Chapter 5

Early the next morning.

For some reason, the news that Meng Yingying wanted to divorce Zhan Tingxu spread like wildfire—by dawn, the entire Radish Village knew about it.

When Zhan Tingxu went to the village well to wash rice, several women were already there doing laundry.

Seeing him approach, Li Fang was the first to speak:
“Fourth Brother, I heard Yingying wants a divorce?”

Zhan Tingxu paused slightly.
“How did you hear about that?”

The speed of gossip amazed even him.
No surprise—this was Radish Village. Any little stir traveled from one end to the other overnight.

Bao Xiuxiu began criticizing Meng Yingying:
“You just came back, and she’s already making a fuss about divorcing you. Shows she’s restless!”

Ye Li added, “If you ask me, you can’t spoil her like this. You need to show her who’s head of the house!”

Li Fang nodded approvingly.
“If nothing else works, just give her a good beating. Women behave once you’ve hit them a few times!”

At these words, Zhan Tingxu’s brows drew sharply together, his voice turning cold:
“I would never hit my wife. Don’t go misleading people.”

Li Fang said, “We’re just giving you good advice. The more you indulge her, the more lawless she’ll get. Better to swap her out for a more obedient wife.”

Ye Li agreed:
“Yeah—and when that happens, she might just come crawling back to you!”

Zhan Tingxu’s frown deepened further. He hurriedly rinsed the rice and went home.

Seeing this, Bao Xiuxiu grew excited:
“Do you think Fourth Brother will go home and beat his wife now?”

Li Fang sneered, “He should’ve done it long ago! I’ve never liked her. I asked her for her placenta to help my son’s health, and she wouldn’t give it to me!”

Ye Li chimed in, “Exactly! She’s as frail as a medicine jar but still acts all high and mighty. She insisted on splitting off and cooking separately—serves her right now!”

The women then snuck over to Zhan Tingxu’s house wall to eavesdrop.

However, when Zhan Tingxu got home, he didn’t confront Meng Yingying at all—he just started making breakfast by himself.

After preparing sweet potato porridge, he went to wake Yingying and the children.

When no domestic drama broke out, the disappointed women dispersed.

After waking up, Meng Yingying noticed there were red dates and goji berries in the porridge. She was surprised.
“How did you buy something so expensive?”

Zhan Tingxu replied naturally,
“Of course—it’s to help you recover your health.”

But Yingying disliked the taste of red dates and goji berries. After a few bites, she couldn’t eat anymore.

Seeing this, Zhan Tingxu grew worried.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

He glanced at their three little ones, who were all eating happily.

Meng Yingying shook her head.
“I just don’t have an appetite.”

But yesterday, she’d eaten the lean-meat congee just fine.

Zhan Tingxu thought for a moment.
“Then… I’ll make lean-meat congee for you tomorrow?”

Yingying nodded.
“Add some vegetables to balance it out.”

Zhan Tingxu nodded earnestly, committing it to memory.

It was only then that Yingying realized how naturally she had just depended on him.

When he saw half her porridge still untouched, Zhan Tingxu urged gently:
“Eat a few more bites.”

He looked so anxious it seemed he might pick up the spoon and feed her himself.

Not wanting to waste food, Yingying forced herself to finish.

After breakfast, A-Ming said,
“Mom, I heard the apricots on the mountain are ripe! Let’s go pick some!”

Yingying agreed—she wanted some fruit too.

“I’ll come along,” Zhan Tingxu said immediately.

Yingying neither agreed nor refused, just grabbed a basket and set out.

Since fresh fruit doesn’t keep long, there was no need to pick too much at once.

Zhan Tingxu followed without asking for permission.

As Yingying walked along the country road, a few loafers from the next village whistled at her.
“Sis-in-law, your man’s been gone a long time, huh? Feeling lonely? Want me to keep you company?”

Before the words finished, one of them elbowed the speaker urgently.
“Idiot! Didn’t you hear? Zhan Tingxu came back a few days ago!”

Yingying ignored them—she’d long grown used to such harassment. Paying attention would only encourage them.

But then the ruffians suddenly noticed Zhan Tingxu striding up behind her, face dark and menacing. They froze in terror.
“B-brother Zhan! You’re back? I was joking—don’t come any closer, ahhh—!”

Moments later, their howls of pain echoed through the hills, startling birds off the branches.

Only then did Zhan Tingxu realize what kind of life Yingying had endured. No wonder she was so resentful.

He resolved to make it up to her.

When they reached the mountain, Yingying found that all the low-hanging apricots were already gone. The ones left were too high to reach.

Just as she stood on tiptoe to pick one, Zhan Tingxu came up behind her and plucked it easily.

Yingying said nothing, just dropped it into the basket.

A-Liang eyed the high branches eagerly.
“How about I climb up and pick some?”

Yingying objected immediately:
“No. If you fall, you’ll get hurt.”

Hearing this, Zhan Tingxu went to find a bamboo pole. With a quick twist, he split the tip to grip fruit.

He used it to hook the apricots, while Yingying urged the children to run and catch them as they fell.

With the whole family working together, they soon had a basketful and started down the mountain.

“I’ll carry it.” Zhan Tingxu took the basket right out of Yingying’s hands.

Back home, Yingying and the kids brought the apricots to the well to wash.

Zhan Tingxu came over.
“Let me do it.”

Yingying refused, but he insisted and took over anyway.

So she stepped aside and let him wash the fruit.

After cleaning one apricot, Zhan Tingxu handed it to Yingying.

She bit into it—sweet and fragrant.

Tingting saw and called out immediately,
“I want one too!”

“Don’t worry, there’s enough for everyone.” Zhan Tingxu washed more apricots and gave them to the children.

Soon, each child had their share, happily munching away.