Chapter 6: Eating Her Leftovers

Chi Wan walked out of the house, taking the opportunity to observe the Huo family’s dwelling.

The Huo family had three rooms in total.

The dilapidated tile roofed house had wooden walls that were riddled with holes, letting in the wind. There was no way to repair them, so they could only use some mud and straw mixed together to patch them up.

A gust of wind would stir up a cloud of yellow dust.

If it rained or there was a strong wind, the house would leak from top to bottom.

The three rooms were not very big.

Chi Wan remembered that there were four people in the Huo family.

Her mother-in-law, Zhang Yue’e, her eldest brother-in-law, Huo Nanchuan, and his two younger siblings, Huo Dongzhi and Huo Chuchun.

One was sixteen years old, and the other was fifteen.

The two children were still young, so they could squeeze onto one bed and sleep.

But when Huo Dongzhi grew up a few more years, the current three rooms would not be enough.

They were truly a poor widow and her children, living in a bare house.

No wonder everyone in the village said the Huo family was poor. Even Lu Xiangxiang had rejected the marriage because of this.

Chi Wan saw the bleakness of the Huo family, but she also saw their good points.

Although the Huo family’s house was not good, they had a large courtyard in front of it.

There was even a well in the courtyard.

In the remote countryside, a well was a coveted possession.

Whether it was for drinking water, cooking, washing vegetables, or bathing, they didn’t have to go out and carry water, which saved a lot of effort.

Moreover, the groundwater was clear and sweet, a real treat!

Chi Wan’s eyes lit up.

Next to the well was a large pear tree.

It was spring, so the pear tree had not yet borne fruit, but it had already sprouted lush green leaves.

In the summer,

Eating juicy pears while enjoying the shade under the tree, just thinking about it felt pleasant.

On the other side of the courtyard,

There was a simple little kitchen.

The kitchen looked new, probably built in recent years, maybe even built by Huo Nanchuan himself.

The stove was on the inside, and the outer wall was neatly stacked with firewood.

This small home was simple inside and out.

Yet, it was clean and tidy, exuding a vibrant energy.

No wonder Huo Nanchuan would achieve such great things decades later.

Chi Wan looked around and walked to the dining table.

Because the house was not big enough, they ate in the courtyard.

A square small table, three small stools, and fragrant food on the table.

“Xiao Wan, come over here and eat! You’ve been working all night, come and sit down!”

Zhang Yue’e smiled happily and pulled Chi Wan to sit at the small table.

She also handed Chi Wan a pair of chopsticks.

As Chi Wan reached out to take the chopsticks, she said, “Mother, you sit down too.”

That single word “Mother.”

Made Zhang Yue’e feel so comfortable.

She also saw the familiar jade green bracelet on Chi Wan’s washed white wrist as she reached out.

Zhang Yue’e’s eyes lit up instantly.

Her wrinkled face showed a smile she had never seen before.

That jade bracelet was their Huo family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation to their daughter-in-law.

The Huo family had a childhood engagement with the Lu family. Lu Xiangxiang was once considered Huo Nanchuan’s future wife.

Before, Zhang Yue’e had reminded Huo Nanchuan to give the jade bracelet to Lu Xiangxiang first, to solidify the marriage and give both families peace of mind.

But Huo Nanchuan had disagreed at the time.

Later, Lu Xiangxiang broke off the engagement, arguing loudly and refusing to marry Huo Nanchuan. She even cursed the Huo family for being poor, saying that marrying into their family meant she would starve to death.

Huo Nanchuan didn’t want to force her, so he canceled the engagement. It was just a verbal agreement between the adults anyway.

Zhang Yue’e always knew that Huo Nanchuan was a man with a lot of ideas.

He thought a lot, but spoke little.

He was protective of his family, but indifferent and distant to others.

Now, on their first day of marriage…

The jade bracelet, symbolizing the daughter-in-law’s status, was on Chi Wan’s wrist.

What did that represent?

It was self-explanatory.

Zhang Yue’e smiled so wide that her eyes almost disappeared, she was so happy.

It was as if she could immediately hold a big, fat grandson!

She grinned, “Eat, eat, eat! Xiao Wan, eat more.”

While the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking.

Huo Nanchuan walked out of the kitchen.

The man’s big hand easily carried three large bowls, placing them in front of each of them.

Chi Wan looked up in confusion.

Sitting on the small stool, she looked up at the tall and upright man beside her, her clear eyes sparkling like crystals in the sunlight.

Huo Nanchuan’s eyes flickered.

As if he understood Chi Wan’s silent question, he sat down and explained.

“Xiao Dong and Xiao Chun are helping out in the fields. I’ll go deliver food after we finish eating.”

Zhang Yue’e also chimed in, “Don’t worry about those two little ones, I gave them some steamed buns before they left, they won’t starve. Let’s eat first.”

Chi Wan finally said “Okay” with peace of mind.

But when she lowered her head and looked at the large bowl in front of her, she was stunned again.

It was…

It was a bowl of glistening white rice!

The heat was just right, not too wet or too dry. The rice was white and plump, each grain distinct, with a fragrant rice aroma.

The Huo family was practically penniless, living in a bare house.

How could they possibly have white rice to eat?

Chi Wan was filled with disbelief.

She had been in this village for almost a year, and she knew the situation here all too well.

Every household was struggling.

The better-off families could eat steamed buns and noodles, while the poorer ones could only eat sweet potatoes and potatoes to fill their stomachs.

Such fragrant white rice was not even available in the village head’s house.

Chi Wan had been eating and drinking in the production brigade before.

The most common dishes were boiled potatoes and potato shreds, which made her stomach churn with sourness.

But she was so hungry that she had to grit her teeth and swallow the unpalatable food.

Such a fragrant bowl of white rice had only appeared in her dreams.

Now it was placed in front of her.

The rice aroma, carried by the heat, filled her breath.

Just smelling it made her mouth water.

Chi Wan couldn’t imagine that one day she would be so excited for a bowl of white rice.

But when she looked at Huo Nanchuan and Zhang Yue’e’s bowls, she quickly realized that they weren’t eating white rice, but a mixture of sweet potatoes and rice, sweet potato rice.

Especially Huo Nanchuan’s bowl.

It was full of sweet potatoes, with only a few grains of rice.

It was a stark contrast to the clean bowl of white rice in front of her.

Could it be…

Huo Nanchuan, as always, was keenly aware of Chi Wan’s gaze.

He lowered his dark eyes, his long, slender fingers holding chopsticks, picked up the most tender piece of fish from the braised fish, and placed it in Chi Wan’s bowl.

He said softly, “Eat.”

He didn’t say another word.

But it warmed Chi Wan’s heart.

Chi Wan finally picked up her chopsticks and ate the piece of fish that Huo Nanchuan had given her.

Delicious!

So delicious!

Not only was the white rice fragrant and soft, but the fish was also tender and flavorful.

Did Huo Nanchuan cook this?

His cooking skills were amazing!

Chi Wan was filled with disbelief, her bright eyes, which held a hint of charm, kept glancing at the upright man.

She wanted to know how many more surprises he had that she didn’t know about.

Chi Wan didn’t think there was anything wrong with her behavior.

She didn’t notice the man’s stiffening back and slightly reddening ears.

Huo Nanchuan ate in silence, hardly speaking, and rarely picked up any food.

On the other hand, Zhang Yue’e.

She was an experienced woman, and Huo Nanchuan’s mother.

She had carried him in her womb for ten months, how could she not see Huo Nanchuan’s unusual behavior?

She grinned, almost showing her gums, and chattered to Chi Wan.

“Xiao Wan, you’ve entered our family now, we’re all one. Don’t be shy, eat more, eat more, look how thin you are, it makes me worried…”

“Our eldest son is very capable, he’s good at everything, whether it’s farming or going up the mountain, no young man in the village can compare to him!”

“Don’t worry, as long as he has food to eat, you’ll have food to eat too, I won’t let you go hungry. Feel free to eat as much as you want, we’re all family, don’t be polite.”

After seeing through Lu Xiangxiang’s true nature.

Zhang Yue’e truly understood that, whether it was people from the village or the city, they were all the same, they were all obsessed with wealth!

Such a beautiful and delicate girl like Chi Wan, she didn’t even mind their poverty.

She truly liked her.

Chi Wan declined repeatedly, but her bowl was quickly filled with food, almost overflowing.

Finally, Huo Nanchuan reached out and stopped Zhang Yue’e.

“Mother, that’s enough, let her eat on her own.”

Chi Wan held her almost overflowing bowl and said to Zhang Yue’e, “Thank you, Mother.”

At the same time.

She also smiled at Huo Nanchuan.

Her eyebrows were curved, her lips were pink, and her corners were upturned.

She was like a little hook.

It made people feel a tickle in their hearts.

Huo Nanchuan’s eyes flickered quickly, he didn’t dare to look a second time.

He felt…

Wasn’t it Chuchun? Why was the sun so strong, it made him feel hot all over.

Chi Wan was truly hungry.

But she had drunk some spiritual spring water and eaten a few big, red cherries in her spirit treasure space, so she didn’t feel as hungry as she had been initially.

Moreover, she had a small mouth and a small appetite.

Huo Nanchuan gave her such a big bowl of rice and so much food.

Chi Wan ate as much as she could, but she only managed to eat half of it.

Her stomach was already round and protruding.

She really couldn’t eat anymore.

Her watery eyes slowly revealed a hint of petulance.

Zhang Yue’e was still sitting in front of her, what should she do?

Silently.

Her soft gaze fell on Huo Nanchuan.

Chi Wan kicked Huo Nanchuan’s foot under the small table.

The man immediately looked up, his dark, deep eyes met Chi Wan’s, seeing her cheeks flushed from the sun and her silent pleading gaze.

Huo Nanchuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

He asked, “You’re full?”

“Too much, really too much, I haven’t eaten this much in a whole day before.”

Chi Wan waved her hands repeatedly.

Huo Nanchuan said, “If you’re full, don’t eat anymore.”

Chi Wan was relieved, she could finally put down her chopsticks.

However.

The next second.

The bowl she had just put down was picked up again by a dark and broad hand.

Huo Nanchuan didn’t even pick up any food, his right hand held chopsticks, his left hand held the bowl, and he ate Chi Wan’s unfinished food in large mouthfuls.

Chi Wan was stunned.

The village was poor and frugal, they couldn’t waste food, but this was her leftovers…

Zhang Yue’e, on the other hand, was overjoyed.

She laughed and said, “Our eldest son has a good appetite, he doesn’t pick his food, he can eat anything. Xiao Wan, if you want to eat something, or if you don’t want to eat something, you can tell him. As husband and wife, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, just be close.”

Chi Wan listened to these words, her cheeks didn’t turn red, even her ears turned red.