Chapter 377: Reborn in the 90s: The Tyrant Flower Chapter 378 — Liu San Released from Prison

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

There was a large pile of old, dilapidated elm wood in the Chaimi Family Courtyard, of varying lengths and thicknesses; after picking through it, it could still be used to build a corn tower.

Chai Mi swung the axe in a full circle, and with a "Clang" she chopped hard into the elm wood, sending wood chips flying. The wood didn't budge an inch; the axe blade only bit in a shallow notch, the shock numbing the web of her hand.

"Tsk, this old elm wood, it's really hard!" Chai Mi spat, wiped her sweat, adjusted her stance, and prepared to chop again.

Chai Youqing was sweeping the courtyard, but his eyes kept darting over this way; unable to hold back, he spoke up: "Didn't I tell you the saw wouldn't cut it? You just had to show off! Step aside, let me do it!" He put down the broom and started over.

"You rest!" Chai Mi didn't even turn her head, her voice crisp, "Swinging an axe a few times won't kill anyone. That back of yours, if you strain it again, it'll be me waiting on you while you groan on the kang. Sweep your courtyard, sweep it clean, don't trip over a corn pile later." As the words fell, another axe came down, this time with even heavier force, and the wood finally went "Crunch" and split open a deep crack.

Chai Youqing was choked enough to be scorching, his face unable to hold its composure, he muttered: "Back in the day I carried beams alone when you were still wearing open-crotch pants..." But he still resentfully continued sweeping his ground, the broom swishing up dust.

Chai Mi ignored him, concentrating fully on tidying that pile of old elm wood. Sweat soon soaked through the jacket on her back. She switched hands several times, finally splitting that troublesome thick log into several usable pieces of timber.

"Dad, give me the nails." Chai Mi panted heavily, reaching out her hand to Chai Youqing.

Chai Youqing hurriedly handed over the nail box, watching her dismantle the originally crooked tower frame and re-drive piles to reinforce it with the newly split timber. He squatted beside her, wanting to help hold the wood.

"Don't move!" Chai Mi frowned, "Just hold it steady, don't exert force, and don't move the position randomly. If it goes crooked we have to redo it."

Chai Youqing's hand froze in mid-air, a bit embarrassed: "... Oh."

"The left side is a bit high, press it down... Right, right there, hold it steady!" Chai Mi directed, the hammer in her hand striking the nails precisely. Her movements were neat, her temper not good either; Chai Youqing was like a marionette, cooperating carefully, not daring to breathe loudly.

Song Qiushui returned after a while, shouting at the top of her lungs: "Chai Mi! They've husked two cartloads already, time to head back and organize."

"Be there in a bit."

As Chai Mi spoke her hands moved even faster, the hammer "Bang bang bang" striking deafeningly loud. Chai Youqing looked at her taut profile and the sweat at her temples, his Adam's apple bobbed, but in the end he said nothing more, turning to gather the scattered old timber in the courtyard corner into the firewood pile.

Chai Mi drove in the last nail, then vigorously shook the newly built corn tower; it didn't budge an inch. Only then did she wipe the dust off her hands in satisfaction, grabbing the old towel hanging on the fence to haphazardly wipe her face.

Finally just bind it tight with rope and it's done.

"Dad! Go hitch the cart, let's haul the corn." The voice was still in the front yard, but the person had already run far away.

Chai Youqing looked at that sturdy, stable corn tower, then at his daughter's whirlwind of a retreating figure, let out a heavy sigh, picked up the broom, swept the last bit of wood chips clean, and only then hitched the cart and went to the field.

The field was bustling with activity. Seven or eight women moved with quick hands and feet, also helping load the husked corn onto the board carts.

In no time at all, a donkey cart was filled to the brim.

Chai Mi jumped off the cart, brushing corn silk off herself: "Second Sister-in-law Wang, you all husked fast too. At this speed, four days and the work will definitely be done."

"That's for sure!" Sun Da Jiao's daughter-in-law straightened her waist, pounded her lower back, "Taking your twenty-five yuan a day, we have to earn this wage! We're not the slacking type! Besides, your Xiu'er is so promising, we're basking in her reflected glory too, right? Later when chatting with people, we'll say we husked corn for the Zhuangyuan's family!"

Several women all laughed. Song Qiushui chimed in: "Exactly! When Xiu'er makes it big later, we all count as merit-makers! Chai Mi, you better remember!"

Chai Mi also rarely showed a trace of a smile: "Won't forget. When Xiu'er truly makes it, I'll treat all you aunties and sisters-in-law to a banquet. Right now, everyone put in more effort, finish husking early and get paid early!"

"Deal!"

"Rest assured!"

Everyone joked and laughed, their hands moving even faster.

Four days later.

The last cartload of corn cobs was steadily stacked into the newly built corn tower, piled all the way to the ceiling.

"Done!" Second Sister-in-law Wang let out a long breath, "Chai Mi, count it up, see if it's enough?"

Chai Mi walked a circle around the corn tower, then looked at those few small piles in the wall corner that were gnawed by badgers and a bit moldy, the substandard ones, nodded: "All good! Hard work, aunties and sisters-in-law! You're all exhausted, go inside for a drink of water, I'll settle everyone's wages right now."

Inside the room, Su Wan had long since prepared warm water and washed cucumbers and tomatoes. The women washed their hands laughing and chatting, eating snacks. Chai Mi took out the money prepared long ago, counted it clearly per head, and handed it out one bill at a time into each person's hand.

"Take it, Auntie, isn't your boy wanting to buy new shoes?"

"Sister-in-law, count it, five days, one hundred twenty-five yuan."

"Da Jiao's wife, your hands and feet are fastest, I packed an extra ten yuan for you, buy the kids candy."

The women who got the money were all beaming, thanking her in unison: "Aiyo, thank you Chai Mi!"

"So straightforward! Next time there's work call us again!"

"Chai Mi handles things efficiently!"

Seeing off the hired hands, the courtyard fell quiet in an instant, leaving only the tall corn tower standing erect.

Chai Youqing circled the tower twice, pushed it hard; the tower didn't budge. A satisfied expression finally appeared on his face: "Mm, this time it's sturdy."

Song Qiushui sat down heavily on the door threshold, exhausted: "Oh my mother, it's finally done husking! These four or five days, busy on both sides, my bones are about to fall apart! Chai Mi, you say this corn-husking money, is it enough for Xiu'er's travel expenses and pocket money to the provincial capital?"

Chai Mi was just bending over collecting scattered tools, hearing this she straightened up: "The wages are corn-husking money. Xiu'er going to the provincial capital, I'm here, the stall earns enough."

Chai Youqing looked at the tower full of corn, then at his daughter and Song Qiushui who were exhausted enough to be scorching, hesitated a moment, and said in a muffled voice: "... This corn, later when sold, the money... keep it for Xiu'er's schooling."

Su Wan came out carrying a basin of water for them to wash their hands, hearing this her eyes lit up: "Husband, you..."

Chai Youqing turned his face away, not looking at them, just staring at the corn tower: "... The kid has promise, should support her. Saves... saves outsiders from always wagging their tongues, saying our family is stingy." He paused, voice even lower, "... Also better than keeping it... keeping it and in the end not knowing who will waste it."

Song Qiushui burst out laughing: "Aiyo, Uncle Chai, your awareness is rising rapidly! Your backbone has straightened up too!"

Chai Youqing rarely didn't retort, just hmphed, but his back indeed subconsciously straightened a bit.

Chai Mi didn't pick up Chai Youqing's line, just patted her dust-covered hands, and said to Song Qiushui: "Tired then go back and rest early. Tomorrow's stall filling, I'll knead the dough tonight."

Song Qiushui waved her hand: "Alright, then I'll really roll back and play dead. Uncle, Auntie, bye!"

Seeing Song Qiushui off, only family remained in the courtyard.

Su Wan handed the wrung-out towel to Chai Mi and Chai Youqing: "Quick, wipe off. Your dad's right, Xiu'er's matter is a major event. This corn... should be kept for Xiu'er."

Chai Mi took the towel, slowly wiping the black dust and rope marks off her hands, her gaze sweeping over the granary full of grain.

Chai Youqing smoked in silence, smoke curling. After a good long while, he looked at the corn tower, as if talking to himself, yet also as if speaking to Chai Mi: "... This stuff, worth more than a donkey. At least... at least it can exchange for Xiu'er's future."

……

The next day, Chai Mi heard that Liu San had been released today, so she took Su Wan to see their aunt.

But half a month behind the fence was like a blunt knife cutting flesh. When Liu San and Zhang Hailan were released, their spirits were all gone.

Before they even entered the house, the courtyard gate creaked open. Chai Mi held Chai Xin, with Su Wan following beside her, and they walked in. Little Chai Xin wore a clean little Xiaohua jacket, curiously looking at the dilapidated courtyard.

"Cousin, Cousin-in-law, out?" Chai Mi's voice was very calm, with no emotion detectable.

Zhang Hailan raised her head, saw them, her eye rims instantly turned red, her lips trembled, and she couldn't speak.

"San'er, Hailan, as long as you're safe, as long as you're safe..." Su Wan hurried forward, put the basket of eggs and some vegetables she was carrying into the room, her voice carrying some heartache and sighing.

The inner room's door curtain was suddenly lifted, Aunt Su Jin rushed out with disheveled hair, saw her son and daughter-in-law, wailed and threw herself onto them, tightly hugging Liu San, wailing loudly: "My son! My son! You're finally out! Woo woo woo... How could you be so muddleheaded! Ah? What kind of dog thing is Sun Guoyou! A worthless wretch selling rat poison! You believed his ghost talk! Woo woo woo... I said long ago he wasn't a good thing, not a good thing! You just wouldn't listen! Just wouldn't listen!"

Su Jin cried while beating Liu San's back: "The money is gone! The family property is all gone! And... and you've got such a reputation! The police station says you're accomplices helping to cheat money! Accomplices! Woo woo woo... How will you live from now on! My coffin money has all been poured in! Oh heavens..."

Su Wan held Chai Xin standing beside Chai Mi, her little brows furrowed, saying nothing.

Liu San was shaken by his mother's beating, his face alternating green and white, his head buried even lower, he mumbled: "Mom... stop hitting... we... we regret! Our intestines regret until they're green!"

Zhang Hailan couldn't hold back anymore, she slid down along the wall root to sit on the ground, slapping her thighs and crying out: "Third Aunt! Chai Mi! We're wronged! Truly wronged! That Sun Guoyou... that bastard acted too convincingly! That bronze ware, covered in green rust, with writing on it! He even showed us a document with a red seal, saying 'San Taizi Tomb is in the deep mountains', digging out gold nuggets and silver ingots! He said he was some archaeological team leader! Raising money to buy an excavator was a proper livelihood... We thought, Chunyan's real son-in-law, could he cheat his own family? Who knew... who knew that red seal was carved by him with a radish! Woo..."

Su Wan sighed, went over to pull Zhang Hailan up: "Hailan, get up quickly, the ground is cold... stop crying first, think about what to do later."

Liu San suddenly raised his head, his eye rims were also red, looking at Chai Mi, his voice carrying a desperate hoarseness: "Chai Mi... Brother was a bastard before! Didn't listen to you! Now... now everything is over! The car is sold, the family savings are all poured in! Those damn bastards took money from seventy or eighty households in the village, over a hundred thousand! I was muddleheaded and became their accomplice! Spent half a month inside, and was fined five thousand... Now at home, even mice coming in would have to leave with tears! We... we really don't know what to do..." As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard, "Greedy! Stupid! Believing his mother's 'one excavator sound, ten thousand taels of gold'! Pah!"

Aunt Su Jin was still crying to heaven and earth beside them: "What a sin! The swindler ran away! Leaving this mess... these old bones of mine can't squeeze out any more oil..."

Chai Mi waited until the crying subsided slightly, her gaze sweeping over the empty house and the withered yellow weeds in the courtyard, she spoke: "Regret medicine has nowhere to buy. Sun Guoyou's tricks are full of holes. If there really were an archaeological team, wouldn't the county send an excavator? Would they need him, a rat poison peddler, to 'raise money' everywhere? Burying Ming dynasty treasure in a Qing dynasty old nest? Even made-up lies can't be made round." She paused, looking at Liu San and his wife, "Now crying to heaven and wiping tears, there's no need. Life still has to go on..."

Everyone was in a very bad mood, said a few words, then went into the house.

The scene inside the house was even more desolate than outside. Except for the earthen kang and that broken cabinet, it was almost bare walls.

Everything valuable had been sold.

Zhang Hailan followed in, leaning against the door frame, still silently sobbing. Liu San hung his head, like a child who had made a big mistake, standing at the door not daring to enter.

"Chai Mi, we..." Liu San had just opened his mouth when Chai Mi interrupted him again.

"The car is gone, the money is gone, the fine has been paid, all that is set in stone." Chai Mi's voice was very calm: "The reputation is ruined, that's also a fact. How the villagers look at you is their business. What you need to figure out now is how to survive this winter."

Zhang Hailan's tears welled up again: "There isn't a grain of rice left at home... everything that could be sold was sold to pay the fine... winter... what will we do in winter..."

Chai Mi's gaze swept over the empty earthen kang and Zhang Hailan who was still hiccuping, she was silent for a moment. She didn't take up Liu San's words about "what to do", but reached into her trouser pocket and took out one thousand yuan, she extended the money toward Liu San.

Liu San and Zhang Hailan were both stunned, staring fixedly at that roll of money, forgetting to cry, forgetting to speak. Aunt Su Jin's sobbing also stopped, she widened her eyes.

"Take it." Chai Mi's voice still had no inflection, but in this desperate house it sounded especially clear, "Go buy some rice, flour, grain and oil first, get through this winter. If you starve to death, then you really have nothing left."

Liu San's hand trembled a little, he didn't dare take it, his lips trembling: "Chai... Chai Mi... this... this money... we... we don't have the face to take your money... before we..."

"What's the use of bringing up the past?" Chai Mi interrupted him, her tone carrying her usual impatience, but she pushed the money forward again, "This money isn't given for nothing. Count it as a loan from me. When spring comes, if you have strength, find a way to pay it back. If you don't have strength to pay back, go help at my stall and work to repay the debt. Be diligent, and there will always be food to eat. Stop always thinking about the stupid idea of pies falling from the sky and picking up gold nuggets on the ground!"

Zhang Hailan's tears welled up again, this time mixed with shame and gratitude, she shoved Liu San hard: "San'er... quickly... quickly take it... thank Chai Mi..."

Liu San then came to his senses, trembling hands taking that roll of money carrying body heat, clutching it tightly in his palm, as if grabbing a life-saving straw. He bowed his head deeply, his voice choked: "Chai Mi... Brother... Brother thanks you... this money... Brother will definitely pay back! Spring... spring I'll go work for you... any work will do!"