Thanks to Jess for the Kofis. Enjoy the bonus chapter!

Lin Yu heard someone calling and came out. “Who’s looking for me?”

“A young girl is at the village entrance, she’s injured. You’d better go have a look.”

As soon as Lin Yu heard that, he felt something was wrong. The only young girl he knew was Zhao Yueniang. He quickly ran toward the village entrance. Halfway there, he saw a few people supporting a girl with disheveled hair walking toward them. Lin Yu’s pupils shrank. “Yueniang!”

Lin Yu rushed over and supported Zhao Yueniang. As soon as Zhao Yueniang saw him, tears started falling uncontrollably. “Brother.”

There were wounds on Zhao Yueniang’s face, and her exposed arms were covered with welts. One of her shoes had fallen off, and her whole person looked especially miserable.

“Brother, save me. Yao Jinling wants to sell me.” Zhao Yueniang’s feet were torn and broken, and she limped when she walked.

“Brother will carry you home.”

Lin Yu bent down to let Zhao Yueniang lie on his back. A few women quickly helped her get on. Zhao Yueniang lay on Lin Yu’s back and kept crying.

The villagers helped bring them home. Lin Yu carried Zhao Yueniang and sat down on the bed, thanking those who helped, “Thank you all for bringing my younger sister.”

“She scared me to death. This girl ran all the way here and even lost a shoe, saying she was looking for Lin Yu. I thought something terrible had happened.”

The others couldn’t stay any longer, so after delivering the girl, they left.

Lin Yu poured a bowl of hot tea for Zhao Yueniang. “Drink some water first and speak slowly.”

Zhao Yueniang didn’t know the way to Lu Village. After running away from home, she had asked her way all the way here. She was exhausted and starving. She held the bowl and drank it in big gulps.

Lin Yu was so distressed that his tears kept falling. “Don’t say anything for now, brother will go cook.”

Lin Yu quickly went next door to call Sang Niang to come help. After all, Yueniang was a girl, and as a ger, it wasn’t very appropriate for him to help apply her medicine. Sang Niang came right away when she heard.

Lin Yu used a big iron pot to boil water and began rolling out noodles, planning to cook some for Yueniang to eat later.

Once the water was ready, Lin Yu carried the wooden basin over. “Sang Niang, I’ll trouble you to help wipe my younger sister clean. There’s a set of my clothes beside you. Help her change into them afterward.”

“Alright.”

Lin Yu wiped his tears and went out to cook. Sang Niang looked at the girl covered in injuries and sighed. She wrung out a towel and helped Zhao Yueniang wash up, then applied medicine to her wounds. She wasn’t a talkative person, she just silently worked without asking anything.

Zhao Yueniang was still crying nonstop. Sang Niang tried to comfort her with a few words, “Don’t cry, it’s alright now.”

After she had finished helping Zhao Yueniang clean up, Sang Niang went out and called for Lin Yu. Lin Yu brought out the cooked hand-pulled noodles with shredded meat. “Yueniang, come eat some food.”

Zhao Yueniang had a blistered foot. Wearing the new shoes would hurt her. Lin Yu helped her sit down at the table. “Eat first.”

Zhao Yueniang wiped her tears and began to eat. She was really starving, holding the bowl and eating in big mouthfuls.

Seeing that there was nothing else she could help with, Sang Niang said goodbye to Lin Yu and left. “Yu-ger, call me if anything comes up.”

“Thank you.”

Only after eating a bowl of noodles did Zhao Yueniang feel a little better. Lin Yu scooped her another bowl. “Eat some more.”

As soon as Zhao Yueniang thought of what her mother and her eldest sister-in-law had done, her tears wouldn’t stop falling. Lin Yu quickly wiped her tears. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, your crying makes brother feel awful.”

Zhao Yueniang threw herself into Lin Yu’s arms and cried loudly. “Brother, save me, save me.”

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Speak slowly, speak slowly.”

Zhao Yueniang sobbed as she told Lin Yu, “Yao Jinling wants me to marry into town as someone’s concubine. My father and mother agreed, just because that old man’s family was willing to give twenty taels as a betrothal gift. Brother, save me, save me.”

Lin Yu was so angry his eyes turned red. Zhao Yueniang was only just thirteen this year. In the countryside, girls and gers usually only got married at sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen. How could Cai Chunhua and the others dare?!

“It was Yao Jinling who arranged it?”

“Mm, because my brother asked her for money to go to town. She said she didn’t have any, and the two of them started arguing. Then Yao Jinling said that ink and paper were expensive, and they couldn’t afford them. Not long after, she said she found me a good marriage in town. I refused, so my mother and Yao Jinling beat me. They’re so cruel-hearted.”

Zhao Yueniang cried uncontrollably. Lin Yu had more or less understood now. In the end, it was still all for Zhao Dazhi—they couldn’t stand the cost of his schooling, so they started selling their daughter.

“It’s alright, don’t be afraid. When your Qingshan-ge comes back, we’ll talk it over.”

Zhao Yueniang had run all the way and was injured. Lin Yu helped her lie down on the bed to rest.

After settling Zhao Yueniang, Lin Yu sat in the courtyard, holding a needle and thread in his hands but never making a single stitch. He sat there in a daze until the sun had slanted westward. Then, the sound of the mule braying came from outside the door, and Lin Yu finally snapped out of it. He ran out a bit flustered.

“Qingshan.”

Wei Qingshan had just finished tying up the mule when he saw his little husband standing there with red eyes, looking at him. Wei Qingshan’s heart tightened. “Was it Wei Er and the others bullying you?”

Lin Yu grabbed Wei Qingshan’s sleeve and shook his head. “No, it’s Yueniang, something happened to her.”

“Don’t be afraid. Tell me slowly.”

Lin Yu stammered and stuttered as he told him what happened. Wei Qingshan’s face grew dark as he listened. There were actually parents in this world worse than animals. “Don’t worry. We won’t butcher pigs today. I’ll stay home these two days. I want to see just how shameless Zhao Jiazhu and the others can be.”

Wei Qingshan directly pulled the mule cart into the backyard, then herded the pigs he’d brought back into the pen. The noise from the pigs woke up the sleeping Zhao Yueniang. She thought she was still in the Zhao household and sat up in fear and unease.

Lin Yu heard the commotion and went into the room. “Yueniang, you’re awake. It’s your Qingshan-ge who came back. It’s alright.”

Zhao Yueniang sat up on the bed. Now that Wei Qingshan was here, she felt embarrassed staying in someone else’s bed.

Wei Qingshan came in after washing his hands. “Yueniang is here. I’ll take care of this matter. Don’t be afraid.” Zhao Yueniang nodded but didn’t say anything.

Lin Yu and Wei Qingshan went outside to talk. The two of them discussed how to arrange for Zhao Yueniang. The house only had one thatched room with east and west compartments, the central area was the main hall. Zhao Yueniang couldn’t go back to the Zhao household anymore and could only stay at their house.

Wei Qingshan thought for a moment. “Let’s first set up a bed for Yueniang in the main hall. Later, we’ll build a thatched room on the east side for her. I’ll ask Dazhu and Erzhu to help. It’ll only take a few days.”

“Qingshan, thank you.”

“What’s there to thank? We’re family. Your sister is my sister too. It’s getting late. Let’s get a bed ready for Yueniang first. Otherwise, she’ll have no place to sleep tonight.”

“Mm.”

Lin Yu went to the backyard to move bricks, while Wei Qingshan pulled out the old door panels they’d used before to make a bed. Fortunately, they hadn’t chopped them up for firewood yet, so they could still be used for now.

The two quickly put together the bed, laid a thick layer of straw on top, and then added a new quilt. Lin Yu comforted Zhao Yueniang, “Yueniang, don’t be afraid. Just stay at brother’s house peacefully.”

After settling Zhao Yueniang’s sleeping arrangements, Lin Yu went to light the fire and cook. He made a dish of winter melon stewed with pork slices. Just as he covered the pot lid, he heard He Dongdong’s voice.

“Yu-ger, Yu-ger.”

Lin Yu walked out of the kitchen. “Dong-ger, what brings you here?”

“I heard at home that a wounded girl came to your house, so I came to check.” He Dongdong had heard at home and quickly brought Shi Tou along.

He Dongdong wasn’t considered an outsider, so Lin Yu told him. Hearing it made He Dongdong stomp his foot in anger. “How can there be such people! If there’s anything you need help with, just say it. Your sister is my sister, too. I’m so mad!”

Lin Yu was worried that He Dongdong would get too angry and hurt himself, so he quickly tried to soothe him. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Please don’t get angry. Getting too angry is bad for your health.”

“If you don’t have room in your house, let her stay in mine. We have a spare room. Her name is Yueniang, right? Let her hide at my house. If someone comes looking, we’ll just say we don’t know.”

“It’s already settled. Qingshan’s idea is to let Yueniang stay in the main hall for a few days, then we’ll build a room for her.”

“That works too. Then I’ll have Shi Tou come help tomorrow. I’ll call my eldest and second brothers along on my way back.”

It wasn’t right to let He Dongdong call people to work for their house. Lin Yu asked He Dongdong to sit down. “After dinner, Qingshan and I will go ourselves. You don’t have to worry. Have you eaten? Stay for dinner before you go.”

“No, no, I won’t add to the trouble.”

He Dongdong leaned on Shi Tou and was about to leave. Lin Yu told him to wait—just then, the food in the pot was ready. Lin Yu scooped out a bowl and handed it to them. “I know you like my cooking. I won’t make you stay today. Take this home and eat it.”

He Dongdong didn’t stand on ceremony. “Thanks, Yu-ger.”

After He Dongdong left, Lin Yu served the food—winter melon stewed with pork slices, with added wood ear mushrooms and tofu. Each of the three had a bowl. Lin Yu handed chopsticks to Zhao Yueniang. “Yueniang, hurry and eat. Don’t be afraid. You’ve got brother and your Qingshan-ge here.”

With Lin Yu by her side, Zhao Yueniang finally felt at ease. These dishes were things she didn’t even dare to dream of eating in the Zhao household. She lowered her head and began to eat.

After finishing the meal, before Lin Yu could clean up, she was already holding the basin to do it. Lin Yu quickly tried to take it back. “You rest. You’re injured. Let brother do it.”

“Brother, I’m fine. Let me do it.”

The two began to tussle over it. Wei Qingshan stepped in and pulled Lin Yu aside. Lin Yu still wanted to fight for it, but Wei Qingshan stopped him. So Zhao Yueniang carried the basin out.

“Why won’t you let me do it? Yueniang has injuries on her arms.” Lin Yu muttered.

Wei Qingshan finally explained, “Didn’t you see, Yueniang’s just like how you were when you first came—afraid that if she doesn’t do any work, she’ll be driven out. Let her do it, otherwise, she’ll feel uneasy.”

Only then did Lin Yu remember that when he had just married into the Wei family, he had been the same way, scrambling to do chores every day, afraid that if he didn’t do things well, he would be disliked. Back then, he had indeed felt that if he didn’t work, he wasn’t worthy of the food he ate.

Lin Yu nodded. “I understand.”

After dark, Lin Yu stayed home to accompany Zhao Yueniang, while Wei Qingshan went to find some people to come help build a thatched hut the next day.

Zhao Yueniang had heard earlier that day that Wei Qingshan was going to build a thatched hut, and she felt troubled. “Brother, am I causing you trouble?”

“Of course not. Don’t worry, your Qingshan-ge isn’t the kind of petty person who holds grudges.”

“What if my mother and they come looking for me? Brother, I’m scared.”

“Don’t be afraid, your brother is here. I’ve also saved up some silver. Trust your brother.”

Wei Qingshan went to the He family to ask the two brothers for help. He Dazhu and He Erzhu agreed without a second thought.

Early the next morning, the He brothers and Shi Tou came over with tools, drove the mule cart to transport earth, and mixed the yellow mud with straw to build the walls. Lin Yu was very grateful for everyone’s help and even replaced the teapot water with honey water.

The four of them were hard at work when, not long after, Wang-Er and a few others also came over with iron shovels. “Qingshan, how come you’re building a house and didn’t call us? Are you not treating us like brothers?”

“I’m putting up a small house for my little sister to stay in. Thank you all for helping.”

Everyone still remembered that Wei Qingshan had helped capture a wild boar in the village. So when they heard he was building a house, they all came over to lend a hand. Later on, so many people came that it was overwhelming. Wei Qingshan clasped his fists in thanks. “Thank you all for your kindness, thank you.”

For those who came afterward, Wei Qingshan thanked them and said there were already too many people, they couldn’t all be used. There were still seven or eight young men staying to work, which was more than enough.

Some people mixed yellow mud, some dug the foundation, and others sorted thatch. Around noon, they all packed up and left.

Wei Qingshan and Lin Yu tried to stop them. “Eat before you go.”

“This is going to take a few days to build. We’re all grown men, how can we eat here? It won’t be too late to eat once the house is built.”

Everyone said this with a laugh. It wasn’t easy for any household to make money, and besides, Wei Qingshan’s family didn’t have any farmland—everything they ate was bought. And these grown men all had big appetites. It was just helping out with building a thatched hut—neighbors lending a hand, that was all.

So Wei Qingshan didn’t try to stop them again and just said that once the thatched hut was built, he’d treat everyone to a meal.

With everyone helping, the house went up much faster. In just a morning’s time, the walls were already half a person tall. Honestly, even Wei Qingshan hadn’t expected that he’d have such good relations with people in the village.

Lin Yu cooked noodle soup for lunch. The three of them sat around the table to eat, and after resting for a whole day, Zhao Yueniang already looked much better.

Lin Yu was quite happy looking at the half-built new thatched hut. Though it wasn’t a brick-tile house, he was already very satisfied. “I didn’t think so many people would come to help today.”

“They didn’t all just come because of me. Look at Wang-Er and Shi Tou—actually, not just them. I think He Dazhu and Sang Niang also came because of you.”

Lin Yu felt a little embarrassed. “That’s not true. Wasn’t it because you helped catch the wild boar for the village?”

“Maybe that’s true for some others, but these few came because you helped them. Shi Tou and the rest believe their kids were lucky thanks to you. And you always bring food for Chun-ger and Dong-ger. Now that your family’s building a hut, how could they not come?”

After lunch and a short break in the afternoon, the men all came back. After a few words, they picked up their shovels and got back to work.

Zhao Yueniang also came out. This house was being built for her to live in, and she was truly grateful. She came out to help organize the thatch with Lin Yu and Sang Niang.

Just as everyone was working and chatting with smiles, a few uninvited guests appeared at the gate. Cai Chunhua rushed over and yanked Zhao Yueniang’s arm. “You damn girl, getting bold now, huh? Daring to run away!”

“What are you doing!” Lin Yu pushed Cai Chunhua away.

Cai Chunhua stood with her hands on her hips. “Well, well! Lin Yu, now that your life’s gotten better, you’ve forgotten your roots. Our Zhao family raised you for eight years, and you’ve forgotten all that.”

Wei Qingshan stepped in front of Lin Yu. “Zhao Jiazhu, you’re Lin Yu’s uncle. You know best how his family’s house was lost. Where did those twenty taels of silver go?”

Being called out by name, Zhao Jiazhu felt that arguing with countryside bumpkins was beneath his dignity. “What twenty taels of silver? Even if there were a hundred taels, Lin Yu lived at my house for so long, it was all spent on him.”

“You’re full of it. You know how I lived in the Zhao family. Not a single set of clothes was made for me, and  I never even had a bite of meat.” Lin Yu retorted from behind.

Cai Chunhua immediately pointed at his nose and started scolding, “Ungrateful little brat! We raised you for eight years for nothing! You got bold now and dare to talk back, huh? I should’ve let you starve back then!”

Zhao Dazhi tugged at Cai Chunhua from behind. “Mom, we’re here for Yueniang today. What are you arguing with him for?”

Cai Chunhua snorted. “Yueniang, come here! You’ve learned some guts from Lin Yu, too, haven’t you?”

Zhao Yueniang trembled in fear and didn’t dare come out. She could only clutch tightly onto Lin Yu’s sleeve.

Yao Jinling also tried to persuade her from the side. “Yueniang, how can you be so ungrateful? If you go with Lord Gao, you’ll have fine clothes and rich food, silks and delicacies—so many people envy you but can’t have it. And yet you dared to run away.”

Wei Qingshan let out a cold laugh. “If it’s such a great deal, why didn’t you marry him yourself?”

Seeing the two unwilling to let her go, Zhao Jiazhu and Cai Chunhua went to snatch her by force. He Dazhu and the others raised their hoes and stepped forward. “Causing trouble in our village? Try us.”

Seeing they were outnumbered, Zhao Jiazhu and his wife immediately became cowardly. But relying on the fact that they were Zhao Yueniang’s biological parents, they still refused to let go. Cai Chunhua pointed at everyone and shouted, “I’m her real mother! What right do you have to keep my daughter here? Even if I report this to the county magistrate, you’re in the wrong!”

Yao Jinling also yelled from the side, “Aiya, everyone, come and look! They’re kidnapping someone’s daughter and won’t let her go!”

Lin Yu’s home was in a remote area. No matter how much Cai Chunhua yelled, not many people came. A few old women who did come just scolded them, “Shameless.”

Cai Chunhua sat on the ground and began wailing. The group didn’t dare use force to take Yueniang, but they also refused to leave, making a scene at the door.

Wei Qingshan knew they were just greedy for the twenty taels of betrothal money. He sneered. “Say it. How much silver will it take for you to stop pestering us?”

Cai Chunhua patted her butt and stood up. “What silver? That’s my own daughter. I was finding her a good husband.”

“Oh, what a good husband. He could be your father.”

As soon as Wei Qingshan said this, the people nearby burst into laughter. Cai Chunhua’s face turned red, then white.

“Twenty taels! And that damn girl is yours.”

Zhao Yueniang suddenly pushed Lin Yu aside. She picked up a pair of scissors from the ground and held them to her own neck. “Mother, this is the last time I’ll call you mother. Please stop making things hard for Yu-ger. Let me go. Otherwise, take my corpse home!”

Lin Yu was so frightened that his face turned pale. He had raised Zhao Yueniang himself and knew her personality best. Though she seemed gentle, she was actually very stubborn deep inside.

Zhao Yueniang didn’t hesitate at all. Blood began to drip from the tip of the scissors. Lin Yu’s voice trembled with fear. “Yueniang, be good, put the scissors down. Brother will think of something.”

Zhao Yueniang’s tears poured down. “Brother, but it’s twenty taels of silver…”

Sang Niang also tried to comfort her. “Yueniang, listen to your brother. Speak properly.”

Zhao Yueniang didn’t want to trouble Lin Yu or Wei Qingshan anymore. She only wanted to use her life to force Cai Chunhua and the others to retreat. Cai Chunhua had a heart like stone, and both Zhao Jiazhu and Zhao Dazhi looked on coldly, like nothing was wrong.

Cai Chunhua laughed. “You damn girl, you dare threaten me? Even if you turn into a corpse today, you’re going home with me! Go ahead and die! Just try it! Mother will marry you off to a ghost groom while your body’s still warm! Go on, die! Let me see it!”

Lin Yu trembled all over upon hearing Cai Chunhua’s words. That was her own daughter! And yet this whole family of three was so vicious over some silver!

Lin Yu lunged at Cai Chunhua. “I’ll fight you! I’ll fight you!”

Wei Qingshan took the chance to knock the scissors from Zhao Yueniang’s hand. “Sang Niang, help me look after her.”

Sang Niang hurried to support Zhao Yueniang. She fell to the ground, crying uncontrollably. Her life was only worth twenty taels of silver.

Lin Yu was utterly enraged. He picked up a stick from the ground and began striking Cai Chunhua. “What a venomous heart you have!”

Zhao Yueniang also got up from the ground and grabbed Cai Chunhua’s hair. “Are you really my mother?! Are you my real mother, Cai Chunhua?!”

Over there, the two men saw Wei Qingshan coming and instinctively turned to run. He Dazhu and the others blocked them with their hoes. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Wei Qingshan walked up and slapped each of them, sending both to the ground. “You two think that just because you didn’t speak, you’re not involved? You’re not part of this?”

Zhao Dazhi had suffered under Wei Qingshan’s hand before. He quickly crawled toward Yao Jinling. “Jinling, save me!”

Wei Qingshan stomped on him. “Useless trash.”

“It’s just twenty taels of silver, right? I’ll give it. Then, Zhao Yueniang will be sold to my husband’s family. From now on, she has nothing to do with the Zhao family.”

Wei Qingshan held Lin Yu in his arms. “That’s enough, Xiao Yu. Don’t get angry anymore. People like that aren’t worth your anger. Dazhu, do me a favor and go invite Uncle Wei over to write up a contract.”

He Dazhu snorted and left. As he passed Zhao Dazhi, he kicked him hard, making him howl in pain.

Cai Chunhua lay on the ground, moaning after several blows. Aside from Yao Jinling, all three of the Zhao family were lying on the ground. Lin Yu glared fiercely at Yao Jinling. She backed up a step in fright. She had thought Lin Yu was soft, but when he got angry, he looked like he didn’t even care about his life.

Uncle Wei was quickly brought over. After hearing the whole story, he took paper and brush and wrote up a deed of sale, stating that Zhao Yueniang was sold to Lin Yu for twenty taels of silver.

Wei Qingshan threw the silver onto the ground. “Sign and press your fingerprints to take this twenty taels. Unless you want to come cause trouble here every day and get beaten every day. Don’t think you’ll ever take her from me. Choose for yourselves.”

Cai Chunhua clutched those twenty taels of silver to her chest. Since it was twenty taels anyway, selling to whoever was still selling—who would’ve thought that this poor hunter could actually bring out twenty taels of silver. Back when they married Lin Yu off, they should’ve asked for more. They only asked for ten taels at that time—what a loss!

Zhao Jiazhu and Cai Chunhua both pressed their handprints on the contract. Wei Qingshan took that deed of sale and handed it to Lin Yu. “Keep it safe.”

“Hurry up and get lost!”

Only then did the group scramble to flee. He Dazhu spat on the ground, “Qingshan, is this really the end of it?”

“Of course not.”

Zhao Yueniang started crying. Her brother and brother-in-law had taken her in out of kindness, and in the end, they even had to spend twenty taels of silver—twenty taels of silver! She had never seen that much money in her whole life.

Lin Yu comforted Zhao Yueniang, “It’s alright now. Don’t cry. Just stay here with your brother in peace.”

“But, Brother, that twenty taels of silver is gone. It’s all my fault.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as Yueniang is safe, that’s all that matters.”

Wei Qingshan said to Lin Yu, “Don’t worry. That twenty taels of silver won’t be taken so easily.”