Ch 12: Reborn to Raise My Husband

The Fang family was a typical village household scraping by on a few acres of land—five people, fifteen mu of fields.

They rarely had any surplus harvest, and on top of that, Old Fang was bedridden and unable to work, constantly relying on medicine. Most of the time, they were barely able to fill the rice jar. If they weren’t borrowing money, that was already considered a good time.

The eldest son of the Fang family was already over twenty, still unmarried, unable to save enough for betrothal gifts or afford a wedding feast. In the village, other men his age already had two children running around, while he remained alone.

Back in the day, Old Fang was the same. Born into poverty, he didn’t marry until well into his twenties, to Widow Sun, who had fled here after losing her husband.

They had their first child at an older age. Now the eldest son was nearing the same age Old Fang had been when he married, and still had no prospects. The entire family was anxious about it.

When Qi Beinan brought Xiao Bao into the Fang family’s yard, Grandma Sun was sweeping under the eaves.

After villagers had helped repair the earthen wall that had collapsed from the wind and rain, the yard was left scattered with muddy debris and broken bamboo.

“Grandma Sun.”

Xiao Bao had once been close to Grandma Sun, but it had been a long time since he visited. Now he was a bit shy and called out in a small voice.

“Bao Ge’er?”

Grandma Sun looked up at the sound, saw the unfamiliar face of Qi Beinan, and froze for a moment.

She straightened her hunched back. “What brings you here?”

“I came with my gege,” Xiao Bao replied.

“Gege?” Grandma Sun asked, confused.

Qi Beinan stepped forward politely and greeted her as “Grandma Sun,” using the same term of respect as Xiao Bao. He explained that he was from Xiao Bao’s mother’s side of the family and had come to rely on the Xiao household after a family misfortune.

Hearing that he was a relation from Xiao Bao’s mother’s side, Grandma Sun was momentarily dazed, but a warmth blossomed in her heart.

Xiao Bao’s mother had also carried the surname Sun. They weren’t blood relatives, but they were of the same clan. Madam Sun had been virtuous and kind, and just like Grandma Sun, she too had married into the village from elsewhere.

They had gotten along quickly and warmly—often going to the market together and working on needlework side by side. The two households had once been so close that whenever they cooked anything good, they’d always bring a bowl over to share, just like family.

When Sun Yuan passed, Grandma Sun had fallen ill from grief. Even though it had been two years, the Fang family still often spoke of her fondly.

Despite the distance that had grown between their families, Grandma Sun still regarded Yuan Shi with affection. Seeing one of her relatives now, she was all kindness.

“What a poor child… When did you arrive? I didn’t even know.”

Qi Beinan said, “Just recently. I haven’t been out to visit yet. Today I came by to greet the neighbors.”

“Good, good.”

Grandma Sun set down her broom and invited them in. “Don’t just stand out here—it’s cold, you’ll catch a chill. Come inside and sit.”

Hearing Grandma Sun’s invitation, Xiao Bao’s face lit up. He skipped happily ahead into the house, clearly still familiar with the path.

Not long after, a coughing fit echoed from inside the house, followed by a hoarse voice: “Is that Bao Ge’er?”

As Grandma Sun and Qi Beinan walked in, she softened and said, “That child always goes to see the old man first, just like his mother—so thoughtful.”

The room Old Fang had slept in had lost half its wall in the collapse. Fortunately, the mud and rubble hadn’t fallen on him.

That morning the wall had just been patched up, but the mud was still damp and the room cold, so they had moved him to the main hall.

Though he was only in his fifties, Old Fang looked decades older. His temples were graying, his skin sallow, eyes sunken deep into their sockets, and his frame was so thin he looked like a bundle of twigs, curled up beneath a rough, gray blanket.

The sight was truly heart-wrenching.

Xiao Bao stood quietly by the bedside, nodded his head, and looked at the increasingly gaunt man without saying a word.

When Old Fang noticed a stranger had come, his cloudy eyes gained a trace of clarity. Grandma Sun introduced Qi Beinan and explained his background.

There was little food in the house to offer a guest, so she poured the two children some hot water to drink.

Inside, the Fang house was colder than outside, like an ice cellar.

Qi Beinan took a sip to warm himself and then explained their visit. “We didn’t just come to get acquainted. I also wanted to trouble Grandma with something.”

“I brought two bolts of cloth with Xiao Bao, hoping to make him a warm new set of winter clothes. Unfortunately, I haven’t the skill. I originally planned to ask Qin Niazi once she returned, but children grow fast. His sleeves are already too short, and the weather is cold. His hands have broken out in frostbite.”

“Frostbite is common among village children, but his health is delicate. I fear he might fall ill. If we can finish his new clothes sooner, he’ll be better protected from the cold.”

“I heard Grandma’s needlework is excellent, so I thickened my face and came to ask for your help.”

Grandma Sun was surprised that the two children had come to ask her to make clothes. But instead of feeling burdened, she felt oddly relieved to be of use.

“Making clothes is no trouble at all—no need for such talk. Back when Bao Ge’er’s mother was still with us, we always did our sewing together. She made many things for my second daughter and third son. Now that she’s gone, it’s only right I help make something for Bao Ge’er in her place.”

Grandma Sun spoke from the heart. Because of the bond she once shared with Sun-shi, she was more than willing to make clothes for Xiao Bao. The only thing that held her back… was the fear that Xiao Bao’s stepmother, Qin Niazi, wouldn’t approve.

She lifted her brows. “You said you were waiting for Qin Niazi to return—where has she gone?”

Qi Beinan replied, “She took Chao Ge’er back to her parents’ home.”

“Back to her maiden home? It’s nearly Little New Year—how could she take the child and leave now?”

Grandma Sun was surprised.

Qi Beinan didn’t speak ill of Qin Niazi to others, knowing their ties were shallow. He only said, “I’m not sure either. Maybe something urgent came up on her family’s side, so she left in a hurry, even during the holiday season.”

Grandma Sun fell silent for a moment, seemingly making some guesses in her heart.

It was likely that Qin Niazi was displeased by Qi Beinan’s arrival at the Xiao household, and in a fit of anger, returned to her parents’ home at the start of the new year.

Grandma Sun couldn’t be blamed for thinking that way—she didn’t have a good impression of Qin Niazi.

Back when Sun Yuan passed away, Xiao Hu had fallen into a deep slump. Grandma Sun, worried he wouldn’t pull through, had encouraged him to stay strong for the sake of the child.

A year later, for the sake of young Xiao Bao, Xiao Hu had spent a hefty sum on a remarriage, reportedly giving the Qin family twenty full taels. Not only did the widow Qin come with a child of her own, but her bride price was even higher than that of a maiden bride.

Grandma Sun had sighed. She knew Xiao Hu had never been good at managing money—Sun-shi used to complain about it often.

If the remarried woman had been virtuous and kind, paying more wouldn’t have mattered. But as it turned out, Qin Niazi was far from good-hearted.

When she first married in, Grandma Sun had tried to be friendly. But despite the woman’s sweet smile on the surface, behind the scenes she clearly looked down on their Fang family.

One time, Grandma Sun had brought two boiled eggs for Xiao Bao. She had heard with her own ears, while standing outside the yard, Qin Niazi and Wang Chao Ge’er mocking the Fang family for being dirt poor—saying they offered worthless things in exchange for Xiao family’s fine rice and meat, calling them leeches and bloodsuckers…

Grandma Sun had turned red with embarrassment. Sure, her family was poor, but they had never come to the Xiao family looking to take advantage.

Xiao Hu spent most of his days in the mountains. With the Xiao household effectively under Qin Niazi’s control, Grandma Sun had been too ashamed to set foot in their home again.

She wouldn’t have minded the adults falling out—but Qin Niazi even forbade the children from playing together. She falsely accused the Fang family’s second and third children of stealing from Chao Ge’er.

To label children as thieves at such a young age—how could they hold up their heads after that?

People may be poor, but their pride must remain. Grandma Sun couldn’t bear seeing their reputation tarnished. She quarreled with Qin Niazi, and after that, they never spoke again.

She didn’t know whether Xiao Hu was aware of all this.

As the saying goes, “Better to tear down ten temples than ruin one marriage.” Even though she knew what kind of person Qin Niazi was, if the couple appeared to be living peacefully, how could she go to Xiao Hu and badmouth his wife?

In the end, they were the ones living under the same roof, sleeping under the same blanket. As an outsider, her words might not be believed. If it came to an argument, Qin Niazi would always come out on top.

After that, whenever Xiao Hu came by, the Fang family treated him with exaggerated courtesy. They wouldn’t accept so much as a grain of rice or strip of meat.

And they stopped letting the kids play together too.

Now, with Qin Niazi away and Qi Beinan personally bringing Xiao Bao to ask for help, Grandma Sun agreed.

She still carried guilt over Xiao Bao. A young child growing up under such a stepmother—how could he not suffer? But since Qin Niazi had a grip on their weakness, she couldn’t do anything.

“The days are cold, and folks mostly stay indoors. I can finish the clothes quickly if I hurry.”

Seeing Grandma Sun agree without refusal and without excessive modesty, Qi Beinan knew that the matter had made real progress.

If he had brought gifts today, Grandma Sun might have responded the same way she did with Xiao Hu—gracious on the surface but refusing to accept them.

After all, the Xiao family was better off than the Fang family. Offering gifts, even out of kindness, could be taken as pity or condescension. Not everyone could accept that.

But asking for help was different. It made her feel useful and respected—like she was needed.

Now that she had agreed to make clothes, the door was open. In the future, bringing small gifts wouldn’t seem out of place. Even if people knew it was an effort to support them, it would be more easily accepted.

You do me a favor, I owe you a kindness. I help you, you help me. And before long, the connection would naturally be restored.

“In that case, I truly thank you, Grandma. If you hadn’t agreed, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”

“During winter, seamstresses at the cloth shops charge even more than usual. It would’ve cost who knows how many copper coins to get a tailor to sew a proper set of clothes.”

“You’re a practical one. Since we’ve got the skills among neighbors, why waste money like that?” Grandma Sun said, clearly pleased by Qi Beinan’s words.

She smiled and pulled Xiao Bao over.

“Bao Ge’er’s grown quite a bit. The old measurements won’t do. Grandma will take new ones for you.”

She fetched her sewing basket and began measuring Xiao Bao for size.

Xiao Bao followed happily at her side, now even more affectionate. Boldly, he asked, “Where are Fang Ge’er and Fang Jie’er?”

“They went with your Uncle to cut firewood in the mountains. They’ll carry it to the city to sell.”

Grandma Sun couldn’t help but laugh. Her second and third children were only a few years older than Xiao Bao—technically, he should’ve called them uncle and aunt. But since he saw himself as the youngest, he simply called them Ge’er and Jie’er instead.

When Qi Beinan heard that the two children he had seen earlier that morning—no more than ten years old—had gone up the mountain to chop firewood in this bitter cold, he couldn’t help but feel it was truly a hard life.

He stayed at the Fang household for a while, chatting with the bedridden Old Fang, and let Xiao Bao play for quite some time before finally taking his hand and heading home.

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