Chapter 37: A Whimsical Notion

Trust between a person and a mule? Ning Xin had no real confidence in that. After all, she had only bought the mule yesterday; they hadn't even had time to get familiar with each other, let alone build a bond. She was simply gambling—betting that the mule was clever enough to know the way home.

Mother Meng gave Ning Xin a firm nudge on the shoulder, pushing her toward the door and urging, "Hurry and follow it! What if it gets lost?"

He Shi also chimed in, "Xin, go on. That animal is worth a lot of money. If someone steals it..."

Feeling uncertain, Ning Xin hurried out to chase after the mule. After a while, however, she slowed her pace, opting to follow from a distance. When she saw the mule stop at the spot by the village entrance where it had done its business the day before, she hid herself. Once it was finished, it began to amble back toward the house. Ning Xin realized with relief that the creature really did know the way home.

Back at the house, Mother Meng was anxious. She had already moved the bolts of fabric inside, leaving only two bags of scraps for them to sort through. She sat on a stool, picking and folding the pieces by color. Ning Wen and Ning Wu came over to help, while Ning Qi and Ning An stared longingly out into the yard.

He Shi watched them and chuckled softly. Mother Meng teased, "Qi, An, how about in a few days, your big sister takes you out for a ride on the mule?"

Ning An’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. Ning Qi ran over and tugged on Mother Meng’s sleeve. "Mother, really? Where will we go?"

"Maybe to the county seat..." Mother Meng started, then shook her head. "No, we can't go there; it costs a coin per person to enter."

He Shi thought for a moment. "Sister-in-law, if not the county seat, we could go to the market fair."

"A market fair? Where?"

"It's near the county town, held twice a month—on the first and the fifteenth. Folks from the countryside bring their goods to sell, and traders come to sell things the villagers need."

Mother Meng did the math; that was the day after tomorrow. "I'll discuss it with the eldest son tonight and see if we should go." She then turned to He Shi. "Fourth sister-in-law, if we go, will you come along?"

He Shi thought about her own frail health and hesitated. But seeing Ning An’s expectant eyes, she thought it over and said, "If there’s room on the cart, we’ll go."

"There will definitely be room." Mother Meng continued sorting the fabric, though her eyes kept drifting to the yard gate.

The mule returned on its own, looking left and right as it entered. Ning Wen and Ning Wu hurried over. "Mother, it must be hungry!" The two brothers brought out corn and dried wheat straw, but they put it in a foot-washing basin. He Shi was secretly surprised that the mule would eat corn, but then she watched as the mule kicked the basin over with a hoof and began eating the corn and straw off the ground instead.

"..."

The mule’s reaction left everyone stunned. "Is it refusing to eat from a basin? But isn't the ground even dirtier?" Mother Meng asked, confused.

The mule suddenly looked at Mother Meng, and the corn it was chewing didn't taste quite as good anymore. It didn't know whether to spit it out or keep eating.

He Shi laughed. "Sister-in-law, it seems we have a very fastidious mule. I happen to have a new wooden basin at home; I’ll go get it for him to use."

Knowing this was a valuable animal, Mother Meng worried about it starving. When Ning Xin returned, she told her to go with He Shi to fetch the basin.

"?"

"The creature is picky; it doesn't like that we’re using our foot basin to feed it," Mother Meng explained.

Ning Xin was puzzled. "But it ate and drank from it yesterday."

The mule felt entirely offended.

As Ning Xin walked with He Shi to get the basin, He Shi asked if the mountains were vast. "They are huge. I’ve never reached the end of them."

"That is so large. Xin, you must be careful when you go into the mountains."

Ning Xin nodded.

He Shi continued, "I mean, you shouldn't just be wary of the animals; you must be even more careful of people."

"?"

He Shi knew Ning Xin was overly honest, so she explained, "If you found an injured old man in the mountains and he asked you to carry him home, would you?"

Ning Xin nodded. "I would."

"What if he were a man, and a bad person at that?"

"Then I’d punch him so hard he couldn't crawl away."

He Shi felt a bit of relief knowing Ning Xin was strong and fast, but she pressed on. "But Xin, what if he uses poison or medicine to make you unconscious?"

"..." This was something Ning Xin hadn't considered.

"There are good people in this world, but there are bad ones too. Remember, anyone who can walk deep in those mountains is capable of anything. You can save people, but you must act with caution and protect yourself."

Ning Xin didn't fully grasp the nuance, but she thanked He Shi sincerely. After receiving the basin, Ning Xin dashed back home.

He Shi watched her go, smiling. She felt she had finally taken the first step toward building a better relationship with her sister-in-law and Ning Xin. She knew she would likely never have another child. With Ning An’s weak constitution, life would be difficult without the support of siblings. Of all the children in the family, Ning Xin was the most capable and hardworking. Though she appeared simple, she was fiercely protective and truly kind to her own kin.

Back at home, Ning Xin refilled the basin with corn and straw, then filled another with water, letting the mule eat in peace. She turned to Mother Meng. "Mother, I’m going into the mountains to gather some firewood."

Mother Meng grabbed her arm tightly. "You are going nowhere. Go back to your room and sleep until noon. You can do whatever you like in the afternoon, but not now."

"..."

Ning Xin hadn't felt tired, but under her mother’s maternal authority, she suddenly felt drowsy. "Alright, I’ll go take a nap." She planned to take her younger siblings into the mountains in the afternoon to hunt for wild chickens or rabbits for a good dinner.

As Ning Xin went to sleep, the others continued their work. He Shi brought out a small amount of sugar for the children. It was only a tiny piece each, but the four siblings were overjoyed.

"My, sister-in-law, where did you get these fabric scraps?" Wu Shi asked, her eyes gleaming with greed as she spotted the pile.

"Ning Xin brought them back," Mother Meng said nonchalantly, glad she had already moved the main bolts of fabric inside. Otherwise, with Wu Shi’s loose tongue, it would have been common knowledge at the old house in no time.

"Ning Xin is certainly capable," Wu Shi said, her eyes shifting to the mule under the eaves.

The mule hadn't really eaten its fill, but the door to the grain storage was locked. It let out a frustrated huff.

"Ning Xin is capable, but she works so hard," He Shi said quietly.

Wu Shi glanced at He Shi and chuckled. "Fourth sister-in-law, what wind blew you out here today?"

"I asked her to come over and help me stitch some shoe soles. The children’s shoes are all worn through," Mother Meng said softly.

"Ning Xin is truly remarkable. Unlike my Zhao Di and Dai Di, who only know how to cut grass and cook; they’re completely useless."

Wu Shi didn't bother hiding her disdain for her own daughters. Mother Meng didn't want to comment on Wu Shi’s own laziness. She didn't work the fields or the house, leaving the daughters to wash clothes, cook, and feed the chickens. If Wu Shi was in a good mood, the girls ate; if not, they went hungry.

"Zhao Di and Dai Di are also very capable, sensible, and obedient," Mother Meng said, changing the subject.

Suddenly, Wu Shi asked, "Sister-in-law, can I borrow your mule for a couple of days?"