Chapter 24

Chu Huan stormed into the left room, and by the moonlight streaming in through the window, he saw that the room was empty except for a wooden bed and two chairs beside it. An old woman with white hair had already sat up, and upon seeing Chu Huan rush in from the door, she looked utterly disbelieving, her voice trembling as she said, "Erlang, is it really... really you, Erlang, back?"

Chu Huan let go of his hands, and the package fell to the ground. He took a step forward, looked at the old woman with white hair, and knelt down at her feet, saying, "It's me, I'm your Erlang, your son is back!"

The old woman was already in tears, and she opened her arms to embrace Chu Huan. Although she hadn't seen him for many years, she could recognize him at first glance. This young man who had grown up was indeed her long-missing son.

The old woman held her child tightly, unwilling to let go, fearing it was all a dream.

At this moment, Sun Niang had also returned to the room, standing by the door. Seeing the reunion between mother and son, her face showed a hint of excitement, but soon a strange expression appeared. Looking at Chu Huan's back, there was even a trace of disgust in her eyes. Then she saw the gray package on the ground, and her face immediately lit up with a smile. She swayed her hips forward and said, "Mother, it's good that Erlang is back. You've been thinking about him day and night, and now he's finally back!"

The old woman let go of her hands, wiped her tears, and said to Chu Huan, "This is your sister-in-law. Go and greet her!"

Chu Huan had already guessed, so he got up and bowed respectfully to Sun Niang. Sun Niang smiled and bowed in return, then picked up the package from the ground, changing her cold demeanor to a warm one, saying, "Is this Erlang's luggage? I'll help you put it away!" She felt the package was heavy, and when her fingers touched it, it felt somewhat hard, which made her very happy. However, Chu Huan had already taken it over, saying respectfully, "I don't dare trouble you, Sister Sun Niang!"

Sun Niang didn't mind, but the old woman asked, "Erlang, you must have had a hard journey. Have you eaten anything yet?"

Chu Huan went over and held the old woman's hand, smiling, "Mother, I'm not hungry!"

The old woman then said to Sun Niang, "Sun Niang, Erlang hasn't eaten. Go and prepare some food for him!"

Sun Niang agreed and turned to leave. The living room soon lit up with a lamp, and then Sun Niang came back to light the oil lamp in the old woman's room before leaving.

The old woman pulled Chu Huan to sit beside the bed and sighed, "These past two years, it's all thanks to Sun Niang. Otherwise, you might not have seen me when you came back!"

At this moment, Chu Huan felt a strange sensation. The clear memory in his mind told him that he should have a father and an older brother, but so far, he hadn't seen either of them.

"Mother, where are Father and my older brother?" Chu Huan asked, holding the old woman's withered hand, full of confusion.

The old woman's body trembled, and her eyes turned red. She said, "They... they are no longer in this world... Erlang, you... you came back too late!"

Chu Huan opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

In his memory, his father was already ill and old, and had been away from home for many years, so his father's death was understandable. However, his older brother was only four years older than him and was in the prime of his life. How could he also be gone?

If that was the case, wasn't Sun Niang a widow?

Could it be that only this old woman and a young woman were left to support the family?

Thinking of this, Chu Huan felt a pang of sorrow. He saw that the room was almost empty, with almost no furniture. The mud-brick house had not been renovated for many years and was in a state of disrepair, with a cold draft seeping in from somewhere. Fortunately, the bedding on the old woman's bed was thick and warm, but the family's hard life was evident.

"Your father was already ill. Eight years ago, when you suddenly disappeared, your father searched everywhere but found no trace of you. He was so heartbroken that his illness worsened," the old woman said sadly. "He didn't last half a year before he passed away."

"Then... what happened to my older brother?" Chu Huan asked.

"After your father's death, it was your older brother who supported the family and took care of me!" the old woman said. "Our family was poor. To treat your father's illness, we borrowed a lot of money. These past years, your older brother worked the two acres of land we had, trying to pay off the debt and support the family, but it was always a struggle..."

Chu Huan's expression turned gloomy.

"Without money, when you were young, your father and Sun Niang's father arranged a marriage for you. Your older brother was already of age and should have married and had children, but... but where did we have the money to marry him a wife? It kept getting postponed!" the old woman sighed. "To marry Sun Niang sooner, your older brother not only farmed but also went fishing to earn more money. Two years ago, when he went to the county town to sell fish, he got into an argument with someone and was beaten. He couldn't get out of bed for months after that!"

Hearing this, Chu Huan clenched his fists and said coldly, "Who beat my older brother?"

"It's not clear now. They say it was a group of ruffians in the county town," the old woman said sadly. "Your older brother couldn't get up, and his condition worsened day by day. He was coughing up blood... I had no choice but to consult with your uncle. Your uncle suggested that we marry Sun Niang to bring good luck, hoping it would cure your older brother. After much thought, I gathered the money we had and borrowed more to bring Sun Niang into the family. But...!" At this point, the old woman's eyes were full of tears, and she wiped them away, continuing, "But less than a month after Sun Niang came, your older brother... your older brother couldn't hold on and passed away!"

Chu Huan sighed, not expecting such a turn of events. With the older brother gone, only an old woman and a young woman were left to struggle on. The hardships they endured were evident.

He thought to himself, "Now that I'm back, no matter what, I must make sure they live a good life!"

The old woman held Chu Huan's hand and said softly, "Sun Niang is a good girl. After your older brother's death, she took care of me day and night. Without a man in the family, the fields couldn't be farmed, but fortunately, Aunt Xu from the village helped. Sun Niang is also skilled at embroidery. Aunt Xu brings silk and satin, and Sun Niang embroiders flowers and birds on them, then exchanges them for money to get by...!" At this point, she thought of something, wiped her tears, and forced a smile, "Look at me, I keep talking about these things. Erlang, tell me, where have you been these past years? Why didn't you come back? Do you know how much I've been looking forward to your return? The villagers all said you... sigh, but I knew you would eventually come back to me. Look, you're back!"

Chu Huan's expression became strange, and after a moment of thought, he finally said, "Mother, when I went out eight years ago, I was captured by a group of bandits. I've been working for them all these years. I only managed to escape this time..."

At this point, he felt a pang of guilt, thinking, "It's not that I'm lying, but the truth is so bizarre that you wouldn't believe it!"

...

Indeed, the truth was bizarre.

Chu Huan only remembered that in his previous life, as a bartender, he saw a few thugs bullying his female boss and, in a fit of anger, stepped forward. After cleanly and neatly taking down three thugs, he was stabbed in the heart by a burly man and fell unconscious. When he woke up, he found himself in this world.

He clearly remembered waking up to see a bearded face. From that day on, he left this place and didn't return for eight years. However, the memories of this body were intact, meaning that this body carried the memories of two people—his previous life as Sha Feipeng and his current life as Chu Huan!

Such a bizarre situation, he certainly wouldn't tell his mother. Even if she were a high-ranking noble, she would likely dismiss it as nonsense.

He knew that if he told the truth, his mother wouldn't believe him and might even think he had a mental problem, having become a fool after so many years away.

As they talked, there was a commotion outside the door. Chu Huan knew it was Sun Niang preparing food for him, so he got up to thank her.

Chu Huan remembered that Sun Niang was from the neighboring village of Yejiawa. Her father was also a farmer and had some connection with Chu Huan's father. The two families occasionally visited each other. He remembered that when Sun Niang was young, she came to visit a few times with her father. Although she was the same age as Chu Huan, she had a wild personality and insisted that Chu Huan call her "sister."

When they were young, the two families had arranged a marriage, but it was Sun Niang who was betrothed to the older brother.

Chu Huan helped his mother lie down and then went out. The living room was not spacious, with an old table lit by an oil lamp. In the corner was a stove, and Sun Niang was bent over, adding firewood. Her round, firm buttocks were tightly wrapped in a coarse, floral-patterned skirt, almost bursting out, perfectly shaped, and extremely alluring. As she added firewood, her plump buttocks swayed gently.

Chu Huan quickly turned his gaze to the stove. In a slightly yellowed, half-used porcelain bowl, there was a prepared batter, and next to it was a small bag of flour, which was almost empty.

Sun Niang added firewood and, feeling someone behind her, quickly turned around. Seeing it was Chu Huan, she didn't say much but skillfully poured the batter into the pan, saying, "We don't have much food left. I'll make you two pancakes to fill your stomach... looking at you, I can tell you haven't had it easy these past years. This meal with pancakes might be the last one...!" Her voice was slightly hoarse but very pleasant, not as cold as before, but not particularly warm either.

Seeing Chu Huan didn't respond, she turned her head, lifted a lock of black hair from her cheek, and asked, "Why aren't you talking? Are you a mute?"

Chu Huan looked at Sun Niang's simple clothing and efficient movements, feeling a sense of respect. He bowed and said solemnly, "Sister Sun Niang, thank you for taking care of my mother these past two years. I, Erlang, am grateful to you!"

"Who asked you to thank me!" The pan sizzled. "After I married into your family, I became your wife, and it's my duty to take care of my mother-in-law. If you really want to thank me, then work hard and be filial to your mother...!" She paused and then said coolly, "You owe this family, and you'll have to pay it back slowly!"

Chu Huan understood why Sun Niang was so cold. As a son, he had been away for eight years without fulfilling his filial duties. Sun Niang, not knowing the truth, naturally harbored some resentment towards him.

Sun Niang, frying the pancakes, continued, "I have two wooden boards in my room. Take them out and lay them in the living room. You can sleep there for the night, and we'll think of other arrangements later!"

Chu Huan nodded and saw the memorial tablets of his father and older brother on the main altar. He went over and bowed respectfully a few times, then walked to the door of the right room, about to push it open. He suddenly remembered it was Sun Niang's room and wondered if it was appropriate. Just as he was about to ask, Sun Niang said, "There's nothing in there. Just take the boards out!"

Being from a rural family, they didn't have the elaborate customs of the wealthy. Chu Huan pushed the door open and found the room dimly lit. He opened the window to let in the moonlight and saw that the room was very simple, with a small wooden bed and two wooden cabinets for storing clothes.

Beside the bed was a small table with a bamboo basket containing needles, thread, and scissors. Next to it were some silk and satin. Chu Huan knew from his mother that Sun Niang supported the two of them with these.

On the table was a copper mirror and a wooden comb, which was somewhat old. Thinking of the ancient custom of women applying makeup, Chu Huan smiled bitterly and shook his head. The bed was neatly made, but the bedding was thin, far inferior to his mother's.

The family was extremely poor, but Chu Huan could see that Sun Niang was a very filial daughter-in-law.

In the corner of the room were two wooden boards, which could be used that night. Chu Huan took the boards to the living room and laid them in the corner. Sun Niang had already fried two pancakes and placed them on a plate on the table, saying, "That's it. Eat and go to bed early!" She tidied up and went back to her room, then came out a moment later with a bedroll, placed it on the boards, and went to his mother's room. After a moment, she came out, glanced at Chu Huan, and with a cold expression, turned and went back to her room, closing the door.

Chu Huan felt a bit puzzled, ate the two pancakes, which only half-filled his stomach, and then went to his mother's room. His mother was already lying down, and they talked for a while. Knowing the old woman was not well, he advised her to sleep early. He went to get his package and noticed it seemed to have been tampered with. After some thought, he suddenly understood.

When Sun Niang took the package, she had a smile, and although her tone wasn't warm, it was somewhat gentle. But when she coldly huffed and went back to her room, Chu Huan didn't understand why. Now he realized that Sun Niang probably thought the package contained money, so she was happy. But when she went into the room and saw it was just old armor, her expression changed.