Chapter 67.3

Translated by Aviana

This day, Yang-shi’s younger brother, Second Yang laoyezi, and his family had also come. Her Second tangsao Nie, whom she had met last time in her wedding, approached Lin Qingwan and asked, “Qingwan, I had heard from eldest gumu that you are pregnant now?”

老爷子 (lǎoyézi): polite appellation for an elderly male 堂嫂 (tángsǎo): wife of older male cousin via the male line 姑母 (gūmǔ): father’s sister / paternal aunt

With a smile, Lin Qingwan bashfully nodded at Second tangsao Nie.

“Aiya, Tiezhu’s wife is there this soon?”

“How is it fast? It has been quite a while since they got married; the timing is just right.”

Several of these young married women chattered enthusiastically at once and congratulated Lin Qingwan with joyous words.

With a smile, Lin Qingwan thanked all of them.

They all began engaging in lively discussion as the group of married women recounted Yang jia’s separation matter. Everyone gazed at Lin Qingwan sympathetically, as they criticized Yang laoyezi and his wife for being too unreasonable.

Beset with embarrassment, Lin Qingwan didn’t know how to reply. But, just at that moment, a voice came from outside saying that the Pig Slaughter feast was ready. Second tangsao Nie swiftly interrupted them and invited everyone out to have a feast.

Lin Qingwan was truly helpless by these sorts of questions and didn’t know how to answer them, for neither could she agree nor disagree. After all, juniors talking about their elders in the presence of outsiders wasn’t right. Regardless of who was right or wrong, that would make people think that the said person has a problem. Fortunately, the timing was just right, and the Second Tangsao Nie, too, helped her dodge the issue.

Due to little space, there was a lack of seats for everyone to sit and eat. All the invitees brought their own set of cutleries. After serving into their bowls, they finished their meals either by standing or crouching in the yard.

By the time Lin Qingwan came out, many people had already begun eating. A simple stove was set up in the middle of the yard with a big wok placed on it. In it was a stew, composed of a bit of everything from pig blood, thin slices of pork belly to potatoes, cabbage, pickled vegetables, and the likes. Yang-shi must have spent quite a lot on this Pig Slaughtering Feast. Lin Qingwan reckoned that a quarter of the pig meat went into that pot.

Usually, guests or relatives need not have to have the feast with the rest of the villagers. Yang-shi had arranged a sumptuous feast spread apart in two tables in the house. Yang-shi and her daughter-in-law hurriedly kept juggling back and forth from inside the house to the courtyard outside. Due to her pregnancy, Lin Qingwan was prohibited from helping and was asked to stand aside and watch simply.

Few villagers who were done eating the stew in the big wok took their leave. And just at this moment, Yang-shi was done setting up a sumptuous feast in the house. The Village Chief and a few other venerable elders were invited in to take a seat. Lin Qingwan and the other younger generation sat around the second table.

Once everyone settled in their seats, they began eating. Yang-shi had also bought wine. But, since Xia Dacheng was bed-ridden with injuries, she requested Second Yang laoyezi to accompany several other elders in drinking.

Once everyone was done eating, Yang-shi finally dived into the main topic.

While recounting the past happenings to Xia Dacheng, she wiped the rim of her eyes.

Only then did realization dawn upon everyone as to why they saw Xia Dacheng’s wife but not the man himself. It turned out that the man was bed-ridden, ah! Upon hearing everything, they placated Yang-shi with a sigh while saying, “It’s fine for the child to not got to the town. Life in our Luoxia village is no different from that of outside. So long as they cultivated the crops properly, the harvest would be bountiful, enough to eat and drink for a year.”

Second Yang Loayezi, being clear about his eldest sister’s family’s affair, chimed in and added a few more words from the side, eliciting innumerable lamentful sighs and pity.

Who would have anticipated that Xia Dacheng—one of the best youth in Luoxia Village—would get caught up in the battle between the masters above? It was all a matter of time and fate, ah!

After lunch, the Village Chief and several other venerable elders went to the east room to greet Xia Dacheng. After offering him a few words of consolation, they gradually dispersed away.

Along with the Second Yang Laooyezi’s family, Lin Qingwan and others helped Yang-shi tidy the house and the yard before taking their leave.

Lin Qingwan couldn’t help but exclaim at Yang-shi’s wit and shrewdness. Yang-shi invited many villagers for the Pig Slaughtering Feast; The mouth that eats others’ food would be softened. In the future, when gossiping about Yang-shi’s son, Xia Dacheng, their mouths would involuntarily favor him. And if at all, any person, despite eating her food, still ridicules her son for returning in dire straits, Lin Qingwan reckoned that the rest of the villagers would surely hold the other person in contempt. Not to mention, Yang-shi also won the sympathies of several venerable village elders. Later on, if she wanted to do anything in the village, it would be much easier for her.

吃人家的嘴软 (chīrénjiādezuǐduǎn): Literally, the mouth that eats the food of others is softened. Suppose you were offered free meals or lent a hand by your acquaintance in your dire straits. Later, after offering his help, when this acquaintance seeks help, you will have to reciprocate the favor, no matter how unreasonable their request is. To put it simply, it is synonymous with the modern phrase ‘There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world’. No one would offer you help for free, for they would surely have some of the other ulterior means.

Back at Yang jia, Wang-shi was drawing water in the yard. Seeing Lin Qingwan and others come back, their expressions seemingly that of having eaten a stomach full of food and wine, she turned green with envy.

Wang-shi was aware that today Yang-shi’s family had slaughtered this year’s pig. However, He-shi disliked Yang-shi; thus, the eldest branch’s couple too refrained from speaking with Yang-shi’s entire family. As a result, for the Pig Slaughter Feast, Yang-shi invited more than half of the village but didn’t invite Yang jia naturally that included Wang-shi as well.

“Yo! Are the Second dimei and third dimei coming back from Pig Slaughter feast? Then, why didn’t you bring back a bowl for your eldest sao to eat, heh?”

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother’s wife 嫂 (sǎo): sister-in-law

Lin Qingwan froze, and her lips twitched, “Eldest sao, why would anyone go to a pig slaughter feast and after eating still bring a bowl back home?”

She truly felt disinclined to exchange words with Wang-shi, and naturally, her tone couldn’t be any better. However, at times, Lin Qingwan found herself between laughter and tears at Wang-shi’s words, unable to comprehend what sort of thoughts kept running in her brain. Same words, any normal person wouldn’t be able to spell them out, but she could say it aloud, as if it was proper and to be expected as a matter of course, without the slightest bit of discomfiture.

The third branch’s couple followed behind them silently. Yang Tiezhu pulled his wife back to their room, rushing her to hurry in and not freeze outside.

Wang-shi was left alone, snubbed. Having no choice, she could only shut her mouth resentfully. Nevertheless, the force expended on drawing the water became fiercer and fiercer. But it was unknown to whom her anger was directed.

Wang-shi recalled her long quarrel with her mother-in-law last night and her failure to hinder her mother-in-law from selling the family’s pig. New Year was just around the corner, yet the family didn’t show any inclinations to buy meat. Suddenly, a feeling of having had enough plagued her. However, no matter how fed up she was, she was also helpless, unable to do anything. Yesterday, she had raised a fuss until He-shi threatened to have her divorced. In the end, she could only concede defeat.

Recalling her excruciatingly hard and tiring past few days, Wang-shi yet again immensely regretted inciting He-shi to expel second and third branches, as she heavily placed the bucket in her hands on the platform around the well with a loud bang. He-shi lifted open the door curtains and walked out, her face overcast with dark clouds, “Wang-shi, do you want to break the bucket? If it is broken, will you buy another one for this old lady?” Wang-shi shrunk her neck, pausing her actions. Naturally, He-shi was also aware of the second and third branches’ trip to Yang-shi’s house to attend the Pig Slaughtering Feast. She hated Yang-shi, but at the same time, she also immensely hated the people from the second and the third branches. However, what if she was apoplectic with hatred? They had already separated from the main family. Apart from looking for them for the elderly support, she couldn’t do anything to them. With a glum face, she turned around, flung open the curtains, and went in.

*****

Chapter 68 Part 1 (Teaser)

All along He-shi didn’t utter a word. But, just as they were about to step out, Yang laoyezi’s dull voice came from behind: “This year the situation at home isn’t good, and haven’t prepared anything. For the new year’s celebrations, you don’t have to come here for dinner, lest you would also be burdened along with us and forced to eat chaff and wild herbs.”

These were precisely the same words Lin Qingwan had aimed at Elder Sister Yang a few days ago when both of them had a dispute, weren’t they?

— Tomorrow

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