The villagers were stunned into silence by her words.
What had she just said?
She wanted to be a concubine to the eldest son of the Yun family?
This was unheard of in Dashui Village.
After all, every family was so poor they could barely make ends meet, let alone afford to take concubines!
Gu Shi twitched the corner of her mouth and asked coldly, "What did you just say?"
Liu Cuijin smoothed her braided hair and said, without batting an eye, "Auntie, I said I want to be the second wife to Daman."
"Yes, yes, yes, let her be a concubine, and I guarantee she'll give you Yun family a chubby boy!" Lu Shi chimed in repeatedly.
Little did they know, the Yun family had no shortage of boys.
Little Xi Tian sat in the basket, wrapped in a blanket.
Her second nephew, Yun Jinshan, fearing she would catch a cold, had bundled his little aunt up like a meat dumpling.
Even her little face was covered, leaving only her bright, watery eyes to dart around.
Zhao Guihua finally couldn't hold back and scolded angrily, "Liu Cuijin, have you no shame?
I've been married to Daman for so many years, and Jinhe can already work in the fields. How dare you try to be my man's concubine?"
"Exactly!" Aunt Zhang glared at Liu Cuijin and Lu Shi with disgust. "I've lived a long life, and I've never seen anyone so eager to be a concubine. Don't you feel ashamed!"
"What's it to you?"
Liu Cuijin bristled. "I'm young, beautiful, and know how to please. Unlike you old hag, your face is wrinkled and faded. No one would even want you as a concubine!"
"You bitch, what did you say?" Aunt Zhang's eyes widened in anger, her body trembling.
Liu Cuijin snorted and ignored Aunt Zhang, turning to Yun Daman with a saccharine smile. "Daman, get two rooms ready later, and have Guihua cook a few dishes to serve my mother."
She then added a small threat to Yun Daman, "If you don't do as I say, I won't marry you!"
"Ugh!" Little Xi Tian almost threw up her breakfast.
Who gave her the courage?
Was it Liang Jingru?
Her eldest brother and sister-in-law were loving and harmonious, rarely arguing.
Her eldest nephew, Jinhe, was a sensible and filial child.
The family was united, facing hardships together.
Who did Liu Cuijin think she was?
She was so angry!
"Liu Cuijin, don't push your luck. Even if I, Yun Daman, were to marry a pig, I'd... Ouch!"
Before he could finish, Zhao Guihua pinched him hard.
Little Xi Tian also let out a giggle, finding her simple-minded elder brother so amusing.
If his sister-in-law were a pig, wouldn't her eldest nephew be a little piglet!
Yun Daman realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected himself, "I'd rather die than marry you. If you know what's good for you, get lost and don't linger at my doorstep!"
Liu Cuijin's cheeks flushed red.
She hadn't expected Yun Daman's attitude to be so resolute.
She had thought Yun Daman was tired of Zhao Guihua, whose figure had changed and skin had yellowed, and would welcome a change.
To her surprise, he not only didn't dislike his wife of hardship but even defended her vehemently.
She knew that ever since she and Lu Shi had entered Dashui Village, many single men and young men had leered at her.
She was still young, energetic, and passionate, enjoying excitement.
It seemed Yun Daman must be impotent.
Lu Jinping, who had somehow squeezed into the crowd, crossed her arms and watched the spectacle.
She added fuel to the fire with a sarcastic remark, "Oh, Daman, people are eager to marry a young, delicate wife and enjoy a warm bed. Why are you chasing her away? Heh heh!~"
"Shut up!" Gu Shi's face darkened, her authority undiminished. "If you like her, take her back and make her a concubine for your Gou Dan!"
Lu Jinping's face instantly turned red. She was so thoroughly rebuffed that she was speechless.
Gu Shi narrowed her eyes at Liu Cuirong. "Second daughter-in-law, do you want to stay or go with your mother? You choose!"
Liu Cuirong had already made her decision.
She bit her lip and quietly walked to Yun Erman's side, not wanting to say a word.
"Cuirong, don't you want your mother anymore?" Lu Shi cried heartbrokenly, covering her face.
She tried to appeal to her daughter with tears.
But Liu Cuirong wasn't swayed.
Not to mention that she couldn't bear to abandon her son and Erman.
Even if she hardened her heart and left the Yun family, she would be living a life of hardship and begging with her mother and sister.
Even if she remarried, who would truly care for her in her current weakened state?
Why should she suffer such hardship?
"Mother, you should go. Don't bother my mother-in-law again!" Liu Cuirong said calmly.
Lu Shi was struck as if by lightning, leaving her scorched inside and out.
Her ardent heart shattered into a million pieces.
Gu Shi hadn't been so disgusted with the mother and daughter before.
After this incident, she felt even more strongly that one couldn't be too soft-hearted.
Some people always mistook kindness for charity.
They thought all good things were deserved and expected without reciprocation.
Lu Shi pulled Liu Cuijin, intending to make a scene.
Little Xi Tian let out a "pop" as she blew a bubble, and Xue Ling, the snow spirit in the yard, rushed out with a "whoosh whoosh whoosh."
"Woof woof!~"
Xue Ling bared its sharp teeth, its back fur bristling.
A single growl was enough to send Lu Shi and her daughter scrambling in terror.
The commotion soon passed.
Lu Shi and her daughter did not leave Dashui Village. Instead, they knelt outside the village chief's house, begging him for shelter.
The village chief, helpless, gave them the dilapidated temple at the east end of the village.
After the twelfth lunar month came the New Year.
Dashui Village was as cold as an ice cave, the ground cracked with frost.
Snow piled up everywhere, and only the vast pine forest showed hints of green.
On New Year's Eve.
The old Yun family started steaming meat, chopping pickles, soaking mushrooms, scalding pig heads, and kneading dough early in the morning.
Zhao Guihua fried a basket of dried fruits and stir-fried a large plate of sunflower seeds, placing them on the kang table.
Little Xi Tian had started teething. Her fair little hands picked up two pieces of dried sand fruit and gnawed on them.
Before noon, the entire family had wrapped four large bamboo steamers of sauerkraut and pork dumplings.
The dumplings were covered with yellow paper, to welcome the God of Wealth on the thirtieth night.
"Oh my, look at my little sweet treasure, so happy! What's making you so cheerful?~"
Old Man Yun picked up his daughter and kissed her fiercely.
"Ah ah!" Little Xi Tian smacked her lips.
She wanted dumplings!
Gu Shi prepared lucky money for Jinshan and Jinhe, and the two daughters-in-law were not forgotten.
Although it wasn't much, it was the family's first New Year since fleeing famine.
It was for good luck, festivity, and completeness.
"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year!"
Yun Daman, with his wife and son, knelt first on the floor beside the kang to kowtow to his parents.
Immediately after, Yun Erman, with Liu Cuirong and Yun Jinshan, also knelt to offer New Year greetings.
"Quick, come up to the kang and eat!" Gu Shi offered a helping hand, her smile warm and kind.
The entire family ate the New Year's Eve dinner with great merriment.
Little Xi Tian's belly was round and full. She sprawled on the quilt like a big meatball.
Outside, firecrackers roared, and inside, the family reunited for the New Year's Eve vigil.
Bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, they celebrated the New Year together.
The first lunar month passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the second day of the second lunar month.
On this day, Jinshan and Jinhe, restless, secretly went to Gou Gou Lake.