Xiao'er called Jingrui to carry a large basin of chicken soup back to Mrs. Liu's room, and Jinghao brought in four bowls. Xiao'er first scooped a large bowl for Mrs. Liu containing a big chicken leg, then served Jingrui and Jinghao nearly full bowls, while she took a smaller portion for herself.
Mrs. Liu refused to drink a large bowl, "Xiao'er, I can't drink such a large bowl. We need to save some for your grandparents and father."
"Don't worry, Mum, there is another pot still stewing in the kitchen. That pot of chicken soup will be very fragrant by dinner time. You drinking this now is just right— I read that boiling it for a bit longer helps with lactation."
Mrs. Liu started to eat only after being reassured there was more soup, but even with the children's insistence, she only ate the chicken leg and refused to eat any other part of the chicken.
Xiao'er didn't insist either; there would be plenty more chicken soup and legs in the future, this meal wouldn't make a difference.
After Mrs. Liu finished the chicken soup, her eyes were red—she was genuinely moved. It was her first time eating a chicken leg and drinking such a large bowl of chicken soup. The soup was tasty, sweet, and slightly spicy, so delicious that she felt like swallowing her tongue. In the days that followed, no matter how many exotic dishes and tonic soups she had, she still found the chicken soup from today to be the most to her taste, its deliciousness etched into her heart.
The three children, with small stomachs, had already eaten a bit earlier. Now, having drunk the chicken soup and eaten the chicken meat, they felt an unfamiliar sense of fullness.
"Mom, there's still more than half a plate of chicken soup left. I'll heat it up and serve it to you and Dad tonight," Xiao'er said as she cleaned up the dishes.
Mrs. Liu put the chicken soup in a basket, covered it, and hung it from a beam in the room, "You all should have some too. In the main house, you probably can't eat much." After finishing the soup, the two brothers went to sleep.
Xiao'er washed the dishes and put them back in the cupboard, adding a large piece of wood to the stove. Such large wood burned slowly, making fewer flames, ideal for simmering soup slowly.
Mrs. Li woke up and walked out into the courtyard, smelling the faint scent of chicken soup. She thought someone was eating alone. Mrs. Shen Zhuang and her sister-in-law had gone to the town early in the day, and Mrs. Lu from the fourth branch had taken Shen Chengjie back to her maternal home. Only the children of the third branch and Mrs. Liu were at home; it seemed they had secretly made chicken soup to drink while everyone was away, "Well, let's see if I don't catch you red-handed."
She arrived at Mrs. Liu's door and without knocking, pushed the door open forcefully, causing it to bang loudly against the wall. Mrs. Liu, who had just laid down, sat up hurriedly in fright, gently patting her frightened younger sister. Seeing it was Mrs. Li who had slammed the door, she couldn't help but complain, "Sister-in-law, have you eaten gunpowder?"
"Nice, Mrs. Liu, holed up here eating stealthily, and you still dare accuse me!" Mrs. Li, upon entering the room and smelling the faint scent of chicken soup, hadn't caught them in the act but was sure the third branch had eaten secretly.
Hearing this, Mrs. Liu's face turned awkward, "No, Jingrui and the others caught a pheasant in the mountains today, made some soup, and you can have some tonight..."
"Since you admit soup was made, how can you say you didn't sneak some! It's terrible my men work themselves to death outside, and there's not even a full meal at home because everyone is eating by themselves..."
"Auntie, the chicken soup is still simmering in the kitchen; go have a look if you don't believe me. When everyone comes back tonight, there definitely won't be less for uncle, remember to drink more soup and eat more meat then. My mom certainly can't produce such a big son like your uncle, and if anyone complains, it shouldn't be my mom's responsibility to feed him," Xiao'er, hearing the commotion, hurried over.
"Really?" Mrs. Li went to the kitchen half in doubt, saw the soup actually simmering on the stove—richer in aroma—and her demeanor changed as she smiled, "You siblings are so thoughtful, catching a pheasant on the mountain and knowing to make soup to pay respect to the elders. Auntie didn't eat at noon today, and I'm very hungry now, let me taste it first."
"This chicken soup needs to simmer until dinner before it's just right. It will taste better then." Xiao'er didn't truly try to stop her. After all, it was prepared for everyone; if she wanted to drink, let her. As for whether she might drink too much, leaving none for others, Xiao'er wasn't worried because if anyone were to be scolded, it wouldn't be her.
"It's fine; I'll taste it again at dinner," Mrs. Li took a large bowl, filled it with both meat and soup.
Xiao'er was truly impressed by her when she saw the situation. It took her a whole bowl of soup just to taste it. Mrs. Li was really a difficult one to please, and Shen Chengzong had it tough indeed. Although it was fine for her to drink it, some things had to be stated upfront to avoid being taken advantage of. "Second Aunt, we specifically chopped off those two chicken legs to honor Grandpa and Grandma. It's not right for you to use them just for tasting." She deliberately emphasized the words "for tasting" heavily.
Mrs. Li glanced coldly at Xiao'er. This girl's words were becoming more and more displeasing. But she didn't care—she'd eat first and deal with any scolding later; it's not like she would lose a piece of flesh. "It's fine. Your Grandpa and Grandma don't like chicken legs, the elderly can't chew them. Your brothers, Jingye and Jingzhi, just said they're hungry. I'll save it for them."
"Weren't they headed to town?"
"I'm saving it for their dinner when they return." After saying this, she disregarded Xiao'er and walked out of the kitchen with the chicken soup.
Mrs. Li was unlucky, as she had just left the kitchen when Mrs. Shen arrived with Shen Yuzhu. As Mrs. Shen entered, she immediately smelled the aroma of the chicken soup and seeing the large bowl in Mrs. Li's hands, she guessed immediately what it was.
"Oh, look at you, Mrs. Li, taking the chance while I was away to kill a chicken and make soup! Your life isn't even worth as much as my chicken, and yet you dare to secretly slaughter one!" Mrs. Shen was absolutely furious—those chickens were laying eggs now.
Mrs. Li, unfazed by the scalding soup or Mrs. Shen's scolding, lowered her head, took a big gulp, and then spat it back out, ensuring that Mrs. Shen wouldn't take it back.
Xiao'er, who had followed and witnessed this, was shocked: This could actually work! Truthfully, she was now quite impressed by Mrs. Li. For the sake of food, she disregarded everything—it was truly disgusting.
Mrs. Shen saw this and steam almost came out of her head, "Mrs. Li, get out, leave right now! The Shen family has no place for someone as shameless as you!"
"Mother, please don't be angry. The chicken soup was made by the third branch. I just wanted to help you taste test it, but it was too hot and I couldn't help but spit it out." After saying this, Mrs. Li even fanned her tongue which was painfully hot!
Hearing this, Mrs. Shen immediately glared at Xiao'er, ready to redirect her fury onto her.
Mrs. Li tried to drag someone else down with her; she really thought others were fools, huh? Xiao'er sneered at Mrs. Li, "Grandma, today we three siblings caught a pheasant on the mountain. We made a soup from the pheasant, planning to honor Grandpa and Grandma with it at dinner. I reminded Second Aunt earlier about the taste, and specifically about the two chicken legs we reserved for Grandpa and Grandma. But Second Aunt said that Grandpa and Grandma don't like chicken legs because they're hard for the elderly to chew."
Shen Yuzhu, upon hearing Mrs. Li hadn't spared even the two chicken legs, was also enraged. That chicken leg of the Shen family always belonged to her, and Mrs. Li had dared to eat her portion. If she couldn't have it, then neither could the others. She rushed forward and swatted the bowl of chicken soup from Mrs. Li's hands, splashing it all over her. Mrs. Li jumped and shook her clothes from the scalding soup, "Ah, it's killing me! Murder! Ah, it hurts, help, it's so hot…"
"I let you eat my chicken leg, still you ate it! Let's see if you dare to eat it again! Eat it now, pick it up and eat!" Shen Bao'er cursed while furiously stomping on the two chicken legs on the ground, as if they were her sworn enemies.
Mrs. Shen continued scolding, "It would be good if you were scalded to death, you lazy glutton! When there's work to be done, you run faster than a rat, and when there's food, you eat more than a pig. Fattened pigs can be sold for money, but what use are you, whoever marries you is truly unlucky."
"My second son was so clever and smart as a child; ever since he married you, you've led him to be deceitful and lazy..."
"My grandchildren have also been taught to be shameless by you..."
Xiao'er was stunned, and upon hearing the commotion, her two brothers who came outside were dumbfounded as well.
Many people who heard the noise stood outside, pointing and whispering.