Chapter 72: Protective Qian Xile

After everyone left, Zhang Jinlan went back into the house to fetch the silver.

She handed it to her granddaughter-in-law.

“Thank you, Grandma.” Qian Xile didn’t refuse.

She took the money bag without hesitation and thanked her.

“Silly child, it’s your money—why are you thanking me? Go wash up; you must be tired tonight. You should rest early.”

Zhang Jinlan’s expression gradually changed, even letting out two mischievous chuckles.

Having been subtly taught by her grandmother-in-law, Qian Xile understood immediately.

Her face turned bright red, and after a few moments, she realized what was meant and quickly nodded, hurrying back inside.

That night, part of a room in the Jiang household trembled slightly.

But Jiang Fubao slept soundly.

When she woke, her future sister-in-law had already prepared breakfast.

On the first day, new daughters-in-law were expected to make breakfast to show filial respect.

“Sis-in-law, you got up so early.”

Jiang Fubao yawned three times in a row, tears streaming.

“Yes, I’m used to getting up early. Here, the water’s already drawn. Do you want me to help you wash?” Qian Xile asked, carrying a basin.

“No, I’ll do it myself,” Jiang Fubao shook her head.

She picked up her personal toothbrush, applied toothpaste, and squatted in the yard to brush carefully.

“What is this?”

Qian Xile had never seen a toothbrush before and asked curiously.

“It’s a toothbrush, used to clean teeth. Grandpa and Grandma have one too. Do you want one, sis-in-law?”

After rinsing her mouth, Jiang Fubao replied,

“It looks expensive. I don’t need it; I can just use a willow twig.” Qian Xile shook her head repeatedly.

“Alright then.” Jiang Fubao didn’t comment further. Once they had enough, she’d make sure everyone in the house had one.

---

After washing up, she sat in the yard to eat breakfast.

Today’s breakfast was egg noodles prepared by her sister-in-law.

The noodles were springy, with a whole fried egg resting on top.

When pricked with chopsticks, the yolk flowed out.

Cook a little longer and the egg becomes tough; cook less and it’s too soft.

The balance was perfect.

It seemed her sister-in-law’s cooking skills rivaled anyone in her family.

Jiang Fubao thought to herself.

She picked up her chopsticks and started eating with gusto.

The egg noodles were cooked with lard, sprinkled with salt, and lightly boiled shepherd’s purse. Simple yet flavorful, the freshness of the egg paired with the subtle aroma of the greens.

Halfway through, the workers for the house construction arrived.

There were few people at home.

After resting yesterday, field work had been paused.

Early in the morning, the men and women of the household all went about their tasks.

Jiang Fubao had promised Grandma not to take anything out during this time.

Naturally, she didn’t need to go to the mountains.

After finishing breakfast, she and Qian Xile chatted in the yard.

Or more accurately, Jiang Fubao was trying to extract information.

After all, her sister-in-law was the only one in the household who didn’t know her secret.

“Sis-in-law, a few days ago, someone almost killed me.”

“What? What happened?” Qian Xile was shocked.

“There’s a bad girl in the village who tricked me to the river and pushed me in. Grandma said I almost drowned. Sis-in-law, I’ll tell you a secret. You can’t tell anyone, okay?”

Jiang Fubao turned her head, looked around, and seeing no one was eavesdropping, lowered her voice.

“What secret?”

Qian Xile imitated her, lowering her voice as well.

“I dreamed of a white-bearded old man. He said he was a deity and that in the future, I’d live a good life, with plenty to eat and drink.”

“Shh! Just tell me. We’re family. But don’t tell anyone outside.”

Qian Xile thought Jiang Fubao had been traumatized from nearly drowning.

Fearing the child might speak carelessly, she quickly covered her mouth.

“By the way, whose child pushed you into the water? Did your family go after her?”

A glint flashed in Qian Xile’s eyes. Jiang Fubao didn’t notice.

“They went. Grandma and the others went too. But she’s the granddaughter of the clan leader.”

As luck would have it, just as Jiang Fubao finished speaking, Jiang Sanniu walked past with a bamboo basket near her house, sneaking around like a thief.

“That’s her! Sis-in-law, you must stay away from her—she’s always bullying me.” Jiang Fubao pointed outside.

“She?”

Qian Xile froze for a moment, then hurried to the door.

Peeking outside cautiously, she confirmed Jiang Sanniu’s figure and appearance.

She then pulled out a hemp sack from the kitchen and said to Jiang Fubao,

“Fubao, stay put in the yard. Don’t run around. Sis-in-law is going out for a bit.”

Without waiting for a reply, she left immediately.

In the yard, Jiang Fubao was bewildered.

Meanwhile, Jiang Sanniu, heading up the mountain alone, didn’t notice someone following her.

Tracking the traces of tender sprouts, she reached a secluded slope.

Just as she was about to squat and dig, the next second, darkness fell before her eyes.

Someone kicked her to the ground, and she couldn’t get up.

Jiang Sanniu screamed in terror.

“Who are you? Why are you hitting me? Let me go! Help! Help—”

“You’re the one I’m hitting, little brat. Only seven years old and already scheming. You’re still too young.”

Qian Xile slapped her more than a dozen times until Jiang Sanniu finally fell silent—she had fainted.

Pulling the sack away, Qian Xile ran back home laughing wickedly.

---

“Sis-in-law, what did you go out for?”

Seeing her sister-in-law return, Jiang Fubao asked anxiously.

“Nothing much, just went for a walk.”

Qian Xile didn’t reveal the truth.

Though she had just hit the girl to avenge little Fubao, Fubao was only three—she shouldn’t see such violence.

Jiang Fubao pouted, saw she wouldn’t say, and didn’t press further.

---

By evening, the fainted Jiang Sanniu woke up.

Her face was swollen like a pig’s, yet she ignored the pain.

Her bamboo basket was empty.

The sun was setting, and after so long outside, she hadn’t picked a single vegetable.

The only two sprouts she had crushed under her body, now ruined.

Crying, she ran home.

She wanted to complain about being beaten, but before she could speak, her mother slapped her several times.

The pain on her face made her cry harder.

“Not working, lazing off, and playing—then you fall and dare come back?”

Zhou Gai’er didn’t listen to her explanation, and after scolding her, returned to the main hall to eat.

Jiang Sanniu was again punished by kneeling.

She didn’t notice that at the dining table, her five-year-old sister was watching with a smile.

---

Days later, Qian Xile’s household registration was officially moved to the Jiang family.

Her maternal family could no longer threaten her.

The house construction workers came every day on time.

Old bricks and tiles piled in the backyard.

Time flew quickly.

By May, the Jiang family’s house was completely built.

Furniture was also ready.

All stone brick houses. Though made of old bricks and slightly worn, they were far better than the old mud and wood houses.