Chapter 83 Destiny’s Turn

When Erlang Wang led the ox into the storage shed, Old Madam Jia also entered, opening the jars of preserved meat and fish sauce. "Look, Erlang," she said.

"What is it?" he replied.

"There's a thief, a mouse thief, you see. Every few days, things go missing—always just a little at a time. Tell me, your wife, if she wants these things, why can't she ask outright? Would I really begrudge her these, after all? Now, we're short of preserved meat and fish sauce, and your father and I will end up with the reputation of being harsh and unkind to our daughter-in-law."

Erlang Wang hadn't thought so deeply before, but his mother's words made it clear: his wife was doing this intentionally.

Seeing her son's anger, Old Madam Jia sighed helplessly, "I don't like your wife, but I do care for you. You can't live your days in constant coldness. She isn't someone who will see reason the colder you treat her; her temperament only grows narrower. Erlang, if you still wish to live well together, try to see her virtues. She's raised A-He and A-Shu, and managed this household for years..."

"Mother, since we're speaking honestly, let me say it outright: I don't want to! I've long since stopped wanting to live with her! The bitter part is, I have no grounds to cast her out."

Old Madam Jia was stunned, sorrow rising within her. Erlang Wang, such a straightforward man, had been pushed to say something like this—how long must he have endured, until he could endure no longer!

The old woman said gloomily, "That's why, someone with twisted intentions is worse than someone like Madam Yao, whose faults are plain on her face and in her words. At least you can see it at a glance and guard against it."

It was only early afternoon, yet the courtyard had lost all warmth. Erlang Wang, feeling stifled, patted the ox's head and took up his basket and sickle to cut grass. Not long after he left, Wang Zhu and Madam Yang arrived.

Except for Wang Sanlang and Wang Zhu, who embraced each other in tears, the rest of the family were either surprised or felt distant. Wang Ai even asked, "Who is he?"

Wang Peng replied, "He's our eldest brother. Didn't you always ask where he went? Now he's back." But his sister hadn't asked in a long time, and even he himself only thought of his elder brother now and then.

At this moment, Wang Zhu knelt before the elders, tears streaming down his face. "I miss home. I won't leave again. Grandfather, grandmother, I missed you. Please don't abandon me. I won't go back to Shatun anymore..."

The old man Wang kept his face stern and said nothing.

Old Madam Jia's heart softened. She called Wang Zhu over and, smacking him on his backside, scolded with both anger and affection, "Serves you right! Now you know the value of home? Now you know your mother can't be trusted?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I know now. She isn't my mother anymore. She married away. My maternal grandparents won't tell me where she went. When she left, I didn't even know..."

Wang Ge watched coldly, thinking how hurt Madam Yao would be if she heard these words. This was the son she fought to preserve his reputation for, even risking being cast aside—yet in just half a year, he had become "not his mother"!

The old man Wang felt ashamed for having such an unfilial, ungrateful grandson. He sighed deeply; it was time to tell his wife the truth. But family shame could not be aired in front of outsiders, so he thanked Madam Yang: "You've gone through much trouble, bringing Wang Zhu back over such a long distance."

Madam Yang dared not meet anyone's gaze, only shook her head and lingered at the doorway.

"Grandfather," Wang Ge spoke up, "Our house can't accommodate everyone. While it's still light, I'll take grandmother and Madam Yang to the militia camp west of the village. Many of the militiamen are away in the county for contests, so there must be plenty of empty huts."

"Yes, yes. Go now." The old man Wang chastised himself for his foolishness. He had just considered letting this woman stay overnight, squeezed in the storage shed with the ox, forgetting there were two bachelors in the house. If she stayed, the village would be abuzz with rumors by morning.

Wang Zhu was sobbing uncontrollably, paying no attention to Madam Yang.

Low-ranking officials like village bailiffs and patrolmen, however low their rank, were still officials and need not join the militia contests. When Wang Ge arrived, Ren Suozhi, Cheng Shuang, and others were present. With Wang Ge there, Old Madam Jia wouldn't need to show herself; Wang Ge bowed and explained his purpose with a smiling face.

Surrounded by so many men, Madam Yang was frightened, but finally gathered the courage to say to Old Madam Jia, "I'm a widow; I can't stay here."

Ren Suozhi, in his loud voice, replied, "What's a widow afraid of? Cheng Shuang, take her to the dependent women's quarters—it's full of widows! Find her a wind-tight hut; surely she can make do for a night!"

"Thank you, Officer." Wang Ge bowed in gratitude and then explained to the nervous Madam Yang, "There's no other way. It's the Yao family's fault for not explaining. Our house is small; we can't accommodate outsiders. Tomorrow morning, you can have a free breakfast here, but after that, you must be on your way. We won't see you off."

Cheng Shuang called out to Madam Yang, "Come now, Master Wang isn't lying. Hurry up, and you'll still make it for supper at the dependent women's camp."

"Thank you, Officer," she said. Courtesy never hurts, and Wang Ge's gentle smile, with eyes curved, eased her worries.

Cheng Shuang waved her off, "It's nothing," and left with Madam Yang.

Grandmother and grandson walked back, and Wang Ge decided to warn grandmother about Wang Zhu. Tonight or tomorrow, the household would surely be thrown into turmoil. Grandmother was old, and if unprepared, could easily be overwhelmed.

Warnings, however, must be delivered properly.

"Grandmother, there's something... I may have done wrong, and I never dared tell uncle."

"Your uncle? What does it have to do with him? Don't be afraid, tell me. You've always been sensible; how serious could your mistake be?"

"That night, you and I stayed up in the courtyard to guard the lantern. There was a strong wind, and Wang Zhu came out very late, even going twice to the latrine! I found it strange and kept it in mind. The day after Madam Yao left our home, I asked Wang Zhu in the kitchen if he had caught the mouse while out at night, helping his mother in her misdeeds."

"What? And what did he say?"

"He was so frightened, he sat right down on the woodpile. I knew then I was right! I remember... When I left the kitchen in anger to tell grandfather, A-Shu entered. I don't know if he saw Wang Zhu sitting on the woodpile."

Old Madam Jia stopped in her tracks; age and experience led her to imagine worse things. "You told your grandfather? And he..."

"My grandfather trusts me, of course! But," Wang Ge gripped her arm, glanced around, and whispered, "If he questioned Wang Zhu directly, the boy's not stupid—would he confess? Besides, Madam Yao took all the blame herself. Does it matter if Wang Zhu helped catch the mouse? Maybe he didn't even know what his mother wanted it for. Only afterward did he realize and become frightened."

Wang Ge sighed, remorseful, "Today Wang Zhu came back—thin, dirty, just as when he left. He must have suffered in Shatun. I blame myself for going to grandfather without proof. Later, grandfather saw Wang Zhu mourning for Madam Yao, refusing food and water, crying all day—how could he expect any filial piety for uncle? He was disappointed and let him go to Shatun. The place must be poor, so Wang Zhu finally understood. Grandmother, seeing uncle cry so heartbreakingly today, I truly... truly feel sorry for him."

Old Madam Jia patted Wang Ge's hand, tears streaming in the cold wind. Even if she doubted her granddaughter, could she distrust her husband? Was he the type to drive their grandson away for half a year without evidence? No wonder he never let Sanlang bring this child back! "Grandmother understands. My precious was not at fault."

Who was right, who was wrong—did she need her granddaughter's reminders?

Wang Zhu, oh!

It must have been Madam Yao who bore the blame! The child who caught the mouse and intended arson that night was Wang Zhu!

"Grandmother, look, there's Second Uncle! Second Uncle!" Wang Ge waved vigorously toward the distance.

Erlang Wang jogged over, grinning foolishly, "What are you two doing out here?"

"Waiting for you, Uncle."

Erlang Wang laughed, tears in his eyes, bewildered. What was happening? Why such joy—so much he wanted to weep.

(End of chapter)