He Zifeng said, “I got lucky today and found some mountain bracken.” Although scarce in the mountains, it came just in time to ease their troubles.
Qiu Yu thought they should make a set of new clothes. Their current clothes were hand-me-downs, washed so much they were falling apart.
Seeing Qiu Yu struggling with the fence, He Zifeng said, “Let me do it.”
Noticing how red and sunburned his face was, Qiu Yu felt a pang of concern. “Have you eaten yet?”
“I forgot all about it,” He Zifeng replied, realizing that in his rush to get home with the money, he hadn’t noticed his hunger.
“Come inside, and I’ll fry you an egg,” Qiu Yu said.
“Anything simple will do,” He Zifeng replied.
Qiu Yu, whose father had been a hunter, knew the dangers of mountain life. The hills were full of snakes, insects, and even wild beasts. Though profitable, many mountain foragers risked their lives each year, and some never returned.
He quickly fried two eggs with fresh spring onions, making the dish colorful and appetizing.
“I’ve already asked Sister Liu for some vegetable seeds,” Qiu Yu said. “Once we tidy up the backyard, we can grow some greens—enough for the three of us.”
“Good idea,” He Zifeng agreed.
Meanwhile, Little He Ran was in the yard playing with the rabbits. He tentatively fed them some grass, and when they nibbled, he was overjoyed. Hugging the rabbits, he eagerly planned to show them off to the other village children.
“Dad, I want to go play outside,” he said, running into the house.
He Zifeng picked up a bit of the fried egg with his chopsticks and fed it to Little He Ran, who opened his mouth to eat. Only then did he agree to let the boy go. Little He Ran ran off with the rabbits.
Qiu Yu smiled, watching their son grow more lively by the day since moving here. “He even said he wants to plant wildflowers around the fence. He’s full of ideas.”
“That’s easy,” He Zifeng said. “I’ll gather some seeds later.” It wouldn’t cost a thing, and it would make their son happy—what a deal.
“You just spoil him,” Qiu Yu said with mock reproach, though his heart was filled with sweetness.
Though the family had moved far from the main village, their daily cooking smoke spoke of a comfortable life.
While they thrived, the He family struggled.
Three days had passed since He Zifeng moved out, yet chaos reigned in the He household.
Wan Hai’s injury had cost nearly a hundred coins for treatment. The doctor said that while the wound narrowly missed vital areas, his arm was now too weak for heavy work.
He Tong, already disabled, had his other foot broken, leaving him bedridden. Despite receiving herbal medicine, he was still too shaken to recover.
Xiao Wanshi had fallen ill from anger, her hatred for He Zifeng and Qiu Yu burning in her heart. Her plans had not only failed but left the family heavily out of pocket.
First, they lost ten taels to He Zifeng, then another ten taels to the village chief, followed by the cost of doctors and medicine.
Every day, He Donglai cursed, “That wretch! I should’ve drowned him in a bucket when he was born. He’s nothing but a curse!” The more he cursed, the angrier he became.
Xiao Wanshi, now seething with hatred for He Zifeng, looked at her husband with disdain. He couldn’t even control his own son. She thought bitterly of her once beautiful youth and regretted marrying such a useless man.
When He Donglai launched into another tirade, Xiao Wanshi snapped, “If you’re so tough, go curse him outside! At home, you’re a tiger; outside, you’re a coward!”
He Donglai, taken aback by her sudden attack, barked, “What did you say?” His heavy breathing and furious expression made him look intimidating, but Xiao Wanshi wasn’t foolish enough to confront him head-on.
Instead, she burst into tears. “This family is ruined! I can’t even step outside without being pointed at. Other families whip their children, and nothing happens, but ours produced a disgrace who sued his own parents. I’ve lost all face!”
“That wretch…” He Donglai grumbled, his resentment deepening.
Suddenly, He Tong’s angry shouts came from inside the house. Following the sound, they were hit by a foul stench upon entering his room.
Both his legs were useless, and he was now defecating and eating in the same bed. Even as his parents, they felt disgusted.
“Where’s He Fan?” Xiao Wanshi called out several times, but no one answered.
Eventually, Wan Hai entered, wrinkling his nose at the smell. “He Fan went to stay with our aunt a few days ago.” That clever boy had escaped the chaos, leaving the house in turmoil.
Since He Zifeng’s departure, the household lacked laborers. Meals were no longer prepared, and after a few disastrous attempts by Xu Li, he had returned to his own family.
“Where’s your wife? He should take care of this!” He Donglai demanded.
Wan Hai scowled. Having his wife serve his younger brother would tarnish their reputation. Besides, Xu Li was a neat freak and wouldn’t tolerate such filth. “Dad, you forget—his father lost his village chief position because of us. He’s staying at his parents’ house for now.”
Wan Hai privately considered asking his wife to stay with his parents indefinitely to avoid further trouble. He glanced disdainfully at He Tong, disgusted by his unkempt state and the mess he’d made of the room.
Xiao Wanshi said, “Eldest son, he’s your brother. You should help him.” With that, she pinched her nose and left with He Donglai, finally breathing freely once outside.
Reluctantly, Wan Hai cleaned up, changed the bedding, and replaced the soiled cloth. The ordeal left him nauseous and without any appetite for dinner. He scrubbed his hands repeatedly but still felt they reeked.
“This can’t go on,” he said to Xiao Wanshi. “We need to marry off a bride to take care of the third brother.”
Xiao Wanshi hesitated. “We’ll discuss it later.” Marrying off a bride cost money, and with He Tong unable to have children, it seemed like a waste. She’d hoped to bring Qiu Yu into the family at no cost but failed miserably.
Pulling Wan Hai aside, she whispered, “Tell He Zifeng to move back in. We need laborers in this house.”
“That’s impossible,” Wan Hai said. “He went through so much to leave—why would he come back?”
Xiao Wanshi sneered. “You’re such a fool. Just set fire to their little wooden house. Then they’ll have no choice.”
Wan Hai hesitated, visibly shaken. Though he disliked He Zifeng, arson crossed a line he wasn’t willing to cross.
Seeing his reluctance, Xiao Wanshi scoffed, “Fine, if you want to play the good guy, go take care of your brother.”
Wan Hai shuddered, his face darkening at the thought.
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Bro, this family sucks. I understand not wanting to clean up after a grown man. But the parents have been saying that they support him his whole life and now that he is in this state they aren’t willing to take care of him?