Just as Hongguo had feared, Kong Laosan was marrying into the mute girl’s family, becoming their resident son-in-law.
The mute girl’s parents had left behind two job positions. Because she couldn’t speak, it was inconvenient for her to take over their posts herself. One job was given to Kong Laosan. The other was meant for the family of her savior, Meng Qingdai. But Qingdai’s family refused it.
The mute girl gestured that the Kong family should pay six hundred yuan to Qingdai’s maternal family. In exchange, the second job would go to the Kongs.
Between the elder and second sons, whoever wanted the job had to come up with the money. The eldest couldn’t afford it. The second son’s wife went back to her parents’ home and begged everywhere, scraping together three hundred yuan. Wang Daniu sold their television for another three hundred. That made six hundred in total.
The mute girl personally delivered the money to Meng Qingdai’s family and knelt at their doorway until they accepted it. In the end, they had no choice but to take it.
Kong Laoda’s wife cried bitterly, blaming her husband’s timid nature for letting others walk all over them.
Kong Laoda was furious too. Because he couldn’t stand his wife’s constant nagging, he had agreed to move into the new house that his younger brother’s wife had earned before her death. The villagers gossiped behind his back. And now, less than a hundred days after Qingdai’s death, Kong Laosan was rushing into remarriage during the mourning period.
“At least wait a few years,” people said. But the parents insisted that if they didn’t marry during the mourning period, they would have to wait three full years—and the job couldn’t wait. They even said Qingdai wouldn’t bear to see Laosan suffer and would surely approve.
No matter what they said, Kong Laoda moved back to the old house in anger. He’d rather squeeze into the worn-down place with the second brother’s family than live in the new house Qingdai had paid for. His wife stormed back to her parents’ home, though thankfully the children supported him and returned to the old house.
But the second brother’s wife refused.
“Big Brother, the new house was already given to you! Why are you squeezing in here with us?”
Kong Laoda replied coldly, “When we split the family, I was given one and a half rooms. If you’re unhappy, you move into the new house.”
The second sister-in-law’s face lit up. She moved in overnight.
But Kong Lao’er left for the county city that same night and rented a place there instead.
After days of turmoil, matters in the Kong family finally settled. Wang Daniu knew the villagers looked down on them now. Conveniently, the mute girl said she no longer had parents and wanted to bring her in to show filial piety. So Wang Daniu and Old Man Kong moved into the mute girl’s house.
Kong Laosan married during the mourning period. He had enough self-awareness not to invite villagers and held the wedding banquet in the county instead. But the mute girl asked Wang Daniu to deliver an invitation to Jiang Hongguo.
Wang Daniu was too ashamed to return to the village, fearing scorn, but her new daughter-in-law pleaded with her. With two jobs already given to their family, she had no choice but to come.
“Hongguo, you and the mute girl have fate between you. Just attend, have a meal. It won’t take much effort.”
Hongguo would not go. She had promised Changzong she wouldn’t befriend the mute girl. She couldn’t break her word for outsiders.
Besides, she couldn’t understand how the mute girl, having survived death, could still marry into the Kong family. The thought made her chest feel tight.
Clutching her collar, Hongguo said gloomily, “I’m not going. I was frightened that day at the scene. If I go back, I’ll have nightmares again. Wang Daniu, I’m not Qingdai. Begging me won’t help.”
Wang Daniu tried asking Aunt Liu to persuade her. Aunt Liu didn’t even want to speak to her anymore but still muttered, “Meihua, Qingdai’s been dead less than two months, and you already agreed to Laosan’s remarriage. That girl was too pitiful.”
Wang Daniu replied, “Circumstances forced us. It must be Qingdai blessing us—sending the mute girl to accompany Laosan after her death.”
Aunt Liu felt a sour pang of envy. Could that really be the case? What kind of luck was this family blessed with?
Hongguo still had nightmares at night. Whenever she stirred, Changzong woke immediately, gently wiping away the tears sliding down her cheeks. She would cling to him tightly. After several nights, the nightmares finally stopped.
They agreed with Aunt Liu’s family to deliver the public grain together.
Everyone hauled grain by handcart. Uncle Yang pulled while Aunt Liu strained at the front with a shoulder strap. After delivering the required quota, they sold the remainder.
Hongguo’s family had a full cart too. She couldn’t even help pull—halfway there, she was exhausted.
Gu Changzong called for Uncle Yang to stop. He shifted a few sacks of grain, creating a cushioned seat like a little sofa, and lifted Hongguo onto it.
She flushed in embarrassment. Even if strangers saw them, she’d feel ashamed.
“No, I can walk.”
He refused to let her down and began pulling again.
“I won’t let you walk. Guoguo, I made you live a poor life. You never complained. Don’t refuse when I want to take care of you.”
She didn’t dare jump off. The grain sacks were soft and surprisingly comfortable.
Her heart felt sweet. Afraid of Aunt Liu’s teasing eyes, she covered her face with her straw hat, closed her eyes, and rested against the sacks.
The swaying cart was oddly soothing. He must be tired… When we get home, I’ll cook him something good.
Aunt Liu watched enviously. People once said Qingdai and Kong Laosan were the most loving couple—but that was only on the surface. In truth, Kong Laosan couldn’t compare to how well Changzong treated Hongguo.
She nudged her husband. “Looking at it now, Hongguo and Changzong really are the best match.”
Uncle Yang nodded. “Her father had foresight. Choosing Educated Youth Gu wasn’t a mistake.”
At the grain station, they lined up. Kong Laosan had taken over his in-laws’ job and was working there. Seeing fellow villagers, he came over to exchange a few words.
Nearby, the mute girl gestured to her father’s old colleagues, asking them to look after Kong Laosan. When she saw Hongguo, she smiled and seemed about to approach. Hongguo turned her head away and stepped behind Changzong. The mute girl did not come closer.
After polite words, Kong Laosan returned to the weighing platform, affectionately patting the mute girl’s hair, smiling tenderly.
The sight pierced Hongguo’s heart. She didn’t want to look. Changzong told her to sit in the shade for a while. But she wanted to stay close to him—hugging his arm, resting her head against his shoulder. Only then did she feel steady.
Gu Changzong felt even more at ease. He liked it so much when Hongguo depended on him.
Up ahead, a dispute broke out. The noise disrupted the queue. Aunt Liu went to check and returned saying Kong Laosan was trying to show off his authority, deliberately making things difficult for farmers delivering grain—claiming their rice wasn’t dry enough and ordering them to take it back and dry it again.
The farmer refused. Kong Laosan refused to weigh it.
Suddenly, a scream tore through the air—someone shouting about murder.
Aunt Liu staggered back, legs trembling. “That farmer’s foolish son grabbed a pitchfork from the side… he stabbed Kong Laosan to death.”
She shook so badly Uncle Yang had to support her. A perfectly healthy man—now three bloody holes in his chest, blood pouring out, convulsing on the ground. Only minutes ago, they had been speaking with him.
“Old Yang, forget the grain today. Let’s go home. Changzong, hurry back—don’t let Hongguo get frightened again.”
Hongguo was indeed shaken. Kong Laosan is dead? What about the mute girl?
She tried to step forward, but Changzong pulled her back into his arms. His voice was steady by her ear, heartbeat calm.
“Guoguo, there’s nothing worth seeing. She got what she wanted. She won’t be heartbroken. You don’t need to pity her.”