Bo Xi began shopping the moment she left the government office, moving from one street to another as if afraid she might forget something important. The city was far larger than any place she had lived before, and every corner offered something new, tools, fabrics, food, books, and household goods.
She bought what she needed without hesitation.
Many of the larger shops even offered delivery services. All she had to do was give them the address of her new house in Han Village and pay a small fee. The workers promised the items would arrive before sunset.
Furniture, clothing, kitchen utensils, oil lamps, bedding, writing supplies—her list grew longer with every stop. Though she told herself she was being practical, deep down she knew she was trying to make the empty house feel like a real home.
As she walked, she noticed something she had already sensed since arriving in this world.
Most of the workers were women.
They ran shops, carried heavy loads, guarded gates, and negotiated loudly in the markets. Men, on the other hand, were rarely seen alone. They were always accompanied by family members, spouses, or guardians. Even when they worked, it was usually in pairs or groups, never by themselves.
It was a silent reminder of the reversed roles of this world.
She stopped at a grain shop and bought wheat flour, rice, beans, dried vegetables, spices, and lard. She also purchased a small clay stove, iron pot, wooden bowls, and chopsticks.
Cooking, however, was her greatest weakness.
She had never been skilled in the kitchen. No matter how carefully she followed recipes, the results were often… questionable. Burnt, undercooked, or oddly flavored—her food was barely edible.
Fortunately, she wasn't picky.
As long as it was safe and filled her stomach, she could tolerate it. She reminded herself that survival mattered more than taste. Still, she bought a few steamed buns for that evening, just in case.
By the time she finished checking her list, the sun had begun to dip lower in the sky.
She climbed back into her carriage and headed toward Han Village.
Villages in this world were usually named after the first family that had settled there. Over time, the name became shared by most of the residents. Han Village, naturally, was full of people with the surname Han—including the village chief.
From the map she had seen earlier, the location was considered good.
A shallow river flowed nearby, providing water for crops. There was also a small pond and a forested mountain close enough for villagers to gather firewood, hunt, and pick wild vegetables or herbs. Unfortunately, Bo Xi knew nothing about identifying wild plants yet. That would have to wait.
As she guided the ox forward, she reminded herself of her next goal.
'I still need to register for the exam. There are three months left before registration closes, and the exam itself is next year. It's only the second month now, so I still have time.'
The thought of all the heavy books stored in her carriage made her temples ache.
She finally spotted the entrance to Han Village. Several children were playing near the dirt road. When they saw her carriage, they froze, staring at it with wide, curious eyes.
Driving further in, she immediately noticed her new home.
It was the only house in the village built with blue bricks.
The courtyard was surrounded by a low stone wall, and though weeds had grown in the corners, the structure itself looked solid. The roof tiles were intact, and the wooden doors, though dusty, were not broken.
She stopped the carriage and stepped down.
An elderly woman soon approached her.
"You must be the one who bought the house, Miss Bo Xi?" the woman said kindly. "I am the village chief, Han Wei."
Bo Xi bowed slightly. "Yes, Village Chief. I am new here, so I hope to be under your care."
The chief smiled warmly. "You'll do just fine here."
A moment later, a tall but extremely thin woman came forward.
"It's done, Village Chief," she said. Behind her stood two men, one her husband, the other her son.
The woman looked exhausted, but her husband appeared even weaker, his shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world rested on them. Their son had a pale, sickly complexion and looked little more than skin and bones.
"This is Bo Xi, our new fellow villager," the chief introduced.
"Thank you for your hard work," Bo Xi said, handing the woman the copper coins she had promised.
"No need to thank me," the woman replied with a faint smile. "We're neighbors now."
Soon, carts began arriving—her furniture, clothes, and supplies.
The woman leading the delivery approached her. "Miss Bo Xi, your items are here. Where should we unload them?"
"Just place everything in the courtyard," Bo Xi replied. "I'll arrange it later."
The village chief stared at the growing pile in surprise. "That's a lot of things. Do you need help?"
"No need. I'll manage slowly," Bo Xi said.
After watching for a while, the chief asked curiously, "I heard you're a scholar. Where is your family? Will they join you later?"
Bo Xi lowered her gaze slightly. "My mother passed away. She wanted me to continue my studies, so I came here alone."
"That's unfortunate," the chief said softly.
Soon, the workers finished unloading and left. The thin woman also bowed and departed with her family.
The village chief sighed. "She's had a hard life. Her parents favored the younger children. Her second son is named Han Fei. He's nineteen, but his health is poor. I worry for him."
Bo Xi listened quietly.
After the chief left, silence fell.
Standing in her empty courtyard, surrounded by boxes and furniture, Bo Xi finally realized—
This was truly her new beginning.