LC chapter 4

 

The next day, Lin Ruan told Tong Bo what Zhan Xi had said. Tong Bo frowned but still followed Zhan Xi’s instructions, preparing rice cakes, stewed meat, honey offerings, and braised pork elbows. These were relatively common New Year’s gifts. Tong Bo hadn’t prepared other items, such as rice and flour. That would have sounded too much like giving alms to the poor. The Lan Mansion didn’t need to display its superiority in such a place.

Lin Ruan followed Tong Bo’s instructions. He changed into new clothes and dressed respectably before appearing before Tong Bo.

Tong Bo snorted as he looked at Lin Ruan, treating he like a neglected daughter-in-law who only cared about sending gifts to her parents’ home.

“Have you been to see Master?” Tong Bo asked.

Lin Ruan replied, “I told the young master yesterday.”

“You should go back and tell him,” said Tong Bo, frowning. “That’s not proper.”

Lin Ruan muttered a few words under his breath, then said, “I’ll go upstairs and tell the young master now.”

“Go ahead.”

Lin Ruan went upstairs and knocked on Zhan Xi’s door.

“Come in,” Zhan Xi said from inside. His voice was as steady as ever.

Lin Ruan walked in and stopped in front of the table. “Young Master, I’m leaving now. I just wanted to tell you.”

Zhan Xi didn’t even look up. “What did you call me?”

Realizing what was going on, Lin Ruan said quickly, “Sir, sir.”

Zhan Xi looked up at Lin Ruan.

Lin Ruan wore a moon-white robe with a slanted collar embroidered with plum blossoms. The stand-up collar was adorned with a fringe of feathers, making him look even more refined and elegant.

“This dress is quite nice,” Zhan Xi said. “Did you pick it out yourself?”

Lin Ruan shook his head. “The tailor picked it out.”

He had a hard time choosing and didn’t want to dwell on it.

“I remember bringing some fabric back from abroad. It’s decent.” Zhan Xi said, “I’ll make you two more suits later.”

“Thank you, sir.” Lin Ruan could only think of returning home. “I’ll be leaving now.”

Zhan Xi hummed and Lin Ruan left the room.

Downstairs, Yuanzi had just come in and told Tong Bo, “The rickshaw is waiting outside.”

Tong Bo nodded and gave instructions: “Take him to the Lin household, carry his things, and bring him back before dinner.”

“I understand!” Yuanzi agreed. Lin Ruan came downstairs just then.

“Then we’ll be leaving now.”

Tong Bo nodded and watched the two of them leave. Then he went about his business.

The Lin family lived in a hutong[mfn](胡同, hú tòng) is a narrow lane or alley commonly found in northern Chinese cities, especially Beijing[/mfn] near the overpass. At that time, ordinary people lived there, with one family next to another surrounded by a brick wall. Several rooms shared a small courtyard, and that was a family.

When Lin Ruan was eight, Lin Man was born. To make life easier for his mother and siblings, Lin Ruan’s father found work. In those chaotic times, he earned little, was injured, and was left disabled.

The only breadwinner in the family was bedridden, and the infant cried for food. Seeing that the baby would not survive, Lin’s mother had no choice but to let someone take Lin Ruan away.

Back then, silver was still used as currency. Eight-year-old Lin Ruan exchanged ten taels of silver, saving his father and the rest of his family.

The rickshaw stopped at the entrance of the alley. Yuanzi carried Lin Ruan’s belongings. They walked through the sixth door, which was the Lin residence.

Lin Ruan knocked on the door, and Lin Man opened it.

His eyes widened upon seeing Lin Ruan, and he shouted inside, “Mom, my brother’s back!”

Yuanzi put his things down and said, “I won’t go in. I’ll pick you up tonight.”

Lin Ruan pulled out two silver dollars and said, “Thank you for your hard work.”

Yuanzi took the money and smiled. “Why are you being so polite to me?”

Yuanzi left, and Lin Ruan asked Lin Man to carry their things while the two brothers walked in.

Lin’s mother emerged from the main room, wiping her hands. She was a woman in her forties or fifties with grizzled hair combed back. Her fingers were stubby, black, and cracked.

“Little Ruan’s back!” Lin’s mother looked a little bewildered. Before she could finish, her eyes reddened.

Lin Ruan called out, “Mom!” Meanwhile, his father emerged from the house, leaning on a cane.

One of his pant legs was bare, and he stood unsteadily, leaning on the cane. Lin Man hurried to support him, his adult body pressing against the small child’s.

Lin Ruan put his things down and said, “Let me do it.”

He helped his father sit down in a bamboo chair and said, “The Young Master said the New Year is almost here and asked me to come back and see him.”

Mother Lin asked cautiously, “Is the prince back?”

Lin Ruan nodded. It had been a while since he’d heard that title, and it still felt awkward.

Mother Lin didn’t mention Zhan Xi again. She simply asked, “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Lin Ruan replied. “The young master has always been very kind to me.”

Mother Lin seemed relieved and said, “Sit down and rest. I’ll make you dinner.”

Before Lin Ruan could respond, Mother Lin went into the kitchen. They never knew how to interact with their children, so cooking for them was one of the few ways they could show affection.

Lin Ruan looked away and looked at Father Lin. “Dad, it’s cold outside. Let me help you inside.”

“Yes,” Father Lin replied, taking Lin Ruan’s hand and walking into the house.

When Lin Ruan came out, Lin Man was squatting in the doorway, looking over the things Lin Ruan had brought. Seeing Lin Ruan, he felt embarrassed.

Lin Ruan smiled and stepped forward to pat Lin Man on the head.

The Lin family parents felt guilty toward Lin Ruan and were often cautious in their interactions with him, doing their best to compensate for it. In contrast, this younger brother’s interactions with Lin Ruan were much more relaxed.

“What would you like to eat?” Lin Ruan asked.

Lin Man snorted. “I don’t want anything.”

Lin Ruan chuckled and pulled a box out of the gift bag. Inside was a snack made by Cao Ma. The last time Lin Man visited the Lan Mansion, he ate Ah Yue’s cookies. Cao Ma wasn’t happy about that, so she went to the kitchen and made several exquisite snacks for Lin Man. She was determined to show him what delicious food was all about.

“Fill yourself up first. I’ll stew meat for you for lunch.”

Lin Man took the snack box and helped Lin Ruan bring his things into the house.

Lin Ruan went inside and changed his clothes. His extravagant attire was out of place in the courtyard and unsuitable for work.

Soon, smoke rose from the kitchen. Lin Ruan chopped wood in an open area outside. The sound of the wood splitting was crisp and pleasant. He piled the wood under the kitchen window and built a small shed to protect it from the snow.

The water tank was almost empty. When Lin Man was idle, he fetched water. When he was a child, he couldn’t carry a bucket, so he would pour half a bucket into the tank. Once the tank was full, Lin Man’s food was gone.

Lin Ruan rolled up his sleeves and went to get water. There was a persimmon tree next to the well. In the fall, when the leaves fell, the bare branches were adorned with bright red persimmons—the only food the family didn’t have to pay for.

The tree was so tall that the persimmons at the top weren’t reachable, so most of them ended up feeding the birds that flew around.

After filling the water jar, Lin Ruan began sweeping the yard. It wasn’t large, but he had fenced off an area to grow vegetables. He had planted cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, and a small patch of green onions, which he picked as needed.

After sweeping the yard clean, Lin Ruan cleared a small space and started a fire. Lin Man had unknowingly brought a stubborn elm log home from outside. He had intended to chop it up for firewood but couldn’t, so he left it in a corner of the yard.

Lin Ruan brought the log over and tossed it into the fire, where it slowly burned.

The Lin family’s house was cold, and there was no kang (a traditional Chinese bed). Lin Ruan brought a recliner and helped Lin’s father sit on it by the fire.

Lin Man brought a handful of peanuts from the kitchen and tossed them beside the fire. Soon, they were cooked, hot and sweet.

Lin Man, Lin Ruan, and Lin’s father chatted by the fire, discussing family matters. After a while, Lin Ruan went into the kitchen.

When Lin’s mother saw him, she was startled and asked, “Why aren’t you resting outside?”

Lin Ruan smiled and said, “No problem. I’ll help you with the chores, like washing the vegetables.”

Since it was cold in winter, Lin’s mother wouldn’t let Lin Ruan do anything. She said, “Go add some firewood. It’s warmer by the stove.”

Lin Ruan did as he was told. The bright yellow firelight reflected on his face, making it glow red.

Neither mother nor son were talkative, and soon they fell silent. Lin Ruan pulled a small cloth bag filled with silver dollars from his pocket.

“Mom, take this money.”

Mother Lin wiped her hands on her apron and said, “Your father took on some carpentry work a few days ago, so we still have money. No need to give.”

Lin Ruan stuffed the bag into his mother’s hand. “New Year’s Eve is coming soon. Buy some rice and flour for the holiday. It’s too cold in the house. I’ll find someone to build a kang so that Dad can lie down there more comfortably. Lin Man isn’t young anymore. I want to send him to school for a few years. Reading is a skill.”

Mother Lin looked at Lin Ruan hesitantly. “Then you…”

“I don’t need much money myself,” said Lin Ruan. “The master treats me very well.”

Mother Lin listened and remained silent for a long time.

They ate lunch in the courtyard near a fire, which was warmer than the inside of the house. Mother Lin prepared several delicious dishes for Lin Ruan, including steamed white rice, in case Lin Ruan wasn’t used to them.

Lin Man whispered that this meal would be even more sumptuous than their New Year’s Eve dinner.

As the sun set, Yuanzi came to fetch Lin Ruan. Lin Ruan changed back into his respectable clothes, and the three Lin family members accompanied him all the way to the alley entrance, only returning once he was out of sight.

That evening, Mother Lin told Father Lin about Lin Man’s schooling. Overhearing this, Lin Man said he wouldn’t go.

“Why don’t we save up some money and bring my brother back?”

Lin’s mother and father were silent for a moment. As parents, they had failed not only to protect their son but also to prevent him from selling his body to support the family. This incident was a thorn in their hearts, and every thought of it brought them unbearable pain.

Seeing her husband’s grim expression, Lin’s mother tugged at Lin Man. “Stop talking nonsense!”

Lin Man said unhappily, “What’s wrong?”

His mother whispered, “All that money your brother gave you came from the prince. How can you use the money he gave your brother to redeem him?”

“My brother didn’t take the money for nothing. He’s been a servant to them for over a decade!”

Lin’s mother’s expression changed, and she hesitated to speak. “Your brother isn’t going to be a servant anymore.”

“What’s that?” Lin Man insisted.

Lin’s mother simply shook her head. After a long pause, she sighed and said, “He’s doing well over there. Why send him back to suffer like this?”