Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Kitchen Storm
“People who are upright are not afraid of oblique shadows, even if others point fingers,” Xia Chuyi said indifferently. “Besides, by calling off the marriage, am I not doing He Qing and Xia Lan a favor?”
Upon hearing this, Mother Xia broke down completely and wept.
“Anyway, it’s settled. I will go to the county town tomorrow for some business, I’m heading back to my room now,” Xia Chuyi explained, then strode back to the attic.
As soon as she returned to the attic, she bolted the door and dived into the secret space.
The fresh air in the space instantly made her feel better.
As the saying goes, with loss comes gain. She probably was destined to be without kin, yet she had her own unique opportunities.
She would not force what couldn’t be compelled.
Since time moved slower in the space, she busied herself inside sewing a backpack based on a future design, which she would use the next day, and then leafed through the “Heavenly Book” for a while before exiting the area to rest.
At dawn, the crowing of a rooster woke the peaceful little mountain village.
“Chuyi, you’re up?” As soon as Xia Chuyi came downstairs, she saw Mother Xia holding a kettle, looking at her pleasingly. “The hot water has run out; I’ll go get some more for you.”
Mother Xia, already frail, looked even more worn out from the events of the previous day, probably having not slept well.
“Give me the kettle, I’ll fetch the water,” Xia Chuyi extended her hand for the kettle.
“Oh, okay,” Mother Xia carefully handed over the kettle. “Chuyi, are you not angry at me anymore? I said all those things for your own good…”
Tears began to well up in Mother Xia’s eyes. Xia Chuyi quickly took the kettle, “I’ll get the water.”
She really didn’t want to see Mother Xia like that.
To her surprise, Mother Xia followed her to the kitchen.
“Chuyi, Mom knows, you think I’m weak… Actually, I…”
“Shut up!” Xia Chu could no longer tolerate it and interrupted her mother.
“I, I…” Mother Xia lowered her head and began to wipe her tears.
Xia Chuyi, utterly frustrated by Mother Xia, pretended not to see her.
Upon reaching the kitchen, Third Aunt Xia was already starting the fire.
Third Aunt glanced at the mother and daughter, said nothing, and bent back to her work.
Mother Xia, having wiped her tears, greeted Third Aunt.
Third Aunt seemed accustomed to Mother Xia’s demeanor and said nothing.
The big pot on the clay stove held boiling water. Xia Chuyi lifted the wooden lid, scooped up some water into the kettle, and had just filled it when she heard a tapping sound of footsteps.
“Yo, Chuyi is back. Why didn’t you come to see Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia in the main house yesterday?”
The visitor was the elder aunt from the big room.
Elder Aunt, carrying a winnowing basket, said, “From the family of the second son, here’s today’s food portion. Sorry to trouble you! My back isn’t good—a slight movement and it fails.”
In this house, food and money were controlled by Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia so that those cooking wouldn’t take extra. The food was measured precisely each day and distributed from the main house.
Third Aunt Xia continued her silence.
Elder Aunt was known to be crafty and lazy, but because she was the only one in the third room with sons—three of them at that—she especially held Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia’s favor.
Mother Xia was weak, Xia Chuyi was strong-willed, and protected by Uncle Xia, so Elder Aunt couldn’t order others around. She could only be impolite to Third Aunt, blatantly offloading her own work onto her.
“Second son’s family, did Chuyi’s trip to the Provincial City go smoothly? Did the marriage discussion turn out successful? The elders of the He family won’t last much longer.”
Elder Aunt, not in a hurry to leave after dropping off the food, leaned against the stove inquiring about Xia Chuyi and Mother Xia’s matters with apparent concern.
“And what about Er Lan from the family of the third son? She also went along for the matchmaking, how did it go?” Elder Aunt then turned to ask Third Aunt.
One of Elder Aunt’s problems, aside from relying on her sons and avoiding work, was her love for gossiping about every family matter.
Elder Aunt’s words successfully stiffened the atmosphere on the spot.