“Mother, be careful!”

Zhao Dashan took a quick step forward, rushing over and stepping into the rice field, catching Cheng Wanwan just in time.

Zhao Fugui, who was about to help, found himself grabbing at thin air.

Instead, his ear was suddenly twisted by a strong hand.

His wife, Fugui Auntie, twisted her husband’s ear, her eyebrows raised angrily as she glared at Cheng Wanwan and scolded, “You little vixen! How dare you seduce my man right in front of me? Dashan’s father has only been gone for a year, and you can’t even keep yourself in check? How can you be so shameless…”

Cheng Wanwan straightened up calmly, letting out a cold laugh. “Since Sister Fugui mentioned Dashan’s father, I have a few questions for you. Is Zhao Fugui as handsome as Dashan’s father? Is Zhao Fugui as capable as Dashan’s father? Tell me, in what way does Zhao Fugui even compare to Dashan’s father? Is he even worth me seducing?”

Her words made Zhao Fugui’s face turn ashen.

Back in the day, he had been considered a decent-looking young man, but Zhao Youjin always overshadowed him.

Now, even though Zhao Youjin had been dead for over a year, people were still comparing him to that man!

The villagers, having just received favors from Cheng Wanwan, naturally spoke up in her defense.

“Dashan’s father really was a handsome man. When he married Dashan’s mother, so many young women in the village had their hearts broken.”

“Youjin was an honest and hardworking man. He often helped the elderly and widowed in the village. No one in our village could compare to him.”

“Such a good man… how could he just die like that…”

Cheng Wanwan pressed her lips together.

From the memories of her original self, she recalled many arguments with Zhao Youjin.

Most of them stemmed from him helping others with their work, which made the original Cheng Wanwan unhappy.

They would fight over it. Zhao Youjin was a simple, selfless man, while the original Cheng Wanwan had been selfish and petty.

Fortunately, Zhao Youjin had joined the army and was away for years at a time.

Otherwise, their marriage probably wouldn’t have lasted.

She gazed coldly at the villagers, her voice firm and resolute. “Dashan’s father treated me very well. Though he is gone, he still lives on in my heart in another way. I can never forget him, so I will never remarry. I’ll say it here today—I will remain faithful to Dashan’s father for the rest of my life!”

In her previous life, being single at thirty-three meant receiving odd looks or whispers behind her back about how no one wanted her.

But now, she had a son this old, and if she wanted to stay single, she could.

In fact, she even had a respectable reason for it. Perhaps this was the biggest advantage of being reborn as a widow.

Zhao Old Madam looked at her in utter disbelief.

It was rare for widows to remarry in these times, but it wasn’t unheard of.

Some women in the village had lost their husbands in their twenties or thirties, remarried, and had sons within a year, living decent lives.

She had thought that as long as her eldest son’s widow remained chaste for three years, then remarried afterward, their Zhao family could at least get some dowry out of it.

Who would have expected her to outright declare she would remain a widow for life?!

“Dashan’s mother, you’re still young! You can’t be this foolish!”

“Once your four sons get married and start their own families, you’ll be an outsider. Only a husband truly cares for you.”

“But to be fair, no man in the village can compare to Youjin. It makes sense that Dashan’s mother would think this way…”

“If there’s no one suitable in the village, she could always look in town. There must be someone good there…”

Cheng Wanwan’s lips twitched.

The original owner’s poor reputation had its benefits—at least no one was eager to play matchmaker for her.

Her expression remained firm. “I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I have never thought about remarrying, and I never will.”

Zhao Dashan clenched his fists. “If anyone dares to set my mother up with someone, my brothers and I will come knocking at your door!”

Zhao Ergou stepped in front of Cheng Wanwan. “My mother will stay single for life—remember that! Don’t ever bring it up again!”

“That’s rich coming from you,” Fugui Auntie sneered. “Everyone knows you and Zhao Youjin fought all the time. When he was alive, you never cared for him. Now that he’s dead, you’re suddenly acting devoted? I don’t care whether you remarry or not, but if you dare to flirt with my husband again, I’ll tear your face apart!”

“Fugui’s wife, how can you have a human face but act like a beast?” Zhao Old Madam stepped forward from the crowd. “Zhao Fugui has been a scoundrel since he was a teenager, always harassing the village girls. Our Zhao family has never looked up to him! Instead of causing trouble for Dashan’s mother, you should keep an eye on your own husband. Don’t let him run wild and disgust everyone!”

The crowd started listing all of Zhao Fugui’s past misdeeds.

Zhao Fugui’s face turned even darker than the murky water in the ditches.

He pushed his way out of the crowd in anger.

Fugui Auntie hurried after him, shouting, “You heartless bastard! Right in front of the whole village, you humiliated me by talking to that widow! What do you take me for? I’ve worked like a mule for your family, and this is how you repay me?!”

“Shut up!” Zhao Fugui’s expression was terrifying. “You’ve embarrassed me enough! Get out of my way!”

He shoved her aside and stormed off.

Fugui Auntie stood on the ridge, cursing for half an hour before finally feeling a bit better.

Meanwhile, Zhao Fugui made his way to a rundown straw hut.

A slender arm reached out and pulled him inside. Soon after, heavy breathing could be heard from within…

As the villagers slowly dispersed, the men who had been working for two days went home to rest, while the women fetched water to tend to their vegetable gardens.

Cheng Wanwan approached Zhao Old Madam with a smile. “Mother, I’d like to ask for your help with something.”

Zhao Old Madam’s guard immediately went up.

Here it comes—she’s finally getting to the real reason.

Considering that her eldest daughter-in-law had been behaving herself lately and thinking of her deceased son, she was willing to be lenient.

If Wanwan asked to move back into the old house, she would reluctantly agree…

But Cheng Wanwan had no idea what the old lady was thinking.

She carefully said, “Mother, I plan to start a small business…”

Zhao Old Madam’s eyes widened.

A business? That required money.

Was this woman about to ask for a loan?!

Last year had been plagued by locusts, and this year brought a drought.

The family had spent all their money on grain, leaving only five hundred copper coins for emergencies.

That money was meant for medicine and doctor visits—it couldn’t be touched!

But when she met Cheng Wanwan’s clear gaze, Zhao Old Madam sighed.

Fine, she’d lend her a hundred coins, or else this woman would never stop pestering her…

But then, Cheng Wanwan said, “Mother, my business is food-related. Since it’s my first time making it, I don’t know if it’ll taste good. I’d like you to try it for me.”

Zhao Old Madam was dumbfounded. “The help you want… is just for me to taste-test?”

“Not just you—I want Uncle Dashan, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt to try it too. Give me honest feedback. I’ll bring it over in about two hours.”

With that, she turned and walked home to start cooking before nightfall.