Just as Wang Chunhua came out of the room where she had been helping Xia Yunluo and Xia Yunchen, she saw Xia Yan who had just woken up. She said unhappily, “You still know how to get up? If you sleep a little longer, you might as well come out only in time for dinner!”
“You’re not a eunuch. Even your way of talking sounds like you’re reporting for duty in the palace,” Xia Yan replied unhappily.
“You’re really becoming more and more improper,” Wang Chunhua said coldly.
“Fine, fine. I’m improper. They’re proper, alright? Anyway, you already have them calling you ‘mother’. Whether I call you or not doesn’t matter anymore!” Xia Yan said angrily.
“You really know exactly what hurts me the most when you speak,” Wang Chunhua said, her voice trembling.
“And you still have the nerve to cry? Didn’t you say things that hurt me too?” Xia Yan shot back angrily.
Xia Huai’an had just returned from the fields when he saw his mother in tears, while Xia Yan—the culprit—was still arrogantly accusing her. He immediately dropped his water buckets, rushed forward, and slapped Xia Yan hard. “How dare you speak to Mother like that! Apologize to her!”
Xia Yan froze from the slap. Then she screamed, “Why are you hitting me! Who do you think you are!” She pointed at Wang Chunhua and shouted, “And you’re just going to watch me get beaten by an outsider?!”
Xia Huai’an got even angrier and slapped her again. “I am your eldest brother! The eldest is like a father—I will teach you manners today!”
Xia Yan was slapped twice and completely snapped. She fought back violently with Xia Huai’an. Wang Chunhua hurried to stop them. Xia Zhiqiu and Xu Pandie, who had heard the noise, also rushed over. Together they finally separated the two.
But Xia Yan suddenly broke free, ran into the kitchen, and came out holding a kitchen knife.
“I’ve never been beaten like this in my life! Today I’m going to kill you!” she shouted.
Xia Huai’an, also furious, struggled against everyone holding him back. Wang Chunhua quickly rushed forward and hugged Xia Yan, standing between them. “Go! Leave now! She really will stab you!”
But Xia Huai’an still charged forward, grabbed her wrist, and snatched the knife away. Then he slapped her again. “Today I will properly teach you a lesson!”
Xia Yan struggled wildly, screaming, “Let me go! I’ll kill him!”
Wang Chunhua held her tightly. “Apologize to your brother!”
Xia Yan suddenly stopped struggling. Then she screamed, “He hit me and you’re making me apologize? He’s not my brother! I don’t have a brother! If you’re on their side, then I’ll leave! I can survive without you!”
She broke free and ran out of the house crying.
Wang Chunhua chased after her. Xia Zhiqiu followed as well. Xia Yan ran barefoot through the road, her feet bleeding, but she did not stop. She finally ran into a forest and entered her spatial dimension to hide.
Wang Chunhua arrived and searched desperately but could not find her. She collapsed on the ground crying, “My child! Come back! Mother was wrong!”
Xia Zhiqiu comforted her, saying Xia Yan might just be hiding nearby and would return when she calmed down. But Wang Chunhua kept repeating, “She won’t come back… she won’t come back…”
Xia Huai’an, Xia Huai’an, and the others soon arrived and joined the search, but found nothing. They eventually had to bring Wang Chunhua home.
Meanwhile, inside the space, Xia Yan cleaned her injured feet in the spiritual spring. She made herself simple straw sandals from grass, then left the space again with food in hand, walking eastward alone.
She thought to herself that the Qin state would eventually unify the world, so heading toward Qin territory was the best choice.
Back at home, Wang Chunhua held Xia Yan’s fallen shoes and cried silently. The entire family was in chaos and sorrow.
That night, Wang Chunhua entered the space repeatedly, hoping to find Xia Yan, but they always missed each other. However, she discovered new plants inside—pepper trees and ginseng. From these signs, she confirmed Xia Yan was still alive. She began placing supplies in the space for her daughter, waiting for Xia Yan’s return.
Meanwhile, far away in history, eight years passed. Qin King Zheng had grown into a powerful ruler in his twenties, preparing to unify the six states. Military reports of battles between Qin and Zhao continued to arrive one after another…
Xia Yan wandered through the mountains. Fortunately, she did not encounter wild beasts. Instead, she discovered pepper trees and ginseng, which she transplanted into her space. She survived by sleeping inside the space and traveling by day.
After two days, she finally walked out of the mountains.
Wang Chunhua continued entering the space, carefully observing any changes in supplies to confirm her daughter’s safety. She also left behind clothing, food, and useful tools, hoping Xia Yan would survive wherever she was.
And so, mother and daughter remained connected through the mysterious space—separated by distance, but still alive in each other’s hope.