The three of them arrived home just in time for the meal. After eating, the family gathered around the table, even Wang Nuannuan, sitting in Old Master Wang’s arms, smiling as she looked at everyone.
“Father, we sold a total of five bundles of firewood. One bundle is twenty wen, so altogether it’s a hundred wen. Here’s the money from selling the firewood.”
Wang Dazhu spoke as he took the money from his pocket and placed it in front of his father. Wang Erzhu also took out two taels of silver from his pocket:“Father, this is from selling the rabbits and wild vegetables—a total of two taels of silver.”
Zhang Xiuer took a deep breath:“Second Brother, just two little rabbits and a basket of wild vegetables sold for two taels of silver? That much?”
Wang Tiezhu glanced at his second brother and touched his nose silently. Although he had gone along, he didn’t know how Second Brother knew Steward Li.
Seeing everyone’s puzzled faces, Wang Erzhu grinned and explained:
“Last winter, on my way to town, I saw a cart overturned by the roadside, with blood on the ground. I rushed over to move the cart and found someone frozen stiff. I hurriedly looked for help nearby, lifted the cart, and sent him to the clinic. I stayed until he woke up. Later I learned he was the steward of the Li Manor. I also heard the manor has a spoiled young master who loves fresh things. When I left, I specifically took the two rabbits with the black-ringed eyes, thinking I’d try my luck. Unexpectedly, it worked—the young master was delighted! One rabbit earned one tael of silver, and I gave the vegetables to Steward Li.”
He paused, then added:“I wasn’t looking for favors, just testing my luck. If it worked, great; if not, I’d figure something else out.”
After finishing, Wang Erzhu quickly took a sip of water, glancing at his father with a hopeful expression—the same as Shengyi’s earlier that day. Zhao Shuqin smiled and patted her husband’s hand.
Old Master Wang nodded approvingly:“Yes, Second Son did well. Saving someone’s life is something you do naturally; you shouldn’t expect favors in return. Besides, favors eventually run out. It’s best when giving and receiving go hand in hand.”
If Wang Erzhu had a tail at that moment, it would’ve been wagging sky-high.
Old Master Wang glanced at Wang Erzhu, and the latter immediately straightened up, then said calmly:“Mother, collect the money. Everyone should rest early—the night is late.”
“Mother, I heard that Third Sister’s family picked up several sheep from the mountains, including a female goat. If our family could get that female goat, we could breed her with other sheep later. Then we’d have a steady supply of sheep! Besides, Third Sister has several—giving you one as a gift is only right.”
A slightly plump woman, her clothes full of patches, hurried in from outside and sat on the kang, winking at the older woman across from her who was mending clothes.
The older woman, upon hearing this, put aside her needle, widened her triangular eyes, which sparkled with excitement:“Caor, really? Who told you this?”
The woman called Li Caor tugged her sleeve and smirked:“Of course it’s true! Who would I lie to? Isn’t there a daughter-in-law in the village who married into Third Sister’s village? She told me when she returned to her maternal home.”
Li Caor looked at her mother-in-law, momentarily dazed, but the sparkle in her eyes was genuine. She continued to provoke:
“Mother, I have to say, Third Sister is really becoming disrespectful. She won’t even part with a sheep that she didn’t pay for. Tsk, all that effort raising her was for nothing.”
Zhang Liu Shi, listening, was somewhat angered. When her daughter first married, she would send things home, but in recent years she’d become indifferent. And if she wouldn’t show filial respect, even for freely given sheep—that was unfilial! Her expression showed her anger, and Li Caor knew the plan might work. She stopped, confident her mother-in-law wouldn’t disappoint.
Sure enough, at dinner that evening in the Zhang household, when the topic came up, everyone agreed: Zhang Xiuer wasn’t being filial. If her maternal family prospered, she didn’t even help them. Without her maternal family supporting her, could she have lived so well?
After discussion, they decided that Zhang Liu Shi would feign illness, and the next morning Zhang Eldest would call Zhang Xiuer home.
Meanwhile, at the Wang household, the family was eating. Wang Nuannuan sat in her grandfather’s arms drinking milk. Suddenly, they heard loud knocking at the front door.
Everyone wondered who it could be so early. When Wang Dazhu opened the door, it was Zhang Xiuer’s eldest brother. The family’s expressions darkened, but no one said anything.
Zhang Eldest entered and saw several sheep lying lazily on the ground. Entering the main room, he found the Wang family eating.
The food on their table was far superior—steamed buns made with refined flour, unlike their own coarse black flour buns. His heart sank, though he kept his expression neutral, and anxiously said:“Apologies, Master and Madam Wang. I’m here to call Xiuer home.”
Zhang Xiuer’s face also darkened upon seeing her brother. Since marrying, her family often found ways to take things back from her. Though married, a daughter should care about her maternal family, but at least they should have conscience.
In earlier prosperous years, she could support her family. Last year, Wang Dazhu injured his leg and spent months recovering, limiting labor. Life depends on work, especially with injury, so her in-laws were considerate.
Hearing her maternal family had slaughtered a pig, she returned home to get two marrow bones to stew for Wang Dazhu. Meat was scarce, and only those with poor conditions had to buy it.
What seemed simple turned stressful. Her elder sisters-in-law mocked her, making her leave crying, only for her mother-in-law to buy the meat in town.
Since then, she had rarely contacted her maternal family, only visiting during New Year for a quick meal, never staying overnight. This was her first return since that incident.
Raising her head, Zhang Xiuer coldly asked:“Eldest Brother, do you have something urgent this early?”
Knowing she still harbored resentment over last year, Zhang Eldest didn’t delay. Licking his lips, he hurriedly said:“Mother is ill—quite seriously. She wants to see you. Could you go back for a visit?”
Zhang Xiuer’s expression fell. No matter what, it was her own mother. She dropped her chopsticks and said to Old Master Wang and Old Madam Wang:“Father, Mother, I… I must go see her.”
Old Madam Wang quickly said:“Go quickly. Let Eldest Brother accompany you. Take one of the wild chickens from the yard and some of the dried wild mushrooms. Nuannuan will sleep with us tonight, so don’t worry.”
Zhang Xiuer hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to allow her to bring things. She realized this was giving her face, and tears flowed freely. She wiped her face with her sleeve, packed the items, and left with Zhang Eldest.