When Chen Xiuhua heard the commotion outside, she quickly opened the door and saw Shitou standing there. Her face lit up with a smile as she welcomed him into the courtyard.
“Shitou, what brings you here at this hour? Have you eaten yet? Your cousin made fried chicken for lunch—take some back with you.”
The leftover fish had already gone stale, so Zhao Yan had cooked it yesterday, and at noon, they finished off the last of the pheasant.
Shitou shook his head and handed the basket to Chen Xiuhua. “Second Grandma, my grandma asked me to bring some rabbit meat and wild duck eggs for Grandpa and Grandma to help nourish their health.”
Chen Xiuhua peeked inside the basket and gasped in surprise. “Wow, why are there so many duck eggs?”
Shitou chuckled proudly. “My aunty picked them. She’s really lucky—every time she goes up the mountain, she comes back with something good.”
Chen Xiuhua was amazed. Just yesterday, she’d heard from her daughter-in-law that Yingying had even shot some wild game. And now she’d found duck eggs? This girl’s luck was something else.
“Yingying really is blessed,” she marveled. “First pheasants and fish, now all these wild duck eggs. Be sure to thank your grandma for me.”
She turned toward the old man sitting nearby. “Shitou, how’s your aunt doing?”
Old Man Xu, now sixty-three, was considered elderly by village standards. His hair was fully white, his temples gray, and his weathered face deeply lined, but his stern features softened with a gentle smile.
“She’s doing well now, Grandma,” Shitou answered obediently.
Old Man Xu, who normally wore a serious expression, visibly relaxed at the news. “Good, good. Just make sure she doesn’t go near the river again,” he instructed firmly.
“Okay, Grandpa,” Shitou promised quickly, avoiding direct eye contact with the old man.
“Oh, and I heard Chen Yanran pretended to be your aunty’s savior?” Old Man Xu snorted coldly. “That new educated youth—so shameless! Make sure your aunty stays away from those educated youth. Especially that Dong Wenzhong. As long as I’m alive, I won’t let Yingying marry that useless kid.”
He coughed a few times, agitated by his own words.
Shitou nodded frantically, determined to repeat every word to his family when he got home.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiuhua unpacked the basket, scooped a generous portion of fried chicken into a bowl, and added it back into the basket before handing it to Shitou.
“Here, take this too.”
Shitou took the basket and, not daring to linger, called out respectfully, “Grandma, Grandpa, I’ll be going now!”
“Be careful on the road!” Mrs. Xu called after him.
He nodded and hurried off toward the Lu family’s house.
Standing outside their gate, he shouted, “Aunt Daya! Grandma wants you to come over for dinner!”
Inside, the Lu family sat around their dining table. The parents, eldest brother, and sister-in-law each had large bowls of rice, while only Lu Daya and her second brother, Lu Aimin, had a thin gruel in front of them.
Lu Daya had long grown used to such treatment. Just as she lifted her bowl for a sip, she heard Shitou’s voice calling. She looked at Mother Lu, then rose to open the door.
But Mother Lu glared at her. “Sit down! I’ll get the door.”
Lu Daya hesitated but sat back down.
Mother Lu walked over, opened the door, and smiled warmly at Shitou. “Oh, Shitou! Your aunt doesn’t like eating out. Why don’t you bring back some food for her instead?”
But Shitou wasn’t fooled. He raised his head and boldly invoked his grandfather’s authority. “Grandpa said Aunt Daya has to come in person. He wants to thank her properly for saving my sister-in-law. If she doesn’t come, it’ll seem like your family looks down on my grandpa and doesn’t want him to thank her.”
Mother Lu’s face stiffened. Look down on the captain? If that rumor spread, the captain would surely make life difficult for them.
Suppressing her anger, she shot a glare at Lu Daya. “You useless girl! Sitting there while Shitou’s been calling for you! Get moving!”
Lu Daya looked up at her mother, aggrieved. “But… Mom, weren’t you the one who told me not to get up?”
Mother Lu’s anger exploded. This girl was deliberately trying to embarrass her! Daughters were nothing but trouble!
“I told you not to go earlier—now I’m telling you to go! Don’t keep the captain waiting!”
Lu Daya hurriedly nodded, then glanced at Shitou, signaling for him to lead the way. Shitou carried the basket and strode ahead.
Mother Lu waved impatiently. “Go, go!”
Once her daughter left, Mother Lu muttered angrily as she reentered the yard. “Stupid girl, making me look bad on purpose.”
Sister-in-law Lu’s expression soured. “Mom, Daya saved the captain’s daughter, and they gave her malted milk, toffee, and eggs the first time. But now they always give her food directly. It’s like they’re deliberately leaving us out, afraid we’ll take it from her. Why is the captain’s family so stingy?”
Brother Lu turned to his younger brother with a curious look. “Second brother, aren’t you closest to Daya? Did she ever share any of the good stuff with you?”
Lu Aimin shook his head. “Last few times, XuYing handed everything straight to my little sister. I just watched her finish it all before she left. Nothing ever made it my way.”
Brother Lu sighed in disappointment. “Tch. The captain’s really stingy.”
Sister-in-law Lu sneered. “Second brother, for someone so close to Daya, you sure didn’t get anything. Says a lot.”
Lu Aimin kept quiet, sipping his soup with a faint, sardonic smile.
Meanwhile, Lu Daya followed Shitou nervously to the Xu house. As soon as she stepped into the yard, the rich aroma of meat hit her, making her swallow hungrily. She greeted everyone shyly.
Xu Ying hurried over, her face beaming with warmth. “Sister Daya, sit here with me!” She pulled over a stool and placed it right beside her.
Sister-in-law Xu thoughtfully brought over a pair of clean chopsticks and a bowl for her.
The whole Xu family felt deeply grateful to Lu Daya.
Though Sister-in-law Xu had little patience for her own lazy, gluttonous sister-in-law, she couldn’t bear to see someone lose their life. She smiled sincerely at Daya. “Daya, make yourself at home. Eat as much as you like. We’ll always be grateful you saved our Yingying.”
Xu’s mother nodded approvingly and ladled a heaping bowl of rabbit meat for her. “Eat up, child. And if you want more, help yourself. Don’t be shy.”
“Yes, Daya,” Xu Ying chimed in, “you’re like family here.”
Lu Daya offered a shy smile. “Thank you, Uncle, Aunt, Sister-in-law.”
Xu Ying handed her a multigrain steamed bun, took one for herself, and they began eating together.
Lu Daya, seeing everyone start, finally picked up her chopsticks.
The moment she tasted the rabbit meat, tears welled up in her eyes from the spiciness.
Xu Ying noticed immediately and leaned closer. “Sister Daya, can you eat spicy food? If not, I’ll get you some water to dip it in so it’s milder.”
Lu Daya froze, puzzled. Dip it in water? Won’t it still be spicy if I eat it standing up?
She stood up hesitantly, her confusion written all over her face.
The Xu family exchanged puzzled glances.
“Daya, why are you standing up?” Xu’s mother asked kindly.
Lu Daya shook her head quickly.
“Well, if there’s nothing wrong, then sit back down and eat,” Xu’s mother urged gently.