Chapter 21 — The Argument

If she had not been so obstinate and self-willed back then, had listened properly to her eldest cousin's words and thought things through carefully, she and her uncle's family would not have remained strangers all this time.

Dou Yan ran over quickly.

And saw her uncle stride forward and land a fist squarely on Father's face.

Father was stunned by the blow, staggered, and fell to the ground, unable to collect himself for a long while, while his jade-white cheek immediately swelled up.

"You bastard!" Her uncle seized Father by the collar and struck him again. "Barely three years married and you take a concubine—do you even have Guqiu in your eyes? Or Shouyuan? You bastard!"

Another fist landed on Father's face.

Dou Yan cried out in alarm.

Third Uncle, Sixth Uncle, her aunt, and the three cousins all rushed over in a flurry—some shouting "Ruifu," some shouting "Papa," some pulling at Father, some at her uncle—until Third Uncle simply planted himself between the two men, declaring loudly that "gentlemen use words, not fists."

Her uncle gave a cold laugh and pointed at Father: "What sort of gentleman is he? If I use words with him, would he even understand?" And with that he stepped forward to strike Father again.

Father pushed aside Third Uncle, who stood in his way, and dropped to his knees before her uncle with a thud: "Brother, it is all my fault, I have wronged Guqiu... Hit me! Hit me... I would rather you beat me..."

Sixth Uncle's face went dark: "Dou Huaiying, get up, get up this instant! A true man kneels only to Heaven, Earth, sovereign, parents, and teacher—what sort of behavior is this!" Then he barked at the servants nearby, "Shut the main gate this instant!"

The servants surged forward to close the gate, not daring to glance their way again.

Her uncle, however, said with contempt, "Do you think taking a beating cancels out your wrongdoing? Dou Huaiying, I tell you, not a chance in hell..." And he aimed a kick at Father.

Father knelt there and took her uncle's kick without flinching.

"Ruifu, Ruifu, don't be like this!" Third Uncle hurriedly restrained her uncle. "Seventh Sister-in-law's body is not yet cold, and here you two brothers-in-law are already fighting—are you trying to make a spectacle for others to laugh at? Whatever there is to say, say it properly; it's not as if it can't be explained..."

Her uncle ignored Third Uncle and asked her aunt, "Where is Shouyuan? Who is watching Shouyuan?"

Her aunt said quickly, "Shouyuan is in the mourning hall; the maids from her room are watching her!"

Her uncle set off at once for the mourning hall.

Dou Zhiwei could not hold back her tears; they fell in a torrent.

She stepped forward and called out loudly, "Uncle!"

Zhao Si looked over, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"Shouyuan!" He held Dou Yan tightly. "Let's go see your mother!"

"All right!" Dou Yan nodded, threw her arms around her uncle's neck, and for the first time felt an unprecedented sense of security.

Incense was offered, rites performed, thanks given.

Uncle and niece solemnly completed the memorial ceremony.

Zhao Si handed Dou Yan over to her aunt: "You watch her. At times like this everyone is busy, and that is when accidents happen most easily. I want to go see the master of the house."

Father, his face mottled black and blue, stared blankly at Mother's coffin, while Third Uncle and Sixth Uncle both looked rather ill at ease.

"I understand," her aunt said, taking Dou Yan into her arms with a knowing nod. "Go about your business; I will keep a close eye on Shouyuan."

Her uncle stroked Dou Zhiwei's head affectionately and turned to leave the mourning hall.

Her aunt coaxed Dou Yan: "Come, let's go eat osmanthus cakes!"

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Sisters, depending on how things actually go, the update time has been changed to around 20:00, that is, around eight in the evening. Please pass the word along.

O(∩_∩)O~

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