Volume One, Chapter Eight: She Must Be Hallucinating

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Joy blossomed on the village chief’s side, and the Jia Zhang family was equally delighted, unable to tear themselves away from the happiness. Especially Huang Dou, clutching two pieces of candy, his smile stretching all the way to the back of his ears. Jia Zhang kept stroking the back of his head, repeatedly saying, “Oh my! Our Huang Dou is truly remarkable. If it weren’t for him, none of this would have gone so smoothly!”

“Exactly! Mom! Look at how well things went today—just one word: excellent! Ha… Just thinking about how Liu Qiaohui was willing to resort to surgery for that child, Mom… I tell you, that poor widow will definitely be driven out by the village chief. Then, Mom… tell me, if not us, who else would get that house?”

“We’ll be the ones to get the house!”

Jia Zhang’s hand never left Huang Dou’s head, the affection in her eyes impossible to conceal.

“What else is there besides the house?”

“You’re so dense, and you don’t believe me! Ha… If they’re kicked out, won’t the land go untended? Then the land would be ours too. You always say our land, after giving the grain tribute, leaves us with nothing. If we get an extra acre or two, won’t our grain be enough to eat?”

Jia Zhang’s words made Shen Cuilan’s eyes light up immediately. Her face, already brimming with joy, blossomed into a radiant smile.

As she put it, she had never been this happy in her entire life.

“Oh, Mom! How could I have forgotten this point? Looks like our good days next year are set in stone!”

“Of course! Go get some wine for your mother—I want a sip!”

Wine!

Made from grain, no ordinary household had any these days.

But surprisingly, Jia Zhang’s family did have some—an entire bottle full, deep in their storeroom. As Shen Cuilan said, it was their treasure, saved for the worst times when there was no food, to be traded in the city for grain. But now… now it seemed there would never be such a day.

Jia Zhang drank half the bottle, laughing even in her sleep, dreaming of prosperous tomorrows and a courtyard bustling with comings and goings—an utterly beautiful vision.

Some rejoice, some despair.

That phrase fit here perfectly.

Everyone knew that Liu Qiaohui’s family would not have it easy. Everyone knew that such a thoroughly timid woman, despite her earth-shattering act yesterday, was no match for the powerful. She was bound to be driven out.

A widow with orphans, in the biting cold and bleak times.

Could this family of three survive?

But now, whether Liu Qiaohui and her two children could survive was no longer their concern. They only thought about surviving themselves.

At dawn, a crowd of gossiping women had already gathered at the east end of the village.

Inside and out, the topic was none other than Liu Qiaohui’s situation.

No one discussed whether she could get through this crisis.

Instead, all the talk raced ahead to who would claim her house and land after she was driven out.

Some said: It would be confiscated!

Others said: It would belong to Jia Zhang!

Still others said: Whoever has the money to buy it.

But in these times, who had money? So the options narrowed to confiscation or Jia Zhang taking it.

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Jia Zhang was too drunk to get up, but Shen Cuilan was eager to listen to gossip. She arrived a little late and caught the conversation just as they were saying the house and land would go to Jia Zhang. Her eyes and face lit up with smiles, but when she heard someone say it would be confiscated, her jealousy flared. Without a word, she threw off restraint and started fighting with that person.

The shrill screams of the women echoed everywhere…

The matter spread like wildfire, reaching everyone’s ears within minutes.

As Li Gai’e put it, these days had truly become a dramatic spectacle everywhere.

Ye Ling sipped on the wild goat’s milk Liu Qiaohui had squeezed, obedient and quiet. She pondered how she might help Liu Qiaohui overcome this challenge.

No matter what,

She could not let Liu Qiaohui be driven out of their village for her sake.

But she was too young; even if she thought of a solution, how could she tell Liu Qiaohui?

Her eyes darted around, and Li Gai’e gently touched Ye Ling’s fair face, sighing deeply.

“Qiaohui, why don’t you take my advice from yesterday? Stay at my home for a few days. I’ll go with you. Don’t be afraid—my family has two courtyards, and I’ve already told my husband to inform my mother.”

Ye Ling knew Li Gai’e meant well.

But this was a temporary fix and not a real solution.

Though Liu Qiaohui was an unworldly rural woman, she understood that troubling others was no solution.

“Sister-in-law, I appreciate your kindness, but I can’t cause you trouble.”

“Then what will you do? Your eldest sister-in-law has already started thinking about grabbing your house and land once you’re kicked out. What… what chance do you have left?”

Liu Qiaohui sighed deeply and picked up the needlework on the table, sewing patches onto already patched clothes. After a few stitches, she seemed indifferent but her hand trembled as she let go and said, “Sister-in-law, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to the county, to see the county magistrate!”

“What?”

Li Gai’e’s mouth dropped open in shock.

Ye Ling’s small brow furrowed.

While admiring Liu Qiaohui’s resourcefulness, she also knew how difficult this would be.

The county magistrate!

Could anyone just see the county magistrate?

“You… you want to see the county magistrate? Qiaohui, this isn’t a joke. Besides, can you even get to meet him?”

Liu Qiaohui shook her head.

She didn’t know.

Yes.

She truly didn’t know.

But did she have any other path to take now?

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“Sister-in-law, no matter what, I won’t let them bully my daughter. I won’t leave this village. This house was built brick by brick by my husband. I would never give it to anyone else!”

Though she knew this was the only way, Li Gai’e was struck speechless, her chest heaving. After a long moment, she finally found words.

“All right! Qiaohui! Your idea might work. But it’ll take two days to get into the county. So… I’ll prepare some dry food for you. I’ll take care of the two kids. Also… you have to leave at night. If the village chief finds out, he definitely won’t let you leave. No… no… I’ll arrange a cart for you. You don’t know how to drive it, so I’ll have my husband accompany you. No, we have to start preparing now!”

Li Gai’e hurried out of the room, not allowing Liu Qiaohui to say a word.

“Sister-in-law! No…”

Turning her head, Liu Qiaohui’s eyes met Ye Ling’s. To her surprise, she seemed to see gratitude shining on Ye Ling’s face.

An illusion!

It must be an illusion!

Night fell quickly. Deep into the night, a donkey cart silently appeared at Liu Qiaohui’s doorstep.

According to the original plan, Liu Qiaohui’s two children were supposed to stay behind with Li Gai’e.

But for some reason, as soon as Liu Qiaohui put Ye Ling down, the child cried bitterly. With no other choice, Liu Qiaohui decided to take Ye Ling along. Because of the freezing cold, she wrapped Ye Ling in layer upon layer, so much so that even her eyes were hidden.

“Sister-in-law, you should go back now!”

“Xu Gouzi, I’m telling you, take good care of my sister. If anything happens, come back immediately. Don’t just dawdle there, got it?”

“Oh, you extravagant woman, how many times have you said that? Enough, enough. Go back to sleep. I’m a big man—I can protect people! Enough, don’t drag it out, go home!”

“Sister-in-law, go back! I’m fine!”

“Good! But girl, don’t obsess over tiny details. If you can’t get in, come back early, and we’ll think of another way!”

“Okay! Go back, sister-in-law!”

A sharp crack of the whip, the donkey brayed twice, and the cart began to move, leaving deep wheel tracks in the snow. For some reason, Li Gai’e felt a sting in her eyes.

Wiping away tears and about to turn back inside, she was startled to find someone standing right behind her.

In the dead of night!

It nearly scared her to death.

“Sister-in-law, who just left in the donkey cart?”

Li Chengdu’s family lived closest to Liu Qiaohui’s. Hearing the noise, he immediately came out to see. But his eyesight was poor, and he only saw Xu Gouzi driving the cart, unable to see who was inside.

“Oh my! You bastard, do you know you nearly scared me to death? Who else is there but my husband—a grown man? Why are you so nosy? Remember to make some noise next time you walk around!”

Li Gai’e, feeling guilty, hurried back to her yard. But Li Chengdu kept staring at the distant shadows, muttering to himself…

Was there really no one? But he clearly saw someone just now. No, tomorrow he must report this to the village chief. Oh, it’s so cold! So cold!