Chapter 42: Mice Fear Humans

Wang Zhu did not know how long he had waited. The courtyard had grown so quiet that for a long time, he heard nothing from Grandmother or his cousins. He sat up quietly from the straw mat, lifted the quilt, and found inside a mouse whose mouth was bound shut. Its tail was tied with a thin hemp rope; the other end of the rope was coiled several times and, when unfurled, stretched more than ten feet, exuding a strong scent of hemp oil.

He trembled even more violently, tiptoed to the door, and saw that the latch had not been set. Holding his breath, he slowly pushed the door open just a crack. Thankfully, it made no sound. Then he took out the fire starter he had stolen from Wang Ge and lit the end of the hemp rope.

As the flame began to spread, so did his fear. Yet he still tore off the binding from the mouse’s mouth.

He let go!

The mouse squeaked frantically and, trailing the burning rope, darted outside.

Wang Zhu watched the fire line intently; the wind lifted the hemp rope so high. Wang Ge's words echoed in his ears: The whole courtyard is filled with bamboo cages. If a spark jumps out, it’ll be trouble...

The courtyard is full of bamboo cages, sparks could jump...

Sparks could jump...

Suddenly!

He had not expected such a loud noise when the bamboo rings caught fire. The wind fed the flames, and soon the courtyard was swept up in wild, clawing fire.

“Help!”

“Help!”

The shrill cries only made Wang Zhu more afraid. He wanted to cry. What should he do? He only wanted to burn the bamboo cages—why should they all work together, yet the third branch gets only five coins? His father was the most honest man in the family, too timid to speak much. Why should everyone bully his father?

But would the fire burn people? Grandmother was still in the courtyard!

What should he do, what should he do?

“Help, Brother, get up! Help me!” Wang Peng dodged Yao’s slap, ran out from the inner room, and crashed onto Wang Zhu’s stomach, jolting him awake with a loud cry.

Just then, the door opened. Wang Sanlang carried a chamber pot and took out Wang Peng's soaked mattress. Once he cleared the doorway, Wang Zhu saw the courtyard full of bamboo cages swaying gently in the early morning breeze.

Dawn was breaking.

Everything was calm, just as yesterday.

Yao caught Wang Peng and beat him soundly: “You wet the bed—so big and still wet the bed!”

Wang Ai rolled in the bedding, crying.

Wang Zhu was still not fully awake. He swallowed hard and threw off the quilt, relaxing all over.

The mouse was gone.

Last night, in a fit of resentment, he had indeed caught a mouse, knowing there was a pot of hemp oil in the kitchen corner. He’d poured a little onto the rope and hidden the mouse under the quilt. But only Wang Ge could make fire starters, and she always kept hers close. She and Grandmother had slept in the courtyard, never resting; he had pretended to go to the latrine twice, but never got a chance to steal.

Luckily he never had the chance! Luckily the mouse escaped while he slept! Even if someone caught it later, even if the oil-soaked rope accidentally caught fire, it would have nothing to do with him.

After beating Wang Peng, Yao vented her anger with a kick to her eldest son: “Why are you still daydreaming? Hurry and fold up the mat and put it aside!”

The atmosphere inside the main house was stifling.

On the floor lay a dead mouse, its mouth and tail bound with thin hemp rope, the tail trailing a long strand more than ten feet.

It was Wang Ge who caught the mouse. She was always meticulous in everything, and after Grandmother slept, she grew even more alert. When the mouse squeezed out from the east wing, making only a faint sound, Wang Ge was instantly aware. As it dashed past, dragging the long rope, she stomped it, grabbed it, and woke Grandmother.

Jia was so frightened when she smelled hemp oil on the rope that her hair stood on end.

Who would bind a mouse’s mouth tight for no reason? Clearly to keep it from squeaking.

And to tie such a long, oil-soaked rope to its tail—what else could it be but for lighting a fire?

Wang Ge followed Grandmother to the main house and woke Grandfather. When he heard, he was furious and killed the mouse immediately. From that moment on, the old man said nothing, his back visibly slumped.

Until the light seeped through the window lattice and the east wing erupted in cries, Wang Weng finally spoke: “This matter... cannot be ignored any longer. If we don’t act, this family will be ruined.”

Wang Ge had spent the first half of the night talking with Grandmother, the second half guarding the courtyard, never closing her eyes, her lips pale, but her spirit undiminished: “Grandfather, Grandmother, the mouse did come from the east wing. If the third branch does not admit it, I am willing to confront them directly.”

Jia spat with fury: “Confront them? Yao is hardly worthy! To tell the truth, Grandmother only pretended to be asleep last night, worried you were too young and would fall asleep yourself. When you caught the mouse, I saw everything clearly! Oh... what has the Wang family ever done to her? She dares to harbor such poisonous thoughts—does she not fear thunderbolts from heaven?”

Wang Weng got up, untied the hemp rope from the mouse’s tail, coiled it in his hand, and said with lingering dread: “That’s right. In weather like this, if a fire broke out, not only our family, but all houses downwind would be lost. What a monstrous act! Thank the gods for their protection, or how many lives would have been lost, cough, cough…”

Wang Ge and Jia, one on each side, rubbed his back.

Wang Weng waved them off: “Let’s go. If she has no mercy, we cannot be blamed for lacking righteousness.”

When the main house’s door opened, Wang Weng’s slumped back had already straightened.

Breakfast was not yet ready. Wang He and Wang Shu were about to lay mats in the courtyard when Wang Weng raised his voice: “Don’t start yet—everyone come here. Erlang, fetch your third brother and the entire third branch. Hubao, help your father over.”

Wang Zhu was helping his mother cook porridge when he heard Second Uncle call. He came out first to see what was happening, and when he saw the dead mouse with its bound mouth at Grandfather’s feet, he was terrified and ran back to the kitchen, falling to his knees before his mother: “Mother, save me!”

Soon, aside from Yao and her children, everyone stood before the main house. They all noticed the strange mouse with its bound mouth, though none guessed the full story.

Wang Erlang whispered, “Third brother, go call your wife and Wang Zhu.”

“Oh.” Wang Sanlang obediently went to call them.

Yao and Wang Zhu came, dragging their feet, but Wang Sanlang saw nothing amiss with his wife and son.

When Wang Dalang stood to Wang Weng’s right, Wang Weng, with the authority of the house patriarch, kicked the dead mouse to Yao’s feet, making her cry out in fright.

Little Jia sneered, “Well, when did you ever fear mice, Sister-in-law?”

Wang Weng raised his voice, “The second daughter-in-law speaks truly! Yao, when did you start fearing mice? It’s the mouse that should fear you!” With that, he flung out the hemp rope.

Wang Zhu went limp; Yao fell heavily to her knees first! She clutched Wang Zhu, dragging him sideways, and shouted at breakneck speed, “Son, what did I just say? Mother was confused for a moment—quick, speak for your mother! Only you can help her now. Are you dumb? Speak for your mother!”

Wang Zhu’s mouth gaped, tears streaming down.

Jia picked up the dead mouse and struck Yao in the face, unsatisfied, then took off her shoe and beat her hard. “I knew you were guilty! You dare try to burn down this house? How can you be so vicious? You want my grandson to plead for such a poisonous woman? You’re still scheming! Still scheming!”

“Stop, stop hitting!” Wang Zhu reached out, crying for mercy.

Wang Weng and the entire first branch stood unmoved.

The second branch was shocked! Even the innocent Wang Shu now connected the dead mouse and the hemp rope.

The rope was dark in places. Wang Erlang picked it up and smelled—hemp oil! He was furious. The courtyard was full of bamboo cages; if they had caught fire… he dared not even imagine.

Wang Sanlang held Wang Ai with his left arm and Wang Peng with his right, anxious and confused. The two children struggled and cried, “Stop hitting, Grandmother! Don’t hit Mother!”

Jia’s straw shoe scraped Yao’s cheek until it bled before she felt a little appeased.

Wang Zhu nearly fainted; he clutched his mother’s arm, guilt-ridden, timid, and aching, tormented to the point of wanting to confess everything. “Mother…”