Liu Shi squatted back down in relief and continued washing Yang Huaming's feet with great satisfaction.
As she washed, she lowered her voice and spoke mysteriously to Yang Huaming, "This morning, when Guihua and Dayun went to the third branch's house, they passed right in front of our door. I was hiding behind the window watching — neither of them was empty-handed. They were carrying quite a few things! Aside from that, chili sauce and the hen, I bet there were more things that our third sister-in-law must've hidden away!"
Yang Huaming let out a cold snort. "Tch, that third sister-in-law surprised me. She always seemed like an honest, simple woman. Who'd have thought she'd start guarding food right after moving out? Even if she hides it deep, I'll dig it up if I have to turn the whole place upside down!"
"I believe you. You're capable of that!" Liu Shi smiled brightly.
"Enough nonsense! The water's gone cold. Hurry up and wipe my feet, I'm dead tired!"
"Aye, coming!" Liu Shi quickly dried Yang Huaming's feet, then pushed their two sleeping daughters further into the bed to make room for him.
Once Yang Huaming lay down, Liu Shi casually washed her own feet in his used water, then undressed and climbed under the covers.
Yang Huaming lay on his back, still mulling over how to get his hands on that old hen. Suddenly, Liu Shi's hand reached down and grabbed something of his.
His body tensed. He turned his head to glance at Liu Shi, now leaning in close, and snapped, "Woman, what are you trying to pull now?"
Liu Shi looked at him with soft, pleading eyes and mumbled, "Um… He'er's dad, ever since last month, you haven't touched me again. Can't we… tonight, just a little?"
Yang Huaming rolled his eyes. "No energy, can't."
"How come you're outta energy?" Liu Shi pouted. Just last night, with the chili sauce, her man scarfed down two big bowls of rice and ran straight to the room, even got scolded by his mother for it.
But Yang Huaming didn't want to deal with her. He pulled her hand away and tossed it back at her. "You're almost due in another month or so. Still so restless? Go to sleep. Save your energy for tomorrow — you'll need it to do laundry and cook!"
With that, he turned over, showing her his back.
Liu Shi bit her lip, feeling wronged, and stared at the cold back of his head for a moment before silently sighing and rolling over to sleep.
Meanwhile, Yang Huaming was wide awake, that smiling face of Da Mao's wife drifting up again in his mind, making him itch all over.
He tossed and turned for quite a while, thoughts running wild, before finally falling asleep.
…
"Mom, I'll go with you this morning to till the land. You can teach me how to plant radishes and cabbage, okay?"
Yang Ruoqing held a bowl of leftover wild grass and matsutake porridge from last night, standing by Yang Huazhong's bed, eating while speaking to Sun Shi.
Sun Shi was sitting at the bedside, carefully feeding Yang Huazhong spoonful by spoonful. Hearing Ruoqing's words, she glanced at her with a smile and said, "Qing'er wants to learn farming from me? That's great. But your dad is alone at home — won't he need someone by his side?"
"What's the problem? I don't need water or to go to the latrine in the morning. Just lying here, I'm fine!" Yang Huazhong chimed in before Ruoqing could even speak.
Yang Ruoqing grinned. "Mom, the two plots of land are near the house. While I'm sowing seeds, you can always come back to check on Dad now and then!"
Sun Shi thought for a moment and said, "Alright, that works."
Yang Ruoqing quickly finished her porridge, wiped her mouth, and felt recharged with energy.
She took the bowl to the kitchen and then headed to the front yard to find her fifth uncle, Yang Huazhou. Leaning in close to his ear, she told him all about the chili sauce incident from last night.
Upon hearing it, Yang Huazhou exploded, "What? Did that kind of thing happen? That's outrageous! No way, I gotta tell your grandma. She needs to give those greedy, lazy freeloaders a good scolding!"
Yang Ruoqing hurriedly pulled him back. "Fifth Uncle, I whispered it to you for a reason — I don't want you spreading it! You need proof to accuse a thief; otherwise, no one will believe us, and we'll just end up in a stinky mess ourselves. Not worth it!"
"Well, this won't do, that won't do, but we can't just let it slide either!" Yang Huazhou's eyes widened in anger, and he clapped his hands. "That thief got a taste of it once, who knows when they'll come back for more!"
"I agree!" Yang Ruoqing nodded, her eyes gleaming. "Fifth Uncle, could you get me one of those iron traps for catching weasels? I'll place it under the window. If the thief shows up again, they won't get away!"
"Sure thing! Leave it to me. There's a guy at the other end of the village — he's great at hunting and has tons of those things. I'll borrow one from him!" Yang Huazhou said, patting his chest confidently.
"Mm-hmm, but before that, I'll have to trouble you to put a lock on that room."
"Alright, I'll do it right now!"
As Yang Huazhou was installing the lock, Liu Shi happened to be carrying pants on her way to the outhouse and noticed the commotion. A flash of suspicion crossed her eyes before she smiled and came over to chat.
"Fifth Brother, Fatty, what are you two knocking around with over here?"
Yang Ruoqing didn't respond. The people from the Old Liang family still thought she was mentally challenged anyway, so if she didn't speak, it wouldn't raise suspicion.
Yang Huazhou didn't even glance at Liu Shi and replied curtly, "Putting in a lock. To keep thieves out."
Liu Shi's eyes flickered slightly, then she smiled again. "Oh my, Fifth Brother, you're something else. This whole place is family; you don't even need to shut your doors at night. Even our parents' room doesn't have a lock. Aren't you being a bit too guarded?"
Yang Huazhou kept his head down, working in silence.
Liu Shi pouted, not ready to give up. Her gaze slid to Yang Ruoqing, who was peeking curiously at the lock, and she tried to coax some information out of her.
"Fatty, come tell Fourth Aunt, what kind of good stuff is your mom hiding in that room? So much that your Fifth Uncle came over to install a lock?"
Yang Ruoqing glanced sideways at Liu Shi. She could see right through her intentions.
"…Tasty stuff…"
Mimicking the way the original "Fatty" used to speak, Yang Ruoqing gave Liu Shi a foolish grin.
Liu Shi's eyes lit up. She snuck another look at the lock and window, clearly taking mental notes. Seeing that Yang Huazhou was ignoring her, she didn't push further and waddled her pregnant self back to the front yard.
Behind her, Yang Huazhou spat in disgust.
"A pair of greedy mouths and lazy hands!" he muttered, then turned and warned Yang Ruoqing in a low voice, "There's no mistake — it's those two. Qing'er, tell your parents to keep a closer eye on all the food and supplies from now on!"
"Mm, I will!" Yang Ruoqing nodded seriously.
(End of Chapter)