Chapter 50: Feng Mian’s Scumbag Dad Has Arrived

Feng Mian’s expression darkened.

Feng Chang continued, “My mom said you’re an ungrateful wretch. She was right.”

Feng Mian sneered coldly, “I remember, of course I remember. How my cousin bullied me — I remember it all clearly.”

“What did you say?”

Feng Mian smiled faintly. “I said I’m someone who keeps clear accounts. I remember those who treat me well, and I remember those who don’t. How much clearer do you want me to be?”

Feng Chang couldn’t retort and was instead mocked by Feng Mian, leaving him huffing angrily.

After this exchange, Gu Yuelin also understood their relationship.

Feeling no psychological pressure, he drank the remaining half bowl of porridge.

“Are you not on good terms with your cousins?”

Feng Mian shook her head. “It’s just the second cousin I don’t get along with well. The eldest cousin is fine.”

“Oh? Who else don’t you get along with?”

Feng Mian was taken aback. “Why do you want to know?”

Gu Yuelin smiled, “Just making sure we’re on the same side.”

Feng Mian chuckled, “Don’t get involved in the affairs between me and those relatives.”

Gu Yuelin’s smile stiffened — did she treat him like an outsider and didn’t want to share?

“My aunt is just as much of a nightmare as your stepmother. Are you sure you want to mess with her?”

Gu Yuelin: “…”

“Anyway, just avoid them, don’t bring trouble on yourself.”

Gu Yuelin’s heart became confused. Was she treating him like an outsider, or was she afraid he might get into trouble?

Feeling the warmth in his stomach, maybe… it was the latter.

Actually, Feng Mian still had two bowls of porridge in the small pot she was carrying.

Just ahead was Shang Yuanzi Village. Since everyone had already come here, she decided to bring the remaining porridge to her grandparents’ house.

Grandpa and Grandma lived there; Grandma was busy with house chores, cooking for the whole family, and taking care of Grandpa who had difficulty walking. Someone had to stay at home.

The porridge she brought was just enough for them to eat.

“Seeing you two young ones getting along well makes us feel at ease. But life is tough — you still have to be thrifty.”

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I know what I’m doing.”

Zhang (Grandma) chatted with her for a bit, then quietly asked, “I heard you only worked half a day after you came back. You’re not going back, then?”

Feng Mian nodded.

“Does your grandson-in-law mind?”

“He said it’s enough for him to work alone at home.”

Every family must have laborers working — it’s a hard rule.

It’s also because Gu Yuelin works that Feng Mian can stay home and do other things.

Hearing this, Grandma was half relieved, half worried.

Relieved that the son-in-law was the right choice, worried that two people living off one person’s work might not be enough and would starve later.

“Be honest with Grandma — how much grain do you still have at home?”

Feng Mian was startled, “Grandma, don’t worry about that. I have enough to eat anyway.”

“Ah! You’re married now, so you should know. Just don’t end up eating dry food one half of the month and starving the other half.”

“That won’t happen.”

Feng Mian went home and made lunch. The meal was Eight-Treasure Congee, no extra separate cooking.

She steamed some buns, ready-made, and there were two bowls of preserved pork ribs.

Then she prepared a small dish — stir-fried greens, which cook quickly, just waiting for Gu Yuelin to come back to put it in the pot.

When she heard the sound of a harrow by the door, she knew he was back.

“Go wash up quickly, I’m stir-frying the vegetables.”

“Mm, I need to change clothes — my pants are wet.”

After wading in the paddy field all day with her pant legs rolled up, no matter how careful, the pants couldn’t stay dry.

Not only wet, but also covered in mud.

“There’s hot water in the pot. You go into the wood room first, I’ll pour it for you.”

The wood room had a small shower area separated inside. The room was small but retained heat well — the shower being there was perfect.

Gu Yuelin watched Feng Mian carry the hot water over, and a strange feeling rose in his heart.

They were barely even officially a married couple, yet they acted like an old married pair.

He kept feeling that a newlywed wife shouldn’t be like this. Maybe it was because of that contract?

The hot water poured over him, but inside he still felt cold.

Every day he was full of anxiety and uncertainty — he felt like he was turning into a resentful wife.

After he finished washing, Feng Mian put the food on the stove.

Gu Yuelin looked at the two big bowls of preserved pork ribs and thought to himself, “Our family’s meals are really good. And now I’m worried about the food supply again.”

After the busy farming season, he planned to go get the money his cousin sent early. They couldn’t let her life keep getting worse.

“How much longer do you have to harrow the paddy fields?”

“Probably have to do about seven or eight more rows.”

“Is your shoulder still okay?”

Gu Yuelin was a little surprised.

Feng Mian took out a bottle of safflower oil. “Put on some medicine. I’ve been watching you pulling the harrow all day.”

That cool feeling warmed his heart again. Gu Yuelin cleared his throat, “It’s fine.”

“Oh.” She put the bottle on the table.

Seeing that she didn’t seem too concerned, Gu Yuelin’s heart began to race again.

“Well… you could help me put some medicine on. It still hurts a bit.”

Feng Mian remained calm, as if it were something ordinary. “Alright, then eat quickly. I’ll put on the medicine after you finish.”

After the meal, they sat under the eaves to apply the medicine.

Mainly because the sunlight was good there, and it was brighter outside.

Inside the house was pitch dark, and they had to light candles.

She hadn’t done farm work for a long time, and she took good care of herself.

Her hands were much finer and smoother than ordinary people’s.

She rubbed the safflower oil onto Gu Yuelin’s shoulder with slow, deliberate movements.

He instinctively tensed up, his heart pounding fast, extremely nervous.

But she seemed totally unaffected, as if she lacked any romantic feeling. She even patted his shoulder and said in a professional tone, “Relax.”

Gu Yuelin: “…” I want to relax too.

While they were applying the medicine, someone suddenly appeared at the courtyard gate, craning his neck to peek inside through the gap.

Feng Mian, focused on applying the medicine, didn’t notice, but Gu Yuelin met the man’s gaze.

He patted Feng Mian’s hand. “Who’s that? Are they here looking for you?”

Feng Mian looked up to see a strange man’s face.

“I don’t know him. I’ll go check.”

She walked to the gate while Gu Yuelin finished putting on his clothes and put away the medicine.

Feng Mian opened the gate lattice and asked, “May I ask who you’re looking for?”

The man was dressed quite fashionably.

His hair was slicked back, wearing a small suit that was very much of the times, leather shoes on his feet, and carrying a leather briefcase in his hand.

He looked a bit like some official who had come to the countryside on business.

“Little girl, I’ve been walking a long way to get here. Oh, I’m here looking for relatives. I happened to pass by your door — could I have a bowl of water?”

“Passing by? Uncle, come on in.”

Feng Mian opened the gate for him and turned back to say to Gu Yuelin, “Help pour some water.”

Gu Yuelin poured a bowl of hot water and said, “Uncle, you can sit here and drink.”

“Ah, thank you.”

His eyes glanced at Gu Yuelin, then at Feng Mian.

Having seen them applying medicine through the door crack, he roughly guessed their relationship.

“You two are husband and wife, right?”