Chapter Thirty-Five: Returning Home

Once a woman becomes fierce, there’s no remedy for it. Luo Yinxian was exactly like this now; ever since they boarded the train, she clung to Le’er and wouldn’t let go. She didn’t care who saw them, though fortunately, they didn’t run into anyone they knew.

“Wild husband, when we get to Shaoning, let’s get a room together.”

“Uh…” Le’er anxiously glanced around to see if anyone had noticed, but she’d whispered right against his ear, and in truth, no one was paying them any mind. There were plenty of men and women embracing on the train. “You crazy woman, so many people around and you’re talking like this—are you deranged?”

“If you dare do it, what are you afraid of saying?”

Luo Yinxian looked completely indifferent. Le’er was bewildered; just yesterday, this woman was all chaste and gentle, but today she was like this.

“You might not be afraid, but I am. I still need to find a wife, and if you ruin my reputation, who would marry me?”

“Even better if no one does! Then you’ll always be my wild husband,” Luo Yinxian giggled.

“Nonsense! I’m a fine young man, and you want me to end up stuck with a wild woman like you? Dream on!”

Luo Yinxian wasn’t angered at all; she just smiled at Le’er.

“Don’t worry, I won’t ruin your name.”

“If Sha Jinhai finds out, he’ll beat you to death.”

“Hmph!” Luo Yinxian’s face filled with ferocity. “I used to be too easy to bully—let’s see now, if he dares push me around, I’ll cut him down! His manhood is as small as an incense stick, yet he fools around with women. From now on, I’ll be a shrew. If he leaves me alone, fine, but if he dares provoke me, I’ll make sure his house turns upside down!”

Le’er shivered. Best not to cross a woman; once she becomes a lioness, there’s no stopping her. But hearing her foul words, his eyes filled with a teasing glint, and he burst out laughing.

Luo Yinxian let him laugh, but then whispered in his ear, “You, on the other hand, have plenty of manhood, but you keep it stuffed in your pants all day—it’s no different from having none at all.”

“You wretched woman, begging for a beating!”

Luo Yinxian struck a pose as if daring him to hit her, standing perfectly still. Le’er found himself at a loss for words.

They’d taken an overnight train and only arrived in Shaoning City the following afternoon.

“Le’er, go get a room, do you hear me?” Luo Yinxian tugged his hand, refusing to let go. “It’s almost dark anyway, let’s rest the night and head out early tomorrow.”

Le’er checked that no one was around and then gave her a hard squeeze on her backside, making her moan, though her eyes sparkled all the more.

“You wicked woman, I’ll teach you a lesson later!”

“Once the door’s closed, you can do as you please,” Luo Yinxian said, smiling coyly. “You can beat me all you want for the rest of my life, alright? You like to hit me there, not anywhere else, right?”

“I think sooner or later Sha Jinhai will beat you to death.”

“As if he’d dare! Do you think I’m the same Luo Yinxian as before?” Her eyes flashed fiercely again. “For the rest of my life, you can hit me or scold me as you like, but if anyone else so much as lays a finger on me or insults me, I’ll fight them to the death—I’d bite them to death!”

Hearing this, he was a little moved. He gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder and sighed. He didn’t really understand women. Many are fickle, but there are also those who, once they truly fall in love with a man, will remain devoted for life. You could hit them, scold them, torment them, but their feelings never waver. Like a house dog: you beat it, scold it, and it still wags its tail at you, never rebelling.

Perhaps Luo Yinxian was one of those women.

The next day, they arrived at Shuangqiao Town. This was truly their home—Xia Sha Village was only eight li away. Here, Luo Yinxian restrained herself and put some distance between herself and Le’er. Le’er glanced at her, thought for a moment, then pulled out his wallet and counted out five hundred yuan to hand to her.

“What’s this for? I’m not for sale, you know.”

Luo Yinxian looked at him angrily.

“We’re almost home, and you don’t have a cent on you. Take it and buy yourself something.”

“Why should I buy anything? After the way Sha Jinhai treated me, I’d be dreaming to buy anything for his parents!”

“Aren’t you going back to your mother’s house?”

When she heard this, Luo Yinxian accepted the money. Tears glimmered in her eyes.

“Le’er, you really are good to me,” she said quietly, then her eyes lit up. “Wait… Le’er, how do you have so much money? Did you strike it rich?”

“Rich, my foot.”

Le’er ignored her, went straight to the meat stall, and bought a chunk of pork. Then he went into a shop and bought two bottles of liquor and some fruit candies. Luo Yinxian didn’t follow him, but walked off on her own. Watching her back, a complicated look crossed his face. Shaking his head, he bought a carton of cigarettes too.

He wandered around the street for a while, and only after ten o’clock did he start heading toward Xia Sha. There was only a dirt road from the town to Xia Sha, no vehicles, so he had to walk home.

As soon as he entered the village, his yellow dog came running up, barking and wagging its tail. He’d left the dog in his great-uncle’s care, and now it looked well-fed, not at all thin.

“Ah Huang, you mutt, don’t you recognize your master?”

Le’er happily stroked the dog’s head, and the dog licked his hand enthusiastically.

“Le’er, you wild rascal, what brings you back? Struck it rich, have you?”

“Second Uncle, you’re still fit and healthy, I see.”

Le’er grinned and took out some cigarettes to share. More and more people gathered, especially children, who crowded around. He greeted everyone and handed out cigarettes.

“Le’er, you must have dug up a golden bull, giving out such good smokes.”

He’d bought Jinbaisha cigarettes. In the countryside, most older folks smoke pipe tobacco; few smoke cigarettes, and if they do, it’s the cheapest kind. Even the village secretary smoked the one-yuan-a-pack kind. Jinbaisha was ten yuan a pack.

“Rich? What riches? I’m just back, trying to look good, so I bought some decent cigarettes.”

Soon they arrived at his uncle’s house, and he brought out the candies for the children, who took them and ran off gleefully.

“Le’er, what brings you back so soon? Why not stay out a bit longer and earn some more money? There’s hardly any work in the fields these days,” his uncle said kindly, his face as furrowed as a plowed field. “And you’re spending money like water—do you think it grows on trees?”

Le’er didn’t reply, but took out the meat and liquor. His aunt happily took them into the kitchen to prepare food.

“Where’s Gang Mengzi? Not back yet?”

“Uncle, Gang Mengzi’s really done well for himself,” Le’er said with a smile. “Didn’t he write or call? If he comes back, he’ll probably bring you a beautiful daughter-in-law, maybe even a grandchild.”

“What do you mean?” his uncle frowned. Le’er animatedly described Gang Mengzi’s situation, and his uncle’s frown gradually relaxed.

“That rascal never settles down, but children will have their own blessings. We’re old, we can’t control them anymore. Let him do as he pleases, as long as he doesn’t go too far.”

His aunt had been listening from behind the door and now couldn’t help coming out, her wrinkled face blooming with smiles.

“Who’d have thought our Gang Mengzi would have such luck! Le’er, why don’t you find yourself a boss lady for a wife?”

“Auntie, you think boss ladies are easy to find? If I had Gang Mengzi’s luck, I’d have found one already.”

His words made his aunt even happier. His uncle scolded her before trotting off to the kitchen. Just then, a commotion broke out in the lower part of the village. Xia Sha Village was divided into Upper and Lower Village; his uncle lived in Upper Village, and Le’er’s own home was behind the village, belonging to neither.

“Huh, which house in Lower Village is arguing again?” his uncle frowned, but he wasn’t one to meddle. He kept chatting with Le’er. But Le’er recognized the voice: it was Luo Yinxian.

“Big Brother, are you home?”

“Shengtu, come in, Le’er’s back.”

It was Le’er’s second uncle, his father’s brother, short and stocky, with small eyes.

“Second Uncle, have a seat,” Le’er offered him a cigarette.

“Le’er, you must have struck it rich.”

“Far from it,” Le’er poured him a bowl of water. “It’s hard to make money out there, that’s why I came back.”

“Shengtu, which family in Lower Village is fighting?” his uncle asked.

“The Shengtian family,” Shengtu said, puffing on his cigarette. “His daughter-in-law’s making a scene, says that rascal Jinhai found a woman outside, and it’s a real uproar.”

“That daughter-in-law’s always been sensible, never raised her voice with anyone. Why is she arguing now?”

“This time it’s fierce. She even said she’d go find a lover to put a green hat on Jinhai. Serves him right—such a good wife at home and he still chases other women.”

His uncle frowned again. Le’er knew the real story but kept silent. At that moment, his aunt brought out the food and his uncle called his brother to the table. He didn’t open the store-bought liquor but instead ladled out three big bowls of homemade rice wine.

Le’er hadn’t tasted his hometown’s rice wine in ages. He took a sip and said, “Uncle, this is superb.”

“Drink up, there’s a whole vat of it.”

There were two large bowls of stewed pork on the table, along with eggs and green beans. Le’er ate and drank to his heart’s content.