Chapter 18: The Best Mother-in-Law

Madam Zhou was momentarily stunned. Her expression turned cold as she looked at him and asked, “Why do you want to go to the capital?! Aren’t we living well here in Changliu Village?”

Zhou Feng replied seriously, “Mother, we can’t hide in Changliu Village forever! Even if we don’t go looking for them, they will come looking for us!”

Madam Zhou trembled slightly at his words. Her gaze slowly lowered, and her face carried a hint of sorrow. She let out a long sigh and said, “Your eldest brother just said the same thing earlier. Fine, do whatever you want. Your mother… will listen to you all.”

Zhou Feng was overjoyed and immediately grabbed her hands, dropping to his knees. “Mother, don’t worry! I will definitely clear Grandfather’s—”

Before he could finish, Madam Zhou immediately interrupted him with a frown and whispered, “Be careful with your words!”

Zhou Feng swallowed the rest of his sentence and nodded. “Yes, Mother, I understand.”

Madam Zhou’s expression gradually softened. With a sigh, she helped him up and said helplessly, “You’re all grown now, and I can’t control you anymore. But stop sitting here foolishly—come inside and eat some radishes. The ones from our field are delicious.”

Zhou Feng nodded. “Alright.”

Madam Zhou led Zhou Feng into the house. Just as they stepped inside, the ducks in the backyard laid another nest of eggs.

As soon as Madam Zhou entered the house, she heard the ducks quacking. She quickly turned around and looked into the duck nest. Seeing the newly laid eggs, she couldn’t help but smile brightly. “These ducks sure are productive—seven or eight nests a day! At this rate, the whole yard will be filled with eggs.”

Zhou Feng glanced back and said, “Mother, I’ve actually heard of a chicken laying an entire yard full of eggs.”

“What? Is that true?” Madam Zhou asked in surprise.

As Zhou Feng walked further into the house, he continued, “Yes, apparently many years ago, in a place called Fengping Village, there was a family named Tan. I heard that one night, their chickens laid enough eggs to fill an entire courtyard.”

Madam Zhou shook her head with a chuckle. “Nonsense. That must be a made-up story.”

Zhou Feng nodded in agreement. “Now that I think about it, it does sound ridiculous.”

Not far away, Du Wanchun overheard their conversation and simply took it as a joke. But for some reason, the story felt strangely familiar. Where had she heard it before? No matter how hard she thought, she just couldn’t remember.

After the family finished sorting the radishes, Madam Zhou selected a few larger ones, sliced them into thin strips, and cooked a big pot of radish and duck egg soup.

The soup was incredibly fresh and flavorful. Du Wanchun usually didn’t have a big appetite, but this time, she ate three large bowls.

Seeing her eat so heartily, Madam Zhou felt delighted. She smiled and said, “When life gets better in the future, I’ll make even more dishes for you all.”

Du Wanchun smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mother.”

“Silly child, why thank me? We’re all family.” Madam Zhou laughed as she stood up and ladled out the remaining radish soup from the pot.

Zhou Zhao, following behind her, said, “Mother, there are still pastries left. The pastries you make are the best!”

Madam Zhou nodded in agreement. “Alright, I’ll make all your favorite pastries next time, so you can eat as much as you like.”

“Mother, you’re the best.” Zhou Zhao beamed with joy.

Watching from the side, Du Wanchun couldn’t help but feel envious. Sometimes, she wished her own mother could be by her side too.

Strangely, as she thought about this, a scene flashed through her mind—one she had never seen before. She was holding a woman’s hand, calling her “Mother.” The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.

She froze for a moment. When had she ever had such a mother?

Shaking her head, she took another sip of her soup.

Her round little face, flushed red from the warmth of the soup, looked much healthier than when she first arrived.

Zhou Ruiyuan slowly put down his chopsticks and, unknowingly, let his gaze fall on her. Seeing a grain of rice at the corner of her mouth, he couldn’t resist reaching out and gently wiping it away.

Du Wanchun was startled by the warmth of his fingertips. She looked up at him, and when their eyes met—his deep, captivating gaze—it sent a jolt through her like an electric current. She quickly lowered her head and took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.

Zhou Ruiyuan immediately withdrew his hand, which had been lingering in midair.

After dinner, the family busied themselves loading the radishes onto the cart, working until nightfall.

By the time the sky had darkened, Du Wanchun, feeling a bit exhausted, returned to the room she shared with Zhou Ruiyuan.

Perhaps it was just bad timing, but the moment she lifted the curtain, she found Zhou Ruiyuan sitting in a chair, changing his clothes.