Afternoon.
The wind picked up and it started to rain.
The ants hid away, except one that got left behind.
The wind swept away the fragrant scent that Old Lady had left in the yard when she came by earlier.
Old Lady smelled of sandalwood incense, as if she burned incense and prayed to Buddha every day.
After Mother Qin said that.
Old Lady’s eyebrows and eyes, which were as beautiful as a Bodhisattva's, twisted in anger.
Her lips quivered in rage.
When her lips trembled, her spitefulness finally showed.
How dare this country bumpkin compare her precious Wan'er to others.
It was preposterous.
And that Strong Woman directly stretched out her sand pot-sized hands, about to hit them.
Yet she did not expect to be blocked by Qin Luoxia.
The Strong Woman’s face turned red.
She did not expect that after having a child, this country bumpkin would become so strong that she could block her attack?
She had training.
Old Lady’s expression was ugly as she spoke, “Qin, mind your own business. Too much injustice will lead to self-destruction. Evil deeds may not lead to immediate misfortune, but blessings have long left you. Yao, let’s go.”
The Strong Woman supported Old Lady as they left.
What an odd pair.
Jiang Mianmian was confused by them.
She wondered if they got rained on along the way. For the first time, Jiang Mianmian wickedly hoped that someone would get drenched in the rain.
Qin Luoxia was very angry.
Rage billowed in her chest.
But she had nowhere to vent it.
Old Lady was slippery with words. Without evidence or facts, she always took the moral high ground. Whenever she decided you were in the wrong, she would condemn you for it.
Qin Luoxia took a deep breath. She suddenly felt excited remembering how she had blocked that slap today.
Some said that giving birth and postpartum care could cure previous postpartum illnesses. Did giving birth to Mianmian cure her body?
She started to work vigorously.
So Jiang Mianmian watched Mother Qin carry the bed on her back... pick up the stone mill... move pillars... squat on the ground and scrub every corner clean.
Shabby as it was, at least it was now spotless.
Finally.
It started pouring.
The rain grew heavier.
Pitter patter, swish swash.
Jiang Mianmian was hungry, “Yiya yiya” (Mother, mother, eat, eat).
Qin Luoxia sat in a small bamboo chair under the eaves, nursing her daughter.
Watching the heavy rain in the yard, she felt the wind turn cooler, and the anger in her chest gradually faded away.
Let bygones be bygones.
If it wasn’t for Old Lady’s sanctimonious behavior, she wouldn’t have married Master Jiang.
She should even thank Old Lady.
The soft rain continued. The sky darkened early.
That wastrel Jiang Feng still did not come home early as usual.
Like always, he only returned home at dinnertime.
Today he somehow brought back a piece of red cloth, beaming as he handed it to Mother Qin.
Qin Luoxia was displeased and ignored him without scolding.
It was almost completely dark by the time Jiang Yu came back from doing odd jobs at the landlord’s house. She returned empty handed and unhappy, “Mother, I don’t need to go there anymore starting tomorrow. Lady Cui has agreed to let Cui marry the guard at Landlord Liu’s house. Cui can formally work at Landlord Liu’s house from now on.”
Qin Luoxia only absentmindedly murmured in response.
It was only when Jiang Changtian returned home that Qin Luoxia perked up.
Her husband was clever and could give her advice whenever she encountered problems.
She was a little worried about her eldest daughter. Whenever Old Lady didn’t speak she was fine, but whenever she opened her mouth, it seemed like nothing could stop her from accomplishing what she wanted.
Surprisingly, today Jiang Changtian brought home a bag with four meat buns.
Four plump meat buns.
One was squished.
As Jiang Mianmian watched her father elegantly pull them out of his wide sleeves, steam still rose from them.
They seemed freshly steamed and smelled fragrant. She had not seen buns in so long.
Though they called them meat buns here, not baozi.
Four round buns.
One squished.
“What good fortune did you have today Father, to bring home meat buns?” Since there were four, Jiang Yu did not stand on courtesy and grabbed one. She took a bite with her hands and asked, satisfied.
Jiang Changtian smiled, “Your father got a promotion. From now on I will be a junior magistrate. My monthly salary has doubled. I suppose that calls for celebration. From now on, I can buy each of you meat buns once a month. Does that sound good?”
Jiang Feng grabbed a meat bun and handed it to Mother before taking the squished one for himself. He took a huge bite, then another, and finished it in three bites.
With puffed, full cheeks, he swallowed it all down. Only after kneading his stomach did he speak up, “What about the previous magistrate Wu? He was difficult to deal with. Last time when Mother gave birth to my little sister, I went looking for you and bumped into him. He kicked me and it still hurts here. If he got promoted too, your job would have become even harder Father.”
Jiang Changtian slowly and gracefully finished the last meat bun before replying leisurely, “He died. He was caught stealing government property and beaten to death.”
Silence followed.
Jiang Mianmian’s eyes went wide, pupils unfocused.
Her little head still remembered her father mentioning something about stealing medicinal ingredients.
And now, ah...
Qin Luoxia was also shocked.
She was already in a bad mood today. Hearing her husband’s words...
She showed an uglier smile than a crying face.
“Death is better than suffering. This world...”
It seemed everyone in the family had hardened hearts. No one mentioned it again and instead they happily prepared dinner.
Jiang Yu said delightedly, “It’s perfect that I don’t have to work tomorrow. I can stay home and take care of my sister. Father got promoted so we won’t starve anymore.”
After the meat buns padded their stomachs, tonight’s wild vegetable soup tasted even more bitter.
But everyone ate with big gulps.
Eat your fill so you won’t wake up hungry midnight.
Jiang Mianmian sucked her fingers as she nursed. Not taking part in the wild vegetable soup.
Watching her older siblings with green complexions.
Her scholarly-looking father was also skin and bones.
Yet today, Mother had a glowing, oily complexion and sturdy limbs.
Jiang Mianmian thought to find an chance to add some spring water to the vegetable soup, at least to improve their health.
It had been an informative day, full of information.
Jiang Mianmian completely forgot about the ant she had fed a drop of spiritual spring water.
That little ant had already built a home under the wooden basin.
Her older siblings played with her for a while. She was determined to conserve her energy and listen in from her bed corner tonight.
Finally lying in her mother’s arms.
Lulled to sleep as her mother coaxed her. Placed aside.
In the dark of night.
She stared wide-eyed, listening to the rustling sounds.
She saw her father bury his head in her mother’s embrace...
A muffled voice softly traveled in the darkness, “Wu led me step-by-step. I should have thanked him, but when I learned he wanted to frame me to take the fall, I reported him first. He died, I lived, and took over his position too.”
“Xiaomei, I was terrified afterwards, yet I feel happier. I really am the unfilial and unrighteous petty man you called me. Living is so hard.”
In the darkness.
Her mother’s large hand slowly caressed her father’s bony back.
So her father was very thin after all.
His protruding spine.
His usual wide robes made him seem refined.
Jiang Mianmian nibbled on her own little foot. Tears suddenly wet her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
Her little foot tasted a little salty.
