V -The witch and other Stories

In The Witch and Other Stories, we follow a series of conversations and events involving several characters. Old Tsybukin talks to Anisim, his son, urging him to stay at home and help with business, offering him riches in return, but Anisim refuses. Meanwhile, Lipa, Tsybukin’s younger daughter-in-law, transforms from a tired, reserved woman into a bright, cheerful figure when her husband leaves. Wearing a threadbare petticoat and scrubbing the stairs, she sings and smiles, creating an image of innocence and lightness.

Later, Lipa and her husband, Crutch (Elizarov), return from a church service in Kazanskoe. Lipa, in a conversation with Crutch, talks about her life and her fears. She mentions how she’s frightened of Aksinya, her sister-in-law, not because of her actions but due to her intense, fierce eyes and unsettling behavior. Lipa describes how Aksinya plans to build a brickyard, which unsettles the family. The conversation reveals Lipa’s anxieties about her in-laws and the changes in their lives.

As evening falls, the three—Lipa, Crutch, and her mother Praskovya—rest by a copse. Praskovya, usually meek and fearful, is strangely happy after spending the day at the fair. The group walks home, passing through a picturesque landscape with fields ready for harvest. There’s a sense of quiet joy and anxiety as they reflect on the upcoming work, with mowers and other villagers returning from the fair.

At home, the atmosphere shifts to one of tension as Crutch recounts a troubling story about a bad half-rouble coin, allegedly given by Anisim. The tale hints at the potential consequences of Anisim’s actions, with Tsybukin deciding to quietly dispose of the false coins to avoid scandal. The chapter ends with Lipa and her mother sitting in the barn, sensing a quiet peace, though their lives remain shadowed by fear and uncertainty about their futures.