Chapter 9 (2/2)

No one knew exactly what he was crying about, but a kid young as him would express his depression this way was enough to prove that he was not equally treated in the family. Later, someone who knew the truth revealed that the big brother of Xue’s family planned to send his son to study in the town, but not his nephew.

Everybody in the village knew how the second child of Xue family died. Many people were there when Xue Qingsong was dying. They all saw how he took Xue Qingshan’s hand and made him promise that he will treat his son well.

Coming back from the Xue’s family, a lot of people discussed how miserable Xue Qingsong was to leave his sick wife and young child behind. No wonder he wouldn’t close eyes until his brother made the promise.

Now such rumors spread out, and the scene of Xue Qingsong’s death went rival in the village. Some old people shook their heads and sighed, that people are unpredictable, and that you can never trust others with your wife and child. You treat him as your brother and even died for him, but he doesn’t treat you son as his son.

Even Xue Tingxiang’s status in the Xue’s family over the past few years were discussed by the women in the village.

For example, Gouzi rarely show up in front people, but every time he was seen in old and shabby clothes. Juncai, the big brother’s son, never wore old clothes. Even the things in private schools were spread to the grown-ups by those ignorant kids. Xue Juncai has a full set of pens, ink, paper and ink stones, and he has the most books in the school. Xue Gouzi, on several occasions, was seen writing on the book case with water.

Indeed, everyone is biased, and there’s nothing wrong about protecting your own son, but Xue Qingshan’s brother died for him. It’s so cruel of him to be biased on this occasion.

“At this age you still can’t manage your family affairs? It’s OK for you to be partial to your oldest son, but you shouldn’t let everyone know it. What should we do about this now?”

Old as Grandpa Xue was, his face blushed for embarrassment. He knew this is not a small deal. If he doesn’t tackle well, his family reputation is over.

I can lose my reputation, my oldest son can’t. If he was known as being cold to his dead brother’s son, he is completely over. Not to mention being a scholar, his private school may be hard to manage.

“Haizi… ” He looked to the clan leader for help, because he had no idea in his mind.

“You should send both of the children to private schools in town, to stop the gossip.”

Grandpa Xue’s face went even redder. He rubbed his rough hands and said: “You know Haizi, in order to provide for the oldest son, there’s no money left in the family. I want to send both of them, but I can’t afford it.”

Hearing this, clan leader Xue also frowned.

He knew clearly how Xue Qingshan went to Qinghe School. That place is really expensive, and you can’t argue with them, because a lot of people are willing to pay for it. A year’s study will at least cost twenty taels of silver. Xue Qingshan studied there for five years.

The clan leader was about to help him gather some money if he can’t afford it, but now he stopped talking. Xue Juncai was still young, and his future was still unknown, especially that two of the grandchildren in his family were all studying and needing money. They were not wealthy.

“Just don’t let any of them go. Is that OK?” Grandpa Xue whispered.

Clan leader Xue sneered: “That’s exactly what they say about you! You don’t treat the son of the dead well. If you don’t want to ruin your oldest son’s reputation and destroy the future of Juncai, you should either send both of them or just send the son of your second son.”

Coming out of clan leader’s house, Grandpa Xue was completely stunned.

He shook his hand and touched his waist a few times before taking off his cigarette bag. He didn’t go any further, but squatted under a tree by the road and lit up the tobacco.

He slowed down towards home, and a lot of people greeted him along the way.

Normally, he would feel proud for them greeting him, but now, he felt as if they were all smiling at him on the face, but laughing at him behind the back.

He forced himself to go back, and then another acquaintance came. He smiled and asked, why did you come back from the farm so early today? Grandpa Xue could not take it anymore. He pulled this person to the side of the tree and said:

“Old Zhou, tell me the truth, how is the people in this village talking about my family now?”

This old man is also dark-skinned, but he is shorter than Xue, and his back is a bit rickety. Hearing this, he gave Grandpa Xue a subconscious look, and then sighed for a long time: “I thought you knew.”

“What? How could I know!” The first sentence almost came out of the teeth, and the second one was full of resignation.

Having lived so many years, Old Zhou surly understand this old buddy. But he didn’t know what to say, just said seriously: “Don’t worry too much. They just had nothing else to do other than gossip about others. But don’t blame me for being talkative. The thing you did was really… ” He sucked his teeth and looked like he was licking his mouth, “Not appropriate.”

Not appropriate?

He might only say these out of their relationship. Behind him, nobody knows how people are scolding him. The clan leader just told him that the rumor was ugly outside, but he didn’t say how they said it.

Xue asked: “Exactly what did they say? Just tell me.”

Old Zhou sighed before he said what he knew. Since everything was open, he didn’t think there was anything he couldn’t say, “It’s not that I am blaming you. You’re a father. You should manage this stuff. Don’t forget how your second son died. Doing this will surly attract scolding.”

Grandpa Xue looked pale, and whispered: “It had nothing to do with my oldest son. It was my wife and my decision.”

Old Zhou raised his eyelids and looked at the old man, and then he didn’t intend to say anything else. He was afraid if he said this, the relationship between the two should be broken.

“Anyway, you have to think about it. I have to go home. You can go to my house, and I will have some drink with you?”

“No, there is something else at home.”

After Old Zhou left, Grandpa Xue stood for a while and went home.

As soon as he entered the house, Xue Qingshan stood in the courtyard and asked, “Dad, what did grandfather tell you?”

Grandpa Xue looked at his son without a word, and entered the main room.

Xue Qingshan was confused, and he wanted to ask his youngest brother what happened. At this time, Mrs. Zhou called everyone for dinner in the kitchen. Everyone went out and he could not ask.

At dinner, Grandpa Xue kept a straight face.

Since Xue Tingxiang could get out of bed, he no longer have dinner in his own room, but with everyone. The atmosphere on dinner table was so serious that the naughty Maodan who like to make trouble at dinner table was afraid to speak today.

After the meal, Mrs. Zhou and Xue Tao’er cleared the table and went to wash the dishes.

Others were planning to leave, but they were stopped by Grandpa Xue.

“Qingshan and your wife stay here. I need to talk to you. Gouzi stays. Others go back to your room.”