They gave them a harsh lesson.
Before leaving, Uncle told He Zifeng, “If anyone bullies you in the future, come to Fangjia Village and find me.” He then glanced at his battered former brother-in-law, spat harshly, and felt a surge of satisfaction.
This beating was long overdue—twenty years late, in fact. Because of his actions, even the daughters who married out of the Fang family were indirectly affected. Seeing him lying on the ground like a flipped-over turtle, struggling to get up, filled everyone with relief.
Today, people from Chishui Village and young men from Fangjia Village were present to back them up. Now that the truth was out, no one would dare spread malicious gossip about the Fang family anymore.
He Zifeng said to his uncle, “If you’re not in a hurry, why don’t you come home for a meal?”
Uncle replied, “No, I have other things to take care of.” Then he took a small ball made of scraps of fabric from his pocket. It was perfect for a child to play with. “This is for Ranran. I wonder if he still remembers me as his great-uncle.”
He Zifeng said, “Next time, I’ll bring him to visit you.”
Uncle was delighted to hear that. “Great,” he said, waving his hand. “Alright, no need to see me off. I’ll head back on my own.”
He left with the brothers who had come with him.
After seeing Uncle off, He Zifeng hurried to wash up and return home. As soon as he arrived, he saw Ranran squatting in a corner, feeding a little rabbit. Hearing the sound of footsteps, the child turned around and ran toward him with arms wide open, calling out, “Dad,” in a sweet, clear voice.
He Zifeng immediately scooped his son into his arms. He handed him the small ball from Uncle and said, “Here, this is from your great-uncle.”
“Please thank my great-uncle for me,” Ranran said, displaying the polite manners that Qiu Yu had taught him.
Unable to resist, He Zifeng kissed his son’s soft, sweet-smelling cheek and said, “Next time, I’ll take you to thank him in person.”
Little He Ran nodded.
When He Zifeng stepped inside, he saw Qiu Yu had made some hot pancakes using a mix of three different flours. They were served with stir-fried spicy sauce and freshly washed wild vegetable sprouts. Wrapping a bit of sauce and vegetables in the pancakes made for a hearty and satisfying meal.
The three of them ate together, with their son eating the most. The little one was greedy, always rolling up a big pancake and stuffing his cheeks like a squirrel. He ate with great focus.
Qiu Yu’s pancakes were wonderfully fragrant, slightly thick, and cut into triangular slices. Each slice, when filled, became even more substantial.
He Zifeng barely touched his food, too busy watching his son eat.
The little boy(ger) didn’t care about being watched; he was entirely absorbed in his meal, making the food in everyone’s hands seem even tastier.
They lived in a simple farmhouse, with no rigid rules about keeping silent during meals.
Qiu Yu said, “Ranran, eat a bit less. You’re getting chubby.” Recently, Ranran had been eating a lot, and his cheeks had grown rounder, making him even more adorable. Carrying him felt heavier, though running around the village every day didn’t seem to slow down his weight gain.
He Zifeng countered, “A plump child is a lucky child.”
Ranran, hearing his father praise him, immediately beamed with joy. “Dad is right.”
Qiu Yu smiled, watching father and son.
That evening, after Qiu Yu coaxed their son to sleep in his little bed, he climbed into their bed, only to be pulled firmly into He Zifeng’s arms.
In the pitch-black night, Qiu Yu didn’t struggle and simply lay on his arm.
He Zifeng whispered, “I want to earn more money to build a house. When Ranran turns five, I want to send him to school.”
“But will Ranran be able to study well?” Qiu Yu was hesitant. Unlike the eldest brother and sister-in-law, who could afford to send their two children to school, their own family’s resources were limited. He worried that spending so much money might be a waste if Ranran wasn’t cut out for it.
Previously, little He Ran had been lonely, with no one to play with. Now that he had a dog and a few playmates, he was much happier. Moreover, He was still young, and Qiu Yu feared he might be bullied if sent away.
He Zifeng said, “Our Ranran is smart; he’ll do just fine. Learning more won’t harm him. It’s better than being illiterate.” After some thought, he added, “Earning money is the key.”
The mention of money made Qiu Yu alert. He said, “Why don’t we set up a stall at the market again?” Their last experience had been exhausting but profitable. At this pace, saving enough to build a house and send their child to school didn’t seem far off.
He Zifeng agreed. “Selling fabric was a lucky break.” The fabric they sold last time had been stockpiled for years. He added, “I noticed people selling food seemed to make good money, but it’s hard work.” Cooking pig trotters, for example, required cleaning, stir-frying, and long simmering, which took considerable effort. Plus, cooking in front of a hot stove in summer was no small ordeal.
Qiu Yu said, “If we can earn money, I’m not afraid of hard work. I can handle it.” He was good at cooking, but in the old family home, the nitpicking from the elder sister-in-law kept him restrained. However, after the villagers praised his pig trotters, he gained a bit of confidence.
He Zifeng said, “Tomorrow, make something delicious and invite Gouzi’s father over. Let’s ask him how to set up a business.” As farmers, they rarely went to the county, but Gouzi’s father, a traveling peddler, had plenty of information. Besides, they hadn’t formally thanked him for his help last time.
Qiu Yu replied, “I’ll make roast chicken.”
“Good,” He Zifeng agreed.
The next day, Qiu Yu bought a chicken in the village, slaughtered it, and got straight to work. His father had been a hunter, skilled at cooking meat dishes.
He Zifeng brought back half a jin of liquor and invited Gouzi’s father over for dinner.
Gouzi’s father was delighted to accept. “I wasn’t planning to come, but your soy-braised pig trotters last time were so good! Even the broth poured over rice was delicious. I couldn’t resist coming to bother you two again.”
He Zifeng said, “I’m glad you liked it.”
The two sat drinking with peanuts and dried dates while waiting for the roast chicken. Although it wasn’t ready yet, the aroma already filled the yard. According to Gouzi’s father, the scent alone was enough to warrant a sip of liquor.
He Zifeng brought up the idea of setting up a stall.
Gouzi’s father said, “With your skills, a stall would definitely be popular! The markets in the three nearby counties all have different schedules. But carting pots, jars, and a big stove around is exhausting. Why not rent a fixed stall in our county for 200 wen a month? Go there each morning, come back in the evening, and store your things in the county. It’d be much easier.”
He Zifeng was impressed. “That’s why they say you’re well-informed! Let’s take care of this right now, and when we return, we’ll have a proper feast together.”
Gouzi’s father, genuinely fond of He Zifeng, readily agreed.
R = Again, He ran is quoted as boy here and boy there, but it’s just for literature lol because he’s a boy, a ger is another type of male so logically talking we can refer to him as a boy
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thank you for the update.. ❤️🐾