Chapter 8: The Wang Family

Logically, since Hua Yuanyuan is from the countryside, she should know how to grow vegetables.

Actually, not so.

In her past life, not only was she from the countryside, but she also studied agriculture. Yet, she still couldn’t grow anything.

When she was little, her family had a vegetable garden, and she only helped out a little.

She wasn’t serious about it. From a young age, she was taught that studying hard and going to university was the only way to succeed and change one’s fate; farming was pointless.

Hua Youcai indulged and spoiled her. The children did chores only if they wanted to; otherwise, he did everything himself.

Even when working, she only did the easy tasks. Hua Yuanyuan couldn’t do heavy work, firstly because she was physically incapable, and secondly because her father felt sorry for her.

Forced to work at her in-laws’ house, she lacked any motivation, simply doing whatever she was told.

Hua Yuanyuan worked for exactly one hour, not a minute more.

Hua Fangfang’s dumpling soup finally came to a boil. It wasn’t easy; she broke a sweat in the cold winter.

Hua Youcai had high standards. He wanted shredded meat added, along with scallions and ginger, with extra ginger.

He said it was to ward off the cold for his daughter, who had come back from the cold outdoors.

He also wanted some shredded Chinese cabbage added, saying his daughter liked vegetables.

Oh, and he wanted a can of tomato paste added, because his daughter liked sour things.

…

Before they knew it, an hour had passed.

Hua Fangfang could build a fire; she could cook food until it was edible.

Actually, despite Hua Youcai’s many demands, his cooking wasn’t good.

Since his wife passed away, many years had gone by, and he still hadn’t improved his cooking skills.

Hua Yuanyuan was the best cook in the family.

Hua Fangfang moved quietly, whispering to her father, thinking her sister was asleep.

She planned to call her sister when the meal was ready.

“Sister, it’s ready, it’ll be done soon.”

“Okay. It smells pretty good. Your cooking has improved!”

“Hehe, Sister, my cooking can’t compare to yours, but we can’t waste good food.”

“I know.”

Hua Yuanyuan took a bowl from the cupboard, went back to the west room, and used her spatial ability to fill it with the fruits of her one-hour labor.

Her eyes widened in disbelief; she couldn’t see a single drop of water at the bottom of the bowl…

Returning to the east room, she poured the radish water from the thermos into the bowl.

Hua Youcai’s throat itched and he wanted to cough, so he swallowed hard, trying to suppress the urge to cough.

When he coughed severely, the children worried.

He took the water his daughter offered, sipping it slowly.

He didn’t pay attention to the fact that his daughter had given him a different bowl.

He took small sips at first, afraid of coughing.

After two sips, he found his throat no longer itched.

He gulped down a large mouthful without coughing.

Hua Yuanyuan watched without blinking, as her father drank the entire bowl of water.

Not a single drop was wasted; this was the result of her one hour of labor.

She ate the dumpling soup while observing her father’s expression.

This time, he seemed genuinely free from coughing, not just suppressing it.

But her younger brother’s cooking skills were really not very good. “Xiao  Fang, what did you burn?”

“Hehe, Sister, you noticed?”

Hua Fangfang smiled sheepishly; he had tried his best.

“I wanted to sauté the scallions and ginger a little longer to bring out the flavor, but I didn’t watch the fire and it got too hot.”

…

Alright, don’t expect too much.

She ate slowly, picking and choosing, and said what needed to be said.

She found the person, and they agreed to a divorce.

“…, it’s a little over two thousand. Xiao  Fang, the money is in the bundle, count it.”

“Dad, I need to go to the Wang family to get my things back.”

“Anyway, I’ve made up my mind. It’s better to end things sooner than later with a man like that.”

…

Before Hua Fangfang could finish counting the large sum of money, his sister took it, finding him too clumsy.

Hua Youcai didn’t even notice he wasn’t coughing anymore. He had been worried that his daughter wouldn’t agree to the divorce.

If a man doesn’t want to live with you, even if you don’t divorce in the end, a woman’s life won’t be easy.

Fortunately, his daughter finally came to her senses.

Although it sounds simple, Hua Youcai knew his daughter was stubborn.

He didn’t know what that scoundrel did to make his daughter give up.

That night, Hua Youcai lay in bed thinking about his daughter’s future.

Hua Fangfang slept soundly. Since his sister left and his father fell ill, he hadn’t slept a full night.

Whenever his father coughed at night, he would get up to fetch water and pat his back.

Afraid the room would be cold, he wouldn’t seal the stove and would get up to add charcoal.

Afraid his father would be cold, he would even stoke the stove in the middle of the night to keep the kang warm.

Hua Yuanyuan went into her spatial realm first, took a good bath, and went to sleep with her hair still wet.

In the morning, Hua Youcai got up at dawn.

He hadn’t slept all night, yet he was energetic and didn’t cough.

He didn’t think much of it, assuming that the medicine and radish water had worked, and that he wasn’t worried anymore now that his daughter had returned.

Illness and mood are closely related.

When you have something on your mind, your illness doesn’t improve.

He warmed up the leftover dumpling soup and made the room warm, letting the children sleep in.

His daughter must be very tired after her trip, not eating or sleeping well.

Look at her chapped lips.

His son too, having taken care of his sick father, must be exhausted these past few days.

——

After breakfast, the three of them went to the Wang family to settle matters.

They divided the work. Hua Youcai and Hua Fangfang would collect the belongings, and Hua Yuanyuan would pack.

If they couldn’t bring everything at once, they would prioritize the most important items first, followed by the less important ones.

It would be best if they could bring everything in one trip.

The Wang family had received the letter the previous day. After sending Hua Yuanyuan away, Wang Changjiang called his older sister in the city, Wang Chang’e.

Wang Chang’e worked in Luocheng and took leave to rush to the village.

In other words, before Hua Yuanyuan even boarded the train, the Wang family had received the news.

When the Wang family learned that Wang Changjiang had borrowed money from a comrade and given Hua Yuanyuan over two thousand yuan, they were furious.

Over two thousand yuan! That’s a lot of money…

Both of them were crazy, one daring to ask, the other daring to borrow.

Wang Chang’e worked at the city government, had a broad perspective, and analyzed the situation for the Wang family.

Wang Changjiang had a bright future, and his appearance was even better; in his military uniform, he looked very impressive.

Hua Yuanyuan was not only not helpful but also a burden.

Without Hua Yuanyuan, with Wang Changjiang’s conditions, he could find someone much better.

In terms of family background, work, and other aspects, he could easily find someone superior to Hua Yuanyuan…

Wang Chang’e calmed the Wang family down and didn’t leave immediately, waiting for Hua Yuanyuan to collect her belongings.

This was something Wang Changjiang had specifically instructed her to do.

He emphasized it several times on the phone, ensuring that before he returned home to handle the divorce proceedings, the family would not clash with the Hua family.

Therefore, when Hua Yuanyuan and her family arrived at the Wang family’s home, Wang Chang’e came out to greet them.

The others remained inside, on the kang in Wang’s parents’ room, their faces grim.

They do not have the magnanimity of Wang Chang’e, who could greet Hua Yuanyuan with a smile.

In Hua Yuanyuan’s memory, this cousin was a respectable person, always polite and courteous.

She had a lot of influence in the Wang family, having married well and having a good job, and her family lived the best.

It was better that she didn’t come out; Hua Yuanyuan didn’t want any unnecessary conversation.

As soon as Hua Yuanyuan entered the house, she found that her belongings had indeed been untouched, which was surprising.

The bedding and clothes were packed into two wardrobes, and other daily necessities and miscellaneous items were in baskets.

Anything that could fit on the handcart was loaded; Hua Youcai pushed it, and Hua Fangfang helped.

Hua Yuanyuan took some small items and left the place where she had lived for five years.