SLH | Chapter 53

Zhang Hongbo’s Rise

Jiang Dashan got his shoulder bitten through by a beast, and the villagers were all in a panic, afraid that the white tiger would come down the mountain to eat people. A group of people gathered around to discuss and then headed to the village head Zhang Hongbo’s house.

Moments later, at the Zhang family.

“Village head, what should we do now? That beast dares to come down the mountain to eat people. If it comes down today, won’t it enter the village tomorrow?!”

“If this snow doesn’t stop, the crops in the fields will soon freeze to death. What will we eat and drink next year? Is the whole family just going to wait to die?!”

A woman brought up the matter of sacrifice again, “We can’t wait any longer, Old Third, you better make a decision. If nothing else works, then let’s sacrifice to the Snow Goddess!”

“Easy for you to say. When the time comes for an anonymous vote, your Zhang family is prosperous and has many people, so it won’t be your family who gets chosen. For us families with fewer people, won’t we be the ones to be thrown into the pond?”

The woman speaking had a household of just six people, including a baby still nursing, which was considered small in the village. If families started forming alliances, the choice for the live sacrifice might fall on her family, which she certainly wouldn’t agree to.

“I don’t agree either. Is there no other way besides sacrifice?”

The Zhang family woman who spoke earlier gave a sideways glance and said, “If you don’t agree with the sacrifice, then come up with a solution. In a few days, when everyone’s firewood runs out, are we going to go up the mountain to chop wood like the Jiang family? Jiang Dashan got bitten by a beast like that, with half an arm wasted, and he still has three sons to support. How will they live in the future?”

Some women were swayed and whispered to those beside them, “I heard that during that big snowstorm back then, the snow stopped after sacrificing to the Snow Goddess.”

“But live sacrifice is too cruel. My mother-in-law was there at the time, and she said that Zhao Jie’er was tied to the boat, her nails were all torn, and the cloth gagging her was soaked with blood!”

“Back then, several people in the village froze to death. There was no choice but to hold the sacrifice. Now everyone can still hold on. Maybe the snow will stop tomorrow?”

A few hot-blooded men rolled up their sleeves and said, “If it really doesn’t work, let’s go up the mountain and kill that beast. There are so many strong men in the village. Are we really afraid of a beast with a broken leg?!”

“Yeah, village head. Uncle Dashan managed to escape from that beast’s mouth. If we gather the dozens of men in the village, each with a shovel, we can take care of that beast!”

“The beast got caught in a trap and is having trouble moving. Now’s the perfect chance. Everyone’s afraid of encountering wild beasts when going deep into the mountains. If we kill that beast now, it’ll be safer to go into the mountains in the future.”

Many people in the courtyard nodded, thinking this plan was feasible. But even if that beast is dead, won’t the snow still keep falling?

The trees on the mountain will eventually be all chopped down. No one in the village has gone deep into the mountains. Who knows what other man-eating beasts might be in there besides this white tiger?

Zhang Cailian looked displeased and argued back with a stern face.

A group of indecisive women and men thought there was some truth to it, and suddenly they became like headless flies, looking eagerly at Zhang Hongbo, hoping the village head would come up with a decision.

Zhang Hongbo smoked his pipe, frowning in silence.

Zhang Cailian was the messenger for several elders in the clan, and what she said represented the elders’ intentions.

The live sacrifice incident twenty years ago was something his father had discussed with several elders. The snow did indeed stop a couple of days after the sacrifice, but it brought fear. It wasn’t until his father and several elders passed away that the matter was settled.

The talk of ghosts and gods is elusive, neither to be entirely believed nor entirely dismissed. Zhang Hongbo didn’t want to follow his father’s path, but he couldn’t disregard the elders’ intentions either, so he could only stall for time.

He knocked his pipe against the courtyard wall and said, “If the snow doesn’t stop in three days, we’ll ask the elders to come out.”

Zhang Cailian raised her eyebrows, “Why wait another three days? You dare to ignore the elders’ intentions?”

She didn’t spare any face for Zhang Hongbo as the village head. Everyone had been arguing just now, but upon hearing this, they discreetly glanced at Zhang Hongbo’s face, seeing it dark and displeased.

Zhang Hongbo hadn’t wanted to tear faces just now, but if he continued to play the quail, how could he make everyone trust him in the future?

He said coldly, “Second Aunt, my title as village head is registered in the records at the Li Zheng’s office. Even if the elders come, they have no right to make this decision over me.”

“Back then, your father…”

Zhang Cailian’s words were cut off by Zhang Hongbo, “I can’t control how my father handled things back then, but as long as I’m the village head of Yunxi Village, the matter of the sacrifice is up to me.”

The Zhang family is a large clan, and besides a few elders, Zhang Cailian has the highest seniority. She often took advantage of her high status to benefit her family. Everyone was respectful to her, but now, being shamed by a junior, how could she bear it?

“Zhang Hongbo, you ungrateful brat! If it weren’t for the clan electing you as village head after your father died early, would you have the good life you have today?”

Zhang Hongbo’s wife wasn’t one to back down either. Since Zhang Cailian didn’t show any respect, she wouldn’t hold back either.

“Second Aunt, why not mention how much the clan has benefited from our family over the years? People say that being village head is a lucrative position, but the dirty business behind it is endless.”

Yao Sanni wiped her eyes and continued, “And the money just passes through our hands. If it were really as people say, our family would have built a brick house long ago. Why would we still be living in a mud house?”

What a clever move to divert attention. Immediately, a woman said, “Sanni is right. The Zhang family elders not only live well, but they also have plenty of grain and firewood. I passed by Old Six’s house yesterday and saw his wife wearing very thin clothes. Their house must have a lot of braziers burning.”

“Since the snow started, the chimneys in the elder’s homes have never stopped smoking. Everyone else only burns at night, but the Zhang family burns day and night. When others go to borrow firewood, they say they have none. Do they think we’re blind?”

“How dare you disrespect the elders! Are you trying to turn the world upside down?!”

…

The Zhang family’s drama was entirely unknown to the Liu family. After lunch, Zhao Chunfang came over for a chat and recounted what happened at the Zhang family courtyard.

Ruan Xiulian was sewing a shoe sole, surprised, “Zhang Laosan actually didn’t agree to the sacrifice?”

“Indeed, and his wife even gave Zhang Cailian a good scolding. She left with a black face!”

“So how was the matter resolved?”

“The day after tomorrow is Zhao Jie’er’s memorial. The village head is determined to break free from the elders’ control and said he would hold a memorial for Zhao Jie’er and her grandfather on that day!”

Hearing this, not only Ruan Xiulian but everyone in the room looked at her.

Zhao Chunfang said, “I’m not making this up. Many people went to the Zhang family earlier, and everyone heard it.”

“Uncle, it’s your turn.” Xia Ge’er nudged Song Tingzhu with his elbow.

Song Tingzhu shifted his gaze back, playing cat’s cradle with the little guy while whispering to the man beside him, “Husband, is Zhang Yongchun part of the Zhang clan?”

“He’s the fourth son of the Zhang family’s second elder,” Liu Hu replied, puzzled. “Why did you suddenly bring him up, wife?”

Song Tingzhu shook his head, not explaining.

He wasn’t sure if he was overthinking it. That day, he accidentally saw Zhang Yongchun trying to take advantage of a woman, and his expression was odd when he left, muttering that if there were a sacrifice, they should use his family’s child.

The man’s expression was fierce, and it didn’t seem like he was lying, which is why Song Tingzhu remembered it so vividly.

Holding the red string, he moved his fingers to remind the clueless Xia Ge’er, while thinking that with sensible elders in the Zhang clan, Zhang Yongchun shouldn’t dare act recklessly.

After Zhao Chunfang sat for half an hour, she got up and returned home.

The Liu family had a simple dinner, and at the table, they talked about the man-eating white tiger on the back mountain.

Ruan Xiulian frowned, “That beast has tasted human blood and must not be left alive. Zhang Laosan should organize everyone to go up the mountain and kill it.”

Liu Dasheng blew on his porridge and replied, “Who knows what’s in the deep mountains. Dad saw a bear there when he was young.”

Liu Hu put down his bowl and chopsticks, furrowing his thick brows, “I’ll go check the back mountain tomorrow. The white tiger got caught in a trap I set before and injured its hind leg. If there really are other beasts in the mountains like Dad said, it wouldn’t dare return to its lair and would only roam at the foot of the mountain.”

He was then patted on the shoulder by his older brother.

“Second brother, I’ll go with you. I may not be good at hunting, but I have some strength and can run fast. If we encounter danger, we’ll just run down the mountain with all our might.”

Tang Chunxing pulled at him, anxious, “No way, it’s too dangerous. I don’t agree.”

“I’m doing this for you and Xia Ge’er. With that beast roaming outside, no one can live in peace. What if it breaks into the village one day and hurts you or Xia Ge’er?”

Naturally, Song Tingzhu didn’t want his husband to take risks, but he knew his brother-in-law’s words weren’t alarmist. The white tiger, unable to find food at the foot of the mountain, would surely attack the village. Unless they stayed indoors, no one could guarantee they wouldn’t be the next Jiang Dashan.

At night, Liu Hu held his wife, rubbing his chin against the hair of the person in his arms.

“Wife, don’t worry. This trip is just to scout. If we aren’t completely sure, my brother and I won’t take action.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, holding his husband’s broad hand, gently reminding, “Don’t get too close. Tigers have an exceptionally keen sense of smell, and having tasted human blood, if you and brother get too close, it will surely detect you. And that beast, with nowhere to go, will be very cautious.”

“Got it. Don’t worry, wife.”

That night, Song Tingzhu didn’t sleep well. Early the next morning, the family prepared tools for the two brothers and stood in front of the courtyard, watching them turn out of the alley.

Under the big banyan tree stood a few women and men. Seeing the two wrapped up tightly, they curiously asked, “Mengzi, Huzi, what are you two going out for?”

Liu Meng replied, “Going up the mountain to check.”

After the two walked away, the group of women and men gathered to whisper, “What are they going up the mountain for at this time? They must be going to hunt the tiger. I saw Huzi carrying a machete on his back just now!”

“Most likely! Why else would they be wrapped up so tightly, with their legs and arms covered in layers of clothes!”

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the news of the Liu brothers going up the mountain to hunt the tiger spread throughout the village. Everyone was excited and eager.

The Liu family’s second son was the last apprentice of the old hunter. Though he only learned a fraction of his skills, he was still better than the other men in the village. With him there, everything would be fine!

Despite the cold, people from every household ran out to watch.

However, half an hour later, seeing the two brothers coming down the mountain empty-handed, the smiles froze on their faces.

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Author’s Note: Sorry for being late [crying]
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