Sang Zhixia’s first reaction upon hearing these words was surprise at how Xu Ao addressed her.
Prior to this, her familiarity with Xu Ao had been limited to using “you” and “I.” Today at the west shed, enthusiastic people had called her Xiaxia, but Xu Ao had blurted out Zhizhi.
Almost no one had ever called her that.
Immediately after, she saw the astonishment on Xu Wenxiu’s face, as if she’d seen a ghost in broad daylight.
“You’re saying she did nothing wrong?”
As a female family member being so careless about her reputation, how could Sang Zhixia possibly be blameless?
Xu Ao lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent, and in the most matter-of-fact tone, he tore away Xu Wenxiu’s final layer of self-deception.
“Mother, this isn’t the Jingdu Marquis Estate, and you’re no longer the lofty Hou Madam.”
As a female member of the marquis estate, there were naturally numerous rules and restrictions.
But this was Luobei Village.
Villagers didn’t have so many reservations about men and women interacting—anyone who could walk could be considered part of the workforce.
To survive here, one had to let go of certain things.
Xu Wenxiu looked as if she’d been slapped across the face from a distance, her complexion alternating between flushed red and purplish-green, with tears welling up as if about to overflow. Seeing this, Sang Zhixia quickly bowed her head and stood up.
“Well then…”
“You two talk, I’ll step out first.”
Her picked-up husband and her tear-prone mother-in-law were clashing. To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, it was best for her to make a temporary escape for now.
Wrapped in her quilt, Sang Zhixia stepped over two sleeping children and slipped away without looking back. But just as she reached the door, she heard Xu Ao say, “The west shed is tidied up. Go lie down and recover.”She responded with an ‘Mm’ without turning her head, and the next moment, Xu Wenxiu’s broken cries erupted.”
“Ao’er, how could you speak to your mother like that?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
Xu Ao looked at his sobbing mother and said hoarsely, “Mother, it’s time you woke up.”
Things weren’t like they used to be.
Xu Ao’s words hit the nail on the head, striking where it hurt most, and with a wail, he sent Xu Wenxiu into complete emotional collapse.
But no matter how loudly she cried, no one paid her any mind. At one point, Auntie Xu the Second even rushed out to curse a few words, complaining that her crying was truly grating.
Hearing Xu Wenxiu’s sobs subside, Sang Zhixia pressed her lips together, at a loss for words.
To be frank, with such a soft temperament that invited bullying from everyone, she was genuinely curious how this person had become Hou Madam before the confiscation of property.
Did she win solely by the volume of her tears?
After provoking his mother, Xu Ao entered the west shed carrying a pot of water. Seeing the confusion on her face, he instinctively thought she was still hung up on Xu Wenxiu’s words.
He furrowed his brows slightly and said softly, “Mother spent the first half of her life treated like a fragile vase placed on a high shelf. She’s seen plenty of gold, silver, and jade, but not everything she says is right.”
“You don’t need to take her words to heart.”
Given the family’s current situation, there were countless matters to attend to both inside and outside the house.
Just taking today’s events as an example, he himself wasn’t as meticulous and thorough as Sang Zhixia.
Xu Ao was well aware that Sang Zhixia was helping him.
The kindness she’d offered hadn’t been met with a cold shoulder, and Sang Zhixia felt a rare, indescribable flicker of pleasure.
Not bad.
At least one of them knew what was good for them.
Slumping listlessly into the quilt, she mumbled, “We couldn’t manage to host a meal today, but this favor can’t be discarded. We’ll need to find a suitable opportunity to return it another day.”
Xu Ao grunted in agreement, and Sang Zhixia continued, “By the way, have you thought about how to make money?”
Yesterday she had roughly taken stock—if they didn’t care about quality and just focused on filling their stomachs, the family’s current food reserves could last about four months.
However, living couldn’t just mean clinging to the bowl in front of them. With limited resources, they couldn’t just sit back and exhaust everything all at once, then collectively lie down and wait to starve.
It was hard to say how eager the others were to starve.
But she couldn’t bear to go out in such a pathetic way.
Sang Zhixia’s mind raced through numerous survival strategies that might be profitable, but who knew Xu Ao’s next words would be: “I’ve found a way. You just rest at home.”
Sang Zhixia let out a surprised “Ah?”
“So soon?”
“What kind of work did you find?”
Xu Ao turned his head and said vaguely, “You’re still sick. Don’t worry about it.”
“Porridge again tonight?”
Seeing he didn’t want to elaborate, Sang Zhixia nodded meekly. “Porridge is fine too.”
When you’re sick, you should eat something light.
Sang Zhixia was listless from her illness and accepted the fact of having porridge again quite well.
But the others were different.
At the dinner table, Auntie Xu the Second first voiced her dissatisfaction with the meal, then immediately moved on to scorn others.
“Although the Xu Family has fallen from grace, we’re still different from country bumpkins. Some people should still pay attention to their status, lest they embarrass themselves in public.”
Xu Wenxiu was mocked into reflexively tearing up and lowering her head.
Sang Zhixia sneered unfazed. “Country bumpkins are indeed different from the Xu Family. After all, hereditary farmers still have three acres of land, while the Xu Family has nothing.”
What era is this? Can your esteemed dignity be eaten as a meal?
Auntie Xu the Second flushed bright red from her retort.
Before she could assert her authority as an elder, Xu Ao immediately followed up: “I’ve found some work through connections and need to leave early tomorrow morning. My mother has to watch the children, and Zhixia is sick and shouldn’t be overworked. Starting tomorrow, someone else will take over cooking.”
To be fair, with the daily task of just making porridge, cooking wasn’t heavy work.
But those accustomed to being served didn’t want to lift a finger.
Seeing everyone’s varied expressions and silence, Xu Ao said calmly, “I won’t be back until evening.”
The implication was clear: if you don’t want to go hungry, do it yourself.
After all, no one would starve from going without food for a few days.
The dinner table fell silent instantly. Sang Zhixia, pale from illness, clicked her tongue quietly.
Xu Ao was already taking initiative to survive—why were the others still not moving?
With so many able-bodied adults, were they all relying on Xu Ao alone to support the whole family?
How could they have the nerve!
She had no appetite and felt her throat ache from forcing down half a bowl of porridge. Returning to the barely repaired western shed, she seemed preoccupied.
Xu Ao came in around dusk, carrying the medicine she needed to drink.
He had been brewing her medicine right after dinner.
“Time for your medicine.”
The roof was fixed, and the drafty areas were sealed with oilcloth, so they wouldn’t have to worry about rain tonight.
Sang Zhixia held the medicine bowl with both hands, took a deep breath, and after drinking it, found a piece of candy in her mouth.
Sucking on the candy, she couldn’t help asking, “Where did you get the candy?”
“I bought it when I went out to get the medicine.”
He had given one each to Xu Mingxu and Xu Jinxi to help them sleep, and the rest were in a palm-sized paper packet.
Xu Ao placed the remaining sugar beside Sang Zhixia’s hand and said calmly, “Keep it for when you take your medicine. I’ll brew the medicine before I leave tomorrow. After you finish it, just rest. Don’t worry if no one prepares the meals.”
Sang Zhixia nodded. As she set down the medicine bowl, she saw Xu Ao pull out several wooden planks, lay them flat on the ground, spread a layer of straw, and lie down directly on it.
The only spot in the shed that resembled a bed was the narrow, pitifully small space where she sat cross-legged.
Xu Ao had prepared the bed.
His quilt was spread over the straw as a makeshift mattress, while the remaining quilt was wrapped around Sang Zhixia.
Feeling uncharacteristically awkward, Sang Zhixia whispered, “Are you really sleeping like this?”
Wasn’t this rumored playboy being a bit too much of a gentleman?
Xu Ao, with his eyes closed, replied, “You’re not well. Go to sleep early.”
Sang Zhixia blinked, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, and silently turned her back to Xu Ao.
Under the influence of the medicine, she soon drifted into a heavy slumber. Yet, in her dreams, it seemed as though a hand would occasionally press against her forehead—annoyingly persistent…
The night passed peacefully without further words. When Sang Zhixia woke again, a bowl of lukewarm porridge and a bowl of pitch-black medicine sat on the plank beside the bed.
Xu Ao had already left at some point, unnoticed.