The next day, Ding Hong left the house very early, and Liu Ping rose early to do the housework, which was a routine occurrence for them. The samples of Liang Gao that Ding Baozhu had made were already gone, so after Liu Ping finished washing up, she went to prepare breakfast.
Breakfast at home was usually simple: some thin porridge served with small side dishes.
When Liu Ping arrived in the kitchen, she looked up and noticed a new earthenware jar sitting where the row of jars usually stood. She knew it was the fermented vegetables Ding Baozhu had mentioned. Baozhu had said they would be ready in just a few hours; by this count, the jar should be done and perfect for breakfast.
She opened the lid, and indeed, a familiar scent of fermented vegetables wafted out. But when she looked inside, only a tiny portion remained at the very bottom.
Liu Ping found it strange. If there were only that many to begin with, there would be no need to use a whole earthenware jar; the family had other containers. Had something happened?
She took the jar back to the room. Her three daughters were all awake, dressing and combing their hair. Liu Ping asked, “Zhu’er, why is there only a tiny bit left of the vegetables you fermented yesterday? Here, look.”
Ding Baozhu looked into the jar with confusion and said in surprise, “That’s impossible. I fermented all the leftover bamboo shoots yesterday; the jar was at least half full. How could there only be this much left?”
Ding Baozhen and Ding Baoqin leaned in to look as well, and then they looked at each other.
“This…”
Liu Ping seemed to have a realization but didn’t say it out loud. Seeing her reaction, Ding Baozhu understood as well.
What else could it mean? The Sun Zha (fermented bamboo shoots) couldn’t have disappeared into thin air. Someone must have stolen and eaten them!
The three sisters immediately identified the suspect. It wouldn’t be Baozhen or Baoqin; their eldest sister had made the dish, and they would have been able to eat it eventually anyway, so why bother stealing?
As for the Third Branch, their eldest son, Ding Huan, was working as an apprentice in town and rarely returned, so they only lived with their other daughter, Baojiang. They were eager to stay on good terms with the Second Branch and were very disciplined; they would never allow a child to steal food. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
So, it could only be…
“Alright, alright, it’s just some bamboo shoots. We can just make more next time,” Liu Ping advised. She knew exactly what her three daughters were thinking just by looking at their faces.
Ding Baozhu arched an eyebrow and said, “Mom, Baoqin and I gathered and carried those bamboo shoots back together. We only managed to ferment half a jar. Who knows if we’ll find more to make next time?”
“If someone wanted to eat them, they could have just asked. What does stealing count as? If they develop this kind of character, what will happen in the future? Next time, it might be more than just bamboo shoots!”
Baozhen and Baoqin could see that Ding Baozhu’s temper was rising. They weren’t happy about their bamboo shoots being stolen either, so they didn’t stop her.
Liu Ping noticed it too and tried to comfort her, “I know you’re right, but we’re all family. It wouldn’t be good to have an open fallout now…”
Hearing this, Ding Baozhu laughed. “We don’t need an open fallout, and we don’t have proof of exactly who ate them. But even if we can’t prove it, can’t we let everyone in the house know so they can protect their own things? We’ll just see who acts guilty.”
Seeing that she couldn’t be persuaded, Liu Ping stepped aside and went to pack the remaining fermented bamboo.
Ding Baozhu was the first to finish dressing and went out to wash up. Washing up here only meant washing her face and rinsing her mouth. She added a bit of salt to the water, rinsed her mouth, spat it onto the ground, and spoke loudly in the courtyard:
“We worked so hard to ferment a jar of vegetables, and before we even opened it, someone else ate more than half! If you wanted to eat them, it’s not like we wouldn’t have given you some. Why be so sneaky about it?”
“We’re all family. Doing this is really damaging to our harmony! Everyone, make sure to watch your things!”
If the original owner had truly intended to work with Ding Hong, she would have eventually had to shout at a stall, so her voice was as loud as his. Ding Baozhu didn’t even feel like she was using much effort, yet her loud words carried toward a certain direction.
As soon as she finished speaking, someone emerged from a room. It was Grandma Jiang, her hair in a bun with graying temples. Seeing Ding Baozhu, she rolled her eyes and asked crossly, “What are you shouting about so early in the morning? What’s the big rush?”
Seeing Grandma Jiang act this way, Ding Baozhu felt she already knew half the truth, but she put on a slightly aggrieved face and said, “Grandma, I was thinking about how I’ve shamed the Ding family. I fermented a jar of bamboo shoots specifically to show filial piety to you and Grandpa. They were fresh, tender shoots newly picked from the mountain. But then, for some reason, more than half disappeared. How could I not mention it?”
Grandma Jiang glanced at Ding Baozhu suspiciously. After all, the two of them had had their fair share of conflicts. Could hitting her head really change her into a different person? She didn’t believe it for a second.
However, hearing Baozhu’s words, she snorted and said, “Enough, enough. What ‘filial piety’? If you can just stay quiet until the Xu family comes to fetch you, I’ll be thanking the heavens.”
“As for the fermented vegetables… I understand your sentiment. Let the matter go. Your Grandpa and Uncle have to go to the fields; time is tight in the morning, and they’re busy!”
These words pretty much confirmed the truth, but Ding Baozhu didn’t think Grandma Jiang had taken the shoots herself. Grandma Jiang valued “face” above all else—both the family’s and her own. Besides, she had three sons and daughters-in-law; if she wanted something, she just had to ask. There was no need to steal.
Therefore, the person who did the stealing was likely a younger person—and one Grandma Jiang was willing to protect. Who was the “golden nugget” of the Ding family right now? Naturally, it was the First Branch’s student, Ding Sheng!
Unfortunately, although she had deduced it, Ding Baozhu had no direct evidence. Her dissatisfaction showed on her face, making her look even more miserable as she pretended to be heartbroken.
“But those weren’t just for Grandpa and Grandma; they were also our family’s breakfast. There were so few to begin with, and now I don’t know what we’re supposed to eat…”
Hearing this, Grandma Jiang almost laughed out of sheer anger. Who hadn’t smelled the fragrance coming from the kitchen these past few days? The Second Branch was eating and drinking well every day, and they hadn’t bothered to bring any over to show filial piety then. Instead, they just kept making Ding Sheng clamor for better food. And now they were claiming they would go hungry? How shameless!
Just as she was about to speak, someone else rushed out and said irritably, “It’s just a jar of bamboo shoots! They weren’t even that good anyway. I’ll just pay you back later. Do you have to keep whining about it for so long?”
Grandma Jiang’s expression changed, and she quickly said, “You’re going to be late for school! What are you doing here? Hurry up and go!”
The person was indeed Ding Sheng, carrying his bookbag with his hair in a knot. He was looking at Ding Baozhu with narrowed eyes, acting very arrogant.
But Ding Baozhu felt much more relaxed; his words had confirmed her suspicions. If it were an outsider, she could have said more, but against this brat protected by everyone, she might really have no moves. To be a transmigrated woman and be this suppressed—she was probably the only one.
Still, she hadn’t expected a person who had actually attended school to do such a thing. Seeing how he acted without respect for his elders, it was clear he had been pampered into this state.
Ding Sheng snorted coldly, gave Ding Baozhu another unconscious glare, and swaggered off to leave.
However, at that moment, another voice came from behind: “What’s happening? What bamboo shoots?”
Ding Baozhu looked and saw her eldest uncle, Ding Yan, coming out. Ding Yan looked like a typical mountain farmer, but seeing his expression, he truly seemed unaware of the situation. Ding Baozhu quickly gave a shallow smile and said:
“It’s nothing major, Uncle. I fermented a jar of bamboo shoots yesterday and left it in the kitchen. When I got up this morning, more than half the jar was gone. It turns out Sheng’er was hungry and wanted some, but he didn’t tell anyone at the time. If Grandma hadn’t explained it, it really would have looked like he took them without asking!”
“Uncle, those bamboo shoots were our family’s breakfast, and now there isn’t enough to go around. My sister has to head out today; what are we going to do…”
As Ding Baozhu spoke, she emphasized certain words, and her face became increasingly pitiful. She wouldn’t have an open fallout, but she would certainly give them a headache!
Ding Yan scratched his head. He had been exhausted from working in the fields yesterday and went straight to bed after dinner; he knew nothing of the other matters. But he had heard the noise in the courtyard, especially Ding Sheng shouting, so it seemed there was some truth to it…
He immediately turned and asked in a low voice, “Did you do it?”
Ding Sheng feared his father’s anger most of all. He stuttered and remained silent, as he had indeed done it. He had been starving last night and didn’t want to study, so he went to the kitchen. He found the new jar and, upon opening it, saw the fermented bamboo. He only intended to taste it, but once he started, he couldn’t stop. By the time he realized it, only a little was left.
In the end, only Wu Tang and Grandma Jiang knew about it, and they had kept it hidden for him.
Seeing his guilty look and thinking of all the money he had spent over the years with no return, Ding Yan’s anger flared up. He moved as if to kick him.
Grandma Jiang, knowing her son’s temper, quickly held him back and called for Wu Tang to help smooth things over.
Ding Baozhu felt it wasn’t enough and joined the noisy scene. “Uncle, it’s fine if Sheng’er wanted to eat them. But those bamboo shoots were gathered by me and my sister. That amount would have fetched a few wen if sold, not to mention I processed them into Sun Zha. So, you see…”
Before she could finish, Wu Tang glared at her. Her expression was exactly like Ding Sheng’s, as if she were remembering the incident with the red dates.
Whether Ding Yan was truly angry or just wanted to save face, he immediately said after hearing her:
“Fine! This little brat—I send him to school to study, and he turns into a thief and lies about it!”
“Niece, how much were they worth? I’ll compensate you!”
How could Wu Tang be willing to give money to the Second Branch? But seeing that Ding Yan was truly enraged, she didn’t dare say anything for the moment. Grandma Jiang was also on the side, gnashing her teeth and staring gloomily at Ding Baozhu.
It’s a good thing she’s leaving soon, saving me from her causing trouble in the future!
Ding Baozhu didn’t care what the others thought and smiled. “In that case, Uncle, please give me five wen. Sheng’er ate more than half a jar, which was at least half a catty.”
“At a stall, a small plate of side dishes costs one wen. I’m giving you a price based on us being family; this isn’t a random number.”
“What? That’s not random?!” Wu Tang couldn’t help but shout, interrupting her. “Coarse salt only costs that much! Is your jar of bamboo shoots more expensive than salt?!”
“Enough!” Ding Yan barked. “Did this happen because of your pampering? Now you’re worried about the money? It’s one thing for Mom to stay silent, but you’re Sheng’er’s mother—why didn’t you say anything? What kind of mother are you?”
Working in the fields every day was already exhausting, and now the house wasn’t even peaceful. Ding Yan felt a sudden wave of weariness; this was much more tiring than farming.
Wu Tang pursed her lips and fell silent. She patted Ding Sheng, and he took the chance to slip away and leave the battlefield.
Grandma Jiang’s expression wasn’t good either. Ding Yan was clearly scolding his wife, but wasn’t he also pointing at her? After all, he could scold his wife, but he couldn’t directly scold his own mother! And all of this was caused by that person!
As for “that person,” her gain for the morning was those five wen. Ding Baozhu happily took the money from a reluctant Wu Tang and walked back. Looking up, she saw Ding Baozhen and Ding Baoqin peeking out from behind the door.