Chapter Forty-Four: Idle Chatter

In seven days, he had caught a total of one hundred thirty-six snakes, with the cauliflower snake being the most numerous—eighty-one in all. The cauliflower snake, also known as the King Brocade Snake or King Snake, is so named because of the distinctive "king" character on its head. It is non-venomous and fit only as a meat snake. Besides, there were twenty-seven Black Beauty Snakes and fifteen Cobra snakes. The rest were a motley assortment.

Le’er had no intention to catch more, for he lacked the means to feed them. With these snakes alone, he could still catch loaches, eels, and miscellaneous fish to feed them. Any more, and he would not be able to sustain them.

Raising snakes starts with feed; without it, how could he care for them? With these snakes, he could first accumulate experience and breed stock, but if he truly wished to raise them in earnest, he would have to begin next year.

Two rooms of the house had already been renovated, all with solid wood. Not a hint of brick was visible, and the wooden surfaces were finely planed. When the work was finished, he planned to apply a clear varnish to preserve the original grain.

“Le’er, what a beautiful room!” Luo Yinxian stood outside, looking in. Her shoes were muddy, so she dared not enter. Le’er said nothing, only smiled. From outside, his house was perhaps not as attractive as the concrete villas, but once inside, it was clear whose house was truly beautiful. More importantly, such a house was warm in winter and cool in summer.

Six carpenters were still hard at work, sawing and planing. He had not begun work on the upper floor yet. Downstairs, aside from the main hall, there were three rooms—two large, one small. The largest was over fifteen square meters. Living alone, he had ample space. If he were to renovate the upstairs now, it would only sit unused and grow old before its time, leaving it unsightly when he finally moved in.

He planned to wait until he had a wife before renovating the second floor.

The main hall was not finished with wood, but like others’ homes, was plastered with cement and painted white, with a cement floor. In the countryside, unlike the city, visitors often have muddy shoes; you cannot ask them to remove their shoes before entering, as that would offend them. The main hall served well as such a reception room.

In the countryside, the main hall is also where household gods are worshipped and ancestors honored. During ancestral rites, money paper is burned, incense lit, candles flicker, and sometimes chicken blood is sprinkled. Here, it is customary for the New Year’s pig to be slaughtered in the hall, and pig blood scattered on the floor for luck. Thus, a tile floor would be unsuitable.

The courtyard outside was also cemented, save for areas left unpaved for fruit trees and grapevines, bordered with brick.

As he admired his new house, an elderly woman approached from the direction of his home. Elderly, but not truly old—only in her fifties. Once robust, she had aged rapidly in the past month, suddenly seeming five or six years older.

She was his aunt, Luo Yinxian’s mother-in-law, Sha Jinhai’s mother.

Seeing her approach, Le’er felt trouble brewing. She certainly was not coming to admire his new house, nor to chat idly. It must be about Luo Yinxian.

Luo Yinxian was washing vegetables, head lowered, not noticing her mother-in-law.

Le’er neither avoided nor retreated. He opened the courtyard gate and stepped out to greet his aunt.

“Aunt, what brings you here today?”

“Le’er… I came to see your new house… Such a lovely house, Le’er, you are truly fortunate.” The old woman spoke, but tears glistened in her eyes.

“Is that so? Then please, come in, Aunt.” Le’er smiled amiably.

“No, I’ll stay out here… Le’er, there’s something I wish to speak with you about.”

“What is it, Aunt? I’m listening.”

At this moment, Luo Yinxian heard her mother-in-law’s voice and looked up, her face instantly clouded with anger. The old woman saw her, and her confidence faltered, yet she pressed on.

“Le’er, could you persuade your sister-in-law Yinxian to return home? There’s gossip outside.”

“Gossip?” Le’er feigned ignorance, though anger simmered. Clearly, some idle tongues were wagging. “What kind of gossip?”

Those spreading rumors were likely the jealous ones. Le’er’s family had always been weak in the village, but suddenly they were thriving—a new house, a snake farm, connections with Secretary Tao and the village head. He was rising quickly, and jealousy abounded.

Such people would always find ways to attack him. Spreading filth and rumors, tarnishing his reputation, was their method. Seeing Luo Yinxian cooking for him every day, even if nothing was amiss, they could invent stories.

When Le’er asked, the old woman hesitated, unable to speak plainly. She could hardly accuse Le’er of an affair with her daughter-in-law, of being her secret lover. As the saying goes, to catch adultery, one needs evidence. Without proof, even with it, she would be loath to say it—that would be to shame her own family.

“There’s really no gossip… I simply wish Yinxian would return.”

“Aunt, that’s not right.” Le’er now showed his firmness, his face cold and voice raised. “I hired Yinxian properly to cook for me, paying her twenty yuan a day. Those who gossip and slander me, best not let me find out. If I do, I’ll tear out their stove and smash their door. See if I don’t follow through.”

Le’er was clearly warning those in the village who sought to ruin him. Tearing out a stove and smashing a door were the most vicious acts in the countryside, signifying irreconcilable enmity. With such words, the gossips would have to consider whether they could contend with Le’er.

“No one has said anything,” the old woman replied, not daring to escalate. Matters were already fraught, and provoking the newly prosperous Le’er would make things impossible.

“Then what are you talking about, Aunt?”

“I…”

At that moment, Luo Yinxian, brimming with anger, came over.

“You old wretch, what are you doing here?” Luo Yinxian’s voice trembled with fury and tears glistened in her eyes. “Your son treats me like dirt, and you elders do the same. Your son is useless, but his skill with women is impressive. Only the wealthy keep mistresses, yet your pauper son does too—how glorious. You’ve come here to ruin my reputation, haven’t you? Then call your son back and divorce me if you wish. Do you think I’m desperate to be your daughter-in-law?”

“Yinxian… you…” The old woman quivered with rage. Her daughter-in-law, once famed for her gentleness and virtue, had changed entirely. Now, whenever she spoke to the elders, it was nothing but curses.

“What about me?” Yinxian wiped her tears. “Haven’t I suffered enough at your hands? Do you think the Luo family is easy to bully? Fine, I’ll call my family here now. We’ll clear things up, divorce or go to court, and see if the Luo family is afraid of you.”

Matters had quickly spiraled out of control. The carpenters hurried over to mediate. The old woman feared Yinxian might really call her family, making things impossible to resolve. After all, her son was at fault, and the Luo family was strong—Yinxian had four brothers, all doing well, respected in the village. If they arrived, what could she possibly say?

Urged by the carpenters, the old woman wiped her tears and left, swallowing her bitterness.

Seeing his aunt leave in tears, Le’er turned to Yinxian.

“Yinxian, you’d best go home. I’ll pay your wages.”

“Le’er, are you bullying me too?” Yinxian wiped her tears. “If I go home now, they’ll think I’m afraid. And those gossiping, slandering tongues will have more to say.”

The carpenters chimed in, saying that if one’s conduct is upright, there is nothing to fear from shadows. They encouraged her not to mind the rumors. Working daily with Yinxian, they admired her quick hands and sweet disposition, and all spoke up for her.

Le’er was unconcerned about the gossip.

In the village, if you are not strong, it is hard to stand your ground. Some ill-intentioned people, even if they do not conspire against you directly, will try to bury you with rumors. If you stand tall and firm, like a pillar, they will fear you and quiet down.