Chapter 7: The Dread of Being Targeted

The He family was in dire need of everything.

Rice and flour were especially scarce, as Su Yi’an had noticed during breakfast.

Though the meal was mostly watery soup, the long simmering had drawn out a faint fragrance from the meager grains. At least it didn’t taste like plain water.

But living on such paltry fare day after day, with not even a trace of meat, would inevitably weaken them—especially with the bitter winter months approaching.

So, Su Yi’an made up her mind to buy some pork.

After all, pork fat could be rendered into lard. Even if they couldn’t afford stir-frying, a smear of lard on steamed buns would at least provide a whisper of meatiness.

The butcher’s stall stood at the far end of the market, surrounded by freshly slaughtered pigs. The stench of blood was overwhelming, keeping other vendors at a distance.

By the time Su Yi’an arrived, most of the pig had already been butchered. The choicest cuts, thick with fat, were long gone.

After careful inspection, she selected two jin (about 1 kg) of fattier cuts. Pork was expensive now, costing thirty-five wen per jin, so this purchase alone cost seventy wen.

There were cheaper options. Pork bones sold for two wen apiece, but they’d been scraped clean, leaving little meat behind.

Remembering the He family’s Eldest Son, who had broken his leg, Su Yi’an bought three bones. People said certain foods strengthened the body parts they resembled, and these bones would make a nourishing broth.

The stall also offered offal—cheap, only ten wen for a small bucket—but it required several seasonings to make it palatable.

Su Yi’an considered it, then decided against it. They were already out of rice and flour, and likely had no seasonings left either. Buying more would cost even more, defeating the purpose.

Mother He stood beside her, lips parted as if to speak, but she said nothing.

The money was Su Yi’an’s. She had the right to spend it as she pleased.

Still, Mother He thought the meat was expensive. One pound would have sufficed.

The butcher tied the meat and bones together with a straw rope before handing it over. But carrying it like that was awkward.

Mother He gave it a glance and said, “I’ll go look at the baskets over there. This won’t do.”

Su Yi’an followed her to an old man selling handmade baskets in various sizes.

It was hard to tell the quality by sight, so Mother He picked one at random and paid five wen. It wasn’t large—just the right size for a woman to carry.

Su Yi’an touched the sturdy weave.“Mother, I could’ve carried the meat myself. Why buy a basket?”

When they’d gone to the clinic, Mother He had said carrying the medicine would be enough—likely to save a few coins.

“It’s a long walk, and the medicine will get heavy,” Mother He said casually, placing the meat and medicine into the basket. “It’ll be easier to carry this way.”

Su Yi’an nodded. They still needed to buy rice and flour, which would be even heavier. A basket really would help.

But Mother He didn’t dare speak her true reason—she didn’t want to frighten the girl.

Those who rarely left home couldn’t imagine the wickedness lurking in the world. When Mother He had first moved from the prefectural city to Yongyang Village, she’d been the same—naively trusting in the goodness of others.

But there were always malicious people, lurking in the shadows, preying on the vulnerable. Robbery was bad enough. Some would even kill for a handful of goods.

If they carried only medicine, they might go unnoticed. But carrying two pounds of meat, plus rice and flour, from Huai’an Town through several villages back to Yongyang? They’d be easy targets.

A few copper coins weren’t worth the risk.

Yongyang Village

After noon, a small figure sat on a low stool outside the He family’s house, propping his head up with one hand.

Earlier, Su Yi’an had easily coaxed He Xingchen into letting her go, promising she’d return before noon. But the sun had climbed high—and still, no sign of her.

He Xingchen wasn’t the only one growing anxious. He Ningwen and Wan Xu were also starting to worry that something might have happened on the road.

“Big Sister-in-Law, why isn’t Mother back yet?” the youngest girl asked as she added firewood to the stove.

Wan Xu paused, then glanced down the road. Nothing.

“They might’ve been delayed,” she said with a soft smile, trying to reassure He Ningwen. “Remember how long it took you the first time you went into town?”

“That’s true,” He Ningwen agreed. “It’s quite a distance. Let’s wait a bit longer. We’ll eat once Mother and Miss Su return.”

Wan Xu couldn’t shake her unease, but before she could put it into words, a shrill voice rang out.

“Oh my, Ningwen, still calling her ‘Miss Su’? She’s part of the family now! You should be calling her ‘Second Sister-in-Law.’”

An old woman carrying a bundle of firewood on her back approached.

Wan Xu’s heart sank. Auntie He. What is she doing here?

The He family had a branch in the village, and this woman was the wife of the second son of that branch. Wan Xu called her Second Aunt He.

“Auntie, just got down from the mountain?” Wan Xu said quickly, trying to deflect. “That’s quite the pile of firewood—preparing for winter already?”

Second Aunt He bristled. “This isn’t for winter! We’re taking it to town to sell. The second branch is having a hard time… unlike your family, who can still afford weddings.”

Everyone in the village knew how tough things were for the He family’s Eldest Branch. Debt collectors had come by multiple times. And the reason behind the recent marriage was no secret. But instead of helping, their own relatives kicked them while they were down.

He Ningwen’s eyes welled up with tears, but she said nothing. After all, this was their aunt—Old Master He’s younger brother’s wife.

“I saw a crowd—what’s the fuss?” Second Daughter-in-law Yang had finished her chores but returned out of curiosity, as usual. Seeing the scene unfolding, she walked right over.

The moment Second Aunt He saw her, she turned to leave. She had no patience for this woman.

But Second Daughter-in-law Yang wasn’t about to let her go.

With a sunny smile, she called out, “Isn’t that Second Aunt He? Here to see the new bride? After all, the Eldest Branch didn’t hold a proper wedding or invite anyone. You probably haven’t met her yet.”

“But then again, when your Erniu got married, you didn’t invite them either. Seems the He family keeps things in the family!”

Second Aunt He stiffened. The jab was clear.

When the Eldest Branch fell into poverty, some relatives felt sorry for them—until the land they’d cultivated for years was reclaimed.

That land was prime farmland, yielding over two shi of grain per acre. With it gone, so was the grain. Who wouldn’t be bitter?

Still, Second Aunt He couldn’t voice that resentment directly.

“I was busy with wedding preparations,” she said, lifting her chin. “Dalang and Erlang aren’t well. As their aunt, I can’t neglect them.”

She turned the question around. “What about you? You live at the village entrance. Why come all the way down here? Come to see the new bride?”

Second Daughter-in-law Yang didn’t miss a beat. “I saw her this morning. She went to town with her mother-in-law to sell her wedding dress. Asked me if I wanted to buy it!”

She gave a pointed look. “You He family members are all the same. Didn’t your second son’s wife sell hers too?”

Second Aunt He’s chest tightened.

When her second son got married, they were short on money. They planned to sell a mu of land—but then the Eldest Branch returned and reclaimed it. To raise funds, she had sold her daughter-in-law’s wedding dress. It was common enough for poor families, but hearing it brought up now made her heart ache.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. If the Eldest Branch hadn’t returned, they wouldn’t have needed to sell anything.

“When you’re broke, you sell what you can,” she snapped. “But wedding dresses don’t fetch much. If you really need money, sell land. It’s a waste to let it lie fallow when no one capable’s around.”

Wan Xu’s face turned pale. Her lips lost all color.

No one capable at home? That was a direct insult to her husband and brother-in-law.

“I can handle things!” a small voice cried out.

He Xingchen had appeared, wrapping his arms around Wan Xu’s leg and glaring up at Second Aunt He.

“This brat isn’t even as tall as my leg and he thinks he can handle things?” Second Daughter-in-law Yang chuckled, turning to Wan Xu. “If you sell your fields, let me know. Your sister-in-law will help you out.”

Though she disliked Second Aunt He, she wouldn’t pass up the chance to buy good land cheap.

“Who do you think you are? Sell to you?” Second Aunt He snapped. “Keep dreaming!”

She turned to Wan Xu. “We’re family. If the land’s sold, it stays in the clan!”

Yang glared at Second Aunt He, ready to retort.

But a calm voice cut through the air behind them. Clear, measured—yet chilling.

“What fields are you selling?”