Lin Lan pondered what could possibly be going on with the army unit lately.
According to the plot, he should have transferred to civilian work by this time and be living a quiet life at home. Instead, the original owner would spend her days suspicious of him, constantly accusing him of infidelity and trying to catch him in the act, which caused him great distress.
In this lifetime, because of her intervention, he hadn't transferred yet. Could a butterfly effect have triggered something else?
She wanted to find Han Qingsong to ask, but she hadn't seen him anywhere.
Lin Lan decided to start cooking first.
She wanted to make something delicious for the children. First, she sliced up the large steamed buns (bobos) given to her by her third sister, heated the pan, brushed it with a little oil, and lightly dipped the bun slices in cold water before placing them in the pan to fry.
Soon, an appetizing aroma filled the air. The fried bun slices turned a crispy, golden brown on both sides. It was just a pity there was so little oil, or they could have been fried to a deep, perfect gold.
After frying the bread, Lin Lan called Xiaowang over to eat and started working on the next dish.
She stewed lentils and eggplant, sticking cornmeal cakes to the sides of the pot to steam—simple and convenient.
Now that the grain had been divided, Lin Lan didn't just use cornmeal; she mixed in one-third wheat flour so the children would have better nutrition and easier digestion.
"Mom, what are you making that smells so good!" Sanwang, his nose twitching, ran home following the scent. Upon entering and seeing the golden-brown bun slices, he reached for one.
Lin Lan handed him a piece. "Where is your dad working?"
Sanwang chomped down on the fried bun. "So good. Who gave us these big bobos? Was it my da-jiujiu? ...You're asking about Dad? I saw him earlier, rushing around as if he were on fire."
Lin Lan pulled out the telegram. "This telegram arrived today, right?"
"Yeah... Mom, wait here, I'll go find out for you." He ran off, holding his bun slice.
"Slow down, don't trip!" Lin Lan called after him.
Soon, Erwang and Maisui returned together. They had gone out to cut grass and brought back some firewood—nothing more than dried branches fallen in the forest.
The children were thrilled to see the fried bun slices.
Lin Lan asked after Dawang. That boy was quite elusive; just when she thought he was getting closer to her, he would vanish again, wandering around like a wild creature.
Maisui was eating a bun slice. "What could Big Brother be doing? Fighting, probably... Oh, right, Nainai sent him to the county town again to deliver things to Xiaoshu. The bag was bulging; there must have been money inside."
Lin Lan frowned. She found it strange—why did the old lady never send any of the other grandsons, always choosing to boss her children around?
And Dawang, too. Was Xiaoshu really that magnetic? Why did he keep going to the city?
When he got back, she would have to teach him a lesson.
Lin Lan had Maisui tend the fire while she spread out the cotton she had brought back to fluff it up, planning to let it sun-dry tomorrow.
Sanwang ran back from outside, looking mysterious. "Mom, Dad went to the brigade to find Yeye."
Lin Lan hurriedly asked what was going on.
Sanwang leaned close to her ear. "I know. Dad was called over by Nainai at noon to give her money, but Dad said he didn't have any and needed to borrow some because he has to go back to the unit for business. Nainai cursed him out, saying he shouldn't even think about borrowing a fen from her. So Dad probably went to borrow money from Zhishu Yeye."
Borrowing money?
If he were returning to handle his transfer, the unit would certainly give him a stipend—according to the plot, it should be one thousand yuan, which would be the highest amount in their entire brigade. For the sake of this money, the original owner had fought with the old lady for seven days and seven nights, had a massive blowout with Xiaoshu and Xiaogu, and in the end, she had only managed to take two hundred back to her own family, while the mother-in-law snatched three hundred, and the rest was spent on the daughter.
Why did he need money now?
She decided not to overthink it; she would just ask Han Qingsong when he returned.
After the meal, she sent the children to wash up and rest. Dawang and Han Qingsong had still not returned.
Lin Lan lit some aihao to smoke out the mosquitoes, left a braid of the herbs by the entrance of the main room for the children to sleep, and then sat on a wooden stump by the door to wait for Han Qingsong.
After the voices in the brigade courtyard died down—a sign that people had gone home to sleep—Lin Lan soon heard Han Qingsong push the door open and walk in.
Had he been hanging out with the crowd too?
Although the men in the village liked to cluster there, Han Qingsong had never gone before. She found it strange that he had gone today.
Han Qingsong entered. The courtyard was pitch black, making it impossible to see clearly, but the lamp from inside the room illuminated her, making her look unusually gentle. He asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Lin Lan: "Is something the matter?"
Han Qingsong: "Nothing much. Are Die, Niang, and Dage all doing okay?"
Lin Lan hadn't expected him to still be thoughtful enough to ask about her trip to her family home. "They're doing well. Niang and the others helped scrape together several jin of cotton. We don't have enough, so we couldn't sew our winter quilts or padded jackets."
Han Qingsong nodded. "We'll return it to them once we have enough."
Lin Lan smiled. "My sanshijie even gave us two big bobos. I fried them; I'll go get some for you."
"No need, I've already eaten." Han Qingsong stopped her from busywork. "You go to sleep first."
"Is it that you need money?" Lin Lan asked. "Why don't you tell me when you need money?"
Han Qingsong looked at her, surprised. She was this perceptive? It must be an illusion.
"It's nothing, I'll find a way. You sleep first."
"I really don't get you!" Lin Lan's temper flared.
She had no chance to use her knowledge to earn money yet, and she and the children were counting on him—they were all in the same boat, so what was this attitude?
It wasn't sincere at all!
Seeing she was unhappy, Han Qingsong was puzzled. "Then what should I do?"
When trouble arises, the man should shoulder it, allowing his wife and children to live in peace—wasn't that how it worked?
"We are, after all, fu... we're a family. If you have a problem, you should discuss it with me. Whether it's money or effort, even if I can't help much, I can at least offer some ideas or help you talk it through, right?"
That felt even more wrong.
Han Qingsong stared at her, as if trying to see through her from inside out.
"A lao-comrade of mine ran into trouble. I have to go back and see him; I need to bring more money to help him out."
It was likely a life-or-death situation, but he didn't elaborate, afraid to scare Lin Lan.
Lin Lan naturally understood. After all, it was 1970; although things had stabilized, local struggles were still quite intense.
Who knew in what corner an internal movement was being staged?
"I... I have two hundred and eighty yuan here. Take it with you."
She had started with two hundred and sixty, spent about ten on the doctor and glasses, and hadn't touched the rest; the one hundred from the family split had only had a few dozen spent.
Han Qingsong laughed. So that money hadn't been given to her family—no wonder the old lady and the others were constantly eyeing it.
"Then just lend me two hundred. I'll definitely earn the money back and return it to you later."
Lin Lan got angry again. "What? You don't want to give me the money you earn in the future?"
Did he want to give it all to the old lady again?
"I'll give it all to you. Apart from the money I earn legitimately, I'll find other ways to earn more to supplement you," he promised.
Lin Lan didn't doubt his word. "That's more like it."
She went to get her money. She had kept it hidden inside Xiaowang's ragged clothes, which still had that peculiar, not-so-pleasant scent of a small child. That was why, even though Han Laotainai and Han Ersao had rummaged through the room several times when she wasn't home before the split, they hadn't found it.
She went outside and handed the money to Han Qingsong. She believed his relationship with this comrade was profound; otherwise, he wouldn't be this tense.
Han Qingsong looked at it by the faint light, only taking two hundred and returning the rest to her. "Keep these. The family needs to add some things."
Lin Lan refused. She had already gritted her teeth and been generous; she might as well be a good person to the end. "I'll keep a little, but I don't have coupons or tickets to buy anything anyway. You take it all. When you're out and about, it's better to have more."
Han Qingsong nodded. "Fine. Then I'll leave tomorrow. I'll likely be back in a few days."
Lin Lan smiled. "If you have trouble in the future, just speak up. Don't bottle it all up. I'm not a deity; I can't guess what's on your mind."
Han Qingsong also started to smile. "If you don't find it annoying, I'll tell you in the future."
Lin Lan recalled how he used to say, "Don't bring your petty problems from outside to me," and later, he would complain that he could laugh and joke with his comrades, but had nothing to say to her.
He probably had a bit of cognitive dissonance.
Early the next morning, Han Qingsong went to bid Han Laotou and Han Dage farewell, saying he was returning to the unit.
Everyone in the family assumed he was going to process his transfer papers, so they urged him to hurry up and return quickly. The old lady even called him inside for another brainwashing, wanting to ensure that when he transferred, he would bring the money home for her first, otherwise it would be unfilial, and so on.
Han Qingsong just listened, which made the old lady so angry she told him to get out.
Han Qingsong asked Dage to help look after Lin Lan and the children, and to provide support if anything came up.
Han Dage said: "Don't worry, Die and I are here. Your Saosao will also come over to help out. It'll be fine."
Han Qingsong then took his leave, walking to the county town to catch the train.
He had his military identification, so he could buy a ticket at any time, but the train wasn't until noon, so he had to wait.
Thinking of how Lin Lan said Dawang had run to the county town again, he left his luggage at the station and walked to the town high school.
Han Jinbao and Han Jinyu, the brother and sister, went to school here. The old lady had sent Dawang to deliver letters and items to Xiaoshu. Once Dawang arrived in the county town, he would just run around with Xiaoshu and refuse to go home.
Han Qingsong had already learned a lot about the situation in the last few days; Erwang and Maisui had also come by and told him many things.
Thus, he already had an understanding of the actions of his younger brother and sister.
Han Jinbao didn't attend school properly. He spent his days riding a bicycle, wearing a green military uniform, his cap tilted, carrying himself like a local punk or a delinquent. He hung around with the children of minor cadres, either harassing female students or just idling about.
Han Jinyu wasn't much better. When it was time to move from primary to junior high, there was chaos, and by the time classes resumed, she had been promoted directly to high school. Now the school didn't even hold college entrance exams, and they spent every day making trouble and engaging in one movement or another, so many people who graduated high school were still at the primary school level from before the revolution.
Because of education reform, there was no need to test into junior high or high school; even junior and senior high were combined, simplifying six years into three, so the students were all lackadaisical and lacked ideals.
At this time, junior and senior high students in big cities were being sent to the mountains and countryside to "make a great difference" in the vast fields, while rural county high school students were sent home to farm after graduation.
The lucky ones might get recruited by the few units in the county town, but there were far more monks than gruel; there were no jobs to distribute, and everything required guanxi.
Han Jinyu and her brother should have long since returned home to farm, but they kept wanting to stay in the county to work in a factory, only there was never an opportunity.
So, they spent money on guanxi to cling to the school, waiting for a chance to work in a factory, a supply and marketing cooperative, or a state-run vegetable market or restaurant.
Being sixteen or seventeen-year-old youths, trouble was bound to arise over time. Han Jinyu thought of marrying a cadre, a driver, or a worker; Han Jinbao wanted to get into a factory, or failing that, the army would do.
The results always fell through, so he was quite frustrated and didn't want to go home, choosing to idle away his days in the city with a group of unemployed vagrants.
Han Qingsong didn't find Han Jinbao, only Han Jinyu.
Hearing that Third Brother had come to see her, Han Jinyu flew out in delight.
She was wearing the most popular Dacron dress of the moment, her waist thin, her hair in two braided pigtails, her bangs permed into curls, a women's wristwatch on her wrist, and a pair of black leather strap shoes on her feet paired with snow-white socks. She didn't look any worse than the female students in the big cities.
Seeing her fashionable, clean outfit, and then thinking of Maisui and Lin Lan, Han Qingsong suddenly understood Lin Lan's dissatisfaction.
"Third Brother, why did you only just come to see me? You've been back for several days, right? Hurry and take me to the supply and marketing cooperative; buy me a semiconductor radio." Han Jinyu spoke like a machine gun, pulling Han Qingsong along. "You're an officer, you can definitely buy it without coupons, right? Jinbao bought one at a high price over the New Year and makes me crave one all day—it's infuriating! Third Brother, hurry and take me to buy one."
"When Niang sent someone to deliver letters to you that day, why didn't you come home?" Han Qingsong asked her.
Han Jinyu laughed playfully. "Third Brother, you aren't going to blame me for not coming home to see you, are you? Actually, it's for your own good. I heard that Niang and Saosao were making a scene at home over the family split; how embarrassing would it have been for me to go home? Besides, I was out sketching with classmates; I didn't have time. I just got back. I only came out because I heard Third Brother was here to see me; if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have been able to find me. I'm busy!"
Han Qingsong's face was dark as water. "Dawang? He came to deliver things to you yesterday and didn't go home either."
"That dead kid? Don't even mention him; he's infuriating. Hey, why didn't Maisui come? I have no one to wash my clothes."
Han Qingsong furrowed his thick brows. "Maisui is so much younger than you; she's only nine."
"So what? She's willing. I told her I'd give her these leather shoes once they're worn out. Oh, right, Niang gave me money to buy new leather shoes, but I haven't had a chance to go yet. Dage, do you think it would look good if I bought one of those woolen overcoats? They're so expensive; one costs over a hundred yuan." Han Jinyu was still immersed in her own visions.
"Dawang?" Han Qingsong asked again.
"He went off to play with Jinbao. That brat is infuriating; I told him to wash my clothes, but he kept saying it's a woman's job and wouldn't do it. Third Brother, you have to teach him a lesson."
"Jinbao?"
"Hm, he must have gone to the state-run restaurant. It's this time of day; they must have gone to drink... Hey, Third Brother?"
Han Qingsong had already walked away with long strides, paying no mind to Han Jinyu calling after him.
Han Jinyu stomped her foot. "Third Brother, what's wrong with him? It must be that shrew whispering in his ear."
...
At the state-run restaurant, several young men were toasting each other.
Han Jinbao held up his glass. "Dage, that job at the factory..."
"Hey, what are you in such a hurry for? They haven't started recruiting yet, have they? When they do, I'll definitely have my uncle put your name at the top of the list."
"Many thanks, Dage, many thanks! Let's have another."
After three rounds of drinks, Han Jinbao began to boast without any foundation, claiming his Third Brother was an officer who listened to his mother the most and loved him the most, and so on.
"Let me tell you, when my Third Brother becomes a regimental commander..."
"My Third Brother loves me the most; he loves me more than his own son. That silly kid named Dawang, my nephew—his own son—you've all seen him; he's my little follower. I don't even bother with him..."
"Liu-ge, why didn't Liu Ling come out to play? Let's go see a movie together."
Bang! The door behind them was pushed open forcefully. A man strode in. His face was cold and stern, his aura like a blade, startling the young men present so much they gasped.
"Comrade PLA, Comrade, who are you looking for?" The men stood up hastily, acting with utmost respect.
Han Jinbao saw who had entered and grinned. "Hey, speak of the devil! This is the Third Brother I was telling you about..." He turned to Han Qingsong and laughed, "Third Brother, why did you only just come to see me?"
He stepped forward to put an arm around his shoulders, but his wrist was twisted and he was slammed onto the table in a single motion.
"Ouch... hurts, hurts, it hurts... Third Brother!"
Han Qingsong pushed him away and said coldly, "Dawang?"
"D-Dawang, Dawang..."
"Dawang?" Han Qingsong fixed him with a blade-like gaze.
Han Jinbao felt a chill run from his head to his heels. "He... he went home."
Han Qingsong glared at him, seemingly measuring whether he was lying, then turned his eyes to the others.
Being stared at like that, they felt as if they were being watched by a ferocious beast—just like the two large wolfhounds at the county government compound. It was terrifying, and they couldn't help but shiver.
They looked at the badge on his shoulder and knew he was a company commander, so they hastily nodded and bowed. "Third Brother, Dawang really left. He went home."
Han Qingsong waved his hand. "The county town isn't that big. It's a bother for you all to take a trip, but bring that brat back for me."
The men scattered instantly.
Soon, they actually found Dawang. The kid hadn't gone home but was wrestling with a group of children behind the liquor factory.
Han Qingsong gave Dawang a look. "Did you report to your mother before you left?"
Dawang rolled his eyes. "Nainai told me to deliver things to Xiaoshu and Xiaogu."
"Even when delivering things, you must report to your mother first!"
Dawang drooped his eyelids, suppressing his eye roll.
"Go home now! If you dare to leave the house again without your mother's permission, I'll train you when I get back!"
Dawang didn't yet understand the weight of these words; he wished he would just hurry up and leave. He didn't know how uncomfortable it was to have someone managing everything for the few days he had been back.
He made a sound in his nose.
Han Qingsong gave Han Jinbao another look, telling him not to bring Dawang out to play ever again.
Han Jinbao: "Third Brother, are you blaming me?"
Han Qingsong snorted, and Han Jinbao didn't dare say another word.
Han Qingsong took Dawang to the county Public Security Bureau and found a young officer named Liu to take Dawang home.
Dawang: "No need! I can go back myself! I've gone back and forth so many times, who needs anyone to send me?"
Officer Liu laughed. "You kid, stop learning from those bad kids and just be obedient."
After Han Qingsong entrusted him to his care, he looked at the time and headed to the train station.
After he left, Han Jinbao went to find Han Jinyu.
"Has Third Brother gone mad?"
Han Jinyu was also angry. "Who's to say otherwise? You didn't hear the tone he used when speaking to me; it was so fierce, as if I owed him a mountain of money."
Han Jinbao said: "Didn't Niang say they split the family? How did it go? We have to go back and take a look. Don't let that shrew take advantage at home. You saw how Third Brother was blown by her whispers." He was harboring bad intentions; because Han Qingsong hadn't given him face, he was furious, and his lawless personality made him want to vent.
The two put their heads together and prepared, gathering their things, what needed to be brought back, what needed washing, and so on—each packing a large bag.
As it turned out, before they could even leave that afternoon, Han Laotainai came instead.
Han Erge had borrowed a bicycle to carry her.
Han Laotainai naturally waited until the third son had left before coming. As soon as she saw the youngest son and daughter, she began to wail. "Jinbao, Jinyu, it's terrible! Our family's money has all been taken back by your Third Brother!"
"What?" Han Jinbao was anxious. "Niang, what's going on?"
Han Laotainai started to scold them both. "I had Erge come to send you a message the day of the family split, why didn't you go home? If you had been there, would they have been able to act so cocky?"
Han Erge hurriedly said: "I did go that day, and I even bumped into Jinbao. It was Jinbao himself who said he had business and wouldn't go back. I didn't even see Jinyu."
Han Laotainai grabbed her children and began to cry, mourning the money and the fact that they hadn't gone back, which resulted in a huge loss.
That was one hundred yuan! Han Jinyu couldn't help but complain: "Niang, what's the point of coming here to cry now?" Her overcoat!
Han Jinbao pushed her. Idiot, obviously she wants us to go back and demand the money. He hadn't spent these years in the city for nothing; he had learned quite a few tricks. He didn't believe he couldn't suppress a shrew!
Third Brother wasn't at home, and the shrew had no one to support her. They would just go back and demand the money.
Thus, Han Jinbao gave a shout, rode the bike with his sister on the back, and Han Erge carried the old lady. The four of them headed home together.
...
In the afternoon, Lin Lan went to work. Just as she finished her shift, she heard the production brigade leader calling out that the county Public Security Bureau had sent Dawang back and asked Lin Lan to take a look.
Lin Lan was startled and hurriedly shouldered her hoe, running toward home.
When she reached the threshing floor, she saw an officer in a 65-style military green uniform pushing a bicycle, with Dawang standing next to him looking dissatisfied.
He hadn't committed a crime, had he?
Lin Lan ran over and smiled. "Comrade Police, thank you for bringing the child back. He hasn't been causing trouble, has he?"
As she spoke, she gave Dawang a swat. "You brat, why are you running to the county town by yourself? What kind of trouble did you cause that even brought out the Comrade Police?"
Dawang turned his head to the side and didn't speak.
Officer Liu laughed. "Big Sister-in-law, it's nothing. Your Big Brother back there asked me to bring him home."
Han Qingsong?
Lin Lan hadn't expected that even while going to catch a train, he would still have the energy to find Dawang and send him back. She hurriedly expressed her thanks again. "Comrade, what is your surname?"
Officer Liu hadn't expected such a refined way of speaking from a rural sister-in-law. He laughed. "Big Sister-in-law, my surname is Liu."
"Officer Liu, look, it's nearly mealtime. Why don't you come home for a drink of water, rest your feet, and have a meal before you go?"
Officer Liu refused. "Big Sister-in-law, I still have a mission to complete. I'll be off now."
He waved his hand, pedaled his bicycle, and left.
Lin Lan waved goodbye, then looked at Dawang, who was standing there with his neck stiff, looking as if he had done nothing wrong. Her temper flared again, and she swatted him once more. "You brat, leaving without a word?"
Dawang curled the corner of his mouth. I used to run off every day and you didn't even ask; now you're managing so much.
"That's enough, don't stiffen your neck at your mother. When your dad gets back, you'll have it coming. Hurry home and get cleaned up."
Dawang turned and ran. "I'm going to cut grass."
He took off with a whoosh. Lin Lan hadn't even regained her senses before he was gone.
Lin Lan: ...My good mother, you didn't even take a basket and said you're going to cut grass?
She leaned her hoe against the wall and went to the vegetable garden to pick some vegetables for dinner.
Each household only had a tiny plot of private land; besides grain, they grew vegetables.
When the Han family split, two plots were given to Lin Lan, but since there were still vegetables growing, everyone ate together; they would plant their own once the summer season passed.
Lin Lan wanted to pick two tomatoes to make egg drop soup—the eggs were traded by the children after they went out to cut grass and trade with other families.
She also wanted to pick lentils and eggplant to stew.
Basically, these were the only vegetables at the moment, along with pumpkin and the like. Two pumpkins were enough to last for several meals, so she didn't pick many.
Today, she took a look. Eh? Why are there no vegetables left?
Had they been ruined by bad kids?
She looked at her neighbor's garden; everything was fine, and no one had touched them. Why had her own disappeared?
Just then, the daughter-in-law from Han Yongshun's house, Zhang Caihong, came over to pick vegetables. Seeing Lin Lan, she smiled. "Sister-in-law, your Ersao picked all your vegetables earlier. We have more than we can eat, so go ahead and pick some of ours."
Lin Lan hadn't expected something like this!
She smiled. "Thanks, Caihong. Since Ersao picked them, I'll just go home and get some."
She started toward the old lady's house. As she approached, she heard exaggerated laughter from the courtyard—it was Xiaoshu and Xiaogu who had returned.
She didn't think too much about it, not suspecting that Han Ersao had deliberately cleared out her vegetables to deny her. She figured that with Xiaoshu and Xiaogu home, there were more mouths to feed, and the old lady probably had her pick more.
She returned to the garden, saw Zhang Caihong there weeding and catching bugs, and said: "My Xiaoshu and Xiaogu are back, so they're eating a lot. Sister Caihong, let me borrow two eggplants."
Zhang Caihong laughed. "Why are you being so formal, Sister-in-law? We can't eat all this anyway; go ahead and pick the eggplants and lentils."
Lin Lan thanked her and picked two large purple eggplants and a small basin of lentils. The kidney beans they grew there had white skin and large seeds; they were exceptionally fragrant when stewed, and the locals called them "rabbit-eye-rollers."
After picking the vegetables, Lin Lan helped weed and catch bugs, incidentally breaking off the damaged branches and tidying up her own garden.
As the two were talking, Erwang came running over, panting. "Mom! Xiaoshu has gone crazy! He's smashing our jars!"
As soon as Lin Lan heard this, she didn't even have time to bid Zhang Caihong farewell, but ran toward home.
...
Outside the small courtyard, a crowd had gathered, pointing and gesturing.
From the courtyard came Han Jinbao's arrogant voice. "Lin Lan, you shrew, get out here! Don't think that just because I wasn't home, you can go on a rampage and bully the old lady!"
"If you don't come out, I'll smash all these broken jars of yours! Dammit, wasting my money to buy so many pieces of trash—your heart is truly black!"
As he shouted, "Bang, bang, bang," he started smashing the jars in the courtyard. Clatter—one shattered.
"Bad man, don't smash our jars!" Sanwang, Xiaowang, and Maisui tried to block him, but Han Jinbao kicked them aside, one by one.
Someone couldn't bear to watch and tried to persuade Han Jinbao: "I say, Jinbao, why are you acting like a delinquent just because your Third Brother isn't home? Where's the dignity in bullying a woman?"
"That's right, this is really low. The family split was decided by the Lao Zhishu and agreed upon by your parents..."
"Bullshit! I don't care who decided! If I, Han Jinbao, wasn't home and didn't agree, then it's not happening!"
He swung a club as thick as a calf's leg toward another jar.
"Don't smash them!" Sanwang pounced forward, hugging his leg and taking a bite.
"Ah—!" Han Jinbao was in so much pain he kicked Sanwang away.
Sanwang hit the shattered shards of a jar, and blood began to flow instantly.
"Ayah, you brat, why are you so vicious?"
Someone shouted to hurry and report this to the Lao Zhishu and the security director, and others went to protect Sanwang and the children, so Han Jinbao couldn't hurt them further.
Seeing Lin Lan return, they hurriedly cleared a path for her. "Dawang's mom, hurry up!"
Lin Lan charged over. Seeing Sanwang's head covered in blood, her heart ached. She grabbed the hoe by the wall and swung it at Han Jinbao. "You beast!"
Han Jinbao was in the middle of showing off, his cap tilted, a piece of grass in his mouth, brandishing his large club. Seeing Lin Lan charge, he shouted: "Don't act cocky!" He swung his club, intending to knock Lin Lan aside.
But Lin Lan was more agile than he had imagined; she dodged his club and brought the hoe down hard on his leather-clad foot.
"Ah—!" Han Jinbao jumped in pain, threw the club, and rolled into a ball, clutching his foot.
Lin Lan hurriedly went over to look at Sanwang. His forehead had been punctured by a sharp shard, the skin flayed. She didn't know if the bone was injured. " Sanwang, Sanwang, Mom is taking you to see a doctor!"
Lin Lan scooped Sanwang up, and people nearby hurriedly helped out. "Hurry and call the barefoot doctor."
While Lin Lan and the others ran off carrying Sanwang, Han Jinbao was still clutching his foot and wailing, saying he was going to beat Lin Lan, that shrew, to death.
Soon, Han Laotou and Han Dage got the news and came running from the field. They saw a pool of blood on the ground, and Han Jinbao rolling about, crying and wailing.
Han Laotou hurried to ask what had happened.
Han Dage was so angry he cursed: "Lao Si, why are you so confused?"
Han Jinbao cried out: "Dage, am I not your brother? That shrew has broken my foot!"
Han Laotou couldn't worry about anything else. "Dage, hurry and have Niang bring money. We're going to the county hospital."
Han Dage looked around and was startled by the pool of blood. "What's going on? Who is bleeding?"
Han Jinbao immediately wailed even louder, as if it were he who was bleeding.
"Dage, hurry and carry Jinbao home!" Han Laotou was anxious.
Meanwhile, Lin Lan and the others took Sanwang to the infirmary. The barefoot doctor was also working, so he hurried back to clean the wound but didn't dare to bandage it casually. "Go to the commune health center. You have to get the debris out from inside."
Soon, the Lao Zhishu, the brigade leader, and the security director arrived, hurriedly arranging for a mule cart to send Sanwang to the commune.
Over there, Han Erge also ran over and shouted: "Zhishu Yeye, hurry, hurry and arrange a mule cart to send our Jinbao to the county hospital! His toe has been smashed!"
Han Yongfang spat: "Get out of here! Why didn't you beat that little turtle's egg to death?"
Han Erge: "Yeye, y-you, why are you cursing?"
Han Yongfang snorted. "If the child is fine, then it's one thing, but if anything happens, that little punk will have it coming."
They hitched the cart and loaded Sanwang onto it. Just then, Han Dage and Han Laotou brought Han Jinbao over on a door board. "Let's go together." Han Laotainai trailed behind, her bound feet not as nimble, calling out in agony as if her heart and flesh were being torn.
Lin Lan grabbed the whip and lashed it indiscriminately at Han Jinbao on the door board: "Get lost! Go away!"
The whip's tip caught Han Laotou, and he gasped in pain.
Han Laotainai went crazy and wanted to pounce and scratch Lin Lan: "You home-wrecker..." but she was blocked by Dong Huaihua: "I say, Shenzi, don't make things worse." You haven't even got a clue about what's going on.
Han Laotou had no choice but to say: "Borrow another cart, borrow another one."
Han Yongfang couldn't really ignore it, so he had someone hitch another cart to carry Han Jinbao.
They weren't far from the commune. When they reached the health center, it wasn't dark yet, but the doctors had finished their shifts and they could only find the doctor on duty.
Han Laotainai was again making a scene, crying and demanding the doctor see her son first; Jinbao's toe was black and swollen, and she feared the bone was broken.
"Wait in line!" The doctor's face was cold, and he demanded they bring the child in immediately.
He processed Sanwang's wound first, using tweezers to clear out the debris and flushing it with saline.
Watching the blood mixed with water flow down, Lin Lan felt both pain in her heart and guilt.
She held Sanwang. "Once it's better, Mom will buy you candy to eat! Eat as much as you want."
The doctor spoke sternly: "Less candy! It's not good for the wound to heal!"
Lin Lan sniffled. "Sanwang, does it hurt?"
Sanwang grinned. "Mom, it doesn't hurt. It just stung for a second like a needle, but now it feels numb and cool."
Lin Lan said: "Doctor, please handle it well. Don't leave a scar; he's so young, and if he grows up with a big scar, he'll have trouble finding a wife."
Everyone: ...
The doctor's hand stalled for a moment while cleaning the wound, then continued.
Sanwang let out an "Ouch!"
Doctor: "Clean it up well so it's less likely to scar."
Lin Lan urged Sanwang: "Don't be afraid of the pain. It hurts for a moment, but you'll have no worries later."
If a scar were left, how ugly would it be?
This time Sanwang really started feeling the pain and tears flowed. "Mom, I'm going to die of pain!"
The doctor cleaned it, bandaged it, and prescribed oral medication. "Change the dressing at this time tomorrow."
Dong Huaihua said: "Doctor, can the barefoot doctor in the village change it after we get the medicine?"
The doctor nodded. "That's fine."
Lin Lan asked the doctor and learned that the issue wasn't that serious—it hadn't hit a vital part—and that the barefoot doctor could handle the bandaging, so she breathed a sigh of relief.
But her son had bled so much; it couldn't just be let go like this.
Outside, Han Laotainai was still ghost-wailing, and the doctor told her to come in.
Han Yongfang's youngest son, Han Qingyun, helped hold Sanwang. When they went out, Han Jinbao was no longer on the door board but sitting on a bench outside.
He glared viciously at Lin Lan.
Lin Lan charged over and scratched him again, wanting to scratch a second time, but she was separated by Han Laotainai.
However, three red scratches had already appeared on Han Jinbao's cheek.
Han Laotainai started wailing again, wanting to hit Lin Lan, but she was quickly pulled away.
Han Laotou was also in immense pain, but he couldn't say anything in front of so many people. He said to Lin Lan: "Hurry home; the children are waiting."
Han Dage was full of guilt. "Lao San's wife, is Sanwang alright?"
When Third Brother left, he had entrusted him to look after them, and yet this had happened.
Lin Lan said coldly: "Sanwang is fine, but he is not."
He had a major problem!
Han Yongfang had been worried that Sanwang's head wound was severe, but seeing there was no threat to his life, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
The group returned to the village by mule cart. It was already pitch black when they arrived home.
Lin Lan thanked everyone. Han Qingyun helped send Sanwang home, then took his leave.
Han Dasao was there keeping the children company. Erwang and Maisui had already cooked a meal and fed Xiaowang.
Seeing them return, Han Dasao breathed a sigh of relief. "Dimei, is Sanwang alright?"
Lin Lan stroked Sanwang's head. "Nothing major, but Sanwang needs nutrition. I have to grab two chickens to lay eggs."
She told Sanwang to go lie down, sent Xiaowang to sleep, had Erwang and Maisui keep watch, and asked where Dawang had gone.
Erwang hesitated. "Big Brother said he went to the county town again and told us not to look for him. I don't know what it's about."
Dawang knew the way to the county town well, so Lin Lan wasn't worried about his safety, but that he wasn't home when such a thing happened made Lin Lan very disappointed. This child would likely have to wait for his father to return and handle him.
She carried a basket. "Dasao, you go be busy; you have children at home, too."
Han Dasao: "It's fine."
Lin Lan still pulled her along as they left.
Han Laotainai, Han Laotou, and Han Dage and Erge had all gone to the commune health center, so only Han Ersao, Jinyu, and a few children were at home.
Han Jinyu was throwing a tantrum, scolding Lin Lan, and pointing at Dafang's niece to wash her clothes. "Don't be as lazy and bad as your Third Niang. If it weren't for our family, another family would have divorced her long ago. Look at how dirty you all are..."
Hearing her scold like that, Han Dasao, who had come in with Lin Lan, had her face change color.
Lin Lan first went to the chicken coop and snatched three hens that laid eggs, tied their legs with hemp rope, and threw them into a basket.
She hadn't taken the chickens when the family split—why shouldn't she!
She placed the basket at the courtyard gate and went toward the room.
Those inside heard the chickens squawking and came out to ask what was going on.
Lin Lan watched Han Jinyu come out, walked around her, raised her hand, and slapped her. "You little demon, eating my food and spending my money, yet you still disparage me behind my back! How can you be so vicious?"
"Ah—! You're hitting someone!"
Han Jinyu shrieked and dodged, wanting to strike back but she was no match for Lin Lan.
Han Dasao stood to the side with her hands in her sleeves, watching the spectacle with cold eyes. Her children naturally didn't go to help, hiding behind their mother.
Han Ersao wanted to help, but it was all thunder and no rain; she didn't dare go head-to-head with Lin Lan.
This shrew was so crazy she would even kill herself; never mind someone else.
Lin Lan beat Han Jinyu up, then took a wicker tray and charged into the east room to collect the eggs.
"When the family split, I didn't divide the eggs or the chickens, thinking I would leave them for you to eat. Who knew Lao Si would be so confused as to hit my son! You don't want me to live? I said earlier, whoever doesn't want me to live, I'll make sure they don't live well for a lifetime!!"
After collecting the eggs, she still wasn't satisfied. She turned and saw an axe hanging on the wall. She stepped on a stool, grabbed the axe, and held it in her hand, filled with rage.
"Lao San's wife, you can't!"
Han Ersao was terrified, thinking Lin Lan was going to smash the pots. If the pots were smashed, how could they eat?
She didn't dare stop her, so she looked at Han Dasao: "Dasao, hurry and persuade her! You need to eat too!"
Han Dasao knew Lin Lan wouldn't smash the pots and didn't care at all. There was such a pool of blood in the small courtyard that it terrified her to even look at; if it were her own child, she would have gone crazy too.
Han Jinyu had already shrieked and ran outside, yelling all over the street: "Murder! Lin Lan is murdering someone!"
Lin Lan looked at her retreating figure like a fleeing soul, sneered, entered the east room, and swung the axe hard at the wardrobe!
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