After she had filled all the water jars at home, Xuexue had rushed to Xiao Xi to collect river snails, only returning home with a full bucket of river snails and clams when sunset was near.
That night, after dinner and washing up, Xuexue took off her outer garment, preparing to go to bed.
Suddenly, the sound of knocking came from outside the room.
"Knock knock knock..."
Soon after, Madam Xie's voice followed, "Xuexue, are you asleep yet?"
"Not yet."
Her mother came over in the dark, worried she might need something, so Xuexue quickly draped her recently removed outer garment back over her shoulders and hurried to the door.
"Creak!"
As she opened the door, Xuexue chided, "Mother, it's pitch-dark everywhere here; don't wander around. You could easily trip and fall."
Indeed, they had just separated from the Mo family, and Old Lady Mo, that miser, had barely parted with anything; they were tragically lacking everything, not even owning a single oil lamp.
