She mustered her energy to finish the porridge first, then the medicine. Relying on the lingering bitterness to force herself into greater alertness, she pushed the door open and heard Auntie Xu the Second complaining: “He speaks so nobly, but since he’s cooking, why only prepare for those few? Does the rest of the family deserve to starve?”
“Sister-in-law, Xu Ao only cooked for your family. How can you secretly swallow it down without worrying about overeating?”
Xu Wenxiu was mild-tempered, but even the most timid person wants to protect their young.
Remembering what Xu Ao had told her yesterday, she unusually stood her ground: “Ao’er has to go out before dawn to earn money. How could he possibly have time to cook for so many people?”
“So many able-bodied people here—why must they rely solely on him?”
A day or two might be tolerable, but continuing like this would surely kill Xu Ao.
If others didn’t care, she, as his mother, certainly did!
Auntie Xu the Second planted her hands on her hips to retort, but just then, a questioning voice came from outside the gate: “Does Sang Zhixia live here?”
“Is this Sang Zhixia’s home?”
Sang Zhixia???
The called Sang Zhixia stepped out, looking at the unfamiliar face outside in surprise: “You’re looking for me?”
The visitor, dressed in dusty gray clothes, didn’t appear to be from a respectable background.
But upon seeing Sang Zhixia, he immediately broke into a smile.
“Yes, yes, exactly! I’m here for you!”
“Your relative in the capital asked me to bring you something. Come and receive it!”
The capital?
Hearing these words, people from both the courtyard and inside the house popped their heads out.
Seeing this, Sang Zhixia inwardly muttered “trouble” and hurried over, asking, “What is it? Who sent you?”
The gray-clad man untied the bundle from his shoulder and handed it to her: “It was Consort Xie from Sang Manor who sent me. These are the things she prepared for you. There’s a list inside—open it and check.”
Sang Zhixia held the heavy bundle, utterly stunned for a moment before realizing who he meant by Consort Xie.
That was the original host’s birth mother, deeply out of favor in the general’s manor.
When she was forced into a substitute marriage, Consort Xie seemed to have been imprisoned for pleading on her behalf, and they had lost contact since.
How did this person know she was here?
With mixed emotions, Sang Zhixia opened the bundle. Neatly pressed on top was a list written in delicate handwriting.
Two sets of thick cotton-padded jackets, two changes of clothes, and two pairs of finely stitched shoes.
Auntie Xu the Second watched eagerly for a long time. Seeing that the bundle, once opened and rummaged through, contained only these few items of clothing, she immediately sneered: “What is this? They traveled all this way just to deliver a few worthless pieces of clothing?”
And none of it was made from good fabric—hardly any better than what villagers wore.
The others, who had been harboring vague expectations, curled their lips in disdain, turned away, and went back inside.
Only Sang Zhixia, staring at the inexplicably heavy garments in her hands, asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “Did she send any message?”
The man smiled bitterly: “You know Consort Xie’s situation at home. There’s truly little she can say, so she only asked me to tell you to take good care of yourself and not let yourself go cold or hungry.”
After speaking, he subtly glanced behind him. Confirming that no one was looking toward the gate, he swiftly pulled a small box from his bosom and tucked it beneath the clothing.
“Consort Xie also said that the Xu Family has many people with complicated thoughts. There isn’t much she can help you with, but you must keep your wits about you and not be too naive.”
“In the future, while you’re living here, there’s no need to send letters back to the capital. She will keep you in her thoughts.”
After the man finished his message and hurried away, Sang Zhixia turned around holding the items in her arms, meeting Xu Wenxiu’s slightly reddened eyes.
“Your mother is also a parent. This is a mother’s heart worrying for her child. Even if it’s just a few pieces of clothing, they should be cherished carefully. Take them back to your room and put them away properly.”
Sang Zhixia wasn’t sure if she had seen the small box.
But since she said so, she wouldn’t pretend anymore.
Seeing Sang Zhixia take the items into the western shed, Xu Wenxiu also led Xu Mingxu into the house.
Once the door closed, Xu Mingxu couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked, “Mother, what’s in sister-in-law’s small box?”
Why did that uncle give it so mysteriously?
Xu Wenxiu shook her head, signaling him to lower his voice, and after a moment said, “That’s your sister-in-law’s mother thinking of her. It’s their secret, and you mustn’t tell anyone, understand?”
Xu Mingxu nodded with partial understanding.
Xu Wenxiu patted his and Xu Jinxi’s little heads, secretly clenching her jaw.
Xu Ao was right.
The Xu Family had already fallen apart, but the suffering shouldn’t all be borne by the eldest branch.
So what if it’s selfishness?
As Sang Zhixia’s mother-in-law, she might not be able to do anything particularly bold, but she could still protect her own daughter-in-law!
Under Xu Wenxiu’s cover, the mysterious small box became a secret.
But when Sang Zhixia opened the box and saw the neatly arranged contents inside, she felt a lump form in her throat.
Three Plain Silver Hairpins, one Gilt Carved Bangle, and beneath them a small pouch that contained assorted pieces of broken silver of various sizes.
For a family of the Sang family’s status, these items might seem rather shabby.
But from the original host’s memories, Sang Zhixia clearly understood Consort Xie’s situation in the household – these were already everything she could possibly offer.
For a concubine with a monthly allowance of only three taels of silver, this pouch containing less than thirty taels of broken silver – who knows how long she had secretly saved it – was now all given to her.
Consort Xie didn’t know that the person in this shell had already changed, and was still doing her best to care for her.
Sang Zhixia couldn’t bear to let down this concern from thousands of miles away. She carefully and meticulously stored the received items properly, and because of this, she lay gloomily in her room for half a day.
When Xu Ao returned, it wasn’t yet dark.
Xu Wenxiu was playing in the yard with the two younger children when she saw Xu Ao and quickly said, “Someone from the Sang family came today.”
Xu Ao, who had been who-knows-where, was covered in dust and dirt, looking exceptionally disheveled.
But upon hearing this, his steps faltered slightly, and his tone inexplicably deepened: “The Sang family? Who came?”
“Who else could it be? Servants delivering shabby clothes!”
Auntie Xu the Second came out rolling her eyes and said: “Going through so much trouble to have someone deliver some things, just to send a few worthless pieces of clothing. Can those clothes provide food or drink? They didn’t even say…”
“If Auntie’s maternal family is so wealthy, why haven’t we seen the Wang family send two chests of gold, silver, and treasures?”
Sang Zhixia, unable to bear it any longer, came out and scoffed, mocking: “What’s wrong with clothes? Those clothes were personally made by my mother.”
Did your mother make any for you?
She had been ill for two days and had been listless, too tired to argue with people.
But don’t think she had become mute and couldn’t speak!
Auntie Xu the Second’s face turned pale as she prepared to retort.
Sang Zhixia curled her lips and seized the opportunity to jab: “True enough. The Wang family is wealthy and powerful, terrified of being implicated and losing their riches. They’d probably prefer Auntie Xu the Second discard her Wang surname and sever all ties, so who would remember the bitter cold of the northwest and the need for warm clothing?”
“Auntie Xu the Second, don’t you agree?”
“You…”
“What about me?”
Sang Zhixia’s heart was heavy with frustration, her words sharp and unkind: “Instead of wasting time gossiping, Auntie Xu the Second, why not wash your hands and prepare dinner? That way, Grandfather and Grandmother can rest peacefully in their rooms without you claiming they’re starving.”
“All you do is eat without lifting a finger, still acting like the precious young lady of the Wang family?”
“Why don’t you write a letter to the Wang family and see if anyone still acknowledges you?”
Her words were like swift knives, each one piercing the heart, leaving Auntie Xu the Second overwhelmed with sorrow. Her eyes reddened, and she turned and rushed back to the western room.
Auntie Xu the Third, who had witnessed the entire scene, seemed displeased, but when Sang Zhixia’s angry gaze swept over her, she left without a word.
Sang Zhixia’s anger hadn’t subsided, a cold expression still lingering on her face.
Xu Mingxu looked around, his eyes sparkling as he waved at her: “Eldest Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”
Eldest Sister-in-law made Auntie Xu the Second cry!
Xu Jinxi, held in Xu Wenxiu’s arms, was too young to understand the argument, but that didn’t stop the little girl from joining in the excitement.
She mimicked her older brother, though her words were unclear: “Amashing!”
Sang Zhixia wasn’t familiar with these two youngsters, and the sudden praise caught her off guard, amusing her.
“You two think that’s amazing?”
What was so impressive about that?
Her truly remarkable days were yet to come!
Grinding her teeth in lingering frustration, Sang Zhixia finally spotted Xu Ao returning from earning money.
But when she saw his appearance, her expression went blank.
She remembered that although Xu Ao’s clothes hadn’t been great yesterday, he was still fair-skinned and quite handsome.
How had he turned into a little black coal boy after just half a day out?
Had he been digging in a coal mine or something???