Chapter 16

In the Zhang Family kitchen, Zhang Linshi watched Li Hehua’s retreating figure as she carried her bundle out the door. She was somewhat surprised, having expected this venomous woman to cling to the household. Yet here she was, leaving so easily. As the woman truly departed, Zhang Linshi’s surprise gave way to undisguised delight.

“Is she really gone?” Zhang Linshi said to her two sons. “Good riddance.”

Zhang Qingshan was also taken aback, but his relief outweighed his astonishment. He nodded in agreement with his mother. “She must be gone for good. Even if she’s not, we won’t let her back, right, Brother?”

Zhang Tieshan remained silent, his face grim. He strode to the back of the stove and noticed a grain of rice clinging to his son Shulin’s lip. His gaze shifted to the bowl on the stool, where half-eaten meat and rice sat untouched.

Zhang Qingshan pursed his lips and watched for a moment before slowly bending down to retrieve the spoon Shulin had dropped.

After a moment’s thought, he straightened up, went to the cabinet, took out a clean spoon, and offered it to Shulin. “Here, Shulin, take this spoon and finish your meal.”

Shulin didn’t move. Zhang Tieshan remained motionless as well, holding the clean spoon out expectantly. After a long pause, Shulin slowly raised his arm, extended his small hand to take the spoon, glanced up briefly, then lowered his head again. He slowly brought the spoon to the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of rice, and brought it to his mouth, chewing each bite deliberately.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Tieshan’s eyes grew deep and thoughtful. Zhang Linshi and Zhang Qingshan, who were also watching, gaped in disbelief.

They had never seen Shulin willingly eat, let alone enjoy his meal so much!

The food, of course, hadn’t been prepared by Zhang Linshi. The only person in the household capable of cooking was Li Hehua, who had just left.

Zhang Linshi clearly realized this too. Recalling Li Hehua’s earlier explanation, she felt a vague sense of awkwardness. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to admit she had been wrong. I saw that woman touch Shulin, she thought defensively. He cowered back in fear. What else could that mean but she was going to hit him? I didn’t say anything wrong.

As if to justify herself, Zhang Linshi spoke up. “Tieshan, that woman is putting on an act. She never gave Shulin a scrap of food before, but now she’s being so generous. Who knows what she’s really planning? It’s best she’s gone—we don’t have to worry about her causing trouble anymore.”

“Mother!” Zhang Tieshan turned to Zhang Linshi, his voice sharp enough to make her swallow the rest of her words. She dared not speak further.

Zhang Tieshan turned his gaze back to Shulin, who was eating, wanting to avoid his mother’s incessant nagging. He knew that his mother and Qingshan had endured immense hardship in recent years, and their hearts still harbored deep resentment.

This made him loathe Li Hehua, so much so that he couldn’t bear to live under the same roof with her, so much so that he instinctively wanted to grab her by the tail and drive her away.

Though he shared this loathing, Zhang Tieshan understood that his mother had likely misunderstood the situation. Li Hehua hadn’t lied; she had simply prepared some food for Shulin.

Yet he didn’t defend her. Her past actions had undeniably hurt his mother and Qingshan, and even driven Shulin to his current state. While she had seemed completely reformed lately, could a person truly change their nature so quickly? He didn’t believe it. In the end, he said nothing.

It’s better this way. We’ll be done with each other for good.

With these thoughts, Zhang Tieshan unconsciously glanced toward the gate again. There was nothing there.

…….

Meanwhile, Li Hehua stood outside the Zhang Family gate, looking around, unsure where to go.

With only two hundred copper coins to her name, Li Hehua could afford a few necessities, but lodging was out of the question. She had inquired at the town’s inns during her last visit and learned that even the cheapest rooms cost ten coins per night. Her meager savings wouldn’t cover more than a couple of nights, and without a kitchen to bake her pastries, she couldn’t earn money to extend her stay. This was unacceptable.

Renting a house in town required a minimum six-month lease, costing at least half a tael of silver—an amount far beyond her current means.

Li Hehua bit her lip, her heart heavy with worry. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t come up with a solution. The original host had been so unpopular that she couldn’t possibly rely on friends for shelter. Her only hope lay with the Original Host’s family—her maternal home.

Originally, Li Hehua had wanted to avoid contact with the original host’s relatives. But now, with no other options, she couldn’t risk sleeping on the streets. She would have to return to her maternal home and assess the situation. If possible, she would stay and offer them some money. If not, she would find another way.

Having made up her mind, Li Hehua began pondering how to locate the original host’s family. Without the original host’s memories, she had no idea where they lived.

As Li Hehua walked slowly through the village, clutching her bundle, she couldn’t help but notice the complex gazes of the villagers. Most were filled with schadenfreude, as if saying, “Well, well, finally kicked out, huh?”

Ignoring their malicious stares, Li Hehua continued her slow progress until she encountered Madam Wu, Wu Dazhu’s mother—the same woman she’d had a run-in with before.

“Oh, who’s this? Li Hehua? What’s with the bundle on your back?” Madam Wu asked, feigning ignorance.

Li Hehua ignored her and kept walking.

Madam Wu wasn’t about to let her off so easily. Seeing Li Hehua’s silence, her tone dripped with sarcasm. “Oh right, you were divorced long ago, weren’t you? A divorced woman naturally has to pack her bags and scurry back to her parents’ home, doesn’t she? Heh…”

Li Hehua had intended to ignore the woman’s taunts, but the mention of “parents’ home” stopped her in her tracks.

She didn’t know where the Original Host’s family lived, but others might. Village women usually knew each other’s affairs, and Madam Wu likely did too. Could she subtly pry for information and find the Original Host’s family?

With this thought, Li Hehua immediately activated her acting skills. She scowled and snapped, “What’s it to you where I go?!”

Seeing Li Hehua finally lose her temper, Madam Wu’s spirits soared, her fighting spirit renewed, and her voice grew louder. “It’s none of my business, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying this. How could I not be delighted to see these vile women cast aside?”

At this, the young woman standing silently beside Madam Wu raised her head slightly and pleaded, “Mother, please stop. Let’s go home.”

Madam Wu scoffed loudly. “Why should I go home? That poisonous woman harmed you so badly, and now she’s finally getting her due. I won’t miss this.”

The young woman lowered her head again, awkwardly brushing hair across her face in an attempt to hide something. But Li Hehua couldn’t miss the scar on her left cheek, near her ear. It ran from her hairline to her cheekbone, clearly inflicted by a sharp weapon. Though partially concealed by her hair, it was still easily visible.

Li Hehua cursed inwardly. Oh no. Could this girl’s scar be another one of the Original Host’s “masterpieces”? Am I going to take the blame for this too? Heavens, if the Original Host did this, it’s truly unforgivable. In this era, a woman’s appearance is everything. A scar like that would ruin her marriage prospects—it’s practically ruining her life.

Li Hehua felt like kneeling before the original host, nearly fleeing in embarrassment. But to find out where her family lived, she forced herself to stay.

Unable to meet the young woman’s gaze, Li Hehua glared at Madam Wu and snapped, “I’m going home to my family. What’s it to you?”

Madam Wu, infuriated by Li Hehua’s arrogance despite being divorced, retorted, “You, a discarded woman, dare to act so haughty? Do you think your family will even take you back? What a joke! Just wait and see how arrogant you’ll be then!”

Li Hehua’s eyes darted around as she calmly replied, “Why wouldn’t my family take me back? I’ll go home right now and show you!”

Madam Wu smirked mockingly. “Then go! Why are you walking in the wrong direction? When did your family move? I bet you’re too ashamed to face them.”

Li Hehua realized she had indeed taken the wrong path, but this was a perfect opportunity.

Feigning embarrassment at being exposed, she roared, “I am going home! Why wouldn’t I dare? How do you know this isn’t the way? Do you think I don’t know where my own family lives?”

Madam Wu, convinced she had exposed Li Hehua’s lie, chuckled. “I don’t know? Your maternal home, Lijiazhuang Village, is clearly to the east, yet you’re heading west. Is that what you call ‘going home’? Tell me, what kind of ‘maternal home’ are you returning to? Isn’t it just that you’re too ashamed to go back?”

Success! So the Original Host’s maternal home was called Lijiazhuang Village, located to the east.

Li Hehua, pleased with her success, had no patience for Madam Wu’s taunts. She adjusted her bundle, turned east, and strode away, ignoring the woman’s jeers behind her. Madam Wu stamped her foot in frustration.

Li Hehua quickened her pace eastward, soon leaving the village behind. She followed the road, asking passersby for directions to Lijiazhuang Village. Fortunately, it wasn’t far. Guided by their instructions, she quickly found the village.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Li Hehua took a deep breath to steel her nerves and resolutely entered the village.

She immediately encountered a familiar face—a woman in her forties. The woman’s expression soured slightly upon seeing Li Hehua, but she greeted her out of courtesy. “Oh, Hehua, back to your maternal home?”

Li Hehua nodded with a smile, but remained silent, unsure how to address the woman.

The woman didn’t seem to find her reticence odd. “Then you should hurry home,” she said, waving dismissively as she turned to leave.

Li Hehua had no idea where the Original Host’s home was. She quickly grabbed the woman’s hand and said with a smile, “Auntie, come sit at my place for a while.”

The woman looked startled, as if Li Hehua’s words had frightened her.

Li Hehua knew her behavior was out of character for the Original Host, but she couldn’t help it. After all, she didn’t know where the Original Host’s home was. So, she pretended to be enthusiastic, seizing the woman’s arm and pulling her along. “Come on, Auntie, it’s been ages! Let’s catch up at my place. I was just sent back home after being divorced, so I’ll be staying with my family from now on.”

Li Hehua had deliberately mentioned her divorce. Knowing women’s love for gossip, she was sure the woman would be eager to follow her home to hear the details.

Sure enough, the moment the woman heard about the divorce, her resistance softened. She half-heartedly followed Li Hehua, and when Li Hehua took a wrong turn, she tugged her in the right direction. “Child, how can you even forget the way home?”

Li Hehua gave a distracted smile, letting the woman assume she was still upset about the divorce. The woman didn’t press the matter and instead took the lead, guiding Li Hehua home. In reality, Li Hehua was bursting with anticipation to see what kind of drama awaited her.