Chapter 6

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At home, Xue Man and Xue Ning fell asleep crying last night. They woke up early this morning, but still saw no sign of Jiang Li. Knowing she hadn’t returned, the siblings held each other and cried again. After their tears, Xue Man steadied himself and comforted his sister. If Jiang Li truly wouldn’t come back, no amount of crying would help. After they finished the few sweet potatoes at home and failed to find any wild greens, their uncle and grandmother surely wouldn’t support them, and both he and his sister might starve to death. In a daze, Xue Man recalled what Xue Daniu had said: maybe he should go to the county town and sell himself as a servant to a wealthy family to support his sister. He wasn’t sure if that would work.

Throughout the day, villagers came and went, drawn by curiosity. Some crossed the line, teasing him, “Xue Man, has your mother come back from hunting yet?” He said nothing, and the others laughed and walked away. Let them laugh—it was the truth. He was weak and powerless against them. Xue Man’s heart ached deeply.

He pulled his sister to sit in front of the house, staring towards the direction Jiang Li had left, hoping against hope she would suddenly appear—even if she hadn’t caught any game or found any wild vegetables, just her presence would be enough. But from dawn till dusk, no sign of Jiang Li appeared.

Zhao Jiaxiu, returning from gathering wild greens, spotted Xue Man and Xue Ning sitting with their backs turned and felt uneasy. She asked Xue Xiaohua, “Has your aunt not come back yet?” “Not yet,” Xue Xiaohua replied. “I heard they cried so much their eyes are swollen as big as walnuts.” Xue Xiaohua stayed home today and had seen Xue Daniu running back and forth to Xue Man’s place several times. Because Jiang Li hadn’t returned, Xue Daniu and the others took a malicious pleasure in their misfortune. Zhao Jiaxiu fell into silence again. Xue Xiaohua said no more; if only their family had plenty of grain, they could invite Xue Man and Xue Ning to stay with them. But they didn’t.

As dusk approached, everyone in the old Xue household finished their evening meal. Following Liu Chunhua’s orders, Xue Daniu took his younger siblings towards the thatched hut. Zhao Jiaxiu frowned and spoke of Liu Chunhua. “Second sister-in-law, if that Jiang woman offended you, why take it out on Little Man and Ning?” Liu Chunhua glanced at her sideways, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “From the Fourth Brother’s family, when have you seen me bully Little Man and Ning?” “If you’re so kind-hearted, why don’t you separate from the family and take them in yourself?” Zhao Jiaxiu was furious but not as sharp-tongued as Liu Chunhua, especially with the matriarch silently watching nearby.

When the eldest sister-in-law died, the old woman wanted to sell Ning but failed. It wasn’t surprising that the eldest brother, knowing his mother was dying, still spent their savings to bring a wife home. In his heart, that woman was probably worth more than his own mother. After Xue Chengju died, the old woman tried to sell Jiang Li but failed again. Now if Jiang Li really left, Little Man and Ning would sooner or later become her source of money. Zhao Jiaxiu had never seen such an unfeeling grandmother.

Before Xue Daniu and the others reached the thatched hut, they saw Jiang Li returning, carrying a heavily laden basket on her back and holding things in her hand. Xue Daniu was stunned and rushed home to spread the news. The siblings sitting on the “Waiting Mother Rock” rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Jiang Li’s figure remained. Xue Ning cried out, “Brother, is mother really back?” “Y-Yes... mother is back.”

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Xue Man, overwhelmed with emotion, stammered as he grabbed his sister’s hand and ran toward Jiang Li, calling “Mother!” as they ran. Jiang Li watched the two children running to her and felt a strange warmth in her heart—as if she had found a new bond.

“Slow down, don’t fall.” When they reached her, panting, Jiang Li looked at Xue Ning’s swollen red eyes—how long had she been crying? Then she glanced at Xue Man; scratches marred his face and a bruise darkened his forehead. “Little Man, who hurt you?” Xue Ning’s lips pressed tight, looking very wronged, about to complain, but Xue Man pulled her back. He rubbed his head and said, “No one, mother. I fell by myself.” Jiang Li frowned. “You fell on thorn bushes? How did you get scratches from that?” Xue Man grinned, “I fell into the brambles.”

Seeing he wouldn’t say more, Jiang Li didn’t press further. She teased, “Are your eyes red because you cried since I didn’t come back?” Xue Man shook his head, “No.” Jiang Li smiled and handed over the wild chickens. “Caught two wild chickens. We’ll kill them and eat later.” Xue Man took the chickens, joy lighting his face. But his gaze fell on the dried blood staining Jiang Li’s coarse cloth shirt. His face instantly drained of color. “Mother, you’re hurt?” Jiang Li looked down at her collar and smiled. “That’s pig’s blood. I’m fine.” Hearing that, Xue Man relaxed, but then thought, how did pig’s blood get on her? “Mother, did you encounter a wild boar?” “Yes.” Xue Man had heard how fierce wild boars could be, even biting people. His worries returned. “Mother, that beast didn’t hurt you badly, did it?” Jiang Li tugged at her trouser leg. “It did. This leg was stomped on by it.” Xue Ning saw the large bruise and tears fell again. Xue Man’s eyes reddened too.

“Mother, let’s not eat the wild chicken. Let’s sell it in town and use the money to buy grain. We’ll eat less each meal and gather more wild greens nearby. Don’t go into the mountains anymore.” Seeing these two little ones still had some conscience comforted Jiang Li somewhat—she didn’t want to raise ungrateful brats. She patted Xue Man, “Come on, let’s go home. I’m starving.” Hearing that, the siblings quickened their pace.

At home, Jiang Li placed the grain sacks on the wooden board, then took out bags of pork fat and pork from the basket and set them aside. Xue Man and Xue Ning stared, mouths agape. Stammering, “Mother, is this... meat?” Jiang Li nodded and pointed at the sacks. “Grain is in there.” Xue Man blushed with excitement, feeling dizzy. “Wh-where did it come from?” “Of course I bought it. Who else would gift it?” “I didn’t just catch these two wild chickens; I also caught a wild boar but sold it in town. This is the money from selling it. If anyone asks, don’t mention the boar—just say I caught wild chickens.”

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Xue Man and Xue Ning nodded eagerly, glued to the goods on the board, unable to move. Jiang Li was exhausted and didn’t want to move once home. She patted Xue Man, “Stop staring and start a fire. These things won’t run away.” Xue Man ran off excitedly to light fires and boil water. Jiang Li had him start two fires: one to boil water for scalding the chicken feathers, the other using the old clay pot to cook porridge.

Xue Daniu boasted loudly as he returned to the old Xue household, announcing Jiang Li had come back with wild chickens and a full basket. The old Xue family poured out, running over. Zhao Jiaxiu, curious, followed. But adults cared about face and didn’t approach the house directly. Instead, they watched from a nearby ridge, seeing Xue Man and Xue Ning each tending a fire with pots on top.

Jiang Li sat on the stone at the doorway, drinking water. Seeing the group from the old Xue household, she frowned. Looking at the two busy children, she wondered—was this how they were treated when she wasn’t around? Probably worse. She needed to make food while it was still light.

When the water boiled, Jiang Li called, “Xue Man, bring me two bowls.” Excited, Xue Man ran quickly—they had grain now and meat for dinner. Thinking of the savory aroma, he drooled, full of energy. Even fetching bowls, he hopped happily.

Jiang Li took the bowls, pouring half a bowl of cool water into one, then called Xue Ning, “Ning, bring the salt container.” She added a bit of salt to the water, stirring it to dissolve. She planned to prepare two bowls but thought better of it—she’d kill one chicken first, then if there was enough blood, prepare the other. Salt was precious.

She laid one wild chicken on the ground—it had been caught and tied for two days and was now sluggish. Swiftly, Jiang Li cut its neck. The chicken struggled as she held its head and wings upright. Blood gushed into the bowl until it stopped breathing. The chicken blood filled just under half a bowl. She quickly killed the other chicken, pooling the blood together—a shallow bowlful that soon congealed.

“Mother, why kill both? Why not keep one alive?” Xue Man asked, making Jiang Li laugh softly. “These are wild chickens. They can fly. If we don’t kill them, they’d fly away. We can’t waste them. If we don’t finish today, we’ll eat the rest tomorrow. No need to worry about leftovers.” Hearing this, Xue Man smacked his forehead. “I was foolish to think killing two at once was too extravagant.” He pursed his lips, swallowing hard.

Jiang Li put the chickens into the pot, scalding the feathers. When she felt they were ready, she tried pulling a few feathers out. They came off easily, so she had Xue Ning bring a bamboo basket to scoop the chickens out and start plucking. Xue Ning crouched beside her gently, “Mother, let’s keep the thick feathers. We can wash and dry them.” “Good idea. Let’s keep them for a while, then clean and roast them.” Jiang Li carefully plucked all the feathers, then peeled the outer skin from the chicken’s feet before roasting them over the fire. Once the down was burned off, she washed the chickens in clean water. She worked with care and precision.

The old Xue family watched Jiang Li’s entire process of killing and preparing the chickens clearly. Zhao Jiaxiu was surprised; she could tell Jiang Li wasn’t an ordinary farm girl and had heard she came from a wealthy household fallen on hard times. Since marrying into the Xue family, after Xue Chengju’s death, Jiang Li had been silent and didn’t do much work. Only today did Zhao Jiaxiu realize how skilled and efficient Jiang Li was.

Old Lady Li watched with reddened eyes. Liu Chunhua, seeing the matriarch’s expression, began to sneer slyly, “Wild chicken meat and yet they don’t think to show filial respect to the elders. These two kids really are heartless.”