Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Under the bright moon and sparse stars, Lu Yao poured the last of the beans from the wooden bucket into the grinding stone and urged Zhao Beichuan beside him.

"Grind quickly, grind quickly! I'll take you to see something exciting in a bit!"

Zhao Beichuan didn’t ask what the excitement was; he pushed the grinding stone with more force, making it whirl rapidly.

Before long, the beans in the bucket were all ground, and the two carried the soy milk back through the village. Halfway there, they suddenly heard a commotion and glimpses of flickering firelight.

Lu Yao quickened his pace excitedly. "Hurry, let's go see what's happening!"

By the river, Song Widow was only wearing a single piece of clothing, her pants not yet on properly, huddled together, head down, trembling.

Beside her, Song Changshun had put on his pants and was slapped twice by Lin Daman, leaving his face swollen.

Song Old Lady clutched her chest, gasping for breath. "You shameless wretch! You begged me to stay in the Song family, saying you couldn't bear to part with your child. Now look at what you've done—seducing other men!"

"Speak up! If you don’t explain yourself today, I’ll send you straight to the nunnery!"

Song Widow shrank back in fear. The nunnery was no place for people; rumor had it that those who entered had to wake up before dawn every day to work, barely getting enough food, and if they didn’t finish their tasks, they would be beaten. Without someone to redeem them, they would spend their entire lives there until death.

"Mama, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't send me to such a place!" Song Widow crawled to her mother-in-law’s side, grabbing her pant leg and pleading.

"It was... it was Song Changshun who forced me! Not long after Da Fu left, he came to me and demanded I sleep with him. When I refused, he raped me. I had no choice!"

"Bullshit!" Song Changshun exploded. "It was clearly you who seduced me first!"

In spring, Song Widow claimed she was unwell and asked Song Changshun to help her with the fields for a couple of days.

"I thought since my brother was gone, she must be struggling alone, so I helped out. But then she brought me sweet water and used a handkerchief to wipe my head, held my hand, and even touched my face."

"Tell me, how could a sister-in-law act so intimately with her brother-in-law? What else could she be doing but seducing me?"

"Then why did you drag me into the woods and try to pull down my pants?" Song Widow sobbed uncontrollably. "Mama, I can't bear to part with Ping. Otherwise, I would have followed Da Fu..."

The crowd felt sympathy for her. Song Third Uncle pointed at Song Changshun. "You beast, daring to bully your own sister-in-law!"

Song Changshun, enraged, kicked Song Widow. "Spit! You poisonous wretch! Can’t bear Ping? If you truly cared about Ping, how could you use the money meant for his medicine to frame others?"

Song Old Lady slapped her thigh. "Second, what are you talking about?!"

"He’s lying! Mama, don’t listen to him!" Song Widow panicked, ignoring her exposed body, and lunged at Song Changshun, fighting fiercely.

As they fought, Song Changshun got scratched across the face, while Song Widow was kicked several times, lying on the ground clutching her stomach and moaning.

Song Changshun wiped the blood from his face and spat. "That lustful wretch has set his sights on Zhao Beichuan, but unfortunately, he’s married now. To frame the young man from the Lu family, he even hired a scholar from town to ruin Lu Yao’s reputation. Where did the money come from? He swindled it from Mama! You gave him eight taels for medicine, but he spent only one or two, pocketing the rest!"

Stealing a lover might still be forgivable, but embezzling the child’s medicine money was a capital offense. Song Old Lady would show no mercy.

Song Widow’s heart sank, staring intently at Song Changshun. If looks could kill, he would already be torn to pieces.

Song Old Lady turned pale with rage. "How dare you plot against your own son for another man! No wonder Ping’s illness never improved—it was his own mother secretly harming him!"

"Today, our family has brought disgrace upon ourselves. This person cannot remain in the Song family. Bind him and send him to the nunnery tomorrow."

A group of people tied up Song Widow, gagged him, and shoved him back to the Song residence.

Song Changshun breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the matter was over. Smiling awkwardly, he approached his husband. "Daman, I know you’re angry with me. It was my foolishness that led me astray. I swear it won’t happen again. Let’s live happily and raise our children together."

Lin Daman sneered. "Living happily? You think too simply."

"So, what do you want? You’ve beaten me, and he’s been sent to the nunnery. What more do you need?"

Lin Daman slapped him again, making Song Changshun see stars. "Why did I ever choose such a despicable creature! Spit! We’ll divorce tomorrow!" He walked away hurriedly, leaving Song Changshun stumbling behind, holding his face.

After watching the spectacle, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan quietly emerged from the side.

Lu Yao sighed. "Dog bites dog, both lose."

"Serves them right." Zhao Beichuan picked up the soy milk. "Let’s go home."

Lu Yao followed him briskly, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

Although Song Widow’s fate was tragic, it was self-inflicted. If he hadn’t started the trouble, Lu Yao wouldn’t have set up the trap.

The only person he felt guilty towards was Lin Daman. He did feel like he had used him, but it also helped him see Song Changshun’s true nature.

"Zhao Beichuan, do you think I’m too cruel?"

"If someone doesn’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them. If it were me, their fate would be worse." The last person who bullied him ended up with a broken arm.

"Hey, our Da Chuan is impressive!"

Zhao Beichuan stumbled, nearly spilling the soy milk, and quickened his pace, rushing home.

Lu Yao followed closely, panting, wondering why this guy was so shy. If they were undressed, wouldn’t he be too embarrassed to stand?

*

Song Widow’s incident didn’t cause much of a stir in the village because only Song family relatives were involved in catching the affair, and they didn’t want to spread the scandal.

However, Lin Daman was determined to divorce Song Changshun. The next morning, he packed his things and called the Village Headman to discuss the matter.

Lu Yao, pushing his tofu cart, saw many people heading to the Song residence. He stopped a familiar face to inquire. "Aunt Ding, where are you all going?"

"Well, we heard that Song Changshun’s husband wants a divorce. Everyone’s going to try and persuade him."

Lu Yao nodded and followed the crowd.

The Song residence was surrounded by layers of people, most just there for the spectacle. Divorces were rare in the village, and most people endured their troubles.

In the courtyard, the Village Headman was trying to mediate. "Marriage is no joke. You’ve been married for over six years and have two children. Don’t let a small issue lead to a divorce."

Song Changshun, with a pig-like head, stammered, "Uncle, I’ve tried persuading and begging him. I’m almost ready to kneel and beg. What else can I do?"

Lin Daman sneered. "What you did was unforgivable. How long would you have continued this deceit if I hadn’t caught you?"

The Village Headman coughed, knowing about yesterday’s events.

"Lin Daman, if you insist on divorcing, you probably can’t take the children with you."

Lin Daman’s eyes widened. "Why not? They’re my children. Why can’t I take them?"

The Village Headman patiently explained, "Their household registration is here, and the house and land are here. Where will you live if you take them? Do you have the means to support them?"

Lin Daman replied, "My parents and brothers will help me!"

Beside him, Song Old Lady pleaded, "They can help you temporarily, but can they help you forever? Even if your brothers are willing, will their wives agree? Daman, listen to Mama. Forgive Changshun once and stay to live a good life."

Lin Daman shook her off, "If they don't want to help, I'll raise the two children on my own. With hands and feet, can I starve to death?" He believed himself to be strong and capable, doing work better than most men. Why couldn't he support his family independently?

The Village Headman sighed, seeing that persuasion was futile, "Song Changshun, do you have anything else to say?"

"No, no," he mumbled, head down. The children weren't close to him anyway, and both were considered financial burdens. He had no objections to Lin Daman taking them.

"Very well, today I will write the divorce agreement. From now on, each of you shall go your separate ways."

For couples to come together, it is due to the ties formed in three previous lives, leading to their union in this life. If these ties are not harmonious, they become adversaries. Since their hearts no longer align, it is best to part ways with the consent of all relatives.①

After they pressed their fingerprints, the marriage was officially dissolved.

Farmers have little marital property. The dilapidated house belonged to the Song family, which Lin Daman neither wanted nor could take. He only took clothes for himself and the children, along with two hundred copper coins, and left the Song family with determination.

Lu Yao watched Lin Daman's departing figure, impressed by his courage.

Born in the wrong era, if he were in modern times, he would surely achieve great things.

The crowd gradually dispersed, and Lu Yao had sold most of his tofu. He kept a few pieces for his family and pushed the cart home.

Tomorrow was the main beam-raising ceremony, and according to village customs, several tables needed to be prepared for a feast.

"You're back," Zhao Beichuan was tidying the yard and helped push the cart when Lu Yao returned.

"Ah, Lin Daman has finally divorced. As a man raising two children alone, who knows how he'll manage."

"Do you regret it?"

Lu Yao rubbed his shoulders, "Not really. Even without me, it would have been discovered eventually. I just sped up the process."

"Then don't worry about it. Help me calculate the expenses; we need to pay the workers tomorrow."

Lu Yao retrieved the jar buried behind the kitchen. Recently, he spent five silver coins on medicine and three more on millet and beans, leaving him with six thousand two hundred copper coins.

He grabbed a stick and scribbled on the ground, "Three masons at twenty copper coins per day for twenty-one days, totaling one thousand two hundred sixty copper coins. Two carpenters at thirty copper coins per day for thirteen days, totaling seven hundred eighty copper coins." Lu Yao set aside two thousand copper coins.

"Buying thatch cost fifty copper coins, and each beam cost one hundred twenty copper coins. Father gave us seven beams, and we bought five from Liang Yongli, totaling seven hundred fifty copper coins."

Zhao Beichuan added, "Include what Father provided. They helped us and shouldn't have to pay."

Lu Yao agreed and counted another eight hundred forty copper coins.

Some of the new house's doors and windows came from the old house, while others were newly made. These expenses added up to three hundred copper coins.

"For tomorrow's feast, we've prepared five tables for neighbors and villagers. Each table has six dishes—three meat and three vegetable. We bought three chickens, twenty eggs, ten pounds of pork, two jars of yellow wine, millet, and vegetables. Altogether, it costs around one thousand three hundred copper coins."

After accounting for all expenses, they had less than one thousand copper coins left, not including the wages for Lu Yao's father and Lu Lin. Paying them would leave them penniless.

Lu Yao shook the empty jar, "Zhao Beichuan, we're so poor!"

Zhao Beichuan looked anxious, "Don't worry, harvest season is coming. After harvesting, I'll hunt in the mountains and earn some money."

Lu Yao stopped teasing him. This young man was already impressive, having raised his siblings and saved enough to build a new house. At his age, Lu Yao was still lying to his parents to get money for internet cafes.

He patted Zhao Beichuan's shoulder, "Don't worry, we still have five stones of beans in the kitchen. We can sell them in town for more money!"

*

On July 28th, before dawn, Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou woke up early. Today was the big day for the new house's beam-raising!

The children wore the clothes Lu Yao made for them, their hair neatly combed, and skipped into the new courtyard.

Yesterday, Lu Yao had asked Tian Er's wife, Old Lady Zhao, and Qin's young son from the backyard to help cook.

They borrowed tables, bowls, and basins from several families, even an iron pot from the Qins.

With the iron pot, Lu Yao planned to show off his skills. After all, these ancient people only knew steaming, boiling, and stewing.

The vegetarian dishes included scrambled eggs with leeks, cold mixed heartleaf houttuynia, and green onions with tofu. The meat dishes were chicken stewed with radishes, pork stir-fried with cabbage, and bean sprouts stir-fried with pork.

This was Lu Yao's first time organizing such a rural feast in ancient times, and he was excited. Although there weren't many guests, every table had real meat.

First, they prepared all the ingredients to save time later.

Tian Er's wife praised, "Your feast is impressive. Even in town, it would be considered good. You wouldn't believe it, but Song Dezhu's son's wedding feast was so meager, barely any oil, truly shameful."

Lu Yao smiled, "Everyone has been so helpful lately. This is our way of thanking everyone."

Old Lady Zhao frowned, "How much did all this meat cost? Saving money isn't easy. You should watch Da Chuan; spending like this won't last."

"Yes, Mother."

Tian Er's wife lost interest, pouting and went outside to wash vegetables with Qin's young son.

With all the ingredients ready, Lu Yao started cooking.

For such a large feast, he began with cold dishes, then hot ones, starting with stews and moving to stir-fries to save time.

He put the chicken and radishes in the pot to stew, then mixed the green onions and tofu. Tian Er's wife made the cold mixed heartleaf houttuynia, which involved blanching the leaves, adding salt and hot oil. It smelled grassy and tasted slightly bitter but refreshing.

Scrambled eggs with leeks were straightforward with the iron pot.

The two meat dishes were trickier. Ancient pork had a strong, unpleasant smell unlike modern pork.

When Lu Yao first bought the pork, he almost vomited, thinking it was spoiled. Zhao Beichuan explained that all pork smelled like that.

Lu Yao soaked the pork in water with a bit of rice wine, ginger slices, and scallions to remove the odor.

He fried the fatty parts first to render the fat, then added the vegetables and cooked over high heat.

The aroma filled the air instantly!

*

In the front yard, more than twenty men had hoisted the main beam, adorned with red paper, waiting for the auspicious moment.

Ding the carpenter, experienced in this ritual, led the ceremony.

He touched the beam, "Wow, this old pine is solid. It'll last a hundred years. Where did you get it, Da Chuan?"

"It was from my father-in-law."

Lu Guangsheng, standing behind, smiled proudly. He had cut the wood from the mountain seven or eight years ago, working hard to bring it down.

Initially meant for his eldest son's new house, it remained unused after his son passed away.

After the eldest son's passing, the existing house sufficed, so the wood lay idle until now, used for the new house.

The village elders chose the auspicious time as the third hour of the morning. As the gong sounded, Ding the carpenter sang in a long, drawn-out voice: "Disciples of Lu Ban pass by—inviting the host to set the main beam—auspicious time, the beam rises, steady and secure, bringing prosperity—"

After reciting the blessing, he followed the custom of warding off evil spirits. He asked the owner for a cup of clean water, drank it, and sprayed it on the beam, saying: "Looking to the side, heaven and earth open, the time is auspicious, building a splendid hall, suitable for living, evil spirits retreat, malevolent spirits hide, here with the beam, forever blessed."

"Rise the beam —"

"Heyo! Heyo!" Over twenty men, young and old, chanted in unison as they pulled on the thick hemp rope to hoist the wooden beam. As the main beam slowly rose and was finally placed on the roof, the beam was set!

"Crackling!" Firecrackers went off, and everyone, young and old, clapped and cheered.

Lu Yao stood among the crowd, looking at the small, humble house. For some reason, his eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

Yes, this was his home now!

The wandering soul had found its resting place, and the lonely body had found its shelter. At this moment, Lu Yao fully merged with the common folk of centuries past, cheering and shedding tears of joy for the new house he had built.