Chapter 1: By no means Married

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Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

In October, the cool autumn day all of a sudden turned chilly. The winter of the yr was about to start. Liu Sanniang believed that she had sufficient meals reserved for the winter. To any extent further, she might keep at dwelling for the whole winter season simply doing embroidery work.

She sat below the candlelight. On the broad embroidery desk was the piece of embroidery that Liu Sanniang had began working upon. She slowly and thoroughly threaded the needle. This was the one talent she had, to make a dwelling.

She was 75 years previous. Her mother and father had lengthy handed away, and two years in the past, her second brother handed away as nicely. Her eldest brother was nonetheless alive and three years older than her. His well being was nonetheless alright. She was an previous lady and had by no means married in her life.

Her mother and father had been involved about her and gave her all the cash earlier than they died. Her brothers and sisters-in-law additionally handled her very nicely and didn’t thoughts their mother and father’ resolution.

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Her nephews and nieces came over her usually and introduced her requirements.

Nevertheless, more often than not, she was alone. A lot of her feminine mates had already handed away.

The room was quiet and there was solely the sound of the night time watchman outdoors.

“The climate is dry and issues are flammable, take care to not catch the hearth.”

Dong! — Dong!

Dong! — Dong!

Dong! — Dong!

After hitting the gong 3 times, the night time watchman slowly walked additional and additional away, after which the world quieted down once more.

Liu Sanniang smiled and continued doing the embroidery.

Aside from some rumors about her when she was younger, the remainder of her life had actually been smooth-sailing. Earlier than the age of 30, there have been some matchmakers who needed to match her with males who had been both previous bachelors or widowers who had misplaced their wives and contained a home full of youngsters.

She didn’t like every of them, neither did her mother and father.

Yr after yr handed and he or she finally grew to become previous.

She was not married. When she was younger, she was fairly expert in embroidery. The cash she earned was backed to her two brothers to help their household. She additionally doted on her nephews and nieces. Her efforts weren’t in useless. Her nephews and nieces handled her pretty nicely. Once they grew up, they visited her fairly often.

A number of days in the past, her eldest brother even introduced his grandson to go to her. That little fatty was actually likable.

She gave the little fatty just a few items of sweet. His eyes sparkled when he ate them. Earlier than he left, he began crying and refused to go away. Liu Sanniang comforted him by saying that she would give extra to him the subsequent time he came visiting. Solely then did the little fatty depart from there reluctantly.

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Liu Sanniang embroidered whereas recalling the previous.

Her thoughts grew to become energetic as she recollected many issues, till the rooster began to crow.

Liu Sanniang put down the embroidery in her hand with a delicate smile on her face. For a few years, she had by no means been so misplaced in her previous reminiscences like tonight, a lot in order that she didn’t even hear it when the rooster made the noise.

She picked up the strolling stick beside her, blew out the candle, and slowly walked to the mattress. She had lived on this home for many years, so she might navigate her approach even along with her eyes closed.

She laid on the mattress and coated herself with a blanket. This was a brand new blanket, and he or she put it below the solar just a few days in the past. It felt very heat.

She closed her eyes however couldn’t go to sleep. Slowly, she fell into the previous reminiscences but once more.

When she was younger, her mom appreciated her probably the most and praised her for being stunning.

After her fourteenth birthday, increasingly folks got here to ask for her hand in marriage.

A scholar from Willow Alley got here to ask for her hand in marriage. He was already a scholar on the age of fifteen and was about to take the county-level examination. Liu Sanniang didn’t dislike this marriage, however sooner or later, she noticed him kicking a stray cat with a terrifying expression on his face.

She was so scared that she begged her mom for a very long time to reject the matchmaker.

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The peddler in Willow Avenue was mentioned to be very succesful. He might earn dozens of taels of silver a yr and was wealthy.

Nevertheless, sadly, sooner or later, when she and her mom went out to purchase garments, they occurred to see this man popping out of the playing home. His eyes had been bloodshot and scary.

This time, earlier than she wanted to beg, her mom rejected the matchmaker herself…

“Nice-aunt, boohoo… You haven’t given any sweet to Huzi but.”

The kid’s cry interrupted Liu Sanniang’s practice of thought. She was puzzled as to the place this crying was coming from. When she opened her eyes, she noticed that the little fatty was crying together with his eyes broad open. He was honest and tender, and Liu Sanniang appreciated him to the core.

Ever since she was previous, every thing she noticed was blurry. However this time, she might see the environment so clearly!

Earlier than she might go over and hug the little man, she realized that one thing was improper. There have been so many individuals throughout!

Younger, middle-aged, and previous had been all crying.

Why had been they crying?

Liu Sanniang noticed her eldest brother.

Her eldest brother bent over and sobbed sadly, clenching his strolling stick. His snot and tears had been smearing his grey beard.

For some motive, Liu Sanniang needed to snort. She had not appeared into the mirror for a few years. If her eldest brother was like this, she should even be very previous and ugly too.

Liu Dalang cried sadly. “Sanniang, don’t fear. Go and reunite with Father, Mom, and Second Brother. Await me within the netherworld. Very quickly, I’ll come and be with you all.”

Liu Dalang couldn’t stand correctly. His two sons standing beside him supported him. Each his daughters-in-law had been additionally sobbing.

Everybody within the room was crammed with grief.

The juniors whom Liu Sanniang doted upon had been additionally shedding tears.

“Nice-aunt, don’t fear. I’ll go to your grave yearly. I received’t overlook how good you had been to me. Even when I die, my son and grandson received’t overlook you. Yearly on Tomb-Sweeping Day, I’ll burn you some joss paper.”

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“Me too. We’ll burn joss paper for Nice-aunt.”

Liu Sanniang all of a sudden realized that she was useless…

No marvel there have been so many individuals in her courtyard. No marvel her brother was crying so sadly.

Liu Sanniang smiled. She was not unhappy. She was already 75 years previous and had not often suffered from sickness in her life. Aside from being lonely throughout her total life, she had no regrets on this life.

She didn’t endure any torture and died in her sleep.

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Liu Sanniang’s imaginative and prescient grew to become darker and darker, and her consciousness steadily disappeared…

After an unknown time frame, Liu Sanniang heard a crackling noise. This sound reminded her of a big banana tree within the yard of her previous home. Each spring, when there was a storm, this was the sound of rain hitting the banana leaves.

With a creak, somebody pushed the door open and entered. Liu Sanniang felt like she was being shaken just a few occasions, and a delicate voice was heard. “Sanniang, Sanniang, stand up and drink some drugs earlier than sleeping.”

Madam Wei helped Liu Sanniang up along with her robust arms. Liu Sanniang opened her eyes and appeared on the individual in entrance of her who felt each unfamiliar and acquainted.

She was a little bit shocked and remembered that this acquainted face was her mom, Madam Wei when she was younger.

She mumbled in a daze. “Is that this the Netherworld? Why isn’t it darkish? Why am I seeing my mom? Wasn’t my mom useless a few years in the past?”

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“Ouch.”

Liu Sanniang coated her head in ache.