Chapter 15

The Zhou house seemed empty; after standing in the yard so long no one had come out. The locals knew the Zhou family, but they didn't know these people who had turned up with hoes, threatening to "talk sense" into them. Someone asked, "What did the Zhou family do?"
The old woman sneered, "What did they do? The eldest son of the Zhou family has bad intentions, he's been cozying up to my daughter-in-law. It's been seen more than once; I even brought witnesses."
The crowd fell silent for a moment, then began whispering, the voices growing louder. Many said they'd seen the Zhou Chengwen walking closely with a woman who looked married.
Hearing that, the old woman grew even more self-righteous. "See? So tell me, do you think the Zhou family is in the right?"
"You can't make such a racket," the town chief finally arrived, breathless. "If you have something to say, say it, don't bring tools like that. The autumn harvest is near; it would be bad if someone got hurt. The Zhou family isn't home; calm down."
"That won't do, hand him over," the old woman snapped, waving her hand. "He can't hide while you send me off. If I don't see him today, I'm not leaving!"
Saying that, she plopped down on the ground as if prepared to stay forever. The men with hoes shouted, demanding they hand the person over.
The crowd fell mute; no one could persuade her. Mrs. Xu, Li Qingmiao's mother, looked pale, and Li Qingmiao stood beside her, worried.
Someone else asked, "Auntie, did your son come?"
At the question, the woman's tears poured out. "My poor son was struck down by that ill-omened woman. I never thought that in less than a year since he was gone she'd be entangling herself with the Zhou Chengwen. Since I found out, I can't eat, I can't sleep, I honestly want to go join my poor boy."
The crowd suddenly understood: she was a widow, which made the situation easier to grasp. And anyway, however foolish the Zhou Chengwen might be, or however difficult marriage arrangements were, they thought he wouldn't stoop to taking up with a married woman.
But this was Wang village; the Zhou family had lived here for years and knew many people. Someone quickly advised, "Auntie, you're wrong. A widow remarrying is something even the magistrate's office would approve of, you can't act like this."
"What do you know?" the woman snapped. "The Zhou family has bad intentions. My daughter-in-law promised at my son's grave she'd take care of me. Besides, she knows how to make tofu, the ancestral recipe. I don't believe Zhou Chengwen wouldn't covet that recipe."
That left the crowd at a loss for how to argue. Just then Zhou Chengwen hurried into the yard. Seeing the old woman in the middle of the gathering, he rushed forward, "Auntie, you, "
"You bastard, you finally show up!" the woman barked. She scrambled to her feet and raised her hand to strike. Zhou Chengwen put his hand up to block and hurried on, "Auntie, I've spoken with Meihua, we'll take care of you in your old age and see you through to the end!"
She had snatched a hoe from someone nearby to bring down on his head, but his words stopped her mid-swing. "Really?"
"In front of all these people, of course it's true!" Zhou Chengwen said earnestly. "If you don't believe me, I swear to heaven, if I do not care for Aunt Liu in her old age and see her out, may heaven strike me down!"
Aunt Liu froze, then scanned the faces around her, set down the hoe and waved her hand. "Quick, quick, let's go. We have things to discuss."
Across the yard, Mrs. Zhou had rushed back from the fields when she heard there was trouble at home. She had only reached the gate when she heard her son's oath; her legs went weak, she leaned against the fence and slid slowly to the ground.
The crowd was stunned by the sudden turn. Turning, they saw Mrs. Zhou at the gate with a dazed look. Mrs. Xu stepped forward, "Auntie, what's wrong?"
Mrs. Zhou sighed. "I'm fine."
Mrs. Xu didn't much mind. After all, the second Zhou was marrying into her household and would move in; they'd be relatives, helping one another as neighbors do. Even if the Zhou Chengwen married a widow or took someone in, it wouldn't directly affect her household.
Still, it mattered a little. If the Zhou Chengwen settled his marriage, even to a widow, that would resolve one marriage problem and it would soon be Li Qingmiao's turn. Thinking that, Mrs. Xu smiled. "Auntie, you should put your mind at ease, this could be a blessing, right?" She lowered her voice and leaned in, "But if you carry on like this, what if they refuse?"
Lines on Mrs. Zhou's face deepened; she had to admit Xu was speaking plain truth. Even a widow might not be accepted, knowing that only made her more puzzled.
Li Qinghe followed the crowd outward. She had been at the front when watching, but now she fell behind, and stepping outside she saw Zhou Chengkang hurrying back.
Seeing the people leaving in the distance, Zhou Chengkang felt a private relief; since no fight had broken out, it couldn't be too serious. He waved to the others and was about to go in when he looked up and met Li Qinghe coming out of the yard.
His eyes filled with a gentle smile and surprise. "Qinghe…"
Li Qinghe raised an eyebrow. "What have you been doing lately? You look busy."
"Lately…" he hesitated as if something was hard to say. "I'll be free in a few days. I heard you were clearing the pond, when I have time I'll come help."
"No need," Li Qinghe refused. "It's already finished." With that she turned and walked home.
"Qinghe, I have something to tell you," Zhou Chengkang's voice called from behind.
Li Qinghe ignored him. To be honest, there was nothing between them; Zhou Chengkang had not declared his feelings, and after all, they had a lifetime, who was in a hurry?
Zhou Chengkang watched her walk away without turning back, his heart pounding. He hurried after her a few steps. "Qinghe, I've been to the county town a few times recently."
"What for?" Li Qinghe asked, curious. Peasant households like theirs rarely thought of going to the county town, they couldn't afford most of the things sold there.
Zhou Chengkang's eyes shifted nervously; his voice sounded faint. "I went to the fish ponds to do odd jobs feeding the fish."
Li Qinghe looked at him. The image of him in her previous life, collapsing before a tombstone and wailing, flashed before her again. Her feelings were complicated and hard to name, aching, swollen, her eyes stinging, and she couldn't help asking, "What did you learn to do? To help me raise fish? What if I don't ask you?"
"You don't need to ask me; I want to help on my own," Zhou Chengkang said, a little urgent.