WSMTATMC C116

Chapter 116

When Chen Rong first heard the news, her vision went dark and she fainted on the spot.

Lin Qiu, holding Xiao Mai in one arm, supported his mother with the other, stamping his feet in panic and hurriedly calling the neighbors for help, then sending someone to the transport guild to fetch Cao Kun back.

When Cao Kun returned home and learned of the matter, he too was furious. “You and Mother stay here. I will go bring my younger brother back first!”

Lin Qiu, his eyes reddened, grabbed his husband’s arm and said, “Find out clearly how our second brother lost the child. If it’s connected to the Huang family, I will never forgive them!”

It was the first time Cao Kun had seen his usually mild‑tempered husband in such a state, but what the Huang family had done was truly excessive.

He patted Lin Qiu gently to comfort him. “Don’t worry, leave everything to me.”

Not long after he left, Chen Rong finally woke with a start. Lying on the bed, her breath came short and weak.

Lin Qiu was terrified, his scalp numb with panic. He trembled as he patted her chest to ease her breath. “Mother, please don’t scare me. You can’t fall ill now! Second Brother and I depend on you. If anything happened to you, who would support us?”

At last Chen Rong’s breath returned, but she erupted in curses. “Those beasts without conscience or upbringing! I had a perfectly good child, but after just a short while of marriage they’ve ruined him like this!” As she spoke she struggled, wanting to march to the Huang home.

“Don’t be agitated. Cao Kun has already gone to fetch him. Soon Second Brother will be back.”

Chen Rong broke down sobbing, and Lin Qiu shed tears as well. Mother and sons had lived depending on each other for so many years. For Lin Sui to be tormented was no different than gouging out their hearts.

After about an hour, Cao Kun finally returned with the carriage.

Hearing the sound, the two rushed outside. The carriage drew up, and Cao Kun carried someone down on his back—it was Lin Sui. His face was deathly pale, lips bluish purple, his spirit entirely hollowed out.

“Sui‑er…” Chen Rong looked at him in disbelief.

Lin Sui opened his mouth, hoarse and faint, and called out, “Mother.”

Chen Rong burst into tears, nearly fainting again. Cao Kun quickly carried him inside and laid him on the bed.

Though the brazier was lit in the house, Lin Sui’s body was still frighteningly cold. Lin Qiu pulled Cao Kun aside, while Chen Rong remained to clean his body.

Lin Qiu urgently asked his husband, “What on earth happened?”

“When I arrived, Lin Sui was lying alone in the room. There wasn’t even a brazier lit. No one was there to tend him.

I lost my temper and questioned a woman—she claimed to be Huang Yong’s cousin‑aunt. She said Lin Sui had fallen in the courtyard and miscarried on his own, that it had nothing to do with anyone else.”

“That’s utter nonsense! If it wasn’t their fault, then why did they all hide and dare not face us?!”

Cao Kun replied, “I asked the same. That woman said everyone in the Huang family had business and left the household, telling me to take him home to rest.”

Lin Qiu clutched his chest, too choked to speak. Cao Kun hugged him tightly, distressed for him. “Don’t worry. I will make the Huangs give us an explanation!”

Inside, Chen Rong was dressing her son in clean clothes. Seeing the bruises across his chest and waist, she could not help crying again. “Tell Mother the truth—what really happened?”

“It’s nothing… nothing, Mother…”

“Foolish child, how can you still try to hide it at such a moment?”

Tears streamed down his face. He buried himself into his mother’s chest. “Mother, it hurts so much… my stomach hurts so much…”

Chen Rong’s heart ached so unbearably she could scarcely breathe. Wiping her tears, she asked, “Was it Huang Yong who beat you into losing the child?”

Lin Sui slowly nodded.

After Cao Kun had brought him home that day, Huang Yong had erupted in anger. Yet, fearing his mother’s family, he dared not raise a hand.

But on the second day, when friends invited him drinking, after returning late at night Lin Sui reproached him a few words. In response, Huang Yong slapped him to the ground, cursing him with venom: “You shameless slut! Complain to your natal family every little thing. That Cao fellow shielding you so—do you two have some affair?”

“You—you speak nonsense!” Lin Sui shouted, unable to let such slander against himself and brother‑in‑law pass. In a fury, he picked up a shoe lying on the ground and hurled it at him.

But that only provoked Huang Yong to madness. He began beating him savagely, kicking his stomach again and again.

A ge‑er’s² strength was no match for a man’s. Lin Sui was thin and frail, completely unable to resist. Soon he was curled on the ground, begging for mercy.

At first, he only felt waves of severe abdominal pain, not realizing he had miscarried. Shortly after, a hot gush surged beneath him, but under the dim light he did not notice it was blood.

When Huang Yong had vented enough, he went off to sleep, leaving Lin Sui collapsed on the ground, unable to get up. Later, when he realized the sticky wetness beneath was blood, he cried desperately for help.

The sister‑in‑law living next door heard, rushed over, and was horrified at the sight. She quickly sent for a doctor.

The doctor took his pulse and discovered that Lin Sui had indeed been pregnant for a month, but Huang Yong’s brutal kicks had forced him into miscarriage…

The Huang family scolded Huang Yong a few perfunctory words, then all left, hiding away. They did not even leave a caretaker by Lin Sui’s side.

The more Chen Rong heard, the angrier she became. She cursed them as worse than animals!

That night Cao Kun arranged for men to keep watch at the Huang family’s gate, but for four or five days they saw no trace of Huang Yong.

It seemed he too feared that Cao Kun would come for him, and hid away who‑knew‑where.

On the 26th of the first month, Wang Ying and his party finally arrived at the county city.

This time the journey was less delayed. The post stations submerged by the flood had been rebuilt, and the towns along the way were passable.

As they neared Longquan County, everyone grew excited. “After so long, we can see them again.”

“Didn’t Cao Kun say last time they were all well? With two such filial children, surely it can’t be bad.”

Fang Ling said, “It’s been nearly fifteen years since I last met Third Sister. I remember when I accompanied Chen Jing to his posting, Qinghuai was just the size of Yuanbao.”

“Indeed!”

People grow nostalgic with age. Fang Ling reminisced about old times, and the others listened with gentle enjoyment.

As their carriage entered the city, soldiers performed a simple inspection. Because Chen Guang carried an official token, the clerks dared not cause them trouble.

They headed straight for the Cao family’s new residence. Having visited several times before, they easily found the way.

In the past year, the county city had not changed much. Though the great flood had passed, some traces remained. Street vendors still carried shoulder poles or pushed single‑wheeled barrows, crying their wares.

Wang Ying remarked, “It looks lively here. I thought there would be fewer people.”

Madam Li said, “No matter what, people must carry on. Gradually it will get better.” From ancient times till now, it was always thus. As long as humanity was not exterminated, soon enough people would adapt and continue to multiply.

After not even a quarter hour, their carriage reached the Cao residence. Chen Bo stepped forward to knock.

Soon footsteps sounded inside. Lin Qiu opened the gate and froze in shock. “Uncle Chen? And Aunt has come too!”

“Greetings, cousin. We have all returned.”

Tears welled in Lin Qiu’s eyes. He hurriedly swung the gate wide and ushered them in.

“Mother has missed you all terribly. She thought it would be awhile yet before you came. Who would have thought you’d arrive so soon!”

Wang Ying first alighted, then lifted Yuanbao down, helping Madam Li and Fourth Aunt as well.

Chen Qingyan and his brother shared another carriage with Qingyun, while the last carriage held Elder Liang and Qinghuai.

This time Elder Liang did not only escort his grandson to the county exams; he also planned to stay at his son’s place afterwards, returning to the prefectural city only in time for the autumn examinations.

The Cao family’s courtyard was spacious enough to hold several carriages. As the servants unloaded luggage, the others entered the house.

Stepping inside, Wang Ying immediately sensed the abnormal atmosphere. The whole house was filled with the smell of medicinal herbs. Normally Third Aunt’s warm character would have had her rushing out to greet them, but today she was nowhere to be seen.

Hastily Wang Ying pulled Lin Qiu aside. “Is Third Aunt ill?”

Lin Qiu sighed. “Mother and Sui‑er are both sick.”

Madam Yang anxiously asked, “What happened? Did you call a physician?”

“We did. For my mother, it is worry pressing too heavily upon her. She must unravel it herself.”

“And Sui‑er?”

At mention of his younger brother, tears brimmed again in Lin Qiu’s eyes. Choking, he said, “Sui‑er… he was ruined by the Huang family!”

He briefly recounted the events. Several gasped sharply. Madam Li’s eyes reddened with fury. “How can anyone abuse him so! Have you not gone to demand justice?”

“Of course we did. But that wretch disappeared the very night after the beating. Cao Kun even sent men to keep watch for several days, but never saw him.”

Qingyun blurted out angrily, “Why not report directly to the magistrate? Scum like that deserve the rod!”

Wang Ying said, “The law finds it difficult to resolve household matters. And besides, Sui‑er and Huang Yong have not divorced yet. Even if reported, they may not intervene.”

Lin Qiu wiped his tears, nodding. “That is true. But he can hide for a while, not forever. With the county exams soon, he must appear. Then we will confront him and demand answers!”

Inside, Chen Rong lay in bed asleep. She looked much thinner than before, her face so haggard she was almost unrecognizable compared with when they last parted.

At sight of her, Madam Li’s heart clenched painfully. She sat by the bed, patting her gently. “Third Sister, we’ve all come back. Don’t you want to wake and see us?”

Chen Rong woke with a start. Seeing Madam Li, she blinked, thinking she dreamed, until she noticed Fang Ling standing behind and her eyes opened wide. “Isn’t that… Fourth Sister‑in‑law?”

Fang Ling took her hand. “Third Sister still recognizes me.”

“When did you all return?” Chen Rong struggled to sit up, but her body was too weak.

Madam Li pressed her back to the pillow. “Speak while lying down. We only just arrived.”

“I… am unwell, so could not greet you properly.”

“What are you saying? We are sisters. Why speak like strangers?”

Chen Rong gave a wan smile. “Has Qingyan returned as well?”

“Yes, he has. Yuanbao also came with us. He’s outside now, playing with Xiao Mai.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Chen Rong coughed. Fang Ling hurried to pour her water and held it for her to drink.

“We all know about Sui‑er. You must focus on your health. Leave the rest to us. We will never let our child suffer such indignity.”

Overcome with emotion, Chen Rong’s nose stung. “If it were not for A‑Ying and Qingyan back then, I might never have escaped my own plight. Now Sui‑er has fallen into the same trap as I did…”

Madam Li cried out angrily, “Who was the matchmaker for that family? They must be called out and made to answer! Otherwise what are they but pushing our child into a fiery pit?”

“It is my fault. I agreed as soon as I heard they were an honest family. I did not inquire deeply. I harmed him…”

Fang Ling sniffled. “Enough of that. Third Sister, you must look after yourself. Your two children have already lost their father. If you should also suffer misfortune, whom could they depend on?”

“I understand.”

Outside, Chen Qingyan and Wang Ying called Lin Qiu to discuss Lin Sui’s situation. “So what should be done?”

Lin Qiu said, “Whatever the path—divorce or otherwise—we must face him to make it clear. Right now, with him missing, we can do nothing.”

“And what does Lin Sui himself think?”

“I dare not even broach it. He is so young, and having suffered this trauma, I fear he may not withstand it…”

Wang Ying said, “Then listen to me. He must divorce at once!”

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