The Good Days We Make - Chapter 2

My name was Tian Dani. Shi Ding and I married on the second day of the eighth month. My family didn’t hold a grand wedding. We couldn’t afford one.

Ma used the cotton she had saved for ages to make me a quilt, which had my sister-in-law banging things about in a temper. Apart from that, my dowry amounted to two old outfits without patches, two pairs of cloth shoes I had made myself, and a wooden chest. That was all.

The Shis lived up in the mountains and had few relatives. They invited their four or five neighboring households, we made our wedding bows, and I was led to the bridal chamber. That was the ceremony done.

What stayed with me was Shi Ding carrying me on his back all the way up from the foot of the mountain. His face didn’t redden, he never lost his breath, and he hardly even sweated.

He certainly was big and strong. So long as he wasn’t lazy, we would make a life for ourselves.

I was sitting alone on the wooden bed when the door creaked open. Shi Ding came in with a bowl and chopsticks.

“Ni’er, are you hungry? I’ve brought you something to eat.”

Ni’er. He had actually called me Ni’er.

If I had only been willing before, now my heart was stirred.

There was meat on top of the rice and beans. It smelled so good I couldn’t help swallowing.

“Eat up, Ni’er. If it isn’t enough, I’ll get you more.”

“It’s plenty. Go and see to your guests.”

Shi Ding agreed. The moment he went out, his friends caught him and gave him a thorough teasing.

I smiled too as I ate.

Later that night, he came in carrying a bucket of water. Thinking of the wedding night ahead, my face grew hot and red again.

Only, after a good deal of fumbling, we still hadn’t managed it.

“I’m sorry, Ni’er,” he panted. “I don’t really know how.”

My face flushed scarlet.

Ma had explained things to me the night before, but I didn’t know how either!

But if we didn’t consummate the marriage, would he think badly of me? Would his family feel they’d made a poor bargain?

“Ma said… it has to go in.”

Shi Ding was young and vigorous, and with his first taste of it, he had no idea when to stop. He kept at it for more than half the night, and I was the one who suffered.

When I heard the rooster crow, I told him outright that I couldn’t take any more. He let me go and let me sleep.

Through my drowsiness, I heard someone scolding outside.

“What family’s daughter-in-law sleeps till the sun’s high without getting up to wash clothes and cook? Well, I’ve seen it all now.”

Was she talking about me?

I struggled to get up, but Shi Ding held me down on the bed.

“Ignore her.”

“Who is it?”

“My eldest brother’s wife. I know why she’s making a fuss.” He pinched my cheek.

Desire crept back into his eyes.

“Ni’er, I won’t let anyone mistreat you.”

Before I could say anything, he got up, dressed, and went outside.

“I’ve never heard of a bride having to wash clothes and cook on her very first day, either,” he said loudly. “Sister-in-law, you didn’t start till several days after you married in.”

“How’s she anything like me?”

The woman’s voice was shrill and mean, and thoroughly pleased with itself.

“She isn’t, that’s true. You came here in an exchange marriage. My wife was properly courted through a matchmaker and married with all the rites.”

Outside, there was nothing but birdsong.

Then the woman’s voice rose again. “Heavens above! First thing in the morning! I might as well die!”

“Spare us the threats. You want to split the household, don’t you? Once Ni’er has made her third-day visit home, we’ll split it.”

No sooner had Shi Ding spoken than her wailing stopped.

Before long, he came back in, his face grim.

He looked at me as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

After a moment’s thought, I said, “If you want to split off from the family, I’ll go along with you.”

How lovely it would be to have our own household and manage our own affairs.

We didn’t have children yet. We could work hard and save.

“Ni’er, hear me out first.

“My father isn’t Grandpa and Grandma’s natural son. And I’m not my parents’ natural son, either. Grandpa found me and brought me home when I was little. Grandma’s not well. If we split, my parents will definitely live with my elder brother, and my grandparents will live with me.

“I won’t get a share of the house across the stream. All I can have is the old house we’re in now.

“They won’t give me any of the family money or grain, either.”

Put nicely, it was dividing the household. Put plainly, we were being thrown out.