Chapter 23 The day of reckoning is not far off.

Chu Yanxi woke up just as dawn was breaking.

The lower abdominal pain was still there, but it had eased considerably compared to the tearing discomfort of the previous two days. The Sheng Hua Tang had taken effect, and with a good night's sleep, she felt her strength had recovered somewhat. Outside the window, she could hear Granny Wang's soft snoring. Wang Erzhu slept next door, and the entire mud-brick house was still immersed in the pre-dawn silence.

She got up quietly and put on her only pair of ill-fitting cloth shoes. Today she needed more activity to help expel stagnant blood, and she also needed to observe more details of this home and this village. Pushing open the creaking wooden door, the slightly chilly morning air rushed in, invigorating her.

However, a conspicuous red plastic bag by the threshold immediately put her on alert.

It was a brand-new plastic bag, completely out of place in this poor earthen courtyard, folded neatly and lying quietly beside the woodpile by the door. It couldn't have been placed there by the Wang family; they wouldn't use such a "trendy" item, much less place it so carefully.

Chu Yanxi looked up at the outside of the courtyard wall.

A gray morning mist shrouded the village, obscuring the view of anyone.

She bent down and picked up the plastic bag with a smooth and natural movement.

It was warm to the touch, and a food aroma wafted into my nostrils. I touched it through the plastic bag and found five round, hard objects inside, along with a small bag of square objects and some small granular things.

She retreated back inside and, using the faint light filtering through the window paper, gently opened it.

Five hard-boiled eggs, their shells clean and still slightly warm, clearly freshly boiled that morning. A packet of dark red brown sugar wrapped in rough yellow paper, without any lumps, smelled incredibly sweet, suggesting it had been recently purchased. There were also a dozen or so milk candies wrapped in cellophane, refracting a faint luster in the dim light.

Chu Yanxi was stunned.

In this mountain village where food was so scarce that even corn porridge had to be carefully rationed, the value of this bag of supplies was self-evident. Eggs were a precious source of protein, brown sugar could replenish blood and improve circulation, and milk candy could quickly replenish energy. Each of these was exactly what she desperately needed at that moment.

Who is it?

The answer appeared almost instantly—Lu Zhe.

Only he knew her situation, and only he had the inclination and ability to obtain these "rare items." Thinking of his concerned yet guilty gaze yesterday, and his hesitant worry, Chu Yanxi quickly deduced that Lu Zhe had secretly sent these things.

A warm current surged into her heart without warning, quickly spreading throughout her body, even seeming to dispel some of the dull pain in her lower abdomen. This feeling of being cared for silently in the dark, and receiving help in her time of need, was both unfamiliar and precious to her.

Since her father's death, she had long been accustomed to facing everything alone, accustomed to encasing herself in ice. But at this moment, this simple bag of food stirred subtle ripples in her calm heart.

Chu Yanxi took a deep breath, quickly composed herself, and peeled an egg in a few bites. The egg white was tender, and the yolk was fragrant. The long-lost sense of satisfaction comforted her depleted body. It only took her two minutes to finish all five eggs. Then, Chu Yanxi put a milk candy in her mouth, the sweetness melting on her tongue and bringing a real sense of energy.

Coughing and rustling sounds of getting up came from Wang Pozi's room. Chu Yanxi quickly and carefully wrapped up the remaining brown sugar and milk candy and hid them in an inconspicuous gap under the kang mat.

Just as they hid their things, they heard Granny Wang's voice ordering them around: "Chunhua! Where have you been? Get up and start the fire!"

Granny Wang's hoarse voice carried her usual impatience. Although she had tried to be nice to her yesterday, Granny Wang didn't really have much affection for this daughter-in-law she had bought. The price of an ox had bought her labor and a breeding machine, not a truly loving daughter.

"You're here," Chu Yanxi replied, her voice steady and showing no sign of distress. She straightened her clothes, deliberately making her movements appear somewhat weak, before lifting the curtain and stepping out.

On the other side, outside the courtyard wall.

At the corner of a narrow alley, Lu Zhe held his breath and quietly peeked out half his head.

He saw Chu Yanxi open the door, find the plastic bag, and then quickly and cautiously retreat back inside. Although he didn't see her expression as she opened the bag, Lu Zhe keenly noticed that her pale cheeks seemed to have regained a very faint color. Her steps, though still light and slow, were no longer as unsteady and weak as they had been a few days ago, but rather carried a calm resilience.

Lu Zhe let out a long sigh of relief, and his tightly clenched fist loosened slightly.

Chu Yanxi's health is slowly recovering, which is a good thing. Hopefully, what he sent will be useful.

He gave all the money he had to Chu Yanxi, and if he wanted to trade with the villagers for food, he could only use the Shanghai brand watch that the original owner had worn on his wrist for many years. This village was incredibly poor; every bite of food was precious. The watch only fetched five eggs and a bag of brown sugar. As for milk candy, it was something he always carried with him when he went out to gather information, a way to connect with the villagers. This time, he gave it all to Chu Yanxi.

Just as he was about to leave quietly, a large hand suddenly patted his shoulder.

"Lu Zhe, what are you looking at here so suspiciously?"

Lu Zhe was so startled that he almost cried out. He turned around abruptly and saw Li Wenshu's face with an inquiring expression. He then clutched his chest, still shaken, and said, "Li... Li Wenshu, it's you... You scared me!"

Li Wenshu squinted, glancing at the Wang family courtyard in the distance, then at Lu Zhe, who looked uneasy. He lowered his voice and said, "Lu Zhe, not to be nosy, but aren't you being a little too concerned about Erzhu's new wife? I wanted to ask you about it yesterday; you kept asking about her, and now you're hiding here..."

Lu Zhe's heart sank, knowing that his actions had aroused suspicion.

He composed himself, his face hardening into a serious and indignant expression: "Li Wenshu, to be honest, what I hate most is this kind of trafficking in women! It's illegal! In broad daylight, how can people be bought and sold like commodities? This new bride of Erzhu's family is a victim. I want to help her, to help her escape this hellhole and return to where she belongs."

He spoke with heartfelt sincerity, and this was indeed one of his most genuine thoughts.

Li Wenshu's expression turned serious. He pulled Lu Zhe a few more steps deeper into the alley, making sure no one was around, before earnestly advising him.

“Lu Zhe, I admire your sense of justice. But you need to understand where you are. This is Shijian Village, a notoriously poor mountain village. Look at all these wives in the village; nine out of ten were bought from outside, and many were arranged marriages. You helped Chunni because although she picked up a knife, she might not have killed anyone. The elders and the village head also have to consider the law, and they're hoping our township government will pay for road repairs, so they gave us some face and were willing to let the police get involved. But if you want to help a bought wife escape…”

He paused, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of warning, "Then you're going against the whole village! If you mess with this family's wife, that family will wonder if they'll be next. In that case, to protect everyone's 'interests,' the whole village will pounce on you. Think about it, can you handle the whole village by yourself? In that case, forget about helping Chunhua, you and I might both get hurt!"

These words were like ice water poured over Lu Zhe's head, instantly sobering him up. He had only thought about saving Chu Yanxi, but had overlooked the complex and intertwined collective interests behind it all. Li Wenshu was right; in this closed system, challenging a convention was tantamount to challenging the very foundation of the system, and would inevitably provoke the fiercest backlash.

"But... are we just going to stand by and watch her get trapped here?" Lu Zhe's voice was a little hoarse.

"Sigh, this matter needs careful consideration." Li Wenshu sighed and patted his shoulder. "Right now, the most important thing is Chunni's case. Once the police arrive and investigate, we might find a breakthrough. But no matter what, don't act rashly, and especially don't let anyone suspect you have any intention of abducting Erzhu's wife! Remember my words!"

Li Wenshu gave a few more instructions and left first. Lu Zhe stood alone in the deserted alley, his heart heavy.

The sunlight gradually dispelled the morning mist, illuminating this poor yet stubborn mountain village, and also revealing the vast chasm between his ideals and reality. The road to helping Chu Yanxi was far more difficult and dangerous than he had imagined.

He looked up toward the Wang family's courtyard, where wisps of smoke were already rising from the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Chu Yanxi had already started the fire, and the millet porridge in the pot was bubbling away.

Granny Wang walked in, instinctively wanting to find fault, but seeing the stove was spotless and the porridge perfectly cooked, she swallowed her words. She glanced at Chu Yanxi and suddenly said, "Your complexion seems a bit better?"

Chu Yanxi added a piece of firewood and said in a calm tone, "Yes, I took the medicine and feel a bit stronger."

"That's good." Granny Wang, unusually, didn't disagree. She scooped water to wash herself and, after a while, casually mentioned, "After dinner, chop that pile of firewood in the corner of the yard. The second son can't manage it all by himself."

"Okay," Chu Yanxi agreed. Chopping wood was heavy work, and Granny Wang was testing her physical strength and continuing to exploit her labor.

She stirred the porridge quietly, but her mind was racing with calculations.

The supplies Lu Zhe sent were a timely help, but we can't just sit around doing nothing. We must make the most of what we have and improve our physical condition as soon as possible. Eggs should be eaten sparingly, and brown sugar can be diluted with water occasionally. More importantly, we need to find a way to obtain more information, such as the layout of the village and the route down the mountain.

When Wang Erzhu came in rubbing his eyes, the porridge was already ready. Chu Yanxi served him a large bowl, and then served herself a small half-bowl. While eating, she asked casually, "Second Brother, how do we usually get from our village to the market in the township? Is the road easy to travel?"

Wang Erzhu slurped his porridge and mumbled, "There's only one mountain path. Even if you walk fast, it will take most of the day to get over the mountain behind it. It's difficult to walk, and you can't get out at all on rainy days."

"Oh." Chu Yanxi nodded, noting it down in her mind. Half a day's journey through the mountains was still a challenge for them. Moreover, with only one path, they were too conspicuous, making it very difficult to sneak away.

Granny Wang gave her a wary look: "Why are you asking this?"

Chu Yanxi's expression remained unchanged: "Just asking. I was thinking that once I'm better, I'll go to the market with my second brother to buy some needles and thread."

Granny Wang snorted and didn't press the matter further, but the scrutiny in her eyes didn't lessen.

After finishing breakfast, Chu Yanxi actually picked up the axe in the corner and started chopping firewood. Her movements were slow but steady, and each axe blow landed precisely on the target.

Wang Erzhu watched from the side, hesitatingly thinking of taking down the axe so that Chu Yanxi could rest, but when he glanced at Granny Wang, he stopped.

Granny Wang sat on the doorstep sewing shoe soles, glancing up every now and then with a somewhat complicated expression.

The sun rose higher, and the only sound in the courtyard was the dull thud of an axe splitting wood. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Chu Yanxi's forehead, and a small patch of her back was damp, but her eyes grew brighter and brighter. The physical exhaustion was real, but the feeling of her strength gradually returning filled her with an unprecedented fighting spirit.

Just then, a weak and timid call came from the courtyard gate.

"Grandma...Second Uncle..."

Chu Yanxi stopped what she was doing and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw Chunni's two daughters, Daya and the younger Erya, huddled together by the low courtyard gate like two frightened little quails. The two children's faces were dirty, their eyes were red and swollen, and their lips were cracked. They were staring longingly into the courtyard.

Upon seeing this, Granny Wang's face instantly darkened. She grabbed the broom leaning against the corner of the wall and rushed over, yelling, "Get out! You two good-for-nothings, you damned devils! You dare to come here! Seeing you brings bad luck! You jinxes who bring death to your parents, why don't you go die with your heartless mother!" Her curses were sharp and vicious, and she waved the broom wildly, scaring the two children so much that they huddled together, trembling, not daring to cry out loud.

Chu Yanxi felt a surge of anger rush to her head, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the axe. As a woman herself, from infancy to wife and mother, Granny Wang had struggled throughout her life under the shackles of "preferring sons to daughters," so why could she be so vicious towards her granddaughter, who was also a woman?

When will the term "money-losing goods" disappear from these people's vocabulary? When will the idea of ​​gender equality truly shine like sunlight, penetrating these mountains and illuminating these ignorant and closed-minded corners?

Chu Yanxi suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her mind racing. She couldn't confront them head-on, but she also couldn't just watch her child go hungry. Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of two unfinished cornbreads on the kitchen windowsill, and an idea immediately came to her.

Her hand slipped, and the axe clattered to the ground. She slumped against the woodpile, one hand clutching her lower abdomen, her brow furrowed, letting out a weak gasp: "Ugh..."

Granny Wang, who was about to continue chasing her granddaughter away, and Wang Erzhu, who was standing to the side looking somewhat helpless, were both attracted by the commotion.

"What is it now?" Granny Wang turned around impatiently.

Chu Yanxi's breathing was weak, and her face was deliberately made to appear even paler. "Chopping wood is too strenuous. This movement has strained my stomach. Ouch, I feel a little dizzy..."

She looked at Wang Erzhu with feigned weakness, "Second Brother, let me rest for a while, catch my breath, and then I'll continue..."

Granny Wang looked her over suspiciously, but seeing that she was indeed covered in cold sweat and didn't seem to be faking it, she turned to the door again, cursing, "Get out of here! Are you waiting for me to treat you to a feast!"

Taking advantage of the fact that Granny Wang's attention was diverted by the child, Chu Yanxi said urgently in a very low voice to Wang Erzhu, who had come closer, "After all, they are my eldest brother's flesh and blood. It wouldn't look good if word got out that they starved to death at the door. Take two sweet potatoes from the kitchen and throw them over the courtyard wall to them. Give them a chance to survive, okay, second brother?"

Wang Erzhu already felt guilty towards the children because of his elder brother's death, and Chu Yanxi's calling him "Second Brother" made his heart melt. He grunted in response, quickly went into the kitchen, grabbed the two sweet potatoes, went around to the side of the courtyard wall, and whispered to Daya and Erya, who were still too afraid to leave or come in, "Here! Go quickly! Don't come back!"

Two sweet potatoes flew in an arc and landed at the child's feet. Daya paused for a moment, then immediately bent down to pick them up, clutching them tightly in her hand. She pulled her younger sister along, bowed in the direction of Wang Erzhu, and then ran away quickly, her small figure disappearing at the end of the dirt road.

After finishing all this, Wang Erzhu glanced at Granny Wang somewhat guiltily, then boldly picked up the axe that had fallen to the ground and began chopping firewood. Granny Wang probably figured out that out of sight, out of mind, so she snorted, said nothing more, and went back to sitting on the doorstep to continue sewing shoe soles.

Chu Yanxi looked in the direction the children had disappeared, feeling a little relieved. At least, those two poor girls wouldn't go hungry this morning.

Seeing that Wang Erzhu had taken over the job of chopping wood, Chu Yanxi dragged a chair out of the main room, sat down, and gazed at the distant, continuous mountains with a determined look in her eyes.

The day of reckoning is not far off.