Chapter 9: Proving My Manhood

On the opposite side, those standing opposite Song Liangzuo could clearly see that he had the male organ typical of a boy.

“Oh, who would have thought? Liangzuo may be small, but he’s packing!” someone teased, clearly amused. “When he gets married, his wife will be quite lucky! Hey, hey, hey, who pulled my ear?”

“You shameless one! What are you saying in front of a child?”

“Ouch, you old hag…”

As tears streamed down his face, Song Liangzuo showed them his little “treasure,” lamenting, “Second Grandpa, am I too small? Should I not be using the family land? If I stop farming, then maybe Auntie wouldn’t come to trouble us? We won’t farm anymore; we’ll only gather wild vegetables for winter! Mom, what’s wrong? Wake up!”

At this moment, Song Xiaoxiao understood that she was no longer herself—she was Song Liangzuo, the sole boy in the family with only a grandmother, a mother, and two sisters.

Song Liangzuo was the only male in the Song family!

As a mere four-year-old child, he seemed to have been wronged deeply, and his heartfelt speech stirred pity among those present.

People are often like this; they can’t bear to see the weaker side being bullied. Just moments earlier, they were merely onlookers, but now, the pendulum of sympathy began to sway toward him.

“Just see! You guys are kin? Your family has so many members, yet you still come here to bully us? I’m truly disappointed in you,” someone shouted.

“Erquan, this is your family’s business. I shouldn’t say much, but we’re old friends, having played together since we were young. Remember how your brother was so obedient when we were little?” a neighbor reminisced.

Other men around Song Wangjiang grinned and nodded. “Your wife is fierce!”

“And so is yours!” another chimed in, directing his words at Song Wanghe.

Men in the village valued their reputation. While they might be henpecked at home, facing ridicule from others was unacceptable. In a rage, Song Wanghe slapped Bian Xiuqin across the face.

“You shrew! You can act tough at home, but dare to come to the Third Uncle’s house today? I’ll show you a lesson!”

“How dare you hit me, Song Wangjiang!” Bian Xiuqin exclaimed, shocked, holding her face as if unable to comprehend her husband’s actions.

“You brought this trouble upon us, ruining the relationship with Third Uncle! I’ll beat you for that!” Song Wangjiang threatened, raising his hand again.

Bian Xiu’s sister, seeing her husband ready to strike again, quickly stepped back, dragging her stunned cousin away while shouting, “It’s all Chengjiao’s fault! If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t even know about this!”

Chengjiao was pushed forward as a scapegoat, and as expected, he received a kick in the rear from his father in retaliation.

Chen Kaiyun, seeing her sisters-in-law running off, hastily took her children and left as well.

The incident in the courtyard yielded no benefits for the family, only embarrassment. The women and children had vanished, leaving only the three brothers, grim-faced, unable to leave under Second Uncle’s gaze.

“Third Aunt, it’s just that the kids were being foolish. No one expected the women would take it seriously. I hurried over from the fields as soon as I heard while trying to call them back,” Song Wangjiang, the eldest son in the family, spoke sheepishly, rubbing his hands together.

The elderly woman, heartbroken, waved her hand dismissively, clearly unwilling to elaborate on the situation.

However, it was Song Liangzuo, who had been pinching Wang Chunlan’s arm, who spoke up, “Uncle, Jinjīn said Second Grandpa was called by you all, and you didn’t tell Auntie not to come, so that’s why you brought Second Grandpa here, right?”

The innocent words from Liangzuo struck them like an invisible slap across their faces.

They weren’t there to call anyone back; they were simply outsiders hoping for entertainment. They thought if Liangzuo were a boy, the commotion would end, but if he wasn’t, then their farming rights would be jeopardized.

After all, they had over six mu of farmland. If they could reclaim it, in a few years, it could become their family’s land.

Song Wangjiang had been looking for that excuse but never expected his nephew would voice such thoughts.

Seeing Liangzuo’s words struck a nerve, Song Erquan glanced at Song Wanghe and then back at Song Wangjiang, saying, “You’re the eldest. Handle family matters and don’t let the village mock us like this.”

“Go home and bring back some treats to show your respect to your Third Aunt.”

Song Wanghe wanted to say something, but Song Wangjiang pulled him back, insisting, “Listen to Second Uncle. Let’s go now.”

With the drama having reached its climax, they exited, seemingly concluding the scene.

Once they departed, Song Liangzuo turned and tearfully said to the elderly woman, “Grandma, let’s help Mom back home to rest.”

At the same time, he shot a glance at the elderly woman, concerned that his oblivious mother might wake at any moment and say something that would undermine all his efforts.

The elderly woman was genuinely distraught, yet her thoughts were on her beloved grandson. Upon seeing him motioning toward her, she wept but managed to address the crowd, “I’m just an old woman. Will someone kindly help carry my Chunlan inside?”

Wang Chunlan, helped into the house, regained consciousness a short while later but was immediately restrained by the elderly woman, who wouldn’t let her get up.

Song Liangzuo re-tied his waistband outside, bending down to pick up the fish that had fallen. With his slender form, he approached Song Erquan while heaving a sigh.

“Second Grandpa, you love fish the most. Today I saw Hunter Grandpa bring back two fresh fish, and I begged Grandma to trade half a liter of sorghum for them. I originally wanted to deliver them to Uncle and Second Grandpa to show my appreciation for your help. But now…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence and instead raised the fish in his hands to push into Song Erquan’s palms, omitting any mention of Uncle.

Typically, Song Erquan wouldn’t mind taking one of the fish, as he often brought his sons to help out in the fields during busy seasons.

But after everything that happened today, looking at these vulnerable widows and orphans, he felt he couldn’t accept anything from his deceased brother’s family.

He reached out, ruffling Song Liangzuo’s hair, “Ah, good boy. You can keep the fish for your mother. Your grandpa and father are gone; if you need help with anything, just come find Second Grandpa.”

Seeing that firewood was running low, the eldest son of the Erquan family, Song Wangshu, piped in, “I’ll head out and fetch you some.”

Seeing them help, Song Liangzuo didn’t refuse. Holding onto the fish he hadn’t delivered, he told Song Erquan, “Second Grandpa, I’ll go fetch some water for you.”

As soon as he finished his sentence, Song Zhaodi dashed back into the house and quickly returned with a bowl of water.

As the crowd began to disperse, they left, but a few snatches of their conversation drifted over the courtyard walls and into Song Liangzuo’s ears.

“Look, that child is so little, and now he’s become the pillar of the family!”