Chapter 31: Bing Wengu’s Uncompromising Resolve

There was always this unspoken barrier between them...

After the Bing family built their impressive blue-brick house with a tiled roof, they erected an earthen wall around their courtyard and installed a large wooden gate. Now, villagers couldn’t just walk in—they had to knock.

Sun Erlang stared at the imposing house before him, hardly recognizing it.

He knocked loudly on the Bing family’s gate. Soon, a clear child’s voice called from inside, “Who is it?”

Sun Erlang guessed it must be Bing Sanniang and replied, “Open the door! I’m your sister’s husband. I’ve come to take your eldest sister home.”

The sound of retreating footsteps echoed from inside. Sun Erlang assumed Bing Sanniang had gone to inform Aunt Bing.

He felt a surge of confidence. He believed he had treated Aunt Bing well—if they just met face-to-face, and he sincerely apologized and pleaded, she would surely agree to return with him.

As for the times he had hit her, that was nothing. What woman in the village hadn’t been slapped by her husband? A slap or two when angry was just how things were.

But Bing Sanniang didn’t go to Aunt Bing. Instead, she went straight to inform Bing’s father and Mother Liang.

“Shouldn’t we let him in?” Mother Liang hesitated. “We can’t really let Eldest Sister stay divorced forever. If we allow him inside and let him speak with her, maybe if things go well, she’ll agree to go back with him.”

Bing’s father glanced at her. “You’d better ask Da Lang about this. From the look of it, he’s determined to keep Eldest Sister divorced.”

Mother Liang fell silent. Bing’s father turned to Bing Sanniang. “Go call your eldest brother here.”

Bing Wengu had been reading in his room, but his keen awareness had already detected Sun Erlang’s arrival.

When Bing Sanniang summoned him, he didn’t go straight to his parents’ room. Instead, he first went to see Aunt Bing.

“Eldest Sister,” Bing Wengu stood outside her window without entering. “Sun Erlang is here. I came to ask your thoughts.”

A crash came from inside—likely Aunt Bing accidentally knocking something over in her agitation.

Bing Sanniang rushed in and saw that Aunt Bing had knocked over her sewing box. She was trembling, her eyes red-rimmed.

“Eldest Sister, you’re in postpartum recovery—you shouldn’t be sewing! If any clothes are torn, just tell me, and I’ll mend them for you.” Bing Sanniang picked up the scattered needles and thread, then added, “If you don’t want to go back to the Sun family, just ask Eldest Brother. He’ll stand up for you. From what I saw, Father and Mother seem inclined to send you back. If you really don’t want to, ask Eldest Brother to let you stay.”

Only then did Aunt Bing come to her senses. Tearfully, she asked Bing Wengu, “Da Lang… do I *have* to go back to the Sun family?”

“If you stand your ground, you never have to go back,” Bing Wengu replied.

“Then I don’t want to go back.”

“Good.” Without another word, Bing Wengu turned and headed to his parents’ room.

“Da Lang, maybe we should let your brother-in-law in and hear what he has to say,” Mother Liang suggested tentatively.

“No need. Since they’re already divorced, he’s no longer my brother-in-law.”

Mother Liang and Bing’s father exchanged glances. Bing’s father said, “But Eldest Sister can’t stay at our parents’ home forever, can she?”

“Father, Mother, my mind’s made up. There’s no need to persuade me further.” Bing Wengu’s expression was resolute.

“But—”

Bing Wengu interrupted Mother Liang. “If you insist on sending Eldest Sister back, then so be it. After all, she’s just my sister, not my child—I have no say. But remember this: once she returns to the Sun family, whether she lives or dies will have nothing to do with me. Don’t expect me to bury her.”

With that, he walked out, leaving Bing’s parents staring at each other in stunned silence. Mother Liang murmured, “Husband… don’t you think our eldest son is nothing like his old self?”

Old Man Bing said, "After someone’s died and come back, there must be some changes. Now Da Lang finally acts like the eldest son—daring to make decisions and take responsibility. He treats the family well and has a strong sense of duty."

Mrs. Liang shook her head. "I’m not talking about that. Da Lang is impeccable when it comes to our family. I mean that feeling—the deep family bond between kin."

Old Man Bing immediately understood what she meant.

Mrs. Liang continued, "Da Lang is good to our family, but there’s always this sense of distance, as if something is separating us. It’s not like the warmth he shows Nan Jia Xiao Geer—that kind of deep, heartfelt affection."

"With us, it feels more like a duty, the responsibility of being a son and an elder brother."

Old Man Bing said, "Children grow up."

Bing Wengu came out and walked to Bing Sanlang’s window, rapping his knuckles three times against it. "Bing Sanlang, that Sun family bastard is here. Go run him off."

Bing Wengu was being deliberate. He could have called Bing Silang—Bing Silang would’ve jumped at this. But he deliberately didn’t. After all, Qian Shi had fled back to her parents’ place because of Bing Daniu’s divorce, hadn’t she? So he specifically wanted Bing Sanlang to drive the man away.

"Understood," Bing Sanlang replied as he stepped out of the house. He knew exactly why Bing Wengu had called him and no one else, but he didn’t dare refuse.

Seething, Bing Sanlang grabbed a wooden stick from under the window and opened the gate.

"Third Bro, why the stick? Move aside and let me in to talk properly with your elder sister. I still got feelings for her. If she just comes back with me..."

Bing Sanlang kept a straight face, betraying no emotion. "Are you here to apologize to my elder sister?"

"Yeah," Sun Erlang said warily, unsure of Bing Sanlang’s intentions.

Bing Sanlang said, "Get on your knees."

Sun Erlang was stunned. "Bro?"

"Aren’t you here to apologize to my elder sister? Can’t even kneel for that?"

Sun Erlang hesitated, then gritted his teeth and knelt in front of the Bing family’s gate. Bing Sanlang added, "Say, 'I’m a useless man who can’t father sons, and I’ve delayed your elder sister from having children.'"

Sun Erlang glared at Bing Sanlang. "Don’t go too far."

Bing Sanlang shrugged. "Suit yourself. My elder brother has always been against my elder sister going back to you anyway."

Sun Erlang clenched his teeth, fuming at Bing Wengu. If not for Bing Wengu stringing him along into a trap, he’d never have signed those divorce papers. He had never wanted a divorce in the first place.

And none of this would be happening now.

Sun Erlang thought about bolting, but he was afraid the Bing family would really let Bing Daniu divorce him.

Now, the Bing family was willing to give Bing Daniu a large dowry, and there were plenty of men willing to marry her.

But for him, it was different. He still had unmarried brothers at home, and his mother would never agree to spend more money on another marriage for him. Even if she did, his brothers wouldn’t allow it.

Sun Erlang thought it over and over, then remembered the dowry the Bing family had promised Bing Daniu. If she reconciled with him, that money would be his.

In the end, for the sake of that silver, he knelt in front of the Bing family’s gate and shouted, "I’m a useless man who can’t father sons, and I’ve delayed Bing Daniu from having children!"

Burning with shame, Sun Erlang glared at Bing Sanlang. "Happy now?"

But Bing Sanlang’s expression instantly darkened. He swung the stick hard and struck Sun Erlang, sending him fleeing in panic.

Bing Sanlang had been holding back his anger all this time. This worthless bastard couldn’t even sire sons, yet he blamed his elder sister for it.

If not for him, his elder sister wouldn’t have divorced, and his wife wouldn’t have stormed off back to her parents’ place.

Bing Sanlang didn't dare vent his anger at Bing Wengu, so he took it all out on Sun Erlang, almost beat him to death.

Sun Erlang fled while shouting back at Bing Sanlang, "I knelt when you told me to, I insulted myself when you ordered me to, so why won’t you let me see Aunt Bing? Why are you still hitting me?"

"You’re the one who groveled. I never said groveling would get you to see my sister. Try again in your next life!"

Bing Sanlang chased him all the way out of the village before finally stopping.

In the courtyard, Bing Wengu smirked. This Bing Sanlang had learned quickly—the same tactics he had used on Bing Silang were now being turned against Sun Erlang.

Bing Wengu walked over to Aunt Bing’s window and saw it open, with Aunt Bing sitting by the window, weeping as she stared toward the gate.

"You saw it all—he knelt for you and admitted he was the one who couldn’t father a son. Did that satisfy your anger?" Bing Wengu asked.

"It did," Aunt Bing nodded heavily.

"What’s done is done—let it go."

"Thank you, Da Lang," Aunt Bing sobbed. "If not for you, I might have died this time."

"Close the window. You’re still in confinement—you shouldn’t be exposed to the wind."

Bing Wengu turned and saw the Bing couple standing under the eaves, watching him with complicated expressions.

"Father, Mother, you should go back too. That Sun family’s worthless bastard who can’t sire a son has suffered enough humiliation—he won’t dare come back."

The Bing couple didn’t know what to say. Too intimidated by Bing Wengu, they didn’t dare argue. In the end, they called Bing Sanlang inside and scolded him.

"How could you stoop so low? No matter what, that Sun family’s... ugh, Sun Erlang—" Old Man Bing almost parroted Bing Wengu’s words, "—was once your brother-in-law!"

Bing Sanlang shrugged it off. "Then go talk to my eldest brother. He told me to beat him, and he taught me what to say."

Old Man Bing choked on his anger, nearly fainting.

Seeing her husband speechless, Madam Liang said, "Your eldest brother has the strength to back up his words. With that sharp tongue of his, even if he insults someone, who would dare hit him? Anyone dumb enough to try would get their ass kicked. Do you have that kind of ability? Forget one against three—you can barely handle one against one!"

"..." Bing Sanlang had no retort.

Meanwhile, Sun Erlang, beaten black and blue, was too ashamed to show his face. Whenever he passed someone he knew on the road, he covered his face, muttering half-answers when questioned.

When he finally returned to the Sun household, he lowered his arms, letting his family see the damage.

"Erlang! Who beat you like this? Was it Bing Dalang?" Madam Sun wailed, rushing forward to embrace him.

"It wasn’t Bing Dalang, but he definitely told Bing Sanlang to hit me. Without his instigation, that selfish Bing Sanlang wouldn’t have bothered. If not for him, the Bings would’ve let me bring her back today!"

Madam Sun cursed, "That Bing Dalang is a damn meddler!"

"Who knew Bing Dalang had balls? Money gives a man guts," Old Man Sun remarked.

"What’s the point of saying all that?" Sun Erlang squatted on the ground, dejected. "I think Bing Dalang is hell-bent on making sure Aunt Bing stays gone. So what do I do now? Ma, I’m still young—I can’t stay a bachelor. And I still don’t have a son to pass the family name to! How can that be? Besides, didn’t you always want me to have a son?"

The other Sun sons immediately protested.

"Ma already footed the bill for your wedding once—why should she spend money on you again?" Sun Sanlang was the first to pipe up.

"Third Brother, Sixth Brother and I haven’t even married once! We’re next in line—not you," Sun Wulang added.

"Second Brother, you not having a wife now isn’t because Father and Mother didn’t arrange a marriage for you. It’s because you’re pathetic—you couldn’t even stop your wife from bolting," Sun Liulang scoffed.

Even the already married Sun Dalang said, "Why do we brothers only get wedding money once, while you get to spend it twice? That ain't right. I don't give a damn if you stay single or remarry, but the family can't keep giving you money. Otherwise, the rest of us brothers should get a share too."

"Right." Except for Sun Erlang, the other Sun boys all chimed in.

Sun Erlang dug in his heels, "I don’t care. I still don’t have a son, so I must get married again. Besides, it wasn’t me who drove Aunt Bing away—it was y'all's doing. Now that I’m left single, you can’t just abandon me."

"Look, Aunt Bing was a good woman—worked her fingers to the bone, never complained, and hardly ate a thing. As for not bearing a son, she’s still young. It’s not like she can't have children at all. Just keep trying, and eventually, she’ll have a son. Why did you have to be so harsh on her?"

Ma Sun was struck dumb. "Erlang, are you blaming me?"

"At this point, whether I blame you or not doesn’t matter anymore," Sun Erlang said with a shrug. "Anyway, since you made me lose my wife, you have to compensate me with another one."

The Sun family had no money left for Sun Erlang to marry again. Even the unmarried sons had no idea where they’d get the funds for their own weddings.

But seeing Sun Erlang and the other sons, Ma Sun didn’t dare say it out loud.

"Erlang, don’t be so impatient. That Bing Dalang is a scholar, and I heard he’s studying for next year's civil service exams. Marrying a Xiao Geer is already enough to harm his career—he ain't about to have some cast-off wife moving back in. Just be patient. Once Bing Dalang’s anger cools down, Aunt Bing will surely be taken back."

Back when Qian Shi angrily returned to her parents’ home, Liang Shi forbade Bing Sanlang from fetching her. During that time, Qian’s family had come demanding explanations, but Liang Shi firmly dismissed them without yielding.

As a result, even after Bing’s family had finished building their seven large tiled houses, Qian Shi still hadn’t returned.

The Bing family now enjoyed excellent meals, with meat at every dinner. That evening, as the family gathered to eat, Bing Sanlang was picking at his food.

Looking at the table full of meat dishes, Bing Sanlang thought of Qian Shi. If she saw such a feast, she’d be overjoyed.

After the meal, Bing Sanlang hesitantly went to Liang Shi’s room and stammered, "Mother, Qian Shi has been at her parents’ place for so long. Don't you think it's time to bring her home?"