Chapter Seventeen: Settling Disputes

After washing the dishes, Mrs. Luo entered the room and saw Anyi sitting at the table reading, not following Anjian outside to play. She nodded with a smile, pleased that her precious daughter was finally showing some sense and behaving like a proper young girl. She walked over and gently asked, “Xier, would you like me to teach you how to draw flower patterns?”

During the New Year, needlework was avoided. Although Mrs. Luo had taken on embroidery work for screens in the city’s embroidery workshop, she would not do it now. Instead, she took advantage of the leisure time to teach Anyi.

“Alright,” Anyi replied, eager to learn.

One taught, the other learned, and time flew swiftly. By noon, Anjian, who had been playing outside all morning, dashed in.

Mrs. Luo looked up and frowned, “Oh dear, look at all that mud on you! What have you been up to? Did you get into another fight?”

“I didn’t fight anyone,” Anjian said, glancing down at the mud spots on his clothes, “It’s from firing firecrackers.”

During the New Year, as long as it wasn’t a serious mistake, everything was forgivable. Mrs. Luo didn’t scold him much. “Alright, go wash up, and light the fire. It’s time to cook.”

“Mother, I’ll clear the table,” Anyi volunteered.

After lunch, Anyi took a nap. When she woke, Ankang had already returned.

The eighth and ninth days of the New Year passed peacefully. Anyi observed Ankang carefully but found nothing unusual about him. She wondered if she had misunderstood and if he had simply gone to see his classmates.

On the morning of the tenth day, two unexpected visitors arrived: An Younian and his eldest son, An Zhiyuan.

Seeing them, the members of the An family each wore a different expression.

Mrs. Luo was especially surprised—her family had moved here over six years ago, and An Younian had never visited. “Uncle, big brother, is anything the matter? What brings you here?”

Ankang’s lips curled slightly, almost smiling, as if amused—their arrival was a day earlier than he had anticipated. Zhou Li’s work was efficient.

Anjian’s face was full of anger, fists clenched tightly.

Anyi looked at Ankang and understood—he had orchestrated this, bringing them here to reconcile. But what method had her elder brother used? She was curious, though this curiosity would remain unsatisfied; a seven-year-old child wouldn’t dwell on such matters.

Mrs. Luo invited the two in to sit. Ankang followed behind, then turned and said, “Second brother, little sister, go to great-grandfather’s house and tell great-grandfather and uncle that grandpa and big brother have arrived, and invite them to come entertain the guests.”

“Okay.” Anjian tugged at Anyi, and they ran off to Luo Fugui’s house.

Luo Fugui, upon learning of An Younian’s arrival, changed his clothes, called Luo Dongsheng, and the father and son went to the An house. Anyi noticed that Luo Fugui was not the least bit surprised, realizing Ankang had already informed him.

Anjian and Anyi were kept behind by Madam Yang. Such matters were not for children.

By midday, Luo Fugui and his son had not returned. Anjian grew impatient, repeatedly running to the door to check.

Anyi sat calmly by the brazier, shelling sunflower seeds as she warmed herself. Ankang had clearly thought things through, even considering the family hierarchy—the An family sent their uncle and elder brother, and the Luo family reciprocated with theirs, making negotiations more balanced. Since Ankang dared to bring people over, he must have been fully confident in his plan.

Luo Fugui and his son did not return, so the Anjian siblings remained, eating with Madam Yang. Luo Fugui had three sons; after they married, the family divided, and now the elderly couple lived with Luo Dongsheng, while the second and third sons sent money and grain yearly to support their parents.

Luo Dongsheng’s wife, Madam Li, had three sons: Luo Dequan, Luo Deyou, and Luo Decai. Today’s meal was naturally not as sumptuous as the New Year’s feast, but better than usual. Madam Li even steamed an egg for Anyi. The four boys ate voraciously, finishing not only a pot of bean-mixed rice but also all the dishes on the table.

After lunch, another half-hour passed before Luo Dongsheng and Ankang returned, supporting a drunken Luo Fugui.

“Oh my, how did he get so drunk?” Madam Yang hurried forward to steady Luo Fugui.

Luo Fugui looked at Madam Yang through bleary eyes, grinning proudly. “Wife, let me tell you, that old fellow wanted to compete in drinking, trying to get me drunk. Ha! I didn’t get drunk, he did—slid right under the table!”

“You old man, always spouting nonsense when you’re drunk. What old fellow, that’s our in-law, uncle!” Madam Yang scolded.

“He’s an old fellow, a real old fellow, a heartless old fellow. Lived so many years, still doesn’t know anything, only bullies the younger ones. I despise people like him, he’s nothing, not even worth calling a person.” Luo Fugui’s drunken words rang louder and louder.

Anyi wholeheartedly agreed with Luo Fugui’s drunken rant. An Younian was indeed no good.

“Alright, alright, get inside now,” Madam Yang and Luo Dongsheng half dragged, half carried Luo Fugui into the inner room to lie down. “Oh dear, people always go wild when they’re drunk. Why didn’t you try to stop your father?”

Luo Dongsheng didn’t respond, just chuckled.

Madam Li brought hot water from the kitchen.

Anjian asked impatiently, “Big brother, how did things go?”

“From now on, the grain will be split fifty-fifty,” Ankang replied with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with the outcome.

Anjian, thinking of the extra hundreds of pounds of grain and fewer bean cakes to eat, cheered, “Big brother, you’re amazing!”

Anyi smiled quietly, her gaze gentle. To make the An family lose out after trying to play tricks, her elder brother was indeed remarkable.

The Luo Dequan brothers, not knowing what had happened, crowded around for details. Ankang explained simply, bid farewell to Madam Yang and Madam Li, and took his siblings home.

The first month of the year was the most leisurely time for country folk. The village women wandered about, chatting idly from house to house. Before the New Year, the cold weather kept children indoors, but after, with warmer days, they ran wild through the village, almost to the point of madness. During the festivities, adults were especially indulgent, merely joking that the children were too rowdy.

The pleasant, carefree days passed quickly, and soon it was the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth. Every household in the village hung homemade lanterns, and some even went to the city to view the lights.

Yet Mrs. Luo felt none of the festival’s joy. The An family did not hang lanterns, kept their doors tightly shut, forbade the siblings from going out, and didn’t make lantern festival treats for them.

Anyi, not knowing the reason, found it odd. She noticed that Anjian, usually fond of excitement and going out with friends every day, was quiet and stayed at home without protest, which made her even more puzzled. Did the An family not celebrate the Lantern Festival? The question flashed through her mind, but she didn’t pay it much heed. This year, the beginning of spring had come before the New Year, and after the ninth day turned sunny, the weather gradually warmed, bringing a sense of spring. Tender green buds sprouted on the branches. Once the snow on the mountain melted, she could go searching for herbs and improve the family’s situation.