Chapter Twenty-Three: Battling the Shrew

Outside the forest, Gan Sui heard only the cries of wild boars and saw the crimson glow in the sky, worried that Ban Xia might be injured. His heart felt as if it were being fried in oil. Before long, people emerged from the woods; Ban Xia was at the forefront, dashing forward and shouting from afar, “Gan Sui, we’ve had a great harvest! We’ll have meat to eat!”

Only then did Gan Sui relax. As Ban Xia drew near, he noticed traces of blood on her face, still not dried. He reached out to wipe it away. “It’s not my blood, it’s from the wild boar,” Ban Xia said, tilting her head to let him clean her face.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, not at all. Head Hunter Lin was incredible…” Ban Xia began chattering, recounting the events in the woods, pulling Gan Sui along with her. Lin You followed behind, walking alone in quiet dejection; a solitary man is always lonely, even if a thousand years have passed.

The group carried two dead wild boars and led a piglet back to the village. The butcher was already waiting, and seeing such a bounty, the villagers gathered at the edge of the village, grinning from ear to ear. With such large pigs, every family would get a share of meat.

Hot water was ready, and the butcher quickly set to work, removing hair and gutting the animals. The village chief’s courtyard was spacious, so all the villagers gathered there. Seven or eight tables were set up, and children, greedy-eyed, watched the butcher divide the meat, biting their fingers and drooling.

Others chatted and laughed about daily life. Those skilled in the kitchen had already prepared cold dishes. Once the meat was distributed, they started frying up more. Ban Xia sat beside Granny Wang, asking her for tips on raising chicks and ducklings. Ban Xia’s sweet words and cheerful dimples won the old woman’s favor; in only a few sentences, Granny Wang shared her secrets, sometimes inviting Ban Xia to her home to see how things were done.

Gan Sui sat with the head hunter, listening to stories from the past, gaining a deeper understanding of this era.

The feast began; everyone raised their cups to celebrate the day’s harvest. Only now did Ban Xia and Gan Sui truly begin to blend into the community.

As for Lin You’s drinking, Ban Xia dared not let him have much. She asked Gan Sui to keep watch. Lin You, handsome and the son of a noble, was fond of witty banter; many young women were mesmerized by him, unable to look away.

Ban Xia leaned close to Gan Sui’s ear and whispered, “Look at him—doesn’t he seem like a butterfly, flitting and spreading charm everywhere? How many beauties do you think will be lovesick for him after tonight?”

Gan Sui, slightly tipsy after two cups, felt his ear tickle when she spoke so close. Mimicking her, he leaned in and whispered back, “I don’t care if others fall for him, as long as you don’t.”

Ban Xia’s face flushed immediately, and she pushed him away. “Talk properly.”

Gan Sui laughed low and deep, making Ban Xia feel even more embarrassed.

The meal was a joyous affair for hosts and guests alike. The constables, who had duties the next day, didn’t linger; they took some meat and rode off as usual. Gan Sui’s horse was led home by another young officer.

When Lin You was about to leave, he wanted to say something to Ban Xia but saw her happily chatting with Granny Wang, paying him no mind. He drooped his head and left.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Gan Sui rose early to run, while Ban Xia simmered porridge and salted their share of meat, hanging it under the eaves to air for a day before moving it to the kitchen to be smoked into bacon.

Ban Xia had wanted to raise the piglet from last night, but the thought of cleaning up after it, especially in their small courtyard, and enduring the smell in summer, changed her mind. Granny Wang loved raising animals, and the villagers let her take it home.

Ban Xia felt a bit regretful about the piglet, but remembering how fierce it would grow, she didn’t mind anymore.

After breakfast, Gan Sui resumed his reading as usual, while Ban Xia had many chores to attend to. She first checked the rice seedlings in the field; their growth was good, and in five or six days she could buy fish fry to release into the water. Satisfied, she headed back. As she reached the eastern end of the village, she overheard her name being mentioned. Quietly, she approached.

Under a large banyan tree, a few slabs of bluestone lay scattered. The village women often gathered there to embroider and gossip about every household. Ban Xia had been there once, but never returned. As she drew near, she saw that at the center sat Granny Yun, who she’d met before—the one who tried to buy chicks from her at an outrageous price but failed.

“Granny Yun, do you think that Lady Su really did something disgraceful?” a young woman asked.

“I’d wager she did. Yesterday I heard Granny Gan say she threw a man out of her house.”

“If she threw him out, then probably nothing happened, right?”

“You young people don’t understand. I heard yesterday that the scholar returned and caught her. She had to put on a show, didn’t she? If he passes the imperial exam, he’ll be an official. Would she risk that reputation?” Granny Yun spoke as if she’d seen it all herself.

“Oh my, then what do you think Lady Su wanted, hiding a man at home?”

“What else… She wanted pleasure, of course. Wants to play the harlot and keep her reputation too. Some people look clean on the outside, but inside they’re filthy…” Granny Yun spat her words with fervor.

Ban Xia was utterly furious. She clenched her fists and strode over.

The circle of women hadn’t expected their gossip to be overheard by the subject herself. Embarrassment filled their faces.

Ban Xia walked straight up to Granny Yun and slapped her hard across the face. Granny Yun was stunned.

“If you can’t speak decently, keep your mouth shut. Spouting filth and thinking yourself important,” Ban Xia declared.

Granny Yun quickly recovered. “You little wretch, you dare hit me? I’ll fight you!” She grabbed a stool and tried to strike Ban Xia.

Ban Xia seized her wrist, twisted it behind Granny Yun’s back, and slapped her again. “Let me teach you a lesson—mind your own business and stop gossiping about everyone else.” After two slaps, Granny Yun collapsed and started wailing.

“Oh dear, I can’t go on, the scholar’s wife is beating people! She’s going to kill me!”

Ban Xia ignored her and turned to leave. Granny Yun, unwilling to let her go, grabbed Ban Xia’s leg. “You can’t leave! You hit me; pay up or you won’t walk away today!”

Ban Xia seized