While things were lively here, Eldest Uncle Ye's family was having a bitter time. As Rong Zheng's reputation in the village grew by the day, and with him having provided methods for building fireplaces and heated brick beds, most villagers had greatly changed their opinion of him. Ye Yun received plenty of praise along with him.
Ever since Ye Yun married Rong Zheng, Rong Zheng's ability to earn money had grown by the day. In just two short months, he had first held a lavish wedding, and now he had built the grandest house in the village. Ye Yun was definitely a lucky star. Rong Zheng had never seemed so capable before, but now he was truly a different man, no ordinary fish destined to remain in a small pond.
As word spread through the village, people began saying that Ye Yun was a lucky star reincarnated, bringing tremendous prosperity to his husband. Inevitably, they also took jabs at Eldest Uncle Ye's family:
"That eldest uncle's family really doesn't have the fortune for it. Even with a lucky star like Ye Yun around, they couldn't get ahead. I say they're hopeless."
"Just look at them. They mistreated a lucky star, and now they've gotten their retribution!"
"Exactly. Didn't those debt collectors beat Ye Yao up last time? I heard they injured his leg. He limps when he walks now."
"And Ye Bao too. She's gone to be the landlord's youngest son's concubine. Ye Liqiang-Ye Yun's eldest uncle-and Chen Guihua are truly heartless. She's their own daughter! Just to avoid selling their land, they sent her off to the landlord's house in a little sedan chair. As a concubine, she'll be looked down on for the rest of her life."
"That's why you mustn't mistreat people. Look how miserably their whole family has ended up."
Some of the village aunties had long disliked Chen Guihua's sour, spiteful ways. While washing clothes, they spoke freely, sparing her no dignity at all.
Chen Guihua was so furious that she slammed down her washbasin and shouted, but no one paid her any attention. They carried on talking.
Eldest Uncle Ye suffered slights in the village too. Villagers he had once been on good terms with saw Rong Zheng's life growing more prosperous and wanted to curry favor with him, so they kept their distance from Eldest Uncle Ye and no longer cared to speak to him. They thought him vicious for abusing his own nephews and seizing other people's property.
After enduring all manner of cold words in the village, the family went home and blamed one another, venting their anger.
With his injured leg, Ye Yao could no longer do heavy work. After marrying into the landlord's household, Ye Bao had lost all affection for her parents and wanted no contact with them.
Eldest Uncle Ye pointed at Chen Guihua and cursed, "It was you, woman! You abused our nephews, and now you've brought turmoil on this household. Are you satisfied?"
Chen Guihua shouted back, "You hypocritical good-for-nothing! You were the most eager when it came to taking Ye Yun's family's money. Did you ever say a word when Ye Yun and Ye Chen were being beaten? You pretend to be so virtuous, but you're the worst of all!"
She pointed at their limping son, seething with resentment. "It was you! You refused to pay off the debt that day, and that's why our son's leg was broken. I'll fight you!"
After trading insults, the two began exchanging blows. Unable to watch any longer, Ye Yao went over to break them up, but his parents were both so carried away that they shoved him hard to the ground.
Scenes like this played out almost every day.
The neighbors often saw and heard the family's all-out brawls, munching sunflower seeds as they discussed them with relish.
Meanwhile, Ye Yun was tending the fire in the kitchen while his husband deftly wielded a spatula, stir-frying the food.
Today, Ming-ge'er had told him about Eldest Uncle Ye's family arguing and fighting all day long. Hearing that they now never had a moment's peace should have made him happy and relieved, yet for some reason, his heart felt a little heavy.
That family had constantly beaten and cursed him and Xiao Chen. They were utterly hateful, and he had hated them, but as his life with Rong Zheng became so peaceful and comfortable, that hatred gradually faded.
The hatred was gone, but something still seemed to linger in his heart.
His painful past still bound him like an invisible rope. A faint dread lay deep in his heart, leaving him constantly afraid that all of this was only a dream, as insubstantial as flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water.
In truth, like Xiao Chen, those years of abuse had left him with psychological scars. He was anxious, uneasy, and lacked a sense of security. But he was seventeen, after all. His emotions did not show as openly as a child's, and he knew how to hide them.
Yet Rong Zheng was his husband. How could he possibly fail to notice? That was why Rong Zheng always found ways to be affectionate with him, seemingly casually or deliberately, and did everything he could to treat him well, slowly guiding him out of the shadows.
If someone could not let go of the past, they could not move toward the future!
Rong Zheng noticed that Ye Yun kept feeding wood into the stove and seemed distracted, so he asked:
"My darling husband, what are you thinking about?"
Ye Yun's eyes shone. "You." His face flushed as soon as he said it. "I'll take the dishes out." He hurried away from Rong Zheng's burning gaze, thinking, It's so wonderful to have you!
Left alone in the kitchen, Rong Zheng thought, How could my husband tease me and then just walk away...
Today was Ye Chen's birthday, and Rong Zheng had prepared a table full of lavish dishes.
Before the meal, Ye Yun gave Ye Chen a pair of shoes he had made himself. Seeing Xiao Chen so full of vigor, without a trace of his former listlessness, his eyes grew hot. He stroked Xiao Chen's head. "Xiao Chen, happy birthday."
Ye Chen's little face bloomed with a smile. "Thank you, Brother Yun."
Ye Chen would be eight after this birthday. Rong Zheng had discussed it with Ye Yun, and they had decided that the three of them would celebrate at home.
For one thing, most people in the village were poor and rarely held lavish birthday feasts. Too many ostentatious celebrations would breed resentment.
For another, Xiao Chen now had quite a few playmates, and they could not let him stand too far apart from the others.
Rong Zheng handed him a rectangular brocade box. "Xiao Chen, happy birthday! This is my gift. Have a look and see if you like it."
Ye Chen opened the box and found a little short sword inside.
The sword was forged from pure iron, its blade as thin as a cicada's wing and gleaming with a blue-green light. A golden star engraved on the hilt glittered brightly.
"This sword is so beautiful!"
Delighted, Ye Chen reached out and picked it up. The short sword was light and nimble, fitting his hand perfectly.
Rong Zheng had recently begun teaching Ye Chen the basic movements of swordplay, though he was currently using a branch in place of a sword. He felt that Ye Chen had a great talent for martial arts. Despite his young age, he grasped things remarkably well. Most important of all were Ye Chen's love of martial arts and his perseverance.
Interest was the foremost driving force!
Although Rong Zheng had initially hoped Ye Chen would inherit his martial arts, he had never intended to force him. If Xiao Chen showed that he disliked it, he would never insist.
But if Xiao Chen loved it, he would certainly teach him everything he knew.
Watching Xiao Chen's excited expression, Ye Yun felt gratified. Rong Zheng had designed this sword himself and commissioned a blacksmith to make it. It had cost five taels of silver. When Ye Yun heard the price, he had thought it far too expensive, but Rong Zheng had said, "Xiao Chen has talent, and he works diligently at his martial arts. This is the reward he deserves!"
Seeing that Ye Chen could hardly bear to put it down, Rong Zheng said, "For now, you can still only practice with a branch. You'll only be allowed to use this short sword once you pass my assessment."
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Brother Rong. I'll work hard!"
"May our Xiao Chen shine as brilliantly as the stars someday!" Rong Zheng bent down, looked into Ye Chen's eyes, and offered his heartfelt wish.
Ye Chen nodded vigorously. What he did not know was that this sharp blade, given to him on his eighth birthday, would accompany him through life and death in the years ahead as he pressed courageously onward.
Who could have imagined that the once timid, self-conscious child would someday perform the victory rites on Mount Langjuxu!
Before bed, Rong Zheng gave Ye Yun the pure white fur scarf he had commissioned. "When I hunted those wolves, I also caught a white fox. Since winter is nearly here, I had a shop make it into a scarf for you."
"I get a present too?"
"Of course." He unfolded the scarf and carefully wrapped it around his husband's neck.
The fox fur was snowy white, soft and warm. Wrapped around Ye Yun's neck, it made his face look all the more delicate and lovely.
Ye Yun murmured, "Why didn't you sell the white fox? It's worth so much." It could have fetched over twenty taels, yet Rong Zheng had spent money to have it made into a scarf for him. He was deeply touched.
"How could money matter more than making my husband happy?" Rong Zheng drew Ye Yun over to the mirror and asked softly, "Do you like it?"
Ye Yun's eyes reddened, and he nodded. "I do. Thank you, husband."
"Be happy. All of this is real. It isn't a dream."
At that moment, the gloom buried deep in Ye Yun's heart seemed to scatter beneath the sunlight, and his tears instantly broke free.
Those days of treading on thin ice, though long left behind, still lay like shackles upon his heart, leaving him anxious whenever he remembered them, unable to find peace.
Now those shackles fell away in an instant. Ye Yun broke down and threw himself into Rong Zheng's arms, sobbing without end.
"Forget them. Those people have nothing to do with you anymore." Rong Zheng gently stroked Ye Yun's long hair, again and again. "You have me."
Let the nightmares of the past dissolve into nothing!