PWE – Chapter 4 A Mother’s Resolve

“It’s not true, Village Chief, Jingzhao really is sick, I swear this time it’s true.” Xu Meifeng thought for a moment, then raised four fingers to swear. This time, she really was telling the truth, and she believed Heaven wouldn’t strike her down again. She paused, then continued, “I don’t know what trick Xiao Wange used, but somehow the child is just fine now.”

She felt there was something strange about it, that Xiao Wange must have done something secretly.

Seeing Xu Meifeng determined to make trouble for her, Xiao Wange’s eyes flickered, filled with cold mockery.

She glanced at Xu Meifeng, then turned her head to the village chief and the village secretary. “To tell you the truth, Jingzhao really did have a high fever earlier. But after taking medicine, he got better.”

“Yes, Grandpa Village Chief, my mom gave me medicine. That medicine was really good. After I took it, I got better very quickly.” Little Jingzhao’s eyes sparkled as he rushed to back up his mother.

“So it was medicine, huh? If he took medicine, of course he’d get better. No wonder Xiao Wange went rushing off to town this morning—she must’ve gone to buy it. Oh my, she looked so anxious and flustered at the time, it even made me anxious just watching her.”

“Well, her child was sick at home, of course she was in a hurry.”

“So that means Xiao Wange really has changed. Willing to spend money on medicine for her child, even panicking for his sake—this is what a real mother does.”

“In my opinion, she truly has changed.”

The villagers chimed in one after another, convinced that Xiao Wange had completely turned over a new leaf.

Listening to them, Xiao Wange secretly smiled.

This morning, the original Xiao Wange had indeed rushed to town, but not to buy medicine. She went to meet her family at the supply and marketing co-op, just as they had arranged.

But if the villagers thought this way, that was fine with her. It worked in her favor.

She couldn’t be bothered to explain the truth now—that little Jingzhao wasn’t suffering from a fever at all, but had been poisoned with a gu worm. She’d explain later, once she found the culprit behind it.

“Zeyan’s wife, since you’ve already repented, we won’t pursue the matter further. From now on, Jingzhao will stay with you.” The village chief looked at her, smiling kindly.

It was good news if Xiao Wange had truly changed—at least the boy wouldn’t suffer anymore.

The village secretary wanted to add something, but Xu Meifeng glared, unwilling to accept it. “Village Chief, she’s tricked you! She’d never spend money on medicine for that child. She must’ve done something sneaky, she—”

“Enough! What trick could possibly cure a child’s illness? Only medicine works! Xu Meifeng, stop making a scene! Do you think I don’t know your scheme? You want to take Jingzhao back to your house for the sake of Zhan Zeyan’s allowances. Now that your plan failed, you just want to make trouble for Xiao Wange. You claim she only wants the allowances herself. You say your own motives are bad, and then assume everyone else is just as rotten as you? Do you think we’re all like you, Xu Meifeng?!”

The village chief scolded her mercilessly, exposing her petty, selfish intentions for all to hear.

He’d lived for decades and had enough brains to remain village chief all this time. One quick thought was all it took to see through Xu Meifeng’s ploy. She truly was detestable.

Her face flushed red with shame at being called out so plainly.

When she looked around, all she saw were mocking, contemptuous stares. Everyone’s eyes seemed to say the same thing: You’re despicable. You’re shameless.

Her breath caught, and she felt utterly humiliated.

The village secretary frowned and told her and Zhan Hongda, “Go home! Stop stirring up nonsense like this.”

Zhan Hongda, too, could no longer stand the villagers’ looks. Their plan had been laid out so well, but things hadn’t gone their way.

He tugged on his mother’s sleeve, signaling her to leave, and ran out of the yard first.

Xu Meifeng was unwilling, but at this point it was useless.

She cast a hateful look at Xiao Wange and little Zhan Jingzhao, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

Without Xu Meifeng and Zhan Hongda—those two troublemakers—the air seemed fresher.

The village chief looked at Xiao Wange and said earnestly, “Take good care of Jingzhao. He’s a good boy. Treat him well, and he’ll repay your kindness one day.”

He seemed worried that Xiao Wange might still fear Jingzhao wouldn’t be filial to her in the future.

Holding the boy’s hand, Xiao Wange smiled. “Don’t worry, Village Chief. Even if I neglect myself, I’ll never mistreat Jingzhao. From now on, he is my own son.”

Hearing this, both the chief and the secretary smiled with relief.

This girl truly had changed; even the way she spoke was different from before.

The secretary added, “If you run into problems later, come find us. We’ll stand up for you and the child, no matter what.”

Clearly, he meant Xu Meifeng’s family, in case they caused more trouble.

Xiao Wange smiled. “Alright. Thank you, Secretary.”

After a few more words of advice, the chief and secretary left together.

The villagers at the gate, seeing them go, also dispersed.

Among them was Bai Caixuan.

As she slipped back toward her own house, she cast a quiet glance at Xiao Wange.

She had thought Xu Meifeng and Zhan Hongda would manage to take Zhan Jingzhao away.

That was what she hoped for.

If they succeeded, she planned to persuade Xiao Wange to trick the child back—then secretly sell him to traffickers in the county.

Stealing someone else’s child to sell was even more vile than selling one’s own. That way, Zhan Zeyan would despise Xiao Wange even more.

Besides, she had already placed a gu worm in Zhan Jingzhao’s body. Once sold, he’d be tormented to death by it. Since no one could detect such a thing, the blame would surely fall on Xiao Wange. Everyone would believe she sold the boy to traffickers, causing his death, and condemn her.

But Xu Meifeng and Zhan Hongda were useless and failed.

Still, it didn’t matter. As long as Xiao Wange eventually sold the child, her plan would succeed.

Her goal was to ruin Xiao Wange, to see her thrown out by Zhan Zeyan.

But from Xiao Wange’s words and actions just now, it seemed she truly intended to treat Jingzhao well. If so, then persuading her to sell him might be impossible.

Her fingers clenched tightly. She glanced at Xiao Wange again.

No, she must convince her to sell the child. Only then would her plan work.

She would have to carefully think of a way.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wange caught sight of her leaving with the crowd.

Bai Caixuan had always acted like a dear sister to the original Xiao Wange. But just now, she hadn’t spoken a single word in her defense. Not one! That kind of “sister” was something only the foolish original Xiao Wange would value.

And Xiao Wange was certain Bai Caixuan would approach her soon. After all, she had publicly declared she’d treat Jingzhao well—that meant not selling him. Bai Caixuan must be anxious by now, and would surely try to persuade her otherwise.

Such a two-faced hypocrite disgusted her. And since Bai Caixuan’s schemes involved harming the child, Xiao Wange had all the more reason to settle accounts with her. The gu worm? Most likely Bai Caixuan’s doing as well.

She would make sure Bai Caixuan paid for everything she had done.

But she didn’t want to wait for Bai Caixuan to come to her. She wanted to strike first—after all, that meant keeping the initiative.

Watching Bai Caixuan’s retreating figure, Xiao Wange stood silent for a moment, then led her child back into the kitchen.

…

On the stove sat half a bowl of steamed egg custard.

Xiao Wange frowned at it.

She turned to the boy. “Why didn’t you finish it? Didn’t I tell you to eat it all?”

Why was half of it still here?

Zhan Jingzhao tilted his head up, smiling. “Mama, I saved it for you. We can share it.”

Since Mama had fallen earlier, she should eat something nourishing too. He couldn’t eat it all by himself.

Xiao Wange froze, touched and surprised.

She stroked his head. “Mama won’t eat it. Steamed eggs are for children. I’m a grown-up, I can’t eat them.”

She put the bowl back into the pot to re-steam, since it had cooled and would upset the stomach otherwise.

The boy bit his lip, clearly not believing her.

Mama was lying. Even the old granny next door ate steamed eggs—why couldn’t Mama? She just wanted to save it all for him.

His eyelashes trembled. He felt both moved and sad—moved because Mama treated him so well, sad because they had so few eggs. She couldn’t bear to eat them herself. If only they had more money. If only their two hens hadn’t been stolen by his uncle. If not, they could’ve had eggs every day.

“In the future, I’ll make you a bowl of steamed egg every day. That way you’ll grow tall and strong,” Xiao Wange said, pulling out some potatoes to slice for stir-fry.

Instead of cheering him up, her words only made him lower his head sadly. “But Mama, we don’t have much money. If we want eggs, we’ll have to buy them…” His head drooped even lower, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Xiao Wange paused. Though so young, he already understood the hardships of their home.

She sighed, then looked at him. “Don’t worry, Jingzhao. Mama will earn money. I’ll earn lots and lots of money. Then we can buy whatever we want.”

“Really?” Jingzhao’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with wonder. “Really lots and lots of money?”

“Yes, really.” Xiao Wange smiled confidently. “Just trust Mama.”

Seeing her confidence, the boy seemed infected by it. After a pause, he nodded firmly. “Mm, I believe you. If Mama says there will be lots of money, then there will be lots of money.”

Xiao Wange gazed at him fondly. Such a good child.

But then she remembered the money the original self had lost.

Before leaving, Zhan Zeyan had given her 500 yuan. Within two days, her family had taken 300, and Xu Meifeng had stolen over 100. The original Xiao Wange had confronted her, but Xu Meifeng denied it and made a scene. Left helpless, she had swallowed the loss.

The neighbors hadn’t only stolen money but also their two hens, which were quite valuable at the time.

The original had no way to get them back.

But she did.

She could endure many things, but not being taken advantage of. Suffering losses did not exist in her vocabulary.

Of course, to reclaim what was stolen, she would have to wait until nightfall. After all, a dark, windy night was the best time for certain actions.