Yu Chunmiao chewed on the chicken feet with a small smile. The mother and son exchanged glances, quietly smiling to themselves. Maybe the rumors about the new daughter-in-law being stupid were exaggerated—she seemed to understand things after all.
There were only eight pieces of wild vegetables. Qi Rong ate two and stopped. Chen Ruolan took one but didn’t pick up any more. When Yu Chunmiao finished the second piece, Chen Ruolan quietly served her another.
Qi Rong carefully carried two nests and a bowl of chicken soup to the eldest brother. Yu Chunmiao instinctively added the nests to his plate. It was the original owner’s instinct: in a family of men, the men should always eat first. She had grown up with very limited meals, so today, being able to eat like this felt like a small luxury.
Qi Rong didn’t protest—he knew exactly how much food his eldest brother needed.
After the meal, Yu Chunmiao quickly went to wash the dishes. On the first day in a new household, she couldn’t afford to be lazy. Luckily, she had ended up in a kind family—whether it was her or the original owner, this was a blessing.
Chen Ruolan watched her quietly. She knew Yu Chunmiao was used to helping out and didn’t stop her. After all, she had bought Yu Chunmiao to be a caretaker for the three brothers. Her own body couldn’t last forever, and having a reliable daughter-in-law would be a relief.
Qi Rong hurried off to deliver the food to his eldest brother. “Brother, the new sister-in-law is so thoughtful! She gave me the chicken legs, gnawed the chicken feet herself, and even put the nest’s head in your bowl—you only got two pieces today anyway.”
He confirmed in his mind that the new sister-in-law was a good person. Whether she was stupid or not was another matter.
Qi Chong handed the chicken leg to his brother. “Take it and eat. Don’t make a fuss—I’m twenty, not a child stealing chicken legs.” He wasn’t interested in what kind of wife his mother had bought; his model had always been his father. As for love, it was a privilege he didn’t expect in this blind marriage.
Qi Rong wasn’t full yet. He licked his lips and said, “Eat more, or you’ll be too hungry to sleep tonight. Later in the afternoon—”
“Eat!” The large chicken leg was stuffed into his mouth. The aroma was irresistible, and he ate eagerly without ceremony.
Qi Chong, after two bites of the nest, felt a sharp pain in his injured leg. Qi Rong noticed immediately and ran out the door. “Mom! Big brother’s leg hurts again—he can’t even eat!”
Chen Ruolan hurried to Qi Chong’s room and found him sitting there, eating quietly as if nothing had happened. She lightly tapped his head. “What nonsense! Don’t exaggerate everything—stop overreacting.”
Qi Rong felt wronged but stayed quiet. His eldest brother insisted he was fine, and seeing him calm again made the worry seem minor.
Qi Chong endured the pain, trying to appear composed. “I just bumped it a moment ago. It’s fine—don’t make such a fuss next time.”
But even if it hurt, what could he do? A doctor could fix it, but it would cost thirty taels of silver—an impossible sum for the family. He couldn’t bear to make his mother worry.
Chen Ruolan sat opposite him and said seriously, “I think Chunmiao is a good girl. Why don’t you go see her?”
Qi Chong shook his head.
Tears welled in Chen Ruolan’s eyes. “Even if she’s slow, she can cook and take care of things. If I weren’t here, at least the three brothers would have someone to look after them.”
Qi Chong lowered his head and refused to meet her gaze. “I can do laundry and cook. I can take care of my younger brothers myself. I don’t need anyone else. Mother, you rest. The doctor said, as long as you relax, you’ll get better slowly.”
Chen Ruolan beat her chest and sniffled heavily. “My parents were useless. I delayed your marriage, and now you’re stuck in this poor family. Your second brother is already sixteen—how long can I delay him too?”
The Qi family had once lived comfortably. Three years ago, their father had been bitten by a poisonous snake. Though he survived, the medical expenses were enormous. Qi Chong had been competent enough to help the family, but Chen Ruolan fell ill soon after.
The family sold land to make ends meet, and Qi Chong had to hunt in the mountains daily, yet they still couldn’t support their father. Their father died a year ago.
Now, Chen Ruolan’s illness worsened, Qi Chong’s daily trips to the mountains weren’t enough to help, and she still coughed constantly. Two months ago, Qi Chong’s leg was broken by a wild boar, cutting off the family’s economic resources entirely.
Truly, in this family, misfortune seemed endless.
Qi Chong clenched his fists, teeth gritted. “Mother, I don’t need a wife. Once I’m off the crutch, I can still earn money and help my second brother get married, and support Qi Rong’s studies myself.”
Chen Ruolan’s tears flowed harder. “Even without the crutch, you’re still crippled! Do you think I don’t know? Let your second brother save up for his own wife when the time comes. When I’m gone, this house won’t even have a woman who knows how to care for the family…”
“Mother!” Qi Chong interrupted sharply.
Her words stung him deeply. He wasn’t unaware of her intentions, and he was willing to sacrifice for his brothers. But he would rather spend his life building a small hut in the mountains than buy a wife to ‘make do.’ He wasn’t a fool, and this felt impossible.
Chen Ruolan looked at her eldest son’s stubborn expression and realized further arguing was pointless. “She’s already bought. Whether you want her or not, she’s part of this family now. Selling her again is something I could never do.”
She pushed Yu Chunmiao’s contract toward Qi Chong. “If you don’t want her, then sell her yourself. Just promise me you’ll find her a good family—don’t ruin her life.”
A young, pretty girl like Yu Chunmiao, and a little slow-witted too—if sold to the wrong person, she could end up as a servant or worse. Chen Ruolan trusted that her eldest son had a good heart, and left the decision in his hands.
Qi Chong stared blankly at the contract. He decided that if a good family came along in the future, he could arrange it then. Until that day, she would have to stay at home.
By the time he came to his senses, his mother and little brother had already left the room.
“Big brother, I won’t study. I’ll go up the mountain with you—” Qi Rong started, but a sharp shake of the head from Qi Chong cut him off instantly.
Chen Ruolan entered the kitchen. Yu Chunmiao had already washed all the pots and dishes and wiped the stove and dining table until everything was spotless. The remaining half-basin of chicken soup had been placed in cool water to preserve it.
Looking at the tidy kitchen, Chen Ruolan felt a sudden pang in her heart. Surely her late husband was blessing her—this daughter-in-law, bought on a whim, was so sensible and well-behaved.
“Chunmiao, rest for a bit. I’ll show you around the house,” she said.
Yu Chunmiao followed Chen Ruolan and Qi Rong to the courtyard. On the left stood the granary and woodshed; on the right was an outhouse.
From the outside, the house appeared to have three rooms: the main hall in the center, Qi Chong’s room on the right, and Chen Ruolan’s room on the left. The kitchen was in the backyard, right next to Chen Ruolan’s room. The other two brothers’ rooms were next to Qi Chong’s.
Viewed from above, the Qi family home formed a rough “口” (square) shape with a small indentation in the middle.
Yu Chunmiao was pleasantly surprised to see a well in the backyard. In this era, most villagers shared a few communal wells. Digging a private well could cost two to three taels of silver, and no one would spend it lightly. But the Qi family had their own yard, about ten minutes from the village. Having a well here was a huge convenience.
“This well,” Chen Ruolan explained, smiling despite herself, “was paid for by your late father. He hunted a mountain antelope and sold it to hire someone to dig it. That antelope weighed sixty jin, but he tracked it in the mountains for five days, following its footprints and droppings, before finally catching it.”
Yu Chunmiao, coming from a place similar to her hometown in Fujian, knew about such mountain wildlife—antelope-like deer—but had only seen one as a child. Later, these animals were protected, and hunting them could mean jail time.
Qi Rong, hearing the story, puffed up with pride. “That antelope alone must have sold for almost five taels of silver!” Then, remembering something, he frowned. “Father should have sold it quietly at night so no one else would see.”
Chen Ruolan patted her youngest son’s head. “Stop talking nonsense. That’s the past. Why dwell on it? Now, go fetch some wild vegetables.”
The family’s garden had already been harvested once, and the newly planted cucumbers and seedlings were at that awkward stage where they weren’t enough to eat. If they didn’t gather wild vegetables, the family would go hungry.
Qi Rong made an “oh” sound and started toward the front yard. Yu Chunmiao called after him, “Can I come with you?”
Gathering wild vegetables had been one of her favorite childhood activities. She didn’t want to miss it—and she wanted to get closer to her new little brother and learn more about the Qi family.
Qi Rong looked at his mother for guidance. Chen Ruolan considered it and nodded. It would do no harm for Yu Chunmiao to go along, to get familiar with the family and the surroundings.
“Go ahead, but don’t wander too far. Take care of your sister-in-law,” she instructed.
Yu Chunmiao chuckled to herself. Here she was, all grown-up, and a teenager was telling her what to do—but she appreciated the kindness.
The two of them slung bamboo baskets over their backs, grabbed small spades, and set off along the path leading up the hill.