Chen Yunyun felt immense pressure upon seeing the two corrupted cubs. If she had known that saying these words would only increase their corruption level, she would not have said them.
Clearing her throat twice, she prepared to salvage the situation: "Everyone looks out for themselves, it's normal for them to act this way. If you were in their shoes, you would also choose to protect yourselves."
She reached out and gently rubbed the cheeks of the two little ones. The older child and the younger child were astonished. When had their stepmother ever been so affectionate towards them?
Even their own mothers rarely behave this way.
Before the two little ones could react, their faces involuntarily turned red.
Looking at the two little ones' flushed faces, Chen Yunyun began to doubt herself. Had she really used that much force? She'd rubbed their faces until they were both red…
She continued, "Don't worry, your father will be back soon, and I will protect you. Remember this saying: good deeds will be rewarded, and evil deeds will be punished. It's not that retribution won't come, it's just that the time hasn't arrived yet."
It's not that retribution won't come, it's just that the time hasn't arrived yet.
The eldest son silently repeated these words three times, but a voice in his heart questioned whether there would really be retribution.
By the time I finished dealing with things, it was almost evening.
She went to the field to retrieve the hoe she had left there. On the way, she ran into Aunt Li from next door. Before she could say anything, Aunt Li quickly ran back to her own house and slammed the door shut.
Chen Yunyun was speechless. Was it really necessary?
Back home, Chen Yunyun sat by the stove, thinking that she would probably have to find a way to move to the city in the future. Staying in this feudal and superstitious village made her feel really unsafe.
...
At the west end of the village, there stands a large tile-roofed house.
As darkness fell, the lights inside the tiled house were still on; this was the village chief's house.
Tiger's mother looked at the exquisitely crafted stone lantern on the village chief's wall with great envy. It was a precious item left by their ancestors, and only the village chief's family had one!
Her husband pulled her aside, and Tiger's mother came to her senses, only then remembering the purpose of the village chief's house.
In the main room, on the heavy, carved wooden seat, sat a hunched old man with an old pipe between his fingers, taking a couple of puffs and occasionally flicking off the ash.
After saying what he wanted to say, Zhang the hunter waited anxiously for the reply from the person in front of him.
After a long while, a hoarse, aged voice slowly echoed in the room, "Shunwazi, one should be lenient when one can."
The old man remained in the same posture as when he held his pipe, leaning lazily against the wooden chair, yet his eyes held a dignified and solemn air that commanded respect.
The village chief is highly respected and an elder in the village. Every household has received his help, and his word is law in the village.
Zhang Shun was somewhat unwilling to accept this result. After taking the child home in the afternoon, Hu Zi fell into a deep sleep and was trembling in his sleep. Soon after, he developed a high fever.
That burning forehead made even a man like him feel parched and anxious.
After finally managing to bring the fever down using traditional remedies, the couple rushed to the village chief's house.
The thought of his beloved son lying weakly in bed filled him with rage. Forgiveness when you can? Dream on!
“Uncle! Tiger grew up under your watchful eye. He always tells us how good you are to him and that he will be filial to you when he grows up.”
As she spoke, Tiger's mother wiped away her tears, her voice choked with emotion, "Tiger, though a bit resilient, is undeniably filial. The thought of him lying in bed, half-dead, fills me with resentment!"
"How could a perfectly healthy child fall into the water? He's not a three-year-old; he hasn't played by the water for years."
"If you ask me, it must be that damned old woman from Zhijun's previous marriage causing trouble!"
The old man rolled a cigarette and said slowly, "Those things that are neither human nor ghost, the world is different now, you can't say such things carelessly."
Seeing that her uncle didn't believe her, Tiger's mother became anxious. She stepped forward and said confidently, "Last time, Zhijun's new wife said she saw that dead woman on my back! Tiger fell into the water less than two days later, who else could it be but her!"
"Who did Zhijun marry?" The village chief squinted, his tone unreadable.
"Yes! When she married into the family, her ex had been buried for half a year! How would she know what clothes her ex wore or what she looked like?"
"The appearance she described to me that day was exactly the same as the one Zhijun had when he died. It was terrifying!"
Tiger's mother still feels a chill run down her spine when she talks about it, and she involuntarily stands closer to her husband. Zhang the hunter, who is in a fit of anger, pushes her away unhappily when he sees her sturdy body leaning towards him.
Hunter Zhang looked at the village chief, his voice urgent, "Uncle, please go up the mountain and ask our great-grandfather for help. Everyone in the village is terrified. If this matter isn't resolved soon, everyone will be filled with anxiety. The ancestral worship ceremony is in a month, don't let this important event be delayed."
The old man stood up from the carved wooden chair and waved for the couple to leave.
Zhang the hunter and Tiger's mother exchanged a glance. Tiger's mother couldn't hold back and was about to speak when the village chief said, "Let's go back. I'll think about it."
Upon hearing this, the couple's faces lit up with joy. Their uncle's words, "I'll consider it," meant he was certain. The couple thanked him repeatedly, left three pounds of fatty pork belly on the table, and then went home.
Chen Yunyun was unaware of all of this.
In the evening, because the two adults were in low spirits, Chen Yunyun didn't put much thought into the food. She just stir-fried some radishes and potatoes and made do with that for dinner.
The next day was a bright and sunny day.
Because she wasn't going out, Chen Yunyun stayed in bed until it was broad daylight before getting up.
After getting dressed, she went to the kitchen to cook some noodles for breakfast.
Pour some oil into a hot pan, and once the oil is hot, pour in the beaten eggs. The egg mixture will expand as it heats up, producing several round bubbles.
Chen Yunyun used a spatula to pop the bubbles and deftly flipped the almost-formed fried egg over, releasing a rich aroma of egg from the pan.
She scooped water from the water vat and poured it into the pot. After the water boiled, she sprinkled in the noodles.
She bought these noodles from the supply and marketing cooperative. They were so big that she couldn't even hold them in one hand, and they only cost 50 cents.
She took out her bowl and prepared the seasonings: a spoonful of snow-white lard, a spoonful of light soy sauce, and a pinch of salt.
Once the noodles were cooked until soft, Chen Yunyun scooped them out and sprinkled them with bright green scallions.
The scallions were freshly picked and very fresh. The scallion flowers lay on top of the white noodles, and the steam rising from the bowl made it very appetizing.
"Stop scooping water, come and eat!"
In the morning, the water in the water tank was almost gone, so the eldest son took a bucket and drew water from the old well in the yard to fill the tank.
After Niu Niu got up, she also went to help. In just a short while, the water tank was already half full, and the two children were sweating profusely from exhaustion.
The two children are wearing clothes that were hastily made last night. The stitches are messy and there's not much cotton in them, so they're not as warm as the previous ones. She'll make a few more when she has time.
Sanwa sat next to Chen Yunyun, having just drunk milk powder, with a layer of white milk stains around his mouth.
Seeing that his older siblings had fried eggs in their bowls, he smacked his lips, and clear drool dripped from the corners of his mouth.
Chen Yunyun rubbed her forehead.
What a blunder! The first thing we should have done was make bibs!
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