Chapter 41 Fright

CHAPTER 41: A FRIGHTFUL START

The next morning, the three of them finally got a decent night’s sleep. After washing up, they folded up the quilts.

Even though their relationship was strained now, they were still just tenant and landlord, so they had to let her know before they left.

Chang Jinhua exchanged a few words with Lü Shi, basically saying they were heading out on a long trip and expected to return within two months.

Lü Shi got suspicious, but when she realized Chang Jinhua wasn’t here to cancel the lease, her mind started racing—those two months the room sat empty, couldn’t she just…

“Auntie, we’ve already paid the rent for a full year. Leaving it vacant for two months would be such a waste. Tomorrow, I’ll have my cousin and his wife come to watch the shop. Please look out for them, Auntie.” Meng Wan cut in with a smile.

Lü Shi turned her head away and snorted coldly.

Meng Wan knew she’d been badmouthing him behind his back, and since they were leaving, he figured he’d let off some steam.

“Sister-in-law, you’re always working so hard. Poor little Yan’er must get lonely. Doesn’t Auntie ever help you with the kid?”

Huiniang was doing laundry by the well, after heating up some water to mix in, or else her hands would freeze in this cold weather.

She was a little surprised Meng Wan suddenly spoke up and answered flatly, “Yan’er’s been on her own since she was tiny. When she was little, I used to carry her on my back while I worked.”

Without needing Meng Wan’s signal, Chang Jinhua butted in, disapproving, “A little kid like that, freezing in winter and sweating in summer—how’s she supposed to tough it out with the grown-ups?”

“Exactly, exactly. I’ve heard the Lü family has no farmland, and even if they did, it wouldn’t be the women’s work. Since Auntie has nothing to do, why doesn’t she help you with the kid, Sister-in-law?” Meng Wan said, sounding totally sincere.

He was getting good at this kind of subtle jab. In ancient times, propriety and reputation mattered. Being blunt would get him labeled as rude, but a needle wrapped in silk—no one could argue with that. He couldn’t help wondering how well a modern “green tea” type would do in ancient times.

“Mind your own business, you unmarried brat!” Lü Shi, unable to win an argument with Meng Wan, spat out a comeback and ducked into her room.

Who knows what she does in there all day, holed up like that.

Meng Wan, having chased Lü Shi off, said to Huiniang seriously, “Sister-in-law, you’re a smart woman. You think putting up with her will keep the peace at home, but Yan’er’s watching how the grown-ups act, even learning from it. Do you want her to grow up, get married, and put up with the same crap?”

Huiniang kept scrubbing without stopping. “Putting up with it isn’t so bad.”

Meng Wan mulled it over—Huiniang’s way of thinking wasn’t weird, since women back then were taught to obey their husbands after marriage. But tough women have always existed, like Auntie Chang, who kept her husband’s whole family in check, or Zhou Niangzi at the tofu stall in Hongmiao Village market.

It’s an age-old truth: the meek get walked all over. If you were ruthless enough to not care about dying, who would dare provoke you? If a weaker daughter-in-law had the tofu stall, she’d still be bullied by her in-laws—it all depended on the person.

“I don’t agree with you, Sister-in-law, but I get it. Still, I’ve heard it’s not good for old folks to just sit around. Look at Auntie, cooped up in her room all day—she seems way frailer than my aunt. If she gets old and sick, you’ll be the one stuck taking care of her, right?” Meng Wan’s words weren’t exactly nice, and whether Huiniang took them to heart, who knows, but Yan’er, listening in from behind the water vat, memorized every single word.

As the Song family, laden with bundles, left on the oxcart, Lü Shi stiffly emerged and asked her daughter-in-law drawing water at the well, “Huiniang, what did that little wretch say to you?”

Huiniang pressed her lips together, disliking her mother-in-law’s words about Meng Wan but not arguing, only saying, “Nothing.”

Lü Shi was about to flare up when Yan’er popped out from the side. “Grandma, I know what Wan Ge’er said!”

Huiniang rarely showed anger. “Yan’er, no!”

Lü Shi was even more convinced that her daughter-in-law and an outsider had been gossiping behind her back. “Yan’er, speak!”

“Wan Ge’er said that if old people don’t move around, they get weak. He said Song Auntie’s body is very strong. He said if Grandma gets sick, Father and Grandfather will still go out to work, and only Mother and Grandma will be home, so Mother will have to take care of Grandma.”

Yan’er looked up at Lü Shi. “Grandma, then will Mother buy the groceries and meat? And then Yan’er can get a sugar candy, right?”

Lü Shi’s face darkened. “Eat what? I’m not so old I can’t move yet! Already thinking about controlling me when I can’t? Bah! Dream on!”

She cursed wildly, turned to go back inside, but stopped mid-step.

Not moving makes you weak?

She recalled Chang Jinhua’s brisk, capable figure and pinched her own arm—soft and limp. It seemed… it seemed she wasn’t as sturdy.

Yan’er watched as Grandma suddenly came back, possessed, and grabbed the bucket to fetch water. But the kitchen vat was full, and the yard vat had a crack.

Just as she was about to speak, her mother covered her mouth.

“Yan’er, let it be.”

Meng Wan felt his body had toughened up from all the work; walking back to the village wasn’t so tiring anymore.

He stealthily flexed his arm and pinched it—was that some hard muscle? Too subtle to tell!

Song Tingzhou walked behind him, catching every little move. “Is your arm sore? Let me carry the basket.”

Though Quanshui Town wasn’t the northernmost part of Yu, winter snow didn’t melt easily. With the weather warming slightly, the village road was half snow, half mud, making the oxcart hard to manage.

They had too many things; not all fit on the cart. To bring everything back in one trip, each carried a load, with Meng Wan taking the least.

“Your hands are full—where would you put my basket? Don’t worry, I can manage.” Meng Wan wasn’t bluffing; they weren’t in a hurry, and if tired, they could rest by the roadside.

Chang Jinhua, with a basket on her back and another in her hand, didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh at their exchange.

The oxcart was faster, and by the time they got home, Zhuzi had already unloaded half the goods.

Chang Jinhua pressed ten copper coins into his hand. He quickly refused. “Auntie, this is too much. Take half back.”

Chang Jinhua insisted. “You wore out your ox coming and going, and helped carry all this heavy stuff. You’ve earned it. Rest well at home.”

Zhuzi, embarrassed, accepted the coins, and with Song Tingzhou’s help moving the big items inside, he drove the oxcart away. As he left, he thought: the Song family had made money in town, but they were decent folks. Next time, if it was on his way, he wouldn’t charge them.

Back home, Song Tingzhou first shoveled the snow piled in the yard into the ditch outside, or it would melt and flood the yard tomorrow.

Chang Jinhua and Meng Wan organized the belongings. After clearing the snow, Song Tingzhou reinstalled the big iron pot, filled it with water, and lit the kang in both rooms.

Smoke rose from their chimney, and voices echoed in the yard, visible and audible to the neighbors.

Since the Tian family’s tragedy, the villagers kept their distance. Xiaomei wasn’t as lively as before; at six months pregnant, she looked at her mother-in-law Li Changxiang with a hint of fear. The once warm bond between them was gone.

Li Changxiang had dropped all pretense with both daughters-in-law. Xiaomei, at least pregnant and with many brothers to back her up, had some protection. Zhu Ge’er was different.

“What are you staring at? Does Wan Ge’er care about you? Ungrateful thing—can’t get along with your own sister-in-law, but you fawn over that little boy.” Li Changxiang scolded, and when Zhu Ge’er looked away, she let it go.

Tian Xing, his injury healed, went back to chopping wood. Seeing the Song family’s gate open and hearing Meng Wan’s clear voice calling for his cousin, he stormed in, dropped the firewood, and kicked Zhu Ge’er hard.

Since he’d openly admitted to beating his husband, he no longer cared who was watching, often lashing out for no reason.

Zhu Ge’er, as always, silently took it, but his eyes grew more manic. He seemed indifferent to physical pain now; the more he was abused, the more he reveled in it.

In this state, Zhu Ge’er was closer to the reckless type Meng Wan imagined—someone who, if he snapped and attacked with a knife, could terrify the whole Tian family. If subdued once, he’d get up at night and try again, forcing them to behave and stop bullying him.

But Zhu Ge’er didn’t do that. He seemed to be waiting for something.

The three Song family members finished organizing, washed their feet with the hot water from the pot, and changed shoes—their footwear had soaked through on the journey.

With clean shoes on, Song Tingzhou went out to fetch water, Meng Wan crouched under the eaves to scrub the shoes, and Chang Jinhua hurried to make clothes.

“Da Lang and I still have last year’s old shoes to wear. You have one pair of cotton shoes, but you need another pair of thin ones. There’s no time to make them. The day after tomorrow, when we go back to town, we’ll see if the cloth shop has ready-made ones.” Chang Jinhua, cutting fabric inside, fretted over Meng Wan’s clothing.

"I understand. They probably have them, but I'm not sure if the shoe size will fit." Meng Wan changed to a basin of clean water to rinse the foam off his shoes.

In the village, some young men and skilled womenfolk were adept at weaving or embroidery, crafting items at home to sell to cloth shops for extra income. But Meng Wan was on the taller side, with larger feet, so he wasn't sure if he'd find a suitable pair.

"If you can't find a pair, it's no big deal. I can whip up a pair for you on the road."

Meng Wan chuckled. Ignorant humans, huh? Just wait until you're on the road and see how tough it is. You think you'll make me shoes? If you can even get a good night's sleep, you'd be a god.

The house had rice, flour, and oil stocked up, plus greens and radishes in the cellar. After Song Tingzhou fetched clean water, Meng Wan steamed a pot of rice and stir-fried a plate of cabbage—another thrown-together meal.

"There are still three chickens left at Sixth Aunt's place. Tomorrow, we'll bring one back and stew it." With the family doing well now—having earned money from selling tofu last year and running the breakfast shop this year—Chang Jinhua didn't want to be too hard on the younger ones, who were still growing.

Meng Wan nodded in agreement. "When you go, remember to talk to her about letting Man Geer learn to make fried dough from me."

Chang Jinhua, clearing the dishes, paused for a moment.

"Really teaching him? Are you sure about this?"

Meng Wan wiped the table clean. "If Cousin passes the exam this time, I've heard him mention that both prefectural and county schools accept scholar masters for enrollment. I plan to go with him, and we can start a small business there. If he doesn't pass, it means the private school in our town is too bad, and there's no reason for us to come back."

Chang Jinhua mulled it over. "No wonder you insisted on going this time. You've thought this all through."

She felt conflicted. Meng Wan's vision was beyond hers—bold in thinking and doing.

"But even though we've saved some money, we might barely scrape by renting in the county town. In the prefectural city, it's a bit much..." Chang Jinhua still had concerns.

Meng Wan made the bed so it'd be warm when they slept, smiling as he said, "We'll figure it out once we get there. I have a plan. Don't you trust me?"

Chang Jinhua's furrowed brow relaxed at his laughter. "If I didn't trust you, would I let you keep stirring things up? My Wan Geer is capable, Auntie knows that."

In the small room, Song Tingzhou listened in on their conversation, then lit a candle and picked up his book.

All he could do now was ace the exams!

Sleeping at home was the best. The kang in the Song house was long enough to roll around on. Meng Wan slept soundly, with no night watchman's clappers in the countryside—just pure silence.

The next morning, no one called Meng Wan. He woke up, washed up, and ladled out some warm congee from the pot for breakfast.

Outside the gate, chickens were clucking. Chang Jinhua had gone early to Sixth Aunt's to fetch a chicken. Song Tingzhou killed it while she plucked the feathers, keeping Meng Wan's hands clean.

Man Geer came over to hang out, and Meng Wan took the chance to discuss business.

"Did my aunt talk to Sixth Aunt?"

Man Geer grabbed his hand. "Are you really going to teach me and Dali to make breakfast? Auntie mentioned some fried dough, but I've never seen it! What if we mess it up?"

His words were full of worry—afraid that taking over the shop would lead to unsold goods. Losing money could be made back, but ruining Meng Wan's reputation would be a disaster.

Meng Wan reassured him, "Since I've decided to teach you, I'll make sure you learn it in these two days. It's simple stuff, just a bit tiring. It's hard-earned money, perfect for a couple's small business. Besides, the shop's just sitting idle, and the startup cost isn't high. It might be tough at first, but you'll get used to it over time."

The Song family had no idea how long they'd be in the prefectural city. Leaving the house empty was a waste, so letting Man Geer and Dali run it for a few months was something Meng Wan had planned long ago.

Man Geer fidgeted with his fingers. "So, we give it a try?"

Meng Wan smiled. "Go for it boldly."

The two families had a good relationship, and Man Geer and Dali were honest, decent folks. From that time at the Changs' before the New Year, when the couple waited for him and Song Tingzhou at the alley entrance despite not knowing what was happening, their character was clear.

Opening a shop seemed trivial to Meng Wan, but to simple farmers, it was a big deal. Soon, Sixth Aunt's whole family showed up.

After a round of thanks, Sixth Aunt said bluntly, "I won't say more. This shop is rented with your money, so we should pay the rent ourselves."

Chang Jinhua didn't stand on ceremony. "You'll pay it, but no rush. Wait until we're back from the prefectural city."

Sixth Aunt dropped a bombshell. "Then how about Man Geer kowtows to Wan Geer as his master?"

"Sixth Aunt, really, no need! I'm no master. Don't tease me!" Meng Wan shook his head and waved his hands in refusal.

Becoming a master was serious business—half teacher, half father. Once you took on a disciple, you had to care for them for life. Meng Wan found it too heavy a burden, not for him. And for just fried dough? That would be ridiculous.

As the two families chatted lively, a scream came from next door.

Meng Wan's heart skipped a beat. Why did trouble always happen next door when he returned? What now?

He had no desire to get involved with the neighbors. The first time he saved Zhu Ge'er, he felt like something was watching him, making his skin crawl. Not long after, he was trapped in the mountains. If Song Tingzhou hadn't shown up, his life would've been ruined.

This time, whether Song Tingzhou passed the exams or not, he didn't want to come back and live next to the Tian family. Saving up to buy a small courtyard with a shop in town would be better.

"Ghost! There's a ghost!!!" The man's voice was shrill and distorted with terror.

Meng Wan jumped. Song Tingzhou moved to his side, shielding half his body.

Not just him—everyone in the room felt uneasy. Chang Jinhua and Sixth Aunt exchanged glances—a ghost?