Chapter 153: Better to Take the Little Widow as a Concubine

After getting off work and returning home, before even stepping inside, he smelled a strong medicinal scent in the air, carrying its characteristic bitter tang.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

From the house of Chen Ergou across the way came a heart-wrenching coughing fit, as if the coughing would shake his very brain loose.

Judging by the commotion, it sounded like Aunt Hu had fallen ill.

Soon, his judgment was confirmed.

He carried a bowl of steamed pork over to Sister Sister Chunxiang's house, and Sister Sister Chunxiang immediately pulled him into a chat about household matters.

"I told you so—nagging at your daughter-in-law every day, you'll run into bad luck sooner or later."

"Aunt Hu is sick? Is it serious?"

"She's been ill, been sick for several days now. At first it was just catching a chill from the wind, thought a couple days of medicine would fix it. Who'd have thought the medicine didn't work, and she just kept getting worse. Already had the Physician out three times. Pan Pan Niangzi's so anxious her mouth's breaking out in blisters, she's thinned down a whole circle. This winter's colder than the past couple years, no telling if Aunt Hu can pull through. Hearing her cough like that, I'm real worried."

Chen Chen Guanlou asked casually, "Maybe the Physician isn't skilled enough? Should we try a different one?"

"It's not the Physician's fault. When people get old, their bodies just can't compare to the young. If they don't get sick, fine and dandy, but once they do, every ailment under the sun comes crawling out. Now Aunt Hu's so sick she can't get out of bed, can't even roll over. At home there's only Pan Pan Niangzi, and with that little frame of hers, how's she supposed to handle Aunt Hu? I can't bear to watch, so I have to lend a hand."

Just as they were discussing the matter of helping out, the courtyard gate was knocked.

The door opened, and there stood Pan Pan Niangzi, timid and shrinking, at the entrance.

She spotted Chen Chen Guanlou too, and instinctively shrank back, not daring to look at him more than once. In a small voice she pleaded with Sister Sister Chunxiang, "Sorry to trouble you again, sis-in-law. My mother-in-law, she… I can't manage alone. If it's not too much trouble for you, sis-in-law…"

"Your mother-in-law wet the bed again, right? Come on, let's hurry and change her and wash her up. It's freezing out, can't let her catch cold. Have you lit the brazier at home…"

Sister Sister Chunxiang spoke as she walked out, moving with brisk efficiency, showing not a trace of distaste.

Chen Chen Guanlou stood up and asked, "Want me to help?"

"You—a big man—are you going to wash her or change her? Don't make things worse." Sister Sister Chunxiang roasted him without hesitation.

Chen Chen Guanlou gave an awkward smile toward Pan Pan Niangzi, who glanced his way. Faced with Sister Sister Chunxiang's sharp tongue, he could only concede defeat.

Over the next several days, judging by the sounds, Aunt Hu's condition showed no improvement whatsoever—it only grew worse. According to Sister Sister Chunxiang, Aunt Hu had started coughing up blood.

The Physician also said that if there was no improvement, it was likely just a matter of days. This New Year, one could pretty much be sure she wouldn't make it through. He told the family to prepare early.

"How did it get so bad so fast?" Chen Chen Guanlou was genuinely surprised.

"When people get old, they're not afraid of anything except getting sick." Sister Sister Chunxiang sighed. "It's just pitiful for Pan Pan Niangzi—running herself ragged inside and out. If Aunt Hu dies, that little widow with a child too young to understand anything—how's she supposed to get by!

The one thing worth being grateful for is that she's renting here among us. Everyone around is surnamed Chen, or else has some connection to Hou Fu. None of those riffraff street thugs, no fear of anyone causing trouble. If anyone tries anything, I won't stand for it.

What's the feat in bullying a little widow? If you've really taken a fancy to her, send a matchmaker, do it proper—three matches and six betrothals—no one will gossip. This neighborhood doesn't tolerate forced taking. You hear me?"

Chen Chen Guanlou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He really was innocent. "You shouldn't be saying that to me. The women I fool around with are all willing. Besides, with a face like mine, do I need to force anyone? Sister Sister Chunxiang, don't look down on people!"

Sister Sister Chunxiang gave a cold snort. "Men are all the same. If you're good-looking, you just sleep with a few more. If you're ugly, you spend more money. But you—you're handsome AND you spend money, playing the fool every time."

The way she put it…

Chen Chen Guanlou had nothing to say in return.

Damn, it was just too damn logical.

He was handsome and spent money—seemed a bit foolish, sure. But from another angle, being handsome meant he only needed the starting price to sleep with the prettiest girls. Occasionally, girls were even willing to throw themselves at him for free. The ugly ones had to spend five or ten times the money and still got mocked and looked down on.

Three days later, Aunt Hu ultimately failed to survive this cold winter.

Hearing Pan Pan Niangzi's wailing, Chen Chen Guanlou went with Sister Sister Chunxiang to Chen Ergou's house to help Pan Pan Niangzi handle the funeral arrangements.

Pan Niangzi put on a set of mourning clothes. Under the lamplight, Chen Guanlou nearly lost his composure in front of everyone. At one glance, an illusion—Bai Yinshuang reborn in the world, that innocent, helpless, frail-and-bulliable look, a one-of-a-kind little white flower on earth.

Sinful!

How could he harbor improper thoughts toward a widow still in mourning clothes? That was utterly wrong of him.

He thought again of Li Li Dahong's widow, Lady Liu, and then looked at Pan Pan Niangzi before him.

What a wretched fate!

Why did he keep running into little widows?

The number of people coming to pay respects was unusually large—all of them old perverts after the little widow's beauty, every single one with ulterior motives.

Chen Chen Guanlou stepped up without hesitation, holding down the fort on-site, to prevent anyone from being brazen enough to force themselves on the little widow.

Sister Sister Chunxiang complained to him privately, "Why don't you just take Pan Pan Niangzi as your wife. If you look down on her for being a widow, take her as a concubine. I'll put in a word for you—she'd probably agree. She's got no one to rely on now, and among all these people, you're the only one who's been truly sincere and respectful toward her."

"Sister Sister Chunxiang, your attitude's changed way too much. Who was it just now saying I wasn't allowed to set my sights on the little widow?"

"Times change. Before, Aunt Hu was still alive, Pan Pan Niangzi had to hold down the home, so of course you weren't suitable. Now Aunt Hu's gone, and a little widow like Pan Pan Niangzi probably can't hold the place. Better to find a new home early and cut off certain people's dirty thoughts."

Chen Chen Guanlou mulled it over. Taking a little widow as a concubine—that was a fine thing! As for his own secrets, with the little widow's personality, she definitely wouldn't gossip; whatever he said went. At worst, he could just wear a disguise when practicing martial arts and cultivation outside.

Thinking of the little widow's delicate, pretty appearance, Chen Chen Guanlou grew more and more pleased with the idea. Still, he had to put on a bit of a show. "If I bring this up now, won't it look like I'm taking advantage of her vulnerability?"

Sister Sister Chunxiang shot him a look, barely stopping herself from cursing him for wanting it both ways—greedy and never satisfied.

"Relax, we're genuinely considering things for Pan Pan Niangzi's sake, absolutely no intention of taking advantage. Besides, you're a single man, what do you have to fear from gossip? There's no woman at home keeping you in line. If you're afraid your sister will scold you, I'll handle it for you."

"No, no need. My sister would only be glad to have a proper woman by my side. Well then, I'll have to trouble you with this, Sister Sister Chunxiang."

Sister Sister Chunxiang thumped her chest. "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Chen Chen Guanlou had no idea exactly what Sister Sister Chunxiang said to the little widow, but afterward, the little widow's gaze at him carried a touch of shy bashfulness.

After Aunt Hu was buried, Pan Pan Niangzi specially prepared a banquet to entertain everyone who had helped during the funeral. Chen Chen Guanlou gladly accepted the invitation.

When he arrived at Chen Ergou's house, he discovered he was the only guest.

Pan Pan Niangzi, timid and shrinking, said, "Please sit for a moment, there are still two more dishes in the kitchen, I'll go fix them." Saying that, she hurried off.

Chen Chen Guanlou sat in the main room, watching the little widow's willow-slim back, his heart burning hot. This Pan Pan Niangzi really knew how to play games—talked about entertaining everyone, but ended up inviting only him. Cold on the outside, warm on the inside—oh, oh, oh!

Just as he was drifting into pleasant thoughts, Pan Pan Niangzi's son—Ping Ge'er, about four years old—steadily carried a cup of hot water over and stood before him. "My mom told me to bring this. Please have some water."