Chapter Nine: Kicking Grandfather

“Let’s go wash up too,” said Ding.

“All right, I’ll do as you say, husband,” Erniu replied sweetly, breaking into a smile. In truth, she wanted to linger a bit longer in the hut; there was still so much about the cultivation method she didn’t understand.

The two of them crawled out of the hut and made their way to the backyard, where they found Madam Li washing her face by the well.

“Good morning, Mother!” Erniu was the first to greet.

“Good morning, good morning!” Madam Li looked up and, seeing it was the young couple, remarked, “Why didn’t you sleep a little more? You should rest well and give me a lovely grandchild!”

“Mother, you’re teasing me again!” Erniu blushed, rolling her eyes at Ding. She thought to herself, It’s all because of your silly son—begging him to consummate the marriage and still he refuses.

Ding chuckled foolishly, saying, “Mother, there’s no rush to have children. Let’s wait a couple more years.”

“You blockhead, there’s no waiting when it comes to children. When I was pregnant with you, I was just about Erniu’s age,” Madam Li said, drying her face with a cloth.

Erniu emptied the basin of water Madam Li had used, scooped fresh water with a ladle, and said, “Husband, you wash up first.”

Ding glanced around the backyard. The carcass of the big gray wolf lay discarded to one side, its pelt—skinned the night before—still unattended. By the drainage ditch, he saw the blood-soaked clothes he’d shed yesterday and the wolf's offal that had been tossed aside.

“I’ll go bury the wolf entrails and the bloodied clothes first. I’ll wash up when I’m back,” Ding said, pointing to the pile.

“But those clothes could still be patched and worn…” Erniu murmured, reluctant to part with them. Children of poor families cherished every stitch and thread.

“No need. The blood won’t come out, and who would wear such stained clothes?” Ding picked up the tattered clothes, wrapped the wolf entrails in them, and carried the bundle away.

Erniu opened her mouth as if to speak, but closed it again. Madam Li, sighing, muttered under her breath, “That fool…”

Ding found a battered pickaxe in the yard, slung it over his shoulder, and walked out with the bundle. Animal entrails rot quickly and the stench can carry for miles, so he headed west out of the village, following the path they’d taken the previous night. After walking two or three miles, he dug a pit with the pickaxe and buried the wolf’s offal and the bloody clothes together.

On his way back, just as he reached the village entrance, he heard a commotion from the Tian family’s courtyard. A crowd of villagers had gathered outside, watching. Not knowing what had happened, Ding hurried his steps.

Inside the courtyard, the Tian family surrounded an elderly man with graying hair. Though called an old man, he was only in his fifties, tall and broad-shouldered, bearing a strong resemblance to Tian Dabo. At that moment, he was shouldering the wolf carcass, intent on carrying it out, but a group of children blocked his way.

The wolf was enormous, nearly two hundred pounds, yet the old man hefted it with ease, a testament to his strength.

“That wolf was killed by my foolish brother! You can’t take it!” Little Pearl piped up, her childish voice tinged with indignation.

“You all ate wolf meat last night without offering me any; this wolf serves as your tribute to me,” the old man replied, stepping toward the gate.

Tian Dabo and Madam Li stood by, frowning anxiously, while Zhao Laixi paced in circles, helpless.

Just then, Ding entered the courtyard, coming face-to-face with the old man carrying the wolf.

Ding paused, asking, “Who are you, and why are you stealing our wolf?”

The children spotted Ding’s return, and Little Pearl called out loudly, “Brother Fool, stop him! He’s trying to take our wolf!” With that, she burst into tears.

“Fool, don’t you recognize your own grandfather? Get out of the way and stop blocking the road!” the old man barked, his tone overbearing and rude.

Ding’s temper flared—such insolence, calling himself his grandfather! Who’s your grandson? I could be your grandfather! Since you’re throwing your age around, don’t blame me for being rude.

He tossed the pickaxe aside and said sharply, “Whoever you are, put the wolf down before you leave. You’re not welcome here!”

“You damned fool! How dare you speak to your grandfather like that? I’ll beat you to death!” The old man, enraged that Ding wouldn’t yield, raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

Ding hadn’t expected the man to strike so suddenly. The blow landed squarely, his cheek stinging.

Now Ding was truly incensed. Even with his amnesia, he knew he’d never been bullied like this.

“Old man, not only are you trying to steal our wolf, you strike people too!” Ding exclaimed. Without further ado, he raised his right foot and kicked the old man, sending him sprawling. Fortunately, the elder landed atop the wolf’s carcass, escaping injury.

“You brat! You even dare kick your own grandfather, you fool! I should have strangled you at birth!” The old man struggled up, pointing and cursing.

“Who do you think you are, calling yourself my grandfather? I could be your grandfather! Get out, now! If you say another word, I’ll kick you again!” Ding had no patience for quarreling like a fishwife. If words wouldn’t do, he’d use force.

“Fine, fine! You just wait! What kind of misfortune did I bring upon myself to have a grandson like you?” the old man grumbled. Though he was big and sturdy, all the Tian men had inherited his build, Ding included. But age had sapped his strength, and he knew he was no match for a young, foolish brute like Ding. Muttering, he skirted around Ding and stomped out.

Seeing the old man gone, Ding let the matter drop. He bent to pick up the wolf, intending to carry it inside.

But as he straightened, he saw the whole family standing there. Little Pearl had stopped crying. All eyes were fixed on him, silently, as if he were a stranger.

“It’s all right now. He’s gone. Let’s go back inside,” Ding said, shrugging and spreading his hands. He thought the family had been frightened by the incident.

Yet still, no one moved.

What’s wrong with them?

“Why are you all staring at me?” Ding asked, puzzled, glancing down at himself to see if anything was amiss.

“You…?” Zhao Laixi finally spoke.

“What about me?” Ding prompted.

“You—you kicked Grandpa?” Zhao Laixi seemed unable to accept what had just happened, looking utterly incredulous.

“Grandpa?” Ding was bewildered.

“That was your grandfather!” Tian Dabo added. “The man you just kicked—he’s really your grandfather!”

Ding’s mind reeled.

He was about to ask for more details when a clamor rose outside the yard.

“Tian Fool, get out here!” someone shouted.