Chapter 9: Family Secrets  

Chen Feng’s nose was nearly crooked from anger. This man was just too wicked. If she had strength, she would definitely grab a shovel and knock a hole in his dog head. After all, she was a fool now, and fools weren’t held responsible for hurting others.

But she was powerless, couldn’t even lift a shovel, let alone hit someone. Right now, the best thing she had practiced was her mouth, moving the various organs within.

Then she saw the man take out a few dark pieces of candy from his pocket and raised his eyebrows, saying in a low voice, “This candy is really sweet. A’Feng, do you want some? If you do, come out and play with me…”

Chen Feng forcefully spat out the mouthful of saliva towards the man.

Then she scolded, “Pah! You, with your big chest, big buttocks. Take this candy and give it to your mother. Go play with her.” Although she still stuttered a bit, her voice was loud, sounding terrifying, akin to a broken gong.

The man was first spat on and then scolded, which startled him. He hadn’t expected that this fool would not only spit on someone but also curse, with a loud and unpleasant voice that didn’t match her delicate appearance. And her eyes, staring straight ahead as if ready to shoot fire.

He wiped his face, clenched his fists, and cursed, “You fool! How dare you spit at me! I’ll teach you a lesson.”

Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Wang hurriedly grabbed a broom and ran out, cursing as she ran, “You shameless scoundrel, I’ll beat you to death.”

The scoundrel saw Mrs. Wang holding the broom and a few bystanders looking over, so he ran off in a flash.

Mrs. Wang dropped the broom, took Chen Feng’s hand, and asked in a low voice, “That bad man didn’t touch you, did he?”

“No.” To reassure Mrs. Wang, Chen Feng added, “I spat on him and scolded him.”

Mrs. Wang sighed, “A’Feng, go back inside.”

Chen Feng didn’t want to go back to the small house. The courtyard not only had fresh air conducive to movement, but also the sunlight for calcium supplementation, which was crucial for her recovery. She shook her head and said, “I’m not going back. Mother, don’t worry. I’m not foolish anymore, and I won’t be fooled by anyone.”

Mrs. Wang was pleased again and said, “Yes, my A’Feng has recovered from her illness.”

Chen Ming had finished his meal and stepped out, saying, “Wife, let A’Feng stay in the courtyard for some fresh air. I’ll stay here with her.”

After speaking, he sat under the eaves, weaving straw sandals. Mrs. Wang took some dirty clothes to the stream to wash and would return quickly to resume embroidery.

Chen Ming weaved for a while, then took a break, coughing a few times. Last night, his coughing was intermittent, sometimes uncontrollable, lasting for a quarter of an hour before easing.

This seemed to be tuberculosis, not considered a major illness in the modern world, easily treated by Western medicine. However, in ancient times, it was a serious and incurable illness, requiring good rest, nutrition, and exercise. If one aspect faltered, death was inevitable.

Chen Feng thought her father was good, and she didn’t want him to die early. She remembered from her past life that Lin Daiyu had this illness, and it seemed that consuming bird’s nest was beneficial for it.

She also once read a legend online about Li Shizhen diagnosing a woman with tuberculosis, helpless to cure her. Several years later, the woman reappeared before Li Shizhen. It turned out that she had been saved by a fisherman when she attempted suicide by jumping into the sea. He fed her eel every day, and eventually, her illness was cured, leading to marriage and children.

While this story sounded exaggerated, modern medicine has proven that eel can improve immunity and alleviate lung issues, showing significant therapeutic effects.

However, this family was so poor. How could they afford bird’s nest, eel, and other nutritional supplements?

Then there was Lu. According to Dabao, Lu had fallen from a tree three years ago while trying to get bird eggs, injuring his leg. At the time, the family didn’t realize the severity. Chen Ming was severely ill at that time, and Dabao was too young, so they didn’t pay much attention to him, assuming he would get better with time. They didn’t expect to miss the best treatment period, and Lu ended up with a limp. For this, Mrs. Wang cried a lot, and the old lady scolded Mrs. Wang severely, further alienating Chen Feng and Dabao.

Thinking about her sensible younger brother, Chen Feng felt a pang of heartache.

She needed to quickly improve her health and earn more money. With money, there would be hope for this family.

As she contemplated ways to earn money, she kept walking, stretching her legs and arms. She walked to the backyard, smaller than the front yard, with just a chicken coop and a thatched house.

The house was too small, and the yard needed expansion, with more rooms built. She went back to the front yard and heard a chicken clucking at the gate.

Chen Ming said, “That’s our hen. It seems like she’s about to lay eggs. Open the door and let her in.”

Chen Feng opened the door, and the hen dashed in, then ran to the backyard. In no time, the backyard echoed with clucking, and Chen Feng found an egg in the chicken coop.

She smiled and said to Chen Ming, “Dad, the hen is so clever.” After saying this, she felt like she had truly become a simpleton and quietly scolded herself.

“Animals also have their own intelligence,” Chen Ming chuckled.

It wasn’t until noon that Chen Lu and Chen Dabao returned home carrying firewood.

After lunch, apart from Mrs. Wang who continued to be busy, the others took their afternoon break on the kang.

When Chen Feng woke up, Chen Dabao was no longer around. She lay on the kang, doing mouth exercises, and heard footsteps in the courtyard.

Then came Chen Ming’s voice, “Mother’s here.”

A voice of an elderly woman responded, “Second son, look at you, just a bit better, and already exhausted. Your wife earns quite a bit, so why do you still toil so hard?”

Chen Ming laughed, “Sitting idle is uncomfortable. This work is not tiring, and we can earn a few coins.”

Chen Ming’s mother said unhappily, “Keeping a good-for-nothing and another…”

“Mother,” Chen Ming quickly interrupted his mother, speaking in a displeased hush, “Please don’t say such things. My daughter is a good child, and Dabao… is also a pitiable child. Mother, don’t say these heart-wrenching words. Your son doesn’t like it.”

Chen Ming’s mother stated, “I only said that because I saw your wife and A’Lu and Dabao all go out, and the fool can’t understand. I’m not heartless. I’m just pained for you and A’Lu. If we didn’t have to support these idle people, you could have more to eat, and A’Lu’s leg wouldn’t have been delayed…”

Then there was some whispering. Chen Feng only caught a phrase or two about “your wife siding with the former” before Chen Ming’s coughing fit interrupted, and the old lady stopped talking. She added, “Second son, rest assured. I haven’t told anyone, not even the eldest. After raising her for over ten years, this old lady still has some affection for that foolish girl. But seeing my son become lame, it’s heartbreaking…”

Chen Feng was completely awake now. There was an earth-shattering secret hidden in this body! If this was true, it would explain the old lady’s dislike to her and Chen Dabao, and also why it was acceptable. After all, the family was poor, and it was difficult to support their own, let alone outsiders.

Despite just arriving the previous day, she could tell that Mrs. Wang treated her very well, and in this family, her treatment ranked second, just after Chen Ming. Moreover, she even provided for Chen Feng and Chen Dabao’s future.

Chen Ming not only wasn’t angry, but also regarded the two of them as family.

This man was not only kind, but also magnanimous.