Chapter 24
The arrival of the Sun family was both unexpected and yet perfectly reasonable.
After the Sun family left that day, they never returned. The old lady Sun was able to remain calm on the first day, thinking that it would take some time to get things done.
Two or three days passed, and none of the people who went out returned. She began to panic and asked her second daughter-in-law to go out and find out what was going on. But before her second daughter-in-law could even step out the door, a commotion broke out outside.
Mrs. Sun opened the door, leaning on her cane, and saw that it was her eldest grandson Sun Wei's father-in-law's family. She put on a smile again: "I wonder what brings you here today, my dear in-laws? Wei has gone out on business and has not yet returned home."
When she was young, she came from a good family and spoke with a somewhat refined tone. But times have changed, and now it's annoying to hear her speak like that.
The man immediately launched into a tirade: "Of course I know he hasn't come back yet. He's still in the county jail right now, so he's definitely not coming back."
His words struck the remaining members of the Sun family like a thunderbolt. Old Mrs. Sun staggered, rushing forward to grab her future in-laws' arms: "You, what did you say?"
The man was afraid that if he pushed her away he would break his bones and she would come looking for him, so he struggled to pull his hand away. Meanwhile, the neighbors all around were craning their necks to watch the commotion.
He raised his voice even louder: "Now the news has spread to our village! Your family has been mistreating your own aunt whom you haven't contacted for so many years, bullying her and her orphan, trying to steal her son's pension, and selling her husband! We dare not accept this marriage proposal from your family."
He took out a purse from his pocket and pulled out a tael of silver from it: "These are the things your family bought for my daughter. It's not appropriate to return them to you now that they've been used. This is the calculated amount, and I'm returning it to your family. From now on, our two families will have no further connection."
"No, in-laws, this..."
The man didn't seem to want to talk to him anymore. After paying the money, he left, feeling relieved that he hadn't rushed into the engagement. He glanced back at the Sun family's house and felt even more certain that he had made the right decision.
The whole family was crammed into this house that didn't even have a yard. Old Mrs. Sun had a fierce look on her face. If this family could do such a thing, who knows how much suffering their daughter would have to endure after marrying into the family.
Grandma Sun felt her blood rush to her head and was about to faint when her second daughter-in-law caught her: "Mother, what's wrong?"
Looking at the few people left in the house, all the men had gone out, and she stamped her cane: "I'm going to the county government!"
Except for a few younger members, the rest of the Sun family went to the county town with Old Madam Sun. They only learned the whole story when they arrived at the county government office.
It turned out that Sun Cui had reported her husband to the authorities, and the county magistrate had her entire family beaten and imprisoned for ten days!
Autumn planting is just around the corner, and all the able-bodied people in the family have been confined to their homes. This autumn planting is crucial to the family's livelihood next year, and how could the family possibly manage to cultivate so much land right now!
Old Mrs. Sun was, after all, quite knowledgeable. In the end, she spent five taels of silver to redeem all the men in her household who had been imprisoned.
On the way back, everyone was silent. Sun Kang and the others had been beaten and hadn't received timely medical treatment. Helpless, Grandma Sun ordered that medicine be bought for them, which cost a lot of money.
She was so angry she almost ground her teeth to powder. Not only did she fail to get any money this time, but she also spent nearly ten taels of silver. Sun Cui had to pay for this money. Not only the ten taels of silver, but also Sun Wei's wedding and their next year's harvest, all of which Sun Cui had to compensate for.
It rained on the second day after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chen Qing and Aunt Sun were selecting seeds in the house, including not only his own but also Zhou Yuan's.
Grandma Sun removed the winnowing basket from Chen Qing's lap and let him start making clothes: "Besides yours, there's also Zhou Yuan's."
Chen Qing looked at the two bolts of cloth placed on his bedside table: "I don't have his measurements, how am I supposed to make them?"
Grandma Sun said, "Then just ask him."
Chen Qing said "Oh," and fiddled with his wires. For a moment, the room became quiet, and only the sound of raindrops falling on the roof could be heard.
It was quite a leisurely and comfortable time.
But this tranquility was completely shattered by a loud noise at the door.
Grandma Sun and Chen Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes that the other had finally arrived.
As Aunt Sun walked out of the main room, she saw Old Mrs. Sun, who rarely left the house, standing menacingly in front of their door with her two daughters-in-law and two sons.
Grandma Sun was surprised that Old Mrs. Sun would come to visit in person. Looking at the person in front of her, she realized that they hadn't seen each other for a long time. If Grandma Sun didn't come, Old Mrs. Sun would never condescend to visit her.
"Sun Cui, you're doing very well." Old Mrs. Sun stared at Aunt Sun fiercely, as if she wanted to devour her flesh and blood. "You sent your own brother and nephew to jail. You really are my good daughter."
Grandma Sun's eyes were calm. Perhaps in her younger years she had some illusions about Old Mrs. Sun, but after that year, she no longer had any expectations of her: "Of course I'm not good. If I were good, would my mother have kicked me out of the house and said that a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl?"
Grandma Sun was wearing a raincoat, but she was still soaked from head to toe, and Grandma Sun showed no intention of letting them into the house.
"How can you be such a daughter!" Aunt Sun's second sister-in-law exclaimed. "How can you be so heartless as to see your own mother getting soaked in the rain?"
Chen Qing also jumped out. He hesitated and said, "Mom, let them take shelter from the rain. If they get sick from the rain, they'll cause us trouble."
Grandma Sun showed no politeness, went straight into the main room, sat in the head seat, and pointed at Aunt Sun: "You kneel down before me."
Grandma Sun didn't budge, and retorted sarcastically, "Why should I?"
"You murdered your own brother, and you don't even spare the younger generation. What crimes did they commit that you took them to court and punished them with a beating!"
“Because they broke into a house and forcibly took someone else’s husband,” Granny Sun said. “The magistrate pronounced the verdict. If you have any objections, you can beat the drum to appeal for justice.”
Grandma Sun was so angry she almost couldn't breathe, and she turned her attention to Chen Qing: "Just for this thing you bought! You're going to take your brother to court."
"Are you out of your mind? Why don't you sell him for some money instead of keeping him around and letting him harm your family!"
“That’s not family!” said Grandma Sun. “You said many years ago that I wasn’t your daughter.”
Grandma Sun pointed at Aunt Sun and said, "Let me tell you, it cost me five taels to redeem your brother and another five taels to treat his injuries. Because of you, Dawei's marriage is off, and you have to compensate him too. If you don't come up with twenty taels of silver today to help Dawei find a new wife, I'm not leaving your house."
Grandma Sun burst out laughing: "Twenty taels? Are you dreaming? Where would I get twenty taels?"
"Meng Tao's pension is ten taels. Give me this thing and let me sell it. That should be about right." Old Mrs. Sun looked into Aunt Sun's eyes. "As long as you give me the money, I will still acknowledge you."
If Chen Qing had previously worried that he might be sold again and wander from place to place, he knew that Sun Da Niang had come to regard him as family during their time together, and he was not afraid at all.
“I am not worthy to be your daughter. I am not as heartless as you. I will not give you a single penny of money, nor will I give you my son. This is my son. I am not like you, who can be so cruel as to sell his own child.”
When Grandma Sun saw that she was unyielding, she got angry and said, "Go and arrest them and take them away."
Grandma Sun said, "Even if he can't be sold, he still has to be my Dawei's husband! It's all because of him that Dawei's arranged marriage was called off." Grandma Sun was furious, and seeing that Chen Qing's appearance was indeed acceptable, she simply decided to kidnap him and take him home. That way, Dawei wouldn't need to prepare any other betrothal gifts for his marriage.
The two women following her were also hardworking in the fields all day long and were very strong. Grandma Sun could hold off one, but not both, not to mention the two children. They had already headed towards Chen Qing.
Chen Qing stood at the door of his room, touched the stick he had taken out to beat someone when someone came to steal money last time, and hit the arm of the woman who was trying to pull Grandma Sun's hair with the stick.
The room was in complete chaos. Grandma Sun stood there watching several people fight, not even noticing the noise outside the door, and was about to go inside to search for her money bag.
Chen Qing remembered that his mother kept all her money by the bedside. He hopped over and snatched Grandma Sun's cane. Grandma Sun stumbled and fell uncontrollably, about to hit Chen Qing.
The imagined weight didn't press down on him. Chen Qing looked up and saw Zhou Yuan lifting Grandma Sun by the back of her neck, effortlessly pulling her away.
He lowered his eyes and looked at the people in the room. Chen Qing and Granny Sun were clearly at a disadvantage, after all, one was old and the other was disabled.
"Whose son are you!" Even though Zhou Yuan was still holding Old Mrs. Sun, his hands didn't tremble at all, and he could even swing Old Mrs. Sun around a couple more times.
Grandma Sun had never suffered such humiliation before; being grabbed by the collar made her feel utterly humiliated.
Zhou Yuan put the person down, first helped Chen Qing up, then pulled the person off Sun Da Niang, and then helped Sun Da Niang up.
"What kind of young man is so inconsiderate!" Old Mrs. Sun pointed at Zhou Yuan's nose and scolded, "Didn't anyone teach you that you can't come to other people's homes to discuss business?!"
Zhou Yuan said "Oh," and replied, "No one taught me; my parents died long ago."
"you!"
Zhou Yuan added, "Meng Tao asked me to help him take care of his mother. If someone is bullying his mother, I will definitely come to help. Judging from your behavior, you are indeed bullying her."
“I’m disciplining my own daughter, what right do you, an outsider, have to interfere?” Grandma Sun was not afraid at all. “Get out of here right now.”
“I’ll be here today.” Zhou Yuan stood at the doorway, making the already dark main room seem even darker. His voice carried an air of authority, “If you have something to say, say it to my face.”
His imposing presence was so intimidating that the two young men who had come with him were frightened and hid behind Old Madam Sun.
Chen Qing stood in the shadows, watching Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was too tall, and his eyebrows were too sharp. Anyone who met him for the first time would definitely be intimidated by him.
After watching for a while, Chen Qing's gaze fell on the cane in Grandma Sun's hand. He then looked at his own feet and thought that he should find a suitable wooden stick tomorrow so that he could move around more easily.
“If it’s for those good-for-nothing men in your family, then you should come to me.” Zhou Yuan leaned against the door, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked at Chen Qing for a while, then his gaze fell on Old Madam Sun. “I’m the one who sent them all to the county government.”
Zhou Yuan added, "I have military merits, and if I don't like them, I can send them back in anytime."
“Grandma, if you come to cause trouble for your aunt again, I can’t guarantee that one day your family member might fall into the Luo River while walking.”
"You, you, is there no law anymore!" Old Mrs. Sun was panting heavily, as if she was so angry that she couldn't catch her breath. But looking at Zhou Yuan, she didn't see any of the thugs' aura about him. On the contrary, he had a terrifying aura of decisiveness and ruthlessness.
“Grandma, in this world, might makes right.” Zhou Yuan took a step towards her. “Why don’t you try causing them more trouble?”
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