Chapter 3

Seeing the sun rise to the treetops, Ling Yao packed up his things and prepared to go home. He carefully placed the milk candy, boiled eggs, and books into his patched yellow backpack. With his left hand, he grabbed a handful of green wild onions he had picked on the hillside in the morning, and with his right hand, he held a long stick to herd the pigs.

He herded the pigs back to the stilt house and locked them in the pigpen.

The pigpen was located under the stilt house, in the space supported by the pillars.

When they first moved to Fengming Mountain, the family of three found it very difficult to adapt. The living conditions were really dirty and smelly—who sleeps above a pigpen? But after living there for a few years, they had completely adapted.

Thinking about it, many people were sent to live in cowsheds after being relocated, so living here was actually considered good.

The stilt house belonged to the village but wasn’t originally meant for people to live in. It was used to house livestock, store grain, and keep some farming tools. When the family of three arrived, the team leader simply cleared out a room for them to live in.

One room, where the family of three ate, drank, and slept.

Ling Yao locked the pigpen door and climbed the wooden stairs to the stilt house. As usual, after entering the house, he put down his backpack, turned around, and scooped a bowl of rice from the wooden container. He poured the rice into a winnowing basket to separate the chaff, which he swept up to feed the chickens. He washed the cleaned rice in a basin and steamed it in the pot.

In the city, Ling Yao didn’t do these chores. After moving to Fengming Mountain, he gradually learned all the household tasks to help his parents. He became proficient in washing clothes, cooking, herding pigs, and raising chickens.

After the rice was steamed, he carefully washed the wild onions he had picked, not wasting the roots. He washed the roots until they were white and free of mud, then cut them into half-inch pieces and poured some pickled vegetable juice over them.

After mixing the wild onions with the sauce, Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun, Ling Yao’s parents, returned home from work.

Ling Yao served the rice, and Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun washed their hands and sat down to eat.

Ling Yao picked up his chopsticks but didn’t start eating. Instead, he placed two boiled eggs and a piece of milk candy on the table.

Seeing the eggs and candy, Zhou Xueyun was surprised and asked Ling Yao, “Where did these come from?”

Ling Yao replied, “The girl I saved yesterday brought them.”

Zhou Xueyun turned to look at Ling Zhiyuan and then responded, “Oh.” She seemed unsure of what to say and, after a moment, added, “Then you eat them.”

Ling Yao pushed the eggs towards Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun, “You both work hard. You should eat them.”

Ling Zhiyuan refused and placed the eggs back in front of Ling Yao, “You and your mother eat them.”

The family spent a while pushing the eggs and candy back and forth and finally decided that Ling Zhiyuan and Zhou Xueyun would eat the boiled eggs, and Ling Yao would have the milk candy, with no further arguments allowed.

As Zhou Xueyun cracked and peeled the eggs, she said softly, “Our family background isn’t good, and people look down on us wherever we go. It’s better to keep to ourselves; the more people you interact with, the more trouble there is.”

Ling Yao knew that his father ended up here because he spoke too freely with others.

When his father first arrived, he still looked handsome, but after these years of hardship, he seemed to have aged over ten years, becoming as dark and rough as the villagers. He used to love talking and debating, but now he rarely spoke, sometimes seeming like a wooden figure.

Ling Yao swallowed the rice in his mouth, holding his chopsticks, “Mm.”

At the Ruan family’s dining table, nine people from three generations sat shoulder to shoulder.

After a night and half a day, Ruan Xi had almost adapted to this new family. She couldn’t manage other matters, but she thought about finding a mentor first. So, while eating, she asked her grandmother, Liu Xinghua, “Grandma, is there only one tailor on Fengming Mountain?”

Liu Xinghua replied, “Yes, an old tailor in the nearby Jinguang Village.”

Her second aunt, Sun Xiaohui, who was very sensitive, quickly asked, “Xiao Xi, why are you asking this? Do you want to make clothes? The family doesn’t have money for fabric, and those clothes sent to us are very fashionable. Our old tailor can’t make those styles.”

Ruan Xi didn’t argue with her and shook her head while eating, “I don’t want to make clothes; I want to learn how to make clothes.”

Hearing this, everyone at the table was stunned and looked at Ruan Xi.

Grandfather Ruan Zhigao asked in confusion, “You want to learn how to make clothes?” If he remembered correctly, his granddaughter couldn’t even handle a needle and thread properly.

Ruan Xi nodded, “I need to learn a skill.”

Ruan Zhigao said, “Why learn that? A girl doesn’t need a skill, and the family doesn’t need you to earn money. You should spend that time learning needlework, stay at home for a few more years, find a good match, and get married. Don’t look for trouble.”

Ruan Xi felt uncomfortable hearing this but didn’t argue with Ruan Zhigao, as he was her grandfather. She spoke in a slightly stubborn tone, biting the rice on her chopsticks. “I want to look for trouble.”

Ruan Zhigao looked at Ruan Xi, “You’re talking back to me?”

Ruan Xi maintained the same tone, “You can’t control me. I’ll learn if I want to.”

Ruan Zhigao clearly took a deep breath but didn’t say anything harsh. His expression and tone suddenly changed, “You want to learn a skill from the old tailor, right? I won’t stop you. Go ahead and see if he’ll take you.”

When it came to the old tailor, there was a lot of gossip. Her second aunt, Sun Xiaohui, became excited and continued, “Xiao Xi, you don’t know? That old tailor isn’t normal. He never married. Do you know why?”

Ruan Xi searched her memory but found nothing related, so she asked, “Why?”

Sun Xiaohui said, “When he was young, he was very handsome and skilled, so he had no trouble finding a wife. Many girls liked him. But he had a strange personality and couldn’t get along with anyone, so he stayed single. If you want to learn from him, you’re just asking for trouble.”

Liu Xinghua added, “He wanted to find a beautiful one, and since he couldn’t, he didn’t marry.”

After hearing this, Ruan Xi said, “He has principles. If you can’t find someone you like and are satisfied with, what’s the point of settling? It’s better not to. If I can’t find a man I like and am satisfied with, I won’t get married either.”

Liu Xinghua glared at her, “Nonsense.”

Second Uncle Ruan Changgui put down his bowl and said, “Being a tailor is popular here. Many people have tried to learn from the old tailor, but none succeeded. Xiao Xi, you weren’t born to do this, so don’t think you can just do it.”

Ruan Xi looked at Ruan Changgui, “The more you say he’s great and I can’t do it, the more I want to meet him.”

Ruan Zhigao snorted, “You won’t turn back until you hit the wall.”

Ruan Changsheng, always mischievous, suddenly slapped the table and said, “You won’t shed tears until you see the coffin!”

Ruan Zhigao raised his hand and hit him on the head, “You fool!”

Ruan Yuejin, Ruan Yuehua, and Ruan Jie laughed as they watched Ruan Changsheng get hit, as usual.

After dinner, Ruan Xi volunteered to wash the dishes. After finishing, she went to Liu Xinghua and said with a smile, “Grandma, can I borrow half of the basket of eggs at home? I’ll repay you once I learn the skill and earn money.”

She needed to bring a gift when asking the old tailor to be her mentor. The supply and marketing cooperative in the two or three villages around Fengming Mountain had almost nothing for sale, not even sugar. Only the eggs laid by the family’s old hens could be given.

Liu Xinghua looked at her, “Do you really want to learn?”

She still thought Ruan Xi was just having a fleeting interest, especially since Ruan Xi couldn’t even handle needlework and disliked it the most. Suddenly saying she wanted to learn to make clothes seemed like a joke.

Moreover, the old tailor had a very peculiar and difficult personality. Others couldn’t learn the skill from him, so Ruan Xi definitely couldn’t. Not only would she fail to learn the skill, but she would also have to endure his difficulties and spend a lot, which wasn’t worth it.

Ruan Xi had already decided and nodded, “Yes!”

Liu Xinghua looked into Ruan Xi’s eyes and, after a moment, said, “If you’re serious, Grandma won’t stop you.”

Ruan Xi raised her hand and swore, “I will definitely learn something!”

Liu Xinghua hesitated for a while but finally relented, “Then take them.”

Ruan Xi gave Liu Xinghua a big kiss on the cheek, “Thank you, Grandma.”

Liu Xinghua laughed, feeling very pleased, and said, “Naughty girl.”

She agreed not because she thought Ruan Xi could succeed but because she had always spoiled and indulged Ruan Xi, especially since her parents weren’t around.

Ruan Xi was happy, but it made others unhappy.

After eavesdropping, Sun Xiaohui returned to the room, frowning, and said to Ruan Changgui, “Xiao Xi casually mentioned wanting to learn how to make clothes, and we all thought she was joking. Who knew your mother would actually give her all the eggs the family had painstakingly saved, letting her go to that old tailor to become his apprentice? Isn’t that like throwing meat buns to a dog? How can she spoil a child like that? And it’s not even a valuable girl!”

Ruan Changgui, sitting on the edge of the bed, not very interested in family matters, simply said, “If she gave them, she gave them.”

Sun Xiaohui felt unhappy. This mother-in-law had oppressed her for over ten years of marriage, and recently, she increasingly didn’t want to be oppressed anymore. She also wanted to be in charge. Why should Liu Xinghua decide everything in this family? Why should she make all the decisions?

The frustration she had been holding in since last night hadn’t dissipated, and now it was compounded, making her feel like she could hardly breathe. The idea of splitting the family began to scream in her mind so strongly that it felt like it would burst out.

She calmed herself, sat down next to Ruan Changgui, and tried to speak calmly, “Haven’t you noticed that the family’s meals have been getting worse lately? We’re almost drinking the northwest wind. We used to have two hot dishes on the table, but now there’s not even a trace of oil. We finally saved some eggs, and we didn’t get to eat a single one before they were given away.”

Hearing this, Ruan Changgui touched his stomach. “That’s true. It’s been pretty bland lately.”

Sun Xiaohui deliberately sighed, “I don’t think we can go on like this.”

Ruan Changgui turned to her, “Why?”

Sun Xiaohui said, “Haven’t you noticed that your mother has been saving all the money lately, planning to spend it all on Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Xi? Your parents are biased. They gave the opportunity to join the army to your older brother, leaving you to farm and support the family. Now, they’re favoring Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Xi, and both of them are useless. One is idle, always causing trouble, and the other is spoiled and capricious. She can’t even do needlework properly, yet she says she wants to learn to make clothes, and your mother actually gave her the eggs.”

Talking about favoritism, Ruan Changgui felt a surge of frustration but didn’t say anything.

Sun Xiaohui continued, “What can she learn? It’s just giving things away for nothing. That old tailor is the most difficult person. People who went to learn from him before spent a lot on him and learned nothing.”

Sun Xiaohui moved and said, “Your mother plans to spend all the family’s money on those two wastrels. She doesn’t think about us. Don’t you think we should plan for ourselves? Yuejin is already fifteen. Won’t he need money to get a wife in a few years?”

Ruan Changgui, who was easily swayed, immediately wavered after hearing Sun Xiaohui’s words.

Sun Xiaohui had a cunning plan. Previously, all the money the eldest, Ruan Changfu, sent was spent on the family, so they benefited from eating, dressing well, and living comfortably. That’s why she never mentioned anything and let her mother-in-law, Liu Xinghua, suppress her.

Now, Liu Xinghua wanted to live frugally to save money for Ruan Changsheng’s wedding. Not only did they no longer receive benefits, but they also had to contribute to the family. Sun Xiaohui couldn’t stand any loss; otherwise, she felt uncomfortable.

She thought that the idle wastrel Ruan Changsheng shouldn’t get married and that Ruan Xi’s desire to learn to make clothes was a big joke. Both were wastrels and while Liu Xinghua was willing to spend money on them, she wasn’t willing to let them benefit at her expense.

When Ruan Changsheng got married and had children, the family would have more mouths to feed, and they would have to support the whole family. So, for them, the sooner they split the family, the better. Without the burden of Ruan Changsheng and Ruan Xi, who only wasted resources, their family of five would live better, at least eating better than now.

Ruan Changgui understood Sun Xiaohui’s point. They had discussed splitting the family a few times before. He pursed his lips and thought for a moment, then said, “With my elder brother not here, I’m the eldest son. Xiao Wuzi hasn’t found a wife yet, so I should help support the family and share the burden with our parents. My elder brother also sends money back. If we talk about splitting the family now, won’t people criticize us?”

Sun Xiaohui said firmly, “I don’t want to endure it anymore. This matter must be resolved today. I don’t mind being criticized. Let me be the bad guy.”

She had made up her mind, but Ruan Changgui hadn’t fully grasped her intention.

The couple stared at each other for a moment. Sun Xiaohui’s eyes grew redder with resentment, and her breathing became more rapid. Then she suddenly jumped up, as if she had suffered a great grievance, and shouted at Ruan Changgui, “Fine, I’ll leave! I’m going back to my parents’ house. Ruan Changgui, if you have the guts, don’t come begging me to return! Why am I doing this? Isn’t it for this family? For your two sons!”

With that, she burst into tears and stormed out, her face flushed.

Ruan Changgui was startled and dazed for a moment, but he quickly understood Sun Xiaohui’s intention.

Hearing the commotion, Liu Xinghua and Ruan Xi came out of the house and saw Sun Xiaohui running away with red eyes.

Seeing Ruan Changgui come out of the house, Liu Xinghua asked with concern, “What’s going on?”

Ruan Changgui deliberately put on a stern face, hands on his hips, and said clumsily, “She suddenly started yelling about splitting the family. Let her go. I… I won’t indulge her!”