The flame in the stove chamber burned more and more fiercely, as if it could spread like wildfire all the way and lift her up to roast, scalding her whole body in pain.
Yu Tingwan said slowly, “Go to the matchmaker’s.”
Little Xu-shi suddenly raised her head: “Matchmaker?”
The schadenfreude in her eyes couldn’t be hidden no matter what: “Mother can’t tolerate you anymore, wants to marry you off?”
She had married into the family last year. From the first glance at Yu Tingwan, she was especially guarded. As women, who would like a Yu Tingwan who was born even more delicate and beautiful than a flower?
Unfortunately the father-in-law had pity on this niece whose parents had died. Don’t even mention her, even mother-in-law Wang-shi didn’t dare to openly mistreat and bully her.
Seeing Yu Tingwan didn’t react, little Xu-shi covered her mouth and laughed: “And here I thought you were so capable, that you seduced little uncle until it had to be you.”
“Mother loathes you like that—what kind of good marriage could she find you?”
This heavy snow blocking the roads, one or two days would be fine, but what if it’s ten days or half a month?
Once Wang-shi accepted the betrothal gifts and threw Yu Tingwan out, turning raw rice into cooked rice \[把生米煮成熟饭 – an idiom meaning making an irreversible decision, often used for forced marriage or pregnancy], even if Father didn’t acknowledge it, he’d have to.
Yu Tingwan didn’t react.
“Mother gave Father two sons. No matter how angry Father gets, can he really divorce her? Seems like your good days are over too.”
Seeing Yu Tingwan still had no reaction, little Xu-shi thought she had scared her stiff, and arrogantly and disdainfully said: “All these years, you were taken in by the Hu family. In the future, even after marriage, you won’t be able to avoid interactions. If you have even a shred of conscience, don’t forget the Hu family’s kindness to you.”
Yu Tingwan seemed to be pondering.
Little Xu-shi narrowed her eyes: “Don’t tell me you’re unwilling?”
“I knew you were an ungrateful wolf!”
“Sister-in-law misunderstood.”
Yu Tingwan spoke softly: “I was just thinking about how to act so I won’t let down the Hu family’s kindness.”
Now that’s more like it. Little Xu-shi let out a contemptuous hum.
“I know Sister-in-law is famously filial.”
Yu Tingwan poured hot water for little Xu-shi: “Though I fall short in everything, I must still learn from Sister-in-law.”
This little wretch’s mouth must be smeared with honey!
Well, she was unlikeable after all. Still had to beg her to speak a few nice words in front of Wang-shi to help her get a good marriage match.
Little Xu-shi took the bowl of water mockingly. In her view, no matter how Yu Tingwan tried to please, it was useless. After all, Wang-shi only looked at silver, not her life or death.
“I have to learn from Sister-in-law, secretly and sneakily sending private support to her natal family behind the back of her husband’s house.”
Little Xu-shi was so startled she jolted and smashed the bowl in her hand.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Yu Tingwan seemed not to notice her shock and fuss, lowering her head to look at the shattered pieces on the ground.
“My affairs don’t need Sister-in-law to point fingers at. Sister-in-law should worry about herself instead.”
“Three days ago your brother from your maiden family came by. Sister-in-law, being a perfectly fine person, insisted on acting like a thief. Taking advantage of Aunt not being around, you went to the cellar and packed up over a dozen heads of cabbage and radish.”
She seemed not to understand:
“When Sister-in-law had just married in and secretly supported her natal family, sending food behind everyone’s back and got caught in the act by Aunt, wasn’t she whipped with a switch to the point she nearly couldn’t get out of bed? How have you still not learned your lesson?”
Little Xu-shi’s ears buzzed, her mind a mess, no longer carrying her previous arrogance. She gnashed her teeth:
“You’re threatening me?”
“Sister-in-law can rest assured, my mouth is tight.”
Yu Tingwan picked up the broom Wang-shi had just thrown on the ground and began cleaning the mess:
“Yesterday when you cursed Aunt behind her back and called her an old harridan, I didn’t leak a single word.”
She slightly lifted her gaze, curved deer-like eyes looking at little Xu-shi, lips carrying a faint smile, as if troubled:
“It’s just…”
Little Xu-shi was made inexplicably nervous by her gaze: “Just what?”
“There are only so few bowls in the house. Sister-in-law got angry and smashed one. That’s not something I can cover up.”
What do you mean “got angry”!! She obviously just didn’t hold it properly!
And you still have the nerve to bring it up! If it weren’t for you bringing over water, how could she have dropped it for no reason?!
Little Xu-shi dared not act up again. When the porridge was done boiling, Yu Tingwan started eating breakfast. But the peace didn’t last long—outside came noisy chaos, and if one listened closely, there were even sobbing cries.
“Quick, quick, quick! Send the person to old man Qian for treatment!”
“Still breathing? Ay yo, how did he get so injured? Covered in blood from head to toe—just frightening to look at.”
If it weren’t for being heavily pregnant and afraid of being bumped by the crowd, little Xu-shi would’ve already rushed out to watch.
But across from her, Yu Tingwan’s expression was calm. She picked up a piece of pickled vegetable to go with her porridge—as if even if the sky collapsed, she wouldn’t blink an eye.
Aren’t you even curious?
Freak!
The crowd outside, dense as a flock of crows, dispersed at some unknown time. Wang-shi, who had just come back from the matchmaker’s, was tugging on Aunt Wu from next door to ask for information.
“Really? The one just carried past—was that the Wei family boy who was pushed up to serve in the military years ago? Wasn’t it said he was dead?”
“Maybe he had a big life, made it back alive.”
Wang-shi’s tone was extremely sour: “But the Wei family already received the court’s compensation money years ago, and they still get half a portion of military salary and three dou of rice every month.” [一斗 = approx. 10 liters]
Truly hit the jackpot!
The court gave subsidies to families of fallen soldiers, but the silver passed through many hands—who it ended up with was anyone’s guess. Especially in a remote place like Linxi Village, how many coins really made it to the common folk?
Wang-shi grumbled angrily: “Someone from my own family also died on the battlefield. Never even saw a shadow of compensation silver or rice. Caused a scene at the yamen, and got beaten until almost half dead.”
Why?! All had people die—why such different treatment?
“They had good luck, joined the Wei Family Army stationed at the northwest border. How can that be the same?”
The Wei Family Army had achieved merit for years!
Wang-shi scoffed: “What’s so great about that. They say that General Wei was so capable, but didn’t he still die on the battlefield? Died young, didn’t he?”
Aunt Wu’s face sank: “General Wei is someone you can slander? What status does he have, and what status do you have? Watch your mouth! If these words get out, your second boy’s schooling will come to an end!”
Involving Erlang, Wang-shi became sheepish and didn’t dare speak further.
Aunt Wu also didn’t care to argue with her, sighing: “I reckon that Wei boy’s chances are slim.”
Aunt Wu sighed with emotion: “Now that the mountain is sealed, people from outside can’t come in, and those inside can’t go out. There’s no way to get to town to find a doctor. That old man Qian usually only treats small ailments like fevers and headaches, and he charges high—most likely they’ll have to rely on wild ginseng to barely hang onto life.”
“The compensation silver and rice you mentioned are all clutched in Old Lady Wei’s hand. You think she’s willing to spit out even a single coin?”
Yeah, Old Lady Wei’s heart is truly vicious.
Wang-shi, unable to stand seeing others doing well, felt relieved and asked: “How did he come back?”
Aunt Wu’s brows danced with excitement, enthusiastically recounted:
“He was found at the foot of the mountain. At the time, that second wife of the Wei family was coincidentally out gathering firewood. She saw a crowd saying some outsider had rolled down from the forest. She went up to take a look—and cried on the spot, saying that was her A’Lang.”
“She’s pitiful too. As things are now, her daughter died half a year ago. That second branch of the family is doomed to be cut off.”
Yu Tingwan came out after finishing her morning meal and brushed past the two of them. She greeted:
“Aunt Wu.”
Then, looking listless, she prepared to head back to her room.
“Stop right there.”
Wang-shi shouted with a darkened face: “All day long you only know to burrow into your room—have you fed the chickens? Cut the pig grass?”
Yu Tingwan answered honestly: “No.”
“Then why aren’t you going?”
Yu Tingwan drooped her head: “I’m sick. No strength.”
Wang-shi was stunned—clearly, before going out, Yu Tingwan was still clashing with her, making her grind her teeth with hatred.
“When did you get sick?”
Yu Tingwan looked innocent, but she was stubborn: “Just now.”