I'm so overwhelmed with worry, I feel as if it's going to be the end of me.

Li Xi clapped his hands in admiration. “Excellent, Madam, your concerns are quite reasonable. Lingnan doesn’t just get a lot of rain; it’s also swarming with mosquitoes, snakes, and flies. You youngsters don’t know better—just because things look peaceful now, you think the world is safe. But that’s not the case. It’s winter, so the snakes and insects are either hibernating or frozen dead, so of course it’s quiet. But once the new year passes and spring arrives, just wait and see: bugs and snakes will be crawling into the house every day. Imagine, a snake slithering onto your bed in the dead of night—who would be able to sleep then?”

Nominally, Mu Yaxin was three years older than Li Xi; it was clear his words were directed at Cui Yingying. The latter only smiled in silence, while Mu Yaxin gave Li Xi a discreet thumbs-up, only to be rewarded with a roll of the eyes.

Li Xi’s good spirits were not yet spent. He cocked his head and asked Cui Yingying, “Have you ever seen a snake?”

Cui Yingying replied with a laugh, “Husband, are you making fun of me? Who hasn’t seen a snake? All mottled and colorful, enough to make anyone sick.”

After speaking, she burst into giggles. “I know well enough—now that you’re an official in Shaozhou, you’re someone of importance. Living in a house like this does seem unseemly. Pretend I never said a word—if you wish to build a house, then do as you please. However…” She lowered her head, thinking, “The style of the house is your decision, but as for purchasing clay, stone, and timber, I must have my say. Don’t find me annoying when the time comes.”

Li Xi was about to agree when he saw Mu Yaxin signaling him behind Cui Yingying’s back, but he ignored her and replied, “Not at all, not at all. Li Shisan will handle the procurement of materials, and you, Madam, can oversee things. Running a household requires careful management—only those who count every grain of rice truly know how hard-won every meal is.”

It was typical for Li Xi to spout poetry at random, and everyone had grown used to it. Cui Yingying was overjoyed at his words, basking in delight, while Mu Yaxin pouted so intensely she could have hung an oil bottle from her lips.

But Li Xi, rather than showing any tender sympathy, continued to tease. “As for the First Lady, well, raised in comfort and used to having everything done for her, she knows nothing, can do nothing, and is of no use whatsoever, so best not to interfere and make trouble.”

Seeing Mu Yaxin’s eyes mist over with vexation, Li Xi switched his tone. “Of course, if you don’t know, you must learn. Managing a household is a skill every wife should possess. You can’t refuse just because you don’t know how. If you never learn, when will you ever know? Therefore, I’ve decided to give you an opportunity to practice: you will be responsible for the furniture, decorations, and small household items.”

Before Mu Yaxin could smile, Li Xi added sternly, “Running a household, practicality must come first—no frivolous or ostentatious things! Be modest, not showy; be thrifty, not extravagant. As the ancients said: ‘From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality is hard.’ Such principles you must keep firmly in mind… Hey, I’m not finished yet—don’t go!”

Whenever Li Xi got excited, he lost all restraint, saying whatever came to mind. Cui Yingying and Mu Yaxin, well aware of this habit, exchanged a knowing smile and left together, leaving Li Xi standing there alone, dumbfounded.

“The one hundred and third rule of the Yang family: If wives and concubines don’t listen attentively when the husband speaks, each is to receive thirty strokes of the bamboo rod. Hey, did you hear that? The Yang family rules!”

Mu Yaxin glanced back with a playful smile, stuck out her tongue, made a face, and hopped away hand in hand with Cui Yingying.

Li Xi shook his head, chuckling helplessly. Discord sown by wives and concubines vying for favor must never be allowed in his household. He had to be cautious. Cautious, always cautious.

With the year-end approaching, construction on the new residence could not commence, so only preparations could be made. In the meantime, Li Xi rented a house to live in—a two-courtyard home, with three main rooms in the back: the central one was the sitting room, the west room was Cui Yingying’s bedroom, and the east was Li Xi’s study. Ruhuah, Siyu, and Mu Yaxin stayed in the side rooms, while Li Shisan, Wangcai, Zhang Long, and Zhao Hu resided in the front courtyard.

The feng shui master, having received two strings of cash from Li Xi, spent two days and brought him two female servants, an older and a younger. The elder was surnamed Chen, known as Aunt Shao, while the younger, also surnamed Chen, was called Zhaodi—a delicate-looking girl of about sixteen or seventeen, with a bronzed face and a gentle, crisp, and straightforward manner.

Zhaodi’s mother, the daughter of a private tutor, had received a little education, so Zhaodi herself could recognize some characters. Li Xi was quite pleased upon meeting her, though he found her name unappealing and promptly proposed to change it. Zhaodi flatly refused. “I’ve been called this for seventeen years; all my friends and neighbors know me by this name. Why should I let you change it just because I’ve entered your service?”

Li Xi, embarrassed by her retort, blushed—a rare occurrence—and insisted, “The rule in the Yang household is that I’m the master, and if I want to rename someone, that’s how it shall be.” Cui Yingying was not present that day, and Mu Yaxin, sensing drama, was delighted and eager to see more, refusing to mediate.

Zhaodi, though strong-willed, was still a young girl. Startled by Li Xi’s commanding tone, her eyes brimmed with tears. Aunt Shao quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Country girls don’t know the rules, sir, please don’t take offense. Zhaodi is just a nickname used in the countryside; if you don’t like it, you may change it.” She nudged Zhaodi and discreetly held up three fingers, reminding her that the Yang household paid three strings of cash a month—double the usual wage.

Though Zhaodi was stubborn, she was also deeply filial. Thinking of her ailing father and her mother, whose hair had turned white from years of toil, she gritted her teeth, wiped her tears, and said, “I was childish and angered you, sir. I deserve punishment. If you dislike my name, please change it.” Her voice faltered, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Li Xi hurried to reassure her. “I was only joking with you. Aunt Shao knows I love to jest, isn’t that so, Aunt?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Aunt Shao chimed in. “Master is a kind and generous man, always treating his servants well. He was only teasing you. You’re usually so clever—how did you fall for a joke? Really, country children are so naïve.”

“Whether I’m a good man or a villain, you’ll know in time,” Li Xi said, rising to his feet. He told Wangcai, “Later, pay a visit to Uncle Chen. Bring a good doctor from town; he’s getting on in years, and his illness can’t afford to be neglected.”

Wangcai acknowledged the order. Aunt Shao, noticing Zhaodi was still dazed, pinched her and signaled with her lips. Zhaodi quickly wiped her tears and knelt to kowtow. Li Xi moved to help her up, but Mu Yaxin beat him to it.

Having met their new master, Aunt Shao led Zhaodi out to settle in the front courtyard. Just as they were leaving, Zhaodi suddenly turned back and asked, “Sir, aren’t you going to change my name?”

Li Xi waved her off. “Zhaodi is a fine name—lucky, even. You shall remain Zhaodi.”

Once outside the inner courtyard, Aunt Shao took Zhaodi’s arm, looked her in the eye, and laughed. “Well, little one, have you recovered now? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Letting him rename you—perhaps tomorrow you’d be the lady of the house.” Zhaodi blushed, lowering her head. “Aunt, that’s not proper—how can you joke like that? I’m just a country girl; how could I ever catch his eye? Didn’t you see how beautiful Madam Mu is, and how graceful Madam Cui is? I can’t compare.”

Aunt Shao replied, “Little one, still being stubborn? If you don’t care for him, why compare yourself to his wives?”

The question left Zhaodi speechless. Was it really without ulterior motive that she’d asked for this position? She glanced back at the tightly closed doors of the inner residence, sighing quietly in her heart.

After Zhaodi was sent off, Li Xi took a cup of tea and paced under the veranda, deep in thought. Mu Yaxin sidled up, standing in his path. Li Xi didn’t notice and bumped right into her, spilling half his tea on her skirt. He hastily apologized, but Mu Yaxin pinched him, arching her brows. “What, have you taken a fancy to her? Just look at you, so absent-minded! I don’t see what’s so special about her—little nose, little eyes, skinny as a reed, and a backside so small, how will she ever bear children? But since you like her so much… If you like her, just say the word—I’ll act as your matchmaker.”

Li Xi clapped his hands. “You really do care for me. I do fancy that girl—she’s quite good-looking, feisty as a chili pepper, slender in build, which I find quite appealing. Just wait, sooner or later she’ll be mine.”

Mu Yaxin didn’t understand what a chili pepper was, but Li Xi’s words had already made her furious. Refusing to back down, she retorted, “Why wait for ‘sooner or later’? Why not just take her tonight? Tomorrow I’ll go speak to her family. With your wealth and status, who would dare refuse you? I hear her father is ill and unable to work, her brother is a good-for-nothing, gambling and fighting, stealing and loafing, and the whole family relies on her mother to grow vegetables to survive. If they could latch onto a big tree like you, why, they’d be so happy they wouldn’t be able to sleep at night!”