Chapter 46: Another Smiling Little Cub

Wan Niang stepped into Xiu Niang’s courtyard. When she saw Hua Qi, she asked worriedly, “I heard from Da Mao and Er Mao that Yun Shan’s arm got yanked off by Er Gou? And they said Old Zhang put it back on. Where did Er Gou get the strength to yank Yun Shan’s arm off?”

Xiu Niang froze, then did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Those two passed the message on wrong. Today, Er Gou pulled Yun Shan’s arm out of joint, and Old Zhang has already set it back.” Xiu Niang could not help saying, “How did those two children pass it on like that?”

“As long as he’s all right, as long as he’s all right.” Wan Niang patted her chest lightly. “That scared me to death.”

Hua Qi stood up and smiled at Wan Niang. “Yun Shan is fine.”

Wan Niang said, “Children are mischievous. Next time, you really can’t let children touch Yun Shan and Chun Hua. When I get home, I’ll talk to Da Mao and Er Mao too, and tell them not to touch their little brothers and sisters. Where’s Yun Shan?”

“He’s sleeping inside,” Hua Qi replied.

“If he’s sleeping, then I won’t go see him.” Wan Niang pulled over a stool from the side and sat beside Xiu Niang, taking the initiative to help pick vegetables. “This morning, I went to town to hand in my embroidery work. The shopkeeper said there was a batch of goods that had to be rushed. Twenty handkerchiefs embroidered within three days. Each one pays five wen more than usual.”

“You took the job?” Xiu Niang asked.

“Of course I took it. Five wen more per handkerchief, twenty handkerchiefs means a hundred wen extra. How could I not take such a good thing?” Wan Niang swung her right leg and bumped Xiu Niang’s left leg. “I can embroider five handkerchiefs at most in three days. Help your sister-in-law out. I’ll give you all the extra five wen.”

Xiu Niang said, “I embroider even slower than you. You can embroider five in three days, but I can only embroider four at most. Who are you going to find for the remaining eleven handkerchiefs?”

Wan Niang’s eyes shifted, and her gaze landed on Hua Qi. “Huaniang, do you know how to embroider handkerchiefs?”

“No.” Hua Qi shook his head very decisively. “Xiao Cong can. Go find Xiao Cong.”

“Huaniang, don’t joke with me.” Wan Niang knew Xiao Cong. He was Hua Qi’s second son, and he was only eight this year.

“Huaniang isn’t joking with you. Our Xiao Cong is very good at embroidery.” Xiu Niang nudged her chin toward the clothesline. “Go look at Yun Shan’s little clothes. Xiao Cong embroidered things along the edges. I think they look quite pretty.”

Wan Niang put down the vegetables in her hands and walked suspiciously toward the clothesline. Two little garments were hanging on the rope. Once she got closer, she could tell they were made of soft cotton cloth, much softer than the durable coarse cotton she was wearing. At one glance, she saw that something had been embroidered on the corner of one little garment. When she stepped closer and looked carefully, the white thread was densely packed, each stitch neat and proper.

“This skill is better than mine,” Wan Niang said in surprise. Who would have thought that an eight-year-old boy could have such clever hands?

Xiao Cong heard the movement in the courtyard and poked his head out from beneath the window. He recognized Wan Niang and knew she was Da Mao and Er Mao’s mother.

“Xiao Cong,” Wan Niang said with a smile, “help Auntie embroider handkerchiefs. I’ll give you thirty wen for each one.” She was giving him all of the extra five wen too.

Xiao Cong was happy. He showed a smile, nodded his head, and gave a heavy “Mm.” Xiu Niang had been right. Embroidery really could earn money!

Tuo Tuo crawled to the window and looked at Wan Niang outside, then at Xiao Cong. Xi Jue and Dou Ming could hunt, and now Xiao Cong could earn money too. The only one eating for free at home was him. A sense of crisis suddenly rose in Tuo Tuo’s heart. Clinging to the window, he asked Xiu Niang, “When will Uncle Qiu Sheng make me a loom?”

“After your family’s house is finished.” Xiu Niang looked at him, not understanding why he was asking. “Has Tuo Tuo already learned how to weave?”

Tuo Tuo nodded. His sky-pointing braid, tied with a red string, hit the window and was pressed forward against his head by the window. Tuo Tuo reached up and smoothed the braid back. “The cloth I weave can be sold for money too.”

“Then sell the cloth Tuo Tuo weaves to me,” Wan Niang teased him with a smile. “I’ll make clothes for Da Mao and Er Mao.” She only thought Xiu Niang was teasing Tuo Tuo. After all, Tuo Tuo was only five. Who could really count on him to weave cloth and sell it for money?

“Then it’s agreed.” Tuo Tuo was happy too. “When I finish weaving cloth, I’ll come find you.”

Qiu Sheng stayed at his parents’ place for a while, then stopped by Old Zhang’s house on the way to give him the money. When he came back, he happened to meet Wan Niang as she walked out of the courtyard gate. After the two of them greeted each other, Wan Niang hurried westward, while Qiu Sheng entered the courtyard.

Seeing that he had come back alone, Xiu Niang was inwardly angry at Qin Niang for not knowing what was proper. Er Gou had hurt Yun Shan, yet her sister-in-law and elder brother had not even come to see Yun Shan.

Qiu Sheng sat under the tree with a poor expression. He had told his sister-in-law to bring some things over to see the child. In the end, she told him to come back first and said she would come in a little while. She had not mentioned the ten wen at all. Ten wen was not much, but in the end, it had been spent because of Er Gou. His elder brother and sister-in-law should at least have mentioned it. So they really had always treated him like a sucker.

“Xi Jue and Dou Ming are building the house in the back. Qiu Sheng, go take a look. Don’t take the other things to heart. Huaniang’s family’s house is more important.” Xiu Niang lightly pushed Qiu Sheng’s shoulder. “Help keep an eye on things.”

Hua Qi could not understand the hidden meaning in Xiu Niang’s words. While picking vegetables, he said to Qiu Sheng, “Xi Jue and Dou Ming don’t understand anything about building houses. Qiu Sheng, help them and keep a closer watch.”

“I’ll definitely pay attention to this.” Qiu Sheng stood and quickly walked out of the courtyard.

Xiu Niang no longer wanted to bother with her elder brother and sister-in-law’s family’s affairs. She would not bring it up in front of Huaniang. She would feel embarrassed just saying it. What kind of thing had her elder brother and sister-in-law done?

Inside the room, on the heated brick bed, Yun Shan opened his eyes, closed them, then opened them again, now fully awake. He moved his little hands and turned his big eyes. “Ya.”

Tuo Tuo, who was by the window, immediately pulled his head back and quickly crawled to Yun Shan’s side in delight. “Little Temple Master, you’re awake!”

Yun Shan kicked his little feet and rocked left and right, his tiny brows slowly drawing together.

Xiao Cong lifted Little Temple Master’s little leg, and sure enough, he saw a large dark patch on the diaper. He climbed off the heated brick bed and ran out of the room, pulled a diaper down from the drying pole, and hurried back inside.

“Yun Shan is awake?” Hua Qi’s voice followed him from behind.

Only after Xiao Cong ran into the room did he answer through the window, “He’s awake. He peed.”

Skillfully lifting Yun Shan’s little plump legs, Xiao Cong pulled the dirty diaper out from under Yun Shan’s bottom and tossed it to the side. Then he quickly changed him into a clean diaper.

Beside him, Tuo Tuo picked up the dirty diaper and casually tossed it out the window.

“Tuo Tuo!” Hua Qi narrowed his eyes, his tone threatening. “Put the diaper in the basin!” What was wrong with this little ginseng spirit? How could Yun Shan’s diaper be thrown around wherever he liked?

Tuo Tuo pouted and unwillingly climbed off the heated brick bed. He ran under the corridor and put the dirty diaper he had just thrown out into the basin specifically used for washing diapers. Then he turned and ran back into the room.

Yun Shan naturally stuffed the thumb of his right hand into his mouth and smacked away with great enjoyment. Xiao Cong asked softly, “Little Temple Master, does your hand really not hurt anymore?”

Yun Shan blinked his big eyes, pulled out his finger, and grabbed at the air twice with his two little hands. “Ah—” It was as if he were showing Xiao Cong his little hands.

Xiao Cong took Yun Shan’s right hand and brought it close to his mouth, smiling as he said, “Little Temple Master, I know you’re better. Keep eating your hand.”

“Yun Shan, look at me.” Tuo Tuo, who had just run back into the room, suddenly turned into a thick, sturdy ginseng in front of Yun Shan.

The little baby on the heated brick bed stared blankly. He forgot to smack on his fingers, widening his clear black-and-white eyes as he stared fixedly at Tuo Tuo.

“Look at me again.” Tuo Tuo changed back into human form.

Yun Shan opened his little mouth wide and began laughing, “Gigglegiggle.”

Hua Qi looked toward the west room. Hearing Yun Shan’s laughter come one sound after another, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face. After his arm got better, Yun Shan was once again a smiling little cub.

Today’s wild duck was used to make soup. Some small wontons had also been added to the soup. Hua Qi was very interested in the small wontons and made a few himself, but the ones he wrapped came out looking like lumps of dough.

Hua Qi glared at the pot in a huff. Xiu Niang’s wonton wrapping had clearly looked fast and good. How come, when it was his turn, the dough would not listen at all?

Xiu Niang comforted him. “It doesn’t matter what shape they’re wrapped in, as long as they can be cooked through.”

“Xiu Niang.” Qin Niang entered the courtyard carrying a bundle of vegetables. As soon as she came in, she smelled the scent of meat. Swallowing happily, Qin Niang walked warmly to the kitchen doorway.

When she saw Hua Qi, Qin Niang’s face filled with apology. “Huaniang, I’m truly sorry. The children at home are mischievous and actually hurt Yun Shan. Is Yun Shan all right?”

Hua Qi replied coldly, “He’s fine.”

“As long as he’s fine, as long as he’s fine.” Qin Niang walked into the kitchen, put the vegetables on the table, and craned her head to glance at the stove. Unfortunately, the pot was covered with a lid, and she could not see clearly what kind of meat was stewing inside. “I beat all three boys at home. I guarantee they won’t dare touch Yun Shan again.”

Xiu Niang swept a glance over the vegetables Qin Niang had brought and lowered her eyes.

Hua Qi did not respond. He was not interested in anything this human said. Yun Shan had already been hurt. Even if she beat Er Gou, it would not help.

“Where’s Yun Shan? I’ll go take a look.” Qin Niang felt unhappy when she saw that Xiu Niang was not helping her smooth things over. What was wrong with this younger sister-in-law? She actually would not say a single nice word for her. Her elbows were turned outward. Xiu Niang had only known Huaniang for a few days, yet she treated this family better than her own elder brother and sister-in-law.

“You’re not allowed to go!” Hua Qi blocked her, his gaze sharp.

Only then did Xiu Niang speak. “Elder Sister-in-law, Yun Shan was frightened today. It isn’t good for him to see strangers again. Come see him next time.”

Qin Niang nodded. “Then I’ll come see Yun Shan next time.” Inwardly, she was dissatisfied with Hua Qi’s tone just now. Did he really think she wanted to see Yun Shan? She would rather not go see him at all. If it were not for her own son causing trouble, who would want to go see someone else’s child?

Qiu Sheng, drenched in sweat, was the last to enter the courtyard. When he saw Xia Sheng, his mood improved slightly. His elder brother and sister-in-law were reasonable after all. They had still come to see Yun Shan. Maybe they really had been held up by something just now.

“Second Uncle.” Da Gou ran over from behind Xia Sheng.

Qiu Sheng rubbed his head and said to Xia Sheng, “Elder Brother, sit.”

Xi Jue and Dou Ming heard what he said and realized this person was Er Gou’s father. Neither of them spoke. They went straight back into the room. Hua Qi was not polite either and followed them inside.

Qin Niang sat down and chattered on for a long while about this and that. At first, Xiu Niang still responded to her, but later, she simply said nothing at all. Qin Niang licked her dry lips and looked at Xiu Niang, forcing a smile. “What, you’re still reluctant to give your elder brother and sister-in-law water to drink?”

“Oh my.” Xiu Niang immediately put on a smile. “You’ve been talking for so long, and I still haven’t poured water for Elder Sister-in-law. Look at this head of mine.”

While Xiu Niang turned to pour water, Da Gou ran over, grabbed Qiu Sheng’s arm, and asked, “Second Uncle, when are we eating? I’m hungry.”

Er Gou had originally been sitting obediently beside Qin Niang. When he heard Da Gou’s words, he also looked at Qiu Sheng. “Second Uncle, I’m hungry too.”

Qiu Sheng smiled with difficulty. “Elder Brother, Elder Sister-in-law, it’s getting late. Father and Mother must have finished cooking at home, right? Yun Shan is fine. You should go back and eat first.”

Qin Niang laughed awkwardly. “We talked so much we forgot the time. Da Gou’s grandpa and grandma must have finished cooking. Let’s go back now. We’ll come see Yun Shan another day.” It was mealtime, yet Qiu Sheng was not keeping them for a meal. Why was he even driving them out? He must not be willing to let them eat the stewed meat at noon. The moment Qin Niang turned around, her face instantly darkened.

“Mother?” Er Gou saw Qin Niang walking out of the courtyard and stood up anxiously. “Aren’t we eating meat? I want to eat meat.”

“What nonsense are you saying, child? Where would there be meat?” Qin Niang walked back a few steps and dragged Er Gou outside.

“Mother, I smelled meat.” Er Gou turned his head toward the kitchen. “There’s meat in the pot.”

“Go, go, go.” Qin Niang was so angry at this son that she could nearly die. How could he say something like that out loud? The more he said, the more humiliating it became.

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