Chapter 2
When Wei Jiancheng left, Wei Anmin was only a little over a year old, and Wei Anjie was just a month old. As a result, neither of the boys had any real affection for him. Their sadness was fleeting; they were more worried that without the role of a father, life for their family would become even harder.
“Mama, did the people from the commune say anything? How did Dad die? Did he leave anything behind?” Wei Anmin asked, his little brow furrowed with worry.
“They said it was an illness.” Ye Qingzhi glanced at Wei Anjie. “There was only a letter. As for anything else, I don’t know. I’ll go to the commune tomorrow to ask.”
The two children were still young and couldn’t keep a secret. For the time being, Ye Qingzhi didn’t plan on telling them about the one hundred yuan Wei Jiancheng had sent.
Life in the countryside was no idyllic poem; there was no peace and quiet here. On the contrary, it was a place where the law of the jungle reigned.
With Wei Jiancheng dead, she and her sons were a widow and orphans—the most vulnerable group in the village, easy targets for anyone to bully.
If word got out that they had money, forget outsiders—Wei Youliang would be the first one to come after them.
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Wei Youliang shouting from outside.
“Jiancheng’s wife! I heard something happened to Jiancheng?”
Hearing Wei Youliang’s voice, the two children looked at Ye Qingzhi in confusion, wondering why their grandfather was at their house.
Ye Qingzhi patted Wei Anmin’s small head and told him to take his brother to the backyard to pick vegetables. “It’s okay, Mama’s here.”
She wasn’t sure if Wei Jiancheng had done it on purpose, but the letter was written on two sheets of paper. The final sentence mentioning the money order was on the second sheet.
Ye Qingzhi folded the second page and the money order, tucking them securely into her undergarments. She rubbed her face to compose herself and walked unsteadily out the door.
“Jiancheng’s wife, I heard something happened to Jiancheng?” Wei Jiancheng’s stepmother, Fang Xiaomei, sized Ye Qingzhi up. Seeing her red, swollen eyes, she knew the news was most likely true.
Her gaze swept over the small courtyard and the house. Although it wasn’t a brick house, it was an adobe structure built only a few years ago, practically new. Her eldest grandson was about to be born, and their own house was getting crowded. Moving here would be much more spacious.
Ye Qingzhi’s eyes darkened. This stepmother-in-law of the original owner made no effort to hide her intentions. The calculations were written all over her face for everyone to see.
After a moment’s thought, Ye Qingzhi understood. Fang Xiaomei wanted her to back down and voluntarily give up the house.
Such blatant, wolfish ambition. Trying to scheme against me? In your dreams.
On the surface, Ye Qingzhi put on a sorrowful expression. “The clerk from the commune said Jiancheng passed away from an illness.”
Wei Youliang frowned. Although they had formally split the family and hadn’t spoken in years, Jiancheng was still his biological son. Now, as a white-haired man mourning his black-haired son, he felt a pang of sadness.
“Is it confirmed? Is there a letter?”
“Yes, yes! Jiancheng worked at that Third Front factory for so many years. Forget his salary, he must have had plenty of clothes and bedding. What about all that stuff?” Fang Xiaomei asked anxiously.
“There’s nothing. Only a letter.” Knowing this was what they were after, Ye Qingzhi pulled the letter from her pocket and said with a sob, “It’s here. I can’t read, so I don’t know what Jiancheng wrote.”
Fang Xiaomei strode toward Ye Qingzhi, reaching to grab the letter.
Ye Qingzhi raised her hand to dodge, glancing at Wei Youliang and Wei Haibo, who was standing outside the gate. He was the son Fang Xiaomei had brought with her, originally named Li Haibo, but now with the surname Wei.
“What are you doing? This is a letter Jiancheng wrote to me,” Ye Qingzhi said, looking at them defensively.
The more guarded she acted, the more convinced they would be that she wasn’t hiding anything. If they got it too easily, they would surely suspect she was holding something back.
“Jiancheng’s wife, I’m Jiancheng’s biological father. Now that he’s gone under unclear circumstances, can’t I, his father, even see his last letter?” Wei Youliang’s eyes filled with tears.
Of course, Ye Qingzhi couldn’t just hand it over. She clutched the letter tightly. “We’ll wait for Third Great-Uncle to get off work. I’ll ask him to read it for us.”
Third Great-Uncle had attended a traditional private school, been a soldier, and fought against the foreign invaders. He was highly respected in the village, so everyone sought him out to be a witness for important matters.
“It’s just a letter. Haibo can read. Why bother Third Great-Uncle? Jiancheng’s wife, it’s one thing to be wary of me, but Youliang is Jiancheng’s own father, your father-in-law! Now that he has to bury his own son, you, the daughter-in-law, won’t even let him see the letter? What are your intentions?” Fang Xiaomei stared at Ye Qingzhi with ill intent.
“That’s easy for you to say. Don’t forget how the family was split back then. Anyway, I don’t trust you. This letter must wait for Third Great-Uncle to come back and read it.” As she spoke, Ye Qingzhi made to stuff the letter back into her pocket.
She deliberately slowed her movements, thinking it would be best if Fang Xiaomei snatched it. That way, she could make a huge scene and expose Fang Xiaomei’s schemes to everyone. With the whole village watching, they wouldn’t dare try anything else for a while.
As expected, Fang Xiaomei couldn’t resist. She lunged forward and snatched the letter from Ye Qingzhi’s hand. “Even if the family is split, he’s still Youliang’s son!”
Ye Qingzhi ran out the gate and began to wail, “You can’t take that! That’s the letter Jiancheng wrote to me! We split the family long ago! You robbers, what right do you have to steal my letter…?”
It was almost time for people to get off work. Hearing Ye Qingzhi’s cries, nearby villagers quickly gathered.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening? Who’s stealing things?” Auntie Ye arrived with a hoe on her shoulder. Seeing Wei Youliang’s family standing there, she said scornfully, “Wei Youliang, are you even human? Jiancheng is barely gone, and you’re already bringing this vixen and her son to bully Qingzhi.”
Auntie Ye had been on good terms with Wei Jiancheng’s mother and, like the original owner, had married into this village from Daye Village. Naturally, she would speak up for Ye Qingzhi.
“Don’t talk nonsense! When did we ever bully Jiancheng’s wife?” Seeing so many people gathering, Fang Xiaomei regretted not stopping Ye Qingzhi. Now that everyone knew, even if there were any benefits, they wouldn’t be able to keep them all. They’d have to give at least half to Ye Qingzhi, which was infuriating to even think about.
“Anyone with eyes can see what’s happening! Qingzhi, don’t be afraid. What did Fang Xiaomei take from you? Auntie will stand up for you.” Auntie Ye stood protectively in front of Ye Qingzhi.
Sometimes, family was worse than a stranger. Touched, Ye Qingzhi tugged on Auntie Ye’s arm, pointed at the letter in Fang Xiaomei’s hand, and sobbed, “She stole the letter Jiancheng wrote to me.”
“What do you mean, stole? This is Jiancheng’s last letter! Youliang is burying his own son. Is it wrong for him to want to see it?” Fang Xiaomei demanded loudly, looking at the surrounding villagers.
Although the family had split, Wei Youliang was, after all, Wei Jiancheng’s father. Now that his son was dead, no one could say it was wrong for him to want to read the letter.
“You still shouldn’t snatch it! I already said I’d wait for Third Great-Uncle to come back and read it for us. You’re just bullying me because I’m a widow with children and can’t read! Sob, sob… Oh, Jiancheng, why did you have to leave? Just look at how your son and I are being bullied!” Ye Qingzhi collapsed onto the ground and began to wail.
Fang Xiaomei stared at Ye Qingzhi, dumbfounded. That was the move she was planning to use! How did this little wench beat her to it?
“What’s everyone crowding around for? Don’t you want your work-points?” The brigade leader and Third Great-Uncle hurried over.
“Jiancheng’s wife, get up first. I was just anxious to see the letter,” Wei Youliang said, stepping forward. “It’s perfect, Third Uncle is here. Third Uncle, could I trouble you to read this for us? That boy Jiancheng was gone for five or six years, and now he’s suddenly dead from an illness. It’s all so unclear. As his father, I have to get to the bottom of it.”
Wei Youliang shot Fang Xiaomei a look. Seeing her clutching the letter, unwilling to give it up, he glared at her, signaling her to hand it to Third Great-Uncle.
Taking the letter from Fang Xiaomei, Third Great-Uncle opened it in front of everyone and read it word for word. When he finished, he sighed with emotion. “It’s a pity about Jiancheng. Jiancheng’s wife, don’t be too sad. Anmin and Anjie are good boys. Raise them well, and better days will be ahead.”
“Is this letter all there is? Nothing else?” Fang Xiaomei asked, her face full of disbelief.
Impossible. They had calculated at home that even if Wei Jiancheng saved just five yuan a month, he would have saved over three hundred yuan over the years. Even if he spent some on medical treatment, he couldn’t have spent it all. And he had two sons. Was he really going to just abandon them?
“No.” Ye Qingzhi shook her head. Seeing the doubt on everyone’s faces, she said anxiously, “I plan to go to the commune tomorrow to ask.”
“You should go and ask. Jiancheng worked there for so many years. What about his raises and his belongings? Don’t tell me someone pocketed them?” Fang Xiaomei’s tone was agitated.
Many others were also skeptical. A man might not care for his wife back home, but he wouldn’t neglect his sons. But looking at Ye Qingzhi, she didn’t seem to be lying.
The brigade leader frowned and waved the onlookers away. He said to Ye Qingzhi, “Jiancheng’s wife, go to the commune tomorrow and ask. What illness did Jiancheng have? When did he pass? What’s to be done with his body? And what about his belongings? How did they handle all that?”
“Yes, yes, you must ask clearly. Will you be alright going alone? Why don’t you let Haibo go with you?” Fang Xiaomei’s eyes darted around as another idea struck her.
“No, thank you. I’ll go by myself.” Ye Qingzhi glanced at Wei Haibo. He wasn’t her real brother-in-law. Even if he were, as a young, newly-widowed woman, she couldn’t travel alone with a young man. Who knows what kind of rumors would spread.
Fang Xiaomei realized her mistake. It was indeed inappropriate for Wei Haibo and Ye Qingzhi to travel together. Ye Qingzhi’s reputation was a small matter, but her son couldn’t be associated with a widow.
“Then let your father-in-law go with you. You’re young and inexperienced, and you’re a woman. It’s better to let him handle this,” Fang Xiaomei proposed again.
It seemed she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted. Fine. Let Wei Youliang go with her. Only when he confirmed for himself that there was nothing to gain would he stop hounding her.
Having achieved her goal, Fang Xiaomei pulled a satisfied Wei Youliang away. The brigade leader and the others offered a few words of comfort to Ye Qingzhi before heading home for dinner.
Auntie Ye, however, stayed behind, worried that Ye Qingzhi hadn’t fully recovered and offered to help her cook.
“Really, there’s no need. There’s still rice left from this morning. I’ll have Anmin start a fire later to heat it up.” Ye Qingzhi wasn’t lying; this was what the original owner always did.
“Are you sure?” Seeing Ye Qingzhi shake her head, Auntie Ye patted her arm. “Alright then. I’ll head home for dinner. If you need anything, just come find me.”
“Thank you, Auntie. You should hurry back.” Ye Qingzhi watched Auntie Ye leave, then turned and went back inside, letting out a long sigh of relief.
They were finally all gone. She needed to think carefully about what to do next.
Her first thought was to find a job. But in this era, setting aside the fact that the original owner had no education, her rural household registration alone was a dead end. Job recruitment was restricted by household registration, and they only wanted non-agricultural household status.
Remain a widow and raise two children alone, just like the original owner?
She thought about how the original owner had to wake up at five to work and couldn’t come home until six in the evening. During the busy farming season, she had to be up at four in the morning and work until seven or eight at night. Any spare moment was spent cutting firewood on the mountain or digging for wild vegetables, on top of doing laundry, cooking, and raising children…
Ye Qingzhi shuddered. That life was more bitter than medicine. The original owner, who was used to farm work, had died young. She would surely kick the bucket even sooner.
She cherished her life. If she could live well, she had no desire to die early.
Besides, with Wei Jiancheng gone, as a young widow with children, she had two options. She could be like Widow Wang at the village entrance, letting men take advantage of her and finding a lover for protection. Or she could be like Widow Zhang at the village end, picking up a kitchen knife to become a shrew and deliberately making herself ugly to protect her virtue.
Ye Qingzhi didn’t want to be taken advantage of by lecherous old men, nor did she want to feign madness or ugliness.
After thinking it over, remarrying a reliable man seemed like the most suitable option.
The only problem was that a reliable man was hard to find. There was no rush. The original owner had established a strong persona of being deeply devoted to Wei Jiancheng, so she couldn’t look for a new partner too quickly. First, she had to drive away these wolves like Wei Youliang. The rest could be taken one step at a time.