Chapter 46.1

Translated by Aviana

The next day Lin Qingwan divided all the meat and eggs evenly – with each household getting a catty of pork and ten eggs, except Lizheng’s jia. Only their household’s share was a bit heavy with both pork and eggs in double amount. Along with these, she also added two packets of sweets and the likes. Done with this, she had Yang-shi take her every household and expressed her gratitude one after the other.

里正/里長 ( lǐ zhèng/lǐzhǎng): A village chief – main duties include managing household registrations and taxes

When they saw Lin Qingwan visit their house to express gratitude, they were stunned. They had merely lent a hand to a neighbor in need and didn’t expect that the other person would visit their house with a thanking gift. Although these things weren’t worth much silver, her coming to visit their house to express thanks made them happy. They continuously sang praises for Yang jia’s Tiezhu for marrying such a young wife, whose conduct in handling affairs was magnanimous, without slightest stinginess. And in passing, also inquired about Yang Tiezhu’s injury.

As for the incident of Yang Tiezhu getting injured, as there were many brave young men, who treaded into the mountains to look for him, a lot of people know a bit about it.

They were aware that Yang Tiezhu trekked the mountains this time because Yang Xuezhang was in urgent need of silver to bribe for the exam. After that incident pertaining to Yang Tiezhu, it wasn’t Yang laoyezi, who gathered people to look for Yang Tiezhu, rather it was Yang-shi, his eldest gu, who stepped out. Moreover, when Yang Tiezhu was admitted in the medical center, apart from Yang-shi, Yang jia’s third branch’s husband and wife, and Yang Tiezhu’s wife, Lin-shi, no one showed up from Yang jia….

姑 (gū): father’s oldest sister/aunt

A few villagers could make out a bit and have an inkling. But, after all, they weren’t that clear about the actual matter. As such, this matter was just passed on among the villagers in secret. Even the rumors spread were a bit vague.

When Yang Tiezhu’s condition of the injury was raised, Lin Qingwan’s appearance at once changed to that of sobbing. Yang-shi also deeply sighed as she wiped the tears while recounting the severity of Yang Tiezhu’s injury at that time.

Once done recounting the incident, Yang-shi explicitly didn’t divulge further, appearing as if she wanted to say something but hesitated -portraying a perfect image of aggrieved and heartbroken. They again tried to broach the subject to no avail. Either Yang-shi diverted the topic, or she quickly moved to the next house along with Lin Qingwan, making the others aroused and have itchy feelings in their hearts. Lin Qingwan, all along, perfectly acted out the image of aggrievedly weeping without any utterances.

About this roleplay, Yang-shi and Lin Qingwan had actually discussed it in advance.

For what? In fact, after taking in Yang jia’s conduct and reactions after Yang Tiezhu’s injury, Yang-shi was exasperated beyond endurance whenever she thought of these uncouth people with a heart of wolf and lungs of dog, without an ounce of familial affections. She had long thought of having Yang Tiezhu separate from the family but had buried in her heart till now. But after all this, she put forth this idea in front of Lin Qingwan.

狼心狗肺 (lángxīngǒufèi ): cruel and unscrupulous; brutal and cold-blooded; completely without conscience

Lin Qingwan also happened to have the same idea. The two of them, having the same thought, discussed about the next action.

After deeply analyzing the matter from all aspects, both of them figured out that separating from the family at this point was still quite difficult. Even though Yang jia was indifferent towards Yang Tiezhu’s injuries, outsiders weren’t aware of this.

After all, both Yang laoyezi and He-shi were alive and kicking. And in such a situation, if son and daughter-in-law took the initiative to separate from the family, regardless of what they say, it would be considered as a disgraceful and unfilial act and would be heavily criticized by the villagers. If they want to live in the village in the future, they can’t ignore this.

Finally, Lin Qingwan came up with an idea and had Yang-shi hear it. Listening to it, Yang-shi felt it might not be a bad idea. With this, both of them set out to put their idea into action.

This was merely their first step….

After visiting all the families and expressing her gratitude, Lin Qingwan retired to her room, resumed her embroidery work, and nourished Yang Tiezhu, earnestly hoping to restore his health back soon.

At the same time, over there, at Yang-shi’s side, it was quite lively….

A bunch of her various neighboring aunts and young wives dropped by to pay her a visit.

Post-autumn harvest, Luoxia villagers don’t have much work to do. After finishing the work at home, the diligent males would go to town to find few odd jobs, while those who are lazy or a bit well-off stay back at home and prepare for coming harsh winters, or they have small wine get-togethers and pass the time.

While the women are either busy washing beddings, stitching winter garments, or gossiping about which family had disputes with whom.

Generally, in the countryside, the disputes are nothing more than this family’s chicken ran to that family’s household and laid the eggs, causing the families to quarrel. The general happenings were merely like chicken feathers and garlic skins. But, the matter of Yang Tiezhu sustaining life-threatening injuries could be regarded as a major event in the Luoxia village. But reportedly, when Yang Tiezhu was taken to the doctor in the town, it was said that his injuries were quite grave. Thus, everyone also didn’t feel right to gossip about it much. No one was aware of the exact situation either. Moreover, Yang Tiezhu’s mother, He-shi, was a shrew. As such, no one dared to drop by to make inquiries.

鸡毛蒜皮 (jīmáosuànpí): lit. chicken feathers and garlic skins (idiom) / fig. trivial (matter)

Yang-shi also didn’t have it easy to put up an appearance as if there was still an inside story. Suddenly, it was as if the egg had been cracked, attracting an army of neighboring aunts and young wives to rush forth, waves after waves.

At first, Yang-shi nevertheless didn’t want to say anything and always changed the subject in every possible way. However, the others weren’t able to withstand any longer, and the methods they employed to worm information out of her weren’t any least bit inferior. Gradually, they were able to get a bit of information.

This one inquired about this bit of information, and that one inquired that bit of secret. Finally, everyone gathered together and shared the information. Whoa, this was incredible – this was indeed a most major matter!

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