Chapter Sixteen: She Has Already Become Another Man’s Wife

Li Hongjuan followed behind, her face marked by clear curiosity and a hint of displeasure, evidently roused from sleep as well.

Zhong Chengren’s face flushed red and then paled repeatedly, burning with embarrassment. He couldn’t exactly confess to sneaking a taste of his wife’s convalescent meal and then getting beaten by his own mother with fire tongs like some beast, could he?

How could he ever hold his head high at home after that?

His eyes darted nervously as he mumbled evasively, “It’s… nothing, big brother, sister-in-law. It’s just that Mingli had a fever, and mother was a bit worried and scolded me a little.”

Li Hongjuan, still standing at the door, nagged relentlessly, “You two, mother and son, waking the whole family in the middle of the night! How’s anyone supposed to have energy for work tomorrow?”

With that, she slammed the door shut with a bang, causing the plaster on the wall to tremble slightly.

Zhong Chengren stood frozen, his complexion shifting between green and white, then slunk back into his room, not daring to utter another word.

At dawn, a thin mist hovered over the courtyard. An old hen fluttered down from the roost and scratched at the ground.

Zhang Chunxue had already risen early. Wrapped in an old cotton-padded jacket, she moved as lightly as if stepping on cotton, cautiously pushing open the door to the west room.

The vegetable oil lamp by the bedside had gone out, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke drifting in the air.

Zhou Mingli lay there, her face pale but the sweat on her forehead dried, her body quiet without feverish convulsions.

Zhang Chunxue reached out to feel her forehead and pulse, then sighed with relief. “The fever’s finally broken…”

She muttered softly to herself and glanced at the worn little bowl in the corner—the one left for Mingli to drink porridge last night, now empty—tightening her heart.

“This child’s constitution is too weak. How can she get better without some nourishment?” Zhang Chunxue frowned thoughtfully. “I need to find a way to get something good.”

After pondering, she resolved to catch some fish by the river, at least to stew a pot of fish soup to nourish the patient—a small token of a mother-in-law’s care.

She cooked fresh rice porridge, fed the rice water to Zhong Yuanyuan, and urged Zhou Mingli to get up and drink some porridge. Placing Zhong Yuanyuan in a nearby cradle, Zhang Chunxue busied herself.

She prepared breakfast and called Zhong Yuanyuan to get up for the meal.

As for the three sons and eldest daughter-in-law, she paid them no mind, and after breakfast, she went to gather fishing gear.

After packing the bamboo basket and net bag, Zhang Chunxue called out to Zhong Xiaoxiao, who was playing with Zhong Yuanyuan, “Xiaoxiao, I’m going out for a while. Watch over Yuanyuan.”

“Xiaoxiao’s awake?” Zhang Chunxue’s voice was gentle. “Keep an eye on Yuanyuan; I’m going out for a bit.”

“Mom, where are you going? I’ll go with you!” Zhong Xiaoxiao clutched the swaddled baby tighter and whispered, “You’re taking these things… to the river?”

Zhang Chunxue only smiled. “I’m going to catch a couple of fish. You don’t need to come.”

“I still want to come! In case you need my help!” Zhong Xiaoxiao lifted her little niece. “I’ll go with you!”

Seeing her determination, Zhang Chunxue relented and let her tag along.

Side by side, they left the courtyard and slowly walked along the ridge of the fields toward the small river at the east end of the village.

The morning breeze stirred the straw stacks, carrying a damp, fresh scent that made one shiver involuntarily.

Near the river, Zhang Chunxue suddenly stopped and glanced at her daughter. “By the way, last night… how did Secretary Song suddenly become ‘Teacher Song’? When did he start tutoring you?”

Zhong Xiaoxiao froze, instinctively lowering her head, fingers twisting together, crumpling the swaddling cloth, yet she stammered without speaking for a long moment.

Zhang Chunxue patiently coaxed, “Is there anything you can’t tell me? Hmm?”

“No…” Zhong Xiaoxiao bit her lip, her face flushing deep red. “Actually… it’s been Teacher Song tutoring me all along. He explains things so carefully; that’s why my grades improved. He said not to tell you, because he was afraid you’d be angry…”

Before she finished, she stole a glance at her mother. The strong, slender hands tightly gripped the handle of the bamboo basket, veins bulging, as if holding back some emotion.

Could it be that Mom would really be angry if she knew, just as Teacher Song said?

Zhong Xiaoxiao felt a pang of unease.

Strangely, Zhang Chunxue only fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply. “Ah, Secretary Song is doing it for your own good…”

She paused, not explaining why Song Xingzhi thought she would be angry, instead changing the subject. “If we catch fish and make fish soup later, remember to save a bowl for Teacher Song. He’s helped you so much; we can’t just ignore that.”

“Ah?” Zhong Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Mom, you’re really not mad?”

“There’s nothing to be mad about,” Zhang Chunxue ruffled her hair. “He tutored you, and that’s why you’re doing so well. We should be grateful… a bowl of fish soup is nothing.”

She quickened her pace, turning back to urge her daughter, “Hurry up, or we won’t catch any fish and the soup will be gone!”

As they rounded the willow bend, they saw a figure squatting by the river’s stone shore—it was Song Xingzhi.

He had rolled up his sleeves, a bucket of clothes soaking in the icy water. His hands were red from the cold as he scrubbed the stains at the collar and cuffs, each scrubbing accompanied by a crisp, scrubbing sound, meticulous and diligent far beyond a woman’s care.

Zhong Xiaoxiao was about to call out, but Zhang Chunxue suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Hush, don’t shout,” Zhang Chunxue urged, pulling her quickly upstream. “If you call out, we’ll have to exchange pleasantries… and waste time.”

Though puzzled, Zhong Xiaoxiao nodded obediently. “I’ll listen to you, Mom!”

Zhang Chunxue took a few steps ahead but couldn’t resist glancing back at Song Xingzhi.

The middle-aged man, refined and elegant, washed his clothes with an earnestness as if undertaking a great task.

Zhang Chunxue quickly turned away, not daring to look again.

Once they left the stone riverbank behind, Zhong Xiaoxiao could no longer hold back and whispered, “Mom, actually many women in the village talk secretly, saying Teacher Song is strange. He’s over thirty, still single, and no girl dares get close to him…”

She leaned in mysteriously, her small voice barely audible to just the two of them. “Some say he probably doesn’t like women, maybe he likes men! Whenever a matchmaker comes to introduce prospects, he chases them away—no one’s ever succeeded!”

Zhang Chunxue stopped in her tracks and shot Zhong Xiaoxiao a stern look, her voice grave. “You mustn’t spread such rumors. Secretary Song is not that kind of person!”

Her serious tone startled Zhong Xiaoxiao, who instinctively hugged little Zhong Yuanyuan closer.

Seeing that her mother’s sternness was only in tone, not words, Zhong Xiaoxiao relaxed somewhat and continued, “Of course, I don’t believe those rumors either. And… I even asked Teacher Song about it once.”

Zhang Chunxue knitted her brows. “You actually asked him?!”

“Well… I was curious!” Zhong Xiaoxiao’s voice dropped even lower. “That time, I just directly asked why he’s always single, if there’s someone special he likes…”

Zhang Chunxue’s fingers tightened on the basket handle.

“Teacher Song smiled and said he did have someone he liked, but it was too late—they had already married someone else. So he keeps it in his heart and never mentions it again.”

Zhang Chunxue’s lips pressed into a thin line; she remained silent for a long while.