Chapter 24

Song Chunzhi glanced at Zhao Wanmiao, who was standing with her head lowered, then bypassed the still-sobbing Song Chunhua. She tossed the wild vegetables from the bamboo basket into the chicken coop and placed the lotus leaf-wrapped rabbit meat in the kitchen. She had hoped to eat while no one was home, but now that Song Jiawang stayed around the house all day, she had to give up the idea.

“Mom, did you hear what she just said?”

Song Chunhua sniffled and clung tightly to Zhao Wanmiao’s arm, her voice pitiful and pleading.
“Mom, help me, please. I really can’t live like this anymore…”

Zhao Wanmiao snapped back to her senses. Seeing Song Chunhua’s tear-streaked face and feeling the blisters on her own hands, her hatred for Song Chunzhi deepened. At the same time, fear stirred within her… fear that Song Chunzhi might really be a ghost. The two conflicting emotions tangled in her mind. Finally, she muttered, “Chunhua, just endure it for now. Let me think of a solution…”

Another so-called “solution”!

Song Chunhua’s frustration boiled over. What solution? Just beat Song Chunzhi up, take back the room, make her do the chores, go to work, and cook again. Then everything would go back to how it used to be. So what if Song Chunzhi was tough? Could she fight off the whole family?

“Song Chunhua! Come make dinner!”

Song Chunzhi watched the mother-daughter act in the courtyard, a cold smirk in her eyes. She called out to Song Chunhua, who was still clinging to Zhao Wanmiao’s arm, her tone light and relaxed.

“Mom, I don’t want to cook… my hands hurt…”

Song Chunhua immediately dropped her pitiful expression, her face long with discontent. She clutched at Zhao Wanmiao’s clothes, her whole body showing resistance. Damn Song Chunzhi could climb mountains and pick mushrooms, but she couldn’t cook? She just wanted to torment her.

“You rest. I’ll cook,” Zhao Wanmiao said, exhausted from working at the commune’s farm. But seeing her beloved daughter in such distress, she forced herself to comfort her. She glanced toward the kitchen door where Song Chunzhi stood and felt a chill in her heart. She added,
“Come with me to the kitchen.”

Though reluctant, Song Chunhua dared not disobey. She was dying to nap, but feared Zhao Wanmiao would dump the chore on her, so she followed her mother.

Inside the kitchen, her eyes widened when she saw meat soaking in a basin on the counter. Joy lit up her face. “Mom, there’s meat!”

Zhao Wanmiao saw it too, her eyes nearly bulging. She knew exactly what kind of household they ran: Song Xingguo was miserly to the bone. Even for himself, he wouldn’t buy meat, let alone the family. She stared at the basin, gulping hungrily.

“Chunzhi, go rest. I’ll cook.”

Zhao Wanmiao perked up immediately, smiling toward Song Chunzhi though her eyes never left the meat. Song Chunhua also became unusually eager, rushing to help clean the meat without a trace of her earlier resistance.

Watching Zhao Wanmiao and Song Chunhua overjoyed at the sight of meat, never even asking where it came from, Song Chunzhi sneered inwardly. Lucky them. She made a mental note that next time she got something good, she’d enjoy it in secret.

“Fine. You cook. I’ll handle the seasoning.” There was no way she’d let Zhao Wanmiao ruin perfectly good rabbit meat. Her cooking skills were a disgrace.

Glancing at Song Chunhua, who couldn’t tear her eyes off the rabbit, Chunzhi frowned and said, “You were just saying I bullied you. Well, this meat’s mine. You’re not getting any.”

“Why not?!”

Song Chunhua snapped, her eyes glued to the meat. She leapt up, shouting, “I’m part of this family too! I even go to work and earn work points. Why shouldn’t I get a share? You did hit me yesterday! With how you treat me, I should get more meat!”

“You wish.” Song Chunzhi rolled her eyes. She enjoyed watching Song Chunhua get riled up. It made her look like a flustered hen, completely ridiculous.

Zhao Wanmiao quickly tried to calm things down while preparing the rabbit. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I won’t eat any. It’s all yours.”

But Chunzhi only sneered silently. Don’t worry, you won’t be eating any either.

She heated oil in the pot, tossed in scallions, ginger, garlic, chili, and Sichuan peppercorns, and stir-fried until aromatic. Then she added the blanched rabbit meat, a splash of soy sauce, and enough hot water to cover it, before covering the lid and letting it simmer for half an hour.

Steam lifted the lid with a bubbling sound. The spicy, mouthwatering aroma filled the air, pulling Song Jiawang out of bed and straight into the courtyard. He sniffed deeply, eyes bright with excitement. There was meat!

Song Xingguo returned from work, also drawn by the smell. Confused, he wondered where the meat came from. He cursed the neighbors next door, “Gluttons, the lot of them!”

“Dad! We had meat for lunch!”

Song Jiawang rushed over, grabbing Song Xingguo’s arm, practically bouncing with glee.

The moment he heard his son’s words, Song Xingguo’s eyes nearly popped out. Meat? He dashed to the kitchen without even washing his hands. When he saw the big iron pot full of meat, his face lit up with joy. But then he turned and saw Zhao Wanmiao standing there looking awkward, and his expression immediately darkened.

“You damn woman! If you dare to act up again, I swear I’ll beat you to death!”

With a vicious curse, Song Xingguo couldn’t even be bothered to scold Zhao Wanmiao. His eyes gleamed green as he stared at the meat, saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth. He ordered Song Chunhua to fetch him water to wash his hands and then barked at Song Chunzhi, “Go call your grandma over to eat with us!”

“If you don’t want to eat, then take all the meat to Uncle’s place,” Song Chunzhi shot back coolly. She picked up a piece of rabbit meat, still sizzling and fragrant, and took a big bite.

Using my food to please your elders? Dream on. If it weren’t for my craving, and forgetting to bring a small pot to cook in the mountains, do you think you people would get even a bite?

“Oh, right… your grandma doesn’t like meat,” Song Xingguo muttered, trying to cover his slip. Though he was filial, he wasn’t stupid. If his mother showed up, she’d definitely call Song Guoming’s entire family over, and with so little meat, what would be left for him? Without another word, he wiped his hands and grabbed a pair of chopsticks, shoveling meat into his mouth, completely ignoring the fact that Song Chunzhi had started eating first.

Seeing Song Xingguo start, the rest of the family couldn’t hold back either. They rushed to sit around the table, feasting greedily. Only Song Chunhua kept sneaking glances at Song Chunzhi’s expression, afraid she might suddenly get slapped again.

“Chunhua, you eat. Mom doesn’t like meat,” Zhao Wanmiao said, her voice soft and full of affection. She hadn’t forgotten what Song Chunzhi said earlier, but as the aroma of meat wafted around, she couldn’t help but sniff longingly. She still picked up a piece and put it into Chunhua’s bowl. After all, how often did they get to eat meat? She wouldn’t let her daughter go hungry.

Song Xingguo couldn’t care less about everyone’s petty games. If Zhao Wanmiao didn’t want any, that just meant more for him. He could taste it was rabbit meat and figured it must have been Song Chunzhi’s doing. So even with her broken arm, the eldest daughter could still bring home rabbits. Maybe he ought to value her a bit more from now on.

“Did I say you could eat?” Song Chunzhi’s cold voice cut through the room the moment she saw Zhao Wanmiao serve Chunhua. Song Chunhua jumped, immediately shoving the meat into her mouth in panic. It was so hot that she bared her teeth in pain but still didn’t dare spit it out.

“Mom, since you don’t like meat, have some cucumber. It’s nice and crisp,” Song Chunzhi said sarcastically as she chewed the rabbit meat. What a noble display of motherly love… starving herself just so Chunhua could eat.

The rabbit, though plump, was tender and springy. One bite filled her mouth with rich, spicy flavor, and her mouth watered uncontrollably. Song Chunzhi said nothing more and just focused on eating. In no time, a small mountain of bones had piled up beside her plate.

“Chunzhi, there’s not much meat. Stop eating so much and leave some for your brother,” Song Xingguo scolded with a frown, though he still reached over and grabbed another piece for himself. He was growing increasingly unhappy; this girl didn’t do any work and yet ate so much meat. Couldn’t she leave some for others?

Song Jiawang eagerly nodded in agreement, his eyes full of smug defiance. He had worked hard hauling water to the fields all day. He deserved more meat. What right did a useless daughter like her have to eat it?

“I brought this meat home and now I’m not even allowed to eat it?” Song Chunzhi gave a short laugh and rubbed her round belly. Her expression darkened. Without another word, she lifted the table with one hand.

Crash!

Dishes clattered to the ground, and rabbit meat spilled everywhere.

In the stunned silence, she scoffed at Song Xingguo. “If I can’t eat, then no one eats!”

“Meat… the meat’s gone…” Song Jiawang stared at the rabbit meat scattered across the floor, devastated. He even had the urge to crawl down and pick it up; this was meat, after all.

Zhao Wanmiao stood there like she’d been struck by lightning. She had only been away from home for three days, and now Song Chunzhi dared to openly challenge Song Xingguo?

When she turned to look at Song Chunhua, she found her equally stunned.

“How does she dare…” That was all that filled Song Chunhua’s mind. She quickly turned to Song Xingguo with excitement in her red, swollen eyes. This time, Song Chunzhi would definitely get beaten. Maybe even beaten to death!

“You crazy girl, have you lost your mind?” Song Xingguo was momentarily stunned by her sudden outburst. Song Jiawang’s cry snapped him back to reality. He turned his head toward Song Chunzhi and shouted, his voice harsh. He glanced down at the rabbit meat scattered on the floor and couldn’t help but swallow hard. What a waste. Then, taking a heavy step forward, he swung his arm and struck viciously at Song Chunzhi.

“Bang!”

The blow didn’t land. Instead, Song Chunzhi had picked up a stool and smashed it against him. The sharp pain made Song Xingguo quickly withdraw his hand and clutch the spot where he had been hit. His face twisted in agony, and his fierce glare locked onto Song Chunzhi as if he wanted to tear her apart.

“She’s gone mad… completely mad…”

Zhao Wanmiao and Song Chunhua both scrambled backward in fear of being caught up in the chaos. The fact that Song Chunzhi had actually dared to hit Song Xingguo with a stool left them stunned. Their minds echoed with only one thought.

Song Jiawang no longer dared to look at the rabbit meat on the floor. Remembering how he had provoked Song Chunzhi earlier, he now worried she might come over and kick him. How had he forgotten that his eldest sister was different now?

“You dared to hit your old man? If I don’t beat you to death today, then I’m not your father!”