The young boy probably hadn't seen his sister for too long. When he opened his eyes and saw Yan Xue, he froze for a moment before squeezing them shut again.
His little expression suggested that everything before him was just a dream—one that wouldn’t fade as long as he kept his eyes tightly closed.
Yan Xue’s heart ached with tenderness. Softening her voice, she pinched his gaunt cheek. "What’s wrong? Don’t you want to see your sister?"
The touch felt too real. The boy reopened his eyes, his large ones—bearing a striking resemblance to Yan Xue’s—shining with delight.
But when he parted his lips, no words came out. As if remembering something, his eyes gradually welled up with tears.
"It’s alright, everything’s alright now." Yan Xue patted him comfortingly. "Weren’t you always curious about what your brother-in-law looks like? I’ll have him come in so you can see."
With that, she lifted a corner of the bedsheet and tapped on the window. "Qi Fang, come here for a moment."
The boy in her arms immediately tensed up, even trembling slightly—clearly terrified of the window.
But soon, Yan Xue retreated to her original spot, and Qi Fang walked in, shaking water off his hands. "What is it?"
Yan Jigang cautiously peeked with one eye, seemingly stunned, before opening the other fully.
The boy must have been a bit of a looks enthusiast. Yan Xue gave him a gentle shake. "This is your brother-in-law. Well? Handsome, isn’t he?"
This was the first time Qi Fang had heard Yan Xue call him good-looking. He lifted his peach-blossom eyes to glance at her.
Yan Jigang immediately clutched Yan Xue’s sleeve, his eyes wide as if trying to say something but failing.
Yan Xue offered her palm to him. "You haven’t forgotten the characters I taught you, have you?"
Yan Jigang shook his head and traced two words on her palm with his finger: "Handsome."
"Seems you really haven’t forgotten." Yan Xue ruffled his hair.
Yan Jigang pressed his lips together, revealing a small smile, before stealing another glance at Qi Fang.
Qi Fang had always been the youngest in his family, skipping grades and surrounded by people years older than him. He’d never interacted with such a shy, fragile child before.
Noticing Yan Jigang’s furtive looks, he wasn’t sure how to respond, so he simply copied Yan Xue and patted the boy’s head. "Hello."
It was a very grown-up way of greeting. Yan Jigang’s face flushed, but since he couldn’t speak, he pulled Yan Xue’s hand closer to write again.
"He says hello back," Yan Xue translated, then added with a smile, "He also called you brother-in-law."
Qi Fang gave a quiet "Mm," then, as if realizing his tone was too cold, added, "We’ve prepared a room for you at home."
Yan Jigang instantly turned to Yan Xue, his eyes bright.
"Yes, it’s for you," Yan Xue confirmed. "But you have to eat well and take your medicine. Only when you’re better can you come with us."
This time, Yan Jigang’s writing was much faster—so fast that Yan Xue could barely keep up. She guessed he was promising to follow her instructions.
"Good timing—you fell asleep before taking your midday dose. Here, drink it now." The Second Old Lady brought in a bowl of medicine.
Yan Jigang’s face fell at the sight, but he obediently took it and forced it down, nearly gagging several times.
Yan Xue rubbed his back soothingly. "Take your time, no rush."
The Second Old Lady had already poured a glass of water and handed it to him the moment he finished.
Still, his little face scrunched up in distaste. Qi Fang opened his bag and offered him a biscuit.
"Here, eat this." Yan Xue took it for him, even cupping her hand beneath to catch crumbs.
But Yan Jigang didn’t eat right away. Instead, he wrote two words on Yan Xue’s palm: "Thank you"—clearly meant for Qi Fang.
Yan Xue’s heart melted. She pulled Qi Fang’s hand over and spread his palm open. "Tell him yourself."
This was the first time Yan Xue had ever initiated contact with Qi Fang. To make him open his hand, she even tugged at his fingers.
Slender and long fingers tangled together. Qi Fang had the urge to close his hand around hers, but seeing the frail boy in Yan Xue’s arms, he restrained himself.
Yan Jigang wasn’t sure if he imagined it, but the coolness around his tall brother-in-law seemed to soften slightly. Gathering courage, he wrote his thanks on Qi Fang’s palm too.
In response, he received another head pat. "Your sister has something else prepared for you."
Yan Jigang immediately looked at Yan Xue, eyes brimming with excitement and anticipation.
"I won’t tell you yet," Yan Xue teased. "When you’re better and come home with me, you’ll find out."
Disappointment flickered across his face, but he didn’t press further, instead hugging his sister tightly.
He was such a good child—so good it hurt to think of all he’d endured.
The medicine must have contained a sedative, because soon, Yan Jigang’s eyelids grew heavy.
Seeing him struggle to stay awake, Yan Xue reassured him, "I’m not leaving. Your brother-in-law and I came back just to take you home."
But Yan Jigang refused to sleep, clinging to her with pleading eyes.
Yan Xue thought for a moment, then leaned in as if sharing a secret. "Then tell me—what did you see?"
Last time, there’d been no choice, but some problems were best resolved at their root.
Yan Jigang was now afraid of even the window in the Second Old Lady’s room. Yet their journey home would involve cars and boats—all with windows. Their new home would have them too.
At her question, Yan Jigang trembled violently, his large eyes flooding with fear.
He opened his mouth desperately, but only choked sounds came out.
"It’s okay, I’m right here." Yan Xue held him tighter. "If you can’t say it, write it. No rush."
Yan Jigang grabbed her hand and scribbled frantically.
After a long moment, Yan Xue barely made out two words: "A ghost."
Her heart and gaze darkened simultaneously. When she looked up, she found Qi Fang watching her, his eyes icy.
Yan Xue patted her brother. "But ghosts don’t exist, Jigang. Are you sure you didn’t mistake something else?"
Yan Jigang shook his head and tried to write again.
Yan Xue’s voice grew even gentler but firm. "Ghosts aren’t real. Ask your brother-in-law—he’s a university student. He’ll tell you."
This was news to Qi Fang, who shot her a questioning look.
But considering Yan Xue had mentioned returning to the research institute and had met with the esteemed "Miss Yan" privately, he assumed she’d learned it from her. Without pressing further, he sat across from Yan Jigang.
"It’s true—ghosts don’t exist. What people call ghosts are either tricks or misunderstandings of science."
He gave an example. "Take ‘will-o’-the-wisps.’ They’re just phosphine gas from decomposing bones igniting when exposed to oxygen—a natural chemical reaction."
Qi Fang’s tone was calm and detached, his demeanor effortlessly exuding an aura that dispelled superstition.
Yan Jigang listened in stunned silence for a long moment before finally pulling Yan Xue's hand to write. This time, he encountered a character he didn’t know how to write, so he used pinyin instead. Yan Xue pieced it together in her mind. "You mean a ghost wall? That’s just your own imagination scaring you."
She patted the young boy’s leg. "People naturally have more strength in their right leg than their left. When it’s dark and you can’t see, of course you’d walk in circles. Try closing your eyes and walking a few steps—I guarantee you won’t go straight."
She spoke with such conviction that even Qi Fang, standing nearby, gave a cool nod. Yan Jigang grew even more confused. Had he really just imagined it?
Seeing the boy’s doubtful expression, Yan Xue secretly sighed in relief and pressed further. "The ghost you saw—was it shaped like a person?"
Yan Jigang hesitated before nodding.
"Was it as tall as your brother-in-law?" Yan Xue asked, feigning curiosity.
Yan Jigang shook his head. She smiled again. "Surely not as short as me, right?"
He shook his head once more, this time gesturing with his hand to indicate a height slightly above hers.
Yan Xue’s eyes curved in amusement. "So ghosts come in different heights too? I thought they all just floated in the air."
At the mention of floating, Yan Jigang’s confusion deepened. Now that he thought about it, the "ghost" he’d seen hadn’t been floating at all.
Yan Xue patted his back. "You must’ve mistaken something—or maybe someone was playing a prank on you, trying to scare you."
By now, Yan Jigang was seriously questioning whether ghosts even existed. The medicine made him drowsy, and before long, her soothing pats lulled him to sleep.
Second Old Lady gently took him and laid him on the pillow, sighing. "He really needs to go to school. Being illiterate like me, I couldn’t even understand what he was trying to say."
"That’s just the misfortune of your generation. If you were born now, you’d have the chance to study."
"Hard to say."
For girls, education was a matter of luck. Yan Xue’s cousin, only a few years older than her, had spent her days spinning yarn at home, never setting foot in a school.
Second Old Lady didn’t elaborate further. Once her grandson was settled, she urged Yan Xue and Qi Fang, "You two should go wash up and change. It must’ve been a hot journey."
"Definitely hot. I feel like I’m starting to smell," Yan Xue said, sniffing at herself.
Just as they were about to leave, Second Old Lady called Yan Xue back and lowered her voice. "Yan Jizu got engaged the day before yesterday. The wedding’s set for next month."
Second Old Lady was sharp, and so was Yan Xue. No further explanation was needed—she understood perfectly.
She only asked one question: "Still the same one as before?"
Second Old Lady nodded. "They talked about marrying last winter, but when spring came, they looked at a few plots to build a house and didn’t like any of them."
Yan Xue said nothing more. She fetched water and found a place to wash up.
After carrying a nine- or ten-year-old child for most of the day, her arms were weak. As she lifted the basin, her grip faltered.
Before she could steady herself, the man beside her reached out and took it from her, his expression indifferent. "What do you plan to do?"
He was sharp too—clearly, he’d grasped the implications of Second Old Lady’s words.
What a coincidence. Just as Yan Jizu was struggling to find land for his new house, Yan Jigang suddenly had a fright.
And they were in such a hurry—Yan Jigang had barely moved out before they rushed to finalize the engagement.
A rare trace of mockery crept into Yan Xue’s smile. "My family’s mess must be exhausting for you."
"Not really," Qi Fang set the basin down and handed her fresh clothes. "Mine isn’t much better."
It was then that Yan Xue remembered—this man was a tragic figure in his own right. Not only had he died young, but his relationship with his family had been strained until his final moments, when he finally let go of his grudges.
Before she could respond, Yan Songshan and Yan Jizu returned from the fields.
Yan Xue’s expression darkened. Setting everything else aside, she quickly finished washing, changed, and stepped outside.
In the courtyard, Yan Songshan and his son had just hung their wheat-cutting sickles on the wall and were scooping water to rinse the mud from their feet. When they saw Yan Xue, Yan Songshan remained composed, even smiling as he greeted her. "Xiao Xue, you’re back?"
Then, with feigned concern, he added, "You came at the right time. Jigang hasn’t been well these past couple of days. Maybe it’s because he missed his sister after not seeing you for half a year."
What a beautifully crafted statement—he was the caring elder, while Yan Xue was the neglectful sister who’d abandoned her brother for months.
And according to him, Yan Jigang’s illness wasn’t due to fright—it was because Yan Xue had heartlessly left him behind. The blame rested squarely on her.
Yan Xue didn’t argue. She simply walked forward—and slapped Yan Jizu across the face.
Yan Jizu wasn’t particularly tall, but at around five-foot-seven and hardened by years of farm labor, no one expected the petite Yan Xue to lay a hand on him.
Yan Songshan’s face instantly darkened. Yan Jizu, recovering from the shock, roared in fury and lunged at her. "You’ve got a death wish!"
But someone was faster. A hand seized his arm and twisted it sharply.
Before Yan Jizu could even process the pain, Yan Xue struck his other cheek with another resounding slap.
Her hand stung from the impact, but she merely shook it off and stared at him. "You know exactly why I hit you, don’t you?"
She didn’t give him a chance to respond. "Don’t pretend you don’t know how Jigang got scared—or who scared him."
Seeing his expression freeze, she sneered. "The courtyard gate was already locked. Jigang said the ghost was right outside the window, just a head and a half taller than me. Do you think I’m stupid?"
Yan Songshan was tall, nearly six feet, but his children had all taken after Bai Xiuzhen, remaining on the shorter side—especially the eldest, Yan Jizu.
The moment Yan Jigang gestured with his hands, Yan Xue had guessed the truth. She’d waited for Yan Jizu to return from the fields so she could confront him right at the gate.
In the countryside, courtyard gates stayed open until nightfall. The commotion immediately drew a crowd. Yan Songshan’s face turned livid. "There’s a limit to this nonsense! Even if you’re upset about Jigang, you can’t take it out on Jizu! What does his fright have to do with him?"
He even tried to pry Qi Fang’s grip off Yan Jizu. "She’s just a woman acting out! Don’t encourage her!"
In their rural village, a man being henpecked was a disgrace. Yan Songshan likely assumed Qi Fang had only intervened instinctively when Yan Jizu moved to strike Yan Xue—and that he’d back down once called out.
Instead, Qi Fang twisted Yan Jizu’s arm further, effortlessly evading Yan Songshan’s grasp and making Yan Jizu howl in pain. "Shouldn’t you be reflecting on yourselves?"
Yan Songshan was dumbfounded. Reflect? On what?
Qi Fang gave him a cool glance. "Yan Xue has been married to me for half a year. She’s never lost her temper—always gentle, always dutiful."
So if the ever-gentle, ever-dutiful Yan Xue was angry, the fault had to lie with them.
This time, even the neighbors outside the courtyard understood. And honestly… it did make sense.
After all, Xiao Xue was always smiling and sweet-tongued to everyone. Aside from that one time she’d fought for compensation, when had she ever been this furious?
At this moment, Bai Xiuzhen also heard the commotion and rushed out from inside. Seeing the scene, she immediately lunged at Qi Fang, shouting, "Have you gone mad? Let go of my Jizu!"
Yan Xue took the opportunity to pull the man aside, urging him to release his grip, but her words didn’t soften. "This second slap is for the time when my father passed away, and you encouraged Jigang to go see him."
Yan Jizu, whose arm had been twisted painfully, was grimacing in pain. But at her words, his head snapped up, his eyes filled with unmistakable shock.
The onlookers outside collectively gasped.
Everyone knew that Yan Jigang had developed a stutter after witnessing Yan Baishan’s gruesome, bloodied corpse—a sight that had terrified him. Yet, most assumed it had been an unfortunate accident, given the chaos of the scene. After all, it wasn’t unusual for a child to slip unnoticed in such turmoil.
But Yan Xue knew better. "That day, before I left, I was worried Jigang might get scared, so I repeatedly told him to stay home and not wander off. To make sure he listened, I even locked the front door." She fixed her gaze on Yan Jizu. "But he climbed out the window. And at that time, you were the only one home."
Bai Xiuzhen, superstitious and unwilling to let her son near such misfortune, had forbidden him from going. She had also kept the other younger children in check, ensuring they didn’t run off.
Yan Xue sneered. "You knew full well my father had been crushed to death, yet you still sent Jigang there. What were you thinking?"
This time, it wasn’t just gasps—murmurs broke out among the crowd. Yan Jizu’s face flushed red and then paled. "Y-you’re spouting nonsense!"
Yan Songshan’s expression darkened. "If you’re unhappy about the money we offered for Jizu’s wedding to use your house, you could’ve talked to us directly. There’s no need to smear his name like this."
In other words, he was implying Yan Xue’s outburst was nothing more than a tantrum over money.
"You just got here. Who exactly were you planning to talk to?" Qi Fang pointed out the flaw in his reasoning coolly.
Yan Songshan faltered.
Yan Xue had no patience for his excuses. She turned back to Yan Jizu. "Then swear it."
She pointed to the sky, then swept her gaze over the crowd inside and outside the courtyard. "Swear before heaven, before everyone here, that if you were the one who pushed Jigang to go, if you ever pretended to be a ghost to scare him, then may you never have children—may your entire family never have children. Do you dare?"
"What’s there to fear? If I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it!" Yan Jizu’s expression shifted several times before he actually raised his hand.
But before he could utter the words "I swear," Bai Xiuzhen yanked his arm down desperately. "No! You can’t make that oath!"
Yan Jizu was young and reckless, Yan Songshan was shrewd, but Bai Xiuzhen, uneducated and superstitious, genuinely feared such curses.
Was there any need for further explanation? Yan Xue cast a cold smile at the family before turning away.
Qi Fang followed closely behind her, his tall frame shielding her completely—blocking out the resentment of Yan Songshan’s family and the prying eyes of the onlookers.
Only when they reached the door of the west room did his hand briefly rest on her shoulder before quickly withdrawing.
Still, Yan Xue understood what it meant to have someone at her back. Without Qi Fang, facing three of them alone—even at the front gate—she would’ve surely suffered.
She turned to him with a faint smile. "So, I really am gentle and virtuous, huh?"
"Mn." He actually responded seriously, even reaching out to pat her head. But when Second Old Lady emerged at the sound of their voices, he quickly withdrew his hand.
The old woman hesitated mid-step, unsure whether to step forward or retreat.
Qi Fang, however, remained unperturbed. "Did Jigang wake up from the noise?"
"No, he’s still asleep," the old woman replied before asking Yan Xue, "So it really was Jizu back then?"
Though Yan Baishan hadn’t been raised under her care, he was still her adopted son. She had rushed over in distress that day and hadn’t known what happened at home.
Yan Xue nodded, helping her inside. "I had my suspicions back then, but there was too much going on. I never got the chance to confront him. Today, I finally settled old and new scores together."
She paused, then hesitated. "Grandma, was I too impulsive?"
"Impulsive? They’ve gone too far, time and again. It’s about time someone called them out."
But Yan Xue’s worry was that by openly clashing with the main family, Second Old Lady’s life would become harder.
After all, her return had been too timely. Anyone with half a brain would connect the dots, especially since Second Old Lady had clearly sided with her and Jigang.
Before Yan Xue could voice her concerns, Qi Fang spoke up. "Grandma, why don’t you come back with us?"
She turned to him in surprise. Second Old Lady was stunned for a moment before waving her hands dismissively. "What would I do there? All my things are here."
"Besides, it’s not easy for me," the old woman lifted her bound feet slightly. "I can’t even sell chicks without asking someone else for help."
"It’s fine. I’ll carry you," Qi Fang said in his usual calm tone. "We have space at home."
The old woman’s heart warmed at his words, but she still refused. "As long as you two live well, that’s enough for me. I won’t go." She walked to the kang and patted the large wooden chest resting on it. "I have to watch over my belongings—and these rooms. They’ll be my resting place when I join the ancestors."
The older generation cared deeply about their final arrangements and were reluctant to leave their homeland. Second Old Lady clearly had no intention of moving. Instead, she asked, "You’re not in a hurry to leave, are you?"
Yan Xue didn’t know how to persuade her. "No, we’ll stay until Jigang recovers a bit more."
"Then make time to visit your Grandma’s sister," the old woman said. "After all, she was the one who arranged your match—a good match at that."
At this, Yan Xue remembered the earlier interrupted conversation. Qi Fang immediately looked over. "Grandma’s sister?"
Yan Xue had no choice but to sidle up to Second Old Lady. "Well… there’s something I haven’t told you yet. The one Grandma’s sister introduced me to didn’t work out. This is… someone else."
"This is someone else?" Even Grandma’s sister hadn’t expected such a coincidence. She scrutinized Qi Fang from head to toe.
Qi Fang let her look—after all, without the old woman, Yan Xue wouldn’t have traveled all the way to the frontier for a blind date.
Then, the old woman promptly forgot that Qi Fang was technically her old friend’s grandson. "This one’s much better-looking. If I were you, I’d have mistaken him too."
So their family’s preference for good looks was hereditary. Yan Xue stifled a laugh. "We ran into the other one later and returned the hundred-yuan betrothal gift."
"Good, good." Grandma’s sister nodded before asking Yan Xue, "So you’re here to take Jigang with you this time?"
Even without the recent scare, Yan Xue would’ve taken her brother away. Now, after what Yan Jizu had done, there was no question about it.
Yan Xue had left no room for reconciliation with Yan Songshan’s family. Now, the entire village knew Yan Jizu had nearly frightened his cousin to death—all to vacate the house for his wedding.
Or rather, the rumors had escalated to say he had succeeded in scaring him to death, given how long Yan Jigang had been bedridden.
These days, Yan Xue and Qi Fang hardly dared to step outside without a reason. Every few steps, someone would stop them to ask, "Is it true? That’s downright monstrous!"
Some bystanders, never ones to miss a chance for drama, spread the news to the village of Yan Jizu’s fiancée, prompting the girl to storm over and confront him.
Yan Xue didn’t know the details of what was said, but afterward, Yan Songshan’s family treated her with even more open disdain—nothing she did was ever right in their eyes.
Yan Xue didn’t care. If they dared to act like that, they shouldn’t be afraid of others exposing them. Had they ever stopped to consider whether their actions were even human?
Once Yan Jigang’s condition stabilized, she went to the village head for a referral letter, preparing to take him back with her.
Before leaving, she and Qi Fang tried one last time to persuade the Second Old Lady to come with them.
The old woman’s stance was firm. "This is my home. I’d rather die here than leave. I’m not going anywhere."
Yan Xue had no choice but to leave her fifty yuan. "Keep this for emergencies. I’ll come back to see you when I can."
"Just take care of yourself. Don’t worry about me," the old lady insisted, pushing the money back and forth until she finally accepted only twenty. "I’ve got plenty saved up. I don’t need your bit."
At the last moment, she even made each of them a pair of shoes. "Those rubber soles they sell may last, but nothing beats the comfort and breathability of hand-stitched cloth soles."
She walked them to the gate, patting Yan Jigang’s head. "Listen to your sister and brother-in-law when you’re with them."
Yan Jigang nodded, clinging to her hand, too overwhelmed to speak.
In the end, the old lady gently pulled away. "Go on, or you’ll miss the bus."
The three walked to the county town, with Qi Fang carrying Yan Jigang part of the way when the boy couldn’t keep up, leaving the young teen flushed but bright-eyed.
On the long-distance bus, Yan Xue sighed as she looked at the shoes. "We came back in such a hurry, I didn’t even bring Grandma anything. She keeps saying she has savings, but who knows if it’s enough to make Uncle’s family treat her well."
The Second Old Lady had no children of her own and refused to be taken in, so all she could rely on was whatever she’d tucked away.
The bus was crowded, and the conductor kept urging passengers to hold their children, so Yan Jigang ended up sitting on his sister’s lap before being passed over to Qi Fang.
Hearing Yan Xue’s words, the boy suddenly grabbed her hand and wrote on it:
"Grandma’s chest is empty?"
Yan Xue read the words aloud, then froze. "Driver, stop the bus!"
Qi Fang muttered under his breath, "Once again, thank you, Grandma’s sister, thank you, Aunt Qiufang, and thank you Qi Fang—for being named Qi Fang!"
