Chapter 7

Hearing the voice, the joy on the five children’s little faces couldn’t be hidden as they shouted, “Daddy!”

Fan Mu and Sun Jinhua, who had initially been flustered, gradually calmed down. Especially Fan Mu, seeing her son return, seemed to feel a great injustice had been righted, tears falling uncontrollably.

She quickly walked into the courtyard and pulled her second son aside to tell him about her difficulties.

Shuiqing clicked her tongue in admiration.

Fan Mu really was a born actress, and a powerful one at that—tears falling at will!

If only she had been born in another era, in China with such acting skills, she could have lived a life of luxury.

She then looked up at the man the five children called “Daddy,” who was also nominally her “husband.”

He wore a coarse white robe, washed to the point of fading, with heavily worn cuffs and collar. Yet the man had gentle brows and eyes, standing tall with broad shoulders and long legs, exuding an air of grace without a hint of poverty.

Shuiqing thought to herself, is this what they call “a scholar’s elegance shines through”?

Meanwhile, Fan Mu had already tearfully and incoherently finished her complaints.

“Your good wife almost killed your mother! Your sister-in-law was just joking about selling Daya, but she wouldn’t let it go, making a big fuss.”

“San Zhu accidentally bumped into her, and she lay down all morning, doing no work.”

“I lightly scolded Daya and Erya, and she came out, causing such a scene that all the neighbors came to watch, ruining your mother’s and sister-in-law’s reputations, making it impossible for them to show their faces.”

“She even chopped up the dining table over the issue of Daya and Erya not being able to eat at the table, and your poor mother is still starving now.”

…

Shuiqing wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt that her “husband” looked at her with a meaningful gaze after hearing these words.

However, this mother-in-law of hers was indeed skilled at distorting the truth.

No wonder the original host had been oppressed for over ten years, constantly stifled, and even lost her life.

Fortunately, heaven had eyes and sent her here.

Whatever the reason, she would make Fan Mu and Sun Jinhua pay the price they deserved.

Sensing her mother’s agitation, Erya quickly comforted her, “Mother, don’t be angry.”

Shuiqing was curious and asked, “Aren’t you five worried?”

Earlier, when Fan Mu and Sun Jinhua were speaking nonsense, the five children had clearly looked anxious.

The five children shook their heads in unison and replied softly, “Daddy won’t believe them.”

Shuiqing understood and smiled. From the completely trusting reactions of the five children, their father was a competent parent—at least not blindly filial.

But then, why were the five children still living a life where they couldn’t get enough to eat or wear…

“Joking about selling Daya? Mother, do you think that’s funny?” The gentle voice was deeper and more stable, with no hint of amusement.

Fan Mu closed her mouth and didn’t answer.

“Since even an elder like you doesn’t find it funny, for an eleven-year-old child, it’s even less of a joke.”

Fan Mu and Sun Jinhua’s faces turned cold.

“Sanzhu is sturdy, and Shuiqing is young, so she could only lie down for a morning after being bumped. If it were you, mother, it might have cost you half your life. Better discipline him strictly, or one day, he might bump into someone, and no amount of money will be enough to compensate.”

Sun Jinhua was displeased, “Little brother-in-law, your words are harsh. Are you cursing my Sanzhu?

Besides, he’s just a child. What’s wrong with bumping into someone? As adults, should we hold a grudge against a child?”

She insisted it was just a child bumping into someone, and adults shouldn’t hold it against a child anywhere.

Fan Jin didn’t even frown. His dark eyes looked at his sister-in-law and said gently, “If a child does something wrong, it’s the parents’ fault. When children are too young to take responsibility, it’s naturally the parents who should.”

“For instance, if a village child stole your money, and after spending it, couldn’t pay it back, who do you think should compensate you?”

Under Fan Jin’s gentle gaze and tone, Sun Jinhua subconsciously replied, “Of course, the child’s parents should compensate me!”

“Sister-in-law, you’re absolutely right. How about this, Shuiqing lay down all morning, clearly injured. Since we’re still family, let’s not talk about money, just compensation.”

Fan Jin paused, his dark eyes looked towards Shuiqing, and just when she thought he was going to ask her opinion, he looked straight past her, landing on Erya, and asked warmly, “Xing Hui, you’re always smart. What do you think Aunt should compensate your mother with?”

Being praised, Erya beamed and counted, “Mother lost a lot of blood, so she definitely needs good nourishment.

There should be sixty-five eggs stored at home, so give fifty eggs to mother for her recovery.

Oh, and Aunt has two pounds of brown sugar, just right for making brown sugar eggs, which are best for health!”

Erya knew Aunt would never part with silver, but she could part with eggs from the communal stock and brown sugar she had.

Sun Jinhua’s heart bled. She had just bought those two pounds of brown sugar, and now she had to give them to Shuiqing!

And she dared call herself worthy?

Fan Mu’s heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. Fifty eggs could be traded for a lot of salt or could nourish herself. Now, they would all go into Hu’s stomach!

“If Aunt isn’t willing, then money would be more practical.”

“Willing! Willing! Little brother-in-law is right; we’re still family, so talking about money is too distant!” Sun Jinhua was afraid Fan Jin would retract his words, quickly agreeing.

After all, she only had to give up two pounds of brown sugar. The fifty eggs, although partly hers, were mostly under her mother-in-law’s control, and her mother-in-law would definitely feel more pain.

Under Fan Jin’s gentle smile, Sun Jinhua brought out the brown sugar wrapped in oil paper, and Fan Mu brought out fifty eggs in a bamboo basket.

Fan Jin motioned for the two girls to accept them, then calmly said, “Alright, now let’s talk about separating the family.”

Shuiqing watched as her “husband” resolved the matter with a smile, her confusion deepening.

Everyone else called the girls Daya and Erya, but he called Erya “Xing Hui”;

When it came time to ask for things, he intended to ask her what she needed, but why did he skip over her? Did he think she wouldn’t know what Sun Jinhua had and thus wouldn’t know what to ask for?

Also, regarding his mother’s complaint about ruining their reputation, he didn’t address it directly but brought up the issue of family separation. Had he been planning this for a while…