Chapter 52 – Regret Beyond Repair

Ying-shi had indeed completely forgotten what her eldest sister-in-law had said earlier. With her belly swollen from pregnancy, she hurriedly rushed off to find her eldest brother.

The eldest of the Ying brothers was a tall, sturdy young man. Perhaps due to years of hunting in the mountains, his skin was deeply tanned, and his fierce tiger-like eyes gleamed with a penetrating light.

But when he saw his little sister, his expression softened noticeably. Since the Ying family had many sons, they were referred to by rank and age: “Ying Da” (First Brother), “Ying Er” (Second), and so on up to “Ying Liu” (Sixth), though of course they each had their own given names.

“You’re almost the mother of two children now, yet you’re still this rash?” he scolded with a mix of affection and worry.

Ying-shi jogged over to him. This pregnancy had her belly swelling quickly, and at this point, she looked like she was carrying a ball. Yet she was still light on her feet, moving briskly like a swallow. The older women in the village, based on experience, guessed that she was probably carrying another boy.

This left Ying-shi secretly perplexed. But after some time, she came to terms with it—children were fated, and one couldn’t force such things. Since it was her own flesh and blood, boy or girl, it didn’t matter. Still, whenever she saw the sweet, clever little girl at her sister-in-law’s house, she couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

Considering how both the Yan and Ying families had the same “overabundance of yang, lack of yin” dynamic, she figured she’d probably never have a gentle, attentive daughter in this life…

Setting aside her private frustration, Ying-shi truly was agile, but those watching her felt their hearts leap with worry. Ying Da was no exception.

“Big Brother, come here! I have something to talk to you about—something important!” she said eagerly.

Ying Da was eight or nine years older than Ying-shi. Having helped raise her since she was a child, and with the family being so male-dominated, he doted on her like a precious daughter. Seeing her in this state, he rushed forward to steady her. The other brothers came over as well, afraid their only sister might fall.

“Little Sister, what are you doing? Just call us if you need anything. You’re heavily pregnant and running around. What if you trip or bump into something?”

“Exactly! Sis, you’re being way too careless!” added another brother.

Embarrassed by their scolding, Ying-shi’s cheeks flushed slightly. With so many boys in the family, even the youngest—technically her younger brother—was just as doting. Though she was already the mother of almost two children, she was still the little sister they cherished.

Watching Ying-shi surrounded by her protective brothers, the aunts and older women of Qingshan Village were filled with envy. This was the benefit of having a thriving family: with strong unity among siblings, what hardship couldn’t be overcome? Take the Yan family, for instance—would they dare treat Ying-shi poorly? If Yan Xinghe mistreated her even slightly, would her six brothers let it slide?

Ah, but that’s another story! Ying-shi’s family lived deep in the mountains. If she hadn’t married someone as capable as Yan Xinghe, how could she be living so well now?

Back then, the Yan family was the most impoverished household in the village—orphans without parents, a bunch of children left behind with no one to rely on. If Big Girl hadn’t sold herself to save them, those kids might’ve starved or frozen to death long ago…

Big Girl referred to Yan Fengru.

Now, with their impressive row of houses, and Fengru even building a new house for her maternal family nearby, others were so jealous it made their teeth ache.

Had they known the Yan family would rise to such fortune, they would’ve married their own daughters into it! Some families with daughters around the same age as the Yan brothers deeply regretted their earlier choices.

Back then, it was out of love for their daughters that they refused to marry them into such hardship. But time proved them wrong.

Tang-shi had foresight! She married her daughter into the family. And now, as they watched Tang-shi walking in and out of the Yan household, smiling broadly, a wave of jealousy swept through the other women.

They didn’t particularly harbor ill will toward Ying-shi—after all, they lived in the same village—but it was hard not to feel bitterness. Their own daughters could’ve had such a chance too. In their eyes, their girls were no worse than Ying-shi. The only difference was a single decision. Ying-shi had married out from the deep mountains to Qingshan Village and now lived a life of comfort.

As for their own daughters—some were doing alright, but most were just muddling through. Their lives weren’t unbearable, but they were full of trivial annoyances and endless chores.

In short, none lived as comfortably as Ying-shi. No in-laws to boss her around, full control of the household, and a capable husband. They could even eat meat three meals a day.

Sigh, people really shouldn’t compare!

If not for the glaring contrast, they wouldn’t feel so regretful and envious. But with Ying-shi’s happiness right in front of them, it stung all the more.

However, when they thought about Ying-shi’s brothers, their eyes lit up. Then a flicker of hesitation appeared, as if they were torn and silently weighing their options.

Meanwhile, Ying-shi had already told her brothers about her sister-in-law’s suggestion. But what surprised her was that they weren’t surprised at all. This time, she was the one caught off guard.

“What’s with you all? Why aren’t any of you saying anything?”

“We’ve actually discussed this before,” said her eldest brother. “Father and Mother have been hesitating about whether to move here or…”

He glanced at Fourth Brother, and although Ying-shi had always been a bit sheltered by her family, she wasn’t stupid. One look and she could tell something was going on. What she hadn’t expected was that her family had already been planning this move.

She turned to her fourth brother, and a thought struck her. “Don’t tell me…”

“Don’t look at me! I’m all for moving to Qingshan Village. This place is great, and you’re already living here. I really like it.”

Fourth Brother scratched his head, looking a little sheepish. And it was true—this really had a lot to do with him. Because they lived in the deep mountains, the sons of the Ying family had trouble marrying. Though three of them had finally managed to settle down, there were still three left. Ying Father and Ying Mother were so worried their hair was turning white.

Unlike other families who couldn’t afford to move, the Ying family had many capable sons and a daughter who had married into a good household. So if they really wanted to move, they could. The only hesitation came from sentimentality toward their homeland.

But Ying Father and Ying Mother were not overly conservative. After much consideration, they had already decided to move. Fourth Brother was twenty-three this year. If he hadn’t been living in the mountains, he’d have children by now. Yet because he was a “mountain man,” he didn’t even have a wife.

This was the final push for their parents’ decision.

Not long ago, they had arranged a match for Fourth Brother. Things had progressed well, and they even offered double the customary bride price. But at the last moment, the other party began to waver.

Ying Father and Ying Mother understood clearly—the hesitation stemmed from their living situation in the deep mountains.