Chapter 7

Grass had already grown on the earthen mound, which, in fact, prevented the soil from collapsing easily under the rain.
Huo Shu lit an incense stick and placed it on the mound, then bowed.
After all, stable rivers and mountains were the best days. Though the old friend had passed, at least there was still a piece of land for remembrance and sacrifice.
Unlike the iron cavalry in the northern regions that never rested, even the graves of relatives and friends were trampled flat, forcing the locals to constantly move.
He sighed inwardly, withdrew his hands, and looked at Zhao’s mother, who was beside him, tearing paper money and chatting with Zhao’s father. Suddenly, a string of firecrackers sounded in the distance.
The firecrackers were loud and continuous, exploding for quite some time.
Both of them turned towards the direction of the firecrackers and watched until the sound stopped.
“It looks like it’s coming from the You family’s direction. I suppose it’s the You family’s second son returning from the city.”
Zhao’s mother said with a sense of shared pride, “There are quite a few educated young men in our village, but the You family’s second son is the most talented. He tested all the way from a child scholar to a provincial scholar, and when the imperial examination results came out the other day, he passed as a recommended scholar.”
As she spoke, Zhao’s mother showed unconcealed envy. “His mother has finally come into her own. She lost her husband long ago and never remarried, raising a son and a daughter by herself. Now that the second son has succeeded, she can look forward to a life of ease.”
They were both widows, but her son was successful, while she had sent her son off to the afterlife.
Huo Shu detected a hint of sorrow and said, “Auntie, please don’t be too sad.”
“It’s nothing, I’m happy,” Zhao’s mother replied. “Our village has gained a recommended scholar. You Erlang is so accomplished at such a young age, he might become a high official in the future. It’s something we villagers can be proud of.”
The women in the village had few pastimes and always liked to talk about village affairs.
She added, “Judging by the momentum, the You family is going to host a banquet. When the time comes, you can come with me to have some drinks. For such joyous occasions, the hosts always like liveliness.”
Huo Shu neither agreed nor disagreed. He had little interest in the irrelevant people and matters of the village. However, he then heard Zhao’s mother say cheerfully,
“Brother Tao is also blessed.”
Huo Shu, who had not spoken much, suddenly asked, “The one from the field just now?”
Zhao’s mother chuckled, “You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“Brother Tao is the most delicate young man in our ten-mile radius. It’s a pity he’s not in good health. But the village head has good taste and betrothed him to the You family’s second son early on. Now that You Erlang has reached the age and passed the imperial examinations, even though the village head cherishes him, the marriage must proceed.”
“You Erlang is refined and educated, and Brother Tao is kind-hearted, always taking care of the villagers. They are a well-matched couple. This is a perfect match. The banquet will surely be grand and lively.”
Huo Shu listened to Zhao’s mother continually talking about the village’s joyous events. His eye twitched, and his expression was not exactly peaceful.
The face like white jade and the clear, somewhat vacant eyes flashed through his mind. Huo Shu pursed his lips.
Zhao Changsui was right. There were many beautiful and well-built girls and boys in Jiangnan. Unfortunately, others were too quick to act; a family with a daughter had a hundred suitors.
So, when men of his age were still learning to snatch bird eggs from trees and catch fish and shrimp in rivers, he had already learned to pick spring flowers from the fields to please girls and boys.
In the past, Huo Shu had scoffed at Zhao Changsui’s self-satisfaction. Now, he remained silent and walked away, saying, “I’ll wander around.”
Zhao’s mother stood up with the paper money and watched the tall figure suddenly move away. She called out, “Then come back early. I’ll burn some meat for you tonight.”
…
“Mom, you’re back! Did you hear? My cousin’s family has been setting off firecrackers for a long time. He must have returned from the academy!”
As soon as Yu Sunsui returned home, she saw her son dressed up brightly, about to go out.
She grabbed him, “Where are you going?”
“Naturally, to my aunt’s house to congratulate my cousin! The provincial examination is held every three years, and fewer than a hundred people pass. My aunt has always treated me well. How can I not go to congratulate her on such a great occasion!”
Yu Sunsui tightly held her son and pulled him into the house.
“There will be plenty of time for you to congratulate him, no need to rush. I have something to tell you.”
Yu Xia saw that his mother’s expression seemed a bit solemn. Although his thoughts had already drifted to the You family, he still followed his mother into the house.
“Mom, what is it that must be said now?”
Upon entering the house, Yu Sunsui looked around to ensure no one was nearby. She closed the door.
Seeing his mother’s unusual behavior, Yu Xia couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong, Mom?”
“I ask you, and tell me the truth, without hiding anything.”
Sunshi said with a serious expression, “What is going on between you and the Ji family’s young master? Tell me clearly.”
Hearing this, Yu Xia’s heart skipped a beat, and the joy on his face immediately faded as he lowered his head.
Seeing his expression, Sunshi knew he had indeed caused trouble. “Hurry up and tell me!”
“It was on the day the provincial examination results were posted. Ji Taoyu and I went to the city together. There were many people by the announcement board, and he accidentally fell into the river.”
Sunshi was shocked, her eyes widened by a third.
She grabbed her son’s arm, “Did he fall in himself, or did you do it? Don’t lie to Mom!”
Although he had words of sophistry in his heart, thinking that he fell in by himself, and no one could testify that he pushed him, seeing his mother scold him, he became uncertain, and his tone weakened. “He, he fell in by himself.”
“Still lying!”
Sunshi shouted.
Yu Xia was startled and his eyes immediately turned red. “I, I didn’t mean to harm him, I just, just wanted him to make a fool of himself.”
Hearing that it was true, Sunshi was both angry and shocked. “Everyone in the village knows that the Ji family’s young master is frail. The village head and his wife dote on him like a treasure. You dare to push him into the water. I taught you from childhood to have a conscience and not be too weak to be bullied, but also not too overbearing and unreasonable. Now you haven’t taken a single word to heart!”
Sunshi was furious and slapped her young son.
Yu Xia was stunned by the slap, instinctively covering his face, unable to believe that his usually reasonable mother had slapped him.
“What kind of embarrassment are you trying to make him lose his life for!”
“My cousin is an extraordinary person. Ji Taoyu, with his frail health, is betrothed to my cousin. It’s clearly the village head bullying my aunt, a widow raising two children. The You family doesn’t interfere much, and without support, they deliberately try to control things. That’s why my cousin doesn’t even have the chance to marry a healthy girl!”
Yu Xia was also furious, feeling that his mother was siding with others. He cried and shouted, “Even though the Ji family is a prominent family in the village, my cousin has now passed the imperial examinations, what an honor! Although my cousin lost his father early and lacked support, the You family is also a major clan in our village. They didn’t care about my cousin before, but now that he has achieved academic success and gained respect, the You family will surely support him. How can Ji Taoyu be worthy of my cousin!”
“Foolish, so foolish!”
Sunshi’s chest heaved rapidly with anger. Although she was angry that Yu Xia was shouting here, assuming he was right without knowing the whole story, she immediately guessed that someone must have instigated it. Otherwise, how would a young man like Yu Xia know about the affairs of the big clans?
As for who this instigator was, she knew it was her good sister without asking.
It was precisely because she knew it was her sister that she felt deeply disheartened.
Sunshi did not argue about the matter of the large clans in the village. Instead, she sternly asked, “You made the Ji family’s young master lose face and reputation, and then what?”
Before Yu Xia could answer, Sunshi said, “Your aunt told you that if the marriage between the two families were to be called off, then your cousin could marry you, right?”
This hit the mark, and Yu Xia’s face flushed slightly.
“Foolish!”
Sunshi scolded, “Your aunt is not human. When Erlang passed the provincial examinations, she must have thought he had a promising future and already had the idea of breaking off the engagement. However, the Ji family has treated them very well over the years, so it was difficult to speak of. Thus, she needed someone to help her, and she set her sights on you!”
“Child, your aunt is using you as a knife!”
“How, how could that be? That’s my own aunt.”
Yu Xia hesitated, “Aunt said she likes me and wants a daughter-in-law like me.”
“Your aunt looks down on the Ji family, so how can she look down on ours? The Ji family is still a prominent family in the village, what are we?”
“Aunt said she doesn’t want a very good family, she just wants a healthy daughter-in-law.”
Sunshi scoffed, “Can’t the Ji family’s young master run or jump? He’s just a bit weaker than ordinary people. It’s even fashionable in the city to have such a sickly disposition. Moreover, since Erlang has passed the imperial examinations, does he still need a strong young man or woman to come home and farm? Was the Ji family’s young master weak only today? If your aunt didn’t want a good family, why didn’t she say this from the beginning?”
Yu Xia was stunned by her mother’s questions and couldn’t find a single retort.
“Your aunt has always been ambitious. When the family introduced your father to her, she rejected him because the Yu family was too poor. She knew your uncle was in poor health but married him for the You family’s financial situation. However, your uncle passed away a few years later, leaving her to raise two children alone. Your aunt looked down on the Yu family back then, how could she possibly look down on you now that your cousin has become successful?”
“It’s also my fault, Mom. I’ve been busy with your brother and sister’s weddings for the past two years, and I didn’t pay much attention when you kept going to your aunt’s. I know you like Erlang, but your aunt will definitely not agree.”
Sunshi sighed and pulled Yu Xia in front of her. “From now on, don’t go to your aunt’s anymore. She’s instigating you to do things she can’t do, and then she’ll wash her hands of it if you take the blame.”
“Our Yu family is just a small household in the village, living frugally. Now that your brother and sister have gradually started their own families, life is a little better. Don’t be foolish again. Think about it, if the village head resents our family, can the Yu family still survive in the village?”
After a stern reprimand, Yu Xia couldn’t stop crying, crying for his past foolishness, crying for the lost hope with his cousin, and also fearing that the Ji family would hold onto the matter.
“Your aunt is unconscionable. She will have her own bitter fruits to eat in the future. We must not get involved in the affairs of the two families again.”
Sunshi tidied her thoughts and pulled Yu Xia, saying, “The village head has treated our family well over the years. He has never been harsh or exploitative. You and I will go to the Ji family together and apologize sincerely to the Ji family’s young master and the village head.”
“But, but, isn’t that sending ourselves to the door?”
Sunshi tightly held him, “Go now and explain the situation. Even if the village head gets angry, it’s better than living in fear of exposure every day.”
Yu Xia flinched, “I, I understand.”