PCJ – Chapter 139 Chen Dianzi’s Daughter

The person who said to tie up Crazy Chen was not someone from the Zhang family of Meizi Mountain, but rather from the Chen family of Duimen Mountain. It was Chen Shunjin, the uncle of Chen Fenglian. Chen Fenglian’s father was named Chen Shunchang, and Crazy Chen was named Chen Shunsheng. From these names, it is evident that they were actually very closely related. They shared the character “Shun” in their names, indicating the same generation. There were many people in the village of the same generation with this character. However, Crazy Chen was indeed closely related to Chen Shunchang and Chen Shunjin. They were actually blood brothers. However, back then, Crazy Chen was reckless and made a mistake. The family cut ties with him to avoid suspicion. Later, when Crazy Chen became insane, they distanced themselves even more. Over time, except for the Chen family of Duimen Mountain, outsiders did not know that Crazy Chen and Chen Shunchang, Chen Shunjin, were brothers. They thought Chen Shunchang and Chen Shunjin were only 2 brothers.

Chen Shunjin did not expect Crazy Chen to cause trouble. He knew his elder brother had a deep concern, which was Chen Fenglian’s true parentage. Chen Fenglian was not Chen Shunchang’s daughter but Crazy Chen, Chen Shunsheng’s. Crazy Chen’s daughter and Chen Shunchang’s son, Chen Yuanshan, were born in the same year and month. That year, the woman who gave birth to Chen Fenglian left immediately after. Chen Shunchang raised his son and niece as twins. Only a few people in Duimen Mountain knew about this. Crazy Chen knew. When he committed the crime and left, that woman was hiding in his elder brother’s house, giving birth. But by the time he was released, it had been several years.

Chen Shunchang told Crazy Chen that his woman had left and took the child with her, and that he had twins. Crazy Chen was already deranged before he was released. Upon hearing the news, he became completely insane. But who would have thought he would cause trouble at his daughter’s wedding?

Chen Shunjin and a few young men from the Chen family of Duimen Mountain held Crazy Chen down on the ground. Crazy Chen did not resist; instead, he turned his face to look at Chen Fenglian with a silly smile.

In reality, Chen Shunchang and Chen Shunjin knew they couldn’t hide the fact that Chen Fenglian was Chen Shunsheng’s daughter from Crazy Chen. Because after Chen Fenglian grew up, she looked exactly like that woman. But they all hoped that the deranged Crazy Chen would be confused and not remember those things.

“You crazy person, you damn crazy person! Why are you so cruel to Fenglian?” Chen Shunjin didn’t know how to handle this situation properly.

“Second uncle, don’t worry. Crazy Chen is a madman. What he says doesn’t count. Just drive him out. It’s nothing.” Zhang Jiwang, a senior and respected figure from the Zhang family, spoke up. His words were most appropriate.

Zhang Jiaohua had been mingling in the crowd watching the commotion. At this moment, someone pinched his ear. He looked up and saw it was Liu Qiaoye.

“Mom, I didn’t do anything. I was just watching the show here.” Zhang Jiaohua grinned.

“Stop watching, go home.” Liu Qiaoye let go of Zhang Jiaohua’s ear and instead held his hand, leading him out.

Zhang Jiaohua was reluctant, “Let me watch a bit more. I still don’t know why Crazy Chen is causing trouble.”

“No more watching. Crazy Chen is a madman. A crazy person causing trouble doesn’t need a reason.” Liu Qiaoye knew that Zhang Zhiyi’s house was in chaos and didn’t want to add to their troubles.

“Going home is fine. We still have to offer thanks to the ancestor today.” Zhang Jiaohua said. The day before, Zhang Jiaohua had asked his father to keep an entire wild boar’s head for the ancestor offering.

“Then mom will help you make the pork brain.” Liu Qiaoye knew about Zhang Zhiyi’s family’s situation. She couldn’t help much by staying there and wasn’t comfortable leaving her son alone. So, she informed Ma Zhihua and took Zhang Jiaohua home.

“Mom, is Jingbing’s wife Crazy Chen’s daughter?” Zhang Jiaohua suddenly asked out of nowhere.

“Nonsense, Jingbing’s wife’s father has visited their home. He’s tall and thin, named Chen Shunchang. Don’t say that outside. Otherwise, see if I don’t break your legs.” Liu Qiaoye was startled by her son’s words.

“Mom, believe me. Jingbing’s wife is definitely Crazy Chen’s daughter. Didn’t you notice how similar Jingbing’s wife and Crazy Chen look?” Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t judging by appearance alone, but had inadvertently used the Meishan water master’s method.

“Impossible, impossible. Jingbing’s wife is the twin sister of her brother, Chen Yuanshan. Isn’t she very similar to Chen Fenglian?” Liu Qiaoye shook her head vigorously.

“They are not twins at all. If they were twins, there would be a slight connection in their aura, but I don’t see any connection between them. They are definitely not twins.” Zhang Jiaohua was very confident in his judgment.

“Stop talking nonsense.” Liu Qiaoye didn’t dare let Zhang Jiaohua continue. If word got out, it wouldn’t be a joke.

“Fine, I won’t say it. It’s none of my business anyway.” Zhang Jiaohua lost interest when he saw that his mother didn’t believe him.

In fact, Liu Qiaoye didn’t completely disbelieve Zhang Jiaohua; she just didn’t dare to believe it. Thinking carefully about Chen Fenglian’s situation, she found many oddities. Chen Fenglian’s mother was very ordinary-looking, but Chen Fenglian didn’t resemble her at all. Her so-called twin brother, Chen Yuanshan, was short, but Chen Fenglian had a tall and slender figure. It was strange how the twins looked nothing alike. If explained this way, it made sense. But why would the Chen family do such a thing?

“Mom, I’ve called you several times!” Zhang Jiaohua tugged at his mother’s clothes.

Liu Qiaoye realized she had been lost in thoughts about Chen Fenglian’s family.

“Oh, I didn’t hear you.” Liu Qiaoye was a bit flustered.

“I called loudly.” Zhang Jiaohua was slightly displeased.

“Sorry, mom really didn’t hear you.” Liu Qiaoye kissed her son on the cheek.

Although it was a simple thanksgiving ceremony, after completing it, Zhang Jiaohua felt much relieved. Otherwise, he always felt uneasy, even if the ancestor did not blame him.

There was no follow-up to Zhang Jingbing’s family matter. Although Crazy Chen’s appearance created a rift between the Zhang and Chen families, the marriage was already done. What could they do? Both families seemed blameless. The Zhang family had no reason to “return” the bride. Moreover, the Zhang family was very satisfied with the daughter-in-law. She was beautiful, the most attractive among Zhang Jingbing’s peers. Besides, Chen Fenglian was very reasonable. Soon after the incident, the Zhang family almost forgot about it.

As December approached, the children began looking forward to the Chinese New Year. For them, the New Year meant several things: receiving red envelopes, regardless of whether it was one yuan or two, it was the biggest income of the year, even though parents might confiscate it before it warmed their pockets; candies everywhere; and new clothes. In the countryside, children usually wore hand-me-downs, and getting new clothes was rare, but during New Year, parents would try to get new fabric for new clothes if possible.

Zhang Jiaohua was one of the few kids who didn’t look forward to the New Year, as he was not ready for the life of a left-behind child while his parents went south to work.

On December 7, Liu Qiaoye soaked several liters of glutinous rice, preparing to make glutinous rice cakes on December 8. It was a tradition in Meizi’ao to make these on the eighth day of December.

Early in the morning, Liu Qiaoye started steaming the glutinous rice. Zhang Jiaohua was already squatting on the wooden stump. No one, including Zhang Youping and Liu Qiaoye, expected Zhang Jiaohua to persist. Other children struggled to wake up in the winter morning, but Zhang Jiaohua was up by six, while it was still dark outside.

Zhang Jiaohua’s efforts paid off, as his Meishan stake training had already entered the second stage: the qi-moving stage. Internal energy converted into internal strength, circulating through his body. With internal strength, Zhang Jiaohua felt like a new person. No one his age could match him, and even a non-martial adult couldn’t get close to him.

Zuan Shanbao lay beside the wooden stump, looking almost like an adult dog. Lying there motionless, most people wouldn’t notice it because it looked so ordinary. But Zuan Shanbao was much stronger than any village dog.

Village dogs trembled in its presence. Zhang Jiaohua even believed that if Zuan Shanbao faced a big green wolf, it would win as long as it wasn’t outnumbered.

Every night, Jinhu and the others came out, staying inside the bell during the day. Zhang Jiaohua discovered that if they stayed outside too long, their ghostly forms would weaken, so he kept them in the bell to grow stronger.

This day, besides being the eighth day of December, was also Zhang Jiaohua’s birthday. Though children in the mountains rarely celebrated their birthdays, mothers wouldn’t forget. In the countryside, a bowl of egg noodles was the birthday celebration. That evening, Liu Qiaoye specially cooked an egg for Zhang Jiaohua, with a few mushrooms and scallions.

Before eating, Zhang Jiaohua held the egg, uncertain if he should give it to his parents. While Zhang Youping often beat him, it was always for a reason, not random. So Zhang Jiaohua was grateful to his father and wanted him to eat the egg. But just then, Liu Qiaoye cracked the egg, stirring it into the noodle soup.