WSMTATMC C119

Chapter 119

Of course, there was no child in that swaddling cloth, yet Huang Yong dared not even glance at it. Terrified out of his wits, he stumbled like a headless fly, scrambling about for escape.

But the figure behind him seemed like a ghost—one instant far away, the next suddenly before his eyes.

“Go, get away!” Huang Yong swung wildly to push Wang Ying away, only for the apparition to vanish before his very eyes.

“Ahhhh!!” His legs buckled. He collapsed to the ground, and in his panic he wet himself, the acrid smell filling the room.

“Yong‑lang, why did you beat me and our child to death…” The voice materialized behind him—Wang Ying again, imitating Lin Sui’s voice.

Huang Yong prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing frantically. “It’s my fault, my fault! I only beat you at my mother’s command. If you seek vengeance, seek it from her!”

Wang Ying halted, his tone chilling. “Why did she have you beat me?”

“B‑Because… because Mother dislikes you…”

“Nonsense! Since I married into your home, have I not worked diligently without complaint? Honoring your elders, caring for your brothers. What have I done so wrong to make her hate me so much? Speak!!”

“I—I… I don’t know…”

“Then if you won’t say, you must repay with your life and that of my child!” Wang Ying stretched toward his throat. Huang Yong’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted dead away.

Wang Ying nudged him with his foot. Seeing no reaction, he quickly called Chen Guang. “Can you wake him again?”

Chen Guang, his expression strange, nodded. He struck Huang Yong’s acupuncture points. The man stirred instantly.

Wang Ying hurriedly ordered Chen Qingyan to light the candles at both sides, while he himself retreated, removed Lin Sui’s clothing, and donned a papier‑mâché ox‑headed mask.

He and Chen Qingyan each grabbed iron chains, standing beside Chen Bo.

Huang Yong felt light glare upon him, and opened his eyes—only to wish he had not. At once he shook like a leaf.

“Am I dead already… come to the courts of the underworld?”

“Insolent wretch! Daring to see this official without kneeling!” Chen Bo thundered suddenly. Huang Yong flung himself to the ground, not daring to lift his head.

“Do you admit guilt?”

“Th‑this lowly one… does not know…”

“If you refuse, then you shall be dragged to Tongue‑Pulling Hell to have your tongue torn out!”

Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan rattled their chains heavily, advancing step by step.

“I confess! I’ll confess! Spare me, Judge, I confess everything!”

And with that, Huang Yong began tremblingly narrating all his sins—starting from stealing money from his father when he was a child, and finally revealing the most shocking secret: his incest with his own mother.²

It was precisely to conceal this monstrous bond that they had arranged his marriage with Lin Sui.

After marrying, Madam Ma grew jealous of Lin Sui’s presence. To placate his mother, Huang Yong vented upon Lin Sui—verbal abuse at first, then beatings. Until finally, in one excessive outburst, he caused miscarriage.

Those present nearly reeled in shock. Wang Ying had schemed and guessed many possibilities, but never this abomination!

He recalled once glimpsing such stories on short videos in another life—finding it bizarre but never imagining it real. Now having come upon it himself, he nearly vomited out his supper.

Chen Qingyan’s hands shook on the chains. No wonder the cruelty—how could it have been otherwise, with this as the root?

Finishing his confession, Huang Yong seemed deranged—sometimes bawling, sometimes giggling. Muttering: “It was all Mother luring me… not my fault… Judge, seize her, not me…”

Chen Qingyan declared sternly, “Your mother is guilty of unnatural relations beyond Heaven’s law. She bears six parts of this crime, you four. But the gravest fault is harming an innocent. Though your lifespan is not yet ended, your sins are heavy. You must redeem yourself, or else be consigned to Tongue‑Pulling Hell.”

“H‑How can I redeem myself?”

“Go kneel at Lin Sui’s door. Confess aloud every detail as you did here. Beg his forgiveness. Otherwise tomorrow the soul‑catchers will come drag your spirit away!”

Huang Yong nodded frantically. “As long as you spare my life—I will do anything!”

Wang Ying sneered coldly. Death would be far too merciful. Let him and his mother taste true torment.

Then a phantom wind gusted, snuffing out the candles. Huang Yong screamed, felt a blow to the back of his neck, and collapsed into unconsciousness.

Removing the ox‑head mask, Chen Qingyan asked, “What now?”

“We send him back. Let him confess himself. If he refuses, we will find other means to force him.”

At dawn, Huang Yong awoke in his own home—lying on the bed once used by Lin Sui.

The bedding still stained with blackened blood, left uncleaned in haste.

At sight of it, he shrieked wildly in terror.

His wails brought family rushing in. They found him sitting on the ground, flailing arms. “Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!”

“Yong‑er! Where did you go? You scared me half to death!” Madam Ma rushed forward, overjoyed, and tried to embrace him.

But he shoved her away, scrambling up and bolting out.

“Yong‑er! Where are you going?” she called.

He heard nothing, only the pounding fear within: he must gain Lin Sui’s forgiveness, else suffer Tongue‑Pulling Hell!

In ancient times such superstitions were deep‑rooted—those who sinned in life would pay in death. Having seen Hell’s Judge once, he dared not disobey.

Crazed, he stumbled all the way to the Cao household and fell on his knees at the gate, shouting: “Lin Sui! I wronged you! Please forgive me, be merciful!”

Inside, Lin Qiu was helping his brother drink medicine. At the sound of his voice, the bowl slipped and shattered.

“He’s here… he’s back…” Lin Sui dove into the quilts, trembling like a leaf.

Grinding his teeth, Lin Qiu grabbed an iron shovel, intent on rushing out. But Cao Kun restrained him. “Don’t! Cousin‑in‑law sent word: if Huang Yong comes, don’t strike him. Let him confess himself.”

“Confess what?”

Cao Kun whispered a few words. Lin Qiu’s eyes flew wide. “Truly?!”

“Absolutely. He admitted everything last night.”

Lin Qiu clutched his chest, tears of fury flowing. “No wonder… no wonder they treated Sui‑er so. Thank heavens for cousin and cousin‑in‑law—without them, we would have remained in the dark!”

Outside, Huang Yong shouted his sins before the crowd. The voice carried, soon gathering onlookers.

Noonday gossip spread quick as wildfire in the olden days. Just last night, Madam Ma had slandered Lin Sui as indecent with his brother‑in‑law. Now Huang Yong himself confessed incest with his own mother—combined with conspiring to harm Lin Sui.

People gasped, muttering in disbelief. Without entertainments, such scandal was fodder for half the county by afternoon. Everywhere, people spoke with relish.

When Madam Ma learned of it that afternoon, she was struck with humiliation and rage. Denying her eldest son’s accusations only made her choke blood. She collapsed unconscious.

A doctor was summoned. After acupuncture, she revived—but half her body was paralyzed, tongue twisted, speech unclear.

The disgrace sunk the Huang family. Unable to lift their heads, the eldest daughter‑in‑law that very day took her children and returned to her parents’ home.

She had long suspected strange closeness between mother‑in‑law and second son, but never thought it truly incest. Shame was beyond measure.

The rest of the clan conferred, declaring Huang Yong and his mother had so tainted the lineage that they would be excised from the family registry. Madam Ma was driven back to her natal village in the countryside.

Even there, she begged her eldest son to let her stay. But he spat at her and turned away.

Meanwhile, Huang Yong descended into madness. Every day he knelt before the Cao gate, begging Lin Sui’s forgiveness.

Of course, Lin Sui could not forgive him. In the end, Cao Kun arranged with Huang Yong’s uncle to remove him.

That uncle, at least a sensible man, agreed to grant divorce (he‑li)³—returning all Lewis dowry, and compensating thirty strings of cash.

From the moment they walked out of the yamen, Lin Sui felt lightened, freed. Though still pale and frail, hope had returned to his eyes. He no longer appeared broken.

Chen Qingyun held his hand, sincerely happy.

The family arranged a banquet at a restaurant—two full tables to celebrate Lin Sui’s escape from suffering, his rebirth in blood.

Having endured so much, he seemed to have matured overnight. Approaching Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan, he slowly knelt. “Cousin, cousin‑in‑law, permit me a deep bow!”

“Don’t!” Wang Ying hastened to pull him back up.

“I heard from my brother—it was you who unveiled the filth of that household. But for you, my name would have been blackened forever. I possess no talents nor wealth. I wish never to marry again—let me serve by my cousin‑in‑law’s side, work my life as ox or horse to repay.”

“What nonsense is this? We are family. Helping you is our duty!”

Madam Li too added, “Exactly. Sui‑er, don’t brood. You’re still young. In future, there will be chances for a good match.”

But Lin Sui shook his head. The doctor had already said—Huang Yong’s beatings had damaged his womb. He might never conceive again.

Thus he had let go of reliance on men. Instead, he resolved to follow his cousin‑in‑law in business, earn a livelihood, support his mother and brother.

Seeing his determination, Wang Ying said, “If you will, after the exams, return with me to the prefecture. We’ll run the shop together. I happen to need a right hand.”

Lin Sui nodded fervently. “I am willing!”

Chen Rong wept with joy—her son’s eyes once again bore light. Her old mother’s heart was finally at peace. Heaven knew how she had feared he would despair and seek death.

Truly, Wang Ying had saved their family.

Thus the matter came to an end.

After the divorce, Huang Yong was never properly seen again. Someone claimed to glimpse him once outside the city—disheveled, beard wild, muttering like a madman, as ragged as a beggar.

Madam Ma soon died in the countryside. Few cared how. What remained was only their incestuous scandal, whispered endlessly over tea, laughed at after meals.

Busy with preparations, Wang Ying soon found a suitable home—for only ten days remained before the county exams. Staying at the inn was costly and unsafe.

So they rented a three‑courtyard compound in town—one month’s lease, costing under five strings of cash.

Footnotes:

1. Tongue‑Pulling Hell (拔舌地狱) – One of the tortures in Buddhist/Daoist underworld beliefs, punishing liars and sinners by having their tongues pulled out. 
2. Incest with mother (乱伦) – A severe taboo in Confucian society, condemned as against human ethics (lun chang 伦常). Exposure meant absolute disgrace and expulsion from family lineage. 
3. He‑li (和离) – Formal divorce in ancient China, typically with mutual or magistrate mediation. Carries stigma, but better than being repudiated (xiu).