Chapter 23

Lin Yun watched as the woman across from her once again broke into a smile—an even brighter one this time. As she spoke, “Oh my, how can I accept this? You kids, bringing meat with you and all,” she reached out and swiftly took the meat from Lin Yun’s hands. Lin Yun noticed how quick the woman was, as if afraid Lin Yun might change her mind and take the meat back.

Following the woman’s gesture to step aside, Lin Yun and the other two entered the house. Before going in, Lin Yun nudged Lin Yumei. Inside, a kerosene lamp flickered dimly.

After bringing them in, their aunt said, “You three sit down for a bit. I’ll go wake up your uncle.”

“Honey, the kids are here,” she called. Hearing her voice, the three glanced at each other silently.

Soon, Lin Yun saw a dark-skinned middle-aged man wearing a sweat-stained undershirt walk out.

“It’s so late—why are you kids still out? Where are your parents? I’m going to have a good word with them in a few days—how can they spoil you like this…” As soon as he saw them, their uncle started nagging. Lin Yun didn’t want to hear another round of adult lectures, so she quickly interrupted.

“Uncle, we came to ask if we could borrow your ox. My dad needs it to deliver grain to the state tomorrow. I heard from Auntie that your family already turned in your grain.”

“Oh, for something like this, you three didn’t need to come all the way yourselves. You could have just…” Before he could finish, his wife’s cough cut him off, and he fell silent. She quickly added, “Yes, we’re all family, no need to say things like that. Look at you, bringing meat just to borrow a cow—we really feel bad taking it. Want some water? I’ll get you some.”

Lin Yun had plenty of sarcastic thoughts but no place to voice them. She just shook her head and replied, “No need, Auntie. We’ve been out all day and want to get home and rest. That meat is for your family, please keep it. We’ll head out now. Tomorrow morning, I’ll send Gangzi over to fetch the ox. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. Take the cow, use it as long as you like. Just feed it well and bring it back in a few days,” the aunt agreed, perhaps because of the meat.

Lin Yun followed up, “My dad needs the cow to deliver grain tomorrow. The day after that, we might need it to roll the threshing ground. I’ll have Gangzi return it the day after tomorrow.”

Her aunt’s expression shifted slightly, but she seemed to think of the meat again and agreed, “Alright, just make sure to return the cow safe and sound.”

“Don’t worry, Auntie.” Lin Yun stood up. “Well, we’ll get going now.”

“Okay, come visit when you have time.”

“Mhm,” Lin Yun replied and left with Lin Yumei and Lin Yonggang.

On the way back, Lin Yumei pulled out a small pouch of tobacco and asked, “Er Ya, so we’re not giving this to Uncle?”

Lin Yun had brought the tobacco with her when they left home, originally planning to give it to her third uncle. But after seeing her third aunt, she changed her mind and had Lin Yumei tuck it away before they entered the house.

“No, not this time. Maybe next time, if there’s a better opportunity.”

Neither Lin Yonggang nor Lin Yumei objected—they didn’t like their third aunt much anyway.

By the time the three got home, Lin Chuntian and Zhao Lanxiu were already there. Lately, the two had also been leaving early and returning late, though it wasn’t as intense as during the rice harvest.

Surprisingly, there were two kerosene lamps lit at home—a rare sight. Lin Chuntian and Zhao Lanxiu were sitting in the main hall, in front of the items Lin Yun and the others had brought home earlier. Both looked very serious.

Hearing the three return, Zhao Lanxiu looked toward the door. Seeing them come in, she finally spoke, “Decided to come back, huh? I thought you were going to spend the night out.”

The three glanced at each other, unsure of what had set her off this time. So, they remained silent at the doorway.

Zhao Lanxiu looked at the three. The two girls, once known around here for being fair-skinned and pretty, had turned dark as coal after more than ten days of labor in the fields. People used to praise her for raising such fine daughters.

And that was tolerable. In the past, it was just Gangzi running around all day with his unruly friends. Zhao Lanxiu didn’t like it but never strictly forbade it, knowing her son lacked the nerve to get into real trouble.

But at some point, he stopped hanging out with them and started sticking close to his sisters—especially Lin Yun—which Zhao Lanxiu initially approved of. But now, the kids were getting too close, and coming home later and later. She didn’t mind it from Yonggang—he’s a boy—but now even Yumei was acting this way. That she couldn’t accept.

Lin Yun was always strong-willed. Zhao Lanxiu had given up trying to control her after many failed attempts. But now it seemed Lin Yumei was following in her footsteps. Yumei used to be the most obedient one in the family. After she left school, she helped with almost everything at home—she practically raised Yonggang. Yet recently, she’d started going out at night too.

She let it slide when they went out at night to collect centipedes—at least they made money doing that. But now she had no idea what they were doing out there, and today, to top it off, she came home to find all these new and expensive things.

Zhao Lanxiu felt she needed to discipline them. They’re still young—if a little money made them this bold, what about later?

Previously, Yumei had even said she wanted to go back to school and take the university entrance exam. Of course Zhao Lanxiu refused. Yumei accused her of wanting to trap her at home forever as free labor. That left Zhao Lanxiu so angry she couldn’t even breathe.

Then Yumei started echoing Lin Yun, saying she could earn her own tuition and just wanted them not to interfere. That’s when Zhao Lanxiu knew—Lin Yun had taught her that. Yumei would never have said such things on her own.

Their conversation had ended badly, but when she saw Yumei studying with Lin Yun afterward, she didn’t stop them.

Zhao Lanxiu pointed to the stuff on the table. “You bought all this?”

Lin Yun looked over, then nodded. “Yes, we did. All for home use. We’re not taking it out, no one will know. Even if they do see it, it’s no big deal—everyone knows how high centipede prices were. They can guess we made some money. It’s fine to buy a few things.”