SLH | Chapter 54

Killing Two Birds with One Stone

“Mengzi, didn’t you and your brother go up the mountain to hunt the tiger? How did it go? Did you manage to kill that beast?” a woman asked.

Liu Meng glanced at the surrounding villagers, raised his hatchet, and said, “How could Huzi and I dare? The firewood at home is almost gone, so we went up the mountain to chop some firewood.”

Seeing the firewood on their backs, some envious people couldn’t help but speak up.

“You’ve got guts, going up the mountain right after that beast attacked people.”

“Thought you were hunting tigers, but you were just gathering firewood for your own home. If you’re so capable, why not kill that beast too, so everyone can feel at ease.”

“Exactly, Huzi is the only man in the village who learned from the old hunter. If he’s got the skills, he shouldn’t waste them.”

The brothers let the words go in one ear and out the other, not even giving a glance. The woman who spoke earlier ended up embarrassed and kept quiet.

“Mengzi, Huzi, did you see any signs of that beast? We’re running low on firewood too, and I’m worried about what to do,” a passing man stopped to ask.

Liu Meng replied, “Didn’t see anything. Uncle, when you go up the mountain, take a few people with you. That beast has a broken leg and hasn’t eaten in a while. As long as you’re not completely unprepared, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”

“Alright, I’ll go ask my brothers.”

With that, he tucked his hands in his sleeves and hurried off.

In the Liu family courtyard, Liu Xiaomei had just finished feeding the chickens and ducks in the backyard. She came out with a food bowl and saw her big brother and second brother entering the courtyard. She quickly raised her voice and shouted into the house, “Dad, Mom, Sister-in-law, Brother-in-law, Big Brother and Second Brother are back!”

Moments later, Liu Hu and his brother were sitting in the main room, sipping ginger tea.

Ruan Xiulian put down her unfinished shoe sole and asked about the beast, “So, did you find any signs of that beast?”

Liu Hu replied, “We only found a few paw prints, judging by the depth, they were probably left last night.”

Ruan Xiulian frowned, “As long as that beast doesn’t return to its lair, I can’t feel at ease.”

Saying this, she put down the needle and thread basket, stood up, and said, “No, I have to go visit Aunt Zhao and Aunt Yang, and then gather a few people to talk to Third Zhang.”

Ruan Xiulian hurried off and didn’t return until it was almost time for lunch.

Tang Chunxing was cooking in the kitchen. Hearing the commotion, she came out and asked, “Mom, what did the village head say? Are they organizing people to hunt the tiger?”

“That Third Zhang still has some conscience. When Aunt Zhao and I got there, he was already discussing it with people.”

Ruan Xiulian poured a bowl of warm water from the clay pot and drank it all before continuing, “Tomorrow is Zhaojie’s memorial. They said they will organize the strong young men in the village to hunt the tiger by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

Tang Chunxing looked surprised, “The village head really wants to hold a memorial for Zhaojie?”

“The altar is already set up, how can it be fake?”

“Grandma, look at the little braid Uncle made for Xia Ge’er.”

As the two spoke, Xia Ge’er ran into the kitchen, looking up with a proud face and asked.

Ruan Xiulian picked up the little guy and said with a smile, “As expected of Grandma’s good grandson, you look so handsome.”

Hearing this, Xia Ge’er shyly hid in her arms.

The news of the village head planning a memorial for Zhaojie spread like wildfire in the village. People thought it was just talk yesterday, but now the offerings and paper effigies are prepared, just waiting for the right time tomorrow to take them to the riverbank.

Several clan elders of the Zhang family were so upset that they couldn’t eat lunch. They gathered together, sighing and discussing for a long time without coming up with a solution.

The old clan leader, who was over eighty years old, had stopped managing village affairs years ago. He was called in early this morning, and after listening to a group of people babbling for a long time, his head felt like it was buzzing with bees, making his brain hurt.

“Alright, everyone stop talking.”

The old clan leader tapped his cane on the ground, glanced at his incompetent second brother, and reprimanded, “Keep an eye on Yongchun. If anything goes wrong tomorrow, don’t expect me, an old man about to be buried, to plead with Hongbo for you.”

Second Zhang held a high position in the clan, but unfortunately, he was overshadowed by his elder brother. When he was young, he was often disciplined, and even in old age, there was no leniency. Being scolded in front of the younger generation was a common occurrence.

He agreed on the surface, but in his heart, he wished the old man would hurry up and die. After enjoying the blessings of the younger generation for most of his life, living to eighty was enough, and it should be his turn to be the clan elder.

“Let’s call it a day. I’m tired. Everyone can go home now,” the old clan leader said wearily.

After the group dispersed, Zhang Deshui, the third in the clan, went home with Zhang Desheng.

“Father, what did Uncle say?” Zhang Yongchun asked, supporting his father as he entered the courtyard.

“What else could he say? Just don’t bring up the memorial again.”

Zhang Desheng gave his son a sidelong glance, “Your grandfather went crazy for a while because of that. If you want your father to die early, just keep causing trouble.”

“Father, how could I wish for your death? It’s just that the Yin family…”

Zhang Yongchun looked at his father, troubled.

At this time, Zhang Deshui spoke up, “Fourth nephew, don’t worry. They’re just some outsiders without any foundation. Even if you give them a hundred guts, they wouldn’t dare make a fuss about this.”

Zhang Yongchun wasn’t worried about that. He had been eyeing the lady of the Yin family for a while. That Yin family man was afraid of her running away and kept a close watch on his wife. A few days ago, he finally found an opportunity, but the Yin family man returned too quickly, leaving him unsatisfied and restless, like a cat scratching at his heart.

Zhang Desheng knew well what kind of person his son was, and with a glare from his cloudy eyes, he warned, “Put away your schemes. Your uncle told you to behave for the next few days. If you cause any trouble, he won’t be able to save you.”

“What trouble could I cause? I just want to scare the Yin family a bit.”

Zhang Deshui was on the same page with his second brother, and their families didn’t hide anything from each other. So he was aware of this matter too. Seeing his nephew acting as if he were bewitched, he patted his broad shoulders and advised, “Fourth nephew, with your conditions, you can find any kind of lady. Why fixate on a married woman?”

Why indeed? Of course, it was because the lady of the Yin family was exceptionally beautiful, unmatched even by the women and young men in the nearby towns. Only Liu’s second Huzi’s husband could compare, but unfortunately, dealing with their three men wasn’t easy.

Who knew if Zhu Ge’er, looking so weak, could withstand second Huzi’s torment?

Zhang Yongchun rubbed his hands, wearing a lewd expression.

After grinning for a while, he once again set his mind on the lady of the Yin family.

Let’s not dwell on the Zhang family’s dirty business for now. Over at the Liu family, Song Tingzhu was busy in the vegetable cellar, brewing some sweet wine.

A torch was stuck in the wall, and Liu Xiaomei was holding another one. She peeked over and saw her brother-in-law pouring a jar of osmanthus honey into a wine jar.

“Brother-in-law, can you really add honey to wine?”

“Of course, this is sweet wine. Even women and young men who don’t usually drink can have a couple of cups. Further north, they even add Sichuan pepper and chili to the wine.”

Liu Xiaomei disliked Sichuan pepper. Whenever she accidentally ate some, she had to rinse her mouth with water. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

“Really? Can you still drink wine with Sichuan pepper in it?”

Song Tingzhu laughed and explained, “Adding spices makes the wine taste spicier. In the cold northern regions, people carry strong liquor with them to keep warm.”

Liu Xiaomei nodded, “I heard that further north, it’s all grasslands. The people there live in tents, not houses, and don’t farm. They live by herding, eating meat, and drinking wine every day.”

The little girl was practically drooling, swallowing her saliva as she asked, “Brother-in-law, is that true?”

“It is true, but their lives aren’t easy. If you had to eat meat every day and couldn’t have vegetables or grains for ten or fifteen days, would you still want it?”

Liu Xiaomei, who had never tried it, answered with bright eyes, “Sure, meat is delicious. Only a fool wouldn’t like it.”

Song Tingzhu chuckled, “Even the most delicious food can get boring eventually. By then, you wouldn’t even find pastries appealing, and getting a piece of malt candy would be difficult.”

The little girl furrowed her brows even more, “Are their lives really that poor?”

“These past two years, without wars, it’s been relatively good. During wartime, they couldn’t even sleep peacefully. But they’re not poor,” Song Tingzhu shifted the topic, “It’s just that there aren’t many markets, so even with money, they can’t spend it.”

Liu Xiaomei said, “Then we should open a shop at the border, wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?”

Song Tingzhu smiled at the young girl, “Hopefully, that day will come.”

They were just speaking casually, but ten years later, it actually became a reality.

After sealing the wine jar again, Song Tingzhu took the torch and said, “Alright, after ten or fifteen days of aging, it will be ready to drink.”

“Wait a moment, brother-in-law, I’ll grab a cabbage on the way up.”

“Alright.”

That evening, after the Liu family of eight had dinner and chatted for a while, they each retired to their rooms.

The next day, before dawn, the villagers of Yunxi Village left their courtyards, hands tucked into their sleeves.

Everyone gathered at the riverbank, and before getting close, they saw an altar set up by the river, with Zhaojie and his grandfather’s tablets on it. The three clan elders of the Zhang family, supported by their sons and grandsons, stood at the front with unhappy faces.

According to the traditions passed down by the ancestors of Yunxi Village, village sacrifices should be presided over by the eldest clan elder and the next successor.

Zhang Dequan saw it as an opportunity to establish his authority in front of everyone. Who knew Zhang Desheng didn’t intend to take him along but chose someone from among the younger generation who was five generations removed from the Zhang family.

Zhang Dequan was so angry his face turned black, but he couldn’t act out in front of everyone. When asked by others, he had to pretend to be magnanimous, smiling and saying it was to train the younger generation.

Everyone understood the truth but didn’t point it out directly.

Song Tingzhu wasn’t concerned with these matters. His gaze fell on Zhang Yongchun, who was acting suspiciously in the crowd.

Liu Hu noticed and looked too, “Wife, what are you looking at?”

Song Tingzhu frowned and whispered, “Husband, I think Zhang Yongchun is up to no good.”

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, Zhang Yongchun took the small path back to the village.

Liu Meng, who overheard their conversation, looked at Zhang Yongchun’s hunched figure and said disdainfully, “That guy is sneaky, definitely up to no good.”

“I just looked around, and the Yin family isn’t here,” Song Tingzhu said with a frown. “Zhang Yongchun’s gang of friends is also missing.”

The two brothers exchanged a glance and immediately decided to check on the Yin family.

Song Tingzhu held his husband’s hand, “I’ll wait here. If you and big brother aren’t back in the time it takes to burn an incense stick, I’ll bring the village head and clan elders to the Yin family.”

“Alright.”

———————–
Author’s Note: Here I am

Help, it’s not a slipped disc, it’s sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Sitting for a long time is unbearably painful [crying][crying]

Everyone, be careful, don’t sit or stand for too long.