Peach Blossoms Of The World (2)

Old Nie asked her to pour wine, but she refused. He asked her to eat, but she wouldn't. When Old Nie praised Qi Xiang's gifts, she declared she would never use them. Old Nie got angry and told her to leave if she wouldn't eat.

Nannan went out and sulked under the peach tree.

After a while, Qi Xiang came out.

He had grown into a handsome young man. A year in prison had taken its toll, but he stood tall, his once passionate eyes now deep and unreadable.

Qi Xiang squatted down and picked up a petal from the peach blossom, "Nannan, how did I offend you?"

Nannan turned away, "Your life is worthless."

Qi Xiang smiled, "What do you mean?"

Nannan smiled back, "You know exactly what I mean."

"I really don't understand."

"Stop pretending. You know what Uncle Shi wants from you." Nannan smiled sweetly, "Did you borrow a lot of money this time?"

Her eyes were particularly cold, like sunlight piercing through the ice in the dead of winter.

Her smile was as sweet as the peach blossoms.

Qi Xiang suddenly changed his tone, "I'm not stable enough to make promises."

"You would never make promises," Nannan saw Lanlan approaching and lowered her voice, "You'll marry a woman who is useful to you, right?"

Her voice was small and fierce, still carrying the innocence of a child. She smiled as she walked past Qi Xiang, taking Lanlan's hand, "Let's go."

Lanlan hesitated, "You go back first; I want to talk to him."

"What do you have to say to him?"

"You talked to him, why can't I?" Lanlan lowered her head, "Okay, I'll just say a few words."

Nannan stomped back to the house, hearing Lanlan softly say, "You must have suffered a lot. My dad was so worried about you..."

Nannan stamped her foot. Lanlan was so naive.

Qi Xiang left again, saying he would come back when he had time.

After that, he was very busy. At the end of each month, he sent someone with money and goods, as usual.

He didn't bring much, as Qi Xiang was exceptionally frugal from the day he started his official career.

Nannan's sister-in-law finally got pregnant, making the whole family very happy.

Qi Xiang helped find a job for the third brother at the city garrison.

The fourth and fifth brothers also didn't want to stay idle; they decided to work together as clerks in a pharmacy.

The house suddenly felt much more spacious.

That year, during the New Year, the second brother returned.

That was the happiest time Nannan remembered for her parents. They prepared a large New Year's Eve dinner, and everyone drank a lot of wine. Even the eldest brother was happy and didn't scold anyone.

The second brother had not touched his salary and brought it all back, saying it was for his sister's dowry. He said he had fought bravely and had been promoted to squad leader. Everyone asked where the battles were, since no one had heard about any wars. The second brother couldn't laugh and finally said, "Let's eat."

Only the eldest brother looked at him and said, "Second Brother, come home as soon as you can. Doing anything at home is better."

The second brother said nothing. Nannan felt that he didn't want to come back, probably because he didn't want to be a butcher for the rest of his life.

Nannan was thirteen. Her birthday was in March, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom.

Her sister-in-law was about to give birth.

The whole family was busy.

Uncle Shi aged quickly. Even though he was younger than her father, who was still strong like an ox, Uncle Shi's hair was all white, and he coughed, hunched over. Everyone told him to stop working, but he refused. After working, his cough worsened.

Nannan blamed Qi Xiang. Qi Xiang often sent letters. Uncle Shi would sigh after reading them, unable to sleep, coughing so much that no one else could sleep. They often saw him wiping his nose and eyes with a crumpled handkerchief, muttering, "What will happen to the country?"

When Nannan's mother glared at him, he would fall silent and continue sighing, staring at the ceiling.

Nannan remembered clearly that the night before her birthday, her mother and aunt stayed up making new clothes for her and Lanlan. Nannan watched excitedly as the sleeves took shape...

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Nannan opened it to find the third brother, sweating and in a hurry. He said only one sentence before running off: "Tell the fourth and fifth brothers not to come home or stay at the shop these next two days. Find somewhere to hide."

The family didn't know what was going on but passed the message along. This meant the fourth and fifth brothers couldn't celebrate her birthday the next day.

Her birthday suddenly became much quieter. As they ate longevity noodles, everyone discussed what the third brother's words might mean.

Then, there was a loud bang on the door.

A dozen people barged in, saying they were conscripting soldiers.

Old Nie was furious, saying they already had two sons in service.

They didn't care, saying the eldest had returned.

Old Nie said they were at the shop. The men left.

A while later, they returned, bringing the third brother with them.

This time, they were not so polite. They demanded Old Nie tell them where his sons were. Old Nie refused. The third brother tried to placate them with smiles and money, but they ignored him. Since the sons weren't there, they decided to take Old Nie instead.

A few men grabbed Old Nie, but he was strong from years of butchering and fought back, taking several blows to the head and mouth. Old Nie was ready to fight to the death but was beaten down with the butts of their knives, clutching his arm and chest in pain.

The third brother cried out, "I'll go!"

The house descended into chaos, with parents rushing forward and Uncle Shi and the aunt holding them back. The eldest brother, who had been silent, suddenly charged out, eyes blood-red, and grabbed the third brother's hand, placing it on the chopping block, ready to cut off his thumb.

The men surrounded the eldest brother and kicked him. The sister-in-law rushed out to protect him.

A kick landed on her belly, and she screamed as blood flowed out.

The eldest brother turned into a wild beast, grabbing a knife to attack. The third brother held him back and pushed him against the wall.

The third brother knelt and pleaded, "Father! Mother! Brother! Sister-in-law! I'll go!"

The room fell silent, even the leader shaking his head, saying there was no other way; it was the rule from above.

The third brother turned to kneel before Nannan, saying, "Let me eat a bowl of birthday noodles. Who knows if I'll ever see her get married."

Seeing no objections, Nannan obediently brought a bowl of noodles to her brother.

She smiled and said, "Brother, it's okay, we still have me at home."

The third brother almost poured the noodles down his throat, hugged her tightly, wiped his nose, and turned to leave.

Everyone cried, but Nannan didn't. She picked up the overturned table and the broken bowls, telling Lanlan, "Watch the house."

Lanlan asked, "Where are you going?"

Nannan replied without turning back, "To get a doctor."

Her sister-in-law lost the baby. Her father's arm and ribs were broken. Uncle Shi fell ill and couldn't get up.

Nannan went to the chest and divided the money into four packets.

Her mother asked, "What are you doing with the money? Tell your fourth and fifth brothers to come home quickly."

Nannan coldly replied, "They can't come back."

She no longer discussed things with the adults. Her mother wanted to argue, but her father shook his hand, "Let her go."

Nannan first found her two brothers, gave them money, and told them to hide.

Then she went to Qi Xiang and asked, "What's happening?"

Qi Xiang was startled to see her, "What do you mean?"

Nannan asked, "Is there another war?"

Qi Xiang hesitated.

Nannan continued, "My father, eldest brother, and sister-in-law were beaten. My nephew is gone, my third brother was taken. Can you help us?"

Qi Xiang wiped his sweat, rummaged through his belongings, and gave her everything he had.

Nannan asked, "Besides money, can't you help in any other way?"

Qi Xiang nodded but didn't dare meet her eyes.

Nannan asked again, "Where is it safe to run?"

Qi Xiang hesitated again.

Nannan shouted, "Hurry up and tell me!"

Qi Xiang said, "Qingcheng."

Nannan found her two brothers again, "Go to Qingcheng, immediately. No matter what happens, don't come back."

The brothers hesitated.

Nannan assured them, "Don't worry, I'll take care of the family."

There was no one left at home.

Nannan tried to keep the business going, selling some poor-quality meat, but everyone knew there were no men left in the family, and the meat was quickly stolen.

Nannan closed the shop.

Uncle Shi's condition worsened. Lanlan suggested, "I'll go work as a maid."

Nannan thought it might be a good idea.

She said, "I'll go with you to look."

Upper City only hired house slaves. In the Middle City, regular families no longer hired maids.

They found a decent-looking house. The steward stared at their chests and faces again and again.

Lanlan softly asked, "How much per month? How often can I go home?"

Nannan pulled her away, "Let's go."

They visited six houses. At the last one, a servant greeted them and immediately shut the door behind them.

Lanlan screamed in fear.

Nannan pulled out a knife from her sleeve.

The man laughed and didn't take it seriously, continuing to approach.

Nannan slashed her own pinky, cutting off half of it, "Take another step and see what happens!"

The man was stunned. Nannan opened the door and dragged Lanlan out, running away.

Everyone was looking for work, but jobs were scarce, and prices changed daily.

Lanlan's mother was robbed twice.

Uncle Shi was near death and told his wife, "You should remarry."

Lanlan's mother wiped her tears and told Nannan's mother, "I heard they're hiring for laundry work at the southern camp. I'll go see."

For the first time, the modest housewife went out alone to find work.

A month later, she returned one night, took out two silver dollars from her pocket, and gave them to Nannan's mother.

After feeding her father his medicine, Nannan saw the silver dollars, "Did Aunt give them?"

Her mother nodded.

Nannan put down the bowl and ran out—her aunt had hanged herself from the peach tree. The tree was not very tall; so she almost died while sitting.

Lanlan ran out, screamed, and fainted.

Nannan lowered the body and turned to her trembling mother, saying, "Shh, don't tell Uncle Shi yet. Help me take Aunt to our place."

She sat under the peach tree, thinking and thinking, then went back to Lanlan and said, "If you're scared, you can sleep with my mom. I'll figure out a place for Aunt tomorrow."

Lanlan didn't leave. She leaned on Nannan's shoulder and cried all night, covering her mouth.

Early the next morning, Nannan got up and went to find Qi Xiang. "Aunt hanged herself. She was violated, and Uncle Shi is also dying."

Qi Xiang was stunned for a long time. "Let's go."

Nannan shook her head and blocked the door with her hand. "Uncle Shi has been waiting for you."

Qi Xiang sat down, holding his head in his hands.

Nannan waited.

Qi Xiang stood up again. "Let's go."

Nannan sighed in relief. "I'll go back first, you come later."

When Uncle Shi saw Qi Xiang, his cloudy eyes lit up.

Qi Xiang knelt down, performed a grand bow, and said, "Father, I swear to heaven that I will take good care of Lanlan for the rest of my life. As long as I'm here, she will be too." 

Uncle Shi sat up, holding Qi Xiang's hand. "Good... good... good..."

Then he passed away.

Qi Xiang took a month off to handle his father-in-law and mother-in-law's funerals.

Seven days later, Grand Academician Pei Kujiu arranged a marriage for his youngest daughter.

Suddenly, there was a capable man in the family, and Nannan's burden lightened.

Qi Xiang went to see Old Nie. "I'll take Lanlan with me. She'll observe mourning at my place for three years, then we'll marry."

Old Nie said, "Old Shi didn't misjudge you."

Lanlan asked Nannan, "What do you think of Qi Xiang?"

Nannan replied, "What do you think?"

Lanlan said, "I think he's pretty good."

Nannan said, "If you think he's good, then he's good."

Lanlan held Nannan's hand. "Nannan, I know it's not a good time to say this, but look, with Big Brother like this, our family needs a man... Marry with me, please."

Nannan laughed, "Nonsense."

Lanlan became anxious. "If you're worried about status, I'll make you the main wife."

Nannan sneered, "Nonsense."

Lanlan cried, "We promised to share everything equally."

Nannan stroked her hair. "Silly Lanlan, not everything can be shared equally."

When Qi Xiang's leave ended, he took Lanlan to the Qi family.

He needed the support of this family, and the Qi family needed a capable young member.

He was part of the 'next' generation. Madam Qi officially recognized him into the family, making him the second in line after Qi Hedong.

He would have no biological parents from then on, but it seemed he never really had any.

A year later, Qi Xiang officially entered politics as a member of the Qi family.