“Why the gloomy face? Who bothered you again?” The big-bearded man came out with a spoon and happened to see him staring motionlessly downstream. “Be honest with me, don’t stir up trouble for me.” Saying this, he splashed the meat soup from the spoon on the ground, turned around, and entered the felt bag.
Hearing this, He clenched his teeth, his expression changed several times. He stood for a while before walking towards the felt bag and greeted the woman holding a child inside.
“How’s it going with that girl?” The woman frowned, really annoyed that her little brother-in-law always came for meals around mealtime.
“A bit troublesome. I’ll go talk to her again this afternoon.”
“Well, young girls with thin skins are afraid of being pestered by men. Sweet talk a bit more, be more generous, take advantage of her being unfamiliar with your reputation, and quickly marry her while she’s not clear about you.” The woman tasted the soup, then said nonchalantly, “Don’t pick on those who don’t have cattle and sheep as dowry. Even those with dowries won’t marry you. You can’t stand the inquiry.”
“Enough, why are you saying these things? Let’s eat.” The big-bearded man scolded lightly.
“I’ve eaten. You guys eat. I’ll go for a walk.” Sure, without waiting to sit down, left with a cold face.
The big-bearded man glanced at his brother’s angry figure and helplessly said to the woman, “Aren’t you making it difficult for him?”
“Difficult for him? What about me? He’s twenty already, always picking the best time to come for a meal. I have to serve you two while holding the child. How about you think about whether I’m comfortable or not?”
“Lower your voice a bit.” The big-bearded man peeked outside.
“I won’t.” The woman shouted louder, “He’s twenty already, always picking the best time to come for a meal. I have to serve you two while holding the child. How about you think about whether I’m comfortable or not?”
“You, speak softly.” The big-bearded man took another look outside.
“I won’t.” The woman shouted even louder, “Everyone knows what he’s done. With his behavior, if it weren’t for the refugees coming from the West, he would never marry a woman in his life. He can only be with sheep…”
“Shut up!”
He walked faster and faster, but the woman’s words lingered in his ears, not dispersing. He took a sudden leap into the river, burying his head and face in the muddy water. After a while, he resurfaced with bloodshot eyes.
“I thought there was a big fish when I heard the commotion. It turns out to be you.” Lan Niang hurriedly approached, carrying a jar in her hand. She was startled when she saw the expression on her face.
“Haven’t cooked yet?” She sat on the riverbed without getting up, the water reaching just below his chest. He wiped his face with clear water, asking as if catching someone in the act, “Is the lamb from Bahu’s house tastier than mine?”
“Uh…” Lan Niang looked somewhat embarrassed as she looked around. She scratched her neck and forced a fake smile. “They’re all delicious. Any meat is delicious.”
“Why didn’t you buy from me? Is his lamb cheaper than mine?” He intentionally inquired from Lan Niang, pretending to be heartbroken, “I give you two or three extra ounces of meat every day that you buy. Little did I know, as soon as Bahu came back, you chose to buy from him, even though he’s leaving in a few days.” Implicitly, he was expressing his hurt feelings. Without explaining clearly, he feared that he wouldn’t be able to sell to them again in the future.
“No, he didn’t ask for money. We didn’t pay, and he gave it for free.” Lan Niang stammered for a while, not wanting to reveal anything about Yinshi. Thinking of Mi Niang’s indifference towards him, she smiled meaningfully and said, “We also benefited from Mi Niang. Otherwise, how could we come across such a cheap deal?”
“Cheap deal?” She mumbled in his mouth, sneering, “That’s not worth much.” With an air of superiority in front of him, she had truly fooled him. It turned out he had leaked too little information.
As the person stood up from the water, there was a splashing sound. Lan Niang inexplicably took a step back. When She looked over, she squeezed her hands and looked around. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she called out to the man walking towards the shore.
“Hey, Sure, I have something to ask you.” Lan Niang raised her neck, her eyes flashing with tiny lights, and she boldly asked, “What’s wrong with me? Am I not as good-looking as Mi Niang? Why are all of you interested in her?” She genuinely sought advice, not wanting to compete with Mi Niang but thinking of making improvements. In the future, she also hoped to find a good man to marry.
He discreetly glanced at her chest and behind her, smiling and saying, “Bai Mei, how old are you?”
“Thirteen, almost fourteen.”
“You’re still a little girl, don’t think about these things.” He shook his head uninterestedly.
“What little girl? Many girls from poor families have already married at this age.” Lan Niang pouted and grumbled. If her parents were still alive, they should have started looking for a match for her.
…
“I’ll go take a look. It shouldn’t take so long to fetch water. What if she fell into the water?” Mu Xiang was impatient, but as she took a few steps, she saw Lan Niang coming back with a jar. Mu Xiang turned back to sit down. Seeing Pandi and Mi Niang interestingly observing her, Mu Xiang felt uneasy. She stiffly said, “I just feel she’s wasting our time, not that I’m worried about her.”
“Come and help me. I’m exhausted. How can you sit there without moving?” Lan Niang complained breathlessly.
“Who hasn’t fetched water alone? If you can’t carry it, wouldn’t you make fewer trips if you fetched more each time? You’re just too delicate.” Mu Xiang spoke roughly.
“I’ll help her carry it.” Bai Mei trotted over, speaking softly, “You’ve been gone for so long, Mu Xiang was worried you fell into the water and was just about to come to look for you.”
“She didn’t really care about me.”
Bai Mei: “…” Forget it, she won’t say anything.
After the water boiled, each person filled their sheepskin water bag with hot water. Mi Niang carried one bag and entered the felt bag, saying, “Sister Yinshi, I’ve put the water here. This afternoon, it will be Ying Niang staying at home with you, and we’ve made plans to learn how to make felt with others.”
“Alright. Is Bahu still at home? Can I ask Ying Niang to find him for me if I need something?” Yinshi half-sat up.
“I don’t know about that. I only know that he was taken away by the County Magistrate Hu in the morning. If it’s not urgent, I think it’s better not to look for him during the day.” Mi Niang blinked, “If your stepfather is gone, you can rest at Bahu’s house tonight, no need to squeeze with us.”
“Could you please help me inquire about the news?” Yinshi smiled apologetically, covering her chest and saying, “The child in my belly is quite restless. I feel suffocated by the smell of sheep’s odor.”
Mi Niang nodded in agreement. When she went to Auntie Zhao’s house to do felt-making, she intentionally asked a couple of questions. That’s when she found out that after Bahu’s father left in the morning, he sent two male servants to stay opposite Bahu’s house to watch over him.
She wanted to inquire further, but she closed her mouth under the onslaught of flying wool. The whole afternoon was spent exchanging and shooting large bows of wool, occasionally sprinkling some water to continue the process. Finally, at dusk, the wool intertwined and tangled together, no longer flying with the rise and fall of the big bow.
“Reaching this step is considered halfway done. The rest is to roll up the felt, sprinkle water, tie it tightly with a rope, and let cattle, horses, or people pull it for a few laps, occasionally tightening the rope. After three to five days, unroll the felt, and the smooth felt will be formed. After washing and drying, it can be used.” Auntie Zhao carefully instructed a few girls, looking at them pitifully and saying, “You don’t have cattle or horses, but every household in our village has them. When you need them, just ask or help others with something to borrow cattle or horses for a day or half a day.”
“Alright, we understand. Thank you, Auntie Zhao.”
Covered in wool from head to toe, their faces and heads included, Mi Niang and Pandi, along with three others, first washed their faces by the river. They roughly patted off the floating wool from their bodies, then went back to fetch a jar of water to bathe.
“Bahu’s place is being guarded by his father’s men. He might not come over for a while. Tonight, you’ll have to sleep with us.” When changing clothes, Mi Niang noticed Yinshi’s pale complexion. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Right now, everyone is busy cooking, so no one should pay attention to you. Why don’t you go outside and find a place with less wind to sit for a while?”
“Forget it, I’ll hold on a bit longer. I’ll go out when it gets dark.” Yinshi didn’t want to take any risks.
“Sure.” Since bathing required waiting in line, Mi Niang went to the river first with her dirty clothes. Pandi and Bai Mei followed.
“Mi Niang, when do you plan to do felt-making?” Pandi asked.
“In a few days. I’ve noticed that many herders to the east have been making felt recently. We can borrow some of their cattle and horses when they are free.” Mi Niang lifted her wet clothes from the river, still covered in wool. She removed her grass shoes, rolled up her pants, and stepped into the river, standing in the middle to spread her clothes on the water.
Washing clothes downstream from the river, not far from Bahu’s house, Mi Niang spoke in a low voice, but it didn’t escape someone’s notice.
“Chaolu said you didn’t go to get milk today, so I brought it to you.” Bahu walked over lightly, carrying a milk jug.
“Take it back; I don’t want it.” Mi Niang didn’t look up.
Pandi and Bai Mei exchanged a glance, lifted their wet clothes, and said, “The water here is a bit shallow; let’s find another place.”
Gratefully glancing at them, Bahu crouched down and asked, “Why don’t you want it anymore?”
“Tired of it.” Mi Niang stood up and glanced at the newly tied felt bundle across from Bahu’s house. She asked, “When do you plan to take your sister-in-law away? The smell inside our felt bundle is unpleasant, and it’s uncomfortable for her, especially since she’s pregnant.”
“I’ll trouble you for a few more days. You’ve seen it yourself; I’m being watched by the old man.” Bahu placed the milk jug on the ground. “I left it here; remember to take it when you go back.”
“Wait!”
Bahu walked even faster.
“If you take one more step, I’ll scream.” Mi Niang threatened angrily.
Bahu sighed, halted, and walked back. The abrasion at the corner of his eye had formed a scab, making him look even less like a good person.
“I saw you arguing with your father this morning.”
“I know. I saw you when it dispersed.” Bahu touched the corner of his eye. “Did you find it frightening?”
Mi Niang didn’t deny it. After some consideration, she said vaguely, “My parents are loving, my siblings are harmonious, and my grandparents are affectionate. I’ve never seen such a situation.”
“I’ve only fought with him; I’ve never laid a hand on anyone else.” Bahu lifted his eyelid to look at Mi Niang. “And I would never hit a woman.”
Mi Niang understood his meaning. Bahu was assuring her. However, she didn’t want her child to grow up in a household filled with fighting, cursing, and animosity. The bond between father and son was difficult to sever.
“Take the milk back, and don’t bother bringing it again.” Mi Niang bent down, lifted her wet clothes from the water, and wrung out the excess water. She walked towards the shore with her back to Bahu.
In a moment of urgency, Bahu didn’t even take off his shoes. He waded across the river and caught up with the girl who was walking briskly. There was a hint of a smile in his eyes. “Why are you running?”
“Move aside; I’m going back.” Mi Niang wanted to bypass him, but the man kept following her closely. Annoyed, she glared at him. “What do you mean by this?”
“Did you refuse me because I fought with my father? I had a reason to fight him; he’s a drunkard and goes crazy when he’s drunk, even hitting my mother.” Bahu explained in a low voice. “Don’t listen to rumors; I don’t enjoy causing trouble and fighting.”
“It’s not like I refused you, right? There’s nothing between us.” Mi Niang scrutinized him repeatedly, reminding him, “Just one day has passed, and you’ve already forgotten what happened last night? Have you forgotten what I said?”
“Or have you figured things out in such a short time?”
Bahu remained silent, avoiding Mi Niang’s piercing gaze. Just when she was about to leave, frustrated with his lack of response, he spoke in a low voice, “You were right last night. I do like you, and I want to treat you well. I have things and everything you need. I hesitated before because I was afraid I couldn’t be as good as I wanted. I didn’t have a good father, and I don’t know how to be a good father myself. Even because of my mother, I’m not sure what a good woman should be like.”
Bahu finished speaking and waited for Mi Niang’s reaction. She had been eager last night; why was there no response tonight? Did his words turn sour like meat left in the stomach for just one day? Were they no longer useful?
“Hey, are you going to say something?” Bahu nudged her with his elbow.
