As if hearing her thoughts, the system replied in a flat tone, “Host, rest assured, this system has undergone precise calculations. The angle is not an issue…”
Jiang Yingying rolled her eyes. “You’re so smart, you win, okay?”
The system responded, “Auto-reply: This system has an IQ of 180. Please do not underestimate yourself, Host…”
Jiang Yingying had no desire to continue the conversation. She shut it off and went to check on the poor wild goose.
No wonder it had hurt so much when it hit her—it weighed at least ten pounds!
The rain continued to pour, but Li Xuelian was in high spirits as she urged everyone inside. “Quick, come in! You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here!”
Xiaohua, still dazed, followed Shen Xiaoyun back into the room. In all her life, she had never witnessed anything like this.
Wild geese weren’t common in their area, let alone one falling straight from the sky.
Was this what the elders meant when they talked about “pie falling from the sky”?
Jiang Yingying dried her rain-soaked hair outside, changed into a clean pair of shoes, and then called out to Xiaohua, “Stay for lunch, Xiaohua. Let’s try the taste of wild goose.”
Xiaohua immediately waved her hands in refusal. “No, no, I’ve already been paid for my work. How could I stay for a meal?”
Besides, they were going to eat meat!
Shen Xiaoyun, brimming with pride and delight, grabbed Xiaohua’s hand. “My sister-in-law isn’t stingy, I’ll have you know. As long as you work hard and listen well, there’ll be plenty of meat to eat in the future!”
The claim was a bit exaggerated, but Jiang Yingying didn’t object, secretly amused.
That girl Shen Xiaoyun had already picked up a thing or two from those future bosses who knew how to dangle carrots. She’d definitely make a great leader someday.
Xiaohua, who had grown up enduring beatings and scoldings without even a full meal to her name, quickly assured her, “Xiaoyun, don’t worry. I’ll definitely listen.”
Despite the rain outside, Li Xuelian and Shen Qinghong busied themselves in the kitchen.
Having learned from the experience of catching the rabbit the day before, Li Xuelian wasn’t as heartbroken this time. As she boiled water and plucked feathers, she mused, “I’ve never tasted wild goose in my life! And here Yingying has only been married a few days, and we’re eating meat one meal after another. It feels like a dream!”
Shen Qinghong sighed in agreement. “Before, I only heard those nasty rumors about Yingying. Now that she’s part of our family, I realize how terrifying gossip can be! How could people not be jealous of such a wonderful girl?”
“I’d say that incident with A Yao back then—who knows which wicked soul tried to harm her! Little did they know they’d end up doing our son a favor!”
At this, Li Xuelian chuckled. “Haha, I say Yingying was meant for our family! She and A Yao are a match made in heaven!”
Shen Qinghong pursed his lips, wondering when that blockhead of a son would finally come to his senses.
A wife like this—you couldn’t find her even with a lantern, let alone a flashlight!
So, if his daughter-in-law said they were eating the wild goose, then they were eating it!
Soon, the savory aroma of cooking meat wafted from the kitchen through the rain, drifting into the noses of Shen Xiaoyun and Xiaohua.
The two of them began sewing even faster.
Shen Xiaoyun couldn’t help but sniff the air. “It smells so good!”
Xiaohua, who had only had a bowl of thin porridge that morning, nodded vigorously. “It really does!”
Just from the smell alone, she felt she could devour several corn cakes!
It wasn’t even noon yet when Shen Yao returned home, and by then, the rain had gradually subsided.
He carried a basket on his back, covered with a cloth, and it was unclear what was inside.
Jiang Yingying’s thoughts stirred, recalling how mysterious he had been that day when they went to the black market together, not knowing what he was selling.
But since he didn’t want to say, she didn’t have the curiosity to pry.
The aroma of the wild goose was truly enticing. As soon as Shen Yao stepped into the courtyard, his brow furrowed. He set down his things and asked, “Mom, what are you cooking?”
Li Xuelian pulled him aside and whispered, “It’s a wild goose your wife brought back!”
“A wild goose? Jiang Yingying caught it?”
Shen Yao didn’t believe it at all. Even though he had practiced with a slingshot since childhood, he had never managed to shoot down a wild goose. Hitting a small bird was already quite an achievement.
Li Xuelian shot him a glare. “That wild goose fell right into your wife’s arms from the sky!”
Thinking of the rabbit from the other day, Shen Yao was stunned. “How is that possible…”
Just then, Shen Qinghong came in carrying a large basin of meat. “Yingying and I discussed it. We’ll keep half of this meat for her parents, and Ah Yao can deliver it this afternoon. The other half, we’ll salt and store away.”
He smacked his lips and added, “Oh, and there are fish in the well. We must stew them tomorrow!”
Except for yesterday when Yingying wasn’t home, they hadn’t eaten meat…
Li Xuelian sighed and said, “This is just too…”
She struggled to find the right word, and Shen Qinghong finished for her, “Extravagant, right?”
So literary!
Li Xuelian snorted. “Anyway, I just feel a bit uneasy.”
Shen Qinghong chuckled. “Xuelian, as the ancients said, ‘When life is good, enjoy it to the fullest.’ Just take it in stride…”
He then added with a hint of regret, “It would be even better with some wine!”
“Better, my foot! I think you’ve forgotten the days when we didn’t have enough to eat!” Li Xuelian pushed him away in annoyance. “Move, I’m going to call Yingying and the others to eat!”
Shen Qinghong glanced helplessly at Shen Yao. “Why are you still standing there? Go to the kitchen and get the bowls! Oh, and save the steamed buns for Yingying…”
They were practically treating her like a goddess!
As Shen Yao entered the kitchen, he instinctively looked up at the sky. The blue sky after the heavy rain was as clear as if it had been washed, vast and bright.
Not a single wild goose was in sight—not even a sparrow flew by.
Could it really be a coincidence?
He shook his head and went to fetch the flatbread and steamed buns.
The others working in the room had long been distracted. Jiang Yingying was still somewhat composed, but Shen Xiaoyun and Xiaohua were practically fidgeting, their bottoms prickling with restlessness from the enticing aroma.
Xiaohua, being young, had never tasted meat in her life. Even during the New Year when dumplings were served, she only got to try the dumpling skins…
Even so, she had thought that was the most delicious thing in the world.
Li Xuelian pushed the door open with a smile. “This wild goose meat is firm and chewy. Your dad stewed it for a long time. It’s already past mealtime—you must be starving, right?”
Jiang Yingying stood up. “Mom, I bet you were the one cooking, right? Otherwise, how could it smell so good? I’m practically drooling!”
Shen Xiaoyun couldn’t wait to stand up. “Sis, let’s go eat first…”
Xiaohua stood up nervously and called out, “Auntie…”
Li Xuelian was in a good mood today, and seeing how pitiful Xiaohua was, her heart softened. She smiled and beckoned to her. “Xiaohua, stop working. Eat at Auntie’s house today. I’ll make sure you have a good meal!”
Xiaohua knew in her heart that she shouldn’t stay for the meal, especially since the family was having meat today—a rare treat. But the aroma was so enticing that she couldn’t bring herself to step away or utter a word about leaving.
Jiang Yingying warmly grabbed her hand. “Come on, come on! It won’t taste as good once it’s cold!”
Before they could step outside, a sharp, shrill voice pierced through from outside: “Ungrateful wretch! You haven’t even finished the chores at home, and you’re out working for others? Why don’t you just drop dead out there!”
Li Xuelian’s face darkened. She was the first to push the door open and step out, with Jiang Yingying and the others following close behind.
Xiaohua nervously clutched Jiang Yingying’s hand, on the verge of tears from embarrassment. “Sister Jiang, it’s my mother… I shouldn’t stay for the meal. I have to go home…”
Jiang Yingying frowned. “Didn’t we agree you’d help me out today?”
Outside stood a middle-aged woman, looking about the same age as Li Xuelian, dressed in a gray coat and holding a child of about eight or nine in her arms. It was unusual to see a child that age still being carried.
She was Xiaohua’s birth mother, Li Lanzhi.
Li Xuelian frowned at her. “Sister Lanzhi, my daughter-in-law promised to pay your Xiaohua for her work. If she leaves now, we can’t pay her. No one pays for just half a day’s work!”
Li Lanzhi didn’t believe for a second that Li Xuelian’s family could afford to pay wages—they were even poorer than her own family!
Xiaohua had mentioned one yuan? Even a laborer couldn’t earn that much in a day! They were just tricking her daughter into working for free!
“Heh, Sister Xuelian, if word got out that my Xiaohua took money from your family, just think how bad that would sound among the neighbors!”
Still holding the child, Li Lanzhi glared fiercely at Xiaohua, who stood behind the others. “It rained this morning, so you couldn’t work—fine. But you’re still not going to the fields this afternoon? What do I feed you for?”
Xiaohua mustered her courage. “Mom, you agreed to let me come and help.”
She had only agreed because it was raining—she didn’t want to deal with Xiaohua, and out of sight meant out of mind. Plus, it saved her a midday meal.
Li Lanzhi looked at her impatiently. “Help, help, help—what kind of job takes a whole day?”
Xiaohua helplessly pressed a hand to her stomach. She hadn’t eaten yet, and if she went home now, there would be no food for her…
Just then, the child in Li Lanzhi’s arms began squirming and struggling violently. “Mom, meat! I want meat!”
Li Lanzhi’s expression instantly softened. She cooed gently, “Be good, my precious. When Mom harvests the crops, I’ll trade for some meat for you, okay?”
But a child’s sense of smell is sharp, and the rich aroma of roasted goose was irresistible. He wriggled even more fiercely. “There’s meat in that house! I want meat, I want meat now!”
Li Lanzhi glanced toward the shabby main room and sniffed the air. Sure enough, she caught the scent of meat.
Still, she eyed the place suspiciously, unable to fathom how Li Xuelian’s family could possibly have meat to eat.
At that moment, Jiang Yingying stepped forward. She sized up Li Lanzhi and smiled. “Aunt Lanzhi, is it? If you make Xiaohua leave now, I can only pay her thirty cents.”
With that, she pulled thirty cents from her pocket and pressed it into Xiaohua’s hand. “And we won’t be providing lunch.”
Li Lanzhi’s eyes lit up at the sight of the money. They were really paying?
Ignoring her, Jiang Yingying lifted the curtain to the main room. “Mom, little sister, hurry up and eat! The food won’t be as tasty once it cools down!”
As the curtain was drawn aside, the aroma of meat grew even stronger.
It really was meat! Good heavens!
Li Lanzi’s eyes darted around as she patted the child in her arms soothingly, coaxing him in a low voice, “Be good, my dear. I’ll have your sister get you some meat to eat!”
She quickly nudged Xiaohua and flashed an insincere smile. “Oh, you’re Shen Yao’s wife, right? I only called Xiaohua back at noon because something came up!”
“How about this—let her take the food home to eat, and I’ll send her back this afternoon! Don’t worry about the delay, she can work extra tonight! Tomorrow morning, I’ll have her here by five!”
Xiaohua was so humiliated she could barely stand. She whispered, “Mom, forget it…”
“Forget what? Take the meat back for your brother to eat!”
Li Lanzi pinched her hard and twisted her arm. “Cat got your tongue? Hurry up and beg her!”
For a meal with meat and a single yuan in wages, her dignity was trampled by her own mother.
And in the end, she wouldn’t even get to eat the meat, nor would the money end up in her hands.
Xiaohua stood there, refusing to move.
Li Lanzi grew impatient and slapped her across the face. “Are you stupid?”
The slap echoed loudly. Xiaohua’s already sallow face immediately swelled red, but she gritted her teeth and still refused to budge.
Perhaps all the dignity she would ever possess in her life was mustered in that moment.
Jiang Yingying stood up coldly. “Aunt Lanzi, if you want to eat, fine—stay here and eat! Then continue working this afternoon! My money doesn’t grow on trees. If you want to earn it, follow my rules! Otherwise, there are plenty of girls and young wives in this village who’d be happy to help!”
Li Lanzi clenched her teeth and forced a smile. “Now, now, don’t say that. I’m not an unreasonable person! Your Xiaoyun and my Xiaohua are as close as sisters—how could we let someone else take this job?”
Jiang Yingying’s expression remained unchanged. “With all this commotion you’ve caused today, work has been delayed. And since the meal today is good, I can only pay eighty cents.”
Li Lanzi’s face fell. “But your Xiaoyun said yesterday it would be one yuan!”
Jiang Yingying shot her a sidelong glance. “Yesterday, you didn’t mention you’d come here to cause trouble!”
“This… this isn’t causing trouble…” Li Lanzi muttered awkwardly. “It’s just that something came up at home…”
Jiang Yingying twirled a strand of her hair and glanced at Shen Yao. “Brother Yao, if we were to find someone skilled in the village, could we get them for eighty cents?”
Shen Yao understood her meaning and replied gravely, “For fifty cents, people would be scrambling for the job, and we wouldn’t even have to provide a meal.”
Li Lanzi immediately interjected, “But no one is as skilled as my Xiaohua! Eighty cents it is! Just pay us tonight, as agreed!”
Jiang Yingying nodded arrogantly, her captivating peach-blossom eyes glancing over. “Then why are you still here, Sister-in-law Lanzi? I can’t invite you to stay for this meal. We’re all just scraping by in these hard times.”
Hard times, yet they’re eating meat! Probably won’t even know where their next meal is coming from!
Li Lanzi cursed under her breath. She pulled Xiaohua aside and whispered, “Eat as much as you can, and hide a few pieces of meat in your sleeve for your brother tonight!”
Still unsatisfied, she pinched Xiaohua again.
If not for knowing their family situation, outsiders might think she was a stepmother!
Xiaohua hung her head, lost in thought, enduring her mother’s pinches as she stared blankly at the ground.
Finally, after sending Li Lanzi away, Jiang Yingying breathed a sigh of relief and went over to take Xiaohua’s hand. “Alright, alright, hurry up and eat!”
Xiaohua lifted her head, her small, sallow face streaked with tears. She opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a word, only nodding heavily in response…
The taste of wild goose was truly delicious, especially the wild ones. Even Jiang Yingying from the modern era had never tasted it—after all, eating one would land you in prison with a sewing machine…
The whole family gathered around to sit down. The two children, Wenqin and Wencong, ate so eagerly they could hardly close their mouths…
Meanwhile, next door, Aunt Shen had just finished her meal and was squatting in the yard washing dishes when an even richer aroma of meat than before wafted straight into her nostrils.
“Whose family is eating meat again?”
She muttered under her breath, then turned her gaze toward Shen Yao’s home just beyond the wall. Instantly, her face darkened again.
Them again?
She and Shen Qinghong had been neighbors for half a lifetime, yet the total number of times she’d smelled meat from their place didn’t add up to this many! That wife Shen Yao married was truly a spendthrift!