GD (QT) Chapter 26

“I think he’s gone.”

Inside the house, Lin Lai was pressed against the window, her ears straining to catch any sound from outside.

Lin Pan sighed. “It’s for the best. Eldest Sister said she wants a divorce anyway; after that, there will be no connection between the two families.”

“I’m just afraid he’ll try something sneaky,” Lin Lai whispered, moving closer. “What if he sneaks in at night and steals Xiaohua away?”

Lin Pan saw things more clearly than her younger sister. “Sun Erniu is a coward. He only dared to come today because Father wasn’t home. He wouldn’t dare step foot here with Father around.”

Lin Lai agreed, but as she lay down, she couldn’t stop thinking about the day’s events. Even as a coward, Sun Erniu had easily tossed her broom aside with one hand. If the neighbors hadn’t intervened, the two sisters combined couldn’t have stopped him. She looked at her arms—they weren’t thick enough, weren’t strong enough.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Pan asked, noticing her sister was still awake.

Lin Lai bit her lip before finally asking, “Why couldn’t I beat him?”

“What?” Lin Pan didn’t understand.

Lin Lai turned over, huffing. “Sun Erniu is so useless, yet the two of us together couldn’t take him down. Why?”

“You were thinking about that?” Lin Pan was caught between annoyance and amusement. “We are girls. Girls naturally have less strength than men. It’s only normal that we couldn’t beat him.”

Lin Lai tossed and turned. “That won’t do. Sister, I need to become strong.”

Lin Pan laughed. “That’s something you’re born with. How do you plan to change it?”

Hearing her sister’s words, Lin Pan also began thinking about their situation. Eldest Sister was getting a divorce and escaping that man-eating Sun household, which made her happy. But that meant their household would consist of four women, all relying on their father for protection.

Their father was young and strong now, but what happened when he grew old? Maybe she should bring in a matrilocal husband and have several children so that even when their father was old, no one would dare bully them.

Lin Lai’s thoughts were different. After tossing for a while, she suddenly said, “Everyone says if you eat more, you get stronger. From tomorrow on, I’m going to eat more and work harder. My strength will definitely increase.”

“Will that work?” Lin Pan asked doubtfully.

Lin Lai was sure of it. “Look at Auntie Fatty in our village! She eats a lot and grew up tall and sturdy. Everyone says her work in the fields is no worse than a man’s, and her strength is enormous.”

Auntie Fatty was the stoutest woman in Qingshan Village—broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, and loud-voiced. Lin Pan’s mouth fell open. Her sister wanted to become like Auntie Fatty? She wondered if she should try to talk her out of it.

…

In the next room, Lin Zhao was also awake. So much had happened that while her body was exhausted, her mind was racing. Stroking her daughter’s hair, she worried about whether the divorce would go smoothly tomorrow and whether the Suns would let her keep Xiaohua.

“Mommy, don’t cry,” the little girl whispered, snuggling into her arms.

Lin Zhao touched her face and realized she was crying again. She quickly wiped her tears. “Mommy isn’t crying, just some sand got in my eyes.”

The little girl didn’t seem to believe her, but she hugged her tighter. “I’ll stay with Mommy.”

Lin Zhao felt a wave of warmth. “Xiaohua, from now on, Mommy will take care of you. No matter how hard it gets, we’ll stay together.”

Xiaohua nodded vigorously, then added, “And Grandpa, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt. All together.”

Lin Zhao laughed through her tears. “Yes, all of us together. Mommy knows how to do embroidery now. Did you know? Today Mommy earned thirty coppers. Thirty coppers can buy so much food. Was the candy I bought you today good?”

“Good!”

“I’ll buy it for you always. Mommy will work harder. Once my skill improves, I’ll earn even more. I’ll prepare a dowry for my Xiaohua and provide for your Grandpa’s old age. We will rely on ourselves, not on anyone else.”

The little girl’s warm body pressed against Lin Zhao’s heart, and she finally drifted into a dreamless sleep.

…

The Sun family, however, was in a state of unrest.

Sun Erniu had returned home bruised and swollen. Seeing him, Old Lady Sun started screaming about going to the Lin house for an explanation. But despite her jumping and shouting, the three Sun men didn’t budge.

Old Man Sun said, “Lin Er is too sinister. We won’t get any benefit by going to his door.”

Sun Daniu and Sun Erniu nodded in agreement. “Going to Qingshan Village is like walking into a tiger’s den.”

Since they refused, the two daughters-in-law hid in their rooms. Old Lady Sun gnashed her teeth, but she didn’t dare go alone. Lin Yu was terrifying when he fought, and even his two young daughters were ruthless—the last time, they had pinched her waist until it was black and blue.

“Is that it, then?” Old Lady Sun fumed, turning her anger on Erniu. “You’re an idiot! Why didn’t you bring that money-loser back sooner instead of getting yourself caught?”

They had indeed planned this, waiting for Lin Yu to leave before sending Erniu. Sun Erniu looked miserable. “I wanted to take Xiaohua and leave quickly, but the sisters started screaming the moment they saw me. The neighbors rushed out and tied me up.”

Thinking of the day’s events, he felt a wave of despair. “Mother… Zhaodi wants a divorce.”

Old Lady Sun snorted. “Hmph! Dream on! Once she married into the Sun family, she became a member of the Sun family. Even as a ghost, she belongs to us.” She had paid money for this daughter-in-law; there was no way she would let her go so easily.

Sun Erniu muttered, “My father-in-law says that since you took the dowry money back, the connection is severed. Tomorrow he’s coming to discuss the divorce.”

“What? He dares to come here?” Old Lady Sun shrieked. After hearing more details from her son, her heart sank. “Does Lin Er really intend to let his daughter divorce?”

Old Man Sun frowned. “He has the favor of the officials now; he’s becoming increasingly arrogant.”

“Having a divorced daughter at home is such a disgrace. Does he really not care?” Old Lady Sun still suspected it was a bluff.

Sun Erniu was terrified. “Mother, I don’t want a divorce. What if my father-in-law forces me to sign the papers?”

Old Lady Sun poked his forehead. “Are you stupid? If you don’t sign, what can he do? If he kills you, he’ll have to pay with his own life.”

Sun Erniu shuddered. He didn’t need to be killed—just thinking about his father-in-law’s gaze, which felt like cold knives on his skin, made him tremble.

Old Man Sun suddenly spoke: “Even if they divorce, that girl-child belongs to the Sun family.”

“Right! If they want a divorce, the child stays with us,” Old Lady Sun sneered. “I don’t believe Lin Zhaodi can bear to leave her child.” She comforted her son, “Lin Er is just trying to scare you. Don’t worry. When they come tomorrow, we’ll negotiate. As long as we have Xiaohua, Zhaodi won’t dare divorce. Mother won’t let you lose your wife and child.”

Sun Erniu felt much better. Still, the thought of Lin Yu’s arrival made all four Sun men feel phantom pains from the last time they were tied to trees and whipped. Old Man Sun stood up. “I need to go get the Clan Leader and the others. We can’t let them bully us tomorrow.”

“Dad, tell the Clan Leader to bring as many people as possible,” Sun Da’niu added.

Old Lady Sun whispered a final instruction to her husband: “If the Clan Leader is reluctant, tell him Lin Er wants a divorce and wants to take a Sun child away. If word gets out, the whole Sun clan will lose face.”

…

The next day, Lin Yu arrived with the Village Chief, the Clan Leader, and several strong young men from Qingshan Village, leading Lin Zhao and Xiaohua. When they reached the Sun house, it was surrounded by people—the able-bodied men of the Sun clan were all there.

What a massive show of force.

Lin Zhao was startled and instinctively hugged her daughter tighter. Lin Yu patted her shoulder and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. Father is here for everything.”

The Village Chief of Qingshan Village entered with a grim face. “What a grand display. One would think Sun Village was preparing to eat someone alive.”

The Qingshan Clan Leader, however, felt a twinge of envy. Having a whole village of the same surname was a powerful thing; the Clan Leader was the Village Chief. It wasn’t messy like their village.

The Sun Clan Leader was also in a difficult position. He thought this was just a typical mother-in-law/daughter-in-law squabble, but after three months, it had escalated to divorce. A divorce was a disgrace to both families.

“Old brother, why are you here? Good, good. Let’s all advise them to reconcile. Couples fight all the time. A bow and an apology, and it’s over. Why bring up divorce?”

The Qingshan Village Chief said coldly, “I’m just here as a witness. I’m not interfering in anything else.”

The Qingshan Clan Leader saw his chance to perform. “Reconcile? It’s easy for you to say! If our Lin Er had come any later to get her, his daughter would be dead! Would you have paid for her life then?” He glanced at Lin Yu as if to say, See? I’m working hard for you!

Lin Yu knew the Clan Leader was a “fence-sitter,” but he accepted the gesture.

The Sun Clan Leader felt humiliated. “Fine, discuss it yourselves. But if you try to bully a member of the Sun clan on our turf, I won’t allow it.”

Lin Yu didn’t even enter the house. He spoke directly and bluntly: “Let’s talk here. Sun Erniu, come out.”

Inside the house, Sun Erniu trembled, his legs turning to jelly. “Mother, what do we do? He’s really here!”

“What are you afraid of? We have so many people!” Old Lady Sun snapped.

The Sun family finally stepped outside. Old Man Sun tried to act the host. “In-law! Please, come inside and sit. Let’s have some tea and talk slowly.”

Lin Yu gave him no face. “There’s nothing to talk about. I came for the divorce papers today. They are already written; Sun Erniu just needs to sign and press his thumbprint in front of everyone.” He produced the prepared document.

Sun Erniu cried out piteously, “I won’t divorce! Zhaodi, say something!”

Lin Zhao didn’t even look at him. “If you still care for our past or if you still consider Xiaohua your daughter, then sign it and let us live.”

Sun Erniu just shook his head. “No, I won’t divorce. I don’t agree!”

Old Lady Sun sneered. “You say divorce, so it’s divorce? Your daughter has eaten and lived at our expense for three years. Now that your family is rich, you want to take her back? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world!”

“If you want a divorce, fine—pay the Sun family back for everything she’s eaten and used over the last three years!”

These words were so cruel that even some members of the Sun clan felt disgusted. They whispered among themselves that the old woman was so harsh it was no wonder the daughter-in-law wanted out.

Lin Yu let out a cold laugh. “My daughter has worked from dawn to dusk since she married into your house. Even if she were sold as a maid, she would have saved wages over three years. Yet in your house, she was ‘eating for free’?”

“A new bride works herself to the bone only to be accused of eating for free, and then has to pay her husband’s family to leave? I’d like to ask: is this the custom of Sun Village?”

Old Lady Sun went to curse again, but the Sun Clan Leader glared at her. “Speak properly! Don’t bring the village into this!” He feared that if this reputation spread, no one would marry their daughters into Sun Village.

Old Lady Sun realized she had no moral ground on that point. “That day you made me return the dowry, and I did! Everyone saw it!”

Lin Zhao spoke up clearly: “The custom of our generation is that once the dowry is returned, the marriage is no longer valid. Isn’t that right?”

The Sun Clan Leader was shocked. “You took the dowry money back?”

There were harsh families that made a bride return to her parents to ask for money, but it was usually done in secret. Taking the dowry back was a public declaration of a broken marriage. If the Suns took the money and the Lins gave it, the Lins could take their daughter back and remarry her whenever they wanted.

“Return the money to the Lins and apologize to Erniu’s wife. Let this matter drop,” the Sun Clan Leader said, already regretting getting involved.

Old Lady Sun refused. “He gave it voluntarily! Why should I give it back?”

Lin Yu said, “Since you won’t return it, you clearly agree to the divorce. Sun Erniu, isn’t that right?”

The Qingshan Village Chief added, “The Sun family has acted dishonorably. Zhaodi was a good girl when she married in; she worked hard and gave you a child, yet after three years, you took the dowry back.”

“If you don’t give us an explanation today, I’ll spread the word about what kind of people the Suns are,” the Qingshan Clan Leader shouted. “We may not have as many people as you, but we won’t be bullied. Our Lin Er is known by the Magistrate himself. If you won’t settle this, we’ll go to the Yamen and beat the drum of grievances!”

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow. The fact that the Suns had gathered so many people actually worked in his favor. Hearing the mention of the Magistrate, the Sun Clan Leader’s face paled. He glared at Old Lady Sun. “Give it back! Now!”

But Old Lady Sun didn’t have the money anymore. Since receiving it, she had spent most of it on meat and fish. Even if she had it, she would never part with silver once it was in her hands.

Suddenly, her eyes flickered. “Fine! Divorce it is! Erniu, write a letter of divorce for this unvirtuous woman and send her home!”

Sun Erniu was stunned. “Mother, what are you saying? I don’t want a divorce!”

Old Lady Sun gave him a sharp look and screamed, “Lin Zhaodi can go back, but that girl-child belongs to the Sun family! You won’t take her!”

Sun Erniu realized his mother’s plan and shut his mouth, squatting down in silence.

Lin Zhao watched their expressions, and any lingering hope for Sun Erniu died completely. She simply clutched her daughter tighter.

Old Lady Sun saw this and felt triumphant. As long as they had that “money-loser,” Lin Zhaodi would eventually come back. Once she returned, she’d beat her into submission, and then she could use her to drain the Lin family’s resources.

“I agree to the divorce!” Old Lady Sun shouted. “But the girl stays. Clan Leader, you can’t let a Sun child be taken away!”

The Sun Clan Leader agreed. “Lin Er, the Suns agree to the divorce, but the child stays. Her surname is Sun.”

The Qingshan Clan Leader also thought this was fair. A girl was just a girl. “Erzi, just sign the papers and be done with it. Leave the kid; it’ll be easier for Zhaodi to remarry without a child.” He thought he was being helpful.

The Qingshan Village Chief was smarter; he saw the looks on Lin Yu and Lin Zhao’s faces and knew they would never leave the child. “Lin Yu, what do you think?”

Xiaohua was terrified. Realizing she might be left behind, she clung to Lin Zhao’s neck and wailed. Lin Zhao whispered, “Don’t be afraid. Mommy won’t leave you.”

Hearing this, Old Lady Sun was gleeful, and even Sun Erniu felt relieved. As long as they had the child, they could control Lin Zhaodi. And if they controlled her, Lin Yu’s success meant nothing.

Lin Yu, however, had no intention of sacrificing Xiaohua. He had raised her for three months until she was fair and plump; there was no way he was throwing her back into that pit.

Facing the eyes of his daughter and granddaughter, Lin Yu spoke: “Xiaohua is currently surnamed Sun. That is why I want her to change her surname to Lin.”

“In your dreams!” Old Lady Sun shrieked. “She is my granddaughter! Life or death, she belongs to my house! You aren’t taking her!”

Old Man Sun added, “Clan Leader, divorce is fine, but they cannot take a child of the Sun family.”

The Sun Clan Leader frowned. “Your request is unreasonable.”

Lin Yu gave a calm smile. “Listen to what I have to say first, then decide if you agree.”

“No matter what you say, she is my granddaughter!” Old Lady Sun barked.

Lin Yu threw out a single sentence: “I am willing to pay five taels of silver to have Xiaohua change her name to Lin and become a member of the Lin family from this day forward.”

Five taels of silver!

The crowd gasped. In the countryside near Qingshan Village, a dowry to marry a wife was only one tael. Five taels could buy five wives. In the city, a young maid could be bought for only two taels—and that was for a life-contract.

Lin Yu’s offer of five taels just for the “naming rights” was an enormous sum. The Suns, who had been shouting their refusal, froze. They looked at each other, and he could see the greed in their eyes.

They knew that if Lin Zhaodi took Xiaohua to live at the Lin house without a formal agreement, they wouldn’t get a single penny. Sun Erniu had visited several times and received nothing but a beating. While they wanted Zhaodi back, five taels of cold, hard silver was a different story!

Old Man Sun suddenly spoke: “Ten taels. Give us ten taels and you can take her.”

Ten taels!

The Qingshan Clan Leader jumped up. “You think that girl is made of gold? Ten taels? You’re dreaming!”

Old Lady Sun screamed, “Ten taels! If you can pay it, you can take the money-loser and she can be named whatever you want! But not a copper less!”

Sun Erniu was the only one who wanted to object, but before he could speak, his mother pinched his arm hard. “That’s ten taels! Enough to marry ten wives! I’ll find you a beautiful young one!”

Sun Erniu’s mouth hung open. He didn’t understand how “reconciliation” had turned into “selling his daughter.” He looked at Lin Zhao, hoping for a glance, but she stood far away, holding her daughter as if he were a piece of filth. He lowered his head and shut his mouth.

Lin Yu’s expression didn’t change; he had expected this reaction. But he wouldn’t indulge their bottomless greed. “Five taels. We sign the papers now, with everyone as witnesses. If you don’t agree, I am taking them home right now.”

“No! She’s a member of the Sun family!” Old Lady Sun shrieked.

Lin Yu sneered. “For the last three months, A-Zhao and Xiaohua have lived at my house. If you want her back, fine—pay me for every scrap of food and every drop of water they’ve consumed in that time.”

He threw her own words back in her face. Her expression turned from red to white. She would never return money; it was impossible.

“Nine taels,” Old Man Sun tried again.

Lin Yu turned to leave with his people.

“Wait! Eight taels! We’ll never recognize her as a granddaughter again!”

“Seven taels? Is seven taels okay?”

“The girl is pretty; she’d fetch several taels as a maid in town! Six taels! Give us six taels and add one more!”

Seeing that Lin Yu was actually walking away without looking back, the Suns realized they were about to lose both the child and the money.

“Fine! Fine! Five taels!”

Lin Yu stopped. “Five taels. Sign the papers immediately.”

Old Man Sun agreed sullenly, and Old Lady Sun excitedly dragged Sun Erniu over to sign.

Even the Sun Clan Leader was disgusted. “Think carefully! If you give her to the Lins, she truly becomes a Lin.”

Old Lady Sun didn’t care. “The money-loser will marry out anyway. We’re just collecting the dowry early.”

Sun Erniu’s fingers were trembling. He couldn’t read or write, so he had to press his thumbprint. He understood that once he pressed his thumb down, his daughter would no longer be a Sun.

“Hurry up!” Old Lady Sun couldn’t wait. She grabbed his finger and pressed it down hard.

The red ink on the paper was as bright as blood. Sun Erniu shuddered. He looked up and saw Lin Zhao’s cold, contemptuous eyes. Xiaohua was in her arms, watching him with dark, silent eyes.

Old Lady Sun grabbed the document. “Five taels! Cash for the goods!”

Lin Yu checked the document carefully. Finding it in order, he produced five taels of silver. “Xiaohua is the Lin family’s treasure, not ‘goods’.”

Old Lady Sun’s eyes were glued to the silver. “Only your house would treat a money-loser like treasure. Take her and go! She’s nothing but bad luck.”

Lin Yu tucked the document away. “Let’s go.”

Lin Zhao carried the child and followed him.

“Zhaodi! Xiaohua!” Sun Erniu couldn’t help but shout.

Lin Zhao stopped. She handed the child to her father and walked back toward him, one step at a time. Sun Erniu started to smile, thinking she had softened.

She spat directly in his face. Her expression was one of pure coldness and disgust.

“You coward. I despise you.”