Most houses in Xiaowa Village were made of mud walls with tiled roofs, though some had thatched roofs. Only three households had large blue-brick houses with tiled roofs like Xia Li’s family, and hers was the only one with a well.
The Old Xia Family lived in a brand-new quadrangle courtyard with mud walls and tiled roofing, built just three years ago.
When Old Man Xia was injured while hunting, the family managed to buy one mu of land by selling their daughter for six taels of silver. They survived by foraging for wild vegetables and borrowing money from relatives to avoid starvation.
As Xia Zhu and Xia Tie grew older, Old Mrs. Xia sent them to become apprentices. Though they earned little, having the half-grown boys eat elsewhere relieved the elderly couple.
Later, to arrange marriages for their two sons, they married off their second daughter, Xia Meiniang, to a neighboring county when she was just thirteen. After that, they had almost no contact with her.
It wasn’t until Mrs. Xia returned to Xiaowa Village with her daughter that the family’s circumstances gradually improved.
That year, Xia Lanniang suddenly returned to her hometown carrying a child. She explained that she had been sold by a child trafficker to a wealthy official’s household in the capital as a maid. Years later, after courageously rescuing her young master from a river, her master showed mercy by granting her some silver, returning her slavery contract, and arranging her marriage to a scholar in the capital’s suburbs. Unfortunately, her husband died from a sudden illness just days after she gave birth.
Because Mrs. Xia had given birth to a daughter, her in-laws disliked her. After her husband’s death, they grew resentful, calling the mother and daughter jinxes who brought misfortune to husbands and fathers. Moreover, the family that had arranged Mrs. Xia’s marriage had been convicted and exiled, so her in-laws not only failed to gain influence but also feared association. They divorced Mrs. Xia and expelled both her and her daughter.
With no relatives in the capital, Mrs. Xia had no choice but to return to her parents’ home with her daughter. Fortunately, the official’s family had given her some silver when she left.
Heartbroken, Mrs. Xia declared that since her husband’s family rejected her daughter, the child would take her surname, Xia.
A clan relative of the Xia family worked as a clerk in the county government. Mrs. Xia used her silver to register herself and her daughter as residents and helped Xia Zhu and Xia Tie open a butcher shop and a blacksmith shop.
Xia Zhu and Xia Tie proved capable, and within a few years, they purchased another mu of land and built this courtyard. The courtyard was larger than Xia Li’s, with five main rooms, four east and west wing rooms each, and four reverse-facing rooms. The elderly couple and Xia Shan, who had joined the military, lived in the main rooms. Xia Zhu’s family occupied the east wing, Xia Tie’s family the west wing, while the reverse-facing rooms served as the kitchen, woodshed, and storage.
Though the Xia family’s life had improved, they still needed to save for Xia Shan’s marriage and desired more land for their descendants, so they continued to live frugally.
In the courtyard, Xia Erhu and Xia Sanbao were playing with spinning tops. Upon seeing the visitors, Erhu quickly ran to tie up the loudly barking large yellow dog. He said to Xia Li, “Don’t be afraid, Sister Li. I’ve tied up Da Huang.”
Xia Li smiled and said, “I’m not afraid of dogs anymore. Bring Da Huang to my house often to play. When she has puppies, give me one.”
Da Huang was robust and fierce, of a good breed—not a pure local dog. Her ancestors had been hunting dogs that accompanied Old Man Xia into the mountains, known for their prowess.
Xia Li was skilled in interacting with dogs. She looked at Da Huang kindly, bent down, and gently stroked the fur on its back a few times. Da Huang lay down obediently and whined softly twice.
Xia Li stood up with a smile, took out an oil-paper package, and gave each of the boys two pieces of crispy heart candy. Xia Sanbao tried to take the remaining candy, but Xia Li refused.In the kitchen, Li was busy with Xia Dani, as it was their turn to cook today. Little Mrs. Yang had taken Xia Erni to the fields and hadn’t returned yet.
The Xia family now owned four mu of land. Old Mrs. Xia had stopped working in the fields in recent years. Usually, the two daughters-in-law took turns doing farm work with their two granddaughters, and the sons only helped during the busiest farming seasons.
Mrs. Xia first took Xia Li to the main room to greet Old Man Xia and Old Mrs. Xia. Old Man Xia was sitting in the central room smoking Leaf Tobacco, while Old Mrs. Xia was sewing clothes. Xia Zhu had already finished selling meat and was chatting with his parents.
Old Man Xia was tall and dark, having been a skilled hunter in his youth. His three sons all resembled him, but his daughters, Xia Lanniang and Xia Meiniang, took after Old Mrs. Xia—petite and delicate.
Old Man Xia gestured for Xia Li to come over with his right hand. His left hand had limited mobility, and his left leg was stiff, requiring a cane for long walks. He was delighted to see his granddaughter recovered from her illness, nodding happily with his eyes crinkled into smiles. He then asked Old Mrs. Xia to fetch some roasted peanuts for Li Girl.
Old Mrs. Xia, pleased with the generous gifts her daughter had brought, smiled broadly and generously scooped two large handfuls of roasted peanuts onto the Eight Immortals table.
Xia Li personally fed Old Man Xia, Xia Zhu, and Old Mrs. Xia each a piece of candy, saying with a smile, “My mother bought these in the county town—they’re very sweet.”
Old Man Xia and Xia Zhu didn’t care much about the candy itself but valued Xia Li’s gesture. Seeing her like this, they both smiled as they sucked on the candy.
Mrs. Xia went to help in the kitchen, but Xia Li remained seated, not only because she was still weak but also because the original host had never done any work when visiting the Old Xia Family.
Old Mrs. Xia was quite displeased with this, but Mrs. Xia didn’t want her daughter to overexert herself, and Old Man Xia also forbade his granddaughter from working.
Old Man Xia had always believed that the daughter of the God of Literature was naturally different from country girls—she carried an air of divinity and refinement. Even though he was disabled, he remained the undisputed head of the household.
The original host had always been close to Old Man Xia, so Xia Li sat beside him, eating peanuts and chatting playfully. Her sweet, coquettish voice and flattering remarks greatly pleased Old Man Xia and Xia Zhu, reinforcing their belief that the God of Literature’s daughter was truly exceptional.
Old Mrs. Xia, however, rolled her eyes nearby, thinking to herself that the lazy little girl would struggle when married into another family.
Xia Sanbao came in and stuffed peanuts from the table into his pocket. Old Man Xia rapped his hand with the tobacco pipe and scolded, “You useless boy, acting like you haven’t eaten peanuts in generations! Leave some for your sister Li.”
Old Mrs. Xia, feeling sorry for her grandson, came to the table, grabbed some peanuts for Xia Sanbao, and chided Xia Li, “You never lack for food at home. Why bother fighting your brother over this?”
Xia Li was speechless—when had she ever fought over them?
Xia Erhu leaned against Xia Li while eating candy. After he finished, Xia Li put another piece in his mouth and gave him two more to take to the kitchen for Li and Xia Dani.
Xia Sanbao’s eyes darted around. He pulled two peanuts from his pocket and stuffed them into Xia Li’s hand, ingratiatingly saying, “Sister Li, I’ll treat you to my family’s peanuts. Can you give me a few more pieces of candy?”
Xia Li laughed and said, “No. Tell your mother to stop coveting my family’s house and well every day.”
This was the original host’s style—never missing a chance to tarnish Little Mrs. Yang’s image in front of Old Man Xia.
Sanbao, still a child after all, puffed out his eyes and declared with great bravado, “My mother and grandma said your family’s house and well are supposed to be mine!”
Old Man Xia angrily struck Xia Sanbao’s back with his pipe and scolded, “How many times have I taught you? Don’t imitate your greedy mother. How could other people’s things be yours?”
The blow was rather heavy, and Sanbao started wailing at the top of his lungs.