Chapter 22.1

As mentioned before, it’s impossible to keep anything secret in the village. The incident with Old Lady Li’s family spread throughout the entire Hongshan Village by the next day. This family’s reputation in the village was already bad, and after this incident, even more people were annoyed with them.

It’s not that they were siding with Zhou Yao, it’s just that Old Lady Li and her family could have done anything, but they chose to waste food! How could food be wasted? Have they forgotten the famine from years ago? Don’t they remember how worrying it was to get even a little food back then?

When Wen Yue woke up from her sleep, she thought about what happened last night. While brushing her teeth, she asked Zhou Yao, who was busy in the yard making a bamboo chair for her, “Hey, when did you go to find Cousin Li? I remember that you went to see my uncle, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.”

Zhou Yao placed the measured and marked bamboo on the ground and began the most important step in making the bamboo chair.

Sawing and grooving.

The ground was covered with bamboo shavings, and a light breeze sent them flying everywhere. Zhou Yao found a moment amidst his busyness to explain, “I did go to your uncle’s house, but I sent Old Fang and his friends to find the village head. That old lady was quite something, having a bunch of kids follow me.”

“Those kids, did you think I was blind and couldn’t see them?”

Wen Yue imagined the scene.

Several kids sneaked around, thinking they were well hidden, but Zhou Yao could see them all clearly with a single glance.

She couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes curving into crescents. “So, is this matter resolved now? They shouldn’t come to bother us again, right?”

“Yes.” Zhou Yao’s dark brows lifted slightly, his tone ambiguous. “After this incident, even if there’s trouble in the future, they won’t be able to bring it to our door.”

Wen Yue found his words a bit strange but didn’t think much of it. She finished washing her face and smiled at Zhou Yao. “Shall I make you another shirt? Black or dark blue?”

Zhou Yao thought for a moment. “Black, it’s less likely to show dirt.”

He had been making the bamboo chair these past few days and hadn’t been able to wear his new shirt to show off, which was making him itch with impatience.

“Okay.” Wen Yue smiled and agreed.

Having made a shirt once before, she didn’t need to draft a pattern this time. She took out the fabric and measuring tape, marking the required lengths, drawing lines, and then cutting the fabric into pieces of various sizes.

The old sewing machine was noisy, its rhythmic clattering filling the yard. Hearing the sound, Zhou Yao felt energized.

As he worked on the bamboo, he thought to himself that it was no wonder the older generation always urged marriage and starting a family. Life indeed felt different with a wife, as if it had more purpose.

Two days later, the bamboo chair was finally finished.

Zhou Yao had made it to Wen Yue’s specifications, ensuring the height was just right and the backrest was wide. He had sanded it down repeatedly, making sure there were no splinters before letting Wen Yue use it.

“Wow, you’re amazing.” Wen Yue’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the bamboo chair. She tried sitting on it and found it very comfortable.

But as with any chair, sitting for too long might become uncomfortable.

So Wen Yue decided to sew a cushion using two old outfits she had brought along. She planned to stuff it with wheat straw and corn leaves, as cotton was reportedly very expensive, costing three to four yuan per jin, making cotton stuffing too extravagant.

Her mind was buzzing with ideas as she smiled and praised Zhou Yao. “You’re really skilled. This chair looks better than the ones sold outside. Thank you for all your hard work these past two days! What would you like for dinner as a reward?”

Zhou Yao raised an eyebrow at her words. “Let’s have dumplings.”

“Sure, I’ll start making the dough.” Wen Yue agreed.

While making the dough, Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao arrived. Wen Yue invited them to bring Grandma Fang and Lulu over for dumplings in the evening. They were delighted and immediately agreed, heading home to bring their families without waiting for Zhou Yao’s approval.

“Are you unhappy?” Wen Yue turned to find Zhou Yao looking a bit displeased and asked in confusion.

Zhou Yao denied it, “I just haven’t been getting along with those two lately.”

Wen Yue: “?” I don’t understand you men.

She didn’t press further and took out some flour to knead the dough.

Soon, Grandma Fang and Lulu arrived. The little girl was holding a candy Zhou Yao had given her, her cheerful laughter echoing in the yard. After a while, she ran into the kitchen, her clean little hands holding a candy, and spoke softly.

“Sister, let’s eat candy together.”

“Huh? Thank you, Lulu!” Wen Yue looked at the flour on her hands, her eyes smiling as she leaned down to the little girl and said softly, “Sister’s hands are dirty. Can you feed me the candy?”

Lulu pursed her lips and smiled, her toothless grin pure and innocent. She unwrapped the candy and raised her little hand to Wen Yue’s mouth. “Sister, eat.”

“Thank you~” Wen Yue bit into the candy, mumbling her thanks.

Fang Lulu’s smile grew even brighter.

Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao were there to serve as free labor, being ordered around by Zhou Yao to do all the remaining chores.

Zhou Yao stood with his hands in his pockets at the kitchen door, intently watching them.

“Brother,” Ren Yeliang couldn’t hold back any longer, “did we do something to upset you? Why do we feel like we’ve been targeted these past few days?”

Zhou Yao let out a low chuckle and lazily looked over. “What do you think?”

Ren Yeliang’s face fell. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking! What’s the matter? Can you just tell us directly?”

Fang Shitao’s expression didn’t change much.

It was just some work, not tiring at all.

Seeing Ren Yeliang’s distressed face, Zhou Yao raised his eyebrows, finding it amusing. He squinted, smiled, and said in a surprisingly gentle tone, “Guess. If you guess correctly, I’ll tell you.”

Ren Yeliang: “…?”

Ren Yeliang’s eyes widened in horror.

His brother seemed different, not quite right. Listen to that tone, and those words, they didn’t sound like something his brother would say at all!

“Brother, are you possessed?” Ren Yeliang gripped a broom and waved it around, shouting, “Whatever evil spirits, get out of my brother!”

Zhou Yao: “?”

Zhou Yao clicked his tongue. “Are you out of your mind? Get lost.”

Ren Yeliang put away the broom. “Okay, brother.”

He laughed and dragged Fang Shitao to fetch water, thinking that Zhou Yao had indeed changed a lot after getting married. He used to always keep a stern face, acting all serious, and even when he was with them, he spoke very little, making others think he was moody and unpredictable.

But now, he could even joke around with people.

Ren Yeliang sighed softly, “Sister-in-law is really amazing!”

While waiting for the dough to rise, Wen Yue chatted with Grandma Fang and taught the little girl to read. The eight-year-old girl didn’t know many characters yet, and Wen Yue wondered if she would be able to keep up when she started school.

But it was only first grade, so she should be able to catch up, right?

Wen Yue patted the little girl’s fluffy head and asked, “Do Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao know how to read?”

Zhou Yao looked puzzled. “They know a little, but not much. They didn’t go to school.”

“And what about you?” Wen Yue tilted her face up, her clear, curious eyes shining.

Zhou Yao looked into her eyes for a moment before answering casually, “I went to school. Finished elementary school, then stopped.”

“Why?” Wen Yue asked.

“Thought school was boring,” Zhou Yao replied.

He had always yearned for freedom and didn’t like being constrained. Carrying a backpack to sit in a classroom every day felt too tedious. Zhou Yao hated that feeling. So, after finishing elementary school, he stubbornly refused to continue his studies, despite his grandparents’ efforts to persuade him.

Zhou Yao scoffed at the idea that studying could change one’s fate. Arrogantly, he believed he could succeed without formal education.

But now, a faint sense of inferiority crept in, though his expression didn’t reveal it. He asked, his tone indifferent, “Why do you ask? Are you looking down on me?”

“Huh?” Wen Yue blinked, confused. “Of course not, just curious.”