Chapter 17

The old man, hearing this, hurriedly called out for Lu Cheng to wait, then turned back inside to fetch a whole basket of eggs and pressed it into Lu Cheng’s hands. Afraid he might refuse, he added,

“Take it without worry. Us two old folks don’t lack this little bit of food. Your wife needs it now—if she eats well and has good nutrition, she won’t be left with lingering illness after the birth.”

“Thank you.” Lu Cheng gripped the basket tightly, expressed his gratitude again, and then disappeared into the darkness along the ridge path.

“He’s a sincere boy. His wife is blessed.” The old woman couldn’t help but sigh as she watched his departing figure.

She thought of her own pregnancies, back in the day…

The old man, ignoring the daggered look his wife shot at him, shut the door. “Too late now, time to sleep.”

The old woman snorted coldly and rolled her eyes. “But really, who comes knocking at midnight to buy brown sugar? Scared this old woman half to death, I nearly handed my life over right here.”

Even now she felt her heart trembling. Honest he might be, but Lu Cheng was too stiff-headed. If he was in such a hurry, he could’ve come in the morning. Instead he came rushing at night just to get brown sugar and cured meat for his wife—afraid she might miss a bite?

She grumbled inwardly, but then thought again: men who dote on their wives like this were rare. By this measure, Lu Cheng was one of the best.

“Old man.”

“What now?”

The old woman cast him a suggestive glance. The old man’s body stiffened, his knees suddenly weak. This… isn’t right…

……

That night, Gu Yueqian didn’t sleep well.

She woke up several times from the heat.

The big furnace beside her clung too close, shamelessly wrapping an arm around her waist. He clearly knew she was pregnant, yet didn’t think to give her more space. Held so tightly—what, did he want to make sure she woke up from the heat?

So when morning came, she wasn’t feeling refreshed. She wanted a bath, but the toilet wasn’t finished yet. She had no choice but to endure.

“Sister-in-law, you’re awake.”

As soon as she stepped out, Lu Yao hurried over with a basin of water and a cloth for washing. Gu Yueqian murmured an acknowledgment, wrung out the cloth, and wiped her face and neck with the cool water—instantly feeling much better.

“Sister-in-law, are you feeling unwell?”

After rinsing the cloth, Gu Yueqian saw Lu Yao’s worried eyes and couldn’t help but smile. “Just didn’t sleep well. Too hot.”

“Oh, then you should nap again at noon. I’ll fan you.”

Gu Yueqian noticed something in her eyes. “You know, don’t you?”

Lu Yao grinned sheepishly.

Gu Yueqian looked to the sky, a mix of embarrassment and exasperation rising in her chest. So Lu Cheng was just tongue-tied with her—but when it came to his sister, he had plenty to say.

“Sister-in-law, breakfast is ready.”

Lu Yao placed a steaming bowl of brown sugar poached egg carefully before her. “Brother said there’s not much brown sugar, but plenty of eggs. You eat this first, and when he goes to the market next month, he’ll buy more. He also said you should have the two taels of cured meat for lunch today, and tonight don’t cook—he’ll bring back a pheasant.”

“Hm?”

Gu Yueqian froze. She knew there had only been two eggs in the house, which were already cooked for her, and no brown sugar at all.

She’d brought her own supply of brown sugar and eggs, but Lu Cheng and Lu Yao would never touch her things. She never expected that in just one night, Lu Cheng had managed to get more brown sugar and plenty of eggs. Where had he gotten them?

“Really?” she asked, doubtful.

“Of course! Sister-in-law, my brother makes the best beggar’s chicken. You’ll definitely love it.” Lu Yao thought she was asking about the pheasant.

In the past, only on New Year’s Eve would her brother cook one for her; normally, any pheasants caught were sold.

But what Gu Yueqian meant was the brown sugar, eggs, and even the rare two taels of cured meat!

So he really did care about her pregnancy, didn’t he? She couldn’t bring herself to ask Lu Yao directly.

Then last night, when he stormed out—he was actually out getting these things?

This man…

“All right, I understand.”

After finishing the brown sugar egg, Gu Yueqian checked the cupboard. Sure enough, there were two taels of cured meat.

For lunch, she decided to cook cured meat stir-fried with dried potato slices. She’d bought some before coming down to the countryside; they paired best with cured meat. She grabbed a handful, soaked them in water, and left them to soften.

“Sister-in-law, I’m off to cut pig grass.”

Now that the family was split, Lu Yao had to raise a pig on her own, so cutting grass every day was part of her chores.

“I’ll come too.”

“Sister-in-law, you really shouldn’t.” Lu Yao dared not let a pregnant woman go cut grass—if her brother found out, he’d beat her to death.

“Can’t I just tag along? It’s boring to stay home alone.” Gu Yueqian put on a straw hat and latched the door.

“…Fine then.”

Lu Yao agreed, and the two of them headed out.

Not long after, Lin Yufen also stepped out of her house. Yesterday she’d fought with Lu Zhuang, her face bruised on the right side. Too embarrassed to show herself, she’d asked for leave and planned to go to work in the afternoon instead.

That morning, she’d smelled brown sugar eggs from Lu Cheng’s house. Now that they were gone, she thought she’d sneak over to scrape whatever was left at the bottom of the pot.

But the small pot on the stove had been scrubbed spotless. Nothing remained.

She couldn’t help muttering sourly, “What a fine city-bred young lady. Only here a few days, and it’s either lard noodles with eggs or brown sugar egg soup. Even the Empress Dowager didn’t eat so well.”

Just then, the two educated youths from the east room came out to wash up. Liu Jilan asked, “Sister-in-law Lin, what Empress Dowager are you talking about?”

Seeing them, Lin Yufen quickly forced a smile. “Oh, you’re up! Slept well?”

“Not bad,” Liu Jilan replied.

Lin Yufen nodded and smiled, but tugged at her swollen cheek, which made her wince in pain.

“Sorry you had to see the fuss yesterday. That’s just life in the countryside—occasional brawls, not as genteel as the city. Look across the way, a city wife from a capitalist family, driven out and sent here. Still won’t behave—acting like a capitalist lady. Eating lard noodles with eggs, brown sugar eggs, flaunting herself everywhere so people don’t forget her bad family background.”

Since she didn’t know the details, Liu Jilan only smiled politely, not daring to say much.

But Wen Yan suddenly spoke up, “A capitalist’s granddaughter? So she was sent down?”

Lin Yufen curled her lip and lowered her voice. “She married early to escape trouble. But she doesn’t see it that way. Came here and right away looked down on our village toilets—see, Lu Cheng’s even building her one out back, almost finished. And she doesn’t do any work, hides at home every day. Breakfast is cooked by Lu Yao and brought straight to her. Honestly, she’s lazy and greedy.

“If Lu Cheng keeps spoiling her like this, give it a year and she’ll be completely out of control. Then he’ll be the one crying. After all, I raised those siblings, and when they wanted to split the household, I had no say. Fine then, I’ll just wait and see how that pampered wife ruins their home.”

To Lin Yufen, women shouldn’t be spoiled—spoil them and they go bad. She truly believed Lu Cheng would regret it, and she was speaking out of righteous indignation.

She wanted these educated youths to know just how lazy and greedy Gu Yueqian was, and how foolish Lu Cheng was—none of them worth much.

But Wen Yan frowned slightly. In her memory, Lu Cheng hadn’t treated his ex-wife this well… building a toilet for her?

That didn’t sound right.