Right then and there, her legs felt both sore and swollen. When she squatted down in the outhouse, Ye Qing wished she could just cut them off and have nothing more to do with them.
Fortunately, Shi Fengxia was quick to notice and hurried over to help her up. But when she saw the veins bulging on Ye Qing’s face from the pain, she couldn’t help but snicker with undisguised amusement.
Once she’d had her laugh, she cheerfully pulled Ye Qing to her feet and supported her out of the outhouse.
“Are you all right? Does it hurt badly enough that we should send for the village doctor to have a look?” Chen Xiuzhi wiped her hands and came over to steady Ye Qing from the other side.
“What on earth were you up to last night? You’re in such pain you can barely walk straight,” Shi Fengxia grumbled as she supported her. She eyed Ye Qing and Xiao Yang back and forth with a look of suspicion, then suddenly grinned. “Well, well! Look at you two. I was starting to think you’d just stay stuck in this awkward standoff forever.”
Ye Qing hadn’t even had time to process what she meant. Xiao Yang, who had been staring at Ye Qing, froze for a moment before his face flushed bright red. He choked on the water he was using to rinse his mouth, coughing so hard his eyes turned bloodshot. “Sister-in-law, what on earth are you talking about? Mom, did you hear what she just said?”
“Your sister-in-law has a screw loose sometimes—what kind of talk is that for an elder sister-in-law?” Chen Xiuzhi turned and chided Shi Fengxia.
Ye Qing gritted her teeth as she walked, forcing the words out through clenched jaws. “I’m fine. I’ve been resting at home these past few days, but yesterday I walked too far up the mountain all at once. My legs just aren’t used to it, and neither is my body. I’ll be good as new after a couple of days’ rest.”
She used an example to make her point. “It’s just like when you all go out to cut wheat during the busy farming season—your legs ache something fierce by the end of every day, don’t they?”
Thinking back to the busy harvest season, everyone nodded in understanding.
Seeing Ye Qing limping along, Chen Xiuzhi tried to use the opportunity to persuade her to join the family working in the fields. “Just how far did you walk yesterday? With such a delicate frame, do you really think you can keep going up the mountains alone from now on?”
Before she could finish her thought, Ye Qing cut her off.
“Mom, my legs only hurt for now. Once I get used to it, it’ll be fine. If I can’t even handle a bit of mountain trail, I’d end up in the same shape working in the fields anyway.”
Chen Xiuzhi opened her mouth to argue, but said nothing more. After that, no one else in the Xiao family tried to convince Ye Qing to work in the fields.
They could all see what she was like: stubborn to the core, and once she set her mind to something, nothing would stop her. Besides, she was surprisingly strong. Thinking it over, it seemed her choice to forgo field work and instead forage in the mountains actually made sense.
After breakfast, the sound of the work call roused the rest of the family to head out. Ye Qing didn’t go back to lie down on the kang bed; instead, she dragged her aching legs and limped toward their private plot. She wanted to dig up some insects to feed the family’s hens and help them lay better.
From her past life, Ye Qing knew exactly how muscle soreness worked: the longer you sat still, the longer the pain lasted. Moving around a little actually helped it fade faster.
By noon, the Xiao family came home early from work. There was a special occasion today—they were going to slaughter a chicken and make a proper stew.
Out in public, they’d managed to keep their expressions calm and composed. But as soon as they stepped through the gate, their faces lit up with excitement and anticipation, and every task they took on was done with extra energy.
Ye Qing had just returned from the plot, dumped a handful of plump insects into the henhouse, and was carrying her empty clay jar back when she saw Xiao Lei sharpening a knife and Shi Fengxia scraping the dirt off potatoes with chopsticks.
Chen Xiuzhi came out of the kitchen holding a small cloth sack. She scanned the yard and, seeing Ye Qing empty-handed, her eyes brightened.
“What’s up?” Ye Qing asked, confused.
Chen Xiuzhi waved her over. “We got back too late yesterday evening, and there’s no ground cornmeal left in the house. Ye Qing, go with Xiao Yang to the millstone at the brigade headquarters and grind some more. Make sure you get enough to last us for several days.”
“Me and Xiao Yang?” Ye Qing pointed to herself, then glanced over at him. She understood instantly—this was their way of giving the two of them time alone to build their relationship.
When Ye Qing looked over, Xiao Yang turned his head toward her almost instinctively. Their eyes met, and she watched as his ears slowly turned a deep shade of red.
She stared at him for a few seconds, and soon his ears were so red they looked as if they might start smoking.
Ye Qing smiled at him. “Coming along? Don’t worry—I won’t bite the hand that saved my life.”
“I’m not afraid of you biting me!” Xiao Yang retorted, putting on a tough front.
But his words belied his actions. He immediately turned to grab his older brother. “Big Brother, you come with us to grind the corn too.”
“I’m busy sharpening this knife,” Xiao Lei said, annoyed at being pestered. He turned and swatted his brother lightly on the shoulder. “I honestly don’t get it. Ye Qing isn’t some man-eating monster, and she’s settled in just fine here. Why are you so scared of her?”
As he spoke, Xiao Lei glanced over at Ye Qing, wondering if perhaps she had been secretly bullying his brother behind everyone’s back.
Luckily, Shi Fengxia stepped in to smooth things over.
“All right, Xiao Lei—what are you hitting him for?” she said with a grin, stepping between them. “I know what’s going on. Xiao Yang’s just too shy to be alone with her. If he won’t go, I’ll go instead.”
Shi Fengxia linked her arm through Ye Qing’s like an old friend, took the sack from her mother-in-law, and started pulling her toward the gate. Before they left, she called out teasingly, “See? He’s just embarrassed to spend time alone with his wife. But you two are already married—you can’t stay this skittish forever. Xiao Yang, you need to step up your game!”
“I’m not staying here to listen to this!” Xiao Yang grabbed the sharpened knife from Xiao Lei and stormed off.
Meanwhile, Ye Qing let Shi Fengxia lead her out of the yard. Once they had walked a good distance down the road, Shi Fengxia spoke up again.
“I’ve been married into this family for three years now. Xiao Yang was only seventeen back then, so I’ve practically watched him grow up. Let me tell you something honestly—he’s a good man. You won’t regret sharing your life with him.”
“Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?”
Shi Fengxia glanced sideways at her. “Because I want to see you two truly settle down as husband and wife. You’ve been here almost half a month already—are you just going to keep things this awkward forever?”
When Ye Qing didn’t answer, Shi Fengxia’s tone grew more earnest. “I know I might sound biased, but hear me out. Xiao Yang is reliable, hardworking, and kind-hearted. Why else would he have jumped into the river without a second thought just to save you? And look at him—he’s quite handsome too. There isn’t a single man in the Xiao family who’s plain-looking.”
Ye Qing nodded in full agreement. Xiao Yang was exactly the kind of man people admired most in this era—bold brows, bright eyes, and a sturdy, striking face. She spoke frankly to Shi Fengxia. “Since I’ve chosen to stay here and make this my home, I intend to build a real life with Xiao Yang. But for some reason, ever since he woke up after the accident, he’s been terrified of me.”
“If he’s scared of you, then you should just ask him straight out. And if that doesn’t work, stop waiting and take matters into your own hands—make him your real husband anyway! You’re already married, so what’s there to be afraid of?” Shi Fengxia said with a dismissive shrug, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Ye Qing nearly choked on the breeze. She blinked in shock before regaining her composure. “He’s already so afraid of me—wouldn’t forcing him be repaying kindness with cruelty?”
“Honestly, you two think too much about rules and proprieties. You’re both too reserved—it’s no wonder you’re made for each other,” Shi Fengxia sighed, looking at Ye Qing with exasperated affection. “Do you know what it was like when I first married into this family? It was a blind marriage. I met Xiao Lei only once before the wedding. And once I moved in, he was just as shy—he’d turn red and run away whenever he saw me. You know what I did?”
“What did you do?” Ye Qing asked, curious now.
Shi Fengxia lifted her chin proudly. “I marched right up to him, dragged him into the haystack, and kissed him until his head was spinning. After that, there was no more awkwardness—we became real husband and wife. And look at us now—three years later, and our life is going just fine!”
She added sincerely, “Just think it over. The men in the Xiao family are all good people.”
“All right, I’ll keep that in mind,” Ye Qing said. She still wasn’t used to having such frank conversations with Shi Fengxia, so she quickened her pace. “Don’t worry about us. I know what I’m doing.”
“Hey, look at you—getting all shy too!” Shi Fengxia teased, clearly amused. Seeing Ye Qing walk ahead, she hurried to catch up.
After that, she didn’t bring up Xiao Yang again. The two sisters-in-law continued west, heading straight for the village brigade headquarters.
Along the way, they ran into many villagers—this was the time when everyone was finishing their morning work and hurrying home. Men carried hoes over their shoulders, women carried bamboo baskets, and more than one person stopped to greet them.
“Fengxia, your belly must be seven months along by now—when’s the baby due? I still have some old cloth nappies from when my grandson was little. I’ll sort them out, wash them well, and bring them over soon.”
“That would be wonderful—thank you so much, Auntie Tang!” Shi Fengxia replied, smiling as she rested a hand on her stomach. “I’m only six and a half months along, so I expect to give birth sometime in September. The little one certainly knows how to pick a time—right when the autumn harvest is busiest, and no one will be free to look after me!”
“Nonsense—children come when they’re meant to, and every time is the right time,” said a sturdy, broad-shouldered woman in her fifties who was leaning on a hoe. Her gaze shifted from Shi Fengxia’s belly to Ye Qing, and she asked hesitantly, “And this must be your younger brother’s wife… what was her name again?”
“Ye Qing,” Shi Fengxia said. “Leaf, as in the leaf of a tree, and green, as in fresh grass.”
“Her name is Ye Qing—Xiao Yang’s wife,” Ye Qing added at the same time.
Auntie Tang nodded. She would have liked to stay and chat longer, but after working in the fields all morning, her stomach was growling loudly. She waved goodbye and hurried off, promising to stop by with the nappies in a few days.
No sooner had she left than they met an elderly man with a weather-beaten face. Shi Fengxia greeted him warmly and introduced Ye Qing to him as well.
After walking just that short distance and meeting five or six people, Ye Qing realized just how large and far-reaching the Xiao family was. People with the Xiao surname lived in villages all around the mountains, and they were known for being extremely close-knit and supportive of one another.
“Being part of such a big family has its advantages,” Shi Fengxia said with a satisfied smile. “No one dares bully you. Otherwise, why do you think no one ever dared cause trouble after our father-in-law passed away? Part of it is because Xiao Lei and Xiao Yang are both grown men now, and Xiao Yang even has a steady job in town. But mostly, it’s because we have so many relatives. Anyone looking to start a fight would first have to wonder if all the other Xiao families would stand for it.”
Ye Qing nodded in agreement. Shi Fengxia then added, rubbing her lower back, “Though that’s only half the story. The brigade leader is also fair and firm—he keeps everyone in line and makes sure no one acts out of turn.”
As they chatted and walked, Ye Qing noticed beads of sweat forming on Shi Fengxia’s forehead. She was about to suggest they stop and rest for a moment, but Shi Fengxia had already paused and was greeting another woman coming toward them.
“Auntie Qiu Ju, why aren’t you home making lunch at this hour? What are you carrying in that basket?”
The woman, Tian Qiu Ju, replied, “Everyone’s still working in the fields today, so we’re skipping the midday break. I’m bringing them their meals. Fengxia, is this your sister-in-law? Where are you two off to?”
Shi Fengxia held up the cloth sack Ye Qing was carrying. “We ran out of cornmeal, so we’re going to grind some more.”
Tian Qiu Ju nodded, but her eyes darted back and forth between the two women, curiosity clearly written all over her face. “A few mornings ago, I walked past your house and heard voices raised inside. You’re all family—what was there to argue about?”
She took a few steps closer and lowered her voice, leaning in to whisper to Shi Fengxia. “Is your mother-in-law unhappy with this new daughter-in-law? Or did Xiao Yang and her get into a fight?”
The question crossed a clear line of privacy. Even in a small village, people didn’t usually pry into other families’ business so openly.
Shi Fengxia’s smile faded slightly, but she answered politely yet vaguely. “Nothing serious—just a little disagreement. Even pots and pans bump against each other sometimes, right? It’s really nothing.”
“Come on, you can tell me—I won’t breathe a word to anyone else,” Tian Qiu Ju pressed.
“I promise you, it’s not worth mentioning,” Shi Fengxia said firmly, though still politely. “You’d better hurry with that lunch—your family must be starving. And we need to get this corn ground so we can get dinner on the stove too.”
She gave a vague nod, pulled Ye Qing along, and kept walking.
Ye Qing glanced back and saw Tian Qiu Ju standing in the middle of the road, staring after them with a look of pure gossipy interest.
“Who is that woman? Why is she so nosy? Is she also a relative of ours?” Ye Qing asked, turning back to Shi Fengxia.