Chapter 4 – The Wedding

Under the stern authority of Old Lady Xia, Li Shi and Zhao Shi slunk back to their own rooms.

Chen Shi went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the family, while Xia Yue and Xia Chen also went to help. At this moment, the room was empty except for Xia Tian.

Xia Tian looked around the small room, opened a bundle resting on a large wooden chest, and saw some old clothes that the original owner had worn, as well as a pair of coarse cloth shoes in a faded green color that her sister, Xia Yue, had stealthily given her last night.

After they had gone to bed the previous evening, Xia Yue rummaged through the wooden chest on the kang (a traditional Chinese bed) for a long time before pulling out a pair of shoes, saying they were for her. She had packed them for her wedding the next day.

These were the only dowry items she had for her wedding.

Xia Tian gently touched the shoes, understanding the situation. These shoes were made by Xia Yue for herself to wear on her own wedding day. Xia Tian’s marriage had only been announced yesterday, so how could Xia Yue have known about her upcoming marriage?

After receiving the shoes with gratitude, Xia Tian silently promised to repay her sister, Xia Yue, when the opportunity arose.

This was the first warm gesture Xia Tian had felt since crossing over into this world.

By the time it was just about dawn, the breakfast at the Xia family had been prepared. The family gathered around the tables in the main hall, with the meal split into two tables due to the large number of people. The men sat at one table, and the women and children sat at the other.

At the men’s table, Old Man Xia and Old Lady Xia sat at the head of the table, with Xia Tian’s eldest uncle, Xia Zhengping, and his three sons, Xia Shan, Xia Chuan, and Xia He, beside them.

On the left were Xia Tian’s third uncle, Xia Zhengfeng, and his eldest son, Xia Dong. At the bottom of the table were Xia Tian’s father, Xia Zheng’an, and her elder brother, Xia Yang.

Xia Tian’s fourth uncle, Xia Zhengnian, was studying in the county and only returned once every few months.

At the women’s table, at the head of the table were Aunt Li Lanxiang, her daughter, Daya, her eldest daughter-in-law, Li Ying, and the Xia family’s little great-grandson, Xia Xiang, who was just two years old.

On the left were Third Aunt Zhao Guilan, her daughter, and Xia Nan, who had just turned one. At the bottom of the table was Chen Shi, Chen Tao, who brought Xia Tian and her three younger siblings with her.

From the seating arrangement, it was clear that the second branch of the Xia family held a low status.

Once the food was on the table, Old Lady Xia said, “Start eating,” and immediately, the clinking of bowls and plates filled the room, accompanied by the sounds of hurried eating.

Breakfast at the Xia family consisted of thin porridge made from mixed grains and salted vegetables. The coarse flatbreads were only given to the men’s table, with each man receiving one. The women’s table only received half a piece of flatbread, with Xia Xiang and Xia Nan each getting a portion. Xia Tian didn’t get any.

This showed Old Lady Xia’s favoritism. But as the head of the household, she had the final say on who got what food.

The original owner often argued with Old Lady Xia over such matters, which often led to beatings.

The meal was quiet, and no one spoke. In less than a quarter of an hour, it was finished.

Xia Tian felt as if she hadn’t eaten at all.

After the meal, Chen Shi, along with Xia Yue and Xia Chen, cleared the table. Xia Tian watched her eldest uncle and third uncle’s families return to their rooms, and she pursed her lips but didn’t say anything.

This matter would have to be resolved by the second branch of the family.

No one else could do anything.

Xia Tian didn’t go to the kitchen to help. Instead, she grabbed a small stool and sat under the eaves, lost in thought, watching the courtyard.

About half an hour later, the matchmaker, Liu, arrived to pick up the bride.

Though she was here to “pick up the bride,” only Liu the matchmaker came, which felt rather dismissive.

Seeing the attitude of the groom’s side, Xia Tian had already lost all hope.

There was no excitement at the Xia household either, only a few neighbors from the surrounding area peering into the yard from the gate.

Everyone knew the real story. In polite terms, it was a marriage, but in reality, it was a case of selling the fourth daughter to a sickly man who was about to die.

The Xia family really didn’t care about appearances. They didn’t even bother to put on a show, despite claiming to have educated people in the family.

At first, people were envious when they heard the dowry was thirty taels of silver, thinking they were lucky. But when they found out the groom was the sickly man who had come over during the famine, no one was envious anymore. Even though the daughter was a loss, she was still their own flesh and blood, and many felt sorry for her.

In these times, selling children was common. No one had the time to care about someone else’s family, and it was just talked about as a joke when the subject came up.

When Xia Tian saw Liu the matchmaker enter through the gate, she didn’t move, staying seated.

In the yard, Old Lady Xia greeted Liu the matchmaker, “Liu, you’re here. Fourth daughter will be ready soon. Please sit and have some water while you wait.”

Liu the matchmaker flicked her handkerchief and, smiling, entered the house while replying, “Sister Xia, is the girl ready? If she’s done, we should leave soon, so you don’t miss out on your work in the fields.”

“You know the groom’s side, they’re down to just him now, after his younger brother passed away, and he still has to honor his elder brother. So, I’ve come personally to pick up the bride. Don’t mind me, Sister.”

“Of course not, I understand everything,” Old Lady Xia said as she poured a cup of water for Liu.

As they chatted, Old Lady Xia urged Xia Tian to hurry, “Fourth daughter, you’re just sitting there, what are you doing? Get moving, don’t waste Aunt Liu’s time.”

“Mother, didn’t you forget something you were supposed to give me?” Xia Tian raised her eyes and coolly looked at Old Lady Xia.

“Old Sister, please wait a moment,” Old Lady Xia hurriedly spoke to Liu, then shot Xia Tian a sharp glare before walking over to her and saying in a low voice, “Come with me.”

Xia Tian followed her inside. Old Lady Xia raised her hand to twist Xia Tian’s arm.

Xia Tian wasn’t accustomed to her behavior. She grabbed Old Lady Xia’s wrist and coldly asked, “Mother, do you still want me to leave today?”

Seeing Xia Tian’s cold gaze, Old Lady Xia didn’t dare to provoke her anymore. She cursed under her breath, “You’re a burden. Don’t come back here if you have any guts,” and then pulled out a silver coin, shoving it into Xia Tian’s pocket. She turned and walked out.

Xia Tian snorted. As if she cared to come back!

Inside the room, Xia Yue, Xia Shiji Li, and Xia Chen had been sitting close to the kang, too scared to breathe, fearing Old Lady Xia’s temper.

Xia Tian smiled as she looked at the three of them, then playfully ruffled Xia Shiji Li and Xia Chen’s heads.

“Fourth Sister is leaving, you two need to take care of yourselves,” Xia Tian said with a smile, gently squeezing Xia Shiji Li’s face, “Xiao Shiji, you’re a boy. You need to protect your sisters and make sure no one bullies them, understand?”

“Got it, Fourth Sister,” Xia Shiji Li tugged at her sleeve, speaking in a muffled voice.

“Come find me if you miss me, but you can’t come alone. Have big brother bring you, understand?” Xia Tian said with a slight reluctance.

Both of the little ones nodded eagerly.

Xia Yang, who had been organizing the farming tools in the yard, saw Old Lady Xia leave. Without saying a word, he put down the tools and headed toward Fourth Sister’s room.

Xia Tian had nothing much to pack. She grabbed her bundle from the cabinet and was ready to leave.

Just as she turned, her mother entered, hurriedly pressing an old cloth pouch into her hands and saying softly, “Fourth daughter, don’t blame me.”

Then, without another word, she lowered her head and quickly left.

Xia Tian watched her mother’s hurried back, her emotions complicated. She didn’t really want the pouch, but upon reflection, it was her mother’s care for her daughter. She accepted it as a gesture from the original owner’s mother.

Xia Tian tucked the pouch into her pocket, hugged Xia Yue and her younger siblings, who were watching her with reluctant eyes, and said, “I’m leaving.”

She turned to head out the door.

Just as she reached the door, her elder brother, Xia Yang, lifted the curtain and came in.