Chapter 119: Troublemakers from the Backwoods—Time to Deal with Them

The small village, seemingly within arm’s reach, was in fact hidden deep within the lush mountains, and it took nearly half an hour to reach it. Only upon arriving at the outskirts of Twin Gods Village could one truly sense the villagers' reverence for the two peaks flanking either side.

Nestled between these mountains, the village sprawled across a sloping terrain. A dozen or so wooden houses were lined up, some exquisitely crafted, others in a state of disrepair. All of these homes bore a close resemblance to historical protected structures, exuding a rustic and timeless charm.

Yun Xi leapt and bounded like a nimble monkey, completely shedding any semblance of a demure young lady upon returning to her hometown. Her antics left Gao Ran, who followed behind, utterly exhausted.

“Grandpa Chief, Uncle Woodcutter, I’m back!” Her youthful voice echoed through the village, immediately sparking a lively uproar.

“That little Xi is back again! Head of the house, keep an eye on that child—don’t let her run around, or she’ll get into trouble.”

“Oh my, my daughter-in-law is finally home!”

“With Xi back, her father must have returned too.”

Doors swung open one after another, and men and women in varied attire streamed out to greet them. Yet, as soon as they caught sight of Zhang Tianfeng and his companions, a guarded expression appeared on every face.

“Yun Tianhe, you scoundrel, why have you brought outsiders here again? Have you forgotten what happened to your wife?”

“Get them out of here now! If you don’t, I’ll drive them out myself!”

A chorus of curses erupted, but fortunately they spoke in the Hakka dialect, which Gao Ran could not understand. Still, she could sense from their expressions that the villagers were far from welcoming.

“Aunts and uncles, they’re not here because my dad brought them. He called Grandpa Chief first, and Grandpa agreed before bringing them,” Yun Xi declared loudly. “These uncles and aunts are all very nice; they’ve never bullied me and always buy me treats.”

“Little girl, how old are you? You’d be won over with just a piece of candy.”

“Outsiders are bad people. They’re the reason your mom is bedridden. Remember this, Xi, and be wary of them.”

“That’s right, they’re all trouble. Made me work for them without pay, and even beat me!”

As the villagers’ indignation mounted, the door to the highest and most handsome house suddenly opened. An elderly man with a full head of silver hair and a smoking pipe stepped outside. This was Lu Ling, the village chief of Twin Gods Village.

He cleared his throat in the earthen courtyard and said gruffly, “Enough noise. Let them come in first.” With that, he turned inside, and the villagers, crossing their arms, settled in to watch the scene unfold.

“Big sister, Grandpa Chief says we can go in now,” Yun Xi said, taking Gao Ran’s hand. “Come on, I’ll show you where to rest.”

“Thank you, Xi!” Gao Ran glanced back at Zhang Tianfeng, and when he nodded, she smiled and followed Yun Xi inside, with Zhang Tianfeng and the others trailing behind.

“These city girls have such fair, tender skin—press them and water might come out.”

“And the boy’s quite tall and fresh-faced. Must be sturdy. Widow Liu, want to take him to your bed and have a city baby?”

“Go on, if anyone, I’d bring that man behind him. He’s even burlier, bet he’s strong as an ox.”

“Haha, think your little bed can handle him?”

“I’d sleep on the floor—what, he’s going to plow through the ground?”

As the villagers whispered and laughed, Gao Ran, at the front, couldn’t shake the feeling that their gazes were burning holes into her. Since she couldn’t understand them, she simply lowered her head and slowed her pace. But when she fell in behind Zhang Tianfeng, she realized he too kept his head down, looking embarrassed.

It’s one thing for a girl to be shy, but a grown man? she thought. She shot him a glare, then, unwilling to linger, hurried Yun Xi along until they were free from the villagers’ encirclement.

“Ha, those two are actually bashful. This could be interesting.”

“Wang Mazi, what are you plotting?”

“Widow Liu, catch a snake tonight and I’ll toss it on their bed. You take the boy, I’ll take the girl. Deal?”

“You spineless wretch, why don’t you go catch the snake yourself?”

“Aren’t you always boasting you’re the best snake-catcher around? Catch ‘em barehanded in the wild, and wrangle all kinds in the city, too.”

“Get lost! If you want a snake, catch it yourself.”

“Fine, I’ll do it. Just don’t try to get in on the action later.”

After the two newcomers were discussed at length, the villagers turned their attention to Yun Tianhe. He’d brought back all sorts of practical trinkets and tasty treats, a silent agreement having formed among the village’s migrant workers: if you return, you bring gifts for the people who’ve been helping your family in your absence.

“This is neat—give me another.”

“Tastes good! I’ll take one for my grandson.”

“Damn you, Wang Mazi, you don’t even have a wife or a kid, let alone a grandson. Just say you want more!”

“I can do as I please. None of your business.”

Wang Mazi retorted shamelessly, then turned to Yun Tianhe. “Hey, let’s make a deal. Leave your door open tonight, let me spook those two city kids. We’ll split whatever comes of it.”

“No way. They’re big-city bosses, best not to mess with them, or you’ll regret it.”

“He’s nothing. When I was a kid, I fought wild boars and bears for food. Think he’s tougher than a wild pig or bear?”

“I won’t let you harm them.”

“Bah! Tonight, I’ll tear your house apart!”

Cursing, Wang Mazi stormed off, while Yun Tianhe continued distributing food. Zhang Tianfeng, meanwhile, listened intently to everything the villagers said. In fact, he wished Wang Mazi would come cause trouble tonight—it’d be the perfect opportunity to establish his authority.

Yun Tianhe’s house was the second in the village, right after the chief’s at the very top. Their wooden house was sizable, two stories tall, with a cellar in the backyard. Flowers, plants, and fast-growing vegetables filled the courtyard.

Inside, Yun Xi was feeding water to a woman lying on the bed. Even if it was just plain water, there was a smile at the corners of the woman’s eyes and lips.

Gao Ran, wiping her tears, rushed over to Zhang Tianfeng as he entered. “Please help this family—they’re in such a pitiful state.”

Yun Xi’s mother, Ji Ling, had once worked with Yun Tianhe in an asbestos factory. A year later, Ji Ling was diagnosed with asbestosis. Yun Tianhe sought justice with a fellow villager, only to be beaten by the factory manager; his friend’s leg was broken. With no way to fight the powerful, they had to swallow the hardship in silence. Yun Tianhe took on more work to cover medical expenses for both his wife and his injured friend.

When Ji Ling’s condition stabilized, she returned home to recuperate, where the air was fresher than in the polluted city. The friend, not wanting to be a burden, cut contact with Yun Tianhe altogether.

Even so, life remained difficult for the Yun family. Ninety percent of Yun Tianhe’s annual earnings went to buying medicine for his wife.

“Of course I’ll help, but only if they help me too.”

“Can’t you just be generous for once? And you say you like Xi.” Gao Ran, frustrated that Zhang Tianfeng attached everything to profit, lightly punched his arm.

Zhang Tianfeng couldn’t be bothered to argue. Women are emotional, easily moved. Though the Yun family struggled, they were far from destitute. They had their pride—when Gao Ran insisted on paying for things along the way, Yun Tianhe never refused, but always had Yun Xi secretly repay their share to Zhang Tianfeng. Direct charity would be an insult; cooperation would be more acceptable.

Before long, Yun Tianhe returned, and with the family reunited, Zhang Tianfeng and his group took their leave to the accommodations arranged for them. Their quarters were behind Yun Tianhe’s house, originally built with money from a city tycoon who’d come to recruit workers. After Ji Ling’s illness, the village barred that tycoon from returning and the house fell into disuse, now serving mainly for firewood and spare furniture, but with some tidying, it was habitable.

“You rest. Xiang Chen, move the things aside, I’ll sweep the floors.” The two men rolled up their sleeves and cleaned until dusk, when Yun Tianhe called them for dinner.

The Yun family hadn’t been this lively in ages—both tables were packed. Besides the Yun family and Zhang Tianfeng’s group, many village children dropped by for snacks.

“Brother Zhang, my husband’s told me about you. Thank you for your help.” Ji Ling, sitting in a wooden wheelchair, raised a cup of water to Zhang Tianfeng.

“No need for thanks, it’s nothing special,” Zhang Tianfeng replied. “How long have you been ill?”

“Six years. One year in the hospital, five at home.”

“Asbestos is a carcinogen. I think you should find a chance to get a thorough examination.”

“I’ll wait until my husband can afford it.”

Before she’d finished, Zhang Tianfeng produced a stack of ten hundred-yuan bills. “Brother Yun, here’s your agreed payment.”

“Isn’t it a bit early? Weren’t we supposed to wait until we’d struck a deal?”

“No need. Our cooperation is already assured—I’m confident in it.” Handing the money to Yun Tianhe, Zhang Tianfeng continued, “One more thing—put in a good word for me with the chief. If it works out, I’ll cover all your wife’s medical expenses.”

“This… I’m not sure about that.” Yun Tianhe, sensing charity, grew uneasy.

“It’s nothing. Money isn’t an issue for me. I’m genuinely interested in the chief’s craftsmanship.”

The wooden wheelchair Ji Ling now used was the chief’s handiwork. The first time Zhang Tianfeng saw it, he hadn’t even realized. Once he did, he was overwhelmed. He longed to study it, but couldn’t exactly inspect it with someone still sitting in it.

From what he’d seen, the craftsmanship was impressive. He was eager for a conversation with the chief.

“All right, I’ll do my best. The chief is a bit eccentric, so I can’t promise anything.”

“That’s all I ask. Can we eat? I’m starving.”

“Sorry, I got caught up talking and forgot.”

With a sheepish smile, the evening meal began. There was no lavish fare, just humble home-cooked dishes and some cured meat. Though simple, the aroma of woodsmoke brought back memories of meals in his own hometown, filling Zhang Tianfeng with a sense of nostalgia.

There was little to do in the village after dinner—no entertainment facilities—so it was straight to bed. Lying down, Zhang Tianfeng said, “Ranran, later, put some cotton in your ears.”

“Why?”

“The chickens and ducks start crowing at four or five in the morning around here. Unless you want to be woken up early, you’d better use them.”

“In that case, I will.”

Seeing Gao Ran put in her earplugs, Zhang Tianfeng finally relaxed. With her out of the way, dealing with those unruly villagers tonight should go smoothly.