Huo Yan’s gaze was icy as he stared at Old Mrs. Huo and let out a cold laugh. “Grandmother is right. Since we’re family, Uncle’s and Third Uncle’s households naturally can’t stand by watching the younger generation go without vegetables.” His voice was low, each word dripping with frost. “How about starting tomorrow, I bring my wife to your place for meals?”
“No!”
“That won’t do!”
Old Mrs. Huo and Qian Shi exclaimed almost simultaneously. Qian Shi abruptly stood up, causing Zheng Shi’s head, which she had been supporting, to thud heavily against the ground.
Zheng Shi saw stars from the impact, nearly fainting for real. Forgetting her pretense, she lay on the ground clutching the back of her head, moaning “Aiyo, aiyo” in pain.
“Since Auntie is awake,” Huo Yan’s voice held no warmth, “let’s discuss how to handle this matter. Who should I turn to?”
“Of course, you should go to your aunt’s family,” Qian Shi interjected sharply, her voice shrill and urgent. “Your grandmother and I were dragged here by her. Your missing vegetables have nothing to do with our third branch.”
As she spoke, she nudged Zheng Shi on the ground with her toe. “Sister-in-law, if you ask me, you’d better find a way to replant Huo Yan’s vegetables quickly! Otherwise, this young couple will really come to our homes for every meal!”
“Why should I?!” Zheng Shi forgot her pain upon hearing this and struggled to sit up. “I didn’t steal the vegetables! You were all there with me today. You saw it—the field was already empty when we arrived!”
She had intended to bring her mother-in-law and sister-in-law to pressure them together, never expecting Qian Shi would turn traitor instantly to avoid Huo Yan coming for meals.
Qian Shi turned her face away, raising her voice even higher. “Sister-in-law, that’s not how it is! We arrived with you, and the vegetables were gone, but who’s to say you didn’t pick and hide them earlier, then drag Mother and me here to testify and muddy the waters?”
The more she spoke, the more convinced she became of her own reasoning. She turned to Old Mrs. Huo with a grievance. “Mother! We’ve been used by Sister-in-law!”
Zheng Shi panicked upon hearing this and lunged to cover Qian Shi’s mouth. “You’re talking nonsense! Mother, I didn’t! It’s all my sister-in-law’s wild accusations—don’t believe her!”
“You black-hearted wretch! How dare you set a trap for me!” Grandma Huo no longer cared whether Zheng Shi was acting. Her only goal was to firmly pin the “Huo Yan coming for meals” disaster on Zheng Shi’s head.
She grabbed Zheng Shi’s hair and began slapping her face and body with her bony hands.
Qian Shi pressed down hard on Zheng Shi’s shoulders, immobilizing her.
Grandma Huo’s blows rained down on Zheng Shi, landing with sharp slaps.
“Aiyo! Stop hitting me! Mother, please stop!” Zheng Shi screamed in pain, her scalp burning where her hair was pulled.
“Speak! What will you do about Huo Yan’s vegetables?!” Grandma Huo yanked her by the hair, dragging her before Huo Yan.
Terrified from the beating and cowed by years of fear toward her mother-in-law, Zheng Shi could only nod through tears. “I’ll replant them! I’ll buy new seedlings and plant them for him! Is that enough?!”
Huo Yan showed no change in expression upon hearing this, merely replying indifferently:
“Then I’ll trouble Auntie with that.”
Qiao Wan had only intended to teach Zheng Shi a lesson and make her give up, never expecting such an unexpected bonus.
She sprang up from the ground, unable to suppress the smile tugging at her lips:
“Auntie, which day are you planning to replant? I’ll leave the gate open for you.”
Beside them, Qiao Fugeng immediately chimed in, his honest smile blocking all of Zheng Shi’s escape routes:
“That’s right, in-law, just set a date. I’ll have my two sons go over first to till the vegetable patch—no need for you to lift a finger. When the time comes, just bring the seedlings.”
Zheng Shi had only intended to agree verbally, planning to renege after today. Given enough time, who in the village would remember such a trivial matter?
She never expected Qiao Wan to press for a specific date. Since she had no intention of planting, how could she possibly name one?
Qiao Wan saw right through her and made the decision for her: “Then let’s make it three days from now. I’ll be waiting for you at home, Auntie. If you don’t come…” She paused, mimicking Huo Yan’s cold tone, “We’ll have no choice but to come to your house for meals.”
As if remembering something, Qiao Wan leaned in closer, lowering her voice just enough for the nearby curious neighbors to hear: “Oh, and Auntie, Huo Yan… he insists on meat with every meal. If there’s no meat on the table and his temper flares, he might just flip the table. Don’t forget to prepare in advance.”
The entire vegetable garden at Huo Yan’s house, even if fully planted, wasn’t worth thirty coins. But treating Huo Yan to a single meat-based meal would cost no less than fifty coins—and one meal would hardly be the end of it.
Zheng Shi’s vision darkened, as if she could already see her dining table and money pouch being overturned together. Trembling, she tearfully agreed: “…Alright, three days from now.”
Seeing that the trouble could no longer be shifted onto the third branch of the family, Old Mrs. Huo finally released her grip. She even hypocritically smoothed Zheng Shi’s disheveled hair, speaking with feigned concern:
“Wouldn’t it have been better to agree earlier? This is how family should behave.”
With that, she shot Huo Yan a fierce glare, snorted coldly, and beckoned to Qian Shi. The two of them turned their backs and pushed through the crowd without a second glance.
With the matter settled, Qiao Fugeng’s face once again wore his usual honest smile as he cupped his hands toward the onlooking neighbors: “Sorry for the embarrassment, folks! Thank you all for helping uphold justice! Let’s disperse now, everyone, go on home!”
Stifling her laughter, Qiao Wan linked arms with her sister Qiao Qing. The two sisters covered their mouths and dashed back into the courtyard. The moment they passed through the gate, they could no longer hold back, collapsing into hushed giggles.
Qiao Fugeng watched his carefree daughter, then glanced at Zheng Shi limping away into the distance, and shook his head helplessly.
Although Zheng Shi wasn’t Huo Yan’s birth mother, she was still an elder of the Huo family. After suffering such a major humiliation today, she was unlikely to let the matter rest.
During lunch, Qiao Fugeng voiced his concerns, his tone low and noticeably ingratiating:
“Huo Yan, since you often go hunting in the mountains and are away from home, could Wanwan stay with us when you’re gone?” Afraid Huo Yan might misunderstand, he quickly added: “Her sister can stay with her too. It’s just that your place is rather remote, and I worry about two young women alone…”
“Either way is fine. I’ll trouble you then, Father-in-law,” Huo Yan interjected gravely.
He understood Qiao Fugeng’s concerns—when he went into the mountains for days at a time, leaving Qiao Wan alone at home was indeed inconvenient.
Seeing Huo Yan agree so readily, a weight lifted from Qiao Fugeng’s heart. The wrinkles on his face smoothed slightly as he nodded repeatedly:
“No trouble at all, no trouble! She’s my own daughter—it’s only right.”
After lunch, Qiao Fugeng urged Qiao Wan and Huo Yan to return home.
He tied up the other hen from their coop and handed it to Qiao Wan: “I won’t keep you any longer. For the return visit, you should get home before sunset.”
“Dad, I don’t want this chicken!” They had already eaten one chicken at noon, and this was the only one left in the Qiao household. Qiao Wan couldn’t accept it.
“Take it!” Qiao Fugeng commanded. “What kind of daughter returns to her husband’s home empty-handed? Are you trying to make your father lose face?”
After all the commotion today, who knew how many people would gossip behind their backs. Qiao Fugeng didn’t want others criticizing Qiao Wan, so he forcibly shoved the chicken into her hands.
Helpless, Qiao Wan could only take the chicken and follow Huo Yan home.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long as they walked in silence.
Just as she pushed open their courtyard gate, Qiao Wan paused mid-step – right in the center of the yard stood a vegetable basket, neatly arranged with three fresh cucumbers still bearing blossoms and thorns, along with several bunches of dewy green vegetables.