Chapter 53: Returning the Favor

Upon returning to the village, Wen Mubai immediately sought out Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming. The three of them sat together in Tang Banxia’s home.

Wen Mubai took a careful look at his two young comrades. He hadn’t noticed before, but now—

Oh!

“Did you two run into a fox spirit?” He glanced at their drained faces, as if all their vitality had been sucked away—he couldn’t bear to look.

Hu Qixin, unshaven and listless, cupped a coarse porcelain bowl in his hands. Steam curled from the bowl, misting his eyebrows and eyes. His voice was hoarse: “Brother Bai, don’t tease us anymore.”

Sun Wenming was even worse off: “Brother, how did things turn out?”

Seeing the state they were in, Wen Mubai dropped the jokes. He explained the whole situation, then said, “It’s over now. The two Ma Wu brothers were caught, but you still need to keep this matter to yourselves.”

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming nodded eagerly. For days, ever since the news broke, neither had slept well, plagued by fear, afraid that Ma Wu’s associates would track them down.

“All right, you grown men, stop acting so cowardly. It’s done and over with.” Wen Mubai patted their shoulders, then took out the envelope from Director Yu: “We didn’t work for nothing.”

He placed the envelope between them. “This is the reward from Director Yu in the county.”

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming glanced at the bulging envelope, then at each other. “Brother Bai, we can’t take this.”

Sun Wenming echoed, “Exactly, do you take us for that kind of people?”

Brother Bai had taken the greatest risk; the two of them hadn’t contributed much at all. How could they justify taking a reward?

Wen Mubai ignored their protests and opened the envelope himself.

Its contents were substantial: ten large bills, fifty pounds of coarse grain coupons, ten pounds of fine grain coupons—a generous gesture.

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming couldn’t deny the temptation, but quickly suppressed their eagerness, their faces resolute. “Brother Bai, you keep it. We really can’t accept.”

Wen Mubai hadn’t expected so much inside, but his eyes flashed. Without further argument, he divided thirty yuan and twenty pounds of coarse grain coupons to each. “This is what you deserve.”

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming tried to refuse.

“It’s not just a reward,” Wen Mubai insisted, “It’s hush money.”

Sun Wenming protested, “No need for hush money.”

“I say it’s needed.” Wen Mubai wouldn’t let them decline, stuffing the money and coupons into their pockets.

“You’ve accepted something, so you’ll be more cautious. This matter stays between heaven, earth, and the three of us. You must keep it to yourselves—not your parents, not your future wives, no one.” Wen Mubai grew solemn.

“Besides, I took more than you. If anything, I’m profiting.”

“Brother Bai, that’s not how you calculate things,” Hu Qixin said helplessly.

“It’s settled.” Wen Mubai was adamant.

Unable to win the argument, Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming accepted the money and coupons. Though forced, their hearts felt warm.

They knew Brother Bai had said all that just to get them to accept. With gratitude in their eyes, they looked at him, nearly moved to tears.

Wen Mubai: …

Ugh, disgusting!

After sending off his sticky little brothers, Wen Mubai sidled up to Tang Banxia’s side. He did nothing in particular, just leaned close, refusing to be apart from her.

He didn’t speak, just rested against her.

Tang Banxia, limited in movement, let out a sigh. “What are you doing? I can’t even move my hands!”

Wen Mubai didn’t answer, only kept smiling.

Tang Banxia glanced at him, muttering, “Fine.”

Given his good performance today, she’d let him be clingy.

That day.

Early in the morning, the Tang family’s door was knocked upon. The visitor was none other than Hu Zhaodi.

“Tang Educated Youth, thank you.” As soon as she entered, Hu Zhaodi gave Tang Banxia a deep bow.

“What are you doing!” Tang Banxia quickly stepped down to help her up.

A smile broke through Hu Zhaodi’s thin, dark face. “Tang Educated Youth, I’m sorry!”

Tang Banxia: ???

“The rumors about you were spread by my brother and my mother,” Hu Zhaodi confessed. “But my mother was urged by someone else.”

After much consideration, she decided to come to Tang Educated Youth’s home.

“It was Liu Educated Youth, Liu Liyun,” Hu Zhaodi explained. “She guided my mother to spread those words.”

She wasn’t stupid; she’d heard of the feud between Liu and Tang Educated Youth. When Liu spoke in front of her mother, she understood the implication. But—well, it wasn’t her concern.

She could barely protect herself, let alone help others.

Tang Banxia was stunned.

So much time had passed; if not for Hu Zhaodi, she’d have forgotten.

Sensing the girl’s unease, Tang Banxia quickly smiled warmly. “It’s all in the past. Thank you for telling me.”

Hu Zhaodi shook her head, pursed her lips, bowed again, and ran out.

Tang Banxia watched her leave, the corners of her mouth lifting, then returned inside.

Inside, the industrious Wen Mubai was cutting fabric. Hearing her footsteps, he didn’t look up. “Wife, you’re just going to let it go?”

“How could I?” Tang Banxia retorted.

Wen Mubai finally set aside his work. “What are you planning?”

“Of course I’ll give her a taste of her own medicine,” Tang Banxia replied naturally.

She held leverage over Liu Liyun.

Though she hadn’t been entirely certain at first, her sharp-tongued best friend had revealed some details during a discussion about the plot’s aftermath, which she vaguely remembered.

She’d tested Liu Liyun once; her reaction had confirmed it.

Seeing Tang Banxia’s sparkling eyes, Wen Mubai’s anger faded. “What are you going to do?”

“Just wait and see,” Tang Banxia teased.

That afternoon, she took pumpkin seeds, her sewing basket, and strolled over to Sister Sun’s house.

She called Sister Sun, and together they went to find Sister Hu.

“Big Sister Tang, Aunt Sun.” Sister Hu’s youngest son was playing marbles at the door. Seeing them, he greeted them sweetly.

“Yangdan, is your mother home?” Tang Banxia patted his head, slipping him a handful of pumpkin seeds.

“She’s home.”

With his prize, Yangdan’s eyes squinted in delight, eagerly leading them to his mother.

The Hu family hadn’t split into separate households. As the three entered the yard, they happened upon Aunt Hu coming out for the latrine.

“Little Tang Educated Youth, from the Mancang family, what brings you here?”

“We were bored at home, came to chat with Sister Hu. Aunt Hu, why don’t you join us?” Tang Banxia lifted her sewing basket.

“Sure, you go ahead, I’ll follow in a bit.” Aunt Hu straightened her clothes and hurried to the outhouse.

Tang Banxia and Sister Sun entered Sister Hu’s room.

Hu Jiaguo was inside, twisting hemp rope. Seeing them, he tactfully took his rope and headed to the main room. “You ladies talk, you talk.”

He even dragged his eldest son along.

In the blink of an eye, only the three women remained.

Sister Hu invited them onto the kang. “You’re just in time, I was bored to death.”

“What, with Jiaguo’s company you’re still not satisfied?” Sister Sun teased, winking mischievously.

Sister Hu blushed, pinched her chest, “Not enough!”

Winter days were dull and the outdoors too cold; it was perfectly normal for familiar women to gather for sewing and chatter.

Soon, Aunt Hu arrived with Hu Chunhua in tow...