第十章 恩典恩典 (Chapter Ten: Mercy, Mercy)

Er Zhuge did not sleep all night, muttering over and over, "Da Hei, why hasn't he come back yet? Da Hei, why hasn't he come back yet?" The next day, before dawn, he set out for the district office. Halfway there, he saw from afar that Da Hei and three militiamen had already returned. Also with them were an assistant and a messenger from the district office. He shouted from a distance, "Da Hei! How is it? Is it serious or not?" Da Hei said, "Nothing to worry about! Don't be afraid!" As he spoke, they approached. The assistant and the three militiamen went ahead first. Da Hei told the messenger, "This is my father!" Then to Er Zhuge, he said, "The district office has summoned you and Yu Fu's wife. You go, it's nothing serious! Er Hei and Xiao Qin were released as soon as they arrived at the district office. The district office had long heard that Xing Wang and Jin Wang are no good. They've already detained them. They even sent an assistant to our village to hold a meeting and investigate evidence of their bullying. By the time I got there, they had already finished questioning. I heard that the district office even allows our Er Hei and Xiao Qin to marry." Er Zhuge said, "As long as they're not guilty, that's good. But marriage is out of the question-incompatible horoscopes! Did you hear why they summoned me?" Da Hei said, "I don't know. Probably nothing major. You go, I'll go back and tell mother." The messenger said, "Old man! So I've seen you now! You go, I'll go summon the other one!" With that, he left together with Da Hei.

Er Zhuge arrived at the district office and saw Xiao Erhei and Xiao Qin sitting on a bench together. He pointed at Xiao Erhei and scolded, "Troublemaker! They let you go, and you're not hurrying back? You scared me to death! Shameless!" The district head said, "What are you doing? Is the district office a place for cursing?" Er Zhuge fell silent. The district head asked, "Are you Liu Xiude?" Er Zhuge answered, "Yes!" Asked, "You took in a child bride for Liu Erhei?" Answered, "Yes!" Asked, "How old is she this year?" Answered, "She was born in the year of the monkey, twelve years old." The district head said, "A girl under fifteen cannot be engaged. Send her back to her parents. Liu Erhei is already engaged to Yu Xiao Qin!" Er Zhuge said, "She only has a father. No one knows where he fled to during the turmoil, so there's nowhere to send her back. The rule that girls under fifteen can't be engaged is just an official regulation. In the countryside, many are engaged at seven or eight. Please have mercy and let it pass..." The district head said, "Any illegal engagement must be canceled if either party is unwilling!" Er Zhuge said, "This was agreed upon by both families!" The district head asked Xiao Erhei, "Liu Erhei! Are you willing or not?" Xiao Erhei said, "I'm not willing!" Er Zhuge's temper flared up again. He glared at Xiao Erhei and said, "Is it up to you?" The district head said, "If it's not up to him to be engaged, then is it up to you? Old man! Nowadays, marriage is self-determined. It's not up to you! If that young girl you're raising really has no parents, then consider her your own daughter." Er Zhuge said, "That could work. But I still beg for mercy-he must not be engaged to Yu Fu's daughter!" The district head said, "That's none of your business!" Er Zhuge anxiously said, "I beg you for mercy, incompatible horoscopes. This is a matter for a lifetime!" And to Xiao Erhei, he said, "Er Hei! Don't be foolish! This is your whole life!" The district head said, "Old man! Don't you be foolish. Forcing your nineteen-year-old son to marry a twelve-year-old girl will probably cause a lifetime of resentment. I'm just advising you. In truth, as long as the two of them are willing, whether you're willing or not doesn't matter. Go back! If there's nowhere to return the child bride, just consider her your daughter!" Er Zhuge still wanted to beg the district head for "mercy, mercy," but a messenger pushed him out.