Zhong Meixian was fiercely protective of her own. She could criticize Wen Tang herself, but she wouldn’t tolerate anyone else speaking ill of her or implying she was lacking. So, she retorted to Gu Jinfeng, “The rumors you’ve heard are just lies.”  

“Besides, what’s the point of saying all this now?”  

“Those two are getting along just fine. If you dare make trouble, who knows—they might even get divorced together!”  

“When that happens, what good will your prior arrangements do?”  

Gu Jinfeng: “…”  

“Since you’re saying this, I won’t argue with you anymore.”  

“Forget it, let’s eat first. The food’s ready, and it’ll get cold if we wait any longer.” Gu Jinfeng had no desire to keep quarreling.  

As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Juyuan and Lin Liansheng, father-in-law and son-in-law, returned from the fields.  

After Zhong Meixian went to the kitchen, Wen Tang and Chi Yue exchanged smiles and stood up, carrying the stools inside while setting the table.  

Since the others had cooked, the two of them couldn’t just sit back and wait to be served. They had perfectly good hands and feet—their pride wouldn’t allow them to be that shameless.  

Their earlier remarks had been deliberately spoken for Zhong Meixian’s ears.  

First, to establish their personas, and second, to ensure they could openly gossip together in the future.  

As sworn enemies, whispering through the wall every day was far too inconvenient.  

Now that they “admired” each other and had become friends, things would be much easier going forward.  

The Gu family’s lunch table was crowded, yet unusually quiet.  

Gu Jinfeng and the others stayed silent because of the words Zhong Meixian had repeated earlier.  

As for Gu Juyuan and Lin Liansheng, the father-in-law and son-in-law duo kept their heads down, barely looking up, all because Gu Yanli sat there calmly eating—with a bite mark on his chin.  

Lin Jingshen, the blockhead, nearly blurted out whether Wen Tang had bitten him, but after glancing at Wen Tang sitting beside Gu Yanli, he wisely shut his mouth.  

Thus, lunch passed in rare silence.  

After the meal, Gu Yinfeng and Gu Xiaohua offered to help wash the dishes, but Gu Jinfeng insisted it was just a few bowls and refused their help. The two sisters didn’t even stay for water, fleeing their parents’ home as if chased by dogs.  

Once the sisters left, Gu Jinfeng and Zhong Meixian forgot about their argument from the previous noon and squeezed into the kitchen together.  

Gu Jinfeng sat down with a sigh. “Mom, tell me—how did our family end up with daughters-in-law like these?”  

Zhong Meixian thought for a moment. “Maybe the ancestral graves were poorly placed.”  

Gu Jinfeng: “…”  

“So the Gu family’s graves are bad, and the Lin family’s too?”  

Zhong Meixian fell silent.  

After a long pause, she sighed. “When I die, tell your dad to bury me in a good spot. Maybe that’ll help.”  

Gu Jinfeng: “…”  

“So I should just bury myself now?”  

Zhong Meixian said nothing more.  

Mother and daughter sat in silence.  

When Wen Tang and Chi Yue came to offer to wash the dishes, both women immediately put on smiles. “No need, no need. You two… go play. There aren’t many bowls.”  

“Yes, yes, just a few bowls. Go on, go have fun!”  

Naturally, Wen Tang and Chi Yue didn’t go out to play. Even if they hadn’t been transmigrators, as outsiders married into the village, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, they had no desire to wander around.  

They simply sat together, whispering about what to do next—whether to stay in the village or make other plans.  

After a while, Wen Tang cut off the discussion. “Let’s not plan too far ahead. We’ll talk after tomorrow.”  

Chi Yue: ??  

Wen Tang mouthed the word “female lead.”  

Chi Yue smacked her forehead. “I was so excited about securing our place in the family today that I forgot about that.”  

“Don’t worry. No matter what, I’ve got your back,” Chi Yue vowed, thumping her chest.

Patting, patting, Chi Yue couldn’t resist reaching out with her “naughty hands” to express her envy: “Seriously, even after transmigrating, your body is still this alluring. The author is way too unfair!”  

Chi Yue puffed out her chest, and Wen Tang, without any hesitation, immediately gave it a playful squeeze, then smirked. “Not bad at all. Lin Jingshen’s getting a steal.”  

“And look at your hair—so thick now. No need to even think about hair transplants.”  

Chi Yue ran a hand through her hair. Yeah, her hair really was flawless.  

The two of them sat there, one groping, the other poking, and before they knew it, half the day had flown by.  

By evening, they proactively headed to the kitchen to help with dinner, but Gu Jinfeng and Zhong Meixian refused again. “Your grandma and I can handle it. No need for you two just yet!”  

After watching them whisper together all afternoon, Gu Jinfeng felt a chill just glancing their way.  

In her eyes, those two sitting together for hours had undoubtedly cooked up some fresh mischief.  

Best to keep them appeased—otherwise, another explosive argument might erupt tonight.  

The mere thought made Gu Jinfeng feel like her lifespan was shortening by the minute.  

Might as well start scouting burial plots early.  

Neither family was particularly large, so dinner was simple. Once finished, everyone retreated to their own rooms.  

For once, Gu Yanli only slept with her once, simply holding her close to rest.  

Having grown accustomed to three or four rounds a day, Wen Tang felt oddly unsettled by the sudden drop to one.  

Her fingers tapped lightly on Gu Yanli’s chest as she wondered—was the plot’s influence making him lose interest in her?  

Before she could tap a third time, her hand was caught. “Sleep,” Gu Yanli murmured, his voice rough. “We have to get up early tomorrow to visit your family.”  

“Returning home?”  

“Mhm.”  

Wen Tang quickly withdrew her hand—and her whole body—shrinking away when something pressed against her. She stayed obediently still after that.  

Fortunately, Gu Yanli had strong self-control. Even as he pulled her back into his arms, he didn’t act further.  

Wen Tang didn’t dare move either, so she pretended to sleep—until, eventually, she actually drifted off.  

The next time she opened her eyes, Gu Yanli was gently calling to her from the bedside. “Time to get up.”  

Rubbing her eyes, Wen Tang saw daylight outside.  

Seeing she was awake, Gu Yanli said, “You get ready first. I’m going out to buy some things.”  

It was the day for returning to her family—showing up empty-handed wouldn’t do.  

Though there was brown sugar at home, he wanted to pick up something extra.  

He worried that if he waited until after shopping to wake her, they’d be pressed for time.  

“Okay,” Wen Tang mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.  

Before leaving, Gu Yanli pinched her cheek lightly, satisfied, then headed out.  

Still groggy from waking too early, Wen Tang barely reacted to the pinch. She just dressed, got out of bed, combed her hair, and stepped outside to brush her teeth and wash up.  

While squatting to brush her teeth, she ran into Chi Yue, who had also come to the well for her morning routine.  

Seeing her best friend—plus the cold water in her mouth—snapped her brain awake.  

Once fully alert, Wen Tang ptui! spat out her toothpaste.  

After rinsing quickly, she waved Chi Yue over. “Yueyue, come on—let’s go eat some melon.”  

Chi Yue swished two mouthfuls of water and spat out her foam. “Whose melon?”  

“Where?”