After the onset of autumn, the household had been continuously gathering firewood, and several people transported the wood to the rear courtyard, piling it onto the firewood stacks.
Si Ya, carrying cow dung, purposefully sought out Lady Zhu, "Grandma! We picked up some cow dung on the way back."
"Hmm." Lady Zhu glanced over indifferently.
Si Ya took the cow dung back to the rear courtyard, spread it out, and buried it in the dung pit along with leaves to ferment.
Having stacked the leaves, Pei Qin glanced at the sky, patted her peach-pink diagonal jacket faded from washing and sporting no less than four patches, and also dusted off her patched pants, wiping the dirt and leaves clean before going to fetch water to wash her face.
Lady Zhu was on her way to inspect the stacked firewood and saw her fetching water, immediately frowning, "How hard is it to carry a jar of water into the house? How many times do you wash your face in a day? To wash again! Can you carry water or dig a well!?"
Pei Qin stopped her movements, "The firewood got into my face; it's a bit prickly, so I need to wash my face."
Lady Zhu's face twisted in displeasure.
Lady Fang, compliant, hurried over and tugged at Pei Qin, gently speaking to Lady Zhu, "Mother! I'll just scoop half a bowl to moisten a washcloth for Da Ya to wipe her face, it won't be good if she gets a rash later on."
Thinking of the match-making visit scheduled for the next day, Lady Zhu gave an unhappy grunt.
Lady Fang scooped half a bowl of water, placed the washcloth in a wooden basin, poured the water over it to soak, and handed it to Pei Qin.
Pei Qin sighed inwardly and took the washcloth to wipe her face.
Lady Fang washed it off again, called San Ya and Si Ya over to wipe themselves and softly instructed, "After you wipe your faces, go to the front courtyard to peel the corn. I'll go cook."
Si Ya was very efficient, urging Pei Qin and San Ya along.
The large winnowing basket in the courtyard was filled with corn seeds, and there were many corn cobs piled up beside it.
The corn cobs weren't thoroughly dried at this time of year and sold for a cheaper price, but with a big family to feed and Old Pei's House's eldest grandson Pei Wenli studying for the imperial examinations next spring, the whole family was saving and scraping together money.
Pei Qin brought over a small stool and sat down to begin shucking the corn cobs.
Lady Chen, with her slanted, triangular eyes, looked over with malice, "Who allowed you to sit?"
Pei Qin raised an eyebrow at her.
San Ya and Si Ya, accustomed to this unfair treatment, were squatting next to the large winnowing basket, taking corn cobs to shuck.
Pei Qin was not one to take things lying down; she withdrew her gaze and ignored her.
Lady Chen's face immediately clouded over with frost as she angrily threw the corn cob in her hand into the large winnowing basket.
Pei Qin, undisturbed, continued to shuck the corn cobs on her own.
Seein/liuPei Qin's disregard, Lady Chen grew furious inside, "Da Ya! Didn't you hear me speak?"
"What did you say?" Pei Qin looked up.
Lady Chen kicked the stool under Pei Qin's buttocks, "Who let you sit?"
Pei Qin saw her kicking the stool towards her buttocks and swiftly stood up.
The stool flipped and landed on Lady Chen's foot.
Lady Chen cried out in pain, "You wretched girl, you dare to hit me with that stool? Without a father, no one disciplines you, so I will teach you!"
Bringing up her father again. Pei Qin watched her coldly.
Lady Chen kicked away the stool and stood up, howling in pain.
Lady Zhu hastened over, "What happened?" She glared at Pei Qin accusingly, as if Pei Qin had done something terribly wrong.
Seeing San Ya get up with a worried face and Si Ya looking unhappy, as if blaming her for causing trouble, Pei Qin wanted to explain to Lady Zhu.
Before she could speak, Lady Chen had already pounced, grabbing Pei Qin's hair, "You dead girl! Without a beating for three days, you dare to hit me?" She swung her big slap straight towards Pei Qin's face.