1940s: I supported my wife and sister-in-law by hunting.

I haven't been in the mood to do anything else while traveling these past few days, and besides, no one has been giving me any ideas.

It can only be said that the longer you hold it in, the less you can withstand strong stimulation.

Fortunately, failure is the mother of success.

Gradually, I began to feel right at home, like a white streak in the waves. The more I swam in the sea, the more I understood.

Lotus was five months pregnant and couldn't take any more exertion. This time, it was Chen Gaoshan's turn to take care of Lotus, who was already exhausted and lying on her side asleep.

I went down to fetch a basin of water, washed a towel, and dried her off from head to toe.

He washed himself clean, put on a pair of shorts, picked up a basin of water, pushed open the door, and walked into the yard. Just as he was about to splash the water into the yard, he saw the person standing across the street. It was none other than Xinghua, who was also five months pregnant.

He quickly withdrew his hand, bent down to pour the water from the basin aside, and hurried over, speaking in a low voice.

"Xinghua, what are you doing up so late at night? Are you waiting for me at the door? Is Hongying asleep?"

Xinghua stubbornly turned her head away. "No, I came out to use the restroom, I wasn't waiting for you."

He laughed instead. "Oh, sister-in-law, are you serious?"

As he spoke, he carefully pulled her into his arms, intending to test the truth of her words in his own way.

He stretched out his hand and waved it in front of her.

"What is this, sister-in-law? You don't look like you just came out to go to the outhouse. You've been listening to the eavesdropping for a while now."

Xinghua said no, but her body had already gone limp and she leaned against him.

"Shanzi, are you just trying to embarrass me? You knew all along and still said it out loud, shameless! How come I never noticed you before, you little rascal, you've been hiding a lot of bad ideas. Hurry up, your sister-in-law can't stand up anymore."

Given the current situation, we need to get started quickly.

Without saying a word, he picked up Xinghua horizontally and headed straight for the backyard, where his father had opened a door that connected the two yards.

Xinghua leaned against him, feeling the man's strong chest and his body temperature.

Although it was July, the village was located next to the mountains.

It gets especially cool at night, and you need to cover yourself with a blanket to sleep, yet Chen Gaoshan was still sweating.

The two arrived at the backyard, where it was late at night and no one would come by. He simply placed the child on the table under the grape trellis.

She completely let go of Xinghua and immediately started pulling down his underwear. "Shanzi, give it to me."

"Whatever you want, whatever I have, I'll give it to you."

In the small courtyard, only the two of them remained, their emotions heavy with suppressed emotions.

·····

I had a really relaxing night yesterday.

Chen Gaoshan slept so soundly; it was the most restful sleep he had had during the months of wandering outside.

The kang (heated brick bed) and bedding at home are much more comfortable than any spring bed in any mansion outside.

He slept until almost 10 a.m. the next day before opening his eyes.

After getting dressed and stepping out of the house, I found the yard already bustling with activity.

In the middle of the courtyard, Kexin was holding an axe and chopping firewood with all her might.

I didn't realize this kid was so capable at his job.

"Kexin, why is the house so busy so early in the morning? What's going on?"

Upon hearing the noise, Kexin immediately straightened up and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Second brother, you're awake! I've kept your food warm in the pot. Your eldest uncle just said he's inviting your second grandfather, Uncle Chunlei, and other elders from the village to our house for a welcome dinner today."

Chen Gaoshan stretched out a big yawn, his joints cracking, and nodded.

He was still preoccupied with the matter of the iron lock at Uncle Changfa's house, and had some reservations about it.

But since his father had arranged the banquet, he must have had his reasons and considerations. Elders always know how to conduct themselves, so he didn't dwell on it.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xinghua strode out of the kitchen, her movements swift and efficient.

He was holding a bowl of corn porridge and two eggs.

Xiaxia followed behind, carrying a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes and two cornbread pancakes in her hands.

Xinghua saw Chen Gaoshan standing blankly at the door.

"What are you standing there daydreaming about? Are you still asleep? Hurry up and come inside. Eat while it's hot, or it'll clump together when it gets cold."

Chen Gaoshan followed the two into the west wing, sat cross-legged on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Xinghua sat opposite him, peeling an egg in her hand. The eggshells would be useful later, to be used to feed the chickens.

Without much thought, the peeled egg was placed directly into Chen Gaoshan's rice bowl.

Chen Gaoshan ate his porridge while chatting casually.

"While I was away for a few months, I hope nothing major happened in the village. You've got nothing better to do, so tell me about what's going on in the village."

When it comes to all the big and small things in the village, Auntie is definitely the most important woman there.

No matter how trivial the matter is in the village, even if it's something like someone's sow going into heat and needing to pay for a pig to breed with, my aunt never misses a chance to get involved.

Firstly, we live nearby, and secondly, when my aunt doesn't have much work to do in the fields during the day, she comes over every day to chat and lend a hand with the chores.

Xinghua became very familiar with the affairs of the village through her aunt's two retellings.

She pursed her lips, immediately remembering something important, and slowly began to speak:

"Something really happened. Xu Laifu from the village was bitten on the arm by a shrew."

"Zhou Langzhong came to our door to apply medicine and bandage the wound, and it was only with great difficulty that he was cured."

"While you were away from the village, Second Uncle handed over the patrol team to Uncle Changfa, and Uncle Changfa kicked Xu Laifu out of the patrol team without any mercy."

Xinghua smacked her lips and continued chatting.

"To be fair, he deserved it. After his arm healed, he went back to farming instead of staying home. In the spring, he secretly went up the mountain to cut down big trees, hoping to sell some timber for money."

As they say, bad luck is everything; even drinking cold water can cause problems. A tree branch fell on his side, crushing his leg. He hadn't even started planting the land yet, and now he was paralyzed on his bed. His life was completely ruined.

Xiaxia turned around and went out to busy herself, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Xinghua shifted her position closer to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) and continued her chatter.

"My aunt learned from me, and now Xu Laifu is completely paralyzed from the waist down. Even if you pour boiling water on his legs, he won't feel any pain. He's completely dead."

"Now things are really messed up; he eats, drinks, and relieves himself all on the bed. Don't be fooled by Xu Laifu's sprawled out on the bed; he's only getting worse and worse off. The more useless he is, the more trouble he causes."

"His own plow is no longer working, but he insists on finding other ways to till the land. He's very wicked and always picking fights and venting his anger at home."

He'd grab and pinch his wife all the time, leaving her covered in bruises and a abyss. She'd suffered terribly.

As Chen Gaoshan chewed his food, he frowned, feeling a little puzzled.

"He caught quite a few gazelles when he went into the mountains before. Their pelts are worth some money, so he must have saved up a couple. With money in hand, why doesn't he go to the county hospital for a checkup?"

When this topic came up, Xinghua got even more excited, her eyes widening. Women are naturally inclined to gossip, and once she started, she couldn't stop.

"Why didn't you go? You did."

"The money's all gone. We went to the county hospital, took the medicine, got the injections, went through thirteen different treatments—all to no avail!"

"It was the same when we left, and it's still the same when we came back. It was a complete waste of money and suffering."

"Now his family's life is completely ruined. The head of the family is paralyzed on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Laifu's wife is the only woman holding the family together."

"Originally, he was considered a distant relative, the younger brother of the sister-in-law of Uncle Changfa's wife. Uncle Changfa used to care about their relationship and would occasionally lend a hand and look after him. But ever since the incident where he was kicked out of the patrol team and then paralyzed due to his own stupidity, Uncle Changfa has completely stopped caring about him."

"When spring came and the fields were planted, his wife was the only one doing the hard work. When she couldn't keep up, she would call her brothers to come and help. But her brothers also had families to support. Helping once or twice was a favor, but who would be willing to work themselves to death for nothing if it happened repeatedly?"

"So recently, the couple has been thinking about finding a bachelor in the village who can run errands, so he can move in with them, help them with farming and other household chores, and support them."

Chen Gaoshan quickly finished the coarse porridge in his bowl and put the empty bowl on the table.

"He deserves it; he's the kind of guy who wouldn't mind eating a hundred beans!"

"It's bound to happen sooner or later, whether it happens early or late. With that kind of relationship between the couple, who would want to run errands for them? Only someone with a brain full of water would do that."

As a result, Xinghua picked up the empty bowl and chopsticks and chuckled.

"You're wrong this time. There really are people willing to live with him."

·····