Chapter 16: Uninvited Guests
(One)
A man and a woman stood at the street corner. At this moment, Yuan Yao felt ice-cold all over, her heart pounding faster. Beside her, Aunt Dou noticed something was wrong and was about to ask when Yuan Yao immediately grabbed her three younger sisters and darted into a nearby alley.
Only then did Aunt Dou snap back to reality, whispering, “Do you know them…?”
Yuan Yao nodded helplessly. Aunt Dou immediately said, “This way; I know another route.”
Filled with gratitude, Yuan Yao promptly followed Aunt Dou back along the narrow path. On the way, Aunt Dou couldn’t resist asking one more question. Knowing there was no need to hide the truth, Yuan Yao answered honestly, “They are my maternal uncle and aunt.”
“Your uncle?” Aunt Dou exclaimed in surprise.
Yuan Yao’s expression gradually turned cold, and memories surged into her mind like a tidal wave.
Yuan Yao’s mother bore the surname Du. After their family’s misfortune, her first instinct was to seek out this very uncle, Du Yuan. With no hope left on her father’s side, her only expectation rested upon her mother’s natal family. At first, her uncle’s household seemed welcoming enough, but after Yuan Yao and her three younger sisters had stayed there for merely three months, her aunt, Lady Pan, could no longer bear them.
Though she often scolded them and wore a sour face, Yuan Yao said nothing; while Yuan Yao, being older, could understand this disdain, her younger sisters were too small to perceive it. In the Du household, Yuan Yao constantly rushed to wash clothes and cook meals, terrified that her aunt might become displeased and drive them away.
But she never could have imagined that what Lady Pan intended was far more than simply driving her away.
Once, Yuan Yao overheard the two arguing late at night and finally learned of Lady Pan’s scheme: to marry off fourteen-year-old Yuan Yao as a second wife to an old butcher’s family. The betrothal gift offered was generous—a full twenty taels of silver…
Du Yuan still seemed to retain some conscience, but Lady Pan’s words shook his resolve: “That dear sister of yours married into the Yuan family and bore them four daughters. Why should the Yuans leave it to you to take care of them? Let’s be honest—they’re just four money-draining girls. If they had been boys, would the Yuans have let them go so easily? Yet here you are, insisting on playing the fool! Tell me, four mouths to feed—do you really think you can afford it? I’m carrying another child in my womb right now! So tell me, whose children are you going to support—yours or someone else’s?!”
“This…” Du Yuan hesitated. “Sooner or later, we’ll have to marry Yao Yao off anyway. Besides, isn’t she already helping you quite a bit around the house?”
Mrs. Pan: “With so little work, can’t I handle it myself? Let me be frank with you: Yuan Yao will definitely be married off, but she won’t receive a single coin as dowry. As for the remaining three younger ones, I’ve already made arrangements.”
Du Yuan: “What…?”
That night, though it was midsummer, Yuan Yao, hiding behind the firewood shed, felt a bone-chilling cold. For the words her aunt spoke next made her truly comprehend the terrifying depths of human nature.
Sold.
A maid.
A wealthy family.
These terrifying and malicious words kept Yuan Yao awake all night, and then she made up her mind. The next day, taking advantage of Du Yuan and Pan Shi being away from home, she fled.
Yuan Yao had indeed acted impulsively at the time, but fortunately, luck was on her side. As she was leaving, a neighboring auntie discovered her; perhaps having long known of Pan Shi’s intentions, the woman said little and even arranged for a cargo boat departing at noon. With the last few taels of silver hidden on her person, Yuan Yao took her younger sisters all the way to Shenmu Town.
During those days, Yuan Yao lived in constant fear, barely managing a single night of restful sleep. Fortunately, her distant cousin Wang from Shenmu Town proved kind enough to take them in.
Every time she woke at midnight recalling Pan Shi’s words, it felt as though a venomous tongue were hissing beside her ear, flicking its red fork and sending shivers down her spine.
At such a critical moment, why would Du Yuan and Pan Shi appear in Shenmu Town? Could they possibly be searching for her?
This situation had never occurred in her previous life, leaving Yuan Yao utterly bewildered. She recalled that back then, while still living in the prefectural city, the couple had once sought her out as well. However, by that time Jiang Song’an had already risen to the rank of Qianhu; who would dare bully someone under his protection? On that occasion, Yuan Yao had boldly leveraged his authority, promptly ejecting the husband and wife from their home. But now…
Aunt Dou heard the gist of it and was furious: “How can there be such vicious couples in this world? They deserve to be fleeing disaster!”
By now, Yuan Yao had returned to her small courtyard. She ushered the three sisters inside, then closed and secured the gate before speaking to Aunt Dou: “Auntie, I won’t hide the truth from you. They cannot know I’m here. If they find out, they might well try to impose themselves on my household. You know my circumstances… Jiang Song’an already has enough difficulties…”
Aunt Dou replied, “Rest assured! Lock your main gate tight. Don’t answer whoever comes knocking. If anyone asks me or Old Lady Liu, we’ll definitely say we know nothing. By the way, should someone pass a message to Jiang Song’an in the county town? I know reliable people who travel back and forth.”
Yuan Yao thought for a moment. “Not for now. They might just be passing through. I’ll observe the situation first; no need to worry him unnecessarily.”
Aunt Dou thought for a moment and said, “That works too. Then just come find me if you need anything; I’m always around!”
After Yuan Yao expressed her thanks, Aunt Dou departed. At that moment, the three sisters peeked out from inside the room: “Is that our maternal uncle…?”
Yuan Yao’s face darkened: “He is not your maternal uncle.”
Yuan Li was too young to understand what had happened, but Yuan Shuang and Yuan Qi remembered the events of that year clearly, so they nodded: “We understand, eldest sister…”
Yuan Yao felt restless all afternoon in the courtyard.
In her previous life, when Pan Shi tracked her down to the prefectural city, she unleashed a torrent of vicious insults. It was only then that Yuan Yao learned Pan Shi had actually accepted twenty taels of silver from that old butcher; however, because Yuan Yao had fled, Du Yuan and Pan Shi were left burdened with debt.
Then came natural disasters, and it seemed some misfortune befell the Du family as well; with their luck turning against them, Pan Shi attributed all these calamities to Yuan Yao.
How absurd.
Now that Pan Shi has appeared in Shenmu Town, there are two possibilities: either she is merely passing through while fleeing disaster, or she has truly traced Yuan Yao’s whereabouts and come specifically to find her.
What if they really came for her…
Yuan Yao gazed at the rows of meat hanging beneath the eaves and the grain stored in the kitchen, lost in thought.
–
Upon hearing Yuan Yao’s purpose, Grandma Liu was also somewhat surprised: “You want to keep these things here with us?”
“Yes, I also need to leave some with Aunt Dou. To be honest, I must prepare for the possibility that they will come looking for me. If they see these things, they might well decide to stay and refuse to leave.”
Upon hearing her story, Grandma Liu’s eyes filled with a trace of sympathy; in this world, there are indeed too many people destined to suffer.
“Very well, bring them over. My home has plenty of space anyway.”
Yuan Yao immediately expressed her gratitude.
Granny Liu waved her hand. “It’s a trivial matter.”
“There’s one more thing. Today I went to the market to sell fermented bean curd, and business was good. I wanted to ask Sister Hongmei where she bought those jars before. I’d like to purchase some more myself, if that’s possible?”
Granny Liu paused in surprise and looked at her daughter-in-law. Hongmei stepped forward just then and said, “Those weren’t bought; my brother made them at the town’s kiln factory. If you like them, I can ask him to make more tomorrow!”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao was overjoyed. “That’s wonderful! I’ll need some. Let’s order fifty!”
Granny Liu replied, “You’re just starting this business; there’s no need for such a large order right away. Take it slow. Let Hongmei’s brother bring fifteen first. Seeing that you’re working alone, I doubt you could sell more than that at one market fair. Do you think you can manage?”
Yuan Yao felt slightly embarrassed. “That works. I mainly worried that if I ordered too few, they might not be willing to take the job, which would only cause you extra trouble.”
Hong Mei laughed, “It’s nothing! My brother handled it effortlessly; it was easy!”
Grandma Liu also nodded, “These are all minor matters. What you mentioned earlier is more important. Let Hong Mei assist you; it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Yuan Yao nodded earnestly.
In recent days, she had deeply felt the kindness of her neighbors. Sister Hong Mei, quick and efficient, together with Aunt Dou, helped Yuan Yao move some of her previous belongings to the new place. The most valuable item in Yuan Yao’s home was actually half a pig slaughtered for the New Year; they divided and hung portions in both households. When Sister Hong Mei left, Yuan Yao insisted on giving her two pieces of cake and a string of cash, claiming it as a deposit for the jars next time.
After hearing the news, Grandma Liu said nothing, only sighing, “I never realized it before; Yuan Shi had her plans and knew how to make a good life.”
Hongmei nodded as well: “But Mother, she seems quite capable. Why worry so much about those two refugees? Just have Xiao’an send them away.”
Grandma Liu replied, “Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs; every family has its own troubles.”
Hongmei murmured an acknowledgment and asked no more. Thinking of those refugees, Grandma Liu also sighed silently.
Back then… when the Jiang family first arrived…