The village where the Yu Family resided was called Taoyuan Village, formed by one hundred and fifty-six households who had gathered there as refugees.
The village chief, Gao Jiaye, was the grandson of the yamen runner who had originally settled the refugees. With his grandfather’s official prestige behind him and his scholar son to carry it forward, the Gao clan already held sway in the village. Over the past two years, strategic marriages had further bolstered the Gao family’s influence across the surrounding ten li and eight villages.
Villagers typically resolved disputes privately. The chief was fair-minded and showed particular care for the elderly, weak, sick, and young, so whenever any issue arose, the villagers would turn to him for judgment.
Yu Hongdou had expected her and her mother’s arrival to draw widespread attention. She anticipated moralists and those obsessed with male heirs—who would preach without understanding their plight—to openly advise and subtly pressure them into forgiving Liu Shi. To her surprise, upon entering the chief’s house, it was quiet and nearly empty. Only the main hall stood open, where the village chief and the male elders of the Yu Family were seated.
“Ah, I knew the Liu family had been acting out of line these past few years, but I never imagined things would escalate to this after Third Brother Liu passed away. First thing tomorrow, I’ll have the Liu brothers sent to repair the riverbank…” The plump, white-bearded old man with a goatee pointed reproachfully at Liu Yong, who was gagged and pinned to the ground by Yu Song and Yu Li, his expression full of frustration.
“As for Liu Shi…” Village Chief Gao Jiaye frowned deeply as he looked at Liu Shi, who stood behind Liu Yong, weeping into her hands. His gaze then shifted to the Yu Family patriarch, Yu Panshi, and the third and fourth sons seated nearby.
The Yu Family’s situation was neither major nor minor. It wasn’t major because no lives had been lost, yet it wasn’t minor either, for a woman’s selfishness had sown discord among brothers and disrupted family harmony. Either offense was a more severe transgression than the seven grounds for divorce.
Allowing Liu Shi to return home for her confinement had already been a concession from the third branch of the Yu Family. Yet, she had proven untrustworthy, dragging her brother into theft at the Yu residence. For the chief to mete out punishment, however, was a dilemma. On one hand, he feared the Yu patriarch and the eldest branch valued the unborn child. On the other, the court, sympathetic to population losses from various disasters, encouraged childbirth and showed some leniency toward women.
“Uncle Gao, Father, we’ve made repeated concessions, yet she only grows more audacious. Today, it’s theft from our home. What if tomorrow she brings people to rob us? Fourth Brother and I may not be home often in the future, and Eldest and Second Brothers are busy with fieldwork in the mountains and fields all day. If that happens…” Yu Sanlang had never imagined his niece-in-law would be so brazen. He shot a sidelong glance at his eldest brother across the room, wondering silently if the eldest branch had orchestrated this.
The eldest branch appeared honest and simple but were actually masters of behind-the-scenes schemes. Only Fourth Brother, who had left home early, failed to see through them, still believing Eldest Brother to be a good man.
“Third Brother, this is my fault and your elder sister-in-law’s. We’ve been too indulgent with Liu Shi. After what happened with Hongdou falling into the water, your elder sister-in-law and I already felt too ashamed to show our faces. Now, with this… Punish her as you see fit. Your elder sister-in-law, Zhenzi, and I will not oppose it.” The Yu eldest brother rose with a deeply pained expression, his words stern as he bowed deeply to the village chief, his father, and his brothers.
“Big brother! What are you doing? Liu Shi is carrying our family’s flesh and blood after all. Let’s wait until she gives birth before punishing her for all her offenses. Uncle Gao has sent the Liu brothers to repair the river embankment—they likely won’t dare cause more trouble.” Yu Silang, who rarely returned home, felt a pang of sorrow seeing how his once-affectionate elder brother had aged. Watching Liu Shi weeping with one hand pressed to her belly, he sprang up to help his brother save face.
With both his brothers acting this way, even Yu Sanlang—who felt Liu Shi was getting off too lightly—couldn’t press further. Society often showed leniency toward pregnant women, especially when they carried one’s own family lineage.
Truth be told, had Yu Sanlang been asked to propose a specific punishment, he wouldn’t have known what to suggest. Yet letting the matter drop entirely left him discontent. Just then, he spotted his wife approaching with their daughter, so he rose to meet them.
“Why has my little Hongdou come? Are you still feeling unwell?” Yu Sanlang scooped up his daughter, swaying her in his arms without minding the onlookers, his voice softening noticeably.
“Father, I’m better now. I heard your conversation. Although sister-in-law is bad, the baby in her belly is my nephew—a good baby. As long as she apologizes to me and admits I’m not a thief who stole her fruit, I’ll temporarily forgive her.” Having clearly overheard the earlier dispute, Yu Hongdou quickly grasped her father’s dilemma.
Even the wisest judge struggles with family disputes. In modern society, many would argue for mercy when no actual harm was done—let alone in feudal times where offspring were paramount.
Moreover, neither the modern-minded Yu Hongdou nor her native counterpart could bear the thought of anything happening to the unborn child. However badly Liu Shi had treated little Hongdou, that was her own sin to bear. There would be time enough for reckoning after the child was born!
Yu Hongdou’s words rescued her conflicted father from his predicament. Yu Sanlang glared at Liu Shi—still feigning tears—before turning to the village chief and his own father.
The village chief studied the clever girl in Yu Sanlang’s arms, thinking how she’d nearly been broken by Liu Shi’s jealousy. Were he in Yu Sanlang’s position, he too would find it hard to forgive Liu Shi.
Growing increasingly impatient with Liu Shi and Liu Yong, the chief declared, “Our little Hongdou is remarkably magnanimous! Liu Shi, even this child understands propriety better than you. If your Liu family wishes to remain in this village, apologize to Hongdou at once!”
Liu Shi glanced at the chief, then at her grandfather-in-law and father-in-law, realizing their patience had worn thin. Reluctantly, she bowed to Yu Sanlang and Yu Hongdou, offering a verbal apology.
“I’m only forgiving you temporarily! Father says wrongdoers must be punished. After the baby is born, sister-in-law still needs punishment—otherwise she won’t learn her lesson and will misbehave again!” Yu Hongdou held up a finger, gazing earnestly at the village chief as she solemnly emphasized the word “punishment.”
She was just helping her father out of a tight spot, not truly intending to forgive Liu Shi. She still remembered what her brother had said earlier—if Liu Shi returned to the main household, she would have to compensate her with money for a dowry. How could anyone push wealth away? That would be wrong!
“Good, good! Haha, Old Gao will keep an eye on her to make sure she changes. This child is truly delightful. Later, I’ll have my Feiniu take Hongdou out to play together…” Upon hearing Hongdou’s follow-up words, the village chief couldn’t help but laugh heartily, growing even fonder of the little girl. He mused to himself that his somewhat simple-minded grandson might just be a good match for this clever and spirited lass—perhaps it would make a fine marriage.
The adults present all understood the implication in the village chief’s words. Some thought it was a wonderful idea, while others felt displeased.
Unfortunately, Yu Hongdou, the person involved, was completely captivated by the row of greenery behind the village chief and failed to grasp the perilous situation of nearly having her future decided for her.