Chapter 19 He still wanted to save himself
After discussing the details, Du Min took his leave, but Meng Qing, without any hesitation, asked him to stay for a meal: "Want to stay for lunch? I'll have Meng Chun go to the fish market and buy a few bass. We'll make bass and vegetable soup for lunch."
“I’ll eat at the academy. You don’t need to worry about the food. I’ll invite you, Second Sister-in-law, Brother Meng, Uncle Meng, and Aunt Pan to the teahouse another day.” Du Min said, and then walked out the door.
Meng Qing and Meng Chun saw him off at the gate of the workshop, then the siblings turned and went home.
“Sister, he doesn’t eat the sea bass and vegetable soup, so we’ll eat it ourselves,” Meng Chun said, rolling her eyes.
"Eat shit." Meng Qing shoved him and ordered, "Go get the paint, I'll mix another color."
Meng Chun, mimicking Du Min's tone in a strange manner, said, "So what if I eat farts? When I make money, I'll treat my sister to sea bass and vegetable soup at Niu Ji's."
Meng Qing chuckled, "I'll treat you to a meal once the two paper horses are sold."
Meng Chun excitedly ran to the tool shed to get paint, ceramic plates, and brushes.
Meng Qing took out the two pictures she had copied and began to cut out the horse's eyes. After coloring them, she pasted them on and then outlined the edges with ink. She also pasted the tongue on with paper cutting. The remaining nose, mane, and ear outlines were all drawn by Meng Qing.
Finally, following the image of a horse from her memory, she used thick ink mixed with a little bone glue to darken the colors on the chest, abdomen, behind the ears, and rump of the paper horse. After drying, it presented a sense of muscular power.
The next day, Du Min, along with Gu Wuxia and a group of classmates, arrived at the door. From a distance, the two jet-black paper horses appeared almost alive, but upon closer inspection, the paper hides resembled jade. Their imposing size and oppressive dark black color silenced the students who had come to see what was going on. They could sense an aura of death emanating from the paper horses, sending chills down their spines and making them hesitant to approach.
"Student Gu, I've adjusted the colors according to my memory of the horse painting. Do you see anything you're not satisfied with? I'll make further changes," Meng Qing asked.
"Huh? No, no." Gu Wuxia came back to her senses, but her gaze was still fixed on the paper horses. These two paper horses did not resemble the horses in the picture of the horse. They looked similar, but felt completely different. They were gloomy, oppressive, and dark. The two paper horses really seemed to have come out of the underworld.
“My previous concerns were unnecessary. You are professionals, and my requests as an amateur would have been laughable. There’s nothing to change. I’m very satisfied, and my grandfather will definitely like it.” Gu Wuxia was impressed by the Meng family’s craftsmanship. He was very easy to talk to and said sincerely, “Second Sister-in-law Du, your craftsmanship is superb. I will send the money over tomorrow. As for these two paper horses, please keep them at your house for now, and I will bring people to take them away on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.”
Meng Qing glanced at Du Min, and said without changing her expression, "Fine, you can move out whenever you want."
However, after one night, Gu Wuxia and his father came to visit. Gu's father's suspicions vanished completely upon seeing the two paper horses. Overjoyed, he threw down ten strings of cash and arranged for people to carry away the two paper horses under the cover of darkness.
Upon hearing the news, Du Min carried a bag of green plums to the Meng family. While on the boat, he encountered a boatwoman selling water chestnuts along the street, and he bought half a basket of them.
At this moment, Meng Qing was eating water chestnuts, which she didn't have to peel herself. She looked at the man peeling the water chestnuts and asked, "You brought us a basket of chicken and duck eggs, will your mother let you go out?"
"I come to the city to sell chicken and duck eggs," Du Li said with a wicked grin.
"The eggs were sold, but where's the money?"
"The eggs were broken on the way and we couldn't sell them."
"You'll get a beating soon," Meng Qing laughed, pointing to the water chestnuts in the basket. "You brought these to sell too?"
"Water chestnuts are worthless, but we can give them to you to eat."
Meng Qing laughed out loud. The third rumor in her dream had been confirmed. In Du's mother's eyes, Du Li's actions were nothing short of stealing from her own family and siding with her own family.
"Where's Chun Di? Are you all alone at home?" Du Li asked.
"These past two days, the paper horse shop has received several big orders. They want six paper wreaths, one paper sedan chair, and two pairs of little boys and girls. My parents are busy making paper offerings, and I've arranged for him to watch the shop and greet the customers." Although Meng Qing didn't go to the shop, she wasn't idle at home. After the children went to sleep, she would take the time to color the hemp paper and mulberry bark paper. The paper for the wreaths, the sedan chair, and the little boys and girls needed to be in dark red, dark green, and brownish-yellow.
"Second sister-in-law? Is anyone home?"
Meng Qing looked outside and said, "It's your third brother who's here."
Du Li asked her to take the basket of eggs into the kitchen, and he went out to greet her while holding the child.
Du Min was caught off guard when he bumped into Du Li. He froze, and the arrogant and smug look on his face vanished like a thick fog hitting the sun, screaming in panic.
"Second brother, you're here? When did you arrive?" Du Min forced a smile.
"Why are you here? Didn't you refuse to come?" Du Li asked coldly.
"I have something to discuss with my second sister-in-law."
Du Li glanced at the things he was carrying and realized that he must have really encountered some good news, since he even brought things to his door.
"Third brother's here? Come in quickly." Meng Qing came out and saw Du Min carrying a basket filled with something quite heavy. She exclaimed, "Oh dear, why are you being so polite? You're here, what did you bring?"
Du Li took a closer look and said unhappily, "Even the pigs in the village wouldn't eat this, and it's not worth your money to buy it."
Du Min's face was stiff, looking frustrated and unable to express his anger.
“You two brothers are really in sync. He brought me a basket of water chestnuts, and you brought me half a basket. I’ll go buy a bunch of water celery later to cook with the water chestnuts. We won’t need to buy vegetables for three days.” Meng Qing smoothed things over. “Come on, let’s go sit in the backyard. It’ll be easier to talk then.”
Du Min didn't want to stay any longer. After confirming that there was no one else in the Meng family, he asked directly, "Second sister-in-law, has the Gu family settled the money for the paper horses? Could you settle my share first? I don't have any money on me."
Upon hearing this, Du Li grabbed a packet of copper coins from the table and threw it to him, saying, "You haven't gone back yet, so my parents sent me to bring you money."
"I'm going back inside to get the money." Meng Qing got up and left.
Du Min threw the bag of copper coins back and said firmly, "If I can earn money, I won't use the family's money anymore. Take the money back and explain it to your parents. I'm busy lately, I'll go back when I'm free, you don't need to worry about me."
Meng Qing came out carrying a wooden box and said, "We received ten strings of cash as the final payment. The two paper horses sold for sixteen strings of cash, and the cost was four strings and seven hundred cash..."
“Calculate it as five strings of cash,” Du Min interrupted her.
“Alright, the profit is eleven strings of cash. I'll take half, and you get two thousand two hundred coins.”
Du Min nodded. "That's right."
Meng Qing gave him the money.
Du Min counted out two hundred coins in front of Du Li and handed them to him, saying, "This is for my parents; please take it back for me."
Du Li had already stretched out his hand, but halfway through, he quickly withdrew it as if it were burning his hand. He wouldn't do such a foolish thing. He would not only fail to sell eggs in the city, but also bring back his third son's filial piety. Wouldn't that just make him look even more useless?
"The family won't hold you back, so you can use it yourself," Du Li said coldly.
Du Min was both angry and ashamed. When he glanced at the person watching the commotion, he angrily turned and left.
"Hey? What are you two doing?" Meng Qing asked, seemingly puzzled. "Third brother, third brother, wait a minute..."
Du Min walked faster and faster, and Meng Qing grabbed a piece of clothing and chased after him, calling out, "Du Min, stop right there!"
Du Min then stopped and said, "Second sister-in-law, I'll come back another day to invite you to the tea house for tea."
"Alright, alright." Meng Qing shoved the clothes into his hand. "Keep your wallet safe. Don't let anyone see you taking money from my house. I'm afraid someone will think of this. Okay, let's go."
"Thank you for reminding me, Second Sister-in-law. I'll bring the clothes next time I come."
“These are my father’s clothes. He has a lot of clothes, so they’re fine with you. You don’t need to rush to bring them over,” Meng Qing said. After a moment’s thought, she cautioned, “Third brother, let me give you a few words of advice, but don’t get annoyed. Your studies are going smoothly right now, and your finances are also on the rise. People are in high spirits when good things happen, but don’t get arrogant. You need to maintain the same style you had before. Don’t let your guard down easily, or someone might be watching you, waiting to find fault with you.”
Du Min listened attentively. His cheeks flushed, and he fled, clutching a pile of clothes.
"What did you say to him?" Du Li asked as Meng Qing returned to the backyard.
“He’s getting a little cocky, so I’m giving him a little pointers,” Meng Qing said. “You play with Wang Zhou while I go cook water chestnuts. At noon, I’ll make water chestnut, water celery and tofu soup, and also cook a shrimp and water chestnut dish.”
After a hearty meal, Du Li coaxed Wang Zhou to sleep and then boarded the boat and left.
*
As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the weather in Suzhou is already getting hot. At noon, the scorching sun burns the skin, and it's stifling even indoors. Only by sitting under a tree by the water can one enjoy a cool breeze. But this kind of weather is irrelevant to the women of Dujiawan. The silkworm cocooning process is nearing its end, and the women are all standing in front of the stove, boiling cocoons and reeling silk. The rising steam envelops them, and the slightly bitter steam mixes with the salty sweat, trickling down their chins and into their collars.
It wasn't until the sun began to set and the shadows cast by the houses covered the entire courtyard that the breeze blowing in from the door carried a slight chill.
"It's time to go to the fields. I'm going to weed the soybean field for a while," said a man who had been chatting at the ferry crossing, getting up from his seat.
"It's cooler now, I'll go for a walk in the fields too," someone else chimed in.
“Let’s go to the fields to weed too.” Old Du picked up the straw sandals he had placed under his bottom and put them on.
"Aren't we going to wait for the second son to come back?" Du Ming remained seated.
If there weren't outsiders present, Du Laoding would have loved to kick him. He muttered under his breath, "You won't work if he doesn't come back?"
“If he doesn’t come back, I’ll go find him. With things so busy at home, how dare he stay at his in-laws’ house? Next time I go to find my third brother, let me go instead of him staying at home.” Du Ming was full of complaints.
"A boat is coming, Brother Du, is your second son back?" someone said.
Du Laoding squinted and looked over. Before long, the awning boat approached the ferry. He saw that there was only one familiar face on the boat, his second brother.
"Your third brother has a lot of studies at the academy, doesn't he? He hasn't come back yet." Old Ding Du deliberately emphasized the words "academy" as he asked loudly.
Du Li disembarked, rolled up his trousers, and waded into the water, making up a story to play along: "Yes, he has a lot of schoolwork. I went with Qingniang to bring him lunch at noon, and he was still pondering the meaning of scriptures while eating. Even on such a hot day, he could keep his food cold."
“Your husband Du Minde is highly regarded by the teacher, so don’t bother him. If you miss the children, you and my second sister-in-law can go to the city to see him. Don’t keep urging him to come back,” said one of Du Laoding’s cousins.
Old Ding Du liked to hear this. He said with a smile, "I haven't urged him to come back. That kid is stubborn. He hasn't come back even once a month. I don't know if he has enough money. I asked my second son to send him some money."
“His second son’s wife takes care of his food and drink in the city, so he probably doesn’t have many expenses,” Uncle Du said.
"It should have been like this a long time ago. With someone to take care of Min, he doesn't have to run back home all the time. He can focus all his energy on his studies and will be able to pass the imperial examination and come back as a high-ranking official in a couple of years."
Old Du smiled, his eyes crinkling, while Du Ming looked as if he'd eaten shit, his face filled with gloom.
On the way back, Du Ming snapped, "Second brother, didn't Mom tell you to bring your wife back to help? Where is she?"
“My third brother can’t do without her.” Du Li said simply, not wanting to say anything more to him. He took out a packet of copper coins and handed it to his father. “My third brother doesn’t want it. He said he has enough money.”
Old Du had a guess in his mind, guessing that the paper horses made by his second son's wife had been sold and Du Min had received a share of the money.
But in Du Ming's eyes, Meng Qing was feeding Du Min with food from the Meng family, so Du Min had more money than he could spend, and he immediately had no objection to Meng Qing not coming back to reel silk.
Back home, Du Laoding called Du Li back to his room, asking, "Does your third brother really have enough money?"
"Yes, he just received 2,200 coins from Qingniang today."
Old Du was overjoyed. "My son is amazing! He earns two or three strings of cash just by talking. Good, good, he won't have to suffer the hardships of farming for the rest of his life."
Du Li remained silent; Meng Qing's words were indeed true.
"Go out and change your clothes. You'll come with me to the fields to weed later," Old Ding casually instructed, turning around to untie the cloth bag and count the copper coins inside.
Du Li took two steps, then turned back and asked softly, "Dad, don't you feel sorry for me having to suffer the hardships of farming?"
“If you don’t farm, what will you eat? You’re not as good at studying as your third brother.”
"You didn't let me go to school either."
Mr. Du gave him an impatient look and said, "Get out."
Du Li gritted her teeth and strode out. She had truly brought shame upon herself by asking questions when she already knew what the outcome would be.
"Second brother, hasn't your wife come back yet?" Li Hongguo asked as she came out, covered in sweat.
Du's mother also came out, clutching a handkerchief and with a long towel around her neck to absorb sweat. She asked with annoyance, "Didn't I tell you to bring her back?"
“My third brother won’t let her come back. He’s been so busy lately that he hasn’t even had time to wash his clothes. Meng Qing has to take them back for her mother to wash.” Du Li lied without batting an eye. He said sarcastically, “If Qingniang comes back, your youngest son will be in trouble again.”
“Second son’s wife doesn’t need to come back. She can take good care of third son in the city,” said Father Du. He came out and asked, “Second son, how much did you get for that basket of chicken and duck eggs? You didn’t bring back any extra money. Where did the money from selling the eggs go?”
"It didn't sell for any money, and it broke on the way."
"Broken?" Du's mother shrieked. "Ninety chicken eggs and thirty duck eggs, all broken?"
"Don't tell me you're going to give it to your mother-in-law," Li Hongguo said with a long face.
"There were a lot of people at the ferry crossing. When I was getting ashore, someone pushed me from behind, and the basket slipped from my hand. The eggs rolled out and got trampled to pieces," Du Li explained.
"What good are you? You can't even do the smallest thing right, you're utterly useless!" Du's mother was furious.
"The eggs we saved up for almost half a month are gone just like that, 120 coins! The whole family was so stingy, they couldn't bear to eat them, and then they were just smashed away." Du Ming laughed sarcastically. "Good, good, this life is so good. Oh dear, why bother going to the fields or weeding? I might as well just stay home and sleep. I don't spend a penny sleeping."
With that, Du Mingzhen went back to her room to sleep.
Du Li seemed not to hear him. He went back into the house to change into some old clothes, then picked up a hoe and headed to the fields.
"Those 120 eggs, whoever eats them will suffer rotten guts," Li Hongguo cursed angrily as she stood in the courtyard.
Du Li turned around, but Li Hongguo didn't even try to avoid him. She glared at him with resentment. Her son and daughter had caught insects and dug up earthworms to feed the chickens and ducks, and the eggs and duck eggs had ended up in other people's stomachs. How could she not hate them?
"Sister-in-law, come a few steps over here. Look, the chicken coop and duck coop are right in front of you. You can do whatever you want. What's the point of staring at me like this?" Du Li was puzzled. He hadn't taken any food from the eldest brother's family. Even if he hadn't taken a basket of eggs, they wouldn't have gotten any into the eldest brother's family's mouth.
Li Hongguo seemed to be deep in thought, while Du Li carried his hoe and left.
"I'm going to the fields too." Father Du locked the door to the west wing, shouldered his hoe, and left.
Seeing her mother-in-law smiling, Li Hongguo asked, "Mother, what's making you happy?"
"Don't ask around, it's none of your business." Du's mother wouldn't tell her that.
Li Hongguo was secretly furious. There must be a secret between the third son and the second son's family, and those two old folks knew it too, but they were keeping it from her and Du Ming. She indignantly stirred things up: "The second son must have sent a basket of eggs to the Meng family."
"I know." Du's mother knew that Du Li usually acted remorsefully after doing something wrong, and her reaction today was different.
"You know?" Li Hongguo couldn't take it anymore. She questioned sharply, "The chickens and ducks in this house are fed by me and my two children. When the chickens and ducks lay eggs, your family sends the eggs to your second son's wife's family? What are we in this family? Do you think we're fools? Your second son's wife goes back to her parents' home to enjoy life, while I'm here helping you boil cocoons and reel silk? We're all daughters-in-law, how can you treat us like this? I'm quitting. Who doesn't know how to enjoy life?"
Li Hongguo was furious. She kicked the stove hard, but still not satisfied, she picked up a bucket of water from the wall and smashed it into the stove, extinguishing the fire. She also poured water on the embers remaining in the ash basin under the stove, drowning them.
Du's mother grabbed the fire tongs to hit her, but Li Hongguo ran back into the house crying. She locked the door from the inside and started cursing at the old woman through it.
"You shallow-minded brat, you troublemaker! You've gotten too big for your britches, letting me make a scene in my house. If you keep causing trouble, I'll not only send her eggs, but I'll also send her rice after the rice harvest!" Mother Du scolded, hands on her hips.
Du Ming opened the door and went out with a dark face. "The third son gets the money, the second son gets the things, what does my son get?"
"You want to separate the family?" Mother Du glared at him. "You dare to separate the family?"
Du Ming lowered his head. If he dared to say such a thing, his reputation would be so bad that it would spread for miles around.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said.
"If you didn't mean that, why are you yelling about the first and second wives? Who assigned you the first and second wives? What are you so angry about? The second son gave a basket of eggs to the Meng family, and you threw a tantrum and lay in bed refusing to work. Did I or your father say a word?" Mother Du said disappointedly. "The second son's wife didn't come back because she had to take care of your third brother. That's understandable, isn't it? Look at what your wife did! Not only did she abandon her responsibilities, but she also argued with me. Does she even know how to be filial to her elders? I'd like to ask her what kind of daughter the Li family raised? She has no manners at all. Even Meng Qing, that merchant's daughter, who is so shrewish, didn't dare to curse at me."
Li Hongguo burst into tears, "I can't live like this anymore!"
"If you can't make it, then leave. If anyone from the Du family comes to ask you to come back, I'll take your surname," Mother Du said harshly.
“She can’t leave. She gave birth to my children, and my two kids and I can’t live without her.” Du Ming spoke up in defense. “Mother, all I’m saying is that I feel it’s unfair. I’m the eldest son in the family. When you and Dad pass away, I’ll be the one carrying the flag and breaking the basin when we go up the mountain. I’m carrying a heavy burden, but why are you making me suffer? April is over, when is your grandson going to school?”
Upon hearing this, Du's mother's momentum weakened, and she declined, saying, "Ask your father, don't ask me."
When Du Li returned last time, he brought news that Du Min wanted them to buy silkworm cocoons to reel silk and weave silk. The silk needed to be woven, and the silkworms also needed to be raised in the summer. Du's mother listened to her youngest son and spent three days running around to four villages before she managed to gather eight thousand silkworm cocoons, which cost her 1,600 coins. After spending this money, the old couple tacitly decided to send Jinshu to elementary school next year.
That evening, Du Ming went to ask his father for advice. His father complained, but Du Ming wouldn't listen. The father and son argued, which ended with Du Ming getting hit with two sticks.
With the matter out in the open, there was no hope for Jinshu to attend school. The eldest son and his wife went on strike; neither of them went to the fields or spun silk. They both stayed inside, sleeping soundly, demanding an explanation from their family.
At that moment, Du Li knocked on the door next door, "Big brother, you're still awake, right? Come out and chat?"
"Second brother, we're going to sleep," Li Hongguo said.
"Why bother with him?" Du Ming scolded her.
Du Li was stung by the disgust in his words, and he walked away in silence, abandoning his plan to join forces with him.
...
The next day, Du Li said to his parents, "It's getting hot. Are my third brother's summer clothes still at home? I'll take them to him."
Du's mother stared at him for a few seconds, then said sarcastically, "You're pretending to send summer clothes to your third brother, but you really want to go to the Meng family, don't you?"
“I can choose not to send it to him,” Du Li said calmly.
Du's mother moved her lips, muttered a few curses under her breath, and turned to pack Du Min's summer clothes.
"Given the situation at home, should I ask my third brother to come back?" Du Li asked his father.
“Okay, call him back. I want to ask him about the situation.” Mr. Du wanted to know how much money Du Min had made.
Du Li took Du Min's summer clothes and boarded a boat to enter the city again. He entered Wumen and arrived at the ferry. Before he even got off the boat, he saw a group of servants carrying wreaths and paper sedan chairs by the river.
"Which noble family is having a funeral? Why are they buying so many funerary objects?" Du Li overheard someone on another ship asking.
"Dr. Chen has passed away at the Chen residence in Renfengfang."
“I know this place. Dr. Chen’s eldest son is a minor official in the capital.”
"If Dr. Chen dies, won't Master Chen have to return home to observe mourning?"
"He's back. He came back yesterday morning. Old Master Chen only breathed his last after seeing his eldest son."
Du Li paid the fare and disembarked. He went to Jiayufang, but the Meng family's door was locked, so he turned and went to the paper horse shop. When he reached the foot of Ruiguang Temple, he saw from afar that the street full of funerary objects was crowded with people. The Meng family's paper horse shop was also packed with people. He squeezed in and found Du Min there, as well as a big monk.
A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in mourning clothes came out from the backyard. He said a few words to the head monk, then led a group of people away. Du Min followed him out.
Du Li walked up to Meng Qing and asked, "Is this the Master Chen?"
"Have you seen him?" Meng Qing asked.
"I guessed. I heard there was a funeral at the Chen family's residence. I saw him dressed in mourning clothes, surrounded by a group of people eager to curry favor. I suppose he must be an official in the capital." Du Li also cursed Du Min.
"It was him. He invited Master Konghui to the Chen residence to perform a ritual for his father. On his way down the mountain, he encountered Master Xie and his group carrying wreaths and a paper sedan chair. He stopped by to take a look, saying he had never seen paper-made funerary objects before. However, there wasn't much to see in the paper-made shop; all the good stuff had been moved into his house. It was your third brother who seized the opportunity to show off. I think this official was quite interested in the policy arguments he presented," Meng Qing said.
"Why is Du Min here? Is he also going to the Chen residence to pay respects with his teacher?" Du Li asked the crucial question.
Meng Qing laughed, "The whole group of them came for Master Chen. As soon as Master Chen came out of Ruiguang Temple, Master Xie and the others immediately led their men out with wreaths and paper sedan chairs. Du Li, your third brother's luck and cunning are top-notch."
Du Li's feelings were hard to describe; there was bitterness, joy, and envy.
"Why are you here? Are you just hanging out or is there something you need?" Meng Qing asked.
“My elder brother and sister-in-law have fallen out with the family again. The rice harvest is just around the corner, and the silk reeling work can’t be delayed either. My parents will definitely have to back down, but they won’t readily hand over the money. I expect there will be a stalemate for a few more days. I want to take this opportunity to find a way to make some money on my own. I plan to raise fish in the rice paddies, and I also want to dig dikes to raise fish and turtles. I also want to raise a large flock of chickens and ducks in the mulberry and jujube fields to make money and save up. What I have, my elder brother will definitely want too. He can earn money to support his children’s education, and my parents won’t have to contribute. I think they will agree.” Du Li explained his plan. His words didn’t carry much weight at home, so he could only rely on this method to get them to listen.
"I want you to go back too. My parents will listen to you, so you have to put in a good word for me," Du Li said, revealing her true intentions.
"After seeing your third brother's abilities today, do you still hold onto this idea? Your hoarding of private wealth means you're no longer supporting him with the entire family's resources. Aren't you afraid he'll resent you?" Meng Qing worried that he hadn't considered this point, so she reminded him.
Du Li felt a pang of sadness and almost cried. Wasn't it her who told him to make himself valuable and to treat himself better?
Reluctant to make things difficult for her, Du Li insisted weakly, "He has always harbored resentment towards his family. He probably thinks the money we spend on his education is not enough and looks down on it. I want to try it myself. Let him have his resentment, it won't make a difference."
He still wanted to save himself.
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