Chapter 96: Sister-in-law, Don’t Move
"So that girl from the Central Plains is really that great? That’s wonderful!"
Chen Yanmei beamed so wide her gums showed, her eyes shining with satisfaction.
"Oh my, she fled all the way from the Central Plains down south? The poor thing. Our family can certainly afford one more mouth to feed. As long as she’s willing to settle down and live a good life with your Second Brother, that’s all that matters. We’ll definitely treat her right. Heavens be praised! Ancestors, thank you! Our second son is finally getting married!"
Zhao Dashan was happy too. He pulled out his big tobacco pipe, about to light it for a couple of puffs, but Zhao Wendong quickly stopped him. "Dad, didn’t I buy two cartons of those grape-flavored cigarettes last time? Smoke one of those!"
"You wasteful boy! Those are for business or for guests. Are you getting cocky and looking for a spanking? Don’t think I won’t still give you a hiding just because you found a wife for your Second Brother!"
Chen Yanmei’s smile vanished in a display of changing moods faster than flipping a page. Her sharp tongue followed, and Zhao Wendong endured a couple of her "loving" smacks before quickly forcing a placating smile.
"Mom, I have to go out on business tomorrow, right? I need to carry a pack in my pocket to keep up appearances. We can’t let strangers get the first taste; Dad has to have the very first one! Where did you hide the cigarettes? Go on, get me a pack."
"Oho, someone’s awfully dedicated to finding a girlfriend!"
Chen Yanmei teased him, but still got up and obediently found the cigarettes. She handed him one pack. Although she called Zhao Wendong a spendthrift, the Zhao family now basically gave their full support to anything he decided. His recent performance had proven he was reliable. But when she wasn’t looking, Zhao Wendong swiped another pack, earning him two more light swats from his mother.
Zhao Wendong pulled one out and handed it to Zhao Dashan. His father took it and turned it over and over in his hands, admiring it as if it were some priceless treasure.
Seeing his dad act this way made Zhao Wendong happy as well. ’Every time I see my family looking so content, I feel an incredible sense of bliss.’
"Here, Dad. I’ll light it for you!"
As he spoke, Zhao Wendong took out a match, struck it, and lit Zhao Dashan’s cigarette. Seeing this, Chen Yanmei couldn’t help but start nagging again.
"There’s a fire burning in the kitchen stove, couldn’t you have lit it there? Why waste a match? Go on, just keep being wasteful."
"A match is nothing. If Second Brother hadn’t taken the lighter and refused to give it to me, I would’ve used that to light Dad’s cigarette!"
"Ooh, listen to Mr. Big Shot! Why don’t you just light it with a wad of cash?"
Song Xiaoyu and the others just watched with smiles, saying nothing. Zhao Wendong listened to Chen Yanmei’s nagging, bantering back and forth with her. He didn’t feel the slightest bit annoyed; instead, he was happy. ’This is what I yearned for so much in my past life. In this one, I could listen to it for an entire lifetime and never grow tired of it.’
Zhao Dashan took a drag from the cigarette, then slowly exhaled, savoring the flavor.
"This stuff is damn good. Not harsh at all."
He held the smoke in his mouth, swirling it over and over, reluctant to let it go, before finally inhaling it all through his nose.
"Son, your Uncle Weiguo and Third Master came by looking for you a couple of times. Remember to go ask them what they need. And while you’re at it, get your travel permit."
For various reasons, including preventing espionage, a strict household registration system was in place that restricted people’s movement. Traveling without a permit could easily get you arrested by local militias or at checkpoints as an undocumented migrant. At best, you’d be sent back home; at worst, you’d be thrown in jail.
"Alright, I know. I’ll go find them in a bit."
While Zhao Wendong and the adults were talking, Little Tuanzi just sat there listening, her big, dark eyes wide. Suddenly, she jumped up and started hopping all over the kang, shouting at the top of her lungs.
"My Second Bwother is getting a wife! Second Bwother is getting a wife!"
Seeing this, Shitou instantly grew anxious. He tugged on Song Xiaoyu’s sleeve, on the verge of tears.
"Mom, even my Second Uncle is getting married! When do I get to get married?"
Song Xiaoyu, exasperated, gave his backside two firm kicks. WHAP! WHAP! Shitou clutched his butt and ran off, his dreams of a wife shattered by his mother’s foot.
"Hahaha!"
The antics of the two little ones made Zhao Wendong collapse onto the kang mat, clutching his stomach in laughter. Yadan scampered over and plopped down, pressing his head under her little belly. Besides her mother’s milk, the little girl had started eating porridge and was getting more energetic every day.
When they arrived home, the family had just finished lunch. Chen Yanmei and Song Xiaoyu warmed up the leftovers and served a meal to Zhao Wendong and the other two. They didn’t cook in small batches anymore; now, they made enough at one time to last the entire day. Perhaps only the Zhao family had the resources to be so confident with their food.
Zhao Wendong didn’t rush to the table. First, he tossed some meat to the Golden Roc and gave it some water. When Zhao Dashan saw how completely obedient the Golden Roc was to his son, he was so shocked he nearly fell off the kang.
"Holy shit, son! You really tamed it? How is that possible? That’s a full-grown Golden Roc!"
"Hehe, what can I say? Your son is just that amazing!"
Zhao Dashan was utterly convinced. He gave his son a thumbs-up. "Damn impressive. You’re really damn impressive!"
While Zhao Wendong and the other two ate their late lunch, Chen Yanmei and Song Xiaoyu continued sorting through their haul from the mountain. Suddenly, spotting the rolled-up quilt, Song Xiaoyu let out a curious sound.
"Why did you bring a quilt back?"
Saying that, she reached out to unroll it.
"Sister-in-law, don’t touch it!"
Zhao Wendong let out a yell, making her jump.
Zhao Wendong, who was on the kang, quickly threw down his chopsticks. He ran over, grabbed the cotton quilt, and carried it to the inner room as if it were a priceless treasure. He turned to Zhao Dashan.
"Dad, there’s wild ginseng in here. Where do you think is the best place to store it?"
"What was that? You dug up ginseng? How big a root?"
"Over a hundred years old, I’d say. Some of them might be even older."
Zhao Dashan gave Zhao Wendong a look that said, ’Are you pulling my leg?’ ’What do you mean, "some of them"?’
"There’s more than one."
"You dug up two?"
"Five!"
The grape-flavored cigarette in Zhao Dashan’s mouth fell onto the kang mat.
He scrambled to pick it up and pinch out the glowing tip, not even bothering with the ash that had scattered on the mat. He immediately struggled to get up, but Zhao Wendong rushed over and held him down.
"What are you doing? Your leg hasn’t healed yet!"
"I... I want to see! I have to see them."
Zhao Wendong couldn’t dissuade him. He had no choice but to carry the ginseng to the far side of the room, away from the heated kang, and slowly unwrap it for his father. Chen Yanmei and Song Xiaoyu also crowded around to look at the rare sight. When they saw the ginseng, they couldn’t help but marvel.
"It really looks like a little person! It has arms and legs!"
"But why does it look like a moss spirit? It’s so green."
Zhao Dashan shot his wife an exasperated look.
"That’s moss wrapped around the ginseng. It’s one way to preserve wild ginseng. Son, you’re really something else; you even know this method. Huh? Wait a second. Where would you find moss in the dead of winter?"
"That’s right! It’s winter!"
Chen Yanmei and the others stared at Zhao Wendong in amazement. When they heard him say that they had found a hot spring and even taken a hot bath, both Song Xiaoyu’s and Chen Yanmei’s eyes lit up, their faces filled with longing.
Zhao Wendong quickly said, "It’s deep in the mountains. Even from the outpost, it’s a half-day’s walk. I’ll take you all to see it when I get the chance."
Hearing how far it was, the two women reluctantly nodded, letting the idea go. Zhao Dashan, after carefully examining the ginseng, was so excited he wished he could get off the kang right then and there to handle the roots himself.
"They’re all over a hundred years old. Those two biggest ones are over two hundred! Find all the ceramic jars in the house, get some gauze to seal the lids, and put these ginseng roots in the cellar. Don’t put them with the vegetables; keep them separate."
After Zhao Wendong finished, Zhao Dashan was still uneasy and questioned him repeatedly about how they were stored. Only after he was finally satisfied did he lie back down on the kang. He had been too agitated to lie down moments before and had sat straight up. Thanks to their better nutrition and the family’s improving, worry-free life, Zhao Dashan’s recovery was going well. He would probably be able to try walking with crutches by the New Year.
"Sister-in-law, don’t! Let me get that!"
Zhao Wendong shouted when he saw Song Xiaoyu in the outer room picking up the carrying pole to fetch water.