From the courtyard came the faint sounds of children exclaiming.
“So many fish!”
“Big Brother, does that mean we get to eat fish?”
“Keep your voice down. Grandma caught them—they’re for Uncle. We’re not allowed to even think about it.”
…
When they saw Wu Yulan, the children quickly pulled their heads back and moved far away from the water vat.
“Grandma…”
“Grandma.”
Looking at those timid pairs of eyes, Wu Yulan felt a twinge in her heart.
“Mm.”
“Dalang, do you know how to kill fish?”
Song Dalang, who had been called out, hurriedly nodded. “Yes.”
Wu Yulan scooped out a four-jin grass carp, then grabbed a one-and-a-half-jin crucian carp and tossed it into the basin.
Seeing the two lively fish flopping about in the basin, Song Dalang froze for a moment. “Grandma, are we killing both of them?”
“Both. We’ll cook them later.”
After speaking, Wu Yulan put the remaining fish into the vat, washed her hands, and went into the kitchen to prepare the meal.
But as soon as she entered—
Broken porcelain shards were scattered across the floor, and several pairs of chopsticks had been snapped in half and thrown aside.
Wu Yulan took a deep breath, her temples throbbing.
She knew exactly who had done it. Other than the spoiled parasite in the family, no one would dare smash the household bowls.
Chunni stepped in, shrinking back against the doorframe. “It… it was Uncle who broke the bowls.”
Wu Yulan steadied her emotions, then grabbed Chunni and pulled her out of the kitchen.
“Go wait in the courtyard.”
After instructing her, she found a broom and cleaned up the broken chopsticks and shards.
Counting them, she realized the family no longer had enough bowls.
They were also short a few pairs of chopsticks.
Just then, Song Zhiyong returned, hobbling in with a bundle of bamboo over his shoulder.
Ever since he had broken his leg while hunting in the mountains during winter, he had stopped going out to hunt. Besides working in the fields, he now did carpentry and wove bamboo baskets to earn money.
“Eldest, carve a few wooden bowls and make some bamboo chopsticks.”
After giving the instruction, Wu Yulan returned to the kitchen to continue her work.
Song Zhiyong said nothing. With a blank expression, he silently went to carry out what she had asked.
Wang Guiqin and Zhao Lijuan followed into the kitchen.
“Mother, please rest. Let us handle it!”
Wang Guiqin clasped her hands nervously, looking at the busy Wu Yulan, unsure what to do.
Normally, their mother-in-law would never step into the kitchen. But these past two days had been extremely strange.
Not only had she entered the kitchen, she had even cooked chicken soup for them to drink. In the past, forget chicken soup—they hadn’t even smelled a hint of meat grease!
At that thought, Wang Guiqin and Zhao Lijuan exchanged a glance, both seeing the same confusion in each other’s eyes.
Their mother-in-law had truly been acting odd these past couple of days!
Could it be… that she had been possessed by something unclean…
Noticing their expressions, Wu Yulan frowned and scolded, “Lazy women! Have you forgotten how to tend a fire?”
“If you keep standing around, see if I don’t skin you!”
The two women exchanged another look. Well then—Mother was still Mother!
They hurried to compete for the chores.
Wu Yulan sent Wang Guiqin off to prepare milk powder, leaving Zhao Lijuan to tend the fire.
When Zhao Lijuan saw her mother-in-law cooking porridge and pouring in two large bowls of rice, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
“Mother… isn’t that too much rice?”
Wu Yulan paused, then snapped bluntly, “From now on, when I cook, you eat whatever I make. Stop nagging!”
After being scolded, Zhao Lijuan lowered her head and obediently kept feeding the fire, not daring to say another word.
Wu Yulan busied herself. When she was about to make crucian carp soup, she realized she hadn’t bought any tofu.
There was a household at the head of the village that sold tofu. Wu Yulan rummaged through her room, found five copper coins, stepped outside, and casually pointed at an errand boy.
“Second Lang, go to the village entrance and buy a few blocks of tofu.”
Song Erlang took the copper coins and ran off. Before long, he returned, holding tofu wrapped in a banana leaf.
“Grandma, the tofu is three pieces for one wen. I bought fifteen pieces in total. All five copper coins are spent—I didn’t keep any for myself.”
Afraid she wouldn’t believe him, Song Erlang even jumped twice to prove his innocence.
Wu Yulan pinched off a small piece of tofu. “Come here.”
Song Erlang shrank his neck, thinking he was about to be beaten.
“Open your mouth.”
He squeezed his eyes shut and opened his mouth.
Mm… a light, sweet taste bloomed across his tongue.
It was tofu! Grandma had given him tofu to eat!
“Consider it a reward for running the errand.” After tossing out that sentence, Wu Yulan carried the tofu back into the kitchen.
As soon as she left, the other children in the family crowded around.
“Second Brother, Grandma really gave you tofu?” Nine-year-old Song Yinhua’s eyes were full of envy and disbelief.
The other children looked equally astonished.
Song Erlang nodded vigorously. “Yes! Grandma really gave me tofu just now. It was sweet and fresh!”
This was the first time Grandma had ever treated him so well. If she stayed this kind, he would be willing to run errands for her for a lifetime.
Song Dalang stroked his chin, imitating an adult deep in thought.
“Strange. It was already good enough if Grandma didn’t beat us before. But these past two days she’s not only given us sweet potato porridge, she even let us eat chicken and drink chicken soup.”
Twelve-year-old Song Qianhua nodded in agreement. “Grandma has been a bit strange these past two days.”
Song Yinhua blinked. “No matter the reason, if Grandma stops beating us from now on, that would be wonderful!”
Song Zhiyong watched the children chatter around him, lowering his gaze in contemplation.
These past two days, Mother truly had been somewhat abnormal.
Chun Ni leaned by her mother’s doorway, glancing at her mother and baby sister inside, then at her brothers and sisters in the courtyard.
Clenching her small fists, she ran into the kitchen.
“Grandma, sell me! As long as you treat my mother well and stop beating my brothers and sisters, I’m willing to be sold!”
Wu Yulan, who was simmering crucian carp tofu soup, paused. She turned and saw the little girl standing there with clenched fists, her stubborn eyes filled with determination.
“Who said I was going to sell you?”
Chun Ni didn’t believe her. She wiped her reddened eyes. “If you’re not planning to sell me, why are you treating my mother so well?”
Looking at those pitiful little eyes, Wu Yulan suddenly felt like teasing her. She leaned closer and said,
“That’s right. I am going to sell you. I’ll sell you to be a maid, so you can serve tea and pour water every single day.”
Hearing this, the tears Chun Ni had been holding back finally slipped down. She bit her lip. “Grandma, as long as you treat my mother well, I’m willing to be sold!”
Wu Yulan raised an eyebrow. “Fine then. I’ll sell you to Wu Yulan. From now on, you’ll serve her tea and water all day long.”
“Go back and wait.”
Hearing that, Chun Ni suddenly let out a long breath. Knowing she was truly going to be sold, all the strength drained from her body.
She forced herself to run back to her mother’s room and burrowed into the blanket, sobbing quietly.
“What’s wrong, Chun Ni?”
Hearing her daughter cry, Li Xiuyun hurried over in concern.