Mrs. Yang was anxious. If those people left, what would happen to the money? “Mother?”
To be honest, Madam Zhang was truly dumbfounded. Was the previous honesty and simplicity of those two all an act? Her expression shifted several times before she said to Mrs. Yang, “Go next door and see if Miss Shen is asleep yet.”
Mrs. Yang’s eyes lit up. She nodded and walked away quickly.
The eldest brother’s family had made Mother angry; it was only right to ask Sister Shen to talk some sense into them.
At this time, the moon had just peeked out, adding a few glimmers of silver to the boundless night.
An oil lamp was lit in Shen Qingru’s room, and Aunt Lan was doing needlework beneath it. The flickering light cast soft shadows on the wall, adding a touch of gentleness to the room.
The little bun had slept too much during the day and couldn’t sleep now. He was waving his hands and feet, looking both adorable and silly.
Mrs. Yang hurried over and gave a vague, evasive account of the evening’s events.
Shen Qingru understood the situation perfectly. She didn’t voice her stance, and after Mrs. Yang sat for a while without anyone paying her much mind, she went back in frustration.
Once the visitor left, Aunt Lan looked at Shen Qingru helplessly. “Miss, what do you think of this matter?”
Shen Qingru thought for a moment. Although she understood Madam Zhang’s schemes, Aunt Liu and her husband were, after all, their saviors. “Take a hundred taels and go see Aunt Liu. We will leave once I have finished my postpartum recovery month.”
Aunt Lan took out a hundred-tael banknote. Seeing that only a few dozen taels of loose silver remained in the purse, she felt a bit troubled. With a sigh, she headed toward the storage room.
When Aunt Liu saw Aunt Lan, she was first surprised. Upon seeing the banknote, she was filled with such shame and guilt that she refused to accept it. Aunt Lan took advantage of a moment when she wasn’t looking, placed it on the table, and left.
The couple stared at the banknote for a long time. Finally, Aunt Liu picked it up, intending to return it, but she was stopped by Chang Dazhuang.
“Dazhuang, you…” Aunt Liu was confused.
Chang Dazhuang looked at Aunt Liu’s patched clothes and their three thin, weak children. Finally, he made up his mind. “I plan to divide the family. We will live on our own.”
Aunt Liu was stunned. Chang Dazhuang took her rough hands in his and said softly, “Do you regret it? You’ve suffered so much in the years since you married me. I have failed you. I have failed the children.”
Aunt Liu’s heart warmed, and tears fell. “I don’t regret it. I have never regretted it.”
Chang Dazhuang took the banknote and went to find Old Man Chang. Soon, the sound of things being smashed and Madam Zhang’s cursing drifted from the main house.
Shen Qingru only learned about the Chang family’s separation the next morning.
Aunt Liu arrived with dark circles under her eyes like a panda to help her pack. Although she looked haggard, she was in high spirits, and a faint smile played on her lips.
Outside, the situation had exploded.
Chang Sanzhuang couldn’t understand it. In just one night, how could his eldest brother—who had always been considered filial—suddenly want to divide the family? And how could their father actually agree?
If it weren’t for Chang Erzhuang constantly blustering in his ear, he would have thought he was dreaming.
Chang Dazhuang worked efficiently. As soon as dawn broke, he went to fetch the village head. Since he had decided to divide the family, he wanted it done clearly to avoid future trouble. With the village head present, Madam Zhang had to show some restraint. It had to be said that Chang Dazhuang was quite forward-thinking.
Last night, he had used that hundred taels to trade for two dilapidated rooms to the south and a few acres of land. He established his own separate household, cutting ties cleanly with the main Chang family so they would have nothing to do with each other in the future.
Old Man Chang agreed after smashing several bowls.
When Madam Zhang saw Chang Dazhuang in the morning, she grumbled and tried to go back on the deal. They could leave, but the money had to stay, and they could forget about the land.
The village head didn’t like the Chang family lot either. Seeing Madam Zhang being so relentless, he sternly rebuked her a couple of times. Only then did Madam Zhang settle down.
Shen Qingru wore a voluminous cloak, wrapping herself up tightly so that only her bright eyes were visible. The little bun received the same treatment, wrapped so snugly that only a tiny gap remained as he lay obediently in Aunt Lan’s arms.
As the group walked out, the people in the small courtyard had various expressions.
Old Man Chang and Madam Zhang had dark faces; Chang Erzhuang and his wife looked indignant; Chang Sanzhuang squinted, his thoughts unknown, while Mrs. Yang stood meekly beside him. Chang Tingting was about to step forward when she was pulled back by Chang Xiaoning. As for Chang Tianbao, he probably hadn’t woken up fully and was dozing against his mother’s leg.
Shen Qingru nodded to them as a greeting.
Madam Zhang likely realized that trying to make them stay was useless, so she didn’t even offer a single polite word.
Despite being here for so long, this was the first time Shen Qingru had stepped out of the Chang family’s small courtyard.
Objectively speaking, Qingshui Village was quite beautiful. With its clear waters, green mountains, and crisscrossing paths between fields, it was a picture of pastoral scenery.
Especially now, as dawn broke, the whole world looked as if it had been washed clean, fresh and natural. Accompanied by the scent of green grass, it was refreshing to the soul.
Unfortunately, Shen Qingru’s good mood vanished when she saw the old Chang residence.
Was this mud hut, with wind leaking in from all four sides, supposed to be a house? It was tilting this way and that—this was a safety hazard!
Shen Qingru’s lips twitched slightly.
Chang Dazhuang looked ashamed. “No one has lived in this house for a long time, so it hasn’t been maintained.” He hadn’t thought things through well enough; he should have come to clean it up first.
As they entered the house, the floor was covered in dust, and everyone was at a loss.
Aunt Liu cheered everyone up. “Don’t just stand there. Let’s clean out a place to stay first.”
For her, as long as the family was divided, everything was fine. Everything would get better.
Shen Qingru held the little bun and found a spot sheltered from the wind to sit. Aunt Lan and Aunt Liu’s family began working fervently. Having heard the news, Zhuzi’s Wife brought Zhuzi and her mother-in-law along.
Zhuzi was tall and very sturdy. Zhuzi’s mother had a kind face and gentle eyes, looking much more approachable than Madam Zhang. Her maiden name was Li, so everyone called her Aunt Li.
Many hands made light work. Before the sun set, the entire courtyard had been transformed. Two rooms were cleaned thoroughly, the gaps where the wind leaked in were stuffed with cloth, and beds, tables, and chairs were set up. These were all borrowed by Zhuzi’s family from neighbors.
Most farming households were still very simple and honest. Madam Zhang’s lot were the exceptions among exceptions, a breed apart.
A simple kitchen was set up nearby using a few wooden planks, and two new stoves were built. However, for the next few days, their meals and medicinal decoctions would have to be prepared at Zhuzi’s house.
Zhuzi’s house was close by, with only one household in between, so they didn’t mind the trouble.
The brothers Chang Shan and Chang Shui were incredibly excited. Seeing that it was still early, they actually went up the mountain, cut a lot of branches, and came back to build a picket fence.
Although it didn’t have much practical value, it enclosed a tiny courtyard and added a touch of warmth. Shen Qingru’s heart softened; she suddenly felt a sense of home.
Home.
The little bun in her arms was waving his fists excitedly. Shen Qingru kissed his forehead.
She would cherish this hard-won new life. Everything from the past would be treated as a bizarre dream. She would pray for those relatives.
And she would have a new beginning, a new life, and a new world and story.