A century of poverty

Chapter 6 Going to Changli

Third Grandma stiffened her neck and didn't say a word, turning around and going back to her room. She didn't take the old man's words seriously at all.

I thought Jing Tian wouldn't say anything, but I never expected that once I pointed it out, he would have a couple more things to say.

The battle to force Second Madam to remarry ended inconclusively. It seems that getting rid of Madam Li won't be so easy after all.

Grandma returned to her room, hoping to stagger towards her mother from the window and rush into her arms.

Xiaodie was playing with a strip of floral fabric, twirling it around her fingers. Seeing her mother come in, she asked, "Mom, are you crying?"

Grandma Er climbed onto the kang (heated brick bed) with hope in her arms and asked Xiaodie, "Aren't you afraid of being bullied by the people in that room?"

Xiaodie: "If Mom isn't afraid, then I'm not afraid either."

Second Grandmother: "Good child! I'm afraid we don't have a good solution. If the three of us want to live in this family in the future, we have to be afraid, yet not afraid."

Xiaodie didn't understand what her mother meant. She blinked her big eyes and wiped away her mother's tears, saying, "Mom, I'll listen to you. I'll take good care of my little brother and won't make you angry." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Just then, Dao Ke coughed.

The old man came in and stood at the doorway, comforting him, "Don't cry, don't be afraid."

Xiaodie got up and walked to her grandfather's side on the kang (a heated brick bed). Her grandfather stroked the top of his granddaughter's head.

Second Grandma wiped away her tears: "I'm not afraid? You saw it all today, the third son's family won't accept me."

The old man said, "Don't worry, you and your children won't go hungry."

Second Grandmother: "Even if you're not starving, you're not exactly doing well."

The old man said, "With my eyes watching, she can't cause any trouble."

Second Grandma looked up at her father-in-law.

The old man added, "I've tested it with an abacus; I hope I live to be eighteen before I die."

Grandma Er was still somewhat skeptical, but hearing what Grandpa said did bring her considerable comfort. She kept her husband's dying wish in mind, and her family in Diaoyutai also supported her decision. All of this gave her more confidence; no matter how difficult it was, she would raise her two children to adulthood.

Third Grandma started to ponder, judging from Li's appearance, she didn't seem to have any intention of doing anything. She also couldn't figure out what the old man was thinking. She decided not to push him too hard; if he really wanted to do it, sooner or later, Li wouldn't be able to stay here any longer, and she wouldn't believe he wouldn't leave.

Third Master, working at the oil mill, had always been planning with his wife to drive Second Sister-in-law away, and this matter was always on his mind. Second Brother left, leaving behind a daughter and a son; it was simply not right to drive the mother and her two children away.

But his wife spoke with great conviction: "Second sister-in-law is just a cook; the little girl will grow up and leave home, so there's nothing to fear. It's this boy, though. With him, he'll have a share of the family business in the future, and a share of the family business is no small matter." Thinking about it, it made sense. They had to find a way to get rid of her; only when she and her children were gone would things be clean and efficient.

During the autumn harvest season, the old man hired several farmers from the "Kung Fu Market" in Zhaozhuangtuo to help with the harvest. Today, they went to the northwest mountain of Wangzhuangtuo to cut grain.

Second Grandma was leveling the courtyard in the North Street Garden with a shovel, while Xiaodie and her younger brother were playing in the mud on the stone steps at the gate.

Just then, a man came up the slope. He was burly, with a large face, double eyelids, and a dark complexion with thick, fleshy features. He walked towards the Zhang family's gate after reaching the top of the slope.

Xiaodie led her younger brother to hide to the side. Seeing the newcomer enter without greeting them, Second Grandma asked, "What brings you here, sir?"

The visitor replied, "Ah—you must be my cousin-in-law? Isn't this the alleyway? I've come to visit my sister here."

Second Grandma noticed his distinctive double eyelids and large face: "Oh! Is that Copperhead's uncle? You've come to your sister's house?"

The visitor replied, "Yes, yes, my sister is home, isn't she?"

Second Grandma: "Yes, I'm here, comforting the child."

The visitor was Gao Kan, the third grandmother's brother. He strode up the steps and entered through the second gate, calling out towards the west, "Sister! Copperhead! Ironhead!"

Third Grandma responded and came out to welcome her younger brother inside. As soon as Gao Kan entered the room, he sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and leaned back, playing with his two nephews.

Madam Gao poured her younger brother a teacup and brought it over, asking, "What brings you here during such a busy time? How are Mom and Dad?"

Gao Kan continued to tease his nephew, "Good, good, very good!"

Ms. Gao then asked, "Your daughter is over a year old now, isn't she?"

Gao Kan: "What use is a little girl? You're lucky to have two big, healthy boys. You'll have someone to take care of you when you're old."

Gao: "What's there to be busy about? You two are both young, why worry about not having a son in the future?"

Gao Kan turned around and sat up straight, took the water and took a sip, saying, "Sister—I've come here today to ask you for a favor."

Gao: "What is it? Speak."

Gao Kan: "I need to borrow some money from you."

Gao: "What do you need the money for?"

Gao Kan: "Buy pigs! We don't have enough capital to catch them."

Gao said, "You're not making any money selling meat, and you've even lost all your capital? Or did your wife give it to you but you can't get it back?"

Gao Kan: "No, it's just that it's hard to catch pigs in the west. This time I'm thinking of going to the east to catch more, because I'm short of capital."

Gao: "Oh, where is it to the east?"

Gao Kan: "Let's head east from Changli and take a look around the Qinhuangdao area."

Madam Gao: "Changli?" Upon hearing that an opportunity had arisen to go to Changli, Third Grandmother replied: "Then I'll go with you."

Gao Kan: "What are you going to Changli for?"

Gao had a sudden inspiration: "I'll help you borrow the money. I don't have that much money on hand, but I'll go with you two to Changli and check your brother-in-law's oil mill. That way we can get it, right?"

Gao Kan: "No need, you have two young children at home."

Gao said, "What's there to be afraid of? I don't need you to carry me. We'll just hire a cart in Shimen Town. Getting to Changli won't be difficult. The two children can eat on their own. What's there to worry about? You two stay home and take good care of your younger brother. Feed him some porridge when he's hungry. If anything happens, call your uncle over there."

He opened the cabinet, packed his bundle and clothes, then opened the side gate and set off for Changli with his younger brother, Gao Kan. They arrived in Changli early that afternoon.

As soon as the two entered the oil mill, Third Master greeted them in surprise, "What are you two doing here together?"

Gao Kan: "I missed you! I can't see your boss unless I come here."

Third Grandma: "You never come home, so why don't we come up here?"

Third Master: "Alright, alright, alright, you're really something. We've come all this way, come on! Let's go to the back and rest."

He then led the two to the backyard, went inside, picked up a teapot, poured water, and invited his brother-in-law to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed). Gao Shi also sat down to the side.

Third Master pulled up a chair and sat opposite him. The three of them drank water and chatted. Third Grandma got down to business: "How much money do you have? Gao Kan wants to buy a pig and borrow some money from us. He'll pay us back after he sells it."

Third Master looked at Gao Kan, who then said, "Yes, when I got home my sister said it wasn't enough, so she brought me here to get more. I'll sell it in a few days and pay you back."

Third Master: "I don't have any spare money either, it's all saved for buying oil. Since you're here, I'll lend you some first. You can pay me back once you sell it, so as not to delay my oil purchase."

Gao Kan: "Don't worry, I promise I won't let you down!"

Gao Kan happily left after receiving the money.

Grandma and Grandpa saw their younger brother off. After dinner, the young waiter went to the front to make do with his bed for the night.

In the backyard, Third Master looked at Third Madam with a broad smile: "You've really grown up! You even dare to come here."

Third Grandma gave him a flirtatious look: "Isn't this exactly where I was supposed to be?"

Third Master laughed, "Yes, yes, yes—no one said you shouldn't come, come on! Come on—"

After the two had been intimate for a while, Third Madam recounted to Third Master how she had driven Second Madam away and what Second Madam had said. She added, "From now on, you should save up more money here. The family is just getting by. Let's save up enough money so she can suffer here in poverty. I'll treat her to a meal every few days. If she doesn't leave, I'll drive her crazy."

Third Master: "She's not leaving, is she? Let's see if she can handle it in the future. Anyway, the old man is getting older every year, and with the old brother's physique, we're still the ones who call the shots in this house and outside."

Who's backing her up? Nobody gives her a friendly look; slowly, she can't take it anymore.