Chapter 6: Hidden Intentions of Each Household

“But not now.”

Su Li did not want to live with this entire family forever. Half her life had already passed; she intended to cherish what remained.

“Your father just passed away. How will people outside see you now? The reputation of the little ones at home will suffer. And since the fifth son is still unmarried, I’ll make this clear: once the fifth son finds a match and gets married, this family will split immediately!”

The words “split immediately” lit up the eyes of the daughters-in-law like bulbs, brightest among them being Zhang Mingyue, the wife of the fourth son, Cheng Junbei.

The fourth son, Cheng Junbei, was originally the youngest in the family. The matriarch had doted on him for many years. He had only completed one year of junior high school.

When the village built an elementary school, he became a teacher there. Later, when the junior high expanded and needed teachers, he became a substitute, a temporary worker earning thirteen yuan a month.

The couple of the fourth son were the most eager for the family to split.

“All right, tomorrow we have work, so go to sleep quickly.”

Su Li slowly got up and returned to her room.

Not long after, the eldest daughter-in-law, Miao Xiaocao, came in carrying a basin for foot washing.

The Cheng family’s layout consisted of a main house with three rooms made of earth, a kitchen in the middle, and one room on each side. Su Li lived on the west side, while the eldest son’s family of five lived on the east side.

In the courtyard, there were two smaller houses, each with three rooms arranged similarly but facing each other—one facing east to west, the other west to east.

Because the eldest son’s family and Su Li lived across from each other, Miao Xiaocao always brought the foot bath water over every day.

“Mother, time to wash your feet.”

Miao Xiaocao entered with tears in her eyes, not expecting that the task would fall to their family.

She had always believed that because she had no sons, the matriarch did not favor her.

Su Li struggled to take off her socks, preparing to soak her feet in the basin.

“Mother, I will work hard to bear a son to repay you.”

Su Li’s feet hesitated, unwilling to go in—was this some kind of revenge?

“Do you think it’s that easy to bear a son? I have five sons!”

Su Li spoke with disdain. From the corner of her eye, she saw her eldest granddaughter sweeping the floor in the kitchen. Upon hearing her mother’s words, the girl paused, then bent her head lower and swept harder.

Sigh... it was all so troublesome.

“Xiaocao, close the door.”

“Ah... okay.”

Miao Xiaocao shut the door, and Su Li finally put her feet into the basin.

“Xiaocao, I gave birth to seven sons, though two didn’t survive. Here in Sanhong Village, is there anyone who has borne more sons than me?”

Miao Xiaocao shook her face, twisted like a bitter melon.

“So tell me, how did I manage to have these sons?”

Miao Xiaocao’s eyes suddenly widened—was there a secret recipe?

Heaven only knew how many secrets she had sought to bear a son.

Under Miao Xiaocao’s eager anticipation, Su Li nodded.

“Mother, please—”

“Get up! You can’t kneel to have a son; that’s taboo.”

Miao Xiaocao’s soft knees straightened in an instant, as if she were ready to breakdance. Su Li admired her resilience.

“If you want a son, you must listen to me. Not a word of this can leave your lips. This method requires holding your breath inside; there are many taboos. Are you sure you want to do this? It’s quite difficult.”

Su Li wore a look that said, “You can’t do this,” trying to dissuade her.

“Mother, I can! I can endure any hardship, really. Please!”

Miao Xiaocao cried again.

Su Li’s eyes hurt from watching. If crying solved problems, the legendary Meng Jiangnu would have united all of China by now.

“Fine, since you’re the eldest daughter-in-law, I’ll tell you this: first, don’t dwell on not having a son. If you complain too much, many things will come true.”

“Also, boys don’t like those who whimper and cry. Your tears will just scare the boy away.”

Frightened, Miao Xiaocao quickly wiped away her tears, eyes wide, waiting for Su Li to continue.

Su Li pulled her feet out, dried them, and said, “First, you must manage not to cry or complain. If you can avoid these for three months, that’s the first step. There’s a lot of nuance here.”

“I can do it! I definitely can!”

Miao Xiaocao clung to Su Li’s words like a lifeline, believing everything she said.

“All right, we’ll see.”

Miao Xiaocao carried the basin away, while Su Li felt no remorse for the fib she had just told.

She brushed her teeth and washed her face, applied skincare, treated her hands and feet with oil, did simple stretches, and went to sleep.

The matriarch’s body truly could not endure late nights.

After Su Li went to bed early, the others were still awake, quietly discussing the day’s events.

At the eldest son’s house—

Miao Xiaocao’s heart pounded as she returned. She took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang bed, thinking over Su Li’s words. She nudged the man beside her.

“Jundong, you’ve got to work hard. This time, I’m sure we can...”

She covered her mouth—no complaining allowed.

“Snore—”

The only reply was Cheng Jundong’s snoring.

At the second son’s house—

Cheng Junnan was staring into a triangular piece of glass he’d found somewhere, combing his hair, which was still too sparse for even the comb’s teeth to gather.

His wife, Li Lanhua, was spreading out bedding while their two sons wrestled on the floor, grunting and pushing each other.

“Husband, the work arrangements are settled. Are we still going to work?”

In recent days, their work had not been fixed, so they rarely shirked their duties.

“Not a chance! Tomorrow we’ll pretend to have stomachaches and skip work. Working more just benefits others; we’ll do nothing.”

“I think the same. The old lady will probably get angry and start hitting people with her stick again tomorrow.”

Cheng Junnan put down the comb, turned with a mischievous grin, and winked.

“No worries, wife. When that happens, you just hide behind me!”

“Hubby, you’re so sweet!”

At the third son’s house—

Ding Xiaohui was in a foul mood, snapping at everything and venting her anger. The third son and their only son hung their heads low, silently playing Chinese chess with paper pieces.

At the fourth son’s house—

Zhang Mingyue was using a tea kettle filled with hot water to press their clothes. The couple had just married this year and had no children yet.

They considered themselves intellectuals; their clothes never had wrinkles.

“Junbei, when can we split the family? We both have steady jobs now.”

“Mother said once the fifth son marries, then we can.”

Zhang Mingyue’s eyes lit up.

“After the harvest, I’m going back to my family to find a match for the fifth son, no matter what!”

At the bachelor fifth son’s house, snoring thundered.

Cheng Junguo was dreaming sweetly. His mother had given him all her savings; he bought a house in the city and married the most beautiful wife.

Before four o’clock the next morning, Su Li was already awake.

Once awake, she couldn’t fall back asleep.

The matriarch’s biological clock was different from her restless mind.

Unable to sleep, she got up and slowly stretched on the kang bed.

A little more flexibility, a little more life.

Though she didn’t know if it was true, at least she wouldn’t have to lean on the doorframe when crossing the threshold anymore.

By a little after four, everyone was up, preparing to go to work.

Su Li tidied the bedding, slipped on her shoes, and just as she was about to step outside, a sudden cry pierced the air.

“Oh my god—my stomach!”

“It’s unbearable, why does it hurt so much?”

“Husband, you’re hurting too!”

Unhurried, Su Li opened the door and saw the second son’s couple supporting each other in the courtyard, their two grandsons behind them clutching their own bellies.

A family of four, all present.

“Mother, here you go!”

The fifth son, Cheng Junguo, shuffled over and handed the matriarch her usual stick.