Chapter 21: Chapter 21
Chapter 21
The dumplings were soon steaming over the already boiling water. The children, having finished their tasks, were sent by Yueqian to wash their hands and clean up. However, Yueqian herself lingered.
She was looking at the water used for steaming the dumplings with regret. She had always thought this water was the best, having previously used it to make noodle soup.
“Ah, I should stew some chicken,” Yueqian finally found something to do.
She quickly took out a chicken from her interdimensional space. She had bought both chicken and meat yesterday. However, the chickens at this market were free-range, not as tender as the farmed chickens.
She put the chicken in a pot with fragrant herbs and let it simmer alongside the dumplings, knowing well that the dumplings would be cooked before the chicken. When she took out dumplings, she left the chicken boiled.
"Kids, the dumplings are ready. Go and call your brother," Yueqian called out to the kids who were cleaning the house joyfully.
"Understood," Xiao Long was the first to respond. He ran downstairs immediately to fetch his older brother.
He had wanted to call him ever since smelling the delicious soup but had managed to wait until now.
"Hurry up, brother," Huan’er also ran out excitedly.
Yueqian chuckled at the children’s behavior. Huan’er, knowing it was somewhat inappropriate, blushed slightly and walked over to her sister-in-law hoping to help.
"Grab that tray over there and line up the bowls," the elder instructed. Huan’er nodded, not questioning the origin of the stainless-steel tray.
Yueqian scooped more than thirty dumplings into a large bowl, then ladled soup into four individual bowls. The aroma became even more pervasive as it was served.
The steam, especially in the cold air, made Huan’er appreciate it even more. Soon, the siblings arrived, and Yueqian instructed them to wash their hands with soap before eating. Huan’er heard this and ran to wash her hands along with them.
Yueqian brought the tray inside their home, where the sleeping mats were now stacked to the side, creating ample space for other activities. When the food arrived, Xiao Long, who knew his duties well, fetched and set up his sister-in-law’s low table, even knowing how to fold the table legs now.
"Let’s eat. The soup is good when it’s hot, and there’s plenty more if it’s not enough," Yueqian told everyone.
The children nodded excitedly, while Mu Heng felt much more relaxed. Seeing that his purchased pork was used, he ate without reservation, unlike the previous days.
"Today, I will go to the other villages to notify them about the land and tell them that they can gather further information from the Governor. Can you manage at home with the kids?" Mu Heng asked his wife, concerned.
"Um, sure. I do have some tasks I would like them to help,” said Yueqian.
The children quickly responded since they were eager to help her. They did not hesitate to help their sister-in-law, since they were thinking that their sister-in-law would not let them do anything other than eat.
“Um, if there were any issue, you can tell the village leader or Aunt Liao, you know?” Mu Heng was concerned about what had just happened.
It was almost Mao period, but those people still not returning the money. After he has done the running errand, he might have to come back and take Yueqian to the city, reporting the issue to the authorities.
“I know, thank you.” Yueqian smiled in acknowledgement.
She felt like she almost laughed. This Mu Heng worried too much about her. Did he not know that she was the one who owned the title of villainess?
If anyone dared to harm... She did not only possess a great arguing skill, what did these people think do not exist in department store? Baseball bats, pepper sprays, mops, or even golf clubs, if they meant to harm her..., she would hit their mouth, let them bleed.
Or if necessary, she could still use those hoe and shovel in the house decorating zone.
The only pity was that she could not bring out electric weapons just yet, or else she would get herself a stun gun, a lawn mower, or a mosquito repellent.
Um... it kept getting more and more brutal.
She hoped she did not have to buy those things, or maybe... just blow up someone’s house. It was not hard for her to throw a gallon of oil together with a lighter.
“Big Brother, don’t you worry. I will protect Sister-in-law myself.” Xiao Long expressed his masculine side. Once he was able to swallow a dumpling, he slapped his chest confidently.
Already forgot that yesterday it was him who was kicked when trying to help his big brother.
“Good. I will have you two looks after Yueqian.”
Seemed like Mu Heng really believed that his younger siblings’ strength was better than Yueqian’s, hence, he asked them to take care of her.
Yueqian did not want to say anything to win. She just looked at the three siblings with affection. Seeing a loving family, unlike the Qin family, made her sigh.
If she had a family, she wishes her children would adore each other like this.
“A’Heng, A’Heng, is anyone home?” A voice of an old man echoed from the front of their house.
Mu Heng immediately sat with straight back, knowing this was the voice of village leader, and he even knew what happened, and why did he come. This must be that the people from Mu family’s main house had returned the money, right?
“It could be those people giving back our money.” Mu Heng said to his wife. The children who were enjoying food, now, did not dare to eat.
Everyone’s expression changed, from happy to tense. Although those people came here, that did not mean they would return it properly. They were afraid that if those people came in and saw Sister-in-law’s plenty belongings, they might want to have it.
“Let’s go out,” Yueqian said to everyone. It was fine to let these appetizing soups cool down a bit before eating. The matter of people coming was far more important.
"Um," Mu Heng agreed. Soon, they walked out to the front of the house.
The village leader arrived with a few other locals, accompanied by Grandfather Mu, a main character, who was the only one from his family present today. Others had advised him not to return the money, but Grandfather Mu had to preserve his dignity. Previously, there was an agreement not to interfere, but ultimately his descendants embarrassingly snatched the money from his grandson.
Initially, he forced them to return it, but everyone ignored him, claiming the money was for his grandson, the son of the eldest son of his, to study in the city. When he instructed them to return it, it turned out he was the grandfather who didn’t care about his grandson, causing the situation to escalate this way.
"Grandson Heng, I’m sorry for not handling things well at home. I’ve told them not to interfere with you and your siblings anymore. Don’t be so upset that you take this matter to the authorities. Here is 600 brass coins, and I’m adding another 50 brass coins for your treatment," the old man said with a sense of guilt.
Seeing his demeanor, Mu Heng’s attitude greatly diminished, and his face relaxed, though he did not concede that his grandfather had done the right thing.
"I’ll only accept the 600 brass coins that rightfully belong to us. I won’t take the extra 50 brass coins. I don’t want any further involvement with you," Mu Heng declined the additional 50 brass coins without care. The children came to take the money to give to their sister-in-law, Yueqian, who accepted it easily without any objections.
"Xiao Heng..." the old man felt a profound guilt.
He seemed like he wanted to say more but couldn’t muster the courage, watching his grandchildren struggle alone. Part of him wanted to take them back to live with him where they could at least have an adult’s care, but he knew Xiao Heng was capable of looking after himself and his siblings. Inviting them now would only burden them further.
"Oh, dear, didn’t you inform the village leader about the matter from the Governor?" Yueqian mentioned.
Initially, she had wanted Mu Heng to mention it the night before to slap people in the face, but seeing that he gave the Mu family a chance, she let it slide.
Mu Heng seemed to remember just then. He walked into the house and then handed a letter meant for his own village to the village leader. The letter, with the official seal, surprised many bystanders.
"This... an official letter," the village leader looked at Mu Heng briefly, his face turning pale, assuming something severe had happened.
Mu Heng seemed to know his thoughts, so he waved his hand a few times.
“It’s not anything serious but something good. We haven’t reported anything yet,” Mu Heng told him, easing the old man’s near heart attack, he quietly breath out.
"That being so..." the elder opened the letter in front of everyone, as it seemed Mu Heng already knew its contents. Since it was not a secret, then there might not be a problem.
But as he read through it, reaching half page, he looked up at Yueqian and Mu Heng. When he continued to read, he then looked at them again, as if in disbelief. When he finished, his face turned a deep red.
The old man’s behavior was peculiar; holding the letter, he approached Yueqian and Mu Heng with trembling hands, bowing, and tearing up. This scene caused quite a stir among the villagers. They couldn’t have imagined that the old man who had lived for long and got the title of village leader could display such emotion.
"What’s happening? What is this behavior from the village leader?"
"Is that a bow? He bowed to the young couple almost his grandchildren’s age immediately after reading the official letter, didn’t he?"
"What exactly is in that letter? What’s going on?"
"I want to know too. Look, he’s even crying now."
"In his whole life, our village leader has been very composed. Even when our village faced tough times or diseases last year, he never looked like this."
"If such a strong man is crying, that letter must be something major. I wonder what A’Heng has brought with them."
"This is a letter from the Governor. When A’Heng said they were close to the Governor yesterday, they weren’t exaggerating. But what exactly is going on?"
