SLH | Chapter 34

Trouble Comes from the Niu Family

Early the next day, Song Tingzhu finished writing the wedding couplets and the “Xi” character. Instead of letting his sister-in-law, Tang Chunxing, deliver them, he went with her to the wheat field.

Aunt had come to inform them that someone had lost grain at the wheat field. Ruan Xiulian didn’t even have time to hang out her clothes to dry before rushing over.

Tang Chunxing was also anxious, carrying Xia Ge’er and walking quickly ahead. Song Tingzhu and Liu Xiaomei followed a couple of steps behind. When they arrived, they saw a crowd gathered around the wheat field, with loud arguments coming from within.

Almost all the families from Yunxi Village were there, including Sixth Aunt Yang. Seeing Song Tingzhu and the others, she waved and said, “Zhu Ge’er is here too.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, “Aunt, do you know which family lost the grain?”

“The Niu family,” Sixth Aunt Yang replied with a tone of disdain. “They’ve been cursing for a while, and anyone who’s had a grudge with them got a tongue-lashing from Zhang Dahua. Your mother just arrived and got scolded right away.”

Song Tingzhu frowned, “Such a big incident, why isn’t the village head here?”

“They went to get him. He should be here soon. Oh, here he comes.”

The crowd parted to make way as Zhang Hongbo, leading his two sons, walked in angrily. He looked at the ruined grain with distress. Although it wasn’t his own crop, it was still food for the people. Having it stolen made him furious.

Zhang Dahua saw the village head and immediately rushed over, crying out loud.

“Village head, you must stand up for my family. Out of all the families at the wheat field, why did the thief steal from ours? Someone must be scheming against us, against the Niu family!”

Hearing this, the crowd immediately questioned her with furrowed brows.

“What do you mean, Zhang Dahua? What’s wrong with stealing from your family? Is your grain more precious than others’? Isn’t everyone’s grain just as valuable?”

“Your mouth is as filthy as a dung bucket. Who else but you should they steal from?”

“It’s all because you’re so mean to people. You’ve offended too many. Someone just took a bag of grain, didn’t take it all, yet you make the whole village restless.”

The crowd agreed, “Exactly. They didn’t take it all, there’s still some left.”

Zhang Dahua put her hands on her hips and cursed back at them one by one, “You’re the one spewing filth! My family lost grain, so what if I curse? It’s easy for you to talk when it’s not your grain that’s gone!”

After cursing, she turned to the village head, pleading for him to stand up for her family.

Niu Dali nodded along, looking very angry.

“Losing grain isn’t a small matter. Today the Niu family lost a bag, if we don’t find out the truth, tomorrow someone might lose two bags, and the day after that, the thief might just break in and rob us.” Zhang Hongbo’s brows were tightly knit, his dark face filled with anger.

“That’s true, but village head, how do we investigate this? Yesterday it was the Niu family guarding the wheat field!”

“Oh, I almost forgot about that. The Niu family might be crying thief themselves, protecting their own.”

“Who knows, the Niu couple might be capable of anything.”

The crowd’s opinion shifted, and they started looking at the Niu couple with suspicion.

“You’re the one crying thief! How could my husband watch over such a big wheat field by himself!” Zhang Dahua suddenly pointed at a woman in the crowd, shouting, “It’s her husband who did it. Yesterday, her husband was supposed to guard the wheat field, but they said their daughter was getting married and swapped days with us. I bet it has something to do with your husband!”

Zheng Yun’s face turned pale when she heard this, and seeing everyone looking at her, she quickly explained, “You’re slandering us! It was clearly Niu Dali who suggested swapping days. It’s true my daughter is getting married, but the wedding is in six days, plenty of time. Guarding the wheat field is important. My husband is always careful, he wouldn’t swap days at such a critical time!”

Niu Dali looked bewildered, “Sister, why are you lying? It was your brother-in-law who suggested the swap. How could you say it’s my fault? Aren’t you just bullying us?”

Zhang Dahua cursed, “If it’s not your family, then who? It can’t be my husband intentionally ruining the grain like this, can it?”

“True, if Niu Dali really stole it, there’s no need to scatter the grain all over. Mixing it with dirt would take a long time to clean.”

“The Niu family is doing alright, no need for them to pull a stunt like this.”

“Could it really be Liu Yan? He seemed like an honest man, who knew he could do such a thing.”

The crowd, swaying like grass in the wind, found Niu family’s argument reasonable and turned their suspicion towards Liu Yan, looking at Zheng Yun with accusing eyes.

Zheng Yun, unable to argue alone, turned to the village head Zhang Hongbo for justice.

“Village head, we really didn’t do it. Please investigate and clear our name. My daughter is about to get married, she can’t carry a bad reputation to her new home…”

Zheng Yun covered her face, crying.

Few stood up to speak for her. Those who she thought were friends turned silent, knowing that the village head Zhang Hongbo was a relative of Zhang Dahua’s within five generations. It was clear who he would support. Besides, Liu Yan stealing grain seemed undeniable. What was there to argue?

“Everyone, stop arguing.” Zhang Hongbo, with a stern face, looked at Zheng Yun, “Can anyone else testify that it was Niu Dali who swapped days with your husband?”

Zheng Yun quickly replied, “My daughter, my son, and I can all testify.”

Zhang Hongbo said, “Family members testifying for each other isn’t convincing. Is there anyone else who can vouch for you?”

Zheng Yun’s face turned even paler, “No, Niu Dali knocked on our door at night, no one saw.”

“Since there are no witnesses, there’s nothing we can do.”

Zheng Yun’s heart skipped a beat, “Village head, what do you mean?”

“It means your family is the thief!” Zhang Dahua, like a fighting cock, stuck her neck out, demanding Liu Yan’s family return the grain, “Give me back my grain! This mess of wheat, if you don’t give me an explanation, I won’t let it go!”

“A thief in the village must be punished. We can’t just let it slide, or else anyone without grain will just steal from others. Scolding them won’t solve anything.”

“Yes, village head, it must be punished!”

The crowd clamored to punish the Liu family. Sixth Aunt Yang couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up, “The Zheng family has no witnesses, but does the Niu family? Both sides have no witnesses, how can you just listen to the Niu family and make a decision?”

“Yes, village head, Liu Yan is a good man. We’ve worked together, he’s very honest, can’t be a thief.”

“I think this matter needs investigating. Grain is our lifeline. Such a big issue can’t be brushed aside.”

“Village head, you can’t favor the Niu family just because you’re related to Zhang Dahua.”

A few sensible men and women also spoke up.

Originally wanting to downplay the issue, Zhang Hongbo’s face turned completely dark as the situation escalated.

“So what do you suggest we do? How should we investigate this?”

The crowd fell silent again.

“I have an idea.”

No one spoke, but Song Tingzhu’s voice, though not loud, was clear to everyone. Hearing this, they all turned to look at him.

Sixth Aunt Yang was also surprised, “Zhu Ge’er, you have a solution?”

Song Tingzhu nodded and asked Zheng Yun, “Aunt, yesterday I went to Aunt Cai’s to buy tofu and saw a lot of lime in your yard. Are you repairing the house?”

Zheng Yun was initially stunned, then immediately nodded, “Yes, it rained heavily a few days ago, and the walls cracked. We thought of buying some lime to mix with plaster to repair it, so it doesn’t leak every few days, making it hard to sleep peacefully.”

“Zhu Ge’er, why are you asking this? What’s it got to do with the stolen grain?”

“Yes, it rained heavily the past few days. Many houses in the village leaked, but no one bought lime to repair it. That stuff is expensive. Mixing yellow mud with dry grass and plastering it several times is enough.”

The crowd was puzzled. Zhang Hongbo, looking displeased, said, “Huzi’s family, didn’t you say you had a solution? Why are you going off-topic?”

“Village head, don’t worry. I have one more thing to ask Uncle Niu.” Song Tingzhu spoke calmly, “Uncle Niu, were you wearing the same clothes when you guarded the wheat field yesterday?”

Niu Dali was confused, unable to guess Song Tingzhu’s intention, and nodded, speaking roughly, “Yes, why?”

“Did you change your shoes?”

Niu Dali impatiently replied, “We’re not a wealthy family, changing clothes and shoes every day isn’t possible.”

After speaking, he noticed Song Tingzhu staring at his shoes and felt uneasy.

“I remember Uncle Niu clearly said it was Uncle Liu who came to you. But now, it seems you’re lying.” Song Tingzhu’s gaze fell on the lime-stained soles of Niu Dali’s shoes.

The crowd strained their necks to see.

“It’s lime! Niu Dali’s shoes have lime on them!”

“He said he didn’t go to the Liu family. If he didn’t, where did the lime come from?”

Niu Dali panicked, raising his voice to cover his guilt, “What does this prove? I didn’t go yesterday, but after discovering the grain was gone this morning, I went to the Liu family.”

“That makes sense.”

“Lies! I saw you at the wheat field this morning and you never left. When did you have time to go to Liu Yan’s house?”

“That’s right, we saw it too!”

Several men, hearing the news, rushed back to the village from the fields, one of whom was Liu Yan.

He walked to his wife’s side, protecting her, “Niu Dali, I helped you out of kindness, but you turned on me. Since that’s the case, I won’t hide your shameful deeds anymore.”

He turned to Zhang Dahua and said, “After leaving my house, your husband went to Widow Li’s. If you don’t believe me, you can check for lime footprints at Widow Li’s house. Maybe you can even find the missing bag of grain.”

Zhang Dahua’s mind buzzed upon hearing this.

Everyone at the wheat field was shocked.

“What? Niu Dali has an affair with Widow Li!”

“No wonder we often see Niu Dali coming back from the south of the village. We thought he was visiting his in-laws, but he was secretly meeting Widow Li!”

“So the Niu family’s grain wasn’t stolen, but Niu Dali took it to give to Widow Li!”

“Using his family’s grain to support an outsider, Niu Dali is truly despicable.”

“Who knows how long they’ve been having an affair. Poor Dahua.”

The facts were clear, leaving no room for Niu Dali to argue. Wiping his cold sweat, he was about to escape when Zhang Dahua grabbed his sleeve, hitting him hard on the arm.

“You heartless bastard! The rice and meat I told you to send to my parents, did you give it all to that shameless vixen?”

Niu Dali, unable to save face, tugged at his clothes, speaking gruffly, “What are you doing, pulling and tugging like this with everyone watching?”

Zhang Dahua shouted, “The head of the family has been seduced by a wild vixen, why should I care about others? Niu Dali, today in front of everyone, break it off with that vixen, or I’ll hang myself at your door, watching you every day. Even if I die, you won’t have a peaceful day with that shameless widow!”

Her words were harsh, and the Niu family’s reputation was completely ruined today.

After resolving the grain issue, Song Tingzhu went with Ruan Xiulian and Tang Chunxing to Sixth Aunt Yang’s house, while Liu Xiaomei and Xu Xiaoman went to town.

“Zhu Ge’er, your writing is so good. I was thinking of inviting you to write a couple of ‘Xi’ characters for my home in a few days. Didn’t expect you’d deliver them already.” Yang Liumei took out her money pouch and asked, “Is it twelve wen?”

Song Tingzhu smiled and said, “Aunt, no need to pay. Consider it a wedding gift for Xiao Peng Ge’s marriage.”

“Then I won’t be polite.”

The Xu and Liu families were on good terms. Yang Liumei and Ruan Xiulian had been friends for over ten years, so this small gift was acceptable.

“I wonder how the Niu couple is doing.” Tang Chunxing worriedly said, “Today, Zhu Ge’er stood up for Aunt Zheng, indirectly exposing the Niu family’s scandal. Zhang Dahua is small-minded. I hope she doesn’t hold a grudge against us and cause trouble later.”

Ruan Xiulian was also a bit worried.

Yang Liumei said, “Don’t worry. If she dares to come, just have Xiaomei call us. With the men from our two families together, even if Zhang Dahua is fierce, she’ll have to think twice.”

Ruan Xiulian nodded, feeling more at ease.

Two days passed without Zhang Dahua coming to the Liu family to cause trouble, and there was no news from the Niu family. Just when they thought Zhang Dahua wouldn’t come, early this morning, someone kicked open their courtyard gate.

Song Tingzhu was in the courtyard teaching a few children to read. Seeing four or five unfamiliar men with knives and sticks breaking in, he thought bandits had entered the village. Without time to think, he quickly shielded the children behind him.

“Liu family, come out!” A woman’s voice shouted from behind the men.

The voice sounded familiar. Song Tingzhu frowned, thinking for a moment before realizing it was Zhang Dahua.

The next moment, Ruan Xiulian came out of the main room, her face unfriendly, “Zhang Dahua, what are you doing bringing a bunch of people to my house? Planning to rob us in broad daylight?”

Zhang Dahua stepped out from behind the men, raising her eyebrows smugly, “I’m not here to rob. I’m here to collect a debt!”

She pulled out an IOU from her bosom, demanding the Liu family repay the 300 wen borrowed at the beginning of the year.

Ruan Xiulian was stunned, then couldn’t help but curse, “Zhang Dahua, you heartless woman! Didn’t you say the IOU was lost in the water when you came with the Qian family to seize our things? Then what is this?”

Zhang Dahua crossed her arms, smiling, “I never said that. Big sister, are you getting forgetful with age?”

“Liu family, pay up! Last time you tricked us with those broken pots and cabinets. How much are they worth? If I hadn’t found the IOU today, you would have gotten away with it!”

“A debt must be repaid. It’s only right. When your family was in trouble, we lent you the money meant for my medicine. Who knew you’d be so ungrateful, trying to fob us off with junk? Luckily, the IOU wasn’t lost, so your plan to take advantage failed!”

“Everyone, come see! The Liu family won’t repay and is trying to hit us!”

The Niu family’s old couple came along, sitting on the ground crying and wailing, soon attracting the entire village.

When the Niu and Qian families came to the Liu family to collect the debt, many in the village saw it. They knew the Niu family wasn’t in the right, but with the IOU in their hands, it was hard to dispute.

Some villagers shouted for the village head to come and mediate. Song Tingzhu knew it was useless. The village head was related to Zhang Dahua, and with the IOU, even if the whole village testified for the Liu family, the village head would still side with the Niu family.

Since that’s the case, let’s make a big deal out of it, so even Zhang Hongbo can’t play favorites.

Liu Hu came home early from work today. After finishing the tasks his husband assigned at the carpenter’s shop, he returned to the village with pastries for his husband.

“Dasheng’s family, just pay the money. The Niu family has the IOU. Even if you go to the authorities, you’re in the wrong.”

Seeing a crowd in front of the courtyard, he quickly approached, hearing the village head say these words, Liu Hu’s face darkened and his brows furrowed.

“Mother, wife.” He protected his family behind him, expressionless as he looked at the troublemakers.

Seeing her husband return, Song Tingzhu felt more at ease. He placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, addressing the Niu family, “Then let’s do as the village head says, report it to the authorities.”

The crowd was in an uproar.

“Huzi’s family, don’t say foolish things. The Niu family has an IOU!”

“Yes, just consider it spending money to avoid disaster. Be more cautious in the future and avoid dealing with families like the Niu family.”

Song Tingzhu looked at the aunt who spoke, “Why should we spend money to avoid disaster? This money shouldn’t be paid by our family.”

“Xiulian, persuade your son-in-law. No one in the village has ever reported to the authorities. Is it worth going to the authorities over such a small matter?”

Zhang Hongbo didn’t want the matter to escalate and intervened, “Both families take a step back. Dasheng’s family, pay 150 wen, and Niu’s family, stop making a fuss. You’re too old to be crying at the younger generation’s door. It’s disgraceful!”

Ruan Xiulian disagreed, knowing that the chickens, ducks, pots, and pans they gave were worth a couple of hundred wen. Plus, they later sent more money than they borrowed. Now, the village head wanted them to pay, clearly favoring the Niu family!

“Zhu Ge’er, we’ll do as you say. Let’s report to the county!”

Song Tingzhu nodded, ignoring the village head’s dark face, and addressed the uncles and aunts, “Uncles and aunts, when the Niu family came to demand money, many of you saw it. If you’re willing to stand up and testify for us, each will receive five copper coins.”

No one would refuse free money, especially since the Niu family already had a bad reputation. Offending them was no big deal, so they agreed to testify.

The Niu family was intimidated. The men from other villages, sensing the unfavorable situation, quickly slipped away. Zhang Dahua and the Niu family’s old couple were dumbfounded. Liu Xiaomei took advantage of their shock, suddenly darting out and snatching the IOU.

“Sister-in-law, got it!”

———————–

Author’s Note: [Flowers][Flowers]