Ning Yuchan suspected that she had worsened Father Huo’s condition.
Tian Fengying quickly explained, “No. Your father said it’s much better than yesterday. He can even move it now.”
Ning Yuchan asked nervously, “Then it is…”
Tian Fengying simply lifted the curtain. “Your father is already up. Go take a look yourself.”
Father Huo’s foot injury had indeed improved a lot. On one hand, the doctor from Dayang Village had already treated him. On the other, he had taken the medicinal decoction bought from the city.
Most importantly, the plaster Ning Yuchan had made was indeed effective.
It was just that the side effects were quite strong.
The skin itched unbearably.
Father Huo’s ankle was red and swollen in a full circle today, with signs of ulceration.
Ning Yuchan was frightened. “What is going on? I followed the prescription exactly.”
Aside from the unbearable itching, there was no other discomfort. Father Huo comforted her, “Child, don’t worry. My ankle is much better, just a bit itchy.
Take your time to figure it out. Maybe there’s something you didn’t think of. When you adjust it next time you prepare it, the medicine will be successful.”
Tian Fengying also comforted her, “It’s just a bit itchy, nothing serious. It will pass in a couple of days. Skin problems are always easier to treat than bone problems.”
Although these were words of comfort, Ning Yuchan felt somewhat relieved.
“Father, I will study it carefully. I will definitely be able to make a usable plaster.”
Father Huo sighed, “I didn’t get to enjoy my son’s filial piety, but I’m enjoying my daughter-in-law’s instead. If Changsheng dares treat you badly in the future, your mother and I will skin him alive.”
Huo Changsheng’s tall and imposing figure suddenly appeared in Ning Yuchan’s mind.
Although Father Huo was not short, if Huo Changsheng resisted, Father Huo would definitely not be able to beat him.
Today was Old Lady Huo’s sixtieth birthday.
Tian Fengying planned to take the whole family to pay their respects after breakfast.
Although she did not want to go at all, for the sake of Huo Mingqian’s face, she still had to show up and greet them.
During breakfast, she instructed Taohua and Ning Yuchan, “No matter what the Eldest Branch says later, we’ll endure it. Today is Old Lady Huo’s big day. We won’t stoop to their level.”
Ning Yuchan was still thinking about the plaster.
She carefully reviewed the entire preparation process several times and confirmed that she had made no mistakes.
Yet she had still damaged the skin on Father Huo’s ankle.
Taohua did not dare to talk back to Tian Fengying and muttered softly, “Eldest Aunt Huo will definitely curse us. Am I supposed to just endure it the whole time?”
Tian Fengying said sternly, “Then stay away from her. There will be many guests today, not just from our village but from farther places. She won’t have time to keep an eye on you.”
Taohua continued to mutter, “It’d better be like that.”
As the family talked, it was as if Huo Changshou had nothing to do with it.
Tian Fengying could not stand his behavior. She raised her hand and smacked him on the head. “You’re already ten years old, yet you idle around all day. If you’re not teasing cats, you’re playing with dogs. When your elder brother was your age, there was nothing in the house he couldn’t do. Why are you not like your elder brother at all? You’re always dirty and disheveled. Who knows what you’re thinking?
Even Taohua is more sensible than you.”
Huo Changshou was like a stubborn mule. Even after being hit, he showed no reaction and only grinned foolishly at Taohua.
Tian Fengying could not be bothered with him. As long as he did not cause trouble, she would be grateful to the heavens.
At the Eldest Branch, they checked the time, set out firecrackers along the entire street, and brought out several plates of candies.
All the children in the village came to watch the excitement, waiting for the Eldest Branch to distribute sweets.
Tian Fengying wrapped Father Huo’s ankle with cloth. After breakfast, he carried the pastries and pork and went to the Eldest Branch with his crutch.
Tian Fengying waited until after the firecrackers were set off before taking Ning Yuchan and Taohua over.
Huo Changshou had already disappeared somewhere.
Eldest Aunt Huo was distributing festive sweets.
A group of children surrounded her. Her face was full of smiles as she told them to take it slowly, that everyone would get some.
What child does not like sweets? Taohua was tempted. She had only eaten a few pieces during the New Year.
She did not want to look at Eldest Aunt Huo’s expression and pretended not to see, but the sweet fragrance of the candies kept drifting into her nose. In the end, she could not resist and looked over.
Her gaze happened to meet Eldest Aunt Huo’s.
Eldest Aunt Huo’s face was full of smiles, but her eyes were filled with disdain.
“Want some candy? Come take it. Treat it as feeding a dog.”
For such words to come from Eldest Aunt Huo, it already counted as a concession.
Because from last night, Huo Mingqian had repeatedly instructed her to be more polite to the Second Branch today.
Not to lose face in front of relatives and friends.
Eldest Aunt Huo gave Huo Mingqian face, which was why her scolding sounded somewhat better.
“Mother,” Taohua felt wronged and turned to Tian Fengying for help.
Tian Fengying was displeased. She deliberately walked up to Eldest Aunt Huo and grabbed a large handful from the tray.
“We brought birthday gifts too. Why can’t we eat?”
She gave half to Taohua and the other half to Ning Yuchan.
“However much other children can eat, you two can eat as well.”
Eldest Aunt Huo became angry. “Second Brother’s wife, what’s wrong with you? This is celebratory candy for Mother’s birthday, meant for relatives and guests. How can members of the family keep taking it endlessly?”
As she spoke, she reached out to snatch the candy from Taohua’s hands.
Taohua was quick on her feet and darted into the courtyard in the blink of an eye.
Eldest Aunt Huo then stared at the candy in Ning Yuchan’s hands.
The day before yesterday, she had been provoked by Ning Yuchan and had received several reproaches from Huo Mingqian.
At this moment, she could not quite grasp Ning Yuchan’s temperament and did not dare to act rashly.
She looked soft and easy to bully, but she had quite a few tricks.
If she said a few more words in Huo Mingqian’s ear later, it would not be worth it.
For the first time, Tian Fengying saw a trace of wariness in Eldest Aunt Huo’s eyes.
She snorted, deliberately provoking Eldest Aunt Huo, and grabbed another handful of candy from the tray. “These are for Changshou.”
Huo Changshou was like a thief. Early in the morning, he had already come over and stolen a chicken leg, two handfuls of candy, three pieces of pastry, and even drank a cup of birthday wine prepared with ginseng.
Eldest Aunt Huo’s heart ached with anger. Her plump body trembled as she chased after Tian Fengying. “Give them back to me, there won’t be enough…”
She did not catch up to Tian Fengying.
There were too many guests arriving today. Just as another wave came in, she could only force a smile and go over to receive them.
Originally, the richest family in Huojia Village had been the Huo family. After the Liang family moved in, with their great wealth, they easily took over that position.
Both families had produced scholars, and this year they would participate in the provincial examination.
Normally, they did not cross paths.
But today, for Old Lady Huo’s birthday, the Liang family actually came with gifts to offer their congratulations.
The ones who came were Ning Yuqiao and her parents-in-law.
After they paid their respects to Old Lady Huo, they sat at the seats arranged by the Huo family.
After greeting Mother Liang, Ning Yuqiao went to find Ning Yuchan.
The two sisters had not spoken alone for a long time, and today was not quite the right occasion.
Ning Yuqiao simply pulled Ning Yuchan outside. “Yuchan, take me to your place to have a look. I haven’t been there before.”
Ning Yuchan did not want to go back.
Father Huo’s household could not compare to the Eldest Branch, let alone the Liang family.
She did not want to see the sympathy and disdain in her sister’s eyes.
“Sister, the banquet is about to start. Let’s not go.”
Ning Yuqiao was unwilling. “What, now that you’re married, you’ve grown distant from me? I’m your real sister.”
Ning Yuchan had no choice but to take her back to the west courtyard.
After entering the yard, Ning Yuqiao’s eyes did not stop moving.
She sized up Father Huo’s household from top to bottom.
Not a single place could compare to the Liang family.
Fortunately, back then she had argued and made a scene to firmly change the marriage arrangement. Otherwise, she would have been the one married into such a poor family.
“Yuchan, I see the Eldest Branch is living quite well. Why is the Second Branch so poor?”
Ning Yuchan answered truthfully, “The Second Branch has always lived separately. Old Lady Huo has never given them any money.”
Ning Yuqiao clicked her tongue. “It’s as if the Second Branch isn’t even her own.”
Noticing her younger sister’s expression turn unpleasant, she quickly explained, “I’m not talking about you. I’m just stating the facts.”
After all, they had grown up together. She still felt some sympathy for her younger sister.
“By the way, I think your Third Uncle is quite good. He’s also a scholar and might even pass the provincial examination. You don’t need to keep waiting for Huo Changsheng. If there’s a chance, you should hold onto him…”
Ning Yuchan frowned. “Sister, what are you saying? He is my husband’s own uncle.”
Ning Yuqiao was speechless. “Your husband is already dead, and you still take it seriously? Third Uncle is a scholar. He has the final say in this household. If he really wanted you, what could the Huo family say? You married with a big rooster. It doesn’t even count as a proper marriage.”
The difference in values between Ning Yuchan and Ning Yuqiao grew greater and greater.
Ning Yuchan did not want to argue with her sister and replied on the surface, “I know what I should do.”
Ning Yuchan had a gentle temperament, but she always had her own principles.
Ning Yuqiao knew she could not persuade her, so she could only let it go. “Anyway, I’m doing this for your own good. Think it through yourself.”
Ning Yuchan did not want this kind of “good” at all.
First, her sister had taken her scholar fiancé. Now she was telling her to seduce her husband’s uncle and do things that would make people point fingers at her for a lifetime, never able to hold her head up again.
“Sister, the banquet is about to start. Let’s go back.”
Men and women were seated separately.
Ning Yuchan originally thought that after arriving at the east courtyard, she would be separated from Ning Yuqiao.
After all, Ning Yuqiao was now the Liang family’s daughter-in-law, of a higher status, and should be seated at the main table.
But the Huo family thought they were sisters and deliberately arranged for them to sit together.
Ning Yuchan could not help but feel displeased.
Tian Fengying sat with Mother Liang. The two women had a tacit understanding and neither mentioned the matter of the bride being swapped.
However, both sides were observing the Ning sisters.
Naturally, Tian Fengying was satisfied.
Ning Yuchan was filial, gentle, sensible, beautiful, and even literate. The Huo family must have ancestral graves emitting smoke[1]Meaning great ancestral blessing. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1953078_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1953078_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); to have married such a pleasing daughter-in-law.
Mother Liang’s mood was completely different.
The more she looked, the more troubled she felt. She could not even eat the large braised pork knuckle specially prepared by the Huo family.
Ning Yuqiao was indeed pretty, but there always seemed to be some barrier in their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.
Her son was also unhappy. On their wedding night, they had not even shared a room.
On the third day, after returning to the bride’s natal home, he hurriedly left. After the autumn provincial examination, who knew what would happen?
Her daughter-in-law said that her younger sister liked Huo Changsheng and insisted on marrying into the Huo family to wait for him.
But the younger sister had been engaged to her son for five years, and they had always gotten along well. How could she suddenly realize she loved the wrong person just before the wedding?
Moreover, Huo Changsheng had been in the army for several years. When would the younger sister have had time to interact with him?
This reason simply did not hold up.
She wanted to find an opportunity to question her daughter-in-law, but she was afraid of damaging their relationship.
She could only endure it and wait for her son to return to handle it.
Seeing the two sisters sitting together today, it felt as if a lump of water-soaked cotton was stuffed in her chest.
Nothing felt smooth.
Ning Yuqiao noticed that her mother-in-law’s gaze had been fixed on her younger sister, and how could she feel comfortable?
Just moments ago, she had been thinking of matching her younger sister with Third Uncle Huo. Now she has changed her mind.
Someone like Ning Yuchan should live a hard life.
After enjoying eighteen years of comfort in the Ning family, shouldn’t she suffer a bit?
References[+]