Chapter 3

As the sky grew darker, it was almost time to prepare dinner. After wandering around the embankment for a while, Lin Yanchao decided to go home and read. As he approached the door, he saw a stout woman in a blue robe, standing at the entrance, picking her teeth with her hands on her waist. Seeing Lin Yanchao, she squinted and said, "Chao'er is back."

"Granny!" Lin Yanchao replied indifferently.

"You've been quite polite lately. Go on in." The woman smiled insincerely and moved aside.

After learning that his plan to separate from the family was impossible, Lin Yanchao decided to settle down and live in peace with the woman. As long as she didn't provoke him, he wouldn't provoke her. Otherwise, living under the same roof, if she didn't make things difficult for him, she would make things difficult for Lin Qianqian.

After Lin Yanchao walked past, his aunt's smile faded, and she sneered, "We'll see how I deal with you this time."

Passing through the gate and into the courtyard, Lin Yanchao saw Lin Qianqian bent over, concentrating on weaving a mat at the dining table.

"Qianqian!"

Lin Qianqian looked up and smiled, "Brother Chao, you're back. What do you want to eat? Wait until I finish this mat, okay?"

As they were talking, footsteps approached, and a middle-aged man carrying a hoe walked in casually. As he walked, he spoke to the woman, "Chao'er is back? It's a good time to talk about that matter with him."

"It won't take long. We can talk about it tonight. What if we miss the work in the fields?" the woman complained.

"It won't take long."

Seeing the man, Lin Yanchao greeted him as Uncle Three.

Among the male members of the Lin family, Lin Yanchao's grandfather worked for the government and rarely came home except on the 15th and 30th of each month. His eldest uncle was also elusive, and the only one usually seen at home was Uncle Three. When Lin Yanchao's father passed the examination to become a scholar, the clan gave him ten acres of land, which was managed by Uncle Three.

Uncle Three appeared honest and straightforward, but when it came to money, he became shrewd.

"Chao'er, are you feeling better?"

"Thank you, Uncle Three. I'm almost fully recovered."

"Since you're almost better, Uncle Three has something to discuss with you. The fields will be busy soon, and we're short of hands. You should come home and help."

"Why?" Lin Yanchao glanced at the woman standing next to Uncle Three and suddenly understood. This time, you've brought Uncle Three to be your helper.

Seeing the woman's confident look, Lin Yanchao knew she must have already consulted her family. If he tried to pressure her with the idea of separating, he would only humiliate himself.

"The family's situation isn't good. Uncle Three thinks you should put your studies on hold and help at home. When things improve, you can continue your studies. You won't go to the village school this year. What do you think?" Uncle Three said.

"Uncle Three, you're following the woman's advice, aren't you?" Lin Qianqian said bluntly.

Uncle Three laughed awkwardly, acknowledging it. Clearly, Lin Qianqian had hit the mark.

"Qianqian, Uncle Three and your uncle have decided this. I, a woman, have no say in it," the woman said.

"I'll use the money from weaving mats to support Chao'er's studies. How does that affect you? The fields are busy now, but Brother Chao can stop studying, and your son, Yanshou, should also help in the fields." Lin Qianqian always stood up for Lin Yanchao, arguing logically.

Facing the woman, Lin Qianqian showed no fear, a trait Lin Yanchao knew was forced out of her.

The aunt and Uncle Three exchanged a glance, and the aunt sneered, "Qianqian, if you disagree, we'll wait for your grandfather to come home tonight and let him decide. I don't want to argue with you."

The aunt then went upstairs.

Lin Yanchao saw a determined look on Lin Qianqian's face. "Qianqian..."

Lin Qianqian looked at Lin Yanchao and lowered her head, "Brother Chao, if the woman says this, she must be confident."

Lin Yanchao thought, "Even if I try to avoid conflict, the woman is pushing me step by step."

"Things will work out. Since it's come to this, we won't be afraid," Lin Yanchao said.

Lin Qianqian looked up at Lin Yanchao and nodded, "Brother Chao, with your support, I have the courage. Grandfather will be back tonight. I'll talk to him. He's strict but fair. What do you want to eat? I'll cook it for you."

Lin Yanchao smiled, "Okay, I want the red wine clams you make."

"That's easy. Wait for me at home, and I'll get some meat for you." Lin Qianqian took off her apron and went out.

The village had only a few dozen households, and except for the monthly market, the villagers were self-sufficient. There were no butchers or restaurants, and meat had to be slaughtered on the spot. Lin Yanchao didn't know where Lin Qianqian would buy meat.

Seeing Lin Qianqian rush out, Lin Yanchao glanced upstairs, his eyes cold.

Soon, Lin Qianqian returned with several dishes and a piece of freshly cut meat.

Lin Qianqian held up the meat and smiled at Lin Yanchao, "Look what I brought back."

Lin Yanchao was surprised, "Qianqian, where did you buy the meat?"

Lin Qianqian said, "You forgot I made ten mats for Uncle Zhang. Uncle Wu slaughtered a pig yesterday for a sacrifice, so there must be leftover meat. In this hot weather, the meat will spoil if not preserved, so it's much cheaper."

Lin Qianqian walked to the stove happily. Lin Yanchao knew she bought the meat to please their grandfather and the family, making a small effort to help him continue his studies.

Lin Yanchao stepped forward, "Qianqian, let me help you."

"Men don't enter the kitchen. A gentleman stays away from the kitchen!" Lin Qianqian said.

"I'm not a gentleman," Lin Yanchao said, picking up the wet vegetable leaves and starting to clean them.

Seeing Lin Yanchao insist, Lin Qianqian said, "Don't clean the vegetables. Wash the clams and blanch them."

Lin Qianqian had already kept the clams in a small basin to remove the sand. Lin Yanchao washed the clams, drained them, and then scooped hot water to blanch them. The hot water in the kitchen, heated by the stove, was already boiling. Lin Yanchao put the drained clams into the boiling water, and when the shells slightly opened, he fished them out and added some wine lees, making a delicious dish.

They were busy until the sun set.

Outside, someone said, "The postmaster is back today."

"Brother Ping wanted me to deliver something to Mr. Zhang in Jiachong. It's done, thank you, thank you."

A coughing sound came from outside, and Lin Yanchao knew his grandfather had returned.

Lin Yanchao's grandfather, Lin Gaozhu, worked at the express post office. Although he was often called "Postmaster" by the villagers, he had less power than the clerks in the government offices. The express post office was similar to a modern public service.

The food was almost ready, and Lin Qianqian greeted her grandfather at the door, "Grandfather, I bought some meat. Dinner will be ready soon."

"It's not a holiday. Why eat meat?"

Lin Gaozhu's face darkened. He had been a soldier under the governor and had a decisive and ruthless demeanor.

In the past, his three sons would not dare to breathe when Lin Gaozhu frowned. Lin Qianqian, however, was not afraid, "Grandfather, I earned the money from weaving mats. Since you and Uncle are home, I wanted to make something special."

"Save half the meat for tomorrow."

"Yes, Grandfather."

Lin Gaozhu then looked at Lin Yanchao, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes, Grandfather," Lin Yanchao replied.

Just as Lin Yanchao was about to speak to his grandfather, the woman came down from upstairs, interrupting them.

The woman smiled and said, "I've been waiting for you to come back. Look, this is the best tobacco I got from my brother in the city." She handed Lin Gaozhu a water pipe.

Seeing Lin Yanchao trying to please his grandfather, Lin Yanchao admired the woman's tactics. At home, even the domineering Lin Gaozhu was feared by the woman. If not for Lin Gaozhu's job at the post office, which kept him away for most of the month, Lin Yanchao and Lin Qianqian would not have been bullied by the woman.

Lin Yanchao and Lin Qianqian brought the dishes to the table.

"Grandfather, dinner is ready," Lin Qianqian said.

Lin Gaozhu frowned, "Where is your uncle? We'll wait for him to come back."

Lin Yanchao knew his grandfather favored his eldest son. As the eldest male, his uncle was the pride of the family. After a while, footsteps were heard outside, and a man walked in, holding a fan and not even bothering to button his shirt.

Lin Gaozhu put down his water pipe, "Where have you been?"

The uncle laughed, "I went to try my luck at Uncle's place at the village entrance. I lost some money."

Lin Gaozhu was about to scold him, but the woman quickly intervened, "It's fine, fine. Uncle is family. Left hand to right hand."

But Lin Gaozhu continued to scold his son, "You're always idle and have no fixed job."

The uncle dared not argue, "Father, I know." In fact, the uncle worked as a helper in the government office, running errands and gathering information, earning a little money from the officials. He often boasted to the villagers about his connections in the government, but he still asked for money from home, revealing his true situation.

The uncle did not dare to boast in front of his father. Lin Gaozhu had always wanted his eldest son to join the post office, but the uncle refused to be constrained and did not want to work there. Lin Qianqian tried several times to tell Lin Gaozhu about the woman's plan to make Lin Yanchao drop out of school, but the woman always interrupted her.

The table was full, and the food was quite good. There was a plate of bean sprouts, a plate of wine clams, a bowl of clam soup, and most importantly, a bowl of braised pork with oil dripping from it.

Everyone was drooling at the sight of the braised pork. Before Lin Gaozhu could take a piece, the woman quickly took several pieces and put them in her son's bowl. This seemed natural, and no one objected.

There were only a dozen pieces of braised pork, and each person would not get two pieces. With the uncle taking so many, there was not enough for everyone. Lin Qianqian looked pained. The braised pork was quickly finished, with each person taking a piece.

Before the meat was finished, the woman gave Uncle Three a look. Uncle Three said, "Father, the rice in the fields will soon be ripe. We're short of hands, and Chao'er is back. He can help me."

Lin Gaozhu asked, "Chao'er, how is your studies?"

"Grandfather..." Lin Yanchao started, but the woman interrupted, "How much progress can he make? He's been sick for days. It's a miracle he can read the Thousand Character Classic."

"Reading the Thousand Character Classic, I finished the Four Books," Lin Yanshou said proudly, eating the braised pork.

"You're the most promising," the woman said, smiling proudly.

"My dear, I know you study hard. Come, have some vegetables," the uncle said, smiling and putting vegetables on his son's plate.

But Lin Yanshou shook his head, "No, I want braised pork!"

"Look at your picky mouth."

"No, no, I want braised pork, braised pork!" Lin Yanshou started to throw a tantrum.

The uncle said helplessly, "Next time I come back from the city, I'll bring you some lychee meat from Antai Tower."

"Oh, oh, lychee meat, lychee meat!" Lin Yanshou danced with joy.

"Spending money like that?" Lin Gaozhu scolded his son.

The uncle said obediently, "Father, I know."

Lin Gaozhu put down his chopsticks and looked at Lin Yanchao, "Chao'er, you've been studying for two years. You can read, and we don't expect you to become an official. How about helping Uncle Three in the fields tomorrow?"

With this, the debate about whether Lin Yanchao should continue his studies began at the family dinner table.