn't do deliberately either. My family's son's meat was grabbed by him and accidentally ended up using more strength, resulting in him being pushed down." Wang-shi spoke forcefully with justice; her words were indeed acceptable. "If you have the ability to criticize my family's Dalang, you might as well discipline your family's Dahu. I, your sao, this while have never seen anyone snatch food from other's bowl and eat, isn't it like a dog."

振振有词 (zhènzhènyǒucí ): to speak forcefully and with justice (idiom); to argue with the courage of one's convictions

嫂 (sǎo): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

The last sentence was just like firing a canon. However, elder sister Yang didn't go and tear apart Wang-shi; rather, she squatted on the ground with her son in her arms and began to cry.

"My poor son, it's your mother who isn't capable enough and couldn't even afford you meat to eat. With great difficulty, you were able to eat meat at your grandpa and grandma's place, but then you were called a dog…"

Yang laoyezi's beard stood from anger, but he also didn't know on whom he should be angry. He-shi's fighting prowess was also not any less. Seeing Wang-shi bully her daughter to tears, she at once stood up and flung her bowl at Wang-shi.

"As a sister-in-law, how can you be like that? What are you talking drivel recklessly for? Do you think I, this old lady, have died?" He-shi jumped three chi high.

尺 (chǐ): a Chinese foot/one-third of a meter

The rice bowl hit Wang-shi and rolled down. She didn't feel pain when it hit her, but the rice and soup dripped down from her shoulder onto her whole body. He-shi was fond of eating pickled cabbage soup at every meal. As such more than half of the bowl was filled with soup.

These times tables had turned, and Wang-shi was the one who felt wronged," That wasn't my intention; those words came just like that." She could only say that those words came in the flow, and she couldn't stop her mouth in time.

What was initially been reasonable at first became utterly unjustifiable. Wang-shi took deep breaths in anger, making her entire face red.

Seeing the situation in front of her, Lin Qingwan felt her head becoming big. She secretly tugged at Yang Tiezhu, signaling that they should quickly leave. Both of them stood up and walked out of the room after notifying Yang laoyezi.

Before leaving, Lin Qingwan signaled Yao-shi with her eyes.

Actually, Lin Qingwan didn't have to give her a look; Yao-shi was already planning to leave. In this sort of spectacle, both husband and wife never dared to interfere. Both of them also followed out of the main room after them.

Even while sitting in her room, Lin Qingwan could still hear He-shi's tongue lashing and elder sister's tongue lashing, along with Wang-shi's occasional retorts all the way from the main room.

Yang Tiezhu sighed as he took Lin Qingwan's hand. "My eldest sister is not easy to deal with. In the future, stay away from a bit."

Lin Qingwan glared at him, "You don't need to say, I also know."

Yang Tiezhu rubbed his wife's hand, "Then, it's good." He squeezed her hand and sighed again, "Wife, you recently have lost a lot of weight; your hands also have become a lot thinner." When he held her hand, he only felt bones, without any flesh. His wife used to have more flesh and less bones before and very were soft to touch.

He couldn't help but feel distressed, "In the next two days, I will go into the forest on the mountain and bring back a few pheasants or hares to help you nourish your body."

Lin Qingwan pursed her mouth with a frown on her eyebrows; her face had an expression of being wronged.

"Even if you bring back a bit, I still wouldn't be able to eat it. In the past, I was unable to win against your eldest sao from snatching, now we also have your eldest sister."

Yang Tiezhu sighed. This, he was also aware.

He hugged his wife in distress, slowly coaxing her while swaying her along with him, "Then I'll roast it outside before bringing it back, then you can eat in our room itself."

Have to say, the simple and honest Yang Tiezhu had learned bad things after marriage for him to go as far as to take the initiative by himself to say that for the sake of favoring his wife. But it wasn't like as if he hadn't done anything like this before. When he was hungry, the old hunter would feed him till his stomach was full, and afterward, he also taught him how to cook.

Lin Qingwan lips curved a bit, and she turned around to hug her husband in a pampered and charming manner.

"It's okay." She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulled his face down, and gave him a peck, "Seeing that you are not only sensible but also love your wife dearly, this is your reward."

Yang Tiezhu at once became dumbfounded, unable to find where north is.

Encouraged by Lin Qingwan's kiss, Yang Tiezhu went out that very afternoon as if he had been injected with chicken blood and only came back in the evening when it was time to eat dinner.

Upon returning, he made a beeline to his own room and came out only after a while.

The atmosphere at dinner was very heavy. Even elder sister Yang didn't pick the dishes anymore. After the fight, Yang laoyezi much have had a word with her. Over there, kids also ate silently. The fuss in the afternoon must have frightened them a bit.

After eating, Yang laoyezi cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

"Your sister Yang will stay at home for few more days elder sister will stay at home for a few more days. As her gege, sao, didi, and dimei, you all should cut her some slack. She was also born under an ill-star to have such a husband's family."

哥哥 (gēge): older brother

弟弟 (dìdi): younger brother

嫂 (sǎo): one's elder brother's wife

弟妹 (dìmèi): one's younger brother's wife

Yang laoyezi hadn't finished speaking but had already sighed several times by now. Even though everyone had a bit of complaint, it was a bit hard to say now. Anyhow, every time elder sister Yang comes to visit her natal family, she would stay for a few days every time, and they also have learned to keep their face calm in the face of unexpected situations a long time ago.

见怪不怪 (jiànguàibùguài): to keep one's calm in the face of the unexpected / not to wonder at strange sights

"As for where to live, it would be the same as the one in the past." Hearing this, Wang-shi was immediately unhappy. Because every time first younger sister Yang comes, her two sons would sleep with Dalang and few others in their room, while the mother and her daughter would sleep in Yang Ermei's room. Today, after all the ruckus, she will be again sleeping in their room, who wouldn't have any objections with this.

She opened her mouth, wishing to say something. But before she could even say something, Yang Tieshuan pulled her hand and gave her a look. She at once became silent, with her mouth deflated.

Seeing that no one had any objections, Yang laoyezi immediately waved his hands for them to leave.

33

Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi pushed the two tables close to each other before taking all the crockery items to wash them.

After washing all the plates and cups, and arranging them back in their respective places in the kitchen, they again went back to the main room to wipe the tables clean. They then disassembled the children's table and placed it in the corner.

All the people in the main room have dispersed, leaving He-shi, who had pulled elder sister Yang onto the kang to have a chat, and Yang laoyezi, who was also sitting on kang smoking tobacco with heavy air around him.

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): old father, an appellation used for an elderly male.

After finishing cleaning, Lin Qingwan was about to leave when elder sister Yang called her.

"Second dimei, come here quickly, let elder sister take a look at you. This elder sister hasn't seen you yet."

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife/younger sister-in-law

While leaving, Yao-shi looked worriedly at Lin Qingwan. Lin Qingwan's face stiffened. However, she still walked to her.

Elder sister Yang took Lin Qingwan's hand without a tinge of unfamiliarity and exclaimed in admiration, "Our second dimei is truly good-looking. Isn't she, mother?" She turned her head and asked He-shi.

He-shi lowered her eyes and curled her lips, declining to comment.

Lin Qingwan lowered her head, seemingly shy, and whispered, "Thank you for your compliment, elder sister."

"Are you still feeling shy? Our family's Tiezhu is truly fortunate…" With a smile on her face, elder sister teased before she pulled Lin Qingwan to explain.

"Second dimei, you have to forgive your elder sister. Initially, I was planning to come to Yang Tiezhu's marriage, but unexpectedly my mother-in-law became sick and had to wait by her side. As such, I couldn't come. By all means, you must not blame me in your heart."

Her face was full of remorse and uneasiness as if she was truly worried that Lin Qingwan might blame her.

"Sigh…us women are born under ill star; all our importance should be given to our husband's family first. Else the days in your life wouldn't be good…second dimei, you won't blame me, right?" Wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, she performed singing, talking, acting, and fighting, all these sets of movements in one go, making it unable for people to deny her.

唱念做打 (chàng niàn zuò dǎ): these four characters means to sing, talk, act, and fight respectively. Any aspiring opera in china must learn all four arts, sing, talk, act, and fight. (I presume the author meant to say that elder sister Yang staged a play perfectly, making others unable to say no to her and hate her. If I am wrong, please do correct me.)

If it weren't for Wang-shi's 'example' when they met in the noon, Lin Qingwan would genuinely have believed in elder sister Yang's words, but now….

Hehe…no one is a fool here!

Anyhow, elder sister Yang not coming to her marriage, she didn't feel it was some significant issue. If you came, I would have treated cordially; if you didn't come, I will just turn a blind eye. At best, you know yourself in your heart as to what kind of person you are.

Feelings ought to be given, and face(honour) must be earned by oneself. You don't want to bleed but want to have a face, still pretentiously wishing to worm her way into being friends with her. Does she possibly give an impression of being an idiot? Or is elder sister Yang doing it just superficially for Yang laoyezi and He-shi to see so that if she embarrassed her and made it difficult for her, she would be the one who would be blamed?

Lin Qingwan chuckled in her heart in annoyance…

It seems that for this kind of person, only Wang-shi can make her eat loss because she also never feels embarrassed and has thick skin. As for ones like her, who have thin skin and 'find it embarrassing,' it's better for them to be open and genuine and go through the motions. Why make this big? Anyway they won't get any silver from this!

"Elder sister, you don't have to mention this. How can your younger sister-in-law blame elder sister for this matter?!" She looked at eldest sister Yang with her eyes full of sincerity, "Elder sister's difficulties, this younger sister-in-law can understand. As such, I won't at all take this matter to my heart."

You see, I give so much of face. So, you better let me go quickly, my family's man is waiting for me.

"Then it's good. It's good that dimei didn't take any offense." Elder sister patted Lin Qingwan's hands and once again emotionally began to wipe her tears.

Lin Qingwan truly couldn't bear it anymore and felt goosebumps rising on her whole body. She gave a smile to Elder sister Yang, He-shi, and Yang laoyezi, before saying, "Elder sister, you see I am not done with cleaning kitchen yet, I will go and get myself busy."

"Then you quickly go." Elder sister Yang let her hand free.

Lin Qingwan rushed out of the main room and walked to the kitchen.

After entering the kitchen, she found that Yao-shi had taken care of all the work and finished everything – the fire in the stove was put off, the kitchen platform was also wiped clean, and all other things were also put back in the kitchen their places. She remained still in the dark kitchen. After a moment, she turned around, walked out of the kitchen, and closed the door.

After returning to the room, Yang Tiezhu walked to her and welcomed her and pulled her to the small cubicle as if showing her some treasure. In the small cubicle, water was boiling on the stove with the fire in the firepit below.

Yang Tiezhu used a firepit poker stick to pull out two black mud dumplings out of the stove. Wrapping them in big tree leaves, he had brought from outside, and he carried them to the table.

Although Lin Qingwan was a bit puzzled, she still bolted the door first.

Yang Tiezhu smashed the mud dumpling open with his fist and pushed it aside a bit. To her astonishment, inside was steaming hot pheasant meat wrapped up in tree leaves. The bird's meat was nicely cooked to insipid yellow color, with a mouth-watering aroma assailing the nostrils.

Her eyes widened. Is this perhaps what she is thinking, the legendary beggar's chicken?

People of ancient times were truly knowledgeable, truly worthy of the greatest admiration!

Yang Tiezhu rubbed his hands with a smile, his expression solicitous.

"I thought it was inconvenient to roast it after bringing it back, and cooking it is also inconvenient. So, I stuffed the condiments in the bird's belly and wrapped up in lotus leaves and mud before letting it bake in the stove." Still afraid that she would not accept it, he repeatedly reaffirmed, "It's really delicious. I used to make it frequently. If you don't believe, why don't you give it a try first." Lin Qingwan smiled and glanced at him, annoyed, "Naturally, I believe in my family's husband's craftsmanship."

She used her finger to tear a small piece of meat and put it into her mouth. An aromatic and appetizing smell spread all over the mouth. As the chicken was still a bit hot, she couldn't help but blow her fingers.

Truly delicious! Although there weren't many condiments and it was a bit salty, the quality of the meat itself was quite tasty. Moreover, as Yang Tiezhu used some unknown leaf to wrap up the chicken before baking, it gave out a type of unknown fragrance.

Seeing his wife eating it with relish, Yang Tiezhu quickly pulled away from the mud and crust on the meat and carefully picked them up and put that away.

She tore a piece of chicken down, blew it with her mouth, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"You also eat. Let's eat together."

Yang Tiezhu chewed up the mouthful of chicken meat in his mouth, feeling that the thing fed by his wife was truly savory.

Both of them went on with 'I feed you once, you feed me once', not at all disliking the lovey-dovey moment at all. Within a short moment, the chicken was shared and was finished. Lin Qingwan wiped the oil on her hands and stroked her belly with satisfaction.

It's nice to eat till full when it's so savory. It's been so long since she had feasted on such delicious meat! For lunch, with great difficulty, she cooked few meat dishes, but she was only able to eat two pieces of chicken, which were grabbed by her husband for her.

Yang Tiezhu wiped the oil from his hands before putting one of his hands around his wife.

Lin Qingwan was petite and was roughly only about 1.6 meters tall. While Yang Tiezhu was very tall, according to her estimation, he should be 1.9 meters. As such, every time Yang Tiezhu embraced her in his arms, she felt was very tiny and short.

"Wife, since you are fond of eating it, in the future, I will get it for you every day."

Lin Qingwan, glanced at him with a smile, "You do not rear the birds, then how can you get so many of them. It's fine to have this kind of feast once in a while, okay. How can you eat it every single day."

Yang Tiezhu scratched his head and laughed, also feeling that the words he said were a bit exaggerated. Even though he can't guarantee it every day, he can still give a guarantee every two days. Because this time, he not only caught two birds to bring them back, but he also surveyed the whole area. The reason why he didn't do this before because he seldomly went into the mountains and only brought back few wild animals. Also, because perhaps, he was fed up with it in his heart, this was a kind of silent protest by him. Now since his wife was fond of it, he will make an all-out effort with his heart and soul to serve his wife.

Lin Qingwan looked at his silly appearance before pushing him away and stood up, "I will go give the remaining one to the third dimei. Both the little girls have to eat with Dalang and others every day and cann't eat good ones."

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife

Yang Tiezhu also didn't have any objections to his wife's decision. Moreover, he was aware that the relationship between his wife and third dimei was good.

After listening to the movements outside, Lin Qingwan used tree leaves to cover the mud dumplings, opened the door, and went out.

In the room, Yang Tiezhu giggled, thinking that the way his wife glared at him was very beautiful. A thought stirred in his mind. He at once ran to the small cubicle to lite the firepit, preparing to boil water for the bath so that once she comes back, she can use it immediately.

Lin Qingwan walked out; it was already pitch-black, dark outside. The courtyard was very quiet, the door of the main room was still wide open, with a faint light inside.

She walked to the third room and knocked on the door. While knocking on the door, she yelled, "Third dimei, I have come to return your scissors."

Yao-shi heard the sound and hurried over to open the door, wondering in her heart when had second sao looked for her for scissors.

嫂 (sǎo): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

She opened the door and was about to say something but was stopped by Lin Qingwan's eyes. Immediately afterward, a still hot bundle was stuffed into her hands.

Lin Qingwan lowered her voice and whispered to her, "Once you go back, smash it open, and don't let anyone see it. Don't decline it, just take it as something for kids."

Once she was done saying so, she once again raised her voice, "Third dimei, are you busy? I just came to return your scissors, nothing else." After saying so, she turned around, intending to back to her room. Seeing still dumbfounded Yao-shi, she gestured her to go inside quickly

"Then second sister-in-law, go slowly." Yao-shi reacted quickly, turned around, and entered the room. Recalling Lin Qingwan's words not to let anyone see it, she again locked the door.

Yang Tiegen, who was sitting on the kang, looked at her with doubt. "What were you speaking to second sao about?"

Not knowing how to reply, Yao-shi didn't reply but put that bundle on kang table, gesturing Yang Tiegen to look into it.

Seeing that it was just a mud dumpling inside, Yang Tiegen was about to say something when Yao-shi opened her mouth to say, "Second sao asked me to smash it open without letting others see it."

Yang Tiegen touched mud dumplings laying on the leaves; it was still hot. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the mud dumpling along with the tree leaves, wrapped them around it, and knocked it on the table few times.

Sensing it to have broken down, he opened the leaves, and at once the exotic aroma of the meat assailed their nostrils. Erniu and Sanniu also sniffed the aroma of the meat and quickly climbed up to see what it was.

Through the fragments of broken mud, the lotus leaves inside could be seen. Due to smashing it earlier, the stuff inside the lotus leaves was also a bit visible. Yang Tiegen pushed the leaves aside, and steaming meat came into their view, astonishing them.

Yao-shi covered her mouth in surprise, finally understanding what Lin Qingwan meant, making her heart both touched and excited.

"Second sao, really…" Her lips trembled, not knowing what to say.

Erniu and Sanniu clapped their hands cheerfully for a while before they quickly stopped, fearing that other people might discover, and shushed each other with 'hush'.

Yang Tiegen also understood the meaning of the second brother's family and was also very much moved in his heart. But he was a man and certainly wouldn't show it on outside.

"Okay, okay, you three come quickly and eat it. The second brother must have gone to the forest, and must have brought it back."

The family of four happily divided among each other and ate it with relish. Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi looked at both the children happily having the food and felt reluctant to eat and gave their share to them too. Seeing their parents give all of it, the two girls sensibly pulled their parents and fed a big piece of meat to their parents.

It was just like a harmonious and joyous scene of a gentle father and filial daughter.

When Lin Qingwan returned to the house, bolted the door, and turned around, she happened to see Yang Tiezhu excitedly looking at her with a reddened face.

"What's happened? What kind of good things made you so excited?"

Yang Tiezhu didn't reply to this but solicitously said to her, "Wife, I have prepared the hot water for you. You can quickly go and take a bath." While saying so, he even pushed her into the small cubicle.

Lin Qingwan suddenly understood and secretly sighed in her heart; seeing his silly look, she sighed in her heart. With her face blushed red, she turned and went into the small cubicle.

Yang Tiezhu laughed in a silly manner behind her, his lips almost reaching the base of his ears.

34

After autumn harvest, the heavens seemed to have become peculiar. If today it is cloudy, then tomorrow it would be extremely sunny, completely unpredictable.

Just as Lin Qingwan opened the room door early in the morning, the sharp cold wind outside gushed onto her face. After thinking for a bit, she turned around to go in and added another layer of clothing.

Today it's Yao-shi's turn to do household chores. Usually, when it was the turn for either of them to do, they would help each other out. Thus today, Lin Qingwan got up and became ready to help Yao-shi in doing household chores.

Anyhow, currently there wasn't much work to do at home. Only stuff like cooking meals for the entire family, feeding pigs, chickens and the likes, and drying few vegetables. Compared to the previous few days of the autumn harvest, these were indeed relaxing days. At the least, this was what Lin Qingwan, having not done farm work ever in her life, thinks so.

As Luoxia mountain was situated in cold regions, post autumn harvest, there weren't any crops to grow in the fields. Thus the men were also quite idle. They would either have small wine gatherings or chop the firewood for the kang and chimney at home to prepare for the harsh winters.

After having breakfast, Yang Tiezhu and Yang Tiegen, the two brothers, went to chop the wood. They have been going every day to chop some firewood for the past few days. As for where Yang Tieshuan ran off, that is still unknown.

Upon careful observing for over some time, Lin Qingwan finally found eldest brother's whereabouts. The work he had done in the fields was pitifully low, always either avoiding it or hiding from it. Usually, even at home, he seldomly stayed, and where he hangs out all the time is also a mystery. Only when he and Wang-shi had a row did she come to know that every single time Yang Tieshuan disappeared, it wasn't to have drinks with pack of rogues but to gamble.

狐朋狗友 (húpénggǒuyǒu): a pack of rogues (idiom); a gang of scoundrels/ Bad friends

In the countryside, the folkways were very good, but it also didn't lack a few good-for-nothings small local ruffians and whatnot. And, Yang Tieshuan precisely likes to mingle with this sort of people to play a few card games and the likes. Anyway, country folks didn't have much money, so the bets played were also small.

Because of this, Wang-shi and Yang laoyezi didn't have arguments with him any less, but every time he appeared brazen-faced. When it was time for him to go, he would still disappear like always.

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): old father / polite appellation for an elderly male

Over time, Wang-shi's temper also must have been worn out by him. Now, they seldom care about each other; husband and wife, both minding their own business, don't know how they have been living together till now. Furthermore, after these many years….

Lin Qingwan, after helping Yao-shi in feeding the pigs and chicken, and sun-drying the vegetables, went back to her room, intending to make a few cotton-padded jackets for Yang Tiezhu and herself.

When she married over, she couldn't make winter clothes because of lack of time. Yang Tiezhu had two jackets, but their fabric had become worn out from outside, and cotton on the inside had also become rough. Fortunately, before marriage, she had bought a bit of cotton and fabric materials. She can directly use these to make the jackets.

Lin Qingwan took out two fabric materials from her trunk, one navy blue fabric and the other jujube red color. First, she was planning on making a thin-lined jacket for herself as the thicker cotton-padded jacket can bit for few more days.

At this time, Yao-shi pushed the door open and walked in with an old cotton-padded jacket in her hand. Looking at the increasingly cold weather, everyone must be having more or less the same thoughts.

"Second sao, are you planning on making winter clothes?" Lin Qingwan, who was sitting on the kang, greeted her, "Yeah, I couldn't make them at the time of marriage. Seeing that the cotton in your second brother's jacket has become hard, I was planning of making few pieces."

嫂 (sǎo): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

With scissors in her hand, she began to cut the material. She was already aware of Yang Tiezhu's measurements, not to mention her own. ]With charcoal, she drew the outline on the fabric and began to cut it out.

"Where are Liang ge niu?" While cutting, she simultaneously started chatting with Yao-shi. Liang ge niu is a 'pet name' she uses for Yang Erniu and Yang Sanniu.

两个妞 (liǎng gè niū): 2 girls Here, Liang means two, and niu means girls, while gè is a measure word, which when translated in English, it means two girls.

Yao-shi replied as she lowered her head to stitch the jacket in her hands, "After eating breakfast, liang ge niu went to dig the wild herbs."

"Today, the wind outside is strong, yet you let them go dig the wild herbs?" Lin Qingwan reproached her.

Yao-shi bitterly smiled, "The kids have become habituated to it. If any day they didn't go out, mother-in-law will again grumble about it."

"Those few boys of the eldest branch only know how to play every single day. Your family's two girls are so young, yet they go every day to work for the family." Lin Qingwan furiously said but couldn't help but sigh, not knowing what to say. "I really don't know what to say…"

She truly didn't know what to say. All the members in Yang jia are already accustomed to this sort of discrimination. Boys, even if they ran out every day, no one would say anything. But girls are different; they ought to lend a hand in housework. He-shi would start scolding them if they don't, saying that if they don't learn house-related works now, later on, the husband's family will disdain them and send them back.

As formidable as He-shi is, her way of speaking is distinct from others. Her granddaughters are only this big; before they had even stepped into their husband's family, she had already started admonishing them that they would be sent back by their husband's family, all day along instilling these kinds of ideologies and thoughts in young minds of the girls.

While the eldest branch's Yang Daniu was not bad, when her own mother is prone to laziness, the children raised by her will also follow her and learn to be lazy. Whereas the third branch's two girls were just like their parents, sincere and honest, they are daily driven out by their grandmother to dig a few wild herbs and likes.

(T/N: Wang-shi has 4 children: 3 sons and 1 daughter. Yang Daniu is Wang-shi's is the only daughter.)

Lin Qingwan, after cutting a piece and of fabric, started stuffing the cotton as padding.

"When does elder sister intend to leave? From what I have seen, she seems to have plans to stay here for a long time. Doesn't her husband care whether she is returning or not?" She once again changed the subject.

Upon mentioning this, Yao-shi gave an even more bitter laugh. "Every time elder sister comes here post autumn harvest and stays for a couple of days. When she specifically intends to return, this I am also unaware." Yao-shi replied quite implicitly.

That is to say, this was not the first time, nor would it be the last time? A married woman is coming to her natal family to stay for several days, and even dragging her three kids over along with her; this, what is this called? Lin Qingwan was utterly dumbfounded.

But this was not the most important matter. What was the most important is that the elder sister is particularly inconsiderate.

Coming here and staying for several days is not that big matter. Not even letting her hands touch the water and helping in household matters and cooking is also okay. But to go as far as to throw all of her laundries along with her kids' on her sisters-in-law?! And if you show even a bit of reluctance, she would at once go to He-shi and start playing a drama, making a big fuss, and crying that her saozi and dimei doesn't like her returning to her natal house and as all of them doesn't like her, she might as well pack and leave.

嫂子 (saozi): alternate term for saosao (嫂嫂), older brother's wife

弟妹 (dimei): younger brother's wife

If you want to leave, you should just leave. She clearly doesn't have any intention of leaving, and all this drama was simply for other people to hear. Even crying at every turn as if other people are bullying her. One time, Wang-shi was done with all this fuss. She didn't give her face and outrightly refused to wash her laundry. Elder sister Yang immediately began to make a fuss. In the end, even a person like Wang-shi had her teeth broken and was forced to swallow teeth and blood. For small minions like her and Yao-shi, it was better to calmly and silently wash the clothes. Nevertheless, sometimes it was hard to not feel anger and stuffiness.

打落牙齒和血吞 (dǎluò yáchǐ huò xiě tūn): (Idiom) Literally: knock out (the) teeth (and) mix (with) blood (, then) swallow (both teeth and blood mixed together). It means to silently endure all manner of insults and abuse.

"Just endure a bit, and soon it will be all over. It is not possible for her also to stay at her natal family's place for a long time." Yao-shi consoled her.

Elder sister Yang's marriage wasn't good. At the time when she was married, Yang jia's financial situation was quite bad. The little bit silver they had was all spent on Yang Xuezhang for his studies. Thus, at that time, there weren't any good families that came by.

家 (jiā): Family/Home

Actually, the bridegroom's family was not originally poor. But elder sister Yang's mother-in-law was afflicted with severe illness and was required to take medicine once in a while, which in the end emptied out the entire family's assets. It wasn't easy to save money for the families living on farming, and it was even more difficult for them to provide for the patients. Thus, eldest sister Yang once in a while drags her children to her natal family to overcome difficulties, and her husband also never stopped her.

After all, when there are fewer mouths to feed, a lot of food can also be saved. A half-grown son can eat his poor father – This saying is not wrong at all.

半大小子,吃穷老子 (bàndàxiǎozǐ, chīqiónglǎozi ): This is an old proverb used in rural villages, which means a sharp rise in the appetite of growing sons can burden their poor father.

Lin Qingwan was just about to reply when eldest sister Yang's voice came from outside.

"Second dimei, are you in your room?"

"Second dimei, are you in your room?"

Before Lin Qingwan could even reply back, she pushed open the door and walked in. "Hey, third dimei is also here."

Yao-shi smiled, "One of the old jackets at home was torn; I was doing a bit of needlework along with second sao."

Lin Qingwan truly felt disinclined to pay attention to her, but she still greeted her and asked to take a seat. And then lowered her head and continued to stuffung the cotton, pretending to be very busy.

Yao-shi was, anyhow, a silent person. Thus, momentarily, it became silent in the room.

But who would have imagined, eldest sister was still impervious of the situation and continued to speak with herself while standing.

"Woah, your room is decorated nicely. All these kang cabinets, wardrobes, and trunks are newly bought, right? Tsk tsk… truly beautiful." She put the stuff in her hand on the table before turning around and began to look around.

"Woah, it's really amazing. There is even a special cubicle for bathing…aiya, there is also a bathtub, it must be quite expensive. Second dimei is quite something in spending money…."

Lin Qingwan and Yao Shi looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

Eldest sister Yang looked around and sat at the edge of the kang with a smile all over her face.

"I, this elder sister, have never seen so many good things in my life as I grew up, ah…"

Is there a need to exaggerate to this extent? They are nothing but a few commonly used pieces of furniture.

With a quite difficulty, Lin Qingwan forced out a smile, "Eldest sister, you are over exaggerating. What good things, bad things; they are simply just a few commonly used decorative items in the home. These kang cabinets and trunks are present in every family; I just bought new ones, that's all. It hasn't been long since my husband, and I got married; it's normal to have a bit new items in the room. As for the bathtub, I have a personal habit of washing myself frequently, so I bought it as my dowry, and it is also not worth much. Just a few slabs of wood nailed together, how expensive can it even be?!"

"Dowry…" Elder sister Yang dragged her tone a bit. With a face full of smiles, she moved a bit closer to Lin Qingwan, "I heard that the second dimei was bought by second younger brother, then this dowry…."

As soon as she spoke, she seemed to have spoken something wrong and quickly hit on her mouth. "Aiyo, look at my mouth, really…Second dimei, don't take offense; I didn't mean so."

Then, what did you mean?

Lin Qingwan, whose face was hung down, suddenly became stiff. An unknown fire arose in her heart, yet she still restrained herself. Lifting her head up, she tugged a corner of her lips and looked at eldest sister Yang, "These trunks, dowries, and what not were all bought for me by eldest gu. She felt my past pitiful and developed tenderness towards me. Moreover, my husband is closer to her and considered me just like her daughter, who was marrying"

姑 (gū): father's oldest sister/ aunt

This was Yang Tiezhu, Lin Qingwan, and Yang-shi's unified words to all the people outside, so as to avoid words like Yang Tiezhu bought all these stuff for her reaching He-shi only for her to make a fuss again.

Elder sister Yang seemed to be embarrassed, promptly explaining, "Hehe…I really didn't mean that…Second dimei…"

Lin Qingwan's corner of her mouth twitched, "Eldest sister, what can I do for you?" Meaning, if you don't have anything to do, get lost.

But, who would have imagined the other person really had something to do.

Lin Qingwan saw eldest sister Yang take the stuff she put on the square table, and in a manner appearing to be very close to her, she said, "Look at me, I forgot all about this. It is like this, my family's Dahu's clothes are torn. I wanted to ask second dimei to help me patch it up."

Nima, can't you patch it up by yourself? Still, want to ask other people to help you patch it up?! This was what a little monster in Lin Qingwan's heart was bellowing while hopping furiously.

But on the outside, she definitely can't say so. Lin Qingwan took it to take a look.

In fact, she need not take it. Without even looking at it, she knew how it was. She had just washed this cloth two days ago. When washing this, she lamented, was this still cloth? Patches upon patches, the fabric was full of patches, to the extent that even the original appearance of the cloth couldn't be figured out. And the fabric under the patches was worn out and have become rough and, on the top, it was full of holes. While washing, you can't even exert strength, not even a bit. Because if you exert even a bit of strength, the entire cloth will fall apart… At that time, she even asked eldest sister Yang about this and told her this cloth could not be washed, and if washed, it can't be worn at all. Actually, even without washing, it still couldn't be worn. However, eldest sister Yang said to not mind about this and wash it. Since eldest sister said so, she helped her wash it. She said she had washed it, but she simply soaked it in water before drying it under the sun. She seriously didn't dare to properly wash the clothes, dreading that it would be torn.

When Lin Qingwan was looking at the clothes, elder sister Yang turned her head to look at the cotton-padded clothes she was stitching.

"Aiyo, such a good material this is. And also, this cotton is completely new, right? With this much cotton, when worn, it must surely be nice and warm." With a tone overfilled with exaggeration and envy all over her face, she looked at Lin Qingwan." Looking at this color, you are surely making for yourself, right. Alas…. it's been several years since eldest sister had new clothes for herself, and the same is the case with your nephews. All of their clothes have worn out, truly pitiful…" With worry on her face, she even wiped the outer corner of her eyes in a pitiable manner.

In the end, what is this woman's intention? Lin Qingwan felt she truly couldn't hear anymore.

Anyway, she truly didn't have any more patience to deal with this woman. 'Hehe' After chuckling a bit, she opened her mouth, "Eldest sister, I truly can't patch your clothes. Moreover, you see, I am also in a rush to finish these winter clothes. How about…you take it back and patch it by yourself?" Eldest sister Yang's face immediately froze. After dillydallying for half a day, Lin Qingwan still wanted to return the cloth to herself. Seeing this, she took back the torn clothes in embarrassment and said, "Then, then I will patch it by myself."

Saying so, she got up, pushed the door, and left the room.

With worry across her face, Yao-shi asked, "She won't stir up trouble, right?"

Lin Qingwan rolled her eyes, "She can play whatever drama she wants to play. Anyway, I have had enough of her."

"Talking to her is really tiring. Each and every word have several meanings behind them. I truly don't know what she wants to tell." She dispiritedly rubbed her face, adjusting her frame of mind. All of her good mood since morning was now spoilt because of this annoying person.

Yao-shi's corners of lips twitched, her good principles restrained her from speaking anything bad, so she could only implicitly say, "I presume eldest sister wants your fabric, perhaps she wants you to make clothes for her family's kids."

Lin Qingwan's rolled her eyes yet again but felt her eyes hurt, yet she couldn't express speechlessness and wrath in her heart.

"Naturally, I also understood her meaning. But I have a question, on what grounds did she come up with that conclusion?" She threw the cotton in her hands, not having any more mood to continue to do it.

"Whether she has new clothes or not, whether her family's kids' clothes are torn or not, how does it concern me? It's right to say that as their aunt, it is proper of me to make clothes for her family's kids; it's not much of a matter. But why does the way she behaves makes me nauseous from the bottom of my heart?"

Yao-shi was thinking of how to console Lin Qingwan, when Yang Ermei's voice came from the courtyard.

"Second sao, my mother is calling you." Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi looked at each other.

Damn, the trouble is coming!

35

No sooner than Lin Qingwan had entered the room, she was greeted by the sight of the Tripartite-Law-Court-Session-like scene inside.

He-shi was sitting on the kang, glaring at her; eldest sister Yang was sitting beside her, wiping her tears, and Yang Ermei was sitting behind her mother, He-shi. At the same time, standing by the door of the east room, Wang-shi was peeping here, having an appearance of taking joy in calamity and delight in disasters of other people, whilst continuously popping melon seeds into her mouth.

幸灾乐祸 (xìngzāilèhuò):(idiom) lit. to take joy in calamity and delight in disaster; fig. to rejoice in other people's misfortune/ Schadenfreude

With a calm face, Lin Qingwan walked in.

"Mother, are you looking for me?"

Suddenly, He-shi slammed the table, "What did your father tell all of you at that time? He asked all of you saozi and dimei to yield to your sister Yang, yet what did you do?"

Saozi: one's elder brother's wife

Dimei: one's younger brother's wife

Lin Qingwan felt as if her temples were about to burst. She took a deep breath and tried her best to pace down her tone.

"Mother, may I ask what have I done?"

"You are still asking me what have you done?" He-shi pointed her finger at Lin Qingwan's nose as her saliva flew everywhere. "Your eldest sister asked you to help her patch her clothes, yet why didn't you do so?"

Sure enough!

Eldest sister Yang, can't you be even a single day without stirring up troubles?

Lin Qingwan restrained her temper before saying: "Mother, these clothes can't be patched anymore at all; the fabric underneath had already worn out and become rough. How can that be patched? Even the needle can't go in."

"Why can't the needle go in? If you don't want to do it, just say frankly! When you have the leisure to make clothes for yourself, why don't you have time to help your elder sister mend her clothes?" Disregarding the situation, He-shi drowned her with criticism. "Is there any dimei like you? Outrightly disrespecting your sister-in-law!"

Yao-shi had followed her feeling uneasy and stood by the door as she looked in.

When she heard this, she couldn't help interjecting, "Mother, I have also seen those clothes. They are truly beyond repair and couldn't be patched up anymore. You also know what sort of person the second sao is. If she is truly capable of helping, why wouldn't she lend a hand to eldest sister?!"

For Yao-shi to be able to help speak up for Lin Qingwan, it was truly hard to come by. Usually, in front of He-shi, she always played mute and made her presence invisible, just silently minding her business without any words.

He-shi rolled her triangle-shaped eyes and glared at her, "How does this concern you? Just go do your work. You have seen fa*t. If you are even a bit of awareness on the ways of the world, wouldn't you have at least laid an egg by now?"

That was a direct hit to her sore spot. Yao-shi's eyes at once became red, and her lips trembled, wanting to explain something. But she was unable to say anything, appearing extremely pitiful.

Lin Qingwan turned her head and signaled Yao-shi with her eyes, indicating to leave this matter to her, lest she was also 'implicated'.

Yao-shi had no choice but to leave. She was so anxious that she wanted to look for someone for help, but Yang Tiezhu had gone along with her husband to chop the firewood first thing in the morning. Eventually, feeling uneasy in her heart, she dillydallied to the well to draw water so that she can also watch the happenings in the main room from

there conveniently.

After He-shi sorted out Yao-shi, she turned her head and once again continued to fix Lin Qingwan.

"You don't go on saying that the clothes are worn out. Don't think I have forgotten that you were the one who washed Dahu's clothes till they had become worn out. That being the case, it's a fair trade for you to compensate for it. What's wrong in asking you to patch it up?" Saying so, she flung that cloth on Lin Qingwan's face.

"You take this back and patch it up, if not compensate for it!"

That worn-out cloth slid along her face and directly fell on the floor. Lin Qingwan closed her eyes as she trembled all over from anger.

At this moment, eldest sister Yang's voice came over," Don't have to, second dimei doesn't have to compensate. Even that cloth became torn from the washing, we are all one family…" a little bit of sobbing tone was also present in that voice, "… it's just that my family's Dahu doesn't have any clothes to wear…sniff sniff…."

"How can that be? If she was the one who washed it and spoiled it, she ought to make a new one for Dahu." He-shi took the lead to say, as she waved her hand, "Let it be, you don't have to patch it up, just directly make a new one. Currently, the weather is cold; you don't have to make an unlined garment, just directly make cotton-padded clothes."

Hearing these words, Lin Qingwan felt angry yet laughable.

They are truly exotic flowers everywhere, and there are unusually many in Yang jia.

奇葩 (qípā): exotic flower/weirdo

家 (jiā): home/family

Before she could even let a word out, they have already put a criminal charge on her. On one side, one has directly demanded to make a new one, rather than mending the clothes. While the other one had said, even if you have spoilt the cloth while washing, you don't have to compensate, when she was the one who had made a mountain out of a molehill, clearly asking for compensation. He-shi is even more hilarious, asking she need not patch the clothes, just making a new one would suffice. And even went as far as to demand to make cotton-padded clothes instead of unlined garments, using upcoming winter as a pretext.

Hehe, so it turns out that this is the intention behind stirring up a fuss here…

However, however, why didn't they ask, as a person involved in it what was her say on this?

Lin Qingwan expressionlessly flung the cloth on the table before saying, "Mother, if there isn't any problem, I will go back to my room. As for Dahu's clothes, since Dahu is eldest sister's son, it had be much better for her to do by herself."

"That's also doable. You can get the fabric and give it to your elder sister." Thinking that Lin Qingwan had acquiesced, and her goal was achieved, He-shi spoke nicely.

He-shi was also reluctant to confront this daughter-in-law. One, because she was afraid of stirring Yang Tiezhu's ire, and second because her confrontation with this daughter-in-law never went well. She often fails to find fault in her, leaving her with a bellyful of anger. This time, if it weren't for her daughter running to her and tearfully recounting that Lin Qingwan had spoilt her family's Dahu's clothes when washing and refused to patch it up, not giving her daughter a good face, she wouldn't have looked for Lin Qingwan.

Casting a glance at them, Lin Qingwan thought for a bit with an unusually serious face.

"I also don't have much of fabric and cotton. I think it is better to go to town and buy by herself."

"That's also doable, you can give her silver." He-shi felt that she was very good at understanding others. She had gone very much easy on Lin Qingwan with her words; if it was Yao-shi in her place, she would have already drowned her with criticism.

"Silver?" Lin Qingwan asked, puzzled, "Why are you asking me for silver? If it is for Dahu's clothes, shouldn't elder sister be the one to pay?"

He-shi finally grasped out the meaning behind Lin Qingwan's words. Elder sister Yang once again started to cry with melancholy.

"Hey, are you playing games with this old mother!"

You realized this only now?

Lin Qingwan pretended to be aggrieved, "Mother, you must by all means not say like that. That wasn't this daughter-in-law's intention."

"This wasn't your intention. Then for whom to hear you are saying all these for? I asked you to make clothes, yet you have to stir this much trouble." He-shi slammed the table in anger and felt disinclined to speak superfluous words with her anymore. "Forget it. You don't have to explain yourself. Just tell me directly, I am asking you to make new clothes for Dahu, will you do or not?

"Why ask me to make new clothes for Dahu?"

"When you were the one who carelessly spoiled Dahu's clothes while washing, shouldn't you also be the one to compensate?" He-shi, in the manner of not minding taking all the troubles, asked her.

不厌其烦 (bùyànqífán): not to mind taking all the trouble (idiom) / to take great pains / to be very patient

"When did I spoil Dahu's clothes when washing?" Contrary to their expectations, Lin Qingwan was very calm at the moment. Just a moment ago, she was seething with rage, but unexpectedly she wasn't angry anymore.

"Did you not wash Dahu's clothes two days ago?"

"Who said I did them?"

"You don't remember your elder sister asking you to help her wash clothes two days ago?"

Lin Qingwan nodded, "Oh that, yeah, I washed them."

He-shi showed a smile full of satisfaction and finally explained to her daughter-in-law, whose head doesn't seem to be working a bit properly.

"It was indeed me who washed them. But I didn't wash them badly." Lin Qingwan calmly stated.

As soon as He-shi heard this, she went ballistic by this shameless daughter-in-law. Once again, a desolate cry reverberated in the room…

Wang-shi, who had been watching the play all along from the sidelines, immediately broke out into laughter while slapping her thigh as the melon seeds sprayed out of her mouth.

Lin Qingwan felt disinclined to pay attention to her; she dusted her clothes indifferently.

"First, I didn't wash the clothes badly. At that time, this was what elder sister said to me…" Imitating eldest sister Yang's tone, she said, "Second dimei, it's okay. You can just wash it. Anyway, it is already torn."

"Second, I didn't do it, so don't put a pot of sh*t on my head." Lin Qingwan looked at the people sitting on the kang with clear and bright eyes.

He-shi looked at her second daughter-in-law, finding herself on the spot, and immediately flew in rage out of humiliation and began to unreasonably make a din.

"…which daughter-in-law scolds her own mother-in-law, and sister-in-law… you will surely suffer the wrath of heaven…" Lin Qingwan ignored He-shi's act of unreasonably creating a din. She continued to say where she left off, "Third, there is something I don't understand; I have a question for eldest sister to clarify my doubt…."

At this, eldest sister stopped weeping, raised her head, and blankly looked at Lin Qingwan.

Lin Qingwan nodded her head in satisfaction, her ears automatically screening out He-shi's unreasonable words.

"Eldest sister, are you a married woman?"

Eldest sister Yang suddenly had a bad feeling and didn't utter a sound. He-shi also stopped her unreasonable fuss. Both of them looked at Lin Qingwan, waiting to see what wants to say. But why did their heart gave birth to a feeling of bad premonition?

"It's fine to not answer." It's not like you people are the only ones with the ability to speak with themselves. As a woman born in the modern era in the 21st century as an orphan from a young age and growing to 28 years old, her belief was to never hit back or retort; rather, it was to seek revenge over dirty looks. Quarreling, making an unreasonable scene, swearing obscenities all around were never her forte. Rather she preferred jabbing where it hurts, jabbing till the other person is drenched with blood, making them dumbstruck and unable to reply.

睚眦必报 (yázìbìbào): lit. to seek revenge over a dirty look (idiom) / fig. small-minded / vindictive

Since you all don't want me to have a comfortable time, even going as far as to making her scapegoat and extorting under false pretenses in broad daylight, then apologies…

"This dimei is of humble talent and shallow learning and lack awareness on ways of the world. However, I also know a little bit…" Her face was full of smiles, appearing cordial and gentle. However, the words she spoke were like a slap to the person's face, "…that, when you go to other people's house as a guest you must stay within your bounds. By all means, one must not be ungrateful and dissatisfied with the host, who had provided you with food and shelter. Alas, I am unable to understand how such an intelligent person like elder sister cannot comprehend these principles? I believe that elder sister surely understands these principles, right?"

It's not that eldest sister Yang cannot understand these principles. Rather she had always firmly believed that she can always have her few saozi and dimei in her grasp. And, even if she was unable to have them in her grasp, there was still her mother, He-shi. But, who would have imagined that she would run into a person who doesn't play by the rules, and would expose her as such in front of everyone?

Elder sister Yang didn't speak. Her entire face was reddened, a seldom occurrence; never knew her face could be reddened too. But don't know whether the cause was embarrassment or anger.

Disregarding the unsightly complexions of elder sister Yang and He-shi, Lin Qingwan continued to speak with a smile, "Elder sister can surely return to your parental home. We sisters-in-law would warmly welcome you and would wait upon you with good food and drinks. Also, we would never let elder sister do any work in the house; after all, when a married woman returns to her natal family, how can they be allowed to do work? Isn't that so, eldest sao? "Saying so, she turned her head to look at Wang.

Since you want to watch the show, you must also be prepared to be pulled into the water.

Wang-shi was watching cheerfully with glee but was left dumbfounded by Lin Qingwan's sudden question to her.

Nevertheless, she still nodded her head sincerely and shamelessly said, "Naturally, we sisters-in-law are always there to help."

Lin Qingwan was very much satisfied with Wang-shi's 'sensibility', and continued: "Even if there is no reason for us sisters-in-law to help with elder sister's and our nephews' and niece's laundries since elder sister asked us to do, we also never refused on elder sister's face. After all, you(formal) are still our elder sister…." Her tone changed a bit, "But the clothes were originally torn, yet for you to put the blame on other person's head. This kind of act, isn't it a bit bad?"

您 (nín): you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你 (nǐ)

36

Lin Qingwan was well aware that this time she had thoroughly offended elder sister Yang. If the premise for not offending someone is to let yourself be wronged in heart, she would rather choose to offend the other person.

No sooner than Yang Tiezhu came back after cutting the wood, he was summoned by He-shi to the main room for a moment, probably to complain to her son. However, even after returning back to the room, he didn't say or ask anything to Lin Qingwan, appearing quite normal. Hence, she also treated as if she didn't know anything and nothing has happened.

Truly speaking, when Yang Tiezhu was called to the main room, she felt apprehensive in her heart. However, in the end, after coming back, he didn't disappoint her heart.

She pretended not to care if the man can understand her. Nevertheless, how could she not be afraid of him not understanding her? These were the inner woes of every woman, ah!

Thus, when Yang Tiezhu used his actions to show the complete trust and understanding he had in her, Lin Qingwan's heart blossomed with spring flowers. With joy all over her face, and fluttering eyes, she coquettishly held Yang Tiezhu, bemusing him to the extent that he was suddenly unable to tell which was north.

At lunch, the air around was awfully heavy. Elder sister Yang didn't pick any dishes while He-shi had a long face, and Wang-shi kept shooting glances at eldest sister Yang's and Lin Qingwan's faces. And every now and then, she revealed weird smiles.

Lin Qingwan was left utterly dumbfounded by Wang-shi, and didn't pay further attention.

At this time, Yang Xuezhang, who had been vacationing at home for a while, said at the dining table that he would be going to stay at his schoolmate's place for a few days. He-shi, after inquiring where and which schoolmate's house he was planning on staying, she acquiesced.

Once everyone was done with lunch, He-shi immediately drove all of them out of the main room. She must have gone to pull her son to explain the ins and outs of the matter.

After taking a nap in the room for a while, Yang Tiezhu and Yang Tiegen once again headed to the mountains to chop the wood. The winter here was extremely chilly and lengthy. Taking advantage of the current less cold weather, it was better to chop and store the wood.

After Yang Tiezhu left, Lin Qingwan got up. She casually rolled her hair up in a bun and resumed making winter clothes.

Lin Qingwan was not one who could hide matters. She endured till the night. Both of them laid down on the bed, did a bit of exercises after which they washed and tidied up before again laying on the bed, intending to go to sleep. Yang Tiezhu still didn't ask anything about the happenings from the morning.

In the end, she couldn't endure any longer….

"Why don't you ask me what happened in the morning?" Kids who confess everything without asking are truly the most adorable ones.

Yang Tiezhu caressed his wife's hair, who was lying in his embrace, and naturally was aware of what his wife was asking about.

"What is there to ask? Certainly, my mother and elder sister mush be the ones annoying you" Yang Tiezhu's tone was very certain; he knew those two people very well. For them to endure till now and not find his wife to find faults is in itself was very rare. But of course, he was also aware that his wife was smart, and didn't give them the opportunity to do anything.

The little girl in Lin Qingwan's heart burst into tears, this person trusted her to great extents!

The words he spoke – truly eased her heart.

With a man spoiling her this much, she had a bit of tsundere feeling in her heart.

傲娇 (àojiāo): (coll.) presenting as unfriendly and blunt, but warm and tender inside (loanword from Japanese "tsundere")

Lin Qingwan suddenly crawled up and pouted at Yang Tiezhu with an expression that of being wronged, "Your mother and eldest sister joined together to bully me–" Are you people the only ones who can complain? She can also complain, okay!

Yang Tiezhu immediately felt extremely distressed. He caressed his wife's small face and pulled her into his embrace, with his face full of distress.

"Those two just like to make trouble, you don't pay attention to them. Next time when they look for you again to find trouble, you quickly hide and wait for me to come back to help you out." His family's wife was very delicate; he can't let her be bullied!

Otherwise, why would there be a saying 'one forgets his mother after marrying a wife'. Yang Tiezhu was the best example of this. Irrespective of whether he would offend his mother or not, he can truly sweep of everything on the way for his wife.

Lin Qingwan nestled into the man's arms and grumbled as she narrated the events that happened in the morning with pout whilst drawing circles with her fingers on his sturdy chest.

Without falsifying anything, she narrated the entire matter.

After listening, Yang Tiezhu praised his wife for being smart and giving a tit-for-tat in a roundabout way. And also commended her that the way she condemned elder sister Yang with her words was truly great. Elder sister Yang was truly a person who could be ungrateful and criticise the person who feeds her.

Lin Qingwan was very much satisfied with her man's attitude. Both of them once again became lovey-dovey. After a while she gave out a small yawn and closed her eyes with her heart at ease.

Yang Tiezhu, seeing his wife close her eyes to sleep, took a quilt and covered her with it, before he also closed his eyes, intending to go to sleep. He-shi's and elder sister Yang's attempt of accusing her could be said to be failed officially.

Who asked these people to treat Yang Tiezhu as if his nose is not nose and face is not face on usually? Anyway, these people anyway can't pillow talk either. No matter how they try to defame her, it would only be futile attempt for they had ran into a husband who dearly loves his wife. Moreover, there is no justification to speak of. Besides, Wanwan's means of pillow talk are fabulous. o(n_n)o

鼻子不是鼻子,脸不是脸 (bí zi bù shì bí zi , liǎn bù shì liǎn): nose is not nose, face is not face. It's a metaphorical way of expressing dissatisfaction or anger toward other person.

Ever since that day, whenever elder sister Yang saw Lin Qingwan, she would at once take a detour and run away. The person has also curbed a lot. Previously, whenever they were cooking, she used to drop by and liked to criticize or order them around. Since that day, Sister Yang looked at Lin Qingwan and took a detour. But now, she didn't come out at all. Her three kids were also restrained tightly. Her youngest daughter Li Yan'er quite seldomly shows her face and always follows her aunt, Yang Ermei. Dahu and Xiaohu, these two kids also stopped frequently having scuffles with the eldest branch's few boys.

Currently, the situation at Yang jia was quite harmonious.

家 (jiā): home/family

Two days passed in that manner. Lin Qingwan, after mulling over for quite a while in her room, decided to go to the small town the next.

The last time she dropped by 'Jin Xiu Fang', she had taken few embroideries work home, and she had already had finished them previously. But she wasn't able to find the time to hand them over, but it was also not good to keep on stalling.

(Jin Xiu Fang is the embroidery workshop Yang-shi introduced to Lin Qingwan in chapter 15.)

Furthermore, days are gradually getting colder and colder, and there was also not much work to do at home. Apart from doing household chores every other two days, she was idle the rest of the time. Thus, she wanted to bring some more work home so that she can also earn a bit.

Upon recalling Yao-shi, she was also planning to go and ask her if she was willing to do this work.

Although the family is not divided, who doesn't like to have a few more silver coins in the hand. Moreover, Yang jia's rule of handing over half of the extra silver earned from doing work other than farming is only applicable for men and does not apply to women. Presumably, in He-shi's perspective, women don't have the capability of earning silver. As such, so long as they earned silver and properly concealed it, the entire money would go into their pockets.

Sure enough, Yao-shi was pleasantly surprised upon hearing about it. After all, which woman isn't skilled even a bit in needlework, and Yao-shi certainly was also not lacking that skill. Thus, naturally, she also wished to earn a bit of silver to save.

Her family's man isn't much skilled. Every time after the harvest was finished and there was nothing to do on the farm, he would go to the town to look for few odd jobs. Even after working hard to death, the silver money he could earn was also quite less, and after handing over half of it, the leftover silver in their hands would be pitifully low. Even after several years into their marriage, the third branch's savings could be counted on hand. Not to mention, from time to time, He-shi would find few excuses to collect a bit more.

Both of them agreed to go to the town the next day together. And also, fortunately, the next day happened to be Wang-shi's shift in doing housework. Thus, both of them didn't have any fears in the rear. When Yang Tiezhu got to know that his wife was planning to go to the town, he wanted to accompany her. But when he heard that third dimei was also going, he let both of them go with his heart at ease.

后顾之忧 (hòugùzhīyōu): (idiom)fears of trouble in the rear. Having family worries (obstructing freedom of action). Meaning "no worries about anything"

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife

The next day first thing in the morning, Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi both set out from home together. When He-shi asked where they were going, both of them replied that they were going to the town to buy needles and threads to mend the old jackets at home.

As soon as they walked out of the gates, both of them smiled at each other, feeling a bit of secret comradery. After catching an ox cart, both of them arrived at the town. Last time, it was Yang-shi who brought Lin Qingwan here. This time, tables have turned, and it was Lin Qingwan, who brought Yao-shi.

Although it has already been more than 2-3 months since her last visit, Lin Qingwan more or less still remembered the route.

As soon as they walked into the 'Jin Xiu Fang', they were greeted by the shopkeeper Su, who, to her surprise, still remembered her.

"Sister Qingwan, right? Long-time no see—"

This shopkeeper Su, to her surprise, she still remembered her. Worth of being a boss. Just from her ability to remember people, Lin Qingwan can be certain that Jin Xiu Fang's business would surely not be poor.

"Shopkeeper Su, pardon me." Lin Qingwan was aware that she had dragged her work too long. Whether shopkeeper Su would blame or not, she still showed an apologetic attitude, "You see, this work got dragged by me till now." Lin Qingwan had an expression of heartfelt apology all over her face.

Shopkeeper Su smiled cordially, without even a bit of blame.

"Look, how are you speaking? Aunt Yang had already told me that day that you were going to get married. I was well aware that you would need a bit more time. If I was afraid of being held up, would I still give you this work?"

Have to say, shopkeeper Su had good integrity, and her words were also pleasant to hear. Regardless of whether she said so with sincerity or just said so for the sake of the situation, Lin Qingwan felt good in her heart hearing her say so, and also felt that she was a good person.

"Then, I am truly thankful to you, shopkeeper Su." With a smile Lin Qingwan handed a bundle to her." Here you go, I came here to hand over this work. Once check it."

(Last time Lin Qingwan came, she picked few embroidery pouches with blank space and two embroidery pouches that needs to be embroidered)

Shopkeeper Su opened the bundle and took out all the stuff one by one. After reading looking at them, she nodded and said, "The work is really neat, especially these two embroidered ones. From a glance, I can see that you must have truly studied this skill. And without exception, all of them have passes the standard requirements. How was it? Do you want to take up?"

"Naturally, but this time I want to take up to take only embroidery purse to embroider." Doing embroidery on an embroidery purse can fetch her 12 wen; just from making one, she can earn several coins in one go. After doing needlework this while, Lin Qingwan felt she got the hang of it. And also further didn't want to waste her time making embroidery pouches worth only 4 wen.

文 (wén): Copper cash used in ancient china.

"Okay." After looking at Lin Qingwan's work, shopkeeper Su could more or less estimate her worth. Having seen several needlecrafts of the people who come to pick up few works from her, she could ascertain that this was one of the best. If she didn't use her, wouldn't it be her loss?

"Then, this time, how many do you want to take back?"

After pondering for a moment, Lin Qingwan replied, "This time, I want to take 30 first and try it out as you also must be well aware that it is not easy for women like us to come to the town." Saying so, she again quickly added, "But shopkeeper Su, you can be rest assured, this I will surely not take a long time."

Shopkeeper Su nodded, "That's alright. I am saying this just so you are aware that an embroidery purse with embroidery on it differs from a simple embroidery purse with a blank space. There are many people who come to me to pick up work for making simple embroidery purse with blank space. It isn't a big deal even if this work gets a bit delayed, but this is not the same with embroidery purse with embroidery designs on them as they are not many people who opt for this work. As such, this cannot be delayed for a longer time."

"Naturally." Lin Qingwan nodded and once again explained, "This time, I had a bit of a special situation. It hasn't been long since I got married, and there were too many things to deal with at home. Thus I couldn't find time to drop by."

"That's okay. You wait a moment. I'll go and get you the materials." Shopkeeper Su was about to turn around to go into the room when she was stopped by Lin Qingwan.

Shopkeeper Su looked at her, puzzled. Lin Qingwan hurriedly pulled the Yao-shi, who had been shrunk behind her since the start, from behind her.

"Shopkeeper Su, I don't know if you still have any extra work to take home here. This is my dimei; her embroidery is also not bad."

Shopkeeper Su took a look at Yao-shi, and nodded after hesitating a bit. She then once again explained to Yao-shi about the work that can be taken home.

The same as what she told Lin Qingwan last time, 4 wen for an embroidery purse with a blank space, and 12 wen for an embroidery purse with embroidery work done on it. All the materials for embroidery work would be provided by the shop; Yao-shi simply needs to offer her skills.

Actually, shopkeeper Su's "Jin Xiu Fang" was not only in the fabric business. She also has other connections. She also deals with the business of providing Yangcheng's few big embroidery workshops with semi-finished or fully-finished articles. Else, just with this small shop of hers, how would she be able to use these many embroidery purses. Even if she sells them here, she won't be able to sell much here. They were mainly for supplying them to big embroidery workshops.

Yao-shi appeared to be very reserved. However, boss Su also doesn't seem to care about it. Once she heard the estimated number and type of embroidery pouches, she turned around and went into the storehouse behind before coming back with the materials.

Yao-shi picked up making of embroidery purses with blank spaces. In the countryside, women like Lin Qingwan, who are skilled at embroidery, are rare. They aren't formally taught. The majority of them are merely taught by the elders in the family, just so that they would be able to make shoes, clothes, sew and mend the torn clothes.

In the countryside, the skills required in needlework are also just this bit; Embroidery and whatnot are not essential. It's good enough for the countryfolks not to have to wear patched clothes. Who would even want to look at these embroidery designs of grass and flowers?

"Okay, here are your materials. All of us are acquaintances; thus, I won't say much. When you are done, just come to me to settle the accounts."

After saying so, shopkeeper Su handed Lin Qingwan a string of copper coins. This is the payment for your previous work; you once check if it is correct?"

She didn't have to count it. Last time the work she received was only a little bit. Thus the amount she would receive will also be less. Summing everything up, it would be less than 100 wen only. Moreover, Lin Qingwan also had trust in shopkeeper Su.

37

Upon returning home after receiving the work, Yao-shi, as if she was injected with chicken blood, went on to full throttle and started doing needlework.

Usually, when there is no work and idle, they just stayed in their rooms. For several consecutive days, Lin Qingwan saw Yao-shi with her eyes bloodshot and sighed at her tenacity to finish the work. Seeing this, she was also stimulated by her to complete the work sooner.

They continued doing so for several successive days until He-shi asked Yao-shi if this year's pickles have been made. Only then did Yao-shi realize that they hadn't made the pickle yet. She quickly called out Wang-shi and Lin Qingwan to start making them.

First, they planned on making Suan Cai. The basic raw material used for it is was Baisong, which was commonly referred to as 'Napa Cabbage' in Lin Qingwan's previous life.

酸菜 (suān cài): Suancai (also called suan tsai and Chinese sauerkraut; lit. 'sour vegetable') is a traditional Chinese pickled Chinese cabbage (napa cabbage)

白菘 (bái sōng): Baisong is a colloquial name of Napa cabbage(dàbáicài )used in ancient china

大白菜 ( dàbáicài): In Modern mandarin, Napa cabbage is literally called "big white vegetable", as opposed to the "small white vegetable" that is known in English as bok choy.

First, they sundried the baisong in the yard. They didn't have to dry completely, it's enough to dry them till their outer leaves were wilted completely. Then they removed these outer leaves, and the head of the cabbage was cut. As the Yang jia's pickle jar was quite big, it was fine not to cut the cabbage further and be put aside for use in the next step.

Yao-shi then washed the pickle jar clean and wiped it dry. After which, she sprinkled a handful of coarse salt at the bottom of the vat. He-shi prepared this coarse salt in advance. The granules' size of coarse salt is much bigger when compared with what they use in cooking. Upon this layer of salt, one by one, they neatly arranged the cabbages in two layers before sprinkling a handful of salt again. Once again, they arranged the cabbages into two neat layers on which a handful of salt was sprinkled once more. They continued this process until the entire jar was filled with cabbages. In the end, they sprinkled a handful of salt yet again before covering it with blue cloth and placed a huge rock on it. They then placed the vat by the wall.

The next day, Yao-shi filled the jar with well water until all the cabbages were soaked. After this, Yao-shi added another stone on the top; only then could it be considered to be finished.

A weight which is placed on the Chinese cabbages put in the large pot will sink naturally in a few weeks as the fermentation begins. (Credits: Wikipedia)

Yang jia prepared two jars of Suan cai in total. Yao-shi said that it would take one full month before they could eat the pickle. During the winters, there were very few vegetables; thus they could use only these few pickled vegetables to eat.

Naturally, there wasn't only suan cai; there was also pickled gai choy. The recipe of pickled gai choy is also more or less similar to that of suan cai. It's just that gai choy needs to be peeled and washed clean and needs to be soaked in water for two days before they could be pickled.

Other than these, there were also pickled garlic chives and eggplant, cucumber, and the likes. As Lin Qingwan had lived in the south in her previous life, it was her first time to see this way of pickling vegetables. Thus, it was inevitable for her to feel a bit amazed, as she followed around Yao-shi and learned a lot of stuff.

Only after pickling a few large jars, the entire process of picking vegetables could be said to be truly finished. Throughout this period of time, Wang-shi always looked for excuses to not help, and all the pickling was done merely by Yao-shi and Lin Qingwan, truly tiring both of them to death.

Although the process was taxing, both of them felt very happy. Because these are all the only things they could eat in winters. Looking at all these closely packed jars, they were overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment.

Every day, the men not only went into the mountains to chop wood but also found time to clean the chimneys and kangs in the house thoroughly. The vegetable cellar in the house was orderly, and many vegetables such as potatoes, baisong, radish, and the likes that could be stored for a longer time were all moved into the vegetable cellar.

Only then did Lin Qingwan learn that Yang jia was also equipped with a vegetable cellar. It was located in the corner of the courtyard in the backyard. She also went in to take a look. It was not big, just some ten cubic meters. It was completely dark inside; to go in, one would need an oil lamp.

Once everything was done, few days had already passed.

This while, eldest sister Yang was quite taciturn and didn't stir up any more troubles. For the most part, she usually stayed in the main room and didn't come across her anywhere. And naturally, she didn't lend any hand in house chores either. During meals, her habit of picking food and table etiquette was still poor. Anyhow, as long as she didn't stir up any trouble, it was fine. After all, they haven't separated yet, and with Yang laoyezi and He-shi allowing her to stay at home, it wasn't their's these sons' and daughters-in-law's turn to say anything.

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): polite appellation for an elderly male/ old father

Lin Qingwan's temperament was such that so long as you didn't go pick a quarrel with her, everyone can live together in harmony.

This day, Yang Xuezhang returned from his schoolmate's house, appearing in a quite rush with a rarely seen big smile on his face.

Lin Qingwan was quite surprised at this.

How to say? Yang Xuezhang was an orthodoxy sort of scholar, always carrying an air of arrogance around him and superiority. He was not the one who had his nose high as sky but is also the type who considers everyone else beneath him.

Truly the kind who considers everyone else beneath him. His appearance doesn't show that he looks down upon you, but it is as if no one can enter his eyes. Apart from speaking a bit of words with He-shi and Yang laoyezi, even when seeing other family members, it is as if he hadn't seen them. It has been quite a while since she married in, but Lin Qingwan hadn't even spoken a word with Yang Xuezhang.

Anyway, the time Yang Xuezhang usually spends at home is also pitifully less. For the most part, he stays in the academy and only comes back in the evenings or on vacation from the academy.

For him to be this happy, could it be that he had passed the exam? But on second thought, exams don't seem to be have started yet.

In the evening, waiting till everyone was done eating, He-shi and Yang laoyezi asked all of them to stay while driving kids along with sister Yang and Yang Ermei out to bed. Then they narrated the ins and outs of the entire matter; only then did Lin Qingwan realized what was going on—

But is this truly okay?

Her heart was full of misgivings. But here, women rarely had any right to speak on the major issues of the family. As such, Lin Qingwan didn't open her mouth; she didn't want to offend anyone in here.

This was how the matter came to be-.

The other day after Yang Xuezhang informed everyone in the family that he would be staying at his schoolmate's place, he went to He-shi to ask for some silver, after which he packed his clothes and went to the town.

That schoolmate of his was surnamed Chen, and his family lives in the town. This Chen jia runs a small grocery store. Although the family wasn't that prosperous, they also didn't have to worry about food and drinks.

家 (jiā): Family/home

This schoolmate Chen was his family's one and only son; thus, the family also had a high hope on their son becoming a dragon and provided him with everything for him to study at the academy.

望子成龙 (wàngzǐchénglóng): lit. to hope one's son becomes a dragon (idiom); fig. to long for one' s child to succeed in life / to have great hopes for one's offspring / to give one's child the best education as a career investment

However, this schoolmate Chen is also just like Yang Xuezhang and could not become a xucai even after several attempts.

秀才 (xiùcai): a person who has passed the county-level imperial exam

After both of them failing time and time again, and being schoolmates again, also sharing the mutual feeling of having talent but no opportunity…two of them soon became quite congenial in the academy and would also frequently join in the activities such as going to literary clubs together and the likes.

怀才不遇 (huáicáibùyù): to have talent but no opportunity (idiom) / to be an unrecognized talent

This time, Yang Xuezhang said that he would go stay at his schoolmate's place, using the pretext of preparing for the eight-legged essay. But in actuality, a new literary club was opened in the town.

八股文 (bāgǔwén): 'Eight bone text/ Eight-legged essay' (lit) was a style of essay in imperial examinations during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. The eight-legged essay was needed for those test-takers in these civil service tests to show their merits for government service, often focusing on Confucian thought and knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics in relation to governmental ideals.

He and his schoolmate Chen made an appointment to participate in it together. But as Yang jia lived in the countryside, it was inconvenient as most of the literary club activities are usually held in the nights, his schoolmate Chen invited him to stay at his house. Because one, it was convenient; and two, both of them can be a mutual companion for each other.

It was said that Yang Xuezhang and schoolmate Chen participated in the literary club together-

Truly speaking, the so-called literary club was nothing but a group of scholars looking to drink a bit of wine as they discuss about poetry, eight-legged essays and talk about a few of their aspirations, ideals, and whatnot. This was also not the first time Yang Xuezhang has participated.

But this time, it was different because, amongst few familiar faces, there was a new face. Although this new scholar was not very good looking, his gorgeous clothes, rather cultured and in-depth speech and manners, quite insightful ideologies, were all quite different from the scholars from small places.

Let it be about poetry or eight-legged essay, all of his words carried deep insightfulness. Many scholars were drawn into him, and one after the other in succession, they stepped forward to meet him. Naturally, this also includes Yang Xuezhang and his schoolmate Chen.

After everyone introduced their names, they realized that the talented new scholar was surnamed Hu. This scholar Hu wasn't from Luoyun town. His family was native to Xuyi County. This time he came to Luoyun town to visit his friends and relatives. Hearing that a new literary club was opened, he came here to participate and exchange knowledge.

After getting acquainted with the scholar Hu, everyone started chatting together, and naturally, the upcoming county examination topic also came up.

The majority of the scholars who took part in this literary club were the ones who failed even after several attempts. As such, it was inevitable for them to feel discouraged in their hearts and think that the evaluators of the exam papers have no eyes, making them have talent but no opportunity…

In fact, the majority of these people share the same thought, that the evaluators lack vision, and they themselves are talented but lack a good opportunity. Each and every one of them spoke with excitement and fervor as if they were a fine steed; alas, Bo Le wasn't one of the examiners.

Sun Yang, better known by the honorific name of Bole or Bo Le. was a horse tamer in Spring and Autumn period, a retainer for the Duke Mu of Qin (r. 659-621 BCE), and a famous judge of horses. Bole was the legendary inventor of equine physiognomy. In Modern Standard Chinese, Bole figuratively means "good judge of (especially hidden) talent."

It was inevitable to have a wine when conversing was about learning and sharing knowledge. All the scholars were busing conversing while drinking wine….

The rest of the scholars were frequent participators of these literary clubs; thus, their ability to hold the wine was also not bad. However, this scholar Hu nevertheless got drunk. His speech and words gradually became bold and unconstrained. Not only did he compose few poems, which felt pleasant to the ears of the scholars, but his words also revealed a little of complacency that this time he would surely become a xucai.

This group of scholars were all not much older in terms of age and were full of sap. At once, all of them fell over each other in eagerness to ask why scholar Hu was so sure that he would qualify because, according to them, the county exam not only included Four books and Five classics along with the Eight-legged essay. It was inevitable for them to be ambitious and aggressive.

血气方刚 (xuèqìfānggāng): full of sap (idiom); young and vigorous

四書五經 (Sìshū Wǔjīng): The Four Books and Five Classics are the collective name of the Four Books and the Five Classics, and they are the most important classics of Chinese Confucianism. The four books included Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects, and Mencius. The five classics are Classic of Poetry, Book of Documents, Book of Rites, Book of Changes, and Spring and Autumn Annals.

The eight-legged essay was comprised of eight components: Namely, Opening (Breaking open the topic), Amplification (Receiving the topic), Preliminary exposition (Beginning discussion), Initial argument (Initial Leg), Central argument (Middle Leg), Latter argument (Latter leg), Final argument, and (Final Leg). The first component was to break open the subject. Without having an idea about what would be the topic chosen by the examiners, who could daringly guarantee that the eight-legged essay written by them would be surely chosen.

Moreover, the duration of the test wasn't that long. Before the exam, the essay topic was revealed to the candidates, giving them the freedom to produce one or two eight-legged essays. Many scholars among them who time and again failed in the test lost for the most part in the eight-legged essay component.

Initially, the scholar Hu was somewhat intoxicated from drinking, and when this group of scholars eagerly interrogated him, he didn't answer immediately, stammered a bit, and ultimately revealed the matter.

It turned out that his family, who was from Huai He county, had a bit of connection in county yamen. Thus, they spent a bit of silver to get to know this year's test's essay topic for him.

衙门 (yámen): government office in feudal China / yamen

The scholars at one caused upheaval. Few of them were aware that with adequate relations, exam questions could be leaked. But never did they expect that they would encounter such a case in actuality.

As soon as scholar Hu accidentally divulged the matter, he immediately sobered up and pacified all the scholars after bowing to them, cutting quite a sorry figure as he implored everyone not to leak this matter outside by any means else he will be finished.

When the scholars came to know about the actual matter, they became furious and resentful, hating this group of people who use the back door by exploiting their connections. However, who asked them to not to have an adequate family background and unable to have means to go via the back door. So, when they all repeatedly failed, they were pulled by this group of people who used their connections…

But apart from resentment, inevitably, it will also give birth to a bit of thoughts in their minds.

Seeing no one responding to his plea, scholar Hu, with no other choice decided to share the exam questions…

However, there is a condition; the condition is that all the ten scholars who were present there must give him 50 taels each. Because even upon using those so-called connections with county yamen, he had to pay quite a bit of silver.

Tael, a Chinese unit of weight that, when applied to silver, was long used as a unit of currency. Most taels were equivalent to 1.3 ounces of silver.

His family spent so much silver to get to know the topic for him, hoping that he would pass the exam and bring honor to his ancestors. As such, sharing with everyone for free of charge was absolutely impossible.

Scholar Hu said that only to those who gave him silver would he pass on the essay topic. Else, let either fish die or the net split; he will also not take the exam this time. They can reveal the matter to whoever they want to…

鱼死网破 (yúsǐwǎngpò): lit. either the fish dies or the net splits / a life and death struggle (idiom)/ to fight till both you and your foe perish.

The room was pin-drop silent; no one opened their mouth.

At this moment, whosoever opened their mouth first would be the first one to bear the brunt, totally unfruitful endeavor. As such no one, no one in the room tried to speak.

The sound caused by Yang laoyezi drawing tobacco at once became amplified in the room. The entire air around seemed to have been congealed. Gradually, even a person's breathing sound could be heard.

He-shi's breathing became heavier and heavier, gradually it became huff.

"Why are you not saying anything?!" Her sharp voice was like a thunderclap in the quiet room.

All the sons and daughters-in-law sitting below had an appearance of you-look-at-me-I-look-at-you.

Yang laoyezi silently tapped his tobacco pipe against the table for quite a while before he eventually opened his mouth: "Lao da, you tell me."

Yang Tieshuan, unable to avoid any longer, sat up straight, and with all smiles, he asked, "Father, what do you want me to say? "

laoyezi: appellation used to address elderly man.

Lao da: appellation used to address the eldest child in the family

"How do you see this matter? Is this feasible or not? "

Right now, Yang laoyezi was also momentarily unsure. After all, the silver involved was massive. They were not a wealthy family and merely are countryfolk who depend on the soil to feed themselves. This amount is not something can take out even after saving all year round. 50 taels of silver – this amount can only be squeezed out, tightening their bellies, with neither food nor water for few years.

Before Yang Tieshuan could open his mouth, He-shi rushed to interrupt, her voice carrying usual overbearing and arbitrariness.

"What is there to see or not see! The matters pertaining to lao si are our family's most important matters. This matter surely needs to be done."

Another spell of silence. Since He-shi said so, what can others even say.

lao si: appellation used by parents to address the fourth child in the family.

Silence continued-

Looking at her sons and daughters-in-law, who didn't utter a word for half a day, He-shi finally lost her cool. "What do you all mean? Each and every one of you, why are you not saying anything? Are you protesting against this old woman?"

Yang Tieshuan felt vexed by this sort of situation playing in front of his eyes. By this time, he could have had gone out and played cards. Losing his patience, he replied: "Mother, whatever you could say, you said all. What else do you want us to say?"

Yeah, what more do you want others to say? This was the inner voice of most of the people in the room.

Lin Qingwan, upon hearing this, immediately felt pleased. Exactly! You, yourself, said that matters pertaining to Yang Xuezhang are the most important affairs of the family and also said there is no need for others to see into the matter? Then what is even there for others to say?

He-shi was left speechless by her eldest son's sudden outburst. Not speaking superfluous words anymore, she straightforwardly asked, "50 taels of silver, you can see how much your family can squeeze out!"

This was Yang laoyezi's and He-shi's main intention for gathering everyone.

The room suddenly exploded, no one would be willing when it comes to money. Truly speaking, it was Yang Tieshuan and Wang'-shi, this husband and wife, who exploded. Even when He-shi said that each branch would have to bear part of the cost, others still didn't utter sound.

Whoever loses their cool first would be the one to bear the brunt.

The eldest branch couple was very well known for their poor temper. As soon as Wang-shi heard He-shi's words, she jumped up.

"Mother, do you want our lives? Three branches have to bear the part of 50 taels of silver? Where do we have so much money?!"

Yang Tieshuan anxiously stood up and kicked the stool he was sitting on.

"Mother, you might as well just go sell our whole family!"

Seeing her eldest son's and eldest daughter-in-law's appearance, He-shi seethed with rage as she heavily panted while pointing her finger at them being unable to say a word for a while.

At this time, Yang laoyezi opened his mouth. Clearing his throat first, he looked at the second branch and third branch.

"lao er, and lao san, what is your opinion?"

lao er: appellation used to address the second child in the family.

lao san: appellation used to address the third child in the family.

Yang Tiezhu glanced at Yang laoyezi, and muttered, "Father, I got married only recently. From where can I get more silver?"

Yang Tiegen, seeing his second elder brother reply, also followed behind and vaguely responded.

"Father, whether I have silver or not, don't you know clearly?" Yang laoyezi sighed. He was also well aware. The last time when lao er married, he didn't even get a single penny from the family. All the silver came from himself.

As for lao san, this husband and wife's financial situation is even poorer.

Yang Tiegen was honest and was tightly grasped by He-shi. Initially, she had said the half of the extra income earned should be handed over, but every time Yang Tiegen returned after doing odd jobs, He-shi would take away more than half of the silver. The same was the case with Yang Tiezhu too. But, at that time, Yang Tiezhu wasn't married and didn't have any burdens; thus his situation was much better than Yang Tiegen. Among all the three sons on Yang jia, only Yang Tieshuan had the ability to get money right under He-shi's nose. However, during the leisure time after harvest, Yang Tieshuan's part-time jobs would be like a fisherman fishing for three days and sun-drying the nets for two days. As such, the money he earned would also be pitifully low.

三天打鱼两天晒网 (sāntiāndǎyú, liǎngtiānshàiwǎng): lit. to fish for three days and sun-dry the nets for two days (proverb) / fig. not to persevere in doing sth / to do sth by fits and starts

Yang laoyezi heavily sighed and became silent.

At this moment, He-shi jumped up 3 feet high from the kang, and started cursing.

The first one to bear the brunt was Yang Tiezhu.

So long as He-shi wanted to admonish her family's three sons, regardless of whether it was Yang Tiezhu who was at fault or not, he was always the first one to bear the brunt.

"You don't have the silver? Then that when getting married, who was the ostentatious one? You even sent the betrothal gifts, as if you were some very wealthy landowner… also you lao da, you don't have silver, yet you go out every day who knows where, every day you play cards to bet money….and you lao san, every single time this old lady looks for you for silver, your appearance seemed to that of wailing, as if this old lady owes you something…" At home, Yang Tiezhu was indeed not well received by He-shi. However, if the issue concerns her most precious treasure, Yang Xuezhang, even Yang Tieshuan has to step aside, not to mention Yang Tiegen. As such, at this moment, all of He-shi's three sons were reprimanded by her, her mouth not showing even a little bit of mercy

But no matter how much He-shi scolded them, all of her three sons kept their heads lowered, not uttering a single word. Yang Tiegen didn't speak because he truly didn't have any money, Yang Tieshuan didn't speak because he wanted to save a bit of money to go play outside, and Yang Tiezhu didn't reply because in his heart, since all the money was given to his wife, then it was not his anymore. As such, he also didn't have money.

Eventually, Yang Tieshuan was vexed by his mother's scoldings and was about to retort…

(Tl/Note: Remember, Lin Qingwan and Yang Tiezhu still have roughly 16 silver taels and 235 copper coins in their savings.)

When He-shi saw her eldest son about to retort her, her target shifted to Yang Tieshuan, and all of her words zeroed on him. Seeing this, Wang-shi was unable to put up with it any longer.

Feeling annoyed, Yang laoyezi sat there, expelling the tobacco smoke, expending quite an energy in expelling. Don't know for whom was he was expelling with such vigor as if he could extract some gold for tobacco.

Suddenly, while expelling forcefully, he choked and had a wild coughing fit, as if wishing to cough out his lungs. He-shi was still hurling abuses. Her sharp voice pricked Yang laoyezi's temples.

He suddenly flew into a rage and flung the tobacco pipe in his hands onto the door with a 'bang'.

The entire room quietened down and stopped making fuss, each and every one of them looking at Yang laoyezi in fright.

Under the dim light, Yang laoyezi's face appeared even more older, his suntanned skin appeared to be enveloped in distress. Obviously, he was in his 50s, but he seemed to be in his 60s. At this moment, his face was somewhat distorted, while fatigue seemed to be written all over the pair of his eyes…

"Still quarreling? Still quarreling? Can your ruckus solve the issue?"

Yang laoyezi's abrupt anger scared everyone into silence. Even He-shi was scared. He-shi fell onto the kanga and shut her mouth. Perhaps she had vented too much just now, her chest was still moving up and down.

Yang Tieshuan and Wang-shi blankly kept standing there, not daring to make even a sound.

After a moment, Yang laoyezi opened his mouth, "Lao si, you say… "Everyone's eyes at one's turned to Yang Xuezhang, who had been silently sitting all along, even when He-shi was hopping over and making clamor to help him out.

Suddenly, Lin Qingwan gave birth to a bit of contempt towards this man, who seemed to possess scholarly air from head to toe.

18 years old, at 18 years old, he ought to be considered as an adult. Many of the men of Yang Xuezhnag's age would have even got married and had already taken the heavy burden of raising their families onto their shoulders. Yet here he was, still not realizing that he wasn't meant for studying. Hiding in the protective shell He-shi had built for him, depending on the family's money for eating as he irresponsibly spent the family's silver, and still appearing as if he is cut above others and looking down upon everyone else.

Lin Qingwan was aware of the fact that Yang Xuezhang had taken the exam multiple times; this wasn't that of a secret in Luoxia village either. However, as an adult man, even after repeatedly failing in the exams again and again, still not reflecting upon himself and unwilling to let go, not even stopping for a moment to reconsider if the problem is within him…

By nature, some people are not suitable; in that case, they are not suitable. Why not accept the fact, reflect upon oneself and change the path?

Lin Qingwan didn't know what it was to take the exam to qualify as xucai, but in her previous, she had read a post in the forum, 'A xuaci in ancient times, civil servant in modern times.' She hadn't specifically looked into the post in detail but only saw the conclusion, which said qualifying a xucai in ancient wasn't any simpler than becoming a civil servant in modern times, where there are tens of thousands of people walking on a single-log bridge. Few of them squeeze and force their way through, while some of them can't; some people who can't squeeze their way through don't give up yet, while some people change their path…

秀才 (xiùcai): a person who has passed the county level imperial exam

Her previous life had left a profound impression Lin Qingwan's views. Modern people are a bit flexible; as such, she can't bring herself to comprehend the thoughts of the people of this era.

'Everything else is inferior, only studying is superior' – This kind of view restrain many people here. She can understand and comprehend the saying that all roads lead to Rome. However, Yang jia's people seem to be unable to understand it. Yang Xuezhang is unable to understand, He-shi is unable to understand, Yang laoyezi also doesn't understand. Or else Yang laoyezi and He-shi wouldn't have gathered them here at the moment…

条条大路通罗马 (tiáotiáodàlùtōng Luómǎ): all roads lead to Rome / use different means to obtain the same result (idiom)

In fact, after they gathered here, as soon as Yang laoyezi opened his mouth, Lin Qingwan understood his intention. What decision is there to make? In the end, it's nothing but asking for money, no. If there is a need for a decision to be made, would all of them be yelled at like this? Only when they have already made their mind, a situation like this will come to be…

Yang Xuezhang stood up with his back straight and one hand behind his back, assuming a stance of a master replying to the questions.

He assumed a stance, but perhaps everyone's gaze on him made him feel uneasy, he once again changed his posture and cleared his throat before opening his mouth: "I…"

He was unable to say other words anything but 'I'. Perhaps Yang laoyezi's sudden question must have caught him unprepared, not knowing what to say.

Finally, Yang Xuezhang flushed in embarrassment and spit out a sentence, "I think this is an opportunity for our family—" Finishing sayilabor he hurriedly sat back at the corner of the kang.

Opportunity for our famfrom home is truly big!

After Yang Xuezhang sat back, he must have also found his argument just now lacked persuasiveness. After thinking over and over, he added another sentence. "If I qualify this time, not only will we be excused from several land taxes, but we will also be exempted from forced labour quota. Once I become a xucai, I can also become a teacher and earn money from the home. Naturally, if I qualify, the court will also issue us rice grains and silver."

Apparently, Yang Xuezhang studying all this while was not for naught. He was also aware of the tactic of allaying their hunger with a cake first. As for the situation when the moment arrives, just talk again at that time.

How far his words have persuaded others, Lin Qingwan was unclear. However, she was well aware that, at the least, his words have successfully persuaded Yang laoyezi and He-shi.

When He-shi heard her son's words, her face became red in excitement. Looking at her brightened eyes, Lin Qingwan felt her eyes twitch. Yang laoyezi's hands also began to tremble.

It's not that Yang laoyezi as a person is vain. Rather this kind of thought had become deep-rooted – a xucai would become a glory to one's forefathers. There will also be a person with such identity in the family at last. And the most crucial point is that they would be exempted from taxes. Although Daxi Dynasty's taxes weren't heavy, they weren't light either. Just from being exempted to a small extent, a lot of food can be saved in one year.

These points deeply stimulate Yang laoyezi's brain nerves. Whenever he anticipated his son becoming a xucai, his blood vessels swelled…

39

Yang laoyezi took a deep breath in, and let himself become cool-headed before he opened his mouth and asked Yang Xuezhang: "This friend of yours, is he certain? After giving the silver, will he surely reveal the questions?"

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): polite appellation used for an elderly male

At this moment, not even a bit of thought that this kind of method of employing unfair means to qualify to be a xucai is despicable didn't even arise in the minds of Yang laoyezi, Yang Xuezhang and He-shi.

According to them, just like Yang Xuezhang said, selling and buying examination topics and entering through the back door by using personal connections are all common occurrences. It is just their family didn't possess such connections to use. But now, finally, they have a way this time… what is there to decide…their hearts couldn't help but tremble…

Yang laoyezi saying this meant this matter is set in stone. A smile surfaced on He-shi's face in satisfaction. Yang Xuezhang's heart also relaxed.

As for what to do next, they would have to discuss the silver required for the topics.

Seeing that Yang laoyezi had given his consent, Wang-shi tugged Yang Tieshuan, hinting him to say something. Yang Tieshuan impatiently pulled her hand away.

Silence enveloped the room once again…

Yang laoyezi had made the final decision; this being the case, now the silver can't not be given. As for who all will give, who will give more, who will give less, this depends upon each and everyone's abilities…

Wang-shi quickly made a quick calculation on the narrow abacus in her heart. Yang Tiezhu and Lin Qingwan glanced at each other. Yang Tiegen drooped his head down, feeling downhearted, while Yao-shi had worry across her whole face.

打小算盘 (dǎ xiǎo suàn pán): (lit.) to count on a narrow abacus (idiom); petty and scheming selfishly; concerned with petty interests; selfish and uncaring of the interests of others; bean counter

Wang-shi's abacus calculation was the fastest; thus she took the lead and jumped up.

"Father, me and my husband are also eager for the fourth younger brother to qualify for the exam this time. Once the fourth younger brother qualifies the exam with flying colors, it would also bring a lot of respect for our family. And moreover, we will also be excused from taxes. If the fourth younger brother becomes a teacher, our family's Dalang, Erlang, and Sanlang can also follow him and bask in his light…. "

Have to say, Wang-shi was quite good at catering others' moods. Yang laoyezi, He-shi, and Yang Xuezhang all had smiles on their faces as they nodded their heads.

"But—" First sell nicely, cater their moods, flatter them till they are pleased, then immediately lay out one's woes. "But father and mother are also aware that husband idles around every day, and I have also failed to control time and again. I have asked him to go and find some odd jobs to get some allowance for the family, but he always uses all sorts of excuses to avoid…furthermore there are also so many children…they didn't even have new clothes for ages now. We are truly helpless… "After narrating her sorrows, Wang-shi broke down and cried; unlike her usual bawls, this time it was the sort of a cry that made the viewers sympathize with her, it was that sort of pathetic whimper accompanied by occasional choking.

At first, Yang Tieshuan felt a bit uncomfortable upon hearing his wife unmasking all of his faults. However, when he thought that his wife doing all of this was for the eldest branch to save money, he immediately shut his mouth and also put on an appearance of great bitterness and deep hatred.

苦大仇深 (kǔ dà chóu shēn): great bitterness, deep hatred (idiom); deeply ingrained long-standing resentment

Yang laoyezi pondered over for a moment, and also felt it was true; eldest branch had so many kids, and his eldest son was also not a good one. His eyes then fell on the second branch beside them.

Yang Tiezhu and Lin Qingwan glanced at each other.

After contemplating for a while, Lin Qingwan cleared her throat and said, "Father, let's not talk about the rest. You are also aware that when my husband and I married, quite a lot of silver was spent. I have also heard husband say that none of this money came from the family, but was all earned by himself by going into the mountains. As for the silver he earned, it was just enough for our marriage expenses, and there are no leftovers…"

Yang laoyezi's face at once became red. Regarding his second son's matter, it was indeed his old wife's wrongdoing. Which family would not take out silver for their son's wedding? Now when he heard his daughter-in-law mention this matter again, he felt embarrassed.

"However, since the fourth young brother is going to accomplish great things, as his older brother and older sao, it is impossible for us not to provide him with a bit of support. Let's do this; we, the second branch, will take out 5 tales of silver. These five tales of silver are not from my husband but are from my dowry. You must also know that at that time when husband sent betrothal gifts, the eldest gu gave the entire betrothal price to me and included it in my dowry. And the silver I am giving now also I am taking out from the bottom of my trunk." She said all of this for He-shi to hear, lest she uses the betrothal price 8.8 taels Yang Tiezhu gave her as a pretext to grumble.

Sao (嫂): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

姑 (gū): father's oldest sister / husband's older sister

He-shi would have nothing to grumble about this time, right? Look, all of the silver is being used to subsidize to help your son take the exam.

Lin Qingwan knew very well that today if they didn't put out even a bit of silver, it would be absolutely impossible to walk away. Rather than deliberately make things complicated and make a fuss, they might as well openly give them.

Look, we have only this much silver. Yang Tiezhu also recently didn't go into the mountains, so almost all of the silver is given to you. Do you still dare to make trouble?

Lin Qingwan's words made Yang laoyezi's heart go up then down. But when he heard that the second branch was still willing to take out the silver, he nodded his head in satisfaction. In his heart, he thought the second branch's husband and wife were truly efficient and also did not evade and grumble. This daughter-in-law was also pretty good; she even took out her dowry from the bottom of the trunk.

Next, it was the third branch's turn.

Yang Tiegen, after dillydallying for half a day, squeezed out few words from his throat, "Father, you also know that I don't have much silver, even the children and mother are reluctant to eat and have new clothes to save a bit of silver. There must be about 2 taels of silver in savings; we will take two taels of silvers from our side."

Yao-shi's distressed face turned pale. Several years have passed since she married Yang Tiezhu, yet she managed to save only less than five taels of silver with difficulty, but now half of it was gone.

Yang laoyezi nodded his head. The third branch is also just like the second branch. Almost all of their savings must have been emptied out.

He turned his head to look at He-shi, "Altogether, we have 7 taels, the remaining amount, can you manage?"

Yang laoyezi couldn't help but look at He-shi. All of Yang jia's finances are in her hands, and all the silver are in He-shi's care. Yang laoyezi felt He-shi could take out approximately thirty taels of silver, and the rest they could get by selling the grains.

He-shi saw Yang laoyezi looking at her and at once became dissatisfied. With her eyes opened wide, she glared at him, "How can I manage? As a woman, what sort of ability do I have to manage?"

Yang laoyezi realized his wife was once again becoming muddle-headed and was reluctant to part with silver.

Unhappy, he glared at He-shi, "This matter is related to your son's xucai qualification exam. If you are unwilling to pay, then forget it. Xuezhang also need not take the exam."

As soon as Yang laoyezi took out the 'trump card,' He-shi wilted away. After dillydallying for half a day, she opened her mouth: "From where can I get any silver? Every day at home, there are these many mouths to feed."

"Okay, now don't go on talking all of these things." Yang laoyezi impatiently spoke.

He-shi's face was extremely reluctant as she squeezed out the number.

Twenty taels?!

Yang Tieshuan and Wang-shi gasped at He-shi's wealth and also felt reluctant. For He-shi to willingly fish out twenty taels from her pocket, only Yang Xuezhang possessed such ability. As for other people, don't even think about it.

Yang Tiezhu and Lin Qingwan frowned. He-shi took out twenty taels; altogether, it was still only 27 taels, they are still 23 taels short. It seems that this matter is still far from over…

Sure enough, Yang laoyezi, upon hearing He-shi utter twenty taels, his brows at once creased. They still lack 23 taels. Even if they sold all the grains, it still wouldn't add up, not to mention if they sell all the grains, what will they eat?

Yang laoyezi got up from the kang, walked to the place by the door, picked up the tobacco pouch, tapped the tobacco pipe' bowl against the wall before returning to the kang and sitting down.

He took out a handful of shredded tobacco from the small pouch, added it into the tobacco bowl, compressed them, ignited the pipe, and took a puff – Yang laoyezi's entire set of motions were relatively slow. Every time he pondered over an issue or encountered a complex problem, he would be like this.

After a while, the sound of Yang loayezi taking a draw sounded once again in the room….

The grey smoke gradually rose and spread all over the room. Looking at the Yang laoyezi's old face vaguely through the curls of smoke, a kind of impulse suddenly arose in her heart, making her hesitate to the extent that she wanted to open her mouth to say that let it be, second branch would make up for the rest of the silver….

But when she saw a bit diffident faces of the eldest branch's husband and wife, silently sitting Yang Xuezhang with an appearance of staying out of the matter, and upright figure of He-shi who was staring at them sharply, for some reason her sudden impulse extinguished…

She and Yang Tiezhu still had 30 taels of silver in their hands, naturally was all hard-earned silver by her man. It is not that they cannot take out 23 taels of silver, but to take them out and put them out in front of all these people…once she thought of this, resistance immediately rose in her heart.

She cannot; she cannot open her mouth in such a way. If there is a first time, there will always be a second time. In the future, absolutely, there wouldn't be an end to it…

He-shi's sharp voice broke the silence in the room and also interrupted Lin Qingwan's chain of thoughts.

"Needless to say, the remaining 23 taels of silver, have lao er find a way to make it up!"

老二 (lǎo èr): appellation used for the second-eldest child in a family

As soon as Yang Tiezhu heard He-shi's words, he immediately became rigid.

It wasn't the issue of the silver; rather, it was because of a sort of familiarity in the setting.

Every time their family encounters an issue where they lack money, her mother always seems to have this opinion….

He-shi precisely as this intention…

According to Yang laoyezi's guess, He-shi ought to have at least 30 taels with her. Actually, his estimate should still be less. Over the years, He-shi had been looking for her sons and daughter-in-law to collect the silver from them, and her savings shouldn't be less. She should at the least be having 40-50 silver taels.

Actually, Yang laoyezi had thoughts of letting He-shi buy the exam topics for Yang Xuezhang, and not have his other sons share the costs; but in reality, this was nothing but an impossible feat.

It wasn't that He-shi doesn't care about her treasured son; rather, she is aware that there is still Yang Tiezhu in the family to make money…. when didn't the family push lao er to make money? Just like two years back, to have a house a built and like the other time when they wanted to add few more acres of land ….

At times, He-shi also felt her second son was quite troublesome in her heart. Why does she have to be the one to employ various means to force him every single time? Can't he be more understanding and take the initiative quickly?

But, He-shi had never tried to stand in Tang Tiezhu's shoes and think from his point of view. If it was truly that simple to earn silver, would Yang Tiezhu sit till he was forced by her every time using various means? There isn't anyone who doesn't want to let their family live easier. It's just that having their family live easier means he would have to work with one's life at risk…

Who would be willing to put one's life at risk? Let alone to be forced against their will…

Lin Qingwan's face immediately sank. She caressed Yang Tiezhu's big hand, which was folded into a fist at the moment, to comfort him. She remained silent as she deliberated what sort of words she should use to convey her bad mood at the moment.

Would it be okay to just hurl abuses, or should she just directly flip the table?

Before Lin Qingwan could process, He-shi's voice could rang out in the room.

"Lao er, tomorrow you go on to the mountain and bring something that could be exchanged for silver," He-shi commanded.

Yang Tiezhu looked straight at his mother, his complexion unsightly.

When Wang-shi heard He-shi saying so, she also felt this idea was not bad. In that case, their eldest branch also won't have to pay any more, and He-shi would also won't keep staring at them any longer. Thus, she quickly added: "Yes, with second brother's skills getting 20 taels of silver is just a matter of flipping his hand."

Yang Tieshuan also immediately added: "Yes, I think this is a pretty good idea." Then, with an appearance of as-it-should-be-by-rights, he turned to look at Yang Tiezhu, "Lao er, you go into the mountains, lest the family falls into dire straits because of lack of silver."

理所当然 (lǐ suǒ dāng rán): as it should be by rights (idiom); proper and to be expected as a matter of course / inevitable and right.

Lin Qingwan wanted to say something, but Yang Tiezhu tugged her hand.

Even Yang laoyezi felt as if this was the last straw that could save them. He turned his head and looked towards his second son, hoping that his second son would have some way to resolve the issue so that they could avoid seeing grains to gather the money. He was also aware that doing this would be wronging lao er, but…

But this matter concerns lao si's xucai qualification exam. After all, this is the family's major event…

老四 (lǎo sì): endearment used by family members to address fourth child.

40

Yang laoyezi, seeing Yang Tiezhu's unsightly look, couldn't help but beseech him: "Laoer —"

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): polite appellation for an elderly male

老二 (lǎo'èr): appellation for the second-eldest child in a family

Yang Tiezhu glanced around; he looked at his family members' faces and at Yang laoyezi's pleading face. His old face was full of wrinkles and lines, making it unable to cover up his aging appearance and tiredness….

Nevertheless, his heart couldn't help but go cold…

After a good while, he stood up before spitting out a sentence…

"I'll go into the mountains tomorrow. However, the end result of hunting cannot be assured. It would be better for you also to make other preparations. This is the only time; in future, there wouldn't be any next time." After saying so, regardless of everyone else's reactions, pulling his wife, he turned around and left.

Lin Qingwan, who was being pulled out of the main room by Yang Tiezhu, turned around and looked at the unconcealable joyful expressions of everyone. They seemed as if they hadn't heard Yang Tiezhu saying that there wouldn't be next time. Apart from the third branch's husband and wife, everyone seemed to be relieved. Only the third branch seemed to have helplessness all over their face but didn't have any ability to open their mouth.

Sigh…Lin Qingwan felt her thoughts earlier were truly ridiculous, extremely ridiculous. Perhaps, compassion was applicable to other people but not to this group of people.

Both of them went back to their rooms, washed their faces, and rinsed their mouths with hot water before laying down on the kang. This while, Yang Tiezhu remained silent. It was unknown what he was thinking.

Lin Qingwan was somewhat worried. She was aware that this tall and sturdy man was not as strong as he appeared to be. Their behavior earlier must have broken his heart…

Lin Qingwan felt a bit regretful; why didn't she just open her mouth earlier and block their mouths. She was aware that this sort of action is somewhat like firing after the horse. However, at that time, Yang Tiezhu had already made up his decision. As his wife, she still had an understanding of respecting her husband's thoughts in other's presence. Also, his willingness to do this must be due to giving them consideration, right?

马后炮 (mǎhòupào): literally, firing after the horse. Figuratively, it means belated action or giving advice in hindsight.

She moved and cuddled into his arms. Usually, every time they went to bed, Yang Tiezhu would always hold her in his embrace. But today, him not doing so made her feel quite unaccustomed.

Yang Tiezhu, feeling his wife cuddle him, couldn't help but tighten his hold.

Yang Tiezhu looked at the beams on the roof for a good while before sighing deeply, releasing the stuffy feeling he had been holding for a while in his heart.

"I don't want you to go into the mountains–" Lin Qingwan buried her head into his chest and whispered in a low voice, "Let's not do this. Let's just give them silver. You don't go."

She was not a miser. It's just that if she and Yang Tiezhu generously took out silver from their pockets this time, in the future, they will try to look for more, further not letting them live peacefully. Once there is a first time, there would always be a second time. At that time, they won't take a moment to consider if they have silver; they will only think that the second branch is wealthy….

How could Yang Tiezhu not understand his wife's thoughts? That's why that time, he also didn't open his mouth and let his wife speak and followed along.

Lin Qingwan may still not understand Yang jia's people's thoughts, but he understands them well.

On the battlefield, he had encountered nine deaths before being able to survive and return back. Moreover, it had been several years since he had seen his family members. At that time, he was homesick and felt his family nevertheless was still good to him; despite of the fact that at that time when the imperial court ordered all the abled men to go to the battlefield, there was still Yang Tieshuan who was of optimal age, they sent him who fell one year short of the optimal age in the notice.

九死一生 (jiǔ sǐ yī shēng): nine deaths and still alive (idiom); a narrow escape / .a new lease of life

When he just came back, he saw that the days at home were truly hard and felt bitter in his heart. He didn't possess any skills, so he thought of using the skills taught by the old hunter to help his family out.

The first time he went into the mountains for hunting and brought back silver, he was also excited and filled with pride upon seeing the surprised and happy faces of the family. But over time, something seemed to have changed….

Ultimately, what has changed?

Yang Tiezhu pondered over it many times, but he couldn't come up with anything.

He only knew that he took the initiative to go to the mountains to help his family earn money in the beginning. But gradually, it became his eldest brother and eldest sao requesting and urging him upon his mother's request. In the end, he was fed up with it and became unwilling to go, causing his mother to employ various means to force him…

Sao (嫂): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

Although the old hunter taught him a lot of hunting skills, at that time, he was still young, so the old hunter never let him hunt. He only passed on his own experiences and taught him how to recognize the topography to help him not lose his way in the mountains. The first time he truly went for hunting was soon after he came from the military–

That time, he was also scared, he was also afraid of wild animals' hungry look…every time he ran into a large animal, he also had an urge of running away…however, he endured it, when he recalled his family's broken thatched house, his nephews who were all skin and bones, worried appearances of his parents to pay for laosi's shuxiu…he wrestled over and over with the preys, and got hurt again and again in the process. At that time, Laohei had also become quite old, and the two puppies were too young. He had no choice but to go alone into the mountains and fight bravely…Fortunately, his innate strength and luck were both good, and the injuries he sustained were only minor…Afterwards, he gradually became more and more experienced, he also became more and more agile and soon Dahei, and Erhei also grew up and started assisting him; it was like a tiger that has grown wings. Gradually, he could enter into mountains as if he was treading on a leveled ground…

束脩 (shùxiū): payment for private tutor

老四 (lǎosì): appellation used to address fourth child in the family

如虎添翼 (rúhǔtiānyì): lit. like a tiger that has grown wings / with redoubled power (idiom)

(Reminder: Laohei is Dahei' and Erhei's (the two wolf dogs raised by Yang Tiezhu) mother.)

The days in his family also began to become easier and easier. But, some things gradually started changing…perhaps those things have never changed, it was him all along who was unwilling to face it….

Yang Tiezhu slowly narrated his story to Lin Qingwan…

All the way from how he was recruited, when in the army how fortunate he was to be selected as an army cook and didn't have to go to the battlefield, how apprehensively he spent the few years in the battlefield, after returning home, how sad he felt when seeing the situation at home…. his thoughts when he went for hunting for the first time…and also many other happenings at home…

Yang Tiezhu's tone was tranquil and calm, with neither sorrow nor joy.

The room was extremely calm, as Lin Qingwan's eyes kept on drifting from here to there.

However, when listening to him narrate, Lin Qingwan could see young Yang Tiezhu. She could see Yang Tiezhu, who wasn't well liked by He-shi, being coaxed by his parents to go to the battlefield instead of Yang Tieshuan….she could see the apprehensive and scared him on the way to the battlefield…she could see him being chosen to be an army cook because of his young age and great strength, and shoulder the responsibility of cooking for the troops in big iron pots….see him follow the troops everywhere, carrying big iron pots….see him getting injured the first time in battlefield, scarring his face…. escaping narrow death and excitedly returning home…. his bitterness upon seeing his family struggling…. resolving to improve his family's livelihood…. arduously fighting with wild animals in the mountain…. He-shi exploiting the silver he earned….

Don't know when, but Lin Qingwan's eyes became wet with tears… She choked with sobs as her tears trickled down.

She felt distressed for this man; she felt distressed for his arduous fate, distressed for his firmness and indomitability, distressed for his sincerity and not being able to resist…. she felt distressed…. She truly felt her heartache severely. At this moment, Lin Qingwan felt so much pain as if her heart was about to be ripped….

However, she didn't know how to comfort him and could only bury her head in his embrace as her tears trickled down like rain….

Yang Tiezhu smiled, but his smile gave a sort of indescribable feeling of desolateness.

"…I remember the day when I replaced my eldest brother to go to the battlefield…that day was also like today. My father also seemed to have aged by several years in distress in a flash. When my mother asked me to replace my eldest brother, I was afraid to directly look at my father, hoping for him to disagree. But in the end, he turned towards me and looked at me, with his full of pleading…."

Lin Qingwan in the end broke out while shaking her head vigorously in Yang Tiezhu's arms.

Lifting her head, she gently caressed his face. His face was extremely dry and rough with a long scar. Actually, he must also have felt distressed at that time, but there was no one he could tell it to; he must also have felt scared, but there was no one to share with….

"Don't say… don't say further…from hereon you will have me… "With trembling lips, she hugged his face and kept on kissing on his head, her tears unable to stop.

"Wife, don't cry. This will be the last time…. "Yang Tiezhu, with his head in his wife's embrace, sniffed the fragrance at the tip of his nose. For an unknown reason, he, who had never shed tears, unexpectedly had his eyes welled up….

In the end … Lin Qingwan didn't know how they went from consoling each other to partaking in the male and female exclusive activity. She only knew that they were making noises till late night. Only when the sky outside was beginning to brighten up, Yang Tiezhi finally stopped, feeling perfectly contended.

The next day by the time she woke up, Yang Tiezhu had already left. She only vaguely remembered Yang Tiezhu kissing her before leaving and saying that he would be going into the mountains and would be returning in two days, and asked her not to worry.

How was it possible for her not to worry? Especially after Yang Tiezhu had described the situation in the mountains to her –

People inherently tend to be ignorant and fearless. But once you become aware of these fears, fear inevitably starts creeping out from the bottom of the heart, twisting your heart… scaring you more and more to the extent that you start feeling stifled…..

After this long of getting to know each other, Yang Tiezhu had only gone onto mountains twice. The first time, she was at Yang-shi's place. Although she was a little worried, however at that time both of them weren't that close. But now, it was different. If at that time she was worried, this time her heart was anxious to death….

so much that it felt as if her heart was being roasted on the stove, and felt irritable for no reason at all.

For the first time, Lin Qingwan's face was blank all day long without a trace of smile. The next day, when it was her turn to cook, she also wasn't in the kitchen.

He-shi thought of reprimanding her several times, but don't know what she thought, she didn't say anything in the end.

Yao-shi's was clumsy with her words; thus, it was also unlikely for her to console. She could only take over Lin Qingwan's work and help her do it.

Lin Qingwan was also aware that her condition was wrong, however, she felt stuffy in her heart, wanting to go and quarrel with someone and vent all out. But, this time, even He-shi didn't take the initiative to stir trouble, let alone Wang-shi and eldest sister Yang. These few people who liked to nit-pick all withdrew back, not daring to come in front of her.

With her heart full of anger, Lin Qingwan could only directly go into her room, take the embroidery purse and invest all of her energy in embroidering. Day and night, she sat in the room all day long embroidering, but without even knowing what she was doing.

Yao-shi, not knowing how to console her, also sat with her and embroidered after she was done with house chores.

This afternoon, Yao-shi was accompanying Lin Qingwan in doing embroidery in Lin Qingwan's room. This day was the fourth day since Yang Tiezhu left.

With her head lowered, Yao-shi was doing embroidery work. But from time to time, she also raised her head to check on Lin Qingwan, who was intently working on the embroidery purse.

"Second sao, don't worry too much." Yao-shi was slow-witted with words and could only persuade her with these few words.

Lin Qingwan raised her head and stretched her neck a few times.

Actually, she was not as anxious as she was in the first two days. She simply wanted to make herself busy, so as to avoid thinking about the Yang Tiezhu in the mountains.

Seeing her unsightly complexion, He-shi and everyone else avoided her, not daring to provoke her. Since all of them made her man have a difficult time, can't she have a bad face? Thus, every day, she made her face look terrible in front of He-shi, Wang-shi, and eldest sister Yang.

For her to pull a long face all day long at home in front of He-shi and them and still have them not daring to find fault with her – this chance was hard to come by. Then shouldn't she use all energy to pull a long face in front of them?!

甩脸子 (shuǎiliǎnzi): to pull a long face/to grimace with displeasure / have a bad face

But it seems Yao-shi had misunderstood, thinking that she was in a bad mood.

She was indeed in a bad mood; however, it was also not that serious. Since her man had already gone, she should have faith in her family's man, believing that he would safely come back, and nothing untoward would happen.

Lin Qingwan poured herself a glass of water to moisturize her throat. "Third dimei, you don't have to worry about me anymore. It's not as serious as you think. I deliberately pulled a long face to show them."

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife

Yao shi raised his head and looked at her, somewhat at a loss.

This third dimei seemed to be of a very simple mind.

"Since they forced my man to go into the mountains, I will not give them a good face. Shouldn't I feel sorry for myself and my man? I used this as the pretext to vent all the pent-up stuffiness in my heart. Anyway, they also dared not offend me currently!" When Lin Qingwan mentioned those people, she rolled her eyes.

Only then did Yao understand. "That's alright, but you must take care of your health, and also don't get too angry." Regarding her mother-in-law's, eldest sao's, eldest brother's, and father's conduct, it was also unsuitable for Yao-shi to criticize. Thus, she could only advise her second sao not to get too angry and affect her health.

One who does not know is not guilty. Although Yao-shi didn't show any anxiousness towards Yang Tiezhu going to mountain, Lin Qingwan was nevertheless aware that the third branch's husband and wife were not without worry. It's just that Yang Tiezhu had always made it seem like going to the mountains was just a matter of few words and nothing hard. Thus, everyone habitually thinks that Yang Tiezhu would be alright. And upon seeing Lin Qingwan always being on tenterhooks, Yao-shi simply tried to ease her anxiety.

Can Lin Qingwan even condemn the third branch's husband and wife as to why they have become habituated to Yang Tiezhu going into the mountains? Why weren't they worried about his safety? She can't! Because that won't be appropriate.

She could only blame Yang Tiezhu for always putting on a brave front. Why can't he share his difficulties and dangers with the family…But she can't voice out her complaints because she was aware that in this family, no one cared whether Yang Tiezhu would be in danger or not. Even if the third branch's husband and wife could understand, they also can't intervene anywhere in the family…

Tangled in these thoughts, Lin Qingwan rubbed the frown between her eyebrows as she threw the needlework back into the basket and sighed, "Why has Tiezhu not returned yet?" She kneaded her forehead, feeling jittery.

Yao-shi pursed her lips into a smile, "Don't worry, the second brother goes into the mountain every few days and would come back soon." This was something everyone in Yang jia was aware of. How long it takes Yang Tiezhu to return back depends upon how much silver the family needs. It takes him long to come back if they need more silver, and if it is only a little silver, he will return even in a day.

While both of them were speaking, suddenly, the sounds of a dog barking came from outside. Lin Qingwan was not unfamiliar with this sound – it was Dahei's bark.