Chapter 17: So This Is Zhang Tingyuan

The villagers didn’t say these things in front of him, and his parents always reported good news rather than bad, so he really didn’t know about them.

“What are they saying?” Zhang Tingyuan asked Lin Bingwei.

“They say that your elder brother’s accidental death three years ago was a revenge from vengeful spirits, and that your family’s work harms your moral standing…”

She recounted some of the rumors circulating among the people around them, and only then did he realize how much pressure his parents had endured during the years since his brother’s death.

Zhang Tingyuan fell silent for a long time, unconsciously placing his hand on his chest.

There was a blood hole here from the bullet. If Lin Bingwei hadn’t brought the compass to catch up with him and told him to cover his heart, he would have really died.

If he had died too, wouldn’t those people’s words have come true?

This family would really be finished.

Zhang Tingyuan then shifted his gaze to Lin Bingwei’s face, finally understanding why his mother wanted to kneel before her earlier.

After a moment of melancholy, Zhang Tingyuan chuckled, “I really don’t understand. Didn’t my dad help people with their ancestral graves and perform rituals because they asked him to? Didn’t they hope he would find a good feng shui spot to bless their descendants? How could that harm his moral standing? Unless some people are inherently immoral. Hmph, picking a good feng shui spot for immoral people does seem to harm one’s own moral standing.”

Lin Bingwei stared at him in astonishment.

In her mind, Zhang Tingyuan was an image of a soldier who sacrificed for the country, radiating a noble and righteous aura.

She had always thought that someone like him would be somewhat rigid, even stubborn.

She never expected him to be so articulate; these rebuttals hadn’t even occurred to her.

They say it takes a hundred days to heal from injuries to muscles and bones; he would have to stay home for at least three months, right? That would be quite lively.

As Lin Bingwei was thinking this, she heard Zhang Tingyuan ask, “By the way, where did my dad go?”

Lin Bingwei replied, “He went to perform a ritual for someone.”

“Why is he still doing rituals when people are cursing him? I’ll go call him back; he shouldn’t take on this work anymore. If someone dies, let them dig their own grave.”

This…

It seemed like he was the only one within dozens of miles who could handle ancestral graves. If he stopped, it would indeed cause trouble for those nearby who passed away.

Those who cared about such matters would have to go further to find a Taoist priest and pay more money.

Those who didn’t care would indeed have to dig a grave themselves.

“My dad is at a place that’s relatively far away and won’t be back tonight.” Suddenly recalling something, Lin Bingwei sprang up and rushed outside.

Zhang Tingyuan was confused, “Weiwei, what’s going on? Where are you going?”

“Weiwei, daughter-in-law?”

Lin Bingwei ran straight to the kitchen, where Li Yurong had finished cooking and was putting meat into a large bowl.

“Just in time, Weiwei, take the meat out; we’ll eat soon.”

“Mom.” Lin Bingwei didn’t have time to serve the meat and grabbed her arm, saying, “We need to tell Dad about Zhang Tingyuan’s injury.”

Li Yurong said, “He won’t be back tonight; he probably won’t return until tomorrow. He has to go up the mountain for the family in the morning.”

Lin Bingwei insisted, “We need to tell him as soon as possible. Tingyuan is fine; he just broke a rib and will recover with some rest. If those people outside spread rumors and it reaches Dad’s ears, what if he gets so scared he can’t breathe?”

Li Yurong knew how the villagers talked.

With a clang, the spatula in Li Yurong’s hand fell into the pot.

As she untied her apron, she said, “You two eat first; I need to go tell your father.”

Lin Bingwei pressed her hand down, saying, “Don’t go; I’ll go. Just tell me where Dad is; I can get there faster on my bike.”

Li Yurong couldn’t ride a bicycle.

“No, no, that village is quite winding, and you won’t find it. Besides, it’s all small roads; you can’t ride there. You telling him might not even convince him; he might think you’re just trying to comfort him, but your dad believes what I say.”

Hearing this, Lin Bingwei didn’t stop her.

Li Yurong untied her waist apron, grabbed a flashlight, and hurriedly went out.

Lin Bingwei sighed and took Zhang Jianguo into Zhang Tingyuan’s room.

Zhang Tingyuan, lying by the bed, urgently asked, “Weiwei, why were you running so fast just now? What happened? What did you say to Mom? I didn’t hear clearly.”

Lin Bingwei replied, “You were injured and brought back by someone; the villagers all saw it. I’m worried they’ll spread rumors, and if it reaches Dad’s ears, he might panic and do something rash.”

“Did Mom go to find Dad?”

“Yes, she said she would personally tell Dad, as he would believe her.”

Zhang Tingyuan pursed his lips and fell silent, his expression looking a bit frightening.

Originally, Lin Bingwei wanted to let her nephew stay with him for a while while she went to the kitchen to get busy.

But seeing his expression, she decided against it; her nephew was timid and she didn’t want him to be scared into silence.

“The food is ready; I’ll get you some.”

Lin Bingwei went to the study and brought over a luohan table that she had seen a few days ago.

Their home had quite a few antique pieces of furniture, and that luohan table had been left on top of a bookshelf, covered in dust, unused for who knows how long.

She cleaned it up, revealing its original color.

It was a red lacquered luohan table, adorned with exquisite patterns.

Leaving it to gather dust on the bookshelf was truly a waste.

Lin Bingwei first helped Zhang Jianguo sit at the table to eat, then brought the luohan table to Zhang Tingyuan.

She placed the luohan table on the bed, served a bit of each dish on it, and then filled a bowl with rice for him.

“Can you eat by yourself?”

Zhang Tingyuan looked at her awkwardly and said, “I can, but using this arm makes the wound hurt.”

Lin Bingwei thought for a moment and picked up the chopsticks. “Never mind, I’ll feed you.”

He should be fine after a few days of rest.

“Well then, I won’t be polite.”

Zhang Tingyuan took a bite and said, “Ah! After all these years, my mom’s cooking is still the same, no improvement.”

Lin Bingwei: “…” Luckily, your mom isn’t here.

“After working hard for half a day, you still complain it doesn’t taste good.”

“I’m just speaking the truth; my mom only cooks it thoroughly, not caring whether it tastes good or not.”

That… was indeed the truth.

“I’ll cook tomorrow. Open your mouth and eat quickly.”

After a few bites, Zhang Tingyuan asked, “Is your cooking good?”

Uh…

“Not good.”

“Ah?” Zhang Tingyuan seemed a bit devastated and stubbornly asked, “How does it compare to my mom’s?”

“About the same.”

Zhang Tingyuan: “…” Is this how it’s going to be for the rest of my life?

“If you think it’s not good, once you’re better, you can cook. If you don’t cook and still complain about the food, then that’s on you.”

Zhang Tingyuan was reprimanded and fell silent, only looking at Lin Bingwei and then cooperating by opening his mouth to eat.

Seeing that he had eaten enough, Lin Bingwei stood up, “I need to go eat too; Jianguo is still outside.”

It seemed like he just remembered his nephew, “Is Jianguo okay outside? Call him in to eat.”