Inside the Xu family’s main hall.
Xiao Yue frowned anxiously and said, “Why hasn’t Uncle come back yet… Mother, I’m so hungry…”
Looking at the large basin of tender fish meat and the milky white fish soup in front of her, she stomped her feet impatiently.
Xu Changnian had gone to deliver a fish to the village chief’s house, yet even after half a day, he still hadn’t returned.
“You already ate so many snacks today… you little rascal!” Yun Niang scolded angrily while tapping the back of Xiao Yue’s hand with her chopsticks.
Xiao Yue pouted hard; once the fish got cold, it wouldn’t taste good anymore.
She first cast a pleading look at Shen Wei, begging silently for help, but Shen Wei only shook her head—there was no way she dared argue with her sister-in-law.
With tears glistening in her eyes, Xiao Yue then pitifully looked toward Shen Yourong.
Shen Yourong covered her mouth and laughed quietly, not saying anything, but subtly pointed at Xu Tielin, clearly hinting—go ask Grandpa.
“Grandpa~ you should tell Mother that it was me who borrowed the fishing net today. I helped, didn’t I? Your granddaughter is starving!” Xiao Yue finally reacted and instantly threw herself into Xu Tielin’s arms, massaging his legs obediently.
“Aiya, you little brat, who would dare marry you in the future?” Xu Tielin laughed happily and said, “Eat, let’s start eating. When the Third son returns, he can eat whatever is left,” then scooped Xiao Yue a big bowl of fish soup.
“You’re all just spoiling her,” Yun Niang pretended to scold as she glared at Xiao Yue before distributing bowls and chopsticks.
She tasted a piece of fish herself, nodded in satisfaction, and couldn’t help feeling delighted.
These were fish raised in the mountain pools, incredibly tender, melting in the mouth with not the slightest hint of fishy taste.
The milky white soup was rich and fragrant, irresistible, making one want to drink bowl after bowl without stopping.
“Big Sister, why aren’t you eating?” someone asked.
Shen Yourong smiled and said, “You all eat. I’ve eaten so much meat the past few days that I feel tired of it. Just drinking some soup is enough.”
Soon after, half of the large basin of fish was already gone when Xu Changnian finally returned, carrying a grain sack.
Throwing it aside, he washed his hands and then sat at the table. “That’s 5 kilograms of millet. Sister-in-law, remember to put it away after eating,” he said as he began eating.
“Where did it come from? Where did you go?” Xu Tielin and Yun Niang asked simultaneously, staring sharply at him, worried he was back to his old mischievous behavior and had gone to cause trouble again. Read this novel at novelping . com for the best experience.
Xu Changnian casually replied, “My good brother Liu Ermazi felt sorry for his big brother here and gifted it to me. Just accept it.”
He was too lazy to explain more. He couldn’t exactly say he beat Liu Ermazi up and took it, especially with children around.
“Right…” Yun Niang clearly didn’t believe a single word, rolling her eyes.
Xu Tielin also glared coldly.
Liu Ermazi giving someone grain?
Impossible.
Everyone present was smart enough to figure it out—Liu Ermazi definitely didn’t give it willingly. But since the victim was him… well, he deserved it. So they decided to just eat happily.
“Snowing~”
After eating and drinking their fill, Xiao Yue opened the door and saw the ground already covered by a thin layer of white.
Excited, she immediately rushed outside, running happily through the snow.
“Be careful!” Yun Niang hurriedly chased after her.
After eating, Xu Changnian picked up his mulberry wood bow and went outside to practice.
Meanwhile, while collecting bowls, Shen Yourong pulled Shen Wei aside and whispered, “Tonight, go sleep in Husband’s room. You’ve been staying with Sister-in-law this whole time—how does that look?”
Ever since coming to the Xu family, Shen Wei had always slept in Yun Niang’s room with Xiao Yue.
“Ah…” Hearing that, Shen Wei’s face instantly flushed bright red, her heart pounding wildly. She had naturally heard the sounds from the next room these nights; just thinking about it made her nervous.
But this was something that was bound to happen sooner or later.
After hesitating for a long time, Shen Wei finally whispered, “I’m afraid… it will hurt…”
Shen Yourong gently held her sister’s hand and smiled softly, “It’s fine, I’ll be there. Husband is not rough… he just… knows too many positions~”
…
Qingshan Village, inside Old Xu Hei’s house.
Liu Ermazi knelt on the ground covered in bruises, crying loudly, “Wuu wuu wuu, Master Hei, you must stand up for me! There is no law left in Qingshan Village; it’s not even dark yet and someone robbed me! The grain you gave me was all stolen by some heartless bandit!” He cried as he told the story, saying he had been knocked out with a stick, had his head covered, and was beaten violently. This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.
“So according to you, that person beat you just to rob the grain?” Old Xu Hei crossed his legs and looked at this idiot like he was looking at a fool.
This useless waste… he originally planned to use him to harass the Xu family, yet somehow he managed to get beaten himself.
“Ah? Then… Master Hei, you mean… he wasn’t after the grain?” Liu Ermazi finally started thinking.
If someone only wanted food, they would grab it and run.
Why beat him half to death and risk being caught?
That clearly meant the attacker had a grudge!
“Use your brain for once. Think about what you’ve done recently. Who did you offend? Who hates you?” Old Xu Hei said impatiently.
Liu Ermazi scratched his head and began listing, “Let me think… recently I offended… Sister Wang from the east of the village—I stole a bowl of wild vegetables from her… I stole two buns from Old Man Li… I kicked Niu Er from Niujia Village into the ditch… he definitely hates me! Also that guy in Zhoujia Town who tried to rob my hairpin… maybe he’s back for revenge… and Lai Dou fought with me too…” As he continued listing, quickly naming more than ten people, Old Xu Hei was dumbfounded.
This idiot was truly talented.
He thought Liu Ermazi only had conflicts with the Xu family; turns out he managed to offend half the surrounding area.
“What about Xu Changnian?” Old Xu Hei finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked with a dark face.
“Wait… just two more and I’ll get to him… oh wait—definitely him!” Liu Ermazi suddenly shouted angrily, “Xu the Rascal, I won’t let this go. Just wait!”
…
Back at the Xu house, after nightfall, when Xu Changnian returned to the room, he saw Shen Wei already there, nervously biting her lip while Shen Yourong gently comforted her.
“It’s something that will happen sooner or later, don’t be scared,” Shen Yourong said softly.
Xu Changnian nodded in satisfaction. This big wife truly understood him well—she deserved a good reward tonight.
Next door, Yun Niang lay on the bed and let out a weary sigh.
Just dealing with Shen Yourong alone kept things noisy until midnight. Now Shen Wei had gone over too.
Would there be any peace left in this house at all?