Chapter 4

For days, the Zhou family was in chaos over the situation. Zhou Tiezhu was adamant about breaking away from them, even going so far as to threaten to report them to the officials, accusing them of either stealing or forcibly taking him. His determination had them on edge.

Some members of the family, furious at his audacity, criticized him harshly, reminding him that while the Zhou family might not have given him the blessing of birth, at least they had raised him, and he shouldn't be so extreme in his demands.

But Zhou Tiezhu, unshaken, pointed to the large brick and tile house and spat out, "Is my contribution to this family not enough?" The moment they all looked at the spacious house, a heavy silence fell over the room.

Fear of the officials’ involvement, with all its potential dangers, forced the family to relent. They begrudgingly agreed to his terms, handing over fifty taels of silver and five mu of land. The thought of dealing with any authority, even minor officials, was enough to make them tremble. The risks of retaliation were too high.

With a cold finality, Zhou Tiezhu packed his belongings, ready to leave it all behind. The village chief, who couldn’t afford to anger him either, offered up a rundown house—at least a place where he could shelter himself from the elements.

Zhou Lao San, sneaking up to him with a nervous glance, handed him a bundle. Inside was a jade pendant.

“This is something you’ve carried with you since you were a child. I promised I’d give it to you once you stood on your own… Don’t hold it against us, your mom… your aunt… she’s just too stubborn, too strong-willed.” Zhou Lao San wasn’t a bad man, just too timid to fight for what he really wanted.

His wife was a force to be reckoned with—stubborn, headstrong, and impossible to tame. She was the kind of woman who could throw down with anyone, especially her mother-in-law, after giving birth to a son, all while keeping up her ongoing feud with her sister-in-law over the smallest, most trivial things. So when Zhou Lao San brought Zhou Tiezhu back home, a heated argument broke out between them. Still, she bit her tongue, all for the silver he’d brought.

That silver? It had Zhou Lao San feeling pretty damn proud of himself. The truth? He had been raising Zhou Tiezhu all those years, not out of any genuine affection, but because he wanted to make sure that when the time came, his relatives would come crawling, hoping to cash in on the favor. But after years of waiting, no one came looking, and when he made a trip back to the village where Zhou Tiezhu had once been abandoned as an orphan, he found that no one knew a damn thing about the kid.

When he got back home and spilled the news to his wife, everything changed. Zhou Tiezhu, who had once been treated like the golden child of the house, was suddenly cast aside—no longer the pampered heir but reduced to nothing more than a beggar.

It’s a harsh world, cruel in its indifference. Human nature at its rawest and most unforgiving.

Zhou Tiezhu didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the jade pendant, pressed it against his chest like a talisman, and packed up his meager belongings into the worn-out bundle. The clothes he’d brought with him had long been passed down, torn and ragged from the wear and tear of countless other kids in the Zhou family. They’d been discarded, lost forever, no trace to be found.

The once-proud owner of the rundown earthen house, now successful and living in the county, had abandoned it years ago, leaving it to decay. The house had fallen into neglect, its roof leaking, its walls crumbling. But a few young men, old friends of Zhou Tiezhu, came to his aid, lending their hands to fix what was broken—patching up the roof, cleaning up the place, trying to make it habitable again.

The cold was biting, and there was no way they’d let anyone freeze to death in that dilapidated shell of a house.

The people in the village were all murmuring to themselves, shaking their heads in regret. They couldn't help but think that if Zhou Tiezhu had been kicked out of the family sooner, he might have avoided being sent off to that dreaded place—the barracks.

And what kind of hellhole was that, you ask?

To the common folk, it was a graveyard. Going there was like signing a death warrant, and for those lucky enough to survive, the price they paid was steep—missing limbs, a shattered future, and a life that would be nothing but hardship from then on.

You see, even families who had a little bit of money, who could scrape together enough silver, wouldn't dream of sending their kids there. Hell, they wouldn't even consider it, no matter how dire their circumstances.

Only the dirt poor, the ones who couldn't even scrape together a single coin, were the ones sending their children off to that place. It was a desperate choice, and those who could afford to keep their loved ones out of it were damn sure trying their hardest to do so.

The villagers all agreed on one thing—what the Zhou family did to Tiezhu was downright cruel. It wasn’t just a family decision; it was a betrayal. They had taken a young man's future and crushed it under the weight of their own cold, heartless actions.

As for Tiezhu, after being cast out, Song Zhiyuan made a point of visiting him. He brought with him a heavy, cast iron pot—because, let’s face it, iron was gold in those days. For the poorest families, that cast iron pot was the most valuable possession they could own. It was the only thing that could boil water for a bath or cook a hot meal. Without it, the cold winter nights were unbearable, and heating the bed was nothing but a waste of firewood.

The Zhou family had also gotten their hands on fifty taels of silver that Tiezhu had left untouched. They swapped it for a mountain of grain, and Zhou Lao San’s wife made sure the whole village knew what they’d done, standing at the door and ranting for days. But it was all for nothing—because the grain wouldn’t last long for a young man like Tiezhu.

So, every single day, he was out on the mountain, digging pits, setting traps, and hunting wild chickens and rabbits. He’d haul them into town, trading them for copper coins to buy some meat and vegetables, living better than he'd ever had back at the Zhou family.

Back there, every copper he made from selling his catch went straight into Zhou Lao San's wife’s greedy hands.

Now, though? He was the one calling the shots.

Just when the entire village thought Zhou Tiezhu would stick around until the end of the year, quietly heading off to the barracks without a fuss, a bombshell dropped.

Song Lao Si’s second daughter, the beautiful Song Dingxiang, had decided it was time to make a move. She was boldly proposing marriage again—this time, to Zhou Tiezhu. And naturally, when this news spread, it left the villagers reeling. But as they digested it, a few things started to make sense.

Song Dingxiang, as good a girl as she was, had already been turned down once by the Xu family scholar, all because she fell into the water, and the shame of it lingered. That wasn't the only mess she had caused, though—there was the public disturbance that followed. And when you’re a young lady, your reputation is your currency; if she didn’t secure a marriage with someone like Zhou Tiezhu, she might as well kiss her chances of a better match goodbye.

Then, there were the whispers of envy, turning towards Zhou Tiezhu. After all, what was the deal with the Song family?

Sure, their house was made of adobe, but it was big, solid, with thick walls and large windows—comfort, not to mention, the kind of home you could actually live in. And when you looked at Song Lao Si’s business dealings, it was clear—they didn’t go without. Meat was on the table all year long, no problem.

Song Dingxiang was spoiled in that household, no doubt. So the big question was: Would her father really allow his daughter to go through any hardship after marriage? You could bet your bottom dollar he'd make sure his son-in-law had it cushy.

But poor Zhou Tiezhu, now, he was a different story. He had just married a delicate beauty, his life about to turn into a sweet, intimate paradise. But fate wasn’t done with him yet. Before he could even fully enjoy his new bride, the call to the barracks came. If he survived and came back, fine.

But if he didn’t? Well, his lovely new bride would be left a widow. Talk about a scandal that would spread like wildfire.

Song Xingyi wasn’t initially on board with the whole situation, but Song Dingxiang had a way of talking him around.

"I honestly think that Zhou kid is genuinely a decent person," Song Dingxiang remarked, her smile widening as she casually leaned against Song Xingyi, her gaze fixed on her grandfather’s concerned face. In a low, almost conspiratorial tone, she added, "If he had cut ties with us after leaving, the Zhou family would have come storming in, stirring up all sorts of trouble."

"But he didn’t do that, did he? Instead, he spent his time in the town. Then, after being gone for a while, he came back and created this whole excuse for the separation. People will just think someone in town put the idea in his head. Smart move."

"And after the division of assets, he didn’t rush over here, either. He hung back, let some time pass, and only then did he make contact. This kid’s sharp."

Song Xingyi scoffed, jabbing a finger at Song Dingxiang’s forehead. "How old are you? Still calling him ‘this boy’ all the time. Seems like you’ve spoiled him. What’s so special about him? He left for the barracks right after you got married. You won’t see him for years. What exactly is so great about that?"

Song Dingxiang rubbed her forehead, feigning a pout. "Does that mean Grandpa won’t recognize me when he leaves? I’ll be here, waiting, right by Grandpa’s side once he’s gone."

"You and your wild ways!" Song Xingyi chuckled at her antics before sighing. "I know the kid’s got potential, though. If only he’d separated earlier, we could’ve paid his way out of military service. But now, he’s on the list, and money’s not going to do anything for him."

"Grandpa, I really believe Zhou Tiezhu’s going to make a name for himself," she insisted, her voice firm. "He’s smart, he’s got plans. Maybe he’ll make something out of himself in the army. At least then, he’ll be a military officer, making good money every month. And who would dare mess with me once he’s in that position?"

Song Dingxiang let out a laugh, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she spoke, "Well, even if I marry him... there's no way I'm letting him touch me. I’m just fourteen, for God’s sake! What part of that does he not understand? I'm not ready to be a mother anytime soon. I mean, look at that girl from the neighboring village—she was married off way too young and ended up with kids before she could even enjoy her youth."

Song Xingyi was absolutely losing his patience with her, his frustration clear as he snapped back, "Enough of your nonsense! I can’t stand hearing this anymore! You’re fourteen, for crying out loud, and all you talk about is having babies! It might be fine in our family, but if this were anyone else’s, you’d be the talk of the town—and not in a good way!"

Song Dingxiang, undeterred, smirked playfully, "Oh, isn't it just because Grandpa adores me so much?"

Just then, Old Madame Song, who had been eavesdropping, couldn’t hold back her laughter. She stepped in, shaking her head, "If your Grandpa and I didn’t spoil you so much, you’d have been crying long ago. Honestly, you’ve got such a fiery temper. Why are you so dead-set on marrying him anyway? Well, whatever. I’ve met the boy, and he seems like a decent, reliable man. I just hope he comes back soon and safe... sigh."

With the New Year approaching, Zhou Tiezhu was preparing to leave for military camp, so the family scrambled to arrange everything before he left. They managed to find the best possible date for the marriage before the New Year festivities kicked off.

But despite the urgency, the Song family couldn’t bear the thought of their daughter living in that shabby house. So, they took it upon themselves to tidy up the two old rooms that Song Zhiyuan had used for raising pigs. They may have been humble, built with mud bricks, but they were clean and comfortable enough to serve as a temporary home for Zhou Tiezhu.

To make things work, they set up a canopy in the front yard to host meals for guests. Since the house was just across the street from the Song family’s, Song Dingxiang wouldn’t be far from home—her backyard was just steps away. It was practical and convenient, a small price to pay for a bit of independence.

Zhou Tiezhu was never one to complain, not even when he spent all fifty liang of his money as a betrothal gift. The guy had a purpose and didn’t waste time. He ventured deep into the mountains for several days, leaving Song Zhiyuan in a state of growing anxiety. But when Zhou finally came back, he didn’t just return empty-handed. No, this fool came back dragging a massive tiger he had hunted down with nothing but sheer grit.

Naturally, the sight of the beast terrified both Song Zhiyuan and the villagers. They all knew there were tigers lurking in the mountains—rarely seen but feared nonetheless. Those ferocious creatures preferred to stay hidden in the depths of the wild, only descending when food was scarce. So, when Zhou disappeared for days on end, everyone suspected he was out there, hunting one of them.

Song Dingxiang, ever the worrier, paced nervously but knew there wasn’t much she could do at that moment. So, she had Fang Shi and Song Zhiyuan check on Zhou. When they found him, alive and seemingly in one piece, they could breathe again.

As for the tiger? It was mostly intact, aside from a nasty cut across its belly—a wound that probably sealed its fate.

Zhou Tiezhu had dragged the damn thing down from the mountain after a grueling day and night, so drained from exhaustion that his face looked ghostly pale. But first, a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup, courtesy of Fang Shi, and then he was out cold on the stool, falling into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Zhou woke up, blinking in confusion. He wasn’t in his own bed but at the Song family’s house, and a flush of embarrassment crept up his face. It wasn’t exactly the best look to sleep at your future father-in-law’s place before the wedding, now was it?

Song Zhiyuan watched this silly boy and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. "If it weren’t for the kind women in this family," he thought, "I’d have kicked you back to that rundown shack of yours a long time ago. Sleeping here before the wedding? That's bound to start some gossip."

As for the tiger? Well, it didn’t go to waste.

A rich man in the town eventually scooped it up, and when he heard that it was Zhou Tiezhu who had taken down such a beast, his admiration for the young man grew. He saw past the boy’s skinny frame and realized there was more to him than met the eye.

After learning that Zhou Tiezhu would be heading to the military camp after the New Year, the wealthy man gave a smirk, his voice dripping with casual authority. "Seems like you're in luck," he said, with a knowing look. "My eldest nephew’s an officer over there. It's fate, really. You’ve got some talent, I can tell. I’ll make sure to let him know to take you under his wing. You’ll learn far more that way than by constantly butting heads with those senior soldiers at the front."

Song Zhiyuan, barely containing his excitement, nudged Zhou Tiezhu and barked, “Hurry up and thank the man!”

Zhou Tiezhu, grinning, quickly complied. “Thank you, sir,” he said, his tone respectful, but also with a flicker of gratitude.

The wealthy man chuckled lightly, his amusement barely veiling the sharpness of his dealings. He casually arranged for the tiger to be taken away and settled the payment, unaware that this small act of kindness would eventually lead to a bond much deeper than he imagined.

Meanwhile, Song Dingxiang, counting on her fingers with a mischievous gleam in her eye, thought aloud, “I’m only fourteen this year, but if I let that guy serve in the army for a few years, he’ll still be in his twenties when he returns. Then, by the time everything falls into place with the national laws, it'll be just the right time to have children. Otherwise… hmm, being too young, that’s a whole other thing. Oh, never mind!”

———Author's Note: Zhou Tiezhu: "Hehe, I have a wife, it's really good~"

———TN: Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because I'm tweaking a few words here and there. Every sentence is being scrutinized, dissected, and then reconstructed with a certain… je ne sais quoi. So, yeah, "hope you enjoy it"