36: Chapter 36 Even His Own Son Can’t Control 36: Chapter 36 Even His Own Son Can’t Control “`
And so, after leaving the tavern, Song Chongjin felt the money he had just earned in his pocket and made his way to the town’s medicinal shop, familiar as the back of his hand, where he picked up several prescriptions.
Now he had only a dozen or so large coins left.
There was no helping it, his mother, Lady Song, was frail, and it was said her health had been particularly poor when she gave birth to him.
For many years, she had only clung to life with the help of medicine.
Of all the medicines, it was the ginseng that was the most expensive, and high-quality ginseng simply couldn’t be found in the small town of Shiqiao.
It was already fortunate if they could gather a few strands of ginseng roots that were several years old.
This alone had drained the family’s resources.
He had thought of venturing deep into the mountains.
If luck were on his side, and he found a wild ginseng—not even a hundred years old, but perhaps several decades—he might be able to improve his mother’s health.
Perhaps his luck just wasn’t good enough.
Rare medicinal herbs like that weren’t easily encountered.
He hadn’t found ginseng, but he had developed a skill for hunting.
Every time he went into the mountains, he never returned empty-handed, bringing back game to help support the family.
Looking at the few large coins he had left, Song Chongjin’s brows didn’t even twitch as he went to buy some salt, leaving him with next to nothing.
He hadn’t touched a morsel of food or drink since morning, and being a grown man, he burned through a lot of energy.
By now, he could hear his stomach rumbling like a drum.
Glancing at the snack stall on the street corner, Song Chongjin hesitated for a moment before striding over and buying two buns made of mixed flour.
He swallowed them in just a few bites.
The bun seller also provided clean well water.
He drank several bowls in one go, finally easing the pangs in his stomach.
Considering the time of day, it was no longer early.
Any further delay would be meaningless for him.
He wasn’t like the ordinary villagers, who needed to travel in groups to dare trek the dozen or so miles of mountain roads.
He was used to being alone in the mountains and naturally had no fear.
Besides, he was worried about his ailing mother at home.
Today’s events involving Wang Yongzhu had delayed him, and if he was any later, his mother would start worrying.
He was about to set off for home when he turned and found himself facing the front of a bookstore.
His gaze dimmed momentarily, something churning in the depths of his pupils.
After a moment’s hesitation, Song Chongjin seemed to make up his mind, straightened his clothes, and entered the bookstore.
It was quite a while before he emerged from the bookstore, his expression calm but his eyes ablaze with barely suppressed excitement.
This distraction had made him later than usual on his way home.
Rushing along the way, he was halfway back when he came across fellow villagers also heading back to Qilidun.
From a distance, he could see them surrounding Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang, and he faintly caught snippets of their conversation: “…such good fortune…
teach us…” and the like.
Song Chongjin couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth upward, thinking that the news about the Wang Family selling Yellow Pine Mushrooms must be known to everyone by now.
He also recalled Wang Yongzhu’s performance in the tavern and realized he had never known that the Wang Yongzhu, who was always pestering him, had such a side to her.
He had thought he could be of help, but judging by Wang Yongzhu’s performance, she probably could have sold the Yellow Pine Mushrooms smoothly even without him.
Especially considering he had only given her a subtle hint, and yet Wang Yongzhu had quickly grasped his intentions and cooperated very tacitly.
Even Shopkeeper Wu had noticed, jesting at the end that he was giving the money for Song Chongjin’s sake.
At this thought, Song Chongjin’s heart skipped a beat, and his steps involuntarily slowed.
He followed the crowd at a modest distance until they reached the entrance of the village, where he saw the Wang Family’s children cheering as they came up to greet them.
Only when everyone else had dispersed and headed home did he finally lower his eyes, bowing his head and walking home.
Song Chongjin’s home was on the outskirts of Qilidun, quite secluded, not far from the foot of the mountain, with just a few isolated thatched cottages nearby.
In Qilidun, there lived several prominent families: the Wang Family, the Song Family, and the Li Family.
Apart from these three, other surnames were not as numerous or as influential as these three families.
Among them, the Wang Family had the most men and wielded the greatest power, with the Song and Li families following behind.
In theory, Song Chongjin, being part of the Song Family, should not have been allocated such an outlying piece of land.
The location was on the periphery, close to the mountain base, although in recent years there hadn’t been any ferocious beasts descending from the hills to harass the village.
Still, the distance from the village center was considerable, without any neighbors nearby; in case of trouble, no one would know.
When they were first allocated this spot, Song Chongjin’s mother, Song Chunhua, had even suggested that he approach the Clan Leader to ask for a relocation closer to her parental home.
Not to mention, Song Chunhua and the Clan Leader were closely related; the Clan Leader was in fact her paternal cousin.
It would be only natural to expect a better piece of land from such a close relative.
Yet, Song Chongjin found it hard to tell his naturally weak-willed mother—who was easily influenced and naive about the world—that allocating them to such a place was the Clan Leader’s intention.
Why bother making an awkward request for a favor then?
Fortunately, although Mother Song was gullible and ignorant of worldly ways, there was a silver lining; once her son made a decision, she wouldn’t argue further.
In fact, Song Chongjin was quite satisfied with this arrangement.
Being farther from his maternal grandparents meant that Mother Song was spared from the incessant relatives’ visits, where they often spoke in innuendos.
Mother Song was naturally sentimental and soft-hearted.
When criticized, she had no idea how to retort, only to hide away and weep, for decades on end.
People say mothers are strong, but Song Chunhua remained delicate her whole life.
As a young girl, she obeyed her parents; later, as a bonded servant, she listened to her master’s family; and after that, once she had a son, she listened to him, never asserting her own will.
Song Chongjin had barely reached the courtyard when he heard the unmistakable loud voice inside, causing him to frown in disgust.
“I tell you, little sister, why are you so spineless, letting Chongjin cancel that wedding so easily?
I’ve already said that matters like marriage definitely require the mother’s approval.
And you, you let such a fine match slip by just because Chongjin, who knows nothing, wanted to back out?
Where will you find such an ideal match in the future?
I’m not trying to berate you, little sister, but this was the time to assert yourself as a mother.
How could you let your son decide everything—”
“Second elder sister, but Chongjin disagrees, I really can’t do anything—” This weak voice of defense belonged to Lady Song, sounding defensive and completely subdued.
He came from your own body; if he disobeys, just smack him with a big slap.
If he still won’t listen, report him to the Clan Leader for defiance; then see if he obeys or not.
You’re so soft-hearted you can’t even control your own son.
In the future, if you get a tough daughter-in-law, I’d like to see what you’ll do then.”
“Second elder sister, Chongjin is very filial to me, I…
Upon hearing this, Song Chongjin’s brow twitched, and he briskly pushed open the door.
In the main room, Song Chunhua and her second elder sister, Song Chunye, were sitting opposite each other.
Song Chunhua sat with the visage of a wife suffering injustice, while Song Chunye sat authoritatively, drinking tea and cracking sunflower seeds.
The ground around them was strewn with shells, and her lips were smeared with some.
As Song Chongjin entered the room, Song Chunye’s voice came to an abrupt halt, and she forced a smile saying, “Chongjin’s back, eh?
Made a good sum from the market today, did you?
Oh, such a filial child, buying more tonic medicine for your mother, huh?
Bought anything else?”