After leaving Dr. Wang’s house, Li Cuihong asked Lin Erlang to take Third Sister back to her parents’ home. Li Cuimei stopped them: “No, if she really goes back to her parents’ home like this, you know Sixth Brother’s temper. If Eldest Brother returns, it won’t be easy to handle.”
Li Cuihong retorted sharply, “If it’s not easy, then so be it. Third Sister, you always think of Eldest Brother no matter what, but has he ever shown you any gratitude? With just a few words from Auntie, he’ll turn on you with harsh words. He rarely comes home a few times a year—has he ever considered how his wife and children are doing?”
“Good sister, between husband and wife, there’s no need to keep score. We grew up together—do you think I’m the kind to take losses lying down? If Eldest Brother listens to his mother’s words, I have my own ways to handle it.”
Li Cuihong thought about it and realized Third Sister had a point. Since childhood, Third Sister had always been sharp-tongued, and her mother-in-law’s attempts to provoke her usually ended in frustration. Her tone softened: “But when we go back, Auntie will start nagging again. It’s better to go to our parents’ home. They dote on us, and the brothers and nieces are close. The herbs there are also more complete than Dr. Wang’s.”
Li Cuimei was firm: “No, we’re going back to the Lin family.”
Lin Erlang, who usually spoke little, also advised: “Eldest Sister-in-law, I think Cuihong makes sense. Let me take you to your parents’ home.”
“Haha, you’ve always listened to your wife, so of course you’d think her words make sense.”
Li Cuimei’s teasing made both Lin Erlang and his wife blush. Lin Erlang took after his father—when his mother was around, he listened to her; when she wasn’t, he listened to his wife; and only when neither was present did he follow his own mind. Fortunately, his mother and wife got along well.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, I’m serious.” Despite being teased, Lin Erlang still wanted to persuade her.
Li Cuimei didn’t back down: “I know you both mean well, but I don’t want to go back to my parents’ home right now. If you keep insisting, just let me down—I’ll walk back myself.”
“Alright, alright, you win,” Li Cuihong knew Third Sister’s stubbornness—once she made up her mind, not even nine oxen could pull her back. Still, she wasn’t ready to give up: “Fine, go back to the Lin family, but you must stay in the rear courtyard. Let my mother-in-law take care of you.”
“Deal.” This time, Li Cuimei agreed readily.
The “rear courtyard” Li Cuihong referred to was the innermost section of the three-courtyard house. When the family divided the property, Lin Zhongsi was allotted the second courtyard, while their parents remained in the innermost one, living with Lin Zhongsi and his wife. According to the dynasty’s laws, whichever child the parents lived with before their passing would inherit their property unless otherwise specified. After their parents’ deaths, Lin Zhongsi moved into their courtyard and rented out his original one to traveling merchants for extra income.
Lin Dalang had grown up under his grandparents’ care and only returned to his parents’ household after marriage. Naturally, he was closer to his aunt, who treated him like her own son. Her relationship with Li Cuimei was also special—returning to her aunt’s home felt more comfortable than going back to her own.
When Little Lin Wu heard they were going to Second Grandmother’s house, his face lit up with joy. Unlike his stern grandmother, Second Grandmother loved telling stories to children and always had treats for him. At the thought, his already small eyes narrowed into slits. Lin Juan couldn’t resist pinching his chubby little cheek.
“Ouch! Eldest Sister, men and women shouldn’t touch each other—don’t just grab my face!” Lin Wu rubbed his pinched cheek and grumbled in protest.
“Pfft—”
“HAHAHAHA!”
A three-year-old spouting “men and women shouldn’t touch each other” was hilarious, especially with his other hand still clutched by Li Xia. His antics lightened the mood, and the three adults temporarily forgot their troubles. The group resumed their earlier formation—Lin Erlang carrying Li Cuimei on his back, Li Cuihong holding the still-sleeping Lin Fang, Lin Juan carrying the basket, and Li Xia leading Lin Wu by the hand—as they made their way home.
Lin Erlang and Li Cuihong had one son and two daughters. Lin Meng, the eldest, was three months older than Lin Wen and also attended the village school. The second child, Lin Juan, was six, and the youngest, Lin Xia, was four. Dissatisfied with having too few male heirs, Lin Zhongsi and his wife still hoped Li Cuihong would bear more sons.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Tongshi, who was washing clothes, hurried over and lifted Li Cuimei from Lin Erlang’s back. “Goodness, what happened? You look so pale!”
Unlike most women of her time, Tongshi was tall—nearly six feet by modern standards—with a well-proportioned figure. Her face was long, her eyes large, her nose upturned, and her lips perfectly shaped. While her height was unusual for a woman, no one could deny she was beautiful. Her hair, freshly washed, cascaded over her shoulders without a single gray strand despite her nearing fifty. With her stature, carrying the petite Li Cuimei (under five-foot-three) was no trouble at all.
Embarrassed at being carried in front of the children, Li Cuimei protested, “It’s nothing, Auntie. I’m just a little unwell. These two insisted on carrying me. Please put me down—I can walk inside.”
Li Cuihong didn’t spare her dignity: “Mother-in-law, Dr. Wang said Third Sister has pent-up frustration in her heart. In severe cases, it could cost her life.”
“Oh, child! How could you endure such a serious condition without caring for yourself?” Tongshi strode into the house and gently laid Li Cuimei on her own bed. When Li Cuimei tried to get up, Tongshi pressed her down: “Just like before, you’ll sleep with Auntie.”
Lin Wu panicked: “Second Grandmother, what about Wu’er? And Little Sister?”
Lin Wu was an adorable child—round all over, with small eyes, a tiny nose, and a little mouth. His lips were red, his teeth white, and when he smiled, his entire face seemed to open up except for his eyes. Paired with his bowl-cut hairstyle, he was irresistibly charming. Tongshi loved teasing him and replied solemnly: “You’ll sleep in the basket, just like before.”
The little boy’s face scrunched up like a bun: “Huh? No, Second Grandmother! The basket’s too small—Wu’er won’t fit! Little Sister could sleep in it, though. During the day, Mother carries her in a basket when she works in the fields.”
Tongshi shot Li Cuimei a glare that said they’d talk later, then mimicked Lin Wu’s pout: “What should we do then? Cuihong, do we have a bigger basket at home? Wu’er might not fit.”
“We do,” Li Cuihong pretended to head out. “A few days ago, my husband wove a large basket meant for carrying on the ox. I’ll fetch it for Wu’er to sleep in.”
Lin Wu toddled over quickly and tugged at Li Cuihong’s hem: “No need, Auntie Hong. Wu’er is big now—sleeping in a basket would be undignified.”
His pompous refusal to sleep in the basket despite clearly not wanting to amused Tongshi, who scooped him up and tossed him playfully into the air. The two—old and young—were soon lost in laughter.
Tongshi’s room also had a daybed. Her original plan was for Li Cuimei to sleep on the main bed with Lin Wu and Lin Fang while she took the daybed—all in the same room. Since Lin Zhongsi worked as a constable in another town and was rarely home, there was nothing improper about Li Cuimei staying in Tongshi’s quarters. Little Lin Wu, too young to understand, was beside himself with worry.
When Lin Fang woke again, her mouth was sweet—Tongshi was feeding her goat’s milk. Li Cuimei, relaxed in her aunt’s home, had fallen asleep before her medicine was even ready and hadn’t woken by lunchtime. Lin Wu, accustomed to napping, dozed off after the meal and now slept soundly curled against his mother.
Tongshi knew Lin Fang could nurse even with her eyes closed—just place milk near her lips, and she’d suckle on her own. Seeing it was feeding time and not wanting to disturb her exhausted niece-in-law, Tongshi had freshly squeezed goat’s milk, boiled it with tea to remove the gaminess, added a bit of sugar, and spoon-fed it drop by drop to Lin Fang.
After finishing, Tongshi examined the empty bowl and asked Li Cuihong: “Cuihong, look—did Fang’er drink more this time?”
Unlike most families, Tongshi addressed her daughters-in-law by their given names instead of “Eldest Daughter-in-law” or “the Li woman,” showing affection. She treated them without airs, sometimes joking with them as equals—behavior that would scandalize Confucian scholars.
Li Cuihong leaned in, equally delighted: “Yes, Mother. Every time, you hope Fang’er will drink more and prepare extra, but there’s always leftovers. This time, she finished it all. Third Sister will be overjoyed when she hears. Once she wakes, we must tell her—happiness will speed her recovery.”
As mother- and daughter-in-law shared this happy moment, a voice called from outside the courtyard: “Brother-in-law, is Third Sister here with you?”
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