Chapter 84: Each with Their Own Secrets

Wang Zhu felt so miserable he wanted to cry.

In the pitch-black east wing, he curled up in the corner of the bed. Even wrapped in two heavy quilts, he still couldn’t get warm. Why did he feel that, even after coming back, it was just the same as in Sha Village? The same biting cold, the same neglect—no one cared about him. The only difference was that at dinner, they treated him like family, unlike at the Yao household, where they always avoided eating with him.

Yet what was hateful was that the Yao family was still eating the grain his father had brought!

Grandfather had called his father and his second brother into the main house. Was there something important to discuss? Why wasn’t he called? Or had everyone else gone to the main house except for him?

As Wang Zhu let his mind wander, he stared at the spot where his mother used to sleep. There was no longing in his expression now. Not only had she remarried within just half a year, but she hadn’t even told him where she’d gone. He was her own son! Was it just because his maternal grandparents forbade her from telling him, her lips had to be sealed? Couldn’t she have secretly told him? Would his grandparents even know? No, it was clear—she simply didn’t want to see her own flesh and blood ever again.

What a heartless mother! She was unworthy of the title—no wonder his father abandoned her!

Wang Zhu couldn’t help but get out of bed. He crept to the door, shivered back to bed, then crept back again, peering through the crack, only to be driven back by the freezing cold. The main house was lit with candles—so they could even afford to burn candles now? What matter could be so urgent that it couldn’t wait until daylight, but had to waste precious oil and be settled tonight?

In the secondary quarters.

Little Jia crept out of her room, tiptoeing. She had barely gone two steps when a small figure appeared at the entrance to the main house—it was Wang Peng. “Second Aunt, why are you sneaking about?”

“You little brat!” she cursed under her breath and turned back. She’d hoped to eavesdrop on the main house, but those two old foxes were too cunning, posting a little brat to keep watch.

Wang Peng, proud of his achievement, hurried back in to whisper what happened into Wang Ge’s ear. The candlelight reflected in the boy’s eyes, bright and clear. Wang Ge nodded in approval and gripped his hand to warm it. Beside them, Wang Xing stood and went outside to keep watch by the door.

Inside the inner room, separated by a grass curtain, all was heavy and silent.

Wang Weng thought for a moment and decided to speak plainly. “Ah Zhu is unworthy of being a son of the Wang family. The one who tried to set fire to our own house that night was not just the Yao woman. She took all the blame on herself on purpose, so this wretch could stay here and continue to bring misfortune to our family.”

Wang Ge could have applauded his grandfather’s words! In one breath, he had turned the Yao woman’s so-called self-sacrifice into something even more sinister and malicious.

Wang Sanlang stared in bewilderment, unable to comprehend it all at once.

Wang Peng was already old enough to understand; his body went tense in an instant, and Wang Ge pulled him close, comforting him. Wang Erlang was full of doubts as well, seeing his elder brother sitting calmly, Ah Ge untroubled, even his own daughter Ashu behaving more like a grown woman than a child—he was only more confused. Heaven help him, he’d only gone out to cut grass, so how had things turned so chaotic? Wang Zhu had just returned home on foot, and he hadn’t even spoken two words with this nephew he hadn’t seen in so long—how had Wang Zhu suddenly become the accomplice to the Yao woman’s arson?

Wang Weng, pleased that his sons weren’t interrupting, continued, “That night, Ah Ge and her grandmother kept vigil in the courtyard, watching the lanterns, fearing fire and guarding against intruders! We thought we were defending against strangers or outside fires—who’d have guessed we were nearly burned alive in our own home by our own flesh and blood! Luckily, that wretch is just as stupid as the Yao woman, sneaking out to the latrine again and again in the dead of night while the wind howled, arousing Ah Ge’s suspicions. When the Yao woman left, abandoned, Ah Ge noticed that the wretch didn’t even see his mother off, so she confronted him, asking whether he was catching rats out by the latrine to help the Yao woman carry out her crime. The wretch was so frightened he couldn’t answer a word and collapsed in the woodpile! This matter concerns not just our reputation, but our very lives. He’s not Ah Ai—if he were truly innocent, why didn’t he defend himself? Why didn’t he? When the Yao woman confessed, she kept mentioning the wretch’s ‘sealed lips’—was she scolding him, or reminding him to keep his mouth shut? Mother and son, conspiring together, failing in their crime and still trying to make fools of us. Despicable to the core! From this moment on, anyone who dares plead for the wretch will be treated as equally despicable, no longer a child of the Wang family!”

Wang Sanlang, under his father’s bitter and ever-harsher condemnation, trembled all over, his teeth chattering.

Wang Peng dared not make a sound.

The only one at peace in the room was Wang Ai, sleeping soundly.

The flickering candlelight followed the old man’s accusations, casting sorrow on Granny Jia and Wang Shu’s faces, calm on the eldest branch’s father and daughter, terror and confusion on Erlang and Sanlang, disbelief and fear on Wang He and Wang Peng, all reflected in the wavering shadows.

Outside, Little Jia and the skulking Wang Zhu were each caught once by Wang Xing. Like two mice, their failed eavesdropping left their hearts prickling with unease.

Inside the main house, Wang Shu spoke up: “That day, when my cousin came out of the kitchen, I went in—Ah Zhu was indeed sitting on the woodpile. He even shouted out; I thought it was because the Yao woman had frightened him, but I never imagined, I never thought…” She leaned close to Granny Jia, asking, “If that hemp rope really had been set alight that night, what would have become of our family?”

Granny Jia shook her head, not daring to imagine.

Wang Ge said, “All I can say is, he didn’t get the chance to do harm that night. But with a traitor in the house, who can guard against him every hour?”

Wang Weng declared, “Erlang, tomorrow at first light, you’ll come with me to deliver that wretch to the magistrate at Lingshui Pavilion.”

Wang Sanlang immediately bowed his back, a suppressed wail rising in his throat.

Wang Peng clung to Wang Ge, sobbing, “Cousin, does this mean I have no elder brother anymore?”

“You do. You still have your cousin He.”

Wang He hadn’t expected Wang Ge to say that. Wang Peng immediately flung himself into He’s arms, and as he felt his young cousin’s frail little body, Wang He slowly learned to hold him tight, just as Wang Ge did.

Wang Weng looked at Sanlang, tears streaming down his old face as he choked out, “If you never taught your sons, what use is it to regret now?”

“Wuu…ah…” With nowhere to vent his grief, Wang Sanlang pounded the floor over and over.

The night wind was so chill it made faces and hearts ache.

Little Jia saw someone coming out of the main house—it was her husband returning to the east wing. But she waited and waited, and her own husband never came back. She trembled with fury—Wang He hadn’t come home either! “So you want to cast me out? I knew it, I knew it! Is it my turn now? Ha! Dream on! Hmph… I haven’t committed any unpardonable crime; none of you can cast me aside. Old wretch, Wang Er, you spineless man, none of you can!”

East wing.

With swollen, tear-stained eyes, Wang Sanlang moved as if in a daze. In the darkness, Wang Zhu pounced on him, calling out in aggrieved tones, “Father!”

“Father, I’ve only just come home. Why don’t you care about me? Why were you in the main house so long? Father, you feel cold—my bed is warm, come in. Where are Peng and Ai?”

“Ah…um…they’re sleeping in the main house.” Wang Sanlang mumbled, unwilling to say more.

“Father, what’s wrong? Father, you—”

“Your grandfather scolded me again, that’s all. Never mind.” For the first time in his life, Wang Sanlang lied. “Sleep now, let me hold you.”

Wang Zhu’s worries eased a little. “Don’t be sad, Father. I’ll be good to you from now on, and take good care of my brother and sister.”

“Yes. You must always behave from now on.”

Wang Zhu felt reassured.

That night, Wang Sanlang was held by his eldest son, his body stiff with fear, his mind a chaotic tangle that left him dizzy and restless. When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed of Wang Zhu crouched behind a ruined hut, striking flint and setting the thatch alight.

In just a few breaths, the hut was in flames.

In the dream, Wang Sanlang couldn’t find water to put out the fire. He tried to beat the flames with his winter coat, but it was useless—the coat caught fire, too. Wang Sanlang shouted, “You wretch! It really was you! Do you want to burn your own father as well?”

Wang Zhu retreated again and again, explaining, “Father, did you forget? I promised I’d always be good to you. Don’t believe me? Go look at the door—I’m burning your younger brother.”

I’m burning your younger brother…

I promised I’d always be good to you…

Ah! Trapped in a nightmare, Wang Sanlang howled and pounded at the flames, howled and pounded, until Wang Zhu faded away and only the fire raged, swallowing everything.

(End of chapter)