Volume One, Chapter 10: The Widow

Old Sun immediately understood Lin Xiao’s thoughts and said, “You can’t take this one. It’s not for trade; this belonged to a great anti-Japanese hero, and it’s soaked with the blood of countless invaders!”

Lin Xiao glanced around the tent again, his eyes drawn to a particularly valuable-looking package.

“That one’s no good either,” Old Sun said, eyeing Lin Xiao once more.

Lin Xiao ignored his response and asked instead, “Is this a handgun?”

During his time with the Falcon Special Forces, Lin Xiao was a master with firearms. Since joining the border defense company, he had never failed to secure first place in every major competition, proving his deep knowledge of guns.

Old Sun tensed slightly at the sudden question, thinking, “How did this kid figure it out with it wrapped so tightly?”

Knowing he couldn’t hide the truth, he admitted, “It is indeed a handgun, but it’s not for trade.”

Lin Xiao pressed on, “So how can it be exchanged?”

“Absolutely no way,” Old Sun replied firmly.

“But…” Old Sun hesitated.

“But what?” Lin Xiao asked eagerly.

“If you really want to trade for a gun, wait a while. I’ll get a good one, and when you bring back a big catch, you can come back and swap.”

Hearing that, Lin Xiao’s interest peaked immediately. “It’s a deal.”

Lin Xiao and his uncle He Qingshan lifted the wild boar onto the back of the sled, which Old Sun had prepared beforehand. They loaded the exchanged goods fully onto the sled.

Just as they were about to say goodbye, Old Sun suddenly called out, “On your way back to Wohu Mountain, bring five jin of coarse millet for my daughter! She hasn’t been home in ages, and I don’t know how she’s doing.”

“Alright, don’t worry. We’ll bring it back,” Lin Xiao promised. Old Sun then returned to his tent and handed Lin Xiao a cloth bag filled with coarse millet.

After parting, Old Sun watched them leave for a long time, his gaze heavy with many emotions—above all, longing for his daughter.

On the way back, Lin Xiao’s mind buzzed with Old Sun’s words about “good guns” and “big catches.”

“By the way, nephew, you bagged a wild boar and shared so much meat with us. I don’t think your grandfather can keep this a secret anymore. Why don’t you, your mother, and your sister go back to visit him?”

Lin Xiao didn’t answer immediately but after a moment’s thought, he said, “Good idea. This will reach grandfather’s ears sooner or later; better we tell him ourselves.”

On a cold winter evening, Lin Xiao and He Qingshan pulled the sled back to the small cabin blanketed in pristine snow.

When He Yulan saw the supplies—grain, cloth, and more piled on the sled—her eyes shone with surprise and relief.

At last, this winter, the family would no longer have to worry about warmth and food.

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Lin Xiao didn’t rest. He rummaged through the supplies and pulled out several candy pieces carefully wrapped in floral paper.

He had specially traded for these sweets on the black market with Old Sun’s help, intending to surprise his sister.

The moment she saw the candies, her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky as she exclaimed and threw herself into Lin Xiao’s arms, hugging his neck tightly. Her voice was as clear and bright as a silver bell: “Brother, you’re so good to me!”

After Uncle He Qingshan left, Lin Xiao took his mother to sit by the warm stove and said softly, “Mother, I think we should go back to see grandfather.”

He Yulan was taken aback, a flicker of worry crossing her eyes, but she nodded silently.

She knew it was time to visit her kin. After everything they had been through, hiding the truth was impossible. Besides, no wall is impervious to leaking secrets; her father would find out sooner or later.

The next morning, Lin Xiao set off with Old Sun’s “request,” accompanied by his mother and sister.

Passing by the widow Wang’s house, he stopped and took a cloth bag from his back. He knocked gently and placed it at the doorstep. “Is Auntie home?”

By tradition, Wang should address He Yulan as Sister Yulan.

Hearing her name, Wang hurried out.

She moved with a grace like willows swaying in a spring breeze, each step imbued with a unique charm.

Her oval face was soft and delicate, her fair skin like fine jade emitting a subtle luster.

Her eyebrows curved gently like early spring willows, radiating kindness.

Her eyes were clear and bright as a pure spring, reflecting countless untold stories.

Beneath a straight nose were cherry-like small, rosy lips, always curled in a faint smile like a breath of spring.

Her exquisite features combined to form a masterpiece sculpted by nature, captivating anyone who looked.

Her every gesture was filled with allure, and her inadvertent flirtations stirred hearts subtly.

Yet her charm never felt vulgar; it blended perfectly with her dignified beauty, creating a unique aura that inspired admiration and respect.

“Sister Yulan is here!” Sun Liwei exclaimed, rushing forward to clasp He Yulan’s hand.

After a brief chat, Lin Xiao looked at her seriously and said, “Auntie, this coarse millet is from your father. I saw him at the market yesterday, and he asked me to bring it back for you.”

He handed the five jin of millet to Widow Wang. “If you have time, visit your father more often. Don’t let the old man be lonely.”

“It’s time to go see my old father,” Wang’s eyes reddened, nodding repeatedly. She then invited He Yulan and her children inside.

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When He Yulan expressed the desire to visit her grandfather, Widow Wang did not try to keep them.

In the village, grandfather He Yulin’s house stood at the center—three small rooms carefully built with adobe bricks.

The earth-yellow walls bore the marks of time, telling tales of the past.

Since big uncle could no longer work the fields or guard the mountain, he lived with grandfather in the east room.

Inside, there were kang beds on both the north and south sides. Though modest in size, they seemed warm and inviting.

Grandfather assigned big uncle to the south kang because it was warmer, while grandmother and grandfather took the north kang.

He Qingshan and mother had lived on the south and north kangs, respectively, in the west room during their childhood.

Though the west room mirrored the east room’s layout, it was filled with the laughter and joy of children.

Later, when mother reached marriageable age and big uncle married a gentle and virtuous wife, the west room became their cozy family nest.

Arriving at the east room, He Yulan and her family saw the three elders and felt a deep sense of grievance, tears welling in their eyes.

When the elders asked what had happened, He Yulan broke down and cried loudly.

Before she could finish, He Shoushan slammed his hand on the table and barked, “Damn it! This whole family is ungrateful. If I’d known, I’d never have helped them. I’d shoot them all myself!”

“Child, why did you endure so much without telling us sooner?” grandmother asked.

“She wouldn’t dare speak up. Every time she mentioned her in-laws, you’d blame her,” grandfather was silenced by grandmother’s words.

“How could they say Yulan was exchanged for millet? We sent her dowry well in advance when she married.

“What they gave in millet was nothing! If we had traded the dowry on the black market, we could have gotten three times that amount in millet.

“And they have the nerve to say our daughter was exchanged for millet!

“Our He family is known far and wide—ask around—are they such people?

“Qingshan! Qingshan, come here!” He Yulin called out.

“We didn’t know what was going on before, and the child hadn’t come home. I thought it was just little quarrels between husband and wife.

“But it seems it’s not that simple.” He Qingshan entered the room just as He Yulin spoke.