Xu Caitong did look quite the part in those clothes; though made of simple fabric, they couldn’t hide her beauty. Her face was fair with a rosy glow, her eyes were lively, her lips as red as cherries, and her nose was delicately charming. Ruiping helped Caitong comb her disheveled hair into a half-updo, transforming her into a genuine ancient maiden.
“Did the young lady rest well?” Mrs. Xu inquired with concern, sitting by the bed. “Our humble abode might be too simple for you, please do not feel slighted.”
“How could I feel slighted, Mrs. Xu? I am grateful for your hospitality,” Xu Caitong thanked her repeatedly. Her speech had also started to adapt to the local customs; she knew that without the kindness of this welcoming family, she might have starved on the streets.
“Good, good. Please feel at home here until you find your way back,” Mrs. Xu said.
“Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Xu,” Caitong bowed deeply in gratitude.
Xu Caitong settled in Moon Village, where the Xu family treated her like an honored guest. Every day, she would run to the banks of the Moon River, hoping for another miracle to return her to the 21st century. Unfortunately, no such miracle occurred; each visit was filled with hope and ended in disappointment. Seeing her downcast and anxious, the Xu family encouraged her to open up her heart. Gradually, they learned that she had come from the moon to Moon Village, which left them in awe. Who could possibly travel from the moon to Moon Village? It must be a divine feat. She must indeed be a deity, albeit a small one with insufficient celestial power to find her way back to the heavens.
Xu Caitong lived in Moon Village for over two months. One day, Ruiping told her they were going to the market to sell fat cows and tender sheep, and Mrs. Xu had instructed Ruiping to take Caitong along to buy some fabric and other items for girls. For the past two months, she had been confined to Moon Village, surrounded by fields and livestock. Though the rural scenery was beautiful, being cooped up in a small village day after day made her restless. In her days in the village, she sometimes helped Yue’er herd sheep on a nearby hill, listening to Yue’er’s melodious songs, or joined Ruiping to wash clothes by the river, which was a branch of the Moon River with clear, transparent water. The village wasn’t large, and the villagers were curious and somewhat suspicious of this outsider, but they were kind-hearted and simple, accepting her. The chance to visit the market was thrilling for Xu Caitong.
That morning, it was still early, with a gray sky casting a dim light. Caitong was woken by Ruiping, her eyes still sleepy, she mumbled, “I just went to sleep, and now I have to get up?”
“It’s not early anymore, it’s dawn. We need to get to the market early, or we won’t get good spots,” Ruiping told her.
“I’m so sleepy.”
“Then you can keep sleeping, we’ll go without you.”
“No, no,” Xu Caitong forced herself out of bed, had breakfast, and climbed onto the ox cart prepared by the Xu brothers, watching as they drove the livestock towards the market. The slow-moving ox cart made her drowsy again, and she closed her eyes, soon falling back asleep. But it seemed like she had only dozed for a moment when Ruiping was shaking her awake. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, “Are we there?”
“Yes, sleepyhead,” Ruiping said, pulling her off the cart.
Chapter Two: As the sky began to clear, the Xu family settled their livestock in an open area, and soon other sellers joined, surrounding them with their own animals. Xu Caitong thought this must be the place for livestock trading and wondered if she should go further ahead to explore the market. She quietly asked Ruiping, who confirmed that the small vendors weren’t open yet, but they would go later to browse the market. Caitong was excited and patiently waited for the buyers to arrive.
After staying with the Xu family for over two months, Mrs. Xu grew particularly fond of Caitong and wanted to adopt her as her goddaughter, especially since they shared the same surname. Caitong was happy to accept, and she called Mrs. Xu ‘mother.’ Mrs. Xu corrected her, explaining that ‘mother’ referred to a madam in a brothel, and she should call her ‘Niang’.
“Good, good,” Mrs. Xu beamed, her mouth unable to close from happiness. After paying respects at the ancestral hall, Xu Caitong officially became her goddaughter. Mrs. Xu, in her fifties, was overjoyed to have gained a daughter and bragged about it to everyone she met. Xu Caitong was especially cherished by Mrs. Xu, who had her daughters-in-law take her to the market, allowing Ruiping to buy fabric to make some new clothes for her.
“Miss, let’s go to the market,” Ruiping called to Caitong.
“OK!” Caitong jumped up, following Ruiping.
“What does ‘OK’ mean?” Ruiping asked curiously.
“‘OK’ means good,” Xu Caitong explained.
“Oh, so ‘OK’ means good,” Ruiping nodded, understanding now, and asked her husband for some silver. Her husband, in his twenties and strong, was named Xu Guitang. The Xu family’s four brothers, named Guili, Guipeng, Guizhen, worked together to manage their ranch efficiently. Every year at this season, they would bring their well-fed cattle and tender sheep to the market for sale. The market was vast, bustling with vendors selling livestock, poultry, fruits, as well as women’s handicrafts and ornaments.
Caitong walked over to a stall selling jade and picked up a translucent jade pendant with a carved chick on it. Born in the year of the Rooster, Caitong found the little chick on the pendant incredibly lifelike and adorable. She was reluctant to let it go but remembered she had no money at all, so she had to put it back down.
“Do you like it?” Ruiping asked softly.
Caitong smiled. “If the young lady likes this jade pendant, why not buy it?” said the middle-aged shopkeeper, “This jade is a fine piece, look at its pure green hue, clear and without any flaws.”
“How much?” Ruiping inquired.
“Ten taels.”
“That’s so expensive?” Caitong clicked her tongue in surprise.
Ruiping, however, started bargaining with the jade merchant. Caitong tugged at Ruiping’s sleeve, indicating it was too expensive for her. Eventually, Ruiping managed to buy the pendant for eight taels. Caitong picked up the pendant, feeling deeply grateful for Ruiping’s kindness; the Xu family treated her as if she were one of their own.
“I don’t know how to thank you; this pendant is too precious.”
“Why thank me? Just consider it a gift from me to my little sister-in-law,” Ruiping said.
“Thank you, sister-in-law,” Caitong said, bowing to her.
As they walked and talked through the market, Ruiping wanted to take Caitong to the silk shop to look at fabrics. They were about to turn a corner when the sound of hooves came “clip-clop” from a distance, rapidly approaching. People on the street hurriedly moved aside.
“Quick!” Ruiping pulled Caitong, looking for a place to hide, but in an instant, the group of horsemen surrounded them.
“What do you want?” Ruiping asked in panic.
A middle-aged man, seemingly the leader, dismounted and respectfully bowed to Xu Caitong, “Miss, please come back with us. The master has been unable to eat or sleep searching for you, and the lady has fallen ill, constantly worrying about you. Please come back with us.”
Xu Caitong stared in confusion; she didn’t understand what the man was talking about. Who was he referring to as his young lady?
“What are you saying?” Ruiping asked, “Is she your young lady?”
“Yes, she is my young lady, Miss Hong, who ran away from home a few months ago. The master and lady, out of deep concern for their daughter, have been searching for her to no avail. Now, Miss, please return with us to reassure the master and lady.”
“I’m not your young lady; you’ve got the wrong person,” Xu Caitong waved her hands repeatedly.
