Xu Ao reached out and grabbed the strap of the basket, his face expressionless as he said, “What do you think I’m doing here?”
With that, he exerted force and effortlessly slung the mud-filled basket over his shoulder.
Sang Zhixia suddenly found her hands empty. Seeing how he had rushed over the moment he returned home, she couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“It’s actually not that heavy, I was just…”
“How much more do you plan to bring back?”
Xu Ao casually took the small, nearly useless basket from Xu Mingxu’s hands and asked in a low voice, “How much is still needed?”
Sang Zhixia was momentarily cut off and instinctively replied, “I estimate a couple more days should be enough. Grandfather and Mingxu are helping too.”
Xu Mingxu’s contribution was negligible, but Old Master was putting in considerable effort.
Bringing back a portion for now would suffice.
Xu Ao let out an indifferent hum and, taking Xu Mingxu’s hand, said, “Let’s go. Mother is waiting at home.”
Sang Zhixia moved her lips as if to say something but remained silent, quietly following Xu Ao back home.
When they arrived, Old Master had just emerged from the backyard.
He waited until Xu Ao had dumped all the mud in the designated spot before saying, “Tomorrow, I’ll have your Second Aunt and the others come out to help. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days to finish.”
Xu Ao wiped the sweat from his forehead and frowned. “You and Zhixia—one old, one sick—why bother straining yourselves? Just do the lighter tasks. Leave this kind of work for me when I return.”
Old Master had made several trips carrying mud and was feeling sore all over, but hearing Xu Ao’s words, he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Kid, are you looking down on me? I’m not so old that I can’t move yet!”
He gave Xu Ao a reproachful pat on his dusty shoulder, concealing the surge of emotion in his eyes, and added, “By the way, why did you return earlier today?”
What about the others?
Xu Ao set the basket down in the corner and said with a smile, “I finished my work early and went to adjust Zhixia’s prescription. Second Uncle and the others might take a while longer.”
Xu Minghui had taken the scholarly path—even carrying half a bucket of water was a struggle for him, and moving bricks was even more difficult.
Second Uncle had taken him along, but his help was minimal. It would likely be some time before they finished.
Old Master guessed as much, his lips tightening imperceptibly. After a long pause, he said, “They’ve all been ruined, rotten to the bone.”
The Xu Family had risen through military service. Xu Ao’s father and Xu Ao himself had started building their foundations at three and began martial training at five, never missing a day, winter or summer, for over a decade.
But by Second Uncle’s generation, Old Madam had firmly opposed continuing the military path, insisting that her descendants pursue scholarly studies.
In times of prosperity, being known as refined scholars sounded impressive, but now, the pride of a scholar couldn’t even shoulder two buckets of well water for daily use.
With the Xu Family’s descendants barred from official service, what use were their vast knowledge and literary talents?
What was even more infuriating was that none of them had achieved anything notable in their studies either!
Old Master’s displeasure was evident on his face, but Xu Ao remained silent after hearing him out.
Some words were meant to be heard, not commented on.
As long as Old Master was around, he had no say in the family’s affairs—he understood his place.
Wiping his hands, he headed outside and happened to see Third Aunt flusteredly preparing a meal.
Sang Zhixia occasionally offered guidance from the side, only speaking and not intervening.
Second Aunt, witnessing the chaos in the kitchen, couldn’t resist saying, “Your Third Aunt clearly doesn’t know how to do this. What’s the use of you just talking?”
“If you’ve got the time to flap your lips, why don’t you just do it yourself?”
Auntie Xu the Third looked thoroughly uncomfortable at her words. Sang Zhixia snorted softly and lowered her head to continue sorting vegetables.
“It’s only natural that Third Aunt isn’t used to it on her first try today. She’ll get the hang of it after a few more attempts. Why should I rush to add to her troubles right now?”
“Besides, nobody is born knowing how to do everything. Didn’t Second Aunt have to make several trips back and forth today before she could carry water steadily?”
One shouldn’t fight for work that isn’t theirs to do.
She really didn’t need this chance to show off.
Auntie Xu the Second’s face flushed dark red from the jab. She had just started working her lips when Xu Mingyang called out, “Mother! Father and brother are back!”
Compared to their wretched state in previous days, today’s misery had simply added one more person to the count.
Xu Minghui, who had previously managed to maintain some semblance of gentlemanly demeanor at home, now wore an expression of pure agony. Even after entering the gate, he was still being scolded by Second Uncle Xu: “What’s the use of bringing you along? Not only did you fail to help, but you broke so many bricks! Tomorrow we’ll have to move extra to make up for your mistakes today!”
Xu Minghui hung his head in dejected silence.
Third Uncle Xu couldn’t stand watching any longer. “Second Brother, why take it out on the child?”
“Minghui is only sixteen, he…”
“Sixteen? So what?”
The continuous days of hard labor had made Second Uncle Xu extremely irritable.
He snapped immediately: “There are plenty of twelve- and thirteen-year-old boys at the brick kiln, and every one of them does better than him!”
Originally, he had hoped the father could enjoy benefits from the son, but in the end, he was just being held back!
Auntie Xu the Second pulled Xu Minghui, who seemed like a completely different person, close, her heart aching for him. Hearing her husband’s scolding, tears welled up and shimmered in her eyes.
“Second Master, how can Minghui be compared to those country mud-brats? He just…”
“Then how is Xu Ao able to do it?”
Second Uncle Xu said irritably, “Xu Ao was even the Young Marquis before! Why didn’t he say he couldn’t handle it?!”
He shot a furious glare at Auntie Xu the Second and said angrily, “They say a doting mother ruins the son, and I think this is exactly the root of the problem—you’ve spoiled him rotten!”
“Useless, the lot of you! Can’t be of any help at all!”
After his outburst, he stormed into the room wrapped in anger. Auntie Xu the Second didn’t dare retort, merely pulling Xu Minghui along while sobbing intermittently, “My son, come, Mother will take you to change your clothes, you…”
Xu Minghui, suppressing his resentment, pushed her hand away and said with forced calm, “I’ll go by myself, Mother. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Seeing that neither her husband nor her son would listen to reason, Auntie Xu the Second finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She crouched on the ground, covering her face as she wept.
What kind of mess was this?!
A thick shadow had fallen over the entire Second Branch household. Having heard everything, Sang Zhixia let out a subtle click of her tongue.
Second Uncle Xu might appear to be scolding Xu Minghui, but wasn’t he actually pointing at the mulberry tree to curse the locust?
But what good did cursing do?
If you’ve got the nerve, why not just drop the act and say you won’t do it!
She pursed her lips and turned her head, meeting Xu Ao’s gaze. Mischief bubbled up from the depths of her heart, and she deliberately raised an eyebrow, mouthing the words: He’s cursing you. Did you hear?
Xu Ao lowered his eyelids, the corners of his mouth quirking upward as he calmly replied, “Mm, I heard.”
That’s right—he was indeed being cursed.
Sang Zhixia pretended to be unruffled as she averted her eyes.
Xu Wenxiu, who had only caught fragments of the conversation, turned in confusion. “Heard what? What are you talking about?”
Xu Ao raised a fist to cover his mouth, coughed lightly, and said, “Nothing.”
“Zhizhi, where did you dig up that Ci’er Cai before? I’ll go find some for Grandfather and Second Brother.”
The medicine Sang Zhixia bought for him was something she couldn’t bear to use herself, so these two would have to make do with purely natural remedies.
After digging up and arranging the herbs, it was soon time for the meal.
At the dinner table, Old Master said directly, “Minghui doesn’t need to go with your father to cause trouble tomorrow. Stay home and help.”
Second Uncle Xu, having just scolded his son but still reluctant to lose an extra pair of hands, immediately frowned and said, “What use is he staying home? It’s all just washing and cleaning work here.”
“Do I need to explain my reasons to you?”
Old Master said displeasedly, “It seems to me that you, as a father, are becoming more and more unreasonable. Are you even gesturing at me now?”
Second Uncle Xu, caught in his own hypocrisy and unable to defend himself, could only swallow his anger and frustration. Staring at the bowl of rice that was clearly too watery, he said with a dark expression, “Suffering outside is one thing, but the food is getting worse by the day. What is this? Is this even fit for human consumption?”
Auntie Xu the Third, cooking for the first time, inevitably made mistakes. Being scolded like this, her face immediately turned pale, her eyes and brows filled with unease.
Third Uncle Xu couldn’t stand his second brother’s habit of venting his anger everywhere. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Second Brother, don’t go too far!”
Scolding his own son was one thing, but why should anyone else tolerate his venting?
Second Uncle Xu hadn’t expected his usually meek younger brother to dare challenge him. Enraged, he said, “What do you mean by that? Am I not even allowed to speak now?”
“Is that all you’re doing? Just speaking?”
Third Uncle Xu, also filled with resentment, retorted with a dark expression, “Who isn’t suffering just to survive? Stop dumping your frustrations on others! No one here is relying on you to support them!”
“Third Brother, are you deliberately opposing me?”
“What I said is clearly the truth!”
Third Uncle Xu slammed his bowl heavily on the table, furious. “At this point, what gives you the right to act all high and mighty? Go outside and see if anyone still wants to flatter you!”
“If you hadn’t been sneaky and cunning all along, would Minghui have made a mistake today? Would I have been delayed so long before I could come home? You’re the one who’s behaved improperly and acted unjustly. What right do you have to order people around here? Did you think I could keep putting up with you forever?”
Second Uncle Xu, stung by the truth, stood up in anger. Old Madam finally couldn’t take it anymore and snapped, “Haven’t you two argued enough?!”
“Look at what you’ve become! Is the dinner table a place for you to quarrel?!”
She glanced cautiously at Old Master’s unreadable expression, clenched her teeth, and said, “Old Master is right—surviving means suffering! Even Old Master has gone out to work. How dare any of you still shirk your responsibilities?”
“All of you, shut up! Sit down and eat!”
Those who were discontented paused at her words, instinctively turning their eyes to the silent Old Master.
Old Master looked at his two sons, red-faced from arguing, with a cold, mocking smile. “Those who don’t want to work don’t have to. Those who feel entitled can lie around at home, waiting for me to earn money to support you.”
“If you think earning a living is too much suffering, or if you find survival shameful, none of you need to go out tomorrow either!”
With that, he set down his bowl, stood up, and left the table. The remaining family members exchanged uneasy glances.
Sang Zhixia quickly finished the remaining rice in her bowl and quietly went to start the fire to brew the medicine.
The Xu Family now was like a stagnant pool of suppressed tension, bound to erupt sooner or later.
It’s just as well that the second and third branches had a falling out, saving us from having to deal with their united front of resentment directed at the eldest branch.
A wisp of pale smoke curled from the small medicine pot. Xu Wenxiu brought out the medicine packet Xu Ao had given her earlier and said gently, “Xiaxia, these are the medicines Ao’er asked the physician to adjust for you. Take them back, store them properly, and remember to take them.”
Sang Zhixia looked at the neatly wrapped medicine packet in her hand, a flicker of surprise quickly passing through her eyes.
Had Xu Ao really gone to adjust the prescription for her?