Shen Qingyue saw through Shen Dabiao’s little scheme. The corners of her lips curved into a half-smile as she generously split the copper coins in half.
“I always keep my word. This share is yours.”
Shen Dabiao accepted the coins in delight.
“Your dad didn’t raise you for nothing—good kid!” he said, emphasizing deliberately, “When the remaining boar meat is sold, you still have to give me half.”
“Fine,” Shen Qingyue replied briskly. Then, as if remembering something, she added, “Aside from the Lin family’s second branch and the Xu family, every household in the village bought boar meat.”
“The Lin family’s second branch—Lin Xier—is very wary of me, so it’s normal for them not to buy any.”
“As for the Xu family, they don’t have much of a grudge against ours. If they didn’t buy any, there’s only one possibility—they’re so poor they couldn’t even scrape together twenty-two copper coins.”
The moment Shen Dabiao’s fingers touched the money, his mind had already flown to the gambling den. He said indifferently, “It’s a famine year—having no money is normal. People starving to death isn’t rare either. Why bother about them?”
After pondering for a moment, Shen Qingyue went into the kitchen, cut two jin of meat, packed three jin of coarse rice in a hemp sack, and headed toward the Xu household.
The Xu family’s courtyard gate was open.
Standing at the entrance, Shen Qingyue called inside, “Aunt Xu, are you home?”
Aunt Xu came out of the house. Her bony frame looked as though a gust of wind might knock her over. When she saw Shen Qingyue, a trace of wariness appeared in her eyes.
“Do you need something? If my Sanlang offended you in any way, please be magnanimous and let him go.”
Xu Sanlang limped out after her and blocked her protectively, glaring at Shen Qingyue.
“I didn’t offend you at all—why are you at my house?”
The original owner of this body had been a notorious bully across the surrounding villages.
The Xu family’s reaction wasn’t surprising.
Shen Qingyue set the meat and rice on the table and said frankly, “Two years ago, Sanlang was walking slowly and blocked my way. I kicked him once. These two jin of meat and the rice are compensation.”
With that, she turned and left the courtyard.
The Xu family stared at one another, disbelief written all over their faces.
Shen Qingyue had bullied countless people before—never once had he gone door to door to apologize.
Xu Sanlang felt uneasy, like a weasel paying a New Year’s call to a chicken. “Mother… could the meat be poisoned?”
Aunt Xu stared at the meat, swallowing hard.
“There’s no grain left at home. Better to die full than starve to death.” She picked up the meat and rice and headed straight for the kitchen. “I’ll cook right now.”
…
The next day, Shen Qingyue and Shen Dabiao pushed a handcart to the county town to sell pork. It took more than half an hour to get there, and their feet were numb from walking.
Without transportation, it was really inconvenient.
Once she made more silver, she would definitely buy an ox cart.
Shen Dabiao sold boar meat in the back street.
Shen Qingyue carried five jin of meat to visit her eldest paternal aunt in town.
Her aunt’s home was located in South Alley of East Street. The courtyard wasn’t very spacious but was neatly kept. The blue-brick wall was a little higher than the neighbors’, and although the gate had no fancy decorations, it was fitted with a pair of sturdy copper knockers. A small wooden plaque hung above the lintel, with the words “Zhang Residence” written in bold, vigorous strokes.
Shen Qingyue raised her hand and knocked, shouting inside, “Aunt! I came to see you!”
Before long, her aunt came out, fussing over her with concern.
“Why is there a mark on your forehead? Did you get into another fight?” she asked worriedly. “You’re not young anymore—you shouldn’t act so recklessly.”
Shen Qingyue touched her forehead and explained softly, “I didn’t fight. I just accidentally hit a rock—a minor injury. It’ll fade in a few days.”
She had applied medicine bought from the system—it wouldn’t leave a scar.
Hearing that it wasn’t from fighting, her aunt relaxed a little. Then she glanced cautiously behind her and lowered her voice.
“Your uncle is home today—it wouldn’t be convenient to invite you inside.”
As she spoke, she pulled two small pieces of silver from her sleeve and stuffed them into Shen Qingyue’s hand.
“These two taels are what I secretly saved. Take them and spend them—don’t let your uncle know.”
Shen Qingyue was mortified. Her aunt was famously devoted to her natal family.
She often secretly subsidized them behind Constable Zhang’s back.
If Shen Dabiao weren’t such a compulsive gambler, and if the original Shen Qingyue hadn’t constantly stirred up trouble and squandered money, the Shen family wouldn’t have fallen so low.
Then again, behavior like her aunt’s was bound to cause conflict at home.
Shen Qingyue hurriedly pushed the silver back. “Aunt, I’m doing fine right now—I don’t need your money.”
“Look—I even brought you some meat.”
“This meat… is for me?” After her surprise came deep worry. “Nephew, where did you get this meat? You didn’t rob someone for it, did you? Even if your uncle is a constable and can protect you once or twice, he can’t protect you forever.”
“Besides, your uncle already has opinions about the Shen family and doesn’t allow me to have much contact with you anymore.”
“In the future, the help your aunt can give you may only get less and less.”
The original owner’s bully reputation ran deep—it was no wonder she doubted him.
Shen Qingyue patted her chest in assurance. “It’s wild boar meat I hunted in the mountains—not stolen. Please accept it.”
Her aunt was half-convinced and still didn’t dare take it.
Just then, a stern male voice came from inside the house.
“Since you’re here, come in. Don’t stand at the door.”
Her aunt tugged at Shen Qingyue’s sleeve and whispered, “When you see your uncle later, try to speak as little as possible—if his temper flares up, he’ll lecture you again.”
Shen Qingyue gave her a reassuring look, stepped over the threshold, crossed the courtyard, and entered the main hall.
When Constable Zhang saw the meat in her hands, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. The Shen father and son were not only stingy but shameless as well—relying on their connection with him to throw their weight around outside.
Every time they visited, not only did they fail to bring gifts, they even took things back from the Zhang household.
And now she had come with meat—by the looks of it, a full five jin.
Constable Zhang let out a heavy snort through his nose and said bluntly, “Speak. What do you want from me?”
If the matter wasn’t too serious, he could help one last time.
Fearing the Shen family would keep coming endlessly in the future, he deliberately added, “This is the last time.”
Shen Qingyue rubbed her nose.
From his reaction, he had clearly assumed she was here to ask for a favor.
She sighed inwardly and explained simply, “Yesterday I hunted a wild boar in the mountains. Today I came specially to give some to Uncle. Over the years, thank you very much for looking after the Shen family.”
Constable Zhang frowned—something was off!
Shen Qingyue’s purpose couldn’t possibly be that simple!
“Speak—what big trouble did you really stir up?” Constable Zhang suddenly slammed the table. “Don’t tell me someone died?”
Shen Qingyue was speechless. Was her credibility really that terrible?
She had simply come to give some boar meat— and people suspected she’d caused a death?
Who could understand her mood right now?
Unable to explain herself any further, she decided to take her leave.
“Uncle, you’re overthinking it. I’m not that reckless. My father is selling boar meat on Back Street—I should go check on him, so I won’t disturb you.”
With that, she stood up and headed for the door.
“Wait,” Constable Zhang suddenly called out.
“Is there something else, Uncle?” Shen Qingyue turned back.
Constable Zhang said seriously, “Recently, a group of people in the city have been secretly searching for the owner of a jade pendant. They’re not ordinary folk. Behave yourself and don’t cause trouble, or you might not even be able to keep your life.”
Shen Qingyue wasn’t the type to meddle in other people’s business. The search had nothing to do with her, but since Constable Zhang had kindly warned her, she replied politely,
“Don’t worry, Uncle. I generally don’t cause trouble.”