Chapter 22: Good Sisters Share the Bitter

Everyone felt relieved that no one was seriously injured.

Gao Ming scolded Old Mrs. Mu, “Auntie, I’m not trying to be mean, but Fengzhen was too reckless. If she does this again, I won’t interfere.”

Old Mrs. Mu’s face ached, and she mumbled an agreement.

Mu Jingzhou quietly asked Su Tang, “Did Big Sister hit you?”

“No. But I was so nervous when I pulled them apart, I held onto Big Sister’s hair for a bit too long…”

Su Tang stuck out her tongue, looking both cute and a little scared.

Mu Jingzhou was relieved, and ruffled her head, “If Big Sister tries to hit you, just run, okay?”

“Mmm, okay.” Su Tang smiled happily.

Mu Jingzhou’s heart warmed, and he whispered as they walked, “I collected more rosin in the mountains today.”

“Ah, why did you go to the mountains to collect it instead of working?”

“Aren’t you making soap?”

“Pfft, rosin is only used to help with foaming; a small handful is enough for many bars of soap.”

“Then what are you short of?”

“Seashells. I’m planning to make my own lye solution instead of using lye powder to lower the cost.”

“Okay, I’ll go pick some up by the river later.”

The group returned home, and Li Lan quickly expressed concern, “How is the second sister-in-law?”

“Injured.”

Mu Jingyun’s two cold words froze the smile on Li Lan’s face.

It wasn’t her who caused the injury, so why the cold shoulder?

Mu Jingyun carried Yu Miaomiao back to bed and asked, “How are you feeling now?”

“I feel better with you here.” Yu Miaomiao softly said.

Mu Jingyun’s heart tightened, he took her hand and kissed it, “Are you thirsty?”

“No, I’m just hungry.”

“You lie down, I’ll go cook.”

Mu Jingyun turned to leave; Old Mrs. Mu and Li Lan were already tending the fire to prepare dinner.

This time, no one dared to wait idly; except for Old Man Mu, everyone actively found work to do.

Su Tang was using a stone mortar to pound the Gastrodia elata.

But it was too hard! She didn’t have enough strength, and after pounding for a while, it was still in chunks.

“Third sister-in-law, thank you for your help today, let me do it!”

“Okay.”

Mu Jingyun took over, pounding the Gastrodia elata into powder, and then carefully sieving it. He scooped the coarser particles again.

Su Tang was amazed by his meticulous work.

Indeed, people with obsessive personalities often have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

“Mother, where are the eggs?” Mu Jingyun asked.

Old Mrs. Mu looked at her favorite son, speechless. Finally, she went back to her room and brought out an egg, “Here, here!”

Mu Jingyun mixed the egg with oil and salt, sprinkled on the Gastrodia elata powder, and steamed it.

Eggs were also precious.

After Li Lan found out she was pregnant, she hadn’t seen an egg. Adding firewood, she smelled the aroma of the eggs and was terribly hungry.

But the second brother’s glare was intimidating, and she didn’t dare to compete with Yu Miaomiao. So she asked, “Mom, how do we cook the rabbit?”

“Let’s stew it with some potatoes, I’m not very good at cooking…” Old Mrs. Mu missed Yu Miaomiao’s cooking skills in her heart.

If Yu Miaomiao wasn’t sick, she would have made it deliciously.

“What rabbit? We’re not eating it today!” Mu Jingyun said coldly.

Li Lan chuckled nervously, “It’s already been slaughtered; it’ll go bad if we leave it until tomorrow.”

“My wife and the third sister-in-law hunted that rabbit, and no one can eat it until she can.”

Su Tang added, “We can marinate it first and eat it when second sister-in-law is better. Second brother, can you marinate the rabbit?”

“The third brother can.”

Mu Jingzhou first rubbed the rabbit with wine, then salt, kneading it until it was well-seasoned. Then he covered it with a basin, “Marinate it for two days, then hang it to dry.”

Those who had been craving chicken in the morning, and now the rabbit all day, could only stare.

But no one dared to say anything.

Su Tang realized: Everyone is afraid of the obsessive!

In the end, they could only eat the taro and cabbage soup cooked by Old Mrs. Mu.

“Second brother, you guys eat. I’ll take the egg to second sister-in-law.”

“Thank you, third sister-in-law.”

“You’re welcome.”

Su Tang brought the egg custard into the room, “Second sister-in-law, come and eat the egg. It’s delicious.”

“Did you steam it?” Yu Miaomiao asked suspiciously, “When did you become so good at steaming eggs?”

“It wasn’t me. It was second brother. Second brother is really good to you, he even did it himself. He also saved the rabbit for you to eat when you’re better.” Su Tang said.

Yu Miaomiao didn’t expect a stand-in to receive such treatment.

But she must not be swayed!

They were only changing some insignificant plot points; when Shen Mingzhu returned, she would still be defeated by the protagonist’s halo.

“Eat quickly!” Su Tang giggled.

Yu Miaomiao took a bite, “It’s bitter…”

“A bitter medicine.”

“I’m not really sick.”

“Gastrodia elata is a good thing, it cures illness and nourishes the body even if you’re not sick.”

“Then let’s eat it together.”

Su Tang dared not, shaking her head, “I’m afraid second brother will beat me. He’s really fierce when he’s angry, even his parents are intimidated.”

“Obsessive equals willful, which equals overbearing. Everyone is afraid of unreasonable people.” Yu Miaomiao snorted, forcing Su Tang to eat with her, “Come on, let’s share the bitter together.”

“…”

Although the Gastrodia elata was bitter, the egg was fragrant. The two sisters took turns eating, enjoying it immensely.

After dinner, Mu Jingyun gave the remaining Gastrodia elata powder and five eggs to Su Tang, “Third sister-in-law, I won’t be free tomorrow, please take care of your second sister-in-law. Three eggs for your second sister-in-law, and two for you.”

“Second brother, you’re too kind! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take good care of her.” Su Tang accepted the things and hummed a little tune as she returned to her room.

Five eggs! She wondered how Mu Jingyun persuaded Old Mrs. Mu to give so many.

Tomorrow, she’ll have egg fried rice!

Mu Jingzhou had already showered and was drying his hair.

There was double the amount of rosin in the drying sieve. Su Tang suddenly thought of rosin’s sister—peach gum.

Rosin is used to make soap, but peach gum is edible!

“Third brother, next time you go, collect some from the peach trees.”

“That’s useful too?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. There’s a large peach orchard in our village; I’ll collect some more next time I work in the peach forest.”

The village’s orchards are publicly owned; part of the peaches and plums harvested each year are sold, and part is distributed to the villagers.

Now everyone doesn’t know the wonderful use of peach gum, so they don’t care. If one day they find out, the whole village will curse their family for stealing public property.

Su Tang imagined the scene and felt scared, “Forget it, let’s just collect some from the mountains…”

“What’s there to be afraid of? No one wants that stuff. My contributions to the village are more than just this.” Mu Jingzhou’s usually tense face relaxed.

So beautiful and yet so timid, how cute!

He had chosen the right wife!

“Third brother, what contributions have you made to the village?” Su Tang curiously asked.

Mu Jingzhou pinched her face, “Let’s not talk about this, go take a bath. I’ve missed you all day.”

“…”

Such straightforward and suggestive words!

Having been sweating all day, Su Tang also wanted to wash up, so she didn’t ask further.

The rose fragrance had filled the room all day, and the two of them made love amidst the strong fragrance.

For Mu Jingzhou, who never used fragrances, the experience was exceptionally good.

From that night on, Mu Jingzhou developed the habit of picking flowers home…