Chapter 86

"Chapter 86: Deep Sibling Affection"

"Ding Si Fu smiled and gratefully popped the candied fruit into his mouth."

"Ding Xiang thought to herself that although Ding Youcai and Wang Shi had not committed any major wrongs, they were definitely not kind-hearted and were rather foolish."

"This child didn’t resemble them at all."

"She wondered what he would feel if he knew it was Hao Shi who caused his lameness."

"Ding Si Fu looked enviously at the knot Ding Zhen was making and asked, 'Xiang sister, can I learn too?'"

"Ding Zhen giggled and said crisply, 'You’re a boy; this is something girls do.'"

"Ding Si Fu glanced at his hands, thinner than the girls', and blushed."

"Feeling a bit guilty, Ding Zhen quickly added, 'Si Fu is smart; he could definitely learn.'"

"Moved by the idea, Ding Xiang stood up, fetched a piece of wood for tying silk threads, and brought over some cotton threads, patiently teaching him how to make knots."

"Ding Si was very attentive in learning and soon got the hang of it, his slender fingers deftly weaving the threads."

"Ding Zhen was also impressed, her eyes wide in disbelief, 'Si Fu has just started and is already as good as me.'"

"Ding Si Fu, blushing, said, 'Xiang sister, can I come and be your apprentice whenever I have time?'"

"Ding Xiang nodded in agreement. Given his physical limitations and slender build, it made sense for him to learn a craft suited to his abilities."

"After all, some men excel at weaving and embroidery, even surpassing women."

"As Mrs. Yang Hu began preparing dinner, Ding Zhen and her brother, along with Ding Si Fu, headed home."

"Ding Si Fu excitedly told Wang Shi about learning knot-making, 'I can't do heavy labor, so I want to learn knot-making from Second Aunt and Xiang sister. If I master it, I can earn some money too.'"

"Wang Shi, who was still upset about Zhang Shi giving lots of work to the third branch and Xia Dahe’s wife, was delighted to hear about her son learning this craft."

"'Go ahead, let Pandi do the chores like gathering firewood and pig fodder. You focus on learning; maybe this skill can help you earn a living. You can't earn much with a lame leg, but even a little is good.'"

"Ding Si Fu felt uneasy about putting his chores on Ding Pandi, 'Pandi sister works hard from dawn to dusk, let Third Brother help with some chores.'"

"He didn’t dare mention that his Third Brother did nothing but cause trouble and fight in the village."

"Wang Shi poked his head unhappily, 'I’d like Ding San Fu to work, but will he listen? Even after his father broke several sticks on him, he still runs out to cause trouble. If only your Second Uncle had let him go to the escort agency, a place meant for fighting, where he’d be disciplined and earn money. Your Second Brother is strong and should be working the fields, but he went there instead.'"

"After dinner, Ding Pandi took the dishes into the kitchen to wash them in the dark. The stars were bright, and objects in the room were faintly visible."

"If it was light enough at night, Wang Shi wouldn't allow her to light the oil lamp for work."

"Ding Si Fu sneaked in, stuffed two pieces of candied fruit into her mouth, and said with a smile, 'Sweet, right? These are from Xiang sister.'"

"'Sweet,' Ding Pandi smiled."

"After she finished, Ding Si Fu stuffed the rest into her mouth."

"He whispered, 'Today, I learned knot-making from Xiang sister, and it's really pretty. I’ll talk to Xiang sister and ask if you can learn after finishing your chores.'"

"Ding Pandi sighed, 'Second Grandpa’s family hates my mom; they won’t want Xiang sister to be near me.'"

"Ding Si Fu insisted, 'Xiang sister is really nice; she’ll definitely be willing.'"

"Ding Pandi still shook her head and said nothing. Even if Ding Xiang was willing, her Second Grandpa and the others wouldn’t be. She also didn’t dare get close to Ding Xiang, fearing any accidental bumps or bruises might be blamed on her."

"The people in Second Grandpa’s family are all clever; they might have already guessed what her mother had done."

"Ding Si Fu eagerly said, 'I'll study hard and once I've learned, I'll come back and teach sister using straw ropes. Once she learns, she can also earn some pocket money.' Glancing at Ding Pandi's patched clothes and exposed ankles, he added, 'When I earn money, I’ll buy cloth to make a skirt for sister.'"

"Ding Pandi smiled and replied, 'Okay.'"

"After tidying the kitchen, Ding Pandi fetched a basin of water to clean Ding Si Fu’s hands and face, and asked him to take off his clothes for her to wash."

"By the time Ding Pandi finished her chores, it was late at night, and she returned to her room."

"She shared a room with her parents, sleeping on a small wooden bed placed opposite their kang bed. A curtain was drawn for privacy during rest times and opened otherwise."

"The room was unlit, with the small window open, allowing the dim starlight to filter in."

"Ding Youshou coldly said, 'Are you foolish? Si Fu can’t do heavy work due to his lameness, why are you pampering him like this? Better to help San Fu instead. Though he’s disfigured, he’s still strong and can work the fields when he grows up, maybe then he can support us.'"

"With Er Fu gone, Da Fu being the eldest, and Si Fu crippled, Ding Youshou still hoped to adopt San Fu."

"Ding Pandi, as if not hearing him, sat blankly on her bed."

"Hao Shi sat on the kang, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her normal leg was bent, but her lame one stretched out long, revealing a hole in her pants that hadn’t been mended."

"Ding Youshou, irritated by the sight of Hao Shi, kicked her lame leg and muttered, 'Can’t bear a son and so foolish. How dare we provoke that red-nosed Ding? He can’t work after being beaten up. When Pandi gets married and if Da Ge and his wife still refuse to adopt San Fu, let’s see who will help you then…'"

"The next day, August 12, Ding Zhao and Zhang Shi went to the county town to buy food for the Mid-Autumn Festival, silk threads for knotting, and gifts for the Qian family."

"Ding Xiang, clinging to Ding Zhao’s waist, coaxed, 'Daddy, I want to go too.'"

"She hadn’t been to the county town in many years."

"Ding Zhao shook his head, 'No, it's not safe. Those ruffians from the constabulary might do something terrible.'"

"Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao believed that Ding Shi and his wife were killed by the constabulary men and were bitterly resentful towards them."

"Ding Xiang couldn’t tell them that they were wrongfully blaming the constabulary, as Ding Shi and Tang Shi had already fled far away and were living well."

"Reluctantly, she pouted and let go."

"At the start of the afternoon, Ding Si Fu came again to learn knot-making."

"He gossiped about the village news, 'Xiang sister, I just saw Mr. Xia leaving his house, dressed in silk and wearing a scholar's hat. Despite having a bullock cart at home, he insisted on hiring a sedan chair from the town. His old servant was loudly boasting about him attending a poetry gathering in the county town, all for showing off, it seems.'"

"Ding Xiang laughed. This was truly a case of a petty person strutting."

"Mr. Xia rarely left his home, and Ding Xiang had only seen him from a distance once. About fifty, with a goatee, dressed in silk, he looked very stern."

"When villagers bowed to him, he would just nod slightly. Owning fields and a store, he looked down on commoners and merchants, and disdained to associate with 'ruffians' like Grandpa Ding Zhuang."

"He carried the airs of a petty scholar."

"Ding Xiang thought scornfully, 'Just a minor scholar, yet so arrogant.'"

"His level of education would be considered barely literate in her previous life."

"Thank you for the gift from Song Amei and thank you all for the monthly tickets."