Pastoral Splendor

Harvesting snails is a lot of fun. You put a bamboo basket in, coat it with oil, and after a while, you lift it up with a rope. The basket is covered with snails and is so heavy that you can hardly lift it.

Fortunately, Da Mu was strong and carried the two bamboo baskets into the Xiao family's courtyard without any effort.

Aunt Xiao quickly told Da Mu to put the bamboo basket down, and then she rushed to the kitchen to call Yan Ying out. Da Mu greeted her with a smile, picked up the basket and shook it: "San Hua, look, you've caught so much again today."

Several snails fell to the ground with a "plop," and Da Mu's arm drooped down, the bamboo basket falling to the ground as well. He glanced timidly at Jian Yifei, who was following behind, his heart pounding. Why had he run into this young master again? Da Men looked at Yan Ying with a mournful face: "San Hua, go put them in the water tank yourself, I'm leaving."

Before Yan Ying could react, Da Mu took off running as fast as he could. Aunt Xiao was puzzled: "What's wrong with Da Mu? He usually puts these snails in the water tank for us."

Da Mu ran very fast, like a startled rabbit, disappearing in the blink of an eye, which seemed quite out of place with his slightly broad and fat body. Yan Ying was a little confused. She looked at Da Mu's back, then turned to look at Jian Yifei, and suddenly realized something: "Brother Jian, you didn't do anything to Da Mu, did you?"

Jian Yifei stood on the steps without speaking. Xu Yixuan darted out from the doorway and said with a grin, "Miss Xiao, my master went to ask Da Mu a question this morning and scared him to death."

Yan Ying rolled her eyes at Jian Yifei: "Brother Jian, what do you want with him?"

Seeing Yan Ying's unhappy face, Jian Yifei quickly explained, "I didn't do it for no reason. It's just that I saw in your letter that someone in the village was asking you for marriage, and I..." But when she got to the word "I", she couldn't continue.

Aunt Xiao walked over angrily and stood in front of Yan Ying, blocking her behind her. She raised her head high like a mother hen protecting her chicks: "Young Master Jian, although my family is poor and doesn't have your family's background, we still have our pride! Since your mother has said she doesn't recognize Sanhua as her daughter-in-law, we won't shamelessly cling to you! There are people in the village who like Sanhua now, and that has nothing to do with you."

Originally, Aunt Xiao was timid, but this matter concerned her daughter's life, so she couldn't help but be bold. She didn't want her good daughter to have a bad reputation. Since Jian Yifei's mother didn't like Sanhua, then they should break up. Jian Yifei's verbal engagement would be considered as never having happened, and Sanhua could find a reliable person to live with.

"Auntie, don't be angry." Jian Yifei panicked and quickly walked down the steps to Aunt Xiao's side: "I'm going to marry Sanhua. No matter what my mother says, I will marry Sanhua."

“But your mother doesn’t like Sanhua. If you marry her, and your mother makes things difficult for her, what will you do?” Aunt Xiao glared at Jian Yifei angrily, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t think that just because our family is poor, you can bully us.”

This was the first time Yan Ying had ever seen Aunt Xiao so angry. Even the last time Xiao Wenhua came to help Old Lady Sijin reserve the vegetable garden, she had never seen her so agitated. Yan Ying felt a surge of emotion. Although she wasn't Aunt Xiao's biological daughter, Aunt Xiao's maternal love for her was genuine, even to the point of arguing with Jian Yifei.

"Auntie, don't worry, I will only ever recognize Sanhua as my wife. As for my mother, it's her business if she's unhappy. I will talk to her about it slowly. If we can't reach an agreement, then I will live in a separate courtyard with Sanhua, so that Sanhua won't have to worry about her every day. What do you think?"

Aunt Xiao pondered these words for a moment, then asked, "Is that really what you think?"

Seeing that Aunt Xiao had softened a bit, Jian Yifei was overjoyed and quickly bowed to Aunt Xiao: "Auntie, if I can't do it, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."

People in ancient times respected ghosts and gods the most. Hearing Jian Yifei make an oath, Aunt Xiao's expression softened: "I'll believe you this once. After Sanhua comes of age, you should send a matchmaker to propose marriage as soon as possible. If you don't keep visiting our house, people will gossip. Will our Sanhua's reputation be ruined?"

"The coming-of-age ceremony? When is that?" Jian Yifei quickly asked, "Everyone says the coming-of-age ceremony is a big deal, so I definitely have to come." Xu Yixuan next to her also said, "I've seen my older sisters, and they all have ceremonies for their coming-of-age ceremonies. They even invite the most distinguished ladies in the capital to style their hair and sing eulogies. The gifts they receive for their coming-of-age ceremonies are almost enough to fill a table."

Aunt Xiao then smiled and said, "Coming of age is important, but it's nothing in the countryside. It's just a matter of buying a red ribbon to tie your hair. Poor families might buy a pearl flower, while those with more money might just get a silver hairpin."

"No matter what, I have to come for Sanhua's coming-of-age ceremony." Jian Yifei smiled and looked at Yan Ying: "Sanhua, what day were you born?"

Yan Ying was somewhat embarrassed. She had no idea when she was born and didn't know how to answer Jian Yifei. She glanced at Jian Yifei and pretended to be shy: "How could you ask me this directly?"

Jian Yifei noticed that Yan Ying lowered her head, her voice sounding somewhat shy, and couldn't help but find it strange. Sanhua was usually so carefree, but why was she suddenly so shy? Xu Yixuan, thinking himself clever, tugged at Jian Yifei's sleeve from behind: "Master, how can you just ask a girl's birth time like that? A matchmaker should come with gifts to collect the birth certificate!"

Aunt Xiao chuckled and said, "We don't have so many customs in the countryside. It doesn't matter if we don't mention the exact time or just the day." She smiled and glanced at Yan Ying, "San Hua, why are you shy? Why don't you just tell Young Master Jian that you were born on October 17th?"

"Oh my gosh, Sanhua and I were born on the same day!" Xu Yixuan exclaimed in surprise. "They say people born on the same day, month, and year will become husband and wife!" He glanced at Jian Yifei's suddenly gloomy face and quickly added, "I heard that saying when I was singing opera, so it must be nonsense."

Looking at Xu Yixuan's expression, Aunt Xiao laughed heartily: "Young Master Xu, there are countless people born on the same day. If they all became husband and wife, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

Hearing Aunt Xiao say this, Jian Yifei's face lit up with joy: "Auntie is right. I will definitely come to give her a congratulatory gift on the day Sanhua comes of age."

Xu Yixuan sighed, "Master, could you please bring me a congratulatory gift?" He glanced wistfully at Yan Ying. He would be returning to the capital in a few days, and he was truly reluctant to leave. The Prince Yu's mansion in the capital, though magnificent, was like a giant birdcage. He was confined inside every day, finding no joy whatsoever. Only by living in this secluded courtyard, far from the emperor's reach, had he managed to enjoy a year of peace and quiet.

Upon hearing Xu Yixuan's words, Jian Yifei felt no sadness whatsoever and smiled, saying, "Okay, I'll remember that."

The night was quiet. In the late September sky, only a crescent moon hung in the air. All around was still, save for the occasional low chirping of an autumn insect. Aunt Xiao lay in bed, turned over, and sighed deeply. Old Master Xiao reached out and patted her shoulder: "Honey, what's wrong?"

"My heart suddenly felt uneasy." Aunt Xiao glanced at Qi Hua sleeping beside her in the dim, almost gray moonlight. Seeing that Qi Hua's little hands and feet were spread out flat and the blanket was neatly tucked in, she turned around and whispered, "Husband, don't you think something is wrong?"

"What's wrong? Young Master Jian said he was determined to marry Sanhua, so I feel at ease." Boss Xiao chuckled, "Young Master Jian is really a good man." Thinking of Jian Yifei's firm words at dinner, Boss Xiao felt a sweet warmth in his heart. He never expected that Sanhua would be so fortunate to meet such a benefactor while living in this small mountain village.

"Let me tell you, that Young Master Xu also has his birthday on October 17th, the same day, month, and year as our Sanhua!" Aunt Xiao reached out and grabbed Xiao Laoda's arm, her voice tinged with unease: "Husband, do you remember what happened that night? Was what that old woman you met telling the truth or lying?"

"That night?" Boss Xiao asked back, his face turning pale instantly. Fortunately, there was no light, so his panicked expression was not visible.

That night, fifteen years ago, Xiao Laoda remembered it very clearly, but he never wanted to mention it to anyone else.

Fifteen years ago, on October 17th, Aunt Xiao was still known as Sister-in-law Xiao. She was only twenty-six years old. They had two children, Da Hua and Er Hua, and a third child was in Aunt Xiao's belly, about to be born.

Sister-in-law Xiao went into labor on the night of the 16th. At first, the couple didn't take it seriously. In the countryside, who doesn't give birth on their own? It's only when someone gives birth prematurely or can't give birth at all that they go to find a midwife. Sister-in-law Xiao's third child was difficult to deliver. She labored for a day and a night without giving birth. By the evening of the 17th, Older Brother Xiao panicked and quickly sent someone to fetch a midwife.

The midwife arrived shouting that the child was in difficult labor. She touched the belly, looked at Aunt Xiao's condition, and rushed out: "Hey, your wife's condition isn't good. Do you want to save the mother or the child?"

"Save the mother, of course save the mother!" Boss Xiao jumped up anxiously, "No matter what, you have to save my wife!"

"Okay, you can wait outside!" The midwife glanced at Xiao Laoda and quickly went back into the house.

Chapter 169 Memories

On an October evening, a light frost had already formed on the roadside. Boss Xiao stumbled along the mountain path, carrying the swaddled baby, a deep ache in his heart.

After ten months of pregnancy, the baby died shortly after birth.

The midwife came out carrying the baby, her face full of regret: "Brother Xiao, your baby is dead! Don't be sad, you two are not destined to be father and daughter, it's fate. Quickly find a place to bury this child, so that she can be reincarnated sooner. A baby who dies young cannot be buried in the ancestral grave, it will affect the family's feng shui."

Xiao Laoda stared blankly at the midwife's face, hardly believing what she was saying. Although the midwife had asked him long ago whether he wanted to save the mother or the child, he still hoped for a safe delivery for both mother and child. But when he saw the midwife's expression, his heart sank and wouldn't recover.

"Sigh, I know you're upset, but there's nothing we can do about it." The midwife shoved the swaddled baby into Xiao Laoda's arms. "Don't be sad. This one isn't even the real troublemaker yet. The real troublemaker will be the one you feed well until he's ten or so, then he'll just leave. That will be even more heartbreaking!"

Holding the child in his arms, Boss Xiao felt a chill in his heart. He walked slowly toward the back mountain, as if he could hardly breathe.

After much anticipation, they finally got a baby girl, but to make matters worse, the baby died as soon as she was born. The midwife said that when she was first born, she seemed to have opened her eyes briefly, but when she touched her, her body was cold and there was no warmth under her nose.

No one could be as unlucky as him. Old Master Xiao felt bitter. Was it his fate to have few children? He carried the child forward and looked down at the gray swaddling clothes. The little face inside still seemed to have a rosy glow. He simply couldn't believe that his daughter was gone before she even had a chance to open her eyes and look at him.

All around was quiet. In this October autumn night, even the insects in the mountains had hidden themselves away, and there was no sound. Old Xiao looked around, trying to find a quiet place to bury his daughter, when he saw an old woman carrying a basket rushing towards him. Seeing Old Xiao, she stopped and gasped for breath: "Brother, is there a village around here?"

"Auntie, where are you going?" Old Xiao was a little surprised. This old woman didn't look like a peasant woman. She was wearing a jacket with two dark blue silk sleeves showing. She must be from a wealthy family.