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墨書 Inktalez
"I see you're going crazy over money!"
Xia Muxin couldn't help but scoff. Even though Daimiao Village now belonged to the Ouyang Family, it was not up to the Zhou Family to speak. With a huff from her nose, she turned and walked away towards home.
It wasn't that she was petty; she genuinely despised the Zhou Family, very, very much.
"Hey, you really have no shame! Look at her, what kind of upbringing is that? Just a teenager, and already acting like an old witch that everyone avoids and dislikes."
The Wu Family saw that Xia Muxin and the others completely ignored them and wished they could poke holes in their backs. They stood with their hands on their hips, shouting angrily.
"Wu Family Aunt, don't waste your breath. Your family doesn't even belong in our Daimiao Village. Why can't you just be sensible? If you want the villagers to collectively kick your family out, we can go find the village chief right now and let him make a decision."
However, as Xia Muxin and her group left, more people came to do their laundry. The one leading the conversation was Aunt Wang from the village entrance, a close relative of the Old Village Chief. She knew that the Xia Family had helped the Old Village Chief's family immensely, and they were all grateful to her family. Moreover, after the Xia Family became prosperous, they never forgot about the village. Except for a few shameless families, most had improved their conditions. In their hearts, the Xia Family was their benefactor and a secure future for their children. After all, the contract was signed there; even if they couldn't read, those who could read recited it aloud in front of everyone. If they truly angered the Xia Family and they stopped supporting the village, everyone would suffer.
Besides, the Zhou Family's reputation had already deteriorated to its core; it was likely that not just one person wanted them out of the village—more than half of the villagers probably felt that way.
Aunt Wang's words struck a chord with several members of the Zhou Family. Suddenly, the three of them stood frozen in place, not daring to speak back.
After all, the Wu Family had been abandoned by Summer Old Man; logically speaking, they shouldn't have any right to stay in Daimiao Village anymore. However, most villagers were practical and would never go to extremes. But if they lost their livelihood because of their inability to behave properly, it was possible that one day such a thing might happen.
"Mother, let's rely on our own hands for work from now on and eat by ourselves. Let's not cause any more trouble."
You Shi was scared; she didn't want to return to that desolate hometown. Besides, most people there had already moved away. If they went back, not only would they face exclusion but also be oppressed by local bullies. Just thinking about it made You Shi shiver involuntarily; even Zhou Guilian bit her lip and trembled slightly.
The Wu Family suddenly wilted like frostbitten eggplants, feeling utterly defeated as they said:
"Let's do the laundry, and after that, we should turn over the vegetable patch in the backyard. We need to prepare some provisions for winter."
Before long, more than ten days had passed. The fields had been mostly harvested, and Xia Muxin's family had finished gathering everything yesterday. The workshop had started operating five days ago, but Shen Muhan had yet to return, which left both Xia Muxin and Yan Zhouwan feeling puzzled.
"Alright, it's settled then. The wedding date is set for the eighth of next month."
The family was excitedly looking for an auspicious date for Er Dan and Xia Jihua's wedding. After much deliberation, they finally settled on the eighth of next month, which was just half a month away.
"Muxin, do you have time this afternoon? Come with me to Town. Your aunt has finally cleared her schedule, and I need to make her some nice clothes and prepare more accessories."
Aunt Xia paid the fortune teller with some small change and handed him some pastries. After thanking him repeatedly as he left, she turned to Xia Muxin.
"I have time, Mother. Let's invite Yan Zhouwan to join us."
Xia Muxin smiled warmly at Aunt Xia and glanced at the listless Yan Zhouwan before speaking.
Aunt Xia responded with a sound of acknowledgment and headed into her room. A short while later, she emerged wearing a dark outfit with a bulging pouch hanging from her waist, clearly filled with silver coins.
"Sister-in-law, don't be so extravagant; I have plenty of clothes already."
Xia Jihua came out of the kitchen after tidying up the dishes. She had likely overheard their conversation earlier. Now, her face flushed as she gently tugged at Aunt Xia's arm and spoke softly.
She felt as if she were dreaming; not only did she have food and shelter, but she also had her own pocket money. She never expected to remarry, especially to such a wonderful man. Her gratitude towards her sister-in-law's family was beyond words, especially since they were preparing so many things for her; she felt embarrassed.
"Auntie, you are part of the Xia family; you deserve a grand wedding that others will envy. That way, your life will be worthwhile," Xia Muxin said with a smile as she affectionately took Xia Jihua's arm, trying to instill some lofty ideals in her. However, when she noticed the bulging pouch at her mother's waist, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Mother, are you sure you're not going to Town to attract thieves?"
They say that wealth should not be flaunted, and her mother was always cautious. So why did she lose her head today?
Aunt Xia followed Xia Muxin's gaze to her bulging waist and suddenly understood. She slapped her forehead and said, "Look at my memory; it's still my daughter who is more attentive."
Saying this, she took off the pouch and tucked it into her sleeve.
Soon after, they freshened up and boarded the carriage to Town. Of course, Xia Jihua was also dragged along by Xia Muxin’s persistent pleas. After all, it was for her dowry, so she had to approve of it; otherwise, they wouldn't know if she liked it or not.
The driver was Ming Da. The brothers had been taking turns at the Xia Family, each staying for a few days to ten days at a time. They were always on some mission, though Xia Muxin never asked too many questions about what those missions were. After all, Shen Muhan was a man—a remarkable one at that—and as long as his heart was at home and he didn’t get involved with troublesome women, she didn’t care much.
With Python Brother’s family guarding the home, she felt reassured.
“Ming Da, today is market day, and with the rice harvested, there will likely be many people in town. Just park the carriage at the entrance of the town; we’ll find you after we finish shopping. You can have some fun during that time,” Xia Muxin advised as she lifted the curtain of the carriage to speak to Ming Da. Of course, "having fun" meant they hoped he could find a girl he liked. With so many of them being so outstanding, it was hard for them to find suitable matches from Daimiao Village, so they mostly had to rely on themselves.
Xia Muxin had mentioned this to them more than once, and today when she brought it up again, Ming Da turned red.
They joked and laughed until they reached the town gate. The four of them got off the carriage and headed straight for the largest fabric shop in Town.
In fact, the best fabrics were in Qinan, mostly silk. However, Xia Muxin wanted to select some materials for Xia Jihua that would be more practical for village life since she worked every day and wouldn’t have much opportunity to wear silk. So she decided to pick out some other fabrics to make a few outfits for her.
“Boss Xia has arrived; your presence truly brightens our shop,” the owner of the fabric store greeted warmly. He was quite familiar with Xia Muxin because all the uniforms for Workshop employees were made from fabrics ordered from him. After years of doing business, he had never seen anyone prepare clothes for their employees like this. Plus, she was young yet managed such a large supermarket so well; it was impossible not to admire her.
"Boss Du, you're too polite."
As businesspeople, they spoke in the language of commerce. The principle of reciprocity was something Xia Muxin understood very well.
In fact, this fabric shop was owned by the Ouyang Family, but Xia Muxin not only didn't avoid it; she often visited. This place was indeed worth her attention, and since she always bought in bulk, the prices naturally remained low.
This was a thorn in Boss Du's side, but after all, business was business. Whether he made a little or a lot, it was still profit. Moreover, she was a major client who ordered every month and year; he certainly didn't dare to offend such a significant patron.
After some simple pleasantries, Xia Muxin took her family members aside to browse.
"Mom, what do you think of this piece? The color isn't too dark or too light; it looks upscale at home and appropriate outside."
"Aunt, how about this one? I think it suits you quite well."
"Yan Zhouwan, this one is perfect for you."
"Mom, this shirt would look best on you."
Xia Muxin had a unique eye for selection. The fabrics she chose were neither flashy nor plain but had great depth. They were also selected according to their skin tones, ensuring that any clothes made from them would look stunning on them.
Boss Du watched in awe; with such discerning taste, how could she not be a business owner? He felt humbled in her presence.
"You child, weren't you supposed to be picking for your aunt? Why are you choosing for all of us?" Aunt Xia said with a teasing smile as she watched Xia Muxin compare the fabrics against them one by one.
Yan Zhouwan nodded in agreement, feeling a bit shy about the situation.
"Come on, think about it. When Auntie gets married, you all should dress nicely to show off her family's prestige. That way, no one will dare to bully her, right, Auntie?"
Xia Muxin said as she held up a piece of reddish-brown fabric against her mother's body, chattering away. After finishing her sentence, she winked at the still-blushing Xia Jihua with eyes that resembled crescent moons.
Seeing her niece so enthusiastic, Xia Jihua couldn't dampen her spirits and immediately nodded in agreement, almost performing a little dance of excitement.
The group selected over a dozen pieces of fabric. Xia Muxin paid cheerfully and asked Boss Du to have someone deliver them to the supermarket, as she couldn't guarantee that Ming Da would be waiting by the carriage at this hour.
After leaving the fabric shop, they headed to a jewelry store. Xia Muxin was a shopping addict and insisted on picking out several items for everyone before she would be satisfied. In the end, they all left with new hair accessories—some adorned with hairpins and others with decorative tassels.
"Muxin, you're busy buying for us; why aren't you getting anything for yourself?"
Yan Zhouwan asked, wearing a butterfly gold hairpin that added a lively touch to her delicate features. She noticed that Xia Muxin had chosen only a Yulan Hairpin for herself and questioned her about it. At this moment, Aunt Xia and Xia Jihua also turned their attention toward her.
"You know how it is. When it came time for the wedding, he nearly emptied several jewelry stores for me. There are two boxes full at home! I don't even like wearing jewelry much, but since it's part of the betrothal gifts, I can't give them away; otherwise, I would have done so already."
As she spoke about this, Xia Muxin's pretty face showed signs of frustration. She had no interest in jewelry and didn't want to spend time on it. Over all this time, she had mostly worn just the Hibiscus Hairpin and the Yulan Hairpin in her hair. What she said was true.
The betrothal gifts Shen Muhan gave were beyond what outsiders could imagine.
Xia Muxin had calculated their worth but knew that the Night Pearl alone was worth more than ten thousand taels of gold. Yet she couldn't bear to part with any of it for money; otherwise, Shen Muhan would get upset. The house prepared for Shen Muhan had now become her storage space for dowry items, filled with over twenty large boxes. Of course, aside from family members, outsiders were unaware of this because their marriage was kept very low-key; no one had even seen any betrothal gifts.
The others present understood this as well and simply smiled without saying anything further.
"Hey, brother, isn't that Xia Jihua, the one you dumped?"
"Wow, she's really doing well for herself. Just look at her outfit and that accessory on her head; it's worth at least a dozen taels."
"And her skin! How did it get so fair? She looks so much better than before."
"Yeah, that shy smile of hers..."
At that moment, not far from them, Zhao Dazhuang and his few lackeys spotted Xia Muxin and her group of four. Being from the same rough village, they were no strangers to Xia Jihua. At first glance, they could hardly believe their eyes. They swallowed hard and pointed at the four of them, leering.
Since he had dumped Xia Jihua, Zhao Dazhuang hadn't been with any women. He spent his days living off petty thefts, and without Xia Jihua around, his home had fallen into disarray. There wasn't even anyone to cook for him. With the family in shambles—some were disabled or limping—Old Zhao had lost his temper and kicked them out. His younger brothers might have wives and children, but here he was, a solitary bachelor. Now seeing Xia Jihua looking so fresh and tender, he couldn't help but feel lustful.
Moreover, his lackeys praised her to the skies, making Zhao Dazhuang even more restless with desire. He wished he could just pin her down right then and there to cherish her properly.
"Keep your eyes peeled, brothers. When you see my sister-in-law later, don't think about anything inappropriate. If you mess up my good fortune, you'll regret it."
The weather was hot, and Zhao Dazhuang was lazy; he hadn't bathed or changed clothes in three days. The stench from his mouth made passersby cover their noses and steer clear.
The townsfolk looked at him with disdain and contempt, but Zhao Dazhuang was oblivious to it all. He thought everyone was afraid of him and felt even more confident as he strutted toward Xia Muxin's group with his chest puffed out.
"Jihua, my dear! I've missed you so much! Today I finally found you!"
However, as he approached them, he lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Xia Jihua tightly, squeezing her waist so she couldn't move.
The others were still joking around when this sudden scene shocked them all into silence. Xia Jihua trembled all over, her eyes brimming with tears as she struggled to break free. But no matter how hard she fought against Zhao Dazhuang's iron-like grip, she couldn't escape his hold.
"Zhao Dazhuang! Have you lost your mind? Let go of me!"
Xia Muxin came to her senses and grabbed a shovel from the small stall beside her, slamming it directly onto Zhao Dazhuang's arm. Zhao Dazhuang winced in pain and swung his arm back, knocking the shovel away, causing it to fall to the ground.
"What are you shouting about? What business is it of yours if I'm talking to my wife?" he yelled, kicking at the stones beneath his feet as he directed his anger at Xia Muxin.
Seeing her aunt's face pale as paper only fueled Xia Muxin's rage further. She picked up another object without caring what it was and aimed it straight at Zhao Dazhuang's head.
The vendor sold various goods, including sickles, shovels, and iron spades. The object Xia Muxin had just grabbed was a curved sickle. There was no doubt that being struck on the head with such an object would hurt.
"Damn it! Who do you think you are? Your hand is coming down on my head now! Brothers, come on! I think this girl looks pretty good; let's take her back for our enjoyment," Zhao Dazhuang said, revealing his ignorance and lack of experience. He had often visited this town but had never acted so brazenly in front of others, abducting someone and making such threats without a hint of caution, as if playing house.
The townspeople might not have recognized Xia Jihua and the others, but they were all too familiar with Xia Muxin. Immediately, some stepped forward to help.
"You filthy beggar, you'd better let the girl go quickly; otherwise, you'll regret it," one shouted.
"Yeah, robbing someone in broad daylight is against the law; you'll end up in jail for that," another added.
"Aren't these the same guys who came to this town to steal?" someone else chimed in.
"Right! I thought they looked familiar. Didn't they try to take money from that girl last time when she was buying medicine for her mother? They didn't even let her cry!"
"Heartless scoundrels! They'll get their comeuppance sooner or later."
“......”
One person took the lead, and soon others began to speak up.
“Bah, I stole and robbed, so what? Are you all going to bite me? This is my wife; what do you mean by robbing?”
Zhao Dazhuang, having already been hit on the head, felt a bit dazed. The noise from the crowd only fueled his anger. He spat on the ground and shouted at everyone.
“Hmph, I’m not saying anything, but just look at yourself. Do you have the ability to marry a wife?”
His mother had already gone to find Ming Da. With these people backing him up, Zhao Dazhuang's little gang of thugs didn’t dare to act recklessly. Xia Muxin started to stall for time, but she was more worried about her aunt. This time, it seemed like they would have to live in fear for a long while. It was all her fault; if she hadn’t dragged her here, this wouldn’t have happened.
“Hmph, ask them if she is my wife!”
Seeing Xia Muxin publicly disrespect him, Zhao Dazhuang felt furious and shouted at his group of followers.
“I am not your wife! Your wife is beaten and scolded by you every day, and you probably sold her off cheaply to a landlord. Have you forgotten?”
Xia Muxin wanted to continue speaking, but unexpectedly her aunt suddenly chimed in. Her eyes brightened, and she silently cheered for her aunt.
Her aunt was already in her twenties and should be looking forward to a good life with Er Dan Ge. She couldn’t keep dwelling in painful memories; moving on was the only way to start anew.
“I...”
Zhao Dazhuang was left speechless, but he still didn’t let go of his grip. Suddenly, he shouted and forcefully pushed Xia Jihua away. Xia Muxin reacted quickly and tried to catch Xia Jihua before she fell, but Zhao Dazhuang’s strength was too great. The momentum caused Xia Jihua to topple over, and Xia Muxin couldn’t hold her up; instead, she ended up falling herself. She landed hard on the ground, her back scraping against the stones painfully enough that she almost cried out for her mother. To make matters worse, a shovel that had fallen when Zhao Dazhuang was hit earlier jabbed into her back, sending sharp pain radiating through her body and leaving her pale-faced.
“Muxin, what happened to you?”
“Muxin......”
Yan Zhouwan and Xia Jihua saw Xia Muxin close her eyes in pain, her face instantly turning pale. They were both taken aback and exclaimed in unison.
“Ming Da, it's those people, hurry!”
At that moment, Aunt Xia’s breathless voice came through. Ming Da squeezed into the crowd, his heart racing as he caught sight of the blood seeping from Xia Muxin's back. He was so frightened that he could hardly breathe. With a sweep of his palm, he sent the defiant Zhao Dazhuang flying without a second thought.
“Madam...”
Ming Da was at a loss for words as he quickly crouched beside Xia Muxin, gently helping her up. When he saw the shovel embedded halfway into her back, it felt as if his own voice had been stolen.
The other three were already in tears, completely unsure of what to do.
“It’s okay, let’s go to the Tang Family Medical Hall.”
- End of Chapter -
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