Chapter Fifty-Six: The Peacemaker

Luo Yinxian bustled home in a hurry, leaving Le’er to prepare the meal by himself. With more than ten mouths to feed, he couldn’t let everyone go hungry. The rice was already steamed; he washed and chopped vegetables, keeping himself busy and cheerful. Le’er had always been handy both inside and outside the house—a skilled farmer and an excellent cook—so preparing dishes was no trouble to him. However, cooking for so many people was undeniably tiring.

He was especially grateful for Luo Yinxian’s help during this time.

“Dinner’s ready!”

Le’er called out with a smile. The dozen or so carpenters and basket-weavers cheerfully put down their tools to wash their hands and faces. Le’er set the dishes on the table in the courtyard, arranged the bowls and chopsticks, and poured the wine.

“Le’er, you’ve got some real skill with a wok. These dishes are delicious!” Carpenter Luo praised after taking a bite. “You’re quite the talent—not only a village official, but also able to raise snakes and tend fields. Whoever marries you will be lucky indeed.”

“I doubt I’ll find a wife,” Le’er replied with a cheerful grin, raising his wine bowl alongside everyone else.

“Come with me to our Luo family tomorrow—you can pick any girl you like, tall or short, big-eyed or small-eyed… If you fancy one, I’ll be your matchmaker. There are over five hundred people in our family, and plenty of fine girls.”

“Sounds good,” Le’er laughed, “but not tomorrow. I need some time to prepare, after all.”

Everyone ate and drank with laughter and good cheer. The yellow dog circled under the table, picking up bones, but suddenly it dashed out of the courtyard, barking loudly.

“Yellow Dog, why are you making a fuss again? Who’s here?”

Le’er craned his neck to look, but before he could see, the door was already pushed open. The visitor was none other than Sha Qiang’s father, Sha Shengyuan.

“Uncle, what wind blew you here? Come in and have a drink.”

“No, no, I won’t drink,” the old man said, shaking his head with a beaming smile. “There’s chaos at Old Sha Shengshu’s house, and I’m at my wits’ end. I had no choice but to come ask you for help. You’re a village official—come and mediate for us, would you?”

Sha Shengshu was Sha Jinhai’s father and Luo Yinxian’s father-in-law. Sha Shengyuan was the group leader in the lower village and one of the most respected people there. Whenever quarrels erupted in the village, his intervention usually settled things. But today, with Luo Yin’s mother causing trouble, it seemed even his authority had failed.

“They’re really out of line—not giving even you any respect?” Le’er said with a smile. “But what are they fighting about?”

Of course, Le’er already knew, but he played along and asked.

“Sigh… you don’t know, but that rascal Jinhai has been keeping a woman outside the home, living and eating together. When Luo Yinxian’s mother found out, she came to raise a ruckus. She’s infamous for her temper—heavens, what a shrew! Her tongue is sharper than a knife; she’s been scolding for over an hour without repeating herself once.”

“No rush, Uncle. Have a bowl of wine first, and then we’ll go. She’s got plenty of energy—let her finish venting. No matter how fierce she is, she’ll tire herself out eventually. Once she’s worn down, she’ll be easier to reason with.”

“Ah… you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.”

The old man sat down beside Le’er, took up a bowl of wine, and drank while chatting with Carpenter Luo, frequently singing Le’er’s praises. Le’er smiled calmly and drank at leisure. Once the craftsmen had finished eating and returned to work, the two men continued to drink and eat as if they’d forgotten all about the mediation. The old man’s face grew flushed from the wine; he took off his shoes, curled his feet onto the bench, and began to joke and curse more freely.

“Uncle, I think it’s time to go now.”

They’d had enough to drink, and the afternoon was waning—the sun already slanting west. The old man, having lost face at Luo Yinxian’s mother’s hands, was reluctant to return and went home instead. Le’er, accompanied by the yellow dog, ambled toward Luo Yinxian’s house.

The village houses were built along the hillside, with a small stream winding between them. In the creek, flocks of ducks and geese dipped their heads into the mud, searching for fish, shrimp, and snails, occasionally lifting their heads to call out.

“Le’er, where are you off to?”

“Peach Blossom, it’s you,” Le’er greeted the woman ahead. “What good food did you eat? Your chest is so full, you’re about to burst out of your blouse.”

“You rascal, getting bold enough to tease your sister-in-law—are you hoping for a taste of milk?” Peach Blossom laughed, lifting her ample bosom with both hands in mock invitation. “Why not come to my room tonight? I’ll leave the door open for you.”

“I wouldn’t dare—you’d set your black dog on me,” Le’er shook his head. “I value my life too much.”

The other two women nearby burst out laughing.

“Le’er, you’re too timid. Peach Blossom’s milk smells so sweet.”

“Osmanthus, is yours sour then? Let me squeeze a little out to taste.”

With that, Peach Blossom reached out to grope Osmanthus, who quickly ran away. The women laughed and played together, and Le’er hurried past them.

The houses in the village stood side by side. Luo Yinxian’s home was at the far end, with an old house and a new one. The new house was a modest two-story building, the exterior undecorated, the inside whitewashed, with cement floors. The old house was tiled, where the elderly couple lived.

“Le’er, are you off to settle a quarrel?” An old man, seeing Le’er heading toward Luo Yinxian’s house, smiled and called out, “You’re a village official now—it’s your job to deal with this nonsense.”

“Yes, Third Uncle. Are you just back from the fields?”

The old man was leading a cow, barefoot and splattered with mud. Already, Le’er could hear the shouting and cursing coming from the old house. Quite a crowd had gathered to watch, and a few people tried to mediate. As Le’er approached, the onlookers parted to make way for him.

“The village official’s here! Le’er, go sort it out!” An old aunt flashed her toothless grin at him. Le’er smiled back, greeting the crowd one by one. Luo Yinxian’s parents-in-law had locked themselves in a room, too afraid to come out, and from within came the sound of an old woman weeping.

Luo Yinxian’s mother sat on the ground, cursing with a hoarse voice but still not stopping, her cries drawn out as if singing. Luo Yinxian stood beside her, at a loss.

“Yinxian, that’s your mother, isn’t it?” Le’er asked.

Luo Yinxian looked at him anxiously and nodded. Le’er didn’t go directly to the old woman, but first went inside and fetched a ladle of water from the kitchen.

“Auntie, your voice is hoarse already. Here—have some water to soothe your throat, then you can keep going.”

Le’er smiled pleasantly. The old woman eyed him suspiciously—she’d heard the villagers say he was the village official. Instead of scolding her, he brought her water—so she could continue her tirade?

“What are you up to, boy?” she grumbled. Her hair was streaked with gray; her face was wrinkled, but the shape of her features still resembled Luo Yinxian’s. She must have been quite pretty when she was young. She took the ladle and drank deeply.

“Auntie, aren’t you tired? You must be hungry, too,” Le’er said, taking back the ladle. “If you don’t mind, why not come to my place for a meal first, and then you can come back and scold some more?”

“Mother, stop scolding. The village official’s come to see you—you’re still at it?” Luo Yinxian pleaded. “Just look at yourself—completely worn out.”

“Not tired—no matter how tired, I’ll keep scolding! This whole family is no good. How is my Yinxian not a match for that worthless, good-for-nothing of theirs?” The old woman launched into another tirade. “That worthless bastard, bullying my daughter—when he dies, no one will bury him…”

“Auntie, please, don’t go on. You’re out of breath,” Le’er said, taking her by the arm. “Yinxian, help me escort your mother over to my place for a rest and something to eat.”

Luo Yinxian promptly took her mother’s other arm, and together they helped her up. The old woman was indeed spent—Jinhai’s parents wouldn’t open the door or respond, so her cursing was futile. With Le’er being a village official, she couldn’t refuse, and this gave her a way to save face.

Even as they walked away, she continued to curse under her breath.