Chapter 20: Embarking on a New Life

The room fell back into silence.

Wen Ye said, “Uncle Shengli and Aunt Guihua are truly wonderful. Compared to some relatives by blood, they’re not even as good as beasts.”

Everyone understood that the “relatives” she referred to were Wen Pozi and the others.

Wen Laosan felt uneasy and sighed softly.

“No matter what, we must quickly repay Uncle Shengli and his wife’s kindness,” Mrs. Lin said. “Tomorrow I’ll go back to my parents’ home to borrow some money.”

Wen Ye searched her mind for information about Mrs. Lin’s family background but only knew that they didn’t seem easy to get along with, so she said, “No need to borrow money. Sister and I still have some handkerchiefs; once we deliver them, we can exchange them for some cash.”

Mrs. Lin breathed a sigh of relief. “A hundred-plus copper coins can buy over ten jin of brown rice.”

Wen Lan tugged Wen Ye’s hand anxiously. “Maybe we’ll lose money... we didn’t embroider as required.”

Wen Ye shot her a look. “You’re the one losing money! Who talks like that about their own little sister?”

Mrs. Lin and her husband, along with Wen Chuizi, all laughed, their worries somewhat eased.

“Let’s act separately then!” Wen Ye said. “But before that, shouldn’t we get the household register sorted?”

“Yes, yes.” Mrs. Lin nodded quickly. “First thing tomorrow morning, we’ll update the register. I’ll visit my parents at noon. Ye and Lan, you two go to town to deliver the goods. Laosan…”

Wen Laosan said, “I’ll go find Zhao the Scholar and ask about renting a few mu of land to farm.”

Zhao the Scholar was one of the village’s wealthy families who had fields for rent.

“What about me?” Wen Chuizi asked urgently.

“You stay home and watch the door!”

Mrs. Lin smiled and turned to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Wen Ye and her siblings helped out, and half an hour later, a steaming pot of brown rice porridge was ready.

The family of five sat around the table, each with a full bowl of porridge, garnished with egg ribbons and sprinkled with scallions. The aroma was indescribably fragrant.

Mrs. Lin and her husband, Wen Lan, and Wen Chuizi were all touched and a little dazed.

When they had separated from the family before, they were anxious and hesitant, but only now did they truly realize that separating was the right choice.

The house was theirs, the food was theirs, and they could eat as much as they wanted without having to watch anyone’s face for a sip of water.

They finally understood the benefits of living independently.

Wen Ye looked at her bowl of porridge and sighed softly. Sigh, when would her life improve?

After finishing the meal, darkness had already fallen.

To save firewood, Wen Laosan took Wen Chuizi to the creek to bathe.

The creek was about half a zhang wide, and at its deepest, reached a person’s thigh—enough for a bath.

The weather had been getting hotter recently, so the water wasn’t too cold.

The best thing about moving here was how close they were to the creek—just a few dozen meters.

After bathing, the father and son used a cart to bring three buckets of water home for Wen Ye and her mother to wash with.

Cleaned of sweat, everyone was exhausted and fell asleep immediately.

...

The next day, Wen Ye’s family found Wen Lizheng before he went to the fields.

Wen Lizheng had already finished writing the household register; all that remained was their fingerprints. “Take a look, is there any mistake?”

Wen Laosan picked up the few-page household register. He hadn’t been educated but had learned some characters from his late father, at least enough to recognize family names.

He flipped through it and nodded with a smile. “No mistakes, no mistakes.”

Wen Ye frowned slightly. “Wait, let’s change Chuizi’s name!”

Everyone looked at Wen Ye in unison.

Mrs. Lin patted Wen Chuizi’s head. The name had always been a thorn in her heart, so she nodded: “Alright, let’s change it. How about just calling him Yuanbao? Wen Yuanbao. We’ve always called him that, and I like it very much.”

Wen Ye said, “Mother, he’ll have to study in the future. Give him a solid and dignified name; Yuanbao can be his nickname.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

“Study? Can I study too?” Wen Chuizi tilted his head.

“Of course.” Wen Ye smiled. “The sons of the first and second branches all study. Why can’t my little brother?”

Mrs. Lin and Wen Laosan felt a pang of emotion and nodded quickly.

Wen Laosan said, “If he studies, even if we have to sell everything, we’ll make sure Yuanbao studies.”

Wen Chuizi grinned from ear to ear.

Wen Lizheng said, “Since you want to change the name, I’ll write a new page. Have you decided what to call him?”

Wen Laosan and Mrs. Lin hesitated. Wen Laosan said, “Lizheng, you’re a student yourself, so help him think of one.”

Wen Lizheng pondered. “Chengwen, Chengwu, Yuanbao... how about Wen Chengyuan?”

Wen Chuizi was unhappy. “I don’t want to be with them.”

“Then…”

Wen Ye said, “How about just Wen Yuan?”

“Wen Yuan? Good!” Wen Chuizi was delighted. “That way, I’m like my older sisters with one character in the name.”

“Wen Yuan is nice, simple and dignified. Much better than Chengwen or Chengwu!” Wen Lizheng said.

Wen Lan was puzzled. “Why? Yuan is too simple. Names like Liyue sound much prettier.”

Wen Lizheng smiled. “Let me explain. Ordinary farming families name their children with characters like Wen, Yong, Jie, Ming, Hui, Qiao, Yue... they sound very rustic, and everyone uses them.”

“When we’ve studied some, we seek rare and special names like Li or Yue. But after years of study, we find those names overly adorned. Instead, we pursue simplicity—returning to the essence, where great skill shows in effortlessness.”

“Wen Yuan is excellent. Besides, Yuan means ‘first’ or ‘primary.’ Names like Liyue sound unique and beautiful in our village, but in noble families, they seem superficial.”

Wen Lan and the others listened, somewhat understanding.

Wen Ye understood perfectly. The wealthier the family, the simpler and more meaningful the names.

Names like Wen Liyue were early Lisu style—extravagant clusters of characters like: Ice Snow Tear Li Mo Dream, Ning Yu Yue Lan Sui Xuan, Ke Shuang Liu Zi Meng Lian... a pile of ornate words just to sound pretty.

Wen Lizheng looked at Mr. and Mrs. Wen. “Have you decided? Wen Yuan or something else?”

Mrs. Lin and Wen Laosan laughed. “Let’s go with Wen Yuan!”

“Ha ha, I’m Wen Yuan! Finally no more being called ‘Chuizi!’” Wen Chuizi—no, Wen Yuan—was ecstatic. “Big sisters, what about you? Will you change your names?”

Wen Lan waved her hand. “My name was given by mother. I won’t change it.”

Wen Ye shook her head as well; she certainly wouldn’t change hers, as it was the name she had in her previous life.

Wen Lizheng rewrote Wen Yuan’s information on a new page and bound it with thread. Wen Ye’s family pressed their fingerprints, finalizing the name.

Wen Lizheng said, “You can leave now! The register still needs to be taken to the government office for a seal. There are three copies: one for the government, one for me, and one for you.”

“Thank you, Lizheng.”

After expressing their gratitude, Wen Ye’s family left.

...

When they returned home, it was already the second quarter of the hour of the Rooster (7:30 p.m.).

Wen Ye and her sister each carried a basket, ready to go out.

Mrs. Lin pulled a handkerchief from her bosom, unfolded it, and inside were sixteen copper coins.

She took two out and handed them to Wen Lan: “Here. If you get hungry, buy two steamed buns to eat.”

Then she carefully wrapped the remaining fourteen coins. This was all their money; they had to spend it sparingly.

At that moment, Wen Yuer came by the fence with a basket and called out, “Ye, Lan, are you going to the market in town too?”

“Yeah,” Wen Ye replied as she stepped out. “We have embroidery to deliver.”

“Me too! Let’s go together!” Wen Yuer giggled.

The three girls chattered happily as they set off together.

By the village entrance, they met several villagers also heading to town.

Seeing Wen Ye and her sisters, they expressed concern. Everyone knew about yesterday’s events—whether sincere or feigned, sympathy was universal.

“Lan, Ye, have you found a place to live?”

“Got enough to eat?”

Wen Ye smiled warmly. “Thank you all for your concern. We’re temporarily staying in Yuer’s old house. Aunt Guihua gave us some rice and vegetables. For now, we have food and shelter. Separating from the family is a joyous event; we’ll keep getting better.”

The villagers exchanged glances. Without land or fields, what kind of life could they make?

At that moment, a man in his sixties drove an ox cart toward them. His name was Wen Fushun, known by all as Old Fu Tou.

The ox cart stopped. Old Fu Tou said, “Anyone want a ride?”

Two women from better-off families boarded.

Most people were reluctant to spend money on a ride.

Naturally, Wen Ye and the others had no money for the cart and walked along the village road in small groups.

Wen Yuer lifted the basket’s cover to reveal a stack of handkerchiefs and three eggs. “Lan, Ye, here’s one each.”

Wen Lan quickly refused. “No need, we’re not hungry.”

They owed Yuer’s family too much already; they didn’t want to take more.

But Wen Yuer pressed the eggs into their hands, her face stern. “No refusals. You have to eat!”

Wen Ye stared at the egg in her hand, mouth watering as her stomach growled uncontrollably.

Wen Lan blushed, torn between not wanting to owe Yuer more and not wanting her little sister to go hungry.

Finally, she whispered, “Then... thank you, Yuer.”

Given the order, Wen Ye began peeling the egg. She was starving! Mmm, delicious!

Wen Yuer giggled. “Have you finished embroidering all your handkerchiefs?”

Wen Ye nodded with her mouth full, too busy eating to speak.

“What did you make?” Wen Yuer asked.

Wen Lan pulled out a finished cartoon-embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve. Wen Yuer’s eyes lit up. “Wow, this is so cute!”

Even Wen Yuer liked it, so Wen Lan breathed a sigh of relief, hoping the results wouldn’t be too bad.

Wen Ye was almost done with her egg; Wen Lan had no choice but to eat hers as well.

The three girls ate eggs while walking and chatting, laughing and talking, and didn’t feel tired at all.