As for everything else, apart from the bed, table, chairs, and a few farming tools already in Yang Huazhong's room, the third branch didn't even receive a single pair of chopsticks from the kitchen! Let alone any of the chickens or ducks in the backyard coop!
When it came to the future expenses for buying pots, pans, and utensils, Tan-shi didn't give them even half a copper coin.
Yang Ruoqing felt a chill in her heart. She knew her father and mother must be even more heartbroken.
What they thought was just an angry phrase—"leaving with nothing"—turned out to be literal. Old Man Yang and Tan-shi had it in them to be that cruel!
But what about lunch today? How could they entertain Uncle Changgeng and Uncle Daniu?
Let alone treating guests—they didn't even know where they were going to eat!
When this was brought up, Sun-shi's hands froze as she was folding the quilt. She turned around with a troubled expression and said thoughtfully,
"Your father and I discussed that last night."
"What did Dad say?" Yang Ruoqing asked.
"I'll go speak to your grandparents in a bit. After their big household finishes their midday meal, I'll ask to borrow the kitchen for a bit. As for oil and salt and such, once our stove is built, we'll return what we use."
Yang Ruoqing didn't say anything—there wasn't a better option.
Starting a small household from scratch, especially under this kind of pressure, was bound to come with all sorts of unexpected difficulties. But as long as they gritted their teeth and made it through, things would get better. Yang Ruoqing did not doubt that.
"Mom, let me help you clean up!" Yang Ruoqing said with a sweet smile, walking over to assist Sun-shi with the packing.
When the rain let up a bit, Fifth Uncle Yang Huazhou and Second Cousin Yang Yongjin arrived.
"Third Sister-in-law, Qing girl, is everything here? We'll go ahead and move it."
"It's all here—thank you both!"
"Hey, Third Sister-in-law, no need to be so polite! Yongjin, let's move!"
"Right, Uncle!"
As she watched Yang Huazhou and Yongjin carrying things away, Sun-shi murmured,
"If we managed to split off and still get a bit of land and fifty jin of rice, it's all thanks to your Fifth Uncle."
If it weren't for Fifth Brother stepping in, the five of them really would have been left to starve.
Yang Ruoqing understood what Sun-shi meant and softly said,
"In the future, we'll treat Fifth Uncle well."
"Yongjin is a good child too," Sun-shi added.
Yang Ruoqing paused briefly, then silently nodded.
It was moving day for the third branch—and it was raining. Yet aside from Fifth Uncle and Yongjin, no one else from the Yang family came to help.
Even Fourth Uncle Yang Huaming, who lived right across the courtyard, didn't show up.
In times of hardship, you see people's true hearts.
Yang Ruoqing kept a mental ledger—who was kind, who was cold—she remembered it all clearly. Those accounts, she would settle slowly in the future.
"Qing girl's mother, are you home?"
A woman's voice called out from the courtyard gate.
Hearing the voice, Sun-shi immediately lit up with joy and turned to Yang Ruoqing.
"It's your Uncle Changgeng's wife, Auntie Guihua!"
"Yes, Guihua, I'm here!" Sun-shi called out and hurried out of the room to greet her.
Yang Ruoqing followed and just in time saw a woman in a straw raincoat walking hand-in-hand with Sun-shi toward her room. On her other arm, she carried a basket made of woven bamboo.
"Auntie Guihua," Yang Ruoqing greeted politely.
Guihua was speaking to Sun-shi, but when she turned and saw that it was Fatty Ya (Yang Ruoqing) calling her, she stared in disbelief.
"Qing girl's mother is—is that…"
Sun-shi glanced at the tightly shut door of the east wing behind them, then smiled and lowered her voice.
"Come inside, I'll explain."
Guihua gave a quick "Oh!" and entered Yang Ruoqing's room. Yang Ruoqing came over to help her remove the straw raincoat.
The moment it came off, Guihua grabbed Yang Ruoqing's hand, widened her eyes, and stared at her from head to toe.
"Fatty Ya, that was you who called me just now? Quick, say it again, let me hear it!"
"Uh…"
Yang Ruoqing was a little exasperated but still smiled sweetly.
"Auntie Guihua."
"Aiyah, yes, yes!"
Guihua was so excited she could hardly speak, still gripping Yang Ruoqing's hand. She turned to Sun-shi.
"Qing girl's mother, Fatty Ya—she's woken up?"
Sun-shi's eyes were red, but her face wore a gentle smile as she nodded.
"After surviving such a calamity, good fortune must be coming her way!" Guihua said repeatedly. She turned back to Yang Ruoqing and advised,
"Fatty Ya, listen to Auntie—don't ever do something foolish again for that heartless boy from the Mu family. You don't know—when your mom heard you jumped into the pond, she nearly fainted from the fright…"
"Guihua."
Sun-shi gently cut her off and looked lovingly at Yang Ruoqing.
"My Qing girl was just immature before. Now that she's awake, she's so thoughtful."
Realizing she may have gone too far, Guihua looked at the girl in front of her, whose eyes were clear and bright and whose lips held a soft, obedient smile. The more she looked, the more she liked her.
"Right, right. Let's not talk about the past anymore. From now on, let's just focus on living a good life…"
"Cluck, cluck, cluck…"
Before Guihua could finish, strange clucking sounds came from the basket at her feet. Something under the raincloth was struggling furiously.
"Oh my, I nearly forgot what I came for!"
Guihua quickly let go of Yang Ruoqing's hand, bent down, and lifted the cloth. She pulled out an old hen, its wings and legs tied up, and handed it to Sun-shi.
"I heard from my Changgeng that the Qing girl's father lost a lot of blood from his injury. This hen is over two years old. Take it and make soup for him to help him recover!"
Sun-shi weighed the heavy hen in her hands, her eyes once again misting over with emotion.
"Guihua, we truly appreciate the kindness, but your family is struggling too. Your boys are all growing fast—keep this chicken for them…"
"Oh, don't worry about them. Boys are easy to feed. I brought the chicken, so just take it. No need to be so formal! Look at the friendship between Changgeng and Qing girl's father, for heaven's sake!"
Sun-shi fell silent and gave a light nod, biting her lip.
Guihua then bent down again and pulled item after item from the bamboo basket: a few handfuls of green vegetables, a string of dried red chilies, a bunch of wild mushrooms the size of buttons, and six eggs.
"Changgeng said that come spring, we'll save some rice seeds for your family. For now, grit your teeth and get through this rough patch. Once next year's harvest comes, life will get better!" Guihua comforted her.
Tears rolled down Sun-shi's cheeks as she nodded again and again.
Guihua then went to the next room to see Yang Huazhong. When he heard how much she'd brought, his eyes also turned red with emotion, and he was too choked up to speak.
Guihua chatted a bit more before leaving—she still had things to do back home.
(End of Chapter)