He Zifeng and Qiu Yu quickly got up and went out together. Qiu Yu was a little uneasy, and He Zifeng secretly put his hand into her sleeve, which was hidden by the wide sleeve.
The two walked for a while before letting go of each other's hands. However, Qiu Yu's tension had eased considerably.
When they reached the village entrance, they saw Fang Shi, dressed in somewhat tattered clothes. She was very thin, with half-white hair. If they had seen her from outside, they wouldn't have recognized her.
Fang was surrounded by people, and she was a little reserved because she hadn't faced so many people in a long time.
When Fang saw He Zifeng, tears welled up in her eyes: "My son." When mother and son were separated, He Zifeng was still a child, and Fang hadn't seen him for many years. Whenever she saw a child of a similar age, she would feel a pang of emotion. Now that she had seen her own son, her tears seemed unstoppable.
He Zifeng was even more handsome and robust than she had imagined.
He Zifeng went over and hugged his mother: "Mom, let's go home."
Fang, holding back her tears, said, "No, Mother just wanted to see you."
When Qiu Yu saw her mother-in-law dressed like this, she knew that she had worked hard all these years. Before she could speak, her eyes welled up with tears. She said, "Mother, we have separated our families. Please come to your son's house."
He Zifeng immediately replied, "Yes." He then took Fang Shi home.
No sooner had Fang and He Zifeng left than He Donglai arrived. Everyone already knew that He Donglai's blind date had failed and he'd been scolded by the matchmaker. He Donglai was getting increasingly senile with age; nothing he did was admirable. People weren't as fond of him as before. Someone asked him, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking at my son's mother, what's wrong?" He Donglai's temper was getting worse. When things were calm, no one wanted to talk to him, afraid of being rude.
However, some people saw through his ulterior motives: "Could it be that he wants to rekindle his old flame with her mother?"
"Just dreaming."
Ever since He Zifeng became a yamen runner, he's become the most successful person in the whole village. The better He Zifeng's life gets, the more miserable He Donglai feels. Isn't this just another proof that he was blind? The two families have fallen out, and now Wan Hai's family is gone, and the soy sauce shop is gone too. He's left with only two good-for-nothing sons.
He Fan's injuries from going up the mountain have healed considerably, and he can do some light work. However, in the countryside, he's not as capable as a proper laborer. He wants to reconcile with He Zifeng and the others, and it's clear that He Zifeng is now determined.
Now that his second son has secured a job at the county government, even the village chief has to curry favor with him. He Donglai was worried about what to do. When he heard that Fang Shi had returned, his heart skipped a beat, but unfortunately, he found out too late; she had already gone back with He Zifeng.
He Donglai went home, and he wasn't worried as long as Fang Shi hadn't left the village.
...
He Zifeng brought the person home, and Qiu Yu quickly went to find some of He Zifeng's old clothes. Although they were old, they were washed very clean. She asked He Zifeng to boil water for Fang Shi to wash them.
Qiu Yu was a boy after all, so it wasn't convenient for him to ask for help from Sister Liu, who was on good terms with them.
When Fang saw her son, it was like a dream. Now she saw that he was even living in a big brick house.
There was also a tall horse in the yard; was this her son's house?
Aunt Liu asked, "Auntie, have you found another man all these years?"
Fang said, "No, after leaving the village, I went to work for other people in other places." Because she had a flexible contract, she was bullied by the old women and maids who had fixed contracts. Now that she's older, she's been kicked out. She saved seven taels of silver, but half of it was stolen on the way.
Fortunately, she had spread the money out in different places, which is why she was able to get the money back.
Sister Liu continued, "So what are your plans?" After all, at this age, it's not good for her to go out and cause trouble anymore.
Fang said, "I can earn a living by washing clothes for people in the county." She felt a deep sense of guilt towards her son. She had given birth to him but hadn't raised him; it wouldn't be right to leave him to care for her in her old age!
Aunt Liu said, "Auntie, why don't you live with your son? This house isn't theirs, but the house they build is much more luxurious than this one."
Fang had probablyn't taken a bath in a long time; the bathwater was black, and her hair was dry and tangled. She scrubbed herself thoroughly with soap, and the liquid coming off her body looked like muddy soup.
Fortunately, Qiuyu was thoughtful and prepared two bath tubs so that Fang could take two baths. Her clothes were also prepared. Although they were He Zifeng's old clothes, they were too small and fit Fang perfectly.
Sister Liu quickly told Fang about what she had observed, praising her for being so lucky to have such a daughter-in-law. She also praised Qiu Yu for being good at managing the household.
Fang said, "I just glanced at him, is Qiuyu that handsome young man?" She looked quite harmonious standing next to her son. "How are they?" Qiuyu was so thoughtful, inviting Sister-in-law Liu over. Fang had been gone for twenty years, and she knew nothing of many things. Even her closeness to her son felt tinged with unfamiliarity, let alone her son's lover. At this moment, having someone to answer her questions was the best thing.
Sister Liu said, "Oh, children without mothers are pitiful!" Then she began to recount how He Zifeng had been bullied by his stepmother and biological father. For example, at their wedding, his stepmother prepared a pair of small shoes for Qiu Yu. According to local custom, these shoes were prepared by the groom's family, and they needed to fit properly for a harmonious life. As a result, Xiao Wanshi (the stepmother's wife) gave him a hard time in this area.
If word got out, the whole village would laugh at them; some hot-tempered new brides even killed themselves by banging their heads against the ground. When He Zifeng found out, he quickly found his new shoes for his wife to wear, to support Qiu Yu. During childbirth, the stepmother wouldn't find a midwife; childbirth is a life-or-death ordeal for both women and boys, and if things went wrong, it could result in the death of both mother and child.
In the end, He Zifeng personally delivered Ranran's baby.
Hearing this, Fang wiped away tears, saying, "I'm so sorry to him."
Sister Liu said, "It's thanks to He Zifeng's firm decision to separate the family that life has gradually improved." When she chatted with some villagers, she also said that He Zifeng was better than many of the men in the village when it came to matters of principle.
There are also biased elderly people in the village, but their sons are blindly filial and can't leave even if they want to. Their wives and children are used as stepping stones for their brothers for the rest of their lives.
He Zifeng's decisive and efficient nature made him a role model for the village's long-suffering young wives, but unfortunately, not everyone has that kind of courage.
After showering her and drying her hair, I noticed she was so thin she had almost no muscle left. I really don't know how she managed to get back to her former self.
They were both women, and Sister Liu felt sorry for Fang. This world was unfair to women. She was married, but she had no parents and no family to rely on. She couldn't go live with her brothers, who also had a large family. There wasn't much else for her to do.
After drying off, she changed into her son's old clothes, the trousers and shirt being a bit too big.
Sister Liu is an expert in sewing, and she said, "I'll go back and get my sewing basket from home, and I'll alter it for you directly."
“It’s wearable, don’t bother,” Fang said.
But Sister Liu was a decisive person; she left as soon as she finished speaking. A large crowd had gathered outside He Zifeng's house, all there to see what was going on.
When Fang came out, she looked at her son with a hint of unfamiliarity and restraint in her eyes.
He Zifeng pulled Qiu Yu along and said, "Mother, this is Qiu Yu. We've been married for five years. We also have a child who's studying in the county. He'll be back in a few days, and I'll let you meet him then!"
After speaking, He Zifeng and Qiu Yu found a bamboo cushion to place underneath them, and the two knelt down and kowtowed to Fang Shi.
Upon seeing the bow from her son and Qiu Yu, Madam Fang burst into tears. She became even more flustered, saying, "I haven't prepared anything for you. Please excuse me for now."
After getting up, Qiuyu took out a handkerchief to wipe Fang's tears, but didn't know how to approach her. So she handed it to He Zifeng.
He Zifeng personally wiped away his mother's tears.
They overheard what Fang and Liu's mother were saying inside; her mother's life hadn't been easy these past few years.
After a while, Aunt Liu returned. She immediately offered to alter her clothes.
Fang was still a little reluctant, because if the clothes were altered to be too small, He Zifeng wouldn't be able to wear them anymore.
Qiu Yu said, "These clothes are too small for him anyway. Mother, you wear them for now." Then she spoke to Sister Liu and asked her to make more clothes for Fang Shi using her fabric, and that the labor and material costs would be settled with her.
Qiu Yu said, "Make two sets of clothes for changing, and two more cotton-padded coats for winter."
Fang felt bad about spending the money and said, "No need, I can withstand the cold, I can wear my old clothes."
Aunt Liu said, "Auntie, please agree. This is the children's way of showing filial piety."
Upon hearing this advice, Fang reluctantly agreed, but it still hurt a bit.
After altering her clothes, Fang Shi found them much more comfortable. She took a bath and changed into comfortable clothes, which were actually her son's old clothes, a fact that made her feel very at ease.
Qiuyu offered her some steamed buns from home. Although they were just ordinary wild vegetable filling, the buns were very flavorful, with meat inside, and tasted delicious.
Fang ate two in a row.
The village chief of Liuzi Village also came that day, and Fang wanted to return the property, but it could be registered under her son's name.
Fang looked at her son, then at Qiu Yu, and finally said, "I can go to the county to work."
Village Chief Liu said, "Old sister, just register the child under your son's name. With such a promising son, so many people would love to have one. Why are you still pushing him away?"
Fang whispered, "I'm afraid of causing them trouble."
He Zifeng said, "You can stay here without worry."
Fang was being overly cautious with He Zifeng, only falling silent after he spoke.
The village chief of Liuzi looked at Fang Shi and said, "If you need anything, just find me in the village."
Fang was flattered and personally saw him off.
The villagers outside were also somewhat surprised when they saw Fang. It's true what they say, clothes make the man. When she first came back, she was disheveled, but after taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, she looked much more presentable.
Qiu Yu had already cleaned the other room. She found two soft quilts on their bed and spread them out, saying, "Mother, you must be tired after just getting back. Please rest early."
Fang was indeed tired. She lay on the bed, and it had been a long time since she had slept on such a soft bed. Lying on it felt like lying on a cloud. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
The house was a mess that day, and no one had had time to tidy it up. That night, Qiu Yu leaned on He Zifeng's shoulder, unable to sleep. Seeing Qiu Yu tossing and turning like a pancake, He Zifeng pulled her back and asked, "What's wrong?"
In the middle of the night, Qiu Yu propped herself up on one side with her arm and said, "I wonder if Mother likes me?"
"I like it," He Zifeng said firmly.
Qiu Yu looked over curiously and asked, "Did Mother tell you?"
He Zifeng said, "No, but she is my mother. I like her, and I'm sure she likes her too."
Qiu Yu chuckled at his nonsensical reasoning and said, "Annoying."
He Zifeng pulled Qiu Yu into his arms, and Qiu Yu pressed against his chest, saying, "I told Aunt Liu and Aunt Xu that we're going to set up our stall tomorrow, so I asked them to come early to keep our mother company and keep her company." He wanted to make sure his mother didn't feel uncomfortable.
He Zifeng said, "Qiuyu is still the best." Even he, as a son, hadn't been so thoughtful.
Qiu Yu blushed at his words and said, "You're just trying to flatter me."
He Zifeng played with her for a while, which eased Qiu Yu's tension considerably.
The next morning, Qiu Yu cooked some millet porridge early. People like them who set up stalls usually didn't eat breakfast. This was specially made for Fang Shi.
Unexpectedly, Madam Fang got up even earlier than them; the courtyard had already been tidied up early in the morning. Looking at the clean and tidy courtyard, one wonders if she slept last night.
"Mother, when did you get up?" Qiu Yu asked.
Fang said, "I haven't been up for long. I'll go with you when you set up your stall. I can't help with anything else, but at least I can help you carry things."
He Zifeng said, "You don't need to do this little bit of work. Qiuyu made you breakfast, so go and have some."
Fang had been eating very little along the way, enduring wind and rain. Now, seeing the leftover steamed buns from yesterday, along with millet porridge and pickled vegetables, she realized that this was a life she never dared to dream of before.
Although Fang was at her son's house, she felt uncomfortable being able to eat for free without doing any work, and wished she could do more so she could feel at ease staying there.
Fang said, "Let me go with you. I promise I won't cause any trouble." Although she was speaking to her son, there was an inexplicable sense of flattery in her tone.
Qiu Yu glanced at He Zifeng, guessing they had all misunderstood. Fang Shi was used to hard work and couldn't stand being idle; it was the thought of her being idle that made her most uncomfortable.
He Zifeng said, "Alright, you can come with us."
Seeing that He Zifeng had agreed, Fang was finally happy. With Fang present today, they were fortunate enough to have a little breakfast. Afterwards, they got into the carriage. Qiu Yu usually sat side by side with He Zifeng outside while driving, but with Fang present today, he felt embarrassed to leave her inside the carriage. However, having He Zifeng drive made it uncomfortable for the two of them to be in such a small space.
Since he was driving the carriage, he let He Zifeng go in and keep his mother company.
He Zifeng readily agreed. Qinghua rode fast and steadily. They opened the small windows on both sides of the carriage, and when the horses ran by, there was a breeze, which was very comfortable.
He Zifeng asked, "Mother, have you missed me all these years?" This was the question he most wanted to ask in his previous life. Back then, every time his father scolded him, he felt it was because he hadn't done a good enough job. Sometimes he wondered if everything would have been different if his mother were still here.
Fang said, "How could I not want to?" A child is a piece of flesh that fell from a mother's body; the thought of him is excruciating. When she was in her employer's house, she had the opportunity to become a slave, but once she did, her son would also become the child of a slave, and she gritted her teeth and never did.
The two weren't very familiar with each other, and they couldn't say much more. But since they were mother and son, they didn't feel awkward even in silence.
Qinghua ran swiftly through the morning and arrived in the county town in no time. Because she had eaten breakfast at home, she arrived a little later than usual, and many regular customers were already waiting for her there.
I'm addicted to their braised food; I crave it terribly if I don't have it for a day. Seeing them, I asked, "Why are you only arriving now?"
While moving things, He Zifeng and Qiu Yu explained to others, "We got up late today because of some things."
Those regular customers who come to buy food every day are very familiar with their family. When they see Fang, they ask, "Who is this lady?"
Before Fang could speak, He Zifeng said, "She is my mother." This moved Fang deeply.
Then everyone started buying.
He Zifeng and Qiu Yu were busy, and Fang Shi also helped out. With an extra person lending a hand, things became much easier. They were only busy for half an hour, and didn't prepare much; once they sold out, that was it.
Fang had always lived in the mansion and rarely had the opportunity to appear in public and interact with people like this. This experience made him both nervous and excited. Moreover, everyone was very receptive, and he experienced an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
When Fang and the others returned, they were still somewhat unsatisfied. They said, "Selling goods was quite good." Not only them, but there were also many people at the other stalls.
He Zifeng said, "Yes, we used to make pancakes, but it was too tiring and we couldn't keep up with the workload, so we gave up."
On their way back, they would pass by the butcher's stall. The butcher was used to preparing everything beforehand; they would simply pay and take the goods. He would even clean things like pig offal. They only needed to wash them a few more times before using them.
Now, the butchers treat Qiu Yu like a god of wealth. Before, they had to sell or give away large bones and offal at half price, and even then, they might not be able to sell them all. But Qiu Yu and his wife take care of the most troublesome items, not only avoiding losses but also making a small profit. They're so afraid Qiu Yu and his wife won't come that they always give away a pair of pork kidneys or two ounces of lean meat for free.
They loaded him onto the carriage and drove him home, where his three sisters-in-law were waiting at the door. As soon as they arrived, they heard that He Donglai had come by.
Upon hearing that he had been there, He Zifeng's expression changed slightly. He said, "Mother, you weren't with him when you were young, and now that you're older, he has two troublesome sons. He's clearly asking you to go and take care of them. Have you thought it through? If you stay here, I'll definitely make sure you're well-fed and clothed."
Upon hearing this, Fang said, "I'm very happy to know that you are a filial child." She didn't say anything else. She didn't want to talk about He Donglai in front of outsiders, for fear of being laughed at by the villagers.
When the other women arrived, Fang joined them in cleaning the pig offal and other waste.
Seeing that Fang Shi showed no unusual expression, He Zifeng went out. This time, he specifically went to find his scumbag father, He Donglai.
He Zifeng had just arrived at the He family's old house when he smelled an indescribable odor coming from inside. First, Xiao Wanshi left, and then Wan Hai's family left, making the place suddenly quiet.
As soon as I entered, I saw He Fan picking wild vegetables in the yard. He used to be the youngest son, and he only cared about playing with his nephew. Wan Hai was a hands-off manager who didn't care about anything. Now, the responsibility of taking care of the family has fallen on He Fan's shoulders.
As soon as He Zifeng entered, he saw He Fan coming over and said, "Second Brother, why are you back?"
He Zifeng waved his hand, not saying anything more to him, and said, "Where is Father?"
Upon hearing this, He Fan knew it must be him causing trouble again. He pointed towards the room.
He Zifeng opened the door directly and, sure enough, saw He Donglai sitting there. He wasn't very old and could do many jobs, but he just stood there, pointing fingers at the others who were working.
He Zifeng said, "Don't go looking for my mother again!"
Perhaps because He Donglai always suffered losses when he faced He Zifeng, he seemed somewhat at a loss for words this time. He said, "A young couple grows old together, and you can't possibly control whether your mother finds a man or not? What a joke."
He Zifeng knew immediately that this was what he was up to, and angrily said, "If my mother is looking for someone, she'll look for someone good. Why would she look for a bastard like you?" As He Zifeng spoke, his temper flared up, and he said, "Let me tell you, we've broken off all ties a long time ago. If you come here to cause trouble again, I won't be so lenient with you now!"
After saying that, he slammed the door and left.
Only after he left did He Donglai dare to jump up and say, "You beast, how dare you talk to your father like that? You deserve to be struck by lightning!"
Then came another sound of things being smashed inside. He Fan watched his second brother leave, not daring to stop him. At that moment, the house was filled with shouts of cursing. Then He Tong, who hadn't left the house for many days, came out on crutches. A hint of sarcasm on his face, he said, "He Fan, don't you think your father is incompetent?"
He Fan remained silent. He was a little afraid of this third brother, always feeling that the smile on his third brother's face was sinister.
He Tongdao said, "All the capable people are gone, leaving only us and this father. Tell me, did those who left never consider us family?" His eyes held a hint of resentment. He Zifeng was one thing, but Wan Hai was the same; seeing a better opportunity, he turned and left. He simply didn't believe his mother was dead; he probably had enough of this terrible life. He completely ignored them.
He Fan said, "I will take care of you."
He Tong snorted coldly, "You don't even know how to live yourself." Then he turned around and closed the door.
...
When He Zifeng returned home, everyone had already started working. His mother was adapting quite well and soon became familiar with Aunt Liu and the others. Only Qiu Yu noticed his bad mood and followed him into the house.
Seeing He Zifeng's furrowed brows, he took the initiative to hug him: "Don't be angry." He had sensed He Zifeng's worry when he returned. Although He Zifeng was the head of the family, he also had feelings. He Donglai's repeated provocations had obviously crossed his bottom line.
He Zifeng remained silent, and Qiu Yu even took the initiative to kiss his Adam's apple and smooth his furrowed brows with her hand.
He Zifeng took his hand and then gave him a deep kiss. Qiu Yu wrapped his arms around He Zifeng's back, seemingly both infatuated and coaxing him. He Zifeng didn't let him go until Qiu Yu was breathless from the kiss.
It's nice to have someone to comfort you.
He Zifeng looked at Qiu Yu, and his surging anger was miraculously calmed down. He then held Qiu Yu tightly in his arms.
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