As night deepened, the moonlight poured over the ground like liquid silver, stretching Liu Xiaoman’s shadow long and thin along the country path.
The lightness she had felt after returning from the back hills vanished the moment she stepped into Liu Family Village, replaced by an invisible heaviness.
At the end of the village, two crouched figures made her heart tighten suddenly.
It was her Third Uncle, Liu Laoshi, and Third Aunt, He Xiaoling.
With their backs to the road, they squatted on the bare ridge of a field, still carrying the earthy scent of labor. Their thin silhouettes, under the cold moonlight, radiated an indescribable desolation and helplessness.
The fields after the autumn harvest should have been peaceful, yet at this moment they seemed soaked in the couple’s sorrow, making even the air feel oppressive.
Liu Xiaoman slowed her steps.
The soles of her shoes brushed against the dry soil, producing a faint rustling sound.
She walked behind them and called softly, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt, what’s wrong?”
The two figures trembled and turned around. When Liu Laoshi and He Xiaoling saw it was her, a flicker of surprise crossed their worry-filled faces, quickly replaced by deep concern.
They stood up almost at the same time. He Xiaoling hurried forward, grabbing Liu Xiaoman’s hand and looking her up and down.
“Xiaoman, you’re finally back!” Her voice was slightly hoarse as she anxiously asked, “Are your mother and Congming alright? The old house… they haven’t been making things difficult for you again, have they?”
Liu Laoshi also came over, his dark face full of worry, his simple concern utterly sincere.
A warmth surged in Liu Xiaoman’s heart.
It dispelled the chill of the night, standing in stark contrast to the cold selfishness of the Liu family’s old house. In this unstable world on the brink of disaster, the kindness of her third uncle’s family was one of the few traces of warmth she could feel.
She shook her head, clasped He Xiaoling’s rough hand, and reassured her, “Third Aunt, we’re all fine. Things at the old house have quieted down. But what about you? Why are you still here so late, sighing like this?”
At her words, Liu Laoshi seemed struck at the heart of the matter and let out a long sigh.
His large, work-worn hands rubbed together helplessly, the rough palms producing a faint rasping sound. His voice was filled with exhaustion and helplessness.
“Sigh… it’s all because of the taxes.”
He crouched down again, picking up a dry stalk of grass and absentmindedly twisting it in his hands. “There’s been little rain this year. The harvest didn’t look too bad, but the yield is much lower than in previous years.
And today the village chief came again to urge us—said the town is pressing hard. Land taxes, head taxes—every household has to pay in full, not a coin less.”
“Not just the taxes,” He Xiaoling’s eyes immediately reddened. She tried to hold back her tears, but her voice was already choked. “After paying them, there’ll be almost nothing left from our harvest. And a few days ago, Mother’s health got worse again.”
“We… we can barely scrape together enough money to buy her medicine. How… how are we supposed to go on like this?”
Seeing their despair and helplessness, Liu Xiaoman’s heart clenched painfully.
This was the early sign of the coming drought—the most direct impact on ordinary people.
And she knew this was only the beginning. The real hardship was yet to come.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Xiaoman spoke firmly, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt, don’t worry.” Her clear, steady gaze carried an unquestionable strength. “I’ll find a way to deal with the money.”
Her mind was already racing.
Her third uncle’s family was the only warmth in this cold clan. She had to include them in her “Noah’s Ark” plan.
Not only to repay their kindness, but also to secure another trustworthy ally in this world on the verge of collapse.
Liu Laoshi immediately waved his hands in refusal. “No, no! Xiaoman, listen to your uncle.”
He stood up, his expression serious.
“Your family of three isn’t living easily either. You finally moved out and can have a few peaceful days. How can we drag you down? We’ll figure this out ourselves.”
He Xiaoling wiped her tears and echoed, “Yes, Xiaoman. We appreciate your kindness, but we can’t take this money. At worst… I’ll go back to my maiden family and try to borrow some.”
Her tone was reluctant—she clearly knew the chances were slim.
“Third Uncle, Third Aunt, we’re family.”
Liu Xiaoman’s tone left no room for refusal. She looked straight at Liu Laoshi, her eyes carrying a maturity and determination far beyond her age. “If you draw such a clear line with me, that’s what would really make us strangers.”
She paused, then shifted to a lighter tone, half true, half teasing:
“Besides, don’t underestimate me. I’ve recently found some business opportunities in town and earned a bit of money. I was just wondering where to spend it. Helping family—isn’t that what I should do?”
She didn’t reveal the truth about the drought, attributing everything to her newfound opportunities.
Liu Laoshi and He Xiaoling exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise, relief, and a trace of worry.
A young girl making money outside—what kind of work could it be? Was it dangerous?
Noticing their concern, Liu Xiaoman changed the subject and casually asked, “By the way, Third Uncle, besides the taxes, has anything unusual been happening in the village lately?”
Liu Laoshi froze, clearly not expecting the question.
After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. “Nothing major. Just everyone talking about the dry fields, poor harvests, and hard days ahead.”
“Wait,” he suddenly seemed to remember something, his expression changing slightly.
He glanced around cautiously. After confirming no one was nearby, he leaned in close to Liu Xiaoman and lowered his voice.
A faint smell of tobacco mixed with earth drifted over as he spoke urgently, “Xiaoman, there’s something… you must be careful about. It concerns the old house.”
Liu Xiaoman’s heart tightened, though her face remained calm as she listened.
“Recently, Liu Dabao was frightened by something—people say a ghost—and he hasn’t been well since. Your eldest aunt has been going around claiming your family is behind it.”
His voice dropped to almost a whisper. “Your grandmother… Old Madam Tian… has invited a spirit medium from a neighboring village. She says… she’s coming to exorcise evil from your house!”
His tone was full of anxiety and fear. “That medium is quite famous around here. I heard she’ll arrive in the village early tomorrow morning—heading straight for your home! Xiaoman, you, your mother, and Congming must be careful!”
A cold glint flashed across Liu Xiaoman’s eyes.
As expected, those scum from the old house had no intention of letting them live in peace for even a single day.
But instead of anger or fear, a trace of cold amusement appeared on her lips.
Just what she needed.
She had been worrying about finding the perfect opportunity to deal with the old house once and for all—and establish her authority in the village. Now Old Madam Tian had delivered that opportunity right to her doorstep.
Looking at her anxious uncle and aunt, the warmth in her heart deepened.
She patted Liu Laoshi’s arm and said calmly, with reassuring strength, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt, thank you for telling me. I understand the situation. Don’t worry—I know how to handle it.”
She took out a small cloth pouch from her clothes. Inside were several pieces of broken silver, about two taels in total.
She had deliberately set this aside for emergencies.
Without giving them a chance to refuse, she pressed it into He Xiaoling’s hand. The cold weight of the silver made her tremble.
“Third Aunt, take this to pay the taxes. Use the rest to buy medicine for your mother,” Liu Xiaoman said firmly, holding her hand in place.
“Listen to me. This is only temporary. Once I deal with the current situation, better days are still ahead.”
Holding the heavy silver, Liu Laoshi and He Xiaoling looked at their frail but resolute niece, speechless, their eyes brimming with tears.
After bidding them farewell, Liu Xiaoman quickly headed toward the thatched hut near the burial grounds.
Under the cold moonlight, her shadow stretched long and thin. Beneath her calm expression, a faint, almost cruel amusement quietly surfaced.
A spirit medium? Exorcism?
She was already eager to see what tricks this so-called ancient medium could perform.
And what kind of “gift” she should prepare to welcome this uninvited guest.