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Tan Xiaomei listened, her tears flowing uncontrollably. She hadn’t wanted to trouble her brother and sister-in-law, but she just couldn’t take it anymore. After all, they were the only family she had left.
Wan Chunmei gently embraced her and comforted, “Don’t worry. Stay here for now. I’ll figure out a way to help you get a divorce.”
Tan Xiaomei nodded slightly. “Yes, Sister-in-law.”
Wan Chunmei took her thin hand and led her inside. “You must be hungry. Come, try the pickled chicken I made.”
“Sister-in-law, Yiliang already gave me some to eat.”
Wan Chunmei smiled. “This child is really thoughtful. Come, let me make you some soft noodles. You can have them with the pickled chicken.”
Tan Xiaomei wiped away her tears, smiling as she nodded. “Mm, thank you, Sister-in-law.”
Their conversation, however, had woken Little Qiyue from her nap.
But she wasn’t upset. Instead, she had listened carefully to everything that had been said outside the room.
Tan Xiaomei, hearing movement from the bed, quickly put down her bowl and turned to look. Seeing Little Qiyue sitting up, she smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, Little Qiyue is awake.”
Wan Chunmei responded, “It’s fine, she’s such a good girl. Just make sure she doesn’t fall off the bed. I’ll be right back once I finish making the noodles.”
“Got it, Sister-in-law.” Tan Xiaomei nodded in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, in the next room, Tan San Yuan and Tan Yiliang quickly rushed out to check. They intended to pick up Little Qiyue, who had just woken up.
To their surprise, Little Qiyue reached out her little hands toward Tan Xiaomei.
Tan Xiaomei looked at the soft, adorable child in front of her, and her heart melted with affection. She eagerly scooped her up and smiled. “Sister-in-law, this child is so beautiful. She’ll definitely be a stunning beauty when she grows up.”
Old Tan walked into the room, laughing. “Of course, she’s our Tan family’s daughter. Could she ever be ugly?”
Old Tan walked over, teasing Little Qiyue, and continued, “Our little Qiyue is the best! She’s the most beautiful little girl in the whole world.”
Wan Chunmei finished cooking the noodles and served them, laughing. “Alright, alright, look at you. Little Qiyue is already getting shy.”
“Ah~” Little Qiyue giggled and stretched out her little hands, as if agreeing with the statement.
Tan Xiaomei couldn’t help but laugh at her cute actions, momentarily forgetting all her worries. She laughed heartily.
Little Qiyue grasped her hand and gently pressed her chubby little cheek against the bruise on Tan Xiaomei’s face.
Tan Xiaomei didn’t think anything unusual of it, but she did feel a sudden sense of relief. Her body felt lighter, and even her feet didn’t hurt as much anymore.
“Xiaomei, come eat some food.”
Wan Chunmei had also stir-fried some cured meat and brought it over.
Tan Xiaomei snapped back to reality and noticed how long it had been since she last had meat. She was suddenly quite eager to eat. Holding the child, she sat down and took a bite of the meat. “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”
Wan Chunmei smiled. “We’re family, no need to thank me.”
As Tan Xiaomei ate the meat, she took a small bowl from Wan Chunmei, which contained some soft noodles for Little Qiyue. Today, Wan Chunmei had added some minced chicken to it, and it smelled delicious.
Tan Xiaomei took a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and then fed it to Little Qiyue.
Since the house wasn’t very big, the other children of the Tan family also held their bowls and gathered around the fire, eating together.
The family sat down to enjoy their meal and began discussing the new house construction. It was a time to plan properly, but it also served as a distraction for Tan Xiaomei, helping her take her mind off the troubling things.
Wan Chunmei took out the copper coins she had earned that day. Aside from the thirty copper coins bought by Aunt Yu’s people, she had sold the rest and made a total of forty copper coins.