In fact, Yin Yujiao was also startled. She was holding a needle in her hand and had almost pricked her fingertip just now. After coming back to her senses, she fell into a strange silence for a moment. However, as an older sister, how could she possibly find fault with her younger sister’s appearance?
Seeing Xiao Bao being frightened, his head lowered as if he intended to squat down and pick up the pastry on the ground, Yin Yujiao immediately redirected her attention. She was afraid that Little Bao might pick up the dirty pastry and put it back in his mouth. She softly reprimanded, “Xiao Bao, if you pick it up, just throw it away. Don’t put it in your mouth.”
In rural areas, some people might pick up pastries dropped on the ground, blow off the dust, and continue eating. But Yin Yujiao had received an education and often heard the local teachers talk about how “bacteria and dirt at the entrance could easily cause diseases.” Naturally, she did not encourage consuming things that had fallen on the ground.
Anyway, their family wasn’t short of a few pastries. If Xiao Bao wanted to eat them, she could buy some more in town another day.
“Okay, then I’ll feed it to the pigs. Can’t let it go to waste.” The little child picked up the pastry, ran towards the pigsty. In rural areas, it was a common practice to feed leftover food, including scraps and leftovers, to the pigs since pig feed could be expensive.
However, this thrifty habit made Yin Yue purse her lips. Coming from a more advanced time, where pigs were carefully bred with fresh ingredients and the pigsties were clean and shiny, the thought of her family’s dirty and smelly pigsty, along with the omnivorous black sow, made her lose her appetite. Moreover, the idea that the pigs might be slaughtered and sold during festivals or put on the dining table added to her distaste.
Looking at her own family, a hint of disdain appeared in her eyes: “Truly from the countryside, always dealing with chickens and pigs. What future could there be in life?”
Seeing Yin Minglu running away with small steps, Yin Yujiao then turned to her younger sister. After all, it wasn’t appropriate to discuss such topics with a child around. Curiously, she asked, “Why were you suddenly inquiring about Qin Mao? Have you taken a liking to him?” The village head was a bit far from here, and Qin Mao didn’t interact much with people of his age. Plus, he wasn’t particularly outstanding in appearance. When did her social-loving sister start paying attention to him?
What did it mean to “take a liking”? While sisters could discuss such matters, it wouldn’t be good for a girl’s reputation if it got out. In this day and age, with gossip spreading fast, a girl had to be reserved. Pursuing one’s own love was acceptable, but being too forward was not. If it became known that she had a crush on a guy, the neighbors and relatives would definitely mock her for lacking modesty, suggesting that at such a young age, she was already daydreaming about men.
So, Yin Yue instinctively wanted to deny it, but after a moment’s thought, she was afraid that if she said it wasn’t true, her sister might turn around and actually develop feelings for him. After some consideration, she decided to admit, “W-well, sort of. I secretly took a liking to him. Just telling you, sis, don’t spread it around.”
In reality, Yin Yujiao had asked casually and didn’t expect her sister to actually have feelings for Qin Mao. She was genuinely surprised. Moreover, developing feelings for Qin Mao couldn’t have happened overnight; even just noticing him would have taken quite some time. Considering the duration, the fact that her sister had kept it a secret from her was a shock. Yin Yujiao’s thoughts were complicated, especially after her sister’s next sentence, which nearly made her eyes pop out.
“In the future, I might want to be in a relationship with him. Now that you know, Qin Mao is the one I’ve set my sights on, sister, you can’t compete, okay? If I start a relationship with Qin Mao first, and later you also develop feelings for him, but because I liked him first, if you try to compete, you’d be a third party!”
That was what Yin Yue meant, but Yin Yujiao felt uneasy hearing it. She exclaimed, “You’re my sister, why would I compete with you for a guy? Qin Mao isn’t some extraordinary person in the village, or a universally adored flower. Why would I want to compete for him? A woman competing for a man, that’s such a bad reputation, especially if it’s with her own sister. Why does Yue’er think so poorly of me?”
“Don’t worry, Qin Mao isn’t that charming. Just because you see him as a treasure doesn’t mean others share the same thoughts. Don’t overthink it.” Yin Yujiao said with an appearance of surprise, probably thinking that love is blind. Her sister had set her sights on Qin Mao, and now she thought every young girl in the village was competing with her.
The intention behind Yin Yujiao’s words was to reassure her sister and tell her not to be so suspicious. However, unintentional remarks and intentional interpretations often led to misunderstandings. Yin Yue felt uncomfortable hearing this, thinking that her sister was denying her judgment. In fact, she didn’t really like Qin Mao, whom she claimed she had a crush on.
She wanted to retort, thinking that despite Qin Mao’s ordinary appearance, he was much more capable than the rough men in the village. In the future, he would become a successful businessman, managing hundreds of employees! Marrying him was like marrying a small gold mine, ensuring a good life. Those who couldn’t see his worth were the ones lacking in vision!
But on second thought, she let it go. It might be better if her own sister didn’t appreciate him. Having one less person competing with her increased her chances. Although she believed in her own charm, having fewer rivals was always a good thing. So, she straightforwardly said, “Alright, but you are my sister after all. It’s my first time having a crush on a man, and I don’t have much experience. I’m afraid that we might have conflicts in the future, so when you see Qin Mao, could you… maybe avoid him?”
Upon hearing this, Yin Yujiao was completely shocked. She had already reassured her sister, so why was her sister still not at ease? Why did she insist on holding onto this and even suggest that she should avoid Qin Mao? Did her sister truly believe that she would eventually be attracted to him? Was it that her sister had too much confidence in Qin Mao’s charm, or was it a lack of trust in her sister’s character?
Normally easygoing, Yin Yujiao found herself a bit angry now. Without holding back, she said, “Why should I avoid him? The village is so small, am I supposed to turn around and avoid someone from afar? If someone passing by sees that, they might think I owe Qin Mao money.” Her sister seemed to be making an unreasonable fuss!
“Hey sister, that’s not what I mean. I just want to avoid any potential issues.” What if you really start liking him, or what if Qin Mao starts liking you? After all, you two were a married couple in the past life, and her sister was slightly more attractive. How could she completely let her guard down?
Yin Yujiao wasn’t buying into her sister’s reasoning. After a slight frown, she returned to her room. Besides feeling unhappy, she also thought that her sister’s temper and behavior were becoming increasingly strange.
The conversation between the sisters ended inconclusively. However, with the assurance from her sister that she had no interest in Qin Mao and wouldn’t compete for him, Yin Yue felt much relieved. As for her sister seemingly being upset, she didn’t pay much attention to it. She knew her sister’s temper very well; she was a simple woman, and any anger would likely be temporary.
She could always smooth things over with her sister another day. After all, in this lifetime, Qin Mao was the more important focus. Her sister had made her stance clear, but she still needed to check other families in the village to see if there were other women intending to compete for Qin Mao.
Returning from the pigsty, Yin Minglu could easily guess what the two sisters were discussing. Taking advantage of his young age, he immediately went to report to Grandma Luo.
Grandma Luo was in the midst of collecting clothes when her grandson, like a parrot, blurted out the news, shocking her. With a stern expression, she asked, “Which one is thinking about a man? How can they talk about such things in front of you?” It wasn’t a big deal if a young girl took a liking to a young man, but which granddaughter it was mattered a lot. If it was the obedient and sensible eldest granddaughter, she could relax, but if it was the mischievous and unruly youngest granddaughter, then she had reason to worry.
Yin Minglu took a bite of his pastry and threw some crumbs to feed the little yellow chicken on the ground. He added, “It’s Sister Yue’er.” After all, he didn’t want to be the one reporting behind someone’s back. He was feeling a bit embarrassed about the situation.
“I guessed as much. Yue’er never focuses on her studies, refuses to go to school or work, and is always wandering around outside. Now she’s thinking about a man. Don’t let her embarrass our family. It might even affect Yujiao’s reputation later on.” The old lady frowned, pulled her quilt tighter, and grumbled as she went back into her room.
Things quickly unfolded just as she had expected.
The news of the second daughter of the Yin family having her eyes on the boy from the Qin family at the head of the village, with a clear desire to get married, spread like wildfire. All because Yin Yue was inquiring whether anyone was interested in Qin Mao. Those girls, though they had agreed on the surface, immediately went home and spilled the beans to their families.
The Yin family had better conditions than the Qin family. Qin Mao’s father was a heavy drinker, a notorious drunkard, and his mother was a seamstress who had strained her eyes. Their life was tight, and Qin Mao himself was like a closed book, silent and introverted. None of the village girls looked favorably upon them.
So, Yin Yue ended up developing feelings for him? Well, with such an unexpected pairing, who wouldn’t be surprised? Upon hearing the news, the elderly man from the Qin family was overjoyed. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Good, good! This girl really has good taste. Although our Qin Mao’s appearance isn’t outstanding, he’s a hard worker.” He encouraged the Yin family to marry off their daughter quickly and even hinted at sending a considerable dowry.
Grandma Luo, busy drying some grains and selecting vegetables, couldn’t resist making teasing remarks, “Oh, Hongmei, are we going to have a celebration for your Yue’er? When will the wedding feast be? Our village hasn’t had such excitement for a long time.”
“Yes, it’s been a while since we had a lively event in the village. Now that your Xiao Bao has grown up, it’s reasonable for Yue’er to start thinking about marriage.”
“Yes, yes, let’s organize the wedding feast quickly. Don’t let her end up pregnant before getting married; that wouldn’t sound good.”
“Oh, Wang Sheng, don’t scare me. If my family had a daughter who rushed into ruining herself like that, I would have beaten her to death long ago.”
Grandma Luo was so infuriated that, when she returned home, she glared at her second granddaughter with eyes filled with reproach, feeling that her face had been greatly disgraced. After scolding her, she deliberately avoided bringing up the matter.
Initially, Yin Yue was aware of her own wrongdoing and secretly resented those village girls who betrayed her by spreading the news. However, during meals, she couldn’t bear it. What was commonly seen on the village table? Corn sticks, dry white buns, a small bowl of pickles, and preserved small fish. The soft cakes were only steamed when Grandma Luo was in a good mood. Most of the time, the food was hard to swallow, and Yin Yue, accustomed to the refined grains of the modern world, found it challenging to eat such rough and coarse grains.
She wished she could fast-forward to her sister’s college entrance examination so she could go to university, marry into the Qin family, save some money with her husband, and immediately head to the city for a better life.
However, there was still a year left until her sister’s college entrance exam, so she had to endure for now. During this year, she could start getting closer to Qin Mao. However, despite her pursuit, while Old Man Qin seemed to like her, Qin Mao himself was indifferent.
Frowning, she couldn’t help but feel alarmed. Could it be that Qin Mao already had someone in his heart? Unaware that Qin Mao, unlike in their past life, held traditional values and considered overly aggressive women as not serious or modest, she continued to pursue him. Although he was moved by her efforts and occasionally assisted her family, deep down, he still looked down upon this type of woman.
Time passed slowly and steadily, with uncertainties hanging in the air.
Soon, a month had passed since Yin Minglu fell into the water. Today, Grandma Luo was once again devoutly burning incense. On the altar, there was a plate of corn cakes and two small cups of grain alcohol. Her face looked very solemn. Yin Minglu approached to listen, and to his surprise, Grandma Luo was murmuring, “Thanks to the Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the Jade Emperor. Thanks to the water ghost of Wenshui River for not taking my grandson away. Now his soul is intact, his mind is clear, and the one-month deadline has passed. It seems that the Yin energy on his body has completely disappeared.”
Yin Minglu was speechless for a moment. No wonder Grandma Luo had insisted that he stay away from the river for at least a month before. He thought she was just scolding him for playing around, but it turned out she was practicing feudal superstition, believing that the water ghost might take him away.
“Please, all the deities, continue to bless my grandson Xiao Bao with good health, peace, and smooth studies. May he have great opportunities in his academic pursuits and experience good fortune in everything. May he leap over the dragon gate like a carp, bringing glory to our Yin family’s ancestors.”
Later, Grandma Luo made a wish. After completing her own prayers, she lit three incense sticks and handed them to Yin Minglu, asking him to join in the ritual. Then, she said in a mysterious tone, “Xiao Bao, when you were born, I had a fortune teller look at your birth chart. The fortune teller said you are destined for good fortune, but there’s also a calamity in your fate. Once you overcome it, you’ll become an extraordinary individual, everything you do will be successful, and you’ll have great achievements in the future, bringing glory to the family. If you can’t overcome it, you might either die young or live an ordinary life. Now, look at you! You’ve overcome the calamity, and a bright future awaits you! Come, let’s pay respects to the deities. Look, you resemble the chubby baby holding a carp in the New Year’s painting. You have an auspicious face. Work hard, strive for success, and make a name for yourself in the future!”
With that, she took Yin Minglu’s small hand and they performed the ritual together. Glancing at the New Year’s paintings that almost every household had, Yin Minglu couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened. The chubby baby with a red bellyband in the painting looked much plumper than him.
The name Yin Minglu was not chosen by Grandma Luo. She couldn’t read many Chinese characters, and generations of her family were peasants without access to a proper dictionary. How could she come up with such a complex name? She sought the help of educated youth in the village, who were helping her learn, to pick the name while carrying a bag of white flour. However, the educated youth has since returned to the city. Even the idea of the auspicious name “Jinli”1“锦鲤”, meaning “auspicious carp” was suggested by a street fortune-teller, and Grandma Luo believed it wholeheartedly. When she saw her grandson’s delicate face in the swaddling clothes, just one month old, with eyes as bright and sparkling as grapes, blinking cutely, Grandma Luo immediately believed that her grandson was indeed destined for good fortune.
However, due to the tense political situation at the time, she didn’t publicize this fortune-telling information.
Yin Yue on the side couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking how she never noticed these things in her previous life. It turned out her family members were a bunch of feudal superstition believers. Despite the emphasis on moving away from superstitions after the establishment of the People’s Republic, and the abolition of the Four Olds during the Cultural Revolution2refers to the traditional and cultural elements that were targeted for elimination during the Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China. The campaign aimed to eradicate old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas., her family still clung to these supernatural beliefs, highlighting their extremely backward and ignorant mindset.
What kind of ‘Jinli’ destiny? It’s really a joke!
The village’s wild chickens are just wild chickens, why harbor illusions of carp leaping over the dragon gate? She knows it well. Her younger brother, since childhood, has been wandering around the mountains. Despite spending money to attend school, he couldn’t focus on studies. He dropped out before finishing elementary school, always asking for money from the family. He has a reckless personality, tried going to the city, but couldn’t achieve anything. No one hired him for dishwashing or pedaling a tricycle. In the end, he could only work as a lackey or a runner for someone, and he died soon after, causing the family to lose a significant amount of money. For such a person, having a ‘Jinli’ destiny? It’s truly a toothless laugh.
Clearly, he didn’t fare better than her.
But the old lady remained firm in her belief, especially as the subsequent events quickly provided confirmation. It strengthened her conviction that her grandson was indeed a fortunate child.
Author’s note: Making up for yesterday’s update qaq
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