Chapter 43: Selling Blood

June 10th was the day set for Yuqiang's engagement. Caiyun invited Old Hong and, according to the agreed-upon bride price and gifts, presented the betrothal gifts to the bride's family in full. In return, the bride's family sent back a slab of pork along with a hat and a fountain pen.

At noon, Caiyun invited Old Hong, Faifu and his wife, Dazhi's parents, Zhao Zhiliang, Teacher Yang, and others over for the engagement banquet. During the feast, everyone took turns offering toasts to congratulate Caiyun and Old Hong.

"Second Aunt, you've really put your heart into Yuqiang's affairs. Let me propose a toast to you on behalf of the children."

Qingying remarked, "We can drink, but there is a secret you must share with us first."

"What secret could I possibly have?"

"You definitely have one! Just after the spring Festival, you suddenly had the money to get your son engaged. You must have some secret way of making a fortune."

"There's no fortune-making way at all; the money was all borrowed."

"Borrowed? I don't believe it. Everyone sitting here is your closest relation, and none of us has heard of you borrowing money from anyone!"

"The creditor and I have an agreement, and that agreement is absolute secrecy!"

"In that case, I can't drink this toast."

"This is me toasting you on behalf of the children. Everyone, tell me, should she drink it or not?"

The guests at the table urged her to drink, and with no other choice, she complied.

That night, Yuqiang, excited for the entire day, lay in bed unable to fall asleep for a long time. He thought about how the other boys his age in the village had long since been engaged, while he alone had remained unattached. Even though his mother had sought out prospective brides for him everywhere, she had been politely refused each time, and Old Hong had been unwilling to help. Now, he was finally engaged to Xiaomei, the girl he loved. He hadn't expected happiness to arrive so suddenly.

Yuqiang had known Xiaomei for less than half a year. The first time he saw her was right outside his front door; she was holding a basket and standing in the snow with her mother, begging. That scene instantly reminded him of the days when he and his mother had gone begging in the south. Later, after she came to live at his house, he cared for and protected her just as if she were his own younger sister, and Xiaomei was equally delighted to have such an elder brother.

Ever since Xiaomei had a new home, she frequently came over to play with Yuqiang. They would catch grasshoppers and frogs together, and then roast and eat them...

Lost in these thoughts, he drifted off to sleep.

It was an intoxicating morning. The sun, like a mischievous child, leaped joyfully out of the morning mist. Holding Xiaomei's hand, Yuqiang strolled along the path in the fields, draped in the morning glow.

The nameless wildflowers along the roadside nodded to them frequently in the gentle breeze, and a faint, fresh fragrance permeated the entire countryside.

Yuqiang bent down, plucked two small red wildflowers, and tucked them into Xiaomei's braids. Xiaomei raised her head slightly, revealing a sweet smile on her flushed, tender face.

"You little rascal, stop right there!" Yuqiang turned around to see Big-Head Langzi charging at him with a pitchfork. "Ah!" Terrified, Yuqiang cried out in alarm. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and seeing Yujun sleeping soundly beside him, realized it had all been a dream.

Involuntarily, Yuqiang reached up to touch the back of his head. Though the lump had long since vanished, the incident remained unforgettable. Now Xiaomei had become his fiancée, while Big-Head Langzi was Xiaomei's stepfather. He had no idea how to face her stepfather.

The moment Yunfeng received the betrothal money, she and Honglei discussed plans that very afternoon to buy a few chicks, two piglets, some farming tools, build a table and several long benches, make a quilt, and sew an outfit for each of them. The two of them carefully mapped out how every coin would be spent.

The day after the engagement, Yunfeng came over to help Caiyun plant rice seedlings. The seedlings in almost everyone else's fields had already been planted, but because Caiyun had fewer able-bodied workers at home, coupled with the delays caused by Yuqiang's engagement and Yujun's illness, only half of her fields were done.

"Sister, how come I haven't seen Xiaomei come over to play these past few days?" Caiyun asked Yunfeng.

Yunfeng replied, "Probably because they're engaged now, she feels too shy to come over."

"How did Xiaomei react to the engagement?"

"When I asked her if she was willing, she didn't say anything, but from her expression, she seemed quite happy."

"That's good!"

"And Yuqiang?"

"Him? He's been grinning from ear to ear."

"It seems both children are satisfied."

"What is Honglei's attitude?"

"He was thrilled when he heard he was going to become in-laws with you. Do you know why the betrothal money we agreed on ended up being reduced to sixty?"

"I was just about to ask you. How did Old Hong manage to persuade you?"

"It has nothing to do with Old Hong. Honglei felt I was asking for too much bride price, scolded me for acting like I was selling my daughter, and forced me to change it."

"Thank you for understanding me."

"You should thank Honglei."

"I helped him find a good wife, so he certainly should thank me."

Caiyun returned home very late after planting the seedlings. Just as she reached the doorstep, she heard Qingying throwing a massive tantrum inside: "Don't try to sophisicate your way out of this! I know that fellow Liu the Blood-Seller; he's the one who told me himself. If you don't bring those thirty yuan to me, I'm not letting this go!"

"He must have mistaken me for someone else," Faifu said.

"Impossible! You've looked constantly exhausted these past couple of days. I thought you were just sick, but I never imagined you went to sell blood for her!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Stop looking for trouble where there is none."

"You're still playing dumb? Then let me ask you, where did the money for her son's engagement come from?"

"Didn't Caiyun say it was borrowed?"

"She's dirt poor. Besides you, who would lend her money?"

Caiyun could no longer bear to listen. Entering the house, she lay down on the bed and said to Yulan, "I'm going to rest for a bit. Boil some rice porridge."

"Okay." Yulan lit the kerosene lamp, rinsed some rice, put it into the iron pot, covered it with the wooden lid, and sat down at the stove mouth to tend the fire.

Caiyun pressed hard and massaged her left chest, feeling as though her heart were being gripped and squeezed by something agonizing.

She remembered when she had first brought up the issue of the bride price with Faifu; he had promised that even if he had to kowtow to people, he would borrow the money. Yet several days had passed, and he had only managed to borrow a little over ten yuan.

Right around that time, Yujun's medical expenses took up another portion of their funds, widening the gap in the bride price even further. When Faifu learned of this, he had suddenly managed to borrow thirty yuan and bring it over the very next day.

At the time, Caiyun was too consumed by joy to think much of it. But now, thinking back carefully, it certainly seemed a bit suspicious. Could Faifu really have gone to sell his blood just for the bride price?

If that were truly the case, she, as a mother, would be utterly ashamed to face him.

As Caiyun's family was eating dinner, the half-closed courtyard door was kicked open. A furious Qingying rushed in, pointed at Caiyun, and started yelling, "How can you be so vicious? For your son's engagement, you made Faifu go sell his blood! Are you even human?"

"Sell blood? Who sold blood?" Although Caiyun had already overheard the conversation between Qingying and Faifu, she still put on an expression of extreme shock.

"Stop acting! If it weren't for you, why would Faifu ever think of selling blood?"

"Faifu sold blood? That's impossible. Why would he do that?"

"What are you pretending for? If he didn't sell blood, where did you get the money for the bride price?"

"I've already told you about that. Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"If you want me to believe it, then tell me straight: who on earth is the person who lent you the money?"

"That's impossible."

"I'm done wasting words with you. Give me back the money Faifu got from selling his blood."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You want to play rogue? Fine, I'm going to find Yunfeng right now and get back the money Faifu earned from selling his blood." With that, Qingying turned and strode off.

Caiyun put down her rice bowl and immediately hurried forward to grab Qingying: "Second Aunt, this matter has nothing to do with Yunfeng. Let's ask Faifu together and find out what's really going on."

"Ask what? The two of you have already colluded to make a fool out of me!" With a violent shove, Qingying knocked Caiyun to the ground. Yuqiang immediately stepped forward to help his mother up. "Mom, could Second Uncle have really gone to sell his blood?"

"I'll go ask your Second Uncle." Dusting off her clothes, Caiyun went off to find Faifu.

Faifu had already heard Qingying and Caiyun's conversation from inside his house. Seeing Caiyun approach, he immediately knew what she was there for. Before she could even speak, he blurted out, "Don't listen to her wild nonsense. Just pay her no mind."

"Faifu, Qingying isn't here right now. Tell me the truth: did you go sell your blood?"

"What, you don't believe me either?"

"I'm afraid you did something foolish out of desperation."

"I wouldn't. I have many friends outside; a trivial matter like this can't stump me," Faifu said, appearing very confident.

"That's good, then!"

"However, you must never tell Qingying that I helped you borrow the money." Faifu was afraid Caiyun would let it slip.

"I know."

When Qingying arrived at Yunfeng's house, only Yunfeng was at home, busy sewing shoe soles. Seeing Qingying approach, she stood up to greet her: "Sister Li, please take a seat."

"Where is Honglei?" Qingying asked.

"He went out right after dinner. Are you looking for him?"

"No, I just wanted to come over and chat with you."

"You never visit without a purpose. There must be something on your mind, right?"

"I'm so furious I could die!"

"What's wrong?"

"Would you say Caiyun has absolutely no conscience? Her own son is getting engaged, and since she didn't have the bride price, she made Faifu go sell his blood."

"Is that true? Didn't they say the money was borrowed?"

"A widow with a bunch of kids—who would dare lend her money?"

"If she didn't have the money, she could have waited until after the autumn harvest to get them engaged. Why rush so much?"

"If you wait until autumn, I bet you'd rather be beaten to death than let your daughter marry into that family."

"Why?"

"You're new here and don't understand the situation. If Caiyun were merely poor, that would be one thing, but her crooked-necked son has a violently explosive temper. He stares at you with bulging eyes and a stiff neck whenever he talks to me. Whichever girl marries him is in for a lifetime of misery. Above all, Caiyun herself is too scheming and malicious; she curses people without using dirty words. On the surface, she helps you, but behind your back, she stabs you in the back. She could sell you off, and you'd still be standing there counting the money for her. If your girl marries into that family, it's equivalent to jumping into a fire pit."

"But Honglei should understand her. He always says Caiyun is a good person and is extremely happy about the two families becoming in-laws."

"Do you know why?"

"Why?"

Qingying leaned in close to Yunfeng's ear and whispered a few sentences mysteriously. Yunfeng suddenly raised her head, staring at Qingying in utter astonishment: "That's impossible, isn't it?"

"We live right next door to each other; nothing they do can be hidden from me. Not only do they spend nights together, but sometimes in broad daylight they lock the door and hide inside carrying on."

"You've seen it with your own eyes?"

"Not quite that, but I'm certain those two have something going on."

"One is a widow, and the other is a bachelor. Since they're like that, why don't they just get married?"

"Caiyun only wants Honglei to do manual labor for her; she has no intention of marrying him."

"How do you know?"

"Honglei came to me, hoping I would step in and persuade Caiyun. But after I talked to her for ages, she simply refused."

"I have neither relatives nor friends here, and I don't know the situation at all. I'll be counting on your guidance in the future."

"No problem. Just remember one piece of advice: keep a tight leash on Honglei."

After hearing Qingying's words, Yunfeng felt that Xiaomei's engagement was indeed a bit rushed and poorly thought out. But there were extenuating circumstances—the primary reason being the urgent need for money to improve the living conditions of their new home, so there were gains and losses. As for the affair between Caiyun and Honglei, she found it hard to believe. If the two of them truly had that kind of relationship, Caiyun would never have worked so hard to facilitate their marriage.

Yet certain phenomena still caught her attention. She recalled the radiant, beaming expression on Honglei's back whenever he praised Caiyun in front of her, even claiming that her silhouette and Caiyun's looked like they were cast from the exact same mold. Especially during their intimate moments, he would always continuously shout, "Yun, I love you!" Now she had no idea whether the "Yun" he was shouting referred to Yunfeng or Caiyun.

Yunfeng had always felt a lingering gratitude toward Qingying for helping her during her most difficult times. Regardless of whatever motives lay behind Qingying voluntarily coming over to tell her these things today, she did not mind.

Having settled down in this completely unfamiliar place, she needed someone to share her innermost thoughts with. Currently, the two people she interacted with the most were Caiyun and Qingying, and she was still unable to determine which of them would turn out to be the person she needed.

Caiyun harbored doubts about whether Faifu had truly sold his blood. After making inquiries through various channels, she finally tracked down the fellow named Liu the Blood-Seller mentioned by Qingying. Learning that Faifu had indeed sold his blood, she felt a wave of profound sorrow and a deep sense of guilt toward him. She wanted to ask him why he had gone to such lengths, but since Faifu was desperately trying to cover up the truth, she concluded that he cared deeply about his pride, and it was better not to pierce that layer of paper.

For several consecutive days, Caiyun heard Qingying and Faifu constantly quarreling and screaming at home over the blood-selling incident, with Qingying forcing Faifu to hand over the money while Faifu stubbornly refused to admit it.