At the Qiao household.
When Qiao Yue got home with three palm-sized grass carp, there was no one in the kitchen. He placed the fish in a wooden basin and turned around, catching the glint of light on the knife’s edge.
He paused.
Since no one was around, why not test if he could store the weapon?
That way, he’d have a secret weapon for self-defense!
Qiao Yue turned his back, took out a blank card, and aimed it at the kitchen knife, saying, “Whoosh—” Sure enough, the kitchen knife disappeared.
He released it, and the knife reappeared in its original spot.
Taking it in and out, in and out, Qiao Yue was having a blast playing with it while no one was around.
“Big brother, what are you doing?”
Qiao Xiaoyuan heard his brother’s voice and ran in from the doorway, hugging Qiao Yue’s leg.
Qiao Yue’s pupils shook, and the card slipped from his hand, landing on Qiao Xiaoyuan’s shoulder.
Could it be that Xiaoyuan discovered it?
“Uh…” Qiao Xiaoyuan patted his shoulder, looked down, saw nothing, and then looked up, calling, “Big brother?”
Qiao Yue clutched his pounding heart and breathed a sigh of relief. Xiaoyuan couldn’t see it.
“Nothing, I caught a few fish.” He put the card away in front of Qiao Xiaoyuan.
Qiao Xiaoyuan said, “Great, fish is delicious. I love fish.” He poked the fish belly with his index finger, finding it a bit slippery.
Then he put his finger under his nose and took a deep breath, “Wow! It smells a bit fishy~”
Qiao Yue looked down, “Is there anything you don’t like to eat? Get down, you’re too heavy.”
“No.” Qiao Xiaoyuan clung tightly.
Qiao Yue had no choice but to drag Qiao Xiaoyuan, stumbling back to the house.
As they passed through the main room, Xia He and Zhou Shi were chatting. Seeing him, Zhou Shi said, “Shanzi, where have you been all day?”
“Everywhere,” Qiao Yue replied with nonsense and quickly ran away.
Zhou Shi watched Qiao Yue’s retreating figure, muttered a few words, and then leaned back to Xia He, saying, “Second brother’s wife, you seem to be in high spirits.”
Xia He was sorting mulberry leaves.
The tender mulberry leaves picked in spring were perfect for making salted egg mulberry leaf soup. Mulberry leaves age quickly, and if not eaten soon, they dry out and become unappetizing. Xia He sorted them while smiling, “Yes, sister-in-law, soon it’ll be your turn to be happy.”
Zhou Shi felt a bit sour. Originally, Qiao Xingsheng should have been the first to marry. In their place, the younger ones wouldn’t marry before the older ones. Otherwise, her son Shitou wouldn’t be engaged but not yet married.
But thinking about how Qiao Yue could marry early, Zhou Shi comforted herself and nodded with a smile, “May your words come true!” Maybe when Xingsheng returns, there will be good news.
Xia He asked, “Is there really good news coming? Which family’s girl?”
Zhou Shi intended to discuss this with him, and seeing he was interested, she whispered that it was the Xu family’s daughter.
“But don’t tell anyone else. It’s not settled yet, but as family, we won’t hide it from you.”
Xia He nodded.
“Alright, I’ll go cook now.” It was her turn to cook today, so Zhou Shi took the mulberry leaves to the kitchen to avoid being scolded by her father-in-law for not having the meal ready.
Laughter and chatter came from the west room. After finishing with the mulberry leaves, Xia He sat in the main room, took out a half-finished insole, and continued working on it, smiling and shaking his head.
It seemed Shanzi was playing with Xiaoyuan again, and Xiaoyuan’s laughter could be heard from afar.
In the kitchen, Zhou Shi muttered to herself while looking at the fish, “Shanzi is really lucky, doesn’t have to do anything, just enjoys life.”
A few grass carp wouldn’t win her over, no way.
After a while, Qiao Yue came to the main room, “Little dad, where’s Aunt?”
“She’s in the kitchen,” Xia He didn’t ask why he was looking for Zhou Shi, because Qiao Yue immediately took out a few things from his pocket, unwrapped the oil paper, and brought it to his mouth. The sweet smell of milk wafted over, “Milk… candy?”
Qiao Yue nodded and handed over the remaining two, “Yes, isn’t it delicious?”
Xia He’s eyes flickered. This kind of candy wasn’t sold in the county, and even if it was, they couldn’t afford it.
He took the candy, bit half of it, and savored the taste, “Delicious.” Then he wrapped it up, planning to eat it in two sittings.
The remaining two pieces were for the children.
Qiao Yue said, “Little dad, Xiaoyuan has some too. These two are for you, don’t give them to him, or what if he gets cavities?”
Xia He laughed, “Our family can afford to eat enough candy to get cavities?”
“Don’t doubt it. In the future, you’ll eat so much candy you won’t want it. Xiaoyuan loves candy, I’m just being cautious.”
“Alright…”
Qiao Yue eagerly asked, “Dad, don’t you believe me?”
“…I believe you. In the future, if your brother wants candy, no matter how much he cries, I’ll only give him one piece a day. Is that okay?” Xia He said firmly.
“Hahaha, good!”
The father and son chatted casually, and Zhou Shi came out asking, “Second brother’s wife, did you take the kitchen knife? I can’t find it.”
Uh-oh.
Qiao Yue thought to himself, just now he had used the blank card to take the kitchen knife in and out several times, and then Xiaoyuan saw it, and he put the card away.
During that time…
Did he not put the knife back?
No wonder he felt something was off. Qiao Yue felt a bit guilty and quickly slipped into the kitchen while Zhou Shi was asking, summoned the card, and released the knife.
“Aunt, isn’t the knife right here?”
“Where!” Zhou Shi rushed in, following Qiao Yue’s pointing finger, “…It really is here? How?”
Didn’t she check the basket above?
Zhou Shi picked up the knife, puzzled.
Qiao Yue righteously guessed, “Maybe you missed it.”
Zhou Shi thought so too, but she wouldn’t apologize to Xia He. Instead, she shooed Qiao Yue out, otherwise, she’d have to keep him to start the fire.
“Go on, I’m cooking. Mei girl, come here!”
Qiao Yue was happy not to work and ran to sit beside Xia He. Xia He turned and asked, “Shanzi, why hasn’t Zhuzi come to find you lately?” It had been days since he last came over. Usually, every few days, Tian Zhuzi would “meow” outside the courtyard wall, thinking he sounded just like a cat.
Qiao Yue hadn’t noticed.
Now that his little dad mentioned it, Qiao Yue found it odd. That wasn’t like him at all.
“I don’t know, I’ll go find him later, see if something’s up, and let him know about my wedding.”
After saying that, Qiao Yue wanted to sit and rest a bit, but Xia He urged, “Go now, it’ll be mealtime soon.” It wasn’t polite to visit during mealtime.
“Oh…” Qiao Yue reluctantly agreed and headed to the Tian family.
When he arrived, Tian Zhuzi was in the courtyard. Seeing Qiao Yue, he stood up and walked over shyly.
He looked at him hesitantly.
Qiao Yue got goosebumps from the look and immediately stepped aside, grabbed a handful of leaves, and threw them forcefully, “Get out of my brother!”
Covered in leaves, Tian Zhuzi said, “…”
“Get lost, you’re the one possessed!”