Chapter 53: Fate

Zhao Chun blocked his sister behind him and reached out to cautiously poke the person on the ground, but the small child lying on the ice and snow remained motionless.

Zhao Mengcheng hurried forward to take a look. Sure enough, a child of unknown status lay facedown in the bushes.

After reaching out to feel, Zhao Mengcheng breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s still alive.”

The child looked a bit smaller than Zhao Xin, his face a ghostly pale blue. There was a deep, bloody scar on his left cheek, marring what would have been a very handsome face.

Since he had stumbled upon him, Zhao Mengcheng was not heartless enough to watch a child freeze to death. Frowning, he picked him up, only to find the child was wearing nothing but a single thin layer of clothing, and his hands and feet were covered in frostbite.

“Let’s go home first.” Zhao Mengcheng opened his coat and wrapped the child inside.

The child was like a block of ice, making Zhao Mengcheng shiver from the cold, but he did not let go. Instead, he quickened his pace.

The three children stopped talking. Zhao Xin no longer complained about being tired, obediently holding her two brothers’ hands as she walked on her own.

Along the way, Zhao Mengcheng’s body heat transferred through his inner clothes to the child, warming the small, frozen body.

Upon returning home, the child still had not woken up, but his complexion looked a bit better, no longer that frightening pale blue.

“Chun, go and invite Doctor Liu over. Mao, go boil some hot water. Xin’er, help the little one change into clean clothes and let them lie on your bed for a while, alright?”

The three children nodded obediently. Zhao Xin put on the air of an older sister and dug out a set of her own clothes.

Zhao Mengcheng set the child down and turned to go find ginger tea, intending to give the child a cup to warm his body.

When he walked into the kitchen, Zhao Mao looked up and said, “Dad, I put some old ginger¹ in the hot water.”

“So smart,” Zhao Mengcheng praised with a smile.

Before the water had even boiled, Zhao Xin came in looking flustered. “Daddy, that’s not a little sister, it’s a little brother.”

Zhao Mengcheng was startled. It was truly because the child looked so delicate, with a beauty that even the bloodstains on his face could not hide, and his hair was styled in a young girl’s double buns², which had led to the misunderstanding.

“You boil the water, I’ll go,” Zhao Mengcheng said, leaving the task to his daughter.

Entering the room, he saw the child’s clothes had been removed. Zhao Xin had only discovered it was a boy at the very end and had run out in a fright.

Zhao Mengcheng quickly changed him into clean clothes and took the soaked ones out to dry by the fire. He felt the fabric; though it wasn’t high-quality material, it had no patches.

After feeding him half a bowl of ginger soup³, Doctor Liu finally arrived, dragged along by Zhao Chun.

“Mengcheng, who in your family is sick? Let me have a look,” Doctor Liu called out as he entered.

Zhao Mengcheng explained, “It’s not someone from my family. We found this child on the road back from Laoshan Village. He looks severely frozen.”

“What, a foundling?”

Doctor Liu hurried to check. When he saw the scar on the child’s face, he also frowned. “What a handsome child. How did he end up disfigured?”

Taking the pulse, his brow furrowed even tighter. “Wind and cold⁴ have invaded his body. It’s a miracle he’s lived this long.”

“Can he be cured?” Zhao Mengcheng asked.

The child lying on the bed looked so small, weak, and pitiful.

Doctor Liu glanced at him. “It can be treated, but if this ailment isn’t nurtured properly, it will leave a permanent weakness. His body will be sickly in the future, and he won’t be able to do heavy labor.”

“Mengcheng, this child is neither kin nor friend to you. Do you really want to spend money to treat him?”

Zhao Mengcheng sighed. “He fell right in front of me. I can’t just watch him die.”

“Fortunately you didn’t use hot water to wipe him down directly. Now that his body has warmed up, I’ll prescribe a few doses of medicine. If he develops a fever tonight, wipe his body down. If he can pull through, his life will be saved.”

Doctor Liu secretly thought Zhao Mengcheng was too soft-hearted, being willing to spend money to treat a child he just picked up.

Zhao Mengcheng asked again, “Can the scar on his face be treated?”

“It looks like it was just injured a few days ago, but there is frostbite around it. Apply some ointment for now. By the looks of it, it will definitely leave a scar.”

Although the child was young, the wound was too deep and surrounded by chilblains. He was almost certainly going to be disfigured.

Zhao Mengcheng nodded and readily paid for the medicine, letting Zhao Chun follow to fetch the herbs.

Once the medicine was brewed, the child remained in a deep sleep. Zhao Mengcheng pinched his jaw open and poured it in. Fortunately, the child could still swallow.

Zhao Xin leaned against the bed and asked, “Dad, will the little brother die?”

“He will get better after taking the medicine,” Zhao Mengcheng said.

Zhao Xin reached out to cover the scar, then lowered her hand and said, “He’s so pretty, just like a fairy.”

In the little girl’s heart, looking like a fairy was the highest praise.

Since it was a boy, Zhao Mengcheng did not leave the child in his daughter’s room. After some thought, he placed him in the study. There was a small bed in the study usually used for resting, and it would do once bedding was laid out.

Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao were a bit reluctant, but seeing the boy’s pitifully pale face, neither of them objected.

In the middle of the night, the child indeed developed a high fever. His previously pale face turned a scorched red, and he muttered incessantly, seemingly haunted by nightmares.

Zhao Mengcheng wiped his body down. The cloth on his forehead would turn hot in a moment, forcing him to go out and soak it in cold water again.

To his surprise, when he returned, Zhao Baobao had somehow crawled into the child’s blanket and was resting its head on the child’s forehead.

“What are you doing? Get down quickly, don’t crush the child,” Zhao Mengcheng scolded.

Zhao Baobao moved aside a little but still didn’t get down.

Zhao Mengcheng placed the cold cloth and looked at Zhao Baobao with some surprise. After all, the White Snake was usually very arrogant. Although it was spending the winter at the Zhao house, no one but him and Zhao Xin was allowed to touch it.

Zhao Chun and Zhao Mao always had to try all sorts of ways to please it before the White Snake would let them pet it.

But now, the White Snake had proactively crawled into the bed and even coiled itself around the child.

Zhao Mengcheng raised an eyebrow, unable to tell if the White Snake was drawn to the child’s high fever or if there was something else.

His Mental Power emerged at some point, and the White Snake immediately began to sway in a fawning manner. It no longer cared about the child, trying its best to nuzzle against Zhao Mengcheng.

Zhao Mengcheng pushed its large head away. His Mental Power circled the child once, but he found nothing unusual.

While Zhao Mengcheng was busy tending to the foundling, the Liu Clan was gathered around a fire talking.

The members of the Liu family listened more than they spoke, while Aunt Liu talked incessantly like beans spilling from a bag.

After talking for a long time and seeing that no one had spoken up, Aunt Liu took a gulp of water, wiped her mouth, and asked, “Father, Mother, Dahu, why don’t you say something?”

Old Mother Liu glanced at her and said with a bitter face, “Yunniang has been gone for less than a year.”

“It’s almost been a year, Mother. You feel for Yunniang, but you also have to feel for your three grandsons. Once Zhao Mengcheng finds someone else and a stepmother enters the house, how will they have any good days left?”

Hearing this, Old Mother Liu fell silent, her heart beginning to fill with worry.

They all knew how difficult life could be under a stepmother, but the thought of marrying their youngest daughter off for this reason made them ache for her.

Aunt Liu continued, “This year, life is hard for every household, yet Brother-in-law could still bring such decent New Year gifts. It’s clear their life must be good. Muniang won’t suffer if she marries into that house.”

“Father, Mother, I just want to ask, besides Brother-in-law, who else can Muniang marry to live a good life where she eats meat every day and doesn’t have to work in the fields?”

Hearing her words, the expressions of the Liu parents clearly softened.

Liu Muniang kept her head down and didn’t speak, her hands tugging at her sleeves.

Old Mother Liu sighed. “Our family might be willing, but Mengcheng might not be.”

“Our Muniang is an unmarried virgin and the biological aunt of those three children. She certainly won’t mistreat the children her sister left behind. Even if he only considers it for the children’s sake, Muniang is the best candidate.”

Aunt Liu was full of confidence. “Father, Mother, Brother-in-law still came over on the second day of the New Year. He must still have Yunniang in his heart. Since that’s the case, marrying Muniang is the best option for him.”

Liu Dahu knitted his brows. “Nothing is certain yet, don’t go blabbering about it everywhere.”

“When did I blabber? I’m just talking at home. You all need to make up your minds. Once you’ve decided, then you can speak to Mengcheng.” Aunt Liu was a bit anxious.

It was truly because life at home was difficult, and even food was a problem. Her sister-in-law Liu Muniang was dull, honest, and not particularly likable, and her looks were far inferior to her elder sister Yunniang.

Now that she was of age, the family was very worried about her marriage prospects, as she was neither good enough for the high nor willing to settle for the low.

Although Aunt Liu had her own selfish motives, what she said was reasonable. “Muniang, listen to your sister-in-law. Brother-in-law is a widower with three children, but he’s a scholar and his family is well-off. You won’t have to work in the fields if you marry him, and you’ll be well-fed and clothed every day.”

“We all know Brother-in-law’s temperament. He would never raise a hand against his wife. That alone makes him better than those brutes in our village.”

“And these children were left by your sister; they are close to you. It won’t matter whether you have children of your own later, even if you only have daughters. Besides, there’s no mother-in-law in his house. You’ll be the mistress of the home⁵ as soon as you marry in.”

“If you don’t marry him, and Brother-in-law marries someone with a bad temper later, how hard will life be for Chun and the others? Your elder sister was good enough to us when she was alive. Even if just for her sake, you have to consider this matter.”

After talking for a long time, Liu Muniang remained silent.

Aunt Liu grew anxious and pressed for an answer, “Muniang, give your sister-in-law a straight answer. Are you willing or not? If you are, I’ll go and mediate this marriage. If not, then we’ll drop it. I won’t force you to marry.”

Father Liu frowned in worry, while Mother Liu took her daughter’s hand. “Muniang, do you want this? If you don’t, we won’t mention it again.”

After a long silence, Liu Muniang murmured, “I am willing.”

Aunt Liu immediately brightened up and clapped her hands. “Then it’s settled! I’ll go discuss it with my brother-in-law tomorrow.”

Mother Liu reminded her, “Don’t be too explicit. If it doesn’t work out, your sister still has her reputation to maintain.”

“Mother, don’t you worry about how I handle things,” Aunt Liu promised, patting her chest.

As the cooking smoke curled up over Qingshan Village, Zhao Mengcheng went to the next room to check. The child was still in a deep sleep, but fortunately, the fever had subsided and his complexion looked better.

The White Snake had disappeared at some point, returning to its usual spot by the fire pit.

When Zhao Mengcheng stepped out, the three little ones had already dressed themselves and gotten up. Zhao Xin ran over to ask, “Dad, is the little brother awake yet?”

“Not yet. Let him sleep. He’ll wake up on his own when he’s hungry.”

After breakfast, Zhao Mengcheng headed to the Village Chief’s house. Now that there was an extra child in the house, he had to inform the Village Chief and see if anyone nearby had lost a child.

As soon as he left, the three little ones slipped into the study and stood in a row by the bed, observing the child.

Zhao Chun said, “The scar on his face looks really impressive. It makes him look like a real man. I want one too.”

“Don’t you dare hurt yourself on purpose, or Dad will beat you,” Zhao Mao warned him.

Zhao Chun huffed, “Of course I won’t. I’m just saying.”

Zhao Xin secretly reached out to touch the boy’s long hair, then touched her own. “His hair is so black, it looks better than mine.”

Even with the disfigurement, the child’s skin was snow-white, and his loose hair looked like a splash of ink, making him stand out.

Zhao Xin touched his skin again. “He’s whiter than me, too.”

Zhao Chun rolled his eyes at his sister. “Why are you only looking at that? What’s the difference between being a bit lighter or darker? He still has one nose and two eyes like everyone else.”

“Then why are you only looking at the scar on his face? Hmph,” Zhao Xin retorted defiantly.

Just as the two were about to start an argument, Zhao Mengcheng returned. They immediately stopped bickering and ran out to ask, “Dad, did you find the little brother’s family?”

“The Village Chief said he’d ask around the neighboring villages, but anyone who loses a child would be searching everywhere. He’s probably not from around here,” Zhao Mengcheng replied.

The Old Village Chief had been tactful. Liu Bingkun traveled through all the local streets and alleys and knew almost every adult and child in the area. One look was enough to know this child didn’t belong.

He was likely from further away. In the middle of winter, he was wearing thin clothes and was injured; he was probably a little beggar.

The Old Village Chief had even advised him, “Once you’ve saved him, send him to the town. You can’t be expected to raise him. It takes a lot of effort and money to raise a child.”

Zhao Xin took his hand and said, “It would be great if we could find his parents soon. The little brother must be scared all by himself.”

Zhao Mengcheng stroked the girl’s hair. Seeing that the child still hadn’t woken up, he went into the kitchen.

The White Snake was lying lazily by the fire pit. When it saw someone enter, it merely flicked its tail and didn’t move, showing none of the eagerness it had displayed the previous night.

Thinking about the child’s condition, Zhao Mengcheng decided it would be best for him to eat something easy to digest once he woke up. He pulled out some stored pork bones.

He blanched them to remove the blood foam, then tossed the meaty bones directly into the pot to stew. Once the bones were stewed until they were nearly falling apart, he added rice to make a pot of pork bone porridge.

Before taking it off the heat, he threw in a handful of green vegetables. He only needed to add a bit of salt; no other seasonings were necessary for the flavor to be so delicious it would make one’s tongue drop off.

When the aroma of meat drifted out, the three little ones, who weren’t as starved for meat as they used to be, still craned their necks to look.

Zhao Chun helped with the fire. “I didn’t know you could eat it like this. Let’s make porridge like this from now on.”

“Of course it smells good with meat in it. Who can afford to eat meat every day?” Zhao Mao said.

Zhao Xin counted on her fingers. “Dad, if pork bones work, can we use fish? Or other vegetables?”

“Anything works. If we can catch fish or shrimp, we can make seafood porridge. That tastes great too.”

Zhao Mengcheng recalled some recipes and decided to try them once spring arrived.

The three little ones immediately looked forward to it. Ever since their father had recovered, he had taken a particular liking to experimenting with food. Every time they thought a meal was the best, there was always something even better waiting next time.

As a result, the three little ones had all become little foodies. Their small faces were now plump and rosy, and they were starting to develop little round bellies.

On a chilly winter day, nothing was more suitable than a bowl of bone porridge.

“It’s ready to eat.” Zhao Mengcheng asked Zhao Mao to go check if the child was awake.

Zhao Mao ran over and saw the child on the bed with his eyes tightly shut, seemingly still in a deep sleep.

However, with a single glance at the quilt, he saw through the boy’s trick. He walked to the bedside. “I know you’re awake.”

The child on the bed remained motionless, pretending to sleep.

Zhao Mao’s little eyebrows twitched. “If you’re awake, get up quickly. We’re about to eat, and it smells delicious. If you don’t wake up, there won’t be any for you.”

The child still didn’t move.

Zhao Mao wasn’t going to indulge him. “Fine, we’ll just eat first then.”

Having said that, he turned and left, ignoring the person on the bed.

Once the sounds in the room faded, the child’s long eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

He felt dry and warm. Although the quilt was coarse, it was very comfortable to lie in. He was about to climb up to take a look when he heard footsteps again and quickly closed his eyes.

“Is he still not awake?” Zhao Mengcheng asked.

Zhao Mao whispered, “He’s awake. The quilt was messed up, but as soon as I went in, he started pretending to sleep again.”

He was quite vigilant.

Zhao Mengcheng smiled. “Help me carry the bowls. We’ll eat in the study.”

Zhao Mao immediately understood his intention and gave a hearty laugh as he went to help.

Zhao Chun was puzzled. “Haven’t we been eating in the kitchen lately? Why go to the study? It’s chilly in there, not as warm as the kitchen.”

“You’ll find out in a bit,” Zhao Mao said, not wanting to explain it to his simple-minded older brother.

Several large bowls of steaming hot pork bone and vegetable porridge were brought into the room, and the study was immediately filled with an enticing aroma.

The father and his three children sat around the only desk, each holding a bowl and slurping the porridge. The taste was indescribably wonderful.

Zhao Chun slurped particularly loudly; he loved eating this way. As he drank, he couldn’t help but praise it, “So good! Dad, I want to have porridge again tomorrow.”

“Sure. We’ve been eating a lot of heavy food lately anyway, so we’ll have some vegetable porridge tomorrow,” Zhao Mengcheng agreed with a smile.

The child on the bed finally couldn’t take it anymore. He kept swallowing his saliva, his eyelashes trembling as he peeked toward the table through a tiny slit.

As a result, he looked straight into Zhao Mengcheng’s smiling eyes.

The boy ducked back into the covers.

“The little brother is awake!” Zhao Xin also heard the movement and looked at him curiously. “Little brother, do you want some porridge?”

Zhao Mengcheng also asked, “Can you come over and eat some porridge yourself, or do you need to lie down a bit longer?”

He thought the child would be too timid to come out, but before he could finish speaking, a small head popped out. He looked at them timidly. “Did you save me?”

Zhao Xin said loudly, “Yes! You were collapsed on the mountain path. We thought you were dead. Luckily, you’re very fortunate.”

Zhao Chun added exaggeratedly, “Your body was all stiff and your skin was blue. It was really scary!”

Zhao Mao drank his porridge without saying a word. He felt that the child wasn’t as well-behaved and cute as he appeared; he had too many schemes. It was a case of like repelling like.

Sensing the family’s kindness, the child slowly climbed out and walked to the table. “Thank you for saving me. My name is Tang Tang.”

“Tang Tang? Is it the ‘Tang’ that means sweet? Your name sounds so nice,” Zhao Xin said, her eyes wide.

Then she began to praise herself, “But my name sounds even better. It’s the ‘Xin’ from the phrase ‘May the parents flourish like the Cedrela and Daylily, and the siblings be as fragrant as the Cherry and Plum⁶.’ You’ve probably never heard that phrase before, have you? It means wishing the whole family health and longevity. It’s a very, very good meaning.”

Xin?

Such a coincidence?

Tang Tang took a few steps closer, “It sounds lovely, and the meaning is good too. It’s better than my name.”

“Of course! My dad gave me this name,” Zhao Xin said, puffing out her little chest proudly.

Tang Tang’s gaze fell on the only adult. He seemed a bit fearful, but he still plucked up his courage, “Thank you for saving my life, Uncle. Tang Tang will work like an ox or a horse for the rest of his life to repay you.”

“There’s no need to work like an ox or a horse.”

Zhao Mengcheng pointed to the extra bowl of porridge on the table. He had brought five bowls when he came in.

“Your body hasn’t recovered yet. Sit down and eat something first. We can talk about the rest once you’re better.”

Tang Tang was clearly starving. After sitting down, he took a large gulp. He didn’t realize that while the outside of the porridge had cooled, the inside was still scalding. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to spit it out, and the heat brought tears to his eyes.

“Drink slowly. There’s more in the pot if it’s not enough,” Zhao Mengcheng urged.

Tang Tang only then restrained himself, taking small sips.

He ate quickly, but his movements weren’t crude. He had clearly been well-taught by his family. Considering his clothes and his double-bun hairstyle, everything about him felt a bit strange.

Zhao Mengcheng had no intention of prying. He had only brought the boy back because he had fallen right in front of him, and he couldn’t just watch someone die without helping.

Tang Tang quickly finished his bowl of porridge, and a bit of color returned to his face.

“Are you full? Would you like some more?” Zhao Mengcheng asked.

Tang Tang shook his head. “Thank you, Uncle, I’m full.”

“Do you remember your parents’ names or where your home is? If you do, I can take you back,” Zhao Mengcheng said.

To his surprise, the child lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhao Chun tilted his head to study the boy’s expression. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Do you not remember, or do you not have parents, or are you a mute?”

“Ah Chun.” Zhao Mengcheng pulled his son back to keep him from ducking under the stool to stare at the guest.

After a long silence, Tang Tang said, “I don’t remember.”

“You even forgot your parents’ names?” Zhao Xin’s mouth fell open in surprise. She thought that while this little brother was handsome, it was a pity he was a bit slow, since he couldn’t even remember his own parents’ names.

Tang Tang only said, “My head hurts. I can’t remember anything.”

“Don’t you still remember your own name?” Zhao Mao interjected suddenly.

Tang Tang pursed his lips. “I don’t know if that’s really my name. It’s just what everyone calls me.”

“Then who gave you that name? Where is that person? Where did you come from, and why were you collapsed on the mountain path?” Zhao Mao asked in rapid succession.

Tang Tang fell silent again, tears beginning to fall.

Zhao Xin hurriedly said, “Second Brother, stop asking. He’s still little, it’s normal for him not to remember.”

“Don’t worry, my dad is amazing. He’ll definitely help you find your parents.”

Zhao Mengcheng felt helpless. Seeing the child’s evasive gaze, it was obvious he was hiding something. He said, “Just focus on recovering for now. Maybe once you’re feeling better, you’ll be able to remember.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Tang’s rigid body relaxed slightly, and he seemed less tense.

Zhao Mao glanced at his father and didn’t press further. However, once they left the room, he couldn’t help saying, “Dad, that kid is strange. He’s definitely lying.”

“For such a young child to lie for self-preservation shows he’s quite clever,” Zhao Mengcheng said with a smile.

Zhao Mao didn’t like that much. “Dad, are we going to keep him?”

“Raising the three of you is already enough of a headache. Once he’s better, we’ll find a way to send him on his way,” Zhao Mengcheng replied without hesitation.

Zhao Mao was pleased to hear this. He no longer cared what secrets the child was hiding; since the boy was only staying for a few days, it didn’t matter.

As the father and son were talking, a familiar voice came from outside.

Aunt Liu arrived, leading Liu Dahu and Liu Muniang. She looked around in amazement. “Brother-in-law, you’ve already moved into your new home?”

Translator’s Notes

• Chunxuan Bingmao, Tangdi Tongxin: A literary couplet used to wish for family prosperity. ‘Chunxuan’ (cedrela and daylily) symbolizes healthy parents, while ‘Tangdi’ (cherry-birch) symbolizes harmonious siblings. Zhao Xin’s name, ‘Xin’ (fragrance), is taken from the end of the second phrase, signifying her role in the family’s shared happiness.