The Old Master closed his eyes briefly and said calmly, “Never mind. According to what you said, we need to dig up this mud and carry it back first?”
Sang Zhixia nodded: “The Fire Seed cannot be brought into the mountains, otherwise it could start a forest fire that would be hard to control. So I plan to burn it in the empty space of the backyard. Firstly, it’s convenient for monitoring the heat without having to camp in the mountains and endure hardship. Secondly, we can extinguish the Fire Seed promptly to ensure the quality of the charcoal blocks, and it’s also easier to collect and store.”
However, this inevitably added the task of carrying mud back.
As if afraid the Old Master would find it too laborious, she decisively said: “But Grandfather, don’t worry. This mud we carry back can be reused. We just need to gather enough the first time.”
The Old Master gave an indifferent hum. Seeing Sang Zhixia already loading soil into the basket, he frowned and said, “Don’t load too much.”
Sang Zhixia mistakenly thought he meant it was for him to carry and paused before saying, “I can carry it.”
It’s not even as heavy as a bag of rice.
Since we’re already here, why make an extra trip?
Seeing her confident “I can do it” attitude, the Old Master said helplessly, “You’re still taking medicine. Don’t push yourself.”
No matter how capable she is, she’s still a young woman.
Everyone else is complaining about hardship and exhaustion, yet this little girl doesn’t utter a single word of complaint. When she does argue, it’s always for her incompetent mother-in-law.
The Old Master had initially been disheartened by his eldest son’s mistakes and held grievances against the entire eldest branch. But he found himself disarmed by Xu Ao and Sang Zhixia’s attitude of silently enduring hardships.
With the Xu Family fallen and its members scattered, these two youngsters were the most decent ones left.
What more could he possibly criticize?
He expressionlessly placed the basket he had brought next to Sang Zhixia’s feet: “Put some in here too.”
Every little bit helps.
Sang Zhixia cheerfully agreed and turned away, a silent smile spreading in her eyes.
Xu Ao was right after all.
This person is reliable!
Though inwardly overjoyed, she showed no sign of it on her face. After loading what she could, she returned with the Old Master.
When they went out for the second time, the Old Master had exchanged his basket for a carrying basket.
Seeing him follow Sang Zhixia out to carry mud, the Old Madam looked somewhat uncomfortable and quickly stood up, saying, “Old Master, you’re…”
The Old Master, imitating Sang Zhixia, picked up a hoe and said expressionlessly, “Winter is approaching, and none of the children have warm clothes to ward off the cold. Are you, as their grandmother, just going to stand by and watch?”
The Old Madam hadn’t expected him to confront her like this. After a pause, she said stiffly, “I’ve remembered this matter. I plan to go buy some in a few days.”
“Buy?”
The Old Master looked at the obviously reluctant Old Madam and sneered, “Since you’re managing the household finances, haven’t you considered balancing income and expenses?”
“With just over ten coins a day, what can we afford to buy?”
The Old Madam, who had been forcing a smile, immediately turned pale with anger at his words.
With so many people in the household, wasn’t it enough that she ate her fill and slept well?
Why should she go looking for extra work?
The Old Master could tell what she was thinking at a glance and said coldly, “Given our current situation, stop thinking of yourself as the matriarch of the Marquis’ household.”
“If your hands are free, mend the children’s torn clothes. Even if padded with cotton, they can still be worn. If you really have nothing to do, go help the third daughter-in-law turn the soil in the vegetable garden. Don’t just wait around.”
It had been so long since the confiscation of property, and it was time for everyone to wake up.
This household couldn’t afford to support idlers.
Old Master’s cold, merciless words left Old Madam’s face flushed with anger, her hands trembling with rage.
Sang Zhixia, perceptive and unwilling to stir up unnecessary trouble, slipped out the main door as soon as Old Master began speaking. Before Old Master emerged, she found a little appendage clinging to her leg.
Xu Mingxu hugged her leg and said, “Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you!”
Sang Zhixia chuckled and tapped his little head. “You’re still so young. Do you think you can help me?”
“Yes!” Xu Mingxu replied earnestly. “Mother says I’m very sensible. I can help!”
“If you want to go, then come along.”
Old Master walked out with a grim expression and said in a low voice, “Let him see for himself first.”
Delighted by the permission, Xu Mingxu grinned, revealing a row of tiny millet-like teeth. He dashed into the yard, picked up an empty small basket, and eagerly followed the adults out.
Though his strength was limited, his sense of involvement was immense.
Each time, Sang Zhixia would place a small handful of mud into his little basket. When they returned home, she would ceremoniously say, “Mingxu, quickly empty your basket and add it to the pile.”
Xu Mingxu would solemnly hold up his basket and tip it over. The amount was minuscule, but it earned him her praise: “Amazing, amazing!”
The little boy beamed with joy, and even Old Master, sweating profusely, couldn’t help but laugh.
“Your sister-in-law is right. Mingxu is amazing.”
After praising him, Sang Zhixia stood up and said, “Grandfather, Second Uncle and the others should be back soon. Please wait for them at home.”
Old Master was stubborn and had already made four trips carrying loads on his back. By the looks of it, he was ready to go again.
She didn’t dare exhaust her pillar of support in one go.
As Old Master frowned silently, she quickly added, “I think that empty plot of land at the back is quite suitable, but we’ll need your final approval. Please take a look and see if it’s appropriate. If not, we can always find another spot.”
Old Master hid his trembling hands behind his back, lowered his gaze, and said, “Very well.”
“After this trip, come back and rest.”
“Alright!”
Sang Zhixia headed out with a mud-filled basket on her back, holding the hand of a bouncing Xu Mingxu, who showed no signs of fatigue.
After they had gone some distance, Old Master immediately went to the empty plot.
Auntie Xu the Second, who had just finished filling the water vat with great effort, watched in disbelief and said, “Sister-in-law, what do you think is going on with Old Master?”
Not only had he gotten himself covered in mud while following Sang Zhixia around, but he had also scolded Old Madam.
In over a decade of marriage into the Xu Family, this was the first time she had seen Old Master lose his temper so severely with Old Madam.
Auntie Xu the Third also felt uneasy.
However, she had always looked down on her second sister-in-law and replied dismissively, “Old Master naturally wants to set an example, lest there be cunning idlers in the household trying to slack off. After all, with him leading the way, who would dare openly play tricks?”
Wasn’t everyone who went out to move bricks suffering?
Yet Second Uncle Xu could bring Xu Minghui along to help, while the rest had to manage on their own.
Why should the second branch get to take advantage?
Auntie Xu the Second’s face flushed red with anger, but before she could retort, footsteps sounded from outside the gate.
Xu Ao entered but didn’t see Sang Zhixia and instinctively asked, “Mother, where’s Zhizhi?”
Xu Wenxiu, who was washing vegetables with her head bowed, immediately replied, “She took Mingxu to carry mud. She’ll be back soon.”
“Carrying mud? Where did she go to carry mud?”
Xu Wenxiu suppressed her shock and glanced back at the room where the Old Madam was, whispering a location: “Your grandfather made several trips back and forth with her, and he’s at the back now. If you want to go—”
“I’ll go find Grandfather later.”
Xu Ao set down the medicine package in his hand and said: “Mother, this is Zhixia’s medicine, please keep it. I’m going out.”
Xu Wenxiu clutched the medicine package in confusion: “You just got back, where are you going now?”
Auntie Xu the Second said with sarcasm: “Where else could he be going? He’s rushing to pick up his wife, of course.”
Who would have thought that this philanderer Xu Ao actually doted on his wife? He just got back and is already eager to fetch her.
Resentful but afraid of being assigned work, she muttered under her breath and went out the gate to look around.
“Where are Second Uncle and Minghui? How come Xu Ao is back first again today?”
Xu Wenxiu looked at the neatly wrapped medicine package in her hand and let out an indescribable sigh.
Meanwhile, Sang Zhixia was squatting down to lift the mud-filled basket onto her back when Xu Mingxu, holding a small basket in both hands, suddenly exclaimed excitedly: “Big brother is here!”
“Big brother!”
Sang Zhixia looked up in surprise and saw Xu Ao, covered in dust, striding toward her. Astonished, she said: “What are you doing here?”