Ger, So Proud

Chapter 41

“My wife?” He Ze frowned, “What are you talking about? What’s going on?”

“It’s just…” Liu San raised his head, but suddenly paused, his eyes rolled a few times before he said, “Oh! It’s nothing… you, you misheard me. I meant Lin Yu’s family. Something happened at Lin Yu’s house, you should go check it out.”

“At Lin Yu’s house? What happened?”

He Ze’s brows furrowed even tighter, but before Liu San could answer, he had already hurried in the direction of Lin’s house.

Liu San, hands on his knees, gasped for breath a few more times before waving to Zhao Fugui with a smile. “Hello, Uncle Zhao!”

“Hello! What exactly happened at Yu-ge’s house? Why are you in such a hurry?” Zhao Fugui also stood up.

“Uncle Zhao, can’t you guess? Apart from that troublesome Lin family, what else could it be? It seems that the news of Lin Yu hunting a bear yesterday spread throughout the village. Now, Lin Yu’s third uncle-in-law went to his house to cause trouble. There are many people gathered outside Lin Yu’s house to watch the commotion!”

“Is that so…” Zhao Fugui’s face darkened, he paused before adding, “Was it just Mrs. Wu who went?”

“Yes, just one person, it’s just…” Liu San hesitated to speak, then turned his head and said, “Alright, Uncle Zhao, I won’t tell you anymore. I have to catch up with He Ze…”

“Just one person… but that family is really afraid of causing trouble!” Zhao Fugui waved his hand, “Go on then! Let me drive the cart back and take a look. Just make sure nothing goes wrong!”

“Got it!”

Liu San replied and turned around to run after He Ze. Zhao Fugui sighed as he watched his figure, then led the ox back to his own home.

Liu San didn’t catch up with He Ze until he reached the gate of Lin’s house, where he squeezed through the crowd and saw He Dalang silently beckoning him. He Ze was standing next to him.

“Oh, I’m so tired!” Liu San walked a few steps to them, casually put his arm around He Ze’s shoulder, then tiptoed to look inside, shaking his head after a while. “See that? Lin Yu’s third uncle is not someone to mess with!”

In the courtyard, a middle-aged ger in his thirties or forties was sitting on the ground, wailing loudly. He wore a hairpin on his head and had makeup on his face, crying loudly but without shedding a tear. Lin Yu supported Dad Zhang in front of him, with the body of the black bear behind them.

He Ze coldly watched the farce in front of him, occasionally casting his gaze towards Lin Yu’s face. However, Lin Yu’s expression remained calm, calm like… stagnant water, causing his heart to involuntarily tighten.

“Wu Cui, you better go back! This bear was hunted by Yu-ge risking his life in the mountains. It has nothing to do with your Lin family. Even if you cry and make a scene, I won’t give it to you!”

Dad Zhang glanced at the ger on the ground, then turned his head to wipe the corner of his eye and held Lin Yu’s hand tighter.

“Brother Zhang, you can’t be so heartless!” Upon hearing Dad Zhang’s words, Wu Cui immediately stopped crying. “I know you blame us, but my family member is Second Lang’s younger brother, and he’s seriously ill with only a breath left. Please help us! If Second Lang were still alive, could he watch his brother pass away like this? Brother Zhang!”

Lin Yu’s father was named Lin Mu, although he was the second oldest, the Lin family had never called him Second Lang. Now, however…

“Hmph—” Dad Zhang sneered, tears still streaming down his eyes. “If Second Lang were still alive, if Second Lang were still alive… Can you still say such words? Second Lang was killed by your Lin family! It’s you! You forced him to death, you…”

As he spoke, he choked up, his grief causing many people in the crowd to tear up. Only Lin Yu, He Ze saw Lin Yu’s lips tremble slightly as he reached out to wipe the tears from Dad Zhang’s eyes. “Dad, stop crying.”

That was all, nothing more.

“What… what are you talking about, Brother Zhang!” Wu Cui became anxious. He glanced at the crowd outside the courtyard, seeming a bit nervous. “Back then… back then, none of us expected Second Lang to leave like this! Second Lang is surnamed Lin, the biological son of Father and Dad. How could he be killed by us? It’s just that we didn’t expect such a reputation to follow, but outsiders don’t know, can’t you understand? I know you blame Father for driving you and Yu-ge out back then, but wasn’t it because…”

Wu Cui’s eyes flickered, and he closed his mouth again. However, this sentence made the curiosity of the villagers watching even stronger.

“Wu Cui, you!” Dad Zhang suddenly turned his head back, his voice paused for a moment, then he closed his eyes and said, “There’s no point in saying more. Even if you tear the heavens apart today, whether this bear belongs to our family or not, it does. If you don’t leave now, continue crying here, then… consider it… crying for Second Lang.”

“Zhang Su! Are you really that heartless?”

Dad Zhang didn’t answer, just turned his back to Wu Cui.

Unexpectedly, back when they were in the Lin family, Dad Zhang was always obedient. After a few years of no contact, he had become quite tough now. He had originally thought that this trip today would make Yu-ge respectfully send the bear to the Lin family, but…

In that case, he couldn’t blame him.

Wu Cui quickly got up from the ground, slapped his butt in anger, but when he turned to face the crowd, his face was filled with sorrow. “Alright! Zhang Su, since you’re so heartless, let everyone come and judge! Everyone knows that Lin Mu is the second son of the Lin family. Even though he’s gone, his identity hasn’t changed. Blood is thicker than water, right?”

As he spoke, some spectators in the crowd nodded, while others who knew the inside story pursed their lips. He Ze was about to step forward, but Liu San beside him grabbed his arm. “Wait a moment, let’s hear what he has to say. There might be some trickery!”

He Ze glanced at him, stopped in his tracks, but kept his eyes on Lin Yu in the courtyard. Lin Yu seemed to have noticed him, but his gaze paused, then immediately turned away.

On Wu Cui’s side, his voice choked up. “My husband is the third son of the Lin family, Lin Mu’s own younger brother, and also Zhang Su’s younger brother-in-law. He’s been weak since he was young. The doctor said a few days ago that he wouldn’t last much longer, but… but we don’t have any money left at home!”

“I don’t want to forcefully take this bear. I just want to sell it and use the money to buy medicine for him. When our family’s situation improves in the future, I’ll return it to you. You…”

“No matter how much hatred and resentment there was in the past, we’re still family after all. How… how can there be a reason to watch my own younger brother die? How can my younger brother’s life be so bitter!”

“If he goes like this, how can I… how can I continue living alone? Father and Dad are getting old. If they are subjected to such a shock again, they probably won’t last long in this world. Zhang Su…” Wu Cui suddenly turned his head back, “Since you married into the Lin family, life and death are now all part of the Lin family. But you… Are you trying to push the Lin family to a dead end? Aren’t you afraid that Second Lang won’t be at peace below?!”

“…. Wu Cui, shut up!”

Dad Zhang widened his eyes, looking as if he could eat him alive. “Second Lang was forced to death by you, isn’t that enough? When the Lin family drove us out back then, it was said that we had no more ties with the Lin family from then on!”

“Zhang Su, what you’re saying is not right! One stroke of the pen can’t erase the fact that there are two ‘Lin’ characters. Lin Yu has Lin family blood flowing in his veins, and it won’t change in his lifetime. As for you… I didn’t want to say it originally, but since you keep bringing this up over and over again, there’s no need for me to cover for you anymore—Zhang Su, if it wasn’t for your improper behavior back then, Father wouldn’t have been so angry…”

“Shut up!”

Before Dad Zhang could respond, Lin Yu’s solemn voice interrupted Wu Cui. He Ze saw that Lin Yu’s hands were already clenched into fists, the back of his hands turning red.

“Tsk tsk, what a drama! He Ze, your wife has encountered such a troublesome family…” Liu San shook his head, “If Lin’s dad’s accusation sticks, it would be terrible! Not only would there be no more gossip about the Lin family in the village, but your wife… uh, who, who hit me?”

Liu San hadn’t finished speaking when someone slapped him on the back. He turned around, and He Dalang gestured to him with his eyes, then his gaze shifted. He then saw He Ze staring at him, his eyes somewhat cold.

“What wife?”

“Huh? What wife? I don’t know… don’t look at me, I really don’t know…” Liu San innocently stepped back, cursing his own big mouth!!!

“Lin Yu is a ger. If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll knock your teeth out!”

“Wait… He Ze, how did you know I was talking about Lin Yu? Could it be… Ouch, that hurts! Can’t you be gentle?”

Liu San’s voice became excited again, but before he could finish, He Ze bent his elbow and slammed it into Liu San’s stomach. Fortunately, Liu San restrained himself, so his cries were somewhat muted.

Seeing him behave, He Ze shifted his gaze back to the courtyard.

At this point, Dad Zhang had taken a few steps towards the courtyard gate, while Lin Yu remained standing in place, his hand still clenched. It was nearing noon, and the position was under the sun, so the sunlight was glaring, and sweat formed on his forehead. However, he seemed completely unaware.

He Ze’s eyes flickered slightly, feeling an urge to rush over.

“Improper behavior, improper behavior… Haha…” Dad Zhang staggered a few steps closer to Wu Cui, muttering to himself with tears and laughter, “At that time, Yu-ge was only thirteen. You wanted to marry him off to a wealthy man in his seventies. I begged you with a broken head, but you ignored me. Luckily, Heaven had eyes! He died, that old guy died, haha…”

“He died, and you couldn’t get any money. Are you mad? Are you mad? Haha, angry, aren’t you? Then you pointed at a child and said he’s doomed, refused to feed him, let him starve!”

“It was late autumn at that time, right? It rained for a long time, and we lived in a thatched hut. The water accumulated deep on the ground, and Yu-ge was cold and hungry, and sick.”

Dad Zhang looked at Wu Cui with empty eyes, tears streaming down continuously, along with his trembling shoulders.

“You didn’t get a doctor for him. What could I do? I had no choice. I ran to the town overnight, knocked on the doors of every herbal shop, begged them, begged them. They all thought I was crazy… Later, I finally met a kind person who brought Yu-ge back from the brink of death. The next day, he even sent medicine over. Look at you, saying I have improper behavior… Haha, improper behavior…”

“Zhang Su, you…”

As Dad Zhang approached closer and closer, Wu Cui unconsciously took two steps back.

“Why aren’t you talking? Huh?” Dad Zhang’s voice grew louder and louder, suddenly pounced on Wu Cui, grabbing his clothes tightly and shaking him incessantly, “Why aren’t you talking anymore?! Why aren’t you talking?! Speak!”

“You… Let go! Zhang Su, you’re crazy, let go!”

Wu Cui was much taller than Zhang Su, and he immediately pushed him away when he reacted. There was silence in the crowd, and He Ze’s eyes narrowed. He hurriedly rushed out.

But someone was faster than him. He froze in his tracks, only to hear Lin Yu’s calm voice, “Dad, it’s okay. I’m fine, I’m fine here.”

“Yu, Yu-ge, it’s you, right?” Dad Zhang came to his senses, touching his face with his fingers, his eyes shining brightly, “It’s good, you’re fine. Back then, Doctor Xu said it was just a little bit… just a little bit more, and Dad thought, if you were gone too, Dad would go down to be with you, wouldn’t that be nice?”

“Dad, it’s in the past, all in the past.”

Lin Yu embraced Dad Zhang, gently patting his back, his voice as soft as dripping water. Just like every night when Dad Zhang used to coax him to sleep.

Suddenly, most of the crowd dispersed, many covering their faces as they left.

Author’s note: My tear ducts are too sensitive. I cried while writing this chapter… But they say readers and authors are usually not on the same wavelength, so I don’t know if you’ll laugh while reading this.