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墨書 Inktalez
"Xia Muxin," noticing the silence from him, asked again, "Are you going to keep quiet this time?"
Xia Muxin shot a suspicious glance at Shen Muhan, her tone a bit sharp. "You’re asking about my birth date!"
Hearing this, Shen Muhan smiled without denying it. "You're not a stone that just popped out of nowhere; why shouldn't I inquire?"
Xia Muxin turned her head away, refusing to respond. This man always had a way of pushing her buttons, but she owed him too much and had no way to repay him right now. The only thing she could do was to serve him well with food and drink. Besides, in this remote mountain village, how long could a young master who was used to being waited on by maids possibly stay?
Once home, she instructed her brother to create a semicircular water pipe based on the drawing she made on the ground. Then, with Shen Muhan's help, they extended the pipe according to the distance from the river to their field. Xia Muxin waded into the water and began drilling holes three inches underwater with a chisel. However, her strength was limited, and after struggling for half a day, she barely made any progress. Exhausted and panting, she felt drained.
Shen Muhan watched her from the shore for a while before bursting into laughter. This girl had so many clever ideas; she could even think of this! Seeing her drenched in sweat, he rolled up his sleeves and jumped into the water.
"Uh... your wound isn't healed yet; you shouldn't be soaking in water like this."
Xia Muxin was startled and immediately stopped what she was doing, trying to pull him back onto the shore.
"Don't worry; I'm not that fragile."
Shen Muhan smiled as he took over her task and advised her, "Get back on shore; it's hot out here, and you don't want to faint from heat."
For a moment, Xia Muxin stood there dazed in the water, staring at him...
The evening sunlight cast a golden hue over him, highlighting his sharp features. His lips were pressed into a straight line as he occasionally glanced at her, revealing a charming smile.
Xia Muxin tilted her head, her right index finger in her mouth as if frozen in place while gazing at him.
"What’s wrong? Do you think I look good now? Regretting not having scratched my face when you had the chance?" he teased playfully.
With him nearby, his focus sharpened as he observed her adorable expression.
Xia Muxin shot him an annoyed look; she knew he wouldn’t let her have a moment's peace. Sticking out her tongue at him, she pulled herself up onto the shore.
However, with his help, they managed to break through the hole in just a short while. Xia Muxin quickly buried the bamboo pipe at the opening and soon saw clear water flowing through it straight into their field.
The water flowed for a whole day and night before finally irrigating the Three Acres of Land. Just as the fields were soaked, Ming Yi arrived with a cow and plowing tools. Their father still lacked strength, and neither Shen Muhan nor Ming Yi had ever plowed before. They both tried their hand at it, but the scene was somewhat hard to watch. In the end, Er Dan Ge came over to help. Xia Muxin felt guilty and wanted to pay him, but he refused to accept any money. After consulting with Shen Muhan, they allowed him to use the tools to plow his own fields as well.
Xia Muxin returned home early to prepare a delicious meal, inviting Er Dan Ge and Aunt Liu's family over. A dozen people sat around the table, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.
The next day, the family began transplanting seedlings. Shen Muhan had called over a group of young and good-looking individuals early in the morning to help. Although their techniques were a bit clumsy at first, they quickly became skilled after planting a few seedlings. By midday, the Three Acres of Land was fully planted, while Xia Muxin hadn’t even stepped into the fields.
She ended up preparing another delicious meal for everyone. This time there were many people, all strong young men. Xia Muxin borrowed a large pot from Aunt Liu’s house to cook a big pot of rice and also made Mung Bean Porridge. She invited Er Dan Ge and Aunt Liu’s family again.
Sister Yan was very down-to-earth, an honest and capable girl. Seeing the two children, Aunt Liu helped Xia Muxin with preparations. Today their mother also came out; Shen Muhan had specially prepared a reclining chair for her, with a cool mat on top and a thin blanket underneath. She sat in the warm sunlight for a while.
Due to excessive blood loss, she remained weak and was sensitive to cold. While everyone else preferred lighter clothing in this hot weather, their mother wore layers and covered herself with a blanket, which worried Xia Muxin greatly.
With so many people around, she set up two charcoal stoves to cook sour and spicy fish hotpot and wild chicken hotpot. Uncle Da Dong had gone to town yesterday; Xia Muxin asked him to bring back a six-pound male fish. She cooked it all at once for lunch. Early that morning, someone from the neighboring village selling tofu came by; she bought four large blocks and cooked them as well. Fortunately, the pot was big enough to hold everything; otherwise, each person would have only gotten one bite.
The wild chickens were hunted by Shen Muhan at the last minute; she managed to kill two of the largest ones, which weighed about six or seven pounds just in meat alone. She stir-fried them with ginger first, then added her own seasonings and water to boil them, throwing in some mushrooms as well. The rich aroma wafted through even with the lid on; once it was nearly done cooking, she transferred it into a bowl and continued cooking over charcoal.
Her brother and father were still taking medicine and shouldn’t eat anything too flavorful or stimulating. So she also stir-fried fresh wild vegetables, made marrow soup, stir-fried sour pickled beans with chicken offal, and prepared cold tossed wild vegetables.
In addition to her own fresh wild vegetables, she picked some fresh leafy greens from Aunt Liu’s house for hotpot ingredients. Their home didn’t have enough bowls, so she borrowed some from Er Dan Ge’s and Aunt Liu’s families as well. In the end, they even brought out tables; several tables were pushed together for everyone to sit or stand comfortably.
However, this meal could almost be described as earth-shattering in its impact; Xia Muxin witnessed it firsthand. The big pot of rice was steamed using a traditional steamer meant for banquets in the countryside—she used no less than thirty pounds of rice for over twenty people dining together. In the end, not a single grain remained; even the steaming hotpot broth was completely consumed.
The container for the Mung Bean Porridge had mysteriously rolled away, leaving only the wooden spoon lying conspicuously on the ground.
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Xia Muxin would have truly thought their home had been robbed; Aunt Liu and others were equally stunned into silence.
“Are you all starving ghosts reincarnated? Wash the dishes and get out!”
Looking at the mess on the table and floor, Shen Muhan sighed as he rubbed his forehead while surveying more than ten satisfied faces around him before commanding in a deep voice.
Xia Muxin wanted to say no but before she could speak up, she saw them skillfully sweeping up debris or wiping down tables; several people even hurriedly carried stacks of bowls directly toward Donghe.
In just a short incense stick's time, everything was cleaned up neatly as if returning to its original state; after finishing all this work, they quietly slipped away...
"Mother, didn't Grandmother go to Town to get the money yesterday? Why hasn't she returned yet?"
In the Zhou household, a few small dishes had long gone cold on the table. Zhou Guilian disdainfully picked at the rice in her bowl. Due to an injury on her forehead, the doctor had advised her against eating many things to avoid scarring. For days, her meals had consisted solely of boiled vegetables, and she hadn't stepped outside for quite some time. Today, after looking in the mirror and noticing that her wound had nearly healed and the scar had faded, she finally got out of bed lazily around noon when it was time for lunch.
"You still dare to say that? Look at me; I've lost several pounds these past few days. Grandmother is biased, insisting that since you are going to be the future Top Scholar's Wife, we all have to eat the same as you. Meanwhile, the Muxin family has feasts every day."
Mentioning this made Zhou Xiaolian furious. It was just a wound on her forehead! Did it really require the whole family to eat boiled greens every day because of it?
She had fallen before, and her injuries were worse than this one. Why didn't Grandmother and Mother treat her like this?
"You little Girl, what do you know? Right now, that boy Liulang and that Muxin girl have no chance together. If your sister gets any more disfigured, will Liulang still look at her? Besides, that Muxin girl is always attracting attention from men, bringing one after another home. By now, she must be a withered flower; at that point, even if my Gui Lian were to lick her toes, she'd find them dirty."
Mrs. You gave Zhou Xiaolian a playful smack on the head and shot her a glare while indulging in her fantasies.
Hearing this, Zhou Guilian shyly lowered her head, her cheeks turning bright red.
"Mother, that's not fair! Look at those men in Xia Muxin's house; aren't they all taller and more handsome than Liulang? Their demeanor is unmatched too, especially that one in black; he looks like a celestial being descended to earth—so incredibly handsome."
Zhou Xiaolian couldn't stand seeing her grandmother and parents favoring her sisters. Being the youngest, she should be the most cherished. Thus, she often clashed with them.
"You... You Stinky Girl, you're turning your elbow outward! How did I end up with such a troublesome child?"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. You reached out to hit Zhou Xiaolian, but she mischievously stuck out her tongue and moved away from the stool, darting toward the door while retorting, "Hmph! You didn't just give birth to me as a troublesome child; you gave birth to four troublesome children!"
At this remark, Mrs. You threw down her chopsticks with a snap and aimed for a stick by the door but was stopped by Zhou Guilian.
"Color Lotus, what's wrong with you today? You're so quiet and distracted—are you sick?"
Zhou Yousheng had been eating out these past few days because she found the food at home unappetizing. Yet today, usually sharp-witted Zhou Cailian allowed Mother and little sister to bicker without intervening. When little sister mentioned the man in black earlier, her cheeks had also flushed slightly, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she chewed on a mouthful of rice without swallowing.
Among the sisters, Color Lotus was the most sensible and never offended anyone. None of the young men in the village caught her eye until today...
Was that man truly so handsome?
"Ah... No, Second Sister, I'm fine. I just got lost in thought for a moment."
After a moment, Zhou Cailian realized she had lost her composure. Swallowing the food in her mouth, she laughed awkwardly.
Zhou Guilian's thoughts had already drifted far away. At this moment, she was eager to see the man in Xia Muxin's mouth. She wanted to see what kind of man that worthless Xia Muxin could bring back, especially considering that their small Thatched Cottage was likely home to someone even poorer than herself.
After pondering for a moment, she playfully tugged at You's arm and said sweetly, "Mother... I want to go out for a walk today. Look, my scar has faded quite a bit; I can enjoy the sun now. Besides, it's been so many days; I'm about to go stir-crazy."
You dotingly tapped Zhou Guilian's forehead and smiled, "You know how to make your mother happy."
Zhou Guilian cheered; her mother's words meant she had agreed. She dashed into her room to change into a bright outfit and strutted out confidently.
The midday sun was intense, making it hard to keep one's eyes open. The cracked earth glimmered white under the sunlight. Aunt Xia was afraid of the cold, but Muxin still felt uneasy and helped her inside to rest.
Their family grew dry seedlings—planted like seedlings in the ground that only needed watering at the right time—and they had over an acre of land dedicated to it. However, it was currently fallow. With some free time on her hands, Xia Muxin took out the remaining Fava Beans to sort through while contemplating what else to plant.
Suddenly, a large hand grasped her small one. Shen Muhan didn't wait for her to speak and simply said, "Come with me!"
Everyone else in the house had urged Xia Muxin to take a nap, and Ming Yi was nowhere to be found; it was just the two of them now.
"Alright, wash up well. You've been fussing by the stove for half the day; you must be tired."
At the back of the house, a small room had been constructed—only about three square meters—which now served as their only bathroom. Next to it was a small stove with a large pot on top; their older brother often boiled water for everyone's baths while he was at it.
At this moment, steam filled the bathroom. A large wooden tub, about her height, was filled with water, and layers of mist gathered above it. Xia Muxin felt somewhat dazed as she approached and reached out to test the water temperature, finding it just right.
Turning around, she saw Shen Muhan gazing at her with deep affection.
A strange ripple stirred within her heart as she softly said thank you. Shen Muhan smiled faintly and closed the bathroom door behind him as he left.
Xia Muxin was exhausted and soon fell asleep in the tub. She didn't know how long had passed when the door creaked open, and Shen Muhan's anxious voice came through: "Muxin..."
His voice carried a heavy concern. Xia Muxin drowsily opened her eyes and saw him standing right in front of her, his gaze locked onto hers with his lips pressed into a straight line. She could even hear him gritting his teeth.
The mist in the bathroom hadn't dissipated yet; everything appeared hazy. From Xia Muxin's perspective, Shen Muhan looked like he had stepped out of a painting—almost breathtakingly beautiful.
His deep-set eyes shone like the brightest star in the night sky; whenever she turned to look at him amidst countless others passing by, it felt like they were merely passing through.
He stood there for a moment, not waiting for Xia Muxin to urge him to leave, before turning and walking away. Xia Muxin was somewhat puzzled; what was he angry about? Once the door was closed behind him, she slowly emerged from the bathtub and put on a thin summer shirt, though she only managed to button up two of the buttons. Just then, the bathroom door opened again, and Shen Muhan, with his handsome face set in a serious expression, strode forward without a word and picked her up by the waist.
Xia Muxin pounded her fists against his back a few times but didn’t dare to shout, fearing that it would wake others. If that happened, there would be no way to clear her name.
Shen Muhan carried her into her small room. Although he was angry, he still placed her gently on the bed.
As soon as Xia Muxin hit the bed, she rolled over and curled up in the corner, pulling over a piece of clothing she usually used as a blanket to cover herself while glaring at Shen Muhan.
After a sigh, Shen Muhan found it amusing. His gaze swept around her room, which was simple and clean, just like her. Before turning to leave, he glanced back at Xia Muxin and said teasingly, “Don’t worry; even if you were completely naked, you wouldn’t reveal anything. You’re no different from a man.”
Xia Muxin was furious and grabbed something from the bedside to throw at him.
After throwing it, she felt embarrassed and covered her face with the clothing, curling up tightly.
Shen Muhan bent down to pick up what she had thrown. He took a look at it and found it quite unusual; instead of throwing it back, he simply took it with him.
By the time Xia Muxin realized what had happened, he had already disappeared from sight. Frustrated, she pounded her fists against the bed a few times before tidying herself up and stepping out of her room.
Later, she soaked some fava beans and planned to take a cart to visit Dayao Village once her father and the others woke up. After all, there were many families like Small's; many elderly people must have lost their children. They were old and unable to do heavy labor; there were likely plenty of fava beans around. She intended to understand the situation better and also buy fava beans. If possible, she wanted to lease those barren lands and hire people to help her cultivate them.
“Why don’t I go with you? Uncle Xia can stay home and keep Ant company while Songzi can go fish in the net. But remember not to go into the water.”
Seeing that Xia Muxin was already prepared and had changed into straw sandals for Summer Forest, Shen Muhan stepped in unexpectedly. Xia Muxin immediately disagreed because she didn’t want to be alone with him. Summer Forest also objected; aside from Benefactor not being mentioned, Shen Muhan was still their guest—how could they let a guest do hard labor?
However, Shen Muhan disregarded their opinions entirely. He took several large strides forward, grabbed the cart, and walked out. Xia Muxin had no choice but to shake her head at her father before grabbing two bamboo baskets and a scale to follow him.
Just as they stepped out of their yard, Zhou Guilian waved at her flamboyantly with a handkerchief.
“Muxin sister, are you going up the mountain to gather firewood again? It just rained; there are many snakes and insects around—be careful!”
Zhou Guilian was wearing an overwhelming mix of perfumes that created an unpleasant odor. Xia Muxin suppressed the urge to gag and didn’t even glance at him as she jogged after Shen Muhan.
Zhou Guilian felt utterly ignored by Xia Muxin and was infuriated enough that his nose wrinkled in anger. However, after a long while, he managed to calm his racing heart; that man... was simply too handsome.
Moreover, he was tall with a perfect physique; those deep eyes like obsidian could captivate anyone with just one glance.
No wonder Color Lotus's girl looked so lost; any woman who encountered such an exceptional man would feel the same.
However, his gaze was distant, carrying a chilling coldness. He didn't even glance at her but was willing to pull that broken cart for Xia Muxin. Zhou Guilian took out a mirror to examine herself, then compared it to Xia Muxin's ordinary face. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, stomping her foot on the ground as if she were stepping on Xia Muxin.
By evening, Xia Muxin and the others returned with nearly two hundred pounds of Fava Beans. She had been busy these past few days and needed to go to Town tomorrow to purchase materials. This time, she planned to make Orchid Beans in different flavors and earn a good profit.
Feeling tired, Shen Muhan didn’t let her work. He instructed Ming Yi to wash and chop the vegetables while Xia Muxin only washed the rice, and Songzi tended the fire. Once everything was prepared, she simply stirred the dishes.
Xia Tieshu had already boiled a large pot of water for bathing, and they had all washed up early to save on kerosene. At this moment, only Xia Muxin and Shen Muhan remained.
“Muxin! After dinner, leave this bowl here. Go prepare bathwater for Mu Han; he must be exhausted from pulling and walking all day.”
Summer Forest and the others were very grateful for Shen Muhan's actions today. During dinner, they reminded Muxin of her task.
Shen Muhan smirked slightly, calmly picking up food and enjoying his meal.
Xia Muxin shot him a glance, grinding her teeth in frustration. This man only acted like a good person in front of her family. What did he mean by being tired? He almost kissed her today and shamelessly claimed it was her fault for throwing herself at him while he played the hero to catch her and then said he was the one at a loss.
But she wouldn’t mention this in front of her family.
After dinner, she indeed went to prepare bathwater for him.
“Muxin...”
Just as she poured hot water into the tub, Shen Muhan's cheerful voice came through, laced with a hint of playfulness.
“Don’t you want me to prepare bathwater?”
Xia Muxin shot him an annoyed look and replied coldly.
“No, I want to wear the undergarment you sewed for me.”
Shen Muhan smiled at her, holding up the clean clothes she had just prepared with an innocent and pitiful expression.
Xia Muxin took a deep breath. Who said she was good with needlework? He had taken out all those ruined clothes and asked her to help mend them in front of their parents. Reluctantly, she complied but never expected he would use this against her today.
Xia Muxin paused for a moment, a perfectly timed smile appearing on her face. "Good!"
Half a stick of incense later...
"Ah... Xia Muxin, do you want to burn me alive?"
Xia Muxin covered her mouth and giggled. This was what you get for bullying me; it was karma. After all, your skin is thick, so if you don’t get burned, that’s just luck. If you do get burned, then that’s what you deserve.
Shen Muhan emerged from the bath, his expression dark. Summer Forest and the others hadn’t gone to sleep yet; upon seeing him come out, they greeted him before heading inside to rest. This was their most basic courtesy as hosts.
Xia Muxin stuck out her tongue at Shen Muhan and made a face. Just as she was about to enter the room under Shen Muhan's icy glare, she heard someone outside shouting:
"Xia Muxin, you shameless girl!"
At this, Xia Muxin paused in her tracks and turned around, only to see Shen Muhan frowning, his gaze also directed outside.
Through the flimsy wooden door, she could vaguely see flickering flames, and that voice from earlier...
In an instant, Xia Muxin's face darkened. She grabbed the oil lamp from the stove and stepped forward to open the door.
Before her stood several torches flickering outside her fence. Even from a distance, she could hear the sound of the night wind rustling through the flames.
Shen Muhan stepped forward and took Xia Muxin's small hand, leading her toward the light.
"Indeed, Xia Muxin, you are truly a shameless wretch. You boasted during the day that you were engaged to my Liulang and that you would marry no one else. Now you bring a man into your home at night! What kind of heart do you have? Are you trying to disturb my family’s peace? Do you want Liulang to fail his studies and not become a Top Scholar?"
"Feng Family girl, before we clarify this matter, it’s best not to make reckless accusations. This concerns the reputations of both Muxin and Liulang. Are you trying to let everyone in the village know?"
There were quite a few people outside. The one shouting earlier was Feng Liulang's mother, known as Feng San Niang. Since her husband was a son-in-law with no real power at home, all decisions were made by her and her father. The village chief, Yang Dadong, had also been called over. Seeing Feng San Niang speak so harshly about Muxin made him feel uncomfortable, so he spoke up to mediate.
"What did I say about her? If she can say such things without fear of others knowing? My Liulang is the real victim here! Your Ermiao is obsessed with Xia Tieshu and spends every day at home embroidering shoes while waiting to get married. If you're not going to speak well for her family, who else will?"
"You..."
Feng San Niang was known for her loose tongue; if she weren’t like this, no decent man in the village would dare marry her. As a result, she ended up with Feng Liulang's father Four Mao—a frail man who couldn’t carry or lift anything but managed to father Feng Liulang. He was her only child and a treasure in her eyes—so precious that she feared he might break if held too tightly or melt if kept in her mouth. Now nearly sixteen years old, he had never worked in the fields.
Because the fortune teller said that her Liulang was a blessed child, destined to eat the court's grain, they sent him to school to gain knowledge. Indeed, this came true; the Feng Family was even more proud, and the Wang family would not dare to target them.
"Has this Aunt finished speaking? Your Liulang Qilang's choice of whom to marry has nothing to do with me, Xia Muxin. Who spread such rumors? If you have the ability, let him say it in front of me. If not, don't spread baseless claims that could ruin my reputation. It doesn't matter if my name is tarnished, but if your precious son’s reputation is damaged, that would be troublesome. After all, he is your only child. If he were to take drastic measures over this matter, you would be the first to bear the consequences!"
Xia Muxin remained calm and composed, elegantly yawning before launching into a tirade against Feng San Niang. The latter was left dumbfounded by her words, unable to respond for a long while. However, she had indeed heard some gossip while washing clothes by the river; a few passing men had carelessly discussed this matter. She had been holding back her temper until now, but Xia Muxin’s few remarks left her feeling deflated.
"Xia Muxin is already taken. From now on, do not let me hear any slander against her name. Otherwise... the consequences are something you cannot afford."
Finally, Shen Muhan erupted from his silence. To dare covet the woman he favored was akin to courting death. His cold words made Feng San Niang tremble all over. What kind of man had Xia Muxin brought back? During the day, she thought he looked handsome from the side, but now that he spoke—my goodness, it was terrifying.
But that child Liulang was also stubborn; no matter what, he insisted on getting clarity from her and even said that if Xia Muxin truly wanted to marry him, he would...
"Alright, everyone disperse. This is just a trivial matter; must it escalate into a neighborhood dispute and cause such a stir?"
With an opportunity presented, Village Chief Yang Dadong immediately pulled Feng San Niang, pushing other villagers along with him. The others were also afraid that these two families would escalate things further and came over to take a look; they could intervene if necessary. After all, the temper of the Feng Family’s sister-in-law was more stubborn than a bull and very competitive. At home, she would scold and throw things around—it was quite frightening. With Muxin's family just having gone through something like this, another uproar would truly disrupt their peace.
However, they did not expect that this Muxin girl not only remained composed but also managed to silence Feng San Niang with just a few words, leaving them in awe!
After muttering a few words among themselves, they followed the Village Chief's lead and returned home.
Though somewhat unwilling, Feng San Niang saw Xia Muxin turn her back and enter the house, closing the door behind her. The Village Chief and others walked back as well. In the pitch darkness, they recalled that man's icy voice and couldn't help but shiver as they hurried after the Village Chief towards home.
"Uncle, what does it mean to be 'taken'?"
Meanwhile, Xia Muxin, having secured the door, noticed Shen Muhan sitting on the bed. In the dim light, his eyes shone brightly as he stared directly at her while she was still caught up in his earlier remark about being 'taken.'
Was he just bored?
Did he know that by saying this, everyone in Licun would soon find out? Since it was his claim, he would be the first suspect when people started talking; could she remain calm after this?
"I’m doing this for your own good! By saying so, those who covet you will think twice before pursuing you again. You can focus on doing what you want."
As for me? I’ll just patiently wait for you to grow up!
And also... drive away all your admirers!
Shen Muhan rubbed his chin, feeling quite wronged by Xia Muxin's question. He displayed a hurt expression and said openly for her to see.
Xia Muxin gritted her teeth, her fingers cracking as she clenched them. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath several times before blowing out the oil lamp and stepping into her room, shrouded in darkness.
Meanwhile, Feng San Niang returned home to find Feng Liulang still awake, staring blankly at the oil lamp on the table.
"Liulang, what's wrong? Why aren't you asleep? You have to get up early for school tomorrow," she said softly as she turned to secure the door and approached him.
Feng Liulang took a while to realize his mother had come back. In a moment of panic, he grabbed Feng San Niang's hand and asked, "Mother, what happened? What did Muxin say? Did she agree to marry me?"
Hearing Xia Muxin's name made Feng San Niang angry. If that girl entered their home, would they still have to provide for her? But she didn't want to explode in front of Liulang. Instead, she reached out to touch his forehead with concern. "My child, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I'll go call your father and have him fetch Doctor Wu."
"Mother, I'm asking you something! What about Muxin?" Feng Liulang impatiently swatted away her hand resting on his forehead and pressed on with his questioning.
"Oh dear, Liulang, I know you're upset. Xia Muxin is headstrong and unreasonable. Her words must have hurt you deeply and tarnished your reputation. I feel bad about it too, but we can't just force her to apologize. As long as she keeps her distance from you in the future, what does it matter? We can always find someone else for you," Feng San Niang said, trying to comfort her son while disparaging Xia Muxin.
At this, Feng Liulang stared at his mother in disbelief and nearly shouted, "Mother, how did you talk to her? Didn't I say that if she was willing to marry me, I would marry her?"
Xia Muxin might have a bad temper, but he had seen how capable she was these days. He intended to build a great career and couldn't afford to be like those useless men in the village who spent all day at home with their children and wives. Having a capable wife would save him a lot of trouble; at least she could support the family and take care of the children. When he returned home, she'd have hot water ready for him and a table full of good food waiting.
Women shouldn't be too talkative; after all, they were meant to stay at home and must respect their in-laws.
Seeing how Xia Muxin honored her parents by providing for them made him quite satisfied. Once he achieved success, he could marry a few concubines like Wang Dafu and enjoy family bliss.
Feng San Niang was taken aback. She pulled her arm away and pointed at the pale-faced Feng Liulang. "Marry? Do you want your mother to die an unburied death? Do you know how formidable that girl from the Xia family is? She's so disrespectful that she dares to scold me! Besides, there are questionable men living in her house; her reputation is probably long gone. Are you trying to bring shame upon our ancestors? You want to marry a fallen woman like that? What kind of sin have I committed raising such an ungrateful son who has set his sights on such lowly company?"
Feng San Niang genuinely cared for Feng Liulang but had never approved of his relationship with Xia Muxin from the start. His father disapproved too; otherwise, they would have already sent marriage gifts. The Xia family wouldn't ask for much silver to bring their daughter over.
In the past, Xia Muxin had seemed obedient and shy, afraid even to look anyone in the eye. After the incident regarding the concubine status, she had completely changed. If she insisted on staying with them, it would indeed become troublesome. If someone were sent to propose on her behalf, she'd soon be thirteen—an age when engagements were common—and by fourteen she'd be married and having children. Then she'd become a significant benefactor for her family.
She had always been accommodating to Liulang, never once losing her temper in front of him. This time, however, she was resolute, determined not to let Liulang remain infatuated any longer. With a heavy heart, she began to cry bitterly.
Her tears startled Four Mao, Liulang's father, awake, while Feng Wu, the patriarch of the Feng Family, emerged with a grim expression. Seeing his daughter sitting on the ground in distress and his precious grandson breathing heavily with clenched fists filled him with confusion. He spoke in a deep voice:
"What’s all this fuss about in the middle of the night? San Niang, didn’t you go to the Xia Family? Is that ungrateful girl refusing to give up on my Liulang? Tomorrow, I’ll personally pay them a visit and make sure they keep an eye on their daughter who seems to think she can pursue anyone."
Four Mao had never held authority in the household; all decisions were made by this father-daughter duo while he merely observed and lent a hand when needed. He occupied the lowest position in the family hierarchy—when they were happy, he might get a decent meal; when they were displeased, he would eat whatever scraps were left over. So he remained indifferent, even as his wife sat on the floor crying uncontrollably, not bothering to help her up.
Feng Liulang shot a disdainful glance at his grandfather, making a racket as he knocked over chairs and tables. He flung the oil lamp far away and stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him with such force that thick dust flew into the air.
Seeing Feng Liulang retreat into his room, Feng San Niang scrambled to her feet, glared at Four Mao, and scolded him to clean up the mess before dragging her father away.
Her expression was unusually tense, causing Feng Wu's heart to race. Could it be true that Xia Muxin was so stubbornly clinging to his Liulang that she wouldn’t marry anyone else?
The next day, Xia Muxin woke up early. After checking on the soaking fava beans, she began preparing breakfast.
- End of Chapter -
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