Xu Mingzhu thought her mother was worried about the family’s situation, so she quickly explained that she planned to go into the city tomorrow to sell some honey. Once she earned some money, she would make sure her mother could live a better life.
Her tone was sincere, but Mother Xu merely stared at her blankly. Her clouded eyes held not the slightest trace of joy. Instead, they churned with a despair and exhaustion so deep it seemed impossible to dissolve.
Without a word, Mother Xu shakily rose and hunched her way into the inner room. Moments later, she returned holding a blue cloth bundle tightly in her withered hands. Carefully, she pushed it into Xu Mingzhu’s hands. Her knuckles turned white from the force of her grip as she said hoarsely,
“Mingzhu, this is all that’s left in the family. If you want it, take it. Your father and I were useless. We never managed to give any of you children a single day of comfort. In the future, your mother won’t be able to give you anything anymore.”
Xu Mingzhu was confused. When she opened the bundle, she found a yellowed piece of paper. It was the deed to their house.
Beside her, her eldest sister-in-law, Madam Zhou, turned pale with fright. She hurried over and grabbed Mother Xu’s sleeve, her eyes reddening with anxiety. “Mother, what are you doing?”
Xu Ming’an’s expression also darkened. In the past, when their mother favored the youngest daughter, he had never minded. But now the family had nothing left. This ancestral home was the only thing shielding them from the wind and rain. If their mother handed it over as well, where would his family live? His wife was about to give birth.
Xu Mingzhu instantly understood what her mother was thinking. Turning to look at Madam Zhou and Xu Ming’an, she saw the same dejected expression on both their faces. They were angry but dared not voice their objections. She neatly wrapped the deed again and firmly stuffed it back into Mother Xu’s hands.
“Mother, I’ve already said it. I won’t gamble anymore. Not now, not ever. For the rest of my life, I won’t set foot in a gambling den again!”
“This house is the root of the Xu family. It’s the result of you and Father’s lifelong efforts. Please keep it safe.”
Mother Xu’s clouded eyes widened abruptly. She stared fixedly at Xu Mingzhu, her voice trembling.
“Mingzhu… you…”
“Mother.” Holding her gaze, Xu Mingzhu spoke with complete sincerity. “Last night, I dreamed of Father. In the dream, he scolded me fiercely and practically cursed me awake. He said that if I didn’t start behaving, he’d take me away himself. I’ve realized my mistakes. Before, I was blinded by greed. But starting today, I’ll turn over a new leaf and never gamble again.”
Mother Xu clutched the deed tightly in both hands. Muddy tears rolled down her wrinkled cheeks. Trembling all over, she turned around and slowly shuffled back into the house, muttering repeatedly under her breath: “Good… good… Your father couldn’t stop worrying about us. Your father has shown his spirit…”
Xu Ming’an finally sighed in relief. His little sister had promised several times that she would never gamble again. Maybe this time she truly meant it. He pinched himself hard enough to make his teeth ache before he finally believed he wasn’t dreaming. Immediately, he rushed up to her and tugged eagerly on her sleeve. “Little Sister, did Father mention me in the dream?”
Xu Mingzhu looked at her second brother’s simple, hopeful expression and smiled as she nodded.
Xu Ming’an’s eyes instantly lit up. “Then did Father say when I’ll finally get married?”
Suppressing her laughter, Xu Mingzhu deliberately raised her voice: “Father said if you wait a few more years, you’re destined to marry a delicate young lady from a wealthy family and enjoy a life of comfort!”
“Really?!” Xu Ming’an grinned from ear to ear. All of his earlier worries vanished in an instant. He followed Xu Mingzhu step for step, full of anticipation, and kept asking what else their father had said.
In the courtyard, however, Madam Zhou watched Xu Mingzhu’s retreating figure with wary eyes. As if she would believe that nonsense about a dream causing someone to repent!
What kind of person was Xu Mingzhu? She was addicted to gambling. In the past, she had even been heartless enough to sell her own niece for gambling money. How could someone like that completely change just because of a dream? More likely, she was plotting something even more vicious.
For the next few days, Madam Zhou would have to keep a close watch on her. Otherwise, sooner or later, the entire family would be dragged into the mud because of her.
As the night deepened, Xu Mingzhu finally managed to send the endlessly talkative Xu Ming’an back to his room.
In her previous life, her home had always been cold and empty. Now, after transmigrating here, although she carried the reputation of a villainous woman, she had a mother and brothers who genuinely cared for her. The warmth and liveliness of that family made her heart burn with emotion. But whenever she thought about how the entire family met a tragic death in the original novel, she couldn’t help cursing the heartless author.
If you want to write a villainess, then write a villainess. Why kill off her whole family too? That was just too cruel. No! She had to pull herself together as quickly as possible.
Make money. Protect herself. Protect this family.
Since she hadn’t slept at all the night before, Xu Mingzhu fell asleep quickly and woke at dawn.
“Mother, take care of yourself,” Xu Ming’an said, carrying a small bundle on his back. “Once I get paid, I’ll bring the wages home and hand them over to you.”
Mother Xu wiped away her tears. “I’m fine. Ming’an, be careful after you leave. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Xu Mingzhu stepped outside and was greeted by the sight of mother and son wiping away tears.
“Perfect timing, Little Sister. You’re up,” Xu Ming’an said. “I’m heading off to quarry stone. It’s not as good as Eldest Brother’s thirty copper coins a day, but I can still earn twenty. That’s six hundred coins a month. From now on, listen to Mother and stop making her angry. Once your second brother gets paid, I’ll spend the money on you and Mother.”
Walking over, Xu Mingzhu asked, “Second Brother, didn’t we say we were going to the city to sell honey?”
Yesterday, she had assumed he was joking. After all, in the novel, he only went to quarry stone after they sold the house deed, and that’s when the accident happened.
Xu Ming’an slung the small basket of honey from the corner of the wall onto his back and grinned carelessly. “Of course we’re going. I’ll help you sell the honey first, then head up the mountain. It won’t delay anything.”
Looking at his sun-darkened face, Xu Mingzhu said seriously, “Second Brother, don’t go quarrying stone. It’s too dangerous. From now on, I’ll support you. I’ll also bring Eldest Brother and Daya home as soon as possible.”
“Sure, sure! Then your second brother will just wait to enjoy his little sister’s blessings.” Xu Ming’an only took her words as childish boasting. He laughed heartily and didn’t give them a second thought.
Privately, he figured he’d accompany her into the city. However much the honey sold for was fine. As long as it made his little sister happy, he wouldn’t take a single coin.
Breakfast was wild vegetables again. This time, a handful of bran had been mixed in.
Xu Mingzhu was so hungry that she closed her eyes and forced down a few bites, only to feel the coarse food scratching her throat. She needed to make money. She wanted rice. She wanted meat.
The village was several kilometers away from Qingzhou City. Xu Mingzhu didn’t want to walk, but she didn’t even have half a copper coin to her name, so she had no choice.
“Huh? Is that Xu Mingzhu?”
“It looks like her, but somehow it doesn’t.”
“Strange. I’ve seen that girl around every day, but this is the first time I’ve gotten a good look at her face. Not bad. Cleaned up, she’s actually quite pretty.”
“What a pity. Such a good-looking girl, yet she became addicted to gambling.”
The siblings had been walking peacefully when Xu Ming’an suddenly spun around and shouted, “My little sister has changed! She’ll never gamble again!”
The villagers all shook their heads.
“Only a fool like you would believe her! When she squanders the Xu family’s ancestral home, you’ll be crying then!”
“What a tragedy. Old Master and Madam Xu spent their entire lives being honest, hardworking, and kind-hearted. How did they end up with such a disaster of a daughter? She’s like a debt-collecting ghost come to ruin them.”
Xu Ming’an was about to argue, but Xu Mingzhu pulled him aside. “Second Brother, do you trust me?”
Xu Ming’an nodded. “Of course I do.”
Truthfully, he hadn’t believed her at first. But she hadn’t even taken the deed to the house, which convinced him she’d truly changed. In the past, whenever she claimed she wouldn’t gamble, she’d immediately pocket any money their mother offered her.
“As long as you all believe me, that’s enough. Come on. Let’s hurry and sell the honey. If we’re late, we won’t get a good price.” With that, she grabbed the still-stunned Xu Ming’an and headed toward Qingzhou City.
An hour later, they finally passed through the city gates.
The city’s prosperity exceeded Xu Mingzhu’s expectations. The stone-paved streets teemed with people. Vendors lined the roads one after another, raising their voices in loud sales pitches.
“Little Sister, let’s find a stall and sell the honey.”
“No need. We’re not selling it here.”
Xu Ming’an stared at her blankly. “Everyone from the village sells their goods here.”
Without answering, Xu Mingzhu followed the flow of people forward until she spotted a large gilded sign reading Cloud Pastry House (Yunsu Zhai). Only then did she stop.
“Little Sister, we don’t have any money.” Seeing the pastries displayed inside, Xu Ming’an flushed red and hurriedly reminded her, “We’re here to sell honey. The honey hasn’t been sold yet, so we really don’t have any money.”
“Shh.” Xu Mingzhu straightened her clothes and walked inside.
The shop assistant selling pastries looked them over from head to toe before greeting them: “Honored guests, our Yunsu Zhai is the largest pastry shop in Qingzhou City. If you can imagine it, we have it. What would you like today?”
He paused, then added: “Even our cheapest osmanthus cakes cost thirty copper coins.”