Xia Tian was taken aback. Since she had arrived yesterday, this older brother had only asked a single question from outside the door and hadn't spoken again.
She wondered what he wanted.
To her surprise, Xia Yang turned around, squatted down, and said, "Si Ya, get on. Big Brother will carry you out."
A sudden warmth flowed through Xia Tian's heart. Without being coy, she said, "Thank you, Big Brother," and climbed onto Xia Yang's back, letting her brother carry her out the door.
Xia Yang carried Xia Tian to the area outside the main gate before setting her down. Apart from the members of her immediate family, everyone else in the Xia Family hid in their rooms and didn't come out.
Carrying her bundle, Xia Tian waved at her parents, older brother and sister, and younger siblings standing at the doorway, then turned and followed Matchmaker Liu.
Liu Jia Village was about an hour's walk from Xia Family Village. On the way, Matchmaker Liu briefly told Xia Tian about the man's family situation. As they talked, they arrived at Liu Jia Village before they knew it.
The sickly weakling was named Shen Nian, and he lived near the end of Liu Jia Village.
Starting from the large willow tree at the village entrance, Matchmaker Liu led Xia Tian along, constantly greeting villagers who were heading to the fields. When villagers asked, she would introduce Xia Tian as the new wife of the Shen family's boy, an outsider.
The passing villagers curiously sized up Xia Tian. Following behind Matchmaker Liu, Xia Tian kept her head down and didn't speak, feigning shyness.
The villagers just assumed the new bride was bashful and let it go after a bit of teasing.
When they reached Shen Nian's home, Xia Tian looked at the house, which was no different from any other in the village, and felt a little apprehensive.
She didn't know what kind of person Shen Nian was, or if he would be easy to get along with.
A sudden timidity arose in Xia Tian. This fear of the unknown made her hesitate to take a step forward.
Matchmaker Liu went ahead and pushed open the main gate, then turned to call for Xia Tian. Xia Tian took a deep breath and stepped into the courtyard.
Upon entering, Matchmaker Liu walked toward the main house, shouting loudly for Shen Nian, "Shen boy, I've brought your wife over for you! Come out and have a look."
Xia Tian nervously clutched her bundle, standing in the courtyard with her eyes fixed on the doorway of the main house.
A moment later, accompanied by a few coughs, the door curtain of the main house was pushed aside. A man dressed in a coarse linen short shirt, with a handsome face and an estimated height of over 1.8 meters, emerged from the doorway.
The moment Xia Tian saw the man's face, she froze.
Oh my god! He's so handsome!
His features were as three-dimensional as a sculpture. Although he looked sickly and was wearing a coarse linen shirt, he couldn't hide the innate noble air about him.
Could she have hit the jackpot?
If this was Shen Nian, she would wake up laughing in her sleep!
Xia Tian was filled with uncertainty. This must be Shen Nian, right? It has to be! It must be!
Xia Tian prayed in her heart. Her earlier nervousness vanished completely, and she turned to stare eagerly at Matchmaker Liu, wanting a final confirmation.
Unfortunately, Matchmaker Liu did not receive Xia Tian's signal.
But she would soon find out.
Matchmaker Liu was also very happy at this moment. Looking at the bulging purse Shen Nian handed her, her face crinkled into a smile. "Young Shen, if you need anything in the future, just come find your auntie!"
Shen Nian nodded. After watching Matchmaker Liu leave the courtyard, he glanced at Xia Tian. This girl had been staring at him the whole time. Shen Nian frowned in distaste. "Come in."
Xia Tian pressed her lips together, calmed her excited heart, and followed him inside.
It was probably a little after eight in the morning. The sun was quite strong today, so the room was rather bright.
To the right of the entrance was a large, shared kang bed. At the end of the kang were two large wooden chests with bedding placed on top. In the middle of the kang was a small table, on which lay an open book. Shen Nian had probably been reading on the kang just now.
Against the wall opposite the door stood a cabinet three feet high and six feet long. Under the window to the left was a square table with two stools. A washstand stood against the wall by the door, with a cloth towel draped over it and a wooden basin resting on it. There was nothing else.
It was even more spartan than the Xia Family's main hall.
Xia Tian watched as Shen Nian sat on the stool by the table on the left. Without waiting to be invited, she sat directly on the other stool.
Shen Nian watched the unfamiliar girl's action and raised an eyebrow slightly. Heh, a bold one!
Xia Tian was also discreetly sizing up Shen Nian. He looked thin and frail, his lips were pale, and he coughed from time to time. He really did seem quite ill.
What a pity, for someone so good-looking!
However, although Shen Nian's clothes were no different from the villagers', his refined looks and the aura in his every move suggested his origins were definitely not simple.
Xia Tian's mind immediately started spinning conspiracy theories.
After all, she had read and watched years of spy and palace intrigue novels and dramas. Stories of rich young masters taking refuge in the countryside to escape disaster, or marquises' sons hiding their identities to evade assassins while biding their time—there were just too many of them!
Xia Tian was almost amused by her own wild imagination. Could she be the chosen one, destined to help the fallen prince succeed in his revenge and then reach the pinnacle of her life…
"Cough, cough."
The sudden sound of coughing pulled the daydreaming Xia Tian back to reality.
Xia Tian cleared her throat unnaturally. Ahem, she had let her thoughts run away with her…
"Miss… Xia, marrying you was not my intention. But since you are already here, just do your part. I don't need you to wait on me personally. You only need to prepare three meals a day on time."
Shen Nian's direct and emotionless voice rang out, making Xia Tian feel as if she were here for a job interview.
"You will live in the room next door. Other than for cleaning, it's best you don't enter this room."
This icy tone… Xia Tian thought, how is this a newlywed couple? This is clearly a boss and his subordinate!
And a domineering CEO at that!
But it suited her just fine!
Xia Tian nodded. You're handsome, so you call the shots.
A little sparrow like her had to know her place.
The moment she saw Shen Nian, she had wondered how someone like him would end up marrying a village girl.
Now she knew. He was just looking for a housekeeper.
In the less than two days since she had transmigrated, the confusion, apprehension, and fear of an unknown life that Xia Tian had felt were suddenly resolved at this moment.
See, life wasn't so bad after all!
With her role clearly defined, Xia Tian instantly perked up. "Shen Nian, your name is Shen Nian, right? You mean that from now on, the two of us will just be partners living together, correct?"
Shen Nian thought for a moment, understanding what Xia Tian meant. "More or less."
"So should I call you Shen Nian directly? Or Young Master Shen? Or Brother Shen?"
"Brother Shen will do," Shen Nian said after a moment of silence.
"Alright, Brother Shen. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Xia Tian, as in the 'summer' of the four seasons. You can just call me by my name. I'll definitely do a good job. You can just watch my performance!"
Seeing the instantly excited Xia Tian, Shen Nian understood. This girl probably wasn't willing to marry him either. That was for the best; it would save a lot of trouble.
Xia Tian went to the side room next door, put down her bundle, and looked around. To the left was a large, shared kang bed. On the kang were also two large wooden chests, with neatly folded bedding on top. There was nothing else.
Although it was simple, it was tidy. She thought to herself that since she was already living under someone else's roof, she was in no position to be picky.
Xia Tian thought that since it was their first day meeting, she should at least make a good impression on her new partner.