The next morning, Bai Qianqian set off for her parents’ home, taking Zhao Anyao with her. She had wanted to bring A-Xiu along, but the girl refused to budge, so she had to leave her behind to watch the house.
Bai Qianqian knew her parents had always spoiled her. If the original owner of this body hadn’t been too old and overweight for anyone else to marry, they never would have let her become Zhao Chengwu’s stepmother.
She carried a full basket of gifts: five pounds of candied winter melon, ten pieces of brown sugar jujube cake, and ten pounds of cured meat and sausage.
They couldn’t walk the whole way on foot—it would have taken them until dark. Although Zhaojia Village and Xiling Village were in the same county, Xiling was far more remote. A journey there usually took over half a day.
Their only option was to head to the town first, then pay a few copper coins for a bull cart to the Bai family’s village.
As luck would have it, they ran into a cart arriving from Xiling Village just as they reached town.
“You’re Old Bai’s youngest daughter, aren’t you?” an old man called out. “You should call me Grandpa Wang! I’m your grandparents’ peer. I even attended your wedding feast!”
He paused, glancing at the boy beside her. “Is this your son?”
Old Master Wang looked at Zhao Anyao, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
He knew Bai Qianqian had only been married for less than two years—the boy was too big to be hers. Then he remembered she’d married in as a stepmother.
His expression turned awkward.
“Yes, this is my son,” she said, stepping in to smooth things over. “I’m taking him home to see my parents. Grandpa Wang, when does your cart head back to the village?”
“We leave at noon,” the old man replied, visibly relieved that she hadn’t taken offense. “You can look around the town while you wait.”
“Alright, then. Please watch my things,” Bai Qianqian asked.
She lifted her heavy basket onto the cart and took Zhao Anyao’s hand, heading toward the fabric shops. She wanted to buy a few bolts of cloth for her parents to make new clothes.
Since it was only the second day of the Lunar New Year, the town was quiet. Most families were busy visiting relatives, and many shops remained shuttered.
After searching for a while, she finally found an open cloth merchant.
After buying the fabric, she treated Zhao Anyao to a bowl of dumplings, and they took their time heading back toward the cart.
As they neared, they heard a voice sneer, “Isn’t that the Bai family’s fat daughter? I don’t recall seeing her visit home the year before last—what makes her show up this year?”
“Forgot already? The Bai family finally found her a widower to marry, but he was conscripted by the army before long. Guess she couldn’t live with her in-laws anymore. Now she’s back to live with her family!”
“Anyone willing to marry her was a miracle. So fat—I don’t know how the Bais raised her!”
Bai Qianqian saw several women already on the cart, huddled together in low whispers and throwing spiteful glances her way. It was obvious they were talking about her.
“Please let me up,” she said, holding Zhao Anyao’s hand and clutching the two bolts of fabric. The women occupied most of the space, making it difficult for her to climb aboard.
“Squeeze all you want! The cart is only so big. If someone as fat as you squishes in, where will we sit?”
“No room! Go find another cart!”
The women on the cart refused to make space. When Bai Qianqian tried to climb up anyway, they started shouting.
“I paid twice as much for my spot as you did,” Bai Qianqian retorted, her eyes hardening as she saw the malice in their expressions.
Of all the luck, she thought, to run into people like this on a simple cart ride.
“What right do you have to block me?”
“That’s enough, all of you!” Old Master Wang’s voice boomed.
He’d only been gone a moment, yet they were already causing trouble. “Anyone who doesn’t want to ride can walk back. She paid her coins—while you all haven’t paid a single copper!”
“Old Master Wang,” one woman complained, “We’ve been riding your cart for ages. How can you take an outsider’s side?”
“Outsider?” the old man snapped back. “Technically, she’s my kin! What does that have to do with you? If you don’t like my cart, get off it!”
Old Master Wang had a temper to match his stubbornness. He wasn’t worried about losing a few passengers. In all of Xiling Village, few families kept oxen, and of those who did, they treasured their animals too much to use them for hire.
He held a monopoly on transport, and he knew it.
The women fell silent and finally shifted over, allowing Bai Qianqian to climb aboard.
For the rest of the journey, they deliberately ignored her, refusing to speak. It was exactly what she wanted.
That basket is actually hers! I saw meat inside!
And those bolts of fabric aren’t cheap. Could her husband be wealthy? That doesn’t make sense—why would a rich man marry her?
The whispers continued, drifting past Bai Qianqian’s ears. She couldn’t help but admire their stamina. The ride was so bumpy she felt like her backside was being shaken to pieces, yet they managed to gossip with completely unbothered expressions.
The country roads were a mess of stones and potholes. This was Bai Qianqian’s first time on an ox cart for such a long journey, and by the time they arrived, she was too exhausted to even speak.
As they pulled into Xiling Village, the sky had already darkened. The other women got off one by one.
“Lady Bai, don’t get off yet,” Old Master Wang called out as she started to climb down. “I’ll give you a lift the rest of the way. It’s not far.”
Bai Qianqian thanked him profusely. Xiling Village was sparsely populated, and the Bai family, who made their living hunting, lived even further out. A ride was far better than walking on her own two feet.
“Here we are,” Old Master Wang said, stopping the cart in front of a bamboo grove. “Come visit me when you have time. Hurry on home—your parents have been missing you!” With that, he drove off.
The Bai residence lay just beyond the grove. With dusk settling in, Bai Qianqian didn’t dare linger. She pulled Zhao Anyao along and hurried into the trees.
Their home was secluded, with Old Master Wang’s place being the nearest neighbor. Inside, the Bai family was gathered for their evening meal, unaware of her return.
“Er Mao,” Bai Yi, the eldest son, called out to his youngest. “Why is the dog barking so loudly? Go see who’s here.”
The five-year-old boy quickly set down his bowl at his father’s command and ran out to investigate.
“Why are you always using my grandson for errands?” Mother Bai scolded her son. “Can’t you let him eat his meal in peace?”
“Mother, he’s five now,” Bai Yi retorted. “He’s not that fragile.”
Outside, Bai Qianqian and Zhao Anyao were blocked by the dog, unable to enter the courtyard.
“Who are you?” Er Mao asked. Bai Qianqian looked familiar, but he’d only been three when she married into her own family, so he couldn’t place her.
“Er Mao? I’m your aunt. Move the dog, will you?” Bai Qianqian recognized the spirited boy as her eldest brother’s youngest son.
“My aunt?” Er Mao took off back into the house. “Grandma! Someone’s here! She says she’s my aunt!”
Mother Bai had been about to serve Er Mao another portion of rice when his words froze her in place.
“Quickly, look outside! Your daughter has returned!” She sprang up and dragged Er Mao with her.
“Mother! I’m back!” Bai Qianqian had expected her voice to fail her, but the sight of the woman emerging from the house made the words spill out.
“It really is my Qianqian! You’ve finally come home!” Mother Bai pulled her daughter close, her eyes roaming over her face. “You foolish girl, how could you stay away for so long?”
Seeing how much thinner she had become since her marriage, Mother Bai burst into tears of heartbreak.