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墨書 Inktalez
It was a certain evening at the turn of spring and summer in 1978, with colorful clouds filling the sky.
It was dinner time, and smoke was rising from Liu Family Village. The women were busy cooking at home, while the men, carrying farming tools on their shoulders, were returning home from the fields one after another.
At that moment, an unexpected visitor arrived in the village.
A girl dressed in Han Ethnicity attire was wandering along the small path outside the arched bridge on the west side of the village entrance, hesitating to enter.
As villagers passed by her, they glanced in her direction.
"Which village are you from? Who are you looking for?" someone stopped to ask her, speaking in the local Tujia dialect.
The girl actually couldn't understand their words, but she was clever and seemed to slightly infer their meaning from their expressions and lip movements.
"I... I'm not looking for anyone," the girl said shyly, keeping her head down with her hands clasped in front of her, nervously gripping the hem of her clothes.
The village often had cleanly dressed individuals who seemed mentally disturbed wandering around. Seeing that she couldn't explain herself, the questioner assumed she was someone with mental issues and quickly moved on after giving her a glance.
After a long time, when no one paid her any more attention, the girl cautiously stepped onto the arched bridge. After crossing the ten-meter-long bridge, she entered Liu Family Village.
Many people had gathered at the bridgehead of Liu Family Village. When they saw a stranger had come to the village, especially a girl in Han clothing, they curiously surrounded her and began asking questions one after another.
She said she was lost and had wandered into Liu Family Village. She wanted to find a place to stay for one night.
"Where are you from? How could an adult get lost like this?" finally asked a somewhat younger man in awkward Mandarin.
"I'm from outside the mountains. I've been feeling down these past few days and came out for a walk. I don't know how I ended up in the mountains. Now it's getting dark, and I can't make it back home. I was hoping to borrow a place to stay for one night. Could you please help me?" Looking at the crowd surrounding her with questions, the girl kept her head down and explained timidly in a soft voice. Her Mandarin was much clearer than that of the villagers, so everyone could understand her words.
This unexpected guest in Liu Family Village was Bai Cuifen.
That day, she wore a white shirt with blue floral patterns and a pink spring jacket over it. Her cheeks were flushed red, and under the gaze of so many people, she felt even more shy and blushed deeper.
That day, she was like the sky, filled with colorful clouds.
"Feeling down? What could a young person like you possibly be upset about?"
Some young men cast lewd glances at her, their smirks and eyes crinkled with mischief appearing somewhat lascivious.
Indeed, standing before them was Bai Cuifen, tall and graceful, her ample bosom rising and falling. A faint blush tinged her fair face due to shyness, her eyelids lowered, resembling a peach blossom about to bloom or a bashful flower smiling gently. It wasn't just the young men's eyes that roamed over her; even the older men and women couldn't help but scan her face and figure.
Many asked questions, but few genuinely wanted to help her. After satisfying their curiosity, no one truly intended to lend a hand.
At that moment, Qing Shusheng walked in from outside the village, unaware of the unfamiliar girl in the crowd.
It was common for a group of people to gather at the village bridge, chatting or teasing a young wife with risqué jokes. Qing Shusheng never joined in such gatherings.
He was about to walk past when he suddenly heard a timid female voice say from behind, "Could someone take me in for a night? I'll leave tomorrow morning."
Her accent clearly indicated she was from out of town.
Qing Shusheng turned to glance back and saw a group of people surrounding a strange girl, laughing at her.
He stopped and asked in a deep voice, "What's going on?"
Upon hearing his voice, everyone quickly dispersed or awkwardly walked away. Some approached Qing Shusheng to explain the situation.
"Oh, go tell her to follow me. We'll have dinner at my place first; I'll arrange for her accommodation later based on who can help," Qing Shusheng said before moving forward without even looking at Bai Cuifen.
Immediately, someone happily informed Bai Cuifen, saying, "You're lucky! Our captain has spoken. Just follow him to his house for dinner. After that, he'll sort out your accommodation." They pointed ahead at Qing Shusheng, indicating she should follow him.
The villagers explained for a long time, gesturing for a while, before Bai Cuifen finally understood and happily ran forward to catch up with Qing Shusheng, timidly following behind him.
Qing Shusheng suddenly brought back a woman, and Liu Xiuzhen was not surprised. She had already known that a lost woman from outside had come to the village, and she also knew that if Qing Shusheng encountered her, he would definitely bring her back.
So, while Liu Xiuzhen was collecting clothes from the drying rack in front of the yard, she merely shot them an annoyed glance and said nothing.
At the entrance, Liu Xiuzhen's mother, Elderly Lady Yi, was sitting on a chair holding her grandson Liu Jiawei, who was not yet six months old.
After greeting her, Qing Shusheng went directly into the main room.
He placed the hoe he had been carrying on his shoulder in a corner behind the door and turned to speak to his father-in-law Liu Dezhou, also known as Liu Old Man, who was sitting at the head of the main room. "Father, this woman got lost and entered our village. I brought her back. She will have dinner at our house tonight. Later, I'll arrange for her to stay at someone else's house for the night and send her on her way tomorrow morning."
At this moment, Bai Cuifen stood timidly at the door, afraid to enter. While Qing Shusheng was talking to Liu Dezhou, he did not glance back at her or invite her in.
"Mm." Liu Dezhou nodded while smoking a homemade cigarette and called out to Liu Xiuzhen, who had already gone into the kitchen. "Make an extra meal tonight."
After saying that, Liu Dezhou got up and walked to the entrance. He picked up a broom that was lying on the ground and waved to Bai Cuifen, who was still standing at the door hesitantly.
Bai Cuifen understood and smiled at Liu Dezhou before lowering her head and stepping lightly into the house.
Once inside, she stood dazedly in the center of the main room, looking around. No one greeted her or paid attention to her; Qing Shusheng and Liu Dezhou were already busy with their own matters. Liu Xiuzhen was cooking in the kitchen and did not come out to greet her.
This was how Bai Cuifen felt when she first arrived at Liu Family Village.
At that time, Qing Shusheng and Liu Xiuzhen had been married for two years, and Liu Xiuzhen had just given birth to their first son, Liu Jiawei.
During dinner that night, Qing Shusheng discussed with Liu Dezhou where would be a good place to take Bai Cuifen for lodging for the night.
Liu Dezhou did not respond to Qing Shusheng but instead said to Liu Xiuzhen, "After dinner, ask her about her situation and whether she is married."
"Ask her about her situation? What situation should I ask about?" Liu Xiuzhen, holding a child in one arm and leaning over her meal, looked up at Liu Dezhou upon hearing his words.
"Ask if she is married? She looks like someone who is married. Find out what's going on; a married woman shouldn't be wandering around everywhere," Liu Dezhou said, tapping his chopsticks against his bowl with a serious expression.
Liu Xiuzhen was taken aback, looking at Qing Shusheng.
No matter how fierce and bold Liu Xiuzhen was outside, in front of Qing Shusheng, she still acted like a delicate woman, always used to letting him make the decisions.
"You should go ask her. It’s better to clarify things so we can make arrangements," Qing Shusheng said to Liu Xiuzhen.
He knew that the usually shrewd father-in-law wanted Liu Xiuzhen to inquire about the unfamiliar girl for reasons beyond just arranging her accommodation for the night. However, he could only say this to Liu Xiuzhen, as her straightforward mind wouldn't think as thoroughly and meticulously as he did.
After finishing the meal and putting down the dishes, Liu Xiuzhen handed her son to Grandma and turned to pull Bai Cuifen into her room.
With somewhat inaccurate Mandarin and gestures, after about ten minutes, Liu Xiuzhen finally managed to find out Bai Cuifen's situation.
As expected from Liu Dezhou's guess, Bai Cuifen was indeed a married woman and was also pregnant.
"You’re a pregnant woman? How can you be wandering around alone? Where are your family?" Liu Xiuzhen exclaimed with wide eyes, her voice raised in surprise.
"I have no family," Bai Cuifen replied softly, her head lowered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No family?" Liu Xiuzhen stared at Bai Cuifen in shock, her eyes wide as saucers. She looked Bai Cuifen up and down before finally focusing on her still slightly protruding belly.
She didn't understand that when Bai Cuifen said she had no family, it meant she lacked their care; she was essentially without family.
Bai Cuifen's fluent Mandarin and her simple yet slightly different demeanor from other rural women indicated that she was an educated woman. Therefore, her subtly meaningful words were lost on Liu Xiuzhen, who had never attended school and was illiterate.
"Then whose child is in your belly? It can't be an illegitimate child, right? Is that why your family kicked you out?" Liu Xiuzhen blurted out bluntly, not hesitating or being coy about saying "illegitimate child."
"No, I have a husband," Liu Xiuzhen said, raising her head with a determined gaze, no longer timid as she had been moments ago.
"A husband? Then where is he? Didn't you just say you have no family? You're pregnant; how could your husband let you wander around alone? What if something happens?" Liu Xiuzhen asked loudly.
"I... My husband passed away. I... was feeling down and just wanted to go out for a walk. I didn't expect to wander so far," Bai Cuifen replied, lowering her head again, her eyes fixed on her toes, her voice timid.
"Your husband passed away?" Liu Xiuzhen exclaimed, covering her mouth with one hand, astonished and speechless for a moment.
Under Liu Xiuzhen's persistent questioning, Bai Cuifen gradually revealed her story, like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube.
It turned out that Bai Cuifen was indeed the married woman Liu Dezhou had suspected, and she was a newlywed bride.
Less than six months after marrying her husband, Bai Cuifen became pregnant. Her in-laws were overjoyed and eagerly preparing to welcome the new life growing inside her.
Just as she was dreaming of a happy future, her husband suddenly fell ill and passed away swiftly after a fierce illness.
Since her husband's death, his relatives and even the entire local community believed that she had cursed him. They called her a jinx and said she was doomed to bring misfortune to her husband. After all, how could someone who was strong and healthy before marriage suddenly die after they wed?
She did not argue for herself nor could she; the reality was as it was.
The day she arrived at Liu Family Village was after her mother-in-law had scolded her harshly. Feeling upset, she took a ride on a random vehicle, got off at an arbitrary stop, and wandered aimlessly until she found herself in Liu Family Village just before sunset. It was there that Qing Shusheng brought her back.
As Liu Xiuzhen and Bai Cuifen exited the room, Liu Xiuzhen was about to report Bai Cuifen's situation to Qing Shusheng and Liu Dezhou when Liu Dezhou, sitting at the head of the dining table smoking, waved his hand and said, "No need to say anything; we all heard it. You called someone into your room to ask questions without closing the door. You might as well have asked us directly."
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