Chapter 35 – Moving House

When Xia Tian saw that Chen Shi had started crying without saying a word, she had no idea what to do!

Fortunately, Xia Yue, standing beside her, quickly pulled at her mother and said, “Mom, don’t cry. Fourth Girl is back—you should be happy!”

“Mhm, mhm. I am happy,” Chen Shi said, wiping her tears away with her sleeve. Then she turned to Xia Tian with a smile that looked even worse than crying.

Looking at Chen Shi’s face—like she had aged ten years since the last time they met—Xia Tian felt a mix of emotions.

Maybe it was the original body’s feelings, or maybe it was because Xia Yang and the others truly cared about her. Even in this unfamiliar world, she felt a sliver of warmth. She couldn’t bring herself to just leave them behind.

She noticed the three young men in the courtyard helping out also looking up at them and felt a bit embarrassed.

These boys were close friends of Xia Yang from the village. Coming out to help under such circumstances was a rare show of loyalty.

Xia Tian greeted them, then headed into the house to check on her father.

Xia Yue led her to the slightly less damaged room, and as soon as she stepped inside—whoa!

More than half of the heated brick bed had collapsed. The only part that remained was where her father was lying. Beneath him was a thick layer of straw and a straw mat on top. There was no roof or door.

The sun was already shining directly on half his body.

This house was completely uninhabitable!

Seeing Xia Tian return, Xia Zheng’an also started choking up, unable to speak.

Xia Tian was stunned again. Crying? Again?

What now? She had originally wanted to say a few words to her dad, but now she couldn’t even open her mouth.

Forget it. He was her birth father, after all. Things had gotten so bad that even an honest man like him had been pushed to this state. She shouldn’t pour salt on the wound.

“Dad, don’t be upset. As long as our family works together, there’s nothing we can’t get through,” Xia Tian sighed and offered a somewhat stiff bit of comfort.

“Yeah,” Xia Zheng’an turned his head and wiped his face.

No need to drag it out—Xia Tian checked each room one by one. There was no point trying to repair this house.

Besides, the area was deserted. There wasn’t a soul in sight within a two-kilometer radius. If something bad happened here, no one would even know.

She had also come today to talk to them about her braised meat business. Living so far away would make it hard to work together.

With her mind made up, Xia Tian called Xia Yang over. “Brother, have the others go back for now. I’ve got something to discuss with you all.”

“Okay,” Xia Yang didn’t even ask what it was. His trust in her now was almost blind.

A little while later, Xia Yang came back. “I let them head back. Fourth Girl, what is it you wanted to say?”

“Bring everyone in.”

“Xiao Shiji, go call Mom and Sister-in-law too.”

Soon, everyone had gathered in the room where their father was lying.

Xia Tian looked around to make sure everyone was there before clearing her throat and saying, “Before I get to the main topic, I want to ask something first. Dad, Mom, Big Brother—if we end up making some money in the future, and Grandpa and Grandma come begging again for money or things, will you give it to them?”

“No way! Why should we? They already abandoned us,” Xia Shiji cut in angrily.

“What about you, Dad?” Xia Tian fixed her gaze on Xia Zheng’an.

He lowered his eyes, and his voice turned cold. “They don’t care whether we live or die anymore. Aside from what we agreed to give, I won’t hand over a single extra coin.”

Looks like Dad had really had a wake-up call these past few days.

“And you, Mom? If Grandpa and Grandma come making a scene, and Dad gets soft-hearted, what will you do?”

“Then let your dad go live with them,” Chen Shi snapped, glaring at Xia Zheng’an. “He can give them whatever he wants.”

“Dear, how could I possibly go soft again? I won’t. You can count on it,” Xia Zheng’an quickly promised.

“Well, if you ever go back to siding with them again, I’ll take the kids and live on my own,” Chen Shi huffed.

She’d been meek and tolerant her whole life. And what had it gotten her?

She couldn’t even protect her own children!

Xia Tian turned to Xia Yang. “I won’t. I swear I won’t,” he promised with determination.

“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. If any of you go back on your word, I’ll never step in to help again.”

Seeing everyone nod, Xia Tian was finally satisfied and let the matter drop.

“Alright, then let’s pack up. We’re moving.”

“Moving?”

“To where?” Everyone looked at her, dumbfounded.

They’d just moved here—now they were moving again?

“To the town. I’ve just taken on a big order and I’m swamped. I need help.”

The braised meat business was getting better and better. Demand would only keep growing. If she wanted to scale up, she couldn’t manage it on her own.

Originally, she had planned to wait until after Xia Yue got married and then ask the couple to help. But since the Xia family had already kicked their branch out, there was nothing holding her back. Asking Xia Yang and the others now was a win-win.

“What kind of business?”

“Where are we going to live in town?”

“What exactly are we going to do?”

Everyone started asking questions at once. She raised her hand to quiet them.

“Big Brother knows what I’ve been working on. I just got an order from Yunlai Restaurant in town, and I’m expanding the operation. It’ll be much more convenient if you live there too.

I just looked around—this place is totally unlivable. Unless you plan to rebuild. And with Dad injured, it’s easier to get him treatment in town.

So, are you in or not?”

“We’re in.” Everyone answered in unison.

Things had already come to this point. Worst case, they could always move back later.

“What about the fields?” They had been given two mu of land. In just over a month, the wheat would be ready for harvest.

“We don’t need to tend to it daily. We’ll just come back when it’s time.”

“True,” Xia Yang nodded.

“Alright. Since you all agree, go pack your things.

I was originally going to go to town tomorrow to find a rental place before asking you to move but seeing how you’re living now… it’s not even fit for temporary shelter,” Xia Tian said, shaking her head.

Xia Yang pulled Xia Tian aside. “Fourth Girl, do you really have that much money? It’s not cheap to rent for a whole family.”

“Don’t worry, Brother. I have money. Brother Shen and his younger brother came to my house and gave me some silver. Brother Shen said you can borrow it for now, and just pay it back after you’ve earned some money.”

Xia Tian said half-truthfully.

Xia Yang was quiet for a moment. “Alright, thank Brother-in-law for me. I’ll repay the money as soon as I can.”

“Got it. Now go pack,” Xia Tian said, smiling as she nudged him.

She had framed it as a loan because she didn’t want them to get used to handouts. Their lives had to be built through their own effort in the end.

She could lend a hand when things were tough, but she wouldn’t coddle them.

Xia Yang went to borrow a cart from the village, and Xia Yue brought over the herbal medicine she had boiled. Xia Tian took it, secretly added two drops of spiritual spring water, and gave it to her father.

Once he finished drinking the medicine and everything was packed, they carefully moved him onto the cart. Then they loaded up their belongings into the remaining space, and Xia Yang pulled the cart while Xia Tian carried her shoulder pole, leading them through the mountain path to town.

Along the way, she explained everything in detail—what they’d be doing and what to expect—so everyone would feel more at ease.

Once in town, Xia Tian first took them to an inn to settle down. Xia Yue and her sister-in-law Sun Maimiao went to buy a big bundle of food—steamed buns, filled buns, and more—for everyone to eat.

They had all come to town without even eating lunch and were starving.

After eating, Xia Tian had her mom stay at the inn to take care of their dad, while Xia Yue and her sister-in-law kept an eye on the two kids.

Then Xia Tian and Xia Yang headed to the housing agency to look for a rental.