Chapter 25: Stirring Up Trouble

Gu Yun swallowed nervously with a loud gulp and said, “Brother Ting, this isn’t my fault! Sister-in-law told me to stay! How could I not listen to what she said?”

“…” Fu Ting nearly ground his teeth to dust. “I’ll go start the fire for Jiaojiao.”

“Hey, wait for me, I’ll go too! How could I let Brother Ting do dirty, tiring work? That’s my job!”

Gu Yun loved eating Ruan Jiaojiao’s cooking. For the sake of that food, he was more than happy to chop firewood and stoke the flames.

Not long after, Dabao and Xiaobao returned. The moment they stepped inside, they smelled the fragrance wafting from the kitchen and their faces lit up with joy.

The two little dumplings ran in hand in hand.

Xiaobao, with his milky little voice, leaned on the stove and asked, “Mama, what’s this?”

“It’s maoxuewang,” Jiaojiao replied. She was finally able to use the pig intestines Fu Ting had brought back. She made a “knockoff” version of the spicy Sichuan dish—actually, she made two: “You and Dabao will eat the mild one, and the three of us will eat the spicy one.”

“Xiaobao wants spicy too! Xiaobao’s already grown up! Xiaobao even has a wife now, hmph!”

Ruan Jiaojiao: “…”

“Where did you get a wife?”

“Village chief’s Douhua~” Xiaobao’s lips curled in a proud smile. “Sister Douhua said I was handsome and that she’d marry me when we grow up. Even though Xiaobao doesn’t really like her that much, it would’ve been rude to refuse, so I agreed!”

“And, and… Sister Zhaodi already got married, so Xiaobao lost her. This time it’s a second marriage!”

Ruan Jiaojiao: “…”

Fu Ting: “…”

Gu Yun burst into laughter, rolling on the floor.

He couldn’t resist ruffling Xiaobao’s hair. “Little brat, you don’t even have all your hair grown in, and you’re already talking about a second marriage?”

Jiaojiao, mindful of Dabao’s feelings, turned to him. “Dabao, do you have a wife?”

Dabao nodded seriously. “Yes.”

“Oh? Who is it?” Jiaojiao was instantly intrigued. She thought maybe Dabao had started developing a crush.

But Dabao, without batting an eye, calmly said, “Sister Douhua.”

Xiaobao: “…”

Everyone: “…” Pfft—Hahahaha!

“No, no, no! That’s Xiaobao’s wife!” Xiaobao panicked, spinning in circles. His chubby cheeks wobbled as he shouted, “Bad brother! You’re stealing my wife!”

Dabao didn’t really like Sister Douhua; he just wanted to tease Xiaobao.

Seeing Xiaobao get all worked up made Dabao even more amused. He deliberately added, “I’m older and smarter. Of course Sister Douhua would like me better.”

“You… waaaaahhhh—”

Xiaobao burst into tears. He couldn’t out-argue Dabao.

His mean brother only bullied him!

The three adults watching the scene clutched their stomachs, laughing until tears came.

But children’s emotions came and went quickly. By the time Jiaojiao finished cooking the steaming hot maoxuewang, and the sizzling sound of hot oil hitting the dish filled the room with an irresistible aroma, Xiaobao had already forgotten about crying.

“Mama, are we eating where pigs poop?”

Ever-curious Dabao had to ask.

Drooling Gu Yun: “…”

Great, now he suddenly didn’t want to eat anymore!

“Yes, but Mama cleaned it very thoroughly. Don’t think too much—just take a bite and see if you like it.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Before Dabao even lifted his chopsticks, Xiaobao was already wolfing it down. That little foodie didn’t care what part of the pig it was—if it tasted good, he’d eat it!

“Yummy! Yummy! Soooo yummy! Xiaobao loves it! Mama, you’re amazing! Mmm, it’s so good I can’t even talk!”

Besides the maoxuewang, Jiaojiao also steamed some fluffy sweet buns. When you bit into one, molten brown sugar syrup would ooze into your mouth.

The large slab of cured pork still needed soaking, so she didn’t touch it.

To balance the rich dishes, she also made a light egg, vegetable, and tofu soup.

Encouraged by Xiaobao’s praise, the others finally picked up their chopsticks. After just one bite, Gu Yun was floored. He looked at his sister-in-law with deep reverence and even turned to Fu Ting: “Brother Ting, can I borrow Sister-in-law for a month? I want to eat her food every day!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Fu Ting smacked him on the head.

How dare he covet his woman? Bold indeed!

Gu Yun: “…” Sob sob, poor Yunyun must protest his innocence!

The men devoured the food quickly, wiping out every dish Jiaojiao made.

Gu Yun even clung to the empty platter of maoxuewang, insisting on taking it home to dip flatbread in the leftover sauce.

Jiaojiao’s special seasoning was so good, it could make even shoe leather delicious!

Dabao and Xiaobao stuffed themselves so full that their bellies stuck out round. The two waddled around holding their stomachs, imitating pregnant women, sending the whole family into fits of laughter again.

After dinner, Fu Ting flatly refused to let Jiaojiao wash dishes or clean up. He did it himself.

Watching the man who once ruled the mountain village now willingly wait on Jiaojiao, Gu Yun was stunned.

He sincerely praised her, “Sister-in-law, you really know how to handle a husband!”

Curious, Jiaojiao asked him, “Gu Yun, you’re not young anymore. Why don’t you find a woman to keep you company?”

Gu Yun was about the same age as Fu Ting, who had already married “late” by local standards—and he had two kids.

At twenty, Gu Yun should already have had a wife and children warming his bed, but he was still single.

“I don’t know, just not interested. Being alone’s pretty good. Heh.” Gu Yun was carefree, thinking differently from most people of his time. To him, marriage meant endless pressure, while being single meant freedom.

“True. Marriage is the grave of love,” Jiaojiao casually quoted a modern saying.

But she hadn’t expected Fu Ting to walk in just in time to hear that.

Jiaojiao: “…”

Crap. Crap, crap, crap.

With Fu Ting’s petty personality—

“Jiaojiao, come here,” he said, then added after two steps, “Gu Yun, get lost. Dabao, Xiaobao, close the door. No eavesdropping.”

Jiaojiao: “…”

So mean!

In front of everyone, like a teacher calling a misbehaving student out of class! Infuriating!

Still, she tucked her tail between her legs and followed him out quietly.

Gu Yun didn’t want to leave. He wanted to sneak a peek, but Dabao and Xiaobao blocked him.

“Papa and Mama are doing something. Kids aren’t allowed to peek!” Dabao said seriously.

His tone made Gu Yun chuckle. “Doing something, huh? That’s a unique way to put it. But you two are kids, sure. I’m an adult, so I can look if I want.”

“No! You’re still a virgin chicken! Virgin chickens can’t look either!”

Gu Yun: “…”

What chicken??

These brats were mocking him??

“If you dare peek, I’ll tell Papa you secretly stole Mama’s sweet buns. He’ll beat you up!”