Xiao Xi Tian, like a little dumpling, slumped in a corner of the carriage, gazing out the window with a pout.
Despite her anger, her mind was clear. As a modern person, she understood the palace's intrigues and deceptions. The man from earlier was likely the brat's arch-nemesis. However, her whereabouts and identity had already been exposed. They even knew she lived in Da Shui Village. Xiao Xi Tian had no way to hide.
"Oh, Sister Shan Shan, our trip to the palace this time might cause a lot of trouble!" Xiao Xi Tian sighed.
Du Tie Shan: "???"
What did Sweet Baby mean? She just wanted to rescue Er Man quickly. What kind of trouble could that cause?
"Sweet Baby, don't worry. If those bad guys dare to chase us, I'll shoot them with my bow and arrow..." Du Tie Shan said righteously.
Xiao Xi Tian couldn't help but chuckle. With so many people, Sister Shan Shan probably couldn't handle them all.
"Sweet Baby, what I regret is that we went to the capital after so much effort, and we didn't bring any gifts back for our family. I heard the roast chicken, roast duck, and roast goose sold at Xiang Man Ge in the capital are delicious. If we had enough time, I really wanted to buy a few to go with Daddy's wine..." Du Tie Shan said with a smile.
Xiao Xi Tian hummed an "oh" and said nothing. Her mind was a mess, and she wasn't interested in food.
The sky was gloomy, and snowflakes began to fall, covering the entire official road.
In the afternoon, at the Old Yun family's home.
"Da Man, scald those two black chickens in boiling water. We'll have Huai Hua make soup later!" Old Man Yun said.
The village chief's family raised many good things: rabbits, black chickens, sheep, and turtles. The old turtle, when killed and made into soup, or stewed with big carp and fat intestines, tasted exceptionally good.
Yun Da Man responded listlessly, "Got it, Dad!"
Mom said that Sister would definitely be back today, but the sky was almost dark, and the gate was still quiet. Not a soul was in sight. In the past, when the Old Yun family had more members, it was so lively. But now, the courtyard was deserted, and without Sister, the family had no spirit for work.
"Why are you always wearing a long face? Who are you showing it to?" Old Man Yun scolded Yun Da Man. Seeing his son ignore him, he muttered to himself, "Your old man says it's fine, and it is. Your sister and your third brother will both return safely. If you don't believe me, let's make a bet!"
"Oh, Dad!" Yun Da Man was agitated. Thinking about his third brother killing two people, he couldn't sleep soundly for nights. "You yourself say, with less than two months until the New Year, where is the warmth in our home?"
"In previous years at this time, Er Man and San Man would definitely be busy, killing pigs and hosting guests. Look at us now. My mother sighs every day, Miss Fang Er weeps with tears, Jing De is sick with a high fever, and even Xiao Zhu Zi refuses to drink milk. What's the point of living like this?"
After speaking, he threw the killed black chicken into a large basin and poured boiling water over it with the scalding pot.
Old Man Yun's anger flared instantly upon hearing this. "No, Da Man, what nonsense are you spouting here? You are the eldest son in the family. Even if your father collapses from exhaustion and can never get up again, I would never say such a thing! We were in such a difficult situation in Fei Yan Village, did your father ever say anything about breaking up? If you don't help the family, it's one thing, but you're saying all this. Are you even human?"
Yun Da Man: "..."
He actually felt that what he had just said was a bit excessive. No matter how life went, the Old Yun family would not break up. Perhaps it was the immense pressure lately and lack of sleep that made him anxious and angry, causing him to provoke his father.
Gu Shi heard the commotion and hurried out. "What's wrong with you two?"
"It's nothing, Mom!" Yun Da Man glanced at his father and lowered his head to pluck the black chicken.
Old Man Yun grunted, put his pipe in his mouth, and went back into the house.
Shangguan Fang Er sat by the well, holding a handful of pebbles and throwing them into the well.
"Sigh, Da Man!" Gu Shi walked over to Yun Da Man and patted his shoulder. "Your father is old, why are you arguing with him? What storms haven't our family weathered over the years? Can we be defeated by this little difficulty?" She knew Da Man was anxious, but who in the family wasn't worried about their third son? Moreover, Er Man and Shan Shan had taken Xi Tian out for so long with no news. They had been gone for almost a month, and it was snowing heavily outside. How could the family not worry?
"Mom!" Yun Da Man sighed while plucking chicken feathers. "I spoke too harshly just now. I'll go apologize to Dad later!"
Gu Shi said nothing, but squatted beside Yun Da Man, rolled up her sleeves, and helped him pluck chicken feathers. "Da Man, Mom knows you and Gui Hua have always wanted to open a restaurant in the county town, but you know the family's situation. Jin Shan and Jin He are studying, which costs quite a bit of money each year. Do you know how much it costs to support the entire family, young and old, every month?"
"Oh, Mom!" Yun Da Man suddenly stood up. "Why are you bringing this up out of the blue? Opening a restaurant was just Gui Hua's momentary whim. It'll be fine once the novelty wears off!"
Zhao Gui Hua, who was stir-frying dishes in the kitchen: "..." You're the one with the momentary whim.
"Sit down, Mom hasn't finished speaking!" Gu Shi frowned.
Yun Da Man took a few deep breaths, sat down on a small stool with a huff.
"Mom means, when spring comes and it gets warmer, you and Gui Hua should go to the county town and see. If you find a suitable shop with cheap rent, you can open a restaurant. Mom will give you the money..." Gu Shi said seriously.
Zhao Gui Hua, hearing this from inside the kitchen, stopped stir-frying and ran out. "Really, Mom? You really agree to us opening a restaurant?"
Gu Shi: "..."
"Go stir-fry!" Yun Da Man glared at her.
Zhao Gui Hua beamed, her eyes reaching her ears, and quickly darted back into the kitchen, putting peanuts into cold oil and slowly stir-frying them.
Yun Da Man rinsed the cleaned black chickens with water and then looked at Gu Shi. "Mom, we don't need you to provide money for the restaurant. Gui Hua and I will find another way..." He had thought that going out to collect hides with San Man would earn enough money, but now, it was a total loss, and they almost died outside.
Gu Shi knew Yun Da Man was proud and didn't try to persuade him. She went to the kitchen to help.
After the chicken soup was brewed, dinner began. Cornmeal flatbread, pickled radish, fried peanuts, black chicken soup with dried mushrooms, and a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts with meat.
Old Man Yun raised his wine bowl, about to take a sip, when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.
"Knock, knock, knock!"