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His father, he said, “I’m not tired.”

Li glared at him and said gently, “What do you mean, not tired? Let your father go by himself. You should head home first.”

“But...” Wang Bo wanted to say more, but Li would not give him the chance.

“But what? Duor has been home alone for so long. Go keep her company. I’ll tidy up and be back before long.”

Unable to win against his mother, Wang Bo could only nod and agree. “All right, Father, Mother. Then you go on with your work. I’ll head home first.”

“Mm, go on.” Li waved him off and watched him leave.

When Wang Bo returned home, he found Duor sitting alone by the doorway, looking unhappy. “What’s wrong, Duor?” he asked affectionately. But the only answer he got was a huff.

“Who made my Duor angry? Tell your brother, and I’ll avenge you.”

“Who else? You, you big bully.”

“What did I do to make you angry again?” Wang Bo asked innocently.

“You still ask? You left me home alone and didn’t even care.”

“We were out working. If we brought you along, you’d only get in the way.” He patted her head and spoke softly.

“But I was scared.” As she spoke, a faint glimmer of tears appeared in Duor’s big eyes.

Seeing that she was about to cry, Wang Bo immediately panicked. “Good girl, Duor, be good. Next time, no matter what brother is doing, I’ll take you with me. Don’t cry.”

“Brother promises?” Duor lifted her head and stared at him.

Wang Bo nodded solemnly. “Of course I promise.”

“I knew you wouldn’t dare lie to me.” Duor lifted her chin like a rooster victorious in a fight, all smug and proud. Wang Bo did not know whether to laugh or cry.

“Come on, let’s go inside. Father and Mother will be back soon.”

Wang Bo went inside with Duor. Not long after, his mother, Li, returned.

“Mother, you’re back. How’s the work going?” Wang Bo hurriedly stood up when he saw her. Duor also quickly ran to her. “Mother, Mother, Duor is hungry.”

“It’s almost done. In a few days it should all be finished. This year’s harvest is good. After setting aside enough grain for the end of the year, there’ll still be plenty left over. Then we can haul the rest into town and sell it.” Speaking of the good harvest, Li was clearly delighted, her face full of a happy smile. She looked at Wang Bo with relief, then patted Duor’s head. With a loving tone, she said, “Good girl, Duor. Mother will make dinner for you now.”

Li wiped her hands, turned, and went out to prepare supper.

With nothing else to do, Wang Bo could only keep playing with Duor. Night gradually fell, but Wang Hu still had not returned.

“All right, dinner’s ready. Come out and eat,” Li’s voice called from outside.

At the sound of her voice, Duor bounced out excitedly, chanting as she ran, “Eat, eat, eat.”

Watching her, Wang Bo smiled helplessly, then followed her out.

“Mother, Father still hasn’t come back. Shouldn’t we wait for him?” Wang Bo asked, worried as he kept looking toward the door.

Though Li said nothing at first, her face immediately filled with concern after hearing him. “You two eat first,” she said, then went to the doorway and looked around anxiously.

“Don’t worry, Mother. It’ll be all right.” Wang Bo came over to comfort her.

“All right, Xiaobo, you’ve already been busy all day. Go eat first. I’ll just wait for your father.” Li glanced at him and tried to push him back into the courtyard.

“It’s fine, Mother. I can hold on. You go eat first. I’ll wait for Father here.”

“But...”

“Enough ‘but.’ I’m fine. Go on, go on.” Wang Bo half guided and half pushed Li back into the courtyard, while he himself stood at the gate waiting for Wang Hu to return.

By the time the sky was fully dark, Wang Hu was still nowhere to be seen. “Why hasn’t Father come back yet?” Wang Bo paced back and forth at the gate, his face full of worry, muttering to himself.

“Your father still hasn’t returned?” Li came to the gate and saw Wang Bo pacing alone, so she asked.

“Not yet. Should I go look for Father?” Wang Bo stopped and asked when he saw her come out. Then he suddenly heard movement nearby and quickly turned his head. A figure was staggering toward them from the side. Looking closely, it was his father.

“Father, are you all right?” Wang Bo hurried over and supported him.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Wang Hu’s voice was faint, and his steps were unsteady. He looked exhausted.

“How can they do this? I’m going to reason with them.” Seeing his father in such a state, Wang Bo’s anger flared up at once. He clenched both fists and was about to go demand an explanation from Wang Cai, but Wang Hu grabbed him.

“What are you going to do?” Wang Hu stared at him.

“I’m going to reason with them. How can they treat people like this when they ask for help?” Wang Bo shouted, his eyes red.

Seeing him like this, Li hurried over and held him back. “Xiaobo, calm down. Don’t be impulsive.”

“They’ve gone too far!”

Held by his parents, Wang Bo did not dare act recklessly and could only shout in frustration.

“Why are you shouting? Aren’t you ashamed?” Wang Hu’s face was dark as he glared at him. “Go back inside.”

Seeing that his father was truly angry, Wang Bo did not dare say another word. He could only turn back into the courtyard with a look of dejection. Once inside, he did not eat. He went straight into his room and shut the door.

“Hey, Xiaobo, you haven’t eaten yet!” Li hurriedly called after him when she saw that he had gone straight back to his room instead of eating. “Xiaobo, open the door and eat first!” She came to his door and knocked, calling for him to come out. But there was no response from inside. “Xiaobo, at least open the door for Mother.” She called again, but he still would not open it. In the end, Li could only leave.

“It’s all your fault. Xiaobo was doing this for your sake. He didn’t even eat and was waiting for you to come home. Why did you shout at him? You’ve never shouted at him like this since he was little, and now you’ve actually scolded your own son for Wang Cai.” The more she spoke, the more severe her tone became, as she stared at Wang Hu.

“Do you think I wanted to shout at Xiaobo? You know Wang Cai’s son works in the county. If Xiaobo goes to his house to argue, do you think he’ll come out ahead?” Wang Hu looked at her and felt that he had indeed gone too far today, but he had no choice. If Wang Cai did not have a son working in the county, how could he dare run wild in the village? Since ancient times, common people did not fight officials. Although Wang Cai’s son was only a minor county functionary, he was still not someone ordinary peasants could offend at will.

Hearing this, Li did not know what else to say. She could only keep looking toward Wang Bo’s room, worry written all over her face, her brows knitted in distress.

Inside the room, Wang Bo lay alone on the bed, his mind in turmoil. Thinking back on his father’s words, he felt deeply moved. No matter what age it was, privilege always existed, while people like them could only scrape by in humiliation. Even a mere petty functionary could intimidate ordinary peasants; one could only imagine how much worse it would be for those of even higher rank.

Wang Bo turned restlessly on the bed, unable to sleep. In his mind kept flashing the hateful figure of Wang Cai, and then the wrinkled faces of his parents, and his heart filled with guilt. Father and Mother had worn themselves out for me, and yet I have never done a single thing for them. Perhaps it was the exhaustion of the day that truly wore him down. Carrying that tangled heart, Wang Bo gradually drifted off to sleep. It was another dream-filled night. Half-awake and half-asleep, he kept seeing all sorts of figures flash through his mind.

In the morning, Wang Bo rose early again. Squinting, he looked at the rising sun. “Didn’t sleep well again. Why have I become so sentimental and prone to dreaming?” Wang Bo shook his head and rubbed his still-stinging eyes. Yawning as he went, he walked into the courtyard and began practicing the Five-Animal Fist. Not long after, Li came out, cast an unremarkable glance at Wang Bo boxing in the yard, and then turned back into the house to make breakfast.

Soon Wang Bo finished the whole set. Stretching his limbs, he felt much better, so he fetched water to wash up before returning inside to eat. When he entered, Wang Hu still had not come out, so he turned to ask Li, “Mother, why hasn’t Father come out yet?”

“Your father was too tired yesterday. He hasn’t gotten up yet. You eat first.” Li did not think much of it and told Wang Bo directly.

After hearing this, Wang Bo, who had just been calm, was stirred up again. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, his eyes wide with anger. Seeing his expression, Li realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to comfort him. “All right, Xiaobo, don’t be angry. Besides, our family can’t outfight Wang Cai’s. Let it go. Ah...” Li let out a soft sigh, her expression full of sorrow.

Seeing her sadness, Wang Bo’s heart softened at once. “I understand, Mother. I won’t act on impulse.”

“That’s good.” Li looked at him with relief. “You eat first. I’ll go see if your father and Duor are awake.” With that, she went toward the inner room.

Watching her leave, Wang Bo silently vowed in his heart: Father, Mother, don’t worry. I will work hard and make sure you live a good life.

After breakfast, Wang Bo did not go to the village chief’s house as usual. Because it was the busy season, the village chief had specially given him a few days off so he could help his parents with more work. After the rice was harvested, there was still the drying, the storage of the grain needed for the family’s winter provisions, and then the surplus had to be hauled into the city for money. So at this time of year, every household was terribly busy.

Sitting in the house for only a short while, Wang Hu came out yawning. Wang Bo hurried to his feet. “Father, you’re up.”

“Mm.” Wang Hu had just awakened and had not yet fully recovered his spirit. Hearing Wang Bo’s greeting, he only gave a faint sound and nodded.

Looking at Wang Hu’s condition, Wang Bo’s anger could not help rising again, yet he had nowhere to vent it. The feeling was utterly tangled. “Father, why don’t you stay home and rest properly today? Don’t go to the fields. Mother and I can handle it.”

“How could that work? I’m a grown man lying around at home while you two do the work? If word got out, wouldn’t the whole village laugh me to death?” Wang Hu glanced at him and said, “You’re underestimating your father’s body. I’m fine. I’m still strong enough. I’m waiting for you to get married so I can hold my grandson.”

Wang Bo’s face flushed red. “Father, where did that come from? I’m still young. Why are you already talking about getting married?”

Wang Hu laughed heartily. “Haha, not that young anymore.”

Seeing Wang Hu laughing, Wang Bo was utterly embarrassed. To be only in his teens and already be urged to find a wife—if this were the modern world, just how open-minded would parents have to be?

“What are you father and son talking about that’s making you so happy?” Li came out of the house and heard Wang Hu’s hearty laughter, so she asked.

“N-nothing,” Wang Bo hurriedly denied. He really did not want to be married off at barely over ten years old. Though that was hardly unusual in this age—indeed, it was the norm—he still carried the mind of a modern man.

Seeing Wang Bo so flustered, Wang Hu could not help laughing again. Watching the two of them keep secrets from her, Li had no choice but to shake her head. “As you wish, I won’t ask.”

Hearing that, Wang Bo finally breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing Mother didn’t get involved, or I really wouldn’t have had a way to save face. In my previous life I was already in my twenties and never even dated, and my parents weren’t anxious. Now I’m only in my teens, and Dad is already worrying about my marriage. How am I supposed to stand this?

He shook his head and cast those pointless thoughts aside.

“All right, let’s go.” After finishing breakfast, Wang Hu picked up the farm tools and strode out. Wang Bo quickly followed behind him, while Li stayed behind to tidy up the house and planned to go later. The father and son walked side by side toward their fields. Before they even arrived, they could already see a lone figure standing by the edge of their land from far away.