Through Zhao Dasha’s muddled responses and Zhao Laoda’s supplents, Mo Yan largely figured out Zhao Dasha’s identity. It turned out that his mother was a daughter of Chen Family Village who, many years ago, married into a village dozens of miles away and gave birth to only this son, Zhao Dasha.
Zhao Dasha was not born intellectually disabled; he beca ill with a severe sickness when he was six. Due to the negligence of the adults who didn’t promptly consult a doctor, his condition was delayed, and his brain was damaged, leaving his intelligence perpetually that of a five- or six-year-old child.
Having an intellectually disabled child was a source of constant mockery from the other villagers for Zhao Dasha’s parents. They had hoped to have more children to ensure soone would take care of them and their son in the future. But for reasons unknown, they never had another child.
Despite their disappointnt, they doted on Zhao Dasha greatly, but their happiness was short-lived. Recently, to save money to buy a wife for his son to continue the family line, Zhao Dasha’s father went to work for a rchant caravan on the recomndation of an acquaintance. Tragically, he was killed by bandits.
With the breadwinner gone and the only son being intellectually disabled, Zhao Dasha’s mother, Mrs. Chen, settled her husband’s funeral matters only to have her in-law’s family seize the ager family assets. Treated like an ill on, she and her son were driven out of the door of the Zhao Family.
Left with no other options, Aunt Chen could only bring her son back to her parental ho to seek help from her elder brother. With both her parents gone and her only brother aged, the family affairs were all decided by her nephew, who was already married with children.
Things were hard for Aunt Chen’s brother’s family, who had a large household to provide for. How well could they treat a distant aunt? Aunt Chen knew this too well and, from the day she arrived, took over washing clothes, cooking, feeding the pigs and chickens, working the fields... anything she could do, she did, just to earn a al for herself and her son...
Despite her efforts, life for the mother and son at the Chen Family’s ho was still tough, rife with sneers and cold comnts. Being intellectually disabled, Zhao Dasha was often the butt of the younger Chens’ mockery and bullying. This ti, Zhao Dasha burst into Mo Yan’s courtyard in the middle of the night. Mo Yan and Zhao family father and son unanimously believed it was a nasty idea hatched by one of the Chens’ sons.
Mo Yan didn’t know whether to call the person who ca up with this idea bold or foolish, or perhaps both; it was clear that such people, far from achieving great things, would do well just to avoid bringing disaster upon their entire family.
Before they finished a tray of pastries, Zhao Laoer and Zhao Laosan returned carrying a ladder, followed by three young n their age who tiptoed behind Mao Tuan. Mao Tuan was growling now and then as if urging them to hurry.
These three were the ones hiding outside the courtyard, who had helped Zhao Dasha climb over the wall and were also the ones who had instigated him.
When Mao Tuan ca up to Mo Yan, it let out a fearso howl in front of the three young n. They, having done sothing disgraceful and being caught, were already terrified, and after being intimidated by Mao Tuan, they had developed a deep-seated fear of it. Now, with another scare from Mao Tuan, they fell to their knees, not daring to lift their heads.
A faint stench of urine began to spread in the room; Mo Yan frowned, looking down at the three on the ground, and indeed saw that the fronts of two of them were darker than the rest, leaving her rather speechless. She irritably tugged at Mao Tuan’s ear, which was coming to her for comndation.
Mao Tuan drooped its head, looking rather aggrieved—if it didn’t intimidate them a bit, would these two-legged creatures behave?
The odor wasn’t strong—only Mo Yan with her sensitive nose found it unbearable. Zhao Dafu and his sons slled it too and, glancing furtively at Mo Yan’s expression and seeing her frown, wished they could imdiately drag the three disrespectful lads away.
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