Xiao Jinye’s lips moved slightly, his face filled with defeat.
“Mom, don’t ask anymore. It doesn’t matter who it is. The only thing that matters is… I don’t like the woman inside.”
He turned to leave.
“I’m heading up the mountain. If you need me, have Zhijie come find me at the cabin.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly tilted his head and cast a swift glance toward the house.
Startled, Qiao Qingyan hurriedly ducked behind the door.
Zeng Yumei called after him.
“At least have breakfast before you go.”
“No.”
Moments later, Qiao Qingyan heard the man’s heavy footsteps gradually fade into the distance. Xiao Jinye had left.
She didn’t go outside immediately. Instead, she quietly returned to the bedroom.
To be honest, her mother-in-law, Zeng Yumei, was gentle and kindhearted. Qiao Qingyan had already developed a favorable impression of this family.
She had originally thought that if the man she married was of decent character—even if he wasn’t well-educated or particularly handsome—she would be willing to spend time getting to know him, help him become a better person, and build a peaceful life together.
But now, after seeing him with her own eyes, it was obvious that Xiao Jinye despised this marriage even more than she did. His heart already belonged to someone else.
No wonder he had remained unmarried despite being well past the usual marriageable age.
He had been waiting for the woman he loved.
Qiao Qingyan sighed inwardly.
Objectively speaking, he was a devoted man.
Now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to calm herself and carefully plan her own future.
After her son left, Zeng Yumei let out a long sigh before heading into the kitchen.
Qiao Qingyan sat alone in the bedroom for a while before taking the initiative to help.
Watching Zeng Yumei limp as she walked made her feel uncomfortable.
Since she had already decided that she would eventually leave this family, she couldn’t possibly continue eating and living here for free.
She silently resolved to use her own money and ration coupons to buy vegetables and grain for the household from time to time. She refused to take advantage of their kindness.
A pot of sweet potato porridge was simmering over the stove.
Zeng Yumei placed the date buns Chunya had brought over the previous day into the steamer and covered the pot, using the remaining heat to warm them.
When she saw Qiao Qingyan come in, she smiled warmly.
“You’re up? Are you hungry?”
Qiao Qingyan shook her head and sat in front of the stove, reaching for some firewood.
“Auntie, you cook. I’ll tend the fire.”
Zeng Yumei laughed.
“Silly girl, the porridge’s already done. No need to add more wood. The leftover heat is enough to warm the buns.”
“Oh…”
Embarrassed, Qiao Qingyan quietly set the firewood aside.
Unfortunately, the wood she’d already added had caught fire, causing the flames beneath the stove to flare up.
Seeing this, Zeng Yumei hurriedly lifted the lid, removed the steamer basket, and stirred the porridge a few times.
She had intentionally made it thick this morning, worried that a stronger fire would scorch the bottom of the pot.
Her gaze landed on Qiao Qingyan’s clean, bright yellow dress, and she quickly urged,
“Good child, go rest outside. The kitchen’s full of smoke and soot. Don’t dirty such beautiful clothes.”
“It’s alright. Clothes can be washed if they get dirty.”
Qiao Qingyan stood and looked around the kitchen.
“Is there anything else you need to do? Let me help.”
One look was enough for Zeng Yumei to tell that the young woman had rarely worked in a kitchen.
Her hands were soft and fair, her neatly trimmed nails delicate and beautiful.
After all, she was a schoolteacher, completely different from village women like them who spent every day doing manual labor.
“Go get some rest. Mom can handle everything.”
As she spoke, she remembered that last night had been the newlyweds’ wedding night and added gently,
“Qingyan, Jinye’s been busy lately and hasn’t had time to stay home with you. You’ve been wronged, but don’t take it to heart.”
“It’s alright, Auntie.”
Qiao Qingyan smiled understandingly.
“He should focus on his work. I need to prepare my lesson plans for next semester anyway.”
Zeng Yumei picked up a knife to slice the washed cucumbers on the cutting board for a cold cucumber salad.
Qiao Qingyan immediately stepped forward.
“Auntie, your leg isn’t well. You should rest. I’ll cut them. You’re making cucumber salad, right? I know how.”
Zeng Yumei waved her hand cheerfully.
“No, no. Just stay here and chat with me. This little bit of work isn’t tiring.”
“Alright.”
Qiao Qingyan leaned lazily against the kitchen doorway. Looking outside, she saw Duoduo squatting beside the rabbit cage, happily playing.
With practiced hands, Zeng Yumei smashed the cucumbers, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and arranged them neatly on a plate.
“Auntie… what happened to your leg?”
Yesterday had been her first day here, and it would’ve been too rude to ask.
Now that they’d spent some time together and she’d realized how gentle Zeng Yumei was, she finally felt comfortable bringing it up.
“It was an accident a few years ago,” Zeng Yumei replied. “My leg was permanently injured, so I walk with a limp now.”
“It can’t be treated?”
“Jinye took me to a big hospital in the city years ago, but they couldn’t fix it.”
She sighed softly.
“I’ve gotten used to it after all these years. It doesn’t really bother me anymore.”
She minced two cloves of garlic and was just about to add them to the cucumber when she suddenly paused.
“Girlie, I completely forgot to ask yesterday. Do you have anything you don’t eat?”
Qiao Qingyan rubbed her nose awkwardly.
“I… don’t eat garlic. I don’t like the strong smell.”
Back at home, Chen Xiuying constantly scolded her for being picky.
To “teach her a lesson,” she deliberately stuffed every dish with excessive amounts of garlic.
After smelling it every day, Qiao Qingyan had almost become numb to it.
She was about to tell Zeng Yumei not to worry about her and to cook however she normally did.
Before she could speak, Zeng Yumei quietly set the garlic aside.
“So that’s it.”
She smiled warmly.
“I’ll remember. From now on, we won’t put garlic in the cooking anymore.”
As she spoke, she drizzled a few drops of sesame oil over the cucumbers, sprinkled in some salt, added half a spoonful of fragrant vinegar, and gently mixed everything together.
Qiao Qingyan froze for a moment before rubbing the tip of her nose.
“When you stand for too long or walk too much… does your leg hurt?”
Zeng Yumei chuckled.
“Silly girl. Anyone’s legs would hurt after standing for too long.”
Then she added,
“Most days it’s fine. It only aches faintly when it rains. Even though I limp, it doesn’t stop me from working.”
Qiao Qingyan knew she couldn’t stay here forever.
Even so, she couldn’t help speaking sincerely.
“Auntie, whenever it rains from now on, you should just rest. I’ll handle the cooking and chores.”
She wasn’t some pampered young lady who had never done housework.
Chen Xiuying and Chen Xiaomeng could never stand seeing her idle.
Every time she came home from school, they ordered her around—feeding chickens, herding sheep, carrying water, cutting pig fodder. Every odd job fell to her.
If she hesitated even a little, they mocked her mercilessly.
“What? You really think you’re some precious city miss?”
After finishing the farm work, she still had to stay up late grading her students’ homework.
Hearing her daughter-in-law’s heartfelt words, Zeng Yumei smiled warmly.
“With your delicate skin, how could you be suited for rough work like that? If I can’t do it, Jinye will.”
After finishing the cucumber salad, the steamed buns were warmed through as well.
Qiao Qingyan helped serve the porridge and carried everything to the small stone table in the courtyard.
It was early July, and the weather was growing increasingly hot.
Inside the house, the air was stuffy and oppressive.
The cool morning breeze made breakfast in the courtyard the most pleasant part of the day before the sun rose.
Duoduo ate very obediently.
Without anyone feeding her, she held her little spoon and slowly scooped up the sweet potato porridge herself.
She was a bit clumsy, though, spilling broth onto the front of her clothes from time to time.
Zeng Yumei had already tied a little bib around her neck and carefully washed her face and hands after every meal, always keeping the little girl neat and clean.
The three of them sat together in the courtyard, enjoying breakfast in peaceful harmony.
For the first time in a long while, Qiao Qingyan felt warmth and tranquility filling her heart.
She studied Duoduo’s face carefully and realized the little girl really did resemble her older brother, Xiao Jinye.
Both siblings had high nose bridges, deeply defined features, and exceptionally long eyelashes.
One glance was enough to tell they were brother and sister.
Thinking of Xiao Jinye, Qiao Qingyan gradually sorted out her plans for the future.
For now, she would settle down at the Xiao family home while trying to get in touch with her aunt’s family.
Perhaps, with their help, she could transfer to a teaching position in a town.
When Xiao Jinye returned, she would have an honest discussion with him.
The two of them could simply remain husband and wife in name only.
After all, each of them wanted something different.
She had only agreed to this marriage because she desperately wanted to escape her own home.
Now that she knew he already loved another woman, there was no reason for either of them to force a real marriage.
All she needed was for him to give her a temporary place to stay—a safe shelter where she wouldn’t have to struggle alone in this isolated mountain village, free from harassment by idle gossips and beyond the reach of her stepmother and stepsister’s constant bullying.
In return, she would take good care of his little sister, help Zeng Yumei manage the household, and contribute wholeheartedly.
She would never accept their protection without giving something back.
Once she managed to contact her aunt’s family, they could divorce peacefully.
Then she would leave this place completely and go live with her aunt.
A faint smile curved Qiao Qingyan’s lips.
The more she thought about it, the more perfect and sensible the plan seemed.
Only…
Would Xiao Jinye agree?