Chapter 31: Jinzi’s Standing in the Qiu Family

In the winter months, Ping’an Village only had two meals a day—breakfast and dinner. They only ate three meals during the autumn harvest.

Usually, when people got hungry at noon, they would take a nap at home. Once they fell asleep, they wouldn’t keep thinking about food.

Those who couldn’t nap would gather in small groups under the big banyan tree at the village entrance to chat and gossip.

By around two in the afternoon, quite a few people had already gathered.

Lately, everyone’s favorite topic of discussion was the daughter of the Qiu family’s second son.

“I went back to my mother’s place a while ago and just got back today. What’s this I hear about Qiu Lao’er’s daughter being married?”

“Your news is ancient! Not only did she get married, she even gave birth to a pair of twins.”

Once gossip started, even if they had heard it countless times, everyone still hoped to dig out some new detail they hadn’t heard before.

Someone couldn’t wait to spill the latest they’d picked up. “I heard that Qiu Lao’er’s girl doesn’t remember anything now. What’s that illness called again?”

“Amnesia.”

“Yes, that’s it—amnesia. Apparently, she even forgot her own parents.”

“No wonder she got married. I remember she was engaged to that boy from the Ding family.”

“Engaged? There was never an official betrothal. When Qiu Lao’er was still alive, he practically wanted to skin the Ding family. But the Ding family’s old lady wasn’t any better. Both sides were scheming—one trying to sell his daughter, the other wanting a free daughter-in-law. In the end, they just ruined both kids’ futures.”

“They were such a perfect pair in our village. What a shame.”

“I don’t think it’s a shame at all. Ding Zixu came back recently, didn’t he? And right behind him was some bigwig’s daughter named An Xin. You could tell she was a city girl the moment you saw her. And if you saw the way the Ding family’s old lady treated her—she was practically worshipping her.”

“Wow, if Ding Zixu marries that girl, he’ll be a city man for real.”

At that, everyone revealed expressions of envy.

Why couldn’t good fortune like that fall on them?

“But still, that girl from Qiu Lao’er’s family is really pitiful.”

“Pitiful? She just got unlucky having a father like that.”

From a distance, Qiu Qianjin’s figure appeared, heading their way. Someone quickly cleared their throat and whispered, “Stop talking. That brat from the Qiu family is back. If he hears us gossiping about his sister, who knows if he’ll lose it and start a fight again.”

Even from afar, he could already hear the village elders gossiping noisily.

He didn’t need to think hard to know they were talking about his sister.

After all, she had been the hottest topic in the village recently.

Qiu Qianjin frowned. Really, nothing to do in winter, and they had gossiped themselves into stupidity.

He carried a large basket on his back. At the bottom were two silver carp—one weighing three to four jin, the other just over one jin.

On top was a thick layer of firewood.

Looking at the bored old folks, he smiled warmly and said, “Uncle Zhang, Auntie Wang, having a little chat?”

Uncle Zhang and Auntie Wang were both startled at being named so directly—they had been the ones gossiping the most just now.

“Ah, Jinzi, where are you off to?”

Qiu Qianjin grinned and said, “Went up the mountain to collect some firewood for my grandparents. Uncle Zhang, do you need any firewood? I can pick some and drop it off at your place.”

Uncle Zhang wouldn’t dare!

If he dared to take advantage today, tomorrow the old folks of the Qiu family might just dig up his father’s grave.

Everyone in the village knew that the Qiu family had three sons, but only the second son had given birth to the family’s only grandson. The eldest and youngest sons only had daughters and couldn’t hold their heads high in the Qiu household.

Naturally, Qiu Qianjin’s favored status was easy to imagine—even the eldest uncle and youngest uncle had to step aside for him.

Though Qiu Qianjin was a bit of a rascal, he was genuinely filial.

A while ago, when word got out that Old Master Qiu had strained his back, Qiu Qianjin, who usually ran around all day, actually stayed home obediently to take care of his grandfather.

Once his back got better, Old Master Qiu boasted to everyone he met, saying, “I have a filial eldest grandson—my life is worth it even if I die now.”

“Jinzi, good for you! No wonder your grandpa always praises you,” someone said.

Qiu Qianjin didn’t bother pretending to be modest. “My grandparents have treated me the best since I was a kid. If I don’t treat them well, who should I be good to? I don’t have many strengths, but being filial is definitely one of them.”

“…”

Everyone was used to him shamelessly praising himself, but this level of self-flattery still left them speechless.

They chuckled awkwardly and managed a few more compliments.

Once they really ran out of things to praise, Qiu Qianjin finally took his leave.

As soon as he was gone, the villagers picked up their gossip again.

“Say what you will, but with a mouth like that, if I were the Qiu family’s old couple, I’d be sweet-talked into circles too.”

“He’s all talk, doesn’t actually do much.”

“Old Zhang, don’t be so bitter. I passed by the Qiu house the other day and saw Jinzi emptying the chamber pot for his grandpa.”

“I think you’re just jealous ‘cause you don’t have a grandson like Old Master Qiu!”

Exposed, Old Zhang’s face turned beet red. “You’re all talking nonsense. My youngest daughter-in-law is pregnant again. This time, we’ll definitely get a grandson!”

“Oh my god, your daughter-in-law’s already over forty, right? And you’re still pushing for a grandson? Aren’t you worried something might go wrong at her age?”

“Wang Hongxia! You dare curse my daughter-in-law?” Old Zhang was so furious he started spitting as he shouted.

Wang Hongxia wiped her face, spat back at him, and just like that, the two elders—both in their sixties—started going at it, throwing insults that were filthier than the village ditch water.

Meanwhile, Qiu Qianjin strolled home, humming an off-key tune, head held high.

“Mom! Let’s go to Grandma and Grandpa’s and bum a meal!” he called out cheerfully.

“No.” His mother, Cheng Hongying, flatly refused. They’d already gone three times this week, and his eldest sister-in-law had nearly killed her with her glare.

“But we’re not going empty-handed. Why shouldn’t we go?” he reasoned.

“There’s nothing left in the house to bring,” she said.

Qiu Qianjin patted the basket on his back. “There are some fish we got from the reservoir.”

Cheng Hongying’s face immediately darkened. She raised her fist to strike him. “You went ice fishing in this freezing weather? Do you have a death wish? If something happened to you, how do you expect me to live?”

Seeing her fist about to come down, Qiu Qianjin quickly covered his head. “Don’t hit me! Grandpa and Grandma will see it—you think they won’t rush over to stop you?”

At the mention of her doting in-laws, Cheng Hongying hesitated. But being manipulated by her son like this made her grit her teeth in frustration.

Still, when she thought about how he went ice fishing just to help her hold her head high during dinner, her heart softened a little.

“Jinzi, listen to me. It’s only December—the reservoir ice isn’t solid yet. If something bad happened to you, what would I do? Next time, don’t go again.”

Qiu Qianjin nodded. “I won’t go again. Now come on, let’s go bum a meal at Grandpa and Grandma’s.”