41

Lin Qingwan got up, jumped off the kang, hastily wore the shoes, and ran out.

Yao-shi followed behind her, "Second sao, don't run in such a hurry, be careful of falling down." As soon as Lin Qingwan opened the door of the room, she saw Dahei barking at her door. Dahei cut a sorry figure, covered in dirt from head to foot. But Lin Qingwan didn't pay any heed to it.

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

Where is Yang Tiezhu?

She turned her head and looked all around, but there wasn't Yang Tiezhu's silhouette anywhere in the courtyard or outside the courtyard.

Dahei was still barking, anxiously pawing on the ground.

Lin Qingwan's heart thumped and suddenly felt the situation wasn't good.

She squatted down and hugged Dahei's neck.

"Where is Tiezhu? Where is Tiezhu?" Her complexion at once became pale, and her eyes became frantic.

Dahei struggled out of Lin Qingwan's embrace, ran out, and turned back as he kept running.

Lin Qingwan picked up her skirt and followed after it.

Yao-shi also had a feeling that something bad must have happened. But didn't know what to do. She quickly turned to her room and called Yang Tiegen to go behind the second sao.

Yang Tiegen, after hearing Yao-shi's words, quickly got up from the kang, wore his shoes, and quickly chased after her. While running out, he left Yao-shi with these words, "Quickly go and call father and eldest brother."

Yao-shi once again turned around and went to look for Yang laoyezi and Yang Tieshuan.

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

Yang Tiegen didn't run for long before he caught up with Lin Qingwan. Dahei was still running in the front with Lin Qingwan following him while staggering and stumbling.

"Second sao, don't worry–" Yang Tiegen didn't know what else to say. Currently, he wasn't even aware of what the situation was –

Not paying attention to him, Lin Qingwan kept chasing after Dahei with her head lowered and holding her breath.

After running for a while, they reached the foot of the mountain. But Lin Qingwan still saw Dahei running deeper into the mountain. She suddenly felt her legs become weak and slumped down.

One, because she was tired, and the other, she knew that something surely must have happened.

Something happened, something happened to her man…

Yang Tiegen wanted to take her hand and help her up but didn't dare to do it.

(In ancient times, males weren't allowed to casually touch females.)

Dahei, seeing the two of them not following, turned around and ran back, anxiously barking at them.

"Something happened, something bad happened to Tiezhu…" Lin Qingwan gasped roughly and frantically kept murmuring something about Yang Tiezhu. Her eyes lost focus; her hands kept shivering. At this moment, her brain completely went blank, but she could clearly see her hands continuously trembling as if she was having something like seizures.

Something happened to her man…

Seeing his second sao panicking appearance, he also didn't know how to persuade her not to get scared. Wiping his face, he, who was usually reticent, for the first time ever became decisive.

"Second sao, you stay here. You can't walk now, and also lack stamina and won't be able to keep up with us. I will follow after Dahei and look for the second brother." Saying so, Yang Tiegen waved his hand to let Dahei lead the way.

Dahei also recognized Yang Tiegen, and knew that he was Yang Tiezhu's family. It quickly turned around and ran into the mountain. Yang Tiegen, in passing, picked up a branch and ran behind him.

Soon, silhouettes of one man one dog disappeared.

Lin Qingwan kept sitting on the ground without moving, feeling her heart thumping. At this moment, her brain was completely blank.

Only when she heard Yao-shi's yelling from behind along with few light footsteps, she absent-mindedly reacted faintly.

Turning her head around, she saw Yang-shi, Yang laoyezi, Yang Tieshuan, Wang-shi, He-shi, Yang Damei, and Yang Ermei coming. Yang Xuezhang didn't come, but she knew that Yang Xuezhang was at home because he didn't go out today.

Here, Yang Damei(大妹) is eldest sister Yang. For few chapters, it has been bugging me whether Damei is used as an appellation or is her name like Yang Ermei's. Damei is used to address the first younger sister in the family, as I have mentioned in the earlier chapter. In the previous chapters, as I myself wasn't clear and to not confuse the readers I wrote as eldest sister Yang everywhere. But, when I was reading this para, I felt using the first younger sister to address her won't make sense, so I thought Damei must have been her name. I am sorry for the confusion.

Nevertheless, at this moment, she didn't pay any attention about others. Seeing Yang laoyezi and Yang Tieshuan, she became excited, pointing her finger in the direction Yang Tiegen and Dheu went, she said, "Father, eldest brother, third brother, and Dahei went in that direction, Can you go and see….Yang Tiezhu might have met with mishap…." She said with her tears dripping down continuously.

At this moment, with her hair in a mess and complexion wan, she cut an extremely sorry figure.

Yang laoyezi, hearing Lin Qingwan saying so, was about to go after them but was pulled by He-shi from behind.

"Where are you going after them? With these old hands and old legs…"

Yang laoyezi thought so too. With his aged body and short breath, he would be unable to keep up with them with his legs.

He looked at Yang Tieshuan, "Laoda, you quickly go and catch up with laosan and accompany him to look for laoer. Dahei is innately sensitive; he must surely know where laoer is."

老大 (lǎodà): appellation used to address the eldest child in a family

老三 (lǎosān): appellation used to address the third child in a family

老二 (lǎo'èr): appellation used to address the second child in a family

Looking at the dense montane forest in front of him, Yang Tieshan suddenly felt timid.

He gave out a hollow laugh, "Hehe. Father, it had been so long since laosan had went in; how would I be able to find him. Besides, I don't know where to look either, the mountains are so big. What if, while looking for laoer and laosan, I get lost. "

When Lin Qingwan heard these words, her heart at once became cold.

Sitting on the ground, she lifted her head to look at this group of people. Usually, like vermins, they mooch off on Yang Tiezhu, but now that Yang Tiezhu had encountered a calamity….

Lin Qingwan, even after growing this big, had never hated anyone before. Even in her previous life, when her life was rough or when she transmigrated into this world in a bizarre way or even in this lifetime, soon after transmigrating when she was sold in exchange for a wild animal, she had never hated her fate for being unfair. But now she very much hated this group of people, truly hated them. She gnashed her teeth ruthlessly…..she even had this crazy thought in her mind – if something untoward truly happened to Yang Tiezhu, she would take all of them to be buried with him. Anyhow, after watching all sorts of TV dramas and reading mystery novels from the 21st century, she has many ways to put all of them to death without letting the official authorities catch her…

But again, what was even the use of killing them? If Yang Tiezhu won't be able to come, what will she do? Only at this moment did Lin Qingwan realize what position this rough man had in her heart…. Even though it was just her conjecture, she still can't even begin to imagine…

Suddenly, Yang-shi's loud voice came from behind her; all the way from afar, she was calling Lin Qingwan's name….

"Qingwan, I heard something had happened to Tiezhu?" Lin Qingwan stiffly raised her head and blankly looked at gasping and running Yang-shi. After a moment, her tears once again started rolling down.

"Eldest gu, something happened to Tiezhu. Dahei led third brother to Tiezhu…" Yang-shi helped Lin Qingwan stand up from the ground and wiped her tears.

姑 (gū): father's oldest sister/paternal aunt

"Good child, don't cry… don't cry…" her tears also couldn't help but trickle down as she spoke. "Eldest gu had asked someone to go look for them….to go look for him…Tiezhu is such a good child…nothing will happen to him…" Yang-shi wiped her tears and turned to speak with young men, who came with her.

The few strong young men, after hearing Yang-shi and Lin Qingwan recount the situation, didn't decline. With a sickle, stick, or anything they could get in their hands, they became ready to go into the forest.

A young man, who seemed to be taken a leader role, said, "Shenzi, don't worry. We will quickly go look for him. We will first look for Yang laosan, then along with him, we will look for Yang Tiezhu. If we can't find him –"

婶子 (shenzi): Here shenzi is being used as an appellation used to address older females outside family.

Yang laosan – Yang Tiegen

The young man looked embarrassed.

Yang-shi also understood his meaning. The terrain of the mountains was confusing and is also inhabited by several wild animals. Thus, it might be difficult for these people to go in to find Yang Tiezhu.

"It's okay, shenzi accepts your favor. You see if you can find him. If you can't just come back quickly. Your safety is, by all means, the most important!"

The young men nodded and went in.

Those young men slowly walked into the mountains, and gradually, their silhouettes disappeared. Don't know if they will be able to find Yang Tiezhu.

Lin Qingwan wiped the tears from her face, pulled away from Yang-shi's embrace, and straightened up. She also knew that crying is of no use. It's just that a moment ago, she couldn't help but panic consumed her heart as if the sky had fallen.

When He-shi saw Yang-shi coming here, her complexion started turning bad. And when she saw Yang-shi calling shots and arrange young men to look for Tiezhu, she felt even more indignant.

But she was on bad terms with Yang-shi and couldn't speak with her, so she could only angrily yank Yang laoyezi.

"Let's go. All of you go back. Standing here, do you all want to drink cold wind?"

He-shi's tone was awfully bad, causing Yang-shi and Lin Qingwan both to look at her offensively. Yang-shi felt despised, and Lin Qingwan was burning with ire.

At this moment, Lin Qingwan was truly left speechless by Yang jia's people. They are his parents and siblings; still, they couldn't show even much concern as his eldest gu.

One didn't allow Yang laoyezi to go look for him, while the other said he was afraid of getting lost…. Not even as good as those outsiders! At least if the other person had tried, even if they haven't found him, she would have felt grateful for at least trying their best. But these people…. Lin Qingwan eyes were chillingly cold.

"You damn old lady, what nonsense are you spouting?" Yang laoyzi pushed He-shi aside.

Yang laoyezi's heart was also a bit uncomfortable at the moment. It is not that he hates Yang-shi for calling shots and arranging young men to help in the search. It's just that he, as a father, hadn't even thought of calling someone to look for his son, making him feel somewhat ashamed.

He-shi seeing Yang laoyezi not giving her face in front of Yang-shi, immediately flew into a rage out of humiliation. She jumped onto Yang laoyezi and ruthlessly scratched his face while raining him with curses, "You damn old man, you dare to push me?!"

Yang laoyezi covered his face, dodging He-shi's attack.

"You damn old lady, have you gone crazy…"Yang laoyezi stomped his feet in anger.

He-shi pushed him, her triangular eyes squinting at him.

"Let's go. If you want to inhale cold wind being here, you can. But don't let children accompany you."

He was scratched by He-shi in front of his children, and especially making Yang laoyezi truly ashamed and have a sort of feeling of not showing his face to anyone.

Stamping his feet, he quickly hauled He-shi back. Actually, he was a bit afraid of He-shi causing a fuss once again and have discord with his eldest sister once again.

At the side, when Yang Tieshuan saw the old couple walk away, he also slowly followed them, without even asking Lin Qingwan if she wants to come back.

Yao-shi didn't go and stood by the side, looking at the montane forests, perhaps worried about her husband, Yang Tiegen.

Yang-shi looked at those people walking away with her face full of contempt. Something had happened to their son and brother. Yet, surprisingly not even one of them was anxious, truly a waste of Yang Tiezhu's consideration and care at usual times.

Lin Qingwan's face became cold and didn't say anything. She closed her eyes, and restrained her temper and anger from destroying everything.

Seeing Yao-shi anxiously looking at the montane forest, she sighed and took Yao-shi's hand.

"Third dimei, at this moment, I don't know what to say, but I can only thank you and third younger brother…." In the entire Yang jia, Yang Tiegen was the only one who followed after them without the slightest hesitation.

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife

"Also–the third younger brother and Tiezhu will be surely alright."

This was comforting Yao-shi and also comforting herself.

Yao-shi didn't reply and simply caressed Lin Qingwan's hand as to comfort her.

Lin Qingwan gratefully smiled.

Some people's goodness, you remember for a lifetime…. But, some people's callousness, you can't forget for a lifetime….

The three women stood on the trail leading to the montane forest just like that, nestling against each other, as they gazed at the montane forest….

But as time passed, the sun gradually began to drop. The sky also began to gradually darken. Lin Qingwan's heart started becoming desperate…

Yao-shi helplessly looked at Lin Qingwan's a bit vague face. Lin Qingwan looked back at her, panic evident in both of their faces. Especially Lin Qingwan, the despair in her eyes was very obvious…

Yang-shi caressed their backs as she comforted them." It would be alright, it would be alright, both of them are good children, Heavens wouldn't wish to make things difficult for them…" In fact Yang-shi was also comforting herself by doing so.

The skies were gradually getting darker and darker. Even the silhouette of the distant mountains was becoming somewhat vague. As time passed by, the despair in Lin Qingwan's heart grew even more….

Suddenly, sounds of people speaking accompanied by their footsteps could be heard vaguely from the distant montane forests. The gazes of three people got glued over in that direction.

The noises of people and the footsteps became even louder, and not long after, Lin Qingwan saw the silhouettes of several people coming out of the mountain. It was that group of young men who went into to mountains to search for Yang Tiezhu.

42

The young men, seeing three women standing from afar, were little astonished. But soon realized they must have waited here with worry in their hearts, without going back.

One of the young men yelled from there, "Yang shenzi, we found elder brother Tiezhu…." Lin Qingwan and the two people looked at each other, surprise and tears of joy evident in their eyes. Lin Qingwan rushed over to see Yang Tiezhu lying on the simple stretcher made by the youngmen using two branches.

shenzi: Aunt -used to address the older females.

At this moment, Yang Tiezhu was lying there with his eyes closed and complexion wan. His entire body, legs, shoulders, all were a mess, with blood staining all over. His shoulders were bound by a strip of messy cloth…

Yang Tiegen was walking by the stretcher with Dahei and Erhei following after him. Yang Tiegen's appearance was a complete mess; most of his clothes were torn and hanging down, with blood stained all over him. However, he didn't sustain any injuries, and the blood on him was all Yang Tiezhu's. Dahei and Erhei were following his feet. Dahei and Erhei also cut a sorry figure, with all of their fur muddy. They didn't even seem to have the strength to bark as they panted with their tongues out. Seeing Lin Qingwan come, they could only swing their tails weakly.

As he walked to them, Yang Tiegen anxiously said, "Second Brother's injury is a bit serious. Although we have wrapped his wound, the bleeding hadn't stopped."

With the matter being serious, his usual lukewarm appearance changed.

At this moment, Lin Qingwan and Yang-shi also didn't care about their grievance and tears and repeatedly urged the young men to carry him a bit faster. Yang-shi initially intended to request people to take him to the village physician, but after thinking over a bit, she asked a fast runner among the young men to go to Lizheng's place and borrow their family's old mule cart.

里正/里長 ( lǐ zhèng/lǐzhǎng): A village chief – main duties include managing household registrations and taxes

In the entire Luoxia Village, only Lizheng's jia have a mule cart, and their mules run fast, without any jolts.

The group quickly divided and went on two different roads. After arranging everything, Yang-shi explained to Lin Qingwan, "The physician in our village won't be of any help. He is only good with small headaches, fevers, and the likes. For Tiezhu's injury, we must go to town. "

Yang Tiegen also felt that the second elder brother could only be examined in the town, the physician at the village won't do. This time, it would be better for them to borrow a mule cart. A mule cart is quicker than an ox cart and could go to the town faster.

They haven't walked for a while when they saw a man rush over with a mule cart. Sitting on the cart's shaft was Lizheng jia's second son, Daniu, and a young man who had gone to borrow the cart.

As soon as the mule cart drew near, both of them hopped off the cart, and with everyone lending a hand, they quickly lifted Yang Tiezhu up.

As the space in the mule cart was a bit less, only Lin Qingwan, Yang-shi, and Yang Tiegen went. Yang Tiegen sat in the front alongside Daniu, while Yang-shi and Lin Qingwan sat behind to look after Yang Tiezhu.

After all of them got on the cart, Danniu swiftly sped the cart.

Being aware that this was a matter concerning human life, Daniu drove the cart particularly at fast speed, as the whip in his hand fell onto the black mule without stopping.

Daniu said with distress whilst whipping the big black mule, "When we go back, I will give you more feed to eat and let you have a good meal."

Lin Qingwan was also aware of the love farmers had for their domesticated animals. Feeling apologetic yet grateful, she said: "Younger brother Daniu, thank you so much."

While keeping his attention on the road ahead, Daniu replied with a smile, "It's nothing, Tiezhu and I usually have a good relationship. We both have grown up together since childhood. We are all from the same village, just a favor, nothing much."

Although at this moment the sky was getting dark, the surroundings were still visible clearly. Daniu fixed his entire attention on the road ahead, not daring to get distracted.

Lin Qingwan smiled gratefully and lowered her head to look at Yang Tiezhu. The man, usually like steel at normal times, was now weakly lying down with his eyes closed, still unconscious. The wound on his shoulder was still bleeding, although not excessive, but it looked truly frightening when mixed with the bloodstain from before.

Yang Tiegen recounted in what circumstances he found Yang Tiezhu to Lin Qingwan —

When Yang Tiegen found him, Yang Tiezhu already didn't have the strength anymore and had slumped down. Erhei beside him was glaring like a tiger watching his prey, continuously guarding him. Upon seeing Yang Tiegen, Yang Tiezhu mustered up few words before sinking into coma….

What happened was, after Yang Tiezhu went into the mountains, he wandered around the mountains for two days without catching sight of any suitable prey. Finally, he found a bear, and after expending tremendous strength, he caught the bear along with Dahei and Erhei.

After killing the bear, Dahei and Erhei saw a fox running towards them and ran after it to chase away. Meanwhile, Yang Tiezhu crouched down to handle the prey, thinking he could go home soon and see his wife, and inevitably relaxed and let his guard down.

It was precisely this short moment of relaxation and putting his guard down that caused Yang Tiezhu to be seriously injured.

It happened to be that the bear was not actually a single one, rather were two. One bear was male, while the other was female. The bear that Yang Tiezhu killed happened to be a female one. After the male bear came back, he found his wife was slaughtered by a man, and his eyes immediately became red, and without further ado, the male bear pounced on the man.

At that time, Yang Tiezhu was happily immersed in the thoughts of his wife. And by the time he reacted, he was already slammed by the male bear from behind on his left shoulder; he was almost sent flying away by that slam.

Under the attack, Yang Tiezhu seized an opportunity to roll to the side, also not forgetting to whistle in the process.

The male bear was raging with fury, and his strength when attacking was a bit stronger than usual. If it weren't for Yang Tiezhu's robust build and innately strong power as a bull, this slam would have made him lose consciousness like an average person.

Yang Tiezhu managed to retain his consciousness after being attacked. He knew that if he fainted right now, he would be screwed. After blowing a whistle, he used all of his willpower to fight with the bear….

The situation could aptly be described as life and death struggle. Fortunately, Yang Tiezhu had ample experience in fighting with wild animals. Dahei and Erhei also soon came back and continuously diverted the male bear from the side, undaunted by the danger. A man and two dogs expended a lot of strength and dealt with a male bear in the end.

The danger was resolved; however, Yang Tiezhu's situation was also quite serious. Because that was close-quarters combat, he received several injuries. But the most serious one was still the beginning one. The male bear's furious slam not only fractured Yang Tiezhu's left shoulder bone but his shoulder was also torn and was severely mangled….

His left shoulder hurt as if it was being played by a knife. Yang Tiezhu was aware that he might have injured his left shoulder bone. He could only sprinkle some wound medicine on the injury and then tied it with a strip of cloth torn from his shirt. He didn't bother about handling the male bear's skin, simply chopped two bear paws, dug out bear gall, and quickly departed with the processed female bear's parts.

The whole journey, he kept stopping in between to rest and treat his injury while rushing out of the mountain. However, the wound medicine he brought wasn't enough, and the bleeding also didn't stop. Gradually, lots of blood was lost, and he started feeling dizzy, but he still pushed himself to walk out of the mountain. Fortunately, this while, he didn't come across any large fierce animals. After walking a bit distance away from the mountain's exit, he truly couldn't walk anymore. Then, he let Erhei guard him and asked Dahei to go back home and call someone for him….

Then, Yang Tiegen led by Dahei, found Yang Tiezhu. Yang Tiegen, too didn't have the skills to treat the injury, so he could only carry on his back and walk back. Not long after, they ran into those young men who came to look for them….

Yang Tiegen wasn't clear of exactly how Yang Tiezhu got injured, but from the few words Yang Tiezhu had said to him, he could roughly get a feeling that he was injured by the bear.

After Yang Tiegen narrated the situation, he handed over the black bag he had been carrying all along on his back to Lin Qingwan.

"Second brother asked me to give this to you. In the event that something untoward happened to him, he asked you not to take it out and keep with you."

Lin Qingwan took the bundle, her finger squeezing them tightly.

"No, Tiezhu will surely be fine…" She muttered.

Yang-shi, who was sitting at the side, wiped her tears and kept saying that the child had suffered.

The mule cart, sure enough, was faster than an ox cart. Within a short while, they reached the town.

Daniu was familiar with the roads in the town and directly stopped the cart by the entrance of a big medical center. After stopping, he quickly rushed into the medical center to call the doctor.

Soon, an old doctor and his two assistants came out. The old doctor ordered to lift Yang Tiezhu in.

After settling him in, the old doctor diagnosed Yang Tiezhu's pulse before unwrapping the cloth around the wound to examine the injury.

The old doctor smacked his lips and shook his head.

Seeing the old doctor shake his head, Lin Qingwan became anxious and hurriedly asked how his condition was.

The old doctor's brows wrinkled as he looked at Yang Tiezhu and the people around.

He could see from the clothes of the patient's family members that they weren't well-off. But in conformance with the principles in heart as a doctor, he still decided to explain the situation.

Yang Tiezhu's situation wasn't actually that serious and didn't have any life threats as of the moment, but this situation was only temporary. He had lost too much blood. Furthermore, there were numerous small wounds on his body, not to mention his shoulder bones also have an issue.

In modern times, blood loss wasn't much of an issue; you would just need a blood transfusion at most. But in ancient times, medical treatment was still lacking, and excessive blood loss was actually a big issue.

It could be cured, but the old doctor was afraid that they couldn't afford the treatment.

After all, they must be country folks from the looks of their clothes; from where would they get money in large amounts for the treatment. The old doctor had been working in this town for several decades and had encountered several patients like this. It wasn't that they couldn't be treated; rather, their family couldn't afford it.

And their medical center is also not a charitable place, they could skip the consultation fees, but they can't charge from the medicines.

Upon hearing the old doctor explain the situation, Lin Qingwan's heart was relived. It can be treated. She was willing to sacrifice everything. Even if they had to sell the house, lands, and even herself (A/N: but of course, it not possible to see Wanwan), he must be treated.

Yang-shi also particularly emphasized that he must be treated.

Looking at the situation, the assistant at the side dreaded that the old doctor might yet again become soft-hearted and be deceived by people. The illness would be treated, but there wouldn't be any silver to pay. At that time, they also can't ask the patient to die. Thus, he quickly interjected from the side that the consultation fees should be a pain in advance.

All of them touched around their bodies, but no one had silver on them. Rural people usually stay at home, who would be leisure enough to carry the silver with them at all times.

The assistant lips twitched as he apprehensively jested; here is another person who talks big yet deceives their old doctor and doesn't give silver. One could not blame the assistant for being ungenerous because they truly have encountered numerous instances like this in the medical center.

Without caring of being looked down upon, Lin Qingwan grievously implored the old doctor to first treat him; tomorrow, she would surely pay the consultation fees. Even if she had to sell everything she had, she would surely repay her debts.

Seeing Lin Qingwan's resolute attitude, the old doctor felt this woman wouldn't be the sort to owe him debts and avoid the medicine money. Moreover, the patient's condition was also quite urgent, so he acquiesced and stepped forward to treat the injury.

The doctors in the medical clinic usually don't allow anyone to stand around to watch when treating the patient; as such, the assistant quickly drove the rest of them to the outer rooms.

After a good while, they were once again called in.

After entering, Lin Qingwan found all Yang Tiezhu's had been wounds treated with medicine. The old doctor had people cut ginseng into thin slices and had Yang Tiezhu suck thin slices of ginseng slices, saying that they would help Yang Tiezhu rejuvenate his vitality and help him hold on to his life.

After finishing this, the old doctor walked to the desk and began writing a prescription for Yang Tiezhu.

As he prescribed the medication, he explained all the medicinal ingredients used in the medication so that they could prepare themselves. The medicinal ingredients used weren't cheap, with a single pack of medicine costing 5 silver taels. But of course, this medicine only needs to be used for the initial few days. Once his condition stabilizes, they can switch to a cheaper one. After all, the patient had lost too much blood at a stretch.

Done with writing the prescription, the old doctor instructed his assistants to decoct medicinal herbs. With a heavy sigh, he then quickly asked them to find a way to raise the money. He could, at best, drag for two days; after all, he was but a doctor, not the owner of this medical clinic.

The old doctor was actually of a very good character for him to take care of his patients as such. If the patient cannot afford the medicine money on the spot, he bears the medicinal amount for them till they could get the money.

Lin Qingwan repeatedly expressed gratitude, assuring that someone would promptly return to bring the silver and surely not owe them.

By the time the assistant decocted the medicine and helped Yang Tiezhu drink it, it was already night.

Lizheng jia's second son, Daniu was still waiting in the medical clinic, dreading that they might need his help again.

Lin Qingwan, after discussing with Yang-shi and Yang Tiegen, decided to let them all go back home first, while Lin Qingwan would stay behind to take care of Yang Tiezhu. They could come back the next day again.

Lin Qingwan had also let Yang Tiegen go back and explain the situation to the family and let someone from the family come and settle the bill money the next day.

After discussing, Yang-shi and Yang Tigen went back in Daniu's cart, while Lin Qingwan turned around to go back to the room where Yang Tiezhu was resting.

A big medical clinic like this would have rooms for patients to rest overnight. Yang Tiezhu was resting in such a room at the moment.

Lin Qingwan stepped forward and examined Yang Tiezhu's condition. After drinking the medicine, Yang Tiezhu's condition seemed to be better; his breathing also had become stable and steady. Unlike before, when they had brought him over here, he could hardly breathe.

Lin Qingwan sat at the bedside. Gazing at Yang Tiezhu, her tears flowed out. After a while, knowing that her husband's situation was not in danger and with her nerves being stretched all this while, she fell asleep at the edge of the bed.

Lin Qingwan kept waking up frequently and didn't have a proper sleep in the middle of the night, fearing that Yang Tiezhu might develop a fever. Thus, she kept looking from time to time.

She doesn't have much knowledge, but she was nevertheless aware that developing a high fever is a major complication for this sort of injury. Having a high fever meant that the wound had inflamed. Here there are no antibiotics like Penicillin and such; it was entirely dependent upon one's physical stamina.

Fortunately, this old doctor seemed to possess excellent medical expertise. Even though the medicines he prescribed were expensive, they seemed to be pretty good. Furthermore, Yang Tiezhu was also an innately healthy person. All night, she frequently checked on him, but there weren't any signs of fever.

In a blink of an eye, after an entire night of tossing, the sky brightened soon.

No sooner than the medical center opened, Yang-shi arrived with big and small bags in her hands.

Lin Qingwan, seeing her carrying several bags, quickly took them and kept them on the table while asking why she had brought so many bags.

Gasping for breath, Yang-shi replied the weather was cold, but she didn't have any clothes, so she brought her daughter-in-law's clothes for Lin Qingwan to wear. Furthermore, she had also brought chicken eggs, processed and chopped chicken for Lin Qingwan to use the stove in the medical clinic to make a stew. Furthermore, fearing that she might have had nothing to eat, she had brought a few mantou, baozi, and the likes.

Bao and mantou are a type of steam bun. Mantuo (馒头) is usually plain with no filing and round with both sides flatten. It is eaten plain or sometimes served as a side dish.

Bao or baozi (包子) on the other hand, have either sweet or savory fillings. It is round in shape with a flat base and almost always white in color with red or yellow dots to identify its fillings. There is also a leaf bao that opens like a leaf and is usually used for adding a piece of pork in between.

The distinction between mantou and bao is not universal as the names are interchangeable and vary from region to region.

Upon hearing Yang-shi's words, Lin Qingwan felt touched beyond words and pulled Yang-shi's hands, continuously expressing her gratitude.

Yang-shi reproached her for treating her formally accorded to a guest, saying that she would ignore her in the future if she spoke like that again. Lin Qingwan quickly stopped expressing her thanks.

Both of them sat down as they casually conversed while decocting Yang Tiezhu's medicine. The first time, the assistant prepared the medicine, but from henceforth, they had to prepare by themselves and had provided them with a small stove.

After decocting the medicine, together they fed Yang Tiezhu medicine. As Yang Tiezhu was still in a coma, feeding him wasn't easy. From the side, Yang-shi helped him up, while Lin Qingwan fed slowly fed him with a small spoon.

Yang-shi looked at the color of the sky outside. It was already nearing noon at the moment. Her brows couldn't help but crease into a frown as she asked, "No one has come from Yang jia yet?" Yang-shi had always addressed Yang Tiezhu's family as such. She never called them as her younger brother's family, only addressing them as Yang jia's people.

Lin Qingwan silently shook her head.

Yesterday she had asked Yang Tiegen to notify the situation at home. She had a feeling that it wouldn't go smoothly. However, she didn't expect them to be as such. Their son was still lying down in the medical center while their daughter-in-law was taking care all alone here. Yet, forget about sending silver; they didn't even drop by to help.

If it were not for Yang-shi bringing her food, she would have been starving till now.

Yang-shi spat in contempt, not knowing what to say either.

Both of them heated up a few mantous on the stove before having them. Only in the afternoon did Yang Tiegen arrive.

No sooner than he stepped in, he squatted down, as he held his head in his hands in dismay. He lamented that he was useless for being unable to convince his parents and was unable to bring any silver. And no one from home came either…

Looking at him, with his hair messy and tears filled bloodshot eyes, Lin Qingwan felt pity. The clothes he was wearing yesterday were still hanging on him at the moment, cutting extremely a sorry figure. She hurried pulled him up.

Yang-shi stepped forward and pressed him down on the stool, and began to ask the situation.

Actually, what happened that yesterday night by the time Yang Tiezhu returned home, everyone had already gone to bed. Only his wife, Yao-shi was still waiting for him. Thinking of the urgency of the matter, he called out everyone in the family.

After everyone assembled in the main room, he briefed out the situation along with the matter about the medicine fee.

When He-shi heard the medicine, Yang Tiezhu was fed a medicine worth five taels, she went ballistic. Her mouth kept incessantly cursing the poor people's fate yet drinking such expensive medicine and whatnot. When she further heard that Lin Qingwan had asked them to bring the silver tomorrow, she jumped three feet high. She once again started cursing Lin Qingwan for believing that she was a beauty, blinding her dog eyes….

Yang laoyezi was also unable to hold her back and only let her curse as he anxiously sat there.

laoyezi: an appellation used to address elderly men.

Waiting till He-shi stopped swearing, Yang laoyezi asked everyone as to what to do? Furthermore, he asked He-shi to take out the silver and settle the bill first, considering that the medical center might stop the treatment otherwise and affecting his son's life.

Yang Tiegen was also aware of his mother's innate character. Thus he deliberately didn't mention the old doctor giving them two days' time. He simply said that the medical center had given them a pack of medicine for now.

He-shi, upon hearing him ask her to take out the silver, she resolutely disagreed. This time, she neither jumped up nor cursed. She simply said that she had no money. And further mentioned that she had let Yang Tiezhu uphill to earn the silver, not for him to spend the money at home. Moreover, she had to keep the thirty taels of silver in her hand to sell exam questions to Yang Xuezhang…

Only then did everyone in Yang jia came to know that He-shi had more than 30 silver taels in her savings, not just 20 teals.

Chaos ensued. Yang laoyezi also repeatedly grumbled, saying that if he had known He-shi having more than 30 taels with her, he wouldn't have let Yang Teizhu go into the mountains nor Yang Teizhu would have sustained the injuries.

After complaining and reproaching, he asked He-shi to take out the silver to save his life, yet He-shi didn't take it out. Neither did she make a racket; she just withheld the money without taking them out. Yang laoyezi tried to persuade her but to no avail. In the end, he was exasperated and had enough. Both of them had a big fight.

This time they truly quarreled. Previously every time when He-shi would relentlessly pounce on him, he would avoid her. But, this time for the first time ever, Yang laoyezi callously slapped her twice as he rained curses on her for being muddle-headed and unclear. As He-shi pounced on him to scratch his face, Yang laoyezi pushed her onto the kang.

He-shi, seeing that her old man doesn't seem to let her off, she resolutely pulled her belt and hung it on the roof beam of the room and broke into tears, saying that she would die if her old man wouldn't stop hitting her.

This time it was truly astonishing! He-shi would usually make a racket every time, but it was the first time she made a big fuss over trying to attempt suicide like this.

Everyone quickly pulled He-shi down. He-shi started bawling; this time, it was a real cry. With snivel and tears, He-shi wailed, lamenting her hardship over all these years, as to how poor they were formerly that they couldn't even keep the pot boiling, and how hardworking and thrifty she was in running the household…

揭不开锅 (jiēbukāiguō): (Idiom) be unable to keep the pot boiling, to be short of food/ starve.

Yang laoyezi silently squatted on the ground and took a drag on tobacco.

Seeing his wife vent like this, his heart also felt uneasy. He couldn't help but lamentably recall the time when he and He-shi were just married. At that time, He-shi was also not like was how she is now. She was also a fresh and shy young girl. Later, with days becoming hard and also the number of children increasing, her character was gradually grinded, and her temperament became worse, as she became miser and weird.

Yang Xuezhang, who had been all along silently, asked, "Mother, how much silver do you have?"

He-shi's wailing stopped and sniffled.

"I only have over 30 silver taels. All of this was saved by picking scraps all over these years….." After saying so, she once again started bawling.

Actually, this time also, He-shi had not revealed the entire silver. She really didn't have much in her hands. She simply habitually concealed a bit. However, this time, the situation was a bit different, and her old man was fierce. Thus, she concealed only a bit over ten taels.

Yang Xuezhang frowned-

After a while, he slowly said, "They have already been urging me for silver for a while. I have been dragging till now." Saying so, he sat there without saying further.

Yang laoyezi's brows frowned tightly, while He-shi, upon hearing her son, started bawling even louder. Wailing, she lamented that her son, Yang Xuezhang didn't have it easy and could not find a way to become a xucai. And now, finally, with great difficulty, he had a way….further continued that they had spent a lot of silver on Yang Xuezhang's study. Finally, they have found an opportunity…

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

The entire night was filled with chaos, yet they haven't come to any conclusion.

Yang laoyezi was squatting there the entire time, while He-shi kept wailing. And for Yang Xuezhang and Wang-shi to not make any fuss, it was also quite rare.

They silently stood at the side without uttering a word. They were also well aware that once they butt into this issue, they were bound to offend one of them. Offending any one of them wouldn't be any good to them. A such, they might as well speak anything.

Yang Tiegen once again asked about the second brother's medicine fee, but no one paid attention to him.

Afterward, Yang Tieshuan drove everyone to go to sleep, saying that father and mother would discuss how to deal with it. In fact, he could see that this kind of discussion won't have any outcome, and he was unable to hold his sleep anymore.

Yang Tiegen waited till noon the next day, but the main room door didn't open, nor did He-shi say anything about cooking lunch. Even though Yang Tiegen was slow in thinking, he could still understand his parents' intention and could only helplessly go back to explain the matter to Lin Qingwan… Finished narrating everything, Yang Tiegen grievously clutched his hair. What about the second brother? What to do now? How could father and mother be so callous?!

Yang-shi, after listening to Yang Tiegen retell the happenings, spatted and rained curses on He-shi and Yang laoyezi for lacking conscience, not even caring what would happen to their own son. Lin Qingwan expressionlessly tugged at her clothes, not saying anything. Yang Tiegen was also bitterly disappointed. How could his parents do such a thing to his second brother? In the future, someday, if something also happened to him just like his second brother, would they also ignore him?

He had devoted himself to his parents, and all his life had worked hard without any complaints. But for the first time ever, other thoughts started popping up in his brain…

The assistant from the previous day came to ask when they would pay medicine fees. Flabbergasted for a moment, Lin Qingwan hurriedly replied that they would pay by tomorrow.

The young assistant looked at them doubtfully before turning around and leaving.

Yang-shi opened her mouth at this moment, " I still have a bit of savings. For now, I will go and get them for you, alright."

Yang Tiegen, too took out a piece of silver for his pocket – the silver appeared to be about two taels worth. He handed it to Lin Qingwan.

"Second sao….second sao, this was all that we had…."

Lin Qingwan didn't accept Yang Tiegen's silver. She was aware that the third branch didn't have much silver with them.

"You take it back. I will think of a way how to get the silver by myself. " She also turned around and rejected Yang-shi. She still had a bit of savings, though it wasn't that much. She only had some 30 taels and would only be sufficient for 5 packs of medicine. For the rest of them, she still had to see what to do…..

Just as they were speaking here, Yang Tiezhu's weak and feeble sound came from behind.

"Wife…."

43

Astonished, Lin Qingwan ran to the bedside with Yang-shi and Yang Tiegen also following behind her.

To their surprise, they saw Yang Tiezhu had regained his consciousness. But the person appeared to be very weak, with his face blue and lips pale.

All of them became happy; as long as he regained his consciousness, there wouldn't be a major issue any longer. The old Doctor has also mentioned that he would be completely out of danger once the person wakes up, and they wouldn't have to worry about his life.

Yang Tiezhu forced a smile at his wife and asked in an extremely low voice: "Bundle…"

A soon as she heard the bundle, she recalled the black cloth-wrapped bundle Yang Tiegen had given her the previous day.

She picked up the wrapped cloth bundle from under the table. The previous night she had thrown this bag cloth-wrapped bundle under the table as the bag was somewhat heavy and also because the bag was giving out a particularly strong smell.

Under Yang Tiezhu's feeble instructions, Lin Qingwan untied the wrapped cloth bundle.

What greeted her sight was a big blackish bearskin. The bearskin still had a bit of flesh attached to it. Wrapped inside the skin were four bear paws that were dripping with blood. Beside the bear paws was a small bag. In it was a bluish-green-colored gall bladder-like object. Lin Qingwan guessed it to be bear's gall.

Yang Tiezhu called Yang Tiegen to come near him, and in a low voice, gave the address of place before asking him to lead Lin Qingwan to that place to deal with those things. After speaking all of this, he seemed as if he was out of energy. He stopped talking and dozed off to sleep.

After three of them discussed in low voices, Yang Tiegen led Lin Qingwan to deal with things in the bundle, while Yang-shi stayed behind to take care of Yang Tiezhu.

Lin Qingwan and Yang Tiegen left the medical center, with Yang Tiegen leading the way.

Yang Tiegen was aware of the place Yang Tiezhu was speaking about; it was a place that traded mountain products.

Luoyun town was no particularly a big town. With few turns, they soon arrived at the place.

The boss was a middle-aged man with an unkempt beard. Seeing them come in, he was puzzled, as he was almost aware of all of his customers. But he had never seen these two people.

Lin Qingwan gave the boss a smile before she revealed that Yang Tiezhu had let them come here. She also introduced herself as Yang Tiezhu's wife, and Yang Tiegen beside her as his younger brother.

Immediately, a cordial smile surfaced on the boss's face, as he said: "Last time I heard that boy saying that he would get married. I didn't expect it to be this quick."

Lin Qingwan once again exchanged few pleasantries with the boss before giving them the bundle in Yang Tiegen's hands.

The boss opened the cloth-wrapped bundle and looked into it. He spread the bearskin out and carefully scrutinized it. After inspecting the bear paws and those two gall bladder-shaped objects, he asked: "Do you want to sell all of this?"

Lin Qingwan nodded.

The boss pondered for a while and said: "Everything is good, and this bearskin is also very complete. For all of these things, I will give 50 silver taels. Dimei, you see if it is okay?"

Dimei: Younger sister (in this context)

The estimated price Yang Tiezhu said to her was not far from this one. After thinking about it, Lin Qingwan nodded her head in consent.

The boss was also a frank and straightforward person. After storing the things away, he handed Lin Qingwan a money bag.

There were altogether 10 small silver ingots in the bag, each worth 5 taels.

Lin Qingwan accepted the silver and thanked the boss before walking out of the shop with Yang Tiegen.

Yang Tiegen also felt at ease and somewhat happy. He didn't expect those few things to be solved at such a high price. Finally, he didn't have to worry about the second brother's medical fee any longer.

On the way back, Lin Qingwan asked Yang Tiegen not to tell the family regarding the silver obtained from selling the prey from Yang Tiezhu's hunting.

After thinking for a while, Yang Tiegen agreed. He was also aware that there wouldn't be any peace if he spoke of this matter to his family. If his mother makes a fuss and takes away all the money to buy questions for laosi, they won't have any means to treat the second brother's injury.

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

Don't have any misgivings; He-shi could absolutely do this sort of thing.

Both of them returned to the medical centre. Yang Tiegen went to the room, while Lin Qingwan went to settle the fees.

While they were out, the Old Doctor, upon hearing that the patient had regained consciousness, once again examined Yang Tiezhu's injury and had asked him to give that medicine worth 5 taels five more times. After that, he could switch to a bit of normal medicine. Along with the medication, he had also prescribed Jinchuang ointment. The old physician then totaled up the bill. The cost of herbs used to concoct the medication, the cost of Jinchuang ointment, and the consultation fees altogether totaled up to 36 silver taels.

Jinchuang (金创) ointment in a traditional Chinese ointment, which possesses excellent wound-healing properties.

In the present situation, Yang Tiezhu still couldn't move even a bit. Thus, it was better for him to rest in the medical center for the next few days; thus, they would still have to pay charges for the room. Lin Qingwan, altogether, paid 40 taels of silver in advance and asked the Old Doctor to reimburse if the silver is left out in the end. Actually, Lin Qingwan was reluctant to go back to the home at the moment. Fearing that once she sees them, she might be unable to hold herself back from chopping all of them.

By the time Lin Qingwan returned to the room, Yang Tiezhu had already fallen into sleep.

Yang Tiegen intended to go back home, as the room was too small, and there wasn't any place to stay either. Before leaving, he told them that he would send Yao-shi the next day to lend them a hand.

Yang-shi decided not to go back today and keep watch on Yang Tiezhu. Yesterday, after a day of tossing, Lin Qingwan couldn't get to have a night of proper sleep either; thus, she wanted to let her have rest tonight.

Lin Qingwan gratefully smiled and said accepted her help. Tomorrow, anyhow, the third dimei would be coming; she could let Yang-shi go back then as she was too old to handle this kind of tossing.

dimei: Younger brother's wife

Yang-shi also emphasized to Yang Tiegen to say all the medical expenses were borne by her if someone at home asked about it. It's better not to say much now if anyone asked about it. Besides, everyone is aware that Yang-shi's son works as a shopkeeper in the county and is financially stable.

Yang Tiegen nodded and assured them.

After Yang Tiegen left, Lin Qingwan went to the medical center to borrow an earthen jar. The medical center often has patients staying to recuperate, thus naturally won't lack these things. They even have a small kitchen, which patients' family members use to cook meals. Even rice and noodles were also provided on a payment basis.

After Lin Qingwan put the chicken brought by Yang-shi for simmering, she again went to the medical center to buy rice noodles, vegetables, and the likes. She thought it was convenient to use ingredients from the medical center, but they were too expensive compared to what was sold outside. Currently, their situation wasn't good; thus, she wanted to save as much as possible.

By the time Qingwan came back, it was already twilight.

The chicken was more or less stewed. Lin Qingwan washed the shiitake mushrooms and added them into the pot. She then stir-fried few vegetables and heated the mantou, and baozi Yang-shi brought.

When she took all of them back to the room, Lin Qingwan found that Yang Tiezhu, who had been all along sleeping, had woken up and was chatting with Yang-shi.

As soon as Yang Tiezhu saw Lin Qingwan, his eyes brightened. Lin Qingwan and Yang-shi carefully helped him lean against the quilt. Just a slight movement made Yang Tiezhu grimace in pain. Seeing this, both of them didn't dare to let him further up.

Lin Qingwan let Yang-shi have dinner first, while she fed Yang Tiezhu a bit of chicken soup.

As the old doctor had cautioned them that the patient could only eat light liquid diets, Lin Qingwan skimmed off the oil on the chicken soup before transferring a little into small bowl to feed him.

As Yang Tiezhu leaned in to help his wife feed him, his eyes couldn't become slightly wet.

At one moment, he had thought he would even lose his life this time. But when he recalled his wife at home, he was extremely unwilling. He, nevertheless, didn't expect to survive through the ordeal….

Earlier, after he had woken up, Yang-shi had told him about Yang jia's responses.

He was already aware it would be like this long ago. He truly didn't have any expectations from them either. That's why he also didn't feel much hurt.

Between the money and him, He-shi would always choose silver. Between Yang Xuezhang and him also, Yang laoyezi and He-shi would always choose Yang Xuezhang. Even if at this side his life was at stake, over there it was nevertheless laosi who could become a xucai….

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

Fortunately, he had considered this. Fearing that if he passed away, his wife would have to endure hardships, he let laosan take the game directly to his wife and didn't send it home. This was to let himself have a way out….

laosan: appellation used by family members to address third eldest in the family

After this matter, he doesn't want to dwell on things anymore. Henceforward, he would only have his wife, his eldest gu, and his third younger brother. The rest of the family members won't be able to cause billows in his eyes anymore…..

姑 (gū) : father's oldest sister

After Lin Qingwan fed him chicken soup, she brought the medicine simmering on the stove to feed him. This one pack of medicine worth 5 silver can only be concocted for one day. This medicine had to be taken post-meal 3 times a day; one cup in the morning, one cup in the afternoon, and one cup at night.

By the time Yang Tiezhu was done drinking medicine, Yang-shi was also done eating dinner. Both of them once again helped him lie down. After forcing himself to sit down all this while, Yang Tiezhu became tired and fell asleep soon after lying down.

Lin Qingwan returned to the table and ate some mantou and baozi along with the chicken soup.

Finished eating, she took all the dishes to the kitchen and washed them. After Lin Qingwan returned to the room, Yang-shi asked her to take a rest and assured her that she would look after him tonight.

After thinking for a while, she went to look for the assistant in the medical center to ask for another room beside Yang Tiezhu's. After all, they would have to stay here for several days, and they can't have a place to sleep.

After sleeping for a little over 2 shichen, Lin Qingwan once again got up and had Yang-shi go sleep. Yang-shi was, after all, older in age, and can't be awake all night and had already fallen asleep by the bedside when she went into the room.

时辰 (shíchen): 1 shichen is equal to two hours.

After sending Yang-shi to have a rest, Lin Qingwan turned around to see that Yang Tiezhu also had woken up and was looking at her brightly at the moment.

Glaring at him, she sat by the bedside.

"You almost scared me to the death this time…" Only at this time, when Yang Tiezhu's condition had stabilized, Lin Qingwan showed her worry a little.

Yang Tiezhu, with remorse all over his face, again and again, said that he wouldn't let this happen again. After a while, his face suddenly reddened with blush as he called his wife in a low voice.

Puzzled, Lin Qingwan looked at him suspiciously, only to see bashfulness across his wife. She then suddenly remembered something.

"Do you…Do you…want to use the restroom…" Lin Qingwan uneasily asked, not daring to look at Yang Tiezhu as her face reddened with shyness.

Yang Tiezhu slightly nodded, also feeling embarrassed.

Lin Qingwan quickly stood up and bent down to get the chamber pot, recalling the words of the assistant saying that there is a chamber pot below the bed.

After getting the chamber pot, Lin Qingwan stood blankly, not knowing what to do, feeling bewildered and embarrassed.

Yang Tiezhu was also equally embarrassed, but he can't hold back any longer. Actually, he was already awake when Yang-shi was here, but he was too embarrassed to open his mouth. After Lin Qingwan came, he thought there shouldn't be anything between husband and wife. Thus he called wife.

Who would have imagined telling his wife was also embarrassing. Her wife's face was too thin, as her face almost seemed to be dripping with blood.

But no matter how shy the person, one ought to answer nature's call, and was particularly unbearable. In the end, Yang Tiezhu instructed Lin Qingwan to help him out. During this time, both of them were very much itching to cover their faces.

Getting it done in a flurry, Qingwan felt herself sweating all over, while Yang Tiezhu was also very tired. His body was originally weak, and after all this, he soon fell into a deep sleep.

Lin Qingwan went out and washed her hands before once again sitting by the bedside, with a blush on her face as she indulged in flights of fancy for half a day. It was also unknown what she was thinking about. After a while, seeing that Yang Tiezhu had fallen asleep, with silence all around, she also laid down at the bedside for a short while.

胡思乱想 (húsīluànxiǎng): to indulge in flights of fancy (idiom) / to let one's imagination run wild

The next day, early in the morning, Yang Tiegen came along with Yao-shi. They had brought Yang Tiezhu's and Lin Qingwan's thick clothes, along with the needlework basket. This was what Lin Qingwan had specially asked them to get. After all, other than feeding Yang Tiezhu his meals and medicine, there was nothing else to do here. Also, she can't just sit idly all day long.

Lin Qingwan had asked Yang-shi to go back and have a good rest for a few days, as for the past few days, Yang-shi was also shuttling from here to there.

Yang Tiezhu had also asked Yang-shi to take back some wound healing medicines for Dahei and Erhei. Both of them were also injured, but all of them were light injuries, nothing serious.

Yang-shi glared at Yang Tiezhu, saying he doesn't have to remind her about these. After going back, she would let the village physician take a look at them. Further adding that those two dogs were not just raised by him, she had also raised them.

Yang Tiezhu was suddenly a bit embarrassed.

Yang-shi once again spoke a few words with Lin Qingwan before going back. Yang Tiegen, fearing that it would be inconvenient for two women, went and brought few vegetables for them after hearing that Lin Qingwan had bought rice noodles.

Both of them spent their days at the medical center in this manner. Taking care of Yang Tiezhu's diet every day, wiping his body, and helping him to relive himself, such things were all done by Lin Qingwan.

When they had nothing to do, they would sit in the room and do needlework whilst chatting. In this fashion, time also passed quickly.

During this period, the Old Doctor changed Yang Tiezhu's dressing several times. The prescribed concoction he used to drink in the beginning was also replaced with another one.

In between, Yang-shi also came twice and brought them home-cooked food. In Yang jia, apart from Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi, no one dropped by.

Also don't know what they were thinking. Even if they didn't pay any silver, can't they at least drop by to visit the patient? Lin Qingwan's heart was surging with indignation. However, in front of Yang Tiezhu, she didn't say anything unpleasant, fearing that she might hurt his heart.

Yang Tiezhu was also quite indifferent to no one in the family coming. He sincerely recuperated to heal his wound. And once in a while, when Yao-shi was not present, he would try to get Lin Qingwan's pity by acting a bit coquettish.

Only at this moment did Lin Qingwan come to know that this guy was unexpectedly quite good at acting coquettish. Don't be fooled by his big burly physique. When acting coquettish, he was totally natural, with his wet eyes, he completely appeared pitiful and weak. Every time she couldn't help but go and pat his head and console him.

Yang Tiezhu's health was in good condition. Not long after, he regained his spirit. After few days, he was able to walk a few steps slowly with Lin QIngwan's support. But only a few steps, and also his left shoulder still couldn't be moved an inch.

When the old doctor changed Yang Tiezhu's dressing last time, Lin Qingwan saw the wound; a thin layer of scab had already formed….

Once Yang Tiezhu was able to move, Lin Qingwan asked Yao-shi to go back. She can't always stay here. Yao-shi still has housework to do and also had to take care of two children.

After another two days, the old doctor informed them that they could go home.

He also briefed them on a couple of precautions that need to be taken care of – He had to continue the medicine he had prescribed till it was finished. The wound can't get wet, and for the next few days, he had to come back regularly to get the dressing changed. And he also needs to take more food that nourishes qi and blood. Yang Tiezhu had injured his shoulder bones and tendons and must properly recuperate his wounds at home. It takes hundred days for the bone to knit and tendons to heal. Before that, he can't do heavy work. Or else it might leave behind root problems in the future….

Lin Qingwan kept the old doctor's every word in her mind.

Now was different from her past life. As long as it wasn't a terminal illness, it could be cured. But even the slightest negligence might leave behind a root problem, or in severe cases, it might even cost a person's life. Lin Qingwan didn't dare to take such risks in the case of Yang Tiezhu.

The day Yang Tiezhu was discharged, Yang Tiegen came to pick them up. Yang-shi also wanted to come, but Lin QIingwan didn't let her, fearing that shutting here and there might tire her out. As Yang Tiezhu was still recovering from serious injury, and the days outside were also colder, Lin Qingwan gave Yang Tiezhu silver and had him specifically bring a horse carriage from Rental Carriage Dealer.

After packing everything up and clearing the bill in the medical center, Lin Qingwan calculated the silver spent. After adding everything, from the 50 teals of silver, they got in an exchange with Yang Tiezhu's game, a bit less than 10 taels were left out.

In other words, they had still made 10 taels this time? But looking at Yang Tiezhu's weak state, Lin Qingwan secretly decided to not let Yang Tiezhu go into the mountains again in the future.

After the carriage came, the three of them got into the carriage. As Yang Tiezhu couldn't sit for a long time, he leaned against the carriage walls. With the thick clothes cushioning him from below, he didn't feel much jolts.

Not only the horse carriage didn't have many jolts as in ox cart, the carriage walls also blocked the wind.

After arriving at Yang jia, Yang Tiegen helped Lin Qingwan carry the bags into the room. After which, both of them together helped Yang Tiegen walk into the room.

Yao-shi had already cleaned the second branch room two days earlier. Thus, as soon as they entered the room, Lin Qingwan and Yang Tiegen helped Yang Tiegen lay on kang.

Yang Tiezhu's brows bead with sweat from pain just from this short walk. After he laid down, Lin Qingwan untied his clothes to check on the wound. Fortunately, there wasn't any bleeding.

At this time, Yang laoyezi pushed open the door and came in.

"Tiezhu , how's the injury?" Yang laoyezi's complexion was quite poor. Having not seen him for about 10 days, he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight, with dark circles formed under his eyes. Compared to before, he also seemed to be a bit older. There were also scars on the face. Apparently, he didn't have any fewer fights with He-shi in the past few days. However, He-shi also seemed to be rather fierce this time. Usually, she seldom left a scar on Yang laoyezi's face. But this time, she didn't seem to have been lenient on him.

Yang Tiezhu glanced at his father but remained silent, not knowing what to say. This time, after surviving by the skin of teeth, he felt unusually strange upon seeing Yang laoyezi.

Laoyezi: an appellation used to address the elderly male

Lin Qingwan pulled the corners of her mouth, unconsciously wanting to smile; nevertheless, it was quite hard for her to muster. After a few days of adjusting, although she wasn't as angry as she was at the beginning, she still couldn't give them a good face.

"He didn't die but injured his shoulder and arms. The doctor had asked to properly rest and avoid heavy work."

Her tone wasn't good, but it was also understandable. Yang Tiezhu went into the mountains for family, but when he came back injured, not only did they not take care of him, they didn't even come to visit him. Under such a situation, no one would have a good tone.

If after getting injured, Yang Tiezhu forgot to bring back the game, and if she still didn't have some private savings….

Then when Yang Tiezhu got injured this time, wouldn't they have been in deadlock? The family didn't take out any silver; the medical center would also not treat patients for free of charge; in such case, what would Yang Tiezhu's situation have been….

Lin Qingwan didn't even dare to fathom… When these thoughts arose, she felt cold chill her from top to bottom. Her hatred for the group of people increased all the more.

Yang laoyezi silently nodded, "It's good that you have returned…. Properly take rest…" After speaking, with his waist bent, he walked out of the door.

He could see that his son and daughter-in-law don't want to see him at the moment, truly didn't want to see him. In their place, if there was someone else, they would also be like this….

After Yang laoyezi left, Yang Tiegen also followed left after him, leaving space for young couple.

Lin Qingwan tucked Yang Tiezhu in the quilt before turning around and getting busy.

After taking a look at the cubicle, she went to the courtyard to draw water. It's been quite a long time since she and Yang Tiezhu had taken a bath. Also, Yang Tiezhu had too many bloodstains on him. In the hospital, she had just wiped them. She wanted to take a hot water bath and also wipe Yang Tiezhu's body.

Wang-shi was basking in the sun in the yard while He-shi was sitting by the main room's door. But both of them didn't dare to speak with her.

Lin Qingwan also continued to draw water, disregarding both of them as if they didn't exist.

The water in the water tub in their cubicle was always filled by Yang Tiezhu. He knew that his wife wasn't strong enough; she could only carry half a bucket of water every time. He also couldn't see his wife get tired, so he took the initiative to fill the water tub every time before even Lin Qingwan asked.

But now that Yang Tiezhu was bedridden with injuries, Lin Qinhwan had to do it by herself.

She also didn't think about this much. If she couldn't fill the bucket to full, she just took half a bucket of water at a time. With a few more trips, the water tub would be filled to the brim.

When Yang Tiezhu saw Lin Qingwan carrying half a bucket every time into the room, his eyes became red with distress, and he couldn't help but loathe his current powerlessness.

After filling the water vat, she put it on the stove to boil them. Then Lin Qingwan went and sat on the kang while wiping her sweat.

"Wife, you have worked hard." Lin Qingwan gave him a careless smile and looked at him in askance, "Is it hard to get a bit of water? I am not that delicate, alright?"

But Yang Tiezhu just felt that his wife had worked hard, his face creased into a crumpled ball in distress.

Looking at his silly appearance, Lin Qingwan's smile became even brighter and softly said: "Alright, in a while, I will go take a bath and then wipe your body. Your injury hasn't healed yet; you can't get it wet."

Once the water was ready, Lin Qingwan went into the cubicle to take a bath. Upon hearing the sound of water from the cubicle and imagining the charming appearance of his wife when taking a bath, Yang Tiezhu couldn't help but become a bit irritable.

He fiercely glanced at his left shoulder, lamenting when it would heal and when he would be able to have 'happy' days yet again!

After Lin Qingwan had a bath, she came out with a basin of hot water.

First, she helped Yang Tiezhu take off his shirt and began to wipe his torso and arms with hot water. As, when in the medical center, she had frequently done this, Lin Qingwan wasn't that startled when doing such intimate things with Yang Tiezhu at the moment.

Looking at his wife's small face, which had become red from the steam, looking at her only in underclothes and underpants, and further looking at the faintly visible chest through aqua blue duduo…. Yang Tiezhu couldn't help but gulp….

dùdōu: undergarment covering the chest and abdomen

After looking, again and again, his hand couldn't help but secretly go up.

Lin Qingwan slapped his hand away as she glared at him, displeased. It hadn't been long, already this dishonest!

As he looked at her, Yang Tiezhu's appearance was a mixture of both suffering and pleading, just like a cat on a hot tin roof.

热锅上的蚂蚁 (règuōshangdemǎyǐ): a cat on a hot tin roof / anxious/agitated

Lin Qingwan's face couldn't help but redden.

"Wifey…" Yang Tiezhu whispered Lin Qingwan's ear, feeling aroused.

Lin Qingwan knew what he was thinking.

At that time, in the medical center also it was the same. When she helped him draw water and wipe his body, he was also extremely excited. Until midnight, till she changed turns with Yao-shi, he hadn't fallen asleep, and pulled her hand, insisting on helping him, even disregarding his pale complexion and illness.

Yang Tiezhu, seeing that his wife remained unmoved, Yang Tiezhu blew another breath in her ear.

"Wife, I miss you… I really miss you…" The hot breath by her ear coupled with his hoarse voice stimulated Lin Qingwan's nerve endings, making her head go blank suddenly.

Once Lin Qingwan responded, Yang Tiezhu held her hand and began to get busy …

Lin Qingwan's face became even redder, and her brain exploded at once and became blank. She could only woodenly sit there and let him continue…

The last time also, he did the same….

Just when Lin Qingwan was about to collapse from embarrassment, Yang Tiezhu quickly resolved the matter.

He was aware that his wife was thin-skinned, and if played for long, she would surely fly into a rage out of embarrassment. Thus, he hastily sped up the matter.

Yang Tiezhu shamelessly wiped his wife's hands with the cloth his wife was previously wiping his body. While wiping his wife's small hand with his one hand, he showed a satiated smile.

Lin Qingwan was simply dumbfounded, also not knowing what to say. She quickly ran to the cubicle to rinse the cloth.

It took her a while to come out. Even after coming out, she was still blushing and didn't continue wiping Yang Tiezhu's body anymore. Yang Tiezhu hurriedly covered himself up with a quilt and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. Lin Qingwan was once again embarrassed yet furious as she cursed at him in her heart. She had just sat down to calm herself when Yao-shi's voice came from outside, calling her for lunch. She replied back and hurriedly dashed out.

Seeing Lin Qingwan walk in, all the people sitting in the main room for lunch had peculiar expressions on their faces, and everyone became silent. Even the children became silent, seeing that the atmosphere in the room wasn't right, too afraid to speak anything.

Ignoring everyone's expressions, Lin Qingwan took two bowls of rice, added few vegetables on top of it, turned around, and left.

He-shi's lips trembled with anger, unable to speak for a while. Finally, she spatted, "Does this old lady owes her something or what? Who is she giving that look for? Yang laoyezi sighed and glared at her, " Laoer and her wife are feeling uncomfortable in their hearts. You let them be and let them pass this difficult time." He-shi's face deflated, not making a sound. Yang Xuezhang expressionlessly picked his rice. Yang Tieshuan was still languid and careless as always. Wang-shi smirked as she thought – if it were her, she would have fought them as her life depended on it! But she nevertheless didn't dare to speak these words out, fearing to be targeted by the multitude of arrows.

众矢之的 (zhòngshǐzhīdì): lit. target of a multitude of arrows (idiom); the butt of public criticism / attacked on all sides

While Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi, this husband and wife, continued to eat with their heads down as if nothing has happened.

Lin Qingwan went back to the room with the rice to eat, making Yang Tiegen a bit surprised. But soon, the surprise dissipated and became calm. He could understand his wife's thoughts. If it was him, he would also be unable to eat with those people.

Lin Qingwan took a bowl of rice and first fed Yang Tiezhu while pondering over a certain issue on the other hand.

Seeing his wife was unhappy, Yang Tiezhu also didn't dare to say anything as he silently ate what his wife fed him.

Waiting till Yang Tiezhu finished eating, Lin Qingwan opened her mouth: "This won't do, you have to nourish your body. How could you possibly eat this kind of food every day?"

44

After Lin Qingwan came back this time, she found that the quality of the food at home has yet again decreased, even worse than before. The rice in the meals has also changed to mixed coarse cereals, and the portion per individual also seemed to has dwindled a lot.

Here the Chinese term used for mixed cereals was 杂粮 (záliáng). Which usually refers to various minor coarse cereals other than five major crops (soybeans (豆), wheat (麦), broomcorn (黍), foxtail millet (稷), and rice). The mixed cereals include sorghum, millet, buckwheat, naked oats, naked barley, mung beans, kidney beans, fava beans, cowpea, lentils job's tears, amaranth, and the likes.

What she didn't know was as Yang Tiezhu sustained injuries this time and didn't get any silver, as such in order to pool 50 silver taels for Yang Tiezhu, He-shi, and Yang laoyezi had to sell a good amount of the food cereals at home. He-shi's private savings were also nearly hallowed out. As such, the quality of the food at home has diminished had lot.

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

Yang Tiezhu gave out a bitter laugh in his heart. For He-shi to give him preferential treatment? That's even harder than reaching the sky.

比登天还难 (bǐdēngtiānháinán): lit. even harder than reaching the sky (idiom) / fig. extremely difficult / far from an easy task

As Lin Qingwan was having the meal, various thoughts were mulling over in her heart. Finally, she made up her heart….

"Let's get a small kitchen for ourselves, alright?" Yang Tiezhu looked at his wife, not knowing what to say.

Lin Qingwan also didn't wait for Yang Tiezhu's opinion. Usually, when she resolves to do something, she had to do it by any means.

"We happen to have a stove in the small cubicle. Remodeling it to build a small kitchen for you shouldn't be much of an issue."

After thinking for a while, Yang Tiezhu also felt it was a pretty good idea. Although he didn't feel eating that food wasn't much of a matter, he can't simply oppose her idea when his wife was worried over his health. Furthermore, he also felt that the food at home was not as good as before when eating lunch today. But then, after pondering for a while, he could also understand how this all came about to be.

"Once take a look at what all need to be done. I will then speak with the third younger brother and have him help you out."

The matter of having a small kitchen was set in such a manner.

Lin Qingwan, after thinking it over, went to the main house to speak with Yang laoyezi and He-shi.

Lin Qingwan retold the Old Doctor's words to Yang laoyezi, saying that this time around Yang Tiezhu had barely survived by the skin of his teeth and had sustained heavy injuries and suffered severe blood loss. He has to recuperate properly. As such, they were planning to build a small kitchen for Yang Tiezhu.

Once Yang loayezi heard her words, he agreed. However, he didn't ask Lin Qingwan if she had sufficient silver and such to build a small kitchen. While He-shi had a long face, she didn't oppose either, merely mentioning that there is nothing at home to give them for setting up a small kitchen.

Lin Qingwan didn't pay heed to her, and after receiving Yang laoyezi's consent, she turned around and to go and look for Yang Tiegen. All along, Lin Qingwan's entire face remained stiff. She neither intended to be cordial with them like before nor did she want to force herself to do so.

The only thoughts running in her brain were how she could remodel the cubicle to the small kitchen to make it much easier. She wanted to add modifications to the stove in the small cubicle, because at that time when Yang Tiezhu had the small stove built for simply boiling the water. Thus if she wanted to cook on it, it certainly would not be enough. Anyway, there was still quite a bit of left-out space in the cubicle. Thus she wanted to utilize that space to make the kitchen much more convenient.

After listening to her plan, Yao-shi discussed it with Yang Tiegen and decided to also renovate the third branch's room just like the second branch's room. Previously she had already intended to have a small cubicle like a second branch's room. As such, as they are anyhow hiring a mason, they can just hire one together.

They hired the same mason that Yang Tiezhu had called previously. Although Yang Tiegen can't build the stove platform by himself, he can nevertheless help from the side. Thus building a stove platform was soon done in the second branch's room.

After long consideration, Lin Qingwan had tweaked the cubicle's layout. She didn't tweak it much, she simply had a wall built between the stove and the chamber pot to partition the two spaces into individual rooms and hung a curtain at the entrance. In the same way, she also had a small wall built by the bathtub and hung a curtain as a partition. In this manner, a separate area for bathing was also built.

Then she found a carpenter in the village and had him make a simple row of shelves near the wall, to store the commodities in the kitchen.

Once the mason was done remodeling the second branch's room, he went to remodel the third branch's room.

When He-shi saw some work going on in the third branch's room, the complexion of her face changed. She immediately called Yang Tiegen to inquire. Only then did she come to know that the third branch was also building a separate cubicle for the bath. She couldn't help but scold them for recklessly wasting the silver. But the mason had already started working; He-shi can't just have the person go back. Knowing that it was all because of Loaer's wife, she couldn't but treat Lin Qingwan even more harshly.

Lin Qingwan didn't care if He-shi was giving her a good face or not. Anyway, He-shi didn't like her before too. If she had to wrong herself and her man in order for He-shi to give her a good face, she rather not. Besides, she had no need to get in He-shi's and Yang laoyezi's good graces. Currently, they were living their own lives. The only reason they were still wronging themselves to live in this manner was only that the situation forced them as such.

The kitchen was set up; however, they didn't have much stuff. Thus, Lin Qingwan decided to go to the town.

Yao-shi also went along with Lin Qingwan. One, to accompany Lin Qingwan, and second, she was done with needlework and wanted to hand over the work. Lin Qingwan was also done embroidering the pouches, so she also took them along with her.

Reaching the town, both of them first went to the Jinxiufang to turn over their work and to also receive more work to take back home. Lin Qingwan earned 360 wen, while Yao-shi received 120 wen.

文 (wén): A currency denomination used in China in imperial times. A string of 1000 wén was supposed to be equal in value to one tael (liǎng) of pure silver

Looking at the small pouch of copper coins in her hand, Lin Qingwan felt it was like pouring a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood.

杯水车薪 (bēishuǐchēxīn): lit. a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood (idiom); fig. an utterly inadequate measure

Although she and Yang Tiezhu still had around 40 taels of silver. Lin Qingwan still couldn't help but feel the crisis. It was still unknown by when can Yang Tiezhu fully recover, and for a short while can't go out to earn money. In the home, too, she had just renovated the kitchen and had ordered the carpenter to make a wood shelf. Additionally, she still had to buy the kitchen supplies.

Lin Qingwan estimated that all of these would approximately cost around 4- 5 teals. And they still need to buy ingredients by themselves to make food for Yang Tiezhu, which is another expense.

For at least the upcoming three months, they won't have any income. Inescapably, Lin Qingwan's thoughts fell on how to open a water source and reduce outflow. She can't not buy all of these things. These are the things she needs to buy by all means. As such, she had to increase her income.

开源节流 (kāiyuánjiéliú): lit. to open a water source and reduce outflow (idiom); to increase income and save on spending / to broaden the sources of income and economize on expenditure

After pondering for a while, Lin Qingwan bought a few high-quality embroidery threads, a finest silk fabric, and embroidery frames from Jinxiufang. Yao-shi didn't understand why Lin Qingwan was making such a reckless expense. But Jinxiufang's shopkeeper Su understood after a moment. She couldn't help but look forward to what sort of embroidery article Lin Qingwan would bring.

After receiving the embroidery work and buying the embroidery thread, Lin Qingwan led Yao-shi to buy kitchen supplies. As most of the bought things were ironware, they were slightly expensive, a little over one tael.

After buying everything, they left all of them in the shop itself for a while as they were too heavy for two women to lift. After which, Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi went to the town market to buy rice noodles and tableware, and few condiments. She also bought few pig trotters, chicken meat, and few vegetables.

Yao-shi was quite excited about being able to earn 120 taels today. As such, for first time ever, she generously bought a few sweets, cakes, candies, and such for her two children at home.

By the time they were done with all this, it was already noon.

Lin Qingwan pulled Yao-shi to look for a noodle stall to have a seat to have lunch first.

The noodles sold here were Clear Soupy Noodles with just a few green vegetables here and there. And this simple small bowl of noodles cost 3 wen.

Thinking that it was too expensive, Yao-shi asked Lin Qingwan to simply buy a few mantous.

Lin Qingwan ignored her words and forcibly pulled her to take a seat. Persuading her that eating here was just secondary, the main reason was that they could rest here for a while.

Indeed, people who ordered mantou didn't get to sit on the chairs. They can only squat in the corner and eat. Two women squatting in the corner and nibbling on a mantou, how disgraceful would it be…. Just imagining such a scene made Lin Qingwan dispel the idea of saving money.

After thinking for a while, Yao-shi also felt she was drained from all the walking since morning. Thus she didn't object anymore.

Soon, the boss came out with a bowl of noodles.

They soon dug into a bowl of noodles. Lin Qingwan was speechless, looking at the noodles. There was nothing special in it, just a few pieces of vegetables. There wasn't even a chunk of meat in it. However, the noodles were made of wheat flour and tasted good. Yao-shi found them very delicious because year in year out, they only ate noodles made of coarse grains in Yang jia. Harvested grains like wheat were all exchanged with silver.

After eating the noodles and having ample rest, Lin Qingwan paid for the noodles and got up with Yao-shi.

Once again, they went to the market to buy the things they didn't get in the morning before going to Rental Carriage Dealer to hire an ox cart.

Lin Qingwan had bought too many things and were quite heavy. Without hiring a cart, just two of them would be unable to carry them. After negotiating the hiring fare with the owner, they agreed with 20 wen to carry all the things to the carriage and send them to the Luoxia village.

They all then went to the ironware shop, where the boss of the ox cart helped them carry all the things into the carriage. After which, Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi sat on the cart and set off to Luoxia village.

Back in Yun jia, seeing them coming back, Yang Tiegen welcomed them by Yun jia's gates and helped Lin Qingwan carry all the things to the second branch's room. When Wang-shi saw Lin Qingwan return with so many things, she walked to them.

"Aiyo, second dimei, you bought so many things?"

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother's wife

Lin Qingwan put on a fake smile and said: "I can't do anything about it. I have to cook for Yang Tiezhu every day specially. I can't always hoard on the stove in the house and inconvenience you from having meals. It would be more convenient to buy everything by myself."

"Aiyo, there are so many things! They must have costed a ton, right?"

Ignoring her, Lin Qingwan paid the fare to the ox cart owner. This while, Yang Tiegen had already carried everything in.

Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi strode into the courtyard, with Wang-shi also following behind them.

"Aiyo, third dimei, you must be quite rich to buy so many things?" Seeing Lin Qingwan ignoring her, Wang-shi's eyes once again fell on the small bag in Yao-shi's hands.

In it were the embroidery work Yao-shi brought home, along with some candies and cakes she bought for the kids.

Lin Qingwan secretly rolled her eyes before turning around and taking the bag from Yao-shi's hands. She then said to Wang-shi, "Eldest sao, these weren't bought by the third dime. They are mine."

sǎo: elder brother's wife

Wang-shi angrily curled her lips. The third branch was quite poor. From where would they get money to buy things?!

But after thinking about it again, the second branch bought these many things and must have spent a lot of silver. But where did they get silver from? Furthermore, Yang Tiezhu didn't seem to have gotten money for medicine from the family. From where did the second branch get this much silver?

Thinking of this, her eyes couldn't help but brighten up.

"Second dimei, your second branch might have quite a lot of savings. You didn't get the money for second younger brother's treatment from the family either. Moreover, you bought so many things yet again."

He-shi, who had all along been watching here as she stood by the main room's entrance, upon hearing Wang-shi mention the pot that doesn't boil, immediately yelled, "Wang-shi, other than eating till you are full, don't you have anything to do? Quickly come here and help me wash mine and your father's clothes!"

哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎhúbùkāitínǎhú): lit. mention the pot that doesn't boil (idiom); to touch a sore spot / to talk about sb's weak point

Hearing this, Lin Qingwan replied to Wang-shi in a loud voice: "Eldest sao, you care so much about our second branch, ah! Otherwise, how about you give us some silver? It just so happens that we are very much lacking silver at the moment and are still in 'debts'."

Recalling the second branch's expensive medicine fees, Wang-shi quickly waved her hand, "From where will I have silver?"

"When you don't have silver, why do you care so much about our matters?"

With an eye-roll, Wang-shi counterattacked, "After taking a look at your hefty expenses, you haven't taken silver from the family either; you must have quite a bit of savings, no?"

"Eldest sao, you don't know, but it's been quite a hard on us recently. The family didn't take out any silver for Tiezhu's medicinal expenses. We were in a critical situation as if the fire was singeing our eyebrows. There was nothing we could do at that moment. I had no choice but to look for the eldest gu to borrow a bit of silver and also had to pawn my silver hairpin. Only then was I barely able to pay for Yang Tiezhu's treatment." Lin Qingwan tilted her eyes and meaningfully looked at the He-shi who was standing by the main room's door and listening to this side. She turned around and asked, "Mother, you see if you can give a bit of silver so that I can repay all the money I owe eldest gu? I won't mention my silver hairpin, but I can't not repay eldest gu!

火烧眉毛 (huǒshāoméimao): fire singes one's eyebrows; desperate situation / extreme emergency

姑 (gū): father's oldest sister

Annoyed, He-shi glared at Wang-shi before turning to look at Lin Qingwan with wide eyes.

"This old lady doesn't have any silver to give you to repay your debts!" Saying so, she turned her body and quickly entered the main room, yet not forgetting to scowl at Wang-shi and bellow at her, "Wang-shi, you come here and wash mine and your father's clothes."

Seeing the look on He-shi's face, Wang-shi suddenly realized that she dug a pit for herself. She glared at Lin Qingwan and quickly turned around to run towards the main room.

Lin Qingwan smirked and marched towards her room while saying to Yao-shi, "Third dimei, you can leave your things here for now. Wait till the night before you come to take your things, lest they see you and make trouble for you yet again."

Yao-shi gratefully nodded her head. For a moment, being watched by Wang-shi as such, she was truly nervous, fearing that Wang-shi might come to know that she was receiving work from outside and make a big fuss. Fortunately, second sao covered her.

Yang Tiegen, after keeping all the things in the room, went back. He was still quite busy helping the mason remodel their room. Yao-shi, also seeing that there was nothing she could do here, went back to her room.

Back in the room, Lin Qingwan first took a seat and poured herself a glass of water, and drank in one go.

Seated on the kang, Yang Tiezhu pitifully looked at her.

"Wifey, you have been out for so long." With a glass in her hands, Lin Qingwan sat on the kang, feeling amused.

"What's the matter? Missed me?" Yang Tiezhu anxiously nodded, his pair of eyes as wet like a newborn puppy, looking extremely adorable

Lin Qingwan giggled as she stroked his head. Yang Tiezhu was just about to fly into a rage out of embarrassment when a kiss landed on his cheek.

Immediately his bad mood dissipated, and felt sweetness all over.

After his injury, Yang Tiezhu felt that his heart became especially fragile, always wanting his wife to kiss him, appease him, or coax him; only then could he happily recline on the kang all day.

Lin Qingwan could understand Yang Tiezhu's thoughts. A patient's heart becomes extremely fragile, especially when he has to lie on the kang all day long and can't go anywhere, making them feel bored and slightly stuffy. Thus she was also quite generous when appeasing him.

It's just that for a robust man who was always sincere and straightforward to become naughty like a puppy suddenly, it truly surprised Lin Qingwan. But at the same time, she also couldn't but feel happy for the distance between the two was getting shorter; she also liked this change.

After a round of appeasement, patting, kissing, and consoling, Yang Tiezhu's tender heart was satiated. Lin Qingwan also became busy.

She wanted to clean all the kitchen supplies she bought with hot water. She had also bought a big iron wok, which needs to be 'seasoned'.

In her previous life, too, Lin Qingwan used to cook all by herself. Thus she wasn't that bad when it came to cooking. But she had a weird quirk when cooking – she never liked using whatsoever non-stick pans, smokeless pans, and the likes. Those sorts of pans weren't suitable for cooking. She only liked using cooking utensils made of iron.

She liked using iron kitchenware for cooking, but they were quite troublesome to use. In the beginning, she used to worry that they might go rusty. But over time, she got used to them. Just as they say, iron cooking pots possess attributes of a pot i.e., over a long-time usage with good maintenance, it won't go rusty at all. Even if you pour the water in an iron wok and let it sit for whole, it still won't form rust.

First, Lin Qingwan put iron wok, bamboo steamer, clay pots, bowls, chopsticks, kitchen knife, and all the other things she bought into the boiling water for a while. Then she cleaned all of them by the well-side. After cleaning all of them and storing them in their respective places, she went onto 'season' the iron wok.

T/N note: Seasoning is a process where one 'bakes on' a layer of oil/fat to form a strong, thin layer on the rough surface of a wok/iron pan, which acts as a solid non-stick coating layer on the iron pan. And one more interesting fact is that after trying Chinese cuisine in an ethnic Chinese restaurant, some of you must have tried to replicate the dish in your home with the same ingredients yet failed to produce that same taste you got in the restaurant. One of the reasons for your failure might be the wok you have used. A properly seasoned wok infuses a one-of-a-kind flavor into the dish, adding a fantastic flavor.

"Seasoning a wok" was actually quite simple. Lin Qingwan had learned this method in her previous life from an elderly. Following that method, first, she added pork meat with fat into the wok. Soon, oil started oozing out of the fat of the pork. Lin Qingwan, using the pork, quickly started rubbing the oil all over the wok evenly. This process of rubbing the oil must be repeated carefully for few more times.

Waiting till the fat was sufficiently taken in by the surface of the iron wok, she rinsed it with water. The wok was then ready to use.

She planned to stew pig trotters in the wok first for Yang Tiezhu to drink the pig trotters' soup during dinner at night.

The pork seller had already helped her properly chop the pig trotters. She only had to clean them now. After thoroughly washing them clean, she blanched the trotters in the clay pot for few minutes and drained all the water. She then once again added freshwater into the clay pot and allowed it to boil.

In it, she added ginger, green onions, star anise, and cinnamon and heated them on a high flame. After a while, she also added a few red dates and wolfberries in it. She had bought these two ingredients in the medical center previously. She then lowered the flame of the stove to allow the soup to simmer slowly.

Done with all these things, she washed her hands and went to accompany Yang Tiezhu and chitchat with him.

Yang Tiezhu pulled her to lie on the kang. Lin Qingwan removed her outer clothes and climbed onto the kang.

Both of the nestled against each other in the quilt as they casually chitchatted.

Once more than a shichen had passed, Lin Qingwan put on her clothes and went to chop the previously washed lotus root and added them into the clay pot. She then added more firewood into the stove and allowed them to cook for a longer time before going to rest again.

时辰 (shíchen): One Shichen is equivalent to two hours.

In a blink of an eye, the sky had already become dark. Lin Qingwan got up and put on clothes before going to check on the pig trotters soup again. The pig trotters soup was appropriately cooked, and the lotus roots were also soft and well cooked, while the pig trotters were also cooked sufficiently with their meat and bones neatly separating.

At this time, a voice from outside came calling everyone for dinner. Lin Qingwan opened the door, went to the kitchen, took two bowls of rice along with few vegetable dishes, and returned to her room.

The aroma of the hot soup soon permeated out of the second branch. The aroma assailed Wang-shi's nostrils, making her mouth salivate. But today, it was her turn in cooking. Thus she could only muddleheadedly carry all the dishes into the main room.

He-shi could also smell a pleasant aroma from the soup in the second branch. But she didn't know what kind of ingredients were added to it for it to smell exceptionally savory. But again, He-shi could only sniff at it, and the second branch also didn't serve her a bowl either. Thinking of this, He-shi's face became a notch darker.

While having dinner in the main room, everyone was preoccupied. Both the adults and children alike could only smell the aroma coming from the yard. Actually, it wasn't also that exaggerated. After all, Lin Qingwan didn't put anything extraordinary in it. It was a simple pig trotters soup. It was just that because of He-shi's tight control on everyday meals, it had been quite a while since they saw meat or fish. And now, when smelling meat, everyone became a bit particularly stimulated.

After Lin Qingwan returned with food, she ladled the Pig trotters and Lotus root soup in a big bowl to the brim. Helping Yang Tiezhu shifted to the inner side of the kang, she placed a small-kang-table on the kang and arranged all the dishes along with the pig trotter soup on it. The two then began to eat.

Lin Qingwan wanted to feed Yang Tiezhu, but Yang Tiezhu refused. After all, he only injured his left shoulder, rendering him unable to use the left side. But nevertheless, his right hand was still working fine. Lin Qingwan helped him sit straight and placed two quilts behind him to sit on before handing him a pair of chopsticks.

Yang Tiezhu's posture was extremely strange. His movements were also quite stiff as he couldn't bend his shoulders, making his posture appear weird while eating. But overall, he was still able to eat fine, making Lin Qingwan feel at ease.

To make it more convenient for Yang Tiezhu, Lin Qingwan took a small bowl and ladled the soup into it, and put it by his side.

Yang Tiezhu took in a few mouthfuls of food, a piece of soft pig trotters in the soup, and drank a mouthful of the soup. Immediately after, he felt as if all of his pores had been opened.

"Wife, it's really delicious. Your cooking is truly superb!"

Lin Qingwan amusingly glanced at him. Since when did this simple ad honest fellow had become this proficient in sweet-talking?

"If it is delicious, drink a bit more so as to nourish your body. Intaking more calcium would help your bones heal a bit faster." While saying so, she added another piece of pig trotters in his bowl.

Although Yang Tiezhu didn't know what calcium was, he too was aware that his wife had especially stewed this soup for him and was used to nourish bones. As such, he gobbled up the soup and the meat in it.

Lin Qingwan had also been recently craving meat, but her appetite was small. Just after eating few pieces of meat and lotus roots and drinking a small cup of soup, she was completely full.

After having the meal, Yang Tiezhu felt comfortable from the inside to the outside. And couldn't help but feel his wife's decision of having a small kitchen was correct.

He was injured and couldn't go out hunting to make his wife eat sumptuous meals. Spending money to build a small kitchen in his name was not bad. In this way, his wife can also properly eat. Yang Tiezhu had been feeling distressed as he watched his wife busily managing matters during this period of time. Her whole person had also become quite thin.

After they were done eating, Lin Qingwan went to the well-side to wash the bowls and chopsticks. Over there in the main room, too, everyone was done eating, and all of them had gone back to their respective rooms. Even the doors of the main room were tightly shut.

Returning back to her room, she stored bowls and chopsticks in their places. She then took a big bowl, ladled the soup to the brim into it, covered it with a lid, put it in a basket to conceal it, took Yao-shi's bundle, and went to the third branch's room.

After few soft knocks on the door, Yao-shi quickly opened the door. Looking at the bundle in Lin Qingwan's hands, Yao-shi thought she had come to return them; as such, she intended to pull in her to take a seat.

Lin Qingwan waved her hands and mouthed at her before handing her bundle back and holding up the small basket in her hands.

Yao-shi quickly waved her hands, indicated she did not want the basket. But Lin Qingwan glared at her and forced the basket into her hands before quickly turning away and walking away.

Yao-shi returned into the house with a bundle and basket in her hands.

Yang Tiegen knew that just like his second sao, Yao-shi had also started receiving work from outside. Yao-shi had also shown the copper coins she earned today. Yang Tiegen was happy yet also sad. He could understand his wife's intention – she wanted to earn a little more money to buy delicious treats and nourishments for their children.

Yao-shi put away the bundle and took out the big bowl of soup from the basket. Along with the big soup bowl, there were also few pairs of chopsticks and bowls in the basket. Yao-shi's eyes couldn't help but become red, feeling touched.

As soon as she saw the basket, she was aware that second sao had brought them soup, but she rejected it because she knew that it had costed quite a bit of silver. But second sao had nevertheless forced it on her to accept. However, she hadn't expected her to go as far as to prepare bowls and chopsticks for them to avoid going to the kitchen to take and alarm He-shi.

"Second sao is truly a good person. She is even very attentive towards the two girls." Yao-shi wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.

Yang Tiegen also silently nodded. It was only the second branch's husband and wife who were sincerely good to them.

Yao-shi wiped her tears with a smile and arranged the things on the kang table before calling the two kids to eat.

After returning to her room, Lin Qingwan tidied up everything and was just about to go to do a bit of needlework when she heard someone knock on the door.

Lin Qingwan opened the door to see Wang-shi standing outside at the doorstep. Wang-shi was standing there beaming from ear to ear to her surprise while rubbing her hands in excitement.

"Second dimei, what did you cook this evening? The smell was truly good." Wang-shi asked while she stretched her head to peep in.

Black lines appeared all over Lin Qingwan's face, yet she put on a fake smile while blocking Wang-shi with one hand, "Nothing much. The doctor had said that Yang Tiezhu had injured his bones and tendons and needs to be properly nourished. That's why I had made a pig trotters soup for him."

"Then give eldest sao a bowl of soup. Ever since smelling the aroma, I have been craving for it." Wang-shi said while licking her lips.

Lin Qingwan's face became stiff. She had guessed that this must be the reason for Wang-shi's coming.

"Eldest sao, apologies. You also know right that pig trotters aren't cheap. As such, I only bought a little, just sufficient for Yang Tiezhu to drink." Wang-shi's complexion suddenly turned bad, looking suspiciously at Lin Qingwan.

"There has to be some leftover soup, right? Just give me soup without meat."

"There is no leftover soup either."

Wang-shi pulled a long face, as she exasperatedly said: "Lin Qingwan, you are doing this deliberately, aren't you? Meat is finished, soup is also finished, who would believe it?!"

The fake smile on Lin Qingwan's face disappeared as the color of her face changed. "If you don't believe, I can't do anything. Our second branch already owes a lot of 'debt' to the eldest gu. The family also hasn't helped us settle the debt. Buying this bit of pig trotters was also only after saving money by spending prudently. If it weren't for Yang Tuezhu injuring his bones, who would want to spend money on this expensive food to eat."

Seeing Lin Qingwan's resolute manner, Wang-shi realized that she wouldn't get any meat to eat. She couldn't help but curse her silently as she turned around and left.

45

Even after closing the door and coming into the room, Lin Qingwan's anger didn't dissipate.

With a pout, she went and sat at the edge of the kang.

Holding her hand, Yang Tiezhu coaxed her, "Wife, don't be angry, ah. Getting angry over someone like eldest sao is not worth it."

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

Lin Qingwan suddenly became furious and glared at him, "Why is each and everyone in your family this outrageous? Can't they bear seeing the poor eat even a bit of meat? When you were bedridden in the medical center, no one came to ask about your life or death. Now that after the great ordeal you have come back, I gave you a bit of soup to nourish you. Still they are people harboring thoughts over it."

Yang Tiezhu gave a bitter smile.

"On what basis do I have to give her food? Haven't ever seen her helping me in anything. When I needed help anytime, she didn't come. But when it came to meat, she quickly rushed here to ask, truly annoying."

Yang Tiezhu quickly coaxed her, "Yes, yes, we won't give her anything, let her drool."

Lin Qingwan was at once amused by his words, and in a blink of an eye, threw all the unpleasant matters caused by Wang-shi beyond the topmost clouds.

九霄云外 (jiǔxiāoyúnwài): beyond the topmost clouds (idiom) / unimaginably far away

"Alright, you lie down for a while. I will go and have a bath. After coming from the town, I feel dusty all over, extremely uncomfortable."

After taking a shower and getting dressed, Lin Qingwan sat under the lamp with her hair draped over her shoulders, ready to resume her needlework.

She then started embroidering on the embroidering purses she received this morning at Jinxiufang, while simultaneously thinking about the embroidery ruler and other stuff she had bought this morning.

Just as what Shopkeeper Su guessed, she had indeed bought those, intending to make some large-sized embroidery article. But she hadn't decided what to do yet.

Actually, Lin Qngwan had a bit of a rough idea in her heart about what to do embroider, but she hadn't made her mind yet.

During this while, every time she received work from Jinxiufang, Lin Qingwan had recalled a lot of good skills from the original host's memories.

The former host, Lin Qingwan, was not only quite skilled at embroidery, but she had also learned a skilled that was not passed outside the certain households – 'Double-sided Embroidery' from a highly skilled Suzhou Embroidery master.

Generally, these kinds of skills are not divulged to outsiders and are quite seldomly taught to others. But, Liu-shi spent a lot of silver hiring this highly skilled embroidery master to teach double-sided embroidery. She wanted Lin Qinglan to learn this skill so that her value could be increased when matchmaking in the future. However, who would have imagined that Lin Qinglan was so so restless that she couldn't sit long and didn't learn anything. While, Lin Qingwan on the other hand, who was only accompanying her, was able to learn eighty to ninety percent of it.

(If you have forgotten who Lin Qinglan is, refer to chapter 1. She is her di sister and was the one who had Lin Qingwan sent to the mountains far away to lead a peasant life.)

No one was aware of this matter. Only the master who taught her knew about this.

However, this Embroidery master was quite reticent and had never mentioned this before Liu-shi and Lin Qinglan. As such, Liu-shi was completely unaware that the master she had spent a great amount of silver wasn't any use to her daughter. On the contrary, it was Lin Qingwan who profited. And as the former owner, Lin Qingwan, was inherently little transparent at home, neither fond of speaking nor showing off. As such, she, too, didn't speak about it anywhere.

Then Liu-shu saw that she was unable to make her daughter learn. Thus, she had no choice but to dismiss the embroidery master and find another way. Thereby, this matter sunk deep into the long river of history.

Only Lin Qingwan's older brother, Lin Qingting, had an inkling of it. Because Lin Qingwan had used double-sided embroidery to embroider a belt for him. Lin Qingting deeply cherished it as if it was a treasure and would wear it every day. As only one side of the belt was exposed outside, others weren't aware that it was actually double-sided.

Lin Qingwan was planning of embroidering a kang screen using double-sided embroidery. Although she wasn't clear how much a double-side embroidered kang screen would be worth. But just from looking at Liu-shi's anxiousness and desire to have Lin Qinglan learn this, she could decipher that its worth would be significantly higher.

Outside it was extremely calm. While she was embroidering the purse and contemplating the issue simultaneously, one hour had already passed in a blink of an eye.

Yang Tiezhu, who had been watching his wife embroider on the purse for a while, felt his neck sore. And reckoned his wife's neck also must be sore. Furthermore, at night the lamp in the room wasn't also that bright and would strain eyes a lot. As such, he persuaded Lin Qingwan to resume the work tomorrow.

Lin Qingwan rotated her stiff neck, put the embroidery purse in her hand down, and stored them away before going to bed.

Even while lying on the kang, her mind was still mulling over the intricate patterns and particulars she wanted to include in the embroidery design.

The next morning, Lin Qingwan went to the kitchen and brought her's and Yang Tiezhu's breakfast into the room.

The day Yang Tiezhu was discharged from the medical center, Yang laoyezi had given her word that henceforth she didn't have to do any house chores and only had to take care of Yang Tiezhu properly. As such, currently, Lin Qingwan need not do any house chores and only have to take care of Yang Tiezhu – cook nourishing meals for him and wash both of their clothes.

Finished having breakfast, Lin Qingwan took the cutlery to the kitchen, washed them, and returned back. She then started doing double-sided embroidery.

She was planning of embroidering for a screen – not too big or too time-consuming. She just wanted to give it a try to see how it goes in Jinxiufang. If it clicks, she can make a bigger one next time.

Yesterday, she had bought herself one embroidery frame. After coming back, she had wiped it clean thoroughly and had placed it under the window.

Lin Qingwan cut out the fabric and clamped it on the embroidery frame. She didn't trace out the design first. Since she reached the stage where she could embroider double stitches, tracing out the design was nothing.

To put it another way, if you can only embroider after tracing the design, then you won't be able to learn double-sided embroidery. Because in double-sided embroidery, the patterns on both sides are different, and both sides are done simultaneously. As such, tracing the pattern doesn't have much importance at this time.

Thus, when doing double-sided embroidery, one has to be completely focused without getting distracted. Because if there is a misstep, all the previous efforts will go to waste and have to be redone again, which would be quite inconvenient.

After clamping the backing fabric, too, Lin Qingwan began threading the needle. The embroidery thread also was bought at Jinxiufang, and was of first-rate quality. Not only that but it could also be divided into several fine filaments. Each filament of an embroidery thread could be considered as a strand. Six of such strands could make up to floss, while 12 of such stands make up to a silk embroidery thread. The thinner and finer the thread is, the more delicate and exquisite the embroidery would be.

The type Lin Qingwan bought was single-strand thread one. Its price was also many times higher than that of normal embroidery thread. These embroidery threads themselves costed her more than a tael – even more expensive than the fabric.

Lin Qingwan's action of threading the needle was quite slow – this was her personal habit. This slow-motion of threading a needle helps to empty her mind completely gradually.

After threading the needle and pulling out the thread, Lin Qingwan sat down in front of the embroidery frame and slowly pierced the needle for the first stitch.

After piercing the first stitch, one could see that although Lin Qingwan's stitching was slow, it was quite steady. It seemed as if she need not have to think about where the next stitch should be and what type of stitch should be employed – it was as if all the stitch patterns and design were already in her mind.

She stopped only when it was almost noon, and the breath she was holding also loosened as she relaxed.

Before starting this, Lin Qingwan was anxious that she could not embroider well. After all, this skill was not something she knew. Only when she lowered the needle did she find that several things were engraved in the depths of her soul.

This sort of state of mind was kind of fantastic as if she was Lin Qingwan and knew whatever she knew. Although not that skilled initially, her hand unconsciously moved on after she got familiarised. Only at this moment was Lin Qingwan's heart truly at ease. She finely got the confidence that she could perfectly finish this embroidery piece and no longer harbored any hesitations in her heart.

"Wife, you must be tired, right. Quickly come here and have a cup of water."

Yang Tiezhu, who had been lying on the kang, finally dared to speak after seeing her relax her shoulders. Although he doesn't understand embroidery, but her sitting posture and appearance let him know that his wife was deeply concentrating on it. As such, he didn't dare to disturb her.

Lin Qingwan stood up, rotated her neck and shoulders, walked to the table, and poured herself a cup of water. After drinking, she poured another glass of water for Yang Tiezhu and walked to him.

After drinking the water, Yang Tiezhu said, "Wife, what are you embroidering this diligently?"

Lin Qingwan smiled, her mind still in a trance from being in concentration for long. "After embroidering these good pieces, I will take them to Jinxiufang and sell them and see if I could get them for a good price."

Yang Tiezhu knew that his wife has been receiving work from an embroidery workshop. Feeling distressed, he couldn't help but hate his injured left shoulder.

If he was still alright, his wife need not be this tired day in and day out.

Lin Qingwan could tell what her husband was thinking for his expressions. As such, she couldn't help but comfort him, "Anyway, I have nothing to do and am idle. It's good to use this time to earn a bit of silver."

After thinking for a while, Yang Tiezhu also felt it made sense; as such, he wasn't tangled over this issue any longer. However, he still didn't forget to repeatedly warn Lin Qingwan not to get overstressed and sit for a longer period of time, lest she harms her eyes.

Lin Qingwan naturally understood his reason. From the distant memories of the original owner, she came to know that most of the full-time female embroidery artists lose their eyesight because of long-term fatigue. As such, she also made sure to pay attention to her eye health. While embroidering, she took short breaks periodically and did few exercises such as looking at distant objects, just as she did in the school in her past life.

After resting for a while, Lin Qingwan heated yesterday's leftover pig trotter soup in the kitchen. Seeing that there weren't any side dishes, she cleaned and chopped some lotus roots and added them along with few soybeans.

As it was Yao-shi's turn cooking, after heating pig trotters' soup, Lin Qingwan went to help Yao-shi, and also chitchat with her.

In the kitchen, Yao-shi was cooking.

Seeing Lin Qingwan coming in, Yao-shi smiled and asked her to wait a while. The meal would be ready in few minutes.

Lin Qingwan glared at her, scoffing, could it be that she would come to the kitchen only to eat?

Yao-shi smiled, knowing that Lin Qingwan had come to help her. As such, she had her sit by the stove pit and tend the fire.

Yao-shi was cooking on the stove, while Lin Qingwan sat by her side, helping her tending the fire as both idly chatted.

Looking at the water gruel in the pot, Lin Qingwan couldn't help ask, puzzled, "Why are you having water gruel for lunch?"

Yao-shi remained silent for a while before she said, "Today, mother-in-law gave only these ingredients and asked me to cook this way." After a pause, she again added: "Mother-in-law said that for a while, it would only gruel at home. Anyway, currently, we don't have to do any work in the fields and won't be needing much food."

Lin Qingwan became silent.

Yao-shi covered the pot with a lid, and let the gruel slowly simmer.

And there wotou were also appropriately steamed. Thus, Yao-shi moved her small stool and sat next to Lin Qingwan, as both of them got lost in thought while watching the fire.

(Wotou, also called Chinese cornbread, is a type of steamed bread made from cornmeal in Northern China.)

"How did Yang Xuezhang manage to get those 50 taels of silver?"

When they were in the medical center, she and Yang Tiezhu had discussed. The silver in He-shi's hands should be enough to pay for Yang Xuezhang's exam questions. Others might not be aware of how many silver He-shi had, but Yang Teizhu nevertheless had a rough idea how much silver he had given He-shi till now. From Yang Tiezhu's words, He-shi should still have a bit less than 50 silver taels.

Yao-shi used the fire poker to stir the fire and reduce the flame a bit.

"Mother-in-law only had a little over 30 silver taels. We and eldest brother's branch gave them two silver taels. Father sold the food grains at home to make up for the rest of the amount."

So that's why the whole family had to have a gruel every day!

Lin Qingwan inwardly rolled her eyes.

"Mother also had the eldest sister go back home, saying that it wouldn't be good for a married woman to sat long at her natal family's house."

Actually, she just wanted to save food, right!

Have to say, Lin Qingwan's guess was actually true.

"That's also good. Everyone can be assured in the future now." Lin Qingwan said with a smile.

In fact, she felt wronged Eldest Sister Yang a bit. Ever since the last time she had slapped Eldest Sister Yang, she had also restrained a lot. And she rarely meddled in the house, too, as she silently stayed in her natal home.

Lin Qingwan wasn't clear how Eldest Sister Yang's family was, but she was nevertheless aware that they were quite poor. In the initial years of her marriage, their financial situation was not bad. But later, as her mother-in-law got bedridden, gradually, the situation at home collapsed.

Just as these two were chatting, He-shi's voice greeting Yang Xuezhang came from outside.

"Xuezhang, you have returned. How did the matter go, is it done?"

Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi peeped out from the kitchen to see Yang Xuezhang walk towards the main room, all smiles, appearing enormously proud of his achievement.

踌躇满志 (chóuchúmǎnzhì): enormously proud of one's success (idiom); smug/complacent

The two of them exchanged a look and once again turned around. Regarding Yang Xuezhang, their younger brother-in-law, as his eldest saozi(s), it wasn't good for them to assess him.

嫂子 (sǎozi): sister-in-law

Lin Qingwan truly wished Yang Xuezhang would be able to pass the exam. Whether he engaged in corrupt practices and bought exam questions or relied on his own ability, Lin Qingwan truly wished for Yang Xuezhang to pass the exam. After all, just to pool the silver to buy exam questions for him, the entire Yang jia was overturned. Yang Tiezhu even got injured in the process.

If Yang Xuezhang could qualify the exam, Yang jia's situation would ease a lot. And later on, when they separate from the family, the process would also be a bit smoother.

Yes, separate!

After seeing the entire Yang jia's response post Yang Tiezhu's injury, this thought got deeply rooted in Lin Qingwan's heart. But Lin Qingwan hadn't yet mentioned this to Yang Tiezhu. Nevertheless, she was aware that even though Yang jia's heartless treatment had gravely disappointed and angered Yang Tiezhu, it wasn't to the point of separating from the family.

This wasn't because of his unquestionably filial piety. Rather these were the shackles that bound people's hearts by virtue of the ancient dogma. Here, they are not allowed to separate from their parents. Filial piety is always prioritized. Children can't, by any means, suggest separating from their parents. Besides, this kind of thought to separate from the family is not even born in their hearts, no matter how harsh the parents are.

AS such, this matter had to be planned slowly. Anyway, Lin Qingwan wasn't in a hurry to separate from the family. She was aware that this matter couldn't be hastened.

After helping Yao-shi with lunch, Lin Qingwan took her family's portion and went back to her room. She didn't go to show her face in the main room. The people in the main room also seem to have gotten accustomed to Lin Qingwan's conduct for the past two days and didn't comment much on it. All of their attention was at the moment was placed on Yang Xuezhang, who had just returned from the academy.

"Fourth brother, this matter has been cast in stone. Congratulations in advance," Wang-shi flattered.

"Laosi, in the future, this eldest brother would depend on you." Yang Tieshuan's attitude was still casual and careless as always. However, his words truly made Yang Xuezhang feel at ease.

Have to say, the eldest branch's, both husband and wife, are truly acute. They are aware that, in the family, their status can never surpass Yang Xuezhang's in the old couple's hearts. As such, whenever it came to Yang Xuezhang's matters, they would be taciturn if they can be, or they would try to smooth things; without saying where they stand.

老四 (lǎosì): appellation used for a fourth child in the family.

Thus, even though He-shi used all the silver at home to buy questions for Yang Xuezhang and even sold all the food grains at home to pool the money, even though both of their faces didn't look that good, they nevertheless didn't dare to say anything. Because the past experiences have clearly revealed that even if they firmly oppose it, it would be nothing but futile effort.

Of course, when it was time to fawn, two of them didn't shy away from generously buttering them up.

After all, for flattering, one doesn't need to expend any silver. So long as one flaps their lips, the words would automatically come out.

And in the future, when it came to bask in the light, the benefits wouldn't be any less.

One might say they are without any sense of shame but can't say that what they did was wrong either. After all, everyone's approach towards life is distinct.

He-shi also had a smile all over her face. Even Yang laoyezi, who was always calm and collected, also showed seldomly seen smiles.

In recent days, many matters have been stressing Yang laoyezi, almost making him unable to breathe. Yang Xuezhang's matter of exam questions going well was no less than any joyous matter.

The third branch's couple nevertheless had their meals in silence. With this couple's honest nature, it was impossible for them to be able to curry favor. Both of them saying anything pleasant was even more difficult. Furthermore, both of them also didn't have any intention of getting Yang Xuezhang's good side. After all, regardless of whether laosi qualifies or fails, they would still have to continue living through their life. Even if he qualifies or fails the exam, they can't stop living their lives, no.

Have to say, everyone has their own level of smartness towards life. The third branch's couple's smartness is in not harboring delusions in the things that don't belong to them. When there is no hope, naturally, there won't be despair either….

Yang laoyezi even took a jug of wine that he was formerly reluctant to take out. After drinking two big cups of wine, he patted Yang Xuezhang's shoulder with a flushed face and fell asleep.

It's been a long while since he had a good night's sleep. Yang Tiezhu's matter, Yang Xuezhang's matter of buying questions….all these matters have occupied all of these thoughts, stressing him to the point of breathlessness.

His only wish now was for laosi to qualify this exam so that everything could pass…

Yang Xuezhang was also very happy. From a young age, he had always regarded himself as different from his elder brothers. While his brothers had to help the family in the fields, he could go to school and study, from the private school in the village to the academy in the town. Although his aptitude wasn't that of top genius, he was still favorite student of his teachers. As such, he had always been enormously proud and extremely complacent…..

Until he took the county-level exam the first time and failed to qualify….he retook the exam again, still failed…..third time again….. Gradually he found everyone around looking at him peculiarly, including the members of his family. The former revere and pride they had on him gradually transformed to doubts and even started looking sown upon him….

It's been a long since Yang laoyezi gave him such an encouraging pat like this…And also eldest brother's and eldest sao's such a revere and flattering….

Yang Xuezhang's face became flushed with excitement, and even without drinking alcohol, he became intoxicated. He could also imagine the scene of him becoming a xucai, and the contempt in everyone's eyes again change to revere as they look at him….

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

Husband and wife in the second branch weren't aware of the happenings in the main room. Lin Qingwan simply closed the door and lived their own simple life

Nevertheless, when Yao-shi would still chit-chat with her when she was free and feed her with gossip. Only then did Yao-shi came to know that Yang Xuezhang had obtained the exam questions and was in the process of expending great effort to prepare for the exam. Because the county-level exam was just a few days away.

These days, Lin Qingwan has absolutely contended. Every day, she would make some nourishing meals for Yang Tiezhu and then carry on with her double-sided embroidery. After days of simply eating and sitting like this, she had considerably gained weight.

With Lin Qingwan's changing Yang Tiezhu's everyday diet, his complexion also improved a lot. Now he could sit by himself without help and even walk two steps. In the past, such a feat was only possible for him with other's aid.

However, it was only a few steps, and even while doing so, he must be extremely careful, as he still can't move or exert pressure on his left shoulder.

Lin Qingwan, heeding to the old doctor's suggestion of giving him ample bed rest, only seldomly allowed him to get out of bed.

In the midst of all these, the remodeling of the second branch was also finished, and mason came to settle the bill. On this side, Lin Qingwan's remodeling was fairly simple and only had to pay a little over 300 wen for bricks and other costs. But the remodeling plan in the third room was quite big and costed them around a silver tael.

Lin Qingwan later went to a market that opens 5th of every month. She wanted to buy some chicken, duck meat, and the likes for Yang Tiezhu. With this small market opening, they don't have to go all the way to the town.

Yao-shi again went along with her to accompany her. Both of them chose the time when Yao-shi didn't have to cook to set off to the market.

Lin Qingwan got some pig bones for Yang Tiezhu as calcium supplements to nourish his bones and muscles. In passing, she also bought twenty catties of pork meat, and had the pork seller chop them into pieces and wrap them up. Along with it, she also bought a basket of eggs.

Seeing Lin Qingwan buy so many things, Lin Qingwan was also quite dumbstruck. Although the weather was currently chilly, this much quantity would still be a lot for both of them in the second branch to finish.

Lin Qingwan then told her that she had bought these things to return the favor. Certainly, it wasn't only for paying back the favor. But she doesn't have to elaborate it to Yao-shi.

She had been thinking for a long while to go to the houses of those young men, who went to look for Yang Tiezhu that day into the mountains and express her gratitude to them. But these days, she was unable to find free time to go. Furthermore, there is also Lizheng's family. Not only had they lent their mule cart, but their son also accompanied them to the town and waited for a long while. If she didn't go to their home to express her gratitude now and in the future, she still needed some help from them, who would come forward to lend a hand.

里正/里長 ( lǐ zhèng/lǐzhǎng): A village chief – main duties include managing household registrations and taxes

After thinking so, Yao-shi also helped Lin Qingwan carry things back. Although there were too many things, with two women carrying them, they easily bought these things back.

Back at Yang jia, Wang-shi swiftly ran to them, staring at the pile of bags in their hands, before making sarcastic remarks. At that time, Yang laoyezi was also present at that scene and was repairing farm implements in the yard.

Lin Qingwan retorted back at Wang-shi in front of Yang laoyezi – saying the other party had gone to the mountain to search for her husband without any regard to the danger. Irrespective of whether the second branch is rich or not, she has to pay this favor back. Even if she had to borrow silver to repay this favor, this can't be ignored by any means.

Upon listening to Lin Qingwan's words, Wang-shi became embarrassed. Yang laoyezi was also extremely awkward. However, he still remarked that laoer's wife is right. Only when you know how to return the favor would next time people give you aid again.

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

Once Yang laoyezi's words were done, Lin Qingwan, without replying, directly and walked to her room.

Saying anything now was too late. A person is characterized as good or bad not by his speech but by his deeds. Long after breaking other's hearts, what use is there to now try to redeem it by using pleasant words?

46

The next day Lin Qingwan divided all the meat and eggs evenly – with each household getting a catty of pork and ten eggs, except Lizheng's jia. Only their household's share was a bit heavy with both pork and eggs in double amount. Along with these, she also added two packets of sweets and the likes. Done with this, she had Yang-shi take her every household and expressed her gratitude one after the other.

里正/里長 ( lǐ zhèng/lǐzhǎng): A village chief – main duties include managing household registrations and taxes

When they saw Lin Qingwan visit their house to express gratitude, they were stunned. They had merely lent a hand to a neighbor in need and didn't expect that the other person would visit their house with a thanking gift. Although these things weren't worth much silver, her coming to visit their house to express thanks made them happy. They continuously sang praises for Yang jia's Tiezhu for marrying such a young wife, whose conduct in handling affairs was magnanimous, without slightest stinginess. And in passing, also inquired about Yang Tiezhu's injury.

As for the incident of Yang Tiezhu getting injured, as there were many brave young men, who treaded into the mountains to look for him, a lot of people know a bit about it.

They were aware that Yang Tiezhu trekked the mountains this time because Yang Xuezhang was in urgent need of silver to bribe for the exam. After that incident pertaining to Yang Tiezhu, it wasn't Yang laoyezi, who gathered people to look for Yang Tiezhu, rather it was Yang-shi, his eldest gu, who stepped out. Moreover, when Yang Tiezhu was admitted in the medical center, apart from Yang-shi, Yang jia's third branch's husband and wife, and Yang Tiezhu's wife, Lin-shi, no one showed up from Yang jia….

姑 (gū): father's oldest sister/aunt

A few villagers could make out a bit and have an inkling. But, after all, they weren't that clear about the actual matter. As such, this matter was just passed on among the villagers in secret. Even the rumors spread were a bit vague.

When Yang Tiezhu's condition of the injury was raised, Lin Qingwan's appearance at once changed to that of sobbing. Yang-shi also deeply sighed as she wiped the tears while recounting the severity of Yang Tiezhu's injury at that time.

Once done recounting the incident, Yang-shi explicitly didn't divulge further, appearing as if she wanted to say something but hesitated -portraying a perfect image of aggrieved and heartbroken. They again tried to broach the subject to no avail. Either Yang-shi diverted the topic, or she quickly moved to the next house along with Lin Qingwan, making the others aroused and have itchy feelings in their hearts. Lin Qingwan, all along, perfectly acted out the image of aggrievedly weeping without any utterances.

About this roleplay, Yang-shi and Lin Qingwan had actually discussed it in advance.

For what? In fact, after taking in Yang jia's conduct and reactions after Yang Tiezhu's injury, Yang-shi was exasperated beyond endurance whenever she thought of these uncouth people with a heart of wolf and lungs of dog, without an ounce of familial affections. She had long thought of having Yang Tiezhu separate from the family but had buried in her heart till now. But after all this, she put forth this idea in front of Lin Qingwan.

狼心狗肺 (lángxīngǒufèi ): cruel and unscrupulous; brutal and cold-blooded; completely without conscience

Lin Qingwan also happened to have the same idea. The two of them, having the same thought, discussed about the next action.

After deeply analyzing the matter from all aspects, both of them figured out that separating from the family at this point was still quite difficult. Even though Yang jia was indifferent towards Yang Tiezhu's injuries, outsiders weren't aware of this.

After all, both Yang laoyezi and He-shi were alive and kicking. And in such a situation, if son and daughter-in-law took the initiative to separate from the family, regardless of what they say, it would be considered as a disgraceful and unfilial act and would be heavily criticized by the villagers. If they want to live in the village in the future, they can't ignore this.

Finally, Lin Qingwan came up with an idea and had Yang-shi hear it. Listening to it, Yang-shi felt it might not be a bad idea. With this, both of them set out to put their idea into action.

This was merely their first step….

After visiting all the families and expressing her gratitude, Lin Qingwan retired to her room, resumed her embroidery work, and nourished Yang Tiezhu, earnestly hoping to restore his health back soon.

At the same time, over there, at Yang-shi's side, it was quite lively….

A bunch of her various neighboring aunts and young wives dropped by to pay her a visit.

Post-autumn harvest, Luoxia villagers don't have much work to do. After finishing the work at home, the diligent males would go to town to find few odd jobs, while those who are lazy or a bit well-off stay back at home and prepare for coming harsh winters, or they have small wine get-togethers and pass the time.

While the women are either busy washing beddings, stitching winter garments, or gossiping about which family had disputes with whom.

Generally, in the countryside, the disputes are nothing more than this family's chicken ran to that family's household and laid the eggs, causing the families to quarrel. The general happenings were merely like chicken feathers and garlic skins. But, the matter of Yang Tiezhu sustaining life-threatening injuries could be regarded as a major event in the Luoxia village. But reportedly, when Yang Tiezhu was taken to the doctor in the town, it was said that his injuries were quite grave. Thus, everyone also didn't feel right to gossip about it much. No one was aware of the exact situation either. Moreover, Yang Tiezhu's mother, He-shi, was a shrew. As such, no one dared to drop by to make inquiries.

鸡毛蒜皮 (jīmáosuànpí): lit. chicken feathers and garlic skins (idiom) / fig. trivial (matter)

Yang-shi also didn't have it easy to put up an appearance as if there was still an inside story. Suddenly, it was as if the egg had been cracked, attracting an army of neighboring aunts and young wives to rush forth, waves after waves.

At first, Yang-shi nevertheless didn't want to say anything and always changed the subject in every possible way. However, the others weren't able to withstand any longer, and the methods they employed to worm information out of her weren't any least bit inferior. Gradually, they were able to get a bit of information.

This one inquired about this bit of information, and that one inquired that bit of secret. Finally, everyone gathered together and shared the information. Whoa, this was incredible – this was indeed a most major matter!

The various aunts and young married women seethed at once. The inside matter of the Yang Tiezhu's accident rapidly spread across the Luoxia village like a thunderbolt….

Apparently, Yang Tiezhu was injured when he went to earn money for Yang jia's laosi, to bribe for his exam….

Laosi: fourth child of the family

Apparently, when Yang Tiezhu got injured, apart from Yang jia's third son and daughter-in-law, none of the family showed up….

Apparently, Yang Tiezhu's injuries were very serious, and he almost lost his life. When they rushed to the medical center in the town, the doctor said that his condition was treatable, but the treatment wouldn't be cheap…

Apparently, for Yang Tiezhu's treatment, Yang jia didn't even take out a single penny. Not only that, they didn't even go to see the person….

Apparently, Yang Tiezhu's delicate and charming young wife nearly cried to death. She went and begged Yang jia for help but didn't get any silver. In the end, with no choice, she sold all her jewelry and borrowed a bit of silver from her eldest gu. Only then did she manage to pull Yang Tiezhu from the gates of hell…

Apparently, it wasn't that Yang jia couldn't put out that much sum of silver. Rather they had to use that silver for Yang jia's laosi's exam. That's why they couldn't save Yang Tiezhu….

Furthermore, Yang Tiezhu's condition of the injury was extremely serious. Above all, he was strongly thrashed at his left shoulder by a bear, causing his left arm to become crippled…..

The one at the end was the most horrifying!

Who is Yang Tiezhu? Naturally, in the nearby ten li and eight villages, he was a well-known robust man. He was tall and strong – strong as an ox. Even playing with a wild boar and tiger wasn't that of an issue for him, a true expert. But, unexpectedly, this time, his arm got crippled!

Li (Chinese: 里, lǐ, or 市里, shìlǐ), also known as the Chinese mile, is a traditional Chinese unit of distance. The li has varied considerably over time but was usually about one-third of an English mile and now has a standardized length of a half-kilometer (500 meters or 1,640 feet)

In the countryside, having a crippled arm is a huge matter. Because farmer households would have to go into the fields to do work, which was a physically laborious work. A man with a crippled arm is equivalent to the loss of a strong able-bodies worker.

The man was originally a well-known strong, able-bodied one but now has become disabled – evoking pity in all the villagers at his bitter experience. Of course, there wasn't also a lack of people, who formerly used to be green with envy at Yang Tiezhu's ability to hunt, now took joy in others' calamity and delight in disaster.

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

In any case, the rumor that Yang Tiezhu got crippled spread rapidly in the entire village like a wildfire, and the situation developed to the point that almost every household got wind of it.

Many wanted to drop by to visit the poor comrade, Yang Tiezhu to express their consolations. However, with an eccentric and shrewish He-shi in the Yang jia, no one dared to visit.

He-shi's stinginess, shrewish temperament, and eccentricity were widely known across the entire Luoxia village. Apart from few people who dared to provoke her, others couldn't do the same. And also, with her being not being close to many people in the village, almost none of the furen came to her to speak about this matter. As such, He-shi wasn't aware of the rumors outside at the moment.

妇人 (fùrén): married woman

However, sooner or later, anyhow, she will come to know of these rumors. Because in Yang jia, there is still Wang-shi, a gossipmonger, and Yang Tieshuan, who liked gambling and drinking with few rogues of the nearby village.

As of now, the rumors haven't yet reached the ears of the members of Yang jia. Others only talked behind their backs. But after a while, they would surely get wind of it when these rumors escalate beyond a certain extent.

Lin Qingwan's idea was this – she would pretend to be pitiful and lay out her grievances. Further emphasizing that Yang Tiezhu's hand might get crippled in the future. Rumors are the best sharp weapons. Once members of Yang jia get wind of it, she shall see if they can sit still.

Conversely, He-shi was in good spirits and jubilant this while.

Yang Tiezhu was injured, but she didn't have any silver to treat him. Although the second branch said they had taken Yang-shi's help and had to pay the debt back, she would absolutely not acknowledge that debt when that moment arrives. Yang Chunhua had to fill this debt by herself.

Furthermore, this time her dearest son would return as a xucai, surely a matter set in stone.

She couldn't refrain herself from thinking of her son's marriage affairs after he became a xucai. There is also Yang Ermei, who is already fifteen years old and has reached marriageable age.

She had delayed Yang Xuezhang's marriage till now because she firmly believed that her son would become a xucai. Once he becomes a xucai, what sort of marriage proposals wouldn't come for him? He-shi's wish has always been to give her son a wonderful marriage!

There is also Yang Ermei. As a younger sister of a xucai, she can also become a furen of a rich household.

After seeing off her son, Yang Xuezhang, on his journey to the county to take the exam, and Yang Tiegen, who was accompanying him, He-shi couldn't help but ponder happily in the heart.

She had already considered all the young girls in the Luoxia village but didn't find anyone suitable. In the nearby villages also, she didn't hear of anyone good. Thus, He-shi planned to find a wife for Yang Xuezhang from the town.

However, He-shi wasn't good at the the aspect of inquiring about which family's girl was good. After contemplating for a while, she couldn't help but think of looking for a good matchmaker for Yang Xuezhang's marriage.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was right. Yang Tiegen had accompanied Yang Xuezhang to the county. So, He-shi had Yang Tieshuan go and invite the best matchmaker among nearby ten li and eight villages.

Yang Tieshuan was originally unwilling to go but was admonished by He-shi and was forced to get up and go.

After half a shichen, Yang Tieshuan came back with Matchmaker Ma.

时辰 (shíchen): time / one of the 12 two-hour periods of the day (1 shichen is equivalent to 2 hours.)

He-shi cordially invited Matchmaker Ma into the main room and even had Yao-shi serve her tea and fruits, which He-shi rarely ever did.

After the two exchanged pleasantries, He-shi expressed her wish to Matchmaker Ma.

Mediating as a go-between was but an easy drive on a familiar path from Matchmaker Ma. Realizing that He-shi wanted her to matchmake for her son, she began introducing suitable girls to her.

驾轻就熟 (jiàqīngjiùshú): lit. an easy drive on a familiar path (idiom); fig. experience makes progress easy / a task that is so familiar one can do it with one's hand tied behind one's back

After listening to her, He-shi remained silent for a moment before she expressed her dissatisfaction.

"My son is about to become a xucai. Matchmaker Ma, can't you talk about the girls with better prospects?"

What about this family possessing ten mu of fields and older brother being a carpenter? What's with that one What's residing in a big roof-tiled house, and the gufu being Lizheng of a certain village…. Her son was going to be a respected xucai! How could this sort of poor household be worthy of her son?!

亩 (mǔ): classifier for fields/unit of area equal to one-fifteenth of a hectare

姑父 (gūfu): father's sister's husband/husband of paternal aunt/uncle

(里正/里長 ( lǐ zhèng/lǐzhǎng): A village chief – main duties include managing household registrations and taxes. (Previously, I wasn't sure of what Lizheng actually was and was a bit confused. So I left it as it is. Now, I have updated and included this note in previous chapters as well. By the way, do you guys prefer Lizheng/ Village Chief?)

However, He-shi seemed to have forgotten that their Yang jia also comes under the very same poor section of households and might not even be better than the other person. Immersed in the happiness of her son becoming a respected xucai, she had become delusional momentarily, seemingly completely overlooking this point and wanted to match her son with a young lady hailing from the best households. To the point that she felt even a Young Lady of the County Magistrate's family is also worthy of her son.

Hearing He-shi's words caused a frown to form upon the Matchmaker Ma's brows.

She was distinctly aware of Yang jia's situation and particularly Yang Xuezhang's.

In their line of business, the information they have in their hands might not be that much, but they can't lose the business. Matchmaker Ma, particularly, has the profiles of all the unmarried men in nearby ten li and eight villages.

She also had Yang Xuezhang's profile in her hand'. Er, how to say it…. Factually speaking, Yang Xuezhang could not be regarded as a potential partner in her point of view.

If all the profiles in Matchmaker Ma's hands could be categorized into three grades, Yang Xuezhang would at best fall under the second grade.

Firstly, he doesn't even have the strength to truss a chicken. Second, he had taken the county-level exam several times, only to fail again and again. Third, at home, there is even this sort of mother and saozi.

手无缚鸡之力 (shǒuwúfùjīzhīlì): lit. lacking the strength even to truss a chicken (idiom) / fig. weak/unaccustomed to physical work

嫂子 (sǎozi): older brother's wife/sister-in-law

Generally, even a little bit well-off family would rarely give their daughter to this sort of household, despite it being considered a family with a good financial situation in Luoxia village.

Even if Matchmaker Ma found it a bit awkward, she still professionally introduced another set of young girls who came from slightly better families.

Seeing He-shi still dissatisfied, Matchmaker Ma's face gradually became grim, puzzled, how this old lady could be this ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.

不知天高地厚 (bù zhī tiān gāo dì hòu): to not know the immensity of heaven and earth / an exaggerated opinion of one's own abilities

Isn't she well aware how her son is? Even more, a toad wants to eat swan meat! You sure want to look for a good match! But here, the key point is to see if the other person would be willing to send their daughter to your gates!

癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉 (lài há ma xiǎng chī tiān'é ròu): lit. the toad wants to eat swan meat (idiom) / fig. to try to punch above one's weight

Catching on Matchmaker Ma's bad face, and the possible thoughts that might be going on in her head, He-shi couldn't help but be annoyed at Matchmaker Ma for acting snobby.

If it were any other usual time, He-shi would have already started making a din. But this time, she didn't dare to do so. After all, they had just started to look for a matchmaker for Yang Xuezhang. If she, by any chance, offends Matchmaker Ma now, no other matchmaker would dare to help matchmake for her son. Considering all of this, she had no other alternative but to suppress her fury and perfunctorily ask her to keep an eye on any good-looking young girls for her son before she saw her off.

Once Matchmaker Ma left, He-shi furiously discarded the leftover tea in the courtyard. Wait till her son comes back as an honorable xucai. She will then see if that Matchmaker Ma could still act snobbish!

All this while, Wang-shi wasn't in the room and wasn't aware of the situation.

"Mother, how did it go? How did talks about laosi's marriage go? Which family's young lady is she? Only a young lady from the best household is worthy of our family's laosi!" She had originally rushed up here to butter up He-shi, but ended up getting up on the wrong foot, completely offending He-shi.

Laosi: an appellation used by the elders of the family to address the fourth child. (Laosi would literally mean old four in English. I felt laosi would be better, so I went along with it till now. Which one would you guys prefer – Laosi or old four?)

He-shi rolled her eyes as she impatiently bellowed Wang-shi.

"Go, go, go! You are quite idle, right? If you are this idle, go and shovel the pigsty."

Wang-shi curled her lips, discontented. Nevertheless, she quickly turned around to move far away from He-shi, fearing that she might invite disaster upon herself.

Every day He-shi kept counting days. The days gradually passed by. By now, Yang Xuezhang should have finished his exam and ought to have returned home. But, with Yang Xuezhang and Yang Tiegen still nowhere in sight, He-shi couldn't stop the anxiousness building up in her heart.

But on second thought, they might also have stopped to take a rest somewhere on the journey. Thinking this, He-shi once again eased her heart.

A day, two days, three days – gradually, one after the other, days sped by in a blink of an eye, and it was already five days past the scheduled day Yang Xuezhang should have returned. Yet, Yang Xuezhang was nowhere in sight.

He-shi was unable to sit any longer and summoned her eldest son, Yang Tieshuan, to go and look for Yang Xuezhang's whereabouts in the county. Her second child, Yang Tiezhu was injured and wasn't in a position to go. Yang Tieshuan was the only adult male in the house who was suitable to go out at the moment.

In the main room, the old couple was just in the middle of a discussion when Yang Tiegen returned back.

Only he came back. Yang Xuezhnag was nowhere to be seen. With eyes bloodshot, untidy beard, and clothes disheveled – Yang Xuezhang appeared haggard and awfully exhausted.

As soon as He-shi saw Yang Tiegen, she hauled him into the main room. Finding the situation amiss, Yao-shi and Lin Qingwan also followed after them.

"Laosan, where is your younger brother? Where did you leave your younger brother?" At this moment, He-shi's liver and gall both seemed to have been torn from within, as she bellowed Yang Tiegen whilst continuously shaking him.

肝胆俱裂 (gān dǎn jù liè): one's liver and gall both seemed torn from within.; extremely frightened; heart-broken or terror-stricken; overwhelmed by grief or terror

This conduct of He-shi has never changed, disregarding the matter and reason, completely disregarding red-green or black-white. Other than Yang Xuezhang, everyone else could only go through condemnation.

不问青红皂白 (bùwèn qīnghóng-zàobái): not distinguishing red-green or black-white (idiom) / not to distinguish between right and wrong

Even if he wanted to say something, Yang Tiegen was rendered speechless by He-shi's act of continuously rocking him.

Yang laoyezi was also feeling anxious to death, but seeing his third son's face become red through and through while being unable to say something, he quickly pulled He-shi to sit on the kang.

"Alright, don't push him like that. Let laosan speak slowly. Getting anxious now is also of no use."

He-shi, also realizing that it wasn't time to yell, let Yang laoyezi pull her to the kang, with her hands and feet becoming completely soft. Here at Yang Tiegen's side, Yao-shi moved a stool to have him sit down before pouring water for him.

Yang Tiegen sat down and gulped down a large bowl of water before he slowly began filling them in on the happenings of the past few days.

47

The entire Yang jia was shrouded in gloom. Even the evening meal was skipped. All along, the lamp in the main room remained unlit.

家 (jiā): family/house

Fortunately, the second branch's room had been equipped with a stove and the other necessities, leaving them no dread of starvation.

Lin Qingwan stewed a soup, stir-fried a few vegetables, and cooked a small pot of millet rice. The couple had a very satisfying and pleasant meal.

Don't blame them for having a heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog for eating and drinking as they please when others are sad and dejected. Everyone ought to assume responsibility for the consequences of their choices and deeds.

狼心狗肺 (lángxīngǒufèi ):cruel and unscrupulous; brutal and cold-blooded; completely without conscience

Back then, when Yang Tiezhu was lying in the medical center, she didn't see them being saddened and anxious even by the slightest.

After dinner, Lin Qingwan peeked out to see any movements; the lights were still unlit in the main room.

Turning around into the room, she grabbed some food and carried them over to the third branch.

Adults can go on without food, but children should not be starved along with them.

She had brought food sufficient enough for all the four members in the third branch. The four people sat on the kang and began to dig in. Lin Qingwan sat at the edge of the kang, while teasing the two adorable girls and also chatting with Yao-shi. She wanted to wait till all four of them ate before taking back the dishes.

Seeing Yang Tiegen's uneasy appearance, Lin Qingwan said with a smile, "It's alright, third younger brother. You don't have to be anxious about father and mother. At the moment, they are deeply heartbroken; where would they have the mind to eat."

Ever since Yang Tiezhu had got injured, Lin Qingwan got a lot conversant and familiar with Yang Tiegen. As such, they no longer were as reserved as they were formerly.

Saying so, she once again added, "Don't blame me for being unfilial daughter-in-law. My disposition is as such. If a person is good to me, I will return my gratitude to them by multiple folds. And to those who harbor ill thoughts towards me, I can't force myself to bother with them. In the afternoon, your second elder brother asked me: Back then, if father and mother both knew that the situation would turn out like this, would their choice be different? My reply to him was this – there are no ifs and what-ifs, a lot of things around us happen just like that."

Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi remained silent. Others might not be aware of the entire matter, but they were very clear about it. Father and mother were really too much.

"Saozi, that wasn't what I meant…I just…. was feeling a bit uneasy….." Yang Tiegen awkwardly explained.

嫂子 (sǎozi): older brother's wife / sister-in-law

Lin Qingwan smiled, "I understand what you mean. I am aware that you must feel uneasy about having meals here while your parents are starving over there. However, I also want you to know that your saozi is a person with a clear distinction between gratitude and grudges. I can't force myself to do something against my will. Besides, father and mother being like this is not something new. And apparently have also must be already used to it. You also don't worry much about it."

Even though there was nothing wrong with Lin Qingwan's tone, Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi could both clearly hear a little mockery amidst her words.

It wasn't the first time He-shi skipped meals in this manner. Every time something goes awry at home, He-shi's mood turns bad, the main room remains unlit, and the daughters-in-law are also not called to prepare meals.

As to whether the other people starve or not, whether children are hungry or not – He-shi never cares. The only thing she cares about is that her mood is bad, and is in no mood to eat. Of course, sometimes, this strategy is also be employed to put her disobedient sons and daughters-in-law in order. Or it can also be used to put on a show of force.

In the past, the number of times Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi were put in order using this strategy wasn't any less; naturally, Yang Tiezhu, the most unfavoured one, was no exception to this. Even the eldest branch's husband and wife couple had also experienced this. However, not as much as the second and third branches.

Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi became even more silent.

At this moment, a sharp sound, like a thunderclap, came from the main room – it was Wang-shi's.

"Mother, hadn't you had enough? Ah? You don't want to eat because you are in a bad mood. But do you have to drag the entire family to accompany, ah? Do you think I don't feel distressed for those 50 silver taels? Those silver weren't laosi's alone; they were a couple of years' worth of savings of our entire family….

Wang-shi's voice was awfully loud. Lin Qingwan could even clearly hear all the way to the third branch's room.

Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi quickly gobbled down the rice as they urged the two little girls to eat faster too.

At this moment, it seemed to be riotous over there in the main hall with uproarious noises: Wang-shi's shrill voice followed by He-shi's sharp voice and sound of teacup crashing onto the floor…..

Swiftly picking all the dishes into the basket and putting it aside, the three up them waded towards the main room. On the way, when passing by the second branch's room, Lin Qingwan slightly pushed open the door and let Yang Tiezhu know that she would be going there to take a look at what was happening.

The main room was unlit and was obscure. But the lamp in the east room was lit, enabling them to vaguely make out the situation within the room.

Entering in, Wang-shi's disheveled hair and hysterical clamor came into their sight. Seated on the kang, He-shi was trembling with rage. While Yang laoyezi, also seated on the kang, was taking a drag on his tobacco from a pipe, without any utterances.

Yang Tiegen took out a flame stick and lit a lamp. Under the illuminated lamp, vivid expressions of Wang-shi and He-shi's grim faces came into Lin Qingwan's view through wisps of smoke that filled the entire room.

火折子 (huǒ zhé zi): Flame stick, it's kinda ancient version of a portable lighter. Flammable materials are rolled in paper and placed in the tube. With a blow, they could be illuminated. For more info, you can refer here.

"Eh? Do you have to be biased to this extent? Every time you feel uncomfortable in your heart, do you have to drag the entire family along with you… can't you hear the kid's wails of hunger all the way from the kang of that room, ah?"

Don't know what caused Wang-shi to be stimulated to this extent that she left no face for He-shi.

He-shi's fingers trembled, "Wang-shi, this shrew! Shut your mouth this instant for me!"

"I should shut up? Why should I shut my mouth? What wrong did I say? My kids are crying because of hunger. All the silver we had was given to laosi. And to buy what? Exam questions…Well, now that's great! All the money is lost…..Are you happy now? Satisfied? Pleased? "

Being bombarded with questions by Wang-shi, He-shi was infuriated beyond words as her hands trembled and her eyes began to lose focus.

Yang Ermei, who had been all along trying to reduce her sense of existence, swiftly rushed forward and stroked her old mother's back to soothe her.

It took He-shi a good while to calm down and come back to normal.

Right at that moment, Yang laoyezi knocked on the table with the bowl of tobacco before opening his mouth and breaking the deadlock.

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

"Wang-shi, just say what you wish to say, don't go around making your mother angry. Where's laoda? Damn you…. letting your wife make a ruckus in front of your mother, making your mother infuriated to this extent…are you satisfied now?

老大 (lǎodà): eldest child in a family

Yang laoyezi was distinctly aware that Wang-shi would not make this much fuss just because her kids were hungry. Certainly, there must be some other reason.

Hearing his father call him, Yang Tieshuan listlessly walked out of the east room and stood behind his wife, without a word.

Wang-shi pulled Yang Tieshuan behind her, indicating that this matter had nothing to do with Yang Tieshuan and was entirely done at her own discretion.

"Father, we are no longer be able to reason with mother anymore. You have to be reasonable, alright? You see how we will be able to pass our days now? To help laosi, the entire family was turned over, entire silver was taken, and even the grains were sold. Laoer almost lost his life in the process…"

With a calm and composed face, Yang laoyezi cut her in the middle, "Say the main point!"

While standing at the back, Lin Qingwan's lips twitched as she understood Wang-shi's intention.

It seems that Wang-shi was no longer able to sit still!

Being suddenly interrupted by Yang laoyezi in the middle, Wang-shi's face turned red, as she spoke out her true intention.

"Anyway, I feel that you have to consider, we can't go on living like this!"

Everyone in the room could hear the real meaning behind Wang-shi's implicit words. Getting up from the kang, He-shi grabbed a teacup and flung it towards Wang-shi.

"Great, Wang-shi! I was wondering why you came here to make such a fuss at this time. It turns out that you actually came here to urge my old man to have Xuezhang stop studying in the future. This old lady will crush you, a repulsive woman, to death. Such a vicious-minded little s*ut, #$ &! Do you hold any grudge against our Yang jia….To go as far as to target our family's Yang Xuezhang…."

Actually, the words used were even more derogatory. As they were colloquial, I was unable to find right terms to translate.

Wang-shi was hit head-on by the teacup, tea spilling all over her head. But ignoring it all, she persistently zeroed her eyes on Yang laoyezi, waiting for him to give an explanation.

Seeing that her trick was unable to suppress Wang-shi, He-shi shrieked, "Laoda, you go and throw out this repulsive woman for me and divorce her. Our family will never accommodate such a malicious daughter-in-law…."

But to her dismay, Yang Tieshuan, unexpectedly, wasn't on his old mother's side this time.

"Mother, why do I have to divorce Wang-shi? For me, she has given birth to so many sons. Besides, there was nothing wrong with what she said. If things continue going on like this, how do you expect us to still live?"

"Great," He-shi jested, "It turned out that husband and wife both wanted to suppress my laosi! My laosi is already pitiful enough and still out there looking for that scammer in the town. You conscienceless bastards….."

Yang Tieshuan was impatiently interrupted He-shi in between.

"Where are we conscienceless? You said you wished to have laosi study, did we say anything? You said laosi was diligent in studying and would become a qualified xucai. Did we say anything? Then, you said you wanted to provide 50 teals to laosi to buy exam topics and had all the branches help you pool money. Did we object you? Is only laosi your son? Could it be that we aren't your sons?"

老四 (lǎosì): fourth child in the family

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

Seeing her man supporting her, Wang-shi once again loudly said: "Yes, we have done utmost to fulfill our duties. In order for laosi to be able to go to school, every day we stuffed ourselves with all kinds of unappetizing foods….This time in order to pool enough money to buy questions for laosi, father stubbornly sold all the grains at home, leaving us with porridge as our everyday meals…. There are still many growing boys in the house who wail every day for hunger….the meals at home aren't even sufficient to fill a person's stomach…how can one be this biased….

Wang-shi broke into tears while speaking.

"… Aren't all of them father and mother's sons…. we are always short on silver because of laosi….my children don't even get to eat a boiled egg…."

Once First Branch begins opening their mouth, they know how to stab at one's sore points very well, even rendering He-shi and Yang laoyezi to speechlessness.

As the Second Branch and Third Branch are usually not well-received in the family, they simply stood at the corner, watching the Eldest Branch's husband and wife raise a fuss.

Sitting there, Yang laoyezi felt as if a knife was being twisted in his heart.

As soon as laosi met with a mishap, the eldest branch's husband and wife were unable to remain calm and began making a ruckus. While the Second Branch and Third Branch remained calm, without expressing any interest, evoking chill in his heart and bitter disappointment.

Lin Qingwan, who had all along been closely watching the situation here, has certainly hadn't missed the bitter disappointment and chill on Yang laoyezi's face.

Yes, bitter disappointment. Hehe…..then why didn't you take a moment to consider if the other person would also be bitterly disappointed, chilling their hearts, when you were handling the affairs?

No wonder people say that human hearts always tend to be prejudiced – by natural disposition, they are as such and aren't something that could be cured. He-shi and Yang laoyezi both exhibit prejudice. It's just that He-shi shows her bias openly, while Yang laoyezi's is just not obvious on the outside.

Otherwise, without Yang laoyezi's tacit support, how would just He-shi, all by herself, support Yang Xuezhang's education all these years, turning the family more and more destitute over the years? Only when Yang Tiezhu came back were they able to turn the tide over.

The grievances that have been accumulating for many years finally erupted. All sons had their own respective thoughts. Yang laoyezi was unable to rein in them any longer. He could only helplessly sit on kang as the eldest branch's husband and wife continued to make a ruckus.

Regardless of how bitterly disappointed and chilled his heart has become, this issue was something he had to face in time.

Regardless of whether it was now or sometime in the future, he eventually had to resolve it.

In extended families, it's unlikely for the patriarch to hold a bowl of water level even, and eventually, some time or other, clashes arise. Unfortunately, Yang laoyezi was never able to comprehend this principle. Not to mention He-shi, whose prejudice has elevated beyond limits.

一碗水端平 (yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng): lit. to hold a bowl of water level (idiom) / fig. to be impartial/ to handle things fairly and not to favor

Yang laoyezi took yet another deep drag from a tobacco pipe and exhaled before stating in a deep and low voice, "Your mother and I will ponder over this. Or else, how about we do this, wait till laosi comes back, then we will have a talk, alright? At that time, I will surely give you a reply."

Wang-shi looked at Yang laoyezi skeptically, "Father, you are not lying to us, right? When laosi comes back, you can't not ignore this matter."

Yang laoyezi flew into a rage out of humiliation, "Laoda, take your wife back to you to room. I, your father, had lived till this age. Would I degrade myself to lie to a woman?!"

Yang Tieshuan also understood that this matter could not be forced and silently pulled his wife back to their room.

Still not feeling reassured, Wang-shi left after spewing out these words, "Anyway, if this matter is not resolved, our eldest branch would not be able to sit still. If worst comes to worst, give our share, our eldest branch will separate from the main family."

Of course, Wang-shi truly didn't intend to separate from the family; it was just to compel them. She was well aware that Yang laoyezi would not allow separation of the family by any means.

And needless to say, Yang laoyezi was also very much unwilling to have the family partitioned. Initially, he intended to put off the discussion till laosi returns, but Wang-shi's remark at the end compelled him to tackle this issue upfront.

If not resolved cleanly, this house might scatter – this sort of scenario wasn't something that Yang laoyezi wished to see.

Seeing the eldest branch's husband and wife leave the room, the second and third branches, who had been pretending to be wallflowers till now, also took their leave.

The moment they were about to step out, Yang laoyezi asked, "On this matter, what is your two branches' opinion?"

Does Yang laoyezi wish to get their support?

Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi had always remained taciturn at home. When asked this, for a moment, they became speechless, not knowing what to say. In their hearts, they approved the eldest branch's intention but couldn't say out, dreading that they might injure the elder's heart.

Lin Qingwan's step halted. With her back still facing Yang laoyezi, she remarked, "Father, do our opinions carry value?" Saying so, she resumed her stride and promptly stepped out.

Yes, ah! Do their opinions carry value? So far, when were the second branch's and third branch's words taken into consideration?

Upon hearing this, the third branch's husband and wife also deemed it to be true. But they could not overstep their bounds with their reply. Thus, saying they would obey father's arrangements, they swiftly walked away.

Such responses from the second and third branches elicited even grimmer expression from Yang laoyezi.

He-shi's another round of curses began, but no one paid heed to it.

After Lin Qingwan returned to her room, she recounted the situation to Yang Tiezhu and discussed it with him. The two then retired to the bed.

Two days after the incident, Yang Xuezhang returned home, enshrouded in an air of melancholy.

The instant everyone at home saw his pale complexion, they knew that the outcome wasn't any good. However, this outcome was also wasn't far away from what they had foreseen; as such, they didn't say any more.

While He-shi pulled Yang Xuezhang as if he was a precious treasure and placated him like a child, seeing this scene particular scene made Lin Qingwan's teeth itch.

It turned out that Yang Xuezhang and He-shi interacted in this manner in private—it truly broadened her horizons.

Seeing that there wasn't much to spectate here, Lin Qingwan turned around to her room and resumed her embroidery. From the yard came He-shi's yell, calling Yao-shi to kill a chicken, further adding she would make a good meal today; don't know for whom it was being prepared or rather whom she was trying to silence by doing so.

Regardless of whom she was doing this for, Lin Qingwan didn't forget to take Yang Tiezhu's and her share of her food from the kitchen. These days, everyone got used to Lin Qingwan not coming to the main room for meals and didn't object to it.

These past few days, Lin Qingwan was heavily occupied with embroidering, and her double-sided embroidery was already at the last stage.

In the afternoon, Lin Qingwan stitched the final stitch and removed the embroidered cloth from the embroidery frame.

After inspecting both the front and back sides of the double-sided embroidery, she couldn't help but nod her head in satisfaction. Although it was still within bounds of her expectations, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy for finishing this piece of embroidery.

Neatly wrapping the embroidery in a cloth, she stored it in the cupboard and went to look for the village carpenter after informing Yang Tiezhu.

On the way, all the villagers she came across looked at her strangely, as if they wanted to say something but stopped after hesitation.

Initially, Lin Qingwan was somewhat perplexed, but after thinking it over, she realized the reason. Thereafter, she put away the smile on her face and replaced it with a despondent face as she strode to the carpenter's place.

At the carpenter's house, the thing she had ordered was already ready.

Taking it in her hand, Lin Qingwan took a look, feeling quite satisfied.

This carpenter was the same person who had crafted the wood shelf last time for Lin Qingwan, surnamed Cui, and was about 40 years this year. Carpenter Cu's family had been doing carpentry for three generations. Many people nearby who wanted to make furniture would come to him for his help.

Seeing that the shelf was well crafted, she asked Carpenter Cui if he could make a frame for the screen as well. After inquiring about the specifications of the dimensions and shape, he gave the nod.

Soon after, Lin Qingwan went to look for Carpenter Cui again with the necessary dimensions and requested him to make a frame for kang screen for her.

As the frame was made up of Chinese cedar, and not much wood was used in the making, the cost was not quite expensive. Nonetheless, it still costed her a bit over a silver tael.

As the cost was discussed beforehand by them in advance, Lin Qingwan readily paid the amount.

After footing the bill, Lin Qingwan wrapped it up in a cloth bag she brought and returned home.

Back at home, Lin Qingwan fixed the embroidered cloth into the frame with ease.

She then placed it on the table and took a look at it. The longer she looked, the more she liked and became unwilling to sell it.

However, recalling the recent expenditures and her gradually shrinking wallet—particularly in the past few days, the silver was spent like running water—Lin Qingwan decisively cut off such thoughts from her heart and firmly decided to sell it.

"Husband, does it look good?"

It's natural for one to hope that all the people under the heavens would also like the things liked by oneself. With similar thought, Lin Qingwan showed Yang Tiezhu her embroidered small kang screen as if it was her beloved treasure.

Yang Tiezhu was vaguely aware that Lin Qingwan was recently embroidering a piece she wanted to sell. But he didn't expect the embroidery to turn around as such.

As for his wife's embroidery, even though his knowledge of embroidery was close to zero, he could also nevertheless tell that this kang screen was awfully beautiful, quite appealing, and truly exquisite…..

The front, the back, from the side, it was alluring from whichever side…..

Yang Tiezhu believed that his wife was good in all aspects; that holds true for her embroidery skills as well….

"My family's wife is really amazing!"

Naturally, Yang Tiezhu didn't hold back in praising her generously and showered her with all sorts of pleasant-sounding words.

Lin Qingwan, too, was enwreathed in pride, complacency, and ecstasy as her small chin rose higher and higher.

Seeing such an appearance of his wife, Yang Tiezhu froze for a moment, not knowing what to do. Thereupon, smacking his lips, he bent forward and sealed those small red lips with his.

Then not taking this light kiss into count, he pulled the entire person into his embrace and resumed the kiss, but this time with a deep one.

By the time Lin Qingwan came to herself, she had only a little time to swiftly place the kang screen at the side, rendered unable to deal with the rest….

The next day, Lin Qingwan was planning to go to the town. It just so happened that Yang Tiezhu also needed to visit the medical center in the town to get his bandages changed. Thus, Yang Tiegen brought them an ox cart and escorted them to the town.

The ox cart that they had at home was usually used to transport the grains from the fields. As such, the cart behind was quite simple and crude and wasn't convenient to sit. Moreover, it was somewhat cold outside. Considering these, Lin Qingwan took out worn-out bed sheets that Yang Tiezhu used before marriage and spread them on the cart, on which she spread two bed quilts. And brought another bed quilt for Yang Tiezhu to wrap around himself. This way, it would be soft and comfy to sit upon and also help him ward against the cold wind.

With Yang Tiezhu's wound healing up to a certain extent, he could sit for a short while without difficulties. But it takes quite a bit of time to reach the town, and the ride would also be full of jolts. Thus, Lin Qingwan hoped that she could make the ride comfortable for him, even if it were only the slightest bit.

The three people got into the cart. Under Lin Qingwan's watch, Yang Tiezhu sat in the cart; with thick two quits below and another one wrapped around and him, Yang Tiezhu felt comfortable and warm.

After everyone got settled, Yang Tiegen drove the cart.

Leaving the outskirts of Luoxia Village, the cart strode to Luoyun Town, unimpeded. Lin Qingwan found the day to be awfully chilly. Lin Qingwan felt that it was very cold now, especially when sitting in the bullock cart, she could feel the chill wind hit on her face as the cart speedily swished by.

Reaching the town, they stopped at the medical center. The two of them, after getting off, helped Yang Tiezhu down and into the medical center.

Inside, after helping Yang Tiezhu settle down to have his bandages changed, Yang Tiegen returned to look after the cart and quilts in it. While Lin Qingwan, taking advantage of this free time, went to Jinxiufang.

In the shop, when Shopkeeper Su saw Lin Qingwan coming with a big wrapped item in her hand, she guessed it might be some embroidery article.

But after all, as it was only her guess, she waited till Lin QIngwan unwrapped it and put it in front of her. Shopkeeper Su was left speechless.

She held the small kang screen in her hands and scrutinized the left and right of it, then top and bottom, before turning it around, unable to put it down.

The small kang screen was not big, only a chi broad. Its frame was light yellow colored with its edges carved with auspicious patterns. But that wasn't what caught Shopkeeper Su's eye. Rather, it was the embroidered design on the screen that caught her attention.

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

The background of the embroidery was a very pale blue color, so much that it almost appeared to be white with a tint of blue in it. At the front was a big embroidery of a lotus, while on the back there was an embroidery of a koi playing in a lotus—the designs at the front and the back were completely different.

The superior skills of the embroiderer were clear as the day. Whether it was the koi or the lotus flower, they were vivid and lively, as if they were truly alive.

Usually, very few people choose to embroider such big lotus flowers, dreading that it might appear monotonous if the entire area was covered with lotus. However, contrarily, this embroidery was something else – it's a realistic and graphical portrayal of the petals using different sizes and shapes, a few lotus heads showing out here and there, tiny specks on lotus leaves…. there were even a few fishtails of koi showing out at some places, making it all the more picturesque…

While on the other side, the entire body of koi fishes was revealed as they frolicked between the lotus flowers…

Shopkeeper Su to a deep breath in to stabilize her mind.

"Younger Sister Qingwan, if this older sister hadn't misjudged, this is…this is double…this is double-sided embroidery, right?" asked Shopkeeper Su with a trembling voice.

Lin Qingwan calmly nodded.

Shopkeeper Su getting this excited wasn't any surprise. Because Luoyun town was situated in the remote areas of the north. Whereas 'double-sided embroidery' originated in the south. Only very few Su embroidery masters can do this kind of embroidery. Thus, every time a "double-sided embroidery" came out, it was swiftly bought by the various prestigious and aristocratic families, and very seldomly would they reach till the north.

Shopkeeper Su has been running the embroidery workshop for several years, yet she was only able to see a double-sided embroidery only once in a large embroidery workshop, to which she supplies goods in Yangcheng.

It was a double-sided embroidered decorative fan, a sole treasure of that embroidery workshop. On the front was an embroidery design of a butterfly playing in flowers, and on the back was a design of magpies scaling high branches. It was a very small piece of embroidery; however, the artistry was amazing, leaving people with gasps in admiration. It was simply unimaginable how an embroiderer could embroider front and back simultaneously.

Even after observing for half a day, Shopkeeper Su was unable to make heads and tails of the principle behind the craft.

Of course, double-sided embroidery wasn't as rare as Shopkeeper made it out to be. The only reason it was so mysterious was that they are very few double-sided embroidered products. And every time came into the market, prestigious families would soon buy it.

When Lin Qingwan saw Shopkeeper Su's expressions, she knew that the business would go well.

However, she also didn't have high expectations of her product. After all, the value of the embroidered products wouldn't be too high. But because this was extremely rare double-sided embroidery, its value won't be quite ow either.

Those people from rich households who buy double-sided embroidery are not fools. No one would spend an astronomical amount to buy mere embroidered decorative articles. After all, the value of these products was displayed there, and they weren't extremely unique either. Of course, if anytime there is an extremely rare product in double-sided embroidery, there might be some people who might be willing to spend their silver.

But those kinds of embroidery products are simply rare. Ingenuity, exquisite designs, exceptional skills, good embroidery – not a single one is dispensable.

48

Sure enough, once Shopkeeper Su was done appraising the piece, she offered Lin Qingwan a price of 80 silver taels.

80 taels of silver? The price was far more than what Lin Qingwan had expected.

But she still maintained silence, her face stoic. She wanted to see if there was still room to raise the price.

Seeing Lin Qingwan remain expressionless, Shopkeeper Su gritted her teeth and increased the price by another ten tales.

After increasing the price, with a painful expression, Shopkeeper Su added: "Younger sister Qingwan, this is the maximum this elder sister can give you. You must also know that in small towns such as Luoyun town, no one will fetch an embroidery for a high price. I would have to take it to Yangcheng to sell it."

After considering this bit, Lin Qingwan nodded her head in consent.

Shopkeeper Su cheered boisterously and dashed in to get silver for Lin Qingwan.

At Lin Qingwan's request, Shopkeeper Su handed Lin Qingwan 90 silver taels in 50 small silver notes and the remaining as silver ingots.

After Shopkeeper Su settled the amount to Lin Qingwan, she pulled her to take a seat by the side to chat. The gist of her words was, she was willing to buy all of Lin Qingwan's double-sided embroideries in the future at high prices.

"Younger Sister Qingwan, we have dealt with each other many times, and you also know what kind of person I am. Elder sister will also not talk drivel with you and get straight to the point—Elder sister wishes to buy all of your future double-sided embroidery works. What do you say?" Shopkeeper Su seemed to be surging with excitement.

Even after adding the 90 silver taels she gave Lin Qingwan, she could be able to earn a profit of 50 silver taels upon selling the embroidery in Yangcheng! 50 silver taels, they were equivalent to one month's earnings of the store!

Lin Qingwan smiled without any reply.

Seeing her lackluster response, Shopkeeper Su presumed she didn't want to sell her embroidery to her and couldn't help but feel a bit impatient.

Lin Qingwan found Shopkeeper Su to be a good person; thus, she didn't twist her words while speaking with her and straightforwardly replied.

"Shopkeeper Su, it's not that I don't want to sell my double-sided embroidery to you. Rather, at best, I can only sell three of such embroideries in a year."

"Three? Why? Your embroidery speed doesn't seem to be slow?"

Lin Qingwan bought all the embroidery supplies from Jinxiufang. Naturally, Shopkeeper Su was aware of the time Lin Qingwan used to embroider this double-sided embroidery.

"Shopkeeper Su, it is not convenient for me to tell you the specifics. I can only tell you that before my master imparted this craft to me, they specially warned me to always follow this principle."

Indeed. The embroidery master agreed to teach this skill to Lin jia's daughters at a high price, but only on one condition: He can teach them, but this skill must not be divulged outside; it could only be passed on to one's children. Furthermore, they are prohibited from selling them outside. In the event that they had to sell them, the number of pieces sold can't surpass three in a year.

When Liu-shi heard this condition, she deemed it to be ridiculous. Her daughter, Lin Qinglan, was born in a golden branch and jade leaves and was the eldest daughter of a prestigious family. How could she possibly fall to the point that she would have to sell such products to make a living? The sole reason for expending a heavy amount of silver to hire a skilled master and teach Lin Qinglan this skill was to increase her marriage value.

金枝玉叶 (jīn zhī yù yè): golden branch, jade leaves (idiom); fig. blue-blooded nobility, esp. imperial kinsmen or peerless beauty

But seeing the embroidery master's insistence, she earnestly vowed that they would absolutely not divulge to outsiders, nor would they sell it. And even if they had to do sell it, they would not sell more than three pieces.

But who would have imagined that due to an unexpected turn of events, Lin Qinglan didn't learn anything, but Lin Qingwan, who was only assisting her at the side, ended up learning the skill?

The embroidery master was a middle-aged widow and was usually reticent. However, she was kind-hearted. The person she was initially supposed to teach the embroidery didn't learn, but Lin Qingwan, who was merely accompanying her, learned the art. Seeing her diligence and her hardships in Lin jia, she taught her many things behind the Lin mother-daughter pair. In the end, she filled her in with an agreement that all the double-sided embroiders must comply with.

The original owner, Lin Qingwan, found this master to be a bit eccentric. But the present Lin Qingwan understood the reason behind the embroidery master's insistence on this agreement.

In this world, regardless of what sort of article it is, the rarer it is, the greater is its value. To put it simply, double-sided embroidery is just a simple embroidery. Nevertheless, it is a bit unusual and seldom seen compared to other embroideries, and the technique used is also a rare one.

That's why it's quite expensive. But, if all the streets get filled with such double-sided embroiders, it would not be sold to sky-high price of hundreds of silver taels.

Simply put, laying a requirement of not selling more than 3 pieces in a year, it's merely to protect the interests of the double-sided embroiderers.

Lin Qingwan truly admired the 'Founder' of this craft and this stipulation for his farsightedness and wisdom. Because he was able to see beyond the little profit in front of him and undegraded the value of this technique.

Perhaps, double-sided embroidery might not earn you a lot of silver in the short term. However, it can provide you long-term financial stability.

Not only that, in the future, it could also be passed on to your daughters and granddaughters, to the extent that turning this skill into a treasure bowl is also doable. It's just that it could not make one's life prosperous. However basic necessities such as clothes and food would absolutely of no problem.

Just as the saying goes, 'use a long line to catch a big fish.

放长线钓大鱼 (fàng cháng xiàn diào dà yú): use a long line to catch a big fish (idiom); a long-term plan for major returns

That's why Lin Qingwan was also very much willing to abide by this agreement. After all, it protects her interests as well.

Shopkeeper Su, seeing her resoluteness and her promise to sell all the pieces to Jinxiufang in the future, also didn't say anything further.

Under Shopkeeper Su's cordial send-off, Lin Qingwan set off from Jinxiufang to the medical center. On the way back, she caressed the silver in her bosom merrily.

This was the first large amount of silver she had earned after transmigrating here, making her feel immensely happy and proud.

Initially, she only intended to make a small extra income to support the family. She never expected the embroidery to sell this well at such a high price, making her truly jubilant.

Recently, at home, the silver was being spent like running water. Of the 30 taels in her private house as well as the remaining ten taels for Yang Tiezhu's medical treatment, only a little over twenty taels were left out in her hands at the moment. But now, with this large amount of earnings, Lin Qingwan can finally put her heart at ease.

While passing by a cloth retail store, Lin Qingwan suddenly remembered what she was supposed to buy but had forgotten. Seeing that the cotton here was on sale, she walked in.

She bought 10 catties of cotton along with dark-colored fabric. She intended to make two pillows for Yang Tiezhu. Recently, he was able to sit for a short while, but due to the unavailability of suitable pillows at home for the backrest, he was compelled to lay on the kang all day long, causing Lin Qingwan to feel distressed for him.

After buying all the necessities, Lin Qingwan hurried to the medical center.

By the time she returned, Yang Tiezhu's bandages were already changed. The old doctor advised that he wouldn't have to take medicine again once the Yang Tiezhu finished all the concoction he had prescribed this time. But currently, his utmost priority was to recuperate and heal his injured tendons and bones and not put stress on the muscles.

Once they climbed onto the ox cart, Yang Tiegen drove the cart out of the town.

Glancing at the various big and small bags Lin Qingwan was carrying, he asked what had she shopped.

With a smile, Lin Qingwan replied that she had bought cotton and fabric to make two pillows for him, aiding him to recline comfortably instead of laying on the kang all day long.

Hearing this made Yang Tiezhu feel sweet all over in his heart as he held his wife's hand.

He felt he hadn't lived in vain this lifetime, for he was able to find such a perfect wife, who is beautiful inside-out and cares for him! In his previous life, he must surely have had brunt best incense for the God to treat this generous in this life!

On returning him, Lin Qingwan and Yang Tiegen busily helped Yang Tiezhu into the room before carrying the remaining stuff.

Gloomy-faced, He-shi stood by the doorway of the main room while glancing at this side. Lin Qingwan paid no heed to her.

Anyway, He-shi's face had been bad the same for the past few days. Only when facing Yang Xuezhang did she have a slight smile on her face. As for others, their nose isn't nose, and eyes aren't eyes.

Ever since the day when Yang Xuezhang returned, He-shi hadn't been coming out often and was cooped up in her room all day long. Lin Qingwan, in any way, hadn't since her this while.

Yang laoyezi's face was also grave these days as he sat on the kang all day long with a crease in his brows while taking a drag of tobacco.

The atmosphere at home was quite awful recently. No one even took the initiative to speak. As such, it was unusually calm all day long.

As she had gone to the town this morning and didn't have time to prepare any meals, in the noon, she brought the porridge and corn cakes made at home before the husband and wife had a simple casual meal.

After eating, Lin Qingwan took the cutlery to wash them by the well. At this time, she heard Yang laoyezi's intermittent words mixed with Wang-shi's and Yang Tiezhu's voices. After seeing that there were no movements from there even after a while, Lin Qingwan didn't pay much attention again.

While in the evening after dinner, in a rare instance, Yang laoyezi had Yao-shi call her and Yang Tiezhu to the main room.

Exchanging a look, Lin Qingwan and Yang Tiezhu followed Yao-shi.

Everyone seemed to have already gathered in here.

Yang laoyezi and He-shi were seated on the kang just like always, while next to them were Yang Xuezhang and Yang Ermei. On the left of the kang sat the eldest branch's couple accompanied by their sons. Whereas, on the right sat Yang Tiegen. The two daughters of the third branch weren't brought along.

Lin Qingwan, without a word, followed Yao-shi in and sat by her side after getting a stool.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Yang laoyezi knocked on the table with the tobacco pipe and unhurriedly began speaking, "Recently quite a lot of eventful things have happened in the family—"

Speaking till here, Yang laoyezi stopped momentarily. Perhaps he himself wasn't clear how to proceed further.

"Let's not talk about the matters of the past and speak about what should be done from here on…" Yang laoyezi once again knocked tobacco pipe with a sigh, "Xuezhang…. Xuezhang, he is not young anymore. When he was six, he was admitted to the villages' private school. Despite many years of trials and tribulations, even when the situation in the family became challenging, we never gave up on his education and tuition fees…. The year when our situation was most desperate, your father sold our family's two mu of fields to pay your tuition fees…."

亩 (mǔ): classifier for fields/unit of area equal to one-fifteenth of a hectare

All this while, Yang Xuezhang had been sitting there with his head hung low, quietly listening to Yang laoyezi.

Hearing this, He-shi's lips trembled, wishing to say something, but didn't say anything in the end.

"…You all know that the days at home were quite tough until lao'er came back. Gradually life became better as we built a big tiled-house and also bought a few mu of fields. Xuezhang was also able to go to the academy in the town to study—These were all possible only because of lao'er…. This time in order to gain silver to buy exam topics for you, he went hunting in the mountains only to get injured in the process…..The matter regarding exam topic also turned out to be fraud…."

老二 (lǎo èr): an appellation used to address the second child in the family

As Yang laoyezi's spoke slowly, his voice seemed to quiver intermittently amidst his speech.

"There isn't any use of speaking all of these at the moment. I wish to say that our family now neither has the ability nor silver to support your further education. Above you, there are so many elder brothers and sisters-in-law, and also several nephews and nieces below you…. Spending all the silver at home only on you cannot be done…. From here on, you come back home and do self-study. During the period of schooling all these years, you must have learned something or the other. If you wish to continue taking the xucai-qualifying exam, your family won't oppose you. But don't go to the academy in the town…."

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

Perhaps, Yang laoyezi had already discussed with He-shi and Yang Xuezhang earlier, as even though He-shi was trembling with anger from head to foot, she didn't utter a word. Yang Xuezhang still had his head hung low without any response.

Yang laoyezi glanced up at the eldest branch's husband and wife as well as the several children Wang-shi had brought to increase the headcount.

"Laoda, are you satisfied now?"

老大 (lǎodà): eldest child in a family

Without waiting for the eldest branch's couple to react, Yang laoyezi waved his hand to disperse all of them.

One after the other, everyone left the main room. Over there, the doors of the east room were also quietly shut, and the lamps were also blown out.

Glancing at his youngest son, who was dazedly sitting on the kang, Yang layezi, with a hunched back, covered his face, resulting in the tobacco pipe in his hands to fall down.

"Laosi, don't blame your father. You are not the only son in the family. I have supported you all these years, but now there is really no other way…. "

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

Yang Xuezhang silently stood up and walked back to the west room dazedly.

With a shriek, He-shi broke into tears; her sharp voice cut through the tranquil night.

Day by day, the weather was getting colder and colder. Although there was no snowfall, the gushing cold winds outside were enough to chill one to the bone.

People began wearing thick cotton-padded garments to keep themselves warm and started burning the kang in their respective houses, unwilling to even step out from the house. However, no matter how reluctant they were, they had to earn a living. Several hard-working male villagers set off to the town to look for odd jobs. Those few who couldn't find jobs in the town made their way to the county.

Owing to the huge loss of silver this year in Yang jia, He-shi drove out Yang Tiegen and Yang Tieshuan to the town to look for odd jobs. Yang Tiegen, anyhow, had intended to go to town to look for work, but Yang Tieshuan was endlessly pestered by He-shi and was driven away to the town.

After all, this year was not the same as the past. Everyone in the family was aware that all the silver in He-shi's pocket was hollowed by the matter pertaining to Yang Xuezhang. Yang Tieshuan also understood that he could not leisurely hang out as he did in the past and honestly went to look for work.

As such, Yang laoyezi, Yang Xuezhang, injured Yang Tiezhu, and several other women were only left behind in the Yang jia. Lin Qingwan paid no heed to the matters outside and solely expended her energy on nursing Yang Tiezhu back to health.

Under Lin Qingwan's meticulous care, Yang Tiezhu's health started restoring to normalcy. Apart from his left shoulder wound, which rendered him from moving the arm even to the slightest extent, the entire person seemed to be good as he could walk and move around normally and even help Lin Qingwan from time to time in lifting slightly heavy things.

Nevertheless, Lin Qingwan, dreading that him exerting more pressure on his right hand might accidentally cause his left shoulder to tug, refrained him from doing any heavy work usually. So long as he showed any desire of wanting to help her, Lin Qingwan would at once give him an angry stare.

Seeing his wife's angry face, Yang Tiezhu promptly became well-behaved and obediently recuperated in the room without doing any strenuous work.

In this fashion, time flew by dully. And soon the moment that Lin Qingwan had been expectantly waiting for a while unfolded—

Ever since Yang Tieshuan had left, Wang-shi grew lazier and lazier. Normally, there was nothing to do much apart from doing house chores, cooking for family, and tending livestock.

Usually, when there is no work at home, Wang-shi is fond of sauntering to her friends to gossip about the trifles in other households. But with the past few days being quite eventful at home, she didn't have time to go out.

This time, when she had nothing to do, she ran out just like always.

But when she went out this time, she happened to hear earth-shattering news.

Upon hearing such alarming news, Wang-shi's head nearly exploded. However, in the presence of outsiders, she couldn't act like she didn't know it. Thus, she haphazardly skimped the matter and changed to another topic.

After that, she dropped by 4-5 houses of gossipy women. And each and every one of them, for the most part, said the same thing. Only then Wang-shi put her heart back and carefully pondered over it.

Lao'er's arm was crippled, yet there was no wind of it in the house. She, his eldest sao, had no inkling of it, but everyone outside knew.

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

Furthermore, rumor has it that, Yang-shi and lao'er's wife had slipped up and slightly revealed traces of anomaly, which happened to fall into several villagers' eyes. Presuming that troubling wounded patient would be improper, everyone, with no other choice, scurried over to Yang-shi's place to worm out bits and pieces of information from her.

Wang-shi was acutely aware of the competence of these married women in worming out the pieces of information from the opposite party and blowing the matter out of proportions. Sometimes, the said person doesn't even have a clue that she is inadvertently slipping up few pieces of matter, but the other person could easily decipher the secret they want to know.

The arm was crippled, yet he didn't disclose it to the family members; for what reason did he hide from everyone in the family?

For a moment, Wang-shi's mind was buzzing with various thoughts—

They say a knave would only think of others in terms of his desires.

When a narrow-minded person, like Wang-shi, contemplates the actions of others, she can only come to the conclusion that the other person is engaging in wiles and schemes.

After contemplating for about half a day, Wang-shi could only come up with one motive—

The second branch kept everyone in the dark and concealed it from the family to not let anyone get wind of it, dreading that if the family became aware of it, they might shun them. They were afraid that they would be subjected to contempt from everyone around them.

After all, disability is not a trivial matter, particularly in rural areas where people could only rely on their strength and labor to feed themselves.

At that instant, a feeling of having a second branch's weakness in her hands arose in Wang-shi's heart. Her first thought was to go and threaten Lin Qingwan to give her a share of meat that the second branch cooks regularly. However, on second thoughts, she felt there was something amiss in here.

But for a while, she couldn't find what was amiss. Wang-shi mulled over it for a long time. Even while having dinner, her thoughts were wandering all over.

When she was helping the children go to bed at night, a hunch struck her brain.

After tucking several children into the quilt, she also laid on the kang. The more she thought, the more she felt her hunch was correct…..

No sooner than she felt so, she spurned herself in her heart. No wonder her man said that all her brain was occupied with only thoughts of eating. And true to his words, she only thought about food, ignoring the main point.

Why did the second branch's husband and wife conceal the matter of Yang Tiezhu getting crippled from everyone in the family?

It wasn't only because they feared eliciting everyone's disdain but also because they were sacred that He-shi might kick them out of the house!

After all, formerly lao'er was good with his hands and a good hunter, earning a lot of silver. However, at present, he is different from that of the past. With his crippled arm, he can neither do farm work nor go into the mountains for hunting.

To put it bluntly, even laosi, who only freeloads on food at home, is better than him! Laosi could still go to the fields to earn a living, but what can a crippled do?

How can her mother-in-law, He-shi, endure such a huge disparity? Wang-shi was acutely aware of her mother-in-law's ability to create a ruckus, wishing to kick that crippled person out of the family. At that time, even if Yang laoyezi tried to intercede and stop her, it would be of no use; Anyone who came into her way would be purged, whether human or buddha. Furthermore, with Yang Xuezhang's incident short while ago still afresh, He-shi must be seething with a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent

Thinking of all these, Wang-shi merrily tittered while lying on the kang. See shall see if that Lin Qingwan could still dare to ignore her from hereon.

Humph, today you might be indifferent to me. But tomorrow, I will make you unable to raise your head!

Once again, she plunged into contemplation to see whether this incident might prove advantageous to their eldest branch….

No matter whichever way she thought, she mused this would surely be an advantage to the eldest branch: First, if the second branch's husband and wife were kicked out, there would be an additional vacant room. Then her family's several children wouldn't have to squeeze with the adults in their room even at this age. Second, their family would not have to raise another two worthless people, saving a lot of food at home. Even if all food is in He-shi's hands, it wouldn't be of much matter; at the least, there would be two fewer mouths at the table, and there would be more to eat for the rest of the people. And third, even though, at the moment, there are only two mouths to feed in the second branch, it's been quite a while since they married. Who knows, soon, the number might increase to three and then four. At that time, it wouldn't be just raising two worthless people, rather a whole group of trash…

The more Wang-shi thought as such, the more excited she became, and the more she felt that she had a good head over her shoulders.

How can she be this smart?!

Cloaked in the darkness of night, Wang-shi's pair of eyes gleamed with excitement; at one moment, she was sniggering, while at the other, she was beside herself with complacence, as if she had gone insane….

The next day, Wang-shi woke up early in the morning. Even after a long night, she still seemed to be beside herself with excitement.

Suppressing her glee and excitement to not unveil intrigue and maneuvers to others, Wang-shi waited until the meal was finished before she took He-shi into their east room, when there was no was in sight.

She can't disclose this matter to Yang laoyezi in advance. If Yang laoyezi comes to know of this matter, mother-in-law won't have the opportunity to prepare.

He-shi glanced at her eccentric daughter-in-law. Suppressing her itchiness to slam her to the wall, she let her finish.

But after listening, He-shi was no longer in the mood to condemn Wang-shi, for she, too, was left dumbstruck by the news. Only after half a day did she come out of her senses.

He-shi could see through the matter deeper than Wang-shi in a blink of an eye. After repeatedly cautioning her to not talk the drivel over it anywhere else, she went back to the room.

He-shi didn't return to the main room; Yang laoyezi was still sitting in the room. Instead, she went into Yang Ermei's room situated at the rear of the main room.

In the room, Yang Ermei was doing needlework. By nature, she was bashful and a person of a few words. She seldom went out of the house too and didn't have any friends either. As such, usually, she has a whole day at her expense, leaving her with a lot of time to do embroidery. She makes lots of clothes, shoes and the likes for her parents and fourth elder brother.

This was also why He-shi was fond of this daughter of hers. Ever since Yang Ermei could make her own clothes and shoes, Yang laoyezi's, He-shi's, and Yang Xuezhang's, almost all clothes and shoes were made by her.

Perceiving her mothers' bad mood, wjo was silently sitting there, Yang Ermei didn't dare to utter a word. Yang Ermei waited for her mother to speak, but realizing that she didn't intend to speak with her, she immersed herself in sewing.

While sitting in Yang Ermei's room, He-shi pondered for a good while and slowly released a breath.

Her eyes gleamed with sharpness as she marched towards the second branch's room.

Seeing He-shi stride here, Lin Qingwan was astonished by her rare visit to their room. But after glancing at He-shi's complexion, she soon realized that she must have gotten wind of that matter.

When your mother-in-law came to your door, how can you not let her in? Lin Qingwan quickly invited He-shi in.

He-shi remained by the door without stepping in.

He-shi's dislike towards anyone could be plainly perceived from her actions. In the past, she had never liked Yang Tiezhu; as such, she had never dropped by to see him. This time too, it was the same as in the past.

He-shi stood by the door and peered at confused Yang Tiezhu, who was lying on the kang, before her old eyes turned towards Lin Qingwan.

He-shi was never fond of her second daughter-in-law; she disliked her delicateness and for not being strong enough. She resented her for seducing lao'er to the point that he became disobedient to her. In the past, she had no choice but to tolerate her because Yang Tiezhu was able to earn silver for the family. But now that Yang Tiezhu was crippled, He-shi no longer planned to endure her.

She fiercely shoved Lin Qingwan to the side, wielding a bit of more strength. Lin Qingwan was almost shoved to the ground by her.

Seeing this, Yang Tiezhu was about to get up swiftly when he saw his wife was almost pushed to the ground. But the sudden jerk while trying to stand up tugged Yang Tiezhu's wound, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.

Lin Qingwan quickly steadied herself before quickly walking towards him to help him sit down on the kang, while completely ignoring He-shi.

"Lao'er, why did you both conceal the matter of your crippled arm from the family?"

Yang Tiezhu was initially burning with ire, wishing to say few words to He-shi, but when he heard his mother's such words, he was left dumbstruck.

Lin Qingwan, with her back to He-shi, winked at him while squeezing his hand and turned around.

"No…No, from whom did you listen to this drivel from mother…" Lin Qingwan replied, seemingly with a guilty expression.

How could He-shi's sharp and old eyes not perceive lao'er's wife's guilty conscience and not know what was actually going on?

She sneered as her eyes intensely scrutinized Lin Qingwan, her gaze sharp as a knife.

"You must be fully aware of what the truth is. This old lady is clear as well–" Saying so, He -shi turned around and left after giving cold snort.

But before she left, she meaningfully glanced at Lin Qingwan, which seemed to say—

You wait and see how this old lady will fix you up!

49

As soon as He-shi left, Lin Qingwan went over and closed the door.

Yang Tiezhu, who had been harboring doubts all along, finally asked her what was going on.

Lin Qingwan first untied his clothes to check if his wound was bleeding before slowly narrating Yang-shi's and her thoughts and plans.

Perhaps Yang Tiezhu was unable to accept it momentarily, as he silently remained seated on the kang, without any utterances, as if he was deeply contemplating about something.

Seeing such Yang Tiezhu and his not-so-good expression, Lin Qingwan couldn't stop dread welling up in her heart.

Grasping his hand, she explained weakly, "Husband, don't be mad at me, alright? Fearing that you might think ill of me, I didn't inform you about it in advance." As she spoke, the rim of her eyes turned red.

Yang Tiezhu had never treated her in such a manner. He would usually hold her in the cusp of his hands, fearing that she might fall, cherish her in his mouth, fearing that he might melt her. This was nevertheless the first time he had shown such a face in front of her.

Yang Tiezhu was actually deeply immersed in his thoughts and hadn't noticed Lin Qingwan's thoughts. But after seeing her reddened eyes, he quickly grasped her hand while softly coaxing her: "Wife, I wasn't mad at you. I was just mulling over an issue."

Unfortunately, his words came too later, as tears were already trickling out of her eyes.

After being pampered and spoiled by her husband every single day, she had become crystal-hearted. How others view her or how they think of her, she doesn't care about them. But she couldn't bear her husband not favoring her in his heart.

When she glimpsed at his face looking bad, she couldn't help but feel stuffy in her heart, wishing to cry, a complete contrast of her staunch and strong self in the former life.

Yang Tiezhu again coaxed and amused her for half a day before her tears showed signs of stopping.

Still not feeling at ease, with her reddened eyes filled to brim with the tears and mouth puckered, she explained her thoughts to him once again in a low voice.

Listening to her reasonable words and glancing at her pitiful, lovable, and timid appearance, Yang Tiezhu, this tall and robust man, was distressed to the max, wishing to hammer himself to death.

What was there to think?! How can you not notice your wife's feelings?! Even made her cry! He couldn't but feel distressed in his heart!

The two lingered on the knag for half a day before Lin Qingwan returned to normal.

Actually, Lin Qingwan also found herself somewhat unbearable. She felt all wronged by herself when it was a mere trivial matter, even bawling her eyes out. Lin Qingwan couldn't stand herself a bit now. Originally it was just a simple explanation, but she took half a day to convey it properly.

She had become an utterly spoiled woman.

But watching nervousness and distress all over Yang Tiezhu's face as he coaxed her, she felt quite happy and cheerful.

Sigh! One can only say that women's thoughts are quite complicated….

Yang Tiezhu pulled his wife into his arms. Lin Qingwan had no inkling when she had laid on kang as the two of them warmly cuddled in each other's embrace under the quilts.

"Wife, I understand what your and eldest gu meant. You want to use this situation to test family, right? If they are heartless towards us, we will take advantage of this opportunity to separate from the family." Yang Tiezhu was not a fool. After hearing his wife's inarticulate explanation, he was able to decipher the intention of the two.

姑 (gū): father's oldest sister /Paternal aunt

Lin Qingwan nestled in her husband's embrace and nodded obediently.

"Then what if they are not heartless?"

Truly speaking, regardless of how Yang jia treated him, all the hopes in Yang Tiezhu's heart toward them were already extinguished. Nevertheless, at the moment, he was feeling extremely complicated in his heart, dreading the callousness of his family, yet also hoping that his family might show warmth towards him. But at the same time, there was also an incessant voice from within his heart, warning him to not get carried away by his wishful thinking…..

Lin Qingwan silently snuggled her face by her husband's chest. She didn't wish to dishearten her husband by any frank remarks.

It was unlikely of them to not be heartless!

She had completely understood the psychology of this family. If you don't believe it, wait and see, their tricks will be unveiled one after the other!

Seeing his wife not replying, Yang Tiezhu took a deep breath in.

"Alright, let the facts prove—"

And the facts indeed proved her correct—

That same evening, He-shi commanded Lin Qingwan to cook the family's meals. Further adding that she had been sitting idle the past few days at home. And all of her daily house chores were shared by Wang-shi and Yao-shi. Since she was also the daughter-in-law of the Yang jia, she was also not an exception.

He-shi gave an ultimatum that henceforth, Lin Qingwan would have to do all the work at home as of now. When she would be pleased, the three daughters-in-law could start working on a rotational basis.

Lin Qingwan was apathetic to this, but Yang Tiezhi was nevertheless was furious.

Cooking is just preparing a meal; he had nothing to say about it. But what does this would be continued till his mother would be pleased? Doesn't it mean that as long as He-shi isn't feeling pleasant, his wife would have to work like an ox and horse every day?

做牛做马 (zuò níu zuò mǎ ): lit. to work like an ox, to work like a horse; fig. to work extremely hard

Lin Qingwan soothed Yang Tiezhu for a while before honestly going to the kitchen to work like an ox and a horse.

It's not like she hadn't cooked meals before and wasn't of much of an issue. She was aware that He-shi was pent up with anger in her heart, so let her vent it a bit on herself first.

When her anger is extinguished, her brain will truly start to think of the issues that she should consider.

In modern terms, this was simply an appetizer. For the sake of a comfy and pleasurable future, she can endure it!

Yao-shi originally wanted to lend her a hand, but He-shi furiously reprimanded and asked her to go back. She then continued to deride Lin Qingwan yet again to stop pretending to be delicate and innocent, for she wouldn't tolerate her any longer in the future if she continued to act as such.

Lin Qingwan closed her eyes, silently took a deep breath without a word, and resumed cooking.

After everyone had the meals, Lin Qingwan collected all the cutleries to the well to wash them.

She usually used hot water to wash them. Thus, this time too, like always, she boiled water in advance.

When He-shi chanced upon her washing the utensils with hot water, she reprimanded her again and stopped her from using hot water, prohibiting her from using the same in the future as well, as there wasn't much firewood at home, and they needed to use this till next spring.

Lin Qingwan was well aware that there was a room full of firewood in the house. Post-autumn harvest, her husband and Yang Tiegen trekked into the mountains to chop them in preparation for the upcoming winter.

He-shi's chiding her for wasting firewood was nothing but one of the means to sort her up

It's okay! She can endure!

By the time Lin Qingwan finished washing all the cutlery and dishes, her hands were frozen and red.

Back in the room, Yang Tiezhu was distressed upon seeing her and wanted to look for He-shi to argue with her, but Lin Qingwan stopped him in time.

At this moment, Yang Tiezhu no longer harbored any dread over the callousness of his family. The only thought running in his mind was that his mother was bullying his wife and suppressing her all day long.

If that person wasn't his mother but a mere outsider, Yang Tiezhu would have simply swallowed the person long ago.

On normal days, he doesn't let his wife carry heavy things, feeling distressed. Even when he was heavily injured, he wished to lend her a hand. But now, she was being insulted by the other person in such a way. Even if the other person is his mother, he couldn't bear it.

Lin Qingwan placated Yang Tiezhu for half a day, coaxing and amusing him before cautioning him to not stir up any ruckus this while, lest a new branch grows out of a knot. Anyways, He-shi would not be able to sit calmly for a long while, and soon she would give birth to the idea of expelling them.

节外生枝 (jiéwàishēngzhī ): new problems crop up unexpectedly.; bring up unnecessary ramifications; cause complications; complicate matters

Now, when Yang Tiezhu again went through his wife's and eldest gu's plans, he felt they made sense.

Nevertheless, it's better for them to separate from the family, or his mother would keep pestering his wife all day long. Since his wife requested him to endure, he would endure for a better future.

However, He-shi seemed to want to challenge the endurance levels of the second branch's husband and wife. The next day, she threw a heap of clothes to Lin Qingwan before ordering her to cleanly wash them.

Additionally, she even asked Wang-shi and Yao-shi to give all their clothes to Lin Qingwan for washing, saying that as her saozi and dimei had helped her cook meals in the past few days, she would help them wash their clothes as a token of gratitude.

嫂子 (sǎozi): older brother's wife/eldest sister-in-law

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

Yao-shi anxiously evaded saying that all of her clothes had been washed long back, while Wang-shi excitedly went in and brought another huge heap of clothes and threw them in front of Lin Qingwan.

Wang-shi was inherently lazy, and as the clothes worn at home don't get dirty to the point they are unwearable, she never took the initiative to wash them, not to mention those unwashed cotton-padded clothes from the last year. They were merely flipped inside and out and were directly worn without even sun-drying them.

This time she was truly fortunate to get free labor at their expense. Apart from the clothes they were currently wearing, Wang-shi simply brought all the clothes from their room.

Glancing at the big basin of the clothes in front of her and another huge pile of clothes Wang-shi dumped at the side, Lin Qingwan's face turned dark.

But without any utterances, she continued to endure.

Yang laoyezi, perceiving that his old woman has been tossing lao'er's wife here and there since the past few days, dragged her to reprimand.

The old couple had a dispute in the main room, but in the end, it was unknown what He-shi said to Yang laoyezi; there weren't any more movements from the main room.

By the evening, the entire family got to know that Yang Tiezhu's arm was crippled.

Wang-shi even specially made a trip to their room to express her 'heartfelt consolations'. Yao-shi also came to their door with worry all over her face. Even Yang laoyezi came to take a look at Yang Tiezhu. Eventually, the husband and wife couldn't conceal the matter anymore and had to reveal the 'truth'.

Yang Tiezhu stated that the doctor in the town had surmised that his injury was too serious and was furthermore delayed too long. As such, in the future, his left shoulder and left arm might be unfit for heavy work.

Nonetheless, no one paid attention to 'might'. Wang-shi's face gleamed with brightness for a short movement before she masked up the joy on her face. Yao-shi appeared to be a bit panicked, while Yang laoyezi's face lost color and became dull.

The number of the blows he had been receiving in the past few days had been too big.

In the end, Yang laoyezi didn't say anything before turning around to the main room with a sorrowful face.

In order to execute the plan unimpeded and smoothly, Lin Qingwan concealed the truth from Yao-shi as well.

Yao-shi frantically returned to her room; chaos ensued in her heart. She couldn't help but feel apprehensive; the second brother's arm had been crippled; how could her second sao lead her days in the future. No wonder mother-in-law had been tossing the second sao for the past few days; this was the cause. Second sao's body is weak, unlike her sturdy body. If mother-in-law continued to toss her like this, how could her body be able to bear it?

Yao-shi stabilized her mind and first decided to send someone to pass her letter to her husband and have him quickly return. Yang Tiegen had taken up a job with free food and lodging in the town and hadn't returned home for several days.

Although his return might not be of much help, good-hearted Yao-shi felt when her husband returned, they could come up with some plan.

The days passed by. For the past few days, He-shi continued to toss Lin Qingwan from here to there. Not only does she have to wash clothes, cook for the family, feed livestock every day, but now she also wash the chamber pots of the elderly couple.

Suppressing the nauseous feeling, Lin Qingwan went to clean the He-shi's chamber pot. Perhaps, this chamber pot hadn't been cleaned for a long while now; there was a tinge of bad stench coming from it. The walls of the chamber pot also seemed to be covered with yellow-colored grime.

Lin Qingwan thought she could endure it, but she never expected the smell to be this pungent, making her retch.

She couldn't control herself anymore and vomited out everything. Even after emptying her stomach completely, the feeling of nausea didn't stop, and she continued throwing up sour liquid.

(I think this sour liquid is bile.)

Hearing the sounds from here, Yao-shi and He-shi sprinted to the backyard. Yao-shi swiftly helped Lin Qingwan up while He-shi began spewing curses one after the other as soon as she dashed in.

"I asked you to clean the chamber pot, yet you threw up for this old lady to see. You did it deliberately, right….. "More and obscenities continued to pour out of her mouth.

While vomiting the sour liquid, Lin Qingwan kept glaring at He-shi.

While growing up in all these years, she had never detested anyone. She had intended to tolerate He-shi till she got impatient of them. But she couldn't control herself any longer…..

On the one hand, Lin Qingwan was beside herself with rage, while on another, she was feeling uneasy in her stomach, unable to stop retching. Unable to endure anymore, hit by a wave of dizziness, she lost consciousness.

Yao-shi shrieked in horror —

In the room, Yang Tiezhu was unable to sit still anymore. Initially, when he heard sounds coming from the backyard, he was like a cat on a hot tin roof. But now, upon hearing his third dimei's shriek, he dashed out of the room, disregarding his injuries.

弟妹 (dìmèi) : younger brother's wife

热锅上的蚂蚁 (rè guō shàng de mǎ yǐ): (like) a cat on a hot tin roof / anxious/agitated

Upon reaching the yard, he was greeted by the sight of pale-faced Lin Qingwan lying unconscious in Yao-shi's embrace. His eyes promptly turned red.

Kicking that disgusting and smelly chamber far away, he carried his wife with his uninjured arm and began to leave while asking Yao-shi to quickly invite a doctor.

He-shi was also petrified, but what petrified her wasn't Lin Qingwan fainting; rather by the meaningful glance that lao'er sent her way as if he wanted to swallow her alive…

Just as Yao-shi was about to step out of courtyard gates to invite a doctor, she ran into Yang Tiegen, who hastily returned upon receiving the letter. Behind him was Yang Tieshuan, who as returned along with him.

As soon as Yang Tiegen heard Yao-shi saying the second sao had fainted, he let Yao-shi go back into the house before he set off to call the doctor. After all, the second brother's hand was still inconvenient, Yao-shi could provide any necessary assistance from the side.

Yao-shi turned around and sprinted to the room to see Yang Tiezhu help Lin Qingwan lay on the kang and try to cover her with the quilt.

Yao-shi hurriedly stepped forward, stopped him, and got busy with work.

By the time Lin Qingwan was laid on the kang and covered with a quilt, Yang laoyezi also came after hearing the sounds. He-shi nevertheless remained standing outside without stepping in.

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): an appellation used to address the elderly male

Red-eyed Yang Tiezhu sent his father a fleeting glance before turning his head to his wife to examine her condition, without any words.

Soon, Yang Tiegen returned with the village doctor in tow.

The old doctor walked to the edge of the kang and took Lin Qingwan's pulse.

After analyzing it for half a day, he said: "There is no major problem; Just that she is expecting. It's been about a month now. Owing to the accumulated excess anger and stress, she fainted."

Yao-shi was overwhelmed with emotions, laughing at one moment and crying at the other. While Yang Tiezhu was utterly baffled.

…. His wife is expecting, she is with child?

…. That means he is going to be a father?

The old doctor was long accustomed to such joyous expressions of expecting patient's family. While stroking his silvery-white beard and smile across his whole face, he added: "The patient's body is a little weak. Besides this, there is no other major problem. However, you have to properly take care of her and nourish her so that a healthy boy can soon be added to your family. "

Yang Tiezhu jubilantly nodded. Yang laoyezi also showed a joyous smile. Midst the series of consecutive blows occurring recently in the family, this was the only good news.

Only He-shi's face was unusually bad, with a long face among the few people present in the room. Snorting coldly, she left from there, when no one was paying attention.

Wang-shi was following behind her. Stepping into the main room, Wang-shi anxiously asked He-shi, "Mother, now what's to be done?"

He-shi moved away from her and sat on the kang.

Glancing at anxious Wang-shi, He-shi couldn't help but impatiently roll her triangular eyes.

"You worry a lot. Go and cook lunch for today; go quickly."

Wang-shi felt as if she had brought trouble upon herself yet again. But after peeking at He-shi's languid appearance as if she was disinclined to pay attention to her, she could only give up and go to kitchen unwillingly.

In the second branch's room, Yang laoyezi left after seeing that there was nothing serious. Yang Tiegen went to see off the old physician. Yang Tiezhu sat by at the edge of the kang, guarding his wife. After seeing that only second brother was here, Yao-shi left the room, considering that a married woman and a man being alone in the room wouldn't be good. But she asked Yang Tiezhu to call her if he needed anything and closed the room's doors before she left.

In the main room

Yang Tieshuan and Yang Tiegen, who had originally rushed back after getting the message that Yang Tiezhu had crippled his arm, gathered in the main room.

After listening to Yang laoyezi's recount the situation, both of them were dumbfounded.

"Laosan, at that time when lao'er got injured, you had followed him to the town. But you still weren't aware of this matter regarding lao'er's arm?" Yang Tieshuan asked Yang Tiegen, wondering if Yang Tiegen was also in cahoots with the second branch in concealing the matter from the family.

老三 (lǎo sān): an appellation used to address the third child of the family

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

Have to say, the saying 'a narrow-minded person can only think of others only in terms of his own desires' holds the truth. In this aspect, the eldest branch's husband and wife were on the same page. At this instant, Yang Tieshuan's complexion was unsightly.

Yang Tiegen was also stunned to the max. He was only aware that at that time, his second brother's injury was quite serious with his left shoulder badly mutilated, and the old doctor's words that his situation was very critical. However, he truly didn't pay attention if the doctor had said anything about his second brother's arm becoming crippled.

Yang laoyezi was aware of his third son's natural disposition. Looking at Yang Tiegen's silence, he sighed and helped him out of embarrassment: "Laosan is not a doctor. How would he know if the arm was crippled or not? Not to mention, laosan wasn't present in the medical center all the time."

He-shi, seated at the side, rolled her eyes as she said, "If the other person wants to conceal it from you, would they still take the initiative to let you know?"

It's not that He-shi wanted to help Yang Tiegen; she simply wanted to make it clear to everyone that the other person was intending to put them all in the dark. As for who the other person is, it goes without saying.

"You old woman, why are you spouting nonsense now? For what reason would lao'er want to conceal it from everyone?" Yang laoyezi agitatedly berated her.

He-shi sneered, "There must surely be a reason. If not, why would the other person try to hide it from you?! If it wasn't for this old lady inadvertently hearing some rumors outside, who knows when we would have known this?" He-shi was also a smart one and didn't disclose that it was Wang-shi who had informed her about this. If her old man were to rebuke Wang-shi, who knows Wang-shi might lose her calm and end up revealing that she had informed her about it long back.

Yang laoyezi became silent. Her words did seem reasonable. However, he didn't conjecture anything bad about them either. He merely assumed that lao'er and his wife were blaming the family and thus didn't tell them anything.

He-shi sneered, "Now there are two wastes at home, and these two wastes are about to give birth to another small waste soon. How do you plan to spend past this year?"

Yang Tieshuan remained seated without any words; who knows what he was contemplating in his mind. Yang Tiegen, anyways, has always been an invisible person. Distress welled in his heart as he thought of his second brother's disability.

Yang laoyezi, nevertheless, was unable to continue listening to her drivel any longer. Slamming the table, he bellowed: "The more you talk, the more vulgar it gets. Isn't that your son and grandson?"

He-shi didn't argue with Yang laoyezi; instead, she kept glaring at him with her triangular eyes wide open.

"Anyways, at the moment, it has been attested that lao'er's arm has been crippled. Now that all the sons also are here, what is your decision?"

Yang laoyezi was bewildered, "What's there to decide?"

Only after a moment was Yang laoyezi was able to react, pointing his finger at He-shi in disbelief.

"What do you want to do? I am warning you, don't cause any trouble!"

He-shi gave another sneer and pushed Yang laoyezi's finger pointing at her.

"I am creating trouble? Don't you know what the situation at home is? In order to gather money for laosi, after paying the taxes, you decided to sell most of the cereals at home. Do you think food available at home is enough to feed these many people?"

老四 (lǎo sì): an appellation used to address the fourth child of the family

Yang laoyezi's heart shook; he truly didn't think of this.

With so many things happening one after the other, he simply didn't have time to think of this issue. Furthermore, all the food at home is managed by He-shi, as such if she by herself didn't mention the quantity, no one could know about it.

However, Yang laoyezi was also acutely aware of how many grains the family harvested this year, the taxes he paid, and how much they sold.

Now that he thought through again, there were truly not many grains left at home….

It is customary of Luoxia villagers to never hoard too many grains at home. Every year, after the fall harvest, once all the taxes are paid, keeping the ration stock sufficient for the entire family, they sell the rest of the grains.

Anyhow the price of the grains would remain the same all year round. They might as well sell them off early in exchange for silver. If the ration is not sufficient for the family, they could buy new food at that time again. However, such things happen very rarely. Usually, each family counts the number of people in the family and ensures that the food grains left would be sufficient.

Yang jia also follows a similar practice every year. But this year, circumstances were quite different. The silver they needed for Yang Xuezhnag's matter was quite huge. As such, after paying the taxes, Yang laoyezi sold the greater part of the grains, with only little left.

At that time, he assumed Yang Xuezhang would qualify the xucai-qualifying exam. Moreover, there were also few sons at home, especially if lao'er could casually hunt an animal; it could be exchanged for a lot of silver. As such, when selling so many grains, he didn't ponder that deeply, leading to the present unexpected situation!

Laosi's exam was thwarted; all of the family's silver was swindled. While hunting to earn silver for laosi, lao'er was seriously injured, and now his arm is also crippled…..

"There is no food…If there is no food, you can buy it with silver…" Yang laoyezi felt stifled; his face turned red and purpled as he spat out these words.

He-shi then asked with a tinge of eccentricity, "Alright, then give me the silver, I will buy it!" While saying so, she stretched her hand out to Yang laoyezi.

Silver? From where would Yang laoyezi have silver? Usually, all the silver was managed by He-shi.

But this time, He-shi's wallet was also turned upside down. The eldest branch and third branch also don't have any. Yang Tiezhu got injured while earning silver for Yang Xuezhang. The eldest branch and third branch each gave three taels of silver. He-shi also didn't use any fewer tactics to try to squeeze the silver out of her.

Currently, the scenario Yang jia is facing is —

There is no silver. There is no food until next year's harvest. Only a little food is left, which would by no means be sufficient till next years' harvest, proving the situation to be quite difficult.

Actually, He-shi still has a few silver taels—the ten taels she concealed last time. But she would absolutely not mention them. Because she had already decided to throw lao'er and his wife out.

She gave birth to this thought ever since she heard about Yang Tiezhu's disability from Wang-shi a few days ago and began to meditate over it.

This idea had become even stronger and stronger after she came to know lao'er's wife was expecting.

They already have to raise two wastes at the moment, among which one is even pregnant. They would need even more silver as time passes, and the food intake would also increase.

At the moment, Yang Tiezhu and Lin Qingwan in He-shi's eyes were equivalent to wastes, and the child in her belly is equivalent to a debt collector.

Anyway, besides Yang Xuezhnag, He-shi deemed spending silver on everyone else as waste. Especially at this time, when the silver in He-shi's hand is even scarce.

He-shi hadn't faced such a predicament for quite a long time. These past few years, lao'er usually shows her filial piety. Even laoda and laosan hand over the silver to her. This was nonetheless the first time she had encountered this situation. There was neither food nor silver in her hand. The family's income holder also became crippled.

老大 (lǎodà): an appellation used to address the eldest child of the family

However, He-shi seemed to have forgotten before Yang Tiezhu came back; to send Yang Xuezhang to school, the family would often face such a crisis, forced to tear down the east wall to repair the west wall, tightening their waistbands year after year. The family had to drink thin porridges every day, not even daring to eat dry foods. Adults and children alike, everyone used to starve, appearing pale and lean all the time…..

拆了东墙补西墙 (chāi dōng qiáng bǔ xī qiáng): literally, tear down the east wall to repair the west wall. Meaning reinforcing one place at the expense of another/trying very hard to make ends meet.

紧裤腰带 (裤腰带过): literally, tighten one's waistbands/belts. Meaning to live frugally.

Have to say, people tend to forget their roots easily. It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance; the reverse is not so easy…..

He-shi only knew that she absolutely couldn't take the silver out this time unless the situation was irreparable with no way out.

She saved this silver to buy food grains in the future. But more importantly, He-shi wanted to use this silver to get Yang Xuezhang a wife.

Yang Xuezhang was already eighteen this year and would turn nineteen in the coming year, yet he could not pass the xucai-qualification exam. The matter of finding a wife for Yang Xuezhang had already become quite a major matter in He-shi's heart.

But all these matters, she would never tell Yang laoyezi. Because she wanted to compel Yang laoyezi to kick that second branch full of wastes out of the family.

Yang laoyezi seemed unable to produce any words for a very long time. Glancing at his appearance, He-shi spat at him in his heart and got up from the kang.

"Alright, you seem to want to save your face, but this old lady doesn't have any sense of shame. If you can't say, this old lady will say —"

Saying so, He-shi marched forward from the kang.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Yang Tiegen stopped He-shi.

Yang Tiegen's heart was also in upheaval. They are is no silver nor food at home. Yet, there are so many mouths to feed. But nonetheless, regardless of all, he can't allow his mother to do this.

Their family had already been quite harsh on the second brother. Now that the second brother had become disabled, mother even wants to drive the person out….

Even Yang Tiegen couldn't but feel chilled in his heart, as if he was fallen deep into an ice cellar.

With a roll of her eyes, He-shi sent him a glare, "You dead boy, get out of my way!"

Yang Tiegen didn't move. He-shi's triangular eyes glared at him. With her chest puffed out, she continued to stride forward. This damn laosan, with this bit of his skills, he still wanted to obstruct her?!

Yang Tiegen quickly stepped back, fearing he would bump into his mother.

He-shi flicked him to the side, lifted the curtain of the main room, and marched towards the second branch's room.

"Mother–" Yang Tiegen let out a frantic roar from behind. He turned around to glance at Yang laoyezi, "Father —"

Yang laoyezi seemed to have stupefied as he remained motionless on the kang.

"Eldest Brother—"

Yang Tieshuan remained seated with his head turned away as if he hadn't heard anything.

50

When He-shi marched into the second branch's room, Yang Tiezhu was watching his wife.

He was speculating why his wife hadn't regained her consciousness yet. However, upon thinking of the child in his wife's belly, sweetness filled his heart. Enwreathed in the happiness, the matter of his mother causing his wife to faint also slipped from his mind.

But this sweetness was short-lived, for He-shi callously broke in. With a 'bang', she forcefully pushed the door open, causing the door to knock onto the wall and rebound twice.

He-shi remained standing by the door without stepping in; her face mirrored truculence as if she wanted to swallow someone.

Yang Tiezhu glanced at his mother. Disinclined to pay heed to her, he wore an apathetic expression.

Without a word, he merely glanced at her as if she was a stranger.

He-shi originally came with her spirit roused to the max, but upon taking a glance at the expression in her son's eyes, she felt a bit cowardly.

But at such a critical moment, how could she afford to be a coward?

Thus, she gulped saliva down, puffed up her chest, and outrightly pointed at Yang Tiezhu—

This was He-shi's most powerful signature posture when admonishing others, enabling her to finish off her rebuke comfortably with an upper hand. Not only that, but her overbearing pose also renders the other person dare not rebel. And the critical point is that this posture portrays her imposingness.

"This old lady won't speak superfluous words with you. Take your wife and get out of here at this instant."

Ever since his mother began to toss his wife around, Yang Tiezhu discerned that this day would arrive sooner or later. But still, he didn't expect it to come this fast, nor did he expect his mother to be this ruthless. She intentionally grinded his wife till she was rendered unconscious. Currently, she was diagnosed pregnant, and his arm was still unmovable, yet she ran here to drive them out.

"Mother, what do you mean?" Yang Tiezhu questioned to confirm if his mother truly intended to do this.

"There is no other meaning. The old lady's words meant that you are swept out by your father and mother. Now take your wife and get….."

Before He-shi could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a light voice

"Trouble you to please go out and close the door." It was Lin Qingwan's voice.

Yes, Lin Qingwan had woken up precisely when He-shi slammed the door open as if she wished to tear apart this room. As such, she also happened to hear He-shi's following words.

Lin Qingwan stood up and coldly glanced at the old shrew, unwilling to endure her any longer. She could stir a ruckus however she wishes to. Anyhow, she had already made all the arrangements; she wouldn't believe that she could still control her!

"Wife—" Yang Tiezhu was pleasantly surprised, totally disregarding his mother at the side.

"You little deplorable sl*t, what are spouting? Do you actually want this old lady to get out? You despicable trash, I give you an inch, and you want to take a mile? This is this old lady's house, yet you are asking this old lady to get out? You both beat it. You are prohibited from setting foot in beyond the gates of this house…."

He-shi originally came here to drive these two people away, but upon glancing apathetic and derisive look in Lin Qingwan's eyes, He-shi bristled with rage. Subsequently, curses began spattering from her mouth without any filter, one after the other.

Yang Tiezhu was already seething with a bellyful of grief and indignation, but his attention was diverted after knowing that Lin Qingwan was pregnant. However, after listening to his mother's bullshit and curses at his wife, rage overtook his brain….

He stood up and, without any utterances, directly grabbed the stool and flung it towards his mother. However, Yang Tiezhu's accuracy was still excellent, and it merely brushed past her. He didn't truly want to hit her; he simply wanted to intimidate her.

"My wife asked you to get out, didn't you hear?" At this moment, Yang Tiezhu didn't even want to address her as a mother.

The stool crashed just by He-shi's side, producing a loud sound before it broke into several pieces – a testament of the amount of the force used by Yang Tiezhu, coupled with the accumulated grief and indignation invested in it.

He couldn't help but feel pangs of anguish and rage. He had bared his soul for the family only to end in this way.

Get out…. You are prohibited from setting foot in beyond the gates of this house…ha ha ha.

Great, truly great, he will keep this in mind!

Yang Tiegen, hearing the loud noise from the second branch's room, dashed over here. Yao-shi also ran out of the room and followed behind him. Yang laoyezi still remained dumbfounded, seemingly as if he hadn't heard any noises…

Although Yang Tieshuan heard it, he didn't want to bother about it as selfish as he was. His thoughts churned quicker than his wife, albeit reaching the same conclusion. Seizing this situation to expel the trash out was indeed a good opportunity. And it just so happens that he also wouldn't have to show his face. Yang Tiezhuan had a strong trust in his mother's fighting prowess….

Perhaps, his father was also of the same mind?

With such thoughts, Yang Tieshuan cast a glance at the dumbstruck Yang laoyezi sitting by his side.

Glancing at the broken stool on the floor, fear crept within He-shi, weakening her legs. But the next moment, rage swept over her as she pointed a trembling finger towards Yang Tiezhu.

"You unfilial son…"

Upon dashing over here, Yang Tiegen was greeted by his furious second brother and smashed stool at the side. Dreading that He-shi would make a fuss, he straightaway hauled her out while beseeching her.

"Mother, can't you stop making trouble —"

Currently, with a series of consecutive incidents in a mere short span, Yang Tiegen's brain has completely turned mushy. His mother is indenting to throw his second brother's family out, second brother's injury is yet to heal completely, second sao is pregnant, yet was tossed by his mother from here to there to the point that she fainted.

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

He wanted his father and eldest brother to help him stop He-shi, but they unexpectedly remained motionless….

Not just his mother, but is everyone in the family are of the same mind? Just because his second brother is now crippled?

Yang Tiegen was in a mess, feeling chilled in his heart. Why does it have to be this way? Wouldn't it be good for everyone to live together regardless of joy and sorrow?

"Mother, can you not make any more troubles. I implore you. The second brother's injury still hasn't healed, even second sao is pregnant…" Yang Tiegen, as clumsy-mouthed as he was, could only incoherently repeat the same words again and again.

"I, this old lady, isn't making any trouble. This old lady is speaking the truth…This old lady wants to kick him out of the house…." Complex emotions such as anxiousness, fury, and embarrassment surged within He-shi. Fury because lao'er actually dared to fling a stool at her just because of that deplorable thing. She had always been the one to ride roughshod over others. But now, her face was completely lost, and that scene was even witnessed by laosan and Yao-shi, embarrassing her to the max.

老二 (lǎo'èr): an appellation used to address the third child of the family

作威作福 (zuò wēi zuò fú): tyrannical abuse (idiom); riding roughshod over people

老三 (lǎo sān): an appellation used to address the third child of the family

And at this moment, Yang Tiegen just happened to haul her out, pleading leniency for the second branch's couple, causing her to vent her bellyful of anger on Yang Tiegen.

"These two unfilial sons; neither is he filial nor are you. Why did this old lady have to give birth to the two of you? You were born only to collect debts from this old lady, driving me mad….." He-shi tore into Yang Tiegen as a string of curses continued to spew out of her mouth as if she had gone insane. "This old lady will kick them out of the family; what's the use of keeping two goof-for-nothing-wastes…"

He-shi kept hurling curses after curses as she continued to hit and scratch all over his face and throat….

Yao-shi intended to pull He-shi away, to stop her from hitting Yang Tiegen, but was single-handedly slapped by He-shi, causing her to slump on the floor.

While the two little girls, upon watching their parents being hit by their grandmother, stepped up, wishing to stop her grandmother from hitting their father and mother. However, the strength they possessed was minuscule and were flung onto the ground by a wave of He-shi's palm.

"Waah… mother… father.."

The two girls began bawling, feeling sorrowful and intimidated.

From the time He-shi flounced to the second branch's room, Wang-shi had been watching the spectacle with great gusto from the kitchen entrance. At this moment, cooking the meals was the least of her concern. She had always been the one to take joy in calamity and delight in other's disasters. Even upon seeing that they began to tussle, she didn't take the initiative to stop them. Rather, she remained standing there with her hands folded in front of her chest, staring with excitement.

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

Yang Tiegen drooped his head, avoiding He-shi's hands. His face was in a hideous mess with scratches all over his face. However, he didn't dare to push He-shi's hands away and could only let her hit wherever she wished.

The wails of the two kids were ringing his ear; at this moment, he was on the verge of explosion from the throbs of the pain.

For this sort of family and this sort of mother….

"Don't you dare stop me! You are also trash, and your wife is also trash who couldn't lay eggs, you spineless coward. If you stop me once more, I will expel your entire family too…"

Yao-shi gazed at her husband being bashed and her daughters being flung out in such a manner. And then again heard He-shi curse her husband and her atrociously and was unable to endure any longer; the string in her head snapped 'pa'.

With a shriek and red eyes, she dashed forward, pushing He-shi.

"You don't want people to live, do you?"

Yao-shi's usual despondent face was awfully distorted as she questioned He-shi with frightening red eyes, swollen face, and disheveled hair.

"…. haven't you suppressed me enough at home every day, even calling me a hen who can't lay eggs. You are my mother-in-law, you can suppress me… But now, you are suppressing even my second sao and second brother…. hitting my man, hitting my children…. are you a human? I want to ask, are you even a human?" Yao-shi seemed to be deranged as she hysterically pointed her finger at the second branch's room and her two children slumped on the ground.

She had always remained honest and taciturn at home. But now, she was unable to bear the agonizing torment by this woman in front of her, who was her so-called 'mother-in-law'.

When tormenting others, He-shi seldom physically abuses. She had always abused Yao-shi verbally-hurling curses at her, deriding her, giving her a bad face, looking at her with disdain, and such.

Atrocious hurling of abuses, terribly humiliating words…..Yao-shi had always been subjected to such hurtful abuses day after day. But she kept silent in cowardice time and again…

She dared not resist her because this old woman was her mother-in-law. Her husband also didn't dare to defy her because he was filial to her. Furthermore, they lacked a son and were rendered powerless. Yang Tiegen felt distressed for his wife, but he didn't dare to disobey his mother. Stifled and powerless, he could only vent all his resentment at work all day long. It was unlikely for him to not bear a grudge all the while, but it was suppressed by him deep in his heart….

Even verbal abuse could drive people to insanity.

When feelings suppressed over a long time could no longer be suppressed, even a coward can explode.

Currently, such was the case with Yao-shi.

"…You want people to drive people to insanity, right? Are you satisfied? Do you want to hound everyone to death before you get satisfied…?"

With a shriek, He-shi wanted to pounce on Yao-shi to fight but was hugged by Yang Tiegen from behind.

"…Yao-shi, you damn hen who can't lay eggs, you dare to push this old lady…. This old lady will have my laosan divorce you out. You little slut, a dog in the manger, I will beat you to death….."

占着茅坑不拉屎 (zhàn zhe máo kēng bù lā shǐ): lit. to occupy a latrine but not shit (proverb) / fig. to be a dog in the manger

"Come, come, you want to beat me, you beat all of us to death…..after all of us will die, you alone can live peacefully…." Yao-shi shrieked frantically. Then abruptly, she straightened up and dashed to the kitchen with disheveled hair.

While striding into the kitchen, when she brushed past Wang-shi, Wang-shi stumbled back, frightened.

When Yao-shi marched out, she had a kitchen knife in her hand.

Hysterically, she stuffed the knife in her hands into He-shi's, "Come, come, since you don't want us to live, hack us to death with this…. come, stab hard…. stab us to death, okay."

After stuffing the knife into He-shi's hands, Yao-shi seized her hand and directed the knife towards herself. From where would He-shi get the courage to stab someone. When Yao-shi pulled her hands towards herself, she could only withdraw her hands back.

He-shi was utterly frightened by her deranged third daughter-in-law. She collapsed onto the ground with a pale face. The knife in her hands also slipped down.

Disregarding the slumped He-shi, Yang Tiegen stepped forward and took his wife into her hands.

"Wife…" Yang Tiegen embraced Yao-shi; his cheeks streamed with painful tears.

"Wife, please don't scare me…"

The two children also crawled up and ran to their parents and hugged their legs, sobbing aggrievedly.

Yao-shi's complexion was deathly pale. Her body became soft and leaned onto Yang Tiegen, mumbling, "Yang Tiegen, I don't want to live, I don't want to live like this anymore….every day this family is like this….this house is filled with demons and ghosts….each and every one of them is callous….your mother deliberately torments me every single day…..now she is even tormenting second brother and second sao…..I am in deep pain; every day, I feel agonizing….If it weren't for you and children, if it weren't for second sao cheering me, amusing me every day, l would have lost my will to live long ago…"

The entire Yang jia appeared chaotic. First, a doctor was invited, followed by a loud cacophony of sounds and disputes, attracting the neighbors next door to peer in.

But they were merely outsiders. As such, them interrupting in the middle won't be good. No one stepped up to say anything, and coupled with the chill wind outside, very few people gathered outside.

But, with Yang jia making such cacophonous of loud sounds in such an ostentatious manner, this matter soon spread around the village.

It would be an exaggeration to say there were a lot of people as there were hardly on 7-8 spectators standing outside.

Upon seeing Yang Tiegen's wife, Yao-shi go hysterical. Even unexpectedly taking out a knife to compel her mother-in-law to stab herself, a person finally stepped forward to persuade, unable to stand silently any longer.

"What's happened? Tiegen's wife, don't scare children…" The speaker was a neighbor of Yang jia-an old lady by surname Mi. Everyone usually called her Aunt Mi.

Formerly, she and He-shi had a dispute; consequently, the situation between the two of them became a bit rigid. As such, the two families never exchanged any words this while.

Heh! How come she didn't see her come up and persuade all this while and only come now when the situation had already calmed down?

Lin Qingwan coldly snorted from the side.

Lin Qingwan had been standing by the door for a while now. To be precise, she had come out when Yao-shi brought out a kitchen knife and stuffed it into He-shi's hands.

Initially, she wanted to stop her. But on second thought, considering that Yao-shi had been bottling up all these emotions for quite a long time, provoking her to explode now. She might as well let her vent all her emotions properly, lest she stifles everything in her heart, leading to an illness. Besides, it was unlikely for anything to happen.

To a person like He-shi—who is meek in public but a tyrant at home—even if you give her a knife, she won't dare stab anyone.

Sure enough, He-shi was frightened beyond belief and collapsed on the ground after her legs became soft, paralyzed, and unable to make a din anymore.

Thus, Lin Qingwan just silently watched from the side. But now, glancing at Yao-shi's weakened state and the people gathered outside to watch a show, she stepped forward and took her arm on one side and supported her to her room along with Yang Tiegen, with the two little girls following behind them.

Lin Qingwan had Yao-shi sit on the kang and gave her a kerchief.

While motioning her to wipe her tears, she asked Yang Tiezhu to sit properly on the kang without randomly moving.

She was unconscious for a long time, and this foolish man kept guarding her the whole time without even moving an inch, sitting in the same posture. His shoulder must be aching now.

In the yard, He-shi was left alone, with no paying to heed her. After a while, the voices of onlookers who were watching the fun became louder and louder.

Upon hearing Yang laoyezi's voice followed by Yang Tieshuan's voice of driving the onlookers away, Lin Qingwan couldn't help but sneer.

Why didn't she see even their silhouettes when it was so loud a moment ago, but come out only now?! Both of them nicely stayed behind in the room, waiting for He-shi to take the initiative to be a gun pointing at them, driving them out of the house! He-shi's this sort of behavior proved indeed utterly shameless, but Lin Qingwan was unclear of what to think of Yang laoyezi's and Yang Tieshuan's behavior. Were they trying to save their faces?

Yao-shi weakly sat on the kang as Yang Tiegen wiped her tears with a handkerchief along with the two girls who stood by their mother's knees.

After everyone calmed down, Lin Qingwan asked Yang Tiegen to go and invite Yang-shi over.

Although Yang Tiegen was a little puzzled by her request, he was nevertheless aware that the matter at home was far from over and had to be resolved appropriately. Thus, he could only go to invite Yang-shi with a face full of bloody gashes.

Yao-shi blankly looked at Lin Qingwan. Lin Qingwan, while dusting the dirt off the two little girls' clothes, said to her, "Since she wants to expel us out, I will fulfill her wish."

Yao-shi wanted to say something, but at the moment, her brain was in a mess, and she didn't know what to say.

After cleaning both of their clothes, Lin Qingwan had the two of them remove their shoes and climb onto the kang, after cautioning them not put to pressure on their second bo's wound.

伯 (bó): father's elder brother/ paternal elder uncle

The two girls obediently nodded and sat on the kang without talking. Thie little faces appeared to be tensed; they presumably must have been frightened from the scene a while ago.

"You actually wish to be expelled out?"

Yao-shi understood Lin Qingwan's implicit intention, but she was momentarily unable to react, for her thinking process became awfully slow.

Lin Qingwan glanced at Yao-shi's appearance and then at the two little girls. She was willing to offer her hand to them, but they too had to cooperate.

"Sigh, ruminate over it properly. I know you are not dumb, meditate over it carefully and seize the opportunity. I can't help you make the decision."

Yao-shi's face was still dazed.

After a while, Yang-shi arrived at the request of Yang Tiegen.

Upon glancing at the smashed stool, Yang Tiegen's face full of scratches, Yao-shi's red and swollen eyes, and from the rumours she had heard on her way, Yang-shi could surmise the reason behind such a big dispute in Yang jia.

Lin Qingwan asked Yang-shi to have a seat and narrated the happenings that transpired in the past few days, including the matter of He-shi asking them to get out a while ago, hitting Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi for trying to dissuade her intentions, coupled with other events.

Even though He-shi's response was within their expectations, Yang-shi still couldn't help but spat in contempt at He-shi's actions.

What can one even call this sort of person? Yao-shi's remark was right on the mark – she simply is not a human! A manic!

Yang-shi then jubilantly glanced at Lin Qingwan's belly.

"Really?"

Beset by a mixture of sweetness and complex feelings, Lin Qingwan nodded her head as she caressed her belly.

Yang Tiezhu had indeed had already shared with her the news of her around one-month pregnancy, leaving her astonished. Although she was aware that this was inevitable and would happen sooner or later, she never expected it to be this soon. Counting the days, it should be probably the night before the day Yang Tiezhu trekked the mountains….

In her two lifetimes combined, this was her first pregnancy, making her mood complicated. This was the reason why she had remained in the room for so long before rushing out.

Initially, she was frightened and dazed. Looking at the strange appearance of his wife, Yang Tiezhu was busy coaxing his wife. As such, both of them were in their own world, entirely disregarding the situation outside.

These two people indeed lacked a conscience. Outside, Yang Tiegen and Yao-shi were being abused, yet the two main culprits involved didn't have any reactions.

Only when the cacophony of the noises outside escalated beyond the limit did she rush out to see what was happening. In order to not arouse unnecessary suspicions of others, Lin Qingwan forbade Yang Tiezhu from coming out, leaving him with no choice but to silently wait as he saw his wife step out.