Chapter 4

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chen Baiyi carried the wild chicken down from the mountain. She plucked the feathers and drained the blood before placing it in the big stove to cook. Although there was no seasoning, the aroma of the meat still made one drool.

After the chicken soup was cooked, she scooped out a full bowl and sent it to the neighbor.

Auntie Lin, who was next door, was washing clothes. She wiped her hands in embarrassment and didn’t take it. She only said, “It’s just some well water and salt. It’s not worth much. We don’t want this chicken soup.”

When the young lady returned the basin, she even washed it clean. How could she have the nerve to ask for the other party’s meat?

Chen Baiyi handed it to her again and said, “Auntie, please accept it. I can’t finish so much alone. Besides, I just moved here. There are still many things I have to trouble you with in the future. If you don’t accept it, I won’t be able to come over again.”

Seeing that Auntie Lin was still hesitating, she lowered her head to look at Auntie Lin’s granddaughter, who was grabbing Auntie Lin’s pants. She asked gently, “Do you want to eat chicken?”

Auntie Lin’s granddaughter nodded vigorously. She stuck her thumb into her mouth and swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva. Her gaze could not leave the bowl in Chen Baiyi’s hand.

Seeing this, Auntie Lin took her granddaughter’s finger out of her mouth and took the bowl in embarrassment. “Then I’ll accept it.”

Chen Baiyi waved her hand and was sent out by the grandfather and grandson. She bumped into Zhang Xiulan, who was holding her son and looking over furtively.

Her half-brother Chen Chunsheng was four to five years old. He was Chen Baiyi’s father’s son, and he was born after Chen Baiyi’s father died. He was at the age where he was growing his body, so he was always hungry. The child pointed at Chen Baiyi and said, “Mom, they’re eating chickens!”

When Zhang Xiulan heard her son’s words, she walked over suspiciously and sniffed the air. It really smelled like chicken. She rushed up to ask Chen Baiyi, “You were the one who stewed chicken?”

Chen Baiyi looked at her coldly. “Is it any of your business?”

“How is it not?” Zhang Xiulan straightened her back and said, “You can’t possibly have money to buy chickens. Did you secretly steal money from me?”

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that it was the case. She snorted. “No wonder you were in such a hurry to find the village chief and sever ties with us. It turns out that you wanted to escape after stealing money.”

Chen Baiyi’s expression darkened. “You have no evidence. What right do you have to accuse me of stealing money?”

“That’s right.” Seeing that the little girl was alone, Auntie Lin stood behind her and supported her. “Xiulan, if your family is short of money, let’s go to the police and let the police handle it. If not, don’t ruin her reputation.”

At the mention of calling the police, Zhang Xiulan froze. She knew that she did not lose a single cent. Her money was all buried under the southeastern wall. She straightened her neck and said, “Although there isn’t any money that is missing, she might have stolen her father’s money. That’s our common asset and is also my money.”

Seeing that she was being unreasonable, Chen Baiyi told the truth. “I ate the pheasant I caught myself.”

“I don’t believe you.” Zhang Xiulan sneered. “A pheasant is so hard to catch. How can a young lady like you catch it? Perhaps you stole it from someone.”

With that, she rushed forward to push open the door of the Chen family’s old residence that was on the verge of collapse. “I have to go in and take a look to find out where you got this chicken from!”

Chen Baiyi went forward to stop her and asked, “If I can prove that it’s really a wild pheasant I caught, you have to apologize to me.”

Zhang Xiulan looked at her skinny arms and legs. She did not believe her, so she nodded in agreement. “If you want me to apologize, then I’ll apologize. But if it’s not a a wild pheasant, I’ll skin you.”