Chapter 4: Wang Ge Confronts His Aunt

Wang Xing woke her brother and sister, while Wang Ge made sure their father was settled, closed the courtyard gate, and the siblings set out to find Zhang Cai.

Zhang Cai had been waiting for a long time, and before anyone even called, he bounced out. “Quick, let me hold the water flask.”

“No need, it’s really light.”

Zhang’s household had a shed and stove at the fields, so there was no need to bring meals; his basket was nearly empty, containing only his own lunch. He said, “Then I’ll carry Tigerhead.”

“Brother, let me walk by myself first. When I get tired, I’ll trouble you to carry me.” Wang Xing’s childish earnestness was utterly endearing.

Zhang Cai was a year older than Wang Ge, his hair tied into two neat buns. Sprightly and nimble, the little lad seemed to have picked up a bouncy step from somewhere.

“Walk properly!” Wang Ge chided.

“You’re so fierce!” Zhang Cai retorted, but his feet obediently steadied.

They passed through the western edge of the village and walked westward for half an hour. Gradually, the lush green wild hills came into view, as did the stream, winding like a pale green silk ribbon.

At a fork in the road, the three turned south. At this point, Zhang Cai carried Ah Xing. After another half hour, they reached the foot of a slope. Zhang Cai was exhausted, too tired to speak, and just nodded at Wang Ge. She left the food and water, instructed her younger brother not to wander, and climbed up the slope.

Most of the land on this slope was thin, with some patches still wild, overgrown with brambles and weeds.

The grandparents and others had been working all morning, pausing only when she arrived with the meals.

After dividing the food, the second and third uncles sat with the grandparents, chatting idly over their meal. The aunts joined the children.

Even while eating, Third Aunt Yao couldn’t keep her mouth still. With a sharp tone, she said, “All girls, but Ah Shu isn’t nearly as lucky—she’s three years younger than Ah Ge but already has to come work the fields with us. Just look at Ah Ge’s back—so straight! And then look at Ah Shu! Sigh!”

As the others turned to stare at her back, Wang Shu could have screamed at her third aunt. After a morning’s labor, whose back wouldn’t be bent?

Wang Ge replied, “Third Aunt is so kind-hearted. Yesterday you felt sorry for Ah He, today for Ah Shu, but never for your own Ah Zhu.”

Caught in the crossfire, Wang Zhu froze, knowing her cousin was stirring trouble, but still couldn’t hide her grievance.

Yao was furious. “What nonsense are you spouting?” She hugged her eldest son and soothed him, “Don’t listen to her nonsense. Your mother loves you most of all, how could she not?”

Little Jia resented her sister-in-law and Wang Ge even more! Compared to this niece, Ah Shu really did slouch like a wilted seedling. So she added, “Of course those who eat for free grow up handsome. Ah Ge, if you have so much energy to tease your siblings, why not put it into farming two more acres, so your brothers and sisters can have it easier?”

“Second Aunt is right. I was thinking the same,” Wang Ge said to her, “How about from tomorrow, Ah He stays home to do chores, and I’ll come work the fields?”

While eating, Wang He protested, “Wang Ge, I haven’t done anything to you! And you, Mother, Aunt, if you want to spar, don’t drag me into it.” With that, he moved over to join the grandparents.

Useless child! Little Jia cursed inwardly.

Wang Ge continued, “So, Ah Shu and I will switch?”

Having just straightened her back, Wang Shu shook her head vigorously.

Little Jia was exasperated, “Switch, then!”

Wang Shu burst into tears, “I won’t switch, I won’t! Cousin has to do so much work—she fetches water until midnight! I don’t want to switch, waah…”

Yao was about to speak when Wang Zhu suddenly stood up, threw out, “I won’t switch either,” and went to sit with Wang He and the grandparents.

Wang Shu was utterly defeated, howling with grief.

Wang Erlang, who had been watching, called out, “Ah Ge, it’s getting late. You’d better head home.”

“Yes.” She packed the lunch containers and empty water flasks into the basket and said her goodbyes to the grandparents, second and third uncles.

Taking it all to heart, Wang Shu ran to Wang Erlang as soon as her cousin left, pleading, “Father, I don’t want to switch with cousin! I want to stay in the fields with you. I’m scared of going to the well at midnight! I can’t cook or chop wood, waah…”

Wang Erlang laughed, “No switching, absolutely not. My Ah Shu works the fields just fine. As long as you don’t mind the hard work, you’ll always be with Father in the fields!”

“Mm-hmm!” Wang Shu heaved a sigh of relief.

Wang Erlang shot a fierce glare at his troublesome wife, making Little Jia shrink her shoulders and slouch.

Wang He watched this scene, grinning, “Ah Shu’s hunchback isn’t from farming—it’s clearly inherited from Mother!”

But let’s turn to the other side. Hearing several shrill, inhuman cries behind her, Wang Ge walked even lighter. After rejoining her brother and Zhang Cai, the three ate lunch together, laughing, and then headed for the river.

The water murmured, winding alongside hills draped in pine and cypress.

Many women and young girls, taking advantage of the warm sun, were pounding and washing clothes along the riverbank. Most were tenant farmers from the Jia family estate.

It’s worth noting that in this Jin Dynasty, rural gentry like the Jia landlords, who held no official rank, were not covered by the “patronage system.” In plain terms, tenant families working for minor gentry were registered in the state’s household records—they sold their labor, not their freedom. With too few able hands at home, they relied on the landlord.

A tenant family usually farmed just a few, or a dozen, acres, paying rent to the landlord. If there were strong laborers in the family, they still owed annual corvée, though the only benefit was exemption from reclaiming the minimum amount of wild land required by the state.

The laughter and chatter of women and girls filled the green mountains and blue waters. Just then, a small boat split the sunlit ripples, drifting downstream.

At the oars was a man nearing forty; his son, not yet twenty, handled the fishing net.

The fisher boy sang toward the shore, “In the marshes grow cattails and lotuses; there is a lovely maiden—what sorrow is this? Awake and asleep, I am helpless, tears flowing in torrents.”

The women scolded him with laughter, pelting the fishermen with stones, sending fish leaping from splashing water. Both father and son burst out laughing.

One bold woman stood up and shouted, “If you dare, row over here!”

“Yes, come over!” several women called out together.

Then a young girl stood, her cheeks flushed but her voice clear and strong as she sang, “On the mountain grows the catalpa, in the marsh blooms the lotus. I do not see Zidu, but a wild one instead. On the mountain stands the bridge pine, in the marsh swims the dragon. I do not see Zichong, but a clever child instead.”

This time, it was the fisher boy’s turn to blush. His father, laughing heartily, steered the boat to the shore and tossed the girl a big fish.

Instantly, all the women shrieked and cheered.

Wang Ge and her companions laughed along. It was said that many years ago, a traveling noble visited Jia Village and taught the villagers many songs from the Book of Songs. Sadly, they only remembered the simplest ones.

Zhang Cai took off his shoes and, the moment his feet touched the water, hopped from the chill, only to wince again as pebbles jabbed his soles. Truly playful, he went off by himself to catch minnows.

Wang Ge held Ah Xing’s hand tightly, waded to an eye-catching red stone, but after washing it clean, found it unimpressive. She tossed it toward Zhang Cai, warning, “Don’t go in too deep!”

“Got it.”

“Sister, look! Those are the gentlemen we met yesterday at Longevity Stone Slope,” Wang Xing pointed out a group of riders approaching in the distance.

Wang Ge had to marvel—what extraordinary eyesight the little one had! Only when the horsemen drew closer could she see it was indeed the elegant gentlemen who had admired the Longevity Stone the day before.