Upon hearing Chunliu’s story, Guan Xiyue felt a sudden weight of responsibility. She knew she had to earn money—not just for herself, but to ensure those who followed her could take care of their families as well.
Construction of the house continued in full swing. To avoid any awkwardness, the kitchen duties previously handled by Aunt Qian were now taken over by Aunt Fang. Aunt Qian returned all the rice, flour, and meat that Madam Lü had stolen, refusing even the wages Xiyue had given her. She said with shame, “Xiyue, we’ve wronged you. Thank you for not pursuing it further; there’s no way I could accept wages after this.”
Xiyue insisted on giving her ninety wen anyway. “Let’s keep things separate. This is your wages for the past days. You must take it. Now that this matter is cleared up, I hold no grudge, but Aunt Lü still needs to be properly disciplined.”
After this incident, no one in the village looked down on Xiyue anymore. Despite her young age, she had caught the thieves herself and even stood up to the entire Guan family, outsmarting the learned Guan Lao Si. Guan Xiaomei and Guan Ziyuan grew even closer to their elder sister, especially Xiaomei, who looked like a festive little doll in the pomegranate-red dress Madam Zhang had painstakingly sewn for her.
Xiaomei showed off her beautiful dress among friends, then carefully put it away to avoid soiling it. Xiyue tried to change her mindset: “Clothes are meant to be worn. If you keep them packed away, you won’t be able to wear them next year. Isn’t that a waste?”
Xiaomei understood and finally wore it freely. Madam Zhang, seeing her two daughters close and happy, felt immense satisfaction—her hardships now seemed worthwhile. When Xiyue suggested that they leave the old Guan household, Zhang even felt life had real hope again.
In the Guan household, Xiyue had been the most miserable, overworked, and least valued. Yet her birth family was even poorer; her father had needed money for medicine, so she was practically half-sold into the Guan family with no dowry. This only strengthened her resolve to stand tall.
Though Zhang and her husband still had to work hard for the Guan family, seeing their daughter thriving brought them comfort. If they could also help her younger siblings, they asked for nothing more.
Xiyue remained fair and pragmatic. She paid wages generously, provided excellent meals with meat every day, and the house progressed rapidly. Within just over ten days, it was time for the beam-raising ceremony.
The beam-raising, a critical milestone, carried symbolic meaning. “If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will tilt; if the main beam is off, the house will collapse.” Xiyue was excited—it was her first house in this era and held extraordinary significance.
On the day of the ceremony, a bright red couplet was posted on the beams:
“Azure Dragon supports the jade pillar, White Tiger props the golden beam.”
The horizontal inscription read: “Beam-Raising Auspiciousness.”
A table was set at the front door with incense, fruits, and the traditional three offerings—pork leg, chicken, and fish—to be cooked afterward for the laborers. Villagers’ mouths watered at the sight.
Old Guan arrived with his family, eyeing the grand two-story brick house, longing to claim it. Having been humbled before, he dared not speak rashly and patted his eldest grandson Guan Ziyen on the shoulder, saying kindly, “Xiyue, such a big matter, a girl alone… better let your cousin offer incense to ancestors. You siblings must help one another in the future.”
He assumed this display of filial propriety would gain Xiyue’s favor, thinking she would let him arrange everything. In his mind, the house would be theirs: the elders with the eldest and fourth sons in the main rooms, the second family in the old main room, and the third family moving to the east wing.
Unexpectedly, Xiyue snorted coldly: “Grandfather, don’t ruin my mood on such a fine day. This house belongs to me, not the old Guan family. Cousin has nothing to do with it. I didn’t even let my own younger brother participate—I want everyone to see that capable men rely on themselves, not a girl.”
Her words left Guan Ziyen red-faced. Returning from two days of meals with rice, flour, and meat, he had been quietly told by his grandparents that this house would eventually belong to him. Now, hearing his cousin speak so assertively, he could only blush in admiration.
Learning had been exhausting, yet without success in exams, if he could inherit this house and marry a fine wife, life would indeed be blissful.
Xiyue signaled to Yang Lizheng: “Uncle Yang, don’t miss the auspicious moment. Let’s begin.”
The crowd politely moved the Guan family aside so as not to block the ceremony.
Xiyue respectfully burned incense and bowed, firecrackers exploded in celebration, and children jumped and laughed around.
The master carpenter chanted: “This beam is neither too long nor too short, just right for the main ridge. A joyous day, heaven opens; a lucky day, perfect for beam-raising.”
The two men holding the beam lifted it, saluted, and sang: “Front supports the top scholar’s house, back supports the prime minister’s house.”
Carefully, the beam was placed and secured. They continued: “Golden mouth meets golden beam, gold and silver fill the storehouse.”
The ceremony complete, Xiyue and Chunliu stood on the balcony, tossing candies and peanuts from a large winnowing basket. The children went wild, and some elders, thinking of their grandchildren, joined in. After the treats, Xiyue threw three hundred copper coins, stirring excitement among adults and children alike.
The old Guan family grumbled while grabbing coins: this girl was crazy, throwing money away—it all belonged to the Guan family!
The ceremony ended on a high note, but the most important part remained—the feast. Xiyue was generous, preparing four tables filled with rich dishes. She made pickled fish, stir-fried radish with pork intestine, and large portions of meat. Other dishes included stir-fried shredded meat and eggs, prepared by her helpers. The master carpenters’ table had the best dishes—pork leg, chicken, fish—leaving everyone salivating.
The rice was plentiful, the white buns bountiful. Neighbors who had helped felt both satisfied and guilty, promising that if Xiyue ever needed help again, they would step forward without hesitation.