Ugly girl only wants to farm

Hearing her father-in-law say this, Xu Chaoyan stopped talking and said, "Then I'll listen to you. I'll have to trouble you these next few days. My sister-in-law, you don't need to bother looking for the writing materials. You can help your father-in-law deal with these bamboos in a bit. I'll go back to my room to find the writing materials when I have time."

Meng Jiuxia nodded: "Okay, then you can clean up the dishes in my brother's room later."

Xu Chaoyan was busy for a while when Meng Jiuxia suddenly came over and said, "Mala Flower, where did you fall? My older brother asked me to find some medicinal wine to rub on it for you. There's a pot of it in Dad's room. When do you have time?"

Xu Chaoyan was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected Meng Jiuhe to have some conscience. It seemed he wasn't a heartless person after all; at least he knew to offer a greeting.

"It's nothing, I just bumped into the door frame by accident, it'll be fine in a couple of days."

Meng Jiuxia gave her a disdainful look: "Wait here for a while, I'll be right back. You're such a grown woman, why don't you watch where you're going?"

Xu Chaoyan was too embarrassed to admit that she was being disliked for taking advantage of others.

Meng Jiuxia brought over some medicinal wine and insisted on rubbing it on Xu Chaoyan's body, which scared Xu Chaoyan so much that she dodged everywhere: "I can rub it myself when I get back later. Why do you, a young lady, keep trying to pull down my skirt?"

She wasn't used to getting too close to people, and this sister-in-law, who usually disliked her, was suddenly being so kind.

"I was just worried you wouldn't be able to massage it properly and it wouldn't be effective. You're biting the hand that feeds you, not appreciating my kindness. If you hadn't asked, do you think I'd be doing this for no reason?"

After saying that, he shoved the small bottle into her hand and said, "Go ahead and mess with it yourself."

The twelfth lunar month is already very cold. Xu Chaoyan lit a fire and the whole family gathered around it. Meng's father was weaving his chores while chatting and laughing.

When Xu Chaoyan went back inside to clear the dishes, she asked, "Are you planning to come to town with us? Can your body handle it?"

Meng Jiuhe closed the book in his hand: "There's nothing to do in the house anyway. You and Xia'er have worked hard these days, and I'll do my part. The New Year is coming in a few days, so we should buy some New Year's goods."

Xu Chaoyan nodded: "That makes sense, but I'm afraid your body can't handle it, after all, the journey is long and takes several hours round trip."

Meng Jiuhe continued, "Later, bring out the writing brushes and ink from my study, and also bring some red paper left over from last year. If you can sell one piece, that will be fine too."

Xu Chaoyan nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll go prepare. You can kill some time on your own."

A fire was lit in the yard, and the whole family was helping with the work. Every time Zhang Xuyang went to town, he would bring some poorly made tofu blocks. After refusing a few times, Xu Chaoyang simply accepted them. If he wouldn't accept copper coins, he would just give him some of the finished products to take back as a snack.

As Xu Chaoyan turned the dried tofu in her hand, she reminded Meng Jiudong not to let the fire get too big, or it would all turn to charcoal. Fortunately, there were some discarded bamboo strips that could be used as firewood.

A pot was hanging on the fire, and the aroma was already spreading throughout the yard. The pork bones I bought from the butcher last time were stewed with radishes. A bowl of this would warm my heart and stomach in the winter.

Even the dog at home was lying not far from the fire, sleeping soundly with its eyes half-closed. Occasionally, it would open its eyes to take a look when it heard a noise, and then close its eyes again.

Looking out the window from inside the house, Meng Jiuhe saw his family enjoying themselves. For some reason, he felt at peace. It seemed that this kind of ordinary life was not bad, full of the warmth of everyday life.

Watching Xu Chaoyan bustling around, sweat was already dripping down her forehead in the dead of winter, but she didn't care that her face was covered in some dark dirt.

A sharp voice shattered the silence.

"Oh my, sister-in-law, you've cooked meat today! The aroma is wafting out, and it smells really good. It just so happens that we haven't had lunch yet. It's better to be lucky than early!"

Aunt Liu, the second aunt of the Meng family, pushed open the door and plopped down on the low stool. She reached out and lifted the lid of the pot: "This smells so good! I'll go and call Peach Blossom over later so she can have a bowl of soup to warm herself up. It's so cold in the middle of winter."

Looking at her shameless appearance, Li Sanniang didn't know how to refuse. She had heard that the couple had quarreled and she had gone back to her parents' home. How come she was back so soon? This person had a nose like a dog, sniffing around and coming over. She was really shameless.

Meng's father glanced at it and said bluntly, "Sister-in-law, did your donkey trample your pot? It keeps running to other people's houses."

Liu replied with a smile, "Brother, you're joking. This isn't someone else's house. We're all family, why should we talk like strangers? Our whole family hasn't gotten together in a long time. Today, since everyone's free and doesn't have much work to do, let's have some soup to warm up."

Meng Jiuxia slapped her hand away: "Second Aunt, we're a big family now. When my dad broke his leg and my older brother had problems, what did you take us for? Like a vicious beast?"

Liu's face changed, and her tone became more angry: "Xia girl, am I your elder? How can you talk to me like this and even hit me? Is this how your sister-in-law has always taught you? How will you ever get married and bring shame to the Meng family? Your cousin is going to study and become a high-ranking official. He will be your support in the future. You need to change your behavior."

After saying that, he went straight to pick up the pot: "It just so happens that your cousin has been studying hard these days, so let's make him some nourishment. Your eldest son will have to rely on our son to take care of you in the future. Jiu and his generation are ruined. Xia girl, be more polite. With your brothers backing you up, you can hold your head high after you get married."

Xu Chaoyan quickly picked up the dried tofu in her hand and put it away. If Liu Shi took two pieces, she would be at a huge loss.

Hearing this from inside the house, Meng Jiuhe angrily threw down his books and shouted, "Second Aunt, you're belittling my family like this, and I'm not dead yet!"

He had just seen Xu Chaoyan frantically tidying up the dried tofu, her hands burning from the heat, rubbing her ears and breathing on them.

This Liu family is going too far. With her son's inconsistent work ethic, how could she expect him to become an official? She must be dreaming.

Liu chuckled dryly twice: "Nephew, your leg is just like this now. To put it bluntly, your whole family will still have to rely on us in the future. What's wrong with having some soup and meat? This might be the secret stash I left for you. We'll get a share, right?"

After saying that, she picked up the pot and was about to run out of the yard. Liu touched her ear several times because she was burned, so she simply put it on a low stool next to her.

Seeing her shameless and brazen behavior, Xu Chaoyan was so angry that she went over and snatched the pot from her: "I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as you, you old hag. Aren't you ashamed?"

When Liu saw her rushing over, she tried to protect the pot, but accidentally spilled some of the contents onto Xu Chaoyan's legs.

The burning sensation immediately swept over her entire body, and Xu Chaoyan's eyes instantly filled with tears. She began to tremble from the pain.

"Yan'er".

"Nine and his wife."

Meng Jiuxia snatched the pot away and put it aside, then kicked Liu's leg: "You old slut, fat pig."

Meng Jiuhe lay anxiously on the bed, his eyes bloodshot and his fingers clenching so tightly they cracked. He hated himself for not being able to stand up and for letting people bully the family. He slapped his legs a few times and fell off the bed with a thud.

Ignoring the pain in his buttocks, he dragged his legs little by little as he moved outside.

"Xu Chaoyan".

. . .