Chapter 36: News Brought by Zheng Chunmei

As soon as she stepped inside, the warmth of the room dispelled her chill, drawing a long, comfortable sigh from her.

Looking at Zhao Zheng, who was lying on the bed with his legs crossed, she forced a smile. But she was so famished that she could barely muster the strength to speak: "Uncle Zhao!"

"Why are you here again?"

"Uncle, my third girl hasn't been well these past two days, and I've been home taking care of her. As soon as she felt a little better, I came right over."

Zheng Chunmei offered her explanation, kicked off her straw sandals, and was about to climb onto the bed when Zhao Zheng stopped her. "My leg is almost healed. You should head back."

Zheng Chunmei's expression shifted. "Uncle, are you angry with me?"

"Not at all." Zhao Zheng chuckled dismissively. "I was busy up in the mountains all night and I'm exhausted. I want to sleep."

Zheng Chunmei knew he was lying. With a voice that loud and full of vitality, he didn't sound like a man in need of rest. He was clearly trying to get rid of her so he could eat meat in secret.

She looked toward the dilapidated door; a flickering firelight could be seen within, and the scent of meat wafted out, impossible to conceal. "Uncle, if I have something to attend to next time, I'll be sure to tell you in advance. Please, don't chase me away, okay?"

She knelt by the side of the bed, bit her lip, and mustered the courage to massage his legs. When Zhao Zheng remained silent, a surge of joy filled her. In that moment, shame and dignity meant nothing compared to the prospect of eating meat. The aroma was driving her to the brink of madness. Unless one has truly known starvation, one cannot fathom that soul-gnawing, gut-wrenching feeling. With her third daughter nursing at her breast, she felt as though she were being drained dry, unable to squeeze out another drop.

"You don't have to force yourself, you know. I already said I wouldn't make things difficult for your family anymore." Zhao Zheng pushed her hands away and repeated, "Go on back."

This time, Zheng Chunmei didn't speak; she began to sob.

"Don't go trying to frame me for something," Zhao Zheng said, eyeing her with suspicion.

"I just feel so guilty in my heart," Zheng Chunmei wept. "Uncle, I beg you, just let me stay!"

Zhao Zheng sighed. "Fine, stop crying and start rubbing."

Zheng Chunmei sniffled and immediately ceased her tears. "Where should I rub today?"

"Do as you see fit." Zhao Zheng closed his eyes.

Zheng Chunmei thought for a moment. With Yang Zhaodi and the other sister-in-law absent, her courage grew. She knelt by Zhao Zheng’s head and whispered, "Uncle Zhao, I’ll massage your head today. Why don't you... why don't you rest your head on my lap? Back when my husband was still alive, this is how I used to massage him."

"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" Zhao Zheng replied with feigned righteousness. "It's my leg that’s injured!"

Zheng Chunmei felt a bitter sting. This Old Man Zhao was truly a piece of work. He’d let her rub his back, his legs, and his head—was he really going to act all high and mighty now?

"You were exhausted from the mountains last night. Let me massage your head, and I promise you’ll have a sound sleep tonight!"

"Very well, then."

Zhao Zheng rested his head on Zheng Chunmei’s lap and closed his eyes. Moments later, he felt her bosom pressing against him, brushing across his face. Even in her malnourished state, this widow was not someone to be taken lightly.

Zheng Chunmei steeled herself. Seeing that Zhao Zheng looked satisfied, she carefully steered the conversation toward the incident with the tiger. "They searched for a day and a night and couldn't find the people from Xiaomao Village. The villagers went to the township official to report it; the township might send people to hunt the tiger."

"That has nothing to do with me. I’m an injured man; even if they were conscripting people, they wouldn't call on me." Zhao Zheng curled his lip. Whoever the tiger had snatched was surely gone, and a tiger with a full belly would have definitely fled back to Pig Mouth Mountain. If Golden Chicken Mountain was the bridgehead, then Pig Mouth Mountain was the true deep wilderness—far more dangerous than the former. The government offices of this era couldn't just be called corrupt; they were rotten to the core.

"You did your best. It's just the Ma family of hunters who are in for a streak of bad luck. Not only did they fail to catch the bear, but they’ll likely face legal trouble too."

"Oh," Zhao Zheng replied perfunctorily.

Seeing that Zhao Zheng wouldn't take the bait, Zheng Chunmei felt a pang of frustration. "By the way, I heard from others that Liu Tieniu is in trouble."

Zhao Zheng’s interest was piqued. "Didn't he go to the township?"

"He did, but the doctor there said he could save his life, but not his manhood. If he wants to save his life and his manhood, he'd need to go to the county to hire a famous physician, but that would require a fortune that commoners simply cannot afford," Zheng Chunmei said.

"And what about Wu Yueying?"

"Her family is planning to sell their daughters," Zheng Chunmei said, revealing a fact that left Zhao Zheng speechless.

Just then, the kitchen door swung open. Zhang Xiaoe stood in the doorway, asking urgently, "What did you say? Who is selling their daughter?"

"The Wang family is selling their daughters to raise money for the Liu family," Zheng Chunmei said, startled.

"Sister-in-law Yueying isn't even back yet. Does Wang Dazhi dare to sell their daughters behind her back?"

"Isn't it because the Liu family is pressuring them?" Zheng Chunmei replied. "I heard Wang Dazhi has already been in contact with the Zhong family, claiming he wants to sell both daughters as bondservants to their youngest son."

"That is truly despicable!" Zhang Xiaoe cursed in anger. "It was Wang Dazhi who caused this mess in the first place. It’s bad enough he won't take responsibility, but to sell his own daughters? Isn't he afraid the villagers will spit on his spine?"

Zheng Chunmei smiled bitterly. "If he were afraid of that, would he be doing something so spineless?"

"Sister-in-law Yueying has been so submissive all this time only because of those two children. They are her lifeblood. If they are sold into slavery to the Zhong family, she will surely die of grief."

Zhang Xiaoe was frantic. "I have to go tell Sister-in-law Yueying."

Yang Zhaodi stepped out as well. "Do you think telling her will help? If word gets out, what if more trouble comes knocking at our door?"

Zhang Xiaoe hesitated. "As long as they don't know it was me who told her, wouldn't that be fine?"

Yang Zhaodi glanced at Zheng Chunmei and sighed. "We'll talk about this later. Come help heat the earthen bed first."

"Sister-in-law, I..."

Yang Zhaodi pulled her over and then closed the door.

Zheng Chunmei gave a dry laugh. "Uncle, did I say something wrong?"

Zhao Zheng didn't answer, his hand absentmindedly stroking his chin as he adjusted his head to a more comfortable position. However, upon catching the scent coming from Zheng Chunmei, he couldn't help but frown. "How long has it been since you bathed? Next time you come, take a bath. You’re starting to smell rancid."

As he spoke, he pushed her away with disgust and pulled his hand back.

Zheng Chunmei was nearly too angry to laugh. This old man—she hadn't complained about his age, yet he dared to look down on her?

"Uncle, I want to bathe too, but there isn't enough firewood at home, and it's so cold—it's easy to catch a chill. If I get sick, it’ll be even more trouble." Zheng Chunmei said resentfully, "I don't have a warm earthen bed like yours, nor do I have this much firewood..."

"I prefer cleanliness. If you don't bathe, there's no need to come back," Zhao Zheng said.

Zheng Chunmei let out a bitter laugh. "Fine, I’ll be clean when I come next time."

Zhao Zheng stretched. "You can head back now."

Zheng Chunmei swallowed hard. She was loath to leave the warm bed, and she was even more reluctant to give up on the meat she hadn't yet tasted. She fidgeted for a moment, then gathered her courage and whispered in a voice only Zhao Zheng could hear, "Uncle Zhao, I've only had a bowl of rice porridge in the last two days. I'm so hungry I can't stand it. Could you... could you give me something to eat? Consider it a loan, please?"