Chapter 29:
Actually, what Zhenzhu did, by reason, announcing it in the village and locking her in the small black room would be light; she ought to be beaten with the plank…
But she’s still young and unmarried; Li Zuzu, Zhao Zuzu, and the village chief aren’t that rigid.
They also considered this, so they just warned her and gave her a slight punishment, hoping she could change…
Old Man Li knew that Zhenzhu’s reputation was ruined this time; probably no one from the nearby villages would dare to propose marriage to her…
What a worry…
Before the village chief left, he lectured Li Gui with that same old reasoning.
Li Gui didn’t show it on his face, humbly accepted it, but his eyes revealed contempt.
Zhou Shi’s face was as black as charcoal, wishing she could flay the two ancestors alive…
She had cursed people’s forefathers so much that they crawled up from underground…
They had no other intentions, just hoped he could wake up and not waste the efforts the whole family had made for him…
But this old Zhou woman wouldn’t let it go; she thought they were jealous that Li Gui had prospects and were deliberately suppressing him!
Then Li Zuzu and Zhao Zuzu criticized the second son’s family again.
This woman beating her husband was the first time in Zhao Li Village; the impact was really bad, and Chen Shi was left utterly ashamed…
By reason, she should also be locked in the ancestral hall black room to reflect.
On this point, Zhou Shi raised both hands in approval…
Unfortunately, second son Li Lei knelt and guaranteed that all this was voluntary on his part.
He wept bitterly; it wasn’t Chen Shi’s fault; he had begged his wife to beat him…
Chen Shi cried her heart out, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in rain, heartbroken and saying she couldn’t stay in the village anymore; that night she took the child back to town, and Li Lei followed…
In the end, Zhou Shi was explicitly forbidden from casually beating her daughter-in-law or inciting disharmony among the daughters-in-law of the various houses; if discovered, she would immediately be locked in the ancestral hall small black room to sit on the chun deng as punishment…
Sitting on the chun deng meant pulling down the pants and beating twenty big planks…
Later, she would also have to guard the tombs, the Zhao Li family ancestors’ tomb group…
Zhou Shi shuddered; the small black room was pitch black inside, and it was said someone had died there before, with restless ghosts…
Not to mention the immortal tomb group…
Pulling down pants to beat her—would she still be able to face people?
After the few people handled the matter, they gave a final lecture: the family should live harmoniously and not resort to fighting and brawling at every turn; seeing them speechless, they left satisfied.
The other onlookers also dispersed…
Halfway there, the village chief and the others heard a crisp female voice shouting from behind, “Village Chief Uncle, two ancestors, wait…”
They turned and saw it was San Mao’s wife, running sweatily and a bit out of breath; “It’s San Mao’s wife; what do you have?”
“Village Chief Uncle, two ancestors, thank you for your trouble today, coming to our home so late to handle our Li family matters, and even letting Yunliang and Muqing go to school!”
“We don’t have any good things to thank you with; this is a little snack made by Zhi’er; hope you don’t mind, take it home and try it!”
“Oh?”
Li Futian’s eyes lit up; this girl was interesting.
At Li Depei’s house tonight, this scene really made things clear; he had previously said that Li Depei’s family in the village might prosper in the future.
The clan ancestral hall might have one more revered plaque for worship…
Li Gui had passed the tong sheng exam; Li Depei seemed to manage the household well; occasional quarrels—who’s family in the village didn’t quarrel?
Now he knew it wasn’t just quarreling; to prosper and bring glory to the ancestors would be hard…
That Li Gui couldn’t escape his eyes; perhaps some talent, but with his temperament and demeanor, difficult…
The other houses were just so-so…
Looking at Luo Zhi’er before him, her in-laws were so stingy it was infuriating; the tea just now was moldy, who knows how many years old…
That little Chen Shi hated them now too; Li Zhenzhu needless to say; the oldest brother’s wife didn’t say thanks either…
Unexpectedly, she was quite righteous; today it originally had nothing to do with their third house, yet she knew to be grateful…
“What’s this?”
“Li Zuzu, this is braised meat; hey, you know! I couldn’t get the good stuff from home; this is my braised pig large intestines, pig tail, pig stomach and such; don’t mind, it’s really delicious!”
Luo Zhi’er divided them into three portions, each bulgingly wrapped in large tree leaves…
“At home, you can slice and eat directly, or dip in sauce; really delicious, I didn’t trick you!”
Seeing her chubby and honest-looking, eyes sparkling when talking about food, how could they refuse this sincerity? “Good, then the ancestor will accept it!”
Li Futian took it.
Zhao Guangyuan also smiled and took it.
The village chief did too.
Watching them walk far away, Luo Zhi’er quickly ran back.
Zhou Shi saw Luo Zhi’er return from outside, running fast; “Little fat hoof, what did you do again? Don’t you know your father-in-law and mother-in-law have been busy all day without a bite?”
“Mom, I just went to thank the village chief and them…”
Old Man Li was stunned; Zhou Shi immediately scolded: “Who do you think you are to thank them?”
“Enough, say less!”
Old Man Li looked at Luo Zhi’er, eyes flickering not knowing what he was thinking; earlier mood was bad, depressed, didn’t greet properly when leaving; now recalling, yes, third wife did well!
He also remembered that today several houses including Gui’er, Zhenzhu, and he and his wife had been reprimanded and punished, but she and San Mao were safe and sound…
Silly people have silly blessings!
“Hmph! Go cook; old lady is hungry; for these useless ones, nearly dismantling old lady’s old bones!”
Little Zhou Shi returned to her room, saying she felt unwell and went to sleep; Zhou Shi cursed outside for a while, but got no response, like a dead pig not fearing boiling water…
Li Daqiang came out from the room, whimpering, “Mom, Yunliang’s mom was kicked in the belly by Zhenzhu just now; lower body is bleeding, don’t know what’s wrong; please don’t make trouble anymore…”
“What?”
Zhou Shi secretly wondered if this death-seeking little whore was pregnant again?
“I’ll go to Doctor Li for some medicine; Mom, don’t trouble her anymore.”
“What, you come back; not allowed to go; a woman’s minor ailment and you run to the doctor every time—doesn’t cost silver?”
Li Daqiang reached the yard edge, paused, then still left…
“You, this unfilial thing; still saying you’re obedient! You go, and we have no silver!”
Meanwhile Chen Shi had also left; the second house room was pitch black and quiet…
Zhenzhu hadn’t brought anything, directly escorted by Zhao Er and Li Zheng Sen to the ancestral hall black room…
Locked in the black room, not even given a kerosene lamp; all around pitch black, terribly frightening…
Luo Zhi’er entered the room, soaking pine nuts in water…
Took the pig offal braised that morning to the kitchen, sliced it, made some sauce, heated the pig lung soup; soon served out…
Also served little Zhou Shi a bowl of pig lung soup, with some braised meat on the side.
Wait for Li Daqiang to return and send into Zhou Shi’s room…
The two elders frowned; “Third wife, what’s this?”
“Father-in-law, this is yesterday’s pig offal!”
Zhou Shi was contemptuous and disgusted, covering nose and mouth nearly vomiting; “Death-seeking little hoof, I wondered why you were so quick; told you to cook and you make this to disgust people!”
“I knew you weren’t up to good! Heavens! What sin did old lady commit in her past life?”
Then she planned to roll on the ground wailing; thinking of her Zhenzhu, not knowing how she was…
“Enough, annoying; if you don’t eat, leave.”
Old Man Li scolded.
Zhou Shi cursed a bit, ran to kitchen planning to make water noodle soup; “Gui’er, wait first; Mom will make you something good!”
Li Gui was utterly disgusted; Mom stank, no one would eat the pig stuff she made…
“These little hooves, no one reliable…”
Old Man Li picked up chopsticks and ate sullenly, sighing; who made his fate bad?
Li Gui sat beside; actually he had long been swallowing saliva and eating, without calling his parents…
Meanwhile Yunliang, Muqing, Liuliu, Miaomiao each had a bowl of pig lung soup and obediently ate it up quickly…
Old Man Li couldn’t stop eating, went to kitchen himself for another bowl of pig lung soup.
“Third wife, you’re sure this is pig offal?”
“Yes, Father-in-law; see, aren’t these the pig’s organs inside?”
“Cough…”
Thinking of it still a bit scary and nauseating…
“Delicious, too delicious!”
Zhou Shi was starving front chest to back; accidentally made fire too big, and skimped on oil; the sour vegetable dish in pot burned.
Went out to grope for green onion in dark for flavor; saw Old Man Li eating savorily, kids eating with mouths oily.
Had planned to make water noodle soup herself, secretly fry two eggs; Gui’er needed nutrition…
Couldn’t hold back; saw last piece of pig large intestine about to enter Yunliang’s belly…
Dashed over, grabbed with hand and swallowed; she’d see how delicious…
Too hasty, didn’t chew; didn’t taste fully, but eyes lit up…
Looked at plate again, ran to pot—empty, nothing left.
“Quick, bring out what you had before; why hide?”
“Mom, gone; we ate some this morning; this is what I saved for you…”
“Impossible; that pig offal was a big lump; couldn’t be just this much; say, where did you hide?”
Zhou Shi questioned relentlessly.
“Mom, didn’t I just go thank village chief, Zhao Zuzu, Li Zuzu? I gave them a bit.”
“What? You wasteful woman, so generous; who let you give away?”
Hands on hips, wishing to skin her.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
Li Sanmao stood up to block her.
“Doing what? She’s so wasteful, and you connive…”
“Mom, this pig offal is stuff we threw away; Miaomiao’s mother picked it up and made it; you dislike it and won’t eat, now blame her for being wasteful?”
“Village chief, Zhao Zuzu, Li Zuzu came to handle matters; shouldn’t you thank them? What business of our third house; isn’t what Zhi’er did good enough?”
“Please, don’t make unreasonable trouble anymore!”
“What?”
“San Mao is right; his mom, if nothing else, go wash clean, change clean clothes and sleep.”
“Please stay away from us; it’s like torture; we’ve all eaten our fill, no need for you to cook…”
“Old man, you…”
You ate your fill, but she hasn’t; birthed a litter of kids and still dare disdain her…
She hadn’t disdained his nauseating foot stench, sweat stink!
Little Zhou Shi in the room heard them quarreling over food again, sneered; saw pig lung soup beside, got up and ate it bite by bite…
Under Old Man Li’s oppressive gaze, Zhou Shi clutched belly and returned to room to sleep…
Entered room, dug spoon of honey, ate and lay on bed…
Luo Zhi’er saw Old Man Li sitting smoking, not entering room; thought and said, “Dad, the termite mushroom oil didn’t sell?”
Old Man Li stunned, then remembered: “Indeed; alas, third wife, wasted your trip; we ran several streets today, didn’t sell.”
A bit embarrassed, probably shy…
“Later we went to several wealthy mansions knocking, all chased out…”
This was a lie…
“Like that, Father-in-law; can wife try selling this termite mushroom oil?”
Old Man Li looked at her, gaze piercing, contemplated a while: this third wife’s food was indeed delicious, turning waste to treasure…
Anyway she stays home all day washing pots and cooking; no loss to try; maybe add income to family!
He as old man inconvenient to follow watching; plus today really tired, body tired, heart more tired…
“Alright then; tomorrow have San Mao take the previously smoked dried meat to sell, and accompany you to sell; family short on silver, you know…”
Smoked dried meat price known before, weighed at home before leaving; San Mao wouldn’t pocket silver…
Luo Zhi’er knew he was reminding her not to be greedy for silver…
“Yes, Father-in-law.”
Let her go; Luo Zhi’er entered kitchen nimbly cleaned pots and bowls, put peeled shredded bamboo shoots in pot to boil, added salt to soak…
Miaomiao watched fire beside; Li Sanmao fetched full water jar…
Felt soaked pine nuts a bit soft, fished out, steamed in pot, put on bamboo sieve carried outside to dry.
Why do this?
Because she remembered the three squirrels nuts from modern era…
Brain filtered fried pine nuts method; should be like this; later fry some to sell in town…
Busy over half hour, then back to room…
Zhou Shi slept a bit in room, suddenly woke startled, felt kitchen had someone busy all along.
Cried out,
“His dad, bad, thief in kitchen!”
“Nonsense? Huhu, it’s third wife busy!”
“What? That fat hoof so late still doing what?”
Eyes rolled, thought kitchen seemed nothing.
Bad, except the mountain goods Li Sanmao hunted that she put in…
“No, I get up to check…”
“Sleep…”
“No! You do-nothing old man; my mountain goods probably stolen all by her!”
Zhou Shi ignored advice, scrambled up, threw on outer garment and ran out; voice arrived before person in kitchen.
“You fat hoof, dare eat the golden pheasant I saved for Gui’er?”
A shrill piercing voice; Li Sanmao frowned, but few didn’t speak…
Zhou Shi reached kitchen, first dashed to big jar, lifted lid to check.
Good, good; prey still properly knocking in big jar.
Luo Zhi’er boiling pine nuts, tearing shredded bamboo shoots; Li Sanmao, Miaomiao with her.
Seeing no one greet her, a bit unhappy, deliberately taunted,
“Luo Zhi’er, what useless work midnight for? Do meaningful chores; wasting kerosene lamp; finish cleaning quick and sleep…”
Luo Zhi’er didn’t turn head, sounded obediently,
“Got it, Mom.”
Zhou Shi didn’t expect her so obedient?
A bit bored, awkward; stood a while no one minded her, went back to sleep!
Luo Zhi’er saw her walk far, door close sound…
Got wooden basin with bottom corn flour, kneaded; took out wild eggs hidden in bosom, plus shredded bamboo shoots, quickly made Miaomiao several pancakes.
Worried they’d go hungry if they left.
Finished, then rested…
