To Raise A Soul Chapter 3

Description: Who?

The end of the year was drawing near when Yu Zhen made his decision. He would return to his hometown for the New Year and rest for a while. 

After cancelling the agreement for the two-bedroom apartment, he returned to the plant nursery again and gave all his flowers to his peers.  He also settled the lease contract with the plant nursery. Then, taking the small returned deposits and his suitcase, he rented a taxi and returned to the temple that night.

The snow from that night had disappeared without a trace, but the white paper sprinkled on the day of the funeral was still scattered within the temple. Yu Zhen switched on a small light bulb which emitted faint yellow light and boiled a pot of hot water. Then he began to clean. 

Although the Taoist temple was small, it was well-organized[1]. After Yu Zhen had clean the whole temple once from the top to bottom, and from the inside to the outside, the sky was already bright. 

His forehead was covered with sweat from exertion and he hadn't slept for one night, but he felt very awake. The cold feeling that had been plaguing him for a long time had completely disappeared, and his limbs felt miraculously light. He felt like he could fly with a simple jump. 

“Grandpa, are you blessing me?” he said with a smile.

He hung the rag on the edge of the bucket and looked at his grandfather's photo with glazed over eyes. Then he shook his head, bent over to lift the bucket and headed to the backyard. 

Grandpa Yu was very sloppy when it came to food and clothing. His two sets of robes had been sewed and patched up for over ten years. His steamed buns could be left for half a month. He also slept on a wooden bed[2] and he used old cotton wadding as his blanket. Apart from winter, he had cold baths throughout the year.

In addition, he was very stubborn. He was unwilling to even let one brick or one tile of the temple be moved, and insisted on maintaining the temple's “natural state”[3]. 

After making money, Yu Zhen wanted to help the old man to fix up the Taoist temple without making major changes. He would only get the electric cables replaced, repair the kitchen, and install an electric heater. He wanted the old man to live more comfortably. 

But the old man didn't want it, and he almost drove him out of the house for this matter. 

Thinking about the past, Yu Zhen was a little zoned out from reality. When the firewood in the stove made a crackling sound, he became more focused again. Seeing the water in the pot had boiled, he put down the firewood he was holding, brought over the big wooden barrel to be used for his bath, and started to pour the hot water inside.

There was no electric heater, no bathroom heater, no proper bathroom, and the kitchen door even let drafts in. But when Yu Zhen soaked in the tub, he didn't feel the cold at all. 

Suddenly he understood some of his grandpa's stubbornness. In the little isolated Taoist temple, daily life could be a bit bitter, but the feeling of satisfaction was very easy to obtain. 

It was only a hot bath after a hard winter night, but he felt that he was already very content. 

After the bath, his body was completely relaxed. He went to the vegetable patch in the backyard and picked a handful of vegetables. He then returned to the kitchen and made himself a bowl of noodles with vegetables.

After filling his stomach, he finally felt a little sleepy. Without considering if sleeping during the day was appropriate or if he would be able to sleep at night, Yu Zhen decided to follow his whims. He yawned as he went to the room he used to share with his grandfather and settled into the bed. He closed his eye and drifted off to sleep as he breathed in the lingering scent of burnt joss sticks.

At the hospital, Yin Yan opened his eyes. Unlike the way a person would appear after just waking up, his eyes were clear and calm. Looking at a point in empty s.p.a.ce, he moved his finger and said, “Go. As repayment for using your body, I will agree to your request” 

Reluctant to leave, a wisp of cool air whirled around by the window until the ward's door was pushed opened. When a middle aged couple and a young man appeared from behind the door, 'he' left through the window and disappeared from the world.

Yin Le felt something was wrong with his eyes as he saw the curtains move when there was no wind. For some inexplicable reason, he wanted to cry. 

“Xiao Yan!”

A woman with short hair walked quickly to the bedside. The strong woman who rarely cried suddenly couldn't help but shed tears. She sat down at the bed and held a thin hand of her eldest son's. Her expression was still quite calm but her tears kept falling.

She felt that she was a little strange, but she couldn't help but cry when she saw her youngest son and her husband crying too. Thus she blamed this strangeness on a mother's nature. 

Even the strongest woman would lose control if they saw their son almost go through the gates of h.e.l.l.

No one said a word. The only sounds left in the hospital ward were the cries of the three family members.

Yin Yan swept his eyes over the three people. Before his eyes were the original fates of the three people when the eldest son had died. The mother became extremely distressed and blamed herself. In her extreme sorrow, she unwittingly caused herself to suffer an illness. The father was also suffering and became angry. He sought revenge at all costs against the woman who caused the death of his eldest son. The family eventually declined. The mother died young, the father was imprisoned, and the younger son was depressed for life. 

Yin Yan frowned and restrained the discomfort of holding the mother's hand, then sat up and whispered in a low voice, “I'm alright.” 

His voice was not loud, but the three who were crying quietened down. They felt as if this sentence broke into their hearts, and the panic in their hearts slowly faded. 

As the crying began to break, Qiu Fei Qian was the first to organise her emotions and wiped away her tears. She leaned over and hugged her weakened son lying on the bed. With a firm voice which didn't give room for refusal, she said, "It's been quite a while since your accident, yet, not a single person from the Han family came to give our Yin family an explanation. And Han Ya, who was only slightly injured, did not even show her face. Xiao Yan, no matter what you say this time, Mother must teach the Han family a lesson!" 

"FeiQian.", Yin HeXiang called to his wife. He was worried that her words would aggravate the seriously injured son. 

In their circle, everyone knew that the Yin family's Yin Yan had unrequited love for the Han family's sole daughter, Han Ya. For anything related to Han Ya, Yin Yan had almost no bottom line nor sense of principles. However, Han Ya's heart was already set on the Wu family's sole son, Wu Xuan. She was clearly leading Yin Yan on, only keeping him as a spare tire.[4] 　　

As parents, they had persuaded with, argued with, and even smacked their eldest son over this matter. But it was all for nothing. It was as if Han Ya had filled Yin Yan up with mystical potions since Yin Yan was h.e.l.l bent on being her spare tire. He would not let people speak a single bad word about Han Ya and he gave the Han family preferential treatment.

Although the situation was sad and helpless, in the face of their stubborn child, they could only compromise. 

“It's useless even if you shout at me!”

After almost experiencing the pain of losing her child, Qiu FeiQian was no longer willing to continue compromising. With a hate filled voice, she said: “I only have two sons, this time Han Ya played with Xiao Yan's life. What about next time? If we go on like this, Xiao Yan will end up in Han Ya's hands! Today I will end my words here. Anyone in this world can enter the door of our Yin family, even dogs and cats, but she can never enter!”

Qiu FeiQian was really angry, afraid and panicked. As she spoke, her words became more resolute.

“Xiao Yan, don't blame my methods. If you want to continue focusing on that Han Ya, then I would rather not have you as my son! You should not call me Mother again in the future!” 

The atmosphere in the Yin family had always been harmonious, although Qiu FeiQian had a sharp tongue, she had never said angry words like these in front of her two sons before. 

Yin HeXiang was alarmed. He was afraid that his wife would work herself up, but he was even more afraid of forcing his eldest son towards an unfortunate life. He was busy supporting his wife's shoulders when he opened his mouth to calm down his wife. But Yin Yan who had been silent for a long time spoke up before him. 

“Mum.” His voice carried a strange tone, it was a calm and cold voice, but strangely it brought words of appeas.e.m.e.nt, “There is a guest.”

A cool breeze gently brushed against Qiu FeiQian's cheek. Qiu Feiqian's strong emotions dissipated a little and she turned to look at the open ward door. 

Han Ya, who was about to leave quietly stiffened. She felt Yin Yan's voice seemed to be different from before but it was just a pa.s.sing thought. She bit her lip and remembered what Mother Yin had just said. She felt embarra.s.sed and wronged. 

She hadn't wished for the accident to happen. It was true that in her drunken she had tried to grab the steering wheel, hence causing the accident, but did Yin Yan have no part in the accident? 

Yin Yan saved her. She was very grateful for that, but Mother Yin should not speak about her in such a manner. She had a sense of self-respect. 

“Who's outside?” 

Qiu FeiQian's mood was not good. She saw the shadow of a person lingering in the corridor, but no one came in so she had raised her voice and asked the question. 

The figure in the hall moved, then Han Ya's tall and slender figure appeared at the door. 

She did not come in, she only stood at the door with red eyes. Seeing Yin Yan resting on the hospital bed, she called out in a quiet voice, “Yin…” 

The anger within Qiu FeiQian's heart had just subsided but it immediately rose again. Walking to the door, she slapped Han Ya without reservation. With anger, she exclaimed, “You do not deserve to call my son! Han Ya I'm telling you, in the future if you and that Wu Xuan quarrel and you want to kill yourself, go find yourself a quiet place. Don't come to my son! Leave! We don't welcome you here!”

No one expected the slap. Han Ya was actually beaten. She held her face and didn't dare to look at the hate filled face of Qiu FeiQian. Her shoulders shook, her beautiful almond eyes filled with tears, and once again she looked toward Yin Yan. 
　　

“About the car accident, ‘I' forgive you.” Yin Yan said when she looked over. 

Han Ya's was happy but Qiu FeiQian was stunned. Angry with his reaction, Qiu FeiQian turned and shouted, "Xiao Yan!" 

"What's owed in this life must be returned in the next life down to the last penny." Yin Yan moved away from her line of sight. His pale, slender fingers were interlaced and placed on his stomach, and the side of his face was bathed in the morning sun. It seem as if an illusion occurred. His light coloured eyes seemed to turn as dark as the night, attracting people's gaze. 

“Go, don't appear in front of the Yin family again. They will be unhappy.” 

Yin HeXiang was surprised. He didn't expect the eldest son to say this. 

Yin Le suddenly remembered the day when he was at the hospital entrance, his big brother unexpectedly said the word “okay”. Abruptly, Yin Le asked, “Big brother, the favour I'd asked for that day, have you agreed?” 

Yin Yan Looked at him and nodded. 

“Big brother, you're too great!” 

Yin Le couldn't help but rushed to the bedside. He pulled out an orange from the fruit basket, elatedly he said, “Big brother, this orange is very sweet, I'll peeled it for you!” 

Qi FeiQian was stunned for a short moment before returning to her senses. The anger on her face faded, and was replace by happiness and grat.i.tude. 

She looked back at Han Ya, who seemed to be shocked by her son's order to leave. She only felt that the resentment that had been lingering for many years could finally be released. She stepped forward to block Han Ya's view of the hospital bed. She said, "Acting pitiful won't always be affective.  Han Ya, go back and tell your parents that you almost killed my son. I'll have a proper discussion with them later." 

After seeing the situation, Han Ya was alarmed. She took a step back then used considerable force to walk into the door. 

Boom!

Yin Yan looked back from the window and unclasped his fingers. His fingers tapped on the blanket as he thought. He looked at Yin HeXiang who should be the head of the family and asked seriously, “In this world…if someone wants to enter into a marriage agreement, what should be prepared?” 

Yin HeXiang stared blankly after hearing what was said.

Marriage agreement? What was with that archaic way of speaking? Wait, why did his son suddenly ask this? Was that moment where he came to his senses just an act? Was Han Ya still in his heart? 

Qiu FeiQian, who turned and walked back, had the same thoughts as him. Her eyebrows knitted together. She was about to persuade her son to rethink things when she was interrupted by the younger son whose mood was soaring. 

“Draw a marriage contract? Big brother, you're talking about a marriage certificate. For a marriage certificate, you only need to have a household register. The troublesome thing is arranging a marriage ceremony… Wait, why did you suddenly asked about this? It can't be that you - you…” 

After Yin Le had spoken half his thoughts when he realised something wasn't right. His originally soaring mood was left hanging. Afraid of aggravating his brother's current mental state due his unrequited love, he cautiously asked, "Big brother, do you have someone in mind for your marriage partner?"

Yin Yan nodded gently. Yin Le let out a cold breath, feeling that the sky was going to collapse. 

Qiu FeiQian finally couldn't help and a.s.sertively said: “Xiao Yan, I will not allow you to be with Han Ya. That will never happen in this life!” 

Yin HeXiang held his wife back. Although he did not speak, his eyes were also filled with disapproval. 

After getting the answer to his question, Yin Yan clasped his hands together again. His eyes swept past the three people who were clearly anxious and he shook his head. "The person I had in mind for marriage isn't Han Ya but a… little gardener."

At his last two words, his voice suddenly lowered with a touch of gentleness. Unfortunately, the family of three who was stunned did not pick up on it. 

They looked at each other with confusion. 

Little gardener? Who? 

In the hill behind Qing Xu temple, Yu Zhen stopped underneath a brilliantly blooming peach tree with a basket on his back. His eyes were filled with wonder.

Didn't peach trees blossom in March or April? Why did this tree bloom at the end of December? Has something changed?

[Author's Notes:]

The author has something to say: the 
the first step in courts.h.i.+p: get married

[Translator's Notes:]

[1] 五脏俱全 (wu3 zhang4 ju4 quan2) No idea what it means. It's one of those four word idioms.  Google translate gave me a sensible sounding phrase so I'm rolling with it. But if anyone knows what it means, please comment below!

[2] The wooden bed doesn't have a mattress.

[3] 原生态(yuan2 sheng1 tai4). I feel like it should sound fancy, but I'm not sure how to translate this. Can break it down into:

原 = original. 生态= ecology  原生 = native. 态= state.

I just mixed and matched to get an appropriate sounding phrase. [4] Spare tire: I don't think this phrase is used very often in English. Basically, Yin Yan was only the back up plan, the spare, in case things didn't work o