Chapter 13: Bringing Her Home

Yang Ye approached with his grain ration, his face a mix of delight and unease. He opened his mouth, hesitating on how to address Xu Lian. Calling him “Brother Lian” seemed too casual, while “Assistant Manager Xu” seemed too distant and awkward. After much internal struggle, his face turning red, he finally uttered a formal yet reserved “Son-in-law”.

Xu Lian understood the meaning. In this world, among lower-class families, the traditional father-in-law-son-in-law relationship was virtually nonexistent. Men often faced high mortality rates, so women often remarried. One “son-in-law” today might be replaced by another tomorrow, rendering such familial ties meaningless.

Only in wealthy households, where stability was greater, did these relationships carry weight. Yang Ye’s choice of address indicated that he now saw Xu Lian as someone from such a family.

“There’s no need for formalities, father-in-law. We’re not strangers. Let’s leave things as they were,” Xu Lian replied, addressing Yang Ye as “father-in-law”, thus cementing their relationship.

Xu Lian really liked Chan’er. She was beautiful and spirited, and he had no intention of letting her be with anyone else. As long as nothing happened to him, he would ensure that she stayed by his side for life.

“Brother Lian, wait for me! I haven’t gotten on the cart yet!”

Having collected his grain, Zhang Yuan saw Xu Lian driving the donkey cart with Yang Ye and ran after them, shouting as he chased after them.

Xu Lian had intended to leave quietly, but seeing Zhang Yuan, he had no choice but to stop. Zhang Yuan climbed onto the cart, panting heavily with his small grain sack in his hand.

Around them, other workers with daughters approached eagerly.

“Assistant Manager Xu, my daughter is very pretty. How about her?”

“No, no, my daughter is the most beautiful! Come to my house and have a look.”

Zhang Yuan frowned, sternly waving them off. “Move aside, all of you! Get lost!”

He clearly understood the situation. It was already enough that Yang Ye had secured a connection with Xu Lian. If too many others did the same, his lifelong friendship with Xu Lian would become far less significant.

However, Yang Ye didn’t show any such irritation. With a sly smile, he said, “Son-in-law, you hardly have any women at home. Even with Chan’er, there won’t be more than three. It wouldn’t hurt to have a few more good-looking ones.”

“I don’t need anyone else for now. Everyone, make way,” Xu Lian shook his head firmly.

Bringing too many women back at once would undoubtedly lead to competition for favor, even if it wasn’t jealousy. This could disrupt the harmony he needed to build and affect his personal progress in cultivation. As an assistant manager, he couldn’t afford to get carried away.

Disappointed, the workers reluctantly stepped aside and cleared the way. Xu Lian drove the cart out of the quarry and headed home.

“Brother Lian, let me drive. I’m good at it!” Zhang Yuan offered enthusiastically.

“No need,” Xu Lian declined.

Zhang Yuan pleaded, “Now that you’re an assistant manager, you don’t need this little donkey cart anymore. If you let me have it, I can start hauling stones again.”

Xu Lian turned around and gave him an apologetic look. “Why didn’t you say so before? I’ve already given the cart to father-in-law as part of Chan’er’s dowry, covering the eighty-five catties of grain. Tomorrow, I’ll let Father-in-law take over the stone transportation job.”

Yang Ye paused, then quickly caught on, his face lighting up with joy. “That’s right! My son-in-law has already given me the cart.”

Zhang Yuan glared at Yang Ye. “You sold your daughter to Brother Lian – it is just a transaction! What is this ‘son-in-law’ nonsense? You’re just trying to climb the social ladder!”

Yang Ye calmly replied, “My son-in-law is now an assistant manager, essentially part of the upper class. My daughter married into his family, and she’ll only have him for the rest of her life. Their relationship is stable, so why shouldn’t I call him son-in-law?”

Zhang Yuan fumed. “Brother Lian, I had my eye on this cart first! How could you give it to someone else?”

Xu Lian ignored him. The so-called “brotherhood” they shared was meaningless, especially when it came to matters involving women.

After all, Zhang Yuan had previously made a move on Sister Xiya, yet here he was shamelessly claiming to be a lifelong friend. Xu Lian felt that he’d already been more than generous by not crossing Zhang Yuan’s name off the blood sacrifice list Han Du gave him.

“Brother Lian, lend me ten taels of silver so I can buy my own donkey,” Zhang Yuan pleaded.

“I don’t have the money. I’ve just become an assistant manager. My monthly salary hasn’t even been paid yet, and when it does, I’ll need it to pay off my debts. Where would I get some extra silver to lend you?”

“Then talk to Manager Han. I saw how close you two seemed during the inspection. Maybe he could make me an overseer?”

“Overseer positions are under the authority of Manager Han. As an assistant manager, I don’t have the power to interfere,” Xu Lian replied.

“But we grew up together! Now that you’ve made it big, you should at least help me out a little!” Zhang Yuan’s voice trembled with desperation, on the verge of tears.

Xu Lian could only marvel at Zhang Yuan’s shamelessness. This man had once plotted against Sister Xiya and now dared to play the victim by calling him a childhood brother.

Still, Xu Lian understood. In a world where survival was precarious, people lived for the moment. With such a fleeting life, relationships often blurred, and anyone attractive became a target for attention.

“Get down. We’re at your place,” Xu Lian said, slowing down the carriage.

Zhang Yuan had no choice but to climb down, his face full of unwillingness.

Zhang Yuan clung to the cart, refusing to get off and begging Xu Lian to arrange a job for him.

Xu Lian’s patience was wearing thin. “Are you going to get off or not? If not, don’t bother showing up at the quarry tomorrow. You’ll be fired.”

Terrified, Zhang Yuan climbed down from the cart.

Xu Lian drove off with Yang Ye.

“Son-in-law, would you like some tea?”

When they arrived at Yang Ye’s house, he hopped off the cart and extended the invitation.

Xu Lian looked at the darkening sky. “No need for tea. It’s getting late; I should bring Chan’er back early.”

He followed Yang Ye inside and, just like the day before, saw the two gaunt elderly women and Yang Chan’er.

“Chan’er, come here,” Yang Ye called her into the inner room.

No one knew what he said to her, but after a short while, Yang Chan’er came out with flushed cheeks, her demeanor shy and obedient as she stood by Xu Lian’s side.

Yang Ye walked them to the door. “Son-in-law, I leave Chan’er in your hands.”

Xu Lian helped Yang Chan’er onto the donkey cart. After some thought, he handed a rooster and a fish to Yang Ye.

Yang Ye’s face lit up with joy as he accepted the gifts. “Thank you, son-in-law.”

The two elderly women at home were also overjoyed. Knowing that there would be meat for dinner tonight was a rare treat in these times when even grain was hard to come by and meat was a luxury.

Tears glistened in Yang Chan’er’s eyes as she gazed at Xu Lian. “Brother Lian, you are so good to me.”

Xu Lian chuckled and reached out to lightly pinch her cheek. “Didn’t I say I would treat you well?”

Yang Chan’er blushed even deeper. “I’ll treat you well, too.”

Who could resist such tenderness? Without further ado, Xu Lian drove the carriage home.

As the cold evening wind swept by, Xu Lian removed his coat and handed it to Yang Chan’er, who was sitting in the back seat. Touched by his gesture, she felt her gratitude and affection grow even more. Such seemingly small details were the foundation of a strong bond.

It was worth noting that during the daytime, women avoided staying outside for too long, as it was believed they might attract unwanted spirits or bad omens. However, when the sky began to darken, it became less of an issue.

This was why Liang Yan had taken the girls from Lichun Brotherl to the quarry at dusk, and why Xu Lian was taking Yang Chan’er home at the same time.