After rubbing her eldest brother’s hands, Zhao Feng remembered something and said, “Second Brother, tomorrow you and Brother Huzi should fix the tiles on the roof. There’s still a gap above our heads, and it’ll be trouble when it rains. Take advantage of the good weather to get it done. I’ll tell you about other matters when I get back tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
Zhao Yi nodded.
“Auntie, do we have a small red clay stove at home?”
“Yes, I’ll find one for you tomorrow. What do you need it for?”
Aunt Li asked casually.
“To make scented balm to sell. I’ll also need some herbs—bring me along when you go into the mountains.”
“No, you can’t go into the mountains.”
Mrs. Xu’s voice turned shrill, as if stung by a bee, her face filled with fear.
Zhao Feng sighed. “Mother, we live right by the mountains. If we want to make money, we have to find it in the mountains. We can’t stop eating for fear of choking. I won’t hunt—I’ll just look for some herbs. I won’t go deep in, just by the river.”
“That’s still not allowed. I’m begging you, don’t go. I only have you three children left. I can’t lose another one. I’m begging you, alright?”
Mrs. Xu pleaded mournfully.
“Tell you what—write down what you need and I’ll get it for you. I know most herbs well enough.”
Brother Huzi spoke up quickly.
Zhao Feng couldn’t bear to argue with her mother. She had endured so much in her life—suffering her mother-in-law’s abuse while her husband was alive, then being thrown out of the house the moment he died. It was too tragic.
“Alright, I won’t go. Brother Huzi, I’ll write you a list later. I’m not in a hurry—I just want to try. If it works out, I can earn some money to fix Fifth Grandpa’s house.”
“Sure.”
Brother Huzi nodded readily.
Hearing that her daughter wouldn’t go to the back mountain, Mrs. Xu fell silent. Aunt Li patted her hand in comfort.
“Then I’ll go clear some wasteland tomorrow after fixing the roof.”
Zhao Yi looked at his elder brother and sister with a questioning gaze.
Zhao Feng was the one who handled all the arrangements and money; when their father was alive, major decisions went through Zhao Bin. It had been that way for years—they were used to it.
“Clear what wasteland? That land won’t yield anything for at least five years, and even with enough harvest to eat, it’ll take ten years before you have a stable life. Can you wait ten years?”
Zhao Feng snapped at her second brother.
Kicked out by their own grandmother, father dead, eldest brother’s hand injured, mother on the verge of collapse, forced to lodge at Fifth Grandpa’s house—one thing after another made it impossible for her to stay calm. There was always a knot of anger in her chest.
Zhao Yi wasn’t angry either. He scratched his head. “Then what do we do? Mother won’t let us go to the back mountain either. I only know how to farm and brew wine. My handwriting is ugly—nobody would want me to copy books.”
Zhao Yi had also studied for several years and was skilled at reading and arithmetic, but he couldn’t compare to Zhao Bin and Zhao Feng. Copying books required neat handwriting—who could read chicken scratch?
“You help Fifth Grandpa farm. Let me think of other ways to make a living.”
“Oh.”
Zhao Yi shrank his head back, not daring to provoke his sister.
Zhao Bin kept his head down in silence, feeling miserable inside. With his hand in this condition, he couldn’t write or work for the time being. All he could do was watch helplessly as his sister managed everything.
“No rush. Go transfer the wasteland deed tomorrow. Take things one at a time—Heaven never seals off all paths.”
Fifth Grandpa tapped his pipe, his voice steady and firm, like the Yulong Mountain behind them—solid and weighty.
“My grandmother won’t let this go. It’s strange—even if my brother’s hand is ruined, he’s still a Xiucai. How can she look down on us so much? A Xiucai is qualified to be a tutor, and the tuition fees would be enough to get by. Fifth Grandpa, why do you think she does this?”
Zhao Feng suddenly remembered the phrase “each back to their own home” and racked her brain but couldn’t figure out what it meant.
Fifth Grandpa picked up his teacup and took a sip, remaining silent for a long while.
“Father, do you know anything about this? Ever since I married into the family, I’ve noticed that Fourth Aunt treats Brother Yan terribly—downright cruel and vicious. After Fourth Uncle passed, it got even worse. It seems to me there’s hatred in it. Why would a mother hate her own son so much? It’s strange.”
Aunt Li had noticed since she married in that the mother-son relationship was too twisted. She’d assumed it was favoritism—common enough in the village.
Fifth Grandpa set down his teacup without a word. Zhao Feng sighed. “My brother’s hand can be healed—it’s just a matter of spending some money. The teacher said my brother has a chance of passing the Juren exam.
If that day ever comes, I beg you to tell me the truth. I won’t let petty people stand in the way of my brother’s path to success. I’ll sweep away every obstacle.”
Fifth Grandpa looked up at Zhao Feng. This girl was too sharp—no wonder she was the one managing the money.
“You know what my grandmother is like. She doesn’t care whether my brother lives or dies. Those with scholarly titles cannot have stains or flaws—reputation matters above all.
If he ever gets a reputation for being unfilial, my brother’s future is completely ruined, and Zhaojia Village’s name will be tarnished too. The other young men won’t be able to secure good marriages either. My grandmother isn’t the type to care about other people’s fates.”
“Feng’er…”
Mrs. Xu felt the words were disrespectful to an elder and warned her daughter.
Zhao Feng turned to look at her mother, her expression cold and merciless. “My father’s body is barely cold and she threw our whole family out to live on others’ charity. You still expect me to hold any affection for her?”
Mrs. Xu opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing, slumping her head in defeat.
“Let me think it over. Once I’ve figured things out, I’ll give you a definite answer. There’s still time, after all. Binzi, your hand will heal—the doctor said money can fix it. Whether others help or not, I’ll see it through to the end. Rest easy.”
“Right, don’t worry. We’ll see it through to the end. Just stay here and rest easy.”
Uncle Gangzi nodded earnestly, and Aunt Li naturally followed her husband’s lead—besides, she had a close bond with Mrs. Xu, over ten years of friendship.
“Thank you, Fifth Grandpa, Uncle, Auntie. Our whole family has put you to so much trouble.”
Zhao Bin forced a smile, his face heavy with worry.
“Stand tall like a man. What’s the matter—are you less tough than your sister?”
Uncle Guangzi shot Zhao Bin an exasperated look, trying to lift his spirits. Grief and pain were only natural—just look at how the mother and daughter had wasted away, reduced to skin and bone in only seven days. But the living still had to carry on, so they had to muster their spirits.
“Yeah!”
Zhao Bin nodded firmly.
Zhao Feng kept her eyes fixed on Fifth Grandpa. “Then, Fifth Grandpa, I’ll wait for your word.”
Fifth Grandpa pressed his lips together, looking at her with a hint of helplessness, then turned his head away, ignoring her.