Chapter 5: Poverty

 

He Yunsheng felt as if this dream had lasted far too long.

This morning, his sister had risen early to climb the mountain and chop firewood. At last, she took out a piece of the uneaten snack from her cloth bag and offered it to him. He Yunsheng hesitated, but the cloying sweetness filled his senses. He Yan had already lowered her head to bite her own portion, and somehow, he found himself taking the offered piece.

He bit into it. The sweetness was unfamiliar, a rare treat from He Sui, who always favored He Yan. She wasn’t one to share lightly.

Seeing him eat slowly, He Yan stuffed the remaining pieces into his hands. "The rest are yours. I’m full," she said.

He Yunsheng didn’t know what to say.

The He family had only two children. He Sui, once a bodyguard, had saved a scholar’s daughter en route to the capital, forging a marriage that united them. Though a live-in son-in-law, He Sui’s children still bore his surname.

After the scholar and his wife passed away, Madam He fell into grief, dying when He Yunsheng was only three. The three of them had survived on mutual support.

He Sui loved He Yan especially, partly because of her resemblance to Madam He. Though not wealthy, he did his utmost to provide for her. Over time, He Yan had developed a troublesome personality that He Yunsheng could never warm to.

Since her illness, her behavior had grown even stranger, leaving He Yunsheng unsure how to face her.

"You go up the mountain to chop firewood every day?" He Yan asked. "What do you do in the afternoons? Don’t you go to school?"

He Yunsheng, only a year younger, was fifteen. Most boys his age would be in school.

"When I get home, I make some da’nai cakes to sell in the shed. Forget school," he said casually. "There’s no money at home, and I’m not cut out for it. I’ll just learn a few words." Despite his words, He Yan saw the shadow of regret in his eyes.

After a pause, she asked, "What do you want to do in the future?"

"Why do you ask?" he said cautiously, then finally replied, "I go to the martial arts arena daily. Once I pass the exam, I can join the city garrison, rise to lieutenant, and earn a salary."

"That’s it? A military officer?" He Yan laughed. "I thought you wanted something greater."

He Yunsheng scoffed. "Like General Feihong? We share the surname, but he’s far more powerful than us."

He Yan froze at the name. "Do you know General Feihong?"

"Of course! Who in the Great Wei doesn’t? General Feihong pacified the Western Qiang, General Fengyun the Southern Barbarians, and Generals He and Xiao conquered the North. That’s how we have peace and prosperity. Young men with chivalry and ambition! If I could be like them, even death would be worth it!" He Yan burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" He Yunsheng demanded.

"Just chopping wood and selling da’nai cakes won’t make you such a man. General Feihong and Fengyun didn’t achieve greatness by idling in the arena."

"I know," He Yunsheng blushed. "But I…"

What young man didn’t dream of grandeur? He Yunsheng was at the age of ambition, yearning for more than mundane chores.

He Yan said decisively, "Starting tomorrow, I’ll go up the mountain with you every day to chop wood and sell cakes."

"What?" He Yunsheng jumped from the rock. "He Yan, are you crazy?"

It was one thing to join today, another to do this daily. He must be dreaming.

He Yan stood, dusting herself off. "After breakfast, get back to work. Spring waits for no one."

He Yunsheng could only stare.

---

Over the next ten sunny days, He Yan rose each morning with him to Longhuan Peak. She tied sandbags to her hands and feet, carrying them up every day. He Yunsheng secretly weighed them—they were heavy. Yet she never complained. Her delicate palms, often rubbed raw, were wrapped in cloth strips.

The results were visible. Within half a month, she walked faster and chopped more wood than him. Perhaps the sandbags were magical; if not, he thought, he might as well tie some himself.

Two people chopping wood together meant more time selling da’nai cakes. He Yunsheng worried for her—a woman taking on such grueling work was unconventional. He Sui would surely scold her if he knew.

Fortunately, He Sui remained unaware, cheerful at the newfound harmony between his children. Their closeness even improved his attitude toward new soldiers at the parade grounds. A harmonious family, after all, brought prosperity.

One evening, He Yan sat at her dressing table. Qingmei watched nervously. He Yan had stopped fussing with makeup and rouge after her recovery. Now, she rummaged through her powders and creams, feeling a headache. Most items were used or unsellable.

Finally, she found some silver hairpins and jewelry—modest quality, nothing like what she’d had at the Xu family. She handed them to Qingmei.

"Take these to the pawnshop. Pawn them all. We need money," she said earnestly.

"But… but…" Qingmei stammered.

"We’re very poor now," He Yan explained. "We can’t eat these."

Her priority was securing funds for He Yunsheng’s schooling. After that, she could tend to her own matters—perhaps even settle old accounts.

Yanyan muttered quietly to herself: Poor to the point of collapse…

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