Chapter 26: She Is Just an Ordinary Person

Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang acknowledged the command and immediately ran toward the entrance of the village. Ning Nuan and Ning Huan busied themselves—one tending the fire and picking chives, the other washing the cured meat. Madam Meng was in the midst of plucking a chicken.

The midday meal was to be a feast of white rice, accompanied by stewed chicken, braised pork, twice-cooked pork, pig liver stir-fried with blood-leaf greens, a platter of sliced lean cured meat, fried peanuts, pig blood soup, and eggs scrambled with chives.

They had slaughtered a wild boar, but it wouldn't go far: two hind legs had to be set aside for the yamen officials, one foreleg for the village chief, and the other for the neighborhood head. The remainder would be divided between the husband's and wife's families, with a couple of pounds set aside for close relatives and cousins. Aside from the pig's head, there wouldn't be much left.

Ning Xin spotted Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang at the village entrance and asked, puzzled, "What are you two doing here?"

"Eldest Sister, you—you actually came back in a mule cart!" The brothers stared at the mule in utter fascination. They knew what such a thing was, but they had never ridden in one, nor had they ever even touched a mule before.

"I'm asking you, what are you doing at the village entrance?" Ning Xin repeated.

"Waiting for you," Ning Kui replied.

"Waiting for the yamen officials," added Ning Zhuang.

The brothers answered, though their eyes remained fixed on the mule, filled with envy and itching to get their hands on it.

"You two stay here then; I'm heading home," Ning Xin said, giving the old man directions on where to go. Even as the mule cart pulled away, the brothers continued to marvel at the sight.

"If only our family had a mule cart, I’d definitely know how to drive it."

"Me too."

By the time Ning Xin reached her front door, a crowd of villagers had already gathered to watch the excitement. A group of children was huddled around the wild boar in awe. When they saw the mule cart, they were even more astonished. And when they watched Ning Xin climb down, unload two large iron pots, and pull out a pry bar and a hammer, their jaws nearly hit the ground.

When did the eldest branch of the Ning family become so wealthy?

They could actually afford to buy so much ironware!

"Ah Xin, you—you—" Ning Dalang looked at the items, a mix of shock and joy churning within him, leaving his heart a chaotic mess of emotions. He had so much he wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Father, hurry and bring these things inside."

Madam Meng came out upon hearing the commotion and stood there, dumbfounded.

Ning Xin thanked the old man. He had come along partly to see if Ning Xin was truly buying things for her own home and if the villagers were as she had described. Seeing the reactions and expressions of the onlookers, he figured she hadn't lied. "I shall take my leave now."

Madam Wu grabbed Ning Xin’s arm, asking excitedly, "Ah Xin, where did you get the silver to buy all these things?"

"Hunting," Ning Xin said, pulling away and taking two steps back. In the entire village, the people she liked the least were her grandmother and her Fifth Aunt, followed by her Second Aunt, Madam Wu, and Ning Yao.

"Ah Xin..."

"Second Aunt, I haven't eaten breakfast yet, I'm going to go get some food."

Ning Xin carried the roasted chicken in one hand and the two pots in the other as she walked toward the house. Madam Meng immediately told Ning Dalang to start moving the goods. Once he regained his composure, Ning Dalang grinned, revealing his white teeth. He was happy—so happy he could have jumped for joy right there. From now on, he was a man who owned a pry bar, a hammer, and a chisel.

Madam Meng apologized to the crowd, "I am truly too busy today to host you all properly. Another day, when I’ve bought sunflower seeds and peanuts, I’ll brew tea and invite you all over!" She tidied up the remaining items and hurried to find Ning Xin.

Ning Xin placed the items in her parents' room and took the chicken to the kitchen, asking Ning Nuan and Ning Huan, "Is there anything to eat?"

"Eldest Sister, Mother saved you some food."

There were three pancakes, a bowl of corn grits porridge, and a small dish of pickled vegetables. Ning Xin downed the porridge in two gulps and began devouring the pancakes.

Madam Meng entered the kitchen and asked, "Didn't you have a single copper coin on you?"

"I did."

"You, oh you... if you have money, why didn't you buy a bun or a steamed roll to fill your stomach? What if you get so hungry that you ruin your stomach?" Madam Meng was both angry and heartbroken.

Ning Xin didn't think much of it. She hadn't been able to bring herself to spend the money. There were far too many things available in the space's shop; after buying a few Swiss rolls and a glass lamp that day, she hadn't had the urge to buy anything else. She didn't have much desire for the items in the space—whether it was the spiritual spring or the house, she didn't feel a great need to possess them. She simply wanted to be a girl a little stronger than the rest, growing up by her parents' side, getting married, and having children.

As for what her mother said about buying food... she hadn't thought of it when she first arrived in the county seat, and later, there simply hadn't been an opportunity. It wouldn't have been right to make the old man wait for her. Besides, being able to eat a meal as soon as she got home was just fine.

Madam Meng could see that Ning Xin was truly famished. The young girl was naturally strong and required more food, and having gone without a drop of water or grain since last night, it was no wonder she was starving. She couldn't bear to keep scolding her; Ning Xin was the eldest daughter and a role model for her younger siblings, and constant lecturing would only undermine her authority.

However, Madam Meng made a very important decision in her heart.