Chapter 25: Eating a Chicken Leg for the First Time in Life

Feng Xiaojing came in through the kitchen’s back door. Feng Mian was busy stewing chicken, and a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air, tempting her appetite.

Feng Xiaojing held the lowest status in the Feng family. During New Year or festivals, they might have meat dishes, but she never got any.

If it weren’t for her grandmother secretly hiding a piece or two for her now and then, she wouldn’t even get a whiff of meat.

Smelling the delicious chicken, she couldn’t help but swallow.

“Mian Mian.”

Feng Mian, busy with her work, looked up, “Little cousin’s here! Come, sit down.”

“I won’t sit. I just wanted to see what you’re up to.” She was still worried about the chores at home. She usually stayed up late every day, and if she stayed up late again tonight, she didn’t know when it would end.

Seeing her standing awkwardly to the side, Feng Mian put out the fire in the stove but left the charcoal slowly burning.

She walked over and asked, “What’s wrong? Come on, sit down first and tell me slowly.”

They had a close relationship. Back when Feng Mian was still in the Feng family, they were a pair of sisters who suffered together. After Feng Mian left, Feng Xiaojing was the only one left oppressed.

Feng Mian understood her difficulties.

Feng Xiaojing sighed, “Ah, it’s because of my mom. She insisted I come see what you’re doing. Honestly, I don’t know what she means either. I guess I’ll just come and have a look.”

Feng Mian ladled a bowl of the stewed chicken soup for her, adding a chicken leg.

“Eat first. After you eat, then tell me.”

“I already said it,” Feng Xiaojing said blankly.

Feng Mian smiled, thinking she was quite honest.

She nudged the bowl toward her, “Come on, hold it.”

The aroma was irresistible. Feng Xiaojing swallowed again and carefully took the bowl.

She had never eaten a chicken leg her whole life.

Her mother always said she was dumb and that eating chicken heads was good for the brain, so she always stuffed chicken heads into Feng Xiaojing’s bowl.

Her cousin was even more pitiful; she didn’t even get chicken legs and was lucky to get a chicken tail.

“Really for me?” She looked at the chicken leg in disbelief.

“Yes, for you,” Feng Mian smiled.

Feng Xiaojing suddenly felt like crying.

She remembered when they wanted to drive away her cousin, she thought her cousin would be pitiful, maybe even starve.

Now she realized, her cousin was doing much better without them — eating chicken whenever she wanted.

One bite, and her mouth was filled with rich flavor.

Swallowing it down, she bit another big piece of meat and, with her mouth full, told Feng Mian, “Chicken leg tastes way better than chicken head, really delicious.”

Feng Mian smiled, “Take your time eating. There’s more in the pot. I’ll serve you more later.”

Feng Xiaomei shook her head, “No thanks. How much do you have to eat to be full? Your family still has three workers who need to eat and drink.”

“There’s plenty in my pot,” Feng Mian said.

Feng Xiaomei quickly finished another chicken leg and drank the soup. Then she said, “I have to go back. I still have work to do.”

“It’s almost New Year. What are you busy with?”

“What else? My sister is getting married. The engagement to wedding schedule is so tight, I have to make her clothes. It’s killing me.”

“Huh? Your aunt made you do it?”

“What else? My sister hasn’t been feeling well recently. Mom told her to rest more and not get sick at the wedding—bad luck. Mom is making shoe soles for her and my brother-in-law, two pairs each. I’m making clothes for my sister, two sets. Mom also bought yarn for me to knit each of them a scarf.”

Feng Mian thought, what else could Feng Xiaomei be sick with? Probably pregnant, poor little cousin.

“No rush right now. Stay a bit longer. I’ll get you something.”

Feng Mian took out a big bowl, filled it with half a chicken, and told her to take it back to her grandmother.

“Be sneaky with the back door. If your aunt sees you at the front, she’ll probably get mad.”

“Uh…” Feng Xiaojing looked troubled.

Feng Mian said, “Is there something going on at home? Everyone’s so concerned about your sister?”

Feng Xiaojing was surprised, “How did you know?”

Feng Mian saw through everything but smiled silently.

“Wait for me a moment.”

She took the key and pretended to open the big wooden cabinet, but actually reached into the space to take out a few apples and half a bunch of bananas, putting them together into a plastic bag.

“Take these with you too. Don’t come to my house on sunny days.”

“Huh? That won’t do, I still have work to do.”

“Bring your work to my house then.”

“Well… well, we’ll see.”

Feng Mian smiled, “If your aunt asks you, do you know what to say?”

“What else? Just tell the truth — your family is installing the flooring.”

“Good, just say that,” Feng Mian said.

“What if she asks who’s helping?”

“Just tell the truth — they’re friends of Gu Yuelin. Both of them are from the county town.”

“Oh, alright then.”

Feng Xiaojing took the things and left through the back door.

After hearing Feng Mian’s words, she quietly circled around to the back of the house and slipped inside through the back door again.

She hurried to her grandfather’s room and helped him sit up.

Feng Guodong looked at the bowl full of chicken meat with surprise, “Where did this come from?”

Feng Xiaojing whispered, “My cousin’s family is fixing their house and stewed some chicken soup. She told me to bring some back for Grandpa and Grandma.”

She still had the plastic bag hanging from her arm. “There’s also some water, apples, and bananas.”

Feng Guodong asked, “Where did she get all this?”

“I don’t know. My brother-in-law doesn’t either. Maybe he bought it.”

“Isn’t her boyfriend raised by the stepmother? The stepmother must have searched him thoroughly — where would he get money to buy these things?”

That made sense logically, but they had it somehow. Feng Xiaojing had no idea where it came from.

“My brother-in-law also has two friends helping out. I heard those two friends are city folks, maybe they brought the gifts? Grandpa, don’t ask so many questions. Anyway, this is your granddaughter’s respect for you. Just eat it. I’ll get a bowl for you to take some.”

Feng Xiaojing sneaked to the kitchen and got a coarse pottery bowl, filling a bowl of chicken for him.

Feng Guodong’s legs didn’t work, but his upper body was fine, so he could hold the bowl himself and eat.

“You eat first, I’ll go find Grandma to bring some food.”

But he ate the chicken nervously.

What exactly was his granddaughter up to?

The aroma of the chicken drew Zhao Lang’s attention.

The more she smelled, the more suspicious she became. She put down the shoe sole she was holding and walked inside.

Why was the smell coming from Grandpa’s room?

Why was the big front door closed all day?

Something was fishy.

“Dad, what are you doing in your room?”

His legs didn’t work, and he knew he couldn’t hide it, so he said straightforwardly, “Nothing much, just eating.”

After all, he had already eaten a bowl.

“Oh, what’s so delicious smelling?”

She pushed the door open.

Seeing the bowl full of chicken, the smell made her swallow hard.

Zhao Hui’s face darkened, “Hmph, Dad, you’ve gone too far. What good food do we have? We don’t hide it from you, but you’re eating chicken alone and sneaking around.”

“My legs don’t work, where would I sneak off to? If I wanted to sneak, would I let you see it?”

Zhao Hui curled her lips but thought that made sense.

He couldn’t move his legs—who would have brought it to him?

Zhao Hui thought quickly, “Has that dead girl come here again?”