Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 69

“Eldest Sister-in-law is here? Come in and sit!” Feng Qiufang had sharp eyes; the moment she spotted Madam Li arriving, she greeted them with a smile from the courtyard.

Perhaps it was because she had lived in town for many years, Feng Qiufang looked rather young for someone in her thirties. Except for the fine lines around her eyes, she still carried a trace of charm. She didn’t look like the village women who spent their days laboring in the fields, weather-beaten and dark-skinned.

Madam Li frowned slightly but said nothing.

“Eldest Sister-in-law.” A woman in a gray cross-collared jacket walked out of the kitchen, a little reserved as she greeted Madam Li. This was Wei Ying, wife of the second son of the Li family, Li Wei.

From inside the house, Li Wei seemed to hear the voices. He came out, and when he saw Madam Li, his face broke into a smile. “Eldest Sister-in-law is here!”

Madam Li nodded faintly, then turned to the girl beside her and introduced, “Cuihua, this is your second uncle and second aunt.” Pausing, she looked toward Feng Qiufang, who had spoken earlier. “And this is your third aunt.”

Cuihua stepped forward with a small smile. “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Third Aunt.”

Feng Qiufang raised her thin brows slightly, glancing at Cuihua before shifting her gaze to Huzi and Bai Lefu, whom Cuihua was holding by the hand. A trace of displeasure crossed her face. Looking at Madam Li, she smiled and said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, why did you bring her here? You know what kind of temper Father has. Today is his eightieth birthday. Aren’t you deliberately trying to upset him?”

“What’s this? Can’t I, Madam Li, bring my own daughter-in-law? Second Brother’s wife, I haven’t come here for years, and yet you think you can set the rules?”

Madam Li stood her ground. Before coming, she had already prepared herself. The old house had never liked her much, and now that so much had happened to Cuihua, she had long expected their reaction.

Feng Qiufang smiled, but her eyes were cold. “What are you saying, Eldest Sister-in-law? I was only kindly reminding you. After all, it’s been years since you’ve come back. Must you take me for a villain just because I gave you a word of advice?”

Madam Li gave a cold snort, unwilling to exchange false pleasantries with her. When it came to putting on masks and turning words around, no one in the old house could compare with Feng Qiufang. After all, she was the daughter of a merchant’s family, skilled in sweet talk.

Madam Li frowned. Though she rarely dealt with the old house in the past, she understood this sister-in-law well enough, too scheming for her liking.

She turned toward Wei Ying and asked, “Why haven’t I seen Shuang Ya or Qiao Ya?”

Being addressed directly, Wei Ying smiled shyly, a little embarrassed. “They’re in the kitchen helping with the cooking.”

“Is Zhen’er coming today?” Madam Li asked again.

Wei Ying’s eldest daughter, Li Zhen, had married far away, across two mountains in Xiling. Facing east from Dongjun, it took more than half a day on foot, and even by ox cart, it would take most of the day. The family she married into was just another farming household, without their own cart. When she got married, they had hired a cart just for the occasion.

So, ever since her marriage, unless something important happened, Li Zhen rarely returned to Dongjun Village. That was why Madam Li asked.

A warmth spread across Wei Ying’s honest face. “She’ll be here! Last time in town I ran into someone from her village, so I had them pass along word that her grandfather’s birthday was coming.” At the mention of her eldest daughter, her eyes reddened slightly.

Li Wei, a taciturn man, scratched his head. “Eldest Sister-in-law, come inside and sit.”

Madam Li nodded and smiled. “Since Zhen’er is coming back, you can be at ease. I’ll go in and speak to Father first, then later I’ll come to the kitchen to lend a hand.”

“What’s that you’ve brought?” Feng Qiufang’s eyes had been glued to the items carried by Liu Chuncao, Cuihua, and the others, as if she couldn’t wait to glue her gaze to them.

Madam Li kept a distant smile. “Something for Father.”

With that, she lifted her foot and went inside. Li Dalang’s family and Cuihua followed behind. Before they even reached the inner room, they could hear laughter and chatter.

Inside, Old Man Li, Village Head Zhang, and Elder Zhang were sitting together, chatting pleasantly, with the youngest son, Li Zhi, attending at the side. The scene was harmonious.

But the moment Old Man Li saw Madam Li, the harmony shattered. Though he was already eighty, his body was still strong. Leaning on a wooden cane, he frowned when Madam Li and the others entered.

His aged face was full of wrinkles, and from years of farming under the sun, the exposed skin bore mottled brown spots.

He slammed his cane hard against the ground and let out a cold snort at Madam Li, pointing at Cuihua. “Who told you to bring her here? Bringing this jinx into my house, is it to anger me to death?”

The loose skin on his face trembled as he shouted, his loathing for Cuihua clear for all to see.

The little Bun’s dark eyes flickered with hurt, his free hand curling into a fist.

Bai Lefu made a face at Huzi. “Didn’t you say your mother was fierce? Why isn’t she scolding him now?”

Huzi turned his face away, ignoring her mockery.

Cuihua’s lips curled into a cold smile. If it weren’t for Madam Li’s good intentions, she would have turned on her heel long ago. This lady wasn’t about to suffer anyone’s temper willingly.

Madam Li turned back to give Cuihua a soothing look. Cuihua responded with a smile, signaling that she didn’t care, in her mind, this was just a show to watch.

“Father, Cuihua is our rightful, properly married daughter-in-law. How could you say something so chilling? Aren’t you making Erlang restless in his grave by talking this way?”

Madam Li rarely brought up her second son, but for Cuihua’s sake, she did so now. It showed just how determined she was.

At her words, Old Man Li’s face darkened. The closer one got to the end of life, the more they avoided talk of death. Li Erlang was already gone, and mentioning him unsettled the old man. His lips trembled as he pointed at Madam Li, unable to speak.

Seeing his father breathless with anger, Li Zhi stood up, his eyes flashing. Supporting the old man, he said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, today is Father’s eightieth birthday. Let’s not upset him.”

His words were cleverly chosen. With the village head present, if Madam Li really angered the old man into a fit, she would surely be branded unfilial.

“Grandfather, don’t be upset at Mother’s words. Today is a joyous day, we should be happy together as a family. Mother even went to town to buy cloth and made you new clothes. See if you like them?”

Breaking the cold tension, Liu Chuncao stepped in with a cheerful smile. Unexpectedly, Old Man Li didn’t reject her. He actually followed her lead, taking the cloth-wrapped clothes from her hands.