After everyone dispersed, Luo Ge was whisked away by Gu Jinchen back home.
Ignoring the two little ones anxiously waiting in the courtyard, he brought her into the room.
Without saying a word, he carefully examined her, leaving Luo Ge confused.
"I'm fine, just a sore butt, really not injured."
Regardless of the injury check, the man's actions felt like igniting a flame, and when he tried to undress her, she quickly protested.
Blushing, with a hint of nervous mist in her eyes.
Gu Jinchen paused at her reaction, his concern not fully alleviated.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine! I dodged her attack, and I even tripped her afterward. Her chin probably took a hit." She had seen Qian Momo's bleeding chin.
Afraid he wouldn't believe her, she hopped around a bit, displaying her agility without any signs of discomfort.
Seeing this, Gu Jinchen finally relaxed, but the mention of her sore butt made him frown.
"Let me check. Even if it doesn't hurt now, it might bruise later. We should apply some medicine."
"No, no, please!" What? No way, without a second thought, she shielded her little behind with her hands.
This injury, how embarrassing! Even though they were already open with each other, it still felt awkward.
"Be obedient," Gu Jinchen's tone was just like coaxing a child.
But seeing Luo Ge vehemently shaking her head, he sighed and stepped back.
Fetching the ointment he used for swelling and bruises, he handed it to her. "Apply it yourself."
Leaving those words, Gu Jinchen went outside, giving her some space.
Despite his concerns having some validity, her delicate constitution made the touch a bit swollen and slightly painful.
Emm... dutifully applying the ointment.
... Meanwhile, at the village entrance.
"Cousin, cousin!"
"Slap!" Li Zhaodi, who had just caught up with Qian Momo to help clean the blood on her chin, received a solid slap.
Her mind buzzed, staring at Qian Momo, speechless.
"Do you still have the nerve to shout? Are you happy seeing me being bullied? You didn't even bother helping when you saw me in trouble! A useless hen that can't lay eggs! I'll definitely tell Aunt about this when I get back!"
"No, it's not like that. I couldn't do anything...," she couldn't help, and not helping was beyond her control.
"I don't care whether you can or not! Since you've behaved like this today, don't expect any favor from my family in the future!"
But Qian Momo paid no attention to all that, leaving behind these words and walking away.
Li Zhaodi's mother and Qian Momo's mother were sisters, both residing in the Qian family village.
However, Li's family was not well-off, with a lazy father and four daughters before finally having a son, all of them as unreliable as their father.
These years, the Li family has been relying on the support from Qian Momo's family to get by, or by having their married daughters contribute to their family. But mainly, their livelihood hinges on Qian Momo's family.
Now, with Qian Momo's words, it's almost like cutting off the Li family's lifeline. Li Zhaodi can already imagine what she's going to face next.
Once her mother learns about this, she won't let her off easily.
Life in her husband's family was already tough, and if her mother comes, it would be even more agonizing.
"Why is my fate so unlucky?" Thinking this, she sat on the ground and burst into tears, with a mix of sorrow in her choked sobs.
If Luo Ge hadn't taken Qian Momo's man, she wouldn't be here causing trouble. If Luo Ge had let Qian Momo vent her anger back then, the village wouldn't have witnessed the subsequent events. Ultimately, it's all Luo Ge's fault.
Luo Ge: ... I'm speechless. Whom did I provoke? I did nothing wrong and yet attracted trouble. Is it all my fault?
Li Zhaodi cried at the village entrance for a while, then returned home in a daze. Her mother-in-law, hearing about today's events, scolded her once again.
"Li Zhaodi, you're quite bold, actually bringing outsiders to bully the villagers. Who is this Auntie Ma Feng? She's your elder, and you actually let your cousin sister attack Auntie Ma Feng?"
Listening to these scoldings, she remained silent, ran back into the house with red eyes, and both daughters anxiously looked at her.
"Mom."
"Mom, don't cry."
The two sisters, one at the age of five and the other a little over three, consoled her sensibly.
But seeing these two daughters, Li Zhaodi felt a pain in her chest again, directly pushing the two girls away.
"Go away! Don't touch me!" It had to be these two girls. Why couldn't they be two sons? If they were two sons, she wouldn't have to endure this daily humiliation.
If they were two sons, she wouldn't have to lower her head in both her husband's and her family!
"Li Zhaodi! Did San Ya and Si Ya offend you that you're yelling at them? I can't criticize you anymore, right? When I mention you, you vent your anger on our children?"
Li Zhaodi's mother-in-law heard the commotion in the house, her expression turning dark.
She loves her grandsons, but that doesn't mean their children should be treated as punching bags! Did she say something wrong? Li Zhaodi brought people to the village to bully elders, and she can't criticize her?
At this moment, Li Zhaodi's mother-in-law barged in, seeing Li Zhaodi's actions and directly pushing her while pulling San Ya and Si Ya down.
“You're eating human flesh! You don't even lay eggs, yet you blame the children? Besides venting on the kids, what else can you do? Useless!”
“Both of you, the stupid ones, get out of here. The little one will help me watch the fire, and San Ya, go find your dad and bring them back for dinner!”
Before taking San Ya and Si Ya away, she gave Li Zhaodi a fierce look.
When Li Zhaodi's husband returned and heard what his wife said, seeing the two girls in such a state, he couldn't help but scold Li Zhaodi.
“What kind of heartless mother are you? No wonder you can't give birth to a son! San Ya and Si Ya are your own daughters! How can you be so cruel? A son wouldn't want a mother like you.”
Li Zhaodi remained silent throughout, only catching the words 'can't give birth to a son.'
Watching her two girls crying and trying to stop her husband, her eyes intensely red, the resentment in her heart grew deeper.
... After the wind and sun, Li Zirou's meat dried up. After the meal, Luo Ge steamed it for half an hour.
When done steaming, the lid was lifted, and a unique fruity fragrance filled the air. One big and two small ones eagerly followed.
“Aunt, can we eat now?” Second Baby asked, eyes filled with anticipation.
Luo Ge shook her head, “Not yet, wait for two more days.”
She reached out and tapped the little one's upturned nose, “Little glutton, you just ate, and you're already thinking about food?”
“It smells so delicious; Second Baby is a little greedy.”
The familiar intimacy of Luo Ge's actions had become a habit for the little ones. The two children made a gesture with their thumbs and index fingers, expressing eagerness.
“Little glutton, you can't eat this dried fruit yet, but there's still some pickled plums from yesterday. Want to eat?”
She made a lot yesterday, and since they hadn't finished, she discreetly stored them in the space. Now, after soaking for a while, the flavor was even better.
Since taking over the kitchen and managing expenses, Gu Jinchen rarely paid attention to these matters. She took advantage of him not being in the kitchen and took things out; he wouldn't notice.
“Yes!” Both little ones replied in unison, even Gu Jinchen's eyes lit up a bit.
In this hot weather, having something sweet, sour, and spicy was genuinely comfortable.
Seeing them like this, Luo Ge silently turned to the cupboard and took out the pickled plums, “Go and enjoy.”
After the two little ones left, Luo Ge continued making dried fruits. She placed the steamed dried fruits into a clean, water-free basin, added sugar and honey, stirring it evenly.
The sugar ratio was not fixed; she tested it and adjusted the taste according to personal preferences.
She tasted it and found it good, but if she planned to sell it, she needed to try other people's preferences. So, she took a bit to feed Gu Jinchen.
She just wanted him to taste it, not thinking too much. Seeing his handsome face instantly turn red, she was puzzled for a moment.
“How is it? Is it too sweet?”
Gu Jinchen shook his head silently, "Just right."
Feeling intensely sweet inside, his wife unexpectedly fed him, making him feel like he was in a honey jar.
"Then it's settled." Hearing this, Luo Ge gave a little to the two little ones, gaining unanimous approval before feeling reassured.
Covering the dried fruits with gauze, letting them marinate for an hour, then picking them up to sun-dry.
The weather has been good during this period. Steaming them again tomorrow and sprinkling some sugar, two more days of sun-drying should do the trick.
