Chapter 16: Drawing Disaster Eastward

“Ahem, how’s it looking now? Is the kitchen usable?”

Seeing the flush rise on her cheeks, Zhao Sihai’s eyes twinkled with amusement. He felt a bit itchy inside—wanting to do something.

But since they were in public, it was obviously impossible to do anything that might damage his wife’s reputation.

“It’s ready to use. I borrowed some pots, bowls, pans, and chairs and tables. I also lit a fire in the stove. Let me know if you need anything else; I’ll get it.”

Ruoqiao gave him an approving glance the moment she heard that.

She liked how meticulous Zhao Sihai was, always taking care of everything.

As they talked, the items were already moved into the kitchen.

Cheng Guodong called out loudly, “Sister Qiao, we’ve put everything in the kitchen for you.”

Ruoqiao smiled and replied, “Great. I bought quite a bit of meat. You big guys can eat as much as you want.”

“Wow, meat! Then I’m going to eat a lot later.”

Cheng Guoqing, coming from behind, kicked Cheng Guodong in the butt, “You sneaky scoundrel, how can you be so shameless?”

“Big brother, don’t blame me! Sister Qiao, I’ve actually done a lot of work. My big brother just wants fewer people competing with him. He’s quite mean.”

Cheng Guodong rubbed his butt and made a face as he explained.

Then Cheng Guoqing grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back to work.

Ruoqiao couldn’t help but smile at how amusing they were.

She waved her hand, signaling Zhao Sihai to continue working, then led the two young girls into the kitchen.

The kitchen was quite spacious. There was a large earthen stove along one wall.

The stove had two fire pits, each with a large iron pot on top.

Next to them were two baskets filled with pots, bowls, and pans.

There were also two big water buckets filled to the brim.

As expected of Zhao Sihai, he thought of everything.

“Come on, let’s cook. Meizi, you’re in charge of kneading the dough. Yue Ya, help me wash the vegetables.”

She didn’t bother being polite with the two girls.

“Alright!” The two girls answered crisply and rolled up their sleeves energetically.

Before long, a rich aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen outside.

It stirred everyone’s thoughts so much they could hardly focus on their work.

Cheng Guodong even crouched at the kitchen door like a little dog, sniffing the scent and almost drooling.

“Wow, sister-in-law’s cooking smells amazing!” Fang Lizhu couldn’t help smacking his lips, looking completely intoxicated by the aroma.

Zhao Sihai couldn’t help but give him a kick and said, “Get to work quickly.”

Just then, Cheng Guodong suddenly ran over carrying a plate, eyes sparkling.

“Everyone, candy time!”

Everyone’s eyes lit up at once.

Well, the plate was filled with green and yellow hard candies.

Even though they were all grown men, they couldn’t help but feel tempted.

Cheng Guodong obediently followed Sister Qiao’s instructions and fairly handed out one candy to each person.

Two candies were left over, which he happily kept for himself.

But most people put the candy directly in their pockets since most had kids.

Zhao Sihai, however, unwrapped his candy and ate it right away, neatly folding the wrapper and putting it in his pocket.

He rolled the candy on his tongue with pleasure, his eyes happily squinting like a satisfied big cat.

In the kitchen, Ruoqiao only made one main dish and one soup, so the cooking was quick.

Apart from the fatty meat, which was cut off and fried for oil, the rest was stewed together with pickled vegetables.

The chicken was cooked with corn and shiitake mushrooms into a pot of soup, clear and bright in color, smelling delicious.

Half of the cornmeal dough was made into potstickers and put into the stew; the other half was mixed with eggs and cooked into a large basketful of pancakes.

She left a bowl of each dish in a basket, covered it with cloth, and had Meizi take it home.

Her son was still at the Fang family’s place, so it made sense for her to prepare some food.

Fang Meizi was used to knowing that Ruoqiao disliked owing others, so she didn’t refuse and took the food home first.

Bai Ruoqiao then called Zhao Sihai over to help organize the meal.

Originally, she wanted to bring some wine to liven things up, but unfortunately, she had no liquor coupons.

The dishes were soon served, and eight men sat together eating at a table in the yard, while the three of them ate around a small table inside the kitchen.

While they happily ate, over at the Zhao household—

Old Lady Zhao, after sweeping away the troublemaker who came to gossip and stir up trouble, grew angrier and angrier. She stood at the doorway cursing Zhao Sihai and Bai Ruoqiao for almost half an hour, but no one paid her any attention.

Even people passing by would deliberately take a detour to avoid her.

Her mouth dried from all the cursing, and just as she wanted to go inside to get a drink of water, her eldest daughter limped over crying.

Old Lady Zhao’s gaze swept over her daughter.

Seeing she came empty-handed, her face immediately darkened.

Hands on hips, she scolded furiously, “What are you here for again? You’re married now, so why are you still so restless? Who has a married daughter that keeps coming back to mooch off her parents every day? I might as well have raised a pig—it’d be better to kill and eat it!”

Zhao Dani trembled at the scolding and dared not cry. She stood at the bottom of the steps, sniffling miserably like a scapegoat.

“Mom, this really isn’t my fault. It’s all Bai Ruoqiao’s doing. Mom, you have to help me!”

Old Lady Zhao was stunned, then her expression darkened. “What happened?”

Whenever she heard Bai Ruoqiao’s name, she had a visceral reaction—she wanted to tear her apart.

But since it hadn’t been three days yet, and her son’s medicine hadn’t taken full effect, she dared not cause trouble for now.

“My mother-in-law and sister-in-law went to buy things today and were harshly humiliated by her. Mom, you know I have it hard in the Liu family, and she deliberately stirs up trouble. She really wants me dead! That woman is so vicious. We absolutely cannot keep her in the Zhao family. Mom, make my fourth brother divorce her right away and find a better, more obedient daughter-in-law for you.”

Old Lady Zhao narrowed her eyes. “Is that your own idea or did someone teach you to say that?”

She knew her daughter well—she was like a puppet, moved by whoever pulled the strings.

By her nature, she wouldn’t suddenly stir up trouble on her own.

Although she didn’t want to see that shameless woman do well, it didn’t mean she could be used by any stray cat or dog.

Sure enough, Zhao Dani immediately lowered her head guiltily. “M-Mom, no one taught me. It’s just my own thought.”

“Heh, I know your nature well enough. You go tell your mother-in-law that even if Zhao Sihai really divorces her, I won’t let him marry her again. If she wants to come to our Zhao family to fish for benefits, she might as well prepare a rope to hang herself and try reincarnating.”

“Mom, this…”

“What ‘this’? Get out! You’re all debt collectors. What sin did I commit to give birth to you all?”

Zhao Dani shivered in fear but hesitated, rubbing her belly and feeling wronged.

“Mom, I haven’t eaten anything since morning, can I…?”

“No, get out!”

When Old Lady Zhao raised her broom, Zhao Dani was so scared she stepped back and wanted to run.

But since the task her sister-in-law had assigned her wasn’t finished, she braved her fear and asked, “Mom, what about fourth brother? I heard he’s back from the army? It’s been a long time since I last saw him.”

Old Lady Zhao’s gaze turned even colder and fiercer, making Zhao Dani’s scalp tingle. Unable to bear it, she tried to run away.

Old Lady Zhao suddenly sneered, “That ungrateful fourth brother of yours has already moved out. He’s now hosting a banquet in the new house. If you’re really hungry, you can try begging him. See if he’s willing to give you a bite.”

After saying that, she snorted coldly, turned, and went into the yard, slamming the gate shut with a bang.

The force nearly toppled the newly repaired door.

Zhao Dani stood there, stunned.

What?

Fourth brother is already moved out and didn’t even invite her to eat meat?

And Mom actually agreed?

That prodigal son really doesn’t know how to live—there’s meat, but he doesn’t feed his own family, he gives it to others instead.

“No way, I have to say something about this.” She licked her lips and started looking around to find someone to ask.

Suddenly, she saw a woman coming out from a small path and hurried over to ask.

Lin Qianqian looked up at the other’s face full of urgency, anger, and undisguised greed in her eyes.

Then she smiled broadly, “Oh, I know Zhao Sihai’s house. It’s over there. They’re building a house today, very lively. I’ll take you there. You’re his eldest sister, so you’re in luck. He brought a lot of good stuff this time…”