A few people hurried into the yard and were surprised to see Lu Xiuxiu washing the pig intestines.
Lu Zhangshi, her old legs stiff and aching, stormed over and kicked Lu Xiuxiu to the ground.
“Are you trying to kill me? Making the house stink like this! Don’t you know to take these to the river to wash? And why did you buy so much? Where did you get the money? Did you steal from me?”
Seeing her daughter get beaten, Qin Hong quickly stepped in to stop Lu Zhangshi.
“Mom, don’t get so worked up. These intestines were given by my brother from my family. Xiuxiu is just processing them to sell in the city for money.”
Hearing that it wasn’t their own money and that they would make money from it, Lu Zhangshi’s face softened considerably.
“Well, hurry up and take them outside to wash. Do you want to stink out this old lady and act like you’re in charge?”
Mother and daughter carefully put the pig intestines in a basin and carried them to the river to wash.
When Xu Nian’an and Lu Xiulian returned, Lu Zhangshi was still scolding, complaining that Lu Xiuxiu had used up all the household water.
She had been worried sick about her precious youngest son, but seeing him working confidently in the field this afternoon, neither coughing nor fainting, eased her a bit.
Remembering the strange scolding Xu Nian’an had given that morning made her heart ache even more.
The old lady, furious, sent him to fetch water from the well.
Meanwhile, Zhou Guixiang was already busy preparing dinner, and she also served a bowl of the mung bean soup that Lu Xiulian had soaked and cooled earlier to each person.
Lu Zhangshi took a sip, still muttering: “That brat, won’t live till tomorrow! Putting so much sugar in the soup as if it’s free!”
But her muttering didn’t stop her from drinking. Before long, she helped herself to another bowl.
The others drank theirs quietly—they were used to the old lady’s ways.
At this time, Xu Nian’an returned with Lu Xiulian on the bike. After cleaning it, they went to the supply store and bought everything she was curious about.
Xu Nian’an was so determined to have stir-fried snails tonight that Lu Xiulian repeatedly promised her she would. That cheered her up considerably.
By the time they got home, the basin of soaked snails had already had its water changed once.
Xu Nian’an checked the snails, adding a bit of spring water. She stared hungrily at them, warning them to be delicious.
When dinner was served, Lu Xiulian recounted Lu Xiuxiu’s misdeeds again, especially the incident of pushing Xu Nian’an into the river the day before.
Xu Nian’an’s eyes were red, her head lowered, shoulders trembling. This sight made Lu Zhiqiang’s chest tighten with anger.
He had considered Xu Guoliang like a brother and only agreed to let his daughter marry into the family.
On the very first day after the wedding, Lu Chengyu had returned to the army. Not even three months later, Xu Nian’an nearly got harmed.
He had no face to visit his in-laws.
If Xu Nian’an wanted a divorce, he wouldn’t stop her. He would find another way to prepare her dowry.
He remembered what his wife had said about splitting the family—looks like he needed to discuss it with his second son.
Knowing Xu Guoliang’s love for his daughter, Xu Nian’an would likely continue to receive good things from him in the future.
As the saying goes: a thief for a thousand days cannot be prevented for a thousand days.
“Maybe yesterday was too chaotic, and Nian’an remembered it wrong?”
Lu Zhiwei didn’t believe his daughter could do such a thing.
Xu Nian’an said nothing. Even if she reported it to the authorities, without evidence, nothing could be done to Lu Xiuxiu. Fortunately, there was still time.
She rubbed her eyes and forced a small smile.
“Oh, by the way, the farm work has been hard lately. Lu Xiulian and I went to the supply store and bought a few bottles of cold beer.”
Actually, the beer was mainly for stir-frying the snails later. Buying just one bottle wouldn’t be enough, so she bought several so everyone could have some.
This made Lu Zhiqiang’s eyes well up further. Even Lu Laohan felt embarrassed.
What a good daughter-in-law—always thinking of them.
Without her, they wouldn’t have had chicken at lunch, and the second son’s family wouldn’t have helped in the field.
Now they even had mung bean soup and beer.
Even Lu Zhangshi fell silent, no longer angry at her from the morning.
Lu Laohan opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for each of the men.
The rest was saved for later.
“Let me say something. Nian’an has been spoiled since childhood and never had to do anything, as you know. She left her life in the city to live here with us—this is filial! Also, Chengyu sends money home every month, more than enough for Nian’an. From now on, she shouldn’t have to work. And her good things are hers—none of you should be jealous. It’s her family’s wealth, earned by her parents.”
Lu Laohan’s words were seemingly directed at Lu Xiulian, but everyone knew it was a warning to Lu Xiuxiu.
Whether she was there or not didn’t matter—after the disgrace her second uncle suffered today, she would definitely hear about it.
Xu Nian’an didn’t expect her beer to have such power. From now on, she could openly not do chores at home.
If Lu Zhangshi complained about laziness, she could just invoke Lu Laohan’s words.
After dinner, Lu Xiulian prepared a basin of snails for Xu Nian’an and the eldest daughter.
As requested by Xu Nian’an, she first stir-fried a mild portion so the little girl and sister-in-law Cao Yanhua could eat, and then a spicy, numbing portion.
Xu Nian’an was sent to the yard to cool off. “Little sister-in-law, come teach me when the spicy portion is ready. It’s too hot in the kitchen—go cool off first.”
As she spoke, she gently pushed Xu Nian’an out.
At this time, Lu Xiuxiu and her mother returned. Qin Hong, unused to fieldwork, had been busy all afternoon and was now filthy from washing intestines with her daughter.
At home, she didn’t even have an appetite and rushed to take a shower.
Lu Xiuxiu, thinking about her braised pig intestines, carried them into the kitchen and saw Lu Xiulian washing a pot.
Recalling that Lu Xiulian hadn’t helped wash the intestines earlier, she fumed.
She threw the intestines onto the cutting board. “Blanch these. Call me when they’re done.”
Then she turned to leave. Lu Xiulian snorted. “I’m not serving you. Do your own work.”
They were cousins, and previously Lu Xiuxiu had used her status as the older cousin to boss her around. Refusing to help meant arguing.
But now, wanting to harm her little sister-in-law, Lu Xiulian refused to help—it would be betrayal.
Lu Xiulian knew her stance and wouldn’t budge.
Lu Xiuxiu glared at her viciously, thinking: Once Xu Nian’an and Lu Chengyu are gone and I’ve made money, even if Lu Xiulian kneels, I won’t forgive her!
It’s just blanching anyway. Plus, she didn’t want Lu Xiulian to learn her secret recipe.
“Then hurry up and wash. I need the pot,” she said, opening the cabinet to look for ingredients.
Seeing her rifling through the cabinet, Lu Zhangshi slapped her hand.
“There’s food on the table for you. What are you looking for? Trying to steal from me?”
This cabinet held all her hard-earned treasures. Lu Zhangshi firmly controlled the kitchen like her own kingdom.
Even if she wasn’t cooking, her word was law. Those two girls had bought the spices themselves for stir-frying the snails.