“Mother, wake up, mom, mom… don’t ignore me, I will listen to what my mother said obediently in the future, wu wu…”
“Good child Lin, your mother is just exhausted and only taking a nap. Your mother is not ignoring you. Our Lin is the best and the most sensible.” Zhang Xiu held the little brother named Zhao Minglin in his arms and patted him on the back to soothe him, but he couldn’t help turning his head and wiping his tears. It really was a tragedy. The days have only just started improving, when surprisingly misfortune came down from above. The husband of Brother Ming traveled deep into the mountain and never returned. The New Year celebrations had just been completed and they were already having a funeral. How could they continue living?
Zhang Xiu and Brother Ming’s maternal family both belonged to the same village. At the beginning, he helped match Brother Ming. Zhao Dahu was an honest man who was willing to bear hardships. The Zhao family’s life in Pingshan Village was also very prosperous. When both sides were looking, he helped match the two, however he did not expect that Zhao family’s grandmother was abnormal. Seeing that the third child had just become a Tongsheng (1), he was afraid of being dragged down by the second son (2), had proceeded to divide up the family. At first glance, it sounded nice to let the young couple live by themselves, of the 20 acres of Zhao family land, only two acres of medium paddy fields were given to the second family and nothing else. Every family in Pingshan Village could see that Zhao’s grandmother was unconventional.
Originally, Zhang Xiu also persuaded Brother Ming to separate, as to not have any trouble with the Zhao family and so they could live a quiet life. Brother Ming’s husband was willing to endure hardship and after a few years they could live well. He was right, in the past few years, Zhao Dahu was able to vigorously open up five acres of land on the mountain. In addition, he also regularly went hunting in the mountains and it was not a problem for a family of three to fill their stomachs. Occasionally, you could see a fish on the table, but the good days did not last long. One only had to look to Zhao Dahu to find something wrong.
Alas, if he [Zhang Xiu] had known what he did today, why bother helping Brother Ming set up this match.
“This lazy child is a plague, a broom star, your husband just died and all you do is lay in bed all day. Hurry up and get out here and let these people look at you. Let me tell you, this house belongs to the Zhao family now. The Zhao family had found a place for this lazy worthless ger who has not even served their parents….”
There was a burst of angry screams in the yard, and Xiao Lin was so scared that he hiccuped and went straight to Zhang Xiu to hide. Zhang Xiu was furious, but he spoke in a calm low voice to coax him. Xiao Lin was so frightened that one could visibly see it. “A-Lin do not be scared, Auntie Xui will help you go out and scold your grandma.”
“I don’t want to be sent away by grandmother, I don’t want to leave my mother…” The little face was full of fear, and Zhang Xiu was angry again. He stuffed Xiao Lin into Tang Chunming’s bed and went outside.
“Oh, Grandma Zhao came to see Brother Ming?” Zhang Xiu shouted loudly, walking out of the hall and looked at Grandma Zhao who was standing akimbo in the courtyard. Their loud voices had attracted some villagers to gather. Zhang Xiu was not afraid to tell the truth, he wanted everyone to listen to how the Zhao family persecuted their son that had just died. “I also want to ask Grandma Zhoa, how did your Zhao family persecute Brother Ming? When he came back from your Zhao family, he fainted and Hu Langzhong only just left.”
“Bah! I have to you, Dahu’s family, that it is useless to pretend to be sick. When you married into the Zhao family, you only know how to give birth to money losing goods (3). Even a son was not even born. What is the use of you in my Zhao family. My son was forced to death by him, if he didn’t want to eat meat, would my son run into the mountains on such a cold day? I did not find him to accompany my son in such a way. Tang Chunming, you come outside and let them see you.” Grandma Zhao didn’t care about Zhang Xiu at all, continuing to point to the house and scolding in the yard.
Only now did Zhang Xiu see a lame man who was in his forties, standing at the gate of the courtyard. He was dark and short, with two eyes that looked straight at the house. He [Zhang Xiu] hated the Zhao Family for bringing all the troubles. Brother Ming was born well, and back then many people fought for him. It was because he was blind that he helped match him [Brother Ming] to the Zhao family. Although Zhao Dahu was a good person, he had many undesirable traits as a husband.
“Hey, who doesn’t know that most of the wild animals that Zhao Dahu hunted in the mountain were sent to his mother’s house. If you don’t can’t tell, then just look at your family members who all have a fat waist and a strong belly and then look at Brother Ming’s family. Are you not embarrassed by what you say? Now you are trying to set Brother Ming up with other people and trying to force him out, for fear that he occupies a few acres of land left by Dahu. I’m telling you, Brother Ming has been to Hu Langzhong’s clinic, and there is a two month old child in his stomach. Are you not afraid that your son will come out of the ground to find you who are trying to match him [Brother Ming] with others.” Zhang Xiu who had a sharp and quick tongue quickly made things clear.
Originally, the people outside thought that although the Zhao family’s approach was a bit overdone, it’s really not good for a ger to be without a husband. A husband could support their family. This was a good way for the Zhao family to let him [Brother Ming] support his child. Although this man was a bit older, Grandma Zhao said that he would not hurt him [Brother Min]. Moreover, this man also had a lot of property in his family, Brother Ming would have a good life if he married him.
Now the current news explodes as soon as everyone hears it, Brother Ming still has a child in his stomach. How can he get remarried? If the Zhao family really lets Brother Ming take the Zhao family seed to get remarried, the Zhao family will have to drown in the saliva of others.
After Zhang Xiu mentioned this, the neighbors on either side also realized what Grandma Zhao’s real plan was. They looked up at the three big houses that had only been built a few years ago. When Brother Ming remarries, the house and the land could not be kept and will be returned to the Zhao family. It’s no wonder that they were so eager for Brother Ming to remarry and did not even allow him to keep filial piety towards their son. Zhao Dahu’s mom being like this was really embarrassing.
“What?! He is actually pregnant?!” Grandma Zhao screamed in disbelief, how could such a coincidence happen?
“Don’t believe it? All right, Hu Langzhong just left, let’s call them back to ask for cearly.” Zhang Xiu said impatiently.
“No way, Grandma Zhao, I gave you fifteen taels of silver, what is this now?” The lame man became anxious when he heard it, his gleared and shouted at Grandma Zhao. He listened to others to explain that this ger is a good-looking and young man, which is what he likes, and Grandma Zhao promised him that he [Brother Ming] would not bring a child with him.
“Bah! It turned out that you sold Brother Ming for fifteen tales of silver. I say, you old man, you are so kind and caring towards Brother Ming.” Zhang Xiu scolded.
When the lame man blurted out, the onlookers understood the truth more clearly. They all spoke out and condemned Grandma Zhao. They had just lost a son, and now they were turning around and selling the son’s wife. Did they only have money in their eyes? If they really sold him, how could the wife that Zhao Dahu left behind live?
Grandma Zhao watched the silver fly away and he slapped the lame man and Zhang Xiu, wishing he could poke a few holes in them. He had always said that this ger was a broom star sent to the Zhao family, look at all this money that he had made them lose. Grandma Zhao did not fancy the child currently in his stomach either, it must also be a money loser again. Tang Chunming did not have a stomach that could give birth to a son.
“Who knows if it will be money-losing goods again, I will give you the silver when I return home.” Grandma Zhao spit out a few sputum, turned around and left, without even looking at the pregnant ger in the house. He cursed along the home, the feeling of losing fifteen tales of silver was so painful that it felt like his heart was bleeding. He hated Tang Chunming even more, including the unborn child in his stomach.
There were a few gers who were familiar with Zhang Xiu and sympathized with Brother Ming’s plight, stayed behind to help with the funeral arrangements. How could something like this happen before the first month of the New Year? The Zhao family does not stop to help. Everyone who stayed asked about the details and to help out. One was still laying in bed and there is still a small one in the family that still needs someone to care for.
&&&
Tang Chunming heard a sobbing voice next to his ear, and there was a voice in his heart urging him to wake up quickly to coax the crying child.
Tang Chunming was not afraid of heaven, only his father swinging a stick, suddenly woke up to see an old chicken skin man with long crane colored hair stabbing him with a needle after taking a tumble in front of his father’s grave. The long haired man with red eyes showed a surprised expression and called out. Tang Chunming cried out in his heart that he did not see his father but other ghosts. His eyes rolled back and he proceeded to pass out again, completely ignoring the reactions of the two at his side.
After fainting, Tang Chunming entered another world and with a flourish watched the short life of another person. This person was also called Tang Chunming, who others called Brother Ming, and he was beautiful and quiet. His mother died when he was born, fortunately there was a father who protected him from being bullied by his stepmother. He supported Brother Ming as he married a man, but this Brother Ming also lived a hard life. The husband who could provide him with a good life passed away, leaving behind a widow and orphans to be bullied. Combined with their thin bodies, sadness, and excessive worries, it caused him [Brother Ming] to suddenly also pass away.
Although this world is made up of men and there is no woman, Brother Ming is a ger who is married and can have children. Seeing the situation of Brother Ming, Tang Chunming also thought of his father, who was delayed for a lifetime. Although one is an old man who can’t carry anyone on his shoulders or pick anyone up by the shoulders, the other one could go up the mountain and fight wild boars when he was younger. (4) However both men loved their children with the same heart.
When he saw how the Zhao family treated the stuipd big tiger (5) and the honest and submissive Brother Ming, Tang Chunming wanted to replace Brother Ming and beat the Zhao family. That Zhao Dahu was also stupid and blind, thought his mother treated him well. When there were any good ideas, instead of thinking about his family’s Brother Ming and child, he would think of his mother and younger brother who used their nostrils to look down at people. The self-respecting and self-righteous brother [Zhao Dahu] would often persuade Brother Ming to be tolerant. Father is gone and it is not easy for Mother to support the family alone. He [Brother Ming] has suffered a lot for these brothers. Moreover, as long as his [Zhao Dahu’s] younger brother can pass his exam, he can help their family.
Tang Chunming wanted to take a big stick like his father, and beat Zhao Dahu. Which one of the family’s fragrant and spicy food is not better than Zhao Dahu’s family of three? (6) Which family like Zhao Dahu, who was separated from his home would return to the Zhao’s house every year during farming season to be a cow and horse, and had to go back to his own home to even have a sip of water?
Stupid! Stupid!
When he saw that Zhao Dahu entered the mountain and did not return, Tang Chunming only clapped his hands and applauded. In the eyes of others, Zhao Dahu is a good person, but in his opinion, Brother Ming will never have a good life if he follows him. The family members of the Zhao family are like blood-sucking worms. They will not give up unless they suck up Brother Ming’s family dry. Tang Chunming did not know whether Zhao Dahu had a soul after his death. Did he see how his mother treated his Brother Ming, and see that the Zhao family did not even let him perform his filial piety before forcing him to remarry another husband for money? His own ger child was going to be given away, he [Tang Chunming] wondered if he would regret everything they had ever done?