Chapter 11: Little Qiao Qiao, Did You Eat Chicken This Morning?

Upon hearing the voices, An’an immediately pulled back the clothes covering her head and sweetly called out,

“Aunt Meizi, Brother Jingguo.”

“Hey, An’an, come here, Auntie wants a hug.” Fang Meizi instantly smiled warmly, reaching out her arms.

She really liked this well-behaved and quiet child.

Not like that little rascal Fang Jingguo who was always causing trouble.

Fang Jingguo grinned and called out, “Aunt Qiao.”

Then he grabbed An’an’s little foot and shook it gently. “Aunt Qiao, is An’an still sick?”

Bai Ruoqiao covered An’an with her clothes again.

“She’s better now, just can’t be exposed to wind yet, so I thought to leave An’an at your place for a while.”

“Oh, what a coincidence! My mom just came by to say you’re moving. She wanted me and Jingguo to come help, and also invited you and An’an to rest at our house.

By the way, Qiao Qiao, how’s your foot?”

Bai Ruoqiao felt a warmth in her heart and smiled softly.

“It’s fine. After applying the medicine, it got better.”

“All right, let’s go. Jingguo, help your Aunt Qiao walk.”

“Hey~” Fang Jingguo, like a little puppy, trotted over and grabbed her arm.

“Aunt Qiao, I’ll help you. Be careful walking.”

Though memories from her previous life were already fuzzy, at this moment many became clear again.

Thinking that this little troublemaker would become a respectable entrepreneur in the future made her smile.

She raised a hand and patted his fuzzy head, “Aunt Qiao’s fine, no need to hold me. Let’s go.”

The few of them went over to Fang’s house, leaving Fang Jingguo to accompany An’an.

Bai Ruoqiao and Fang Meizi took their things and headed toward the old house.

On the way, they ran into a pair of twins from the village head’s family, both in middle school.

She recognized them after Meizi called out their names, easily matching faces.

“Little Qiao Qiao, did you eat chicken this morning? Just now when we came, we heard your grandma shouting at the door.”

Cheng Yueya smiled mischievously as if feeling relieved.

She had given An’an a boiled egg earlier.

That old witch insisted Little Qiao Qiao had stolen her egg.

She even hit An’an.

When Cheng Yueya testified, she was thinking, one day I’ll just cook those two chickens of hers.

Of course, that was just a thought.

Cheng Guodong chimed in, “She cursed loudly. They should kill all the chickens and eat them—leave none.”

Fang Meizi looked surprised and curious, “Qiao Qiao, you really killed her chickens?”

That old witch would be furious then.

Bai Ruoqiao couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile.

“The doctor said An’an is malnourished and needs supplements. Last night, the meat and food were all hidden away by them, so Brother Sihai had to kill a chicken for soup.”

After hearing this, Fang Meizi laughed along, “Serves her right!”

After a shared sense of indignation, the awkwardness among them lessened considerably.

The four walked together toward the abandoned house.

When they arrived, they found two more people inside.

“Big brother, why are you here? I thought you guys would wait a bit before coming.”

Fang Meizi was surprised to see people moving things out of the yard.

“Enough people in the fields. Hongjun and I came early to help, no big deal about a few work points.”

Fang Daqiang waved his hand, sweat dripping down.

He instinctively tried to lift his sweat shirt to wipe his forehead but could only raise his arm to brush the sweat from his cheek, seeing the three girls.

Fang Hongjun was Fang Hanwu’s eldest son.

Fang Daqiang was Fang Chunsheng’s eldest son.

Both were good brothers of Zhao Sihai, very close.

They weren’t surprised to see them come help but hadn’t expected it so soon.

By now the house had already been cleared out.

Zhao Sihai and Fang Hongjun were hoeing weeds inside.

The earthen floor in the inner room was now covered with grass reaching half a person’s height.

Grass and dust flew everywhere, the soil was disturbed.

A strong earthy smell filled the air, drifting outside the courtyard.

Piles of garbage were stacked like small hills in the yard.

The courtyard was mostly filled with collapsed mud-brick rubble, broken roof tiles, and rotten wood.

Insects were buzzing chaotically all around the yard.

The three girls instinctively stepped back in unison, covering their mouths and noses, eyes sharp and wary.

But Cheng Guodong immediately slipped inside.

He bent down and caught two toads, treating them like precious treasures.

“Heh, look at all these little toads! Haha, I’ll take them to play with Ergou later.”

The three girls looked at him with disgust.

Even Fang Daqiang patted Cheng Guodong on the back and pushed him outside.

“Play what play? Get out, don’t make trouble.”

Cheng Yueya crossed her arms and scolded firmly, “Cheng Guodong, are you here to help or to play around?”

Cheng Guodong was annoyed and wanted to retort.

Seeing Bai Ruoqiao also staring at the toads, he scratched his head awkwardly.

Quickly he dropped the toads, “I’m just used to it. Work is work!”

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to move some things.

Fang Daqiang hurriedly said, “We don’t need you here, the three of us are enough.”

“How come? Big Brother Daqiang, you can’t chase me away. If my dad finds out I’m here just playing, he’d beat me up.”

Cheng Guodong immediately shouted.

Fang Daqiang, seeing him already moving stuff, had no choice but to tell the three outside the yard,

“You three just rest over there, don’t get involved.”

Bai Ruoqiao wouldn’t let them work while she rested.

“Big Brother Daqiang, we want to help too. More people means more strength.”

“Exactly, don’t underestimate us. Women hold up half the sky.”

Cheng Yueya shouted as well.

“Tch, with all your jabbering, half the sky, my foot. Stop yapping.”

Cheng Guodong moved some mud bricks while still teasing.

Cheng Yueya angrily shouted, “Cheng Guodong, what did you say? Say it again!”

“Cheng Yueya, you fierce girl, if you keep this up, you’ll never get married. I’m not going to support you!”

“You little brat, see if I don’t beat you to death!”

Cheng Yueya grabbed a broom and started chasing him.

Cheng Guodong dodged around the garbage pile with a sly “Sss!”

“Cheng Yueya, if you’re brave, put the broom down. Let’s duel one-on-one!”

“Pfft!”

“Ah, Cheng Yueya, you crazy girl, ah, stop, stop!”

Watching the chaos inside the yard, Bai Ruoqiao twitched the corner of her mouth.

Fang Daqiang, speechless, grabbed the broom from Cheng Yueya.

At this moment, Zhao Sihai, hearing the noise, came out.

Seeing Bai Ruoqiao at the door, he put down his hoe and walked over.

He glanced at Fang Meizi beside her and said,

“Qiao Qiao, why don’t you and Meizi go to the supply and marketing cooperative first, see what things we need to buy, and get some meat and vegetables. The kitchen should be usable by noon.”

The three houses — the side room had a wall plastered, the main room had a big hole, and the kitchen was okay except the roof was broken.

After cleaning and fixing, it should be usable.

Seeing him soaked in sweat, hair sticking to his face looking uncomfortable,

Bai Ruoqiao quickly took out a dark blue embroidered handkerchief from her pocket to wipe him.

She glanced around the yard, realizing they probably couldn’t help much, and nodded.

“Okay.”

“I know the supply and marketing cooperative, I’ll go too.”

Cheng Guodong immediately jumped up.

Cheng Yueya kicked him on the butt, “Do your work.”

She stepped forward, “Brother Sihai, Little Qiao Qiao, I’ll come too. More hands make light work.”

“Alright, you guys take the bikes, it’ll be easier to carry things.”

Zhao Sihai responded, unloading the things from the bike and pushing it out.

Fang Meizi and Cheng Yueya’s eyes lit up when they saw the bikes.

Fang Meizi was a bit reserved, but Cheng Yueya stepped forward to take the handlebars.

“Brother Sihai, I’ll push it! I’ll push it!”

She grabbed the handlebar, looking like she wanted to ride off immediately.

Unfortunately, both girls were about 1.5 meters tall.

They couldn’t reach the pedals of these old two-eight bikes, so they couldn’t actually ride.

They just pushed the bikes around to get their “steering wheel control” fix.