Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Rebirth “Mother, I’m begging you. Please give me some money. I’ll take Qingqing to town to see a physician. If this fever keeps burning, she’ll die.” Zhao Lan knelt on the ground before Wang Guizhi, repeatedly knocking her head against the floor until her forehead was red and swollen. A woman sat beside the table in the main room. She was slightly plump and solidly built, her bulging belly pressing against the table’s edge. The flesh around her waist stretched her blue jacket into several wrinkles. She cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Lan with her long, narrow, triangular eyes and said coldly, “Second Daughter-in-law, our family isn’t wealthy either. We can’t keep letting that Qing girl drain us. Do you know how much silver has been wasted on her? “She’s been treated for so many years, and she’s still an idiot. I haven’t seen her get any smarter.” Zhao Lan grew anxious at once. “Mother, the money we’ve spent on physicians for Qingqing all these years came from the embroidery I sold. None of it was taken from the family’s shared funds. Just consider this a loan. I’ll embroider more pieces and sell them in the future, and I’ll give all the money to you.” Wang Guizhi slammed her thick palm against the table. “Bang!” She stood up and pointed at Zhao Lan furiously. “What do you mean, money from your embroidery? The family hasn’t divided its property. Any silver you earn belongs to the household. “If I weren’t kind enough to leave each branch a little spending money, do you think you’d have any money at all? I’ve only spoiled you until you grew more and more presumptuous.” At that moment, Wang Cuilan, who had just gotten out of bed, came out of her room. Seeing Zhao Lan kneeling there, she gave a light laugh. “Second Sister-in-law, look how angry you’ve made Mother. Mother is only thinking of the family. That Qing girl hasn’t gotten any better after all these years. Wasting money on her and dragging the whole family into hardship—wouldn’t that be unfilial?” Zhao Lan gave a derisive snort and slowly stood up, brushing the dust from her legs. “That makes no sense, Sister-in-law. If we’re talking about wasting money, our Qingqing can’t compare with Bo'an. He began studying when he was five. How many years has he been at it now? “And yet he still hasn’t even passed the tongsheng examination. How much silver have all those years of tuition fees wasted?” Wang Cuilan’s eyes shifted. She immediately put on a sorrowful expression and gently dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “Our Bo'an and the younger uncle are the Li Family’s hopes. The schoolmaster even praised Bo'an’s schoolwork two days ago, saying he’ll certainly pass the tongsheng examination this year. Sister-in-law, aren’t you cursing him to fail this year by saying such things?” When she finished, she covered her face and began to sob. “Boo-hoo…” Wang Guizhi shouted angrily, “Second Daughter-in-law, who gave you the nerve to curse Bo'an and Wangshu? If they fail the examination this year because of your words, I’ll have Second Brother divorce you!” Zhao Lan was just about to speak when the door opened. Li Shoutian and Li Erzhu, who had gone out to work early that morning, entered carrying hoes. Li Shoutian set down his hoe and swept his cold gaze across everyone. “What are you all making such a fuss about first thing in the morning? Is the food ready? Don’t you have enough hardships in your lives already?” Then he turned to Li Erzhu, who had come in behind him, and barked, “Second Brother, can’t you keep your wife under control? What’s with all this commotion every day? You’re making a laughingstock of us in front of outsiders for no reason.” Li Erzhu answered timidly, “I understand, Father!” His face flushed as he walked over to Zhao Lan. “What kind of year is this? Life is already so difficult, and you’re still causing trouble? You’ve made Mother angry too. Hurry up and apologize to her.” As he spoke, he reached out and shoved Zhao Lan, urging her to apologize. Zhao Lan slowly lifted her head and looked at the man before her, as though she were seeing him clearly for the first time. This was the man for whom she had borne children, the man with whom she had lived for more than a decade—the man who could abandon his daughter for the sake of being filial. She suddenly seemed to lose all her strength. Her eyes reddened as she choked out, “Li Erzhu, couldn’t you even ask why I’m making trouble? Our daughter is nearly dead, and you’re telling me to apologize. Do you have any heart at all?” Looking at Zhao Lan’s tear-filled eyes, Li Erzhu turned his head aside and muttered quietly, “Qingqing is an idiot. Maybe dying would be a relief for her. Stop wasting your energy.” When Zhao Lan heard those words, she froze as if nailed to the spot. Then she suddenly burst into laughter. Tears fell like pearls from a broken string, each one striking the floor—like her heart, sinking lower and lower. “Good… very good. Li Erzhu, you’ve finally said what you really think. Qingqing is your daughter too! How can you wish for her to die? Are you even human?” After saying this, she staggered backward two steps. Li Qingsong, carrying a basket on his back, hurried over and caught her by the arm. “Mother, be careful.” His eyes red, he turned on Li Erzhu and shouted, “Father, she’s your daughter! How can you wish for her to die?” Li Erzhu flew into a rage out of embarrassment and pointed at Li Qingsong. “Who are you shouting at? I’m your father, you unfilial son! Your mother made your grandmother angry, and I told her to apologize. What’s wrong with that?” Li Qingsong wanted to say more, but Zhao Lan pulled him back and kept him from speaking. Wang Guizhi clicked her tongue. “Enough. Hurry up and set out the food. Can’t you see the head of the household is hungry? Second Daughter-in-law, since you have enough strength to cause a fuss, I suppose you aren’t hungry. Don’t eat breakfast.” Then she turned and ordered Wang Cuilan, “What are you waiting for? Go wake up Big Brother and tell him to come eat. There isn’t a peaceful day in this house.” Muttering to herself, she went into the kitchen to bring out the food. Li Qingsong glared hatefully at Wang Guizhi, then tugged at Zhao Lan. “Mother, let’s go back to the room and check on Second Sister first.” Zhao Lan silently nodded and walked toward the room with Li Qingsong, not sparing Li Erzhu a single glance. Li Erzhu watched the mother and son leave without saying a word. He turned and went into the main room to eat, as though the people who had just left were not his wife and child at all… Inside the room, Li Wanqing lay on the worn bedboard, her face flushed bright red. Beside the bed, two little children were wringing out a towel with both hands and placing it on her forehead. After setting down the towel, the little girl said to the little boy, “Third Brother, do you think Second Sister is going to die? Her head is so hot!” As soon as she finished speaking, tears began streaming uncontrollably down her face. The little boy clumsily wiped her tears with his sleeve. “Lianlian, don’t cry. Second Sister will be fine!” The little boy tried hard to comfort his sister, but his own eyes slowly reddened as well. Li Qingsong pushed open the door and, seeing the two little ones beside the bed, asked softly, “Xiaohe, Xiaolian, has your Second Sister woken up?” When Li Wanlian saw her elder brother and mother enter, she immediately burst into tears and ran over. “Big Brother, Mother, Second Sister still hasn’t woken up. Her body is so hot!” With that, she began sobbing loudly. Zhao Lan hurried to the bedside and reached out to touch Li Wanqing’s face. The temperature beneath her hand was frighteningly hot. Li Wanqing’s brows were tightly furrowed. Zhao Lan wiped the tears from her face. This was not the time to grieve—she still had four children to support. She turned to Li Qingsong and said, “Qingsong, go to the main room and get a few steamed buns. You children eat something quickly. I’ll boil the medicine Physician Li gave your Second Sister yesterday. Hopefully it will help.” Li Qingsong nodded. “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll find a way to earn money and cure my sister.” With that, he ran out to fetch the steamed buns. No one noticed that Li Wanqing, lying on the bed, slowly opened her eyes. In fact, her consciousness had returned when the two children were changing the towel on her forehead. She simply hadn’t had the strength to open her eyes. Her mind was a complete mess. She only knew that she had been reborn—reborn into the body of a little idiot. She was apparently suffering from a fever. Her entire body was weak, and her head spun as her vision blurred. She truly had no strength at all, and before long, she fell unconscious once more.