Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Hardheaded
Foreman Yang saw Song Rui Ze still standing there and curled his lip. “Anything else you’re unhappy about?”

Song Rui Ze gave him one glance—flat, unreadable—then turned and walked out.

Outside, the crowd made dissatisfied noises.

“No fight?”

“What a waste.”

Still, their disappointment didn’t last long. Song Rui Ze had offended Foreman Yang. That was entertainment that would pay out later.

“What an idiot,” someone scoffed. “Offending Foreman Yang over something this small. The foreman assigns all the work. Getting on his good side only helps, but that brat never gives anyone face. Just wait—he’ll pay for it.”

“Don’t underestimate him,” another muttered. “Young, but not someone you can mess with. Like a wolf cub out of the mountains. I heard he used to hunt. Temper like a blade.”

Song Tie Gen stood in the doorway of his bunkhouse, fists clenched so tight the knuckles showed white, staring after Song Rui Ze with a vicious glare.

150 wen.

Half a month of work, gone for a bottle of medicine.

He swallowed hard and still couldn’t swallow the rage.

Song Rui Ze… I’ll make sure you stay on this dam worksite forever.

Back in Song Rui Ze’s bunkhouse, Jiang Qi Bin finally limped to the doorway. When he saw Song Rui Ze coming, he blurted out, words tripping over themselves. “Are you okay? You didn’t fight, right? You’re not hurt? Did you lose out at all?”

The others drifted back in too, eager to retell the scene.

“No fight,” someone said. “He’s not hurt. But he pissed off Foreman Yang. Foreman Yang added 100 loads to his work tomorrow.”

“100?!” Jiang Qi Bin’s voice cracked. “Brother Ze, our assigned work is already heavy. Another 100—they’re trying to work you to death! Why didn’t you back down? Why didn’t you say something nice and smooth it over?” He rubbed at his face, eyes bright with worry. “Brother Ze, I know you’ve got a spine, but sometimes that spine makes you suffer.”

A man laughed. “Jiang Qi Bin, why are you so worked up? It’s not you carrying the loads. Your leg won’t get you out of bed for three to five days. Foreman Yang told you to rest, so rest.” He grinned. “Just hope by the time you can walk again, your Brother Ze hasn’t been exhausted to death.”

The bunkhouse erupted in laughter.

Song Rui Ze didn’t respond. He lay back down, face turned away. For a moment, Qin Hui Yin’s bright smile surfaced in his mind so clearly it felt like a blade pressed under his ribs.

He yanked the blanket up over his head, cutting off the noise—and Jiang Qi Bin’s anxious chatter.

But the men didn’t stop talking.

“Jiang Qi Bin, earlier you said that medicine was bought by Song Rui Ze’s sister,” someone said. “He has a sister?”

“He does,” Jiang Qi Bin replied, too honest for his own good. “She’s really cute.”

“That’s not right. Song Tie Gen said he brings bad luck to his parents. Said he’s an orphan.”

The blanket jerked.

Song Rui Ze sat up, eyes cold enough to frost the air. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.

The room went silent as if someone had shoved a rag into everyone’s mouth.

Jiang Qi Bin frowned, worry deepening. “Brother Ze… should we send a gift to Foreman Yang? Soften things up?”

“Aren’t you tired?” Song Rui Ze’s voice was calm, almost gentle. “My business isn’t yours to worry about.”

“We’re brothers. If you’re in trouble, how can I sleep?” Jiang Qi Bin sighed, then hesitated. “Brother Ze… tell me honestly. Was that little miss we met today really your sister? Everyone talks about you like that and you don’t even refute it. Is it true? Or is she a cousin or something?”

“She’s not my sister,” Song Rui Ze said.

The words came out clean, without pause. Too clean.

He stared at the ceiling, at the dark beams above, and felt something hollow shift in his chest.

Someone like him—cursed, they said. Disaster to his father. No mother. A lonely fate. People only got burned by standing too close.

Hadn’t she kept her distance before?

Now she’d gone with her mother to live with the Tang family, yet she’d stepped closer to him on her own. If she wanted a house, she had money now—she could build one whenever she liked. So what was it?

“Brother Ze… Brother Ze…” Jiang Qi Bin called him twice more.

Song Rui Ze didn’t answer until the third time. “In any case,” he said at last, voice blank, “she has nothing to do with me.”

Jiang Qi Bin stared at him, exasperated. “She’s warm. She even paid for our medicine herself. How can you say she has nothing to do with you? You’re so cold. If you keep this up, everyone who’s good to you will get scared off. Especially little misses—who likes someone fierce all the time? Of course she’d be afraid of you.”

—

Back in the Tang family courtyard, Qin Hui Yin sneezed twice in a row.

Li Tao Hua glanced over. “Did you catch a chill? In that pile of medicine you brought back, is there anything for a cold? If there is, take a pill.”

“I’m fine.” Qin Hui Yin sat in the yard while Li Tao Hua worked a comb through her hair. “Mom, next time let’s go buy clothes!”

“Autumn is coming,” Li Tao Hua said. “We do need more layers. I’m easy. You’re still growing—you should get a few good sets.”

“No way.” Qin Hui Yin turned her head, eyes bright. “My mom is so pretty. How could I let you suffer? You love pretty clothes and jewelry the most. From now on, we buy what we want. We can shortchange anyone, but not ourselves.”

Li Tao Hua’s mouth softened. “Alright. With you taking care of me, you can buy them for me.” She tugged gently at a tangle. “And you need hair pomade too. Your hair’s so dry and frizzy.”

Qin Hui Yin nodded, but her mind had already wandered. Ancient cosmetics were infamous—lead, mercury, cinnabar. Better to spend effort than spend money on something that might poison her.

When she’d first ended up in this world, all she’d thought about was staying alive and keeping her belly full. Now food and clothing were settled. She had savings. It was time to live a little.

In the corner of the yard, Tang Lu Wu carried a basin of clean water and poured it over the scallions and garlic.

Li Tao Hua glanced over. “Lu Wu, come here.”

Tang Lu Wu came at once. “Mom, you called me?”

“Sit.” Li Tao Hua tipped her chin toward the spot beside Qin Hui Yin.

Tang Lu Wu sat, confused, shoulders tight.

Li Tao Hua ran the comb through Tang Lu Wu’s hair and clicked her tongue. “You’re a girl. How did you let your hair get like this?”

The comb snagged in the yellow, frizzy strands. Tang Lu Wu’s cheeks flushed. She sat straighter, trembling whenever Li Tao Hua’s fingers brushed her scalp.

Li Tao Hua paused. “Are you afraid of me?”

“No!” Tang Lu Wu rushed the word out, then lowered her voice. “No one has ever combed my hair before. I’m just… really happy.”

For a moment, Li Tao Hua didn’t speak. Then her hand resumed, gentler this time, patient in a way that carried more weight than a dozen soft words.

“Silly girl,” she murmured.

Inside, by the window, Tang Yi Chen read by lamplight. The flame flickered, throwing his shadow long across the room. Through the glass, he could see the three women in the yard—hair, laughter, quiet warmth—and something eased in his chest.

“Brother…” Tang Yi Xiao bit the end of his brush, miserable. “Can we rest today?”

The warmth vanished from Tang Yi Chen’s face.

He looked at Tang Yi Xiao with the brush between his teeth, then at Tang Da Fu scowling at the character for “heaven” on the paper as if it were his mortal enemy. A vein throbbed at Tang Yi Chen’s temple.

After dinner, he had taught Tang Da Fu, Tang Yi Xiao, and Tang Lu Wu to read. Tang Lu Wu finished the assignment quickly. The other two… didn’t.

He’d only taught three characters. All he asked was that they recognize them and write them properly. Yet for his birth father and younger brother, it was harder than climbing to the heavens.

Tang Yi Chen set his own brush down, eyes sharp. “Dad,” he said evenly, “Auntie Li can read, and her handwriting is good too. Do you think you’re worthy of her?”

Tang Da Fu froze.

Tang Yi Chen’s gaze shifted to Tang Yi Xiao. “And you—you want to become a merchant, but you can’t even read. You want to check account books? With your ability right now, do you think your Second Sister will still take you along to do business?”

Tang Da Fu and Tang Yi Xiao stared at him, struck dumb.