Chapter Fourteen: Huang Yueying Calls to Borrow Grain

The three of them—father-in-law and daughters-in-law—spent the entire morning building the stove. It didn’t need to be large, just enough to cook meals. The Zhao family didn’t own an iron wok; ironware was scarce. Even the machete Zhao Zheng had was something his late, frugal father had passed down to him.

“The weather’s too cold; drying would take too long. Let’s just dry it by the fire and cook lunch at the same time,” Zhao Zheng suggested.

Yang Zhaodi and Zhang Xiao’e, looking at the new stove in their home, were thrilled.

“Who would have thought our family could use a stove only landlords and wealthy folks had before?”

“Stop grinning foolishly—go wash the rice,” Yang Zhaodi said, shutting the courtyard gate firmly.

Watching the two women bustling about in the new kitchen, Zhao Zheng smiled faintly.

Before long, the rice was cooked, accompanied by egg pancakes and pickled herbs. Zhao Zheng had initially thought about buying some meat from the marketplace but gave up, considering the unclear source. This was his greatest secret; no one was to know.

It was just as well, allowing the two women’s stomachs to adjust. Eating too rich food wouldn’t be good.

“Father-in-law, it’s time to eat,” Zhang Xiao’e said, carrying a large bowl of rice topped with an egg pancake, with a generous side of pickled plantain herbs.

“You two eat, too,” Zhao Zheng smiled. “We still need a dining table, a chopping board, and kitchen knives. In the coming days, I’ll go to the mountain to chop firewood and try to set traps to catch some game to sell. Without these, it’ll still be inconvenient.”

“Father-in-law, please don’t go deep into Golden Rooster Mountain. The hunters in the village said they recently found bear droppings at the foot of the mountain!” Yang Zhaodi warned anxiously.

Zhao Zheng twitched at the corner of his mouth—Pig’s Mouth Mountain had tigers, and now Golden Rooster Mountain had bears? That was too dangerous.

These times were hard enough for people to find food, let alone fierce beasts.

But if not Golden Rooster Mountain, then where else?

“Sister Yueying said there are shepherd’s purse and dandelion roots in the dry riverbed at Wild Dog Ridge to the east. Although it’s been a severe drought this year, there’s no snow. She invited us to gather wild vegetables tomorrow,” Zhang Xiao’e said.

Yang Zhaodi worried Zhao Zheng would insist on going to Golden Rooster Mountain. “Father-in-law, please rest at home these days. We have enough rice for a few days. Xiao’e and I will gather wild vegetables.”

Wild Dog Ridge was quite far, definitely no closer than Golden Rooster Mountain. Gathering those wild vegetables wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone.

“I’ll just stay on the outskirts of Golden Rooster Mountain, not going in…” Zhao Zheng said.

“Father-in-law, the hunters said the bear must be starving and only descended after smelling humans. It’ll be hiding nearby these days. Please don’t take the risk!” Yang Zhaodi pleaded nervously.

“If you really can’t stay still, come with us to Wild Dog Ridge to gather wild vegetables, alright?” Yang Zhaodi added.

“Please, Father-in-law,” Zhang Xiao’e begged.

Zhao Zheng nodded. “Alright then, we’ll go after a few days.”

Seeking wealth means risking danger, but danger also brings loss.

That bear was no joke.

A few years ago, a starving bear had descended into the village to attack people. Eventually, the county authorities had to gather two or three hundred men to go hunt the bear.

Unless armed with crossbows or other long-range weapons or having traps set in advance for large game, it was best to be cautious.

If anything happened to him, those two daughters-in-law would surely be mistreated.

Both women breathed a sigh of relief, surprised he had actually been persuaded. Their father-in-law never used to listen to them.

After eating their fill, the three worked together to build an earthen kang bed. Without steel reinforcement, Zhao Zheng used bamboo rods instead, with wood supporting underneath. The smoke channel in the middle was built up with stones to retain smoke longer.

“Finally done,” Zhao Zheng rubbed his sore waist. “Let’s light the fire to smoke it. It should take an hour or two.”

“How much firewood will that take?” Zhang Xiao’e fretted but still obeyed Zhao Zheng’s orders to light the fire.

Zhao Zheng checked the bed’s seal. After burning for half an hour without any smoke leaking, he nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, a voice came from outside. A woman with a sallow complexion and medium build stood at the door calling, “Xiao’e, are you home?”

“That’s Sister Yueying,” Zhang Xiao’e said as she stepped out. “Sister Yueying, is there something you need?”

Wu Yueying looked somewhat embarrassed as she glanced inside. “Is your father-in-law here?”

“Yes, are you looking for him?”

“No, not exactly.” Wu Yueying took Zhang Xiao’e’s hand and whispered aside, “Xiao’e, could I borrow half a jin of millet, please?”

“Borrow so much?”

“Yes, to make millet soup for my husband.”

“What happened to Brother Wang?”

“Ah, you know how weak my husband has been since childhood. A few days ago, he caught a chill and fell ill again. This year’s harvest is poor. Without good food, I fear he won’t make it.”

Wu Yueying’s eyes reddened. “I won’t borrow it for free. When things get better, I’ll return eight liang of millet, alright?”

Zhang Xiao’e knew Wu Yueying’s husband was ill. Over the years since marrying in, she had been the one holding the Wang family together despite her frail body.

Yet, her husband was ungrateful and beat her daily.

Because Wu Yueying had given birth to two daughters, the entire Wang family looked down on her.

Sometimes, when she returned late from gathering wild vegetables or cutting firewood, they even suspected her of infidelity, accusing her of being unchaste.

It was worse than their former father-in-law.

Though she wanted to help, Zhang Xiao’e knew her own family’s situation well. She wasn’t the head of the household. “Sister Yueying, you know our situation. Let me discuss it with my sister-in-law first?”

Wu Yueying thanked her repeatedly. “Xiao’e, your sister-in-law knows how hard things are for you, too. I’m at my wit's end. I’ve borrowed everything from my family and neighbors. I had no choice but to come to you.”

She began to cry.

Zhang Xiao’e was at a loss and hurried inside to quietly consult with Yang Zhaodi.

Yang Zhaodi frowned.

Of all the villagers, only Sister Yueying was kind to them. Whenever something good happened, she’d be the first to think of them.

Since Xiao’e and Sister Yueying’s families were from the same village, Zhang Xiao’e genuinely wanted to help.

“This needs to be discussed with Father-in-law.”

“But will Father-in-law agree?” Zhang Xiao’e asked anxiously. “Sister Yueying said Brother Wang is quite ill. If he doesn’t eat better, he might not survive!”

Yang Zhaodi was also uncertain. Grain was precious and prices rose daily. Sometimes it was even hard to find to buy.

Knowing Father-in-law’s nature, he might not agree to lend.

While they were discussing, a voice came from Zhao Zheng: “Lend it. Yueying is not the type to break her word. If we can help, we should help.”

Both women stepped out of the kitchen, looking at Zhao Zheng.

Yang Zhaodi thought she must have misheard. “Father-in-law, what did you say?”

“I said, lend the grain to Yueying. But you must tell her not to tell anyone. This grain is lent out by our family. Understand?”