Chapter 26: The Peddler Arrives

Five days later, Old Man Wang was already able to walk freely about the courtyard.

In the early afternoon, someone called from outside the courtyard, “Is this the home of Wang the craftsman’s family? Is anyone home?”

Madam Yao did not come out of the east wing.

Old Man Wang muttered “lazy woman” under his breath and led Wang Xing out the gate.

On the path in front of the house, a crowd of villagers and children had gathered.

It turned out a peddler had come to the village!

The peddler drove a mule-drawn flatbed cart, coming straight from the countryside, his face ruddy from the sun. Piled high on his cart were all sorts of bamboo wares—mats, baskets, hampers, and crates, everything one could imagine. In the center of the cart stood several bamboo poles, each hung with a dazzling array of colorful goods, especially enticing to old women and children alike! There were spinning pinwheels dyed in vibrant hues, clappers, feathered shuttlecocks, as well as unfurled colored window screens and embroidered cloth pouches, and even practical yet beautiful bamboo hats, umbrellas, round-toed wooden clogs with bright straps, and tall leather boots.

“Is this the home of Miss Wang Ge, first among the county’s young artisans this year?” the peddler asked Old Man Wang very politely.

“I’m her grandfather. And you are?”

“Elder, my surname is Liu. I’m the village peddler. I’d like to buy bamboo wares from Wang the craftsman each month.”

Old Man Wang and Tigerhead truly were grandfather and grandson; both their nostrils flared with exaggerated excitement at the same time, and the last trace of discomfort at Old Man Wang’s waist vanished completely!

A peddler coming by reputation to collect goods—this was clearly a great thing that could bring profit to the Wang household. Yet Madam Yao and Little Jia both looked as if they’d swallowed a fly.

Because the lord uncle had spoken directly! From now on, Wang Ge was to stay at home doing chores and weaving bamboo wares for money. In the end, the benefit that Yao and her companion had fought for—the privilege of not having to climb the mountain to deliver lunch—fell right into Wang Ge’s lap!

Infuriating!

That night, in the east wing, Madam Yao’s voice suddenly rose: “How do we know if that’s a real peddler or a fake? Just because someone makes a sound, we take it as truth? Wang Ge does as she pleases—wants to work the land, she works the land; wants to stay home, she drives me out? Why? I’m still her elder! Why must I always give way to her?”

“And what’s the point of buying a special knife just for splitting bamboo? Isn’t a sickle enough for her? So, in this house, apparently only we aren’t fit to spend money, while a girl who’ll marry off in a few years is treated like treasure!”

“So what if she got a string of cash as a reward? It’s not as if we benefit! Besides, is one string of coins enough for a lifetime? Over the years, the main branch of the family has had those blind or weak—did they survive on air? The work we’ve done for them, if converted to money, isn’t a small sum! So, honest folks like us who only know how to toil are supposed to give and never get, is that it?”

The more she ranted, the angrier she grew. Madam Yao flung open the door, only to be grabbed around the waist and hauled back by Wang Sanlang, and after a few more slams of the door, the God of Sleep, Wang Peng, was the first to suffer, beaten into loud sobs, with little Wang Ai wailing in turn.

Wang Zhu carried his youngest sister outside, casting a resentful glare at the main room.

Wang Ge was not in the house. She came in carrying water, puzzled at why A-Zhu was standing in the courtyard with A-Ai in his arms. Just as she set down the buckets, he came over and kicked both over in succession.

“What are you doing!” She hurried to grab the buckets, but it was too late—the water had all spilled.

“It’s all your fault! Why does everyone in the family have to give way to you?” Wang Zhu stuck out his neck, wanting nothing more than to give her another kick to vent his anger.

Wang Ai, startled yet again, cried even more shrilly. He hastened to comfort his youngest sister, while wiping his own tears in grievance.

Had Wang Ge not been mindful of poor little Wang Ai, she might have upended a bucket over Wang Zhu’s head.

Wang Sanlang, limping, ran out, dragged Wang Zhu back inside, and tossed out an apologetic, “Third Uncle will help you carry water right away.”

Fortunately, Wang Ge didn’t take her third uncle’s words seriously. The heavy doors of the east wing remained shut till dawn.

Wang Sanlang, pinched hard by Madam Yao, walked with a grimace and a hiss every few steps.

Old Man Wang and his wife hadn’t slept well either. Their daughter-in-law was fierce, but what could the elders do about affairs in their sons’ rooms? Meddling too much would just breed resentment!

Moreover, Old Man Wang felt he was indeed at fault this time. He had spent a hundred and twenty coins buying bamboo tools from the peddler, and those were for A-Ge. Of course the daughter-in-law would feel he was unfair and grumble a bit.

Still, his second son was truly capable!

Little Jia was also eaten up with jealousy, her nose and mouth nearly out of alignment from the bitterness, but a glare from Wang Erlang cowed her at once; she hunched her shoulders and busied herself with chores to feign diligence.

After breakfast, Old Man Wang returned to his room with a cold face. The old woman said, “A-Ge, don’t tidy up yet. Tigerhead, you sit down too. I have something to say.”

Madam Yao had known last night’s turmoil wouldn’t end without a result, and was secretly pleased.

Sure enough, the old woman said, “As elders, we must be fair. Yesterday we spent a hundred and twenty coins for the main branch; we can’t let the second and third branches suffer. In a while, Erlang and Sanlang, come to the main room to collect your share.”

Wang Erlang snorted, “When A-Ge earned that string of coins, no one came to claim a share!”

Madam Yao retorted, “By your logic, the grain the main branch eats is grown by us in the third branch. Should I make them spit it all back out?”

Before Wang Ge could answer, Little Jia jumped in first.

“Sister-in-law, what a slick tongue! The grain the third branch eats is grown by the elders and by us in the second branch too!”

“Enough!” the old woman snapped. “We’ll divide the money today and that’s the end of it. If anyone brings it up again or stirs up trouble, don’t blame me for reporting to the village elders!”

The village elders oversaw morals and customs—now Madam Yao was truly scared, and shot her husband a look, hoping he’d speak on her behalf.

Wang Sanlang had just opened his mouth, but at his mother’s glare, shut it again.

“Come along! Erlang, help your elder brother.” The old woman got up, with her three sons following her into the main room.

The scattered coins were already laid out on the straw mat on the floor. Old Man Wang lay on the wooden bed across from them, his back turned, motionless.

The old woman’s earlier vigor was gone; with a sigh, she knelt down.

Wang Erlang first helped his eldest brother kneel opposite their mother, then sat to his left, with Wang Sanlang obediently beside Erlang.

The old woman untied the string. She knew exactly how much was there, yet still counted each coin again.

“This is what we managed to save, little by little, after the house and courtyard were built, for buying a cow. There were five hundred coins in all; your father spent thirty on lard and medicine. Sanlang, if you don’t believe it, ask your second brother.”

Wang Sanlang’s eyes reddened with shame: “Mother! I…”

She stopped him, her own nose stinging with emotion, and went on, “Yesterday, we spent a hundred and twenty on bamboo tools for A-Ge. That leaves three hundred and fifty coins.” She finished, then pushed a pile of a hundred and twenty coins each in front of Erlang and Sanlang.

Wang Sanlang bowed his head even lower.

Erlang pushed his share back. “Mother, please keep it for me!”

Old Man Wang suddenly sat up and barked, “Take your money and get out!”

Everyone, including the old woman, jumped at his roar. She whispered, “Go on, go on, let your elder brother stay.”

But Eldest Brother said, “Wait a moment, second and third brothers.”

He reached for the cloth pouch at his waist and took out a long, narrow bamboo slip, crudely carved with a long row of circles meant to represent coins. He handed it to his mother. “Mother, Tigerhead spent ages last night carving this. He says it’s an IOU. Count them—exactly a hundred and twenty coins. The bamboo tools are a loan from you elders to our branch, and we’ll repay it within a year.”

Wang Sanlang was dumbfounded. “E-eldest brother?”

He looked helplessly at his second brother. “Second brother?”

Erlang, seeing his younger brother’s pitiful look, could only pick up his coins and stand. “I’ll take the money for now, Mother.”

Sanlang breathed a great sigh of relief. Back in their room, Madam Yao was overjoyed, bringing out sturdy hemp to string and count the coins. Wang Zhu crouched before his mother, glancing between the money and her face.

In truth, Madam Yao doted most on her eldest son. She handed the strung coins to Wang Zhu. “Count them too, my son!”

“Mm!” Wang Zhu fiddled with the coins, the touch of each one convincing him ever more that his mother’s outburst had been entirely justified!

Nearby, Wang Sanlang held his youngest daughter, wanting to speak but hesitating. How could he tell his wife about the IOU from the main branch? Would it spark another uproar? Perhaps best to say nothing—after all, with so much money, how could the main branch repay it so easily?