(Thanks for all your support, dear readers! The comments section has never been this lively—much!)
A faint, barely visible smile crept onto Old Man Yang's weathered face.
"Fatty's been surprisingly well-behaved tonight. Didn't cry, didn't make a fuss—sat there quiet the whole evening. Looks like she's finally learned to be sensible."
Hearing her father-in-law praise Yang Ruoqing, Sun Shi was taken aback. Since the day her daughter was born, she'd never once heard her father-in-law offer a word of praise—especially after the child went 'simple.' He hadn't even spared her a proper glance.
What was going on tonight?
Still, no matter the reason, hearing him compliment her daughter filled Sun Shi with joy—and even a little disbelief. She glanced at her daughter standing nearby and said softly,
"Ever since that serious illness after she nearly drowned, she's been more quiet and obedient."
Old Man Yang nodded slowly. He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could get a word out, Madam Tan snorted from the bed, shooting a sideways glare at Yang Ruoqing.
"Stand back! What's that smell all over you? Stinks to high heaven!"
Sun Shi's face turned red with embarrassment. She stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
Old Man Yang shot a glare at Madam Tan and came to Sun Shi's defense.
"She's just a child. Of course, she smells like that! And you—how could you, a grandmother, stoop to argue with your granddaughter?"
Madam Tan rolled her eyes at Old Man Yang and turned her face toward the bed curtain, saying nothing as she stared angrily at the yellowed fabric.
On the other side, Old Man Yang's gaze returned to Fatty—Yang Ruoqing.
And maybe it was her imagination, but she thought she saw something like affection and gentleness in his eyes.
He suddenly pulled a trick from up his sleeve—or rather, from his pocket—fishing around until he produced a handful of roasted beans. He handed them to Yang Ruoqing and coaxed,
"Fatty, Grandpa, and Grandma need to speak privately with your mother. Take these beans and eat them behind the door, alright? Be good now."
Yang Ruoqing glanced at her mother, who gave her a small nod. She took the beans and squatted in the corner behind the door, happily crunching away.
Old Man Yang withdrew his gaze and sighed deeply. Then he turned to Sun Shi and said,
"Third Daughter-in-law, you saw tonight how the other branches reacted. This matter with Third Son... it's going to be hard to deal with."
Sun Shi stood obediently in front of the bed, eyes lowered to the worn shoes on her feet, as Old Man Yang's voice resumed, low and steady.
**"Of my five sons, when it comes to farm work, none are better than Third. He's skilled and willing to work. Now that he's down, it's like a table's lost a leg.
"Your mother-in-law and I, we're both old now. In the years ahead, we'll be depending on all of you for support. But with things as they are…"** He sighed again.
"It's our failure to be filial…" Sun Shi murmured, filled with guilt.
She didn't blame Heaven or fate—only that she and her husband had such bad luck, caught in this awful situation.
Old Man Yang waved her off.
"Don't say that. You and Third are good kids—respectful, and loyal. That's worth more than gold." Then, his tone sharpened, a determined look flashing in his eyes.
"Third's leg still needs to be treated. We can't just sit back and watch him stay crippled. Your mother-in-law and I, we'll still need your family in our old age."
To Sun Shi, those words were like hearing music from Heaven. Her head snapped up, eyes misty with emotion, lips trembling uncontrollably.
"But… Eldest Brother and Second Brother, they…" Sun Shi hesitated, unsure how to go on.
"That's exactly why your mother and I asked you to stay behind," Old Man Yang said.
**"Once sons are grown, they no longer listen to their parents. The family is big now, with each branch having its concerns. As head of the family, I can't just throw my weight around. And let's be honest—what your Second Brother said, though harsh, wasn't wrong.
"This kind of treatment—it's risky. We could sink all that money in and get nothing back. We're just a farming family scraping by in the dirt. We can't afford to gamble."**
Sun Shi's hopes, which had just begun to rise, were doused like a bucket of cold water. She stared at Old Man Yang in confusion, unable to figure out what he was trying to say.
Meanwhile, Yang Ruoqing sat like a dummy in the corner behind the door, crunching beans with her ears perked, paying close attention to every word.
Then she heard Old Man Yang sigh again and speak earnestly to Sun Shi:
"Your mother and I talked it over. Once we've harvested and stored the rice in a few days, we'll invite Madam Wang from the next village to come over. You'll give Fatty a good wash, change her clothes, comb her hair, and coax her into behaving like she did tonight—no fussing, no weird behavior…"
"Father—you're planning to sell Fatty to a child broker?!" Sun Shi suddenly cried out in horror, her whole body trembling, her voice quivering.
Behind the door, Yang Ruoqing nearly bit her tongue. Just earlier during the family meeting, Old Man Yang had been going on about unity, love among brothers, and how no one should forget their kin. She'd started to see him in a slightly better light than the others.
But wow, she had seriously misjudged him. So the real reason he insisted on treating Yang Huazhong's leg… was that he planned to sell her to fund it!
Damn it! I'm still a "simpleton," you two old vultures are seriously planning to sell off a mentally challenged girl?!
Old Man Yang sighed deeply, biting down on his long-stemmed pipe, remaining silent.
In truth, he was bitter and conflicted. No matter how poor the family got, as long as everyone was together, he could still enjoy some peace in his old age. He had never once considered something as cruel as selling a child.
But right now, circumstances were beyond his control.
Perhaps feeling he couldn't bring himself to say it, Old Man Yang gave Madam Tan a meaningful glance. She turned her face toward them, her eyes narrowing as she first looked coldly at Yang Ruoqing squatting in the corner. She snorted through her nose, but her words were directed at Sun Shi.
**"If we don't sell Fatty, what do we use to pay for Third's treatment? You expect the whole family to starve with your branch while you blow in the northwest wind?
"She's just a girl, after all. Keeping her around is a waste of food. Sell her, turn her into silver to treat her father's leg—that way, at least she's served some purpose!"**
"But, Qing'er, she…" Sun Shi nearly blurted out that Qing'er wasn't dumb anymore, that she could actually help out around the house now—but just then, strange giggling sounds came from behind the door.
Everyone turned to look.
There sat Yang Ruoqing on the ground, happily playing with mud near her foot. A ring of unchewed bean mush was smeared around her mouth, mixed with drool and snot—completely disgusting.
Madam Tan covered her mouth and nose in revulsion, eyebrows arched high in disgust.
Sun Shi started to rush over and pull her daughter up but then caught sight of Yang Ruoqing winking at her. She paused, stunned.
A mother's heart is connected to her child's—she suddenly realizes what is going on!
She quickly turned back to Old Man Yang and Madam Tan and said:
"Father, Mother, you can see it yourselves—Qing'er is simple-minded. Not to mention she's not much to look at. Who'd want to buy a girl who does nothing but eat and dawdle all day? And besides, Madam Wang will ask around before she comes. Paper can't wrap fire. Better we don't go down that path…"
(End of Chapter)