Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, according to the customs of the Jiangnan water towns, married daughters, accompanied by their husbands, return to their parents' home to offer New Year's greetings, starting with the closest relatives and proceeding to the most distant. Cang Liuqing had prepared a box of pastries, finely packaged candies, and several bottles of good wine that she had brought from the capital. She, along with her husband Qin Hao and son Qin Siyuan, went to offer New Year's greetings to her grandfather Cang Houde, her eldest uncle Cang Jianguo, her third uncle Cang Shouzheng, and her fourth uncle Cang Zhenye.

Cang Houde and his wife Cang Shouzheng lived together in an old house with slightly dim lighting. As Cang Liuqing and her family approached the old house, they saw her grandfather, Cang Houde, dressed neatly, leaning on his cane, standing solemnly at the door of the old house, looking on expectantly.

Seeing this, Cang Liuqing felt a lump in her throat and quickly stepped forward to help the old man: "Grandpa, it's cold outside, why are you standing here waiting!"

"When my granddaughter, grandson-in-law, and great-grandson return, my heart will be warm, not cold!" Cang Houde's voice trembled slightly. His gaze lingered on Cang Liuqing's face for a moment before turning to Qin Hao and Qin Siyuan behind her. His cloudy eyes shone with an indescribable excitement.

Upon entering the dimly lit main room, Cang Liuqing placed the gifts she had brought on the octagonal table, then carefully helped Cang Houde to sit in the rattan chair, and respectfully said, "Grandpa, please sit down."

She turned around, looked at Qin Hao and her son, and said, "Qin Hao, Siyuan, come, kowtow to your great-grandfather and wish him a Happy New Year according to the old customs of our Cang family."

Qin Hao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Kneeling and kowtowing? This was an extremely unfamiliar, even somewhat "outdated," ritual in his upbringing and social norms. He felt extremely uncomfortable, especially seeing the not-so-clean mud floor of the main room. He subconsciously straightened his back, looking at his wife with a questioning and slightly resistant gaze.

Cang Liuqing met his gaze, her eyes calm yet exceptionally firm, her voice soft yet undeniably authoritative: "Qin Hao, this is a rule passed down through generations of the Cang family, the highest respect a junior can show to their elders. Today, we must set an example for Siyuan." Her words contained both a steadfast adherence to tradition and a stubborn determination, as a returning daughter, to uphold family etiquette in front of her closest relatives.

Cang Houde saw this and was moved by his granddaughter's insistence, but also didn't want to put his granddaughter's husband in a difficult position. He was about to say, "No need for formalities," when Cang Shouzhen silently got up and took out three slightly worn but clean prayer cushions from the inner room, placing them one by one on the ground in front of them. He didn't say anything, but provided a compromise that fulfilled the proper etiquette and avoided kneeling directly.

Qin Hao looked at the prayer mat on the ground, then at his wife's determined gaze, knowing there was no turning back. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally suppressed his discomfort, stiffly bending his knees to kneel down.

"Happy New Year, Grandpa! Wishing you good health and longevity!" Cang Liuqing said as she knelt down and kowtowed. Qin Hao and Qin Siyuan followed suit and bowed as well.

Looking at his granddaughter's family kneeling before him, Cang Houde was deeply moved. He repeatedly said "Good!" and hurriedly reached out to help them up, saying, "Get up, get up!"

Once the family had all stood up, Cang Houde eagerly pulled out a small cloth bag wrapped in several layers of red cloth from his pocket, unwrapping it layer by layer to reveal three red paper packets inside. "Here, take this… New Year's money from Grandpa, for good luck and peace!"

Cang Liuqing accepted the gift with both hands. It felt thicker than in previous years, and she knew that her grandfather had probably saved up for a long time through frugality. "Thank you, Grandpa!" she said, her voice slightly choked. Qin Hao and Qin Siyuan also thanked her and accepted the gift.

Cang Shouzheng stood somewhat awkwardly to the side, rubbing his rough, chapped hands, and echoed, "Liu Qing, all these years, Grandpa has been talking about you! Thinking back to when you were little, you were always the one Grandpa had the most faith in. Now you've truly made something of yourself, becoming the pride of our Cang family. That's wonderful! That's wonderful!"

Her third uncle's words stirred up memories of the past. Indeed, among all her grandchildren, her grandfather favored and loved her the most, often secretly slipping her good things. Although they weren't blood relatives, the affection was even stronger than that between biological parents. Thinking of this, and remembering how she hadn't been able to visit this kind old man for so many years, only symbolically having her parents convey her greetings during the New Year, she realized that her uncle's words had also been a form of communication.

The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. She quickly took out a thick red envelope from her pocket and stuffed it into the old man's hand, saying with deep emotion, "Grandpa, your granddaughter is unfilial. I haven't been able to serve you for so many years... Please accept this money. Buy some good food and a warm coat. Consider it my... belated filial piety!"

Cang Houde's hand felt as if it had been burned; he tried to refuse, but his granddaughter held it firmly. Looking at his granddaughter's reddened eyes, he finally nodded emphatically, clutching the red envelope tightly in his palm, and said repeatedly, "Good, good! Grandpa accepts it, accepts my granddaughter's heartfelt gift! Your kindness is more important than anything else!" A glimmer of tears appeared in the old man's eyes, a mixture of relief, pride, and indescribable satisfaction.

After paying respects to her grandfather, Cang Liuqing led Qin Hao and Qin Siyuan to wish her third uncle and aunt a Happy New Year. She arrived at their side room. Cang Yongqiang warmly greeted them, offering Qin Hao cigarettes and Siyuan candy. The light in the main room was even dimmer; although the few pieces of furniture were freshly wiped clean, they couldn't hide their old and worn state.

Qin Hao stopped before even entering the house. He politely responded to Cang Yongqiang's enthusiasm.

Auntie enthusiastically offered Siyuan candy. Qin Siyuan turned her head away, buried her face in her mother's arms, and ignored the candy offered to her, muttering softly, "No!"

While handing tea to Cang Liuqing, Cang Shouzheng stammered, "Liuqing... well... Uncle San's case... it's been so many years... you... you're in the capital, you've seen a lot... do you think... there's still... still a way... to overturn it?" His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a murmur.

Hearing her husband's words, the third aunt nervously rubbed the hem of her clothes, her eyes filled with the same humility and expectation.

Cang Liuqing's heart sank suddenly. Looking at the humble hope in her third uncle's eyes, she felt as if something was blocking her throat. She subconsciously picked up the teacup, feeling the coolness of the rough porcelain on her fingertips. She took a small sip, but the slightly bitter tea could not suppress the bitterness in her heart.

She put down her cup and said, "Third Uncle, I've always remembered what happened to you. I studied law, and I know that overturning a case requires irrefutable evidence. So much time has passed; the crucial evidence from back then... I'm afraid it will be very difficult to find."

Seeing the faint light in Cang Shouzheng's eyes dim instantly, she quickly added, "Moreover, my current position is very special, with extremely strict discipline. I cannot directly interfere in specific local cases, especially in my own hometown, where I must avoid any appearance of impropriety. This is an ironclad rule."

Cang Shouzheng simply nodded silently, letting out a muffled "hmm" sound, his voice filled with endless disappointment.

Cang Liuqing squeezed his cold, rough hand; the calluses on his hand pressed against her palm, conveying the weight of life.

"Third Uncle, don't be discouraged. The past doesn't mean the truth is buried. I will continue to keep an eye on Zheng Guozhong. I heard he's now in a high position, the director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education. He's extremely cunning, but even the most cunning fox will eventually slip up." She paused, seemingly adjusting her tone, "You must take good care of your health. Perhaps new opportunities and new paths will come in the future. Right now, you and Third Aunt should focus on living your lives well, protecting your health, and waiting for your chance. That's the most important thing. I believe that justice will prevail; it may be delayed, but it will never be absent."

Cang Shouzheng looked up at his niece's steady, concerned eyes, eyes filled with unwavering determination, devoid of any pretense. He grasped Cang Liuqing's hand, his voice choked with emotion, "Good...good...Liuqing is right! Uncle feels much better now!"

Qin Hao listened to the conversation at the doorway, which involved old cases and potential "trouble," his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. He had no interest in these entanglements from distant times, and felt that his wife seemed to be caught up in a kind of rural emotional debt that he neither understood nor wanted to understand. He felt the air in the room growing increasingly suffocating, making him want to turn around and leave immediately.

Next, Cang Liuqing, carrying gifts, led her family to her uncle Cang Jianguo's house. Seeing Cang Liuqing and her family enter with valuable gifts, Cang Jianguo and his wife, along with Cang Xiaoren and Chen Xianfei, beamed with smiles. Chen Xianfei, in particular, addressed them warmly as "sister" and "brother-in-law," gesturing for everyone to sit down while quickly serving hot tea and piling up melon seeds, peanuts, and candies on the small table, constantly saying, "Oh, Sister Liuqing, you've really made something of yourself! Look at this grand gesture! Please sit down! Have some tea! Siyuan, have some candy!" Cang Xiaoren also hurried forward, eagerly offering Qin Hao a cigarette, "Brother-in-law, have a smoke." Qin Hao waved his hand, politely declining, "Thank you, I don't!"

Consort Chen then grabbed Cang Liuqing's hand and bombarded her with questions, her words filled with envy and flattery. She inquired about life in the capital and Qin Hao's workplace. Cang Liuqing responded politely, offering only irrelevant answers. Cang Jianguo and Liu Chunmei watched their daughter-in-law's enthusiastic performance from the sidelines, unable to intervene or even speak, only offering "uh-huhs" and "ahs" in agreement.

The last stop was Uncle Cang Zhenye's house. The atmosphere here was completely different. Although equally simple, it was clean and tidy, exuding a warm and lively feeling. Su Yumei had already set up a square table in the main room. The table was polished to a shine, and on it were a dish of homemade roasted pumpkin seeds, a dish of dried sweet potatoes, and a small plate of hard fruit candies wrapped in colorful candy wrappers—something they only bought for the New Year. Several rough porcelain teacups were filled with wild mountain tea that they had picked themselves, and wisps of steam were rising from the cups.

"Sister Liu Qing! Brother-in-law! Come in and sit down!" Cang Lifeng greeted them warmly. Cang Xiangyang, Cang Xiaohua, and Cang Tianci all stepped forward to greet them in turn. Cang Liu Qing greeted them one by one.

When Cang Zhenye and Su Yumei saw Cang Liuqing's family enter the door, they hurriedly instructed their children to serve tea and water.

"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, Happy New Year! This is just a small token of my appreciation." Cang Liuqing smiled and handed over the gift. Su Yumei thanked her repeatedly and warmly invited, "Have some tea to warm yourself up! It's just a small village, we don't have anything fancy to offer, please don't mind. Please sit down, I'll go prepare dinner, you can eat here."

"No need, Fourth Aunt, we'll eat at home later. My mother specifically told us to."

Cang Lifeng chimed in, "Yes, Mom, you don't understand. Sister Liu Qing has finally come home, so she'll definitely have her first meal at home. Let's not force her."

Su Yumei glared at Cang Lifeng reproachfully, then laughed and scolded, "Look at you, so capable, thinking you know everything. Take good care of your sister and the others." After saying that, she went to the kitchen to busy herself.

Cang Liuqing smiled and asked Cang Lifeng, who was warmly greeting her, "Lifeng, I heard you're doing quite well in Nancheng!"

Hearing his older sister, whom he had admired since childhood, praise him, Cang Lifeng's face beamed with pride: "Sister, I work for a construction team in Nancheng, and now I'm a small-time contractor, leading dozens of people." He then let out a cold laugh, "I'm only on this path thanks to people like Wang Zhenkun!"

"Oh, why is that?" Cang Liuqing asked curiously.

So, Cang Lifeng briefly recounted how he had formed a martial arts team in Xiqiao Village, hoping to expand its influence by performing at the temple fair, but was instigated by Wang Zhenkun and others in front of Liu Tietou, resulting in the performance being smashed, almost causing a death, and ultimately forcing him to leave for another place.

As Cang Liuqing listened, her gaze gradually sharpened and turned icy. After Cang Lifeng finished speaking, she paused for a moment, then asked, "Lifeng, you just said that Liu Tietou was taken to the police station but was released quickly. Do you know who stepped in to bail him out or helped him settle things later?"

Cang Lifeng paused for a moment, thought carefully, and shook his head: "I don't know the specifics. I've only heard that Liu Tietou has a powerful backer in the county. I don't know who that backer is."

Cang Liuqing nodded slightly, no longer pressing for answers. She leaned back in her chair, her eyelids slightly lowered, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of her teacup. The vague reference to "the county's backer" instantly resonated in her mind, sketching a familiar yet loathsome gray map of deeply entrenched grassroots power and local influence. After a moment, she raised her eyes, scanning her family members present, and said in a deep voice, "Lifeng, you've suffered. But you've managed to carve out a new path for yourself in a completely unfamiliar place, and I'm proud of you! That's what a real man is. The past is a lesson, a whip, urging us to keep moving forward. As for Wang Zhenkun and Liu Tietou,..."

She paused, then raised her voice, carrying an invisible authority: "What goes around comes around. Some people may gain power for a time, but not forever. If they do too many bad things, even if the law can't punish them for now, God won't let them off the hook. What we need to do is wait and strive to become stronger. Only when you are strong enough can you protect the people you want to protect and get what you want."

Sister Liu Qing's words were like a bolt of lightning, cleaving away the "dark cloud" that had been hanging over him ever since he returned from visiting Wang Xiuzhu's house for the New Year—is it true that "good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds are punished"? Now he remembered the second half of that saying—"It's not that retribution won't come, it's just that the time hasn't arrived yet."

He clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it. He secretly vowed that one day he would be like Sister Liu Qing, able to see the "truth" of the world clearly. One day, he would use these clear-sighted eyes and hardened fists to make people like Wang Yaowu no longer able to laugh, and to make people like Wan Qing no longer able to shed tears.

Cang Liuqing noticed the unusual look in Tianci's expression and his leg, which made it difficult for him to move. So she patted Tianci's shoulder affectionately and asked, "Tianci, what happened to your leg?"

Tianci excitedly, yet somewhat stammeringly, recounted the reason for his injury.

"This kid is so focused on making his family proud that he pushes himself too hard. But all his hard work paid off; he won a gold medal in a city competition last year. His academic performance has also improved significantly, going from near the bottom of the class to among the top," Cang Zhenye added proudly.

Cang Liuqing looked at Tianci with eyes full of approval: "Excellent! Tianci, you are skilled in both literature and martial arts, truly wonderful!"

She changed the subject, her tone becoming serious: "Your fighting spirit is very commendable. But I must remind you that you can't do anything recklessly; you have to pay attention to methods and respect the rules. Just like when you practice martial arts, if you train incorrectly, you'll get hurt; if you don't follow the rules when doing things, you'll achieve half the results with twice the effort. This leg injury is a profound lesson, and you must learn from it thoroughly."

"Yes! Thank you... Sister Xie!" Cang Tianci nodded vigorously. Sister Liu Qing's words vaguely connected with what his master Chen Jiren had said about "insight" and "control." He vaguely sensed that his elder brother Cang Lifeng's path was paved with fists and bloodlust, while Sister Liu Qing's path was supported by rules and wisdom. And what about himself? He needed to continue to hone his fists to be even harder, but in his heart, he also needed to begin to learn to establish that more complex and solid set of "rules."

Qin Hao sat to the side, watching his wife and her uncles and brothers discuss these past events filled with local grudges and potential risks in such depth. His impatience and anxiety had reached their peak. He didn't understand these family ties at all; he only felt that these old scores and crude conflicts were too far removed from his world and were wearing down his precious patience.

Qin Siyuan showed no interest in the stories the adults were talking about. He stayed listlessly by his mother's side, showing no interest in the dried sweet potatoes that Cang Xiaohua offered him, and his little head was nodding off.

As dusk deepened, when Cang Liuqing and her family of three finally returned to her parents' home, Qin Siyuan seemed listless, his face flushed an unnatural red under the lamplight. Cang Liuqing worriedly touched her son's forehead; he didn't have a fever. She thought it might be due to the child's strong discomfort with the rural environment. Thinking of this, her guilt towards her child deepened.