SLH | Chapter 14

Tingzhu Makes a Move

“Quick, go check it out! Your cousin, who’s studying in town, is back. That kid, Jie, insists that Xia Ge’er teased his sister Qiao’er, not only knocking over Xia Ge’er’s tofu but also complaining to your cousin to teach Xia Ge’er a lesson!”

Liu Xiaomei, hearing this, quickly dropped what she was doing and looked anxiously at Song Tingzhu.

“What should we do, Brother-in-law? Dad, Mom, and Big Brother are not at home. I’m afraid I can’t bring Xia Ge’er back by myself.”

Song Tingzhu frowned and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go with you to get Xia Ge’er.”

“But Brother-in-law, your health…”

“I’ve been resting for a while, and I’m much better now.”

Song Tingzhu reassured Liu Xiaomei, thanked the aunt who brought the news, and then closed the courtyard door before hurrying with Xiaomei to Liu Ersheng’s house.

Meanwhile, in front of Liu Ersheng’s small courtyard.

Liu Jie pointed at Xia Ge’er, who was sitting on the ground crying non-stop, and complained to his uncle Liu Yushu, “Uncle, it was him who bullied Qiao’er. Qiao’er even has footprints on her!”

Xia Ge’er hugged a small basket, his little face full of fear, “No, it wasn’t me, boo hoo…”

Liu Jie turned around, grabbed a handful of wet mud, and threw it on Xia Ge’er, saying viciously, “It was you! Qiao’er, tell them, wasn’t it him who kicked you?”

Liu Qiao’er, who was four years old this year and one year older than Xia Ge’er, wasn’t very smart. She was timid and stuttered when she spoke. Hearing her brother calling her, she lowered her head, pinched her clothes, and nodded, “It was Xia Ge’er…”

Liu Jie proudly raised his chin, “See, you still won’t admit it, you liar!”

“Xia, Xia Ge’er is not a liar, boo hoo, Dad, Mom, Uncle, boo hoo…”

Xia Ge’er was pushed to the ground, covered in mud, and now his face was also dirty. Seeing him crying so sadly, the passing villagers couldn’t bear it and spoke up for him.

“Yushu, kids fighting is normal, besides, Qiao’er only has a dirty coat, just take her home and change it.”

“There must be some misunderstanding, Xia Ge’er is usually so well-behaved, how could he have kicked Qiao?”

“Xia Ge’er is soaked through, it’s so cold outside, if he stays here, he’ll catch a cold. Sixth Aunt Yang, you’re close to Xiulian’s house, help take the child home.”

“Okay.”

Seeing someone trying to take Xia Ge’er away, Liu Jie immediately ran forward to stop them, “You can’t go! Liu Xia’er bullied my sister, it can’t just end like this!”

Sixth Aunt Yang said, “You child, Xia Ge’er is two years younger than you. As an older brother, can’t you let your younger brother off a bit?”

“Auntie, just because he’s younger, does that mean he doesn’t have to take responsibility for his mistakes? If that’s the case, if I kick you, because I’m young, you won’t mind?”

Liu Ersheng’s third son, Liu Wen, came out of the courtyard yawning.

Sixth Aunt Yang was so angry at his words that she immediately scolded, “Wen Ge’er, is this how you talk to your elders?”

“Wen Ge’er, it’s just kids having a spat, plus Xia Ge’er was pushed into the mud pit by your Jie kid, it’s even now.”

Liu Wen put his hands on his hips and said, “What’s even? Qiao’er was the one bullied, she should kick back to make it even.”

“Wen Ge’er, you…”

Everyone was just about to speak up for Xia Ge’er when a clear, cold voice came from the back of the crowd, “It can’t be even.”

“Isn’t that… Huzi’s husband, Zhu Ge’er?”

“Wasn’t it said that he was not doing well? Look, he’s alive and kicking, even able to come out now!”

“He looks much better than on the wedding day, maybe Liu’s family really cured his illness?”

“Hey, do you remember? When Liu Laoda broke his leg, Doctor Liang said it was hopeless, but it miraculously healed later. And Huzi’s husband, you all saw on the wedding day, his face was so pale, like he could go any moment. Now, though he still looks sick, he has more life in him than that day.”

“I remember, I remember. Doctor Liang also said Liu’s family was blessed and would surely be prosperous in the future!”

People whispered, and some said unpleasant things, but Song Tingzhu pretended not to hear, gently patting Liu Xiaomei’s hand, signaling her not to mind.

“Uncle, Auntie, boo hoo hoo…”

Seeing Uncle and Auntie coming, Xia Ge’er let go of the small basket, stretched out his little hands towards them, crying with grievance and sadness.

Song Tingzhu hurriedly went over, squatted down, and took the little guy into his arms.

Xia Ge’er was frightened, his body trembling. Song Tingzhu wrapped him up in his clothes, wiped the mud off his cheeks, and gently coaxed, “Xia Ge’er, don’t be afraid, Uncle is here.”

Xia Ge’er clutched his clothes tightly, his eyes swollen from crying, and said with a sobbing voice, “Uncle, Xia, Xia Ge’er is not a liar, Xia Ge’er didn’t kick Sister Qiao’er…”

“Uncle knows, Xia Ge’er is the most well-behaved.”

Xia Ge’er’s clothes were already soaked through. Worried that the little guy would get sick, Song Tingzhu asked his sister to take him home first and call Doctor Liang for a check-up.

Liu Xiaomei took Xia Ge’er, dazedly asking, “Brother-in-law, aren’t you coming home with us?”

Xia Ge’er also looked at him with a dependent gaze.

Song Tingzhu touched the young boy’s hair, frozen stiff by the cold wind, and smiled reassuringly, “You go ahead, I’ll get the doctor for Xia Ge’er.”

Liu Xiaomei didn’t doubt him, holding Xia Ge’er, she turned and ran home.

Seeing this, Liu Jie tugged at Liu Yushu’s pants, screaming, “Don’t let them go, Qiao’er hasn’t kicked back yet! Uncle, Uncle, help me stop that brat!”

Hearing this, Song Tingzhu’s gaze turned cold.

Liu Jie, who was used to being a bully at home, knew to be scared outside. Being stared at by the cold eyes of the unfamiliar Song Tingzhu, he immediately avoided eye contact, hiding behind his uncle and not daring to make a sound.

Song Tingzhu turned and asked Sixth Aunt Yang to help call Doctor Liang, then looked at Liu Yushu, saying sternly, “So young, yet already so arrogant and full of lies. Cousin Yushu, as a scholar, is this how you teach your nephews and nieces?”

Liu Yushu had always been praised in the village since he started studying at the academy, and had never been publicly reprimanded like this. He felt both resentful and angry, but had to maintain the image of a respectful scholar, pretending to be obedient to his elder brother.

“Brother-in-law, you are right. Yushu will reflect on this. However, I don’t agree with what you said about Jie being arrogant and full of lies. Although Jie is a bit naughty, he doesn’t lie. Besides, Qiao’er has already testified that Xia Ge’er was the one who started it.”

Song Tingzhu didn’t have time to argue with him and said directly, “Cousin, you’ve been studying at the academy for a few years, and you can’t even tell the difference between a child’s and a man’s footprints?”

“Oh, Zhu Ge’er, I didn’t notice. Xia Ge’er’s feet aren’t that big. These footprints look more like Jie’s.”

“So it was Jie’s doing. I told you Xia Ge’er is usually so well-behaved, how could he do such a thing?”

“This Liu Yushu is supposed to be a scholar, yet he can’t tell right from wrong. Did he read all those books for nothing?”

Liu Yushu’s face didn’t look good. Concerned about his reputation, he couldn’t lose his temper, so he signaled to his third brother, Liu Wen, to quickly send them away.

Seeing this, Liu Wen said perfunctorily, “Who knows who started it when kids fight. Maybe Jie accidentally bumped into Qiao’er in the panic, causing the misunderstanding. My brother and I were just worried, but Xia Ge’er fell into the water pit by himself, not because of Jie.”

Then he pulled Liu Jie’s arm, “Aren’t you going to apologize to your second uncle?”

Liu Jie said timidly, “Second Uncle, I’m sorry.”

After performing this self-directed act, he sarcastically added, “Remember to avoid Xia Ge’er next time, or you won’t even know if he accuses you.”

Song Tingzhu’s expression grew colder, “Cousin, are you saying that a three-year-old child is so scheming that he not only fell into the mud pit himself but also stomped on the tofu he bought?”

Liu Wen wanted to refute, “I…”

Song Tingzhu interrupted him, “Could I trouble the aunties and grannies to take a look at the footprints around the mud pit? How many belong to Xia Ge’er, and how many belong to Jie, whom Cousin Yushu calls ‘just a bit naughty’?”

“Let me see, oh my, these are all Jie’s footprints. You can’t even see Xia Ge’er’s footprints!”

“That’s right, and Xia Ge’er is only three years old. How could he do such a thing? Wen Ge’er, you shouldn’t have said that.”

“I heard scholars care most about their reputation. The exams are coming up soon. If this gets out, won’t it affect Yushu’s exams?”

“Wen Ge’er, you should quickly apologize to your brother-in-law. Don’t delay Yushu’s future.”

Everyone could guess the truth of the matter. If it were any other family, they would have started cursing. But because Liu Yushu was studying in town and was talented, no one wanted to offend Liu Ersheng’s family too much. They just suggested an apology and considered the matter settled.

However, Song Tingzhu had no intention of letting it go. A simple apology wasn’t enough to offset the grievances Xia Ge’er suffered. There’s no such easy thing in the world.

“No need to apologize to me. You should apologize to Xia Ge’er. If you want to settle this, Cousin, take Jie to apologize to Xia Ge’er. Also, for Xia Ge’er’s medical expenses, I won’t ask for much, just half a tael of silver.”

“Half a tael of silver? Why don’t you go rob someone?!”

Second Aunt Cui Yulan, who rushed back after hearing the news, immediately turned black-faced and pointed at Song Tingzhu’s nose, scolding.

“A sickly person trying to take advantage of me? How is your Xia Ge’er so precious that seeing a doctor costs half a tael of silver? Besides, Xia Ge’er fell by himself. Why should my family pay for his medical expenses? Not a single penny will you get from me!”

“Second Ersheng’s wife, it’s indeed Jie’s fault. But Zhu Ge’er, asking for half a tael of silver is a bit much. Seeing Doctor Liang would at most cost a hundred or so coins. Asking for half a tael of silver seems like extortion.”

“Yeah, Zhu Ge’er, you’re being unreasonable.”

The onlookers, accustomed to smoothing things over, aimed to offend no one.

Seeing this, Cui Yulan became even more arrogant, standing with her hands on her hips, neck stiff, showing a “what can you do about it” attitude.

Song Tingzhu, feeling a bit weak from standing too long, borrowed a stool from a familiar aunt and sat down at the entrance of Liu Er’s courtyard.

Cui Yulan was stunned, “What, what are you doing?”

Song Tingzhu said, “The half tael of silver can only be more, not less. Second Aunt, when you give it, I’ll leave.”

He finished speaking and covered his mouth, coughing for a while before stopping.

“Zhu Ge’er, your health isn’t good. You should go home and rest.”

“Right, money isn’t as important as life.”

“Ersheng’s wife, take Jie to apologize to Xia Ge’er and pay for the medical expenses. Then this matter can be over. Even if the families have separated, we’re still neighbors. There’s no need to make things awkward over such a small matter.”

Several older women, relying on their age, stood out to point fingers.

Song Tingzhu, however, had no intention of compromising.

He learned from his sister that Second Uncle’s family often took advantage of them, and Xiaomei and Xia Ge’er were frequently bullied by Liu Wen and the others. Liu Laotai favored Second Uncle’s family, and they always suffered in silence, apologizing and paying compensation.

Now, he had the perfect excuse to make Second Aunt’s family bleed a little.

As for the relationship between the two families, the more strained, the better. Ideally, they wouldn’t have any contact in the future. That way, when the family was doing well, they wouldn’t come knocking, trying to share the wealth.

Seeing him sitting there unmoving, even taking out a book to read, Cui Yulan’s face turned blue and white.

Song Tingzhu held a travelogue, coughing painfully after reading a couple of lines, his face soon pale as paper, looking as if he was about to collapse.

“Mom, he won’t die at our house, will he?” Liu Wen, panicked, whispered to his mother, “Where’s Grandma? Why isn’t she back yet?”

Cui Yulan, feeling a bit uneasy, glanced at Song Tingzhu and whispered, “Soon, I’ve already sent someone to inform her.”

After a short standoff, Liu Laotai, with her small feet, made her way through the crowd.

She cursed incessantly, “Why did Huzi marry such an unfilial person like you? No wonder the Song family doesn’t like you. With such a venomous personality, even your own father wouldn’t want you!

And becoming a daughter-in-law, who’s not first to be filial to the elders at home? But you dare to come to our house to extort money. If I had known, I should have returned you to the Song family back then!”

The more Liu Laotai spoke, the angrier she became, “Back then, it was clearly agreed that it would be Song Rui’er. If it weren’t for you, this dying ghost, our Liu family would have moved to town, living in a big house and enjoying life!”

The crowd, hearing this, started discussing again.

“Zhu Ge’er has been married for a while now. Why is Liu Laotai still holding a grudge?”

“How could you not hold a grudge? A wealthy legitimate young lady was replaced by a penniless sickly one. Could you handle such a gap?”

“If you can’t handle it, what else can you do? They’ve been separated for over twenty years. When Liu Dasheng’s family was eating chaff and swallowing vegetables, why didn’t they think to help? When they saw an opportunity, they either sneered or cursed. I bet, if Yushu really achieves something, Liu Laotai won’t let the eldest family benefit at all. Believe it?”

This was true. Those with some age in the village knew what kind of person Liu Laotai was. If that day came, the eldest family wouldn’t gain any advantage. If they didn’t call a group to make a scene, it would be considered good.

While the crowd felt sympathy, Song Tingzhu, holding his book, remained unmoved. Only when Liu Laotai’s mouth was dry from cursing did he close the book, staring directly at her with his bloodless face.

Liu Laotai, intimidated, swallowed and said harshly, “What, what are you doing? I’m telling you, even if you die at our doorstep, I definitely won’t pay a penny!”

Song Tingzhu smiled, “Grandma, don’t worry. Tingzhu doesn’t want to die. Besides, Cousin Yushu is going to take the imperial exam. How could I let Cousin indirectly bear the crime of forcing his brother-in-law to death? Such a thing that would ruin Cousin’s future, Tingzhu would never do.”

Though smiling, the smile was chilling to Liu Laotai’s family.

This wasn’t for Yushu’s sake. It was a blatant threat!

Liu Laotai’s face turned as black as a pot bottom. She was extremely unwilling, but for her grandson’s future, she had to part with the money. However, this matter couldn’t be let go like this!

Next month, Yushu would go to the county for the children’s exam. Even the teacher said there was a high chance of him getting a good rank. By then, the eldest family shouldn’t even think about benefiting!

With a long face, Liu Laotai reluctantly took out the money. Seeing Song Tingzhu take it and put it in his pocket, her cloudy old eyes were filled with venom.

“Since the eldest family is so unfilial, today I declare in front of all the villagers, from now on, the two families will cut ties. When Yushu gets his name on the list, the eldest family shouldn’t think of getting any benefit!”

Song Tingzhu frowned, pretending to be regretful, but inwardly felt relieved: That’s the best outcome.

Author’s Note:

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Alright, still 1,500 words to go…

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Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone! In the new year, I wish you all great wealth and good fortune!! [Heart]

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