Chapter Four: The Xu Family, Who Have Good Relationships with Their Neighbors

Upon hearing the sound, the woman immediately walked back with light steps. "Mother, why are you awake? It's Uncle Bai and his family who want to come to our house to beg for a meal."

Before long, the woman helped an old lady to the door. The old lady had jet-black hair, held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, and looked kind and gentle.

Su Zhenzhen now understood why people said Xu Hua's family had an exceptionally good relationship with their neighbors.

The old man and woman stood together; one had gray hair and a hunched back, while the other was well-maintained and stood upright.

Although they were separated by a vast distance, the old lady still called out affectionately, "Third Brother."

"Sigh." Old Bai responded, tears welling up in his eyes. "I never expected that you would still remember me after all these years, little sister."

“How could I not remember?” the old lady scolded. “When my daughter and I fled here, we were unfamiliar with the place and the people. It was thanks to my third brother that we got a helping hand. Although we’ve lived in two different villages all these years, you never once visited me.”

Old Bai sighed, "Everyone's busy working to fill their stomachs, why bother moving around?"

The old lady naturally understood the implication. After all, they weren't proper relatives, and if they visited each other more often after the family became more established, it would seem like she was trying to curry favor.

"Alright, alright, stop talking at the door. Chunzhi, go and tidy up the room on the east side."

The woman, Chunzhi, readily agreed and busied herself lighting candles and tidying up.

The old lady greeted the Bai family as they entered, her gaze falling on Su Zhenzhen and Hensheng. "And this is?"

Old Bai wiped his face, looking a little embarrassed. "Hey, I thought I'd be a bachelor for life, but then I hit it off with an old maid and we started living together. We didn't have a wedding banquet, it's not a big deal anyway."

“This is my son.” Old Man Bai pointed at Hensheng. “He was born sick and has been kept at home to be cared for since birth. We’ve almost gone hungry trying to get medicine for him.”

"This is..." Old Man Bai originally wanted to say that Su Zhenzhen was his daughter, but he only had a sickly son, and he would be exposed if he asked around. So he changed his words and said, "This...this is my daughter-in-law. The young girl fled here and was penniless. I thought that my son would probably not be able to find a wife in the future, so I took her in and let the two of them live together."

"These days, there are still people fleeing north?" The old lady gave Su Zhenzhen a meaningful look. "She's quite pretty, though."

Su Zhenzhen smiled shyly, trying her best to appear like a peasant girl.

The house was tidied up, and the old lady led the three of them in.

With the candlelight shining brightly, Chunzhi exclaimed, "What a handsome young man! Is this my third uncle's grandson? I didn't get a good look at him because it was dark, but his fair skin and delicate features are much better than those of the county magistrate and his wife, aren't they?"

The old lady shifted her gaze to Hensheng and stared at him for a long time. "What nonsense are you talking about? This is your third uncle's son. You should call him brother. I wonder if your third uncle's wife is a celestial being, to be able to give birth to such a beautiful child."

Chunzhi slapped her own mouth. "Brother, don't be offended. You're much younger than my husband, so don't blame me for mistaking the generation. If I were the third uncle, I would also keep such a handsome son hidden from everyone."

Chunzhi's teasing made the atmosphere much more relaxed.

Old Bai chuckled and chimed in, "Yes, at first this child was frail and sickly, and I was afraid he might get into trouble if he went out. But then I saw him growing more and more handsome, and I was afraid he'd be taken away by some rich man to be his son-in-law. This child doesn't even recognize everyone in the village. Hensheng, quickly call her sister-in-law."

"Sister-in-law," Hensheng said in a clear voice, and Chunzhi responded happily.

Indeed, women's love of beauty has existed since ancient times, and Chunzhi, at her age, is no exception.

Su Zhenzhen secretly observed the expressions of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Chunzhi was thoroughly interested in Hensheng's appearance, but Old Madam Xu's gaze was thought-provoking.

"Alright, stop disturbing their rest."

The old lady made the final decision, and Chunzhi didn't dare to joke. She helped the old lady up and pointed to the candles on the table, saying, "Mother, you should rest early too. You haven't been sleeping well these past few days. When the head of the household comes back tomorrow, have him go to town to get some calming medicine. Third Uncle, we won't bother you. Don't be stingy with these candles; we have plenty at home."

After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left, the old man looked at Su Zhenzhen somewhat embarrassedly, "Yin..."

Before he could even finish uttering a single syllable, Su Zhenzhen glanced at him, and he immediately changed his words, "Zhen...Zhenzhen, just now...just now..."

Old Man Bai wanted to explain that he didn't mean to take advantage of Su Zhenzhen. After all, she was a deity, how could she be paired with a mortal?

Su Zhenzhen waved her hand dismissively, "Just say that in front of outsiders from now on. Get some rest, we have things to do tomorrow."

Old Bai sat on the bed with trepidation. There were two small beds in the room, and he invited Hensheng to squeeze in with him.

"No need." Su Zhenzhen had already sat down at the table to meditate. "I'll just meditate."

Old Bai didn't dare say anything more, and the father and son lay down fully clothed on their respective small beds.

The candlelight flickered as Su Zhenzhen meditated peacefully. In her mind's eye, there were scattered comments. Because the time in the two timelines was synchronized, a wave of people staying up all night on Blue Star had probably already scrolled through the comments.

When she heard the sound of even breathing, Su Zhenzhen opened her eyes. The candle had burned down to almost nothing.

The moonlight shone brightly outside the window. Su Zhenzhen quietly went out to investigate. The old lady lived in the main house, and Chunzhi was resting in the west room.

The cousin that Xu Hua mentioned was nowhere to be found.

interesting.

Su Zhenzhen returned to the east room. Only a small section of the candle remained. The moon had moved westward, and some light was beginning to appear on the horizon.

The old man and his son slept soundly.

Su Zhenzhen first focused her attention on Old Man Bai. The old lady of the Xu family was very enthusiastic towards him, which meant that either the two families were close or the Xu family was truly harmonious neighbors.

As for Hensheng, this young man was indeed too handsome, and he was also the one who first discovered Xu Hua's body.

The rooster crowed three times, and Chunzhi got up to make breakfast.

Su Zhenzhen leaned closer to ingratiate herself, "Sister-in-law, is there anything I can do for you?"

"Oh, up so early." Chunzhi's voice was indifferent as she continued working. "You feed the chickens. They're in the pen to the left of the gate, covered with a winnowing basket. Make sure they don't escape. My mother doesn't like chickens flying around the house."

Su Zhenzhen nodded, and following Chunzhi's guidance, found the chicken feed and obediently went to feed the chickens.

When she returned, the rice was already in the pot.

The Xu family lived in a house with blue bricks and tiles, and their meals consisted of white rice.

Seeing Su Zhenzhen looking around curiously, Chunzhi had a hint of arrogance on her face. "At this time of year, even the county magistrate's family might not be able to eat white rice every day. It's all thanks to my husband's skill and ability."

Su Zhenzhen knew her inner thoughts all too well, so she quickly flattered her, "We've gotten a great deal from you, sister-in-law. I've never eaten white rice since I was born. After eating your food, I'll do whatever you ask me to do."

Chunzhi was flattered and became more agreeable. "Alright, there's nothing else at home. After dinner, go wash the dirty clothes in the bathroom."