Xu Ao followed her back to the West Shed without a word.
As soon as the door closed, a hint of amusement surfaced on Xu Ao’s slightly weary face.
“What did you do at home today?”
How had these people become so obedient in just one day?
Sang Zhixia took out a small wooden pestle and began grinding the herbs in a bowl, scoffing, “No one listens when I speak, but it’s different when Grandfather gives the order.”
Who would dare defy the rules set by the Old Master himself?
At the very least, these people absolutely wouldn’t dare right now.
Xu Ao hadn’t expected her to persuade the Old Master. After a pause, he asked, “You discussed this with Grandfather?”
“Of course. Otherwise, do you think they’d willingly give up their mouths that only know how to order people around?”
Seeing the confusion in Xu Ao’s eyes, Sang Zhixia got straight to the point: “I told Grandfather about the plan for burning charcoal, and he agreed.”
With such a tempting prospect laid out, she wasn’t afraid the Old Master wouldn’t cooperate.
Xu Ao was surprised. “Grandfather agreed?”
Sang Zhixia grinned. “Grandfather is a man of great wisdom. Of course he agreed.”
The winters in the northwest were bitterly cold and long, and every year, there were cases of people freezing to death, unable to withstand the bone-chilling cold.
In such a harsh and unforgiving environment, charcoal for heating became an indispensable necessity.
More importantly, burning charcoal was nearly cost-free, making it perfectly suited to their current situation.
After all, all they had to do was turn the firewood they gathered into charcoal to sell for money. However, gathering firewood was no easy task.
Sang Zhixia handed the prepared herbs to Xu Ao, propping her chin on one hand. “To burn charcoal for sale, we need a lot of firewood. Every single person who can move must pitch in.”
If they were responsible for their own gains and losses and only had to worry about feeding themselves, it wouldn’t matter—she could handle it alone.
But the biggest issue was that the entire Xu Family needed to survive.
If these people didn’t first taste the bitterness of hardship, how would they know that fruit isn’t bitter?
Xu Ao hadn’t expected her to pull such a clever trick. He froze for a moment, then a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Is that why you told me yesterday not to rush into burning charcoal just yet?”
“What else did you think?”
“If I’d brought up burning charcoal as an option from the start, nine times out of ten, they’d complain the woodcutting knives were too heavy or the loads were too much to carry. Those sly ones over there have more tricks up their sleeves than wrinkles on their faces. In the end, even Xu Mingxu might only manage to gather three twigs a day, and all of them combined might not even fill a single basket of firewood.”
So, she decided to let these high-and-mighty lords endure the hardships of life first. Once they’d been thoroughly worn down, gathering firewood wouldn’t seem so difficult anymore.
Xu Ao thought it over and chuckled ruefully. “You’re right. I was being narrow-minded.”
Her little scheme hadn’t escaped the Old Master, who was in the know.
But the Old Master hadn’t said a word, which showed he actually approved.
Seeing that he didn’t oppose her actions, Sang Zhixia teased, “The only downside is that you’ll have to suffer a few more days because of this.”
If Xu Ao didn’t go, the others wouldn’t go either.
This plan didn’t cost much—the only one being sacrificed was Xu Ao.
Xu Ao didn’t seem to mind. He smiled and said, “I can handle it. It’s fine.”
This job was something he’d begged for himself, and he had to endure it.
Sang Zhixia sighed in exasperation. Seeing him haphazardly smear the medicinal liquid over his torn clothes as if that would suffice, she finally lost her patience and said, “Give me the bowl.”
“What?”
“Elder Brother, this half-hearted approach is completely useless, you know?”
She snapped irritably, “Do you think these medicinal herbs are easy to come by? You’re wasting them all.”
She had specifically picked the best ones for Xu Ao!
Such extravagance was unacceptable!
Striding over, Sang Zhixia snatched the bowl from Xu Ao’s hands, ignoring his momentary stunned expression, and said gruffly, “Sit down and take off your clothes.”
How could anyone think of applying medicine over clothing?
Xu Ao moved a little too slowly and earned himself another impatient prod.
Faced with his exposed shoulders and back, Sang Zhixia’s expression remained impassive, her heart as still as water—not a single worldly desire stirred within her.
There were just too many gashes and torn flesh.
With wounds so gruesome, who could possibly entertain any improper thoughts?
Frowning, she meticulously applied the medicine to every accessible area, set the bowl down, and instructed, “Let it air dry first. Put your clothes back on once it’s dry.”
Xu Ao lowered his head slightly and mumbled an acknowledgment. When he turned and noticed his mended clothes, he let out an almost imperceptible chuckle.
By the time Sang Zhixia returned after taking the bowl outside, Xu Ao had already fallen asleep on his makeshift wooden floor bedding.
He made it sound effortless, but the truth was, he was utterly exhausted.
She clicked her tongue sympathetically, draped the quilt he had given her for padding over him, and shook her head with a sigh: Earning a living is truly tough for a young master…
The next morning, Sang Zhixia rose before dawn.
Having taken medicine for several consecutive days, she was now full of energy. As soon as the water on the stove boiled, she began calling out, “Xu Ao, hurry up and don’t delay your departure! Finding work that pays isn’t easy these days!”
Xu Ao stood behind her, splashing cold water on his face, the corners of his lips curling upward beneath the droplets.
This little girl certainly has her ways.
Under Sang Zhixia’s relentless urging, Second Uncle Xu and Third Uncle Xu, who had initially planned to feign illness indoors, had no choice but to emerge, faces dark and limping awkwardly.
Sang Zhixia was once again in charge of cooking that day.
She handed the freshly steamed buns to Xu Ao, her eyes curving into cheerful crescents, and said, “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, the buns are still hot from the steamer. Take them and eat on the way—don’t waste any time.”
Second Aunt Xu and Third Aunt Xu, who had come out to see them off, were fuming with rage, but those heading out were already in too deep to turn back.
Third Uncle Xu accepted the bun with a pained expression, each step accompanied by uncontrollable sighs of despair.
It was just too hard.
Really too hard.
Second Uncle Xu looked as if he wanted to bury his face in his feet, but in the end, he clenched the bun and walked out the gate without a word.
As soon as the ones heading out to suffer were gone, Third Aunt Xu could no longer hold back her tears, covering her face as she wept.
Xu Wenxiu, rarely witnessing someone else cry before she did, was momentarily stunned before offering a bun: “Third Sister-in-law, have something to eat first.”
Third Aunt Xu sobbed behind her hands, “Thinking of Third Master’s injuries, I really can’t bring myself to eat.”
Xu Wenxiu fretted, “But you must eat.”
“The dirty clothes Second Brother and the others took off yesterday are still waiting to be washed. If you have no strength, who will help you wash them?”
Third Aunt Xu had never expected her usually timid and meek sister-in-law to say something so piercing. Her face was a picture of sheer astonishment, as if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
Xu Wenxiu herself was aching all over from exhaustion, her mind numb as she added, “You have to eat. Only when you’re full can you get the work done.”
She didn’t want to work either, but what could she do about it?
Xu Wenxiu, exhausted to the point of uttering shocking remarks, grimaced as she bit into her steamed bun. Auntie Xu the Second, who had initially intended to scold a few words, glanced around and forcibly held back her tears.
Crying also required effort.
Better save that energy for work…
A potential conflict was forcibly dissipated by the exhaustion of labor. Sang Zhixia suppressed a laugh as she stuffed the bun crust into her mouth. After finishing, she wiped Xu Mingxu’s little mouth and said to the Old Madam with a complicated expression, “Grandmother, would you like to change your clothes?”
The Old Madam asked strangely, “Why should I change clothes?”
Sang Zhixia replied, “Didn’t we agree to go to the market to buy things today? The family hasn’t seen meat for a long time. This can’t go on. We also need to purchase some useful household items. If you don’t go, we won’t be able to buy anything.”
She could have asked the Old Madam for the silver and gone by herself.
But what if someone gossiped that she was embezzling?
Sang Zhixia didn’t want to invite unnecessary disputes, being so straightforward and fair that the Old Madam was momentarily speechless.
She said very considerately, “Let’s go together. You haven’t been out for a long time. Why not take this opportunity to go out and relax?”
Second Aunt, afraid that Sang Zhixia might take advantage, quickly added, “Mother, it would be good for you to go out and relax. Staying at home all day isn’t good for your health.”
The Old Madam hesitated for a long time before reluctantly agreeing, “Fine, I’ll go with you.”
Half a day later, the Old Madam, her feet feeling as if filled with lead, sat painfully on a rock and gritted her teeth, saying, “You call walking over ten miles ‘going out to relax’?”
Is this how people relax?!