Chapter Twelve: A Constant Stream of Visitors

As soon as Li Wenyou and Li Daguang left, Aunt Hu hurried into the courtyard with Qing’er.

“Qing’er, I heard something—last night you accomplished a great feat at the ancestral hall. Is it true?”

“Grandma, what’s the ancestral hall?” Qing’er, even more anxious than her grandmother, tugged eagerly at her sleeve and asked.

Li Yanqing squatted down, smiling warmly at her. “Qing’er, the ancestral hall is where we burn incense and offer sacrifices. During the New Year, we kneel and pay respects there. Your family has one too!”

“Is it where the tablets are placed?”

“That’s right. Many families put their ancestral tablets together in one place—that’s called the ancestral hall.”

Qing’er clapped her hands with delight. “I know! There must be lots of delicious food. Did second brother get those little cakes for me from the ancestral hall?”

Li Yanqing’s back broke out in a cold sweat; the little girl had unknowingly revealed the truth.

He hurriedly explained, “No, those cakes were bought by my father from the old man with the white beard in town. I saved one especially for you.”

Aunt Hu seemed to understand then. The head of the clan must have come today because of Qing’er’s deed last night.

“Qing’er, do you want me to call your father back?”

“That’s not necessary, Auntie. I want to discuss something with you.”

Aunt Hu patted his head and smiled. “Go ahead, let’s see what I can do for you.”

“Auntie, the clan leader wants to repair our house. Could I borrow your west room for a few days?”

Aunt Hu’s house was considerably larger than Li Yanqing’s. Her son’s family of three lived in the main room; she lived alone in the east room, and the west room was empty, used only for storing miscellaneous items.

Aunt Hu was quite surprised—the clan leader was going to repair Da Qi’s house. This boy was certainly more capable than his father. She smiled and nodded. “I’ll go tidy up with Qing’er’s mother. You can move in right away!”

At that moment, someone outside the door called out, “Is Da Qi home?”

Li Yanqing was momentarily taken aback. Who could it be?

The gate was open, and a man in his thirties poked his head in with a smile. “Brother Qing, is your father home?”

Li Yanqing didn’t recognize him, but Aunt Hu did and greeted him politely. “Oh, it’s the village head. Da Qi went to the county; only Qing’er is home.”

Aunt Hu called him the village head, and Li Yanqing immediately knew who he was. His name was Li Zhen, the village head of Liwen Village, also from the Li clan, though more distantly related. His father often mentioned him, but never kindly—sometimes even with gritted teeth in hatred.

“Does Village Head Li want to see my father?”

Li Zhen knew full well that Li Daqi was in the county; this was just an excuse. He had actually come to see Li Yanqing.

“Brother Qing, it doesn’t matter if your father isn’t here. I can speak to you just the same.”

Li Zhen glanced at Aunt Hu, who tactfully took Qing’er away.

Li Yanqing knew exactly why the village official, who never visited, had come today—it was almost certainly because of last night’s incident.

“This stool was just used by the clan leader. Village Head Li, please sit and speak.” Li Yanqing brought him a stool.

Li Zhen appeared somewhat nervous, a worry he couldn’t conceal in his eyes. He waved his hand. “You sit. I won’t.”

Li Yanqing sat down, watching him curiously, suspecting, ‘Could he be asking me to perform some sort of ritual?’

Li Zhen rubbed his hands and hesitated before saying, “The thing is, last night my two troublemaking sons followed Liu’s steward’s son to the ancestral hall.”

“So they’re your sons!” Li Yanqing almost let it slip, quickly adding, “I saw Fourth Uncle catch three children and say they caused trouble by burning the ancestral hall. I only recognized Liu Fu’er; the other two are your sons?”

Li Zhen nodded awkwardly. “Those two rebellious boys were spoiled by their grandfather from childhood and have been unruly at home. Last night, they caused a major disaster.”

So Li Er and Li San were the village head’s sons. Li Yanqing immediately understood why the village head had come to him.

He scratched his head and asked, “Surely there won’t be severe punishment? After all, they’re just children. At most, a beating.”

Li Zhen gave a bitter smile. If it were that simple, would he have come asking Li Yanqing for help?

He shook his head. “Brother Qing, you don’t know—burning the ancestral hall is a serious offense in clan law. It’s such a grave crime that no one dares do it. If punished, the mildest would be breaking a leg.”

“And if the punishment were severe?”

Li Zhen sighed. “Severe punishment means a lifetime ban from ancestral rites. The two boys’ lives would be ruined.”

Li Yanqing didn’t care much about ancestral rites, but he understood Li Zhen’s meaning—he wanted him to use his status as the great ancestor’s spiritual manifestation to plead mercy.

Li Yanqing held no grudge against Li Er and Li San; aside from being a bit annoying in speech, they at least didn’t run home to tattle like Liu Fu’er. But whenever his father mentioned Li Zhen, his face darkened with anger—no doubt this man had bullied his father mercilessly.

Li Zhen continued, “Could Brother Qing please speak to the clan leader to plead for leniency for my two sons?”

Li Yanqing remained silent. If it were Aunt Hu, she would have helped without needing to be asked. But why did his father dislike this village head so much?

Li Zhen knew better than to ask empty-handed. He pulled out a crumpled yellow deed from his pocket and placed it on the stool, smiling. “This was originally your family’s deed for three mu of land. Your father sold it to me years ago. I want to return it to you, no charge. It’s a small token of my goodwill.”

Only then did Li Yanqing understand why his father gritted his teeth whenever this man was mentioned—it was because of these three mu of ancestral land. He had wondered why other families had several fields while his family had none.

If it had been a fair deal, his father wouldn’t have hated him. Something must have happened to leave a deep grudge.

But it’s better to settle grudges than make enemies. This man was the village head of Liwen Village; offending him would be unwise. Since he was returning the land, doing a favor was not a bad idea.

Li Yanqing picked up the deed with a smile. “Village Head Li, you should go straight to the clan leader. Tell him your two sons were forced by Liu Fu’er and dared not refuse. As for me, I’m willing to vouch for them and ask the clan leader to spare them.”

Li Zhen was overjoyed. The disaster caused by his two sons had left him overwhelmed. Early this morning, he begged Li Wengui. Though Li Wengui agreed to leniency, the mild penalty still meant a broken leg. How could he bear it?

Fortunately, Da Guang had just told him that if Brother Qing would plead with the clan leader, his sons would be safe. Having heard about last night’s event, a flicker of hope ignited in his heart.

He clasped his hands excitedly. “Thank you, Brother Qing! If you have time now, could we go to town together?”

Li Yanqing had no mood to accompany him. He went inside, wrote a note, and handed it to Li Zhen. “Give this to the clan leader. He won’t pursue your sons.”

Seeing Li Yanqing refuse to go, Li Zhen had no choice but to accept the note with heartfelt thanks and left.

Li Yanqing felt quite pleased. Feeling playful, he crossed his legs and shouted triumphantly outside, “Li Laoye is here! Any neighbors wanting me to write notes, come right on!”

“Excuse me… is Da Qi brother home?” A very kind voice called from outside.

...

As the saying goes, “The poor cause trouble and no one cares; the rich dwell deep in the mountains and have distant relatives.”

Since the clan leader’s visit, within half a day, four clan members had come to visit. Besides warmly offering to help care for Da Qi’s solitary son at home, they also brought two pumpkins, a salted fish, and half a bag of beans.

Li Yanqing gave all these gifts to Aunt Hu. He could not repay the kindness her family had shown in their time of need; these were just a small token of his gratitude.

In the afternoon, Li Yanqing’s courtyard became lively again.

Yang, the chief steward of the Li household, arrived with several masons to inspect the house. Yang Shanmin, about forty years old, had a long neck, small head, large body, and short legs. Wearing white clothes, from afar he looked like a big white goose.

Yang Shanmin’s face was always adorned with a smile throughout the year. Though he had the nickname “Smiling Tiger” behind his back, he seemed much more amiable than the fierce and ruthless Liu Chenghong.

Today, Yang Shanmin was in an exceptionally good mood, his smile genuine. Originally the third steward, after Liu Chenghong was driven away last night, he had been promoted by the master to chief steward. The former second steward, Sun, who used to boss him around, had become his subordinate.

“Brother Qing, this ten guan coin is your father’s, right? I got it back from Liu Chenghong for you.” Yang Shanmin smiled, patting Li Yanqing’s shoulder and placing a heavy cloth bag at his feet.