The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

She waits in the Zhang Family’s yard, not finding any remedies, as Aunt Zhang went digging for them.

The fields are close to the outskirts of the village, it should be in time if she goes digging in the evening.

A man of approximately fifty years old came out with a cup of water from the house,”You must be thirsty, Mrs. Xiao. Drink some water first.”

She had visited the Zhang Family several times and recognized the man’s voice from the house last time. He was Aunt Zhang’s husband, widely known as Old Zhang.

“Thank you.” She took the cup and took a sip.

“Is everything okay with Dashan, Chuan, and Qinghe?” Old Zhang enquired with concern.

“They are okay.”

“The leg disease of Qinghe is incurable. It’s pitiful that such a young fella can never farm again.” Old Zhang expressed his regret.

Qingyue didn’t know how to reply and chose to remain silent.

“And who knows what came over that decent young man Chuan, he just faints out of nowhere, nobody seems to know what illness he got…”

In her heart, Su Qingyue knew it was poisoning that the third brother suffered from but chose not to divulge too much information for now.

Old Zhang asked again, “When can Dashan recover fully?”

“Second brother’s snake venom will get better in a few days. But he broke his leg and that will take two months to heal. ”

“Ah, you’re really being tormented. You have to support the whole family, how are you supposed to cope…”

“Old Zhang, don’t worry. We are doing fine.”

“Mrs. Xiao, if you have any difficulties, feel free to share it with me and Aunt

Zhang. If we can help, we definitely will.”

Su Qingyue was moved, “Thank you, it’s not necessary.”

“You kid, always thanking us,” Old Zhang said, “The Xiao Family’s had a big problem, did Xiao Ailiu come back?”

Qingyue hesitated, then remembered that Xiao Ailiu was the eldest sister of the

Xiao family, above her second brother. Naturally, there was an older sister, “No.” The third brother only mentioned that the eldest sister had been married off for many years and had never returned after her wedding, “Perhaps she doesn’t know about the big trouble that the Xiao Family had.”

“Xiao Ailiu is really out of line!” Old Zhang vented out his anger, “After Dashan’s face was disfigured by Bear Blind, as the eldest sister, instead of comforting, she complained that Dashan lost her face. You may not know this, the Xiao Family’s sons are capable, especially Dashan, who is stable and honest. They had previously bought two acres of paddy fields. When Xiao Ailiu got married, she complained about not having a dowry. After discussion, the Xiao Family’s three sons gave the only two acres of paddy field to Xiao Ailiu as her dowry. After her marriage, she sold all two acres of paddy fields and didn’t share a penny with the Xiao Family’s brothers. Since it was her dowry, it’s okay for her not to share the money. But can you believe it, even with Chuan keep fainting and Xiao Qinghe’s leg is disabled, she has not once returned to look after them. She is really heartless!”

Su Qingyue raised an eyebrow, “She is indeed heartless.”

“The Xiao Family is somewhat blessed to have a kind-hearted daughter-in-law like you, who has chosen to stay despite their current situation. If it were someone else, they would have left long ago.”

She did not utter a word.

“By the way, Xiao Ailiu is married to Qingmu Village a little far from the town. I have to visit an old friend in Qingmu Village tomorrow. Can I take a message for her? To inform her of the Xiao Family’s current situation and ask her to come back soon?”

“That would be helpful, Old Zhang.”

“It’s no trouble at all since I’ll be there anyway. But I am afraid Xiao Ailiu might not return. In the past, when the Xiao Family had trouble, it’s not like no one had informed her. After Chuan fell ill, people from the village brought her the message, but Ailiu didn’t return. Dashan even went to ask her personally. But Dashan came back swiftly without Ailiu. Later on, when Qinghe’s leg became disabled, we only sent a message, no one from the Xiao Family went to call her again..”