Yu Tingwan abruptly snapped out from the image, no longer any drowsiness.
She did not dare recall again.
A suffocating feeling surged forth.
Heartbeat like a drum, the helpless sorrow belonging to the previous life was like an airtight cage, with an unstoppable momentum, engulfing her completely.
The little girl clutched the collar at her chest, breathing with difficulty.
She urgently wanted to leave the Hu family, not even wanting to wait a single moment longer.
–
At the same time, in Ze County.
On both sides of the street were all kinds of stalls set up.
Other than the surging crowd, there could faintly be seen quite a few soldiers patrolling.
“Your sister-in-law insisted on some face-wiping face cream, doesn’t even think—does that face of hers really need money spent?”
No matter how it’s used, still ugly.
In the ear was Hu Dalang’s complaint, but Hu Yaozu’s thoughts had already fallen on the finely crafted wooden hairpin on the stall.
He took out copper coins to pay.
Hu Dalang squinted his eyes: “For younger female cousin?”
Hu Yaozu was dressed in scholar robes, cultured and refined in demeanor. In stark contrast to Hu Dalang, who only knew how to dig food out of the ground and was rough and coarse.
He pressed the wooden hairpin to his chest, his ears flushing red, neither admitting nor denying, only bowing his head to walk forward.
The two headed toward the direction of the inn.
Midway, an old man called out to Hu Yaozu in surprise and delight.
Half a stick of incense later, Hu Dalang, face glowing with red light, walked in from outside, loudly shouting: “Dad, on the road back we bumped into Master Chu. He saw that Yaozu was still staying in the county and deliberately invited him to spend New Year at his house.”
Shows how much Master Chu values Yaozu, how could he, as the big brother, not be excited!
Hu Yaozu was also joyful, but equally hesitant: “Just that if I go, then I can’t spend New Year with Dad and Big Brother.”
“With your big brother by my side, do I still need you to worry?”
Hu Dazhu was also excited, but after all steadier than Hu Dalang: “This is a good thing, one that many beg for but can’t get. Master Chu usually takes care of you—visiting can’t be done empty-handed, take a look later at what to bring. The family is counting on you to stand out and make a name.”
Hu Yaozu hurriedly agreed.
Hu Dalang then spoke to Hu Dazhu about the news he’d found out: “It’s almost the end of the year, a lot of people have come to the county to buy New Year’s goods. This road’s been sealed off, and there are quite a few people like us who can’t return. Also, the merchant caravans that purchase medicinal herbs every year, the bodyguards escorting cargo—every inn is full. Good thing we booked early.”
“There’s more and more soldiers patrolling nearby, I heard that in a few more days, General Wei from the frontier will have his coffin pass through Ze County. Several places on the street have already hung up white lanterns. Even from the capital, quite a few officials have come to receive.”
“The battle was won, so how come the person died?”
He still wanted to say more, but saw that Hu Dazhu hadn’t heard a single word, instead his brows were tightly furrowed.
He fell silent, lowered his voice to ask Hu Yaozu on the side.
“Dad was just happy a moment ago—what’s going on now?”
Hu Yaozu said in a low voice: “It should be that he’s thinking about Wan-mei.” [“晚妹” (Wan mei) = younger sister named Wan; here refers to Yu Tingwan.]
Hu Dalang slanted his eyes: “And you’re not thinking about her?”
The former’s face instantly flushed red.
Hu Dazhu didn’t catch what they said between themselves and sighed anxiously with worry: “I’m worried your mother will treat her poorly.”
Hu Dalang choked up, thought of something, and guiltily rubbed his nose: “Anyone who doesn’t know would think younger female cousin is your real daughter.”
“Your little aunt passed away early. Is it wrong that I doted on her more?”
“And another thing! That wife of yours is full of schemes—once she gives birth, you better take care of her!”
The conversation between father and sons, Yu Tingwan was unaware of.
She was leaning by the window watching the commotion.
She saw Wang-shi pick up a rattan cane, chasing the Xu family boy all over the courtyard.
“Slipped into my room and rummaged left and right. So young yet already knows how to steal!”
“Is that something for you to eat!”
The Xu family boy was pinned to the ground by her and beaten. His mouth still had pastry crumbs in it. He grimaced in pain, baring his teeth, but was extremely arrogant.
“I just want to eat it! I want to eat it!”
“If I see it, then it’s mine!”
Last time, he stole rice from the neighbor and brought it home, and his parents and grandparents even praised him for being capable.
Before Wang-shi could explode, the Xu family daughter-in-law rushed over.
“Auntie, this child is just ignorant, greedy and wasted the food, but he’s still little. Auntie, you can’t possibly fuss with a child.”
Wang-shi’s face darkened: “If you don’t know how to raise one, then don’t give birth! You think it’s your place to speak here?”
“These egg cakes were brought back by Erlang from the county—I haven’t even been willing to eat them!”
“Today he steals food, tomorrow will he steal money?”
“Dare I even let you all live in my house?”
Xu-mother gave an awkward laugh, stepped forward to shield her grandson: “Aiyo, he’s already eaten it, you can’t exactly make him spit it out now. In-law, please calm your anger.”
She pushed her grandson to apologize to Wang-shi: “Quickly say it—you’ll never dare again!”
Yu Tingwan saw clearly that the Xu family boy rolled his eyes but didn’t show the slightest hint of admitting fault.
She calmly shut the window, no longer paying attention to the ruckus outside.
This Hu family sure has enough drama.
——
Night fell.
Next door, the young daughter-in-law of the Wu family tossed and turned in the middle of the night, pushing the man beside her who was fast asleep: “I feel uneasy in my heart.”
Soon after, the room was filled with the whispering murmurs of husband and wife.
The Wu family’s young daughter-in-law said:
“Before it even got dark, things started stirring over at the neighbor’s side—it was that Xu family boy, sneaking into Aunt Wang’s room and eating the egg cake.”
As she spoke, she swallowed her saliva.
That must be so tasty.
“Such a big matter, and that Xu family boy didn’t show a single bit of remorse. Turned around and went running outside to play like nothing happened.”
“Wan-niang’s words—when I think them over carefully—I just find them strange.”
“She was perfectly fine, yet she brought up something about how the two families live close…”
Not long after, the Wu family’s young daughter-in-law, holding up a candle, knocked on the door to Aunt Wu’s room.
She was a little afraid of this mother-in-law: “Mother, would it be alright if you send me back to my maiden home tomorrow?”
Should I carry you on my back?
What kind of daughter-in-law bosses her mother-in-law around like this!
—
Aunt Wu’s face sank. She was just about to scold when she heard her son’s voice from the room across.
“Mother, normally I should go back with her, but right now my body can’t get down from the bed, and it’s snowing outside. I really can’t feel at ease.”
The night was dark, and shadows surged.
Over at the neighboring Hu family, Yu Tingwan couldn’t sleep. She sat by the fire, occasionally prodding it with a wooden stick.
In the flickering firelight, her brows and eyes appeared faint and sorrowful.
She didn’t know whether, in her previous life, she had been caught and taken back by the Dong family’s servants.
Just then, the sound of shuffling footsteps came from outside. Yu Tingwan, highly alert, suddenly looked over.
Someone was creeping stealthily toward her side, finally stopping in front of her door.
It was Xu Fen.
Under the moonlight, Xu Fen sneaked around, trying to pry open the door—completely forgetting Little Xu-shi’s warning during the day.
Yu Tingwan was in the room right across. Could he stay indifferent?
This was a golden chance of time and place.
As long as he covered Yu Tingwan’s mouth and prevented her from calling for help, he could still do whatever he wanted!
Those girls he had taken advantage of—what if they hated him to the bone? Weren’t they still too afraid to say a single word outside, all for the sake of reputation?
The greed in Xu Fen’s eyes had nowhere to hide.
Thinking of Yu Tingwan’s face, heat rushed all over his body.
Kah da—a click.
The door bolt that had been locked from the inside was pried open by him.
Xu Fen’s eyes gleamed with a lustful light. He pushed the door open and entered.
And it was precisely at this moment that the firewood burning inside the room came swinging straight toward his face.
He instinctively reached out a hand to block.
Sparks scattered in all directions.
Hair, cotton-padded coat—followed and caught fire.
The burning pain pierced to the bone, his miserable scream tore through the silence of the night.