“Ciren A-Bu, Uncle Zhandui! Something’s wrong!”
Dawa came running over, panting heavily. He didn’t even have time to worry about etiquette and immediately shouted the moment he reached them.
“It suddenly started snowing at the pasture behind the mountain. Several cattle sheds have partially collapsed, and some of the cattle have been injured. There aren’t enough of us to handle it, so we had to hurry back to report it!”
The cheerful singing and dancing gradually fell silent after Dawa’s words.
The pasture was the foundation of their livelihood. Having cattle sheds collapse on such a cold night was a serious matter.
The smile on Zhandui’s face was immediately replaced by a solemn expression. He put down his wine bowl at once.
“Whose cattle sheds collapsed? Is anyone hurt?”
“The pastures around our area have all suffered some damage. No one was hurt, but the sheds are badly damaged and urgently need repairs.”
“Dad, I’ll take some people over right away.”
Ciren immediately stood up.
“I’ll reinforce the sheds overnight.”
Zhandui nodded. This was the responsibility of the head of the household, and he instinctively started to get up as well.
“I’ll go with you. More people means more strength…”
“Uncle Zhandui.”
Sang Luo called out to him.
“You’ve had quite a bit to drink today, and the mountain roads are slippery at night. It’s really not safe.”
She paused before looking at Ciren.
“Let Ciren A-Bu go instead. Also, I heard that some cattle were injured. I know a little about local medicinal herbs and basic wound treatment, so I can go and take a look.”
Lhazhen gently tugged on Zhandui’s sleeve and spoke softly.
“Sang Luo is right. You’ve been drinking, and I’ll be worried if you go out at night. Let Ciren and Sang Luo go. The children are all grown up now. They can handle it.”
Zhandui looked at his son, then at Sang Luo, and finally nodded.
He gave Ciren a firm pat on the shoulder.
“Good. I’ll leave it to you two. Take plenty of people and tools, and be careful. Make sure the sheds are reinforced properly! And protect your Nuomu.”
“Don’t worry, Dad!”
Ciren nodded firmly.
He quickly gathered the necessary repair supplies with several young men who also needed to go repair their family’s pastures.
Sang Luo also hurried back inside and grabbed a small cloth bag she had prepared earlier.
Inside were medicinal herbs she had prepared based on her recent knowledge of local plants, along with clean strips of cloth that could be used for basic anti-inflammatory treatment and bleeding control.
The group mounted their horses with torches in hand and soon disappeared into the vast darkness.
The wedding celebration ended early because of the unexpected incident. The villagers each returned home, worried about the condition of their own pastures.
Zhandui and Lhazhen were also too worried to sleep.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps and knocking sounded outside the courtyard gate.
Zhandui quickly got up and opened the door.
To his surprise, standing outside was his eldest son, whom he had not seen in a long time—Dündup.
Dündup’s tall figure stood in the doorway, his face showing the exhaustion of a long journey.
“Dad.”
Dündup’s voice was deep and hoarse. When he saw Lhazhen, he greeted her as well.
“Mom, I’m back.”
Zhandui was both surprised and delighted. He immediately pulled his son inside.
“Why did you come back so late? Was the journey difficult?”
Lhazhen looked at her stepson, who had spent all these years in the military, and asked gently.
“Have you eaten yet? I’ll heat up some food for you.”
“Mom, don’t trouble yourself.”
Dündup took some tsampa out of his luggage.
“I’ll just have something simple. You should go get some rest.”
Seeing how exhausted his eldest son was, Zhandui also felt that any serious conversation could wait until the next day, after his son had rested.
“All right. You should go to bed early too. Oh, right. Your room is currently occupied by your Nuomu. Ciren isn’t home, so you can stay in his room.”
Dündup nodded.
Satisfied, Zhandui went into the room with Lhazhen.
Although Ciren and Sang Luo had gone to the pasture, they would be able to return tomorrow. With Dündup having just come home as well, the family had at least enjoyed a small reunion.
Snow Mountain Pasture
After an entire night of hard work, Ciren and the others finally managed to temporarily reinforce most of the cattle sheds. Sang Luo also properly treated the injured yaks.
At daybreak, Ciren dragged his exhausted body home to get more medicinal herbs for Sang Luo.
But before he even entered the house, he heard arguing from inside.
“Dad, the younger brothers will make their own decisions about marriage. I absolutely won’t interfere.”
“You’re the eldest son. It’s your responsibility!”
Even through the thick wooden door, Zhandui’s voice was still thunderous.
“Do you want your younger brothers to end up like I did, waiting until they’re old before starting families? Finding an upright, hardworking, capable girl and starting a family—that’s what it means to live a proper life!”
“Responsibility? Why should being the eldest son mean I have to shoulder this kind of responsibility?”
Dündup’s voice had also grown heavier, carrying a stubbornness that Zhandui could not shake.
“Several brothers sharing one wife isn’t some wonderful tradition. Dad, why can’t you understand that? Besides…”
Dündup paused.
“I already have someone I like, and my younger brothers will meet girls they like too. They should be allowed to make their own choices instead of marrying some random woman just for the sake of the family!”
“Nonsense!”
Zhandui’s face flushed with anger.
“What do you mean, ‘some random woman’? Establishing a family, having children—that’s only natural! The person you like? Are you talking about that…”
Zhandui seemed about to mention someone, but forcibly stopped himself.
“This has nothing to do with her!”
Dündup angrily interrupted his father and abruptly stood up.
“In any case, I won’t marry some woman I don’t know just because you arranged it, and I won’t interfere with my younger brothers’ marriages either! They should pursue what they want!”
“Without a stable family, how can they pursue anything they want? Dündup, you’ve disappointed me!”
Zhandui pointed at Dündup, his hand trembling slightly with anger.
“I thought after being away for several years, you would become more mature and steady. I never expected you to still be this stubborn and set in your ways!”
Lhazhen stood nearby, anxiously watching the two of them. She wanted to mediate, but did not know what to say.
Ciren, who had just returned, heard the entire argument.
Concern was written all over his face, but he pretended he had heard nothing and pushed open the door.
“Dad, I’m back.”
Seeing Ciren, Zhandui’s anger eased slightly.
“You’re back. How’s the pasture?”
“Most of it has been repaired. We’re just short on medicinal herbs, so I came back to get some for A-Luo.”
Ciren’s gaze fell on Dündup.
“Big Brother, since you’re back, that’s perfect. We don’t have enough hands over there. Come with me.”
Dündup also did not want to continue arguing with their father, so he stood up and went with Ciren to the snow mountain pasture.
“Big Brother, you can’t keep arguing with Dad every time you come home.”
On the way to the pasture, Ciren tried to persuade Dündup.
“I’ve told you before. Just humor Dad for now. Once he truly gives up, I’ll take on the responsibility of being the head of the family.”
“I can’t leave all the responsibility and pressure to you.”
Dündup patted his younger brother on the shoulder.
“Besides, you’ll have a girl you like someday, and the two younger brothers will too… This problem has to be solved eventually.”
“That’s true.”
Ciren thought of his two younger brothers, who were studying away from home.
“They’re exposed to even more new ideas. They definitely won’t agree with Dad either.”
Ciren sighed in frustration.
“Ugh… Let’s not talk about it for now. Big Brother, I’ll take these nails to the cattle shed. Can you take these medicinal herbs to the felt tent and give them to A-Luo?”
“Mm.”
Dündup took the bundle of medicinal herbs, turned around, lifted the felt flap protecting the entrance from the wind, and walked inside.
“These are the herbs you wanted…”