"Big sister..." Yang Erni called out urgently again.
"You continue to apply the cold compress to Mom..." Yang Ruxin didn't turn her head as she rushed out of the side room.
At that time, with plenty of land and few people, every household had a sizable yard. The Yang Family's yard was considered large in the entire village, with the main house facing south and backed by the north, consisting of four rooms, and two sets of four side rooms flanking the east and west, with the main gate to the south.
The kitchen was set up in a separate wing room next to the main house.
One of the four main rooms served as the central hall, the western room was the boudoir of the younger aunt Yang Baihe—even though she was a village girl, her room was arranged to the standard of a young lady from a well-off city family. It was said that when Yang Baihe was born, a previously dead rose in the yard bloomed, and later, some elderly claimed it was an auspicious sign that the child would achieve great things. Therefore, Yang Anshi raised her as the apple of her eye, not willing to let her suffer the slightest grievance.
The two rooms on the east were occupied by the elderly Mr. Yang and his wife, with the innermost room reserved as a bedroom for Yang Rusong, the eldest grandson. Even when Yang Rusong was absent, no one dared to use that room.
The Yang Family's second branch occupied the three east side rooms: Yang Baichuan and his wife took one room, their two sons shared another, and their daughter Yang Ruyu had one to herself.
The other east side room was inhabited by Uncle Xiaowu, Yang Baixiang.
Originally, the Yang Family's senior branch had two west side rooms, but after Yang Baiyue died, Yang Anshi directly confiscated one to use as a storage room, leaving Xun Hui and her six children to this day, crowded together on one large Datong bed.
The remaining two west side rooms were occupied by the Yang Family's fourth branch, Yang Baifu's family. With only two daughters, the rooms were more than enough.
However, most people were not at home at this time.
Yang Ruxin glanced at the side room where the second branch lived, which was locked, so she headed straight to the main house. Since Xun Hui had fainted, no one was there to make lunch, and at this time, it was Feng Caie who had to step in.
Yet Feng Caie was extraordinarily lazy, and even if she was asked to cook, she would dawdle as much as possible before heading to the kitchen. At this moment, she was definitely enjoying a breeze in the main house with her in-laws.
Yang Anshi was fretting over the thirty copper coins spent, grumbling incessantly, while Feng Caie occasionally chimed in agreement—the expressions of both were in perfect sync, clearly showcasing an exemplary mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.
However, as soon as Yang Ruxin entered, both women instantly stared in astonishment, and even the old Mr. Yang, who was busy with his smoking pipe, raised his head.
"What are you doing here?" Feng Caie sprang up first, "Haven't you upset your grandparents enough? You..."
"Second aunt, I came to see my second uncle..." Yang Ruxin glanced at Yang Peili and Yang Anshi and gave a smile to Feng Caie.
"Why are you looking for your second uncle?" Feng Caie wore a face full of confusion and caution.
"Your second uncle hasn't returned yet..." Yang Peili shook his head, "He probably won't be back until evening..." In reality, he was also displeased since there were still chores at home yet to be finished, and here his second son had gone to help at the son-in-law's house, taking along the fourth son and the grandsons too—a clear case of forgetting one's parents because of the daughter-in-law.
That fourth son, who usually made a fuss while doing any chores at home, had also inexplicably gone all eagerly with them.
But then the old man thought again—after his eldest son died, the family's land had been registered in the name of Feng the Scholar, exempting them from taxes and grain dues. The Feng family had only two daughters; thus, it made sense for the son-in-law to help out, and he felt balanced again.