When Xu Ao returned, the courtyard was filled with the rich aroma of rice. Sang Zhixia was scooping the freshly steamed Potato Rice from the pot.
The uniformly diced potato pieces had absorbed moisture and turned incredibly soft, while the distinct grains of rice mixed with finely chopped wild scallions released an enticing fragrance in the steaming heat. Even the Old Master, who usually paid little attention to food, couldn’t help but glance over.
“This method of cooking is quite novel,” he remarked.
Previously, they had always eaten vegetables and rice separately. This was the first time he had seen potatoes and rice steamed together.
Sang Zhixia smiled and said, “If Grandfather enjoys it today, I’ll make it more often in the future.”
The Old Master was visibly pleased by her overt flattery, while the Old Madam, standing nearby, pressed her lips together silently.
“Your Second Uncle and Third Uncle have been out toiling all day, and this is all you prepared for dinner?”
Second Uncle Xu and Third Uncle Xu had returned slightly later than Xu Ao, and all of them looked utterly disheveled. Their clothes, which had been relatively neat when they left, were now covered in mud and dirt. Their hair and faces were coated in a layer of dusty grime, resembling clay figures freshly dug out of a mud pit—a sight too pitiful to behold.
Xu Ao still looked somewhat presentable, but the other two staggered as they entered, clearly having endured great hardship outside.
Ignoring the criticism in the Old Madam’s words, Sang Zhixia replied calmly, “You’re right, Grandmother. Xu Ao and the others have been exerting themselves outdoors, so they must have meat to replenish their energy.”
“I was just about to discuss this with you. We’re running low on supplies at home. Could you take some silver tomorrow to buy more at the market? That way, we can ensure they don’t suffer from malnutrition.”
If you want better food, then produce the silver first. Did she think Sang Zhixia could conjure meat out of thin air just by flapping her lips?
The Old Madam, who tightly controlled the money pouch, was left speechless.
Noticing that Xu Ao was carrying dirty clothes to wash by the river, Sang Zhixia quickly said, “There’s hot water in the wooden bucket inside. You can wash up in the room.”
After October in the northwest, the wind carried a chill. Even the sturdiest bodies couldn’t withstand constant exposure to cold water.
Xu Ao’s first reaction was, “Didn’t I say I’d fetch the water when I returned? Did you go yourself?”
“No,” Sang Zhixia said with a cheerful smile. “Minghui fetched it.”
“Don’t worry, hot water for Second Uncle and Third Uncle to wash up has also been prepared. Just go clean up and come out for dinner.”
Xu Ao couldn’t quite figure out how she had managed to get Xu Minghui to fetch water. After a moment of stunned silence, he chuckled and said, “Alright.”
He cleaned up quickly and emerged with his hair still dripping wet just as Sang Zhixia was stir-frying vegetables.
She had chopped an assortment of greens into fine pieces, added some crushed garlic and salt, and after a quick toss in the wok, the mixture was ready—the only side dish for the meal.
Xu Ao voluntarily carried the dish to the table. Before he could sit down, Third Aunt Xu walked out, her eyes red and swollen.
“Father, Mother, Third Master won’t be joining us for dinner. Please go ahead without him.”
The Old Madam instinctively asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
Third Aunt Xu, who had been holding back her tears, finally broke down. Covering her mouth, she sobbed, “Third Master went to the Brick Kiln today to move bricks. His entire body is covered in bruises, and the flesh on his shoulders and hands has been rubbed raw. It’s a bloody, mangled mess everywhere.”
“He was so exhausted that he collapsed onto the bed as soon as he entered the room and fell asleep. I…”
“I simply couldn’t bear to wake him.”
“Do you think only Third Brother can’t endure it?”
Auntie Xu the Second rushed out defiantly, her voice shrill: “There isn’t a single patch of unbroken skin on Second Master’s body—every visible spot is either bruised or purple! That gaping wound on his hand kept bleeding no matter how long I cleaned it!”
“How could any living person withstand such torment?!”
Sang Zhixia set the bowl of rice she’d filled beside Xu Wenxiu, the dull thud of the bowl meeting the table echoing her muffled tone.
“Indeed, no living person could endure such suffering. So does that mean only Xu Ao is capable of bearing it?”
She looked at her anguished aunts with a faint, mocking smile, her words laced with subtle irony: “So in your eyes, Xu Ao isn’t human—he’s just a beast who deserves to suffer?”
Third Aunt Xu stammered in shock, “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean, Third Aunt?”
Thinking of Xu Ao’s tight-lipped silence, Sang Zhixia couldn’t suppress her sarcasm: “Second Uncle and Third Uncle only started today, and already they’re crying about how unbearable it is. Xu Ao has been at it for two days straight—why haven’t we heard him howling in pain?”
“Aunts, Xu Ao isn’t made of iron or molded from clay. Everyone feels pain doing the same work.”
When Xu Ao went out alone to move bricks, every pair of eyes watched him like hawks, afraid he might slack off or pocket a single coin.
Now that it’s their turn, they find it difficult?
Wishful thinking!
They must endure their full share of suffering before anything else!
Ignoring the tense atmosphere in the courtyard, Sang Zhixia calmly pressed the rice bowl into Xu Ao’s hands.
“You’ve worked hard all day. Eat.”
“You earned eighteen coppers together today. If Grandmother allocates a bit more tomorrow, we can add some meat to your dinner. For now, make do with this.”
Xu Ao wasn’t picky either way, bowing his head to silently shovel rice into his mouth.
The exposed skin on his wrists, palms, and the backs of his hands was covered in cuts and cracks. The water-soaked wounds had turned pale and peeled—who wasn’t suffering?
Third Aunt Xu had intended to put on a tearful performance, hoping to exploit the Old Madam’s pity for Third Uncle Xu to escape this dreadful labor.
But who could have predicted Sang Zhixia would be so formidable?
Seeing the Old Master and Old Madam merely sitting with darkened expressions without speaking, her face flushed with humiliation, rendered speechless. Auntie Xu the Second was also panting with rage.
Sang Zhixia’s rebuttal was merciless, yet she masterfully maintained proper boundaries.
Since Second Uncle and Third Uncle hadn’t come out to eat, she set aside two large bowls with their portions of rice and dishes, along with a small bowl of Ci’er Cai she’d picked from the vegetable garden.
“Third Aunt, grind this and apply it to broken skin—it stops bleeding and relieves pain. This is how I treated Xu Ao when he returned yesterday, and it worked quite well. Apply it to Third Uncle later so the pain doesn’t interfere with tomorrow’s work.”
“Second Aunt, Second Uncle’s portion is here. Don’t forget to take it inside.”
Having performed this show of graciousness, she shot a meaningful glance at Xu Wenxiu, who had set down her bowl with an uneasy expression.
“Mother-in-law, you’ve been working in the vegetable garden all day. Take Mingxu and Jinxi inside to rest early. Third Aunt will handle the washing up and tidying.”
Though Xu Wenxiu wasn’t particularly brave, she excelled at following instructions.
Watching the only easy target flee into the house, Auntie Xu the Second sneered coldly with fury.
“Well now, I’ve underestimated you!”
“Such a sharp tongue you have!”
Sang Zhixia smiled and said, “Second Aunt, what do you mean by that? Xu Ao and the two uncles are currently among the few in the family who can earn money. I only regret not serving them well enough, fearing that one day the income might stop, and the whole family, young and old, would be forced to go hungry.”
Her words made even the Old Madam, who had accumulated discontent to the extreme, swallow back her scolding.
Enduring hardship was a small matter, but the family’s livelihood was of great importance.
Faced with the threat of not having enough to eat, expressing pity seemed unnecessary.
Sang Zhixia wasn’t surprised by this. Picking up another small bowl, she said, “Come, let me apply medicine to your wounds. You still have to go out tomorrow to earn money for the family’s livelihood.”