Jinxiu couldn’t help but think that even back in the twenty-second century, there were still plenty of arrogant men who believed women didn’t need an education.
So it was even more surprising to hear such words in this era.
A faint smile curved Xie Jinnan’s lips.
“Education helps people understand right from wrong. That has nothing to do with whether one is a man or a woman. Since I asked you that question, it means I don’t think otherwise.”
Jinxiu’s opinion of him shot up once again.
First, he had risked his life to save her.
Then he had willingly taken responsibility.
He hadn’t forced anything upon her.
After she expressed her thoughts, he even promised to treat her well.
He wasn’t bad-looking either—exactly her type.
Maybe… I could really give this marriage a chance.
With that thought, the last trace of awkwardness in her heart melted away.
Jinxiu followed Xie Jinnan into Li Xiuhong’s room.
Xie Changsheng was there as well.
“Father. Mother,” Xie Jinnan greeted.
Looking obedient, Jinxiu followed suit.
“Father… Mother.”
It was obvious Li Xiuhong was delighted.
Unfortunately, she still couldn’t speak properly.
After chatting with the couple for a while, Xie Changsheng looked at his son.
“Jinnan, stay a moment. Your mother and I still have a few things to say.”
Xie Jinnan nodded.
Turning to Jinxiu, he spoke gently.
“You’ve had a tiring journey today. Go back to the room and rest first. I’ll come call you when dinner is ready.”
Every word was filled with consideration.
Xie Changsheng bent close to his wife and whispered,
“Xiuhong, see? Having a daughter-in-law really is different. You can stop worrying now. Don’t say such hopeless things anymore. Focus on getting better and living well. Mother also told me she’s getting old. In the future, she’ll be counting on you to help raise the grandchildren.”
His voice wasn’t loud…
But it wasn’t exactly quiet, either.
Both young people heard every word.
Jinxiu smiled shamelessly.
“That’s right, Mother. You’ll get better. One day you’ll help my husband and me take care of our children.”
“Ah… ah… good…”
Li Xiuhong’s eyes filled with tears.
Jinxiu could guess that the woman had once lost the will to live.
It wasn’t hard to understand.
After suffering a stroke, she had been paralyzed and bedridden.
Day after day.
Year after year.
No hope.
Only physical pain, emotional torment, and the guilt of burdening her family.
Jinxiu hadn’t meant anything profound.
She simply wanted to give Li Xiuhong something to look forward to.
As for the man standing beside her…
His face remained perfectly calm.
Only the tips of his ears had turned a vivid shade of red.
Jinxiu secretly covered her mouth to hide her smile.
He’s actually… pretty innocent.
Dinner
That evening, everyone in the Xie family gathered except Li Xiuhong, who was unable to leave her bed.
Present were:
Xie Changsheng and Li Xiuhong had two sons and one daughter.
The eldest son had originally been named Xie Dayong.
Gifted in his studies, he passed the county-level qualifying examination at the age of eleven.
His teacher later gave him the courtesy name Xie Jinnan, wishing him “a future as splendid as brocade.”
The second son, Xie Eryong, was fifteen years old.
When Jinxiu had arrived earlier, he had still been up in the mountains chopping firewood.
Then there was the youngest daughter, Xie Xiaoyu, who was lively and adorable.
Dinner was rather plain.
Each person received:
Leaving aside the Li family…
Even growing up in the orphanage in her previous life, Jinxiu had never eaten such a meager meal.
But she was truly hungry.
Everything she’d eaten at noon had long since been digested.
So she still ate with great relish.
That Night
After washing up, she returned to their room.
Rain had begun falling outside.
Dark clouds covered the sky, making night arrive early.
A single oil lamp flickered inside.
Xie Jinnan sat at the desk copying books.
He had taken on transcription work from the town bookstore to earn extra money.
The warm orange light softened his handsome features.
Closing the door quietly, Jinxiu watched as he set down his brush and walked over.
He took a small cloth bundle from his robes.
Inside lay a silver bracelet.
“This is a gift from my mother. She asked me to give it to you.”
The bracelet was simple in design, gleaming softly.
Jinxiu slipped it onto her thin wrist.
A warm feeling spread through her heart.
Sitting on the edge of the bed with both hands supporting her, she looked up at him and smiled.
“Let me guess… Father also told you that you must take good care of your wife, didn’t he?”
The tall man stood before her, his shadow falling over her petite figure.
Her radiant smile almost dazzled him.
She wasn’t shy or reserved like most women.
Instead…
She was bold.
Straightforward.
Unafraid to say exactly what she thought.
Something gently struck Xie Jinnan’s heart.
Seeing him staring blankly at her, Jinxiu looked down at herself before touching her face.
“Is something on my face?”
Unable to help himself, Xie Jinnan laughed softly.
“Even if Father hadn’t said anything… I would still treat you well.”
He paused.
“It’s getting late. We should rest.”
Jinxiu blurted out,
“Sleep together?”
The moment the words left her mouth…
She nearly bit her own tongue.
Of course married couples sleep together.
By asking it aloud, she’d only made things awkward.
Xie Jinnan cleared his throat with a fist against his lips.
His expression became slightly unnatural.
“If… it makes you uncomfortable…”
“It doesn’t.”
Jinxiu answered so quickly she nearly interrupted him.
She hurried onto the bed, scooted all the way to the inner side, and pulled the quilt over herself until only her little head remained visible.
On the surface, she appeared perfectly composed.
Underneath the blanket…
Her toes had curled so tightly from embarrassment they nearly cramped.
Even with her thick skin, this situation was hard to handle.
After all…
They had only met twice.
Though admittedly…
She did have quite a favorable impression of him.
As her thoughts wandered, exhaustion overtook her.
She wasn’t worried Xie Jinnan would do anything inappropriate.
She was as skinny as a bean sprout.
Surely he wouldn’t be interested.
The bump on her head still throbbed faintly.
Combined with the fatigue of the long day, sleep quickly claimed her.
Soon her breathing became slow and even.
Xie Jinnan stood silently beside the bed for a long while.
Then he quietly tidied the desk.
Blew out the oil lamp.
And in complete darkness, carefully lay down on the outer side of the bed beside the sleeping girl.
Even then…
His entire body remained stiff with tension.
The Next Morning
Rain had fallen through the night.
Morning mist blanketed Dali Village.
The distant mountain peaks floated amid swirling clouds.
Standing outside the courtyard, Jinxiu admired the scenery before looking back at the Xie family’s large brick house.
Grandfather Xie and Granny Tian had three sons.
Three years earlier, their eldest son, Xie Changsheng, had injured his leg while climbing the mountains.
To avoid conflicts between the brothers, the elderly couple had decisively divided the family property.
Grandfather Xie had once worked as a traveling merchant and managed to save some money.
When they split the household, he built each of his three sons a brick house with tiled roofing.
The old couple themselves chose to live with the eldest son’s family.
But no matter how much wealth they had accumulated…
It had all but disappeared after building three houses and dividing the estate.
Xie Jinnan still needed money for his education.
Xie Eryong would soon reach marriageable age.
Their youngest daughter was still just a child.
Xie Changsheng’s injured leg had never fully healed.
And Li Xiuhong had become paralyzed only last year.
Things couldn’t have been worse.
The Xie family looked prosperous on the outside…
But inside, they were already running on empty.
Yesterday, Jinxiu had thought that if the Xie family turned out to be terrible…
She would leave no matter what.
But this wasn’t a den of wolves.
On the contrary…
Every member of the Xie family treated her kindly.
In her previous life, Jinxiu had been an orphan.
Supported by kind-hearted people and charitable aid, she had worked hard through school.
She was just about to graduate from university, full of dreams and ambition…
Only to be crushed to death by someone who jumped from a building.
What a tragically absurd way to die…
Thankfully…
Heaven had still shown her mercy.
It had given her another chance to live.
“Eryong, are you heading into the mountains today?”
Jinxiu’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Xie Eryong scratched his head.
“Sister-in-law, do you want to come too?”
She nodded vigorously.
The original owner often gathered wild plants in the mountains.
But Jinxiu wanted to experience it herself.
Maybe she could find edible wild vegetables… or mushrooms… or even something valuable for her mysterious points-exchange system.
Xie Xiaoyu hugged her arm and pleaded sweetly,
“Sister-in-law, I want to go too!”
It was early March.
The chill of spring still lingered.
Jinxiu helped the little girl into an extra jacket, slung a bamboo basket onto her back, took Xiaoyu’s hand…
And happily followed Xie Eryong up the mountain.