Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 18

Most people think Jiang Huiling and Yan Sheng have no children, but in fact, they no longer have any. Nine years ago, they had a daughter, but the child passes away when she is one year old.

Yan Lingling—that is the name Yan Sheng and Jiang Huiling, who are new parents at the time, choose after flipping through the dictionary. Unlike the common practice of using names with national, political, or revolutionary connotations at the time, this name is unique and elegant.

“Ling,” meaning beauty, cleverness, and order, also represents the earnest hopes of Yan Sheng, who is a young father already working in the county government. He hopes his daughter will grow up to be a strong, commanding woman—a female hero who can stand shoulder to shoulder with men.

The name “Lingling” reflects the parents’ unreserved love for their child.

But now, those two words are a lingering pain in Jiang Huiling and Yan Sheng’s hearts.

The year their daughter is born, Yan Sheng has just started working in the government. At that time, he is still a low-ranking party member. And that year, following the dismantling of the Four Olds and national reforms, Yan Sheng, a driven man, works overtime almost every day and has little time to care for his family.

However, his hard work pays off. He is soon noticed by the then-deputy county head, and thanks to this connection, Yan Sheng secures a job in a department store for his wife, who has just recovered from childbirth.

Before that, Jiang Huiling had been working as a clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative in her hometown. Getting a position at the newly opened department store is considered a promotion for her.

However, with the couple’s rising careers come many new challenges.

The first of these challenges is their daughter, Lingling.

At that time, many educated youths are returning to the cities, causing a housing shortage. Despite their best efforts and using all their connections, Jiang Huiling and Yan Sheng can’t find an affordable rental. As both of them have only just started working, the available units are all claimed by senior colleagues. Even though Yan Sheng has the backing of the deputy county head, he can’t secure a small house.

For the first two years, they have to live in the collective dormitories of their respective work units, essentially living apart. In these circumstances, they can’t care for their newborn daughter.

At that time, Jiang Huiling considers whether she should give up her job at the department store. However, this opportunity is too rare. Since the department store has just opened, there is significant room for advancement, and as a long-time employee, she has a chance to rise in the ranks. People around her discourage her from quitting for the sake of the child.

At that moment, her mother-in-law, Mother Xu, steps in and offers to care for her granddaughter.

Mother Xu is a kind and supportive mother-in-law. Jiang Huiling has never faced any difficulties after marrying into the Yan family, especially during her pregnancy, when her mother-in-law is considerate in ways her own mother could not match.

To demonstrate her commitment to looking after the child, Mother Xu takes on the job of raising sheep in the village. The reward for this work is a pot of goat milk every day, along with the milk station tickets that the couple can collect. Even without Jiang Huiling, the biological mother, around, the child will never go hungry.

Thus, Jiang Huiling and Yan Sheng leave for the county, three hours away by car, leaving the child in the care of Mother Xu. The couple returns home every weekend.

This continues until Lingling is six months old, when family planning becomes part of the national policy.

In fact, family planning has been promoted for some time. In their province, which has a large population, many take pride in having large families. When the policy first comes out, few respond. Many within the system continue to have more than one child, and there are few consequences.

But things are different now. Each village and town has set up family planning brigades, and the system has become much stricter. If anyone is reported for secretly having a child, their secure government job could be at risk.

Jiang Huiling and Yan Sheng only have one daughter, but they have always hoped for a son to complete their family. However, as educated intellectuals of their time, they accept the reality after only a few days of disappointment when family planning becomes part of the national policy.

As their old leader has said, “Women hold up half the sky.” Yan Sheng’s hopes when naming his daughter show that he is not a man who looks down on women.

In the end, compared to a stable job and a comfortable life, a son they have never met is not that important.

Especially since their daughter Lingling is beautiful and cute, already fulfilling all their hopes as parents. Jiang Huiling and Yan Sheng have never considered giving up their current careers just to have a son.

The only one somewhat disappointed is Mrs. Xu, but after Yan Sheng speaks with her, she never shows any regret in front of them again.

Perhaps she hides her regret deep inside.

Jiang Huiling’s mind is completely muddled as she drives, her thoughts drifting back to those past events.

Three months after the family planning policy is fully implemented, my daughter starts crying frequently—almost all night long. Her throat becomes swollen, and her saliva is tinged with blood.

During those months, the old lady seems to have let go of her grudges and continues to care for the child attentively. Jiang Huiling never doubts her kind and loving mother-in-law.

It isn’t normal for the child to cry so much. Jiang Huiling and her husband even take special leave to take their daughter to the city for a check-up. However, the doctor can’t explain the cause of the symptoms. The final diagnosis is pediatric asthma. A large supply of asthma medication is prescribed, but after two weeks, it still hasn’t worked.

Jiang Huiling will never forget how she reluctantly forces the bitter medicine down her daughter’s throat. The child cries so hard she nearly faints, her eyes swollen like walnuts. The little one, who has just started speaking, shouts “No!” and “No!” every time she sees her mother holding the medicine.

Because the child’s condition doesn’t improve, they seek a second opinion. This new doctor suspects it might be fright disease and prescribes calming medications. Unfortunately, this treatment is also ineffective.

Over time, the child’s constant crying causes her to lose her voice.

The situation at home is well known to Jiang Huiling’s supervisor. Recognizing her exceptional work performance over the past six months, he shows great understanding and allows her to take an extended leave to care for her daughter.

Just as she is preparing to leave after finishing her work handover, she notices a new batch of hairpins at the clothing counter.

Lingling, once a beautiful baby, has become thin and frail from frequent medication, her body shrinking to support a disproportionately large head. She looks sickly, almost unrecognizable.

Jiang Huiling buys the most expensive and beautiful hairpin and, after returning home, carefully places it in her daughter’s sparse hair.

That day, Lingling says her first word—”Mom!”—repeating it twice.

“Ah!” Jiang Huiling cries out, slamming the car’s steering wheel as tears stream down her face.

On the first day of the long holiday, Lingling dies in her arms.

At that time, cremation has not yet become mandatory. Lingling has suffered so much in her life; how could Yan Sheng and Jiang Huiling bear to have her body burned?

In their village, it is customary to prepare graves and coffins for the elderly in advance. After consulting with the old lady, the couple decides to temporarily bury Lingling in her grandmother’s grave.

The old lady’s generosity is deeply appreciated by Jiang Huiling, and she is truly grateful for it.

The early death of their first daughter weighs heavily on the couple. In the years following Lingling’s death, neither of them ever considers having another child.

That is until two years ago, when they are both older and the grief of their daughter’s passing has lessened. The idea of having another child finally comes to the forefront.

At that time, the deputy county chief is promoted to county chief and brings Yan Sheng, whom he has always admired, on as his secretary. Yan Sheng’s status in the county government rises, and the couple finally manages to secure a two-bedroom apartment. Jiang Huiling suggests bringing her mother-in-law from the countryside to help them with the household.

Upon hearing that her son and daughter-in-law are finally ready to have another child, the old lady is overjoyed. She prepares lavish meals for them every day and wakes up before dawn to buy fresh vegetables and eggs from the local farmers. Their quality of life improves significantly, and Jiang Huiling is even more grateful for her mother-in-law’s love and thoughtfulness.

Unfortunately, perhaps due to her age, Jiang Huiling suffers two miscarriages in the past two years, each at three or four months.

Now, with the old lady seriously ill, the couple no longer has any intention of having another child.

Jiang Huiling finds herself heading back to her hometown of Rangping in a daze.

Although Rangping is part of Lanshui County, it is quite far from the central urban area, and the region has always been relatively undeveloped. The wide, beautiful, muddy road leading into the village only extends about a thousand meters. Beyond that, the road becomes narrow and bumpy, flanked by rice fields, making it difficult for vehicles to navigate.

Jiang Huiling parks the car on the cement road and walks quickly toward the village.

“Isn’t this the daughter-in-law of the Yan family? Huiling, is that you?”

Since the family moved to the county town, the couple rarely visits Rangping in the past two years, except for major events like birthdays, funerals, or the anniversary of their daughter Lingling’s death. Naturally, their contact with the villagers has diminished.

However, as the most successful young couple in Rangping, everyone still remembers the Yan family well.

When they meet on the field road, several villagers eagerly greet her.

Jiang Huiling notices that the villagers are carrying hoes, hammers, wooden boards, and tree trunks. Everyone seems to know exactly where they are going.

“The old bridge in our village collapsed a few months ago,” an elderly man says with a smile. “It’s the busy farming season, so we haven’t had time to repair it.” He continues, “Huiling, I hear that Shengzi has been promoted again and is now an influential figure in front of the county official. Our village owes much to you and Shengzi. Perhaps you could talk to him and see if funds could be allocated to repair the bridges and roads in our village. Those things are in terrible condition.”

As soon as the old man finishes speaking, the villagers all turn their hopeful eyes toward Jiang Huiling.

“These matters need to be discussed by the leaders in a meeting,” Jiang Huiling replies, “Yan Sheng can’t make the decision on his own, but don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”

However, her mind isn’t on the collapsed bridge or her hometown’s infrastructure.

“Uncle, could I borrow a hoe?” she asks suddenly. “I have a use for it.”

Jiang Huiling realizes that if she goes there empty-handed, she might not be able to dig out the coffin, no matter how long she works.

That’s right. After listening to Sheng Baobao and Chunming’s words, Jiang Huiling has come up with an idea: to dig up her daughter’s coffin and uncover the truth about her death.

“Of course, you can use it,” the old man replies.

Despite Jiang Huiling’s somewhat perfunctory promise, the villagers are still happy to lend her the hoe.

Jiang Huiling takes it and hurries toward the back mountain.

“What do you think Shengzi’s wife came back for this time?” someone whispers. “Why would she go to the back mountain with a hoe? Is she going to dig bamboo shoots? But it’s not the season for that.”

“Yes, what could possibly be in the back mountain that’s worth her time?”

As the villagers watch Jiang Huiling’s retreating figure, they speculate among themselves. None of them could imagine that she is there to dig up her daughter’s coffin.

“Lingling.”

Standing before her daughter’s tombstone, Jiang Huiling feels a surge of hesitation. Upon seeing the tombstone, her anger is suddenly doused, as if cold water has been thrown on it.

Could she really disturb her daughter’s peace, just to satisfy her own doubts?

“Lingling, I’m sorry, my dear.” After a brief moment of silence, Jiang Huiling gathers her resolve and raises the hoe in her hand.

She needs to find the truth.

The coffin has been buried deep. Jiang Huiling digs for more than half an hour before finally reaching it. She jumps into the pit, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and with all her strength, pushes open the coffin.

The surrounding silence is unnerving. Her body trembles as she fights the terror gripping her. After a long pause, she summons the courage to open her eyes.

To her shock, the coffin is empty. There is no decayed body as she had expected. Instead, the coffin is filled only with insects that have eaten away at the wood—nothing more, not even a bone or a scrap of cloth.

She has personally seen her daughter’s burial, yet—Jiang Huiling stands frozen in disbelief.

Dapeng, a villager from Rangping, is part of the group working to rebuild the old bridge. He and another young man are tasked with driving the bridge piles.

The bridge in their village has stood for nearly a century. It isn’t long, just about ten meters, and the water beneath it is shallow. The river’s water reaches only up to a young man’s waist when standing on the bottom.

At first, both of them think driving the piles will be simple since the riverbed is just mud. However, after driving the piles for a distance, they seem to hit an obstacle.

Dapeng, a skilled swimmer, dives into the water to investigate. Instead of a stone blocking the piles, he finds something strange—a locust wood box, tightly nailed shut with long nails on all sides.

“Could there be treasure in it?” Dapeng wonders aloud.

Soon, the other villagers working on the bridge gather around him, eager to see what he has found.

“Quick, open it! If it’s treasure, it belongs to the whole village!”

The villagers are excited, their faces flushed with anticipation, eager to open the box and claim whatever is inside.

The old village chief, seeing the commotion, steps forward and instructs a local carpenter to carefully remove the nails with proper tools. He fears that if there is indeed something valuable inside, it could be damaged by an axe.

Jiang Huiling arrives at the scene, looking completely distraught. She is desperate to return the hoe as quickly as possible and then rush home to ask her mother-in-law where Lingling’s body has gone.

“Ah! What is that!”

“How could it be a body? Damn it, who buried this under the bridge!”

“Put it down, put it down, it’s too unlucky.”

As soon as the box is opened and its contents revealed, the crowd scatters in fear.

But Jiang Huiling, hearing the word “corpse,” rushes toward the wooden box, her movements frantic.

Inside the box is the body of a young child. It has been submerged in river water for years, causing it to swell and rot beyond recognition. The skin and flesh have long decomposed, leaving only the skeleton intact.

“Lingling, Lingling,” Jiang Huiling cries out, falling to the ground in front of the box. With trembling hands, she pulls out a dark brown hairpin. The moldy, decayed cloth still faintly resembles the shape of a peony flower.

She weeps uncontrollably, laughing through her tears, her entire demeanor bordering on madness. The villagers, who initially scattered, now return, curious about her strange reaction. Many don’t understand why she is acting this way after seeing the body, nor do they know who “Lingling” is.

Some of the older villagers, with better memories, recall that Lingling was Jiang Huiling’s daughter, who passed away long ago. But why is her daughter buried in a locust wood box under the old bridge?

“Look, what are those long, thin things in the box?” someone suddenly calls out.

Everyone turns their attention to the box. Beneath the child’s body are several long, rusted needles. Upon closer inspection, there are no less than twenty scattered around. Through the two large holes in the skull, several more needles can be seen lodged inside.

The crowd gasps in horror. Had these needles been inserted while the child was still alive?

Some of the older villagers recall a cruel folk remedy passed down through generations. According to the old tradition, if a family has a daughter and wants a son, they can prick the girl with a needle, believing that the next child will be a boy.

Though this remedy is baseless and barbaric, no one has ever actually heard of it being carried out—until now.

Jiang Huiling’s cries grow even more anguished as she looks at the body, and the villagers begin to piece together the horrifying possibility. Could it be true that Lingling didn’t die from an illness? They remember how Jiang Huiling and her husband tirelessly sought medical help for their sick child, both looking worn and exhausted. They didn’t seem like the kind of people who would do such a thing.

But if they didn’t, who could have done it?

The same round, fat, and seemingly kind face suddenly flashes in their minds, sending a chill down their spines.

Could it really have been that person?

“Have you figured out what happened?” Hua Yingpo asks as Sheng Wukun returns home with the two children. The house is filled with the delicious aroma of a large pot of beef brisket that Hua Yingpo has prepared.

Unfortunately, Chunming can’t eat meat, and Sheng Baobao has lost her appetite after the disturbing events earlier in the day.

“The one attached to that person is a ghost child, about a year old. The old lady feels pain because the ghost child keeps poking her flesh with her fingers,” Chunming explains.

Hua Yingpo and her husband’s faces immediately darken.

As experts in dealing with ghosts, they are well familiar with many of the “folk remedies” passed down through generations.

Chunming, the young monk, once explained that when an evil spirit possesses someone, the possessed person can feel the pain the spirit experienced before death. The old lady mentioned being pricked by a needle, and now the ghost child is poking her with her fingers. The truth becomes clear.

The ghost child died because of the needles, and the one responsible for the needles was likely the old woman. Her purpose was most probably to ensure that her son and daughter-in-law had a son as their second child.

Hua Yingpo and her husband are furious. Why does it matter if they have a daughter? Not long after Baobao was born, people around them suggested they try again for a son, offering advice on how to hide it and get the child registered after paying a fine.

Both Hua Yingpo and her husband angrily rejected such advice.

Their children are their flesh and blood. The couple can’t understand how others can prioritize sons over daughters.

Hua Yingpo asks angrily, “Did you help?”

“No, Baobao and I decided not to intervene after seeing the ghost baby,” Chunming replies, shaking his head honestly.

“Baobao went too?” Hua Yingpo doesn’t notice the change in Chunming’s way of addressing her daughter, focusing instead on the fact that her daughter has once again ventured into such mystical matters.

“Mom, Chunming can see those things just like me.” Baobao shrinks her neck guiltily, but soon her mood lifts as she changes the topic to something else.

“What!” Hua Yingpo exclaims, her concern shifting away from her daughter’s sneaky behavior with the Yan family.

The news that their daughter can see those supernatural things deeply troubles the couple. They fear it might harm her health or that such abilities might come at a great cost. To protect her, they decided to keep Baobao away from those strange and dangerous occurrences, hoping she would not use her powers too often.

But now that they know Chunming has the same abilities, they immediately turn to him for answers.

Unlike their own methods, Master Jikong is a man of true expertise, and Chunming is his disciple. If this ability poses a threat to him, surely the old monk would have taught him how to control it.

“Master said that only one in a million people can open the third eye. There are very few of us in the world, and we are all considered promising candidates for practicing Buddhism and Taoism,” Chunming explains.

He is a little curious, though. Didn’t the two Taoist masters, whom even his master admires, know about this?

However, he is simple-minded and thinks it is just another test from the masters, so he shares everything he knows.

“People like us are naturally full of spiritual energy, making us prime targets for ghosts. From the moment we open our third eye, we must be prepared for all sorts of dangerous spirits. If my master doesn’t arrive in time, I might get eaten by a vicious ghost.”

Chunming glances enviously at Baobao. “Baobao has parents like you, so she doesn’t have to worry about these things.”

He has seen firsthand how Hua Yingpo and Sheng Wukun easily subdue a bloodthirsty ghost. With such protective parents, Sheng Baobao is naturally safe.

The couple, feeling guilty at Chunming’s unreserved admiration, can’t help but reflect on their own abilities—or lack thereof. How can they deal with ghosts? They still rely on the talismans drawn by their daughter.

But if their daughter can draw real talismans perfectly just after opening her eyes, it makes them start to believe that maybe she is a genius. After all, despite practicing for over 20 years with the secret book left by the old Taoist priest, they have learned nothing. Meanwhile, their daughter figures it all out in less than two hours.

The couple begins to feel proud again. Giving birth to a genius, they think, is also a kind of skill.

“Is there any other effect or difference between practicing Buddhism and Taoism?” Hua Yingpo continues, still obsessed with the idea of the Five Disadvantages and Three Shortcomings.

“No,” Chunming shakes his head. “Master says that as long as you do good deeds, have a good heart, avoid entanglement with karma, and stay clear of worldly attachments, it will be fine.” After a moment of thought, he adds another point. “Master also says that the five disadvantages and three shortcomings in Taoism come from revealing too much of heaven’s secrets, but you can offset that by accumulating merit.”

People in the Xuanmen sect, who predict fortunes and practice feng shui, essentially reveal the secrets of heaven. If they abuse this ability, heaven balances it out by taking something from them.

This explains why many fortune-tellers in the past end up blind or widowed.

“Accumulate merit?” Hua Yingpo asks, anxiety creeping in. They have deceived so many people—have they unknowingly damaged their daughter’s fortune?

For the first time, they feel uneasy about the gold bars hidden in the box on the beam of their bedroom.

“Huiling, why are you back so late? What happened to you? Did you fall into the river?” Yan Sheng has spent most of the day trying to soothe his mother, cooking soft chicken porridge and feeding her half a bowl. The day is almost over, and he still hasn’t found the opportunity to make a call to the person he intends to reach.

When he hears his wife open the door, he plans to leave his mother’s care to her and go make the call. But seeing his wife in such a distressed state, he immediately grows anxious, worried that something has happened to her.

Jiang Huiling ignores him. As soon as she sees the old lady inside the half-open door of the north room, her already distraught expression turns fierce. She rushes forward, grabbing the other woman by the hair and attempting to drag her out.

Yan Sheng stands frozen, completely stunned by the scene unfolding before him.