Chapter 7 “The Greedy Relatives”

 

Under the gloomy gray sky, the basket filled with gold-colored paper ingots drew everyone’s attention.

Even Wang Qiuniang, the one who had spoken earlier, widened her eyes in disbelief. The others, too, were stunned and couldn’t help but glance at Xu Shuyue with astonishment.

Swallowing nervously, Wang Qiuniang stammered, “Good heavens! Burning incense and paper for the return visit? I’ve lived half my life and never seen anything like this! What’s wrong with the Xu family? Are they out of their minds?”

“Mind your words, Aunt Wang,” Xu Shuyue said calmly, covering the basket with the rough cloth again. She looked at Wang Qiuniang and spoke lightly, “My parents have been gone for years. They neither eat nor drink, so when I go back to visit them, should I bring cured meat and eggs? That would be highly disrespectful.”

The idea of taking such offerings to one’s parents’ graves on a joyous return visit struck everyone as absurd.

But Xu Shuyue didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with her words. Smiling, she said, “It’s getting late. I won’t keep you all from your chores. If I’m delayed, my parents might not look kindly on their son-in-law.”

With that, she turned and headed toward the mountain without caring about the shocked expressions behind her.

Wang Qiuniang rubbed her arms as goosebumps spread. She muttered, “This is bad… really bad. That Qi family, going through with this ghost marriage, has driven the girl mad! Instead of returning to her uncle’s house, she’s heading to her parents’ graves. What a joke! I must tell Xu Laoda about this!”

Throwing her broom back into her yard, Wang Qiuniang locked the door and rushed toward the Xu family’s house.

The others who had been watching the spectacle shook their heads, feeling the drama wasn’t worth their time anymore.

One person muttered, “Why is she meddling in someone else’s family matters? She’s barely even a relative.”

A man, tucking his hands into his sleeves to ward off the cold, agreed casually, “Exactly.”

But Wang Qiuniang wasn’t one to let things go. Arriving at the Xu family’s house, she eagerly recounted Xu Shuyue’s words to Madam Chen.

Shaking her head in disdain, she concluded, “I’m telling you, Xu Shuyue is no good!”

Madam Chen, who was leaning against a cabinet doing needlework, nearly pricked her hand with the needle in irritation. She found Wang Qiuniang’s chatter tiresome but responded perfunctorily, “A girl married off is like spilled water. Shuyue never liked me as her aunt. I can understand her actions.”

Her words painted her as a tolerant and understanding aunt, willing to excuse her younger relative’s behavior.

But Wang Qiuniang wasn’t convinced. She gave Madam Chen a disapproving look and said, “You’re too soft-hearted! That jinx doesn’t know her place. Today she disrespects her uncle and aunt; tomorrow, she’ll cause an even bigger mess. When that happens, it’ll be you who suffers!”

Madam Chen secretly wished for Xu Shuyue to cause trouble and ruin her reputation—it would serve her right. However, she couldn’t deny that Wang Qiuniang’s words carried some truth.

While she didn’t fully believe the rumors about Xu Shuyue’s ill fate, years of hearing them had left Madam Chen slightly wary.

With a calculated look, Madam Chen bit off the thread she was working on and deliberately changed the topic, feigning indifference.

“Shuyue is a Qi family member now,” she said lightly. “If she stirs up trouble, that’s for the Qi family to handle. What’s the point of me stepping in and embarrassing myself?”

She looked at Wang Qiuniang and added with a sweet but cutting tone, “Don’t you agree, Sister Wang?”

Wang Qiuniang’s eyes flashed with disdain. People always said that the Xu family weren’t to be trifled with, but now that she had met them in person, where was the supposed grandeur from the rumors? It seemed she had braved the cold wind for nothing.

Madam Chen refused to take the bait, so Wang Qiuniang’s trip here was wasted. Since she couldn’t stir up trouble for her nemesis, Madam Wei, she had no interest in lingering at the Xu family’s house. Grabbing a handful of peanuts from the brazier, she snapped irritably, “The Xu family is so kind-hearted. Fine, I have nothing more to say. I’ve got to get back and cook dinner.”

And with that, Wang Qiuniang left without a backward glance.

Madam Chen stared at the now-empty brazier, her face darkening in anger. Tossing aside her embroidery, she fumed, That old hag! Not only did she try to push me into being her front-line soldier, but she also helped herself to my peanuts!

Moments later, Xu Laoda (the eldest brother of the Xu family) returned from his stroll.

Madam Chen yelled in frustration, “From now on, don’t let that greedy old woman into the house again! I didn’t even get to eat more than two peanuts, and she took the rest!”

Xu Laoda, oblivious to what had transpired, looked at his wife in confusion. He had stepped out when Wang Qiuniang started gossiping since he had no interest in listening to such chatter. Now, returning to Madam Chen’s complaints, he couldn’t understand why her attitude toward Wang Qiuniang had suddenly shifted.

He settled down by the brazier, rubbing his frozen hands over the fire, and said nonchalantly, “It’s just a few peanuts. Why are you so worked up?”

“A few peanuts?” Madam Chen’s voice turned sharp, her anger boiling over at her husband’s indifference.

She thought back to what Wang Qiuniang had told her and immediately snapped, “Peanuts don’t matter to you, but what about the bacon and eggs that were supposed to be yours? Are you still so indifferent now?”

Xu Laoda frowned in confusion. “What bacon? What eggs? What nonsense are you talking about?”

Madam Chen’s tone grew even more caustic. “I think you’ve forgotten that today is your niece’s return-to-her-family day, haven’t you?”

Her words jogged Xu Laoda’s memory. He suddenly remembered that it was indeed the day Xu Shuyue was supposed to visit. But he’d been home all day and hadn’t seen any sign of her. Puzzled, he asked, “What time is it now? Why hasn’t she come?”

Madam Chen scoffed, her face full of mockery. “She’s not coming. She made a grand statement in front of the entire village—she’s taking spirit money to pay respects at her parents’ graves instead.”

Xu Laoda’s brows furrowed deeper. “What do you mean by that?”

Rolling her eyes, Madam Chen sneered, “What do I mean? I mean she acknowledges the grave of her parents as her home, not this place. She doesn’t see this as her family anymore! Xu Laoda, your niece is making a laughingstock out of our family in front of the entire village!”

With that, Madam Chen shoved him aside and stomped out to cook, deliberately leaving Xu Laoda alone in the room to stew in his thoughts.

Just as she finished rinsing the rice, she heard the courtyard gate slam open. A figure stormed out of the house, brimming with fury.

Xu Laoda had finally reached his boiling point.

Madam Chen withdrew her gaze, a sly smile of satisfaction playing on her lips.

Meanwhile, on the deserted mountain, Xu Shuyue stood in front of the simple graves of Xu Father and Xu Mother. Guided by memory, she had found the spot, though the state of the graves left her heart heavy.

Xu Laoda had taken control of the family’s wealth after their parents passed. Urged on by Madam Chen, he had begrudged spending money on giving her parents a proper burial. They had been laid to rest in a hastily chosen spot, marked not by sturdy stone but by cheap wooden headstones.

The sky was overcast, heavy clouds blocking out the sun. The mountain was eerily quiet. Xu Shuyue carefully used a cloth to wipe the dust and weeds from the headstones, her heart unsettled.

She lit incense and candles, placing them respectfully on either side of the graves. After a long pause, she spoke softly but directly, “You must already know—I am not truly your daughter.”

The moment the words left her lips, it was as if a weight she had carried for years had finally been lifted. What followed came easily, as though unburdened.

Looking at the graves, her eyes softened with a hint of sadness. “If your spirits are watching from above, I pray you bless Xu Shuyue in her next life. May she find peace and joy and no longer endure the pain of this world.”

As her words lingered in the cold air, a sudden gust of wind passed by, making the flames of the candles dance. The paper money she had burned turned to ash, swirling in the air before landing gently on her shoulder, as though it were a response from them.

On her way back down the mountain, Xu Shuyue’s legs felt weak and unsteady from kneeling for so long. She stumbled her way home, her body exhausted.

When Madam Wei saw her return, she rushed over anxiously. “What happened to you?”

Xu Shuyue gave a wry smile. “It’s nothing, Mother. I just knelt for too long, and now my legs are numb.”

Qi Ansheng, who had been sitting nearby, frowned. The journey from the mountain to their home wasn’t a short one, and for her legs to still be weak after such a distance was a clear sign of her frailty.

Madam Wei, sharing the same concern, helped Xu Shuyue sit down. She held her cold hands, then handed her a warmed handwarmer, scolding herself regretfully. “If I had known, I would have gone with you.”

Then, with a hint of worry, she asked, “You didn’t run into any trouble on the way back, did you?”

Madam Wei’s real concern was whether anyone had confronted Xu Shuyue or spread malicious gossip. In the village, Xu Shuyue’s reputation as someone with an “inauspicious fate” was well-known. Madam Wei feared someone might take the chance to belittle or insult her.

Xu Shuyue shook her head, deciding not to tell her mother about Wang Qiuniang’s petty visit. Sharing such things would only upset Madam Wei unnecessarily. “No one approached me,” she said simply.

Her subtle change in wording was enough to reassure Madam Wei, who immediately relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.

Qi Ansheng glanced at Xu Shuyue, as though he had something to say. She pressed her lips together, waiting in silence. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke, but about something else entirely.

“Since Shuyue is back, wife, let’s follow through on what we discussed last night. I’ll head out soon to ask Second-Uncle to choose a burial site for Siming.”

Hearing this, Madam Wei’s mood visibly darkened. She sighed deeply and said, “I’ll take Shuyue to call on BrothSecond Brother Liang and the others. Let’s settle everything today.”

They couldn’t delay any longer—snow was coming again soon.

Just as they finished speaking, Xu Shuyue sensed something and turned towards the door. Her gaze locked unexpectedly with Xu Laoda’s furious eyes, glaring at her from the gate.

“Xu Shuyue, get out here!” he bellowed, his thunderous voice shaking the walls.

Startled by the shout, Madam Wei jumped in her seat. She looked out the door and saw the furious figure of Xu Laoda. Confused, she muttered, “What is he doing here?”

To be blunt, in Madam Wei’s eyes, Xu Shuyue was someone Xu Laoda had practically sold to the Qi family. So, when Xu Shuyue mentioned visiting her parents’ graves, Madam Wei didn’t even consider forcing her to go back to the Xu household.

Narrowing her eyes, Xu Shuyue thought of the ever-gossipy Wang Qiuniang. She could guess the reason for Xu Laoda’s sudden appearance. Her face grew cold as she said, “Mother, I’ll handle this. You and Father stay here.”

Madam Wei looked worried, glancing between Xu Laoda’s angry face and her daughter-in-law’s calm resolve. Just as she was about to protest, Qi Ansheng gently grabbed her arm and shook his head. In a low voice, he said, “Let her deal with it. If it gets out of hand, we’ll step in.”

Reluctantly, Madam Wei sat back down.

Xu Shuyue walked to the courtyard gate and stood behind the chest-high wall, staring coolly at Xu Laoda. Her composed expression formed a stark contrast to his raging demeanor.

Her voice was calm, unflinching. “Why are you here?”

Hearing her indifferent tone, Xu Laoda’s anger flared even hotter. He roared, “Xu Shuyue, you should address me as uncle!”

Xu Shuyue’s expression turned colder, her voice sharp. “The day you sold me to the Qi family, you stopped being my uncle.”

“You—!” Xu Laoda raised his hand, the palm poised to strike her face.

Before the blow could land, a strong arm shot out, grabbing his wrist mid-air.