Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Listening to Liu Ye'er fall into a deep sleep, Liu Ma helped her lower the mosquito net, placed the lamp on the kang table, spread out her own bedding, took out her sewing basket from the kang cabinet, and began sewing shoe soles by the lamplight. The soles were long; although Liu Ma had large feet, they were definitely not this big. The dim light of dusk concealed the rough marks of time on Liu Ma's face, and her white hair blended into her black hair.

Ten years ago, the old riverbank breached its banks. Liu Ma escaped with her nursing daughter, and later found her underage brother-in-law. Her husband, son, and in-laws were nowhere to be found, their fates unknown. She had no choice but to flee with her two children. Along the way, they were poorly clothed and starving, plagued by disease. In their hardship, her daughter died first. The adults had nothing to eat, so they had no milk to feed her. Liu Ma fainted from grief at her daughter's small grave. Later, they reached Shiqiao Town, where her brother-in-law also fell seriously ill. After burying him, Liu Ma stood on the riverbank, refusing to jump. Later, a kind person persuaded her to come down. Coincidentally, the Huo family clinic in town was looking for a handywoman, so they took her there to try. And so, Liu Ma stayed. Aunt Liu was not a good maid. Country folk are rough and clumsy and can't do delicate work like embroidery or serving tea and water. She is not good at being considerate and attentive, and she has a strong opinion of her own. Compared to the previous maid, she is really not up to par. Fortunately, she is honest and hardworking, so the Huo family kept her around. Ten years have passed since then.

Over the course of ten years, matchmakers came to sound her out more than once. Liu Ma was honest and not stupid. She understood the difficulties of being a second wife, and besides, she was hoping that the man might be able to escape with his life. So she gritted her teeth and refused to take that step.

Over the course of ten years, Liu Ma helped her mistress with the weddings of her five daughters, handling all the big and small matters with unwavering reliability. Her wages increased from two strings of cash a month to three strings. Even so, Liu Ma remained frugal, rarely buying new clothes and only wearing hand-me-downs. Fortunately, the Huo family's daughters were well-fed, so even their hand-me-downs were usually in good condition. Through her thrifty efforts, she finally managed to save up three hundred strings of cash.

The third son, who drove the horse for his family, was left all alone a few years ago after contracting typhoid fever. To be fair, the third son was a decent man. He had followed his master from the capital back to their hometown, and together they had built a business from scratch. His master not only returned his indenture but also bought him a small courtyard, a wife, and a cart, allowing him to establish his own household. However, typhoid fever left him utterly alone again. After selling the house and paying for his funeral, the third son became a complete alcoholic. His master, fearing for his safety, brought him back. He lived with the family in a manner neither quite relatives nor servants, and it took several years for him to recover. The two men, sharing similar fates, felt a sense of sympathy and shared a common feeling. But when it came to merging their families, Liu Ma hesitated. Deep down, she looked down on the third son. Liu Ma preferred her own husband to be a strong man, someone she could rely on for support.

Today, her third son told her that Widow Yang might be trying to cause trouble. The thought that her third son might have some kind of entanglement with Widow Yang made Liu Ma feel very uncomfortable.

"Your son is dead and you still have time to flirt with other men, how shameless!" Liu Ma cursed angrily. She accidentally pricked her finger with the needle, and a bead of blood seeped out. Liu Ma impatiently threw the shoe sole into the basket: "He's busy having an affair with a widow, and you still have the mind to help him sew shoes? Are you being shameless!"

To the west of the house was a narrow, irregularly shaped courtyard, mainly for livestock sheds and a vegetable garden. The third brother lay on the kang (heated brick bed), legs crossed, hands clasped behind his head, gazing at the roof, his thoughts drifting far away: Aunt Liu had money, but her disappointing attitude towards him chilled him; besides, she wasn't as pretty as Widow Yang, and was older. Widow Yang was greedy, only wanting money, unlike Aunt Liu's integrity, and her son was a huge burden. Now that her son was dead, she needed money for burial; if he was willing to pay, Widow Yang would probably be hers. Aunt Liu was caring and had money, but she was over forty and probably couldn't have more children. Widow Yang was just over thirty; having two or three more wouldn't be a problem. But Widow Yang... The third brother clicked his tongue, his mind wavering. Despite her usual arrogance, if he didn't offer money, Widow Yang wouldn't act without a sure thing! If you don't pay up, this might be your last chance. There are still a few old bachelors in town. What if someone grits their teeth and pulls out the money? We'll lose our chance! This is a matter of life and death, there's no room for ambiguity!

After getting up and feeding the horse, the third brother was still undecided: Widow Yang's pitiful crying in the village stirred his protective instincts, making him wonder if he should live with her...

The third son tossed and turned, unable to make up his mind. He wanted to eat but was afraid of getting burned, and he was unwilling to give up. He had to consider other options: he only had about a hundred strings of cash, and he was afraid that helping Widow Yang with her funeral would cost him twenty or thirty strings. He couldn't be frugal at this time; he had to put on a brave face. After the funeral, it would probably be difficult for her to get married for a year or two. If Widow Yang refused to marry him—and that woman might very well do such a thing—then everything would be for nothing!

……

Liu Ma tossed and turned, unable to sleep. That widow Yang was mean-spirited and cruel, sweet-talking but bitter at heart, yet men were easily swayed by her charms. A few cups of cat urine and a few sweet words, and that third brother would be completely disoriented. The widow's days were hard; remarriage or finding another wife would be understandable, a proper remarriage would be acceptable, but she only teased him with her cunning, making excuses and refusing to remarry. She was only after his money—what difference was there between her and a brothel woman! And this third brother just couldn't let go of this woman! Such a clingy, indecisive, spineless man—why even think about him! Forget it, time to sleep!

Widow Yang stared blankly at the ever-burning lamp on the altar. Several relatives who had helped keep watch at night were sprawled out asleep on the straw mats beside it. Widow Yang's heart was utterly broken. When her husband died, though she was saddened, it was only to a limited extent. She despised that man, and his death didn't particularly sadden her; she even felt a sense of relief. This time was different. Her son, with his big fists and kicks, was a real character! Although the mother and son lived a hard life, they were content. How laughable were those arrogant, worthless men! A few kind words from them, and they thought they were someone special. Did they even realize they were unworthy to be her son A-Niu's stepfather? If it weren't for their dire circumstances, would she have exchanged sweet words for money? If it weren't for wanting to save more for her son, would she have stooped so low? Everything was over. A-Niu had abandoned her; all her calculations had been in vain, leaving her only with a bad reputation. It was all that little bitch's fault! Heaven was blind; A-Niu was ruined by that little bitch! Tomorrow, Ah Niu will lie alone in the cold, dark ground. That little bitch wants to live a peaceful life? No way! Widow Yang gritted her teeth, looking like a mother wolf who had lost her cub. She closed her eyes, almost frantic, locking all her malice inside. This isn't over! Not over! Nobody will get away with it—not that boy from the Lü family, and definitely not that little bitch!