AD (QT) Chapter 122

Han Ze’s three-day deadline made Han Xingwang’s family realize with sobering clarity that Han Ze had truly turned a cold shoulder. That sentence—a mother who marries out is spilled mother—made them understand they could no longer use Liu Jiahua’s status as his mother to constrain him or force him to provide food and drink for their household.

“What do we do?” Liu Jiahua asked Han Xingwang, her eyes vacant. “If we pay the rent, what will we eat?”

Han Xingwang didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Han Chengming and asked in a heavy voice, “What we discussed last night—have you two considered it?”

Han Chengming’s wife, Madame Hu, tugged at her husband’s sleeve. These were the sons she had suffered to give birth to and raised with great effort; she couldn’t bear to part with either of them. Han Ze’s son being a fool wasn’t her fault; no one was allowed to plot against her sons.

Han Chengming was also unwilling to give up a son for adoption to Han Ze. He stammered, “Dad, this isn’t my decision to make. It depends on Han Ze’s intentions.”

No matter how much they talked here, if Han Ze was unwilling, it was all empty talk.

Han Xingwang narrowed his old eyes. “I’m only asking if you are willing?”

Han Chengming bowed his head, refusing to speak.

In a fit of anger, Han Xingwang said, “Fine! Since you’re unwilling to give a child for adoption, I won’t force you, lest you resent me later. In that case, take out your private silver. In three days, we pay the rent.”

Han Chengming was stunned, saying in disbelief, “Dad, where would we get private silver?”

Han Xingwang laughed in fury. “If there’s no silver, then give a child to Han Ze. Whether you provide the money or the child, weigh it carefully and handle it yourself.”

He knew better than anyone whether his son had private savings. When disaster struck and they refused to do anything, he wouldn’t let them off. If they weren’t willing to pay now, they shouldn’t have enjoyed the goods Han Ze sent over in the first place. Since they had enjoyed the benefits, they had to share the responsibility.

Han Chengming hadn’t expected his father to say this. He spoke with difficulty, “Dad, doesn’t the family have any silver?”

Han Xingwang snapped, “Where would it come from?”

Madame Hu let out a wail, her face full of resentment and her voice shrill: “Ge Hongbu can’t birth a proper son, so why should she snatch mine? I refuse!”

Liu Jiahua darkened her face and glared at her. “What are you howling for? If you won’t give a son, then give the silver!”

Madame Hu stood frozen in place, her eyes bloodshot and her fingers clenched tight.

Han Chengming clutched his head in his hands and squatted down in pain. “Dad, Mom, don’t pressure me. Don’t pressure me.”

Madame Hu’s tears fell in a rush. She knew her husband’s heart was wavering. Thinking of this, she could no longer care for anything else. Supporting her eight-month-pregnant belly, she stumbled, wiped her tears, and said, “I’m going to find Ge Hongbu. I’ll go beg her…”

With that, she staggered out.

Liu Jiahua pointed at her in a daze, saying angrily, “The world is turning upside down! Upside down!”

Han Xingwang sighed. “Let her go. It’s a good way to test the waters and see what Han Ze’s intentions are.”

Liu Jiahua pulled back her hand. Thinking that her daughter-in-law was eight months pregnant, she suddenly slapped her thigh. “No, I have to follow her and see.”

After taking two steps, she turned back and kicked Han Chengming. “Get up! Chase after your wife before something happens.”

Han Chengming pushed his grief aside, scrambled up, and ran out, with Liu Jiahua trotting close behind him.

…

Ge Hongbu was returning from washing clothes at the river. As she passed Han Xingwang’s door, Madame Hu came out and spotted her. A flash of jealousy and hatred crossed Hu’s eyes. She stepped forward and grabbed Ge Hongbu’s arm. Ge Hongbu stumbled from the pull, turned around, and seeing the huge pregnant belly, suppressed her temper to ask, “Why are you grabbing me?”

Madame Hu’s eyes were red as she clutched Ge Hongbu’s sleeve. “Sister-in-law, I beg you, don’t snatch my son! Don’t snatch my son!”

Ge Hongbu pulled her hand away and frowned. “I have a son. Why would I snatch yours?”

Madame Hu wouldn’t give up. She grabbed Ge Hongbu again and pleaded, “Sister-in-law, it’s not my fault Xiaoliu is a fool. Please, just don’t take my son, okay?”

Ge Hongbu was instantly enraged. Not being able to give the Han family a healthy son had always been a knot in her heart. But now the doctor had seen him—Xiaoliu wasn’t a fool, and he would be speaking soon. Yesterday, the child’s father had even taught him to read and write, saying that once the boy spoke fluently, he’d be sent to the town school to eventually take the Imperial Exams. Usually, even though the village knew Xiaoliu was “silly,” no one said it to her face. Now Madame Hu was calling him a fool to her face and accusing her of wanting to steal her son?

“My Xiaoliu is perfectly fine! Why would I want your son?” Ge Hongbu was furious; Xiaoliu was her one sensitive spot that no one was allowed to touch.

Madame Hu was about to speak, but Ge Hongbu, knowing nothing good would come out of her mouth, cut her off and sneered: “Han Ze took Xiaoliu to see a doctor. The doctor said my Xiaoliu isn’t a fool; in fact, he’s very bright. You can rest easy—no one is snatching your son.”

Madame Hu didn’t believe it. If Xiaoliu wasn’t a fool, why hadn’t previous doctors noticed?

Ge Hongbu saw her doubt and said displeasedly, “This past market day, Han Ze took Xiaoliu to the best clinic in town. I heard the doctor there came from the provincial capital and has exquisite skills. How could those quacks compare to him?”

Ge Hongbu had heard before that a highly skilled doctor had arrived at Mingsheng Hall in town. She had even thought about asking that doctor to check her own body to see if she could conceive again. When Han Ze brought Xiaoliu back that day and she heard the name of the clinic, she knew it was that same doctor. Now that Xiaoliu was clearly getting better, she had set that plan aside.

Madame Hu stared at her in a daze, murmuring, “Is what you’re saying true?”

Ge Hongbu said impatiently, “Xiaoliu is my son; I wouldn’t talk nonsense about his matters.”

She turned to leave, but then added one last thought: “I won’t snatch your son. Forget the fact that Xiaoliu is fine now—even if he weren’t, we would only adopt a son from a side branch of the Han clan.”

Madame Hu watched Ge Hongbu walk away. For some reason, her heart felt a sense of loss. Xiaoliu was actually fine… Ge Hongbu’s luck was truly too good…

Liu Jiahua and Han Chengming walked out and saw Madame Hu standing there like a statue. Seeing Ge Hongbu in the distance, Liu Jiahua asked, “Did you just run into Ge Hongbu?”

Madame Hu nodded blankly. Before Liu Jiahua could ask more, she said to herself, “You can drop the idea of the adoption. Ge Hongbu said Xiaoliu isn’t a fool anymore.”

“What? What did you say?” Liu Jiahua asked loudly.

Madame Hu looked at Liu Jiahua, her face full of sarcasm. “Xiaoliu isn’t a fool. Han Ze has a normal son now; he doesn’t care for your grandsons. So, you don’t have to sell my son anymore.”

Liu Jiahua was both anxious and enraged. Seeing the mocking smile on Madame Hu’s face, she moved to slap her, but was stopped by Han Chengming. “Mom, she’s pregnant! What are you doing?”

Liu Jiahua pulled her hand back hatefully, glaring at Madame Hu with a dark face. “Since the adoption plan is dead, then pay the silver.”

Madame Hu gritted her teeth. “I don’t have silver.”

Liu Jiahua looked at her grimly. “That is not for you to decide.”

Han Chengming frowned. “Mom, why must you pressure her? We really don’t have any silver.”

“Bullshit!” Liu Jiahua looked at Han Chengming. “Don’t think your mother doesn’t know your true depths.”

Han Chengming felt irritable and complained, “We are both your sons. Why is Han Ze’s life so easy?”

Liu Jiahua froze and looked at Han Chengming suspiciously. “Are you blaming me?”

Han Chengming pursed his lips. He didn’t want to say that he was a little resentful. If—if only he were Han Maode’s son, he would have at least half of the family estate. Why would he have to worry about rent?

Although his son said nothing, his expression said everything. Liu Jiahua couldn’t believe it. “You’re really blaming me?”

Han Chengming felt guilty and changed the subject. “No, Mom, don’t overthink it. Just think about the rent. Han Ze’s attitude has made it clear that we can’t get out of paying. Even though our surname is Han, we aren’t from this village… no one here will take our side.”

Liu Jiahua snorted but didn’t press the matter further. She said, “In the past, Han Ze supported me, so it was fine for you to hide your private silver. But from now on, there’s no more support, and he’s collecting back-rent. You must take out your silver, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”

With that, she glanced at Madame Hu. Did she think Liu Jiahua didn’t know what she was thinking? Wanting to do nothing and just hide behind them to enjoy a life of ease? In her dreams.

Han Chengming supported Madame Hu. “Let’s go back and count how much silver we have. We’ll have to take some out.”

Madame Hu stopped in her tracks. “We haven’t even secured the silver for Jixue and Jiwen’s schooling yet! Besides, without Big Brother’s support, we have to pay so much rent every year. Chengzong, Chengxu, and Meizi aren’t married yet; Mom and Dad need to save silver for their weddings and dowries, so they definitely won’t pay for the boys’ schooling. I have another one in my belly—we need silver for everything. The silver we saved… I intended to keep it for their tuition…”

Hearing his wife’s words, Han Chengming was overwhelmed with worry. Without Han Ze’s support, was their family really in such dire straits? He said dejectedly, “Looking at it this way, it would have been better to give Jiwen or Jixue to Han Ze after all.”

Madame Hu paused and gave a bitter laugh. Now, even if they wanted the adoption, it wouldn’t happen. The man had a healthy son of his own—why would he raise someone else’s child?

…

When Ge Hongbu returned home, she told Han Ze about Madame Hu’s words. Han Ze wasn’t angry; instead, he laughed. “They are like dogs jumping over a wall in desperation, coming up with any crazy idea. Don’t mind them. If they can manage to stand on their own two feet by their own ability, I’d actually think better of them.”

Dogs jumping over a wall?

Ge Hongbu looked at her husband in shock. She thought to herself that her husband must truly hate Han Chengming and the others to use such a phrase.

But since he said not to worry about them, she dropped the matter. Besides, there was so much to do at home; she didn’t have the leisure to care about outsiders.

Three days later, Han Maode led a group of people to Han Xingwang’s house. Han Xingwang knew the rent had to be paid today and said nothing. With so many years of back-rent, the family’s grain certainly wasn’t enough, so they had to convert it to silver. It was a large sum, but when the family pooled their resources, they actually managed it.

Han Maode had several strong young men haul the grain to Wang Village, and as for the silver, he took it back and tossed it directly to Han Ze.

Han Ze hadn’t expected them to be so decisive in paying the full amount. It seemed he had subsidized them quite a bit over the years.

Han Maode snorted. “Most of the people in the village are of our Han clan. They had to pay. If they didn’t, they could forget about living a peaceful life in this village.”

Han Ze understood this logic. Previously, Han Ze hadn’t cared, so even if the villagers disapproved, they couldn’t say much. Now that Han Ze was no longer willing to be a sucker, the villagers naturally stood on his side.

Once the rent from Han Xingwang’s family was collected, Han Ze focused on teaching the children to read and write at home. On the days the girls went to the Wang family to learn embroidery, he dedicated his time to teaching Xiaoliu. After this period of instruction, Xiaoliu could already call out “Mom” and “Dad.”

When Han Maode heard his grandson calling “Mom and Dad,” he felt left out. He stopped going out and spent every day at home teaching his grandson to say “Grandpa.” Fortunately, Xiaoliu sensed his grandfather’s feelings and learned to say it within a few days, which made Han Maode overjoyed.

Time passed quickly, and the autumn harvest was approaching. Seeing that her son was better, Ge Hongbu wanted to visit her natal home so the child’s grandparents could see him. She thought it would make them happy and save them from constantly worrying about her. She weighed her words and broached the subject with Han Ze.

This wasn’t a major request, so Han Ze naturally agreed. He thought for a moment and said, “Da Niu and the others have been studying and embroidering non-stop lately; they’re tired. Let them rest the day after tomorrow, and the whole family will go. Tomorrow is market day in town; go buy some things and prepare.”

Ge Hongbu said in surprise, “You… you’re going too?”

Han Ze glared at her. “What? I’m not allowed?”

Ge Hongbu waved her hands hurriedly. “No, no, no! Not at all.”

She wouldn’t dare say that—she wouldn’t even dare think it.

Han Ze snorted. “I’m going to give you some face. Don’t be ungrateful.”

Ge Hongbu said repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes.”

Han Ze looked at her and said, “I know I resented you in the past because of Xiaoliu. Now that he’s better, let’s live our lives properly. Don’t overthink things.”

Ge Hongbu thought to herself: I’m not overthinking; I’m just afraid you are. You haven’t come back to my natal home with me in years.

…

The family had an ox cart. After breakfast, Han Ze brought it out, loaded the purchased wine, meat, and pastries, and the whole family climbed on to head toward Geba Village.

As they neared the village entrance, Ge Hongbu looked at Han Ze hesitantly. Han Ze frowned. “Why do you keep looking at me?”

Ge Hongbu felt guilty. “Nothing, nothing.” But her heart grew even more anxious.

Ge’s father and mother hadn’t expected their eldest daughter to visit today, let alone with their son-in-law. They came out to greet them joyfully. Da Niu and the others hopped off the cart and called out “Grandpa” and “Grandma,” and the elders responded with smiles. Over the past few days, Ge Hongbu had taught Xiaoliu how to address them. She held Xiaoliu’s hand and said, “Xiaoliu, this is Grandpa and Grandma. Come, call them.”

The parents looked at their daughter in surprise. Xiaoliu said clearly, “Grandpa. Grandma.”

The parents looked at Xiaoliu in disbelief and then back at their daughter. Only after seeing her nod and hearing Xiaoliu say it again did they burst into tears of joy. They pulled Xiaoliu into their arms, repeatedly calling him “good boy.”

Ge Hongbu’s brothers were relieved to see that Xiaoliu wasn’t a fool and could speak. No wonder their brother-in-law had come to the door today.

As the family was exchanging pleasantries, a woman walked in, and the room suddenly fell silent.

Ge’s mother glanced at Han Ze and said awkwardly, “Cuiju, why are you here?”

Ge Cuiju glanced at Han Ze. “I heard Big Sister was visiting. I haven’t seen her in a long time and missed her, so I came to see.”

Ge’s mother thought to herself: You say you miss your sister, but why are you staring at Han Ze?

“Then… come in.”

From the moment this woman named Cuiju entered, the expressions of everyone in the room became strange. Even Ge Hongbu looked uneasy. Han Ze arched an eyebrow—this Cuiju definitely had an issue.

Because the original owner had been insane when he died, the memories Han Ze received weren’t entirely comprehensive. Once he knew the Original Owner’s enemies, benefactors, and family situation, he hadn’t bothered with the unimportant memories. Now, digging through them again, he finally found something about Ge Cuiju in the depths of his mind.

After reviewing it, Han Ze could only think: Holy crap. The Original Owner and this woman had actually flirted with each other.

No wonder Ge’s parents and Ge Hongbu looked so strange.

After Ge Hongbu had given birth to a string of girls followed by a silly son, the Original Owner had developed the idea of taking a concubine. After a visit to Ge Hongbu’s natal home, he and the widowed Ge Cuiju had caught each other’s eyes.

However, due to a tragic incident decades ago, the Han clan had a rule: regardless of whether a man held an official title or not, he could only take a concubine after the age of thirty if he had no son. Violating this rule meant enduring two hundred strokes of the heavy board, or being expelled from the clan.

Han Ze had a son. Though he was silly, he was still a son. Furthermore, he wasn’t thirty yet. How could he take a concubine? But at the time, the two were passionately involved. The Original Owner, filled with hot-blooded passion, decided he would take the two hundred strokes—a real man could handle it.

But then, a scholar in the clan was caught having taken a concubine in secret. He was given the two hundred strokes, and his legs were broken on the spot. This terrified the Original Owner, and he never dared mention the concubine again. As for being expelled from the clan, that was even more out of the question.

When Ge Cuiju found out, she was so angry that she immediately remarried.

The Original Owner hadn’t visited the natal home in years, so he hadn’t known that the man Ge Cuiju remarried had also died.

Han Ze: “…”

He didn’t know if he was overthinking it, but looking at this woman’s expression, she clearly hadn’t given up on the idea of becoming his concubine.