Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Big Sister, You’re Hiding Things for Yourself

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Ling Chengyan held Little Xing’s hand and carried Little Shi Tou out of the house. Wang Lianxiang was at the doorway, picking at her fingernails, her head drooping, looking sullen.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh!” Wang Lianxiang was momentarily stunned, then quickly regained her composure, jumped up, and followed Ling Chengyan out the door.

Inside the main room, the old lady, who had been on edge all morning, silently breathed a sigh of relief, then her suppressed anger surged up. She grabbed a shoe from under the kang and threw it.

The eldest daughter-in-law, Shao Darong, watched as her husband’s younger brother’s family and sister-in-law Wang Lianxiang went out together. Hesitantly, she wanted to slip over to her mother-in-law to inquire why there was a sudden change of heart about giving away the little troublemaker who she firmly refused to part with yesterday.

Unexpectedly, just as Shao Darong reached the main room’s doorway, a shoe was flung out from inside, landing squarely on her face with a slap sound!

The pain was secondary; it was the chronic stench from unwashed feet that almost made Shao Darong retch.

“Oh…ugh…” Shao Darong couldn’t hold back and started to gag.

Filled with pent-up rage, the old lady burst out, jumped off the kang without even putting on her shoes, her hair in disarray, and rushed out. She picked up the shoe from the ground and started beating Shao Darong.

Shao Darong covered her head, dodged a couple of times, and seeing her mother-in-law’s genuine anger, stopped pretending. With great effort, she shoved the old lady to the ground and darted into her own room in the west wing.

After a short while, the eldest son, Wang Lianming, came out wearing a jacket and dragging his feet. In a mock gesture, he pulled his mother up from the ground: “Mom, at your age, why are you getting so worked up? Why get angry with the younger ones? They’re all your children; you should be more forgiving…”

The old lady, dizzy from her anger, and having been thrown down just now, was even more disoriented. Rarely, she didn’t retort and allowed her eldest son to drag her inside and lay her down on the kang.

Ling Chengyan, oblivious to the family drama, walked out of the village with Wang Lianxiang, heading towards the woods.

From a distance, Ling Chengyan saw the sallow-faced woman pacing back and forth where they were headed. Seeing Wang Lianxiang leading the mother and kids over, Wang Lianhua was taken aback, rushed over, pulled Wang Lianxiang aside, and whispered: “Why did you bring her along?”

Wang Lianxiang looked dejected and dared not meet her elder sister’s eyes, stammering: “Second sister-in-law wanted to see you…”

Before she could finish, she lowered her head.

Wang Lianhua, anxious and irritated, not noticing her sister’s odd behavior, jabbed Wang Lianxiang hard before turning to Ling Chengyan, saying, “It’s good you brought the children. Let me tell you, that family can’t have kids. They’ll certainly cherish Shi Tou more than you, living a better life…”

Ling Chengyan’s face remained calm, quietly listening to Wang Lianhua finish, then replied blandly: “I never intended to sell the child.”

“What? If you’re not selling the child, then why are you here?” Wang Lianhua exclaimed in urgency.

Wang Lianxiang acted wisely, using the conversation as a chance to sidestep several paces away, standing there with her head lowered, acting as if she was unconcerned with the exchange.

Wang Lianhua glanced at her sister and realized she had betrayed her. Annoyed, she knew now wasn’t the right time to act out, so she just stared at Ling Chengyan, sneering: “This matter isn’t up to you…”

Before she could finish, her collar was seized. Confused, her arms were pinned behind her, and with a slight force from Ling Chengyan, both her shoulders felt as if they were splitting, causing her such pain that she wanted to scream. Yet, to her horror, she found herself unable to make any sound at all.

Later on, Ling Chengyan’s pocket contained the confession signed and sealed by Wang Lianhua, along with twenty pounds of food coupons and fifty yuan.

Originally, the buyer had offered fifty pounds of coupons and three hundred yuan, but gave twenty pounds and a hundred yuan as a deposit. Wang Lianhua only gave her sister fifty yuan, claiming the price was two hundred…

Ling Chengyan released Wang Lianhua and unsealed her voice. As soon as the mother and kids took a few steps, the Wang sisters began to argue.

The elder sister berated the younger one for bringing trouble and involving such a dangerous person; the younger one accused the elder of being greedy, intending to pocket the full one hundred yuan and all of the food coupons…

Listening to the increasingly intense shouts behind her, Ling Chengyan felt great. She lifted Little Xing, slung her on her back, and swiftly left the battlefield.

Such vulgar language from the two shrews really shouldn’t taint the children’s ears.

Returning to the village, Ling Chengyan didn’t go back to the old Wang house but headed straight to the east end to the home of the village secretary, Wang Futang.

This so-called secretary, Ling Chengyan automatically interpreted as the Village Chief. Leaving the village, she naturally needed the Village Chief to issue travel permits, aligning with what Wang Lianxiang had said about ’introduction letters’.

Wang Futang also had another identity; he was the uncle to Little Xing and Shi Tou, the real elder brother of Wang Lianhua’s father.

Wang Futang’s house and courtyard walls were much tidier, though still mud-brick structures, neat and clean, evidently newly coated with a layer of fine soil.

Arriving at the gate carrying one child and leading the other, Ling Chengyan happened upon a woman in her thirties, nearly forty, emerging with a basket. Meeting Ling Chengyan and her kids, she immediately smiled: “Liansheng’s wife is here.”

No need for Ling Chengyan to introduce herself, Little Xing obediently greeted: “Aunt.”

Ling Chengyan followed suit: “Sister-in-law, are you heading out? Is Uncle at home?”

“Yes, I heard the shepherd’s purse by the reed marshes has sprouted, so I’m going to dig a bit. Yes, he’s home, come on in.” Saying so, she turned back and invited Ling Chengyan in, also calling into the house, “Dad, Mom, Liansheng’s wife is here.”

Nodding to her cousin-in-law, Ling Chengyan entered through the door as a woman in her fifties or sixties wearing a blue cloth shirt came out from the house. She had a kindly demeanor, with a touch of warmth in her smile. Her gaze skipped over Ling Chengyan and fell on the baby in her arms, showing curiosity: “What’s this? What happened to Little Shi Tou?”

Ling Chengyan replied: “This child is too weak; I want to take him to the city to see a doctor.”

“Is it serious?” the old woman asked.

Ling Chengyan said: “I don’t know.”

After a brief exchange, Ling Chengyan followed the older woman into the house. A short-haired old man sat inside, his hair standing on end. This time, without Little Xing’s prompt, Ling Chengyan greeted directly: “Uncle.”

“Hm, the kids are alright? … Good then.” Though Wang the Elder’s face was usually stern, seeing the children softened him a bit. After inquiring, he instructed the old woman, “Get some candy for the kids.”

The aunt hurried into the inner room, soon returning with a handful of candy and handing it to Little Xing. Little Xing looked up at Ling Chengyan, and seeing her nod in approval, allowed her aunt to put the candy in her pocket.

With little persuasion needed, Wang the Elder issued the introduction letter. He further inquired if Ling Chengyan had enough money and if she needed anything else.

Ling Chengyan was straightforward, mentioning the need to buy milk powder and a baby bottle.

Wang the Elder furrowed his brows, contemplated for a moment, and said: “Those things aren’t easy to buy; not only money but also ration coupons and quota proof are required… I have two such coupons; you take them for now. I’ll inquire about the quota and let you know once I get it.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep