Chapter Forty-Nine: Quarrel (Third Watch)

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When Ler returned home from town, it was already very late. Hearing the sound, the yellow dog barked and came running through the bamboo grove to greet him, and Luo Yincang also came out from the courtyard. The carpenter and the bamboo weaver had already gone home; only she remained, waiting like a housewife for the master's return.

"Why haven't you gone back yet?"

Ler was beaming with happiness, reeking of alcohol, his face as red as the god of war.

"How could I go back before you returned? If something went missing from the house, they'd think I stole it," Luo Yincang laughed. "Why did you drink so much? Did someone drive you home just now?"

"Yes, yes! Pour me some water, I'm dying of thirst."

Luo Yincang hurried to the spring water bucket and filled a large bamboo ladle for him. Ler took it with a smile and downed it all in one go. Luo Yincang took the bamboo ladle and put it back in the kitchen.

"You seem so happy today. Did you find a wallet?" she teased.

"Happier than that!" Ler’s eyebrows danced with joy. "Heh, I've been made an official!"

"An official? What kind of official? A knife-wielding one or a hoe-wielding one?" Luo Yincang thought he was drunk and talking nonsense. "Go to bed, don't talk drunken nonsense."

"You foolish woman, do you think I’d lie about this?" Ler was indignant.

"So you really became an official?" Luo Yincang realized he was serious. "An official in town?"

"As if! Do I have that kind of fate?" Ler rolled his eyes at her. "Of course, it’s a village position."

"Really?" Luo Yincang started to believe him. "What kind of position? Secretary or director?"

"Assistant," Ler declared proudly.

"What kind of official is an assistant? Never heard of it."

"There wasn’t one before. Secretary Huang personally appointed me," Ler said, reclining on a bamboo lounge chair and slapping a mosquito. "Tomorrow he’ll notify Secretary Tao. I’ll have an office at the village committee."

"Is that so..." Luo Yincang smiled slyly, coming close and lowering her voice. "My dear Ler, you really are capable. From now on... no one will dare bully me again."

"Who’s your dear? Go home before people start gossiping again."

"A wild husband is still a husband, isn’t he?" Luo Yincang whispered sweetly but didn’t push him further, leaving obediently. Her heart was truly sweet. Though Ler was not her real husband, to her, he was even closer than a real one. She had given him not just her body but her heart and soul as well. Now that Ler had become a village official, how could she not be delighted?

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After a bath, Ler lay on his cool bamboo bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Even though it was just a humble, positionless office, it was a start. He thought back to his earlier years, an orphaned boy whom no one respected. Especially around age fourteen, when his grandfather was old, sick, and frail, and except for his uncle who helped from time to time, no one ever visited. Not yet fourteen, he was already plowing and sowing the fields alone. When his grandfather died, it was all the more desolate. His uncle hastily arranged a simple ritual with a Taoist priest, and only a few relatives kept vigil. When it came time for burial, a few men from the upper village helped, but hardly any from the lower village. Only after his family went door to door, begging, did they manage to carry the coffin up the mountain.

Recalling these things, Ler’s tears flowed uncontrollably.

Yet, he had never hated anyone. Having witnessed so much of the world’s indifference from a young age, he was more mature than most his age, and all the more eager to make a name for himself in the village.

He didn’t know when he finally drifted off to sleep. When he woke, the sun was high and there was a commotion outside. He quickly got up, dressed, and rushed out.

Outside the courtyard, two women stood face to face. One was Luo Yincang, the other, Tao Haiying. As soon as Tao Haiying saw him, she pointed and cursed loudly.

"Sha Ler, all you do is hide like a coward, sending a mistress to block me! Why not just crawl between that woman’s legs and stay there!"

Ler’s face turned ashen. He was about to lose his temper when Luo Yincang lashed back.

"You bitch, what did you say?" Luo Yincang’s face darkened as well. "Where did this stray dog come from? Go find a mongrel to fool with, don’t come here making a scene..."

"You... you tramp... You’re the bitch! Go find a mongrel yourself... Bitch..."

Tao Haiying was fierce, but she was younger and no match for Luo Yincang’s tongue. Luo Yincang, who rarely quarreled before, now had a whole arsenal of insults. Tao Haiying was soon in tears, but still gave as good as she got.

"Bitch, you probably haven’t even grown hair down there, already whoring around—what’s the point of coming after our Ler? Go find a mongrel if you’re so desperate." As Luo Yincang scolded, she advanced, "You come here to make a scene—what, been ruined by a mongrel and can’t stand the itch anymore? Try making a fuss here again and I’ll tear you apart!"

"You’re the shameless bitch, you’re the one who’s rotten and itching... Waaa... Sha Ler, you’ll die a miserable death..." Tao Haiying sobbed and cursed. Ler held back his anger and walked over.

"Sister Yincang, stop for a moment." He glared furiously at Tao Haiying, pointing a finger at her face. "Tao Haiying, did I provoke you or owe you anything? Coming here to cause trouble, do you really think I’m easy to bully?"

He was furious, and his words were harsh.

"Sha Ler, you’ll die a miserable death... You know what you did to my brother! You’re heartless, rotten inside and out... And you let that woman insult me! Fine, you have guts! You think the Tao family is easy to push around? You Sha family people dare bully us—just wait! And as for you, you tramp who’s been with everyone in the village... You’ll see..."

"Bitch, you dare curse Ler and me? I’ll tear you apart!" Luo Yincang couldn’t stand anyone cursing Ler, let alone herself. "You Tao family think you’re the local tyrants? Even if you are, I’ll still tear you apart, you shameless wretch!"

The two women instantly came to blows. Tao Haiying was no match for her, and soon Luo Yincang had her pinned to the ground, both faces scratched and clothes torn. Luo Yincang delivered several slaps.

Ler now understood why Tao Haiying had come—it must be because Tao Gaolong had returned. Rumor had it that Tao Gaolong had suffered in the Guangzhou police station, detained for over ten days and then fell seriously ill. Now Tao Haiying was here to seek vengeance for him. Ler watched the fight, not intervening; Luo Yincang would not suffer in this exchange, and it was good she taught Tao Haiying a lesson.

What really infuriated him was Tao Haiying’s words about the Tao and Sha families. Upper Tao Village was large, a major clan with eight villager groups and over a thousand people. The Sha family had been suppressed by the Tao family for centuries—would they be suppressed for another thousand years?

The carpenter and bamboo weaver had been watching the commotion; now a crowd gathered. But as men, they felt it improper to break up a fight between women. Seeing Ler simply stand by, they could only shout.

Just then, several people emerged from the bamboo grove. Leading them was Secretary Tao, followed by Village Director Tao Shiwen. People from Lower Sha Village, having heard the commotion, also came over.

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"Sister Yincang, stop fighting, let go of each other!" Ler shouted loudly.

"Secretary Tao, you came just in time—they’ve gone mad... I wouldn’t dare pull them apart myself," he explained.

Seeing the two women brawling on the ground, Secretary Tao’s face turned livid.

"Are you still going to fight?"

Secretary Tao’s authority prevailed; the two women let go, though their mouths kept hurling curses. Tao Haiying, seeing Secretary Tao, wailed all the more bitterly.

"Uncle, they bullied me... wuuu..." Tao Haiying was a distant niece of Tao Shiren; though separated by generations, there was blood between them.

"You’re an embarrassment. Get back home!" Secretary Tao roared. Tao Haiying, wide-eyed and cowed, stopped crying, turned, and left, still muttering curses as she went.

"Sha Ler, remember this! The Tao family will not let you bully us!"

"Tao Haiying, do you think I dare bully the Tao family?" Ler was truly angry. "Did I say a word today? You came to my door, cursing me to high heaven—what more do you want? Want to eat me alive? If you do, go boil water and cook rice!"

Secretary Tao was seething, gnashing his teeth as he pointed at Tao Haiying’s retreating figure.

"You damned girl, I ought to beat you!"

"Uncle Secretary, you saw it yourself—I don’t know why she came to make a scene first thing in the morning while I was still in bed. These craftsmen can all vouch for me."

All the craftsmen agreed, saying Tao Haiying was unreasonable.

"Ler, don’t stoop to her level. She’s crazy, really. When she gets home, I’ll have her parents teach her a lesson. No upbringing at all!" Then his face relaxed into a smile. "We actually came with good news. Secretary Huang just called to say that from now on, you are our village’s assistant. You’re young and promising—he said you should be given a chance to play a role in the village. Come, let’s have a drink today to celebrate!"

"Uncle, Director—how can I accept that? You treat me better than your own nephew. I should be the one treating you. I’ll go sell a few chickens, butcher some pork... Uncle, come inside and have a seat."

"Ler, with your intentions, how could I ever not come eat at your place in the future?" Secretary Tao laughed. "But today, you must listen to me and give me this honor. Bring your uncle too—it’s been years since that old man came to my house."

Ler went along with the arrangement.