In the courtyard, Wei Shouzhong was burying his head pulling the wooden saw, wood shavings flying everywhere.
The box was almost at its final stage. But there was still quite a bit of wood left, so he planned to make a walking stick for A’Lang, to make it easier for him to walk—it also wouldn’t take too much effort.
The trees cut from the mountain had to go through drying and planing treatment. The wedding date was approaching fast, and Wei Shouzhong was afraid it wouldn’t be in time. These pieces of wood were ones he transported from the village craftsman’s place, agreeing to make it up to the carpenter later.
Hui Niang was next to him, discussing.
“We didn’t invite many people, but it seems like if we squeeze in, there’ll be enough seats.”
“The banquet can’t not have meat and fishy-smelling things. Head of the household, later you go catch some fish and shrimp, alright?”
“Let’s also kill a chicken.”
She was a bit distressed, after all, the family only had five chickens, and all of them could lay eggs.
But Hui Niang wanted to hold the banquet decently, at least it shouldn’t be shabby.
“There’s not much cured meat from last year left, but if we slice it very thinly, each person can at least get a taste. It still counts as a dish. Later I’ll go dig up more winter bamboo shoots and stir-fry them together.”
“There’s also quite a bit of tofu left from last time we made it, we can cook it with eggs into a soup.”
“Thankfully we’re not lacking radish and leafy greens at home, so we can let everyone open their stomachs and eat their fill.”
Wei Shouzhong wiped his sweat: “I’m at ease with you handling things. Everyone knows our family’s situation—if we puff ourselves up to look fat while empty inside, the uncles and elders are all honest people, I’m afraid they’ll feel uneasy even eating.”
“But there can’t be a lack of alcohol—they really like their drinks.”
Hui Niang smiled and nodded.
“I’ve got that covered.”
“Sha Gu’s mother has good winemaking skills. She brews a good amount every year to sell. The villagers are also willing to support their mother-daughter business. I’ve already reserved a few jars from her, should be enough.”
While the two were speaking, they saw Yu Tingwan coming out from Wei Zhao’s room.
The little girl looked good—just standing there was enough to draw attention. But she wasn’t aware of it herself, and gave Hui Niang a gentle smile.
“Auntie, is there anything you want me to do?”
Hui Niang thought she just couldn’t sit still. Thinking for a bit, she said: “There really is something.”
“When there’s a wedding here, we have to boil wedding eggs. Before, when the Du family in the village held a wedding, they borrowed the dye powder, probably forgot to return it because of being busy.”
The Du family hadn’t returned it, and she hadn’t urged them.
After all, their son and daughter were both gone. She thought they’d probably never use the dye powder again. [This suggests the Du family had no more children to marry off.]
“If it’s convenient for Wan-niang, help auntie make a trip.”
After speaking, she wasn’t too reassured.
“Do you know how to get to the Du house?”
Yu Tingwan really did know.
That night they moved into the old house, the Du family’s daughter-in-law had even spoken to her.
Mm, the one who told her that Granny Fan had bad intentions, and whose nephew ran around with his butt bare, and that thing underneath was really thin—that chubby woman.
Yu Tingwan had even thought at the time that she must find a thin one, otherwise putting it in would really hurt.
But during these past days she was busy, and forgot about it.
She didn’t know how Wei Shen was doing.
Although he was tall and big, he was still sickly and a bit delicate.
He definitely wasn’t doing too well.
Yu Tingwan felt very at ease about this.
“I know, I’ll go right now.”
She walked out, and behind her came Hui Niang’s reminder.
“The mountain roads are slippery, be careful.”
Yu Tingwan replied crisply and prettily: “’Kay!”
The snow was very thick, so Yu Tingwan didn’t walk fast.
She didn’t see many people along the way. Arriving at the Du house went very smoothly.
Du family’s old lady, upon hearing the reason she came, quickly fetched it, and didn’t forget to stuff a handful of vegetables into Yu Tingwan’s hands.
“Aiyo! Look at me, getting old and forgetful, actually forgot to send it back to Hui Niang. These veggies are grown from our own field—please help send it to her and add a dish.”
Yu Tingwan accepted it and took her leave.
Watching her back, the old lady of the Du family kept murmuring and scolding herself for being muddle-headed.
Until the Du family’s daughter-in-law sneakily slipped out from the house: “Mom, why does the Wei family want dye powder?”
“You stupid? Of course they need it for something…”
The Du family’s old lady suddenly reacted.
“That’s right!”
“If the Wei family is going to hold a funeral, then why would they be boiling eggs?”
She looked toward her daughter-in-law: “Wei family’s A’Lang is marrying who?”
The Du daughter-in-law glanced around, afraid of walls having ears, and lowered her voice: “Might be Wan-niang.”
“How’s that possible!”
“Then why was it Wan-niang who came over?”
“Can’t that girl just be kind-hearted?”
Du daughter-in-law: …..
That Yu Tingwan with her stubborn temper, strong sense of vigilance, and unwillingness to socialize with people—she really didn’t believe that she’d be willing to go out of her way just to build a good relationship with the neighbor Wei family.
“No, I’m going out to ask around.”
She hurriedly pulled her mother-in-law back: “Please don’t, we didn’t actually hear any news. The Wei family likely doesn’t want to make it public either. Don’t go making trouble for them.”
Taking advantage of the fact that it was still early, Yu Tingwan wasn’t in a hurry to go back. She planned to take a walk over by the foot of the mountain.
Last time she had picked mushrooms there. A few days ago it had rained, so she feared that quite a few more had grown again.
She remembered Hui Niang once said, using mushrooms to make soup was the most flavorful.
The weather was cold, and very few villagers would come here just for a bite to eat, so Yu Tingwan quickly picked quite a lot. She didn’t bring a back basket, so she used her clothes to bundle them up.
Just as she was preparing to head back with a big harvest, Yu Tingwan suddenly heard crying—like a cat’s cry, carrying a shrill and broken intensity.
It seemed like someone was shouting in pain.
But very quickly, it turned into muffled sobbing. It seemed the mouth was covered by someone.
But the distance was far, and it wasn’t heard clearly.
A bleak, cold wind swept past. The shadows of trees rustled. The strange calls of mountain birds rang out one after another.
Snowflakes the size of beans fell onto her neck, making her back cold.
Yu Tingwan became extremely alert and suddenly looked toward the direction of the sound. The distance was quite far. Over there the weeds grew thickly, and because snow was falling, she only saw a vast patch of white, as if concealing unknown danger.
Near the foot of the mountain, there were no households.
Even if something happened there, shouting loudly for help would be of no use.
Who was there?
Was there anyone else?
Yu Tingwan, after all, was just an ordinary girl with a bit more strength. She was also timid—not to the point of being foolish enough to throw herself in.
She didn’t dare go forward and turned around to leave. Thankfully, no one came chasing from behind.
But Yu Tingwan’s expression was heavy, her footsteps grew faster and faster, and in the end she started to jog. Just as she entered the Wei family’s gate, her body slipped, her legs went weak, and she fell to the ground.
Hui Niang heard the noise and rushed over: “What happened?”
“What’s the matter?”
Yu Tingwan grabbed her hand tightly.
“By the foot of the mountain, something might have happened.”
Her tone was a lot faster than usual, and she gave Hui Niang a simple recount.
Once Hui Niang heard this, she became anxious.
“What bad timing, A’Lang’s grandma fell, and your uncle just went out.”
She was about to help Yu Tingwan up: “Quick, go to A’Lang’s room and warm yourself by the fire, I’ll go find the lizheng.”
Yu Tingwan, however, waved her hand: “Auntie, I can’t exert any strength, I need to go slowly. Don’t worry about me.”
Seeing that aside from her pale face she had no other issues, Hui Niang was slightly reassured. She didn’t dare delay and went out the door.
Yu Tingwan sat for a very long, long while before the fear in her chest dared to fully emerge.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but a pair of shoes appeared in front of her.
Yu Tingwan slowly raised her eyes to look at the owner of the shoes.
Wei Zhao had gone out at some point—whether it was that she, still in fear, hadn’t noticed, or that he simply walked without a sound, she didn’t know.
The man drooped his eyelids and just looked at her like that.
Yu Tingwan: “Is it nice to look at?”
Right now she was very disheveled—don’t even mention her clothes being stained with mud, even her hair was messy.
Wei Zhao didn’t say a word, but he took a step back.
Yu Tingwan: ???
Fine, fine, fine. She’s the one who chose this man—fine!