Chapter 31

When Li Wang was young, his family was not well-off. It wasn't until he was in his twenties that his parents found him a wife. His wife's appearance could only be described as average, but she was honest and modest, and Li Wang was content with her.

Three years into their marriage, they already had two sons. Initially, Li Wang's parents were happy about the addition to the family, but it soon turned into worry and dissatisfaction. Especially his mother, because his wife had to take care of two children and couldn't work in the fields, she often vented her frustration at home, engaging in arguments and scolding.

Li Wang felt frustrated too. In order to support his wife and children, he soon started seeking work in nearby villages.

However, he had the misfortune of encountering raiding nomads during one of his jobs. Those nomads captured him and sold him as a slave to the Wuhu tribe outside the border.

Jin Tigu, the youngest ger of the Wuhu tribe's chief, was born handsome, clever, and a quick learner. From a young age, he travelled with the tribe, engaging in trade and learning the languages of many tribes.

(T/N : Finally we get a little more background information about Yong Ge's family)

He was particularly curious about the things from Da Xia (Great Xia), and at first, he would secretly communicate with Li Wang in broken Da Xia language when nobody was paying attention. Li Wang was in a difficult situation at the time. He was injured and physically weaker than the members of other ethnic groups, so he was practically given away. 

In order to save his own life, he taught Jin Tigu to speak the Da Xia language and built a good relationship with him. Jin Tigu indeed protected him, and over time, Li Wang recovered from his injuries. Jin Tigu's proficiency in the Da Xia language also improved, and communication between them became almost barrier-free.

By that time, Li Wang had been away from his hometown for several months and was extremely worried about his wife and children. Feeling pity for him, Jin Tigu secretly released him during one of the tribal migrations and gave him some silver to return home.

Li Wang was naturally grateful. Before leaving, he revealed the specific location of his hometown to Jin Tigu and promised that whenever Jin Tigu came looking for him, he would do his best to repay his kindness.

At this point, Li Wang covered his face with shame. "Your mother was my benefactor. Before leaving, he entrusted you to me, but I failed to fulfill my promise. I lost the silver he left for you and raised two worthless sons, making you suffer with me… I've let him down!"

"Father, you've already done well, and I don't feel that our lives are difficult…" Yong-ge tried to interject.

Li Wang shook his head and interrupted him. "No, Yong-ge, you don't understand. You should have had a life like Feng-ge, with no worries about clothing and food. When you got married, there would have been a substantial dowry, and you could have chosen whoever you wanted to marry… Your mother had everything planned for you, but I was foolish! I let my own mother steal what rightfully belonged to you, and the dowry that was stolen from Feng-ge should have been yours!"

Since Li Wang had already decided to tell Yong-ge, he didn't hide anything. He explained everything in detail.

Yong-ge didn't know what to say for a moment. His father never mentioned any of this before, and today he suddenly disclosed so much information. His mind was in a whirl.

Li Wang wiped his face. "Now you understand why I severed ties with the Li family, right? You don't need to pity them either. The good days they had in the past were all stolen from you. Now they are simply getting what they deserve!"

Yong-ge nodded in a daze. According to his father's words, he couldn't sympathize with Feng-ge anymore. After all, he wasn't a saint.

It was just a pity that the things left by his mother had all been deceived away by the swindler…

Yong-ge thought for a moment and asked, "What happened to my mother… Why did he come alone to find you in Da Xia?"

"I don't know," Li Wang shook his head. "When I saw him, he was severely injured and only told me that the Wuhu tribe was no more. He warned me not to take you to the border and not to let others discover you…"

There was no tradition of cremation in the Wuhu tribe, but Li Wang fulfilled the young master's request and cremated his body, bringing back the ashes to bury in the family's backyard. He didn't even dare to erect a tombstone.

Yong-ge would go to the mountain every year to pay respects. He definitely remembered the barren grave without anything. Thinking that the remains of Jin Tigu, who had planned everything for him before his death, and his own mother were buried there without even a tombstone, his nose suddenly felt sour.

"So, where is my father… I mean, the man who fathered me with my mother?" Yong-ge asked.

Li Wang's expression became strange at the mention of this. He didn't want to talk about it, but he was afraid that Yong-ge would misunderstand, so he eventually told him, "The young master said your father is an ungrateful person and told me not to go looking for him."

Without even a name, Yong-ge would need some information if he wanted to find him.

But considering how beautiful Jin Tigu was, Li Wang suspected that he had been deceived by a man before giving birth to Yong-ge.

"Oh…" Well, forget it. His mother had such a tragic experience, and that man never showed up from beginning to end. It seemed he was undoubtedly an ungrateful person.

With everything explained, Li Wang hesitated for a moment. "What do you think about Cheng Duo?"

"What do you mean, what do I think?" Yong-ge's eyes flickered, and Li Wang could tell he was pretending to be innocent.

But Yong-e had a thin skin, and Li Wang didn't want to expose him either. He said, "Yong-ge, I've already told you about your origins. Your background is no worse than anyone else's, even better than everyone in this village. Although there is no dowry, I will find a way to earn it back for you. I can even borrow money if needed. But you mustn't give up on yourself…" like becoming someone's concubine.

If Jin Tigu knew about it from the afterlife, he would probably be furious.

But Li Wang had raised his benefactor's child like this. When Jin Tigu returned, the first thing he would do was probably to deal with him…

Yong-ge understood the unfinished words from his father. His face immediately turned red. "Father, I don't think that way!"

Li Wang glanced at him. "Since you don't think that way, then keep your distance from him in the future. I will go to the matchmaker in a few days and inquire about potential families suitable for you. With your two useless brothers gone, it shouldn't be difficult to find a suitable match."

The main reason was that Yong-ge had become more attractive. Li Wang had caught several men in the village stealing glances at him more than once. Although gers weren't as valued as girls, if the ger was handsome, those men wouldn't necessarily insist on having a girl.

"Father, I'm not in a hurry."

Li Wang sighed as if he hadn't heard him. "It's all my fault. Otherwise, if you wanted to marry into another family, it would have been possible."

Yong-ge didn't want his father to fall into self-blame again, so he hastily said, "It's okay, Father. Just do as you see fit." Then he used the excuse of preparing food and hurried into the kitchen.

Because the previous night's revelation about his origins was too shocking, Yong-ge had tossed and turned all night. He woke up before dawn on the second day.

He wanted to go to the back mountain to visit his mother.

Taking advantage of the dim morning light, he left the house and turned around, only to find someone standing outside their courtyard. It was none other than Cheng Duo, tall and sturdy.

Yong-ge was startled. "What are you doing here?"

Cheng Duo lifted the things in his hand and mumbled, "I'm going to the mountain later. I was afraid you wouldn't find anyone, so I brought your wages for these past few days."

"No need to rush…" Yong-ge felt a bit embarrassed. His family was very poor. Did Cheng Duo think that if he didn't give them their wages quickly, they would run out of food?

In fact, he and his father had collected a lot of wild vegetables and goods, and combined with the money they had earned earlier, they could sustain themselves for a month or two without any problem.

Cheng Duo didn't know why he had come to check on them either. To avoid appearing abrupt, he used going to the mountain as an excuse, even though he never spent more than a day there each time.

To cover up his uneasiness, Cheng Duo found a topic to discuss. "Why are you up so early? Where are you going?"

"Nowhere, just going to the back mountain."

"The back mountain?"

Yong-ge thought for a moment and decided to be straightforward. "My mother is buried there."

Since his father dared to tell him, he probably thought it was fine. After all, it had been over a decade, and he admitted that it wasn't a big deal.

Mother… that should be Yong-ge's mother?

Cheng Duo made the connection smoothly and said straightforwardly, "Alright, I'll accompany you."

It was still dark outside, and he would be alone. What if he encountered wolves or other wild animals? Besides, it was the wilderness, and there were snakes…

"No need." Yong-ge quickly refused. How could he go to pay respects to his mother with Cheng Duo tagging along?

Cheng Duo didn't think too much about it and assumed that Yong-ge didn't want to trouble him. So, he changed his tone and became more forceful. "It's alright. It won't delay my trip to the mountain. Just quickly bring the things inside, and I'll wait for you on the path behind."

When Yong-ge heard Cheng Duo's tone, which brooked no refusal, he decided not to say anything. Well, if he wanted to come along, let him. After all, his mother might not even be able to see…

Yong-ge took the bag that Cheng Duo handed him and realized that besides the money, there was also a piece of meat and a chicken inside. He thought for a moment but didn't say anything, just went inside with the bag.

The two of them walked up the mountain, one in front and one behind. The forest was quiet, with only the chirping of crickets and occasional melodious bird songs.

Yong-ge walked in the dark forest, unable to see the path clearly, but thinking of Cheng Duo behind him, he unconsciously quickened his pace…

Cheng Duo, of course, had no problem walking in the dark. He could even see Yong-ge's slender and straight legs, his thin but not skinny waist, and the small round mound that lifted and tightened with each step…

Perhaps his gaze was too piercing. Suddenly, Yong-ge slipped and fell backward uncontrollably, exclaiming, "Ah!"

Without thinking, Cheng Duo reached out and grabbed his waist. The feeling was the same as the previous few times he had touched it—supple, soft, and slipping down as if it were greased… Cheng Duo couldn't help but exert a bit more force.

Yong-ge fell into Cheng Duo's arms, his back against the broad chest that felt like a wall of flesh. The familiar scent lingered in his nose. And on his waist, he still held the large hand of the other person…

Yong-ge's heart suddenly became chaotic. He quickly pushed Cheng Duo away and stood upright. "Alright… I'm steady now. Please let go."

Cheng Duo actually wanted to pinch a few more times, not out of lust, but rather the inherent mischief in men. When they encountered something elastic, they couldn't help but get itchy hands…

Of course, if he were to act now, it would be considered harassment. So Cheng Duo took a step back and decisively let go.

Yong-ge bit his lip and turned around, lowering his head as he continued walking up the mountain. He felt that agreeing to go up the mountain with Cheng Duo was a mistake. His father had warned him to stay away from the man, yet he turned around and got close to him again. What was he thinking?

Li Wang had taken good care of Jin Tigu's grave. He had planted a pine tree next to it, which had grown tall after more than a decade.

Yong-ge swept away the fallen leaves on the grave and knelt in front of it, respectfully bowing three times. He felt a bit embarrassed and promised himself to buy more incense and paper money for the next visit.

Cheng Duo was somewhat puzzled. It wasn't a festival or a special occasion, so why did Yong-ge suddenly want to visit the grave? Did he have a quarrel with his father?

However, Cheng Duo didn't ask. When someone was paying respects to their loved ones, basic respect should be shown. He took out his machete, walked around to the side, and cut away the dry branches around the grave, making it look brighter.

By this time, the sun had risen, and the morning light, veiled in a thin mist, fell on Yong-ge's face, causing his whole figure to blur. Cheng Duo quietly watched, feeling as if Yong-ge had discovered something that he didn't know…

…

Because Cheng Duo was there, Yong-ge didn't stay in front of his mother's grave for too long. After bowing, he stood up and said with a melancholic tone, "Let's go back."

Cheng Duo, with sharp eyes, noticed the slight redness in Yong-ge's eyes when he stood up. Although he quickly turned around to conceal it, he couldn't hide the sense of melancholy that emanated from him.

On the way back, Cheng Duo glanced back at Yong-ge several times. He hadn't realized that the things he used to care least about were now something he actively paid attention to…