SLH | Chapter 66

Meng Yinhua’s Divorce Drama

Song Tingzhu was woken up by Xia Ge’er. After Qingming, wild vegetables started sprouting on the mountain. Xue Qinyao thought of going to pick some to make wild vegetable buns for the two of them. Xia Ge’er had been thinking about it ever since he heard Yin Shuyang mention it yesterday. After waking up from his nap, he came to find Song Tingzhu, begging him to take him to the mountain to play.

Song Tingzhu patted the little guy’s bun on the back of his head and smiled, “Alright, wait for your little uncle to change clothes and then we’ll go.”

“Xia Ge’er will wait for little uncle outside~”

Once Song Tingzhu changed his clothes and came out, he saw the little fellow with a bamboo basket on his back, looking ready to go.

He curved his lips, “Did you tell your parents?”

Xia Ge’er ran over to hold his hand, “I did, little uncle, let’s hurry. Shuyang Gege is waiting for me under the big banyan tree.”

“Sister-in-law’s husband, wait up, I’m going too,” Liu Xiaomei said, carrying a bamboo basket as she came out of the storeroom. “Let’s call Xiaoman on the way; he said he wanted to pick wild vegetables yesterday too, not sure if he left already.”

The Xu family lived in the alley south of the big banyan tree, which was on the way to the back mountain. After Xia Ge’er successfully met up with his little buddy, the group went to the Xu family.

“Xiaoman!”

Before they reached the Xu family, Liu Xiaomei saw Xu Xiaoman and quickly waved her hand to greet him.

“Hey.”

Xu Xiaoman responded, quickening his pace with a basket in hand.

“Auntie Yin, sister-in-law’s husband.”

He greeted them first when he got closer, then linked arms with his little buddy and started chatting.

Liu Xiaomei asked, “Have you seen Sister Shuang’er these past two days?”

“I saw her once, but we didn’t get to say much before Old Master Qian interrupted,” Xu Xiaoman frowned. “She seemed to have been beaten; I saw red marks on her wrist. I overheard Old Master Qian saying he wanted to send her to Cui Xiang Building in Dawa Town to exchange for wine money.”

Liu Xiaomei anxiously asked, “Does Aunt Meng know?”

“She knows. I heard her arguing with Old Master Qian about getting a divorce when I went out to exchange tofu this morning. Qian Yang, for some reason, even helped Aunt Meng speak up.”

Liu Xiaomei said, “Qian Yang isn’t inherently bad. When Sister Shuang’er was locked up, he brought her food several times.”

“I hope Aunt Meng can successfully get a divorce. If Sister-in-law’s husband opens the distillery in the village, everyone can work there to earn money. Aunt Meng is diligent, and Sister Shuang’er is hardworking too. They can definitely live a good life.”

“Yeah, but what if Qian Yang is left alone at home? Old Master Qian might take out all his anger on him.”

The two of them frowned with worry, while the two little ones held hands, looking cheerful.

Yin Shuyang casually pulled out a weed, weaving a grasshopper as he said, “Xia Ge’er, come to my house for dinner tonight. The wild vegetable buns my mom makes are delicious. I can eat several in one go.”

Xia Ge’er watched his fingers fly, and before long, he had woven a grasshopper, leaving Xia Ge’er with his mouth agape in amazement.

“Shuyang Gege is amazing.”

Yin Shuyang puffed up with pride, “Here, take it to play with. I can make other things too. I’ll make two more for you.”

Xia Ge’er gave him a sweet smile, looking cute and adorable, “Thank you, Shuyang Gege~”

“Do you want to come to my house for dinner?”

The little guy thought for a moment, ultimately resisting the temptation, shaking his head to refuse, “No, Xia Ge’er has to have dinner with grandpa and grandma.”

“Alright, I’ll bring some for you tomorrow.”

Xia Ge’er, who thought he wouldn’t get to eat them, had his eyes light up at the words.

“Thank you, Shuyang Gege~”

Xue Qinyao watched from behind, smiling.

“Shuyang said the kids in the village are too young to play with him, but now he’s playing with Xia Ge’er, who’s two years younger than him.”

Song Tingzhu smiled, “Maybe he thinks the little boys are too rowdy, and Xia Ge’er is quiet and well-behaved.”

“Xia Ge’er is indeed likable. I’ve always wanted a young girl or a little brother, but unfortunately, my health hasn’t been good, and I haven’t had any more children besides Shuyang.”

Xue Qinyao realized she might have said something wrong and quickly added, “Tingzhu, don’t worry. You’re still young, and if you take care of yourself, you’ll definitely have children.”

Song Tingzhu chuckled, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’m not upset. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. If not, there’s no need to force it. It’s all about fate.”

Xue Qinyao nodded, “It’s good that you can think like that.”

As they chatted, they reached the back mountain, meeting some women and their husbands along the way. They greeted them with smiles.

“Tingzhu and Sister Yin are here to pick wild vegetables too.”

“Tingzhu, your distillery is really impressive. It looks even bigger than the Zhang landlord’s courtyard.”

“Isn’t it? They used the best materials, and there’s even a stone-paved path in the courtyard. Such a big project must have cost a lot of money!”

“That’s nothing. Tingzhu is doing business with the tavern in town now. There’s no need to worry about money for building houses.”

The women praised Song Tingzhu, then turned to ask about hiring workers.

“When will the distillery start operating, Tingzhu? Give us a definite answer so we can prepare.”

“Yeah, my man works in town and can’t get away. Tell me the time so he can resign and come back.”

“My husband works in Dawa Town and only comes back every ten days or so. Now it’s great, we have a place to work in the village, and we won’t have to go far to find work.”

The women were all smiles, speaking as if they were sure their husbands would work at the distillery. However, Song Tingzhu had no intention of hiring them.

“Uncles and aunts, don’t worry. The distillery is small and only needs seven or eight people. Since your husbands have other jobs, it’s best not to quit.”

Not being foolish, they understood the meaning behind the words, and their faces immediately fell, looking displeased.

“So, the workers were already chosen, and yet you made a big fuss about it, letting the whole village know. Are you trying to show off?”

“Ha, the Liu family is now a wealthy family with a distillery. We mud-legged folks can’t compare.”

“Let’s go, sisters. I’m embarrassed to be sticking my warm face to their cold butt.”

“The Yin family sure is capable, already forming ties with the Liu family. Their boy calling Xia Ge’er so sweetly, maybe they’re hoping for a marriage between the two families!”

The sour words got nastier, but fortunately, the people had walked away, sparing their ears from further pollution.

However, the woman’s words earlier stuck with Xue Qinyao. Worried about misunderstandings, she explained, “Tingzhu, don’t believe the gossip. I have a child too, and Xia Ge’er is only four. I would never have such thoughts.”

“Little uncle, here’s a flower for you~”

Xia Ge’er ran over with a few wildflowers, and Song Tingzhu bent down to accept them, then turned to Xue Qinyao, saying, “It’s just some sour words. Sister-in-law, don’t take it to heart.”

Xue Qinyao’s face relaxed, but she decided to talk to her son at home, telling him not to get too close to Xia Ge’er. Though the kids were young, one was a boy and the other a little brother, it was best to maintain some distance.

After a stick of incense, Song Tingzhu was digging a newly sprouted bamboo shoot with Liu Xiaomei when they heard a woman shout from outside the bamboo forest:

“Something terrible has happened, the Qian family has killed someone!”

With a thud, Liu Xiaomei’s hoe slipped from her hand to the ground.

Her face turned pale, “Sister-in-law’s husband, could Sister Shuang’er be in trouble?”

“Let’s go to the Qian family,” Song Tingzhu said with a frown.

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Author’s Note: I’m really sorry for not updating properly these past few days. I’ll give everyone a red envelope for leaving comments this chapter.
P.S.: I’ve added to the outline, and tomorrow I’ll update a light 6000 words.