The next day, Chuxue woke to the sound of an argument. Frowning, she quickly got dressed, lifted the door curtain, and went outside.
In the courtyard, Madam Zhou was pointing at Madam Zhao and scolding her. She paused when she saw Chuxue, then promptly started yelling again.
Madam Zhao, however, hurried over as soon as she saw Yan Chuxue. “Xiaoxue, it’s windy outside. Go back inside.”
Madam Zhou spat on the ground. “What family has a girl so precious? A young lady’s body with a servant’s fate!” With that, she shuffled into the main room.
Chuxue smiled at Madam Zhao. “Mother, I’m fine now. Don’t worry.”
Chuxue took the opportunity to look around the Yan Residence. The main house had three rooms, and each of the east and west wings had two. The east wing had been set aside for Third Uncle Yan and his family, while the west wing was used for storage.
The middle room at the front was the Yan family’s kitchen. There were two large stoves and two small ones on either side, with a partition down the middle. On the left were a cupboard for dishes, a chopping block, and various odds and ends.
Behind the front room was the Yan family’s back courtyard. It was quite large; more than half of it was a vegetable garden, and there was a chicken coop by the wall.
Yan Dajun’s family, meanwhile, lived in the Yan family’s old house. Madam Zhou’s excuse was that the old house shouldn’t be left empty, in case it fell into disrepair, and that it was more spacious for their family to live there. The excuse was so absurd, yet Yan Dajun’s family had actually believed it. Chuxue didn’t even know what to say.
Madam Zhao still wasn’t reassured, and after much coaxing, got Xiaoxue to go inside and rest. She brought her a bowl of thin corn gruel, clear enough to see the bottom, and Xiaoxue ate a few mouthfuls without complaint.
Only after Madam Zhao had gone out did Xiaoxue lock the door and carefully take stock of what remained in her space[1]The “space” is the protagonist’s supernatural storage area, a fictional device rather than an ordinary physical room. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717450_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717450_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });: some first-aid supplies, a box of instant noodles, a few packets of compressed biscuits, a case of bottled water, more than ten bread rolls, and some weapons, including knives and clubs.
Xiaoxue’s space was small, about five square meters, and couldn’t hold living things. Still, in the apocalypse, having a space could be a lifesaving advantage.
She had always told people that she had dual superpowers: space and gravity manipulation. In truth, she only had one superpower, the ability to manipulate gravity. The space came with a jade pendant[2]Jade pendants have long been worn and passed down as ornaments and family keepsakes in Chinese culture. Its supernatural storage function in this story is fictional. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717450_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717450_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); passed down through her family, which Chuxue had accidentally activated.
Near noon, Yan Chuxue followed the route she remembered to the kitchen. Madam Zhao was surprised to see her. “Xiaoxue, why are you out? Go back to your room and rest. Mother will bring your meal to you in a little while.”
Madam Zhao knew her mother-in-law[3]In traditionally patrilineal families, a married woman often lived with or under the authority of her husband’s parents, including her mother-in-law. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717450_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717450_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); had a sharp tongue and disliked the two girls she had given birth to. She was afraid Yan Chuxue wouldn’t be able to bear Madam Zhou’s words.
Sure enough, as soon as Madam Zhao finished speaking, Madam Zhou said, “What are you going back for, Mother? If you’re fine, come help with the work. What girl is as delicate as you? You fell into the water and took ten days to half a month to recover, and you’ve ruined your reputation, too.
“My Yan family must have been cursed for eight generations to end up with a jinx[4]Calling someone a “jinx” reflects a superstitious accusation that the person brings bad luck; it is an insult, not an established fact. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717450_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717450_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); of a family like yours.”
Yan Chuxue wasn’t as mild-mannered as her original self. She snorted. “Who’s to blame that I haven’t gotten better? I wonder who’s been standing outside my window every day insulting me, calling me a jinx, a bastard’s daughter, a little harlot who seduces men. I was so angry I couldn’t get better.”
Madam Zhao was stunned by Yan Chuxue’s words. She hurriedly pulled her into a worried embrace. “Xiaoxue, tell Mother who’s been saying these things. I’ll get justice for you.”
Yan Chuxue felt a little uncomfortable in Madam Zhao’s embrace. She shifted slightly to get more comfortable and said, “Mother, who else is in this house every day besides Grandpa and Granny? Surely Grandpa wouldn’t go stand outside my window and curse me.”
References[+]