My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 182 Finding Faults

Wang Susu's home is in Yaowangzhai, formerly known as Yaowangzhai. The head of the village is surnamed Yao, while other surnames live together. It belongs to one of the "Eight Kings Villages".

The so-called Bawangzhai refers to the eight bandit strongmen who occupied the mountains and ruled as kings during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period. They were known as the Eight Kings, and the eight bandit dens they left behind are now their own.

Back then, they occupied this trade route, making a living by blocking the road. Relying on the mountainous terrain and deep ravines, they would move from place to place after a single shot, appearing and disappearing like the wind. They were extremely slippery, and even the army had difficulty wiping them out.

The mountain villages and water villages of today evolved from that time.

Yaowangzhai is not considered too remote within Bawangzhai.

Even so, it still takes five or six kilometers of mountain road to get to Fenglei Town.

So Chen Ling and the others unloaded the oxcart at Fenglei Town Middle School, re-tied up the things on the cart, put them back on the white calf, and set off again.

During this time, Wang Qingwen and his wife learned that Wang Susu was pregnant. While they were happy, they were also very careful. On the way, they had Chen Ling carry Wang Susu up the mountain so that she wouldn't walk.

Wang Susu felt both shy and helpless, and could only let them do as they pleased.

Leaving the school gate and heading west, crossing the Xihegou River, then diagonally north, passing through the village of Dacangyukou, and walking a short distance, you will find a mountain plank road.

This is an ancient commercial road from the Ming and Qing dynasties, called Camel Cliff Road.

The plank road stretches upwards, and before you reach the top, there is a steep section of stone steps carved out by the ancients.

Chen Ling carried Wang Susu in front.

Wang Zhenzhen led the white calf, while Wang Qingwen and his wife followed behind, supporting the goods carried on the calf's back.

After trying to walk for a while, Su Li, carrying her son on her back, almost couldn't keep up and was always left behind by the cow.

Upon seeing this, Wang Qingwen exclaimed in surprise, "This ox is amazing! It walks so fast and so steadily, without wobbling or swaying."

"Haha, yes, I often take it to the mountains to play, it's already used to walking on mountain paths..."

Chen Ling turned around and smiled.

Then she told the little white calf to slow down a bit, otherwise Su Li would not be able to keep up and might trip over.

The path ahead of the plank road is indeed a bit steep, but once you get on the plank road, it gets better after walking a short distance.

It was around 3 p.m., and the weather was quite warm. There were quite a few people passing by on the boardwalk, in twos and threes, carrying bamboo baskets, leading donkeys, or pulling pack animals carrying grain and mountain goods down the mountain.

After they met, Chen Ling and his group had to give way to others, which slowed them down considerably.

The two dogs ran back and forth, waiting in front for a long time before returning to wait for them.

Wang Zhenzhen couldn't help but mutter to herself in annoyance.

Wang Qingwen comforted him, "Don't worry, it'll be easier up ahead. It was just repaired two months ago, it's very spacious, no worries about people passing by..."

He then continued to point to the cliffs and rivers on both sides and told Chen Ling the story of Camel Cliff.

Looking at the cliffs and ravines on both sides of the plank road, Chen Ling couldn't help but sigh, "Going up and down the mountain like this is really not easy."

“Who says otherwise? It’s also troublesome for the kids to go to school. When Susu was in school, she had to get up before dawn and walk more than ten miles to town.”

"It's a bit better here with Zhenzhen. At least the road is easier to walk on, and there are fewer bad guys blocking the way. But it's still not easy to go to school."

Wang Qingwen shook his head. There was nothing he could do. The mountains and rivers here were beautiful, but the people were too poor, there was little arable land, and there were no ways to make a living.

The eight villages in the mountains couldn't retain people, nor could they build schools; those who wanted to go to school had to travel to the town.

But it's too far.

For example, in Nanpu Water Village and Beipu Water Village, it takes nearly ten kilometers of mountain road to get to Fenglei Town, making it quite difficult for children to go to school.

"Zhenzhen, did you hear what your brother-in-law said to your brother? From now on, you should stay with us and go to school in the county town."

Wang Susu, perched on Chen Ling's back, turned her head and said.

"I can do it, but I don't know if my parents will be willing to let me go? They must miss me terribly after not seeing me for three months."

Wang Zhenzhen used to walk mountain roads often. She ate and drank well at Chen Ling's house for two months and ran around every day, so she was very strong. Now, she leads the cow and doesn't feel tired. She just pouts her bright red lips and shakes her head.

"Hey, that's some serious vanity."

Chen Ling chuckled upon hearing this and reached out to tug at her little braid.

"You stinky brother-in-law, you're the vain one! Don't you have any braids? All you do is pull mine."

Wang Zhenzhen glared at him fiercely.

Unexpectedly, the little braid on her head got hit again.

Turning around and looking up, she saw Wang Qingwen with a big smile: "Zhenzhen, your brother-in-law is a man, how come a man has a braid?"

"That's right, men don't wear braids."

"We only pulled your braids because they looked nice."

Chen Ling said with a smile.

Then, at the same time, Wang Qingwen reached out and pinched one of them.

"Ugh, you two are so annoying."

The little girl couldn't keep up with both, so she stomped her feet in anger, her face puffed up with rage. She shook her head and shouted indignantly.

This caused the adults to burst into laughter.

Wang Qingwen was especially laughing the most.

Although he was strict with his younger sister, she was actually the closest to him. He missed her dearly after not seeing her for a long time and naturally wanted to tease her.

However, given his temperament, he wouldn't have done it himself if Chen Ling hadn't teased the younger sister.

Wang Zhenzhen had no idea about any of this. She was furious and pointed at Wang Qingwen, saying to Su Li, "Sister-in-law, look, your brother has also learned bad habits from your brother-in-law. Go home and tell your parents."

"Okay, okay, I'll go back and tell my parents."

Su Li wiped away the tears of laughter and said.

"Zhenzhen, your brother-in-law has spoiled you for nothing. What do you mean you've learned bad things from me? Did all the good food I gave you end up in the dog's belly?"

Chen Ling immediately protested his innocence.

"Humph."

Wang Zhenzhen ignored her, snorted, and led the ox forward quickly.

Everyone laughed again and followed.

Ahead, a sturdy and solid walkway was built through a newly carved square hole in the cliff face.

It's definitely much more spacious and easier to walk around here, which speeds up the journey.

Around 4 p.m., Yaowangzhai finally arrived.

Looking up along a path on the hillside.

From less than 100 meters away, you can already see the large stone platform in front of the village.

"We're here, we're home, Ah Ling, hurry, put me down."

With the familiar village right in front of her, Wang Susu couldn't contain her excitement and asked Chen Ling to put her down from his back.

Knowing they were home, Wang Zhenzhen was even more excited than her sister. She took the lead and ran out, swinging her little arms as she ran uphill, shouting, "We're back! We're back!"

"So what if you're back? Why are you yelling like that, you crazy girl?"

Wang Qingwen frowned. They weren't even home yet, and he was already shouting and yelling. People would laugh at him.

"It's okay, bro. I'm just really homesick."

Wang Susu smiled and turned her head to say, "At home she was still talking about missing you and your parents, but when she came back you scolded her, and then she'll blame you."

Then, holding Chen Ling's hand, they led the cow up the steps. The two dogs, perhaps sensing something, quietly followed behind them, wagging their tails.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. It's all my fault."

Wang Qingwen smiled helplessly and followed along with his wife and children.

We've arrived at Yaowang Village.

What comes into view is the old blue stone wall, which was used to defend the village against enemies and wild beasts. It has been weathered by wind and rain for a long time and looks very old.

At this time of year, the walls are still covered with some remaining green vines and thorns.

In front of the village is a large stone platform, comparable to a small threshing ground. This is the drying platform for medicinal herbs. After the village was renamed Yaowang Village, this stone platform was also called Yaowang Platform.

Passing by Yaowangtai, there is a tall and lush ancient tree.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly. Under the ancient trees, around the smooth bluestone slabs, several elderly women were mending clothes. Beside them were baskets filled with needles, thread, insoles, and other such items. Some young women were chatting, and some of the younger ones were still breastfeeding. They held their babies in their arms with grace and composure, and when they saw people coming, they were not flustered. They just followed the women next to them and looked at them curiously...

At this moment, an old lady recognized Wang Susu and stood up, shouting loudly, "Cunye's wife, your eldest daughter has brought her son-in-law back. Hurry up and go out to greet them!"

After calling out twice, he continued to scrutinize Chen Ling from head to toe, while jokingly saying, "This son-in-law is quite capable. He hasn't visited for two years, but when he does, he brings his mother-in-law a cow. He's not stingy."

"He's so shy, he doesn't even dare to look at a baby. Look, the baby's ears are all red..."

The old ladies and women nearby burst into laughter.

Seeing that her husband was a little reserved, Wang Susu quickly went over and greeted him as aunt and sister-in-law.

After exchanging a few words, the old lady waved her hand and said, "Alright, Susu, you should go back now. You haven't returned home for two years since you got married, so we won't stop you from nagging, lest you annoy people. Go home now."

He then said to Wang Qingwen, "If your mother didn't come out, then she's not with Qingzhong. She often comes to feed the sheep and wash clothes for Qingzhong's family every afternoon when it gets warmer. She's usually there..."

The third house on the slope behind the big tree closest to the village entrance is the home of Wang Qingzhong, Chen Ling's second brother-in-law. After the family split up, they built their new house here, and you can hear them calling out from behind the courtyard wall.

Upon hearing this, Wang Susu stood on tiptoe and looked around, "Are Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law still so busy?"

"Yes, they're very busy. This year, selling grain can make money. For the past two months, your second brother and sister-in-law have been working day and night, dealing with the grain stored in the cellar and then going to various villages and hamlets to collect it. They're hardly ever home..."

Wang Qingwen nodded.

There was no other way; I was terrified of being poor. It's not easy to find a chance to make money, so how could I not seize it?

As we walked up the slope, we saw that most of the houses in the village were tiled houses built of bluestone, while the rest were woodsheds and thatched houses. The latter two may not look impressive, but they are actually quite practical and sturdy.

As she approached her hometown, she felt increasingly apprehensive. Along the way, Wang Susu looked at the familiar people and houses, and her heart pounded. Holding Chen Ling's hand, her palms were sweating.

Wang Zhenzhen followed the two of them, looking around, and then she quieted down.

Soon, they arrived at an old courtyard with large trees, stone drums, and stone sheep outside, and the group stopped.

Two little children are playing marbles next to a big tree.

Under the tree was an old woman in black wearing a blue headscarf, picking through the pebbles in the millet.

Not far away, there was a well with a windlass, and a dirty old cat lay lazily basking in the sun beside the well opening...

Hearing someone approaching, the old lady glanced up casually, but then froze.

Her eyes were initially confused, but then suddenly widened, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Susu!"

"Cunye, Cunye, come out quickly! Susu is back! Susu is back! Your father and I have been waiting for you like the stars and the moon, and we've finally got you back..."

The old lady stood up, grabbed Wang Susu's hand, and cried out, tears streaming down her face.

"Mother, I miss you all too, I miss you and Father, and I miss my brother and sister-in-law..."

Wang Susu called out "Mother!" and tears streamed down her face. She excitedly gripped the old lady's hand tightly, but then choked up and couldn't speak properly.

"Susu is back? Where is she? Where is she?"

An old man in a light blue Zhongshan suit hurriedly walked out of the yard. When he saw the mother and daughter outside, he was stunned for a moment and rubbed his hands together, looking a little helpless.

Then, he saw his daughter call out, her eyes brimming with tears, "Dad."

The old man hurriedly agreed, his eyes instantly reddening.

"Oh, why are you crying? It's a happy occasion to have your daughter back. What's there to cry about? Come on in, come on in."

The old man sighed and rubbed his eyes. This was Wang Cunye, Chen Ling's father-in-law.

Wang Cunye was thin but not short. His face was ruddy with obvious wrinkles and rough skin. He had mountain-like lines on his forehead, but his features were very regular, and his eyebrows and eyes were seven or eight parts similar to Wang Qingwen's.

And the mother-in-law, Gao Xiulan, is also quite good-looking.

Even after years of hard work, as they get older, you can still see the signs of aging.

After all, someone who can give birth to such a beautiful daughter as Wang Susu can't be anything less than exceptional.

"Father, Mother, Lingzi is here too. Let's not stay outside, let's go inside quickly."

Seeing his parents and sister crying, Wang Qingwen felt bad too, but Chen Ling was the new son-in-law visiting for the first time after their marriage, so he couldn't just stand there and do nothing. He quickly reminded him.

Wang Zhenzhen, who had been quiet and well-behaved all along, tilted her head back and blinked her eyes curiously, asking, "Brother-in-law, you were talking to my brother and sister-in-law the whole way, but why didn't you say a word when we got to the village?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling glared at his sister-in-law. This girl, why did she have to bring up such a sensitive topic? Didn't she see that her brother-in-law was nervous?
But his brother-in-law mentioned him, and his sister-in-law also said the same thing.

The father-in-law and mother-in-law also looked over at this moment.

Feeling two pairs of eyes on him, Chen Ling couldn't help but swallow hard, sweat beading on his forehead. He chuckled awkwardly, "Father, Mother, I brought Susu back to see you."

After he finished speaking, the room suddenly fell silent.

Father-in-law Wang Cunye sized him up, then glanced at his youngest daughter beside him, and gave him a faint smile: "It's good that you're back. Come in."

Then, he turned around, head down, and strode into the house first.

Beside her, Chen Ling's mother-in-law, Gao Xiulan, wiped away her tears, glared at him with a fierce expression, and gritted her teeth.

But in the end, he didn't say anything.

She gave a perfunctory reply and invited him in.

Wang Susu was still a little excited. She walked over and held Chen Ling's hand, wanting to say something to her parents, but Chen Ling gently stopped her.

Wang Qingwen glanced at the young couple.

He knew his brother-in-law was reasonable, and now that he was more serious, his temperament wasn't bad either. But if his parents still had reservations about this son-in-law, he and Su Li, who were now his brother and sister-in-law, couldn't say much.

He then accompanied his sister and brother-in-law into their home.

Su Li picked up the child and went inside to keep Wang Susu and her sister company while they talked to their parents.

Chen Ling stayed in the yard to unload the things from the cow's back.

Two large cloth bundles, several bulging snakeskin bags, wine jars in a basket, and other items were unloaded one by one.

There were quite a few odds and ends.

Wang Qingwen wanted to come over and lend a hand, but as soon as he came out, Gao Xiulan called him back and told him to boil water and make tea.

Chen Ling sensed the tension and sighed inwardly, thinking, "This is bad; my mother-in-law is still upset."

But there's nothing I can do about it; what I did before was truly inhumane.

It's normal for a mother-in-law to be holding back her anger and want to give someone a hard time; just accept it.

However, Wang Susu couldn't bear to do that.

After exchanging a few words with his parents, he couldn't sit still any longer and insisted on coming out to help him tidy up.

Seeing this, Gao Xiulan wanted to go out and call her daughter back several times, but in the end she sat back down, rubbing her legs and sighing repeatedly: "My daughter has grown up and is no longer under her mother's control..."

"I was just giving this kid a little talking-to, but look at this silly girl, she's already feeling sorry for him, sigh."

(End of this chapter)