Chapter 5

Big thank you to Otaku Translation for their help with translating this chapter!

Tang Chunming really left Tang Chunrong and asked Zhang Xiutuo to bring a message to the Tang family in Zhenshan Village, twenty miles away from Pingshan Village.

In the early morning of the second day, Tang Chunming’s stepmother Wang Ying rushed over from Zhenshan Village in a hurry. He was completely different from the shy and fair-skinned Tang Chunrong. The stepmother Wang Ying was a tall ger, who was only in his early thirties, but he looked like he was in his forties because he often worked in the fields and had a dark complexion.

Tang Chunming looks like his biological mother, while Tang Chunrong leaned more towards his father and likes to study as much as his father. Therefore, although Wang Ying does not like Tang Sheng, this son has his eyes and helped him at home early. Before Tang Sheng died, his final wish was to have him admitted to the school and also take the imperial examination.

Wang Ying disagreed with his husband, Tang Sheng was only a Tongsheng until his death. Even he could not pass the examination and become a Xiucai. What’s the use of studying for a lifetime? Isn’t he still relying on his wife to farm and manage everything outside the house? The previous wife, Lang, was talented and knew how to read and write, Tang Sheng remembered him until his death, and Wang Ying did not have a good impression of scholars.

Studying is very expensive and as long he cannot make any progress in another two years, Tang Chunrong would have to go home and follow him [Wang Ying] to farm. In the future, if he doesn’t learn or if he is like his father, he will not want to clean the fields at home. If he doesn’t start working, he can only rely on his older brother [Tang Chunming] to support his family.

Wang Ying hurriedly pushed open the door of Tang Chunming’s house and startled the two brothers who were talking in the yard. Lin’er, who was held by Tang Chunrong, almost cried, because Grandma Zhao often didn’t say hello. He rushed in, then pointed his finger and cursed.

“Okay, stinky kid, you didn’t even go to school. Good, you don’t have to read anymore books in the future, go home with your mother.” Wang Ying yelled, and Tang Chunrong and the little nephew retreated. He hurriedly coaxed [Lin’er], who was about to cry, and was very embarrassed to see his mother’s appearance.

“Mother, you scared our little nephew. You haven’t even looked at him yet. Little nephew, Lin’er, call Grandma.” Tang Chunrong was frustrated with his mother, he is a man, and he must have his own opinions in order to protect his mother and brother in the future.

Wang Ying couldn’t get angry at a child. She glared at her son with a strong hatred, then turned to look at the other person, his eyes screaming like a knife at Tang Chunming. “What’s wrong? You’re man just died and you can’t live anymore? What did you pull my son over for? I’m telling you, you can’t go back to the Tang family.” Is it possible that you want to return to the Tang family and let him feed the mother and son? Keep wishing!

“Mom…” Tang Chunrong stomped his feet.

Tang Chunming took a step forward and didn’t pay attention to Wang Ying’s attitude at all. This person is honest with him, and his thoughts are clearly on his face: I don’t like you. At least he won’t have to worry about him doing anything shameful behind his back. “Mother, don’t worry, I don’t want to stay at the Zhao family’s house anymore, but I won’t go back to the Tang’s house. The Tang’s family belongs to my younger brother. Ah-Rong supports the family, but if stepmother is here, it saves others thinking that the Tang family is all dead. Anyway, I am also from the Tang family, if I lose face, it will affect Ah-Rong.”

“Bah! What does your business have to do with Ah-Rong? As long as you don’t bother him, he is a countryman, he can only live happily.” Wang Ying said angrily, no one can mislead his son.

“Even if he is a countryman, doesn’t he still need relatives to walk around and brothers to support him. No matter what, he is my brother, I will not do anything bad to him.” Tang Chunming said indifferently.

Wang Ying glanced at him, “It’s not that I look down on you, but you still want to help Ah-Rong? Don’t think that I don’t know about your situation before coming to Pingshan Village. Your father tried his best to help save you a dowry, where is it now? I’m afraid I don’t have anything left, and you are being swallowed up by the Zhao family. I am afraid that Ah-Rong will be exhausted by you. Pooh!”

Although he didn’t pay attention to this stepson, the two villages were very close, and there were no other villages between them. What could not be passed on? Those long tongues had already made things clear and in his opinion it was purely deserved. His husband had never thought of him or even kept him in his eyes, actually sent his ger to to someone else’s door to be bullied. He only felt happy when he saw it.

“Mother…” Tang Chunrong was annoyed. It turned out that his mother knew everything about his brother, but didn’t mention a word to him. This was his own brother.

Tang Chunming caressed his forehead, the resentment towards him was deep, and said, “I am going to find the Zhao family today to separate me from their house. Why don’t you follow me and make a decision after seeing the situation. Even if you don’t give me face, consider doing it for Ah-Rong.”

Although Wang Ying is a fierce man, he is also a kind mother. When she turned around, she saw the begging eyes of her son, initially he couldn’t say anything. Although he temporarily compromised his heart, he still said coldly, “I want to see what you can do. I thought that the Zhao family would give up the idea of forcing you to remarry now that you are revealed to be pregnant.” He had listened to a lot of things about the Zhao family in the past few years, and he can understand the mind of the old grandmother of the Zhao family. That is a person only has silver and his youngest son in his eyes.

“Then why don’t we make a bet? If I can break the relationship with the Zhao family, you can’t stop Ah-Rong from interacting with me.” Tang Chunming said aggressively.

Wang Ying rolled his eyes, “If you can do so, then I will let Ah-Rong come.” It’s not that he despises this stepson, it’s just that he [Tang Chunming] naturally has a docile temperament, but today’s performance has impressed him. Zhang Xiu was at home and when he saw Wang Ying enter the courtyard, he hurried over. Although he was a little surprised, he still called out, “Auntie Wang.”

“It’s Brother Xiu, you know how to live.” Wang Ying glanced at Zhang Xiu, then glanced at Tang Chunming, who was pale and thin. The implication was that Tang Chunming was a sharp contrast against people who can live their lives well. Even with a good dowry, he actually allowed himself to be tossed to such a point. In Wang Ying’s opinion, it is also a skill, just like his father. Although temporarily compromised by his son, hia mouth still takes the opportunity to stab him [Tang Chunming].

Zhang Xiu laughed helplessly, it was really hard to intervene in the Tang family.

Tang Chunming didn’t care about letting his stepmother verbally jab at him. He was a big man with a more than generous heart. He took his son from Ah-Rong’s arms and said, “Son, let’s go to your grandma’s house for justice. Don’t be afraid, after today, your grandma’s family can’t bully us anymore. Do you want to live with me?”

“Okay, just live with mother, Lin’er is not afraid.” Zhao Lin said softly, he didn’t like those people from Grandma’s family, and they didn’t like Lin’er, and wanted to sell him. They did not want Lin’er to be with his mother.

“Haha, good son, let me kiss you.” Tang Chunming happily put a kiss on his little Lin’er’s face. This is a game he often played with Zhao Lin after he transmigrated over. Of course, the little brother also likes seeing his mother being affectionate with him.

“This…what is this going to do?” Zhang Xiu stood there dumbfounded for a while, unable to understand what Brother Ming said.

“Brother Xiu,” Tang Chunming raised his head and looked at Zhang Xiu, “Please help me call the village head and the village elders to the old Zhao family’s house. I want to separate from them today. Son, Ah-rong, go with your brother into battle.”

Having said that, Tang Chunming, who was holding his son, set off in a hurry, Tang Chunrong followed after his brother, after all he is a man, and as a man, must protect his brother. On the contrary, the two left behind were stupefied. Zhang Xiu asked Wang Ying for confirmation after the two brothers walked out. “Auntie Wang, what exactly does Brother Ming want to do? Should I really go and invite the village leader and the elders?”

Wang Ying frowned, if he didn’t know his stepson’s plan, then he has lived all these years in vain. “It seems that he is planning to set up a separate family, even though he has to pay more taxes, those people from the Zhao family can no longer cast their ideas on the mother and son.” Although Wang Ying doesn’t expect much from his stepson, he has to say that this is a good way out. However, it also depends on whether this stepson of his can afford the burden in the future. While most of the world is headed by a man, there are also gers who are strong enough to be the master of the house. But he will face a lot of inconvenience in doing things outside and not many gers are willing to choose this path.

He also chose this path himself, after his husband passed away and the clan took back the 18 acres of land stating they would take care of his son. However, they only allocated him three acres and did not help them at all, but he was no longer a young ger and had grown tough. After leaving, he also realized the hardships, even if his husband had not been useful, at least with him around, he still made things easier.

He hopes that his stepson will impress him, but also saves his son from always having to think about his elder brother. If this elder brother does not live well in the future, he will not be able to stop his son from secretly helping his older brother. He could stop him before, but his son is growing up and once older, he will keep running to his older brother.

For a ger, not only is supporting their own house difficult, there is also the annual tax money that is a big expense.

The taxes levied by the court of the Great Zhou Dynasty are divided into two types: Poll tax and land tax. (1) Poll tax includes household tax and head tax. Household tax is based on the number of adult men in each household, so gers were not counted. This means that Tang Chunming and Zhao Minglin would pay the same amount of tax as before Zhao Dahu died. Since the tax is paid in such a way, most people in the village tend to live as one big family and not separate.

There is also an annual corvee tax. (2) Each single household must provide labor or if there is no adult in the family, then they must supplement the labor with money. The government will come out and count the population and calculate the necessary labor. Therefore, even if Tang Chunming’s family only has two gers, one of whom is less than three years old, it must participate in the corvee. This adds a considerable burden to the household.

In addition, the three-year tax exemption for the mountainous land that was reclaimed from wasteland is about to expire. The amount of various taxes in this year is a very large expenditure. The hard work throughout the year will be used to pay taxes and there will be no spare money to support him [Tang Chunming] and his young child.

Therefore, even if Zhang Xui thought of the possibility of remarriage, he never thought that Brother Ming would consider this idea. Whether it is this year or the future, how can a ger who is in poor health still bear it for 8 to 10 years?