Chapter 22 – Chaos at Home

The reason she dropped a handkerchief instead of something valuable was to test his intentions.
If a man was willing to travel a long way just to return something so trivial, it proved, at least to some extent, that he cared about her.
Qin Muye, you’d better not let her down.

After tidying up her room, a little girl came over to call her for dinner.
This was the only other girl in the household besides her, and the only female among the third generation — her name was Yaya, full name Li Baozhu.
Baozhu was truly the family’s little treasure; apart from the already-departed Song Leyi, she was the most pampered one in the household.

The little girl was about four or five, with two small pigtails tied on her head. She poked her head out from behind the door, speaking timidly.
Her round, plump cheeks were like a tiny peach, the kind that melted people’s hearts.

“You’re asking me to come eat?”

When the little girl saw her approach, she shrank back a little, hiding behind the door so that only a pair of round, grape-like eyes peeked out. But she didn’t leave.

Song Kexia took a milk candy from her pocket.
“I have candy. Do you want some?”

The little girl’s gaze lingered on her hand, then she slowly stepped out.
Song Kexia unwrapped the candy and held it to her lips.

The little girl stared at her with big eyes.
“Go on, eat.”

The little girl opened her mouth and bit down. Her cheeks puffed up at once, and she smacked her lips as she let Song Kexia pick her up.

“Little chubby, let’s go eat.”

“Alright, let’s eat.”

When Wang Guihua saw Song Kexia carrying Yaya inside, she said,
“Yaya, your little aunt is still tired — how could you make her carry you?”

Yaya wrapped her arms around Song Kexia’s neck, showing she liked her very much.

Third sister-in-law Sun Yueji, who was holding a two-year-old boy, saw Yaya’s cheeks puffed out and asked,
“What are you eating?”

“Little chubby gave me milk candy.”

She even opened her mouth wide so Sun Yueji could see the candy inside.
Sun Yueji, unable to take Yaya while holding her own child, told her,
“Come down now — don’t tire your little aunt.”
Her tone was warmer now.

But Wan Ling wasn’t pleased.
Giving candy to a girl instead of her own nephew — what was that supposed to mean?

Wang Guihua called everyone to sit down.
On the Eight Immortals table in the main room sat a big dish of chicken stewed with mushrooms, bacon with dried bamboo shoots, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, stir-fried cabbage, and shredded potatoes.
For a rural household, this was already quite a spread — practically all the best dishes they could offer, made to welcome her.

The children’s mouths watered, and even the adults couldn’t help stealing glances at the food.
The Li family had nearly twenty people, so the table could only seat a few adults. The children ate standing nearby with bowls in hand.

Once everyone was seated, Wan Ling noticed Wang Guihua putting a big chicken leg into Song Kexia’s bowl. She said sourly,
“Well, thanks to your little aunt today — otherwise, when would we get to eat chicken?”

A grown woman, and she dared eat the chicken leg?

Wang Guihua, knowing her eldest daughter-in-law’s nature, gave her a cool glance.
“Of course. This meal was specially prepared for Xianxian — don’t go fighting her for a bite.”
Then, ignoring Wan Ling’s reaction, she started dividing the meat.

With so many people, if they didn’t portion it, there would be fights.

Li Fanggang’s youngest son, six-year-old Li Zhengde, was especially spoiled by Wan Ling.
She had promised him a chicken leg before dinner, but when the meat was divided, he didn’t get one. He immediately clung to her leg.

“Ma, I want a chicken leg.”

Wan Ling scolded him with a stern face,
“Chicken leg? You’re not some city kid — why should you get a chicken leg?”

While saying it, she shot a deliberate look at Song Kexia — the meaning obvious.

Song Kexia, however, didn’t flinch. She calmly picked up the chicken leg and took a bite, making Wan Ling fume even more.

Wang Guihua could tell Wan Ling was egging the boy on.
There were only two chicken legs: one had been sent to the old house for Grandma, and the other was given to Song Kexia. There were no more.

“Chicken legs are gone,” Wang Guihua said coldly. “Eat what’s there. If you don’t want to eat, then go hungry.”

Li Zhengde, unwilling to let it go, threw himself on the ground, rolling and wailing.
“I want a chicken leg! I want a chicken leg!”

Li Fanggang’s face darkened. “Get up.”

But the boy only kicked harder and cried louder.
Embarrassed in front of the whole family, Li Fanggang stood up abruptly, ready to grab a stick and whip him.

Wan Ling, seeing he meant it, jumped up to shield her son.
“What are you doing? All kids are greedy. He saw his aunt eating a chicken leg and wanted one too — what’s wrong with that? Do you have to beat him over it?”

Her public defiance only made Li Fanggang feel more humiliated. He shoved her aside, determined to discipline the boy.

Wang Guihua stopped him.
“It’s your sister’s first day back. No need to start hitting over something so small. Sit down and eat.”

Li Fanggang still looked sullen, but he threw down the stick and sat without another word.

Over the sound of Li Zhengde’s crying, Wang Guihua continued dividing the chicken. Everyone else ate happily, while Wan Ling and her son sat in awkward isolation.

Wan Ling was especially uncomfortable — she was a grown woman, yet being cold-shouldered like this left her neither able to stay nor leave.

But Wang Guihua wasn’t the type to coddle anyone. If Wan Ling stormed off, she definitely wouldn’t get dinner.

After wavering between pride and hunger, Wan Ling silently sat back down.
The chicken was gone, only mushrooms and soup remained, though her bowl still had a few chunks of meat.

She looked at Li Zhengde, still crying, and said,
“Get up and eat before your father whips you.”

But the boy refused to get up, waiting for someone to coax him.
No one paid him any mind — everyone was too busy eating.

After a while, seeing no one cared and the conversation and laughter carried on without him, he realized crying was useless. He scrambled back up and sat on his little stool.

Like a gust of wind, the food on the table was soon gone.
Song Kexia, with her small appetite, was already full after one chicken leg and a few bites of bacon. She especially enjoyed the mushrooms — dried ones soaked and simmered in chicken broth until they were bursting with flavor.

Despite the small episode, the meal was overall pleasant.

What she didn’t know was that over in the county, the Song household had nearly been turned upside down because of her.

Song Zhengli had been shopping in town with Song Leyi when he spotted Zhao Yinqiu socializing outside.
Hoping to get on Zhao Yinqiu’s good side, he went up to greet him — only to receive a shocking bit of news instead: Song Kexia wasn’t interested in Zhao Yinqiu at all.

Song Zhengli was alarmed.
How could Song Kexia dare say such things to Zhao Yinqiu? If Zhao took offense, how would his own plans succeed?

After parting ways with Zhao, he rushed to the garment factory to find her.
But the guard told him she hadn’t shown up for work that day.
When he tried to go in himself, the guard blocked his way.

Fuming, Song Zhengli headed home, determined that when she returned, he would give her a proper lesson.