Chapter 8: Tang San: No Work, No Reward; Tang Nian Nian: You're Crazy

Seeing Tang San’s gloomy expression, Tang Nian Nian knew what he was thinking. She wasn’t the type to stir up trouble, so she explained, “This is wine distributed by Grandpa Village Chief to every household. Apparently, a wealthy man came by earlier and said our village is a place blessed by feng shui, perfect for prosperity. He left this wine behind and then left. Grandpa Village Chief thought it would be wasteful to throw it away, so he decided to give it to each family as a kind of benefit. Besides, Dad likes drinking, so this way he can drink his fill, and we won’t have to subsidize his liquor money anymore.”

Although Tang Nian Nian spoke vaguely, Tang San understood perfectly. As a cautious adult at heart, he was always wary of windfalls that seemed too good to be true.

Setting the bottles down, he took Tang Nian Nian’s hand and earnestly reasoned, “Nian Nian, no reward without merit. We can’t accept these wines.”

“...” Tang Nian Nian was somewhat speechless.

Thank you very much.

They were so poor they couldn’t even afford clothes, yet here he was preaching lofty principles.

“That was Grandpa Village Chief’s kind gesture. How can we just leave it here?” Tang Nian Nian picked up the bottles Tang San had placed on the ground and muttered under her breath about how ridiculous he was.

Before coming back, she had changed out of her splendid outfit to avoid arousing Tang Hao’s suspicion.

She had thought about Tang San earlier, but now it seemed buying new clothes for him was a mistake—she might as well have bought something for the chubby kid next door at least he wouldn’t refuse a gift handed to him.

They were already poor; insisting on being utterly poor to feel morally pure seemed pointless.

“Then let’s return it to Grandpa Jack,” Tang San said without hesitation.

He offered to carry the wine bottles, but Tang Nian Nian was reluctant.

“This was given by Grandpa Village Chief. Why should we return it?”

Truly ridiculous.

Tang Nian Nian was slightly annoyed but quickly suppressed the feeling, pretending not to understand why Tang San insisted.

Tang San, seeing the fleeting displeasure on her face, paused for a moment.

Fortunately, Tang Nian Nian covered it up quickly, so he didn’t notice much.

He assumed she was just reluctant to part with the wine.

He spoke earnestly, “Nian Nian, we can’t just accept things from others casually; it creates obligations.”

Tang Nian Nian frowned, “This isn’t casual. Grandpa Jack handed these out in front of the whole village, and we’ve often received his help. He gave us plenty of vegetables too. Why don’t you mention that?”

“...”

Tang San was suddenly at a loss for words.

Could those two things be compared?

One was personally grown by Grandpa Jack, the other came from an unknown source. There was no comparison.

But Tang San knew Nian Nian was young and probably didn’t grasp the implications, so he chose not to argue further.

“Fine, if you want to take them, then take them. Nian Nian, come on, let’s go home.”

He stepped forward and took the bottles from her hand.

Tang Nian Nian didn’t resist.

With no disagreement between them, the siblings got along fairly well.

Back home, Tang San placed the bottles in Tang Hao’s room and explained their origin.

Tang Hao said nothing and immediately opened a bottle to drink.

The rich aroma delighted him; it was the first time he had tasted such fine wine.

Then he looked at Tang San and asked, “Is there more of this wine at old Jack’s place?”

Tang San shook his head, about to say he didn’t know when Tang Nian Nian peeked in.

“There isn’t any now, but maybe there will be later. It was sent by a tavern owner from Notting City. He said our Saint Soul Village has excellent land, easy to prosper, so he wanted to share some good fortune and sent lots of wine.”

“Notting City? Tavern owner? Easy to prosper?” Tang Hao frowned. What was all this nonsense?

Saint Soul Village easy to prosper?

What a joke.

Tang Hao scoffed, thinking they must have been fooled by a con artist.

Afterward, every so often, Zhou Yang would have a batch of wine sent over.

Eventually, the villagers no longer wanted their shares since no one drank wine; it just took up space.

So they gave all the wine to Tang Hao.

Tang Hao was a blacksmith and often helped with farming tools, so it was a fair exchange.

One year later.

The sun shone high in the sky on a scorching summer day.

Tang Nian Nian lay on a chair in the yard, a blade of foxtail grass dangling from her mouth, utterly content.

Her eyes closed, she fanned herself while waiting for old Jack to arrive.

Tang San had gone to the mountain to gather vegetables; Nian Nian didn’t want to go with him, so she stayed home.

Soon—

“Tang Hao! Tang Hao!”

Before he arrived, his voice was already heard.

Old Jack was here!

Tang Nian Nian jumped up, bouncing excitedly to greet him.

“Grandpa Jack, what brings you here?”

She asked knowingly.

Old Jack was helped inside by Tang Nian Nian.

He smiled and said, “Nian Nian, and Xiao San are both six now, the age to awaken their spirit souls. In a few days, a Grand Spirit Master from the Spirit Hall will come to our village to conduct the awakening. I came to discuss with your father about letting you two attend.”

Tang Nian Nian’s eyes lit up.

Finally!

The day to awaken their spirit souls was truly coming!

God knew how long she had waited for this moment.

Excited, she looked at old Jack, but before he could say more, Tang Hao’s hoarse and stern voice came from the inner room.

“No going!”

“???” Tang Nian Nian’s eyes widened.

What was that about?

No going?

Old Jack frowned, stomping his cane toward Tang Hao inside.

“What do you mean ‘no going’? This concerns Xiao San and Nian Nian’s futures! Once they awaken their spirit souls, they have a chance to become Spirit Masters. Do you not understand what being a Spirit Master means?”

Old Jack was furious, and Tang Nian Nian was quite upset too.

What a terrible father.

Just then, Tang Hao, who had been lying in bed moments before, came out.

Drunk, holding a wine bottle, he slurred, “What’s so great about being a Spirit Master? I said no going, so no going. Anyone who dares go, I’ll break their legs!”

“Tang Hao! You!” Old Jack was intimidated by Tang Hao’s forcefulness.

He knew he was just an old man and couldn’t stand up to him.

Though angry, he mostly felt pity for Tang San and Tang Nian Nian.

Sighing, he chose to leave.

Before going, he gave Tang Hao a moment to reconsider.

“I’ll come for Xiao San and Nian Nian on the day of the spirit soul awakening. Think it over.”

With that, he left.

Tang Nian Nian shot Tang Hao a resentful glare as she went out to see off old Jack.

Tang Hao said nothing, downing the remaining wine in the bottle.

A flicker of loneliness and pain crossed his eyes.