Gratitude

When Liu Qian's father and brother arrived at the Zhang family courtyard, the sun was already three poles high.

Liu the Butcher was basking in the sun and chatting with Zhang Cai in the small courtyard. The Zhang family courtyard's walls were far too low, and from a great distance away, Liu the Butcher spotted Mr. Liu and Liu Kai being led over by a villager. Both were dressed in brand-new clothes, while Liu Kai followed behind his father, carrying several large gift boxes in his hands.

Liu the Butcher hurriedly rose, called out to Zhang Cai, and went outside to greet his elder brother. Zhang Cai shouted into the house, "Kids' mother, Liu Qian's father is here!"

Hearing the shout, Liu Qian did not toss aside her needlework and rush out from the inner room in a flurry like Liu Yueyue. Instead, she carefully set the half-finished item in her hands on the table, waited for Guo Sufi to leave first, and only then followed her outside.

By the time Liu Qian reached the courtyard, Liu the Butcher and Liu Yueyue had already ushered their father and brother to the wicker gate, where Zhang Cai, leaning on his crutch, was waiting to receive them. There was naturally a round of introductions and pleasantries. Only then did Liu Qian step before her father and brother and salute them. Mr. Liu took his daughter's hand and carefully examined her expression. There was no trace on her familiar face of what had happened the day before yesterday, nor was there panic or fear in her eyes. Only her eye rims were faintly red. Mr. Liu could not help feeling guilty. He had truly failed to think things through. Patting his daughter's shoulder, he said, "You have suffered, child."

Liu Qian wiped her eyes and said with a smile, "I'm fine. Thanks to Brother Xiaolong's family giving us their utmost help, we were able to escape the tiger's jaws."

Mr. Liu signaled Liu Kai to hand over the gift boxes, then said to Zhang Cai and Guo Sufi, "Great kindness needs no words of thanks. These humble gifts are but a small token of my feelings. I hope our benefactors will accept them."

Zhang Cai hastily pushed the gift boxes back and said politely, "We merely happened to be there and did not do much. Besides, the ones who ultimately saved them—and us—were someone else."

Mr. Liu insisted on offering them over. "It was still thanks to your help. If you had not stepped in, my children would have suffered calamity long ago. Those two young heroes might not necessarily have seen them in time."

Seeing the two men pushing the boxes back and forth, Liu the Butcher grew anxious. He reached out and took them, saying, "There is no need for such courtesy between you. Old Brother Zhang, this is my elder brother's heartfelt intention, so do not refuse it." With that, he carried the gift boxes into the main room.

Mr. Liu smiled at Zhang Cai. "My second brother has such a fiery temper. I hope Old Brother Zhang will not take offense."

Zhang Cai also smiled. "Not at all. Your younger brother is a man of true temperament. We are the ones being overly formal. Please, let us speak inside."

Zhang Cai ushered Mr. Liu into the main room. The Zhang family's main room was quite small and had only a few chairs, so there was no question of distinguishing host from guest. Everyone sat as they pleased.

After taking his seat, Mr. Liu once more expressed his gratitude for the Zhang family's kindness. Then he took some loose silver from his robes and placed it on the small table in the room. "Old Brother Zhang, your family was injured by those bullies while saving my daughter. By both reason and sentiment, we ought to bear responsibility. Please take this silver to seek medical treatment and buy medicine. Our family is not well-off, and this is all we can offer. I hope you will forgive us."

This time, Zhang Cai absolutely refused to accept it. He said, "Xiaohua must have already told you what happened. At the time, those bullies had already paid compensation, but we feared they would come back to demand it, so we dared not use it. Young Hero Wen, who saved us, has already given us quite a bit of silver—enough for treatment and medicine. We absolutely cannot accept this silver." Liu Kai said from the side, "Old Brother Zhang, one matter is one matter. We ought to give you this silver. You were injured saving my sisters; how could we stand by with folded arms and refuse to pay any medical expenses? What kind of reasoning would that be?" Liu the Butcher scratched his head as well. "Old Brother Zhang, you should take it. In a few days, I will bring you some silver too, along with a load of meat."

Zhang Cai said, "My two younger brothers, you must not. We did not save people for silver. Besides, we already have money to treat our injuries. We absolutely cannot accept this."

Thus, they yielded to one another, tangled in endless back-and-forth. After arguing for quite some time, Zhang Cai refused no matter what.

At this point, Liu Qian spoke up. Facing Mr. Liu, she said, "Father, since Old Brother Zhang will not accept the silver, take it back for now. I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?"

Mr. Liu said, "Certainly. You have been exceptionally clever since childhood. What good idea do you have this time?"

Liu Qian said, "Old Brother Zhang's family was injured saving us, so the two of us should stay here to look after them until they have fully recovered. First, three people in Old Brother Zhang's family are injured, and there is also an elder to care for. Aunt Guo cannot manage everything alone. If we lend a hand here, the household can function normally. Second, Old Brother Zhang and the other two have difficulty moving and need someone to attend to them. It is what we ought to do. What do you think?"

After thinking briefly, Mr. Liu said, "I was the one who failed to consider this. Qian'er's idea is very good. What do you think, Second Brother?"

Liu the Butcher patted his chest. "Very good, very good. That was exactly what I had in mind."

Liu Yueyue nodded in agreement as well.

So the matter was settled for the time being.

Then Mr. Liu and Liu Kai went into the inner room. Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu were still lying on the bed. When they had heard Liu the Butcher shouting earlier, both had wanted to get up, but Guo Sufi and the others had stopped them. Now, seeing people enter, they knew it was Liu Qian's father and brother and hurriedly tried to rise. This time, Liu Qian did not step forward to support Zhang Xiaolong. Guo Sufi carefully helped her son sit up on the kang.

Only then did Mr. Liu carefully study this courageous young man. Zhang Xiaolong was a very manly youth, about the same age as Liu Kai. He looked ordinary, with thick brows and large eyes like Zhang Cai's, though at the moment his eyes were bruised blue and the corner of his mouth had been split open from the beating. Yet from the steadfastness in his gaze alone, one could tell he was a dependable person. His clothes were not new and bore several patches, but they had been washed and starched clean, making them pleasing to the eye. Zhang Xiaolong's arm was still in a splint and could not be moved carelessly. His hand rested before his chest. Looking at those slightly rough hands, one could tell he was a fine hand in the fields.

Looking at this young man, who was about the same age and height as his own son yet so utterly different in bearing, Mr. Liu secretly nodded. Only such an outstanding child could step forward when others were in peril.

When Zhang Xiaolong saw Mr. Liu staring at him, he could not help feeling uneasy and at a loss. Mr. Liu watched him for a while before finally speaking, thanking him for saving his daughter and hoping he would recover well. After chatting a little longer, he left the small room. As he walked, he said to Zhang Cai, "Old Brother Zhang has a fine son. You are blessed."

Zhang Cai smiled so broadly his mouth could not close. Even while leaning on his crutch, he did not forget to be modest. "Likewise, likewise. Your son is also extremely, extremely fine."

It was nearly noon, so Zhang Cai instructed Guo Sufi to prepare food and drink to entertain Mr. Liu and his party. The Zhang family's circumstances were far inferior to Mr. Liu's, so the meal was naturally quite plain. Zhang Cai felt deeply apologetic, but Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher were both forthright men and did not mind in the least. Amid clinking cups, they ate quite a bit. Only Xiaohua was the happiest—there had been meat for two days in a row, and he wished such days would come a few more times.

After the meal, Mr. Liu and the others chatted idly with Zhang Cai for a short while. Then, while it was still early, they took the two girls and set off back to Baligou.

Only the injured members of the Zhang family remained, lying in bed.

Fortunately, it was the depths of winter. At this time of year, they normally curled up at home to keep warm anyway, with no need to plow fields, hoe weeds, or busy themselves with farmwork. Yet that afternoon, everyone felt as though something were missing. When the sky gradually darkened and Guo Sufi prepared to cook, she realized that without the two girls' help, she had to make less food as well, and she could not help feeling somewhat desolate. The liveliness of a household was a strange thing. There had originally been only six people in the house, and after all these years they had never felt anything amiss. Yet during these past few days, two girls had appeared out of nowhere, and the house had somehow gained a bustle it had never known before. Now that a few days had passed and the girls were gone, the bustle naturally vanished too. Only then did they realize how nice it was to have such liveliness, and how they actually missed those days of living with a few more outsiders.

After hastily making dinner, Xiaohua and his mother attended to his two elder brothers as they ate. Everyone sat beneath the oil lamp, and Guo Sufi spoke up. "I wonder whether Liu Qian and the others have eaten yet."

Zhang Cai said, "Judging by the sky, they have probably only just arrived home. There would not have been time for them to cook, so they are likely eating at Liu the Butcher's place."

Xiaohua said, "Definitely. There might even be braised pork belly tonight."

Guo Sufi said, "By the way, Xiaohua, you have been to their homes. What are their homes like?"

Based on what he knew, Xiaohua described the circumstances of Liu Qian's and Liu Yueyue's families.

In truth, Guo Sufi had long wanted to ask about Liu Qian's family circumstances, but it was not appropriate to ask Liu Qian herself. When she had met Liu the Butcher yesterday, she had not found an opportunity to ask either. Today, after seeing Mr. Liu's and Liu Kai's manners and bearing, a knot had formed in her heart. Now, after hearing Xiaohua's words, that knot only tightened, and her brows furrowed. Worriedly, she said to Zhang Cai, "Old man, do you think Liu Qian could take a liking to our Xiaolong?"

No one else spoke, and Zhang Xiaolong's expression darkened somewhat as well. Zhang Cai said, "That depends on fate. It is useless for us to talk about it. Let us listen to heaven's will."

Zhang Xiaohu spoke. "Mother, I feel Liu Qian is very meticulous. She must have read quite a few books. There is no need to mention how knowledgeable and reasonable she is, and she can do plenty of housework too. She is truly very good, much better than the whirlwind-like Liu Yueyue. Judging by how she has cared for Eldest Brother, she does seem to have some feelings for him."

Xiaohua said, "Second Brother, wives have to be married one at a time. Do not be so anxious. Even if you do not mention Liu Yueyue, Mother will consider things for you."

Zhang Xiaohu could not quite save face. He kicked Xiaohua lightly and said, "We are talking about Eldest Brother's affairs. Stop butting in. There is nothing between Liu Yueyue and me."

But Zhang Cai said, "Second son, even if there were something between you two, you would have to think of your eldest brother first. Look at our family's circumstances—marrying one wife is already difficult enough. As for yours, you will probably have to wait a while longer."

Guo Sufi interjected, "Old man, what about those banknotes—"

Zhang Cai cut her off and glared at her. "Do not mention that. It has to be returned to someone else."

After that, everyone lost interest. Before long, they blew out the oil lamp and went to sleep separately.

Zhang Xiaolong tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep. He did not know whether it was the pain of his injuries or the worries in his heart. Yet his restless turning did not affect Xiaohua's still-flickering dreams in the slightest.