Liu Hechou said he could steal my life, and my grandfather fell silent after hearing this. Rural people are superstitious, believing in the concept of reincarnation. Where one is reborn is arranged by the King of Hell; either one is there to collect a debt, or to repay one. So my grandfather asked Liu Hechou, "The old saying goes, 'Those who aren't family don't enter the same door.' Does this child, whose life has been stolen, count as a descendant of the Xie family?" "Yes, of course. He's a mother, and whoever raises him is his descendant. Besides, his lineage is originally from your Xie family." Hearing Liu Hechou say this, my grandfather made up his mind. Back then, the village was poor; more men meant more labor, unlike now, where having an extra son means half a lifetime of hard
