Chapter 35

The sky was gray, and it rained continuously for three days, stopping only after the old tailor was buried.

Wearing a bamboo hat, mourning clothes, and a raincoat, Ruan Xi trudged through the mud back to the tailor shop. Ruan Cuizhi walked beside her, holding her hand and gently squeezing it from time to time to comfort her. She had only been with the old tailor for half a year, and they rarely spoke, with almost no emotional interaction. She just helped take care of him, and even that made her feel very sad, let alone Ruan Xi.

Ruan Xi’s eyes were red, and she walked silently.

The old tailor was the only child of his family for three generations, and he had never married or had children, so he had no relatives. Ruan Cuizhi, Ruan Changsheng, and Ruan Xi organized his funeral, and those who came to pay their respects were mostly people from nearby villages. There weren’t many who were genuinely grieving, as the old tailor was already very old.

Ruan Changsheng caught up from behind and asked Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Xi, “Are you going to the tailor shop or home?”

Ruan Cuizhi turned to Ruan Changsheng and said, “Xiao Xi and I will go to the tailor shop first to tidy up, and then we’ll go home.”

Ruan Changsheng nodded, “Alright, I’ll go home first.”

After walking a short distance together, they parted ways, with Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi heading to the tailor shop.

Ruan Xi planned to clean the house thoroughly and close the shop for a month. The old tailor’s personal belongings had already been packed up and buried with him. When she returned to the shop and opened the door, the place felt cold and empty.

Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Xi took off their bamboo hats and mourning clothes and cleaned the house inside and out.

The house was messy from the funeral, and it needed to be tidied up.

Ruan Cuizhi tidied up for a while and then said to Ruan Xi, “I don’t know where Da Mi went. I haven’t seen it come back these past few days.”

Just as Ruan Cuizhi finished speaking, Ruan Xi’s hand, which was sweeping under the bed, suddenly paused. She pulled Da Mi from under the bed and found its body was already stiff.

Ruan Cuizhi came over and saw Da Mi, her eyes darkening as she took a deep breath.

After a moment, she said softly, “It went with Old Master Song.”

Da Mi had no injuries on its body, so it likely starved itself to death.

Ruan Xi didn’t say anything and carefully put Da Mi aside. After cleaning the house, she placed Da Mi in a bamboo basket, took a shovel, and went to the old tailor’s grave. She dug a small hole beside it, placed Da Mi inside, and covered it with soil, forming a small mound.

The tailor shop was closed for a month, with the gate tightly shut.

Ruan Cuizhi didn’t go to the tailor shop during that month; she worked in the production team instead. Ruan Xi occasionally went to sit alone in the courtyard, but most of her time was spent with Ling Yao, accompanying him to herd pigs and read books. She planned to let her mind rest for a while before continuing her life. Because being with Ling Yao felt the most comfortable, she sought him out every day.

The two of them sat on the hillside, watching the pigs graze. Ling Yao’s school bag often contained things, and today it held two rare milk candies.

The milk candies melted in their mouths, the sweet, milky flavor sliding down their throats as they lay on the hillside, looking at the sky above.

The summer sky was as blue as a wash, with clouds floating softly like cotton candy. Ruan Xi thought that if she tore off a piece and took a bite, it might taste like milk too. Then, before the milky taste in her mouth completely faded, she suddenly heard an urgent call.

Ruan Xi sat up and looked in the direction of the voice, seeing Ruan Jie coming to find her.

Ruan Jie ran up to her, panting, and said, “Sister, someone came to our house looking for you. They said they’re relatives of the old tailor.”

Hearing this, Ruan Xi was slightly stunned. She quickly got up, said goodbye to Ling Yao, and followed Ruan Jie home.

Ling Yao saw her leave with Ruan Jie, so he hurriedly herded the pigs home, locked them up and then went to Ruan’s house.

When Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie got home, they saw an elderly woman with white hair and two middle-aged men sitting in their house. The three faces were unfamiliar to her; she had never seen them before.

Not knowing how to greet them, Ruan Xi asked, “Are you here to see me?”

Before the three could answer, Ruan Zhigao and Ruan Changsheng returned, followed by Ruan Cuizhi and Sun Xiaohui. Sun Xiaohui went straight to the side kitchen while Ruan Zhigao and the others stood beside Ruan Xi.

Liu Xinghua came out of the room and said, “They said they’re relatives of the old tailor, here to see Xiao Xi.”

Sun Xiaohui, eager to watch the excitement, poked her head out of the small kitchen, her ears perked up like a rabbit’s.

The three visitors had a somewhat arrogant attitude. The elderly woman looked at Ruan Xi and said, “Are you the young tailor?”

Ruan Xi looked at her and replied, “Yes, I am the young tailor.”

The elderly woman didn’t beat around the bush. She spoke slowly but firmly, “Then please, hand over the keys to the old tailor’s house. Although the old tailor had no children, he still has us as relatives. His property shouldn’t fall into the hands of an outsider like you, don’t you think, girl?”

Ruan Zhigao and Ruan Changsheng looked at Ruan Xi, their eyes confused.

Ruan Cuizhi, who was in the know, didn’t show any confusion on her face and asked, “What kind of relatives are you?” She genuinely meant to ask, but as soon as she did, she realized it sounded a bit aggressive.

The elderly woman indeed looked displeased and replied harshly, “My grandmother was the old tailor’s great-aunt. What kind of relatives do you think we are? We share a blood relationship, so naturally, the property is ours.”

Ruan Cuizhi calculated in her mind. The old tailor’s great-aunt was quite a distant relation. It meant that this great-aunt and his grandfather were cousins. If the old tailor had children, they would be almost five generations apart.

After calculating, Ruan Cuizhi dryly laughed and said, “Great-aunt? That hardly counts as a relative, right? If you were really relatives, I didn’t see any of you taking care of the old tailor, not even at the funeral…”

The middle-aged man beside the elderly woman suddenly stood up and said, “Distant as it may be, we still have a blood relationship, which is closer than you. This girl has no blood relation to the old tailor, so the property shouldn’t be hers!”

Ruan Zhigao, who had been silent, looked at Ruan Xi and asked, “So, from what I’m hearing, the old tailor left everything to you?”

Ruan Xi looked at Ruan Zhigao and nodded, “Yes.”

Ruan Zhigao looked at Ruan Changsheng and Liu Xinghua, both of whom indicated they didn’t know.

Sun Xiaohui, listening from the small kitchen across the way, was wide-eyed with shock. The old tailor’s entire estate, including the house, courtyard, sewing machine, and various tools, had all been left to Ruan Xi?!

In the countryside, where people were generally poor, the old tailor’s possessions were considered quite substantial.

Oh my goodness! Such a large estate and the old man left it all to Ruan Xi?!

She had always thought it would go to the production team!

Being an apprentice really paid off!

Suddenly, she remembered that Ruan Yuejin had also been the old tailor’s apprentice. If he hadn’t quit before the New Year and had stuck it out for another six months, he could have shared in the inheritance. Sun Xiaohui felt a pang in her heart, almost losing her breath. She clutched her chest, took a moment to steady her breathing, and continued to listen to the conversation.

The middle-aged man on the elderly woman’s right stood again and said to Ruan Xi, “We don’t want to make a fuss. My mother is old, and it’s not easy for her to come here. Just hand over the keys, and we’ll consider the matter settled.”

Ruan Xi took a deep breath and looked at the three shameless individuals.

The old tailor had left the shop to her because she had inherited his skills and could continue his business, solving the problem of making clothes for the mountain people. If the shop went to these people, everything would be lost. She had no greed for the old tailor’s estate, knowing she wouldn’t stay in the mountains forever. Her only thought was that since the old tailor had given her the things, she had to protect them and not let them be ruined.

So she replied firmly, “The estate belonged to my master, and he decided who to give it to. You, as distant relatives, have no right to claim it. My master was bedridden for over half a year. Did any of you come to take care of him for a day? Did you contribute a penny to the funeral? Did you buy the coffin or make the burial clothes?!”

Ruan Xi’s voice grew louder and louder, ending in an almost angry shout.

The elderly woman and her two sons, shocked by the words of this seemingly young girl, widened their eyes and said, “What nonsense are you talking about?! The estate should always go to blood relatives, not outsiders! If you don’t hand over the keys, we’ll have to break the lock!”

Ruan Xi glared at the old woman, “Go ahead and try breaking in! That house is mine now! If you dare to break in, I’ll have Secretary Wang bring people to arrest you and take you to the public security office! My master handed me the keys in front of all the village officials! I don’t believe there’s no law in this world, allowing you people to act recklessly!”

The two middle-aged men, intimidated by her words, looked at the white-haired old woman.

The old woman, however, was not intimidated. She snorted and said, “Property should be inherited according to bloodline! Even if the king himself came, it would be the same! You, an outsider, a girl, how dare you take someone else’s property!”

Ruan Cuizhi stood beside Ruan Xi and supported her, “If you don’t agree, go find Secretary Wang!”

The old woman was shocked. If going to Secretary Wang had worked, she wouldn’t have come here herself. They had already tried Secretary Wang and failed, so they came directly to Ruan Xi, hoping to force her to hand over the keys.

Ruan Zhigao and Ruan Changsheng finally understood the situation, but Ruan Zhigao said nothing. He threw down his hoe, turned, and left, returning moments later with a rifle in hand.

He pointed the rifle at the old woman and her two sons and said one word, “Leave!”

Seeing the rifle, the old woman was somewhat scared but still tried to maintain her composure, “Who are you trying to scare?”

Without a word, Ruan Zhigao fired a shot into the ground.

The shot nearly made the old woman fall, and her two sons turned pale with fear. Even Sun Xiaohui, across the way, was so frightened she almost jumped out of her skin. She had always said that the old couple and Ruan Changsheng were bandits, and she was right!

Ruan Zhigao, holding the gun, asked again, “Leave or not?”

The old woman, still in shock, and her two sons were too scared to speak.

Seeing their silence, Ruan Zhigao raised the gun again and roared, “I asked if you’re leaving or not?!”

The two middle-aged men, startled, saw him raise the gun again and hurriedly helped the old woman, saying in unison, “Sir, don’t be angry. We’re leaving, we’re leaving, we’re leaving right now.”

They hurriedly helped the old woman and ran off.

After they left, Ruan Zhigao went inside, hung up the rifle, and sat at the table, saying, “A bunch of cowards, daring to come and fight for property. They think our Ruan family is easy to bully, acting all high and mighty.”

Liu Xinghua sat at the table, “Do you think they’ll break the lock?”

Ruan Zhigao replied, “I think they’re just bluffing. They probably won’t dare. If you stand firm, they’ll back down immediately. They didn’t even come to the old tailor’s funeral. What kind of relatives are they? They’re just greedy for the property, trying their luck.”

If they really managed to get the property by relying on that distant blood relation, wouldn’t they hit the jackpot?

Standing next to Ruan Xi, Ruan Changsheng asked, “Did he really leave everything to you?”

Ruan Xi looked at him and nodded again, “Yes.”

Ruan Changsheng took a deep breath, “I didn’t expect the old man to be so loyal.”

Ruan Zhigao spoke again, “The old tailor left it to you because he trusted you. You must take good care of it.”

Ruan Xi responded, “Grandpa, I will.”

When Ling Yao arrived at the Ruan house, some people had already gathered to watch the commotion. Seeing Ruan Zhigao go to the militia captain’s house to get a rifle and solve the problem directly, he didn’t search to find Ruan Xi. Instead, he dispersed with the other onlookers and went home.

After the crowd dispersed, Ruan Changgui, Ruan Yuejin, and Ruan Yuehua came home for lunch.

At the dining table, Sun Xiaohui, with a very expressive face, recounted what she had heard before cooking to Ruan Changgui. After finishing, she glared at Ruan Yuejin, her face turning blue with regret, and said through gritted teeth, “If only you had persisted for another six months!”

However, Ruan Yuejin was very clear about himself and said directly, “I can’t flatter and serve people.”

Taking care of someone isn’t easy. You have to worry about everything, from eating and drinking to using the bathroom, and doing it for half a year would drive anyone crazy, especially since the old tailor was sharp-tongued and difficult to deal with, even more so than ordinary elderly people!

Sun Xiaohui still gritted her teeth, “You have no ambition!”

Ruan Yuejin replied, “I’m doing well mining now.”

Ruan Changgui was speechless, “…”

This kid really has no ambition!

Ruan Xi hadn’t intended for so many people to know that the old tailor left his estate to her, but because of the commotion caused by his distant relatives, the whole village found out.

People were jealous and envious of her, saying she was cunning and scheming at such a young age—charming the old tailor, learning his skills, and ultimately inheriting his entire estate.

If this had happened to someone else, they wouldn’t have dared to dream of it. But Ruan Xi didn’t dream; she acted.

After being chased away by Ruan Zhigao with a gun, the old tailor’s distant relatives didn’t dare to break into the tailor shop and never returned to Jinguang Village or Fengming Village. They lived far away, and it wasn’t easy to travel such a long distance.

After a month of rest, Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi returned to the tailor shop and officially reopened for business. Because the shop had been closed for a while, many people came when it first reopened.

Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi worked during the day and returned home to eat and sleep at night, not staying at the shop. They always felt the old tailor was still there and the place should be kept for him.

After a day of work at the tailor shop, Ruan Xi handed a note to Ruan Changsheng during dinner at home, asking him for a favor, “The shop is running low on supplies. Uncle, could you help me restock in town? I’ll pay you.”

Ruan Changsheng was happy to do a paid errand. He took the note and cheerfully said, “Leave it to me.”

The next day, he got up early and headed to town with the money Ruan Xi had given him. He was a fast runner, covering in a day and a half what would take most people two days. But he wasn’t made of iron. When he got tired at night, he would find a place to rest his eyes for a while.

That night, he found a haystack to rest in, pulling some straw together to make a soft bed. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard someone clear their throat and whistle. So, he didn’t lie down but turned to look toward the sound. He saw a youth sitting by a pile of corn stalks not far away, wearing a worn military uniform and an old military cap in the moonlight.

Ruan Changsheng ignored him and lay down. After a while, curiosity got the better of him, and he turned to look at the youth again.

The youth was holding a cigarette, sniffing it with a look of enjoyment.

He seemed to know Ruan Changsheng was watching him and asked, “Want one?”

Cigarettes were rare in the mountains; people usually smoked pipes.

Ruan Changsheng looked at him, “You give cigarettes to everyone you meet? Generous.”

The youth chuckled, “One cent each.”

Ruan Changsheng looked at him for a moment and said, “Are you… selling?”

The youth whispered, “Do you want one?”

Ruan Changsheng glanced at him and saw a burlap sack beside him, which seemed to be filled with various items. If he guessed correctly, it was likely full of things the youth had brought to the mountains to sell secretly.

After scanning the scene, Ruan Changsheng asked, “What else do you have in that sack?”

The youth retorted, “What do you want?”

Ruan Changsheng sat up and cleared his throat, “Do you have matches? Or give me a cigarette first.”

Hearing this, the youth took out a box of matches from his military uniform pocket, shook it in his hand, and said, “One cent.”

Ruan Changsheng lowered his head, took out a cent from his pocket, and handed it to him.

Just as the youth reached out to take the cent, Ruan Changsheng quickly grabbed his wrist, pulled him to the ground, and pinned him down.

Ruan Changsheng, holding him down, laughed and said, “You’ve got guts, engaging in black market trading!”

The youth pushed him twice but couldn’t move him, angrily saying, “What’s it to you? If you want to buy, buy. If not, leave!”

Ruan Changsheng continued to laugh, “If I take you to the public security office, I’ll get praised.”

The youth, however, remained calm and defiantly said, “What evidence do you have that I’m trading on the black market? As long as the authorities haven’t caught me, you have no proof, so it doesn’t count!”

Reporting him was just a bluff. Ruan Changsheng never did such things. He grabbed the youth’s military uniform collar, pulled him up, and said, “Let me see what you’ve got in that sack.”

The youth, annoyed, said, “Let you see what?!”

Ruan Changsheng chuckled and reached for the burlap sack on the corn stalks.

The youth pulled his hand away to grab it, but Ruan Changsheng swiftly grabbed their wrist and pinned them to the ground. This time, the feeling was different, and he quickly let go.

After a moment, Ruan Changsheng asked, “A girl?”

The youth took the opportunity to grab the sack and run. She thought that if she had known this person was so troublesome, she wouldn’t have engaged with him. She often disguised herself to come to the mountains to sell things, sneaking around to sell small items for a cent or two and had never encountered such a troublesome person. Supplies were extremely scarce in the mountains, so what she did was a blessing for the mountain people, and they were always polite to her. If they wanted a treat or needed something, they would spend a cent or two to buy from her. If they didn’t want to buy, they wouldn’t say anything. After all, it wasn’t easy for people to leave the mountains, and she brought things to sell secretly, allowing them to meet their daily needs without traveling long distances, which was a good deed. But tonight, this person tricked her, pinned her to the ground, and threatened to report her to the public security office!

Scoundrel!

Seeing her run off with the sack, Ruan Changsheng got up and chased after her.

Catching up to her, he grabbed her shoulder and asked again, “Are you a girl?”

The youth couldn’t shake off his hand and angrily slapped his hand a few times, saying, “If you don’t want anything, let go!”

Ruan Changsheng looked at her face in the moonlight, “It doesn’t look like it. What girl looks like this?”

In the dark, her face almost blended with the night.

The youth rolled her eyes at him, “Mind your own business!”

Ruan Changsheng laughed, “I don’t smoke. Let me see what’s in your sack, and I’ll definitely buy something.”

The youth looked at him warily for a while, “You won’t take me to the public security office?”

Ruan Changsheng said, “Just kidding.”

The youth looked at him for a moment, decided he was trustworthy, and squatted down to open the sack.

Seeing this, Ruan Changsheng also squatted down, took a flashlight from his bag, and shone it into the sack.

The youth’s sack was indeed a mixed bag of goods, containing almost everything: half a box of cigarettes, fruit candies wrapped in colorful paper, buttons, rubber bands, twine, matches, thimbles, needles, snaps, zippers, various snacks, and even socks and rat poison!

Ruan Changsheng was amazed, shining the flashlight, rummaging through the sack, and clicking his tongue.

The youth, growing impatient with his rummaging, asked, “What exactly do you want?”

Ruan Changsheng didn’t answer but asked, “Where did you get all these things?”

The youth glanced at him and pulled the sack, “None of your business. Do you want something or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

Ruan Changsheng held the sack, “Yes, yes, yes.”

He took out two different colored fruit candies from the sack, “How much for one?”

The youth held up one finger, “One cent for two.”

So Ruan Changsheng took out the cent he had earlier and handed it to her.

The youth took the money, packed up the sack, and without further words, slung the sack over her shoulder and walked away.

Ruan Changsheng didn’t rest either, continuing to follow her, walking beside her and talking, “Meeting is fate. What’s your name? Which brigade are you from? Let’s be friends.”

The youth says without turning her head, “I don’t want to be friends with you.”

Ruan Changsheng said, “I’m actually a nice person. I was only teasing you earlier.”

The youth turned to look at him, seeing that he looked decent, and asked, “Which brigade are you from?”

Ruan Changsheng honestly replied, “I’m from Fengyan Brigade, quite far from here.”

After all, it had taken him a whole day to get there, and now it was already late at night.

Seeing the youth not speaking, he asked again, “What about you?”

The youth tossed their head and continued walking, “I’m not telling you!”

Ruan Changsheng: “…”

Since she wouldn’t tell, he just followed her. When she walked, he walked. When she stopped to rest, he stopped too.

The youth thought Ruan Changsheng was after her sack, so when she couldn’t hold out any longer and needed to rest, she would dig a hole in a haystack, crawl in with the sack in her arms, and hide inside.

Ruan Changsheng would sleep right next to the hole she dug.

The next morning, as soon as there was movement in the hole, he woke up immediately. He watched the youth crawl out of the hole, her face dirty and covered in dust, with no trace of looking like a girl. She hadn’t braided her hair, which was all tucked under a military cap, and she was wearing a male military uniform, looking just like a boy!

The two of them locked eyes for a moment. Ruan Changsheng, coming to his senses, yawned and said, “You’re awake?”

The youth ignored him, continued crawling out of the hole, slung the sack over her shoulder, and walked away.

Ruan Changsheng got up and followed them.

After a few steps, the youth suddenly stopped and asked, “What do you want?”

Ruan Changsheng repeated, “To make a friend.”

The youth looked at his face, thought for a moment, and then said, “How about this: I’m tired and don’t want to walk anymore. If you can carry me to town, I’ll be your friend. How about that?”

Hearing this, Ruan Changsheng immediately bent in front of her and patted his back, “Hop on!”

The youth didn’t hesitate, jumped on his back like a monkey, and said, “Let’s go!”

Ruan Changsheng straightened up and started walking, then asked again, “Are you a boy or a girl? I really can’t tell!”

With the sack on her back, the youth didn’t lie on him but rode him like a horse, saying, “Why do you care if I’m a boy or a girl? You want to be friends with me just to find out where I got these things. Do you want to engage in black market trading too?”

Ruan Changsheng chuckled, “Not bad, you’re smart!”