By the time A Yu finally got up again, it was already nearing lunch time.
The sun had climbed high into the sky, its heat pressing down heavily on the courtyard. The earthen ground shimmered faintly, and even the shadows seemed too tired to move.
Her cousin was sitting on the front porch sorting grains into a bamboo tray. She worked carefully, flicking away stones with practiced fingers. Beside her, her son balanced on a piece of wood placed atop a rock, arms stretched wide like a tightrope walker.
"Be careful there, watch out you don't fall," she called in a teasing voice, though her eyes never left him.
The child wobbled dramatically, giggling at his own bravery.
The height of summer had settled heavily. The villagers had long abandoned their layered robes and instead wore lighter clothing that drifted gently in the faint breeze. Even so, sweat clung to necks and temples, and many had retreated indoors to escape the worst of the heat.
A Yu stood in the doorway, hesitating.
She had planned to go to the temple to find the monk Aunt Yu had mentioned. But the thought of walking all the way to the county under the burning sun made her second-guess herself.
Why did she have to be such a lazy bone?
"Little sister, you've woken up," widow Ma said, turning around with a gentle smile.
"Mmh, cousin," A Yu replied, walking toward her.
"I kept your breakfast aside for you. Let me get it warmed up. I made meat buns," she said, already rising to head toward the kitchen.
At the mention of meat buns, A Yu suddenly remembered the horrific event from earlier that morning. The choking smoke. The shouting villagers. The humiliation.
A chill ran down her spine.
No.
She had to go to the temple today.
If she kept trying to be a virtuous wife like this, she might die before she succeeded.
"Cousin, I'll be going to the county to study the eggplant market for this season," she said quickly.
She didn't want her to know the real reason.
"Why so early? Isn't there still a month?" her cousin asked, poking her head out from the kitchen window.
"Last time a farmer from Qiwu village stole some of my customers, so I have to make sure to get their agreement first."
It wasn't exactly a lie. Some farmer from the neighboring village had sold eggplants to some of her customers at a lower price. But his quality wasn't even half of hers, and the merchants had regretted buying from him. They had promised her they would never cheat again.
Still, it was a good enough excuse.
"Then do you want me to go with you? Maybe I can help you negotiate and you can teach me a thing or two about—"
"You don't have to. I got it under control," A Yu quickly interjected.
She didn't want her cousin to come along and discover she was actually going to a temple.
Her cousin paused, then set down the bowl of food. A faint annoyance flashed across her face before she replaced it with a smile.
A Yu never let her get involved when it came to the eggplant business. She had asked many times to help with planting or selling, but A Yu always refused, saying she was already busy with housework.
Clearly she just didn't want her to know the secret of why her eggplants were better than everyone else's.
She really didn't treat her like family.
"Then I'll ask my in-law to take you to the county. Lan Lan, go tell your uncle to come over with his carriage," she called.
Her son immediately jumped down and ran out of the courtyard.
A Yu's smile stiffened slightly.
She never really liked this brother-in-law.
Back when her cousin's husband died, his family blamed her and called her a death star. They chased her away with her child and refused to support her. After she started living with A Yu, the brother-in-law would occasionally bring small gifts like dried fruit and cheap pastries for his nephew as if apologizing for his family.
But afterward, he would borrow money.
If she refused, he would bring up her cousin's hardship and her dead husband.
Since A Yu was the source of income for the entire household, she always felt bad and loaned him some. He never paid anything back.
Sometimes he would take her to the county as "repayment," but still demand transport fees. She didn't want to cause problems with her cousin, so she always paid reluctantly.
She also didn't like the way he looked at her, as if she were prey.
But he was one of the few people in the village with a carriage, so she had no choice.
"Thank you, sister. I'll make sure to bring you something good when I come back," A Yu said, sitting down to eat.
She tore off a piece of bun and placed it in front of General Yu, who had just waddled over sleepily.
The rooster pecked happily.
Not long after, Lan Mao arrived, wiping sweat from his neck.
By then, A Yu had already taken a bath and changed into lighter clothes. Her hair was tied simply, and she carried a small cloth pouch.
"Sister-in-law, are you heading to the county to buy anything heavy? I can help you look around," he said, a little too enthusiastically.
"No, it's just a small errand. I don't have to trouble you," she replied politely.
She remembered all the times he offered to help, only to later ask for a fee or a share of what she bought.
Seeing her rejection, Lan Mao's expression stiffened slightly. He clicked his tongue but didn't press further.
For once, the ride to the county was quiet.
The wooden carriage creaked as it rolled along the dusty road. The fields on either side shimmered in the heat, and farmers bent low among the crops, their straw hats casting long shadows. Occasionally, they passed travelers on foot, wiping sweat as they walked.
A Yu lifted the curtain slightly and looked ahead.
In the distance, the outline of the county town slowly emerged, its tiled roofs clustered together like resting birds.
Somewhere inside that town was the temple.
And inside the temple was the monk who could help her get pregnant.
She pressed her hands together unconsciously, heart filled with nervous anticipation.
This trip would decide her future.
She didn't notice Lan Mao glancing at her from the side, his eyes lingering longer than necessary before he flicked the reins and urged the horse forward.