Chapter 22: Proper Etiquette

Word had already spread before the New Year that this year, Scholar Feng was going to set up a stage in the village and invite a theatrical troupe to perform. It was likely happening today.

Otherwise, even if everyone else had gone out to visit relatives, Zhou-shi and Xia Yujiao should have been at home.

Both Jiang-shi and Xia Youtian felt relieved.

The couple hurriedly took out the new wheat seeds and vegetable seeds.

Jiang-shi divided the wheat seeds into two roughly equal portions, placed them in two empty pickling jars, sealed the mouths of the jars tightly, then carefully hid one inside the wall cupboard and the other in her dowry chest.

After hiding the new wheat seeds, Jiang-shi rummaged through her things and found a very inconspicuous old basket.

She lined the basket with two layers of fabric scraps, then filled it with a lot of straw, making it look perfectly suited for carrying eggs or the like.

Next, Jiang-shi wrapped the two kinds of vegetable seeds in clean hemp paper, then wrapped that in multiple layers of oil paper—five or six layers in total—before placing the bundles in the basket. She then took a thick ceramic bowl, turned it upside down over the oil paper packets, and finally hung the basket from a beam in the ceiling.

The whole process left Xia Daohua dazzled.

Seeing Xia Daohua staring without blinking, Jiang-shi smiled awkwardly and explained,

“This is to keep the rats away.”

The Xia family seemed to have accepted that Xia Daohua had forgotten everything, needing to relearn even the most basic daily knowledge. No one questioned her; on the contrary, everyone was very patient with her.

After the long trek over the mountain, Jiang-shi was a bit tired. Seeing that Xia Daohua had no more questions, she called for Lihua to help the younger children wash up and rest for a while.

Xia Youtian had already boiled some water. He called the children over to wash up, then grabbed a wooden basin, filled it with hot water, and began soaking his feet. He soon dozed off while soaking.

Jiang-shi laughed and nudged him awake, then helped dry his legs and feet with a cloth towel and urged him onto the heated bed to rest. She herself, however, refused to lie down and continued organizing the things brought back from her maiden home.

In addition to the children’s cotton-padded clothes and the new crop seeds, Shen-shi and Wang-shi had also sent some food.

There were pickled vegetables made with perilla leaves and beets, spicy cabbage prepared in the style of the Korean ethnic group, a big bag of fried meatballs, and another big bag of thumb-sized yellow croaker.

Knowing that Jiang-shi valued proper etiquette and wasn’t one to keep everything for herself, likely sharing some with her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Wang-shi had especially made tofu balls.

As for the meatballs, they had only let the children enjoy them freely at their grandmother’s house—none were brought back.

Jiang-shi hadn’t noticed Wang-shi’s little scheme. While organizing the food, she couldn’t help but feel grateful and touched by her eldest sister-in-law’s thoughtfulness.

After everything was put away, Jiang-shi felt faint, her vision dimming.

But she didn’t dare undress; she lay down in her clothes and took a short nap, worried that her mother-in-law or sisters-in-law might come calling before she paid them a proper visit.

Jiang-shi had always placed great importance on such basic courtesies. She would rather tire herself out than make a single misstep.

It wasn’t until evening, when the lamps were lit, that the Xia family began returning home.

The sound of the gate opening startled Jiang-shi from her already light sleep. She quickly got up, splashed her face with a bit of cold water, tidied her hair, and made sure her clothes were neat before opening the door.

The Xia family was enthusiastically discussing the tall stage built by Scholar Feng and the theatrical troupe that had arrived from afar. Although most of them couldn’t understand what those glamorous characters were singing onstage with their melodic “ya-ya” sounds, that didn’t dampen their enthusiasm in the slightest.

Beiguan Village hadn’t hosted a theatrical troupe in a very long time.

In a desolate little village like Beiguan, if it weren’t for a showy landlord like Scholar Feng, they probably wouldn’t get the chance to see such a grand spectacle in decades.

Beiguan Town was a large town, often holding markets and temple fairs, with theatrical troupes occasionally performing there.

What was commonplace to townsfolk was utterly novel and irresistibly fascinating to the villagers.

Some people in Beiguan Village had never left the village in their entire lives.

The farthest they’d ever gone was a single trip to town to attend a market.

Once the commotion outside settled down, Jiang-shi carried two bowls and headed to her in-laws’ residence.

One bowl contained perilla leaves, beetroot, and spicy cabbage. The other had fried tofu balls and crispy, tender, thumb-sized yellow croaker.

She handed the bowls to Zhou-shi.

“My mother and eldest sister-in-law sent these. They’re made in the styles from Liushutuo and Bangchui Island. I figured, though they’re just common home-cooked items, the preparation is new and interesting. It’s only right for Father and Mother to try them first.”

Zhou-shi, knowing Jiang-shi wasn’t one to be stingy, nodded approvingly.

“Good child, you’re very thoughtful.”

After sitting for a while, Jiang-shi returned to her room, fixed her hair slightly, and then went around delivering bowls to the other branches of the family.

This time, she gave one bowl per household. Each bowl contained five kinds of food—just enough to sample. Still, she arranged everything in a tall pile to make it look generous and sincere.

In the first house, the couple inside seemed to be whispering something. When Jiang-shi knocked, there was a sudden clatter inside. Liu-shi opened the door looking displeased. When she saw it was Jiang-shi, her expression worsened.

Realizing Jiang-shi came with food, she said nothing polite—just quickly forced a fake smile, took the bowl, and slammed the door shut without even inviting Jiang-shi inside.

Jiang-shi was furious and almost wanted to confront her sister-in-law on the spot.

But she held herself back. Jiang-shi valued etiquette deeply. Others could be rude—but she would never stoop to that level. So she said nothing, stomped back to her room.

She took several deep breaths to calm down, then carried another bowl to the second branch.

Sun-shi was known for her sharp tongue, but when there was a benefit to be gained, she could become especially sweet and friendly.

Seeing Jiang-shi bring food, she showered her with praise, lauding both Jiang-shi and her family so much that Jiang-shi’s face turned red. She eventually slipped out of Sun-shi’s grip and fled in embarrassment.

The third sister-in-law had a relatively normal attitude. She wasn’t rude like the eldest, nor overly enthusiastic like the second. She just offered a few polite words—nothing excessive.

Jiang-shi liked that approach best.

Even though she knew the third sister-in-law looked down on her in private, at least when face to face, she was respectful and left no room for criticism.

Jiang-shi only sighed inwardly about it and, as though afraid someone might hear, quickly swallowed the thought back down.

Finally, Jiang-shi knocked on the door of the fifth household.

(End of Chapter)