Chapter 3 Compensating the Son "Don't worry, your parents and your brother will protect you..."

As noon approached, Miao Suyun hurried home to cook lunch, intending to take it to the fields for her family who didn't want to delay the wheat harvest. While deftly chopping vegetables and cooking, she spoke to Zhong Ying, who had been looking after her son all morning, "Guoqiang hasn't been bothering you, has he? If he's being annoying, you can just give him a good spanking. Boys are mischievous; sometimes you can't control them without a few slaps."

"No, he's much better behaved than my brother was when he was little." Zhong Ying said the truth politely, but then she remembered the light slap she gave herself that morning after hearing Miao Suyun's words. Could it be that she scared the boy by hitting herself?

Miao Suyun just smiled and didn't say anything more.

Although Miao Suyun and Zhong Cheng had been married for four years and had a three-year-old child, they had only been together for about a month after their marriage. Then Zhong Cheng went to join the army. The army had strict discipline, and in addition, she had heard that the situation outside was very chaotic in recent years, making it even more difficult to get leave to visit relatives. It was only this year, after Zhong Cheng was promoted from a conscript to a volunteer soldier, that he was finally granted ten days of leave to visit relatives.

I feel very uncomfortable.

This is how Miao Suyun has felt since Zhong Cheng returned yesterday. The sudden presence of such a tall person in the house made her very uncomfortable, as did his overwhelming enthusiasm during the night. But facing this man, Miao Suyun felt extremely awkward. They were both complete strangers and yet far too intimate.

This is why Miao Suyun took the initiative to go home and cook lunch before her mother-in-law; she preferred to be with Zhong Ying rather than with Zhong Cheng.

With the person who made her uncomfortable gone, Miao Suyun felt as if the sky had brightened. Full of energy, she pulled the bellows under the stove, took the firewood Zhong Ying handed her, and remembered something. "My parents said that after work today, the whole family is going to Captain Li's house, and they asked me to tell you in advance."

Zhong Ying was taken aback, then replied listlessly, "Okay."

What's meant to happen will happen. Zhong Ying remembered the conversations she overheard when she first transmigrated. Her father, Zhong Chunsheng, had said that once she was feeling better, the whole family would visit to express their gratitude.

How should one express gratitude for a life exchanged for another?

Moreover, the truth is not gratitude, but a grievance.

Zhong Ying was distracted and didn't know how to face the victim's family, or how her family members would express their gratitude.

The Li family lost a son, so they pushed her out to be given to the Li family as a wife.

Zhong Ying thought for a moment and quickly dismissed the guess. Li Linshi was the youngest son in the Li family. His two older brothers and one older sister had all gotten married and started their own families long ago, and there were already several children in the third generation.

To be given to the Li family as a daughter as compensation?

Only Deng Xia and Zhong Chunsheng treated their daughter like a treasure and gave her away to other families. For a girl like Zhong Ying, who was cunning, lazy, greedy, and had a bad temper, it wasn't about repaying a debt but about collecting a debt.

Zhong Ying was lost in thought and forgot to hand firewood to Miao Suyun.

Miao Suyun reached into the pile of firewood and took a piece of firewood. She assumed that her sister-in-law was worried about being scolded at the Li family, so she comforted her, "Don't worry, your parents and your brother will protect you."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ying merely smiled at her, not taking the words to heart.

"Protecting" Zhong Ying rarely had the experience of being protected by others; in most cases, she protected her mother and shielded her from most of her father's criticisms.

It was already dark when the production team finished work. As soon as Deng Xia returned, she didn't even have time to rest. She instructed Zhong Chunsheng to take the eggs they had recently collected from the cupboard, and also told Zhong Cheng to bring along the things he had brought home the day before.

Zhong Ying looked at the small basket of eggs her father had taken out, as well as the malted milk powder, honey-glazed pastries wrapped in oil paper, four brand-new towels, and a bottle of yellow wine that her brother had specially brought home. These were all rare items in a rural household, but he had brought them all to apologize on her behalf.

Zhong Ying felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Children are easily hurt, Miao'er, you stay home with Guoqiang," Deng Xia said to Miao Suyun before leaving.

"Okay." Miao Suyun quickly responded. She seemed oblivious to the fact that all these rare items in her home were going to someone else's house. There was not a trace of reluctance on her face. She only said, "I'll cook dinner first and wait for you to come back to eat."

Zhong Ying linked arms with Deng Xia and followed in her father Zhong Chunsheng's footsteps. Behind them were her brother Zhong Cheng and younger brother Zhong Xin, who were carrying things. The family walked towards the village entrance in the dark night.

When the moment came, Zhong Ying's anxious heart, which had been pounding all afternoon, suddenly calmed down.

The village layout of Tonggan Production Team resembles a narrow-mouthed vase, with most families concentrated in the "belly". The village entrance number 1 is the village primary school, and number 3 is the Li family's house.

From afar, Zhong Ying saw a faint red light on the country road. As she got closer, she realized it was the glow of a tobacco pipe.

Seeing the Zhong family approaching, the man who had been smoking a pipe at the door put it down, his voice still a little hoarse, and said, "You've come."

The man looked to be in his fifties, lean and strong, not short, with deep wrinkles on his face. When he wasn't smiling, he looked particularly serious and intimidating. The recent grief over the loss of his son had made him even more gloomy and listless.

Zhong Ying quickly matched the memories of the original owner of the body with the person's name. This person was Li Ming, the captain of the Tonggan Production Team, who was also Li Linshi's father.

"Captain, why are you waiting for us at the door?" Zhong Chunsheng hurriedly went to greet us. "We came to apologize and express our gratitude. How could we trouble the host to personally welcome us?"

Zhong Ying joined her brothers in greeting the man, calling out, "Uncle Li."

Li Ming's dim gaze swept over Zhong Ying for a moment before leading Zhong Chunsheng home. "I should apologize to your family as well. Yesterday, his mother was a bit anxious and came to your house not to ask for an explanation, but just to ask what happened... I've asked quite a few people, and many of them saw my son jump into the river to save people. Now that things have turned out like this... it's not your daughter's fault."

Captain Li's house looked better than Zhong's. It had a brick foundation and earthen walls, with the lower half of the foundation made of blue bricks and the upper half of the walls made of adobe. The roof was covered with tiles instead of thatch. The four rooms, plus the cooking shed and the outhouse in the southwest corner, along with a well and a stone mill in the yard, resembled a simplified version of a traditional courtyard house, looking very tidy.

Hearing that someone had come to the house, a tall, middle-aged woman emerged from the kitchen. Her features were more striking than those of ordinary people, and it was said that she had foreign ancestry. As soon as she spoke, Zhong Ying recognized her as the woman who had argued with her mother, Deng Xia, earlier.

"You've arrived." Liu Hongyan's eyes were still red from crying. As she spoke, she wiped her hands on her apron and forced a smile. She said politely, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'm cooking right now. Let's eat something together."

As she spoke, Liu Hongyan called out to the kitchen, "Eldest son's wife and second son's wife, cook some more rice."

Two responses immediately came from inside.

Deng Xia quickly stepped forward, "No need to bother anymore, let's just explain things and then go back. Chengzi's wife has already started cooking at home."

A young woman emerged from a side room on the other side of the courtyard gate. She was pale and thin, and had just refilled the lamp oil in the bedside lamp for her younger brother.

Deng Xia caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye, turned her head to look, and was immediately surprised when she recognized the other person. "Rou Ni'er is back too. How come she's gotten so thin?"

Li Rou is Li Linshi's older sister. Both of them are successful children who came from the Tonggan Production Team. Her brother went to university, while her sister married a projectionist from the county film projection team who came to the countryside to show movies. She "leaped out of the peasant gate" and married into the county town.

“Yesterday, my family sent a telegram saying…” Li Rou stopped mid-sentence.

The white paper contained only a few black characters: "Brother dead, return immediately."

Li Rou still feels a chill run down her spine when she thinks about it.

Leaving those aside, Li Rou only said, "Mother, I'm going to help my eldest and second sisters-in-law. Uncle and Aunt, please go sit in the main room first."

Liu Hongyan pulled Deng Xia towards the main room, and couldn't help but say, "This girl had another miscarriage recently, and I only found out how thin she had become when I saw her come back..."

Deng Xia's eyes widened in surprise, and she lowered her voice, "What's going on? This is the third time already?"

Liu Hongyan looked depressed. Her red eyes were not only because of the death of her youngest son, but also because of her daughter's unhappy marriage.

As the group entered the main room, Li Ming's eldest son, Li Gangshi, and second son, Li Rongshi, immediately found several stools for the Zhong family to sit down.

Zhong Chunsheng did not sit down first, but placed the eggs in his hand directly on the low square table in the middle of the room. He then gestured for the Zhong brothers, Zhong Cheng and Zhong Xin, to put their things on the table as well, piling them up into a small mountain.

"Uncle, what are you doing?" Li Gangshi hurriedly picked up the towel and rice wine on the table and tried to stuff them back into Zhong Chunsheng's hands. "Why are you taking all these things?"

Zhong Chunsheng didn't take it, but looked at Li Ming solemnly and said, "Your fourth son saved my daughter's life, and our whole family is extremely grateful."

At this moment, Zhong Ying also stepped out from behind Deng Xia, facing the consequences she should bear for the original owner. She bowed deeply to the Li family members and solemnly said, "I'm sorry, it's all because of me... In short, I'm very sorry!"

For the first time, Zhong Ying felt how inadequate language was. Even though the original owner had paid the price for her own life and the mistake of harming others, when faced with the grief of the families of the deceased, Zhong Ying pursed her lips and still felt that her apology was very inadequate.

Li Ming, his hands trembling, knocked the remaining tobacco from his pipe onto the table, while grabbing Zhong Ying's arm and pulling her up. "How can you blame yourself for this?"

Knowing the truth, Zhong Ying's lip line straightened even more.

At this moment, Zhong Chunsheng spoke again, "Brother, I know that these apologies are certainly not enough to make up for this kindness. Your fourth son was a promising child. His death is not only painful for you parents, but also for everyone... I happen to have a promising son as well, so from now on, I will give you a son in return. My son Zhong Cheng will also be considered your son from now on."

“Starting tomorrow, the work points he earns in the fields will be counted as your family’s, just like your fourth son’s.”

"Not only that, but he will also give his family a share of filial piety in return for his family in the future."

Zhong Chunsheng's words immediately silenced the room.

Zhong Ying turned to look at Old Man Zhong in shock, then her gaze fell on Zhong Cheng, who had a calm expression. At that moment, she suddenly caught a glimpse of his military bearing. He said solemnly, "Li Linshi risked his life to save my sister's life. I will take care of the filial piety and support that he deserves from now on."

Zhong Ying looked at Deng Xia, who had not yet voiced any objection, in astonishment. Clearly, the family had already discussed this way of repaying their debt of gratitude.

How could she possibly... use a promising son to fill the mess her daughter made? How could that be possible? Zhong Ying found it hard to believe. Even in modern times, her father would still want to marry her off to a promising young man in exchange for his son who had been missing for twenty-seven years.

Two drops of water splashed onto the rammed earth floor inside the house.

Zhong Ying suddenly understood what her sister-in-law Miao Suyun meant when she said, "Your parents and your brother will protect you." She finally understood why the original owner of this body had been raised to be so spoiled and willful.

She was really well protected.

The boy who had been standing silently to the side, seemingly invisible, also spoke up, "And me, my brother doesn't come back often, so I'll repay my sister's debt on his behalf!"

Zhong Ying's vision was blurry, but she still looked up at Zhong Xin.

For the first time ever, love poured down from all directions like a torrential rain. Zhong Ying stood there, completely soaked, water dripping down her chin.

"Why is it like this?" Liu Hongyan, who was still a little annoyed, saw the Zhong family's attitude and her resentment vanished. She then comforted Zhong Ying, "It's not your fault, why are you asking for it back? We're not taking your brothers' money, just put away these gold beans..."

“Si’er chose to jump into the river to save someone, so he should take responsibility for his actions,” Li Ming said. He seemed cold and unsympathetic, but was actually a very rational and upright person with a clear understanding of the situation, which is why he never blamed the Zhong family. “Now, this outcome is not your fault, and naturally, you don’t need to repay anything. Chunsheng—”

Li Ming stopped Zhong Chunsheng from speaking, saying, "From now on, our two families will keep in touch. Help each other out if needed. Don't bring up nonsense like 'giving me a son in return.' There's something we need you for right now. My family is planning to hold Si'er's funeral the day after tomorrow. You know, unmarried young men can only stay at home for three days… There will be a lot to do then, and we'll need your family to come and lend a hand. Also, we need you to play the suona to clear the way…"

Zhong Chunsheng immediately agreed.

Li Ming wasn't just being polite. Even for happy or funeral events in the neighboring production teams, they would all go to Zhong Chunsheng, because that was his job.

In rural areas, families often have many children, and relying solely on farming in the fields is not enough to feed the entire family year-round. As a result, some resourceful people have started to take on "side jobs" to earn extra money.

Take Tonggan Production Team as an example. There are three aunties who name children, calculate marriage compatibility, and talk about feng shui for homes; Hu Daqian who acts as a matchmaker for young men and women and arranges marriages; Liu Qiang's wife who can give birth; and the three Liu brothers who can build houses all by themselves...

Old Man Zhong, on the other hand, took a different path. In his youth, he proactively sought out a master and learned to play the suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument), thus entering the lucrative business of weddings and funerals. Just as there are banquets for happy occasions, there are also meals for funerals. Zhong Chunsheng didn't earn much from each trip, but he could always bring back some food and dishes. This is why Zhong Cheng was taller and stronger than other children from a young age, and why Zhong Ying was more rounded than other girls her age.

After the two families quickly agreed on what they would do the day after tomorrow, it was already late, so the Zhong family said goodbye and left.

As Zhong Ying walked out of the main room of the Li family, she almost slipped and fell, but fortunately her younger brother Zhong Xin grabbed her arm and helped her up.

After Zhong Ying regained her balance, she realized that she had stepped into a muddy spot without noticing.

"What's wrong?" Deng Xia quickly turned around and walked over.

Liu Hongyan also came closer to take a closer look, somewhat puzzled, "Strange, it hasn't rained these past few days, and the ground in the yard is all dry, so why is this patch of ground wet?"

The wet area was only about 20 or 30 centimeters in size. How could the rain only fall on such a small area when there are dark clouds? Everyone looked around in confusion.

Li Rongshi, the second son of the Li family, pointed to a wooden bucket by the wall not far away and said, "Someone probably just put the bucket here, and the overflowing water wetted the ground."

This little incident left no trace in anyone's mind.

After returning home, Miao Suyun scooped the food out of the pot, and the family talked for a while about what they would do the day after tomorrow.

Late at night, lying in bed, the summer heat made Zhong Ying miss the air conditioning of modern times. But in this day and age, in this small mountain village, it's not all without its advantages.

Recalling her family's protection, Zhong Ying put her hands under her head and looked at the thatched roof that was not clearly visible in the darkness. After transmigrating, she had always felt like a wandering soul, trying to adapt to another set of memories and a new environment. But only now did she finally feel a sense of grounding and settling down.

It's both real and dreamlike.

A note from the author:

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It reappeared.