Chapter 33 – Your Money Is My Money

When Xia Tian asked where they’d live after the family split, Xia Yang, who had just calmed down, immediately flared up again.

“We’re living in the old house.”

Xia Tian searched her memory—that place was near the mountains, basically outside the village limits.

They used to live there, but since wild animals often came down from the mountain and it wasn’t safe, they’d moved into the village, to where the Xia family currently resided.

Even though the wild animals didn’t come down as often anymore, that house had long since collapsed. Only the walls were left, no roof at all.

“How is that livable? There’s not even a roof!” Xia Tian couldn’t hold back and nearly cursed.

This old woman from the Xia family—she just kept setting new lows.

“The house was split up yesterday, and we spent the night there last night, just barely making do. Mom was so angry she didn’t sleep a wink.”

Xia Yang’s heart still chilled at the thought of how eager the old woman and the other two households were to kick them out as soon as the property was divided.

The old house hadn’t been fixed up and was completely uninhabitable. They had wanted to stay in the village for a few more days, but the old woman wouldn’t allow it.

They had no choice but to pack up their things, borrow a cart, load their father onto it, and move to the old house.

Today, they planned to first stop by the medicine hall to get some medicine for their father. Then they’d go back and at least build a roof—if it rained, they’d be done for.

Xia Tian truly hadn’t expected things could get even worse for the second branch of the family.

She didn’t even know whether she should feel lucky they’d sold her off, or feel sorry that her father was the one still suffering.

“Sigh…”

Xia Tian let out a long breath. She didn’t even feel like cursing anymore. With a freak like that old woman, what was the point of getting mad?

Best not to deal with her at all.

Xia Shiji Lifted her thoughts. Being rid of people like that was honestly a blessing for their second branch.

The good days were still to come.

She wasn’t worried about her father, Xia Zheng’an, either. She had her spiritual spring—she could secretly give him a bit later, and he’d recover fully for sure.

She asked Xia Yang again, “Big Brother, you just came from the medicine hall—did you get the medicine?”

“I didn’t have enough money. I couldn’t get it,” Xia Yang said, sounding dejected.

“How much short?”

“I only had forty copper coins. Still short eighty, and that’s just for seven days’ worth.”

“Didn’t you have two taels of silver?”

“We spent over one tael just the day before yesterday for the doctor and three days of medicine.”

Medical care was so expensive!

“Big Brother, I’ve got money. Let’s go get the medicine for Dad first.”

Hearing that she wanted to chip in, Xia Yang panicked. “How can I take your money? It’s not easy for you to earn a little by selling at the stall. I came today just to see you and let you know about the family split. Don’t worry about the money—I’ll figure something out.”

“What can you figure out? Don’t be so stubborn. Let’s go.” Xia Tian tugged on his sleeve. “He’s my dad too. If you feel bad, just treat it like a loan. You can pay me back when you earn some money.”

Xia Yang couldn’t argue with her and finally agreed.

“I promise I’ll pay you back.”

“Okay, okay, I got it!”

Xia Yang helped her carry her bundles, and the two of them went to the medicine hall and bought the medicine.

While there, Xia Tian took the chance to ask the doctor whether her father’s condition could be fully cured.

The doctor said that as long as they followed the treatment, he could fully recover.

She was relieved—as long as he wouldn’t be stuck in bed.

After leaving the medicine hall, Xia Yang carried the bundles and medicine and followed Xia Tian to two butcher stalls, where she picked up a pig’s head and some intestines.

At the grain store, Xia Tian bought ten jin of rice, and she picked up the tofu she had preordered as they passed by the tofu stall.

Then they finally headed back.

On the way, she told Xia Yang about how she’d been running a stall lately. Only then did Xia Yang learn that Fourth Sister was selling braised meat in town—and business was doing quite well.

They chatted along the way. When they reached the fork in the road, Xia Tian told him she’d visit home tomorrow and also gave him the two big pork bones and a piece of liver that the meat stall owner had gifted her.

She also stuffed five copper coins into his hand and told him to start fixing up the house—at the very least, make it somewhat livable.

Xia Yang stood silently at the fork in the road, clutching the money. It wasn’t until Xia Tian was out of sight that he wiped his face and started walking home.

He knew they were relying more and more on Fourth Sister now, and he’d just have to work hard later to make up for it.

When Xia Tian got home, she quickly made dinner. After eating, she cleaned the pig’s head and intestines to braise them. She secretly kept five pieces of wild boar meat in her space and gave the rest to Mu Feng to chop up. Shen Nian helped too, and they stuffed everything into sausages.

Once the wild boar meat had air-dried enough, they took the meat and sausages to the backyard. Shen Nian and Mu Feng helped her build a rack and hang up the meat. Underneath, they stacked cypress branches and added tea leaves, sugar, rice, and other ingredients for smoking. Then they lit it and covered the whole setup with a large oilcloth.

Since the weather was getting warmer and meat spoiled easily, they hadn’t marinated or dried it for long. So they smoked it a little longer than usual—better for preservation.

Once the smoked meat was ready, she stir-fried a dish with garlic sprouts for dinner. Its unique aroma earned high praise from both Shen Nian and Mu Feng!

When Xia Tian told them this kind of meat could last over six months without spoiling, Mu Feng’s eyes lit up.

“Master, this meat could totally be used in the military—doesn’t spoil easily, easy to carry, and already salted. When marching, each soldier could carry a piece and not even need extra salt.”

“Mm, that’s true.” Shen Nian nodded in agreement.

Xia Tian listened to their conversation and almost laughed. With how low the productivity was in ancient times; people couldn’t even get enough to eat—and they wanted to hand out smoked meat to every soldier?

Dream on.

Just as she finished grumbling inwardly, she heard Mu Feng sigh.

“Too bad, the army often doesn’t even have enough grain—how could there be meat for everyone?”

Xia Tian chuckled. Mu Feng was quite a witty guy.

When they first met, she thought he was a cool, aloof type. Turns out, once you got to know him, he was talkative.

And super hardworking. Ever since Mu Feng arrived, she hadn’t needed to do any chores like carrying water, feeding chickens, weeding, or watering the vegetable patch.

He didn’t even flinch at cleaning pig intestines—just helped her out, fast and efficient, like he was worth two people.

After dinner, the three of them sat in the courtyard to digest.

That’s when Xia Tian told Shen Nian about the Xia family’s situation.

Even Mu Feng, who was sitting beside her, got angry. “How can a mother like that exist?! Sis-in-law, if you need anything, just say the word—I’ll get it done!”

“Yeah, let us know if you need help,” Shen Nian echoed.

“Okay, thank you both! If I need anything, I’ll definitely ask.” Xia Tian was genuinely touched.

“Brother Shen, I want to go back tomorrow to check on my dad. I don’t know how bad his injuries really are.”

“All right. Do you want Mu Feng to go with you?”

“Yeah, sis-in-law, I’ll go with you!”

“No need for now. I’ll go first and see how things are. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know.” Xia Tian declined their kind offer. She wanted to check it out herself first—she didn’t even know what the situation was yet.

Seeing that she had refused, Shen Nian didn’t push it. He turned slightly and called out, “Mu Feng,” tilting his chin and giving him a look.

Mu Feng instantly understood and pulled out a silver note from his chest, placing it in front of Xia Tian. “Sis-in-law, here’s one tael of silver. Take it. If it’s not enough, just tell me.”

Xia Tian was startled and pushed it back. “Why are you giving me a silver note? I’ve got enough money.”

Whoa, this was what being rich looked like pulling out a whole tael like it was nothing!

She’d been running her stall for half a year and still hadn’t made a whole tael.

“Take it. Didn’t you say they don’t even have a place to live now? Use it to fix the house first. You can’t have them sleeping out in the open.” Shen Nian pressed the silver note into her hand and spoke softly.

“But I can’t just take your money to support my birth family!” Xia Tian felt embarrassed.

“My money is your money. Don’t worry about it!” Shen Nian’s words melted Xia Tian’s heart. Did this mean he already saw her as family?

“Then thank you, Brother Shen, and thank you, Mu Feng!” Xia Tian was deeply touched by Shen Nian’s words. She didn’t argue anymore and accepted the silver note.

Of course, she wouldn’t just take Shen Nian’s money shamelessly—but his attitude, she had seen it clearly.

Heartfelt sincerity in exchange for heartfelt sincerity—totally worth it!