Old Master Zhao asked, knowing the bossy character of Yun Hao, âDid he return, to your village, and neither of his two brothers came to visit him?â
Meng Yunhan wasnât surprised when Old Master Zhao guessed the situation. She silently nodded her head, then heaved a sigh, âThough they havenât visited him, I know why. Itâs because I was too assertive back then. But I canât let Little Huzi shoulder the burden of being known as a catastrophe star who causes his fatherâs death.â
Old Master Zhao tried to console her, âHanhan, heâll be fine in a few days. Nowadays, each family has its own little schemes. Itâs all very normal. He will understand.â
Meng Yunhan could only hope so. He wouldnât keep holding onto this issue forever, as it would affect his wellbeing.
No one spoke during the meal.
After the meal, Meng Yunhan cleaned up the dishes, and Old Master Zhao watered the vegetables that had wilted from being in the sun all day.
Leaning on his walking stick, Yun Hao took a walk around the courtyard.
âAhao, letâs talk.â Old Master Zhao offered to take a walk with Yun Hao to cheer him up, lest Ahao blame Yunhan for what had happened and their marital relation suffer as a consequence.
âHanhan, letâs take a walk.â
Meng Yunhan responded affirmatively.
âAhao, after returning today, did neither of your brothers come to visit you?â
Yun Hao looked downcast, âDad, how did our brotherhood change so quickly?â
He was struggling to accept it. He knew what they had done to Yunhan before, but now he was awake and back in the village. The whole village knew he had awakened. They had waited so long, yet none of them came to visit. How could he not feel hurt?
He recalled their childhood, the bond between the three brothers was so strong. They used to fish in the river, climb trees to take bird eggs, pick wild fruits. Those happy times will never come back.
Every year, during their annual home visit, he and his brothers used to drink together, talking about the yearâs harvest, chatting about trifling chores in his military postings.
But all those are things of the past now, which might never happen again.
And his two sisters-in-law, he, Yun Hao, didnât remember doing anything to upset them. Why would they have done such a thing to him?
Is that what human nature is all about?
âAhao, donât harp on this matter any longer. Some things need to happen before you can see if theyâre genuine or not. Hanhan stood by you without any wavering. You need to think more about her and your child. Now that you have your own family, you shouldnât blame your two elder brothers. Nowadays, everyone has to work for earning a living and has their own family to feed, so your brothers are just fulfilling their duties as husbands and fathers.â
Looking at the blue sky and white clouds tinged with some greyness, Yun Hao said, âItâs me whoâs been dwelling on this matter, causing you and Yunhan worry.â
Old Master Zhao waved his hand dismissively, âWell, Iâm not bothered by it, but Hanhan is particularly worried about you. Do you know what she has done for you? Seeing the ginseng at home, you probably donât know that she ventured into the deep forest to dig it out for you. Most men wouldnât dare to enter the forest at this time of the year due to the risk of encountering poisonous snakes and beasts. But for your sake, she risked her life, hoping that you would wake up soon. God heard her prayers and allowed you to wake up.â
Yun Haoâs eyes flashed. Although he had undertaken dangerous military operations and was not afraid of poisonous snakes and beasts in the deep forest, he had weapons and training, but his wife didnât have any of those when she recklessly went into the deep forest to dig out ginseng.
âDad, rest assured, Iâll be with her for the rest of my life.â If he ever had to choose between his wife and his family, he would unequivocally choose his wife.