“Oh, the third one is back!” Li Xiulan was feeding the pigs when she looked up and saw Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong entering the door. She was overjoyed, wiped her hands on her apron, and eagerly went to meet them.
“Mom.”
“Ai.” Li Xiulan responded, her eyes fixed on Gu Xingdong. “You’ve gotten darker and thinner.”
Gu Xingdong chuckled, “Mom, you must be mistaken. I’m about the same as before.”
“Don’t try to fool me. Don’t I know my own son?” Li Xiulan said, then called out loudly towards the house, “Old man, come out quickly and see who’s back!”
Gu Shoufu heard the voice and came out. When he saw Gu Xingdong, his eyes couldn’t help but examine him from head to toe. “Can you stay a few more days this time?”
Gu Xingdong nodded. “I’ve applied for half a month’s leave from my superiors, so I can spend a good amount of time at home with you and Mom.”
Upon hearing that their son had half a month’s leave, Gu Shoufu nodded repeatedly. “Good, good. You can rest at home.”
“I’ll go to the private plot to pick some vegetables for lunch,” Li Xiulan said as she went out.
Although it was still early, she was already starting to figure out what dishes to prepare for lunch.
The two returned to the house to change clothes. Chen Lishu couldn’t help but smile and pat him on the head twice. “Look how enthusiastic Mom and Dad are. You’ve become the apple of everyone’s eye the moment you returned.”
Gu Xingdong raised his hand and grabbed her mischievous hand, scolding, “A man’s head and a woman’s waist are not to be touched.”
Hearing this, Chen Lishu mumbled, “Yes, yes, like not daring to touch a tiger’s backside.”
Gu Xingdong let out a soft hiss and reached out to pinch her waist. He didn’t use too much force, but Chen Lishu’s waist was naturally sensitive. Gu Xingdong’s actions made her involuntarily want to laugh. She quickly dodged his hand. “No, no, it tickles!”
Gu Xingdong laughed. “Next time, let’s see if you dare to rebel.”
Chen Lishu didn’t reply. She turned back to the cabinet and took out the clothes he usually wore at home. “You change slowly, and I’ll go help Mom.”
Outside, Liu Yuemin’s eyes lit up when she heard Li Xiulan say she was going to catch a chicken. “Mom, I’ll help you catch it.”
The chickens at home were usually kept as precious egg-layers. Only during the New Year could a chicken be slaughtered for a better meal.
Since Chen Lishu went to the provincial city to study, she hadn’t tasted any meat for a long time, let alone eaten chicken.
“Second daughter-in-law, please calm down. You’re still early in your pregnancy, be careful not to have any accidents.” Li Xiulan saw her actions and quickly stopped her.
Just then, Chen Lishu and Zhang Qin came out of the house. The three of them worked together and quickly caught a startled hen.
In the evening, Gu Xingye and Gu Xingguo returned from town, and the family gathered for a lively dinner.
After dinner, Li Xiulan glanced at Chen Lishu, who was tidying up the kitchen, then turned back to the kang cabinet. After fiddling with it for a while, she took something out and went into Gu Xingdong’s room.
“Third, drink this,” Li Xiulan said, handing him the cup in her hand.
Gu Xingdong looked up and saw a pale yellow liquid filling half of the glass, reaching about half a finger’s height. He took it suspiciously, brought it closer to his nose, and immediately a strong medicinal wine smell wafted towards him. Gu Xingdong frowned. “What is this?”
“I managed to get some medicinal wine from your eldest uncle’s house in the front yard this afternoon. Mom tells you, your body, although it looks strong, but after years of wind and sun exposure, not eating well and not sleeping well, it must be depleted quite a bit. Look at your two brothers, and the fourth one is always by Mom’s side, their bodies are truly strong.”
All her other three sons had their wives conceive right after marriage. Only the third one, who had been married for more than two years, had a wife whose belly was still showing no signs of pregnancy. Although she usually didn’t mention it, she was actually quite anxious in her heart.
Gu Xingdong felt a mix of amusement and helplessness after hearing her words. “Mom, what are you thinking? My body is fine. I don’t need this thing at all.”
Seeing him push it away, Li Xiulan’s face immediately sank. “Let me tell you, I went to great lengths to get this. Many people wanted it, but they wouldn’t give it. Drink it quickly. Don’t take advantage of your youth and not take care of your body. If you don’t listen to the elders, you’ll suffer in the future. I…”
Seeing that Li Xiulan was about to launch into a long lecture, Gu Xingdong reluctantly threw back the wine in his hand.
After the medicinal wine went down, Gu Xingdong felt a surge of heat travel down his throat to his stomach, and his whole body felt faintly hot.
Seeing this, Li Xiulan smiled with satisfaction. “Since you have this half a month’s leave, stay at home and Mom will take good care of you.”
Thinking of something, before leaving, she reminded him, “Absolutely do not tell your wife that I gave you medicinal wine. Men and women are different. If Lishu feels pressured, it won’t be good.”
Gu Xingdong nodded. “I know, Mom.”
After Chen Lishu finished tidying the kitchen, she had just reached the doorway when Gu Xingping suddenly came out of her room and called out, “Third sister-in-law, come here for a moment. I want to ask you something.”
Gu Xingdong was already feeling hot-blooded, and after drinking the medicinal wine, he felt even more restless. He heard Chen Lishu’s footsteps outside the door and before he could be happy, he frowned upon hearing Gu Xingping call out. “Lishu, where did you put the book I brought back?”
Gu Xingping heard her third brother calling out and smiled at Chen Lishu. “Third sister-in-law, you go over first. I’m not in a hurry.”
Chen Lishu nodded, turned, and pushed the door open. As soon as she entered, she saw Gu Xingdong sitting rigidly on the edge of the kang, with sweat beading on his forehead.
Although the sky was getting dark, the room was still somewhat stuffy. Chen Lishu didn’t think much of it and bent down to find the book for him in the chest of drawers.
“You can see it as soon as you open the cabinet door. It’s so obvious, you still have to call me over.”
As Chen Lishu handed the book to Gu Xingdong and turned to leave, her arm was suddenly pulled tightly. She was yanked backward with great force and the next second, she fell into a burning embrace.
Gu Xingping waited for a long time and when Chen Lishu didn’t come out, she was about to knock on the door when Li Xiulan, who had been paying attention to the movement, called out, “Xingping, come here and help Mom divide the thread.”
“Oh.” Gu Xingping didn’t suspect anything and walked over.
…
Early in the morning, Widow Liu went to Zhao Ergou’s house as usual. After Liu Dabao’s incident, she had made a scene at all the suspicious households and finally found Zhao Ergou to be the most suspicious.
As soon as Zhao Ergou saw her coming again, he was overwhelmed. “Auntie, I beg you, it wasn’t me who broke your Dabao’s leg. If I really did it, may I have no sons and a hole in my backside, and die a horrible death, okay?”
Widow Liu didn’t care about his oaths. She sat down on their doorstep. “Dabao said that no one else could have done this but you. Either pay fifty yuan and this matter is over, or I’ll come here every day.”
Zhao Ergou was furious. Starting with fifty yuan, this old woman was clearly trying to extort him because she had nothing to live for.
“Auntie, it really wasn’t our Ergou who broke Brother Dabao’s leg. The other day, when I went to find him to come home, I ran into Chen Liushu, the eldest daughter of the Chen family. Think about the feud between your two families. This must be her doing,” Zhao Ergou’s wife suddenly said.
Hearing her words, Widow Liu looked up, half-believing. “Did you see it?”
To stop anyone from causing trouble again, Zhao Ergou’s wife nodded and said with certainty, “I really saw it.”
“What a little slut! She’s really gotten bold, daring to hit my son. Let’s see if I can make her life peaceful!” Upon learning it was Chen Liushu, Widow Liu was filled with rage. Cursing as she spoke, she walked out of the courtyard gate.