Chapter 24

Taohua had held a long-standing grudge against Chen Dashan. After speaking, she got

She had just grabbed the broom in the yard when Chen Dashan’s voice came through the crack in the gate:

“Taohua, I knew you were home. You’re still pretending with me, huh? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Open the door. I have something to say to you.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. Hurry up and leave! I already told you when I got married that we have nothing to do with each other anymore,” Taohua shouted back.

“What kind of tone is that, girl? You can’t tell your father to leave like that! Listen here, Taohua, once a father, always a father. As long as your mother is still my wife, you have to call me father,” Chen Dashan insisted.

“I don’t have a father like you! If you don’t leave, I’ll show you no mercy!” Taohua snapped.

Saying that, Taohua picked up two stones from the ground and threw them outside. However, Chen Dashan dodged them both.

He avoided the stones while laughing: “Heh, can’t hit me! You want me to leave? I heard you got a lot of silver in the town today. Give me some money to buy liquor, and I’ll leave right away.”

“You want money for liquor!?” Taohua laughed in anger. She turned and ran into the kitchen.

When she came out again, she was holding a kettle of hot water.

At that moment, Sun Xiaolan had opened the yard door under Taohua’s instructions.

Seeing Chen Dashan, Taohua didn’t hesitate. She focused solely on pouring the hot water from the kettle onto him.

Although the water was no longer boiling, it was still quite hot.

Before long, Chen Dashan was hopping around, his hands red from the burn.

He pointed at Taohua while running away, cursing, “You little brat, you’re ruthless. You wait! Next time I come, you’ll regret it!”

“If you dare come again, I’ll have my husband break your legs!!! You shameless scoundrel!!” Taohua yelled.

“Yes, well said! Chen Dashan is a scoundrel!” Sun Xiaolan clapped her hands as she cheered.

She helped Taohua close the door and praised her, “I’ve noticed you’ve really changed. You’re no longer timid like before, especially bold! It feels so good to see you standing up for yourself!”

“Ah,” Taohua sighed, “I didn’t want to yell like that, but Chen Dashan is just too bad. When Qin Dage comes back, I’m definitely going to tell him.”

“Of course! Let your man stand up for you!” Sun Xiaolan said as she grabbed Taohua’s hand and led her into the house. “Don’t sigh anymore; you’ll be sighing away your luck. But don’t worry, you’ve got your man to back you up. If you ever feel frustrated, take him to bed. Maybe the next day you’ll wake up with good fortune!”

“Xiaolan!” Taohua almost forgot to be angry. “Why do you always think about these things?”

“Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more. Let’s go back and make shoe soles,” Sun Xiaolan teased.

Sun Xiaolan stayed at the Qin household until the sun was about to set. After she left, Taohua started preparing dinner.

Just as she began ladling the rice soup, Qin Feng returned.

He had gone up the mountain to set up traps and brought back a bundle of firewood on his way down. After he got back, he didn’t rest and immediately started organizing the firewood in the yard.

So, it wasn’t until mealtime that Taohua was able to sit down and talk to him.

“Qin Dage, today, Chen Dashan came over. I didn’t open the door. He wanted to ask me for money, but I was so angry that I threw hot water on him, and that made him leave.

At first, I felt a little relieved after teaching him a lesson, but now that I think about it, I’m getting more scared. He said next time he sees me, I’ll be finished.”

As soon as Qin Feng heard this, he immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks.

“I gave him fifteen taels of silver, and we even signed a promissory note. How dare he come to our door when I’m not home! Taohua, don’t worry about this. Don’t be scared. I promise he won’t dare come to our house again.”

“Then what do you plan to do, Qin Dage?” Taohua also set down her bowl, looking at him anxiously. “Actually, I’m scared of something else.

I’m afraid that after losing to me, he might go back and bully my mother. Chen Dashan is a scoundrel. He’s often beaten my mother when he’s drunk.

Qin Dage, after we finish eating, could you please come with me to check on my mother at Chen’s house? If she’s okay, then I’ll feel at ease.”

“Okay,” Qin Feng immediately agreed, “I can see you’re really worried. Let’s finish our meal first, but it’s not urgent. We can eat when we get back.”

“Alright!” Taohua nodded eagerly. “I’ll keep the food warm in the pot, so we can have it hot when we return.”

“I’ll take care of it. You go get some things to sneak to your mother. What are you looking at me for?”

Taohua bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Thank you, Qin Dage. Thank you for thinking of my mother.”

Seeing Taohua with tears in her eyes, Qin Feng felt a sudden surge of emotion, wanting to hold this obedient and lovable little wife close.

“Silly girl, don’t forget, I also call your mother ‘Mother.'”

“Mm!” Taohua sniffed, quickly turning around and heading to the room.

Though Qin Feng was generous, their family wasn’t exactly wealthy, so Taohua couldn’t take too many things back. Plus, if she made it too obvious, it wouldn’t be good if Chen Dashan saw.