After hearing the crying, Tang Chunming’s heart clenched, however his eyelids seemed to be glued together and it took a lot of effort to open them and see the light. He saw a skinny child curled up on his chest crying himself hoarse.
“Ah-Lin…” He was unable to control his mouth and called out the name of the child. Tang Chunming’s mind was suddenly blown away and as if a bomb had been dropped on him, he hurriedly turned his head to check his surroundings. Tang Chunming was immediately dumbfounded.
“Mother is awake, mother don’t leave Ah-Lin. Ah-Lin will listen to mother’s words and will not make mother angry, mother…” The child grabbed tightly onto their mother’s clothes, his eyes were red and swollen from crying. There were still traces left, but he was staring at his mother’s face, for fear that his mother would close their eyes and ignore him.
“Ah-Lin? Lin’er.” Tang Chunming turned silly and looked at the child’s familiar face and gently called out.
“Mother really woke up, Ah-Lin was so scared…Grandma came to the house to scold mother again…” The child desperately drilled into his mother’s arms and kept telling him his fears.
There were countless memories flashing in front of him and in his arms there was the real body temperature [of a living person]. At that moment, Tang Chunming really wanted to scream out, “Fuck!” He actually transmigrated into Brother Ming, and the person he saw before was not a ghost but Hu Langzhong and Zhang Xiu from the village. The latter was also a ger, to put it plainly, the original Brother Ming and Zhang Xiu were best friends.
The so-called best friends would often go from one house to the other. Today, you embroider flowers and tomorrow I will talk with you. Sometimes, they would talk about the bad things of each family at lengths.
Honey, you big head ghost! (1)
It’s terrible!
His mind was still shaken but the habitual nature of the body made him hug his little son and gently patted him on his back to comfort him. “Ah-Lin, don’t cry. Mother is here, mother will not leave Ah-Lin…”
…Fuck!
At that moment, Zhang Xiu opened the curtain and entered the room. He was surprised to see the situation on the kang (2). “Brother Ming, it is great that you are awake. I was getting concerned. Don’t worry, I just scolded your grandmother and you don’t have to worry about getting remarried. Now that you have another one in your stomach, who dares force you to remarry? I didn’t even know for the last two months, Hu Langzhong said it is dangerous. You must stay in bed and rest for the next few days.”
“Yes, Brother Mig should have a good rest. If you need anything, tell us, after all we are all neighbors in the same village. It is important that you take care of your body and the little one in your stomach.” The people who followed also said, they [Brother Ming] are kind and they are all hoping that he will give birth to a little son.
But for Tang Chunming, the bomb that was originally thrown in his mind turned into an atomic bomb. There was nothing more crueler than the cruelty of reality. Tang Chunming now had no strength to speak out. He did not dare to lower his head and look at his stomach, for fear of seeing a terrifying monster.
It might have been better to not wake up and stay in a coma, but now he was already sober.
There is another one in his belly, another one in his belly, another one in his belly…
Come thunder, strike him!
“Come here, Lin’er, let Auntie Xiu hug [you].” Zhang Xiu took the little brother out of the bed. When he saw that his eyes were so red and swollen, he felt more and more pity, and said to Tang Chunming, “Brother Ming, I will apply cold water to Ah-Lin’s eyes, otherwise the child will suffer. You don’t have any heat on the kang and I will help you heat up the kang. Later I
I will go to Hu Langzhong to get the medicine back later. Don’t ask, take care of your body first. Just like Brother Mo said, you also need to think about Ah-Lin and your belly.”
“Auntie Xiu…” Lin’er soft and small body pressed into Zhang Xiu’s arms. However, because he had cried too much before, his small body was still shaking, making onlookers feel distressed.
Seeing that Tang Chunming kept his head lowered, Zhang Xiu and the others thought that he couldn’t move around for a while, so they all left without thinking too much about it. Let Tang Chunming think about it himself, no matter how hard, he now has a child. [Life] will continue, and there is alway hope in the heart.
After everyone left, Tang Chunming suddenly collapsed on the bed, his eyes looked up blankly, wanting to cry without tears. Heaven came to break him because he was too ruthless towards his father.
Fortunately, Tang Chunming was not a very sensitive and delicate person. He was a very worry free person. Anyway, after his father passed away, he lived by himself, isn’t this a similar situation. However, he now has a child in his stomach and is still waiting to wake up [from this dream]. In his last life he was a virgin, who had no children, and failed to realize his father’s wish of letting him embrace a grandson. Now, there is a ready-made young son to solve his worries of the future and give him [Tang Chunming’s father] peace of mind.
After drinking the medicine, Tang Chunming fell asleep heartlessly.
Zhang Xiu and Brother Wang Mo from the village helped Tang Chunming clean up the house, warm up the kang, and cook some miscellaneous grain porridge to feed Zhao Minglin, before putting him back into Tang Chunming’s bed. They then left Zhao Dahu’s house, as they still had their own husband and children waiting for them to go back for dinner.
“Brother Xiu, why did Zhao Dahu run into the mountains in this cold weather? If he didn’t go back, how could Brother Ming suffer from these hardships? How happy would it be to be pregnant again?” Wang Mo is small, he seems to be in his early twenties. Within a few years of marrying in from a foreign village, he gave birth to a boy and was valued by his husband and his family. His life was very comfortable and he also had a simple temper. Regarding Tang Chunming’s situation, he felt it was pitiful, and thinking about it, although his mother is a bit picky at times, compared with Zhao’s grandma, he feels that he should cherish his luck.
“It was for that house,” Zhang Xiu pointed his mouth towards the Zhao family mansion in the west of the village, “The old man said that the youngest son was going to be in school again next year and was going to take the examination. He forced the big tiger to cough up money. When spring comes, the plantings would also cost money, so he forced Zhao Dahu to go and hunt something big back. Now the old man actually said that it was because Brother Ming was gluttonous that his son was driven to death. Who doesn’t know that cold weather is the most brutal for people?”
“No, why let Zhao Dahu give them the money? Didn’t they separate [from the Zhao family] eary? Besides, with so many fields in the Zhao family, they can be regarded as a first-class family in the village, how could they not have any money? Everyone knows the situation of the separation back then, how can this silver be paid out of the big tiger’s house.” Wang Mo stated bluntly, this is really bullying the honest man.
“What’s impossible, who helps cultivate the Zhao family’s fields? Whose mouth did Zhao Dahu’s wild animals go to? But Grandma Zhao often cries to Dahu that his little brother has a hard time studying and needs more supplements. Yes, the separation of the families was good for Zhao Dahu and Brother Ming, as they did not have to be cows and horses for the [Zhao] family. But who asked Zhao Dahu to be so honest and listen to what his mother says. He doesn’t even think about his own little family. Now, I wish I had not matched Brother Ming to him.” Zhang Xiu said, annoyed.
Zhang Xiu’s home was nearby and saw his husband standing by the door waiting for him. He separated from Wang Mo and walked towards his house, thinking that it was too late to be regretful. Now, he could only help Brother Ming deal with the hardships in front of him and hope that Brother Ming would cheer up for the sake of the child in his stomach and Lin’er.
“Have you eaten dinner? How are the children?” Zhang Xiu approached his husband and asked.
“I have eaten it and left some for you. The children are all asleep. Is Dahu’s family okay? I heard that they [the Zhao family] are making trouble again?” Zhang Xiu’s man is named Li Dashan, and he is a strong man. He has always gotten along well with Zhao Dahu, but now that the big tiger is gone, it is inconvenient for him even if he wants to help.
Zhang Xiu pushed Dashan in and walked forward, saying, “The big tiger has just passed and the grandmother of the Zhao family could not wait to bring a man to Brother Ming’s door to force him to get remarried. Earlier it was fortunate that Hu Langzhong diagnosed that Brother Ming was two months pregnant, otherwise I do not know how today would have ended. That old man doesn’t seem willing to give up so easily.”
Li Dashan also showed disapproval, what person was willing to remarry as soon as their husband passed away. It was clear at a glance that his mother [Grandmother Zhao] was forcing him just for the few acres of land and three roomed house that the big tiger left behind. However, what can outsiders say. “What did the big tiger’s family say?”
“He doesn’t have the energy to deal with it. He drank the medicine and fell asleep. I will take care of it early tomorrow morning. By the way, tomorrow go to the mountain and bring back some firewood. I think Dahu’s firewood is almost gone. The days are still very cold.”
“No, Dahu had already prepared firewood before the winter.”
“That is ture, but most of it was given to the old man [Grandma Zhao].” Zhang Xiu adjusted his clothes and moved into the house. He knew his family’s husband had a refreshing personality and was a bit spicy, however in his heart he had a scale. This time regarding the big tiger, the man’s actions had made him [Li Dashan] annoyed. When the farming season is not busy, instead of taking care of his own family, he let Brother Xiu take care of Dahu’s family, and will go home and take care of his former family. Dashan thought about his cordialness with Dahu as he followed him into the house.
…
On the west side of the village with the Zhao family.
When Grandma Zhao returned home, he could only swallow her words as he watched fifteen tales of silver exit his pocket and fly away. He was so angry, his head hurt as he laid on the kang. He wanted to scream.
“Mother, what’s the matter with you? Did our brother agree? There is nothing wrong with you right?” The oldest son-in-law of the Zhao family, Wang Chunhua, opened the curtains and entered the house. When he learned that Grandma Zhao had returned, he rushed over immediately. Fifteen silver tales, although he knew most of the silver would be used on the youngest uncle, his family could still get a piece. Even if it was only a few tales, Wang Chunhua could still wishfully calculate.
Not long after he married into the Zhao family, he had a thorough understanding of the temper of this family. His father-in-law was an honest man, but unfortunately he left early. The mother[in-law] was always stingy, and without the suppression of father-in-law, he became more extreme. There was only silver, his precious youngest son, and the grandson in his eyes. As the only grandson (3) of the Zhao family, he was regarded as the eldest grandson of their [line] of the Zhao family, and held his [Wang Chunhua] family’s place within the Zhao family.
He had just returned from the outside when he heard his son say that Grandma was back, so he rushed in without thinking. At first glance the situation was not right.
Sure enough, Grandma Zhao, who’s heart was full of fire, upon hearing Wang Chunhua speaking, stood from the kang. He pointed his finger at Wang Chunhua and cursed, “Where did you go? When I returned home, there was nothing but my own saliva to drink. Even the kang is cold. Do you want this old immortal to die so you can take all the silver for yourself? I’ll tell you, there is no way…”
He was originally laying down and bemoaning, but now he stood up and began spitting [out words]. His voice was so loud that he could be heard in the neighbor’s house even if they were not able to see him. Wang Chunhua was accustomed to seeing this side [of Grandma Zhao], and unlike Tang Chunming, who had a hard time listening to these words, it went into one ear and out the other. Leaning on the door frame, he turned to look at the direction of another room, no matter how painful the words, the man on the kang was still his mother-in-law, so he couldn’t even refute him.
This old immortal, when you suffer in the future, do you still expect your youngest son to be filial to you?
However, his husband and him were also expecting the youngest uncle to be admitted and to develop his talents. Anyway, they had not been separated, and they could still touch some light in the future. They can’t say anything, in the future their family will be in a higher position than now, and maybe they could follow them into the city to discuss living together.
When Grandma Zhao became tired of scolding, Wang Chunhua came forward with a shy face, “Mother, what is wrong with that situation? Regarding Lin’er, the other family is still waiting for our reply, Mother, they said they will give us ten tales of silver. Didn’t Uncle say that he needed silver to participate in the spring exam?” In fact, they said twelve tales, but was actually given two tales in private. He didn’t dare take any more, anyway it didn’t matter even if this matter was revealed, Wang Chunhua had been smart about it.
Grandma Zhao slapped his thigh and Wang Chunhua remained silent. The youngest son, Zhao Pingchuan, was going to Dingzhou Prefecture in April to participate in the examination. As long as he passed the examination, Pingchuan would become a famed scholar, and he [Grandma Zhao] would become the mother of a scholar. In this Pingshan Village, they would be regarded as a first-class family. Who in this village would not envy him.
Fortunately, when Dahu died, the filial piety period did not delay the younger son’s examination, otherwise Grandmother Zhao would dig out that hateful big tiger from the ground and scold him. It only takes a hundred days for the younger brother to keep his filial piety for his elders. This filial piety time would end exactly in April. In the eyes of Grandma Zhao, the youngest son’s examination was more important than the life and death of that useless son.
But this trip to Dingzhou Prefecture is very expensive, thinking of the silver in his hands, Grandma Zhao thought in his heart, why not squeeze more silver out of that unlucky broom star that killed Dahu. Grandma Zhao stopped scolding and sitting on the edge of the kang, his eyes began to droop. Wang Chunhua knew at a glance knew what that old immortal was thinking about. He smiled triumphantly in his heart, and went up and said, “The little Uncle will also need to marry soon, and when he passes [the examination], the Zhao family will be a first-class family. This marriage can’t be sloppy, mother, look at this old house, it is too shabby for my future brother-in-law.” Wang Chunhua knew that Grandma Zhao had not been able to take Tang Chunming’s dowry and felt suffocated in their heart. Later, seeing Tang Chunming use his dowry to build that three roomed house, he had an idea in his heart. Wang Chunhua did not think about personally taking the house, but when the little Uncle took over the big house, then wouldn’t it also belong to their family. (4)
At the beginning, Wang Chunhua had been jealous of the younger ger, Tang Chunming, and Tang Chunming looked better than him. Even if his mother had died and his father was protecting his stepmother, he still gave all of this mother’s things to him. All the dowry that was given was brought into the Zhao family. However, the big man of the Zhao family was very shameless. He [Wang Chunhua] did not know what the old man [Tang Chunming’s father] said to his little ger, but later, Tang Chunming, no matter what Grandma Zhao or Zhao Dahu said, refused to hand over his dowry.
Wang Chunhua is proud, can Tang Chunming beat Wang Chunhua now? Even if he is pregnant again, it still depends on whether or not he can give birth. In the end, he was not sold by Grandma Zhao to that old lame widower that his family had taken a lot of time to find.
The author has something to say:
Regarding the time of keeping filial piety in the story, this story is historically empty. The time of keeping filial piety is not in accordance with real history. I set it myself. When Tang Chunming’s husband died, he only has to keep filial piety for one year, and the third in the Zhao family only had to keep filial piety for his elder brother for three months. In addition, the original Tang Chunming’s father died shortly after he married into the Zhao family. It was also after guarding filial piety for his father for a year, did he have the little ger Zhao Lin.
I am historically illiterate. I hope that everyone will not look and think too deeply. Thank you~
Translator’s Note:
I will not be translating the author’s notes as unless they give some insight to the story or are relevant to the story.
This is not the full author’s note found at the end of this chapter, I only translated the last half as the first half they wrote about the titles of the family members. This subject was no longer relevant to the story as English doesn’t have a direct translation of most of the titles that differentiates maternal family from paternal family members. I will be translating each title to the closest equivalent in English. Please note that since everyone is male, all the pronouns will be male, however ger’s will have female titles for ease of reading, i.e Grandma Zhao and Aunt Xiu.
What is translated above is the second half of the Author’s note that is still relevant to the story and gives some information that is not found within the story itself.