⚠️ Warning: domestic violence
He Zifeng went back to tell his family and say goodbye, then brought them to the county office.
The old mayor’s son didn’t expect He Zifeng to agree so readily and decisively. Words of gratitude choked in his throat, and he couldn’t say another word.
The fellow villagers also had joyful expressions on their faces. During this period, He Zifeng was the first person who could help them.
The old mayor’s son had come driving a horse carriage. He said to the person who came with him: “You run back and tell my father. I’ll go to the county town with Brother He.”
He had a filial nature and was just afraid his father would worry too much. Old people’s health got worse day by day.
Since there was good news, he should tell him in advance to let him feel at ease.
The two of them immediately went to the county government office.
The government officials at the entrance saw He Zifeng coming back during his vacation and said: “Brother He, how come you’re back again? You can rest assured leaving this place to us!”
The old mayor’s son, relying on his father’s face, was somewhat of a figure in the village, but it didn’t work in the county. He had come to the county to handle matters before and knew that these government officials looked down on people with their noses in the air.
Now seeing them being so polite to He Zifeng, he was secretly surprised in his heart. He Zifeng hadn’t been here for long, yet his status was quite high.
He Zifeng nodded slightly, which counted as greeting them, and said: “I need to find the County Magistrate for something.”
The government officials knew He Zifeng was the lord’s right-hand man, and the lord couldn’t do without him daily. They said: “The County Magistrate is still in the government office, but he’s currently meeting with the head of the servant agency!”
He Zifeng said: “Oh, alright.”
The old mayor’s son heard that the County Magistrate was busy, and his heart sank halfway.
He estimated that their request would be postponed indefinitely again. Who knew that He Zifeng told him to wait outside for a bit, and went in alone.
The surrounding government officials didn’t recognize the old mayor’s son, but seeing that he was brought by He Zifeng, they also treated him with courtesy. They even actively moved a chair for him, but he had matters on his mind and couldn’t sit still.
After a while, the door inside opened, and the head of the servant agency left. After a while, He Zifeng called him in – the County Magistrate had something to ask.
He had thought there would be no chance today.
He entered the room with trepidation.
The County Magistrate asked again in detail about their village’s situation and said: “How foolish! Merchants don’t rise early without profit. They could offer five wen per jin to purchase – didn’t you think about why?”
The old mayor’s son also regretted it deeply and said: “We’re all farming folk who haven’t seen so much silver and lost our heads.”
Ever since learning there would be snow disaster this year, they had been dumbfounded. That drinking session by the village head had delayed important matters. After knowing that the common people had sold their life-saving grain to merchants, he wanted to chop off two fingers to apologize to everyone, but was stopped by people.
From then on, the village head started borrowing grain. But the surrounding people weren’t wealthy either, and knowing this year’s situation was special, he was turned away countless times. Whenever he mentioned it, the village head would cry tears.
Through scattered words, the County Magistrate learned about their village’s current miserable state. Now it was too late to say anything.
The county’s grain was also limited, and the countryside was even more difficult. With no choice, he said: “Alright, I’ll first give you ten thousand jin of grain. Considering that your village has paid taxes reasonably well these past few years, but remember, this grain is lent to you. You’ll have to return it after next year’s autumn harvest.”
When the old mayor’s son heard that the county was willing to give them grain, he immediately knelt down to kowtow and thank the County Magistrate.
Their village had more than one hundred households in total. Dividing ten thousand jin among them, each family could get about eighty jin of grain. Eating sparingly, it would be enough for two months. Getting through the most difficult two months, there might be a turning point.
The County Magistrate wrote a loan receipt and had him press his handprint on it. Then he went with He Zifeng to open the granary.
Since the snow disaster began and grain was scarce everywhere, the granary had people guarding it in two shifts day and night. Without the County Magistrate coming personally, no one could open the granary, for fear that someone might have ulterior motives.
After opening the granary, several people helped load the grain onto his horse carriage.
One cart couldn’t hold it all, so they found two more carts. He Zifeng had stored quite a bit of grain before, and he also took five hundred jin of grain for the old mayor. He could distribute it however he wanted.
The old mayor’s son was so excited he kept grabbing his hand – this was life-saving grace!
This seven-foot tall man had tears spinning in his eyes. His face had been frozen for so long that it was starting to crack, and it hurt roughly when tears ran down.
He Zifeng said: “You take this grain away first. You don’t need to return my grain. You eat it first, and if it’s still not enough, I’ll think of another way.”
The old mayor’s son said: “Great kindness needs no words of thanks. I’ll remember this in my heart.”
What he was most grateful for now was that his father had introduced He Zifeng to the government office back then. If there hadn’t been He Zifeng now, borrowing grain definitely wouldn’t have gone so smoothly!
Since he had gotten the grain, he hurried back. The village had already reached the end of its resources, and this grain was like timely rain.
He Zifeng also followed the third horse carriage back, having the carriage drop him off at the village entrance when it passed their village.
With this back and forth, the sky gradually darkened.
When He Zifeng returned home, the house had kerosene lamps lit, and they were waiting for him to eat.
Usually at this time, they would have finished eating long ago.
“Daddy,” little He Ran said.
He Zifeng touched his soft hair, sat at the table and said: “Don’t ever wait for me again in the future. Are you starving?”
Qiu Yu said: “Just came out, not hungry at all.”
Fang Shi also added from the side.
He Zifeng said: “Let’s eat.” Today Qiu Yu had stir-fried eight dishes, and even stewed a chicken. This chicken meat was very tender, with potatoes inside that were soft and perfect for eating with rice.
Everyone in the house ate together, creating a warm atmosphere.
On this snowy day, outside was pitch black. Every household in the village stayed inside their houses without coming out. Those with good conditions would still heat their brick beds. There were almost no people outside.
Especially since they lived at the foot of the mountain with no shelter around. If they opened a door, all the hard-earned warm air would be lost.
Former village head Old Man Xu had even drunk some warm wine.
Suddenly he heard a sound.
He said: “Listen, what’s that noise?”
Xu Li’s mother perked up her ears to listen and said: “There’s no sound. You must have heard wrong.”
As soon as she finished speaking, knocking sounds came again. Their courtyard was locked, so they couldn’t hear clearly from far away.
All their children were married, so now it was just the old couple at home. Hearing some sounds, they said: “Could it be thieves?” They heard that other villages had started selling children. Could it be some petty thieves wanting to steal things?
Old Man Xu had drunk some wine, and with the alcohol going to his head, he went out directly, saying: “I want to see who’s so bold!”
“Be careful.”
Although Old Man Xu was rash, he had been village head before after all. How could he directly expose himself to danger? He directly took out an axe for chopping wood and tucked it at his waist before going out.
As soon as he opened the door, wind mixed with snow poured into the house: “Who is it?” He asked in a bad temper with a rough voice.
Xu Li’s mother at home was somewhat nervous. He had been out for half a quarter-hour – why wasn’t he back yet? Had someone harmed him?
She was worrying about whether to go out and look when the door suddenly opened, startling her. Then she saw Old Man Xu coming back with someone behind him!
She stretched her head to look behind. She didn’t know until she looked, but when she saw, she was shocked. This person was none other than their most beloved youngest son, Xu Li.
She didn’t know how long he had walked in such cold weather. As soon as he entered the house, white vapor was coming off his body.
There were also bruises on his face.
Xu Li called out quietly: “Mother.”
Xu Li’s mother immediately burst into tears. Although she didn’t know what had happened, for him to come back alone so late, something must have happened. She said: “What’s wrong?”
Xu Li was their youngest son. Although he was a ger, he had been a precious treasure held in their palms since childhood. When had they ever seen him like this?
Xu Li’s mother said: “Why didn’t Wan Hai come back? Did you encounter some danger on the road?”
When Xu Li mentioned this person, tears immediately poured out of his eyes: “Mother, I want to divorce Wan Hai.”
Xu Li’s mother said: “What’s wrong? You can’t say such things for no good reason. Which couple doesn’t have their tongue touch their teeth sometimes?”
Old Man Xu had been wronged at the Gong family before, and consequently didn’t think much of his son-in-law Wan Hai either: “He’s not a good person either.” Previously he seemed polite and courteous. Among the young people in the village, he was considered outstanding, but who knew he would get worse and worse.
Xu Li’s mother saw that Xu Li kept crying, so she pulled him wanting to ask what happened. As a result, when she pulled his hand, it was like ice.
Xu Li’s mother said: “Get on the heated bed, warm up before talking.”
Xu Li got on the heated bed. His whole body was frozen through, and when the hot air rushed through him, his whole body felt like it was on fire.
Xu Li’s mother scolded him for mistreating his body, boiled him a cup of Sichuan pepper and brown sugar water to warm his body. After Xu Li drank it, his face gained some color.
Xu Li said: “Wan Hai is not human.” The two of them had three children and deep feelings, but ever since Wan Hai went to the Gong family, his mentality started becoming unbalanced. He indeed lived a difficult life.
The Gong family had many people, with elders and servants, and their status was awkward. Although they were in a wealthy family, they lived more poorly than in the countryside.
Although Xu Li had been the village head’s son before, he wasn’t pampered. He could live wealthy days and could also live poor days. It was just that Wan Hai was unhappy in his heart and developed a drinking problem.
Whenever Xu Li tried to persuade him a little, he would get beaten. Each time Wan Hai would apologize afterward, even slapping himself and saying he would definitely change in the future.
But after the snow disaster, business stopped, and they lived with the Gong family people every day. Whatever they did or said would be criticized as countryside mannerisms. Wan Hai, after being wronged, would take it out on him when he came back!
Xu Li could tolerate being beaten, but his eldest son was only three years old, even younger than He Ran. Just because he called “Daddy” a few times and annoyed him, he swung his hand and slapped him, making his ear bleed.
Xu Li couldn’t stand it anymore. Even if it meant eating simple food, he wouldn’t live this kind of life anymore. He wanted to divorce and bring the children out with him!
Old Man Xu was so angry he cursed: “That bastard, he even hits people! Watch me not crack his head open! When he begged to marry you, he said such nice things about being good to you for life. What about now?”
Xu Li’s mother also cursed along, holding Xu Li and crying. She had thought his life in the county would definitely be more comfortable than in the village, but who knew he was so miserable: “My poor son, divorce isn’t that easy.”
If it were in the village, they could pressure that bastard into divorce, but having entered the Gong family, wanting a divorce would be impossible without losing a layer of skin.
Xu Li said: “I want to ask He Zifeng for help. He’s the deputy constable, and even the Gong family people have to give him some face when he speaks.”
Old Man Xu said: “This… oh my!” All kinds of complexity stuck in his throat. If he had known He Zifeng would be so successful, he wouldn’t have made things so difficult for him back then. When they divided the family property, Old Man Xu, relying on being the village head, had caused him quite a lot of trouble.
Now how could he have the face to go begging at his door? This matter was really troublesome and hard to handle.
R : ohmy, Zifeng please help !!
