Li Ce was both excited and worried when he heard that the two scholars were going to stay for a meal. He hurriedly said to Chu Nanzhi,
"Sister-in-law, I'll go home and fetch a chicken so that you can kill it to make some soup for the two elders. I'll also get my wife come over and help you."
Chu Nanzhi knew that he was worried that she would not be able to handle it. Besides, she had not anticipated their visit, so she had not bought much meat and vegetables and did not have a main dish. As a result, she might not be able to entertain the two elders properly. She took out half a tael of silver and handed it to him.
"It's already time for lunch and Sister-in-law and my nephew probably haven't eaten yet. Ask your family to come and eat together. Give this money to Sister-in-law to pay for the chicken."
"Sister-in-law, you're treating me like an outsider. It's just a chicken. Why are you giving me so much money? Brother Jinxiao has often helped our family."
Li Ce pushed the money back and whispered to her, "I heard from the Village Chief that Elder Nie is here to discuss something with Brother Jinxiao, so don't let the children go in and cause trouble. Ask them to go to their grandmother's house and get her to take care of them."
"Then take the silver. You're not to refuse me again."
Chu Nanzhi forced the money into his hands.
Li Ce turned around and placed the silver on the chopping board before he rushed out.
Chu Nanzhi shook her head helplessly. She had no choice but to take back the money.
She placed all the meat and vegetables she had bought on the chopping board and surveyed them. She had planned to marinate the five catties of pork and it would last them for a few days.
Since Li Ce refused to take the silver, she cut a portion of pork and set it aside to give to his wife later.
As for the rest, she prepared to cook a few dishes with the vegetables she had bought.
She fetched a basin of water and placed the cucumbers, eggplant, green peppers, and tomatoes into the basin to wash. Halfway through, a small head suddenly poked in from the kitchen door and looked at her.
Chu Nanzhi looked up and saw Lin Ruijia peeking at her from the doorway.
Their eyes met and Lin Ruijia quickly hid in fear.
But soon after that, Lin Ruijia quietly poked her head in again.
This time, she did not flinch. She mustered her courage and asked, "Can… can I come in and help you?"
Chu Nanzhi did not know whether to laugh or cry when she saw the girl's piteous look. "It's too hot. Go with your brothers and sister and eat the red bean cakes that Grandpa Nie bought. I can handle it alone."
"I'm not afraid of the heat. I don't want to eat red bean cake anymore."
She wanted to save space for the bad woman's cooking.
Chu Nanzhi looked at her expectant gaze and smiled knowingly. "Come here then."
When Lin Ruijia heard that, she immediately walked in with a smile. She was no longer afraid of her.
Chu Nanzhi watched as she stretched out her little hand to touch the cucumber in the water and then tap the eggplant.
She saw the bright red cane marks on Lin Ruijia's exposed arms.
Her heart ached. The Host had treated this little hand ruthlessly.
She sighed silently and stared at the cane mark on Lin Ruijia's hand. "Does it still hurt?"
Lin Ruijia also saw the mark on her arm. She panicked and pulled down her sleeve, quickly shaking her head. "No… it doesn't hurt anymore. It doesn't hurt at all."
Chu Nanzhi knew that she did not dare to tell the truth and said gently, "Don't let your wound get wet. I'll apply some medicine for you after dinner."
Lin Ruijia nodded and lowered her head silently, not daring to answer.
She suddenly had an indescribable feeling.
What was wrong with the bad woman?
Chu Nanzhi ignored Lin Ruijia and busied herself with her work.
When she brought the washed vegetables back to the chopping board, she suddenly heard sobbing behind her.
"It was an accident, it really was an accident."
Chu Nanzhi turned around and saw Lin Ruijia covering her face and sobbing. She paused and looked at the ground only to see a broken cucumber.
Upon hearing the noise, Nie Huaian also brought the other three children in and they looked at her with fear.
Chu Nanzhi calmly picked up the broken cucumber and put it back into the wash basin. She comforted Lin Ruijia. "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Look, I'll wash it again and cut it into pieces later. It can still be eaten."
When Lin Ruijia heard that she did not going to be scolded, she raised her head apprehensively and asked, "You… you're not going to beat me?"
"No, I won't beat you anymore."
Chu Nanzhi smiled. "But you have to promise me to be a good."
Lin Ruijia nodded vaguely.
She did not know what it meant to be good, but the bad woman was really acting oddly today.
Perhaps the bad woman did not dare to hit her because Grandpa Nie and Grandpa Chang were around.
Tha was what Lin Ruijia thought.
Chu Nanzhi waved her aside. "Go, go play with Grandpa Nie and the others."
When Lin Ruijia heard this, she ran to Nie Huaian's side in relief. Only then did she truly feel safe.
However, the children and Nie Huaian were incredulous.
In the past, this woman had not bothered to hide anything from him. Even if he protected the children, she still hit and scolded them as she pleased.
Why was she adapting to the situation today?
Could it be that Elder Chang was really more important than him?
At the thought of this, Nie Huaian turned around and glared angrily at Chang Yanjue, who was sitting on the side in the guest hall. He looked resentful.
Chu Nanzhi felt that Elder Nie was acting oddly, but she could not pinpoint what it was.
Anyway, they were just two strange old men.
She remembered that Nie Huaian was also a very impressive figure. When he was young, he had been the only envoy from the Great He Empire who had gone to all the six Kingdoms in the north and south. With his glib tongue, he made the emperors and ministers of the various countries tremble in fear.
It was surprising that he was willing to retire to his hometown and become an anonymous villager.
She really could not understand it.
Perhaps all sages were eccentric.
Not long after, Li Ce returned with his wife, Madam Zhou. The couple worked together to kill the chicken. Chu Nanzhi was busy frying the vegetables while Madam Zhou was in charge of making chicken soup.
Mdm Zhou was a countrywoman who knew her place. She rarely stepped into this house in the past and did not dare to talk to the Host. When she heard that Chu Nanzhi had not hit or scolded the child and even vaguely heard the two elders praising her in the guest hall, she suddenly grew less wary.
Moreover, this woman had actually solved a case that no one else county office could solve, and this had brought honor all woman. She actually admired this woman a little.
She glanced at the stir-fried vegetables in Chu Nanzhi's wok and boldly tried to strike up a conversation with her. "Sister… Sister-in-law, can… can dishes be made like this?"
"Yeah."
Chu Nanzhi pursed her lips and smiled. "I think it's alright. You can try it later and see if it's different from what you usually eat."
Madam Zhou hesitated for a moment and stammered, "I'll try it another day. I was afraid that Sister-in-law would not be able to handle so much, so I came to help. The rice at home is almost done cooking. The children are waiting."
Chu Nanzhi guessed that Li Ce had already warned her in advance and did not force her to stay.
When the chicken soup was ready, Li Ce came in to bring Madam Zhou back.
Chu Nanzhi took a bowl and placed some of each dish into it. She handed it to Madam Zhou. "I don't know if you will like these. Since you're not willing to stay for lunch, take them back to eat."
After saying that, she cut off a piece of pork and handed it to Li Ce. She continued, "You refused to take my money, so take this pork instead to make something nutritious for the children."
Li Ce refused to accept it.
"Then I'll have to buy you another chicken tomorrow."
After Chu Nanzhi threatened him, he took the pork and went out to bid farewell to everyone. On the way back, the couple kept murmuring to each other. Both of them felt that this Mrs Lin seemed to have become a different person.