Chapter 20: The Hundred-Family Clothes

Fifth Sister-in-law was the youngest daughter-in-law of the village chief. She ran a small general store at the village entrance, usually selling things like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sewing needles, and thread. Her prices were a bit higher than those in town, but not outrageously so. It was convenient for the villagers, and she could make some money off it too.

Xia Youtian grinned from ear to ear, looking happily at Madam Jiang:

“This bundle is brown sugar, this one is soy-braised pig ears, and this jar is Shaoxing yellow rice wine. Since we’re going to visit your family today, we can’t go empty-handed!”

As Madam Jiang used a broom to brush the frost and snow off Xia Youtian’s coat, she scolded him playfully:

“Didn’t we already prepare that coarse indigo cloth and the fruit stove cakes? That’s enough for proper etiquette—why waste extra money?”

Xia Youtian didn’t think much of it:

“That coarse cloth would be perfect for making you an overcoat, wouldn’t it? And if it’s not enough for an overcoat, it could be made into shoe tops! As for the stove cakes, let’s save them for the kids to enjoy!”

Madam Jiang scolded:

“Letting the kids snack on so many treats—aren’t you afraid they’ll get spoiled? When they’ve eaten them all, they’ll come crying to you! What can’t be used to make shoe tops anyway? Showing up for New Year’s visits without a piece of indigo cloth—it’s just not proper!”

In Beiguan Village, part of the northern territories of the Great Chu Dynasty, people generally spoke loudly and boldly.

Madam Jiang, on the other hand, had a soft temperament and a gentle tone. Even when she spoke with a bit of scolding, her words sounded more tender than when most others spoke calmly.

The real reason she hadn’t said more was that she wanted to save money. But Xia Youtian wasn’t stupid—how could he not know what his wife was thinking?

He chuckled:

“Then let the stove cakes and the coarse cloth be your gift to our parents. As their son-in-law, I should bring some wine, meat, and brown sugar to show respect to my in-laws!”

Seeing how firm Xia Youtian was, Madam Jiang couldn’t help but laugh.

Though she still couldn’t shake her anxiety about their dwindling household funds, a sweet warmth—resistant even to the harshness of reality—welled up inside her.

After having their porridge and eating a few cornbread buns with pickled vegetables, the couple changed into their best clothes. With the children and prepared New Year’s gifts, they headed out.

Madam Jiang carried a bamboo backpack containing the brown sugar, pig ears, and two thick cotton coats—in case the children got cold along the way.

Xia Youtian carried a shoulder pole. On one end were the coarse indigo cloth and the jar of yellow wine for the Jiang family; on the other was Linghua.

Lihua, Wulang, and Daohua held hands, giggling and chattering as they followed alongside the couple.

The best part about setting off in the early morning was that the farther they walked, the brighter the sky became.

After five hours, they arrived at Liushutuozi Village, where Madam Jiang’s mother, Madam Shen, was already waiting at the village entrance.

The people of Liushutuozi were warm and enthusiastic. As soon as they saw Madam Jiang and her husband Xia Youtian, they greeted them excitedly:

“Oh wow, it’s the youngest daughter from the Jiang family back again, isn’t it? Such a filial child!”

“And so lucky too—look at the son-in-law she married! So respectful, so sensible!”

“These kids are so good-looking! That must be Lihua—she’s even taller than my son Tiezhu now!”

“Ayyo, this must be Linghua! You’ve got it made—while everyone else walks, you get carried!”

“And that’s Wulang, right? What a handsome boy! So lively and charming—anyone would be fond of him!”

Xia Daohua understood that the villagers were being half polite, half genuinely envious.

With parents like Jiang and Xia Youtian, it was only natural that their children wouldn’t turn out unattractive.

Lihua was clearly a teenage version of Liu Yifei, while Linghua looked like a fresh and adorable child star that could melt hearts. Wulang had striking features and a straight posture—just standing there, he looked like a vibrant young sapling.

Even herself—despite having shaved her head and wearing medicinal salve, looking the most ordinary or even a bit odd—on closer inspection, still had features far above average.

Madam Shen beamed with pride:

“Of course! Who do you think gave birth to them? My daughter’s kids—how could they not be beautiful?”

Madam Jiang’s cheeks flushed red:

“Mom, what are you saying!”

Madam Shen raised her chin proudly:

“What? I’m just telling the truth! Don’t believe me? Ask them yourself—am I right?”

The villagers all chimed in support:

“Right, right, right! Madam Shen is absolutely right!”

Madam Jiang’s face turned even redder. She quickly pulled away from her mother and the children and hurried toward her family’s home.

Madam Shen laughed heartily, clearly enjoying how her daughter always got flustered and didn’t know where to put her hands and feet when embarrassed.

She grabbed Lihua’s hand and followed along, calling to Xia Youtian:

“Youtian, come on! Let’s go home!”

The little ones all stayed close to Lihua, and Linghua climbed out of the basket to walk on her own.

Xia Youtian chuckled sheepishly and followed along, still carrying the shoulder pole. Truth be told, he also liked seeing his wife get shy.

At the Jiang house, a large feast had already been prepared. Jiang’s two older sisters had also returned for the occasion.

Xia Youtian was pulled off by his brothers-in-law and brothers to drink, while Jiang sat with her two elder sisters to chat. The children played with their cousins, running around excitedly.

The Jiang family’s third generation was quite populous.

Before Xia Daohua could even memorize all her cousins’ names, Grandma Shen called her over.

Together with Eldest Aunt Qiao, they presented new cotton clothes to Lihua, Wulang, Daohua, and Linghua.

Lihua’s coat had been remade from one of Shen’s own red cotton jackets, which was still eighty percent new.

Wulang’s coat was made of brand-new coarse indigo cloth.

Daohua’s was a very special one: pieced together from hundreds of scraps of different colored fabrics. To make it, Shen and Eldest Aunt Qiao had visited every house in their own and neighboring villages, collecting bits of leftover cloth.

It was said that this type of garment was called a “Hundred-Family Clothes”. It was meant for children who were sick or injured, as a blessing—to seek divine protection, ward off disaster, and keep the child safe.

Linghua’s new cotton coat originally belonged to Seventh Cousin, the daughter of Fourth Aunt.

During the Little New Year Festival, Seventh Cousin had been playing with firecrackers with the boys and accidentally burned a big hole in the sleeve. She had flat-out refused to wear it afterward.

Even after Fourth Aunt gave her a spanking, she wouldn’t budge.

Eventually, Eldest Aunt Qiao took the jacket, patched the burnt sleeve neatly using leftover fabric and cotton from Daohua’s coat, and fixed it up nicely.

Since Seventh Cousin and Linghua were similar in size, the mended coat fit Linghua perfectly.

Madam Jiang was moved to tears and thanked her sister-in-law over and over again.

Qiao laughed heartily and even teased her:

“Sister, what are you saying!

You just started living on your own—it takes money for everything. As your family, shouldn’t we help you out a little?

And look how easily you’re pleased! Just a few jackets, and I’ve saved myself a bundle of silver!”

Qiao’s words were witty and warm, and Madam Jiang laughed with tears still in her eyes.

As the saying goes, every family has its own struggles—no one’s life is as easy as it seems from the outside.

Fortunately, her eldest sister-in-law was capable, clever, generous, and had been helping their mother handle everything. With her support, Madam Jiang felt much more at ease.