Chapter 006: Whoever Dares to Trouble My Sister-in-Law, I, Wei Zhi, Will Be the First to Disagree

Wei Zhi, chopping firewood with powerful swings, had no idea about Jiang Yue’s worries.

She didn’t dare say much either, afraid that Second Uncle might find her bothersome—thinking that instead of showing concern for his return, she was only interested in asking for money.

Seeing that Wei Zhi had chopped a good amount of firewood, Jiang Yue bent down, picked some up, and carried it into the kitchen to start the fire for cooking.

It was the season for autumn harvest, and she planned to head to the fields after breakfast.

With Second Uncle back, he could take care of Mother, saving her the trouble of worrying whether the old woman was eating well or wandering off while she worked in the fields.

This year, they had planted a large amount of soybeans. Because Mother liked to grind them for making tofu, they had grown extra.

The soybeans should have been harvested days ago, but she had been delayed due to looking after her mother-in-law.

Every morning, Jiang Yue cooked an egg for Mother. Since Second Uncle had returned last night, she boiled an extra one today.

After washing the two eggs, she placed them in the pot.

She checked the earthen jar—there weren’t many left.

The Wei family raised a dozen chickens, ducks, and geese in the backyard. They laid plenty of eggs daily. Jiang Yue would save enough for Mother to eat and sell the rest.

That was why there were never many eggs stored in the house.

While she was busy tending the fire and preparing the meal, Wei Zhi walked into the kitchen carrying the freshly chopped firewood.

The already narrow kitchen felt even more cramped with his presence.

Jiang Yue sat on a small stool, tending the fire.

Wei Zhi looked at her and called out, “Sister-in-law.”

He asked where to place the chopped wood.

Jiang Yue quickly responded, “Just put it in the corner.”

“Thank you, Second Uncle.”

Wei Zhi bent down and stacked the wood in the designated spot. The firewood storage was close to where Jiang Yue sat, and his looming presence made her feel uneasy.

Wei Zhi said, “We’re family. No need for thanks.”

“If there’s anything to be done in the house, just tell me.”

Jiang Yue parted her lips, wanting to say something, but hesitated and merely responded, “There’s nothing.”

Wei Zhi left, and only then did Jiang Yue let out a soft sigh.

She wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t dare ask Wei Zhi for help.

She had a feeling that he wasn’t as easygoing as he seemed on the surface. If she inadvertently said something wrong and offended him, what would happen to her?

Just as she was about to chop some cabbage for stir-frying, a loud voice called out from outside.

Someone was shouting for her.

Jiang Yue quickly wiped her hands and walked out.

It was none other than Wang Auntie’s daughter-in-law, Li Ping.

“Dalang’s wife! We agreed that you’d pay back the five hundred wen after the autumn harvest. I’m here today to ask—when will you return it?”

Jiang Yue had just stepped outside the kitchen.

Wei Zhi emerged from Mother’s room at the same time, carrying a washbasin with a clean towel draped over it.

The moment Li Ping saw him, she staggered back two steps in fright.

“Da… Dalang?! Are you a man or a ghost? Heavens, I just saw Dalang come back!”

Her terrified shrieks made Jiang Yue worry that Mother might be startled.

“Wang Sister-in-law, this is my Second Uncle, Wei Zhi. Stop shouting—you’ll disturb my mother-in-law.”

Li Ping’s screams had drawn the attention of the neighbors.

The villagers all knew how hard life was for Jiang Yue and Wei Mother. Most of them would lend a helping hand when needed.

Seeing Li Ping standing in the Wei family’s courtyard, the elderly Madam Sun from next door quickly stepped forward.

Madam Sun knew about the five hundred wen that Wang Auntie had lent Jiang Yue.

As for Li Ping, who came to collect the debt, she would always find ways to remind Jiang Yue whenever they crossed paths: “How’s your mother-in-law doing with her medicine? Remember, my mother-in-law lent you five hundred wen, don’t forget, pay us back as soon as you have the money.”

Jiang Yue was already very anxious.

After Li Ping first came to collect the debt, Jiang Yue scraped together just over a hundred wen, less than two hundred in total, and took the money to Wang’s house to repay the loan.

The loan was from Wang Auntie, so Jiang Yue had to return the money to her.

Wang Auntie wasn’t happy about it, especially when she learned her daughter-in-law, Li Ping, was the one who had asked for the money.

At that moment, Wang’s husband, Brother Wang, was also at home, and he scolded his wife a little.

Then, Brother Wang told Jiang Yue, “Dalang’s wife, take the money now, and repay it whenever you have it.”

This settled the issue for a month or so.

At the start of the month, Brother Wang went to the county with some villagers to find work, and Li Ping had been itching to ask for the money again.

She didn’t expect to come to the house today.

“Since it was your mother-in-law’s money that was borrowed, it should be returned to her, why are you asking her for it?”

Madam Sun, who lived next door, couldn’t stand it.

“We’re from the same village. Jiang Yue isn’t the type to avoid repaying her debts. Why do you keep harassing her about it every time? If she couldn’t pay, would she still keep you waiting?”

Li Ping gave Madam Sun a dismissive look.

“So it wasn’t your family’s money? Well, if you’re so worried, then why don’t you take the money from your own household and give it to the Wei family?”

“Dalang’s wife can’t carry heavy things, and she can’t even lift a hand. She’s just a young woman with a sick mother-in-law. I’ve heard that Wei Mother will need to take medicine for the rest of her life. If she doesn’t, she’ll fall ill again. The medicine she needs is expensive.”

“How is she going to afford all that?”

“Can’t I worry? She still owes five hundred wen, and I heard she owes more money.”

Jiang Yue shot a glance at Li Ping. “Wang Sister-in-law, if you’re here to collect the debt, then just do that. There’s no need to say anything else.”

“Well, if I don’t say it, will you give me the money?”

Since the words were already out, Li Ping no longer pretended to be polite.

Jiang Yue understood that paying back debts was the right thing to do, and even if Li Ping said some harsh words, she was in the wrong.

She thought of the few copper coins in her savings jar, which were far from enough to cover the five hundred wen, so she planned to pay what she could.

She said to Li Ping, “I’ll give you part of the money now, and for the rest, you can go to the fields and sell the crops to make up the difference.”

She had no choice. She truly didn’t have enough money.

She had borrowed more than just the five hundred wen from Wang Auntie for her mother-in-law’s medicine—she also owed a little to the town’s coffin shop.

She had worked hard, but money just wouldn’t stick.

If her mother-in-law weren’t sick, she might have been able to save a little, but right now, the money she earned was barely enough to cover her mother-in-law’s medicine.

Wei Zhi, watching Jiang Yue’s troubled expression, finally understood how difficult it was for her to support Mother with everything else she had to do.

“Wang Sister-in-law, the Wei family owes you five hundred wen, correct?”

“Y-yes, that’s right. You… you’re going to pay it?”

Li Ping was visibly intimidated by Wei Zhi, who resembled Wei Dalang.

“Since the Wei family owes you, of course, we will repay it.”

Wei Zhi said, and then he went into the house to fetch a small bag of coins.

He pulled out half a piece of silver, “This is half a tael of silver, take it.”

“From now on, don’t trouble my sister-in-law anymore.”

“If you do, I, Wei Zhi, will be the first to stop you.”

With that, Wei Zhi’s tone grew cold, and Li Ping, frightened, grabbed the silver and ran home.