Chen Wushu heart felt heavy. "Your father sent you back to your room to rest. You're not fond of him, are you?"
Why should she dislike him?
"Dad isn't around," Chen Xiaosang replied nonchalantly.
After all, her father wasn't a someone she could easily intimidate.
Chen Wushu felt a pang of sadness, but he continued walking ahead, his face sullen. Chen Xiaosang watched her elder brother, her eyes pleading, but Chen Wushu remained unmoved.
She could only give up. Sigh, her fifth brother was too obedient to his parents. It was simply foolish.
This disappointment lingered until the end of the incident. She had to prod Mrs. Li persistently to learn what transpired afterward.
"Our supply of rice, flour, and meat are returning. Your father asked your uncle to catch three old hens to nourish you children. He plans to personally apologize to all of you tomorrow."
Chen Xiaosang was shocked: "Our uncle is apologizing to us?"
"His wife hit the three of you, so he owes you an apology," Mrs. Li confirmed.
Mrs. Li voiced her resentment, "Your father stated that if it weren't for your grandmother's sake, he wouldn't have spared them!"
Wasn't it enough that Chen Qingshan, who always held his pride high, was humbled to apologize to her?
He must be so upset that he won't be able to sleep all night, right?
If he's upset, can his wife be at peace?
Her father was figuratively killing two birds with one stone!
Chen Xiaosang stifled her laughter with her hand. Upon hearing the voice of Dashu's wife, she hurried outside. She saw Dashu's wife marching into the yard, tugging Dazhu's ear.
"You sure can run fast when it's just you, can't you?"
Dazhu was holding flour with one hand and his mother's hand with the other, wailing, "Ouch...it hurts..."
"Feeling the pain now? Are you aware your Aunt was beaten? Er Zhu's head is bloody, and you only care about yourself!"
As Dashu's wife ranted, she tugged at his ear again. Dazhu, wincing in pain, stood on his toes, and tried to alleviate the strain by pushing his head towards her hand.
Chen Xiaosang rushed over, gently rocking Da shu's wife arm. "Sister-in-law, please calm down. Dazhu's injuries haven't healed yet."
Dazhu quickly chimed in, groaning, "I feel so dizzy and nauseous..."
Seeing her own son's pain, Dashu's wife heart softened. With Chen Xiaosang's plea, she released her grip, stroking Chen Xiaosang's little head, and softly asked, "Are you still in pain?"
Chen Xiaosang grinned, flashing her two baby teeth. "No, I'm not in pain anymore. If I could eat the food that you cook, I'd be even happier."
Dashu's wife chuckled, saying, "Alright, alright. I'll go to the kitchen right away and help prepare some food. How about a steamed egg custard for you?"
After that, she glared at Dazhu. "Wait until your father returns, he'll have a word with you!"
Dazhu, sensing the atmosphere of the situation, hung his head low, putting on a pitiful face.
Dashu's wife picked up the bag of flour and headed towards the kitchen.
After his mother departed, Dazhu clasped his hands together, pleading with Chen Xiaosang, "Auntie, I was wrong. I shouldn't have left you all behind. I was just worried that the old lady would snatch away our food, so... I took the food and ran. I didn't anticipate she'd hit you...
After his mother left, Dazhu put his hands together and begged Chen Xiaosang,"Aunt, I was wrong. I shouldn't have abandoned you. I just thought that I couldn't let Grandma take the noodles away, so... I didn't expect her to hit you…"
"It's fine," Chen Xiaosang reassured him with a wave of her hand. "At least you managed to safeguard our food."
Dazhu exhaled in relief, his hands cupping the ears his mother had tugged. He made a grimace, "Mother is too fierce, almost like a tigress."
Chen Xiaosang blinked in surprise, "Sister-in-law has a good temper. She always speaks softly."
"No, not at all. When she's angry, she shouts my full name, which frightens me." Dazhu shivered at the mere thought of his mother's wrath.
"Sister-in-law has never been angry with me." Chen Xiaosang said, and looked at Dazhu suspiciously."
"That's because you're a girl. If you were a boy, my mother would turn into a terrifying tigress." Dazhu mimed claws with his hands, making a fierce face at Chen Xiaosang.
Chen Xiaosang burst into laughter and steered him towards the house. "Did Sister-in-law Da Rong catch you?"
Dazhu answered, "I ran around the village twice and took shelter in Da Hu's pigsty. She couldn't find me there."
"Sister-in-law found you even when you were hiding in the pigsty?" Chen Xiaosang was surprised."
Dazhu slouched, his face a picture of misery. "No matter where I hide, my mother always finds me."
In the past, whenever he upset his brother, he'd hide, only for his mother to track him down and give him a sound thrashing.
Chen Xiaosang crouched in the yard, engrossed in Dazhu's tales of his mother's punishment.
One spoke with gusto, while the other listened with equal enthusiasm. They remained oblivious to the presence of Da Shu's wife, who stood behind them, hands on her hips.
"Am I really that scary?" Da Shu's wife asked, sounding hurt.
Oblivious, Dazhu continued, "She's just like a tigress. I wish my mother was as gentle as Second Aunt. Ah, I envy Sanzhu so much."
As he lamented, he noticed Chen Xiaosang winking frantically at him. He asked, puzzled, "Got some dust in your eye?"
Out of options, Chen Xiaosang stood up and ran over to Da Shu's wife. "Sister-in-law, I'm famished! Is dinner ready yet?"
"Indeed, it is," Da Shu's wife replied softly. "Go wash your hands and we can eat. Alright?"
"I don't want to wash them myself. Can you help me, Sister-in-law?" Chen Xiaosang cajoled.
Unable to refuse, Das Shu's wife took her hand, mock-scolded Dazhu with a tap on his nose, and led Chen Xiaosang towards the kitchen.
Chen Xiaosang turned back to wink at Dazhu, then cheerfully hopped off to wash her hands alongside Da Shu's wife.
Dazhu patted his chest, murmuring gratefully, "My auntie is truly amazing!"
Da Shu's wife came out with Chen Xiaosang. Seeing Dazhu still squatting in the yard, she softened her tone, "Come, it's time for dinner."
Dazhu exhaled with relief, bounding up like a frog. He dashed to the kitchen, washed his hands, and headed to the dining room.
Tonight's dinner was a lavish affair. There was white rice, stewed meat, egg custard, pickled fish, and the leftover quail soup from their daytime meal.
Even Chen Xiaosang, typically a fastidious eater, couldn't help but salivate at the spread. The three Zhu brothers, were no different.
Chattering was set aside as they focused on their meal, gobbling down food with oily grins.
The sight of their joyful eating brought a smile to the adults' faces, making even the sweet potatoes in their bowls taste more delightful.
Chen Xiaosang rose from her seat, placing a piece of meat in Mrs. Li's bowl. She did the same for her father and two sisters-in-law.
A warm glow filled Mrs. Li's heart. She reciprocated by placing her portion of meat into Chen Xiaosang's bowl, saying, "I don't care for meat much, but you should eat it, my dear. It'll help you grow."
Chen Xiaosang responded earnestly, "Even if you don't like it, you should eat it. You need to maintain your strength so that you can take care of us."
She knew her mother was fibbing; her mouth watered visibly. Her father and sisters-in-law were no different; their longing for meat was clear.
Upon seeing this, Old Chen shared a knowing glance with Mrs. Li, and said, "You should eat the meat our daughter offered you. It would be a shame to waste her kindness."
Mrs. Li nodded in agreement, putting the meat in her mouth. Warmth surged in her heart.
Raising a daughter had its perks. Her consideration was evident in every action.
Chen Xiaosang watched the adults enjoy their meat, then cheerfully directed the three Zhu brothers to serve them fish, stewed meat, and egg custard.
Left with no choice, the adults accepted the offerings one by one, gazing at their children with a blend of joy and pride.
While this corner was bustling with dining cheer, the wooden house at the mountain's foot was considerably quieter.
Father and son sat in silence, eating rice and occasionally popping a piece of meat from the heaping bowl on the table into their mouths.