Chapter 14: Full Moon, Exile

The Su family once again caused an uproar with the sudden appearance of fish.

The instigator, Tianbao, escaped the commotion by pretending to sleep and slipped away to a quiet place in her space.

This time, she deliberately followed the little stream.

The stream meandered down the terrain, resembling a natural ribbon from afar. At each bend, there was a small pool of crystal-clear water, with clean river sand and pebbles lining the bottom.

Beneath the shimmering waves and dappled reflections, schools of fish of various shapes and colors swam contentedly.

Some were as large as an adult’s arm, others as slender as a toddler’s finger.

Tianbao didn’t know what kinds of fish these were, only that they should be edible.

The fish she had just taken out was immediately scooped up by her father with a basin, indicating they could still make fish soup.

The small figure of Tianbao stood by the stream, tilting her head slightly as she watched the joyful fish underwater.

She had so many fish.

If she gave them all to her mother, could it help restore her mother’s health?

Winter represented decay and rest.

At this time of year, everything was bleak and silent.

Big Huai Village was shrouded in ice and snow, especially deserted.

But this year, the Su family at the edge of the village was an exception.

As the poorest family in the village, their home had recently been as lively as the Lunar New Year, with laughter echoing from their small courtyard even from afar.

Curious villagers tried to find excuses to visit and gather information but found nothing.

The only tidbit was that the Su family had given two fish to the village healer and the neighboring Chen family.

At first glance, the Su family was still the same—an old, dilapidated courtyard, simple furnishings, and everyone still dressed in coarse cloth.

If one insisted on finding a difference, it was the renewed spirit and vitality of the Su family members.

From the eldest to the youngest, smiles often graced their faces and their eyes shone brightly, looking vigorous and spirited.

It was a vitality that burst forth from within.

Like seeds buried in rotten soil, ready to sprout green shoots as soon as spring arrived.

This burgeoning energy, seen by those long oppressed by harsh realities, was both enviable and resented.

The Su family was adept at keeping a low profile, living quietly behind closed doors without showing off or leaking any information.

Even the three little Su children kept their lips tightly sealed; no one could coax a useful word out of them.

Grandma said if anyone spoke carelessly, they would never eat fish again.

For a bite of fish, the children kept their mouths shut tighter than clam shells.

Time passed swiftly; December arrived with heavy, continuous snowfall.

Tianbao was one month old.

Thanks to ample food, the baby grew rapidly.

Plump and rosy, with delicate, refined features and a pair of bright, expressive black eyes.

The Su family courtyard was bustling again, lively as if celebrating the New Year.

Early in the morning, Old Madam Su boiled hot water, prepared a wooden basin by the fire, and bathed her little granddaughter clean before dressing her in a specially sewn jacket.

The jacket was made from the lining fabric of the boys’ old clothes—faded navy blue, clean and soft.

The inner cotton layer was new, bought by Su Da in town, thick enough to keep warm.

The fair, fragrant baby, fresh as if just born, was held in Grandma’s arms for all to admire.

“Grandma, little sister is so white! How can she be this white, like frozen pork!”

“She’s both white and plump! When she bathed just now, she had rolls of flesh on her arms and legs! I counted three folds on her leg!”

“And her feet—when I poked her feet, she actually grabbed my hand! Her toes are just like fingers, amazing!”

The three children gathered around Grandma, jumping and shouting excitedly, watching their sister with the fascination one might reserve for a monkey.

The adults listened to the innocent chatter and laughed heartily.

Tianbao showed no expression.

It was the first time in her two lifetimes that she had been bathed while being watched.

Everyone in the family had seen her naked.

Embarrassed and shy, she gripped with her toes.

With a calm little face, she looked down at her tiny feet wrapped in tiger-patterned shoes and curled her toes twice.

…It seemed her toes really could grasp things.

…And it was quite fun.

Old Madam Su held her granddaughter contentedly, reluctant to let go. “Today is Tianbao’s full month. Normally, we would hold a banquet and invite relatives and neighbors to celebrate, but given our situation, it’s better to keep it within the family to avoid unnecessary trouble. What do you all think?”

Su Da and Liu Yuelan had no objections. “We’ll follow your lead.”

Su Er and He Daxiang agreed even more readily. Their family was known as the poorest in the village; after a month of good food and drink, many eyes had already been prying. A grand banquet would only invite more suspicion.

It was better to keep a low profile.

Old Su lay in bed for over half a month, stubbornly refusing to rise, but now propped up on a cane, he sat beside them, enjoying family bliss.

He agreed with his wife’s idea. “There’s a saying: ‘It’s not poverty that worries us, but inequality.’ When everyone is poor, it’s tolerable, but when the poorest suddenly seems better off than expected, people start to dig and question. Human hearts are the hardest to fathom… Let’s do as you say.”

With the decision made, the whole family busied themselves preparing for little Tianbao’s full-month celebration.

Liu Yuelan and He Daxiang kneaded dough to make steamed buns, while Su Da and Su Er went to the newly built kitchen to prepare ingredients.

The old water jar in the kitchen held seven or eight large grass carp.

These were the fish Tianbao had been tossing into her father’s face every day. The little girl played with such delight that the household enjoyed an abundance of fish and meat daily, so much they couldn’t finish it all.

In the end, they had accumulated half a water jar full.

Everyone in the family had gained some weight.

As the Su family courtyard buzzed with happiness, a sudden knocking came at the tightly closed gate.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The blows were heavy and aggressive.

Su Da and Su Er exchanged a glance, instinctively hiding the half-prepared fish and covering the water jar with a wooden screen before opening the door.

Standing outside were two middle-aged men dressed in official constable uniforms, swords at their waists, exuding menace.

Behind them, a crowd of curious villagers gathered, pointing and whispering about the Su family courtyard.

Su Da’s heart skipped a beat seeing their uniforms, but he forced a smile and cautiously asked, “Honorable officers, may I ask what business you have?”

One constable cast him a cold, stern glance. “Is this the Su family in Big Huai Village? Is Su Liang, former counselor of the Tongzheng Department, your family relative?”

At this moment, Old Madam Su held Tianbao closely, and Old Su also came out of the main room, hearing the commotion. Upon catching the word “former” from the constable’s mouth, the couple’s hearts sank.

Grandma clutched her granddaughter tightly, a chill running through her limbs as a bad premonition took hold.

Su Da hesitated for a long moment before answering with difficulty.

Su Liang was indeed their relative who served as an official in the capital, though the families had no contact; the kinship was within the five degrees of separation.

After receiving confirmation, the constable pulled out an official document stamped with a large seal and read aloud on the spot:

“Su Liang, former counselor of the Tongzheng Department, was found guilty of forming private factions, disseminating seditious speech, and contempt for imperial authority. These are acts of treason and deception, punishable by multiple sentences including confiscation of property, exile of the entire family for a thousand miles, lifelong ban from official service, and collective punishment of nine clans. The family of Su Xiang from Big Huai Village, Yuzhou, is implicated and shall be exiled as well!”

“The document has been read in full. The Su Xiang family is hereby ordered to report to the town government to process their exile and immediately proceed to the Yongzhou borderlands to face justice!”