The next morning, Wu Hua, with her packed belongings and the two Ding sisters, hurried out early to catch the earliest long-distance bus. By the time Ding Dayang woke from his hangover, Wu Hua and her two daughters had already transferred buses and boarded a train heading to Lin County, a place rumored to have abundant job opportunities.
As for Ding Dayang, history repeated itself. As usual, he drained the cup of water by his bed, then slowly headed to the outhouse to relieve himself, finally free from his lingering discomfort. However, a sudden sharp pain in his abdomen sent him tumbling into the latrine pit.
This time, though, things were different. The last time, Wu Hua had just watered the fields, and the waste in the latrine wasn't deep. But over the past three months, she hadn't fertilized the land around their home. A few days prior, there had been a heavy downpour, and the nearly three-meter-deep pit was almost full. It was also quite liquid, making it difficult to struggle out.
Furthermore, last time Ding Yun had been present and at least helped call for assistance. This time, there was truly no one else at his home. The nearby neighbors, unwilling to get involved, ignored his cries for help. Even when they heard his struggles, no one came to investigate.
The ultimate outcome was grim. He drowned in his own latrine pit. His body went undiscovered for several days, until the neighbor, Old Woman Zhang, found the smell emanating from the pit increasingly unbearable. She went to Ding Dayang's house, intending to ask him to clear it out, to spare the neighbors the stench. Unable to find him, she approached the source of the foul odor. There, she discovered Ding Dayang was dead.
His death not only shocked the surrounding villages but also the Public Security Bureau. When his body was pulled out, they found he had transformed back into a man, sparking widespread gossip. Fortunately, after examination, the bureau determined he had died within the last few days, not months prior, thus avoiding classifying it as a criminal case. If he had died months ago, the male-to-female transformation would have been seen as a deception to cover up his death.
While still baffling, the authorities could broadly conclude that, much like last time, he likely suffered from a chronic illness, leading to immense pain. He had accidentally fallen into the latrine and drowned. The crowd that had witnessed the previous incident could largely attest to this. Even though Wu Hua's departure and Ding Dayang's death were not far apart in time, the Public Security Bureau did not suspect her. The matter was quickly closed as an accidental death.
Ding Dayang's latrine, however, became a notorious place, rumored to transform men into women, women into men, and to have claimed a life. The village finally decided to hire several spirit mediums to perform rituals and fill the pit permanently. This brought the incident to a close.
Wu Hua, lacking a mobile phone or any real-time communication, was busy settling into Lin County, renting an apartment, and finding work. Only after she had secured a temporary job and enrolled her daughters in school did she make a phone call back home. That was when she learned about Ding Dayang.
Despite this, she did not ask her daughters to return for the funeral, nor did she even tell them. The distance was too great, the cost too high, and her new job had just stabilized. Taking time off now would undoubtedly lead to losing her employment, rendering her recent efforts futile. Thus, she decided to act as if nothing had happened, to wait until the children were older and the family had some savings. Besides, by the time she heard the news, he was already buried. Returning for the funeral would be too late, she could only burn some paper money. It didn't matter.
Before leaving home, Ding Yun, to reassure her mother about working away from home, had given Wu Hua all her submission income from that period. It was precisely this sum, comparable to an ordinary worker's annual salary, that had truly emboldened Wu Hua to leave Ding Dayang.
After settling into their new location, Ding Yun continued her daily submissions to help support the family. She no longer had to collect trash to buy envelopes and stamps; her monthly income easily reached several hundred yuan.
However, new challenges arose. Wu Hua resigned from her job and stayed home to focus on the daily lives of Ding Yun and her sister, managing three meals a day and all the household chores. Moreover, Wu Hua’s concern for Ding Yun far surpassed her care for Ding Zhaodi, showing a clear favoritism. This was understandable, though. Even before the divorce, she had favored Ding Dayang, who, despite his abuse, contributed financially to the family. Now, favoring Ding Yun, who brought in several hundred yuan each month, was only natural.
Although Ding Yun didn't mind supporting them, she felt it was improper given her own moral compass. She actively tried to change things, encouraging her sister not to overthink things and to focus on her studies, and urging her mother to seek her own happiness rather than dedicating her entire life to her daughters. She suggested her mother explore new possibilities, like finding a new partner or starting a small business with the money she had saved. Life, she believed, was about trying new things.
Ding Zhaodi was somewhat better. Upon realizing she was completely dependent on her sister, she experienced anxiety. She attempted to learn from Ding Yun, submitting articles herself, only to be disheartened by rejection and even cry in secret, feeling inadequate. However, after some guidance from Ding Yun, she found some solace and resolved to focus on her studies. She planned to find a good job and repay her sister later.
Wu Hua, however, was a tougher challenge. Her mindset was deeply ingrained, and Ding Yun's advice had no effect. Wu Hua even suspected Ding Yun was displeased with her not working, thinking she was a burden and wanted to marry her off. Ding Yun felt truly helpless, deciding to stop trying to persuade or guide her, letting her be. After all, with Ding Yun around, her mother would never starve.
Not everyone could be a strong woman, nor did everyone wish to strive fiercely in desperate circumstances. People were diverse, and one shouldn't force anyone to be a certain way. Wu Hua's reluctance to pursue her own life was, in a way, Ding Yun's fault. After all, when people can survive and live comfortably, few would seek adventure or strive for more. If Ding Yun hadn't spoken up or provided the submission income, perhaps things would have unfolded differently.
However, the current situation wasn't without its merits. At least the two sisters received ample motherly love. Ding Yun herself might not need it, but her sister, Ding Zhaodi, did. For Ding Zhaodi, coming home to a mother-cooked meal every day was likely happier than her mother toiling away day and night to earn money. There was never anything perfect in this world. Someone would always have money but lack love, or have love but lack money.