In the northern regions, miniature houses constructed from simple materials like stones and earthen bricks could often be seen at field boundaries and shaded mountain slopes. These tiny structures represented the local deity in commoners’ eyes—the Land God.
When Yu Hongdou saw the small Tudi Miao near their new home, she thought of that Level 1 Fengshou Fu—a wonderful item that could ensure bountiful harvests. Such things were always desirable, no matter the circumstances.
“This will be our future home. Soon our Hongdou will have her own room. Don’t be scared and cry when the time comes~” Yu Sanlang roughly outlined the plot size to his daughter.
“I won’t, Father. Can we plant some flowers inside and outside the courtyard walls?” With many mosquitoes in the mountains, Yu Hongdou wanted to grow some mosquito-repelling plants to avoid suffering bites.
“Of course we can. We’ll also plant some fruit trees in the backyard for our Hongdou, so you’ll have fruit to eat every year.” Such a small wish from his daughter was nothing difficult for Yu Sanlang, and he agreed readily.
He was determined not to live permanently in the village, but the courtyard shouldn’t be left empty. Planting fruit trees would be ideal since they required little maintenance, and they could simply return to harvest the fruit.
The father and daughter spent a long while whispering and planning together until Yu Hongdou’s small stomach began rumbling, upon which they returned home satisfied.
…
“Tomorrow I’ll go to the city to find bricklayers. Huiru, you and our daughter should come with me. First, we can visit Xiao Song and have a nice meal together as a family of four. Second, we can see what we need to buy for our new home. Some furnishings need to be pre-ordered.”
Watching his daughter nibble on mung bean cakes like a little squirrel, Yu Sanlang remembered that his daughter had never left the village at her age. So he suggested that his wife and daughter accompany him to the city the next day.
Xu Shi nodded without hesitation. When she married, she had brought several pieces of furniture as dowry, but they weren’t made of good wood and had become somewhat worn over the years.
If they moved to a new home, continuing to use these furnishings wouldn’t be appropriate—they’d likely need to order new ones. Especially for their daughter’s room—a young lady’s boudoir required some refinement, needing better materials and styles…
Xu Shi explained all this to her husband one by one. Yu Sanlang nodded, finding it reasonable. The couple then calculated how much money they should set aside for possibly buying a house in the county town, and whether they should purchase land or mountains…
Yu Hongdou rubbed her bulging full stomach, staring blankly at the Night-Luminous Pearl she had casually placed in the sewing basket.
So her mother had cleaned the room until it shone brightly during the half-day she was out with her father, yet still hadn’t noticed this conspicuously large pearl?
Should she say her mother was carefree, or that she trusted and respected her child too much?
Yu Hongdou shifted her hopeful gaze toward her father. Dad, look quickly—there’s a pearl that obviously looks valuable, perfect for giving as a gift to the Magistrate!
Unfortunately, the couple completely missed their daughter’s expectant little glance.
After resting a while, Yu Sanlang pulled aside his second brother who had returned for noon break, and the two whispered together for a long time before leaving the house side by side.
Zhang Shi from the main branch saw them while feeding chickens and couldn’t help curling her lips and glaring, until Sun Shi from the second branch spotted her and spat in disapproval, making Zhang Shi slink back inside shamefaced.
The well-fed Yu Hongdou took a short nap. When she woke up, she found everyone in the household gathered in the courtyard—except for her father and second uncle.
Yu Hongdou had thought the second and third branches had already fallen out over debt collection, but now the three sisters-in-law were actually gathered harmoniously around their mother-in-law, Yu Laotaitai, chatting.
“Mother, I trust your judgment completely. Tomorrow I’ll send Aunt Wang to the Yao family to propose the marriage,” Sun Shi said with a beaming smile, the joy in her words impossible to conceal.
“Mother, I heard someone proposed a match for Fourth Uncle? Which family is it? Are they reliable?” Zhang Shi, unable to stand the smug expression of her second sister-in-law, quickly changed the subject.
Of course, she wasn’t asking about her brother-in-law’s marriage prospects without reason—mainly because someone had approached her expressing interest in Yu Silang and promised her considerable benefits.
“Whether they’re reliable or not is none of your concern. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Old Fourth, like Old Third, is highly capable and strong-willed. Eldest daughter-in-law, I advise you to avoid stirring up trouble.” Having been mother and daughter-in-law for so many years, Yu Laotaitai could tell what the eldest daughter-in-law was scheming just by her tone and promptly issued a warning.
The eldest branch had already offended the second and third branches; if they were to alienate Old Fourth as well, who would help them in the future?
“How am I stirring up trouble, Mother? I’m talking about a truly good family—it’s that one…” Zhang Shi glanced at the silent Xu Shi, then at Sun Shi craning her neck, before leaning closer to her mother-in-law and whispering a name.
Yu Laotaitai first frowned, then relaxed her brow, staring at her eldest daughter-in-law for a moment before asking uncertainly, “Really, that family?”
Xu Shi and Sun Shi watched their mother-in-law and eldest sister-in-law curiously, guessing which family could have piqued their mother-in-law’s interest.
Yu Hongdou, who had been standing by watching the entire scene, knew: she had arrived—the first female supporting character was making her entrance, bringing with her a generous dowry!
Around Taoyuan Village, there were three roads: one leading to the county seat, and the other two to different towns—one prosperous, the other affluent. The first female supporting character was the daughter of the Bai family, merchants from the wealthy Xingsheng Town.
This young lady was quite a remarkable character. She had twelve male cousins, each highly capable, and the family’s business expanded enormously, spanning both land and water routes.
In the early stages, the female supporting character’s family took note of Yu Silang’s promising future and felt the Yu Family was decently honest, so they intended to marry her to the male protagonist.
The female supporting character didn’t think much of the male protagonist initially, but she was highly ambitious. She knew that having an official in the family would benefit their business. Unexpectedly, the male protagonist didn’t take a liking to her and even developed a grudge against the Bai family because of the female protagonist.
Early on, the female protagonist, relying on her wit and intelligence, snatched quite a bit of business from the Bai family. Later, when the male protagonist stepped in to support the female protagonist, it led to significant business losses for the Bai family, forcing them to relocate to the coastal area.
Later, when the male protagonist traveled to the coast on business, he was nearly killed at sea by the third branch in collaboration with the Bai family. It was this female supporting character who stepped in and saved him. By then, not only had she remained unmarried, but she had also become the head of the Bai family.
After being rescued, the male protagonist reflected on whether he and the female protagonist had been too harsh in their dealings with the Bai family. The female protagonist grew jealous, and the couple had a major conflict.
Ah, being able to watch the drama unfold live was truly a bit thrilling.
Yu Hongdou couldn’t help but rub her hands in anticipation. She really wanted to see if this Miss Bai was as heroic and impressive as described in the original work—the actors in the film and TV adaptations didn’t quite fit the character design…
Tonight was Xu Shi’s turn to cook dinner. Yu Hongdou followed behind her mother trying to help, but was shooed away for getting underfoot. Eventually, she went out to beg her father, who was sharpening his sickle, to make her a small slingshot.
“You’ll have to ask your Second Uncle. He’s the best at handicrafts.” Yu Sanlang avoided the blade and pointed the sickle handle toward his second brother, who was sharpening a cleaver nearby.
Catching the hint, Hongdou turned her starry eyes toward her taciturn Second Uncle. Clasping her hands together and pitching her voice high, she pleaded, “Please, Second Uncle, could you make me a slingshot~”
Yu Erlang couldn’t resist this. The corners of his mouth, which hardly ever lifted, curled upward as he nodded repeatedly. He promised his little niece that after a night’s sleep, she’d find a slingshot waiting for her in the morning. Then he turned and went behind the house to search for a suitable tree branch.
“Little imp!” Yu Sanlang chuckled, tapping his daughter’s nose. He felt even more convinced about his second brother’s arrangements.
After dinner, the family gathered together—a rare occurrence—to discuss their hopes for the spring planting and the schedule for growing and gathering medicinal herbs. For once, no arguments broke out. Lao Yezi, pleased by this, ended up talking longer than usual.
By the time Yu Sanlang returned to his room to rest, Hongdou had already entered her early sleep mode.
“What… what is this?” Xu Shi habitually checked on her daughter before bed, but her gaze was drawn to a faint glow.
“Wh-what?!” Yu Sanlang had already undressed and was about to climb into bed when his wife’s stammering shock made him leap out from under the covers. Seeing where she pointed, he froze too.
“Night-Luminous Pearl?” The couple stared at each other in stunned silence for a moment before speaking their guess in unison.
“Is it really a Night-Luminous Pearl? And so big?” Yu Sanlang lifted the small cloth embroidered with the “Five Blessings” pattern that half-covered the sewing basket and picked up the pearl, which was twice the size of a longan. Could this really be the legendary Night-Luminous Pearl?
“Probably real…” Like her husband, Xu Shi had never seen a real Night-Luminous Pearl, but as a child, she’d often heard her father and brothers tell stories of rare treasures. Though not entirely certain, she was about seventy to eighty percent sure.
The couple fell silent again, looking at the radiant pearl in their hands, then at their daughter sleeping soundly with beads of sweat on her forehead. Suddenly, they shared a knowing smile.
“Do you think… our daughter might be the reincarnation of some virtuous soul?” Xu Shi recalled operas she’d heard—stories of carp spirits repaying kindness or virtuous people being reborn. Unwilling to associate her daughter with any supernatural beings, she leaned toward the latter idea.
Yu Sanlang didn’t care for talk of reincarnation. Hongdou was their precious daughter, plain and simple. Holding the Night-Luminous Pearl in one hand, he blew out the candle and pulled his wife into bed. “They say the darker it gets, the brighter this pearl shines. Let’s see just how bright it can be tonight!”