“Fish and bear’s paw (luxury and necessity) cannot both be obtained—everything requires choice. Ah Ci is an adult; he must have thought about what he would lose by choosing university. Right, Ah Ci?”
Ying Sisi’s voice was gentle and soft, like a warm spring breeze, slowly drifting into the young man’s heart.
He smiled at her. “Yes.”
Father Qin’s deep gaze swept over Qin Yanci before finally landing on Ying Sisi. If it were another woman who learned that her husband was giving up a stable job for an uncertain future, she would probably have already lost her temper. Yet she remained calm, reasoning things out so composedly.
She actually had some foresight.
“Your father said you didn’t go to school, but you understand quite a lot.”
Ying Sisi felt slightly embarrassed. “I picked it up from listening to the elders in the village speak. If I said anything wrong, please don’t laugh at me.”
“You learned well.”
While they were chatting, Qin Mother and Qin Yanci’s elder brother Qin Jin returned with New Year goods.
Ying Sisi stood up to greet them and went forward to help organize the goods.
Qin Mother smiled warmly. “From now on, we’re family. No need to be so polite.” But her eyes quietly studied the girl.
Quick and capable—clearly a hardworking person.
Her impression of her improved slightly, and she began chatting casually: preparations for the New Year goods, which relatives they would visit after the New Year, and so on.
For things she could speak about, Ying Sisi answered without hesitation.
After the goods were sorted, Ying Sisi followed Qin Mother into the kitchen—washing rice, cleaning vegetables, chopping filling, and frying meatballs.
At first, Qin Mother worked alongside her, but later she was called away twice by Lu Yuchun, and then she stayed in the main room.
So Ying Sisi could only tend the fire while also watching the oil pot.
Qin Yanci came into the kitchen several times, his expression growing darker each time.
Noticing this, Ying Sisi couldn’t help but think of the rumors about him. Fear crept into her mind, forming all kinds of terrifying scenes of him attacking her.
The more she thought, the more scared she became.
She forced herself to say, nervously, “Ah Ci, are you cold? How about you help me start the fire?”
If he dared to lay a hand on her—
She would just splash hot oil on him and subdue him in one move, making him the one afraid of her instead.
Hmph!
Then she wouldn’t be as soft and gentle as she was now.
She would show him what a fierce woman looked like.
“I’m not cold.”
Qin Yanci sat down expressionlessly, but seemed a little restless, constantly adding firewood into the stove.
“Ah Ci, the fire is too big. I’m getting roasted here.”
He hurriedly pulled some firewood out again.
Ying Sisi watched his actions and thought: if he really wanted to harm her, there was no need to endure this at all. He could simply find an excuse, drag her into the room, cover her mouth, and act—it would be much easier.
Maybe he was just hungry?
When people are hungry, they do get irritable.
She picked up a warm meatball and held it to his lips. “Try it.”
Qin Yanci looked at her, eyes warm, and bit into it.
He chewed twice. “Delicious.” Just the right saltiness, tender and flavorful.
“Are you tired?”
Since arriving at his home, she hadn’t rested at all and had been working nonstop as the sky slowly darkened.
Originally, all of this should have been his mother’s work.
If she didn’t want to do it, she could have ordered his elder brother—or even him.
Why push it all onto a newly married girl?
Just because she was young and from out of town, easy to talk to, did they treat her like a servant?
“I’m not tired,” Ying Sisi said.
She noticed his expression improved after eating the meatball and couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Amusing that he had such a childish temperament.
And also amusing herself—for repeatedly suspecting her husband based on other people’s instigation.
She lifted the lid of the earthen stove, scooped a large bowl of rice for him, and added some braised pork and pork knuckle from the pot.
“You must be starving. Eat quickly. From now on, whenever I cook, you come help me tend the fire, and I’ll save the best meat for you.”