Shen Xihe glanced at Gu Xiao, then quickly looked away. The words hovered at his throat, but no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to say them.
His classmate looked between the two. “Hm?”
Gu Xiao understood. Shen Xihe disliked her as his child bride. The examination novel had described the child bride as timid, illiterate, with only a pretty face, yet crude in manner and selfish. The heroine, by contrast, was refined and kind‑hearted.
But Gu Xiao had been bought by Madam Zhou for five taels of silver. Even if Shen Xihe disliked her, there was nothing he could do.
Shen Xihe didn’t want to acknowledge her as his child bride. Gu Xiao didn’t want to acknowledge him as her child husband either.
“I’m his younger sister.” Gu Xiao said it crisply, then smiled. “Third Brother, it’s getting late. I’ll head back first.”
Shen Xihe felt a wave of relief, though also a touch of unease. It was better that she called herself his sister. He gave a slight nod, but Gu Xiao had already turned to leave. His classmate hooked an arm around his shoulder, laughing. “This sister of yours doesn’t look much like you—she seems so innocent and lively.”
Shen Xihe’s expression cooled. He turned back toward the academy. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
The road home was the same. Having eaten the bun, Gu Xiao only felt hungrier. She thought of Shen Xihe, who could eat two buns and an egg. She had never thought eggs were so delicious before, but now she craved them desperately.
There was food at home, but with so many mouths, none would be saved for her. She would have to wait until evening. Judging by lunch, dinner wouldn’t be much better.
Gu Xiao wanted to earn money—only then could she eat her fill.
It was mid‑March, with grass growing and orioles singing. Flowers and insects lined the road. Squatting by the roadside, Gu Xiao saw a jade‑green cricket hopping on the blades of grass. She plucked several green stalks and, walking along, began weaving a cricket cage. Her hands were skillful; the grass stems seemed alive in her fingers. She first wove a round base, then built it layer by layer. The finished cage was oval, with a small hole at the top and a grass cord for carrying. By the time she reached home, she had made two. Hunger made her vision swim. She only hoped to deliver Shen Xihe’s meal tomorrow and see if the cricket cages could be sold. She hid the cages in the west room. In the afternoon, she helped Madam Zhou with laundry and chores. By evening, she was given a bowl of thin porridge. She noticed the others had porridge too, but theirs was thicker. No one complained about the meager food, and Gu Xiao dared not speak up. The matter of stealing money had only just passed; she had to tread carefully.
The porridge held barely a few grains of rice—no one could be full.
Madam Zhou said, “We must save grain. Spring planting will keep us busy soon. Eldest branch, wash the bowls…” She glanced at Gu Xiao again. Gu Xiao’s looks were truly striking—almond eyes, cherry lips, a small face no bigger than a palm. Just looking at her was pleasing.
Thinking of how Gu Xiao had put two coins into the pouch that morning, Madam Zhou felt comforted. “All right, rest early. Don’t waste lamp oil.”
Madam Chen lowered her head, tidying the bowls. Gu Xiao was exhausted and had no desire to show it. She washed up simply, lay down on the bed, placed the cricket cages by her pillow, and even in her dreams she was selling them.
The next morning’s meal was still thin porridge. Madam Zhou managed the kitchen with a careful balance in her mind. Shen Xihe was studying, so his food could not be skimped. Old Master Shen was the head of the household. The eldest son worked as a carpenter, the second son managed the fields—both needed strength, so their meals could not be reduced either. Thus, the men ate more, the women less. Gu Xiao was given only a small bowl.
After two meals of porridge, Gu Xiao finally realized how precious yesterday’s bun had been. No wonder the original girl had wanted to run away. Once she saved enough silver, she too would run—far, far away.
Before long, preparations for lunch began. For ten years, the Shen family’s midday meal had never changed. It was never enough to fill the stomach, and there was no thought of variety.
Shen Xihe’s meal was the same as yesterday: two buns, a dish of stewed vegetables, and one freshly steamed egg.
Gu Xiao’s bun was also placed in the basket. She took along her cricket cages and set out toward the county town under the sun. Though the weather wasn’t hot yet, staying outside too long left her scorched. Walking quickly, she even caught two crickets along the way, placing them into the cages. She waited for Shen Xihe to come for his meal, all the while thinking about who might buy the cages. The academy had both poor students and wealthy ones. At seven or eight years old, children loved such toys.
Gu Xiao hoped Shen Xihe would come quickly, eat quickly, so she could get on with her business. She stood at the academy gate, waiting until Shen Xihe finally appeared. She handed him the basket. “Third Brother, eat while it’s hot.”
Her mind was on selling the cages, so she had walked briskly. The food inside was still warm. Shen Xihe didn’t know what to say. He took the meal silently, lowering his head.
Gu Xiao watched him eat: two fist‑sized buns and one egg. Shen Xihe finished quickly. At fifteen, a boy could eat much, yet he remained thin.
Resting her chin in her hand, Gu Xiao said, “When I earn money, I’ll buy you something tasty.”
Shen Xihe was the male lead. A little flattery toward him would do no harm. In the future, when he reached the highest ranks of office, he certainly wouldn’t lack her small earnings.
After finishing, Shen Xihe placed the dish back in the basket. “Tell Mother she needn’t work too hard. I can earn money by copying books.” As for what Gu Xiao had said, he didn’t take it to heart.
Gu Xiao agreed and tidied the basket. “I know. Third Brother, you go back first.”
Shen Xihe nodded.
Gu Xiao had no intention of going back just yet. Only after watching Shen Xihe enter the academy did she take out the cricket cages hidden in her arms. The emerald‑green cages shimmered faintly in the sunlight, with jade‑like crickets inside—beautiful to behold.
Gu Xiao herself was pretty, and carrying the cages made her all the more eye‑catching.
Many students were at the academy, some from wealthy families with spare money. Aside from studying, they often fought crickets. Who wouldn’t want a handsome cage?
As Gu Xiao walked around, someone tapped her shoulder.
“Little girl, are those cricket cages for sale?”
She turned. The speaker wore a blue silk robe and held a folding fan. Gu Xiao calmly sized him up, then nodded.
“Three coins for one cage. If young master wants both, I can reduce the price by one coin.” She wasn’t sure if he would buy, so her gaze was a little nervous.
The young master tapped his palm with the fan. Three coins wasn’t much, but grass‑stem cages turned yellow after a few days, and then they wouldn’t look good.
Gu Xiao said, “It’s mid‑March now; the grass stems are bright green. Later, cages will have different looks. Today’s cage won’t be the same as tomorrow’s.”
The young master thought it over—it made sense. He pulled out copper coins and bought both cages, whistling to tease the crickets inside.
Gu Xiao let out a deep breath of relief. She clutched the five coins tightly. She could weave cages every day, slowly save money, and eventually have enough. She took out three coins and, instead of returning to the Shen household, went into town. The most urgent matter was filling her stomach.
The street was bustling, full of shouting vendors. Gu Xiao wandered among the stalls. Pork was thirteen coins a pound, ribs fifteen, lamb twenty‑five. Rice cost seven coins, wheat flour six. Her purse was thin. She cast a longing glance at the meat stalls, then finally stopped at a flatbread stand.
Plain flatbreads were one coin each; meat‑filled flatbreads were two.
Gu Xiao was only thirteen, right at the age of growing. The flatbreads were palm‑sized, their crust baked golden, the meat juices soaking the skin until it darkened.
Thinking of how Shen Xihe had an egg every day, Gu Xiao steeled herself and bought two meat flatbreads. She ate as she walked. Fresh from the oven, the flatbread was still hot, its crust crisp, the filling rich with meat. Soon one was gone into her stomach. She carefully tucked the other into her clothes. That one she could save for the evening when hunger struck, and tomorrow she would secretly throw away the oiled paper. She had only one coin left, yet felt strangely happy. If she could earn money, then life held hope—things wouldn’t always be this way.
On the way back, she plucked many grass stems. In the afternoon she worked alongside Madam Chen, then drank her usual bowl of thin porridge. At night, back in her room, she wove cages. She wasn’t allowed to light a lamp alone, so she made only one. The next morning she rose early, secretly ate the meat flatbread, and at dawn wove two more cricket cages. She looked forward to going to the county, her face betraying a trace of joy.
Madam Zhou noticed and said, “It’s only delivering a meal. Is it worth being so happy?”
Madam Chen and Madam Li took turns cooking. Yesterday had been Madam Li’s turn; today it was Madam Chen’s. Normally her son delivered meals to his younger uncle, but since running errands wasn’t light work, Madam Chen was glad to let Gu Xiao go instead.
Madam Chen teased, “Since little brother-in-law doesn’t come home, Xiao Xiao must be eager to see him.”
Gu Xiao felt wronged. She wasn’t eager to see Shen Xihe—she was eager to see meat flatbreads. The explanation rose to her lips, but she swallowed it down. That she could never say. Lowering her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s, she murmured, “If I deliver the meal early… then husband can eat early, and study early.”
Such devotion, all for Shen Xihe.
Madam Zhou nodded, more satisfied with her chosen daughter‑in‑law. “It’s good you have this heart. Be careful on the road.”
Gu Xiao grabbed the basket and hurried out. On the way, she even wove another cage. Arriving early, she sold one, earning three coins, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Shen Xihe came out from the gate. From afar, he saw Gu Xiao’s smile blooming like a flower. The Shen family’s looks were upright, but more plain than refined. For a man, appearance wasn’t important.
But Gu Xiao’s brows and eyes were like a painting, her beauty like a peony blossom.
Shen Xihe didn’t like peonies. He preferred plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.
At last Gu Xiao saw him, her voice bright with joy: “Third Brother! You’re here!”
Shen Xihe’s voice was cold: “Mm.”
Gu Xiao urged, “The food’s still hot—eat quickly!” Once Shen Xihe finished, she could go sell her cages and buy flatbreads.
Silent while eating, Shen Xihe quickly finished his meal. Seeing Gu Xiao’s eyes sparkling, he couldn’t help but wonder—was she really this happy just for delivering his food? He turned his gaze aside, his voice carrying a trace of distance. “Tomorrow is rest day. Do we need to buy anything to take home?”
Every five days Shen Xihe returned home, bringing rice and flour for the household.
Gu Xiao blinked. Shen Xihe was going back to the Shen family tomorrow? Didn’t that mean…