Hearing the words “report to the authorities,” the old household’s members paled. Though brash, they knew the power of the government. If they were truly taken in, they would face punishment—maybe even a stint in jail.
The grandfather gritted his teeth, trying to save face. “Fine! Fine, Su Wanxing! We’re leaving!” He helped the grandmother up, and together with the eldest uncle, second uncle, and second uncle’s wife, they hobbled back to their old house, moaning in pain but no longer daring to threaten her.
The villagers who had gathered, seeing the commotion had ended and recognizing the old household’s wrongdoing, slowly dispersed. Su Li Zheng approached Su Wanxing and reminded her, “Wanxing, if they ever come to cause trouble again, just call me—or report them. Don’t bother being polite.”
“Thank you, Grandpa Li.” Su Wanxing exhaled in relief and bowed to him.
“No trouble at all, it’s my duty,” Li Zheng waved dismissively. “It’s late; go back and take care of the children. Don’t let them be frightened by what happened.”
Su Wanxing nodded, watching him leave before closing the door and turning toward the side room. There, Su Wanfeng and Su Wanyue sat on the bed, eyes wide open, clearly woken by the earlier chaos.
“Sister…” Su Wanyue pouted and snuggled closer.
Su Wanxing quickly gathered her siblings into her arms, soothing them. “Don’t be afraid. Sister’s back, the bad people are gone, and they won’t bother us again.”
Su Wanfeng looked up at her with admiration. “Sister, you’re amazing! You chased grandma and the others away!” He paused, then earnestly added, “I want to learn kung fu too! So I can protect you and Wanyue! No one will ever bully us again!”
Su Wanxing smiled, rubbing his head. “Alright, once we settle down, I’ll teach you kung fu. But learning isn’t easy—are you sure you’re not afraid?”
“I’m not afraid!” Su Wanfeng shook his head vigorously. “As long as I can protect you and Wanyue, I don’t care how hard it is!”
Su Wanyue nodded too, her little voice chirping, “Not afraid… protect sister…”
Su Wanxing smiled, tucking them in. “Good, let’s sleep now. Tomorrow we’ll go see the new house, and then we’ll move in.”
The children nodded and quickly fell asleep. Su Wanxing stayed by the bed for a moment, watching their peaceful faces, silently vowing to ensure they never had to endure hardship again.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Su Wanxing woke and quickly freshened up. She brought out warm steamed buns and soy milk from her space, letting her siblings eat before setting off toward the new house at the western foot of the mountain. Li Zheng was already waiting at the gate.
The house, made of bricks and tiles, was much sturdier than the ancestral hall. The courtyard wasn’t large but well-kept, featuring a stone-covered well with a bucket beside it. Inside, the two main rooms were spacious and bright, and the two side rooms were decent in size. The packed-earth floor was simple but cleaner than the ancestral hall.
Seeing the new home, Su Wanfeng and Su Wanyue’s eyes lit up. Su Wanfeng grabbed Su Wanxing’s hand excitedly. “Sister, this house is beautiful! So much better than the ancestral hall!”
“Glad you like it,” Su Wanxing smiled. She turned to Li Zheng. “Grandpa Li, I’m happy with the house. Please help me finalize the paperwork soon.”
“No problem. I’ll head to town today,” Li Zheng nodded. “If you want help cleaning, I can find a few people.”
“No need, Grandpa Li,” Su Wanxing replied. “I’d like to ask Aunt Li and her family next door. They’re good people, and I trust them.”
Li Zheng agreed. “That’s fine; Aunt Li’s family are trustworthy. You handle cleaning, and I’ll take care of the paperwork.”
After Li Zheng left, Su Wanxing took her siblings to Aunt Li’s house. Aunt Li cheerfully agreed to help. “Wanxing, no problem! Cleaning a house is my specialty. I’ll bring my son and daughter-in-law too.”
Her son, Wang Dazhuang, and daughter-in-law, Zhang Hehua, were hardworking. At the new house, they got to work immediately: Wang Dazhuang pulled weeds and cleaned the yard, Zhang Hehua dusted and organized inside, and Aunt Li helped Su Wanxing arrange items brought from the ancestral hall, making the beds neatly.
Su Wanxing brought many supplies from her space: three brand-new quilts, tables and chairs, cooking utensils, and groceries. Aunt Li’s family was a little surprised but assumed they came from her earnings selling herbs.
With everyone working together, the house was spotless and organized by noon. Su Wanxing then cooked a feast in the kitchen: braised pork, stir-fried greens, chicken soup, steamed egg custard, and several white buns.
Aunt Li’s family, seeing the spread, felt embarrassed. “Wanxing, you’re too kind! Why so much delicious food?”
“You all worked hard today,” Su Wanxing smiled. “This is my duty. Sit down and try my cooking.”
They all gathered around the table, enjoying the meal. Wang Dazhuang complimented her, “Wanxing, your cooking is amazing! Even better than my wife’s!”
Zhang Hehua gave him a playful look, making everyone laugh. The atmosphere was warm and lively.
After the meal, Aunt Li’s family helped Su Wanxing organize the remaining items before leaving. She gave them some snacks to take home.
Once they departed, Su Wanxing looked at Su Wanfeng and Su Wanyue playing happily in the courtyard.
“Wanfeng, Wanyue, from today on, this is our home,” she said with a smile.
“We have a home!” Su Wanfeng jumped excitedly. Su Wanyue clapped her hands, chirping, “Home… happy…”
Su Wanxing’s heart warmed. She knew that from this day forward, she and her siblings finally had a home of their own—with space, supplies, and the security to live freely. In the Dajing Kingdom, with this foundation, she could live her life fully and peacefully.