Chapter 90: The Li Family
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In Chu Village.
The entire village was filled with a mouth-watering fragrance, causing everyone to swallow their saliva.
“What smells so good?”
“I’ve never smelled this before.”
The fragrance caused the villagers to discuss curiously.
This mouth-watering smell came from the two big pots in the corner of Chu Qingzhi’s courtyard and the big pot in the kitchen. White mist floated out of the pots and gradually spread around.
After the aunties wrapped the dumplings, they followed Chu Qingzhi’s instructions and placed them in the pots to boil.
At first, it was nothing special, but as it was cooked, the fragrance wafted out.
Now that it was almost cooked, it was even more fragrant.
Li Qingyu looked around. Chu Qingyue, Chu Qingshuang, Chu Xuyuan, and Chu Xuyao were all at home, but Chu Qingzhi had not returned. She could not help but feel worried.
She walked towards Chu Rong. “Husband, Qingzhi isn’t back yet. I’ll go take a look.”
Chu Rong was also very worried. He said, “I’ll go. You stay and look after the house.”
Li Qingyu was worried. “I’ll go with you. There’s nothing much to do at home now.” The villagers went home after work, and so did the people who built the house.
However, just as they were about to walk out, Chu Xuyuan’s voice sounded. “She’s back. Fifth Sister is back…”
The two of them quickened their pace. When they walked out of the house, they saw a group of people walking towards their house.
Li Qingyu quickly went forward. “Qingzhi.”
Chu Qingzhi waved at Li Qingyu. “Mother, I’m back.”
Li Qingyu looked at Chu Qingzhi carefully. “You’re finally back. I was so worried.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “I’m fine, Mother. But 1 have something to tell you.”
Li Qingyu said with a look of confusion, “What is it?”
Chu Qingzhi turned around and pointed at the person and the horse on the carts. Then, she explained the ins and outs of the matter. “Mother, that person is seriously injured. I don’t know his identity… Can we take him in for the time being?”
Li Qingyu was kind. “Sure. Saving his life is more important.”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Thank you, Mother. 1’11 treat him as soon as possible and let him go home.”
Li Qingyu nodded.
The horse was kept in the stable, which was spacious enough to accommodate an extra horse.
Seeing that the horse was so seriously injured, Fu Bao reluctantly agreed to share half of the territory.
Fu Bao was a sick horse that Chu Qingzhi brought home. Chu Eighth named it Fu Bao, and the horse liked it. Then, the name Fu Bao spread throughout the Chu Village.
The man was placed in Chu Xuhua and Chu Third’s room. Their room was more spacious, and there was an extra small bed.
Chu Qingzhi came to the big pot that was cooking the dumplings and lifted the lid. It smelled so good. This rice dumpling was definitely going to be delicious.
The auntie who was adding the firewood at the side asked, “Qingzhi, are the rice dumplings cooked?”
Chu Qingzhi said, “It’s well-cooked. Aunt, you can put out the fire now.”
The auntie replied, “Okay.”
Chu Qingzhi scooped the rice dumplings into the basket one by one. Chu Xuhua and Chu Qingyue helped carry them to the kitchen, so everyone gathered in the kitchen and watched eagerly.
Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “You can eat the rice dumpling now. Whoever wants to eat it can take one.”
Chu Qingzhi looked around. “Mother, where are uncles and the others?”
“They’re all in the shed,” Li Qingyu said softly. “They wanted to eat ice cream bars, but they were too embarrassed to eat the ones we are going to sell, so they said that they would make it themselves. I thought about it and agreed.”
Chu Qingzhi said politely, “Mother, bring me over to see them.”
Li Qingyu nodded.
As Chu Qingzhi followed Li Qingyu to the shed at the back of the house, she said to Chu Qingyue and Chu Qingning, “Second Sister, Fourth Sister, send some rice dumplings to the ten aunties who helped us.”
Chu Qingyue replied, “Alright, I’ll send it over immediately.”
In the shed.
Zheng Guixiang and Li Hanhai had four children: the eldest son Li Qinghu, the second son Li Qingwu, the third daughter Li Qingyu, and the fourth daughter Li Qingyin.
The eldest son had five children, three sons, and two daughters.
The second son had four children, three sons and a daughter.
Now, Zheng Guixiang, Li Hanhai, their eldest son, and their second son’s family were all here.
Zheng Guixiang’s grandson had a wife and children, so there were more than 20 people in this complicated family. There were old and young, and they were noisy.
Fan Limei, the eldest daughter-in-law, said enviously, “Mother, Qingyu’s family is rich now.”
Zheng Guixiang looked at Fan Limei. “Yes, but she’s our family. She definitely won’t forget about us.”
Hmph, if she still remembered us, she would have taken the initiative to come and tell us instead of us looking for her for a job. Fan Limei didn’t speak her thoughts aloud. She said, “Mother, we’re Qingyu’s brothers and sisters-in-law. You have to ask her to give us more wage.”
Zheng Guixiang thought about it and felt that Fan Limei was right. “I will tell Qingyu. Don’t worry, She won’t treat us badly.”
Cao Zhilan, the second daughter-in-law, kept stuffing ice cream bars into her mouth. She had already eaten five pieces. When she heard this, she said, “Mother, I don’t want to work. Tell Qingyu to let me be the manager.”
Zheng Guixiang hesitated and said, “That’s not a good idea, right?”
Cao Zhilan said nonchalantly, “Mother, what’s wrong with that? I’m her sister-in-law. How can she not agree to such a small request?”
Zheng Guixiang felt that her words made sense. “I’ll talk to Qingyu later.”
The others ate the ice cream bars in big mouthfuls while listening to the two of them. However, they felt that they were right, so they did not say anything.
Chu Qingzhi and Li Qingyu stood outside the shed and heard everything. Chu Qingzhi’s expression did not change, but Li Qingyu’s expression turned very ugly.
The mother and daughter looked at each other, then walked in.
Their arrival immediately attracted the attention of Zheng Guixiang’s family.
Zheng Guixiang liked her grand-daughter and doted on her.
Grandpa’s gaze was filled with disdain. A girl would be married off sooner or later. If the Chu family didn’t have this business, how could they afford to raise an extra daughter? He thought that Chu Qingzhi shouldn’t be brought back at all. Her adoptive parents were so rich. Wouldn’t it be good to eat someone else’s food?”
The two uncles had a good impression of Chu Qingzhi and smiled at her
Two aunts didn’t like Chu Qingzhi so much. They thought that Chu Qingzhi was going out too much and that it was not appropriate. Their daughters were better. They stayed at home and did some needlework to earn money to support the family..