Chapter 8

Chapter 8

A chorus of "Grandma" echoed as Fang Honghua saw the spread-out wheat in the yard still thick and knew that her youngest son's family had also reaped a bountiful harvest. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Mom, it's hot outside. Come in and sit," Miao Qiulian greeted, with Gu Tieshan holding their little grandson, Gu An, calling for her to come inside as well.

Gu Lan served tea and smiled when she saw her enter, saying, "Grandma, have some water."

"Our Lan-ge is so obedient," Fang Honghua beamed, taking the teacup. Since Gu Tieshan was her youngest son, her grandchildren on this side were all younger. Gu Lan, whom she had helped care for briefly when he was a child, had always been good-looking and sweet-tongued, making her naturally fond of him.

Upon seeing Gu Man and his two young nephews, she scolded playfully, "You rascals! A few days ago, you gave me such a headache with your wandering around. I couldn't catch up with any of you. Just wait until I deal with you later."

The other day, while harvesting wheat, Zhang Chunhua and Li Yue were too busy to look after the children. The fields were scorching hot, and kids were more susceptible to heatstroke than adults. Thus, they made rice cakes and carried eggs to the ancestral home, asking Fang Honghua to take care of the children during the day.

Fang Honghua, now advanced in age with white hair, had raised four sons and two daughters in her lifetime. Presently, she had a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and everyone's lives were comfortable. Naturally, there was no need for her to do farm work. Many elderly ladies and gentlemen in the village envied her, saying that she was now enjoying the fruits of her labor, not having to do anything while her children took care of her food and drink.

Despite this, she was a strong-willed woman. After her husband passed away a few years back, she didn't cause trouble, making her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law tend to her every day. She took care of cooking and washing by herself, not relying on anyone else. With some money in hand, she didn't need to spend on rice, flour, or eggs, as these were provided by her four sons. Occasionally, she would help look after her great-grandchildren, and those perceptive grandchildren and their spouses would bring her some snacks. When her grandchildren were in a tight spot, she wouldn't hold it against them.

Miao Qiulian hurriedly asked, "Mom, have you eaten? If not, we still have meat at home. There's extra steamed rice from this morning, which can be reheated."

The elderly lady didn't usually join them for meals, but when she did, she always inquired about their well-being.

"Fang Honghua has already eaten, there's no need to rush," she said with a smile. Although she complained about her great-grandson, she still picked up the naughtiest one, Gu Heng, and with her bony old hand, patted Gu Man's head, saying, "Naughty monkey, you choked on an egg yolk. I wonder what could have been so urgent for you."

She had boiled eggs for Gu Man and two others that day, only to find out that the little one had choked on the yolk.

"Miao Qiulian, cut more meat. Take some back with you when you return and fry yourself a dish," she instructed as she hurried to the kitchen to prepare the meat.

Fang Honghua didn't stop her, for she indeed had a craving for it.

Outside, the group of young men, including Dog, took turns threshing and sunning the grain. They would occasionally come in to quench their thirst, seek shelter from the heat, and chat with Grandma.

Currently, the most pressing matter at home was Gu Lan's marriage. Fang Honghua inquired about the Lin family, asked about the progress of his new clothes, and discussed the future purchase of red cloth for the wedding attire. She also reminded Gu Lan to embroider a double-cranes pillow. With these mundane topics intertwined, she talked at length.

As noon passed and the sun became less scorching, Fang Honghua carried a bowl of sliced meat and a bowl of dry rice back home. Passing by Qian Laoda's house, she harrumphed, her face clearly expressing her disdain.

Qian Laoda, who was of the same generation and age as her, had already passed away. His widow was none other than Cao Xiaoqiao. Earlier, while chatting with Miao Qiulian, Fang Honghua had mentioned how this old thing, Cao Xiaoqiao, not only wanted to take advantage of their family but even dared to lay a hand on her grandson. There was no joy in her heart about this. If not for the fact that Qian Laoda was a good man in life and his son was honest, with Cao Xiaoqiao's insatiable greed and annoyance, she might not have been able to survive in the village.

*

After nearly twenty days of work, they managed to fill the jars with thoroughly dried new wheat, leaving enough for the tax collectors. It was a time of prosperity, and the government showed compassion to the people, imposing lighter land taxes and labor duties than two or three decades prior. As a result, more households could afford a full stomach.

With days of prosperity, Gu Tieshan would lead his donkey to the village's stone mill to grind half a sack of fresh flour, allowing his family to enjoy two days of delicate noodles and steamed buns.

As the busiest times passed and the weather heated up, many households in Small River Village took a few days off. Those with abundant harvests rarely ventured out under the scorching sun at noon.

In the afternoon, when the sun moved westward, a few people gradually gathered under the shade of the large tree at the village entrance.

The ancestral home of the Gu family was one of the first houses in the village. Fang Honghua, who had just finished her meal, noticed two elderly ladies carrying stools as they walked past her house. She also grabbed a stool and went outside, chatting idly while cutting patterns for shoes.

Old Man Sun fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan, discussing how Zhou's second son was planning to get married next year. Spotting someone approaching, he remarked, "It's from the Xingwang household. Not busy today?"

Ye Jinrong, or Pei Xingwang's wife, carried a small sieve and a stool, smiling as she said, "Grandma, I was feeling stifled at home. There's a breeze out here, it's cool."

She sat beside Old Man Sun. The small sieve held a pile of cotton and spools of thread. As she listened to the elders conversing, she spun thread, occasionally chiming in. Upon learning that Zhou's second son had already been betrothed, she quickly added, "My Tiger is about the same age. If Aunty has any suitable matches, please consider arranging a marriage for him. I won't forget to treat you to the matchmaker's wine."

Old Lady Zheng smacked her lips. Matchmaker's wine always came with the matchmaker's gift. Though she hadn't often acted as a matchmaker nor possessed the skill, the suggestion piqued her interest. However, she couldn't recall any young maidens or suitable pairs, so she sighed inwardly, feeling a twinge of envy. She could only listen as the others discussed the girls in this family or the boys in that one.

Fang Honghua, engrossed in cutting her shoe patterns, remained silent. She never interfered with household matters and certainly had no business meddling in others'. Besides, she genuinely didn't hold the Pei Xingwang family in high regard.

Six or seven people engaged in lively conversation, discussing not only Small River Village but also events in the neighboring villages.

Amidst their lively chatter, the loquacious Elder Yang caught sight of someone entering the village from the entrance and, without much thought, asked, "That seems to be your second son. He's even older than Huizi, but he's not married yet?"

Upon hearing this, the group under the shade fell silent. They glanced at the approaching Pei Yan and then back at Ye Jinrong's expression.

Elder Yang pursed his lips, refraining from speaking further.

Feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment under their gazes, Ye Jinrong blamed both Pei Yan for causing her humiliation and Elder Yang for his loose tongue. She was well aware of the village gossip, but that damn nemesis had been born to torment her.

As Pei Yan, with mud on his legs, passed by the tree, he lowered his eyes slightly. His already expressionless face appeared even more stoic, showing no hint of warmth or respect towards his so-called birth mother.

Ye Jinrong's face was grim and cold. After he had gone past, she huffed and got up, carrying the bench away, unwilling to see those old folks again.

Elder Yang had seen her glare and, watching her receding figure, spat on the ground. Rolling his eyes, he grumbled, "Pah! What does she think, that everyone else is blind? That ungrateful family, picking on the second son relentlessly. Can you call that a birth mother? In my opinion, she's even more heartless than a stepmother. Any girl who marries into their family must have had eight generations of bad luck!"

Given how Ye Jinrong had embarrassed him, his words were naturally harsh, though not out of genuine concern for Pei Yan.

"Ah, that's true. You won't find another family like theirs in the entire village," Elder Sun chimed in. Beside him, Elder Madam Zheng felt relieved that the matchmaking feast would not take place, and she joined in criticizing Ye Jinrong.

"Ah, you're all here," Cao Xiaoqiao approached with her basket, her face crinkling into a smile, seemingly unaware of any recent events or celebrations.

"Where did Auntie Cao go?" Only Old Lady Zheng engaged her in conversation. The others either remained silent or shot her disdainful glances.

After the long walk, Cao Xiaoqiao was breathless. Spotting a stone by the tree root, she sat down contentedly and said, "Nowhere special."

Old Lady Zheng immediately noticed the large peaches in her basket, despite being covered by cloth. When the wind blew, the red fruits would peek out. She leaned forward to get a closer look, smacking her lips as she commented, "Looks like you've got quite a few there. They appear succulent."

Cao Xiaoqiao cautiously shifted her bamboo basket to hide it better. Initially, she had intended to rest, but now that someone had seen her, she tried to cover up, "I met a relative on the way, and they gave me a few."

"If they were given to you, they can't be worth much. In that case, give me half to taste," Old Lady Zheng's eyes kept darting towards the basket, tempted.

Cao Xiaoqiao's expression changed instantly, and she snapped, "You? You think these big peaches are worthless just because you say so? How dare you ask for food from others? Take a good look at yourself."

Her words were too harsh, and Old Lady Zheng couldn't maintain her composure. She spat in Cao Xiaoqiao's direction, who quickly dodged.

Undeterred, Old Lady Zheng retorted, "Bawdy old hag, even if your peaches were made of gold, you wouldn't be able to persuade this Zheng auntie to take a bite. You're being disrespectful, bellowing here."

"You despicable thing with a greedy heart and no skills. You can't even have a peach, yet you beg from others. You're a dog's offspring," Cao Xiaoqiao shot back.

These words hit Old Lady Zheng's sore spot, and she lost her temper, pointing at Cao Xiaoqiao and yelling, "You lowly wretch! Don't pull your mother into this. How dare a dog-bitch like you order me around!"

Hastily, Elder Master Sun intervened, "That's enough, enough! Don't make a scene here."

He waved at Cao Xiaoqiao and said, "Hurry up and leave. Stop causing trouble. If you keep this up, even the men will gather around. Then, you'll have a lot to be ashamed of."

The others also tried to mediate, but Fang Honghua, upon glancing at the basket of red peaches, sneered, "I say, those aren't from any relatives; they were probably stolen."

Cao Xiaoqiao, who had just calmed down, snapped back to attention. Her eyes widened as she abruptly stood up.

"I don't recall any relatives of yours having peach trees. With your usual habit of stealing melons and vegetables, you've probably caused trouble for all your relatives. Who would give you peaches? Most likely, they're stolen!" Fang Honghua rose to her feet, her tone aggressive.

"Why are you getting so defensive? Could it be that I hit the nail on the head?" Encouraged by Fang Honghua's support, Grandma Zheng became more arrogant, shouting, "She, Cao Xiaoqiao, has stolen again! This time, she's even dared to steal from a neighboring village. That damned thief deserves to be publicly shamed!"

"Cursing me as a poor wretch doesn't make you any better, you beggar with a shameless face," Cao Xiaoqiao shot back. She despised Grandma Zheng's poverty and greed, always taking advantage of others. As for Fang Honghua, they had some old grudges. Seeing the Gous live comfortably had made Fang Honghua uncomfortable over the years. Pointing her finger at Fang Honghua's nose, she cursed, "Old hag, may heavenly thunder strike you and rot your tongue for spreading lies!"

Grandma Zheng's face turned ashen when she was labeled a poor wretch, anger coursing through her veins. She gasped for air and stumbled backward. Elder Master Sun and the others quickly caught her, frantically trying to revive her by pressing her chin and soothing her chest.

Fang Honghua, hands on her hips, began to scold, "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth. You're an ungrateful wretch! Not even saving your own granddaughter, and when you die, you won't be able to spend a single coin in your grave. It'll just decorate your rotten bones. Damn it, may you fry in hot oil after death!"

Seeing that Cao Xiaoqiao was about to retaliate, Fang Honghua raised her voice, interrupting her, "You're worse than a pig or a dog, old beast! You envy everyone who grows vegetables. You've broken the fruit-bearing branches of the Zhangs' tree, trampled on the Liu family's bean sprouts, and even stole their ducks. Even when caught red-handed, you still claim them as yours. You want to take advantage of everyone, not even sparing a fly's feces. Stealing my wheat and hitting my grandson, do you think I'll let you off easy today?"

"You!" Cao Xiaoqiao, caught in her wrongdoings, would have normally slunk away with humiliation if someone else had exposed her. But she was shameless and, unable to retort, could only resort to spewing filthy curses while hopping on one foot.

Their argument escalated into a heated exchange, as if they were sworn enemies from past lifetimes.

Cao Xiaoqiao had committed too many despicable acts, leaving her unable to refute Fang Honghua's accusations. Frustrated, her face swelled with anger. Suddenly, she spotted Gu Lan returning from weeding the fields. Seizing the opportunity, she blurted out, "Who do I see? It's the shameless little harlot!"

"Old hag!" Fang Honghua flew into a rage, immediately slapping Cao Xiaoqiao and grappling with her.

Seeing their grandmother involved in a scuffle with another elderly woman, Gu Lan and Doggie rushed over, joining Grandpa Sun and others to separate them.

Even before entering the village, Gu Lan had heard his grandmother's robust voice engaged in a heated argument. Though unsure of the cause, upon hearing Cao Xiaoqiao's vulgar insults, he couldn't resist twisting her arm, causing her to wail in pain and threaten to retaliate.

Doggie, being a man, didn't think it appropriate to engage in a fight with a woman, let alone an older one. He held onto Cao Xiaoqiao's arm to prevent her from moving, allowing Fang Honghua to land a few more slaps.

Upon hearing the commotion, other villagers gathered around. Grandpa Sun signaled for Qian Yihe from the second branch of the Qian family to help carry Cao Xiaoqiao away.

"Enough, Auntie. Don't curse anymore. Go home," Qian Yihe said, disapproving of his aunt's disgraceful behavior but still assisting his wife in supporting her due to familial obligations.

As Cao Xiaoqiao left, she didn't forget the basket of stolen peaches. She cried and cursed, but no one paid attention. Her son was still working in the fields, and his husband, who was taking care of their child at home, barely lifted an eyelid when she entered, let alone showed any concern or greeting.

Fang Honghua emerged relatively unscathed. Gu Lan tidied her disheveled white hair and straightened her clothes. Together with Doggy, they supported her on their way back home.