Chapter 44 Jiang Cheng’s Letter

"I didn't do it!" The door to the third Song family's house opened with a creak, and Song Qing stood inside, her posture straight as she spoke each word clearly: "Captain, I have never done it."

Hu Dashan scrutinized Song Qing's expression, finally noticing something unusual. This girl seemed far too composed.

"Then come with me and explain yourself," Hu Dashan said, rising to his feet without further argument. "Third Song's wife, you should come along too. Qing is still young, after all."

Third Song's wife shrank back. "I...I..."

"Mother, I didn't do it. Please trust me," Song Qing reassured her gently.

"I'll go," Third Song's wife declared, her face set with the determination of someone going to their doom.

Hu Dashan was too tired to say more and turned to leave. After a few steps, he called back, "If you don't get back soon, your work credits will be docked."

Sister-in-law Sun and Sister-in-law Hu exchanged glances. "Tang, we'll head back first. Don't rush," they said.

The two hurried home, and Tang Banxia tidied up her things as well. "Aunt Song, you're fine. Just eat less sweet potato—too much of it causes heartburn."

Old Lady Song nodded. "As long as I'm alright."

Tang Banxia gave some final advice about dietary habits and returned to the drying yard.

Hu Dashan was gone for the rest of the day, only returning late that night, accompanied by Wang Siyun, who walked with a cane, and Song Qing and her mother.

Once back, he said nothing, only announced, "Slaughter the pig and share the meat!"

At that, all thoughts of Wang the educated youth, Song Qing, and the rest vanished. The villagers could think of nothing but meat, meat, meat!

Gu Yue Village didn't raise pigs; getting meat was hard. Now, they got to eat for free, and everyone was overjoyed. Even their attitudes toward Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai softened considerably.

Last night’s wild boar weighed over two hundred catties with skin and meat. After removing the bones, there were more than one hundred sixty catties of pure meat.

Hu Dashan decided to divide it evenly, regardless of gender—everyone got two taels, no need for work credits.

Some rejoiced, others sighed. Those with small families got less meat, while households with many members were thrilled.

Who wouldn't be happy with two taels of meat for free?

While the meat was distributed in lively fashion, Aunt Hu and her daughters-in-law set up pots and boiled water for slaughtered pig dishes.

Pig bones, heart, lungs, blood sausage, and so on, mixed with radishes, cabbage, and potatoes, cooked into a single pot, each family got only one ladleful—no more.

The weather had turned chilly. People gathered around the drying yard, talking, laughing, and eating, delight shining in every face.

Under the moon, the smiles were sincere and bright.

Tang Banxia sat beside Wen Mubai, humming off-key tunes and gazing at the star-filled sky, feeling that Su Nianhua had finally done something worthwhile.

After the autumn harvest, the weather grew colder by the day.

One evening, Tang Banxia received a letter returned from Jiangcheng.

When Huang Xiaocui called her to the brigade office, Accountant Hu and the others looked at Tang Banxia with strange expressions. "Tang, there's a letter for you."

Tang Banxia nodded.

Accountant Hu sifted through more than ten letters and handed them to Tang Banxia. "All of these are yours—returned to sender."

Tang Banxia took the letters without explanation, tucked them into her bag, nodded politely, and returned to the clinic.

Back in the clinic, she checked each returned address but didn't bother any further.

Letters sent and returned meant the people couldn't be found—her parents weren't there.

Over the next few days, every letter she sent out was returned.

The weather grew even colder.

"Tang, Tang!" Hu Chunhua came in from outside. "These are your returned letters. My father asked me to give them to you."

Another seven or eight envelopes returned.

After checking the addresses, Tang Banxia tossed them into the brazier without much care, watching the flames slowly consume them.

"Chunhua, that's all for today. I'm heading home."

Tang Banxia stood, "Tell Xiayu that the acupuncture charts I told you both to memorize must be at your fingertips—any unfamiliarity is unacceptable."

"I'll tell him," Hu Chunhua promised.

When she first arrived at the clinic, she thought Tang Banxia would make things difficult for her.

But after several months, Tang's attitude toward her and Xiayu was consistent; she never excluded them when treating patients. Gradually, Hu Chunhua's unease faded, and she began to truly regard Tang Banxia as her mentor.

Now, she followed Tang Banxia’s words to the letter.

With the weather turning cold and firewood running low at home, Wen Mubai didn't even need prompting; he took the initiative to gather his two best friends.

They spent an entire day building a mountain of firewood for Tang Banxia’s household. Of course, Wen Mubai made sure his friends weren't working for free.

"Wife," Wen Mubai said on the way home, taking the bag from Tang Banxia’s hands, "I have to go out tonight."

"Be careful," Tang Banxia reminded him.

Wen Mubai smiled.

That night, after a good meal and rest, Wen Mubai climbed over the wall and left. He only returned at dawn, exhausted.

His night's haul: five catties of white flour, three catties of eggs, and a large piece of beef.

Tang Banxia sorted it all, then cooked a big pot of dumpling soup. "You can get beef from the neighboring village?"

Wen Mubai ate hurriedly, answering between bites, "I was lucky, just happened to meet someone selling beef. Too bad, I only managed to snatch this much."

"It's already good," Tang Banxia said, eyes watering at the sight of the fresh red beef. "Can you get beef fat?"

Beef hotpot paired perfectly with winter.

Wen Mubai shook his head regretfully. "I got there late. By the time I arrived, all the beef fat was gone."

Tang Banxia: Disappointed!

After dinner, she sent Wen Mubai off to sleep.

"Bang bang bang—"

"Tang!"

"I'm coming," Tang Banxia called.

"Sister-in-law Hu?"

Sister-in-law Hu carried a basket. "Someone from my mother's family came and brought mountain goods. I thought I'd bring you some."

Tang Banxia invited her in to warm by the fire. "Thank you, Sister-in-law Hu."

She tossed a few chestnuts into the brazier.

Fresh from seeing her family, Sister-in-law Hu came to find Tang Banxia. "Banxia, have you heard? Wang the educated youth had a falling out with the commune."

Tang Banxia shook her head. "No, what happened?"

"It's about the previous incident with the Song family. Wang tried to report Song Qing, but it didn't work. The villagers found out, and their attitude toward the educated youths worsened. So the others blamed it all on Wang."

Tang Banxia peeled a chestnut. "Not surprising."

Those educated youths were always quick to avoid blame and push responsibility onto others; complaining was their default.

"Wang isn’t easy to bully either. She fights with the commune every three days, has a minor quarrel every five days. My father is nearly driven mad," Sister-in-law Hu complained openly about the commune.

After sharing the gossip, Sister-in-law Hu remembered her main purpose. "Banxia, do you still have animal medicine? My mother's family wants to buy some."

"I do," Tang Banxia replied. "How much do you need?"

"Ten packets," Sister-in-law Hu said.

Tang Banxia handed her ten packets.

"How much?" Sister-in-law Hu asked after taking them.

"It's not worth much. I like mountain goods. Just bring me more next time," Tang Banxia said sincerely.

Sister-in-law Hu looked embarrassed. "That's easy. Mountain goods are plentiful in my mother's village."

Once Sister-in-law Hu left, Wen Mubai came out of the bedroom. "Banxia, you just gave the medicine away?"

"You don't understand—I'm fishing for bigger returns," Tang Banxia replied coolly.

Sister-in-law Hu's mother's family lived deep in the mountains. Conditions were harsh, but hides and such were never lacking.

"Winter is almost here. I want to get a few hides to send to my parents."

"Do you know where your parents are?" Wen Mubai asked.