The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

The sound was loud, shaking the birds on both sides of the mountain path into flight.

It was completely out of tune; it was like a demon’s voice piercing through the brain.

If a young handsome guy was singing it, Su Qingyue might have been able to bear it for the sake of his good looks. But it was an old man singing, scaring her even though she had no balls to hurt.

Ding Er’s wife was a young wife. Even if it was hard to listen to, Wang Crippled, the man driving the cart, was an elder after all, so she was too embarrassed to say anything.

But Aunt Zhang spoke, “Wang Crippled, you’re getting old, stop humming. It’s getting hot, save some saliva.”

“It’s fine. I brought a water pot. I can drink if I’m thirsty!” Wang Crippled had made an extra three cents from the car fare, so he was in high spirits. There was no way he would stop. He started singing loudly again, “Chi Liu la gua…

hoo a hee…”

“Uncle Wang, you sing ‘really well’.” Su Qingyue said with a smile, “I don’t know who taught you this mountain song?”

Hearing her speak, Wang Crippled replied, stopping his demon-like mountain song, “This is the first time someone has praised my singing. Wife of the Xiao Family, you have good taste! No one taught me. It was passed down from the older generation. According to my grandpa’s grandpa, this mountain song was written by a cultured scholar.”

Not wanting to hear his duck-like howling again, she asked casually, “What kind of scholar?” In her opinion, the lyrics were worse than an illiterate’s.

“They say that there was a talented poet named Nan, a romantic poet who went by Wandering Wind Hermit. It is said that his proudest work in his entire life was composing the words for this mountain song. This mountain song is simple and easy to understand, suitable for both young and old. The lyrics are even combined with various bird calls, chicken and duck sounds, and the cries of other animals. Not only do city people love to sing it, but those of us in the mountains can also catch on easilv- But it’s a pity-

“What’s a pity?” Su Qingyue rubbed her forehead painfully, “Creating such lyrics, he really courted death.”

“Wife of the Xiao Family, you are really intelligent. Didn’t the Wandering Wind Hermit die right after composing this mountain song?” He lamented, “Such a pity that a talented poet like him left behind such a bitter masterpiece for the world to sing…”

“Um…” Aunt Zhang said, “I’ve never heard any villagers sing this before…”

“You old granny, long hair, short sight.” Wang Crippled shamelessly said, “As I said, the Wandering Wind Hermit was from my grandpa’s grandpa’s generation. After so many generations, it’s normal that it has long been forgotten, and you haven’t heard it. Besides, I’m the only one in the whole village who knows how to sing this mountain song. If you don’t believe me, I’ll sing it for you… wu li wa la…”

“You don’t need to sing it… I believe you’re the only one in the village who can sing it!” Su Qingyue cleaned her ears, thankful that the hermit called Nan had died long ago. Otherwise, she would have beaten him to death. She’d better not find out where his grave is, or she would dig up his bones and whip the corpse!

“Uncle Wang, a few days ago, you helped me buy some empty pots on two occasions. I really must thank you.” In order to avoid further torturing her ears, Su Qingyue quickly changed the topic.

“Which is it? You gave me money for the car and for the pots. I profited, I profited…”

“I heard your wife passed away early, and it was not easy for you to raise two sons on your own…”

Speaking of the hardship of raising two sons, Wang Crippled had a belly full of words, and the torrent of words was endless….