by Zhou Daxin
“We’ll see. We have to get through this. We’ll buy another one when we have money.”
Nuannuan was determined. One morning when everyone was having breakfast in their yards, Nuannuan had Kaitian lead the cattle outside. She called out: “Cattle for sale! Whoever wants it shall buy it!”
People came over with their bowls in hand. Spotty Laosi was the first to ask about the price. Nuannuan answered: “You all know about this good cattle. It will cost anyone at least 1,500 yuan in the market. But today, I’ll give it to you for 1,300 yuan.”
Jiuding said: “I know you don’t want to sell this cattle. You are peasants and you can’t work without cattle. Don’t sell it at such a low price. Keep it, I’ll give you 1,200 yuan. Think of it as a loan and pay me back when you have money.”
Nuannuan burst into tears. Kaitian was touched, too. He said: “Jiuding, I see you as a little brother. When I have the money, I won’t forget about how you saved my life!”
Jiuding waved his hand and said: “What are you talking about? Just remember to help me out when I’m in trouble …”
With 1,200 yuan from Jiuding, Nuannuan managed to afford her father-in-law’s treatments.
The day Kaitian’s father was discharged from the hospital, Nuannuan and Kaitian borrowed a flatbed cart again to send him home. When they reached the small ferry in front of the village entrance, they saw Shallot stepping off Black Bean’s boat with her husband Changlin in her arms. Changlin had bandages all over his right arm. Nuannuan stepped up and asked in shock: “What happened to my brother Changlin?”
Shallot wiped her tears: “It’s been bad luck for both of our families. Changlin was working for a construction team in Nanfu City, and he fell off the scaffold. Now his right arm is all fractured.”
Nuannuan could not speak. Shallot had two children and her in-laws to take care of. With Changlin’s injury, there is no way that she could manage the household on her own.
“Don’t worry about me,” said Shallot in a relaxed way; she had recognized Nuannuan’s concern. “It doesn’t scare your sister Shallot. I can live through any day as bad as it gets. But you, with Kaitian, you must not worry too much. You have so many problems coming your way …”
Kaitian’s father’s sickness did push them another step closer to rock bottom. Kaitian’s lips were covered by spots due to their exhausted days. Nuannuan hastened to find herbs to make tea relieving internal heat for Kaitian as she spoke more comforting words to him. Kaitian sighed: “After this autumn’s harvest, I’ll go to the city to pick up work. We need money!”
Nuannuan nodded: “That can work. I’ll stay at home and take care of your parents and Dangen. You should go and find ways.”
Chapter 16
Even at home it was important for the young couple to find ways to earn money. They could not afford wasting their time in Chu Wang Village, where their neighbours were waiting for payment. At first Nuannuan made Kaitian carry a big basket of garlic from the spring harvest and a basket of pumpkins from last autumn to the quarry several miles away in order to sell them to the kitchens. But it only earned them a few dozen yuan, which was far from what they needed. Later on she thought about making ropes by twisting hemp fibres between the palms, but that would not bring them much either. It was by then that Nuannuan had her eyes on Dad’s fishing boat: What if Kaitian go fishing with Dad in the lake? That will be a good way to make money. Nuannuan told Kaitian about the idea. Kaitian nodded: “That is good indeed. But I’m not sure if Dad will take me.”
Nuannuan said: “Dad needs a helping hand anyway. Hehe is helping at the moment, but you are definitely better than her. I’ll take you to see Dad tomorrow morning.”
The next morning, Nuannuan and Kaitian went to the small ferry just when Dad was about to row his boat into the lake. Nuannuan said to Hehe, who was sitting in the boat: “I have some needlework for you, let your brother-in-law go work in the lake today.”
Naturally, Dad did not object. He waved at Hehe: “Go, then.”
It was the first time that Kaitian went on his father-in-law’s boat; and he was eager to show his capacity to work. As soon as he went in the boat, he reached out for the paddle to start rowing. Yet the boat would not move forward; he could only make it circle around. His father-in-law smiled. He sat opposite to Kaitian and explained the rowing skills in detail. Kaitian, smart as he was, learnt by heart very quickly. Before long, he managed to row the boat effortlessly. With his strength, the boat moved forward smoothly and reached the center of the lake in no time. Kaitian paid much attention watching his father-in-law put down the net and modestly asked questions. Dad had no son, so he was happy to teach his son-in-law. A curious student and a willing teacher, they went along quite well. At midday, Kaitian jumped ahead to make noodles from the coal stove. He poured garlic sauce on the noodles and reverently offered one bowl to his father-in-law. The old man sat on one side of the boat and ate in satisfaction. It was the first time that Kaitian spent time with Dad alone after he married Nuannuan, so he was very careful about everything. Though he did not catch a lot of fish that day, Kaitian left a fine impression to his father-in-law. At sunset when they were anchoring, Kaitian tried to speak in an easy tone: “Dad, I’ve learnt a lot from you today in the lake. I really want to continue practicing fishing with you.”
The old man quickly answered: “If that is so, come again tomorrow. Hehe can stay at home and help around the house.”
Kaitian was hoping for that response. He nodded and said: “I will. I will.”
Since then, Kaitian joined Dad in his boat. After some time, he was trusted to cast and draw up the net on his own. Every morning he went to prepare for fishing very early. As soon as his father-in-law arrived they would row the boat into the lake. Every day at sunset Kaitian would carefully wash the boat whilst Dad went to bargain and weigh the fish with the buyers. It was not before long that Dad found Kaitian quite agreeable. He never talked about getting Hehe back on the boat and kept Kaitian as his assistant. Kaitian never asked about the income of their fishing because he knew that Dad would not let him work in vain. As expected, after several days, Dad halved the money from selling the fish every evening and gave Kaitian his share. So Kaitian had a stable income of a dozen yuan every day. He found it quite satisfying during the days when he could not work in the fields.
However, those days did not last for long. As the weather grew colder, less and less fishermen worked in the lake. Fishing would gradually stop after the first snow. One evening when they were anchoring the boat, Dad said: “The season has arrived when we put the boat to rest. We are not going in the lake tomorrow.”
Kaitian sighed silently: “Well, this income is at its end.”
Seeing Kaitian entering with a grim face, Nuannuan knew that Dad had stopped fishing for the year. So she tried to comfort him: “Don’t frown your face. We’ll think of another way to make money.”
Chapter 17
After two snowfalls, the Red Lake became absolutely silent. Except for a small boat carrying people over, nothing could be seen but the lonely waves swarming up and down. Chu Wang Village, by the side of the lake, became quieter, too. Only dogs and chicken would run around in the village while most people hid inside to stay warm. However, in the Kuang’s house, as soon as the lukewarm sun rose, Nuannuan became busy. She would hang a half-knitted fish net on the old magnolia tree outside the door and start knitting it. Selling fishnets was one of her recent ideas of making money. She had to seize every opportunity, since several people had come over again some days ago to urge them for the money. Kaitian went to hide in his uncle’s house out of fear. Nuannuan suddenly saw a small boat coming her way in the lake. She recognized it as Black Bean’s boat. Not many people visited the east bank. One or two maybe, but they were all offering incense in Lingyan Temple. However, this time, judging from the look of the visitor, he was from the city. He did not have any incense holder or offering with him. Instead, he carried a canvas pack on his back. The man jumped o
ff the boat and paid Black Bean. Then, maybe because he saw Nuannuan’s figure, he walked straight towards the Kuang’s door: “Hi, friend. How are you?”
Hearing his greetings, Nuannuan had to turn her face towards him. She answered: “Good.” By then she noticed that the visitor was almost an old man, a very skinny yet fit old man.
“Uncle, are you offering incense in Lingyan Temple?” asked Nuannuan politely.
The old man shook his head: “No.”
“Then what are you doing here —?”
“I’m just showing myself around. I heard there’s a long stone wall on the hill behind your village that extends to several mountains. Is that true?” asked the old man, panting heavily.
“It is true. But that wall is broken and leaning. It has no use anymore.” Nuannuan thought about it and answered. She was surprised to know that the old man from the city was interested in the plain stone wall.
“I met Black Bean, owner of the boat, on the east bank of the Red Lake. He told me there is a long wall on the hill.”
“The wall really has no use anymore.” Nuannuan explained again.
“Can you, or anyone from your house, take me there to see it?” The old man insisted with a smile.
“There’s nothing to see but some stones.” Nuannuan had so much to worry about that she did not have any interest to take him.
“Of course I won’t let you take me for free. I will pay.”
Though not quite happy about the situation, Nuannuan had to laugh: “I don’t need any payment. If you really want to go, I’ll take you. It’s just some walking around, and I don’t ask money for walking around.”
“How about this? You take me there, and I’ll give you 20 yuan.”
Nuannuan was stunned: “20 yuan for that? Are you serious?”
“You think I’m tricking you?” The old man laughed, too. “How about that I give you the money right now to assure you.” He took out two 10 yuan notes and passed them to Nuannuan.
Feeling slightly ashamed, Nuannuan pushed his hand away and said: “I haven’t done anything to earn that yet. I can’t take the money in shame. Wait here, I’ll take you there after I put the baby down.”
She turned and entered the yard. After passing Dangen to her mother-in-law, Nuannuan picked up a sickle for chopping up firewood and a rope for binding them, and led the old man to the small hill behind the village. She had visited the stone wall many times: when she was little she always went to pick up firewood with Dad on the hill; when she had grown up she always went there to cut weed to feed the livestock. Either way, she had to pass the stone wall. Sometimes she might even sit on top of its collapsed part to eat her meals. She could basically walk up the path into the hill with eyes blindfolded. She gave her name to the old man in courtesy and he offered his in return: he called himself Tan Wenbo, and he was from Beijing.
“Uncle, why did you come all the way to this remote, poor village of ours? You can’t have done all that travel to see this mere stone wall!”
“Well, I read in a book that someone built a stone wall here a long time ago. But I wasn’t sure about whether or not it’s true. So I have travelled here to see if there is any of the relic left.”
The path was winding and the old man was carrying his bag as he talked. It did not take long for him to start panting. Nuannuan could not see him like that, so she lifted the bag from his back and said: “Let me carry this for you.”
The old man did not reject her offer and smiled: “Thank you, young Ms. Chu.”
Since the old man could not walk as fast, it was already late in the afternoon when they reached the stone wall. Nuannuan thought he would be disappointed by the look of the wall, so she pointed at it and spoke apologetically: “You see, it’s already collapsed. It’s really of no use anymore.”
To her surprise, the old man grew quite excited. He almost staggered to the wall and quickly drew out a pair of glasses, a magnifying glass, a pen, a hammer and some other tools that Nuannuan did not recognize. He inspected the wall in detail, and knocked on some parts and did some measurements. He then wrote everything down on a note. Nuannuan sat aside and took a small rest. Afterwards she started chopping up firewood around the wall. Occasionally she would look back at the old man busy with his business and found the scene humorous: So much seriousness for a stone wall that’s been here forever!
The old man kept busy until dusk. He did not even touch the bottle of water he brought.
“We should go, Uncle. It will be dark soon.” Nuannuan spoke up to remind him.
The old man heard her words and raised his head to check the sky. “Good. Good. We shall go.” He answered, though he seemed reluctant to leave.
The old man was very happy on the way back, and said to Nuannuan: “Young Ms. Chu, thank you for taking me here. Do you know what I discovered today? A Great Wall!”
“Great Wall?”
“Yes! My estimation at this moment is that the wall was built by people of the State of Chu during the 3rd century B.C. to prevent invasion from the State of Qin.”
“By the State of Chu?” Nuannuan looked lost.
“Yes! The village you live in today was historically in the domain of Chu. Their earliest capital was not far away from your Chu Wang Village.”
Nuannuan smiled: “I … have heard of Chu, but I didn’t know that the wall was …”
“Of course you don’t know. All that history is too far from your life. I only learnt about it from a history book, that after various wars between the two states, Chu constructed a Great Wall on hills in this area to stop the invasion. I did not travel here with much hope to find it. But who’d have known? With the help from you and Black Bean, I came and I found it! You have no idea how happy I am right now!”
“But the wall is of no use anymore.” Nuannuan felt obliged to remind him again.
“No, no material use at all. But its value in research! Do you understand that, my child …?”
The old man could not stop talking in excitement on the way back. It was not until they reached the entrance to the village that he paused and looked at the dark sky. He said: “Young Ms. Chu, I’m afraid I’ll have to stay in the village tonight. Is it possible for me to stay in your house for one night? I will pay you.”
Nuannuan hesitated and answered: “Of course it’s fine. But our house is not a big, bright house like those in the city. The bed is a wreck, too. I’m afraid you won’t like it.”
“It’s fine with me as long as I have a place to sleep in. I have travelled extensively and I have been to worse places. Let’s say, I will pay you 50 yuan for one night’s stay in your house, and another 30 for one dinner and one breakfast. With the 20 yuan I promised for taking me to the wall, you get 100 yuan in total. Is that okay?”
Nuannuan smiled again: “In here we do not take money if someone needs a place to stay for one night and a meal. Everyone needs help when traveling! I will simply be happy if you don’t find our rural life too meager.”
“I must pay you; you earned this money!” said the old man as he thrust 100 yuan into Nuannuan’s hand. Nuannuan did not expect to earn 100 yuan with almost no effort at all! She clutched the note in her hand. Though she wanted to return it to show courtesy, she could not bear to lose this money. After a while, and with much hesitation, she put the money in her pocket.
Her parents-in-law were surprised to see an old man from the city in their house. Nuannuan offered her guest a seat and told them about the day. Her mother-in-law hastened to cook dinner after she heard what happened. Nuannuan followed her into the kitchen and whispered: “Mom, cook him the best meal you can. That old man has already paid us 30 yuan for tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast.”
Her mother-in-law whispered back to scold her for taking the money as she pointed out again “everyone needs help when travelling!” Nuannuan told her that she did not ask for payment, but he insisted on paying her. Consequently the meals would have to be good.
Her mother-in-law showed
all her cooking skills that she had practiced for years. She made four dishes: fried pumpkin flowers, chilly with green beans, chives with scrambled eggs, and steamed purslane leaves. Nuannuan made the noodles herself. She apologized to the old man as dinner was being served: “We don’t have any meat around the house so you have to go vegetarian tonight.”
The old man tasted the dishes happily and said: “Delicious, everything is delicious. I like it. Vegetables are good for your health.”
The old man ate two bowls of noodles and smiled at Nuannuan when he finished: “I haven’t eaten this much for a long time. If I can make noodles like you did, I’d open an authentic noodle eatery and make a lot of money.”
Nuannuan blushed at his compliments. That night was her happiest in a long time.