Chapter 17: The Dowry Chest Identical to the One Belonging to Heaven's Own Daughter

Pei Xuan interlaced his fingers and stretched his wrists.

"Ling Xi'er, look closely. If something is truly missing, Brother will take you to get it back."

He felt that the last time he had only used a burlap sack to beat Pei Fuzhu, he hadn't gone hard enough; she had barely managed to get off the kang bed before running back to act up in front of Ling Xi'er again.

Ling Xi shook her head.

"I'm the daughter of Heaven itself; I probably wouldn't care for the things here... right?"

The smell of braised beef in the small kitchen hadn't fully dissipated, but it couldn't be smelled in the small living room separated by a door. This proved that Pei Fuzhu definitely hadn't opened the kitchen door.

Lately, Ling Xi had been restless, calculating which items she could store in her space. She had inspected every nook and cranny of the room several times and was certain that not a single thing was missing.

Therefore, she understood even less why Pei Fuzhu had rummaged through her room—what was she trying to do?

Pei Yu entered the room, setting down the bundle he was carrying and the half-person-tall basket. He glanced at his brother, who was itching to teach someone a lesson, and clicked his tongue inwardly. Acting as if he hadn't seen anything, he continued speaking without pause.

"Regardless of what she wants, remember to lock the door next time. Do you have a lock? Should Second Brother find one for you?"

Ling Xi hurriedly declined. "I have a lock. There isn't much in my room to begin with. I'll tidy up in a bit and move the things I don't use often to the next room for now. I'll just be more careful about locking the door when I come and go."

Pei Yu nodded and pointed to the bundle on the floor.

"Uncle sent this to you." As he spoke, he pointed to the wicker basket. "There are Hami melons inside. The truck went far this time, and these are local specialties from that area; they're quite delicious. I specifically picked out the most even and beautiful ones for you. Keep them for yourself; there's another basket at home, so don't worry about it."

Ling Xi's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Okay! Second Brother, you should head back first. I just saw Second Aunt going to the kitchen; she's probably making noodles for you."

Seeing how dusty and travel-worn Pei Yu looked, he would need to clean up before eating.

"Got it!"

Pei Yu waved his hand, pulled out a paper-wrapped package from his crossbody bag, and handed it to Pei Xuan. "There are four left. Share them between you, Ling Xi'er, and Minghui, and save one for Grandma. It's so hot out, and these things don't keep well, so I didn't buy much."

"I know, I know."

Pei Xuan handed one to Ling Xi, grabbed the rest, and headed straight out. "Ling Xi'er, I'll take these to Grandma and Minghui first and come back in a bit."

He was a little worried that Ling Xi might lose sleep because of Pei Fuzhu's actions.

Ling Xi'er was timid; whenever she encountered anything involving Pei Fuzhu, she was always extra cautious, fearing she might offend the heavens.

Furthermore, since Second Brother was home, he didn't plan on going out to catch cicadas tonight, so he had to let the others know so they wouldn't be waiting for him.

Ling Xi gave an "oh" and glanced at the bun in her hand.

She had just finished dinner and certainly couldn't finish this bun, but she also knew that no one in the family would touch her rations, especially with three more held by Pei Xuan.

Thus, Ling Xi simply put one on a plate and slipped it into her space.

The basket of Hami melons Pei Yu brought contained twelve in total. She left two out and stored the remaining ten in her space.

Pei Xuan worried that Ling Xi wouldn't be able to sleep because of Pei Fuzhu, but he didn't know that Ling Xi was actually quite happy right now.

No one would be happy having their belongings rummaged through, but because of this incident, she finally had an excuse to move her things into her space.

This completely offset the frustration of Pei Fuzhu's meddling.

*Mm, when the time comes, I'll just say that because Pei Fuzhu rummaged through my things, I decided to hide them. I just need to make sure I leave enough food outside to last three to five days.*

It was practically perfect!

*Thank you, Pei Fuzhu; thank you, Heaven! This has truly helped me solve a huge problem!*

Ling Xi began storing things piece by piece.

She only kept the current season's clothes and bedding; scattered small toys, trinkets, hairpins, and gold and silver bracelets were all packed into boxes and moved to the space. Then there was the money...

It totaled four hundred and fifty-six yuan and eight cents.

She put four hundred and fifty yuan into the space and left six yuan and eight cents in the original box, placing it back into the secret compartment at the very bottom of the cabinet.

As she was tidying up, looking at the wooden money box, she suddenly remembered the scene when she ran into Pei Fuzhu this afternoon.

*Huh?*

*That rotten wooden chest looks quite similar to this money box of mine!*

Ling Xi scratched her cheek. Wasn't that the dowry Heaven had prepared for her for the future?

Why would Heaven give her a wooden box identical to hers?

Ling Xi felt something was off. She pulled the wooden box out of the secret compartment and placed it on the kang table in the outer room.

She continued to pack the grain and other supplies from the cupboard and the small kitchen.

Consequently, when Pei Xuan returned, he only felt that Ling Xi's room looked emptier and tidier.

Seeing him approach, Ling Xi grabbed his sleeve and led him through the small kitchen toward the neighboring courtyard.

Pointing to the washed Hami melons in the wooden basin, she said righteously, "Third Brother, help me fetch some cold water. It'll definitely taste better if I chill them for a bit before eating."

The water Ling Xi used to wash the melons was the water she had fetched earlier for her bath, which was now quite warm.

After saying this, she looked at Pei Xuan meaningfully. "I definitely won't be able to finish them tonight."

Pei Xuan loved it when his sister was unreserved with him. Seeing her ask for water, he grabbed the bucket and headed over. When he heard her say she wouldn't finish them, he instinctively wanted to say, *If you can't finish them, put them in the well,* but meeting his sister's fierce, glaring gaze, he could only say helplessly, "Fine, I'll save a few pieces for you, and I'll take the rest out with me later."

"Mhm!"

Ling Xi was instantly happy.

She waved at Pei Xuan and went back to fetch the money box from the kang table to show him.

Pei Xuan was initially puzzled, but he froze when he heard what Ling Xi said.

"This wooden box was made by Uncle back when he was learning carpentry. When you were little, there was a time when Uncle came home to visit relatives, and you held onto him, refusing to let him leave, insisting he was your father. To coax you, Uncle brought you everything he could find in the house. This wooden box must be one of them. Have you forgotten?"

He thought for a moment and added, "Take a look; there should be Uncle's name on it."

He liked to leave marks on the things he made.

Ling Xi traced the ring of auspicious cloud patterns carved on it and finally discovered the character "Yan" in a corner.

Ling Xi: "..."

!!!

It really was...

Her expression suddenly became subtle. "Third Brother, do you think that dowry chest Pei Fuzhu brought back has any markings on it?"

Well, when Pei Fuzhu was holding that rotten wooden chest, she claimed it was the dowry from her biological father in Heaven.

Calling it a "dowry chest" was technically accurate.

Pei Xuan placed the Hami melons directly into the wooden bucket to soak, shook the water off his hands, and laughed uncontrollably.

"I'm also curious if that dowry chest of hers actually has any marks left by Uncle."

If it did, that would be quite the spectacle!