Chapter 13 Peril

Chapter 13: Peril

Fortunately, he had slept well in the first half of the night, but in the second half, Meng Wan couldn't sleep no matter what. He thought about all sorts of random things, finally coming back to Zhu Ge'er, who had almost died.

At the crack of dawn, Meng Wan carried the soaked beans to the threshing yard to grind them. So early, hardly anyone in the village was up. When he finished grinding and went back, Chang Jinhua was already up.

"Didn't I say I'd go? Why'd you go on your own again?"

Meng Wan helped her bring the firewood in and start the fire. "I woke up early, so I went ahead."

Chang Jinhua knew it was useless to argue with him; her young master had a strong will.

After making a slab of tofu, they set it outside, covered it with burlap, and Chang Jinhua watched over it to sell. Few people bought early, mostly folks from the village, but it sold faster around noon when folks from nearby villages came by.

Chang Jinhua only made one slab each day. Sometimes it sold fast, and if you came late, it was gone; other times, a few pieces were left by evening, so she and Meng Wan would eat them for a couple of days.

Now every meal was tofu, morning and night, with an occasional big radish dish. Meng Wan was happier with that than with meat.

When the sun was overhead, Xiao Mei from next door called out over the wall, "Wan Ge, you coming or not!"

Meng Wan put his basket on his back and called back loudly, "I'm leaving now."

He told Chang Jinhua, and the three of them met at the door.

Xiao Mei was as cheerful as ever. Meng Wan didn't see any bump in her belly and asked out of curiosity, "Xiao Mei, how many months are you? Can you hike?"

"Pfft, that's nothing! My sister-in-law was still working in the fields at nine months pregnant," Xiao Mei said. Xiao Mei had been there when her sisters-in-law gave birth, so she knew more than Meng Wan, who was totally clueless about this stuff.

"Oh." While talking to Xiao Mei, Meng Wan was secretly watching Zhu Ge'er, who was walking with his head down.

The whole way, Xiao Mei was the one talking to Meng Wan. Zhu Ge'er was usually quiet, but today he didn't say a word. His neck was covered by the collar of his undershirt, hiding the bruises under the fabric, but his movements seemed really stiff, and he barely moved his neck.

Meng Wan observed for a bit. While Xiao Mei was off gathering firewood, he suddenly asked Zhu Ge'er, "You alright?"

Zhu Ge'er froze in the middle of picking up firewood, his raspy voice squeezed out two words, "I'm okay."

Meng Wan bit his lip and said quietly, "What about next time?"

He stepped away from Zhu Ge'er, turning his back to him. "You only have one life. If you just endure it every time, sooner or later..."

He didn't finish the sentence. In this era, a married young master who returned home wouldn't be taken in by his natal family, and being alone would lead to being bullied to death. Either way, it was a dead end, unless he stood up for himself and fought back.

But Meng Wan couldn't say that. His bond with Zhu Ge'er wasn't deep enough for such frank advice. If Zhu Ge'er told someone else and something went wrong, Meng Wan would be blamed.

The high mountain beyond Snake Gully was well-lit by the sun, and the dry wood there was thicker. Men took sickles to chop wood up there, bundling it and carrying it down the mountain on poles.

Xiao Mei watched them enviously. "If you don't stock up on firewood in winter, you'll freeze to death. Big Brother and Tian Wang have been out working these days and have no time to chop wood. How about we go to that mountain tomorrow?"

Zhu Ge'er glanced at Meng Wan for some reason, but Meng Wan didn't notice. He looked up and saw the dense, fine wood on that mountain, feeling tempted. In past years, Chang Jinhua only gathered enough firewood to heat her own stove, but now both stoves were burning, and tofu-making during the day consumed wood quickly. Song Tingzhou was always in a rush when he came home from studying, and there was no man in their household to chop wood on the mountain.

Maybe he should take a sickle and try that mountain tomorrow?

Each of them gathered a basket of firewood and carried it back. At the Tian family's gate, they ran into the two brothers heading out. Tian Wang was tall and thin, with a smiling face like Xiao Mei's, and they chatted and laughed as they entered the yard.

Tian Xing was shorter than his brother, with a broad nose and wide mouth, looking honest. He kindly took Zhu Ge'er's basket and carried it himself, smiling as he greeted Meng Wan, "Wan Ge'er, come over and play when you have time."

"I'll come when winter's free," Meng Wan replied politely.

Zhu Ge'er glanced at Meng Wan but didn't echo Tian Xing's words. Tian Xing's smile faded as he turned away, seeming a bit displeased. The couple entered the yard one after the other.

The tofu stall at the Song family's gate had been packed up. Chang Jinhua sat on the threshold, sewing a shoe sole. Seeing Meng Wan's basket of firewood, she laughed. "That bit you gathered is just enough to heat the kang tonight."

Meng Wan dumped the firewood onto the kitchen floor. "Isn't that perfect? Tomorrow, I want to take a sickle and cut some fine wood."

Chang Jinhua put down the shoe sole. "Tomorrow, you stay and sell the tofu. I'll go."

Meng Wan washed his hands and opened the big pot. Sure enough, it was cabbage stewed with tofu again. He scooped it out and said to Chang Jinhua, "Didn't you say buyers come from all over, and it's too risky for me, a young master, to be alone at the stall? You told me not to sell tofu at the gate."

Chang Jinhua took bowls and chopsticks from the cupboard and set them on the table, glaring at him. "We've made some money this year. If we run short, we'll just buy twenty bundles. I'll go chop wood with you this afternoon, and that'll be enough. If you want to play on the mountain, go ahead. Don't expect a young master like you to actually chop wood!"

Meng Wan served her rice and coaxed her, "I just want to go for a walk in the mountains when I'm free. Xiao Mei and Zhu Ge'er from next door will come with me; I won't be alone. Besides, Cousin is coming back tomorrow, right? Even if I don't chop wood, I can gather some dried goods. He loves the tofu sauce with mushrooms."

At the mention of Song Tingzhou, Chang Jinhua fell silent. Deep down, she still hoped the two children would grow closer.

Meng Wan simply hated being idle at home. How long had he been here? Even though he liked the same sex, his mind hadn't fully adjusted from being a man to a young master. He couldn't bear to sit at home embroidering—not in a lifetime.

That night, for the first time, he heard sounds from next door that weren't abuse. Meng Wan turned over. On the other side of the wall, there was first an argument, then cries for mercy, and finally a hoarse, ugly sobbing. After enduring for so long, this was the first time Zhu Ge'er had cried out so loudly.

Not just Meng Wan—probably everyone in both yards could hear that bitter, aggrieved weeping.

Meng Wan pulled the blanket over his head and closed his eyes.

It was good to let it out. At least Zhu Ge'er should realize that silent endurance was wrong.

The next day, the three of them went to the mountains again to gather firewood. Meng Wan didn't bring yesterday's basket; instead, he carried a short length of hemp rope and a sickle.

"Xiao Mei, you're not coming today?"

Only Zhu Ge'er had a basket. Xiao Mei came empty-handed, pouting with a mix of frustration and sweetness. "My mother-in-law said this morning I can't go up the mountain anymore. The first three months need to be careful."

Meng Wan was a bit surprised. If she was worried, why hadn't she mentioned it yesterday?

Zhu Ge'er kept his head low, his gaze just catching Xiao Mei's still-flat belly.

Meng Wan and Zhu Ge'er went up the mountain together. This time, they headed straight for the high mountain behind Snake Gully. It was called Zhao Mountain, the tallest in Sanquan Village, unowned and belonging to the government, open for anyone to forage.

In spring, when food was scarce, everyone came here to dig wild vegetables. Hunters also entered this mountain in winter to trap prey.

"Wan Ge'er..." Zhu Ge'er lagged a few steps behind Meng Wan and called out just as Meng Wan was about to enter the mountain.

"Hmm?" Meng Wan turned back to see Zhu Ge'er looking at him with a complex expression.

He was taller than Zhu Ge'er, and with Zhu Ge'er a step lower on the path, he had to look up to speak. Up close, Meng Wan could see the terrifying purple-red bruises beneath his collar.

Zhu Ge'er stood on the slightly lower path and said something inexplicable: "Do you think young masters are all born with cheap fates?" This was the phrase he'd heard most often growing up, from both his natal and marital families. He wanted to find an answer from Meng Wan, because Meng Wan seemed different—he could feel it.

Meng Wan's heart tightened. He wasn't surprised Zhu Ge'er would say such a thing. In this era, a poor family marrying into an abusive husband's home—it would be stranger if he didn't think that way.

Women already faced all kinds of injustice, and the lowest-status young masters even more so. Once married, their lives were no longer their own. Divorce or abandonment was unthinkable.

He'd heard that in small towns, wealthy merchants who doted on their children might buy a small courtyard for their young master after a divorce, but those were rare. In truth, the more prestigious the city or capital, the more they valued reputation. Being cast out would only lead to death.

Families wouldn't tolerate a divorced woman or young master; it would shame the entire clan. So even if it meant death, they had to die in their husband's home.

"Life is your own. Parents may give birth and raise you, but they can't live your life for you. Cheap fate, noble fate—if you accept it, then whatever fate others assign you, that's what you'll be. If you don't want to follow the path others set for you, you need to think carefully about where your way out lies and work toward it."

His words were a bit profound for a rural young master, but seeing Zhu Ge'er lost in thought, it seemed he truly grasped the meaning.

The forests of Zhao Mountain were deep and dense, full of towering trees of similar height. Once inside, it was easy to lose direction. Except for hunters familiar with the terrain, villagers only ventured to the edges to gather mountain goods, never daring to go deep, where not only wild beasts lurked but also traps set by hunters.

"Bamboo Ge'er, there seem to be some mushrooms over there. Shall we go pick some?"

Bamboo Ge'er jerked awake at Meng Wan's call, realizing Meng Wan had already entered the mountain.

He lingered for a moment, a dull, gloomy look creeping into his eyes, before following with a strange look on his face.

Meng Wan picked a handful of mushrooms at the base of a tree. Song Tingzhou loved mushrooms—stir-fried, mixed, or made into a sauce. Since he used him as a cover, he had to bring something back.

Not having brought a basket today, Meng Wan had a little basket hooked over his arm, tossing the mushrooms inside. He hadn't forgotten his real task for the day. Finding a spot with good sunlight and plenty of twigs, he set the basket down in an open area, gearing up to start.

"Wan Ge'er, cutting wood?"

Meng Wan was sweating buckets. Maybe his stance was off or he was just too weak, he hadn't made much progress, but he was making a hell of a noise.

This attracted Tian Xing, who was also cutting wood nearby.

Bamboo Ge'er was gathering mushrooms and wood scraps not far off, within plain sight. Meng Wan found it strange that Tian Xing approached him instead of Bamboo Ge'er first, and replied in a cool, polite tone, "I was just bored at home, just messing around on the mountain. Brother Tian, were you nearby just now? Why didn't you come up the mountain with your wife?"

Everyone in the village knew Meng Wan was good-looking, but this was only the second time Tian Xing had really taken a good look at him.

Fair, translucent skin, a slender build, delicate features—his personality had shaped his appearance, giving him a bit more masculinity than other Ge'er.

Yet it wasn't jarring; the blend gave him a unique charm. At just sixteen, he was still an unplucked, green fruit, but hints of future allure were already visible.

Tian Xing stared at his rosy cheeks, unconsciously swallowing a couple of times. His usually honest face turned somewhat lecherous with that look and his direct gaze.

The face is the mirror of the mind—

Meng Wan grew wary. He roughly wiped the sweat from his face. "Brother Tian, isn't that your wife under that tree? Didn't you see her?"

Tian Xing made a show of looking around. "No? Did she go home?"

"Really? Then I'll head down the mountain first, or my aunt might come looking for me." Meng Wan calmed himself down, gripping the handle of his sickle tightly.

Tian Xing smiled. "Go ahead then. Want me to see you off?"

Meng Wan didn't drop his guard for a second. "No need, Brother Tian. Keep cutting. I'm off."

The moment he turned, Tian Xing lunged at him. Meng Wan's heart jumped into his throat. He tried to swing his sickle, but Tian Xing was on him in a flash, grabbing his wrist.

He even heard a sharp *crack* from his wrist, followed by soreness and pain. Meng Wan fought back hard, screaming at the top of his lungs, but to the burly farmer, his struggles were no more than a tickle.

"Wan Ge'er, listen to me. If you just go along with me and have a child, I'll kill Bamboo Ge'er right away and marry you."

"I'll treat you well, like a god."

"Be good, just come with me and have a child, okay?"

Tian Xing's sickening words dripped into Meng Wan's ears, as he rubbed against him, panting like a pig. Meng Wan's lower body was pinned tight, unable to move. His hands and feet were restrained, and his clothes were nearly torn off, his undershirt half off, held only by a string at the waist. If it were ripped open, wouldn't Meng Wan be at the mercy of this scoundrel?

The bastard didn't give a damn, leaving Meng Wan no chance to fight back, and went straight for it.

"Tian... Xing!"

At that critical moment, the beast panting over him was suddenly yanked away.

Song Tingzhou was still wearing the blue scholar's robe, now torn to shreds by the branches in the woods, but he didn't give a damn about looking like a proper scholar. With a cold expression, he pinned Tian Xing to the ground and punched him repeatedly, making him curl up and wail.

Meng Wan clutched his clothes, suppressing his nausea and disgust, and reminded Song Tingzhou, "Cousin, don't hit his face. Hit his stomach."

Song Tingzhou stood up at this and kicked Tian Xing hard in the stomach several times. He was tall and strong, a head taller than Tian Xing. Each kick carried a gust of wind, the fierce force striking Tian Xing's flesh and shifting his internal organs. His screams startled a flock of birds from the trees.

At the foot of the mountain, Bamboo Ge'er rubbed his neck. Every touch brought a searing pain. Picking up his basket from the ground, he headed home without looking back.