Volume One, Chapter 16: A Man Is a Man!

Page 1/3

“Big brother, don’t you think… don’t you think what we’re doing is a bit too much?”

The village chief’s house was located at the far west end of the village, surrounded by towering mountains. The sun only graced the village with a few hours of daylight each day, so although it was just 5 p.m., kerosene lamps were already lit inside. Four people sat on the heated kang platform, watching their village chief father puffing on his pipe while muttering away.

Everyone’s faces flickered with uncertainty, but none more so than the village chief’s eldest son, Gao Ping.

“What do you mean too much? I’m just trying to get that house into our hands, and you all saw how troublesome that Jia Zhang woman is!”

“But, big brother, my brother told me a few days ago that the county magistrate might be visiting our village soon, supposedly to praise you. If he finds out about this, I’m afraid it’s going to cause trouble!”

“What trouble? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If we don’t take Widow Liu’s house this time, our family will be stuck crammed in this little patch of land for the rest of our lives! Do you want that?”

Everyone hung their heads in silence.

Of course, they didn’t want that.

Yet, they all felt uneasy about the ruthless path they were taking—and feared it might end in bloodshed.

*Knock, knock*—the sound of the village chief tapping his pipe.

He sighed deeply, then shifted his tone and spoke again: “Gao Ping, you get in touch with your contacts in the county and find out when the county magistrate is coming. We have to settle this before he arrives. Also, keep a close eye on Widow Liu. We don’t want to harm her, just pressure her a bit. She’s more troublesome than that Jia woman; a little push will do the trick. And have your sisters go around the village stirring up trouble about that brat. As for Xu Gouzi, that guy’s just a reckless hero; if rumors about him and Widow Liu spread enough, he won’t have the face to stay in this village anymore.”

The three sons exchanged glances but said nothing.

“What’s with you wolf cubs? Do you think I’m heartless? Bah! You’re the heartless ones. If it were just me and your mother, I wouldn’t have to resort to these shameful deeds. I’m doing this for you—to find wives for you all. Your old man wouldn’t have lost all shame just for a house if it weren’t for you. Now you think I’ve gone too far? Fine, if you’ve got the guts, don’t rely on me! Don’t want to do it? Fine… who doesn’t want to? Then get the hell out!”

*Bang!*

The village chief slammed his pipe onto the floor. Seeing his three sons still unmoving, he grabbed them roughly: “Damn it, all of you, get moving! Stop wasting time and do what needs to be done!”

The three sons scrambled off the kang, and the village chief’s face twitched in pain from the scuffle.

“None of you are any help… Ah, damn it, Jia Zhang woman, I’m not done with you yet!”

…

Everyone knew the Liu family and the village chief’s family were at odds.

Jia Zhang’s antics were well known, but it was Liu Qiaohui’s actions—those repeated incidents—that completely shattered the villagers’ perceptions of Widow Liu. Especially since Xu Gouzi was willing to risk his life for her, the rumors spread like wildfire.

Inside the house, holding Ye Ling and feeding her goat’s milk, Liu Qiaohui was fully aware of the gossip swirling outside.

Page 2/3

She wasn’t afraid of what others said.

But... Xu’s wife—she truly worried herself sick.

What if… what if her sister-in-law didn’t believe her? Then even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t clear her name.

*Gulp!*

Ye Ling took a big gulp of goat’s milk.

Though Ye Ling was reluctant to admit she was still a baby, she was undeniably one—hungry often and needing frequent care.

She finished a full bottle of goat’s milk.

In her mind appeared a line of words: Progress 23/300.

The journey ahead was long and arduous, but she was curious—what reward awaited her upon completing her growth tasks?

Hunger made her sleepy—a problem she had to face now. Despite her resistance, her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted in and out of consciousness, hearing her mother stammer softly.

“Xu… Xu Ge, I’m sorry for dragging you into this!”

“What do you mean dragging me? I can’t stand seeing them bully others. Sister, don’t worry. I don’t believe they’d dare starve us to death. In a few days, I’ll take you out openly and proudly. Besides, isn’t the county magistrate coming soon? Hmph, when he arrives, I want to see how that village chief puts on his little act!”

Men and women think on completely different planes.

She worried about herself, but more so about whether the spiteful gossip would drown her sister-in-law.

“Xu Ge, I think you should try to get out first. This is my problem, and I don’t want to drag you down. I… I feel terrible about it.”

“Nonsense, listen to me. Your sister-in-law told me to take good care of you, so I have to. Besides, a few missed meals won’t hurt us adults, but what about the child?”

Even now, Xu Gouzi still cared for Ye Ling.

“Oh, don’t worry. The wild goats are still out there, and we’ve still got grass at home!”

Thank goodness for the wild goats; otherwise, Liu Qiaohui would have been beside herself.

One day, Liu Qiaohui and Xu Gouzi could endure.

Two days, they still held on.

Page 3/3

But on the third day, Xu Gouzi’s complexion began to worsen. He gulped water incessantly, but it couldn’t cure the hunger gnawing at him.

By the fourth day, Liu Qiaohui was struggling, her voice weak and faint.

On the fifth day, Xu Gouzi was completely broken by starvation. He kicked the main door open with a loud bang. Three burly men tried to restrain him but were forced down by his strength. However, when five or six men rushed at him, he was no match. Cursing and shouting, he was dragged off to the labor reform camp.

After Xu Gouzi’s departure, Liu Qiaohui’s situation grew ever more desperate.

Ye Ling looked at Liu Qiaohui, who was now so weak she could barely hold her, and they shared the same burning question:

When exactly would County Magistrate Gao arrive?

He wouldn’t… he wouldn’t just not come, would he?

…

In the county government office, County Magistrate Gao was still hunched over his paperwork, working with his usual single-minded focus.

Gao Qiming sat on the sofa, assisting as always.

Though he performed his duties conscientiously and without error, ever since Zhang Dana took Liu Qiaohui to the county magistrate’s home that night, he had been uneasy.

He didn’t know what Liu Qiaohui had said to the magistrate that day.

He had been dodging direct answers, wondering if the magistrate knew about that letter.

But all these days, County Magistrate Gao had never asked him a single question, which made him even more anxious.

As he paused briefly while sorting files, the county magistrate spoke suddenly: “Xiao Gao! Get me a glass of water!”

“Oh, right away!”

The water was soon brought before the magistrate. It was scalding hot, but he always drank it that way without blowing on it. Today, however, he blew on the water and didn’t bring it to his lips for a long time. After three seconds, the clink of cup and saucer abruptly stopped. Without lifting his head, the magistrate suddenly said:

“Xiao Gao, what kind of relationship do you have with the village chief of Yushan Village?”