Chapter 22:- Dreaming About Her “Dead” Husband

 

The Qi family’s greatest wish was for Qi Siming to return safely. As for lofty dreams like being bestowed titles or achieving great military ranks, even Qi Qingfeng, who admired his elder brother the most, had never dared to imagine such things.

Perhaps the news was too unbelievable. Qi Qingfeng chose to focus only on the excitement of his brother being alive, though it took two stern reprimands from his teacher during class for his overflowing joy to subside slightly and his usual focus to return.

After class ended and the teacher left, his friend Cao Song scooted closer with a curious look. “You’re something else, Qingfeng. You even managed to zone out during Ding-laoshi’s class!”

He gave a thumbs-up, but Qi Qingfeng, still in a good mood, brushed it aside. He glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then lowered his voice. “I just heard some good news. My emotions got the better of me. Don’t make a fuss about it.”

The last time he let slip something personal, the entire class had found out. Ever since his return from home, every glance from his classmates carried a touch of pity, and even the teacher would add a consolatory “my condolences” after reviewing his work. It had been a nightmare.

Cao Song leaned in closer, equally quiet now. “Good news? What kind of good news? Did you find out when the break starts?”

He was so excited by the thought that he could already picture himself heading home with a packed bundle.

Qi Qingfeng couldn’t help laughing softly. “No, no, it’s not that. It’s… my elder brother is coming back next year.”

“Huh? But didn’t you say last time…” Cao Song’s eyes widened. Once Qi Qingfeng explained, realization dawned on Cao Song’s face. He leaned back, his gaze turning contemplative. “Wait… Didn’t your parents secretly arrange a wife for him while he was away? Have you figured out how you’re going to explain that to him?”

Qi Qingfeng froze.

—

Meanwhile, Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng, who were out hiring a scribe to write a letter to Qi Siming, didn’t shy away from mentioning the marriage arrangement. They decided it was better to be upfront and honest about Xu Shuyue’s presence and her background.

The scribe finished writing, laid the brush down carefully, and read the letter aloud to confirm its accuracy. Once satisfied, he dried the ink, folded the letter into an envelope, and handed it over. “That’ll be ten wen for the letter. If you’d like me to deliver it to the postal station, it’s an extra two wen.”

Madam Wei hesitated. She had heard stories in the village about unscrupulous scribes who pocketed the money but never sent the letters. Reluctant to take the risk, she paid only the ten wen, and Qi Ansheng pocketed the envelope. The couple, along with Xu Shuyue, walked to the postal station themselves to ensure the letter was sent.

The clerk at the station received the letter and, upon hearing it was addressed to the Northern Border battlefield, looked at the couple with a mix of pity and resignation. Most men sent to the battlefield never returned. The situation in the Northern Border was dire, and the clerk doubted the letter would even reach its intended recipient.

Shaking his head, he lamented to himself, Another set of grieving parents sending their son off to his doom.

Back at the Qi household, not long after their return, Eldest Brother Liang and Second Brother Liang came by to return the baskets and barrels. Xu Shuyue agreed with them to head to the county again in three days to sell off the remaining snow fungus and pear soup before the year-end.

That night, Madam Wei lit the oil lamp and began counting the silver they had earned over the past two weeks. The snow fungus pear soup had been the main source of income. Now that she had gathered it all together, the final sum left her speechless.

“Fourteen and a half tael! Heavens above, how did we make so much?” Madam Wei exclaimed. She had been involved in every step, from buying the snow fungus to selling the sweet soup. Though she had expected some profit, she hadn’t imagined they’d clear nearly fifteen tael after deducting costs.

Fifteen liang! Not fifteen wen!

Qi Ansheng was equally stunned. The hard-earned income from an entire year of tending to their fruit trees only amounted to a little over ten liang. Yet Xu Shuyue had managed to earn this much in just a few days.

Shaking his head in amazement, he said, “Shuyue is truly a blessing to our family. If Siming doesn’t appreciate what a wonderful wife he has, he’d better thank his lucky stars for her!”

Xu Shuyue, unfazed, simply smiled. She had kept meticulous accounts and already expected such results. Humbly, she replied, “It’s just luck. On normal days, we wouldn’t sell so quickly.”

Initially, she had anticipated selling up until the end of the year. But to her surprise, the county was filled with affluent customers. On her second day out, a servant from a wealthy household purchased an entire barrel to deliver to their master. Though the family didn’t return for more, word of the snow fungus pear soup spread like wildfire. For three consecutive days, she sold out by noon.

The warmth of the fire cast a rosy glow on Xu Shuyue’s cheeks. Madam Wei’s gaze softened as she observed her daughter-in-law’s bashful smile.

Suddenly, Madam Wei chuckled. “Luck? That’s nonsense! It’s because you’re capable, Shuyue! Without your skills and courage, how could we have such a prosperous year?”

The once-empty shelves now held baskets of peanuts and walnuts. Sweet roasted yams emitted a tantalizing aroma from the stove. Boxes of pastries from Rongxiang Pavilion graced the table, and the pantry was stocked with dried and fresh meats. Compared to last year’s struggles, this year felt like a dream.

Qi Ansheng wasn’t one for flowery words. He simply handed a roasted yam to his wife and placed another in front of Xu Shuyue. “Eat it while it’s hot.”

Xu Shuyue took it with a cheerful “thank you” and began nibbling on the yam while watching Madam Wei count their earnings.

“The dried fruit and candied fruit brought in over seven liang. Next year, we won’t have to worry about Qingfeng’s tuition,” Madam Wei said with a wide grin. The year’s hard work had paid off.

Then, pushing five liang of silver and over a hundred wen in coins toward Xu Shuyue, she said, “Here, take this.”

Caught off guard, Xu Shuyue blinked. “Mother?”

Madam Wei’s voice was warm as she handed over a pouch of silver. “This is for your personal expenses. Take it. When the new year comes and the children visit, you, as their aunt, should have some spare silver on hand.”

Even the stingiest mothers-in-law in the village would give their daughters-in-law a few coins before the new year to save face in front of the younger generation.

Five taels of silver wasn’t a small amount. If spent frugally, it was enough to cover a family’s expenses for an entire year. Xu Shuyue felt a warmth spread through her heart—she really was lucky to have married into such a good household.

But no matter how good the days were now, in six months, they would come to an end.

That night, she fell asleep clutching the five taels of silver. Perhaps because she had been thinking too much about her deceased husband during the day, she had a strange dream.

In her dream, a man clad in armor charged forward on a galloping warhorse, his blade piercing an enemy’s chest. A blood-red banner billowed under the moonlight.

The iron scent of blood swept through the air.

She stood atop a weathered city wall, gazing down at the battlefield. Suddenly, the man turned, and their eyes met—fierce, wolf-like eyes, filled with a ruthless intensity.

The moment their gazes locked, Xu Shuyue woke up with a start.

Whoosh—

Cold wind rattled the window lattice, pushing it slightly ajar.

She hurriedly pulled on a cotton robe, sat up, and shut the window tight. Yet no matter how hard she tried to recall, the dream slipped away like sand through her fingers, leaving behind only an uneasy, lingering sense of dread.

As the new year approached, every household busied themselves with preparations. Qi Qingfeng had returned from the academy, and the next day was the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month. The entire family worked together to thoroughly clean the house.

A villager came to invite Qi Ansheng to help with the annual pig slaughter. Madam Wei, worried that Xu Shuyue would be bored, pulled her along to watch the excitement.

The moment they stepped into the courtyard, they heard a group of women gossiping about the Qi family. It was either speculation about whether Qi Siming was still alive or talk about Xu Shuyue herself—nothing particularly surprising.

Madam Wei disliked hearing such talk and deliberately raised her voice to greet the hostess.

“Madam Liu, I brought Shuyue along. Anything we can help with?”

Madam Liu, upon seeing them, brightened with delight and rushed over to grab Madam Wei’s hand. “Good sister, how long has it been since you came to chat with me?”

Madam Wei, who was on good terms with Madam Liu, chuckled. “I’ve been busy, of course! Shuyue, this is your elder cousin-in-law, Meizi. By seniority, you should call her Aunt Hua.”

Xu Shuyue obediently greeted, “Aunt Hua.”

Madam Liu gave her an appraising look and exclaimed, “So this is the wife you found for Siming? She’s really quite beautiful.”

When Xu Shuyue had lived with her elder brother’s family, she had been malnourished—her skin sallow, her frame skeletal. But after just over a month with the Qi family, she seemed completely transformed. Her complexion had become fair, her cheeks had filled out slightly, and she looked far more vibrant.

She was now someone people couldn’t help but want to pinch.

As Madam Wei recounted Xu Shuyue’s past hardships, Madam Liu felt a pang of sympathy. She reached out and gently pinched Xu Shuyue’s cheek, comforting her, “That’s all in the past. What matters is that you and the Qi family are fated to be together. No need to dwell on unpleasant memories. Since you’re here, dear sister, why don’t you help me boil some water to scald the pig’s bristles?”

Madam Wei playfully scolded, “You just love bossing me around! Where are your daughters-in-law?”

Madam Liu sighed. “Little Liu is sick, and my other daughter-in-law is about to give birth. Neither of them can help, so I have to do everything myself.”

“Little Liu is sick?”

“He caught a chill yesterday while helping me run errands in town…”

As the two women chatted, they gradually walked away.

Xu Shuyue remained where she was, realizing after a while that Madam Wei had completely forgotten about her. She wasn’t bothered, though. Instead, she found a quiet spot in the courtyard, listening to the village women’s gossip while watching Qi Ansheng and the host corral a pig out of its pen.

She sat quietly, undisturbed.

Outside the fence, Xu Laoda fixed his greedy gaze on the silver hairpin in her hair. The desire in his eyes grew stronger.

After a long moment, he flicked a small stone toward her.

Plop.

The stone landed right at Xu Shuyue’s feet.

She looked up to see Xu Laoda standing outside, winking at her, beckoning her over.

Xu Shuyue raised an eyebrow but ignored him.

Did he think she was an idiot? What good could possibly come from talking to him?

Last time, she had drenched him with water. He probably hadn’t even dried off properly yet.

He was clearly looking for revenge.

Seeing that she wasn’t responding, Xu Laoda’s patience snapped. His expression darkened, and when he saw that everyone’s attention was on the pig, he sneaked into the courtyard and pointed at her angrily.

“You little wench, are you deaf or mute? Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

Xu Shuyue hadn’t expected him to be bold enough to come inside. She was slightly surprised but didn’t take him seriously. She turned to call out, “Father—mmph!”

Xu Laoda swiftly covered her mouth, intending to threaten her into silence.

But before he could say anything, a sharp pain shot through his palm.

“Argh!”

His eyes widened in agony. “You wretched girl! You dare bite me?!”

Xu Shuyue bit down even harder.

“Aaagh!”

The pain was so intense that he instinctively let go. His hand trembled as he looked down, seeing deep, almost bone-deep bite marks.

Xu Shuyue spat out a mouthful of blood and glared at him in disgust. “Serves you right!”

She turned to leave, intending to find Madam Wei.

But Xu Laoda’s reaction was quicker than she had anticipated. Before she could take a step, she suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of her head.

Thud!

A dull impact reverberated through her skull.

Pain surged a second later, crashing over her like a tidal wave.

Xu Shuyue’s vision blurred.

In her fading consciousness, she barely registered Xu Laoda’s panicked expression, and for some reason, she found it almost amusing.

A faint, mocking smile touched her lips.

Then, everything went black.