Tian Sangsang, what a simple and pleasant name, exuding the vibes of a virtuous wife and loving mother, bringing to mind the line: "Whose daughter returns home during Cold Food Festival, laughing and chatting while gently treading the mulberry path."
But listening to how the villagers talk about Tian Sangsang, you'd know she's already strayed far from the beautiful trajectory her name implies.
"Black coal ball."
"Fat old cow."
"Fat sow."
"Tall, dark, and fat."
"..."
"Oh dear! Tall, dark, and fat is here! She's come to snatch food again!"
In short, every word associated with fatness has been used on her.
As a child, Tian Sangsang was a little porcelain doll—but from the age of eight, she started gaining weight, and by sixteen, she was very overweight. This is where the story begins.
This girl was particularly gluttonous. When there wasn't enough food at home, she'd snatch food from the village children, showing faint signs of being a "village bully." Other kids disliked her and tried to fight back, but Tian Sangsang would effortlessly lift them up like little chicks. Because of this, many villagers didn't like Tian Sangsang. They avoided her and often insulted her both openly and behind her back. Over time, Tian Sangsang began to realize she was different from others. At times, she did feel inferior about her large size and dark complexion, but her self-pity only lasted briefly—when it came to meals, she still ate heartily without hesitation. Back in those days, dieting wasn't a thing. Eating was all there was—spitting food out? That made no sense. Her parents were firm believers in the motto "being able to eat is a blessing."
Tian Sangsang's personality was spoiled and self-indulgent, and her behavior brought shame upon her parents, who were never well-regarded in the village.
One day when she was sixteen, Tian Sangsang—who rarely left her house—stepped outside and stumbled upon a handsome man lying on the ground, his eyes closed, wounds on his body, blood flowing—but none of that diminished his charisma or noble air. In modern terms: "deep-set features, a chiseled face, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a jutting behind, long legs, a body bursting with strength…"
Tian Sangsang's heart pounded wildly—springtime had arrived.
But the handsome man attracted not only Tian Sangsang. Other village girls gathered, keenly eyeing the man, unwilling to back down.
In the end, it was Tian Sangsang who prevailed, thanks to her imposing figure. With an intimidating tremor of her stout frame and a light flex of her arms, the village girls tumbled in defeat. Tian Sangsang stepped forward, bent over with her barrel-like waist, and hoisted the sleeping beauty onto her shoulder before carrying him home.
When the handsome man regained consciousness, he found she was his savior. Polite and well-mannered, he showed no prejudice toward her for being dark and fat. He stayed at her house for a few days. Typically, aside from her parents and grandmother, everyone else called Tian Sangsang "Black Fatty." But this man was different—he called her "Miss Tian." He didn't care that she was overweight, and Tian Sangsang felt that this… this was love!
So, when the man informed her that he'd be leaving for the capital in a few days, as someone would come to pick him up, Tian Sangsang's heart shattered into pieces. She believed he had deceived her sincere feelings. Before departing, the man left her a few national meat coupons as payment and promised additional material compensation when his family arrived. Faced with a choice between her love for meat and love for the man—two irreconcilable desires—Tian Sangsang made a bold decision.
On a moonless, windy night, she sneaked into the handsome man's room…
The saying goes, "A beauty's grace is unbearable." What happened that night is unknown—could the handsome man even survive? She was practically a ball of fat by then…
All we know is that the handsome man's eyes were bloodshot, his soul burned like an enraged lion, as he dragged his weakened body and left the village without looking back. His family came to pick him up, yet no one knew who he was, where he came from, or where he went. He vanished as if he had never appeared at all.
No, no—he didn't vanish. He had existed, and existence leaves traces. Because two months later, Tian Sangsang felt nauseous, started vomiting, and craved sour foods.
Tian Sangsang loved the handsome man and decided to weather public judgment to give birth to his child. Her parents thought: she was already fat as a ball, lazy as a pig, with a poor temperament—how could she ever find a good husband? Having a child wasn't a bad idea; they could always pitch in to help raise the baby. But before the child was born, her father passed away from illness. Misfortune piled on—Tian Sangsang suffered a difficult childbirth. Her child was born on another moonless, windy night—perhaps it was karma. The labor lasted through an entire day and night. After the birth, Tian Sangsang came to resent the man who had introduced himself as Ye Jiang, and even more so her own son. She refused to care for the baby. With her father gone, the household fell into decline. Without her father, there was no one to slaughter the pigs; the town hired a new butcher. Her mother was left to raise the baby while tending the fields. But her mother had a soft personality, and soon enough, her family's farmland was taken back by her grandmother. Within a year, her mother passed away, overcome with grief for her husband. Consequently, Sangsang's grandmother moved in to take care of Tian Sangsang and her son. Tian Sangsang preferred idleness—she couldn't work, couldn't cook, leaving all household burdens on her grandmother, who eventually passed away due to old age.
Tian Sangsang was finally hit hard by the loss. Regret overwhelmed her. The deaths of her loved ones deeply wounded her heart. A woman spoiled since childhood, though now a mother, was still merely twenty years old—fat, lazy, pampered, and incapable of self-sufficiency. Funerals require money; Tian Sangsang's second uncle seized the family's savings under the guise of helping with funeral arrangements. Her third uncle's family made off with various belongings from the house.
The impact of losing her family left Tian Sangsang without food. Within half a month, she had consumed everything edible in the house. As for her son… Forgive her for lacking affection for him. Even under the same roof, Tian Sangsang only cared about her own food and drink, never paying him the slightest attention. She even snatched food from her son's bowl. A mother like this… It's unbearable!
How thick-skinned must she be to steal food from her own child? How cold-hearted must she be to torment such an angelic little bun?
In her dreams, she saw her little bun—a kawayi delight! Her maternal instincts stirred, transforming her into an adoring "uncle" figure, her love flooding out for her little bun. This adorable child—only three and a half years old—had fluffy black curls, naturally wavy, the kind you'd want to reach out and touch. Two tiny sword-like brows, large sparkling dark eyes, a petite nose, rosy lips, baby-soft chubby cheeks—a perfect little prince.
Tian Sangsang's death… is a long story. After running out of food at home, she went to her grandmother's house to beg. Her grandmother chased her out. Returning home, she found her son eating a steamed bun given secretly by Granny Zhong next door. Her son tried to save half of it for her. Granny Zhong had explicitly reminded the boy to eat it quickly without letting the mother know, as the child had often gone hungry due to his mother. But even so, the considerate boy saved half for his mother. Yet half wasn't enough for Tian Sangsang—she snatched her son's portion and devoured it. After eating the bun, her hunger persisted, but there was an "important" date to attend. She cleaned herself up, though no matter what, she couldn't spruce up a tall, dark, fat woman into a femme fatale. Two months ago, a city-educated teacher, Zhou Zheng, arrived in the remote mountain village. His urban sophistication reminded Tian Sangsang of that heartless man from long ago. She penned a love letter to Zhou Zheng. Zhou Zheng, upon receiving the letter, secretly arranged to meet her at the back hill. And then—Tian Sangsang met her end.