"How can you speak like that, Old Ninth's Wife?"
Sixth Sister-in-law was unhappy now. Being virtuous was her business, but she did not want to be laughed at.
"You speak your way, I speak mine. So what, I can let you laugh at others, but I can't speak the truth? Everyone in our clan knows each other, do you think only you are virtuous?"
"I...I didn't mean that. We were just chatting, and I just happened to say it in passing."
"Oh, I also just said it in passing, why are you in such a hurry?"
Old Ninth's Wife, Fang, had always been good friends with Lin Yuanshan's Wife, Lady Liu. She was also a bit feisty, so naturally, she would not yield so easily.
A group of older women chatted by the riverside and ended up arguing. After Lin Youwen finished handling the rabbits and pheasants, he watched the kerfuffle with amusement.
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt the gazes of the women often landed on him. This scared him to the point where he quickly put on a polite smile, picked up the basin, and ran home.
He knew very well how fierce these women could be, so he didn't dare to provoke them. He mustn't provoke them!
After he brought the basin of meat home with great difficulty, he saw his mother and sisters returning from the vegetable garden at the gate.
"Youwen, why are you the only one cleaning up? Where is your older brother?"
Lady Liu asked when she didn't see her eldest son.
"Mother."
Lin Youwen replied with a cheerful smile, holding the large wooden basin.
"Father took Big Brother and Sixth Brother to the county. Yesterday, Second Aunt brought back a bear and a wild boar. Father said it was too hot now and if we can't finish eating it, it will go bad. So he decided to take it to the town to exchange for silver. My brothers went to help."
Lady Liu frowned slightly.
"Did your Second Aunt agree to this?"
"Yes, she agreed."
That's good then.
Feeling relieved, they entered the courtyard. Lin Youwen glanced at Second Aunt who was crouched on the ground tickling his little cousin's belly. Seeing the child's giggles and Second Aunt's accompanying laughter, the corner of his lips also curved up in an unconscious smile.
He quickly took the meat to the kitchen, washed his hands and returned to his room to read.
Seeing this scene, Lady Liu couldn't help but smile.
She was a perfectly qualified peasant woman, a master at living life. She kept things in order inside and outside the house. In times of peace, as long as one is not lazy and is willing to work hard, the common people could get by fine.
Take for example this vegetable garden she took care of. It was summer and the plants, vegetables, and fruits loved to grow rapidly; it was easy to gather a basketful.
"Elder sister-in-law."
Chu Chi greeted her tactfully, his eyes fixated on the basket of vegetables in her hand.
"Oh, you're awake now?"
Just like her husband, she greeted with the same manner. Chu Chi glanced at the glaring sun and nodded in affirmation.
Eagerly sitting at the side, Zhang Xuanniang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her mother-in-law and the others return home. She quickly headed towards her mother-in-law and gladly took the vegetable basket from her hands.
"Mother, let me take these vegetables to the kitchen for you."
Earlier, when Lin Yousheng's family had left in the carriage, he had called his wife out. There was nothing serious, just that she had to oversee the 'Second Aunt' in the courtyard and ensure she doesn't wander off to play with the little cousins.
But Zhang Xuanniang was scared, even though Second Aunt hadn't lifted a hand to hit her, her intimidating presence was enough to cause apprehension. Enduring until her mother-in-law returned, she was keen to escape. What else could she do - wait for the vegetables to prepare themselves?
"Second Aunt!”
Hearing the cheerful greetings from their little cousins in the Lin family, they were all rather well-mannered.
Mm, greetings to you youngsters."
Chu Chi also responded rather cheerfully.
Lin Fen'er provided a basin of clean water for their mother and sisters to wash their hands. She then went back inside to fetch a warm towel to clean up the giggling cousin lounging on the mat, wiping her hands and mouth.
Looking up, she noted the Second Aunt attentively watching her actions, causing her to blush and quietly explain.
"I noticed my little cousin was slobbering on her fingers so I thought to clean her up a bit. Please don't worry, Second Aunt. The water isn't cold."
Afraid of being misunderstood, she quickly placed the warm towel on Second Aunt's hand, confirming its temperature.
Chu Chi, who seemed to have some understanding, looked at her older cousin, then back at her younger one. A tint of remorse flashed across her face, regretting not thinking to clean her little cousin earlier. I should be the one taking care of my own child!
Her lovely lips pouted but managed to remember the polite language of humans.
"Thank you, my dear."
Lin Fen'er was speechless for a moment before responding with a chuckle.
"Second Aunt, I'm not called 'my dear'. My name is Lin Fen'er. From now on, you can call me Sister Fen'er or Fen'er."
Her appearance was as gentle as her voice, a girl whose kindness was evident just by looking at her.
Her mother had explained to them clearly about the arrival of the Second Aunt. The younger sisters were still a bit confused, but Lin Fen'er, now a woman of age, understood everything quite clearly.
She felt her cousin's action wasn't very right. But she also understood his suffering these past few months.
Also, the Second Aunt herself was pitiful – an unknown woman with an unfortunate brain condition. How dangerous it was for a woman of her age to be alone?
Sigh, just as her mother suggested, might as well just lump in and live together.
If one day she regains her clarity and wants to leave, they could part ways amicably. But if she lived her life in this confused state, she couldn't imagine her cousin would abandon his mother when he grew up.
The Lin family's young girl had shouldered much worry by herself at such a young age.
However, it wasn't surprising. In terms of the family's hierarchy, all her younger brothers and sisters called her third sister. But in reality, counting just the girls, Lin Fen'er was the legitimate eldest sister, used to worrying for her younger sisters since childhood.
"Fen'er?"
Chu Chi shook his head.
"You aren't a sister. The elder sister-in-law said that here, only she and I are considered older generation, the rest are all younger generation."
This person was stubborn, sticking firmly to rules.
Lin Fen'er had more or less figured out the thought process of her second aunt, and hence, she nodded along with her explanation.
"Right, we are all the younger generation. So, Second Aunt, you can call me Fen'er from now on."
"Mm, Fen'er."
Inspecting her new, attractive Second Aunt, who had already started chatting with her elder sister, the normally bold Lin Fang'er also dragged her twin sister over to join them.
