The sound of firecrackers marked the arrival of the New Year, and the first thing the villagers discussed over their reunion dinner was the New Year's gifts received by Zhan Feiyu. For ordinary families, seven or eight people could not save fifty taels of silver in a year, but Zhan Feiyu's gifts alone amounted to several hundred taels.
The second thing the villagers talked about was the Zeng family of Baofeng Cloth Shop – the colder the weather, the more impoverished the Zeng family became!
On the twenty-ninth, Commander Tao of the Nanxuan Prefecture Guard led a troop of soldiers to surround the Zeng family. All sixty-odd members of the Zeng family were arrested.
The Zeng family's mansion and shops were sealed. That night, Zeng Yuquan, several direct descendants of the Zeng family, along with the shopkeepers and accountants, were shackled, loaded into a prisoner cart, and taken away overnight.
The Zeng family's household guards, servants, and maids were all sent to the county yamen's prison, to be dealt with by Magistrate Chen after the Zeng family's case was investigated after the New Year.
"Father, since the Zeng family is finished, can Eldest Brother come back?" Zhan Lao Er put down his chopsticks, his expression a mixture of guilt and anticipation.
Zhan Lao Tou, who was about to pick up a dish, was stunned. He had learned about the Zeng family's misfortune from his youngest son that morning and had only thought of Lao Er's safety, no longer having to live in constant anxiety. He hadn't considered Zhan Lao Da.
Xiao Yao Shi, having been ostracized and mocked by the villagers for the past two days and jealous of the New Year's gifts Li Shi had received, immediately chimed in, "The Zeng family was unreasonable and wronged us. Eldest Brother, out of consideration for the head of the household who had been stabbed seven times, was expelled from the clan in his stead. Now that everything is fine, Eldest Brother can come back and celebrate the reunion with us."
Upon careful consideration, it was indeed the case. A smile appeared on Zhan Lao Tou's withered face, and his voice became three parts louder. "You're right, Lao San. Go and call your Eldest Brother back. How can he spend the New Year alone? Get the wine from home, and let the four of us fathers and sons have a good drink!"
The Zhan family all smiled, seemingly anticipating Zhan Lao Da's return.
"Ah, ah..." Zhan Lao Tai, whose face was gloomy, raised her head, her bony hand grabbing Zhan Lao San's arm, shaking her head at him, and letting out a few more "ah, ah" sounds.
Zhan Lao San was taken aback. "Mother, what are you doing? I'm going to call Eldest Brother back for the reunion dinner!"
Emotionally, Zhan Lao San felt closer to his Eldest Brother. Since childhood, Eldest Brother had protected and yielded to him, and Zhan Lao San couldn't bear for Zhan Lao Da to spend the New Year alone in the wooden hut.
From a rational perspective, Zhan Lao San wanted Zhan Lao Da to come home more. There was no one to do the farm work, and no one to do the housework.
Although Ma Shi and Xiao Yao Shi could also do these things, the two of them argued so much that it was painful to the ears. More importantly, they were not as efficient as Li Shi, nor were their cooking and dishes as delicious, and they were also slovenly.
The most important point was that Zhan Feiyu was no longer the same as before. No one in the village was not envious of the New Year's gifts worth several hundred taels. Zhan Lao San was also tempted. With so much money, why would he need to brave the wind and rain to haul goods at the pier?
"Mother, have you lost your mind? Why are you stopping Lao San?" Ma Shi stuffed a mouthful of meat into her mouth, swallowed it down in two or three bites, and said, "If Eldest Brother comes back, Eldest Sister-in-law will definitely come back too. There are so many pastries, fabrics, and maybe even money!"
If it weren't for her fear of the village chief and the elders, Ma Shi would have wanted to go to their door and snatch it. Hundreds of taels of silver! Then she could be like Landlord Zhu, eating meat at every meal and having servants to attend to her.
Zhan Lao Tai tightly held onto Zhan Lao San's wrist, preventing him from leaving. Her grip was so strong that her sharp fingernails dug into his flesh.
"Mother, let go quickly!" Ma Shi said unhappily, looking at Zhan Lao Tai. Not wanting the silver that was being offered, Mother had truly lost her mind!
Seeing that Ma Shi dared to instigate Zhan Lao San to call for someone, Zhan Lao Tai's face became ferocious. She grabbed a bowl with her left hand and threw it at the chattering Ma Shi.
With a bang! The coarse porcelain bowl hit Ma Shi's head and then fell to the ground, shattering. Ma Shi's pained cry followed.
Covering her head with one hand, feeling that she was bleeding, Ma Shi lowered her hand and saw that her fingers were stained with bright red blood. She immediately got up and shouted angrily, "Mother! Are you crazy? Why did you hit me!"
The rest of the Zhan family was also dumbfounded. No one had expected Zhan Lao Tai to go mad.
But when they looked up, under the candlelight, that withered, sharp-featured old face, those deep nasolabial folds, combined with Zhan Lao Tai's fierce, murderous gaze, startled the Zhan family.
Xiao Yao Shi was happy to see Ma Shi in trouble, a gloating smile on her face. She said sarcastically, "Mother just lost control. Sister-in-law, how can you, as a daughter-in-law, yell at your mother-in-law!"
However, Xiao Yao Shi was also envious of the New Year's gifts Li Shi had received. If Eldest Brother hadn't been expelled from the clan, and Li Shi hadn't moved out, with Father and Mother keeping them in check, more than half of those good things would have gone into the second branch's pockets.
"Mother, I know you're upset. After Eldest Brother was expelled from the clan, he no longer considered us family, which hurt your heart," Xiao Yao Shi walked over and patted Zhan Lao Tai's back comfortingly. "But how can there be a grudge that lasts overnight between a mother and son? Mother, Eldest Brother is the most filial to you. He knows you still miss him, and Eldest Brother will definitely..."
With a crisp slap, Xiao Yao Shi's face, still wearing a smug smile, was struck, and she was completely stunned.
Zhan Lao Tai had great strength. This slap turned Xiao Yao Shi's face to the side, and in the blink of an eye, her face swelled, with five clear finger marks visible.
"Ah, ah!" She cried hoarsely, Zhan Lao Tai's withered face contorted and twisted, staring fiercely at Xiao Yao Shi and Ma Shi, as if she would kill anyone who dared to call for Zhan Lao Da!
Zhan Lao Er's children shivered, looking at the ferocious and terrifying Zhan Lao Tai with trembling.
Zhan Lao Tou was somewhat annoyed, but he didn't dare to confront Zhan Lao Tai.
Ever since she lost her voice, Zhan Lao Tou felt as if his wife was possessed by a ghost. Her body felt cold, and her gaze was chilling. Every night when he lay down, Zhan Lao Tou feared that Zhan Lao Tai would get up in the middle of the night and strangle him.
"Eat, everyone. We'll talk after the meal!" Zhan Lao Tou ordered, and the others dared not speak.
As for the two daughters-in-law, one had her forehead broken by a bowl, and the other had been slapped in the face. This was not a good time to call for Zhan Lao Da.
The enraged Zhan Lao Tai finally calmed down, but with a sinister, ghost-like gaze, she warned the two daughters-in-law before picking up her chopsticks to eat.
Since becoming mute, Zhan Lao Tai had never left the Zhan family's house. However, with Xiao Yao Shi and Ma Shi around, Zhan Lao Tai knew that Zhan Feiyu had received many New Year's gifts, all valuable items, totaling at least several hundred taels.
But when she thought about being poisoned and silenced, Zhan Lao Tai was truly scared. She feared that Zhan Lao Er and the others would scheme against Zhan Feiyu, angering those people and losing their lives.
...
Meanwhile, after the New Year's Eve dinner, Zhan Feiyu, as if not noticing Li Shi's absentmindedness, said, "Mother, I'm going back to my room to study. I haven't written the essay assigned by the tutor yet."
Coming back to her senses, Li Shi quickly said, "Okay, Mother will bring the charcoal basin to your room. Don't freeze."
Although the price of charcoal was not cheap, Zhan Feiyu studied diligently until late at night every night, and the family was not short of money. Li Shi bought fifty catties of charcoal from families in the village who burned charcoal.
As Zhan Feiyu warmed her hands and began to write, a faint sound of a door opening came from outside. Zhan Feiyu smiled and, collecting her thoughts, continued to transcribe the essay in her hand.
Yin Wu Yan had two boxes sent over, a large one and a small one. The small box contained not silver ingots, but silver used by wealthy families for rewards.
The specially made silver pieces were shaped like plum blossoms, gourds, and also plain silver ingots. A box was estimated to be worth over a hundred taels, enough for Zhan Feiyu to maintain appearances.
The other box was filled with books. Ten of them contained excellent essays from recent prefectural and provincial examinations, as well as outstanding essays written by students from the Imperial Academy.
Most importantly, these essays had commentaries. Although the handwriting varied, seeing the calligraphy comparable to that of master calligraphers, Zhan Feiyu knew that these commentaries were written by great scholars. These ten books were a textbook on essay writing for Zhan Feiyu!
While Zhan Feiyu was engrossed in learning how to write essays, Li Shi, carrying two baskets, went out. The snow outside had not yet melted, and the moonlight did not make it appear dark.
"Feng Yu?" Zhan Lao Da, who opened the door, looked at Li Shi outside in a daze. After realizing who it was, a look of ecstatic joy appeared on his dark face. "Why are you here? I... you..."
Li Shi handed the baskets in her hands to Zhan Lao Da. Seeing his excitement and inability to speak, she finally softened and walked in.
The old hunter's wooden hut had two rooms. The right room was divided into two, with the kitchen in the front and the bedroom in the back. The left room was the main room, furnished with a table and chairs. Behind the table, a partition was made with wooden boards, forming a small storeroom for grains and miscellaneous items.
"Please sit down quickly." Zhan Lao Da placed the two baskets on the table and pulled over a chair for Li Shi to sit. However, seeing the messy room, he seemed embarrassed.
"You haven't eaten yet?" Li Shi looked at the dishes on the table.
There were probably six dishes laid out for good luck: a dish of scrambled eggs, stir-fried salted meat with garlic, a fish, stir-fried cabbage, flour and radish dumplings, and stewed tofu.
Not a single bite had been touched, and the food had lost its warmth. Li Shi felt a pang of sadness for some reason.
Looking at the nervous and uneasy Zhan Lao Da, Li Shi choked out, "Are you happy now? For Zhan Lao Er, you disregarded me and Xiao Yu. Zhan Da Shan, you deserve this!"
"I..." Zhan Lao Da opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
At that time, he had been expelled from the clan in place of Lao Er because Lao Er's health was poor after being stabbed seven times, and Mother was crying profusely. Elder Brother and Third Brother had knelt and begged him, their uncle. Zhan Lao Da knew he had wronged his sons and daughters, but he truly didn't think he had done anything wrong.
But now, living alone in the wooden hut, no one brought him water when he worked in the fields, and when he returned home, the stove was cold, and he slept alone in a bed at night, the quilt so cold it made his heart panic.
As the days passed agonizingly, when he couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, Zhan Lao Da regretted it. Parents and siblings were important, but none were as important as his wife and daughter.
Especially since Xiao Yao Shi was always causing trouble in the village, speaking ill of Li Shi and Zhan Feiyu everywhere. Zhan Lao Da was honest and simple-minded, but whether it was the village chief, the clan elders, or his peers in the village, as people talked more and more, Zhan Lao Da gradually realized that his younger brother, Zhan Lao Er, was not as good as he thought.
If Lao Er truly respected his elder brother and sister-in-law and cared for his niece Zhan Feiyu, then why did he never restrain Xiao Yao Shi? When Ma Shi talked nonsense, Lao San could silence her with a stern reprimand.
After a long while, as if a mountain was pressing down on him, Zhan Lao Da said in a low voice, "I've wronged you and Xiao Yu!"
He only knew regret after losing them. Everyone else was reunited with their families, but he, on New Year's Day, had no one to talk to.
Li Shi suddenly smiled. "You haven't wronged us. Xiao Yu was adopted and can study, and we moved out. I don't have to serve a large family anymore, nor do I have to yield to my two sisters-in-law. We can give all the good food and drinks to Xiao Yu. My daughter and I are living much better than when we were in your Zhan family."
As the eldest sister-in-law, Li Shi had suffered many grievances and losses over the years, but what could she do? Her husband had his own temperament, and her mother-in-law favored the second and third branches. Li Shi could only endure it, all for the sake of family peace.
Zhan Lao Da stared at Li Shi in a daze. She was wearing a new cotton-padded jacket and a silver hairpin on her head. Because she was smiling, she appeared even more gentle and amiable.
Zhan Lao Da suddenly remembered the first time he saw Li Shi many years ago; she had smiled like this, warm and comforting.
"There are dumplings in the basket. Boil them and eat them tomorrow morning. The remaining three dishes are also your favorites," Li Shi said, ignoring the bamboo baskets and bowls, and turned to leave.
"Feng Yu, I..." Zhan Lao Da came back to his senses and quickly grabbed Li Shi's arm. The burly man was as anxious as a child, his dark face filled with reluctance.
"I know you want to live with my daughter and me, but Zhan Da Shan, let me ask you, if your mother, your brother, and your nephew all come to you crying poverty, borrowing silver, borrowing fabric, borrowing writing materials, what will you do?"
Li Shi's voice was clear and her words were rapid, sounding aggressive. "That's my daughter's property. Why should I give it to others?"
Pulling her hand away forcefully, Li Shi strode out without waiting for Zhan Lao Da's reply.
A cold wind blew in from the open door. Zhan Lao Da thought about Li Shi's words. He knew how many gifts Xiao Yu had received. The fabrics alone were enough to make twenty or thirty clothes.
If it were in the past, he couldn't possibly watch his nephew and niece wear tattered clothes on New Year's Day while Xiao Yu had endless new clothes to wear. Moreover, even if he didn't speak up, his mother would demand it, and his two sisters-in-law would argue, and in the end, Zhan Lao Da would have to compromise.
But if he satisfied his nephew and niece, his own daughter would be wronged! Zhan Lao Da wiped his face fiercely. Feng Yu was right; they were living better after moving out and didn't have to suffer grievances anymore. But why did his heart ache so much?
...
On the first day of the New Year, after eating dumplings, Zhan Feiyu and Li Shi, carrying their New Year's gifts, first went to the old clan elder's house to pay their respects. A jar of good wine, half a catty of tea, and four types of pastries were considered a generous gift in the surrounding villages.
"Great-grandfather, Happy New Year. Xiao Yu wishes you a Happy New Year and wishes you good health and all the best," Zhan Feiyu, wearing a bright red cotton-padded jacket, had her hair styled in two small pigtails with a hairband. Two pearls dangled from the ends of the hairband, swaying slightly, looking luxurious yet childlike.
"Haha, Great-grandfather is in good health indeed. I'm waiting for you to pass the imperial examinations and hold a banquet for you, and erect a scholar's archway for you in the future!" The old clan elder laughed heartily, in excellent spirits.
After the married daughters returned to their maiden homes on the second day of the New Year, he believed that people from all four villages and eight townships would know that Magistrate Chen had sent New Year's gifts to Xiao Yu. From now on, who would dare to underestimate their Zhan clan! Once Xiao Yu achieved success in her studies, the Zhan clan would prosper!
After Zhan Feiyu, she also visited the village chief and several clan elders. There were also some elders in the Zhan family who treated Li Shi and Zhan Feiyu well, and she paid her respects to them all, though with lighter gifts.
Although Zhan Lao Da had been expelled from the clan, he still lived in the village. Especially since the Zeng family had been imprisoned, Zhan Lao Da also visited several elders' homes and was warmly invited to stay for meals, which he politely declined.
"Haha, you three brothers are quite taciturn," said a clan elder in the room, smiling and inviting Zhan Lao Da to sit. "Lao Er and Lao San had just sat down when you arrived."
Zhan Lao Da put down the pastries. "Fifth Cousin-uncle."
The fifth clan elder was a distant cousin of Zhan Lao Tou. The two families were close, and Zhan Lao Da and his children visited every year to pay their respects, but this year Zhan Lao Da was alone.
"Eldest Brother," Zhan Lao Er and Zhan Lao San also quickly called out.
Compared to the warmth of his two brothers, Zhan Lao Da appeared dull and indifferent, nodding without speaking.
"Da Shan, the Zeng family has been arrested by the authorities, and your expulsion from the clan can be put behind you. In a few days, I will go to the clan elder and have your name recorded in the genealogy!" The fifth clan elder stroked his beard and sighed, "At that time, the clan had no choice. The Zeng family was powerful, so they had to wrong you. Fortunately, heaven has opened its eyes."
Whether it was expulsion from the clan or rejoining the clan, it was ultimately up to the clan. Before, they feared retaliation from the Zeng family, but now that concern was gone.
"Eldest Brother," Zhan Lao San looked at Zhan Lao Da expectantly, waiting for his nod.
Although hauling goods at the pier earned money, it was a long day of work. In winter, the water was icy. Zhan Lao San felt his face cracking from the cold wind, his hands and feet developing chilblains, and his back ached from carrying goods, with no hot water to drink.
Once Eldest Brother returned, with so much money, they wouldn't lack the money he earned from hauling goods. It was easier to follow Father as a cook and caterer. It was only hot in the summer, but they were protected from the wind and rain, and they could eat good food.
Zhan Lao Er choked, his eyes red, looking at Zhan Lao Da. "Eldest Brother, it's my fault. It's my body that's not strong enough!"
"We are brothers in a family; our bones are connected by tendons. Lao Da also knows that you were stabbed seven times and your body couldn't take it," the fifth clan elder said with a hint of sadness, earnestly to Zhan Lao Da. "You are the eldest brother. In the future, you will have to support your parents. Da Shan, we elders know your grievances. You are a good person!"
Recalling Li Shi's words from last night, Zhan Lao Da was silent for a moment before saying, "Fifth Cousin-uncle, I will not rejoin the clan. This is fine. I will also give the same amount of money for supporting the elders as the villagers who have separated from the family."
Zhan Lao Er and Zhan Lao San's expressions suddenly changed. They had not gone to the village chief or the old clan elder. They waited for Eldest Brother at the fifth clan elder's house because they knew Eldest Brother was soft-hearted, but they didn't expect Zhan Lao Da to refuse without even thinking about it.
"Eldest Brother, don't be foolish. To put it bluntly, even if you die, you won't be buried in the ancestral grave. Do you want to be a lonely ghost?" Zhan Lao San also spoke sharply, wishing he could rejoin the clan in place of Zhan Lao Da.
"Eldest Brother, are you blaming me?" Zhan Lao Er's already pale face lost all its color, looking as if he could collapse at any moment.
"Eldest Brother, it's because I'm afraid of death. It should have been me who was expelled from the clan, but I was afraid that this body would be useless. If I died, Da Lang and San Lang would suffer." Zhan Lao Er staggered forward.
He knelt down in front of Zhan Lao Da's chair with a thud, his forehead pressed against the cold ground. "Eldest Brother, come back. I'll ask Father to separate the second branch. Come back, or I will die with unfulfilled regrets!"
Zhan Lao San had been displeased with Zhan Lao Er recently, feeling that he was cunning. But looking at Zhan Lao Er kneeling and kowtowing, Zhan Lao San turned his head away with pity. After all, they were brothers who had grown up together.
The inarticulate Zhan Lao Da stared blankly at Zhan Lao Er, who was kneeling and refusing to get up. He didn't know what to say, but he remembered Li Shi's words from last night, so Zhan Lao Da said, "Lao Er, I don't blame you. Get up, but I won't come back."
If he didn't go back, his parents wouldn't be Feng Yu's elders, and she wouldn't have to suffer grievances. Xiao Yu had already been adopted, and Zhan Lao Da knew that no matter what, Zhan Feiyu would not be his daughter again. He had no daughter anymore.
Therefore, if he didn't go back, they, mother and daughter, could live well, and the Zhan family would not change, nor would there be any more arguments. Zhan Lao Da was not smart, and he also had the intention of escaping. If he didn't go home, he wouldn't be caught in the middle and embarrassed.
No one expected that Zhan Lao Da was determined not to rejoin the clan. No matter how much Zhan Lao San and the fifth clan elder persuaded him, and no matter how Zhan Lao Er knelt and apologized, the dull and honest Zhan Lao Da had only one sentence: "I will not rejoin the clan."
When Zhan Lao Tou, Xiao Yao Shi, and Ma Shi saw the two brothers return with grim expressions, their hopes were dashed.
"That unfilial son! If he doesn't come back, he can just die outside!" Zhan Lao Tou cursed in anger and turned to walk into the house. He sat on a chair and smoked his pipe, resentment growing towards Zhan Lao Da, who was the most filial and obedient.
--Author's Note--
I checked, and rejoining the clan can refer to married women returning to their maiden homes, or collateral branches returning to the main branch, or those expelled from the clan rejoining it.