Chapter 4

Liu Xinghua glanced at Ruan Changgui, didn’t say much, and turned to go back inside.

As a junior, Ruan Xi naturally said nothing and followed Liu Xinghua inside.

Ruan Zhigao, who hadn’t rushed out earlier, saw them come in and asked, “What’s going on?”

Liu Xinghua, sitting on the bed with her needlework, replied calmly, “The second son wants to split the family. He and his wife are putting on a show.”

Ruan Zhigao took a puff from his pipe and said, “The wife he married is as cunning as a monkey. If there’s any advantage to be gained, she’ll squeeze in, afraid she won’t get enough. But if she has to suffer a bit, she’ll run faster than a rabbit.”

Liu Xinghua asked, “What do you think we should do?”

Ruan Zhigao replied, “What can we do? If they want to split, let them.”

Liu Xinghua and Ruan Zhigao had their plans, and Ruan Xi didn’t interfere, focusing on her own matters.

In the afternoon, Ruan Xi judged the height of the sun and headed out with half a basket of eggs. The old tailor lived in Jinguang Village, which was at a lower altitude than Fengyan Village, so she had to walk down the mountain path. She found Jinguang Village and asked around until she located the old tailor’s house.

Although the old tailor lived alone, his house was not small and had a neat courtyard wall enclosing a small yard. A wooden board nailed by the gate had the words “State-Owned Tailor Shop” written crookedly on it. This was the only tailor shop on Fengming Mountain, so it was clear how well the old tailor lived. While others ate coarse grains and vegetables, he enjoyed the best food and drink.

Today, the old tailor didn’t go out to make clothes, and the gate of the tailor shop’s courtyard was wide open.

Carrying a bamboo basket, Ruan Xi peeked inside and saw a grape trellis in the courtyard. The green vines created a shaded canopy, and the old tailor was lying on a rocking chair under the trellis, eyes closed, with a fat yellow cat on his lap.

Ruan Xi knocked on the door, and the old tailor said, “Come in.”

Ruan Xi entered with the eggs and walked up to the old tailor, who didn’t even bother to open his eyes. He petted the yellow cat on his lap and asked, “Here to make clothes?”

The old tailor, now in his seventies, had a bald head, white hair, and a beard. A small tuft of beard hung from his chin, moving up and down as he spoke.

Holding the basket, Ruan Xi said, “Grandpa Song, I’m Ruan Zhigao’s granddaughter from Fengyan Brigade. My name is Ruan Xi. I brought you half a basket of eggs. I’m not here to make clothes; I want to learn to be a tailor. Are you still taking apprentices?”

The old tailor still didn’t open his eyes and replied, “Take an apprentice? No way!”

Ruan Xi was taken aback—hey! This old man!

Although she was rejected, Ruan Xi didn’t turn around and leave immediately. She stood in front of the old tailor, holding the bamboo basket, and raised the corners of her mouth a bit higher.

The yellow cat stretched lazily and jumped to the ground, and the old tailor finally opened his eyes. He lay on the wooden rocking chair and sized up Ruan Xi.

After looking her over, he met her gaze and changed his tone, asking, “You want… to learn to make clothes?”

Ruan Xi nodded, “I want to be a tailor.”

“Being a tailor isn’t for everyone.”

If it were that easy, there wouldn’t be just one tailor shop on this mountain, and he wouldn’t be living such a comfortable life.

Ruan Xi was about to express her determination, saying she would definitely learn well. But before she could speak, the old tailor interrupted her, “Leave the eggs and go clean the house inside and out.”

Hearing this, Ruan Xi swallowed her words of determination and didn’t ask any more questions. She assumed the old tailor was giving her a chance, so she put down the basket, turned around, and grabbed a broom from the corner to start sweeping the floor. After sweeping, she washed a cloth and wiped everything in the house.

Compared to the ordinary residents of Fengming Mountain, the old tailor lived a life that could be described as heavenly. He had a half-new sewing machine from Shenhai and a cabinet full of honey peach crisps and other snacks.

The main hall of his house was the shop, filled with sewing machines, irons, and other tools. There was a rope strung across the room with some finished clothes hanging on it. The corner was piled with fabric, not neatly arranged, with some folded clothes on top.

Ruan Xi organized these slightly messy items neatly and then changed the cloth to wipe the floor. Without a mop, she had to bend down and wipe with the cloth by hand. After cleaning the entire house, her back was sore, and the sun had set behind the mountain.

The old tailor was still leisurely lying on the rocking chair, his face touched by the twilight glow. He didn’t get up and said to the exhausted Ruan Xi, “You can go home now. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll teach you how to use the sewing machine.”

Hearing this, Ruan Xi instantly felt no longer tired, and her body suddenly felt light. She smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll return tomorrow morning.”

The yellow cat rubbed against her leg, meowing twice.

Ruan Xi bent down to pet the yellow cat’s head and happily went home. She walked slowly up the mountain path, swinging the empty basket, and hummed a mountain song softly when she was in high spirits.

She arrived home just in time for dinner. With Sun Xiaohui gone to her parents’ house, there was one less person at the table.

No one mentioned the unpleasant topic of splitting the family. Grandma Liu Xinghua asked Ruan Xi, “Did he accept your eggs? Did he teach you any skills?”

Ruan Xi drank half a bowl of plain water in one gulp, quenched her thirst, and said, “Not yet. I cleaned his house for half a day. He told me to come back tomorrow, and he’ll teach me how to use the sewing machine.”

Ruan Changgui, eating a bun, said, “Teach you? He won’t teach you. He’s just playing with you, getting free eggs, and having you clean his house. Tomorrow, other tasks will be waiting for you, maybe even carrying manure to water the vegetables.”

Ruan Xi looked at him, “Even if it’s just for show, he has to teach me something.”

Ruan Changgui replied, “It’s just for show.”

The implication was—sending so many eggs and putting in so much effort just for show?

He added, “Xiao Xi, you weren’t born for this. If you ask me, you should give up this idea early. You won’t learn this skill, and who knows how much you’ll waste, leaving the family without even a hot dish on the table.”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghua’s temper flared up. She looked at Ruan Changgui and said, “Your niece wants to learn a skill, and you have so much to say? The lack of hot dishes has nothing to do with Xiao Xi. It’s because Xiao Wuzi wants to get married, and I have to save money for the dowry in advance.”

Since it was mentioned, Ruan Zhigao chimed in, “Is that why your wife left? Aren’t you going to bring her back?”

Ruan Changgui, having plenty to say, replied, “Xiaohui said she won’t come back unless we split the family. What can I do?”

Liu Xinghua asked him, “What do you think?”

Ruan Changgui was silent for a while and then said, “What can I think? I’ll listen to you.”

That evening, Ruan Zhigao smoked his pipe in the house and discussed the matter with Liu Xinghua.

Ruan Zhigao said, “As they wish, I’ll find Gao Wu tomorrow. He’s good at building houses and stoves. We can’t build a house right away, so let’s start by splitting the cooking. We’ll build them a stove, buy a pot, make some tables and benches, and divide the pots, bowls, water jars, chickens, ducks, and private land equally. Let them live their good life as a family of five.”

As Ruan Changgui’s mother, Liu Xinghua felt quite heartbroken. When there were benefits, they were a loving family. When there were no benefits, even her own son turned his back, only caring about his own comfort. Not to mention how much they had benefited before, even if they hadn’t, wasn’t it their duty to help support the family? They raised him with great effort, saved money to help him marry, and shared good food and drink for so many years, yet he wouldn’t even help his parents a little. From childhood to adulthood, he only took without giving anything back. Even a white-eyed wolf wouldn’t be so ungrateful. Even a dog knows to guard the house and wag its tail.

Too tired to scold, Liu Xinghua took a deep breath and said, “If we split, he can’t regret it later.”

Ruan Zhigao said, “He definitely won’t regret it. Xiao Wuzi is indeed useless and will likely be a burden in the future, all because you spoiled him. And Xiao Xi isn’t cut out to be a tailor either. You’re just wasting the family’s resources by letting her learn.”

Liu Xinghua, displeased by his words, raised her voice slightly, “Even if he’s not capable, he’s still her biological brother. Besides, in this mountain, what does it matter if someone is capable or not? Everyone is just scraping by. Was the second son much better at Xiao Wuzi’s age? We had to worry about everything for him too. Xiao Wuzi is still young. Once he gets married and starts a family, he’ll naturally learn to support his family. The old tailor may be difficult, but he might like our Xiao Xi. If she becomes a tailor, you’ll all be envious!”

Ruan Zhigao laughed, “What would I be envious of? Xiao Xi was raised by me, her grandfather. If she becomes a tailor, I’ll be the first to enjoy the benefits.”

Liu Xinghua glared at him, “Enjoy what, you fool!”