Chapter 4: The elder sister-in-law at home glares with anger

With a hint of embarrassment, he forced a smile and hurriedly stepped forward to take the earthen jar from his sister-in-law's hand

The world is harsh, and wars are incessant. For a small household engaged merely in leatherworking and shoemaking, idling without any work would naturally lead to a belly full of grievances for anyone

Under the trials of life, having to deal with such a younger brother-in-law, one would be a saint to harbor no resentment

... ...

Ambition belongs to ambition, and conscience belongs to conscience; it should be this way, and it is only natural

Standing in front of the door, I looked at my simple wooden door and reached out to push and pull it a few times

The name of a beast, commonly known for its hide, is also a familiar term among cobblers.

He still does not know about the significant event that occurred in the State of Qi, which influenced the entire pattern of the early Warring States period, nor does he realize that the Moists, whom he believes can help him ascend to great heights, have already left Shangqiu

The two small rooms serve as bedrooms, with very small windows that are dark and gloomy. On the haphazardly constructed wooden bed, there are no bedding materials, only a messy spread of wheat straw.

The sister-in-law, filled with anger, stood at the wooden door, with a clay pot containing some corn tucked under her left arm and a water-filled clay pot in her right hand

The clothes on the body and the food in the mouth are all squeezed out from these foul hides, even the brother's name is inextricably linked to the hides, simply named after a deer.

At a loss for words, I could only awkwardly say: "Be careful, do not break the jar."

Survival is not easy; my brother and sister-in-law have supported me for so many years, so I must listen to them even if they say it ten more times

In the dark room, he carefully placed the jar and corn down and casually asked, "Where is brother?"

Mr. Mozi advocates for universal love for all people, yet you do not even love your own brother and sister-in-law; how can you claim to love the world? If I were Mr. Mozi, I would certainly not accept you as a disciple

Looking at the younger brother-in-law, who seemed to have changed completely in just one day, the sister-in-law felt somewhat at a loss, standing there and forgetting that the next step was to wash the corn

The large house next door is where my elder brother usually makes shoes, and there is a strong smell of leather, which is quite unpleasant

The family is left with nothing but bare walls, which reflects the current situation, and it is also the reality for the vast majority of people at this moment

As I was about to go out, my sister-in-law pulled me back and took out two bundles wrapped in straw ash with a burlap cloth, though I had no idea what they were for

In other words, it is merely some words spoken after a lack of understanding.

The firewood is outside the city, and an afternoon is just enough time.

The thoughts under the juniper tree are distant, while the matters of the hemp rope on my shoulder are very close

Beneath the juniper tree, the shadows of those who believed they had attained enlightenment gradually dissipate

Compared to the most prosperous Taoyi of the Song state, it still falls short, yet it has managed to bring a glimmer of vitality to this dilapidated ducal capital, finally awakening somewhat from the devastation of the siege by the Wei family a few years ago

After carefully hiding this item, take out the hemp rope from the haystack and go gather firewood.

Carrying a hemp rope, I found a small stream outside the city gate. It was not out of thirst; the water was very clean and could serve as a mirror

As I watched my uncle's figure about to disappear from beside the firewood gate, I sighed and thought of something, then rushed out to remind him: "The area beyond Dongshan belongs to the public office, the reed marsh by the river to the west is the property of the Sicheng family, the Berlin at the foot of Dongshan is royal land, and the poplar forest to the south belongs to the Ling family. You must not go there, or you will be caught and beaten to death. If you can't carry too much, then carry less. Don't overburden yourself today and end up too tired to get up tomorrow; it would be better not to go to the hemp soaking tomorrow!"

Smiling, she took it with both hands and turned to leave

In this world, there is no such thing as a cold and fierce demeanor without reason; one is well aware of the underlying circumstances.

The house was completely bare; at that time, iron smelting had not yet become widespread, and copper was exceedingly precious. In the kitchen of the home, a single clay pot was relied upon for cooking rice. The room was blackened by the smoke of firewood, and the walls were greasy, the filth having accumulated for an unknown length of time

In the corner stands a lovely three-legged clay pot, resembling a beast with a limp, which serves as our "stove". The three legs support it, allowing for a fire to be lit underneath for cooking porridge and rice

Sister-in-law shook her head behind and followed into the house

He has gone outside the city to measure the shoe size for the scholar and will return shortly

Still, my sister-in-law cares for me

Staring at the already polished groove, he chuckled foolishly and said, "Is this the pivot that does not rot?"

If you are not going to make shoes or tan leather, that is fine, but today is the season for mulberries to ripen. It would be good to go and pick a few bunches of mulberries to eat. I still need to soak the hemp this afternoon, and the rice has not been cooked yet. We ran out of firewood yesterday, so could you go outside the city and bring back a bundle of firewood? You spend your days idly wandering around, always wanting to undertake something grand, but what have you actually accomplished?

Although it is noon, the common people have two meals a day, and it is far from mealtime

Originally, artisans were only required to pay taxes and were not obligated to pay levies. Levies were for military purposes, while taxes were for sacrifices and state expenditures. Before the decline of rites and music, the distinctions were very clear, and artisans did not even have the opportunity to serve in the military

In its lifetime, a spittle is expelled, and the ripples it creates shatter those glimmers of light. Occasionally, a few strands of intense brilliance reflect from the crests of the waves into the eyes, causing a slight sting

There are indeed reasons for my sister-in-law to treat this body of mine with indifference

Lowering one's head, not daring to speak, holding one's own values, ultimately feeling at fault in this matter, unable to utter any grand statements like "do not underestimate the youth in poverty"

After a long sleep, the once stiff and prickly straw has become as soft as cotton

This life, where one can see the edge at a glance, is the most terrifying

Speaking a few words to the shattered reflection, the beautifully arched eyebrows furrowed together, long gone was the passionate and spirited demeanor beneath the cypress tree

The sister-in-law, who was originally prepared to scold a few more times, looked at the younger brother-in-law's playful grin and suddenly felt the jar in her arm become unexpectedly light, leaving her momentarily stunned, wondering why things had taken such a turn today

The old wooden door was pushed open, and what greeted me was my sister-in-law's cold and disdainful glare, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, and the corners of her mouth filled with contempt

The wood with the groove rubs against the doorpost, producing a sound that makes one cringe, yet it is done with relentless enthusiasm

In a moment of urgency, one cannot help but instinctively want to place one hand on the hip and point angrily with the other in order to vent one's frustrations. Unfortunately, with a clay pot of corn tucked under the arm, the venting is unsatisfactory, and one can only let out a huff before turning to head back inside.

Having been married into the family for three years, she is now only eighteen years old, yet her hands have long lost the smoothness of youth, becoming as rough as the skin shed by a snake, and in winter, they are prone to cracking, resulting in numerous wounds

When the words that seemed to be a reprimand were shouted out of concern, that figure had already turned the corner, seemingly waving goodbye to her from a distance, as if acknowledging that they had heard her.

Without an axe or a saw, one can only rely on one's hands to pick up

Learning wrestling from the butcher of the East and swordsmanship from the junior warriors outside the city, yet never engaging in tasks such as leatherworking or shoemaking, can be described as having lofty ambitions in a positive light, but in less flattering terms, it amounts to being a freeloader

Her eyes, resembling apricot kernels, revealed a bold and spirited demeanor. As she watched her little uncle sway back from outside, carrying things in his hands and under his arms without offering to help, merely standing there foolishly, her anger surged even more.

Copper cookware is something that only nobles can use. Even though the ceremonial system has collapsed and wealth can allow one to overstep boundaries, the current price is approximately 2 grams of copper for 1 pound of millet, meaning that 1 pound of copper equates to 250 pounds of millet, which is certainly unaffordable for ordinary families

I will go out to gather some firewood now, and I will take care of the hemp soaking tomorrow

It is indeed a fine appearance. Surviving in your body, the debts you owe will also have to be repaid by me. Coming from a common family, pursuing education is not easy. I hope you were not the kind of bastard who thinks it is only natural for your brother and sister-in-law to treat you this way, or someone who has said something outrageous; otherwise, I would not be able to bear it.

He took a glance at his own house and shook his head silently

You are not a carpenter, so why concern yourself with whether it is infested or not? With this idle time, wouldn't it be better to help your brother with the leather and make a few more pairs of shoes? Wandering around all day, do you think you are a young master from a wealthy family?

It is appropriate not to speak, nor to ponder what those two burlap bags containing wood ash are.

He touched his small house, found a clay pot, and carefully hid the bag containing his dreams and ambitions inside, sealing it meticulously, fearing that a mouse might burrow in and eat it.

It is said that Mozi is a person of saintly character, and upon closer inspection today, it is indeed true. My own uncle has merely attended some lectures and yet he already knows how to take action

How could the瓦罐 be dropped and shattered when it is firmly held in strong arms

The gap in taxation has long been disregarded, and the taxes on private artisans continue to rise. The unification of taxes has transformed the tithe from one-tenth to one-twelfth, yet the monarchs still lament that it is insufficient.

As soon as the words were spoken, a rather sharp woman's voice came from inside the door, clearly tinged with a hint of anger

The warm wind blowing from the land of Qi and Lu, accompanied by the creaking sound of wooden axles of ox and horse carts, has tuned the scale of the bustling metropolis

In the shimmering reflections, there is a young face, adorned with a simple headscarf. The contours of the face are somewhat gaunt, and a pair of eyebrows resemble two knives resting above the eyes, with the corners of the eyes slightly upturned.

The family was not wealthy, relying solely on shoemaking for a living, yet my body simply did not enjoy such work.

With a smirk, he replied, but his sister-in-law coldly snorted, "Nonsense! I am worried about this outfit! Do you think this outfit just fell from the sky? It was not me who sewed it myself?"

It is clear that if one cannot accomplish certain things, one must live this way for a lifetime. This kind of life can be observed from the age of twenty to sixty, assuming one lives to sixty. The only variables are being conscripted and dying in battle, or succumbing to a serious illness.

Looking at that somewhat youthful face, which bore two dimples from its smile, the remaining half stone of vented words seemed to melt away like snowflakes in June, leaving no trace behind

Carefully cradling the bag of seeds hidden in his bosom, he avoided the bustling crowd and steered clear of the shouts of those who slaughter pigs and dogs, arriving at his own doorstep

The sister-in-law leaned against her door, unable to help but shake her head. After returning, she blankly washed the corn for a long time, and after thinking for a while, she picked up a bamboo pole from inside the house and took down a small piece of dried salted fish from the beam, cutting off a small section that she was reluctant to eat.

However, since the rites and music have deteriorated and wars have become frequent, the rules among them are no longer observed by anyone. Duke Xiang of Song did adhere to them, but he has become a laughingstock

The salt fish of Qi, the furs of Yan, and the goose feathers of Chu converge here, with merchants and travelers speaking in various accents crowding the streets

The stone mill has not yet become widespread, and among the five grains, whether it is wheat or foxtail millet, they can only be cooked together with the bran in a clay pot.

Both parents have passed away, and there are six siblings, of which two died young, and two others lost their lives during military service and the labor of building the city walls. Only one elder brother remains, who has married a sister-in-law from the neighboring family

He wrapped the two small cloth bundles on his shoulder as a cushion, still maintaining a cold expression, and said: "Wandering around all day without even carrying a few bundles of firewood, it's bound to cause blisters, and if my clothes get dirty, I will have to wash them. The more I wash, the easier they wear out! Put this on your shoulder as a cushion."