114, Finding Fault (1 more)
The elderly woman felt uncomfortable deep down, for she also wished the best for Xie Zhinuan.
Especially the old man, who always thought of Xie Zhinuan but never went to see her.
Not going did not mean he did not care.
“It’s nothing!” Xie Zhinuan shook her head slightly, not really wanting to talk about her family matters.
She didn’t want to mention that the affairs in the county town were someone else’s scheme. Even so, the Yuan matriarch really disregarded their relationship and gave her away.
Human hearts…
Xie Zhinuan felt a sense of melancholy in her heart.
Did she bear a grudge? Not really, she just felt that the Yuan matriarch and the others did not treat her as a human being. In this era, a woman’s chastity was so important, yet they took advantage of her vulnerability, leaving her adrift and alone.
She had long since become indifferent to the other members of the Yuan family, but for the two elderly people, her life-saving gratitude was real, and she did harbor some feelings for them. Now that she lived in Xiaohe Village, it was only right for her to visit and keep in touch.
“Zhinuan!” Old Mrs. Ni called out softly.
“Grandma, I’m fine, really, don’t worry about me,” Xie Zhinuan said gently.
It was time for her to let them enjoy the crabs while they were hot and for her to head back.
Old Mrs. Ni wanted to say more but could only silently watch Xie Zhinuan leave.
When Old Man Yuan came back and they talked about it, he said, “This child, she’s more sentimental than we thought!”
Old Man Yuan remained silent.
He felt uncomfortable and guilty.
Especially since Xie Zhinuan bore no grudges and brought food over every now and then, his discomfort grew.
Xiaohe Village
The mute’s house
After finishing the work in the vegetable garden, the mute’s wife started preparing dinner.
The family had some savings now, and this year’s wheat harvest was good, so she thought about making some white-flour buns to go with the little crabs for a delightful dinner.
Although she didn’t know exactly how much they had, the family was used to frugality and contentment, perhaps just adding an egg soup…
Thinking of how all her children and her husband enjoyed egg soup, the smile on the mute’s wife’s face grew even gentler.
When she went to check the chicken coop, there wasn’t a single egg to be found. She stood up, glanced toward her mother-in-law’s house, pursed her lips, and went back inside.
She took out the five eggs she had saved over the past few days, placed them in a basket, and decided to boil them all later.
The four siblings from the mute’s family walked home with giggles and delight in their hearts.
Meeting people from the village along the way, they attracted quite a bit of envy.
“The mute has been making a good amount these days!”
“Indeed, dozens to hundreds of wen a day. Look at Miss Xie’s house over there, it’s piled with firewood, most of which was chopped by them, they must’ve earned four or five taels at least!”
“Four or five taels…”
For farming households that can’t save up two taels of silver in a year, that was no small sum.
Not only did outsiders envy them, but the mute’s aunt and sisters-in-law were envious too. However, they had some pride and didn’t dare to simply go and ask for money, but there was still the grandmother at home.
This old woman was no easy character, a formidable figure. She never hesitated to bully the mute’s wife; partly because the mute’s wife was always soft-spoken, and the mute’s father was filial.
The sisters-in-law went to the grandmother and exaggerated the story, prompting the old woman to set off toward the mute’s house with a stern face.
Looking at the two bowls of crabs, the mute’s wife awaited her husband’s return so she could discuss with him, “Husband, we have two bowls of crabs, why don’t you take one to your parents, and we’ll keep one for ourselves?”
The mute’s husband nodded his head.
He was a simple and honest man, who used to listen to his parents when he was young, and now followed his wife’s words after marriage.
Just as he was about to take a bowl out, a voice came from the doorway, “Grandma, why have you come!”
As soon as the old woman heard this, her face grew even darker, “I’m coming to my son’s house, what’s it to you, you burden?”
“…”
The youngest sister was startled by the shouting.
Instantly, with hurt feelings, her eyes reddened as she looked at her grandma without uttering a word.
The old woman snorted and headed towards the kitchen.
Chapter 116