People who eat melon are in 70 - Chapter 39

Wang Yuan’s gaze began to lose focus. She saw her eldest daughter, Bo Ning, and her second daughter, Zhong Ning, holding hands as they approached. They were smiling so brightly, running toward her.

A smile appeared at the corner of Wang Yuan’s mouth, and she closed her eyes. Before closing them, she could hear the crying of Li Yunying and Shu Ning, along with many other sounds she couldn’t identify.

They were all crying, but Wang Yuan wanted to tell them to stop. To her, death was a release.

Wang Yuan passed away, taking over twenty members of the Zhang family with her. The only one left alive was Shu Ning.

The police returned to the police station and made a call to higher authorities. By the afternoon, a truckload of police officers arrived. They conducted an investigation of the scene and discovered a large amount of rat poison in the leftover corn paste in the big iron pot on the stove.

The police went to the commune’s agricultural technical station, and the staff confirmed that in the morning, a woman carrying a child had bought two packets of the most toxic rat poison.

Those two packets of rat poison took the lives of over twenty people.

The village chief of Zhangjia Village directed the villagers to dig a large pit near the rear (Lianggang) and buried the more than twenty members of the Zhang family there.

Li Yunying wouldn’t let anyone move Wang Yuan’s body and insisted on guarding it herself. Wang Shanxi spent money to buy an elm wood coffin from an elderly man in Liushu village.

They stayed in Zhangjia Village. There were still close relatives of Zhang Zhihui’s family in the village, and the police were concerned they might do something extreme, so they took turns guarding them with firearms.

After the autumn harvest, the autumn winds grew colder. Wang Yuan’s coffin remained in the house, and no foul odor spread.

On the fourth day, Wang Yuan’s parents arrived.

Wang Yuan’s family was well-off. Her mother was the deputy director of the street office, and her father was a technician at Jiangcheng First National Cotton Mill. She had two older brothers, a younger brother, and a younger sister. Her entire family came.

Wang Yuan’s mother started crying as soon as she got on the train, and by the time they reached Zhangjia Village, her eyes were swollen, leaving only a small slit to see through.

Knowing that Wang Yuan’s parents would arrive today, in the morning, Jiang Yutao and Gu Nianwei brought Shu Ning over.

These past few days, Li Yunying has been so consumed with grief that she couldn’t take care of the children. Shu Ning has been looked after by Gu Nianwei and Jiang Yutao.

She was really well-behaved, never throwing tantrums, only looking for her mom and sister when it was time to eat or sleep.

Before Jiang Yutao and Gu Nianwei could comfort her, she would say, “Mom said, if Shu Ning misses Mom and her sister, just look at the stars in the sky. Mom and sister have become stars, watching over Shu Ning from up there.”

Every time they heard such words, Jiang Yutao and Gu Nianwei couldn’t hold back their tears.

Wang Yuan’s mother cried from the commune all the way to Zhangjia Village. When she saw the coffin resting in the yard, she ran over, leaned on the coffin, lifted the lid, and looked at Wang Yuan inside. She collapsed to the ground.

One by one, the Wang family members walked over with heavy steps, crying in unison.

Wang Yuan’s mother cried as she pounded her chest.

Every word she spoke was full of blame and love: “Wang Yuan, you stubborn girl, why were you so determined? I told you not to marry, but you insisted. Your father was so angry he said he wished he never had you, and you really stopped writing or calling home. Why didn’t you reply to the letters we sent? Why didn’t you take the money we sent you?”

“Your eldest brother came to see you—why didn’t you tell him you were doing badly?”

“Doesn’t it hurt, my dear Yuan Yuan? How could you be so heartless? I’m already sixty years old. How could you make me bury my own child? You’re so heartless, so cruel. How could I have given birth to such a cold-hearted daughter?”

Wang Yuan’s older brother crouched beside the coffin, repeatedly hitting his own head.

That year, Wang Yuan wrote home saying she was getting married. After reading her letter, they asked Wang Yuan’s older brother to go and check on her. At that time, Wang Yuan had only been married to Zhang Zhihui for a short time.

When Wang Yuan’s older brother arrived, the Zhang family treated him warmly, and Zhang Zhihui was very caring toward Wang Yuan. After a few days, Wang Yuan’s older brother felt relieved and returned home, as work at the family business was keeping him busy.

At first, Wang Yuan would still write letters home and send local specialties, but gradually the letters became fewer and fewer, and in the end, she stopped sending any letters altogether.

Years ago, Wang’s father had followed a master who had returned from studying abroad. Over the years, his situation at the factory worsened, and the whole family was somewhat affected, so they had less time to take care of Wang Yuan.

This year, the family’s situation improved, and Wang Yuan’s mother had even told Wang Yuan’s father last month that once he finished his work, they would go visit Wang Yuan before the New Year.

They had made plans, but unexpectedly, they received the telegram saying Wang Yuan had passed away. After contacting the local youth station, they dropped everything and rushed over without packing anything.

Wang Yuan’s older brother kept thinking that if he had been more insistent when he visited back then, and had seen more clearly the Zhang family’s sinister intentions, would things have turned out differently?

Wang Yuan’s second brother, younger brother, and younger sister were all crying uncontrollably.

After a long while, Wang Yuan’s father wiped away his tears, stood shakily, and closed the coffin lid. He bowed deeply to Li Yunying and the others.

“Thank you, thank you for giving our Yuan Yuan the dignity in her final moments. Thank you for notifying us.”

Wang Yuan’s mother also stood up and bowed with her husband.

They were not young anymore, and their hair had already turned grey at the temples.

Li Yunying and the others stepped aside to make way. Li Yunying said, “Uncle and Aunt, you don’t have to do this. If I had taken better care of her, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Li Yunying had been reflecting and blaming herself these past few days. She thought that if she had visited Wang Yuan more often, or inquired more about her, Wang Yuan wouldn’t have met this tragic end.

“How can we blame you?” Wang Yuan’s mother said. “As a friend, you’ve already done your best. Just the fact that you stayed with Yuan Yuan for three days, waiting for us to see her one last time, is something we are grateful for.”

Her gaze searched around, and when she saw Shuning being held by Jiang Yutao and Gu Nianwei, her tears broke free again. This child really looked so much like her Yuan Yuan when she was little.

She walked over, crouched down, and took Shu Ning’s hand. “Shu Ning, right? I’m your grandma.”

Shu Ning took a step back, hiding behind Jiang Yutao.

Wang’s mother didn’t insist.

Her feelings toward this child were complicated. For a moment, she didn’t know how to face her.

Wang’s father watched and asked Li Yunying, “Before Yuan Yuan passed, did she leave any messages for us?”

Li Yunying took a letter from her pocket and handed it to Wang’s father. “This is the letter we found while sorting through Wang Yuan’s belongings.”

Wang’s father took the letter, hesitating to open it, as if the letter weighed a thousand pounds.

But he eventually opened it.

Unfolding the letter, his eyes immediately landed on the familiar handwriting of his eldest daughter.

Dear Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, Little Brother, and Little Sister,

I hope this letter finds you well.

By the time you read this letter, I will no longer be in this world. Dad, when I was little, you often told me that with my gentle nature, I would definitely be deceived by little favors when I grew up. I argued with you, saying I would never be that foolish.

But I was really that foolish. Zhang Zhihui used a small trick, and I fell for it.

Over the years, I have regretted countless times, regretted not listening to you. I’ve also wanted to write to you many times, but every time I picked up the pen, I couldn’t write a single word.

With so many lives on my conscience, I know I can’t survive. If I wait for the verdict, it’s a death sentence. I can wait until that time, but I’m afraid. I’m afraid to see you cry, and I’m afraid to see the disappointment in your eyes when you look at me.

Please, just consider me a coward and allow me to escape one last time.

As your daughter, my selfishness has caused you so much pain. But I want to be selfish once more, to owe you again. Shu Ning is only a little over two years old and won’t remember anything. She’s so good. Her sisters are all gone, and I can’t bear to take her with me.

Please, help me take her away, out of this devouring swamp. If you are unwilling to raise her, please send her to an orphanage. Never mention me to her again.

I am not a good mother. I’m sorry for her.

Dad, please cremate me. I don’t want to be buried on this cold mountain. I want to see the river in our Jiangcheng, to look at our home. It’s been so many years since I left home, and I miss it.

When you leave, scatter some of my ashes by the rear beam. That way, I can stay with my Bening and Zhongning forever.

Forgive my selfishness. In the next life, please don’t have a daughter like me.

The date at the end of the letter is the day the Zhang family died.

Wang Father held the letter, unable to speak through his tears. Wang Mother took the letter from him but couldn’t bring herself to read it. The letter was passed around to Wang Yuen’s older brother, second brother, and the younger siblings.

Wang Father went to pick up Shu Ning. “Shu Ning, come home with Grandpa.”

That afternoon, under the witness of the local police station and the leaders of Zhangjia Village, Wang Yuan was cremated. Her ashes were placed in a small urn.

The Wang family, led by the police, went to the rear beam. Wang Mother gathered the scattered red cloth around the broken stones into a pile and buried it along with several of Wang Yuan’s ashes.

After coming down from the mountain, they were ready to return.

Shu Ning was taken away.

The educated youth from Liushu village sent them off.

Before the car arrived, Wang Mother calmly told Jiang Yutao and the others, “We’ve discussed it in the family, and Shu Ning will stay with us. My eldest daughter-in-law can’t have children, so she will become our eldest son’s child. Don’t worry, we will take good care of her, and we will teach her well. She will never follow her mother’s path. She won’t turn out like her father.”

Wang Mother’s eyes were still swollen, bloodshot veins filling her eyelids. Since she received the news of her daughter’s death, she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep.

Late last night, she slept beside Shu Ning and finally got a good rest.

When Wang Mother looked at Shu Ning, she thought of the Zhang family, but more than that, her thoughts were with Wang Yuan.

She was the only child Wang Yuan had left behind. She was one of the witnesses to Wang Yuan’s life in this world.

Li Yunying, still uneasy, asked, “Auntie, in the future, can I go see Shu Ning?”

Wang Mother smiled at Li Yunying and said, “Of course, the door of the Wang family will always be open to you.” She turned to the other educated youth from Liushu village, “Thank you all as well for everything you’ve done for Wang Yuen.”

This “thank you” was something the Wang family had said countless times over the past few days.

Finally, Wang Mother’s gaze landed on Jiang Yutao. “Thank you for the candy you gave to our Yuan.”

Her Yuan had suffered for many years, but at the end of her life, she was able to leave with a sweet taste. Wang Mother was truly grateful for that.

Jiang Yutao shook her head.

The car arrived, and the Wang family left. Wang Yuan’s younger siblings were the last to go.

They were only fifteen this year. The year Wang Yuan went to the countryside, they were still seven or eight years old. Wang Yuan’s second brother was in his thirties now. He was a few years older than Wang Yuan and had found a job right after graduation.

Wang Yuan could have avoided going to the countryside, but the authorities said that Wang Mother, as the deputy director of the street office, must take the lead.

Over the years, Wang Mother had regretted her decision countless times. If she had known what would happen, if she could go back to that time, she would never have made that choice.

The Wang Yuan incident caused a huge stir throughout the entire province of Heilongjiang.

To prevent such incidents from happening again, the local educated youth office in Zaoxiang paid repeated visits to the families of married educated youth.

Women’s Federation chairpersons repeatedly went to the countryside to give lectures, teaching women how to respond when faced with such situations.

Each village held repeated meetings, and the police went up the mountains and to the countryside to explain the law again and again.

Wang Yuen’s death made the women of Zaoxiang realize that a husband’s family could not abuse, beat, or exploit their daughter-in-law; that a family could not sell their own children; and that in front of the government, the in-laws were nothing.

Zaoxiang police station had received several cases, mostly from daughters-in-law who reported their in-laws for selling their granddaughters, as well as women who came to report domestic violence from their husbands.

The atmosphere at the Liushu village educated youth station was very depressed.

After eating Wang Yuen’s melon, Jiang Yutao received quite a few rewards and more melon coins, but she couldn’t feel happy at all.

This melon was too bitter. If she could, she would rather not have eaten it. She would rather not have these rewards or melon coins.

Li Yunying had been lying on the kang for several days. According to Zhao Yonglan, every time she woke up at night, she could hear Li Yunying crying.

Wang Shanxi and a few of the male educated youth had been missing for days, always going up the mountain. Every time, they came back carrying large, heavy dead wood.

They took turns chopping firewood, venting their anger and frustration through the act of chopping.

The fifteenth of August, the two days when Wang Yuan was cremated, had passed. After entering September, the weather became cooler, and people had to wear thicker clothes in the morning and evening.

The open space next to the educated youth station had been bustling with people coming and going in the past few days, and the excitement from there had spread a little to the people at the educated youth station.

For the first time, Li Yunying walked out of the dormitory during the day. She asked Jiang Yutao, “What’s going on next door?”

Jiang Yutao had already found out. “The Su Zhentang family is building a house here. They finally separated, and he’s living with Zhu Yuemei.”

Li Yunying responded with a soft “oh” and didn’t show any further interest.

Zhao Yonglan no longer harbored the unclear and ambiguous feelings toward Su Zhentang. When she heard that Su Zhentang was building a house near the educated youth station, she didn’t pay much attention to it.

When the autumn wind blew down the last yellow leaf from the book tree, and the morning frost thickly covered the withered grass by the roadside, winter had arrived.

At night, they already needed to heat the kang.

In the mornings and evenings, it became necessary to add a sweater underneath clothes, and when going out, they needed to wear thick cotton jackets.

Around the ninth day of the lunar month, the village held elections for a new team leader and village secretary.

The team leader was Liu Manzhu, Xu Dazui’s husband, and the secretary was the husband of Fourth Aunt Aunt Jiang. The two of them had become the wives of officials, and now, as they walked, they carried themselves with a certain pride.

The winter sun was especially bright, but it didn’t bring any warmth to the body.

Jiang Yutao and the others walked together toward the team office.

They were going to strip the hemp stalks.

The largest meeting room in the team office was already filled with people. They were all women from the village. With winter upon them, they wanted to earn work points, and this was the only job available.

The educated youth now did everything together.

Jiang Yutao walked toward Xu Dazui and the others, with Zhang Huihui and the rest following her.

They all sat around Xu Dazui. She and the others laid the hemp stalks in the empty space in the room, set up small stools, and began working.

Jiang Yutao and the others wore gloves.

Xu Dazui was particularly envious: “Do you have any extra gloves? Could you sell me a pair? I’ll use them for our little girl, Dongliu.”

Dongliu was Xu Dazui’s little daughter. She was sitting with a group of girls in the northeast corner of the meeting room. Among them, two girls were particularly eye-catching.

One wore a brand new red cotton jacket, her chin held high, speaking loudly. Her laughter echoed throughout the meeting room. The other wore a patched cotton jacket, the color unrecognizable, her head lowered. She hadn’t spoken a word from start to finish.

But they were actually cousins.

Gu Niangwei had plenty of gloves in her space. She was close with both Jiang Yutao and Xu Dazui.

“Yes, I’ll bring you two pairs this afternoon,” Gu Niangwei said without mentioning money, knowing that Xu Dazui wouldn’t owe her anything.

After they had been stripping hemp for a while, Aunt Jiang Si finally arrived, smiling as she sat down beside them and began talking about what had just happened at the Su family.

“Xia Heyu is really out of her mind. Do you know what she’s trying to do? She actually wants to go live with Su Zhentang!”

“Do you think she’s crazy? She’s the wife of Su Zhentang’s nephew, and she’s almost the same age as him. What will people say if she moves in with him?”

“Sun Xiaojuan is nearly dying from anger, and Su Yang even hit her just now. Su Yang said Xia Heyu is putting a green hat on him!”

“Xia Heyu didn’t back down. Oh, the couple was fighting in the yard like crazy. He was choking her neck, and she was gouging his eyes. It was so lively! I was eating cold rice just to watch the commotion, and now my stomach hurts.”

Fourth Aunt Aunt Jiang’s words sparked a lively discussion. Everyone was chiming in, and the conversation was full of excitement.

During the break, Jiang Yutao and Gu Niangwei went out to use the restroom, and Zhao Yonglan insisted on going with them. The three of them headed toward the bathroom behind the team office. When they came out, they saw Xia Heyu standing in front of Su Zhentang with her arms outstretched, blocking his way at the corner of the wall.

“Su Zhentang, how long are you going to avoid me? Why can’t you just admit that you still love me?”