Qin Mian licked his lips, determined not to leave a trace of grease behind. He looked down at his clothes, then decided to wipe his mouth several times with the lotus leaf before tossing it away once he thought his lips were clean.
Lei Tie noticed what he was doing. He pressed his lips together, and a fleeting emotion stirred in his eyes.
The sun was setting, casting muted golden light through the clouds and tinting them in bright and dark hues as though someone had brushed them with paint. The pond turned orange in its reflection, rippling gently with the breeze. A flock of birds passed overhead, leaving clear calls in their wake. People who had been working in the fields hurried home so they could finish their chores and rest before nightfall. Only the mischievous children remained carefree, chasing and tussling in the fields and bursting into laughter. Even when one fell, the child merely scrambled up giggling and resumed playing. Several village dogs joined the chase, tails wagging happily.
Lei Tie wasn't talkative, and Qin Mian didn't try to start a conversation. Instead, he examined the man's bow. Its body was gray, made of some wood he couldn't identify. It looked extremely sturdy, smooth and glossy from being wiped down and maintained so often. Clearly its owner treasured it. The quiver was made of gray cloth and held ten arrows, all kept clean.
“Well, well, the newlyweds are going home together. How affectionate!” A woman of about forty approached along a field path. She wore a plain cloth skirt and a twig hairpin, with a hoe balanced on her shoulder. She smiled broadly at Qin Mian and Lei Tie, though her gaze lingered on the deer in their basket.
Qin Mian saw clearly that, although she looked friendly, she hadn't quite managed to conceal the contempt in her eyes.
The woman continued, “What a big one! Your family won't need to worry about meat for ten days or even a fortnight. Little Brother Qin, you've only just joined the Lei family, so you probably don't know. Your mother-in-law is one of the best cooks in our village! You're in for a treat tonight.”
Another woman walking not far behind her carried a basket of greens. She covered her mouth and laughed meaningfully. “Wife of Liu Da, why mock the poor boy? Who in our village doesn't know how thrifty Sister Lei is with her household?”
Lei Tie acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, maintaining his steady pace.
Qin Mian sighed silently and walked a little faster.
When they entered the family courtyard, Madam Du was just coming out. She stopped, looked into the basket, and smiled with satisfaction at the sight of the deer. Then she noticed the firewood in the other basket, and her expression darkened.
“Eldest son's wife, you only cut this little firewood all afternoon?”
Qin Mian stood behind Lei Tie. “Mother, I'm small and weak. Please be understanding.”
“Who'll be understanding toward me if I'm understanding toward you? You're not allowed dinner tonight! None of you have any respect for me.” Her eyes settled on the deer again, and her tone softened slightly when she addressed Lei Tie. “Eldest, dress this animal.”
“Big Brother, you're back.” A man in coarse clothes strode out of the house, his face lighting up at the deer. His triangular eyes gleamed with interest, and faint lines marked their corners. “Such a big one! We'll have meat tonight. Mother, how about venison stewed with potatoes?”
Lei Xiangren was only a year younger than Lei Tie, yet looked four or five years older. Lei Xiangyi looked older than Lei Tie too. If the three walked together, strangers would surely assume Lei Tie was the younger brother. This was one reason Qin Mian had always felt something about Lei Tie was incongruous. He was increasingly curious about the ten years the man had spent away.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Zhao hurried out of the house and linked her arm with Madam Du's, looking thoroughly affectionate. “Mother, we're in for a real treat! Your meat stews are always so delicious. I still drool when I remember the wild boar and radish stew you made after I gave birth to Xiaobao.”
Qin Mian nearly laughed aloud. Wasn't she basically saying the Lei family hadn't eaten meat in ages?
In the kitchen, where she was cooking dinner, Madam Qian glanced through the window cracks at Madam Zhao and gave a contemptuous snort. “As if we'll get any,” she muttered.
Lei Xiangyi, who'd just come through the gate, happened to hear Madam Zhao and looked expectantly at Madam Du too. He was sick of eating nothing but greens, radishes, and sweet potatoes day after day.
“Eat what?” Madam Du glared fiercely at Madam Zhao and announced without allowing argument, “We'll salt it all and save it for the autumn harvest.”
Only then did Lei Tie get a chance to speak. “Sell it tomorrow morning.” With that, he ignored everyone's reaction, set down his carrying pole, and took the deer to the well to dress it.
Madam Du, Lei Xiangren, and the others all froze.
Lei Xiangyi wasn't especially concerned and went straight inside.
“Eldest.” Madam Du walked over. “The autumn harvest is almost here, and we'll need plenty of nourishment. If we keep this deer, we won't have to spend money buying meat then. Listen to Mother. We're keeping the meat.”
Lei Tie crouched beside the well. Producing a knife from somewhere, he deftly slit the deer's belly in preparation for skinning it. He simply repeated, “Sell it tomorrow morning.”
Qin Mian waited to see the show. Although he'd only known Lei Tie for a few days, he'd already noticed that the man did not easily change his mind. Once he'd made a decision, persuading him otherwise was difficult. How would Madam Du handle it?
“Eldest Brother, why must you go against Mother?” Madam Zhao said reproachfully. “Look how angry she is. Why are you so determined to sell the meat?”
“Xiao Mian and I need new clothes.” Lei Tie's reply was calm, and he didn't pause his work. The metallic smell of deer blood filled the courtyard.
Madam Du swung her head around.
Qin Mian thought, Oh, this is bad.
“Aha!” Madam Du reached him in two strides, thrusting a finger at his nose. Her eyes were wide with fury, as though she'd suffered an enormous injustice. “I knew there was a reason Eldest suddenly became so stubborn! So you've been stirring things up behind the scenes! Qin, are you deliberately trying to turn mother and son against each other?”
“No, I haven't. It has nothing to do with me.” Qin Mian deftly dodged and darted behind Lei Tie, using him as a human shield without the slightest guilt. Who told you to refuse a separation? he thought.
It wasn't that Qin Mian had no way to deal with Madam Du, but the expectation of filial obedience was enough to crush a person. If he openly defied Madam Du or did anything to her, not only the Lei family but probably the entire village would turn against him. He would have to find another way to handle her.
“Nothing to do with you?” Madam Du pursued him relentlessly. “Would Eldest say he needed to buy you clothes if it weren't for you? Has our Lei family starved you or denied you water? Wouldn't we buy you new clothes when the time came? You simply can't stand to see this family getting along, can you? Eldest, move aside!” By nature she had no desire to yield to Lei Tie at all. But ever since he'd left home, the villagers had often criticized her behind her back. Xiangli still needed a wife, and Chuntao hadn't been betrothed. For their reputations' sake, she had to restrain herself. Unable to make trouble for Lei Tie directly, she went after Qin Mian instead.
