Chapter 6: A Grave Illness

Watching her family in such harmony, Ning Xin felt full of drive. Since she wasn’t suited for the complexities of buying land, she decided to head into the mountains and bag a wild boar.

She couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but ever since her spatial storage had upgraded, her mind felt much sharper. In the past, she would run into the mountains strictly to gather firewood, never letting her focus wander. When her parents told her to stay out of the deep woods, she obeyed. She knew that wild boars and bears were ferocious, so if she caught sight of them, she would flee, just as she had been told. She was always content with just catching a few wild rabbits, pheasants, or ducks, and she never went beyond the city walls when she visited the county town.

Ning Xin stuffed a flatbread into her mouth and washed it down with egg drop soup. "Mother, I’m going to take the wood-chopping knife and a few coils of hemp rope with me later."

"Are you going to chop wood?" Mother Meng asked.

In the entire village, no one had as much firewood as their family—not a single soul! Very few households even possessed iron pots or ladles, all of which had been earned by Ning Xin leading her younger siblings. Mother Meng felt both proud and heartbroken.

"Yes," Ning Xin nodded. She wasn't used to lying; then again, it wasn't exactly the first time. She had never told her mother about the spatial realm, nor about finding the silver hairpin that had activated it. She took another sip of soup to calm her nerves.

"I’ll bake you some extra flatbreads to take along so you don't go hungry."

Mother Meng got straight to work. Ning Nuan and Ning Huan hurried over to help. Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang leaned in toward Ning Xin. "Big Sister, you’re acting strange."

Ning Xin glanced at her fourth and fifth brothers. "Can't the food keep your mouths shut?"

The two boys, twins who shared an uncanny connection, exchanged a silent look. They both thought to themselves, "Big Sister definitely has something she's hiding from us." But they were smart enough not to pry further. If they annoyed her, they couldn't beat her in a fight, and being left behind while she went into the mountains would be far worse.

After breakfast, Ning Xin set off into the mountains with her four younger siblings. Watching their retreating figures, Mother Meng called out, "Don't go into the deep woods! If you see a vicious wild boar, hide and run!" But before she could finish, Ning Xin and the others had already vanished from sight.

Her sister-in-law, Wu, stepped out and began to stir trouble. "Sister-in-law, it’s not for me to say, but you really shouldn't indulge Ning Xin and the others like this. They’re grown young women now; running into the mountains all the time—how will they ever find husbands?"

Here she went again. Mother Meng felt a flare of irritation in her chest.

"How could that be a problem? My Ah Xin is both cultured and capable. Whether it’s climbing mountains or crossing rivers, she’s one of a kind—not just in our family, but in the entire village. Matchmakers have already come to inquire about her, but I told them I wanted to keep her by my side for a few more years, which is why I haven't made a fuss about it. Believe me, sister-in-law, if I were to put the word out that I was looking for a suitor for Ah Xin, there would be plenty of people sending matchmakers to our door."

Mother Meng asked with a smile, "Have you eaten yet, sister-in-law? I’m planning to buy that plot of wasteland at the foot of the mountain to build a house."

Wu’s heart felt as if it were being scratched by a cat—both itching and aching. Everyone knew that the eldest of the Ning family was famous for doting on his wife. Just the same, Ning Xin’s capability was renowned for miles around. Back when they had split the family, Wu had complained that the eldest branch had too many mouths to feed and had demanded the separation. Yet, after the split, the eldest branch had thrived, even buying iron pots and ladles. Now, they were even planning to build a house...

Wu opened her mouth, then said dryly, "Congratulations, sister-in-law. I haven't eaten yet, so I’ll go do that now and come back to chat with you later."

"Alright, alright." Mother Meng watched Wu’s retreating back and let out a cold snort. She pulled Ning Wen inside and closed the courtyard gate. From the neighbor's house, the sounds of Wu scolding her own daughters, Zhao-di and Dai-di, drifted over.

She had no heart for her own children; she must be truly ill.