Chapter 1: Silly Jiang Mixia

The three words “Jiang Family Village” have been frequently mentioned these past few days.

This is due to three incidents.

Firstly, Jiang Youcheng of Jiang Family Village brought in a son-in-law for his silly daughter, Jiang Mixia.

Secondly, on the day of the wedding, the beam of the wedding canopy in the courtyard collapsed, striking the bride and groom who were toasting guests.

Thirdly, the previously silly Jiang Mixia, after being struck, not only emerged unscathed but also seemed to have become more clever. It’s said that she can recognize people, call her parents, and even do some work…

Some find the third incident unbelievable.

Surviving such an accident was already fortunate, but could a silly person become better after being struck? If that were true, then those whose minds are usually not functioning well might as well get a good knock—there would be no need for doctors.

With doubts in their minds, people naturally sought verification.

As a result, there have been frequent visitors to the vicinity of Jiang Youcheng’s house in Jiang Family Village.

“Look, is it true? Is she not silly anymore? She’s clean and tidy, her hair isn’t messy, and she’s not running around yelling.”

“She even knows how to scoop water with a ladle to drink, sipping it slowly without spilling any on her nose.”

“Quick, see, she even knows how to scoop water to feed the chickens!”

“That doesn’t prove she’s not silly. In our village, there’s a silly woman at the other end who doesn’t drink water through her nose, dresses neatly, feeds the chickens and pigs, but she’s still silly through and through. Once, she almost burned down the house while cooking.”

The group of people pointed and commented, discussing and judging, as if they were watching a monkey show.

Eight-year-old Jiang Chunyu popped up from the side. “Let me tell you, my sixth sister is really not silly at all. If you don’t believe me, just watch.”

“Sixth sister, sixth sister, come here.”

Jiang Mixia put down the ladle in her hand, walked to the low wall, and grinned, “Why are you calling me?”

Jiang Chunyu took three copper coins from his pocket, arranged them in a pile with one on the left and two on the right, and said with a cheeky smile, “Here are two piles of money. Sixth sister, pick the one with more.”

“This one is more, so I’ll take this one.” Jiang Mixia reached out and grabbed a penny, chuckling at Jiang Chunyu.

“I told you, my sixth sister is not silly at all,” Jiang Chunyu laughed, covering his mouth.

Everyone was amused, and laughter filled the air.

Some found it amusing and, following Jiang Chunyu’s lead, took out three copper coins from their pockets and let Jiang Mixia choose, “Which one is more? Whichever is more, you can take it.”

“This one is more.” Jiang Mixia reached out again and picked up a penny.

The crowd burst into laughter once more, and others tried again, even arranging coins in piles of one vs. five or one vs. ten and more.

No matter how many times they tried, no matter how much the other pile of money was, Jiang Mixia always chose the one penny. After taking it, she would grin and say, “This one is the most.”

After several repetitions, everyone was already in fits of laughter.

“This Jiang Mixia, she really is a silly girl.”

“From now on, if anyone dares to say Jiang Mixia isn’t silly, I’ll be upset with them…”

Jiang Mixia seemed not to understand their words. Seeing everyone laughing, she joined in with a chuckle.

Teasing a silly person was naturally amusing, but after a while, using the same method over and over became somewhat dull. After a round of laughter and jest, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Only Jiang Chunyu remained.

Seeing that no one else was around, Jiang Chunyu approached her. “How was that, sixth sister? Did I do well today?”

“You did great.” Jiang Mixia nodded, counted the copper coins she had just stuffed into her pocket, found there were more than ten, then counted out five and gave them to Jiang Chunyu. “These are yours.”

Five pennies could buy two large meat buns.

Jiang Chunyu joyfully accepted the coins.

“Thank you, sixth sister.”

“You deserve it. Hurry back home, your aunt will be looking for you soon.”

“Sixth sister, shall I come again tomorrow?”

“If there are many people around, come by. It’s good to have more spectators. Same rules as always, you call three, I call seven.”

If some people were willing to come from afar to watch the show, then she might as well collect some ticket money. That’s only fair and just.

“Alright.” Jiang Chunyu agreed and dashed off.

Jiang Mixia weighed the copper coins in her hand and walked back with a smile.

Just as she picked up the ladle to wash her hands, Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi returned from their farm work.

“Dad, mom.” Jiang Mixia shook off the water droplets from her hand. “The porridge is ready on the stove. I’ll serve it to you.”

“I’ll serve the rice. You take a rest,” Liu Shi said, her lips trembling, tears almost falling.

Amitabha, may the Bodhisattva bless them. Their daughter was truly improving day by day.

The day the beam fell, she was truly frightened to the core, thinking she might lose her precious daughter. She cried until she almost fainted.

Unexpectedly, within half a day, Jiang Mixia woke up. After waking up, she could call her parents and knew where she was hurting.

The next day, she could change her clothes, put on her shoes, and eat and drink by herself.

On the third day, which is today, she even managed to cook porridge at home!

The doctor said it was probably because she had bumped her head in childhood, causing a blood clot in her brain, which resulted in her being simple-minded. Now, after another knock to the head, the clot dispersed, and she improved.

Some said it was the temple’s Bodhisattva who, moved by Liu Shi’s sincere prayers every month, manifested his compassion and healed Jiang Mixia.

But no matter the reason, the fact that their daughter had improved, no longer simple-minded, was an immense blessing.

It was a joyous occasion that made people want to cry with happiness.

Liu Shi’s excited tears swirled in her eyes, but she held them back from falling. However, Jiang Youcheng, beside her, couldn’t control his emotions and burst into loud sobs.

A six-foot-tall man, crying with snot and tears streaming down, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably, looked quite pitiful.

“Dad, please don’t cry…” Jiang Mixia felt a bit embarrassed.

Feeling guilty and grateful for taking over someone else’s daughter’s body, and knowing that she had to live on with this identity after her soul had crossed over, Jiang Mixia felt that without her parents doing the farm work, she couldn’t just eat and drink for free at home. So, she managed to cook a pot of porridge, so that Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi wouldn’t have to work hard when they returned.

She hadn’t expected the couple’s reaction to be so intense.

“Stop crying, you’ll scare the child.”

Seeing Liu Shi speak, Jiang Youcheng held back his sobs, wiped his tears, and said, “No more crying. Xiao Xia is better. It’s a happy occasion, we should smile.”

He forced a smile.

His eyes were red, tears still on his face, and as he tried to force a smile, it looked somewhat awkward.

“Right, smiling is better than crying,” Liu Shi said, a bit exasperated. “Hurry and freshen up. We made wild vegetable pancakes for lunch, and there’s leftover. Xia cooked the porridge, and I’ll make a side dish. Let’s get ready to eat.”

“Alright,” Jiang Youcheng responded.

After a flurry of activity, the meal was served, and the family of three began to eat.

The wild vegetable pancakes were made with wild vegetables mixed with coarse cornmeal, a bit dry. The cold mixed vegetables were simply seasoned with coarse salt, a bit bitter. The only thing that was enjoyable was the pot of thick cornmeal porridge cooked by Jiang Mixia.

Although it was coarse, with large grains of cornmeal, it had been cooked for a long time, resulting in a thick and flavorful porridge with a delightful corn aroma.

Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi naturally knew this, so they tried to add some thick porridge from their own bowls to Jiang Mixia’s.

Jiang Mixia stood up with her bowl and quietly dodged away.

“You two go ahead and eat. I’ll go check on Jingyun in the room.”

Song Jingyun, Jiang Mixia’s husband, the son-in-law who had been brought into the family.