Xia Li was speechless; truly, outrageous people were everywhere and impossible to avoid. She snorted coldly and said, “It’s not that I mind a child eating a meal at home, but Second Aunt has spoiled him rotten. He keeps implying that everything in our house belongs to him, dreaming daily of inheriting our family property—utterly absurd. How could I possibly like such a child? Next time he comes, I still won’t let him eat here.”
Mrs. Xia looked at Xia Li, shook her head with a smile. She couldn’t openly criticize Little Mrs. Yang and her son, but she never interfered when her daughter spoke her mind.
Erhuzi said, “Sister Li, don’t be afraid. When I grow up, I’ll be your support. No one will dare bully Auntie or you then.”
Xia Li picked up a piece of tofu for him and said, “Good, you have a conscience. At least I didn’t dote on you for nothing.” She thought to herself: If Uncle had another son, it might be good to have Xia Erhu adopted over—at least he’d treat Mrs. Xia well in the future.
There was no meat for dinner tonight. They had Bear Paw Tofu, stir-fried cabbage, coarse rice porridge, and cornbread. Xia Erhu felt that even the tofu at his aunt’s house was more delicious than meat at his own home, so he ate until he was full.
After the meal, Xia Dani arrived, holding an embroidery hoop. She greeted Mrs. Xia and Xia Li first, then scolded Erhuzi playfully, “You little glutton, coming to Auntie’s again for a free meal.”
Xia Dani was a few months older than Xia Li. She resembled Xia Zhu more, with a sturdy build. Though not particularly pretty, she was the type of girl many families in the countryside favored—several households had already sent matchmakers to propose. Her robust frame not only suggested she’d bear children easily but also meant she could work hard, making her far more sought-after than the delicate and less capable Xia Li.
She had come to learn embroidery from Mrs. Xia.
The original host hadn’t been close to Xia Dani, feeling they had little in common. But Xia Li wanted to improve their relationship; after all, they were cousins, and both Xia girls were decent—hardworking, simple, and without ill intentions.
While Mrs. Xia was in the kitchen washing dishes, Xia Li looked at the plum blossom pattern on Xia Dani’s hoop and offered some suggestions. The original host’s embroidery skills were more than sufficient to guide Xia Dani.
Delighted that Xia Li had taken the initiative to talk to her, Xia Dani eagerly agreed, “Yes, Li Li has always been cleverer than me,” her attitude very humble.
Xia Li chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Xia Dani and her brother stayed for another half an hour before heading home.
The next afternoon, Mrs. Xia planned to go to the village entrance to buy meat. Although her home was close to her parents’, she didn’t visit often. On the rare occasions she took her daughter back for a meal, she always brought a piece of meat or twenty eggs, never eating for free at her parents’ house.
Xia Li also wanted to take a walk, so she stood up and held onto Mrs. Xia’s arm. Mother and daughter walked out hand in hand.
The village was filled with the sounds of chickens clucking and dogs barking, mixed with children’s laughter and the loud voices of several women. When the women saw Mrs. Xia, they greeted her with smiles. Because Mrs. Xia was skilled with her hands, many young girls and married women came to seek her advice, so they were quite warm toward her.
Mrs. Xia didn’t enjoy gossiping with the women; she simply smiled at them and walked on with her daughter.
Whenever she encountered a dog, Xia Li would call out softly, “Hey, Xiao Shuai…”
But the dogs either barked at her a few times or silently walked away, leaving her very disappointed. If Xiao Shuai had really crossed over into this vast world, how could she ever find him? The thought that he might be suffering abuse somewhere made her heart clench.The original owner had been bitten by a dog as a child and was terrified of them, which was why the household of just mother and daughter never kept a guard dog.
Mrs. Xia was quite surprised to see her daughter suddenly acting this way about dogs.
Xia Li said, “Mother, let’s keep a dog from now on. With a dog by my side, no one would dare bully me.”
Mrs. Xia was the type to indulge her daughter without overthinking. She smiled gently and said, “Alright, if my girl likes it, we’ll keep one.”
The meat stall was located southwest of the village entrance, while their home was in the southeast corner of the village. Not far from their door was a vegetable plot at the village edge. Following the plot westward led them to the stall.
The stall had only a thatched roof overhead, supported by a wooden frame with several iron hooks. Only one hook currently held meat, roughly two jin in weight. Below the frame stood a long chopping board with a few bones arranged on it.
Xia Zhu sat behind the board. He was dark and sturdy, standing over 1.7 meters tall, appearing robust and fierce.
Since Xia Zhu had to slaughter pigs or collect live hogs in the mornings, he only started selling meat at his stall after 9 AM. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it took until after 3 PM to sell half a pig.
Xia Li wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest. From a distance, she called out cheerfully, “Uncle!”
Xia Zhu’s bell-like eyes crinkled into a smile at the sight of his sister and niece. He boomed in his loud voice, “Lan Niang, Li Li.”
Mrs. Xia smiled at Xia Zhu and said, “How much for this meat? I’ll take it all.”
Xia Zhu knew his sister intended to buy meat for the family and refused to sell it to her. Grinning, he said, “Father asked me to save some meat. No need to trouble yourself, Lan Niang—just bring Li Li over for dinner.” To Xia Li, he added, “Your aunt stewed pig trotters with soybeans today. Eat plenty to build up your strength. You’re a pretty girl, but too thin.”
Mrs. Xia had no choice. After chatting with Xia Zhu for a while, mother and daughter returned home empty-handed.
Seeing there were still over forty eggs in the jar, Mrs. Xia counted twenty into a basket. She knew her mother’s meals didn’t come free. She then went to the bedroom, took five pieces of cloth, and wrapped them up—intending to make a set of clothes each for her parents and brothers. After a moment’s thought, she also took half a jin of brown sugar, wrapping it in oiled paper.
Cloth was expensive; these five pieces alone cost over five hundred wen.
Her daughter had been saved by Xia Shan. Afterward, Old Man Xia and Old Mrs. Xia had given twenty wen, while Xia Zhu and Xia Tie had provided meat and eggs to help Li Li recover. They’d even gone to Shangshui Village to beat up the scoundrel and retrieved eight hundred wen for medicine expenses. These items were to repay their kindness. Gifts for Wang Daniu and Wang Erniu had been delivered yesterday.
Seeing this, Xia Li put away the brown sugar and took the remaining dozen or so pieces of Osmanthus Crispy Heart Candy from the cabinet, placing them in a pouch. This candy, produced by Sweetness Pavilion in the county town, was expensive and had been the original owner’s favorite treat.
Mrs. Xia said, “There’s only a little candy left. Won’t you keep it for yourself, Li Li?”
Xia Li shook her head with a smile. “I shouldn’t eat more sugar. If my teeth rot, I won’t look good anymore.”
As dusk approached, Mrs. Xia carried the basket of eggs while Xia Li brought the cloth, and they headed to the Xia family together.
Along the way, many villagers greeted the mother and daughter: “Has Li Girl recovered from her illness?” or “Going back to your family home for dinner again?”
Mrs. Xia was introverted and raising her daughter alone. She responded sparingly—either smiling silently or saying, “Much better, thank you for your concern.”
Most villagers were simple and warm-hearted, and Xia Li still wanted to build good relationships with her neighbors—after all, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Except for two men who had been eyeing Mrs. Xia with ulterior motives, she greeted everyone warmly, sweetly addressing them based on the original host’s memories, even waving at passing dogs.
The original host had been aloof and rarely interacted with the villagers. Her sudden warmth today left both Mrs. Xia and the villagers quite surprised.
The villagers laughed and remarked, “Li Girl has become much brighter after her illness.”