After being thoroughly scolded, Yan Lao Er returned to his room in defeat. Yan Liu Shi’s piercing voice had carried clearly through the entire house. Watching through the window, Yan Ji caught sight of Wang Xuefeng standing at the doorway, her face twisted with resentment, and could not help but smile.
Too indifferent to care about whatever trouble Wang Xuefeng intended to stir up, Yan Ji gathered the ingredients she had bought at the market along with the fragrant herbs she had picked earlier. She opened the door, retrieved a pot and a flintstone from the kitchen, tucked them into her basket, and headed toward the back mountain.
Few people ever ventured up the back mountain. Yan Ji arranged several large stones into a makeshift hearth, set the pot on top, gathered dry firewood, and struck the flint to spark a fire. She then poured in a measure of osmanthus oil specifically reserved for fragrance-making before crushing her herbs, filtering out the impurities, and adding the extracted liquid to the pot.
Seeing the fire burning steadily, Yan Ji rose and walked deeper into the forest. Towering trees blocked most of the afternoon sun, allowing only scattered rays to filter through the canopy and dance across her face, draping her in a veil of soft, dappled light.
Not long after, Yan Ji returned with an armful of vibrant wildflowers. She crushed the blossoms to extract their juices, pouring the colorful liquid into the pot to tint the scented balm, and added a handful of wild fruits she had gathered along the way.
As the fire grew hotter, a faint fragrance gradually drifted from the pot.
Yan Ji took a breath of the scent, her brows furrowing slightly in disdain.
“This scented balm is the worst quality I’ve ever made.” She murmured to herself.
Crude tools and inferior ingredients naturally could not compare to the perfection of her past creations. Still, Yan Ji stirred the liquid patiently. Once it thickened to the right consistency, she poured it into one of the small containers she had bought at the market.
The light purple liquid settled evenly into the box. After filling it, Yan Ji added more osmanthus oil to the pot and continued her work.
Completely absorbed in her plan to earn money through fragrance-making, Yan Ji had no idea that a storm was already brewing back at the house.
Yan Liu Shi’s booming voice had been impossible to miss, and Wang Xuefeng had caught every scathing word. She had nearly rushed out to wage a fierce war of words with the old woman, but just as her foot crossed the threshold, reason caught up with her, and she retreated back into the room.
Soon enough, Yan Lao Er slunk back into the room, his head drooping in shame. Looking at his wife sitting on the bed, he tried to placate her, “Xuefeng, how about we wait until after you give birth? I’ll talk to Mother again then. Once she sees you’ve given her a big, healthy grandson, she’ll definitely soften up.”
Wang Xuefeng curled her lips in sheer disdain.
As if she would ever believe that nonsense.
In her previous life, she had given the Yan family both their first grandson and their first great-grandson, yet the old woman hadn’t treated her a fraction better. She had still scolded her whenever the whim struck.
If Wang Xuefeng had to put a name to it, the old woman was simply twisted in the head. Her eyes only ever saw her precious daughter! When Yan Ji had married out, nearly all of the family’s valuable possessions had been emptied out just to line her dowry!
No, she absolutely had to find a way to split the household.
Wang Xuefeng glanced at Yan Lao Er. Her eyes darted thoughtfully before her expression melted into one of profound misery. She squeezed out two soft sobs and whimpered, “I’m only thinking of our son’s future. Look at Mother. Ji Niang is already so grown up, yet Mother still refuses to let her lift a finger. How do you think her future in-laws will treat her once she marries?
I’m doing this for her own good. Besides, Mother gives every good thing in this house to Ji Niang. What will be left for our son once he’s born? When he grows up, he’ll need to marry and raise children of his own, too.”
Her words vibrated with deep sincerity, tears streaming down her face right on cue.
Yan Lao Er was left dazed by the display. Instinctively, he stammered a defense, “Impossible. Mother isn’t that kind of person.”
“How is she not? Every single time there’s something good in this house, doesn’t Mother immediately rush to give it to Ji Niang?”
Yan Lao Er scratched his head irritably, caught between guilt and confusion. “Then…… what is it you want to do?”
“Split the family!” Wang Xuefeng declared firmly. “We must separate the households!”
Only after splitting the family would that old woman be forced to stop spoiling that bratty girl. Once they were independent, the money they earned would remain under their own control. She refused to believe Yan Ji would still be able to freeload off them then.
Yan Lao Er inhaled deeply and sat dejectedly on the edge of the bed. “Let me think about it. Splitting the family is a major matter. Let me think……”
Wang Xuefeng reached out, gently caressing her stomach as a faint, triumphant smile touched her lips.
Son, don’t worry. In this life, Mother will definitely give you the best of everything and ensure you grow up happily.
……
Outside of Wang Xuefeng’s room, the other quarters of the Yan household were equally restless.
After coaxing her two daughters to sleep, Yan Lin Shi looked over at Yan Lao Da[1]Yan the Eldest jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2390112_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2390112_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, who was sitting nearby, and asked quietly, “Husband, what do you think Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are playing at?”
Yan Lao Da was just as honest and simple-minded as his wife. Hearing her question, he merely shrugged. “No matter what they mean, we just need to keep our heads down and do our own part properly.”
“Mm.” Yan Lin Shi murmured softly in agreement.
Glancing at the small cache of snacks stored safely inside the cabinet, she reflected that her mother-in-law wasn’t truly heartless or entirely biased. The old woman simply valued her only daughter a bit more by comparison.
Forget it, she thought. In the end, the girl will marry out someday anyway.
……
“Husband, judging by Second Sister-in-law’s behavior today, she seems to want to split the family.”
Yan Lao San[2]Yan the Third jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2390112_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2390112_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); had been married for less than two months. His new wife, Yan Li Shi, was hardworking, clever, and particularly skilled at reading the room. Among the three daughters-in-law, she had already managed to become one of Yan Liu Shi’s favorites.
Lying on the bed with his legs crossed, Yan Lao San merely snorted. “If Second Brother forces a split, then with Mother’s temper, she’ll probably throw all of us out to live on our own together. Second Brother is completely wrapped around his wife’s finger. He’s utterly useless.”
“So what are you planning to do?” Yan Li Shi asked curiously, leaning closer.
“We’ll just wait and see. Whether the family splits or not, the golden rule is to never offend Mother. Otherwise, you’ll end up labeled unfilial, and that’s a heavy reputation to carry. Besides, no matter how much Mother dotes on Little Sister, the girl will eventually marry out. She can’t stay in this house forever. As long as we properly show our filial piety, Mother still has plenty of good things left in her hands to pass down to us.”
“Alright, I understand.”
……
Everyone harbored their own hidden calculations. When the family headed out to the fields together that afternoon, the atmosphere was suffocatingly silent.
Yan Liu Shi’s anger had not subsided, and she didn’t have a single pleasant look to spare Yan Lao Er. Meanwhile, he remained entirely consumed by Wang Xuefeng’s radical proposal to split the household— a distracted, guilty demeanor that only infuriated Yan Liu Shi further.
After pouring her blood and sweat into raising him for so many years, she realized with bitter resentment that she had somehow raised an ungrateful wretch.
……
An entire afternoon of work yielded only four boxes of scented balm for Yan Ji, each differing in color and fragrance. After packing everything carefully into her basket, she made her way back home.
The rest of the family was still out working in the fields, leaving only her eldest brother’s two young daughters playing in the courtyard. Upon spotting Yan Ji, the older girl called out sweetly, “Aunt!”
Yan Ji patted her head gently. Children’s eyes were always the purest.
She went into her room, brought out some pastries that Yan Liu Shi had bought especially for her, and handed them to the two little girls. “Take these and eat.”
“Thank you, Aunt!”
……
As the sky gradually darkened, Yan Liu Shi and the rest of the group finally trudged back from the fields. No fire had been lit in the kitchen yet. Seeing this, Wang Xuefeng’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. She quickly washed her hands and headed straight into the kitchen to start dinner.
Yan Lao Er frowned at the sight. His wife was pregnant, yet after just returning from a grueling day in the fields, she still had to cook? Meanwhile, his younger sister— already so grown up— hadn’t even bothered to step in and help.
The more Yan Lao Er stewed over it, the angrier he became. However, intimidated by his mother’s fierce authority, he didn’t dare complain out loud and could only bottle his resentment inside.
Right then, Yan Ji happened to step out of her room.
Catching sight of her, Yan Lao Er spoke before he could stop himself, “Little Sister, your second sister-in-law is pregnant. During this time, you should be the one helping out in the kitchen. A grown girl ought to learn these chores, otherwise your future in-laws will despise you once you marry.”
Yan Ji raised her brows in surprise, her gaze sweeping over the man standing before her.
“Me? Help in the kitchen?”
She had been a mighty overlord of the spirit realm, and he expected her to cook food for them? She tolerated Yan Liu Shi’s fussing because of their bond, but what right did this man think he had?
“Which of your sisters-in-law didn’t grow up doing these exact chores? You’re the only one who gets to be delicate.” Yan Lao Er grumbled, trying to put on the stern airs of an older brother.
Yan Ji merely let out a cold, mocking laugh. Without wasting another word on him, she turned on her heel and walked right back into her room.
Yan Lao Er froze, stunned, before a surge of fury rushed through him.
Outrageous! She truly didn’t show him, her own older brother, an ounce of respect!
Just as Yan Lao Er raised his hand to pound on the door and drag Yan Ji out, Yan Liu Shi stormed over and delivered a resounding smack across his back.
“You ungrateful beast!” Yan Liu Shi shrieked, her voice shaking with fury. “Ji Niang is the daughter I have pampered since she was a baby! I can’t even bear to let her touch rough work, yet you have the audacity to demand your little sister serve your wife? You’ve grown quite a backbone, haven’t you? The daughter I’ve treasured all my life— who gave you the right to point fingers at her?!”
Yan Liu Shi truly spared no strength. Each slap rained down on Yan Lao Er with a heavy, echoing thud. Terrified by her rage, the rest of the family hurried over to pull her back.
Yan Lao Er smarted from the beating, yet he dared not block her blows, let alone strike back. Feeling utterly wronged, he whined, “Mother, you’ve misunderstood! I was only thinking of Ji Niang’s own good……”
“For her good, my foot! Let me tell you this— if you ever dare force your little sister to do chores again, you can pack your bags and get out of this house! And you, Wang Xuefeng! If you keep stirring up trouble behind everyone’s backs, you can crawl right back to your natal family!”
Yan Liu Shi trembled with rage, bitterly regretting that she had ever given birth to such a short-sighted, ungrateful wretch.
At that moment, Yan Ji stepped out of her room and glided over to gently rub Yan Liu Shi’s back. “Mother, don’t be so angry. Take care not to harm your health over this.”
She cast a sideways glance at Yan Lao Er, who stood in sullen, head-lowered silence, and secretly frowned. It seemed the matter of splitting the family needed to happen sooner rather than later. Otherwise, Yan Liu Shi might truly be driven to illness by these people.
Watching the chaos unfold, Wang Xuefeng rejoiced in secret. On the surface, however, she put on a display of profound grief, sobbing loudly as she turned and fled back into her room.
With the matriarch still fuming, Yan Ji supported Yan Liu Shi back to her quarters. Consequently, the responsibility of finishing dinner fell to Yan Lin Shi and Yan Li Shi.
Yan Lao Er slouched back into his own room with his head hanging low. On the bed, Wang Xuefeng lay weeping. Seeing him enter, she choked out between tears, “You saw it yourself. Mother is completely blinded by her bias for Ji Niang. She doesn’t care a whit about the child in my belly, and she even threatened to drive me back to my parents’ house!”
Yan Lao Er remained dead silent.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice raw and hoarse, “We’ll split the family. Tomorrow, I’ll tell Mother.”
Wang Xuefeng’s crying hitched for a fraction of a second. Hidden against the pillow, the corners of her lips curled upward into a triumphant smile, and her sobbing gradually subsided into soft, pathetic sniffling.
────ρя
The next day, following the noon meal, the family was preparing to disperse to their rooms for a midday rest when Yan Lao Er abruptly called them to a halt.
He stole a tense glance at Yan Ji and Yan Liu Shi. Then, as though he had thrown all caution to the wind, he declared, “Mother, I want to split the family.”
Split the family!
Those three words struck Yan Liu Shi like a massive boulder, leaving her reeling and unable to speak for a long, agonizing moment. She stared wide-eyed at the son she had carried for ten months, suddenly finding the man standing before her entirely unrecognizable.
“What did you say? Say it again!” Yan Liu Shi’s voice sharpened to a dangerous edge.
Yan Ji’s gaze drifted toward Wang Xuefeng, who was hiding coyly behind the others. She did not miss the fleeting, satisfied smirk playing on her second sister-in-law’s face.
Steeling his resolve, Yan Lao Er repeated, “Mother, I want to split the family.”
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