Chapter 22: Homecoming

Chapter 22: Homecoming

◎ Return Home ◎

The siblings had much to catch up on, but after so many years of no contact, their conversation lacked the intimacy of old. Zhou Mancang was reserved, always giving Tao Hua a sense of cautiousness that pained her deeply.

It wasn't that she was upset by Mancang's distance; rather, she grieved for the cause that led him to become this way.

While they talked, Wei Dahu picked up the half-finished bamboo basket on the ground. His father enjoyed weaving such items at home, and although he himself didn't know how, he could tell the difference between good and bad craftsmanship. At only eleven or twelve years old, Mancang's weaving was already quite impressive, even more meticulous than his father's, and would surely sell in the town.

"Looks like Mancang can weave baskets now, and so well," Tao Hua observed. Seeing her interest, Wei Dahu passed the basket to her.

Tao Hua examined it thoroughly, admiring it more with each look. "Who taught you this skill? You're so deft, the edges aren't prickly at all, and it's tightly woven – perfect for carrying things." She praised him earnestly.

Zhou Mancang felt a bit awkward, rubbing his hands together by his sides. "I learned from Grandpa Lin at the village head. He's very skilled, and his baskets always sell when he takes them to the town. I'm not as good, I can only weave small items – I can't manage big ones, I haven't mastered it yet."

"You're doing great already, this basket is excellent. It just takes time. When I was your age, I couldn't weave baskets, and I still can't now," Tao Hua encouraged with a smile.

Seeing that Wei Dahu's bowl was empty, Zhou Mancang quickly got up to refill it from the kitchen, ignoring Dahu's attempts to call him back.

Tao Hua gently stroked the bamboo basket in her hands, thinking about how young Mancang was yet had managed to weave such a fine one. She knew he must have put in countless efforts behind the scenes. She was also familiar with Uncle Lin from the village entrance, an odd-tempered old man who lost his wife in his youth and his son in middle age, leaving his family line effectively extinct. When she was still in Zhou Village, she had seen him wandering alone, his face often looking fierce, scaring the village children.

When Mancang was little, he would hide behind her whenever he heard Uncle Lin's voice. Now, however, he had learned the art of weaving baskets under the old man's tutelage.

Zhou Mancang added water to their bowls, ignoring Tao Hua's attempts to stop him. Then, he went to the main room and brought out two more completed baskets. His hands fidgeted nervously as he spoke softly, "These are just my homemade trinkets. If you like them, feel free to take some home to use."

Still not addressing her as 'sister,' Tao Hua felt a pang of disappointment but wore a cheerful expression. She took the baskets unapologetically, saying, "Sisters don't need to be polite with each other. I'll take them home and use them. If they're useful, I'll come back for more!"

Zhou Mancang nodded eagerly, his smile bashful, "Use them freely, for small items like needles and thread. They won't break easily."

Tao Hua nodded with a smile and asked about his current life, inquiring about his livelihood, if he still had the family fields, and if there were any uncles or elders from the clan...

Though she didn't explicitly say it, Zhou Mancang understood her concerns. He whispered, "After Mother passed away, some clansmen were eyeing our family fields, but they were stopped by Uncle, the clan leader. He said that even though Father had passed, I'm a boy capable of supporting a family. As long as I'm here, no clansman can lay claim to our land. The Zhou clan doesn't tolerate such behavior. After that, no one dared to mention it again."

In Zhou Village, the Zhou surname was the dominant one, with almost half the villagers bearing the same name. Zhou Mancang's father was a close relative of the Zhou clan leader within five degrees of consanguinity. As long as the clan leader supported Zhou Mancang, the other clansmen couldn't touch his property.

This was why Zhao Sufen could leave her son behind when she was expelled from the Zhou family. She knew that although Zhou Mancang's life wouldn't be easy, he could still manage. He was different from Tao Hua; while the Li family had driven Tao Hua and her mother out of their home right after her father's death, mainly due to Tao Hua being a girl, the Li family was also different from the Zhou family. They were shallow, foolish, and toxic, people who would not only strip Tao Hua of her inheritance but also drain her dry.

The Zhou family, on the other hand, was a large and prosperous clan with deep roots. They had their own rules and principles, ensuring Zhou Mancang could survive within the clan.

Yet, Madam Zhou's tolerance was reserved for those bearing the Zhou surname. Zhao Sufen could not take Zhou Mancang away, nor was she tolerated within the Zhou family. Thus, she could only depart with Tao Hua in search of a new livelihood.

"Uncle, the Clan Chief, doesn't hold much regard for our meager family holdings. He is the most impartial of all," Zhou Mancang said with a smile. He was no longer an ignorant child. As the Clan Chief, overseeing so many clan members, if he didn't act justly, no one would respect him. His family had been a single-line descent for three generations. If he failed to carry on the lineage, his family line would be utterly extinguished.

The Clan Head might not care about the extinction of his lineage, but he wouldn't tolerate it happening under his jurisdiction, driven by the pressure of his kin. Some matters could not set such a precedent; once a crack appeared, it would be like a breach in a dam that could no longer be contained.

These words were taught to him by Elder Lin. He said there was no need to be afraid; as long as he bore the surname Zhou and grew up to stand tall, not even outsiders could lay a finger on anything that belonged to his family, not even a broken leg of a table or chair.

Tao Hua gazed at Zhou Mancang's youthful face, which still carried the innocence of a child, yet he had already grasped many truths that adults often took years to understand. She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and laughed with genuine joy, "To see how well Mancang has managed his days, it brings great pleasure to my heart, dear brother."

Zhou Mancang lowered his head, avoiding the smile on her face. He didn't know why he couldn't bear to look at it; perhaps it was because his heart harbored impure thoughts about the dark side of human nature, and he felt unworthy of his sister's grin.

He believed that the Clan Leader was willing to help him because he considered their few acres of meager fields insignificant. Thus, he was willing to act as a fair mediator...while also earning a good reputation.

Unbeknownst to them, the sun had set in the west, and twilight was upon them. Tao Hua and Wei Dahu rose to take their leave.

Zhou Mancang insisted they stay for dinner, but Tao Hua politely declined, citing the unsafe journey at night.

How could she bear to consume her brother's provisions? She feared that if she ate one meal, Mancang might go hungry the next day. He was still so young, with limited strength to work the fields. How much grain would they harvest this year? Would it suffice after paying taxes for their sustenance throughout the year? Her heart was heavy with worry, though she concealed it well on the surface.

As Tao Hua and Wei Dahu left, the sky had already taken on a dusky hue, with smoke rising from many households' kitchens.

The evening air was cool, and after spending half the day at home, numerous women had gathered in the village for idle chatter. Those with busy wives preparing dinner were now leisurely enjoying themselves. Upon seeing Zhou Mancang see Tao Hua and Wei Dahu off, a few elderly women looked the couple up and down and asked, "Mancang, who are these two? Do you have relatives we don't know about?"

These words were rather provoking, and an old man nearby puffed up his cheeks and glared, reprimanding, "Your mouth is too careless! Why would you say 'your relatives'? Isn't everyone in this village related in some way? Are you dead or what?"

Hearing him curse her, the old woman almost started a fight. It was only when another woman, having heard Zhou Mancang mention that they were his sister and brother-in-law, suddenly recalled that Zhou Mancang had a biological mother and sister. Tao Hua had spent several years in Zhou Village, and though she was just a child back then, her facial features seemed familiar now.

Staring at Tao Hua for a while, the woman vigorously fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan while raising her voice, "Isn't your name Tao Hua? Mancang's older sister, grown so much! You must be married, right? And that man beside you, is he your husband? Which village is he from? He's quite tall and strong; quite intimidating at first glance!"

Several pairs of eyes fell upon Wei Dahu, but he remained unperturbed. Standing solemnly beside Tao Hua, his demeanor, shaped by years of hunting in the mountains and encountering bloodshed, exuded an intimidating air.

Many of the village women had never encountered such a figure before. They found Wei Dahu's gaze daunting and dared not look again, muttering to themselves in astonishment, "Goodness gracious, who would have thought that Zhou Mancang has such a formidable brother-in-law!"

They had assumed he was from a broken family, with his own mother and sister remarrying, leaving him, a mere child, vulnerable to being trampled upon by anyone in the village. No relatives were around to lend a helping hand.

But, as it turned out, tsk tsk...

The three of them left the village under the villagers' scrutiny and whispers. Seeing that Mancang showed no sign of stopping, Tao Hua quickly spoke up, "It's getting late, let's part ways here. Take advantage of the fact that the pheasant is still alive; go home and prepare it. It's better to enjoy its taste while it's fresh."

Zhou Mancang halted his steps and nodded in response, not uttering a word.

Noticing his silence and lack of a smile, Tao Hua realized he was feeling reluctant, perhaps even a bit uneasy. Smiling, she patted his shoulder playfully, "What's the matter? Are you planning to send your sister home and then return in the dark alone with a torch?"

Caught with his true intentions, Zhou Mancang looked a bit embarrassed at Wei Dahu, "No."

Wei Dahu understood; he genuinely wanted to accompany his sister to her in-laws.

He laughed heartily, ruffling Zhou Mancang's hair roughly as if petting a cat dozing off in the village square, regardless of whether Zhou Mancang liked it or not. "Another day, when I'm free, I'll bring your sister back to visit you. For now, listen and go home, clean and eat that wild chicken. Don't leave it overnight, it's not something rare. Next time, I'll hunt two more for you to enjoy."

Zhou Mancang quickly waved his hands, "No, no, no need for anything else. Just your presence is enough."

"We will definitely come, don't worry!" Wei Dahu waved cheerfully, unable to tolerate the overly sentimental scene. It's not like they weren't coming back, why all this reluctance?

With decisiveness, he seized Tao Hua's hand and led his wife away.

Zhou Mancang stood there watching their departing figures until they were out of sight before slowly turning back towards his home.

The couple hurried, walking under the moonlight, finally reaching their home.

Old Wei had already finished his meal and, hearing the creak of the courtyard gate, called out to them from inside the house, mentioning that there was still food left in the pot. Tao Hua acknowledged and, together with Wei Dahu, went to the kitchen. Each scooped a bowl of the mixed grain porridge, then one sat beneath the eaves, engrossed in devouring his food, while the other stood at the kitchen entrance, struggling to swallow small mouthfuls.

Her father's culinary skills were truly hard to describe – the mixed grain porridge almost choked Tao Hua.

As Wei Dahu ate the tasteless gruel, he felt uneasy. Turning to Tao Hua, he said, "That fish we had the other day was delicious. Tomorrow, I'll take you into the mountains to catch some more, and we can cook it again."

Tao Hua nodded. "Alright, let's also pick some of those wild fruits you mentioned. We can give some to our uncles' families. San Hua loves fruit."

"Uh-huh," Wei Dahu agreed. "Let's pick plenty and send some to your mother and Mancang as well."

Hearing this, Tao Hua felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. She recalled his stern expression back in Zhou Village. Usually, whether at home or in the village, he interacted with others with a smile. Why was he so unfriendly today?

She couldn't help but ask, "Why were you so serious in Zhou Village today?"

The food cooked by her father was indeed unappetizing. Wei Dahu chewed hastily and swallowed, emptying his bowl in just a few bites. Rising to fetch water from the yard, he casually replied, "Mancang is living alone in the village. It's inevitable that someone might try to bully him. Now, they should know that Zhou Mancang has an intimidating brother-in-law. If anyone dares to mistreat him, they'll have someone knocking on their door!"

He knew when to smile and when to be fierce.

Tao Hua held her bowl, her gaze following his movements. Her heart felt like it was filled with honey, making even her meal taste sweet.

She didn't know what kind of man qualified as good, whether it was one with immense wealth or vast fields. But she believed that none could surpass her man, Wei Dahu.

He even cared for her mother and brothers, sparing no thought for himself. There was no better man than him.

"Author's Note"

Thank you, darlings, for the landmines and nutrient solutions. (σ≧▽≦)σ.