Chapter 5: Saving Someone by Coincidence

On the way back, a cool breeze blew, and Fang Hongying calmed down.

She had been hot-headed just a moment ago; in a fit of impulse, she had rushed to Sister-in-law Cui’s house to make inquiries.

Now, thinking back on how Wang Cuilan had doted on that money-losing girl, she suddenly felt that this plan wouldn't work.

But since she had already spoken, if she didn't give an answer, she feared Sister-in-law Cui would chase her down and curse her.

She decided to ask anyway. What if it worked? The money from selling the girl could build a small mud house for her two sons, Dafu and Erfu.

The sun set behind the hills, dusk approached, and wisps of cooking smoke rose into the air.

A group of men, carrying farm tools and hunched over, walked toward their respective homes, chatting in small groups.

As soon as Lin Yuannan and Lin Yuanxi finished their shift and heard that their eldest brother had broken his leg, they hurried home with their hoes on their shoulders.

"Sister-in-law, how is Big Brother’s leg?"

The two men ran into Fang Hongying at the courtyard gate and asked hurriedly, "Have you seen him? What did they say?"

"I saw him. It’s nothing serious, he just needs to rest for a day or two." Fang Hongying was feeling irritable and replied curtly. She waved her hand, walked into the courtyard, and headed toward the kitchen. "Second sister-in-law, is dinner ready yet?"

Zhang Miao had given birth to two girls and couldn't hold her head high, so she had to swallow her pride and cook every day. Hearing this, she threw the large ladle into the pot. "What’s the rush? You won't starve!"

Seeing her husband, Lin Yuanxi, and the third brother, Lin Yuannan, enter the courtyard, Zhang Miao hurriedly wiped her hands on a rag and went to greet them with a smile, busy fetching water and handing them soap and towels, changing the water twice. Once she was done, it was time to eat.

They say even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice. Lacking oil and salt, and with no meat, it was rare that their mother-in-law, Wang Cuilan, had taken out some cured meat today, washed it, sliced it, and told her to stir-fry it with garlic sprouts.

At least there was some meat to satisfy their cravings and improve their meals.

As usual, she set aside a small portion of food. Zhang Miao wondered why they were bothering to serve such a feast when Zhou Zhaodi had only given birth to a girl, so she scooped out a bit more of the stir-fried meat to send over to her.

"Wait!"

Wang Cuilan took the chopsticks, added more of the stir-fried meat to the bowl, and threw in an extra egg. "Add an egg for the third daughter-in-law."

"Mom?" Zhang Miao’s eyes widened, her temper flaring up. "When I gave birth to Dani and Erni, I didn't eat a single egg, and today the third daughter-in-law has already eaten three! And this cured meat! We only eat it during festivals, and you’re giving her so much. Don't the laborers in this house who worked all day need to eat? Big Brother is suffering today and needs to recover, shouldn't he eat it?"

"What’s wrong with three eggs?" Wang Cuilan slammed her chopsticks down. "She could eat ten! Don't think I didn't see you trying to skim off some of the meat. You’re just thinking of your own mother’s belly; Zhaodi won't get to eat it, and it won't end up in your mouth either."

"Dad!" Zhang Miao didn't expect Wang Cuilan to be so biased and quickly looked at Lin Dawei and Lin Yuannan. "Third brother, look at this. Mom is giving the third daughter-in-law three eggs a day, and none of the three grandsons have had any!" Knowing she was in the wrong, she didn't dare mention the stir-fried meat again.

Lin Yuannan hesitated, then gave his own egg to his son, Sanfu, who was standing nearby. "I’ll share my egg with Sanfu and the others, just give my wife an extra egg. Her body is weak. Xiaoni is also frail; they both need to be well-nourished."

"Three eggs? I think that’s fine." Lin Dawei hadn't seen Lin Xiangrong yet, but hearing Wang Cuilan say she was a bright-eyed, lovely girl, and considering that the eldest son’s leg injury had confirmed those earlier predictions, he felt quite happy. "The third daughter-in-law has made a contribution; she deserves to eat!"

Giving the Lin family a fairy—how could that not be a contribution? Never mind three eggs, even if she ate a whole chicken, he wouldn't say a word.

Seeing the second daughter-in-law get shut down and even her father-in-law siding with the third daughter-in-law, Fang Hongying couldn't sit still. She looked at her two sons, who were staring longingly at the eggs, and gritted her teeth. "Mom, Dad, are you planning to give Xiaoni away to be raised by someone else?"

"If you are, why not give her to the second son of the Cui family at the east end of the village as a child bride? They’re offering this much."

If they were going to give Lin Xiangrong away, being good to Zhou Zhaodi made sense. Otherwise, Fang Hongying couldn't figure out why the old couple had such a sudden change of heart.

"Have you lost your mind!" As soon as Wang Cuilan heard that Fang Hongying was trying to sell her granddaughter, who had descended from the heavens, she stood up abruptly and nearly slapped her. "Impossible! Take that back! Don't even think about it. From now on, no one is to lay a finger on my granddaughter!"

She snatched the bowl from Zhang Miao’s hand and stomped in her cloth shoes toward the backyard. "You all eat. I’m taking this to the third daughter-in-law."

The room fell silent, not a sound to be heard.

Lin Yuannan, whose heart had been in his throat, finally relaxed. After eating, he quickly picked up his son, Sanfu, and ran to the backyard to return to his own room.

Only Fang Hongying, having been scolded by her father-in-law, Lin Dawei, and stung by Zhang Miao’s words, felt more and more furious the more she thought about it. She couldn't sleep all night, sighing and fuming. The next day, when Zhou Zhaodi went out for some fresh air, she snuck into the third room.

"Sanfu?" Upon entering, she saw Sanfu was there too. Fang Hongying’s eyes darted around, and she said to him, "Your mom doesn't want you anymore now that she’s had a little sister!"

Sanfu was young; hearing this, he burst into tears, his face smeared with snot and tears. Rubbing his eyes with his dirty hands, he ran out to find Zhou Zhaodi.

Fang Hongying snorted, pushed open the window, picked up Lin Xiangrong, and placed her on the windowsill.

Freeze to death, you money-losing brat!

Eh?

Lin Xiangrong opened her eyes.

She recognized who it was just by the sound.

Thinking to herself, she suddenly remembered that Fang Hongying’s eldest son had been sickly since birth. Because Lin Yuandong had a crippled leg and no time to look after his two sons, no one noticed when Dafu climbed onto a small stool by the water vat to play with water and fell in.

If Zhou Zhaodi hadn't happened to return from getting fresh air and spotted him in time to pull him out, Dafu might have drowned without anyone knowing.

After Dafu was pulled out, his health worsened. Fang Hongying vented all her anger on Zhou Zhaodi, making snide remarks and pointing at the mulberry to curse the locust tree all day long. As time went on, Zhou Zhaodi couldn't take it and fell ill.

She couldn't help but sigh. Calculating the time, Dafu’s fall into the water and Lin Yuandong’s leg injury happened one after the other.

[Great Aunt, don't busy yourself here. Go check on your Dafu; if you go too late, he might drown.]

[Adults are so careless. Why leave a wooden stool by the water vat? That child loves playing with water; he’ll stand on the stool to play and end up falling into the vat!]

Where did that voice come from?

Fang Hongying was stunned. Hearing that soft, adorable voice call her "Great Aunt," she couldn't help but look down at Lin Xiangrong, who was staring at her with dark, clear eyes.

*Hiss*, could it be that this money-losing brat is talking?

But she was just born; how could she talk?

[Great Aunt, don't just stare. Go find your Dafu. If you go too late, he might really drown!]

[Eh? Didn't I hear my dad say that Big Uncle’s leg is better?]

[Then Dafu should be fine, right?]

[But you never know!]

What?!

Dafu drowning?!

How could that be? When she snuck over, Dafu was playing perfectly fine in the courtyard...

Wait.

Fang Hongying suddenly remembered that there was indeed a small stool by the large water vat in the front yard. Dafu was just tall enough to reach the water if he stepped on it. If he really fell in, given his health, he would likely be a goner!

A jolt went through her heart. Fang Hongying hurriedly placed Lin Xiangrong on the *kang*, forgetting her malicious intent to let her catch a cold, and ran toward the front yard.

"Dafu!"

In the front yard, Dafu was standing on tiptoes trying to reach the water. The stool tilted, Dafu lunged forward, and he fell headfirst into the water vat, splashing and crying.

"My son!"

Fang Hongying, running so fast her soles felt like they were sparking, rushed forward and grabbed Dafu by the armpits, dragging him out.

"Mom!"

Dafu coughed up some water and hugged Fang Hongying’s neck, crying earth-shatteringly.

Fang Hongying was still shaken. She patted Dafu’s back, her gaze meeting Zhou Zhaodi’s as she walked back. That milky, childish voice echoed in her mind.

She couldn't help but shiver.

It was uncanny. That dead girl was actually right. How on earth did she do it?

Could it be... could she really be a fairy descended from heaven?

No, that’s impossible.

Fang Hongying hurried back to the room, trembling as she wiped Dafu’s face and body. She found clean clothes and changed him from head to toe. She held him and coaxed him for a long time, and only when he fell asleep in her arms did her heart settle.

Today, she owed it to that dead girl.

She’d better drop the child bride idea. She would definitely get scolded by Sister-in-law Cui, but since nothing was set in stone, she couldn't be blamed.

Hmph, that dead girl... she’s still a little useful.

"Xiaoni." Zhou Zhaodi pushed open the door. Seeing the window wide open—it was autumn, after all, and the wind was still quite chilly—she hurriedly closed it and picked up Lin Xiangrong, rocking her gently. "Mom is back."

[Mom, I missed you so much!]

[Mom, where did you go? Just now, Third Brother was scared away by Great Aunt.]

[Third Brother even said he’d take me to play in the water when I grow up! I can't let Third Brother hate me.]

Zhou Zhaodi tapped the tip of Lin Xiangrong’s nose, her voice gentle. "Xiaoni wants to see your brother?"

"Mom will call Sanfu back."

Lowering her eyes, Zhou Zhaodi thought of the words "Third Brother was scared away by Great Aunt," and connecting it to the open window and Xiaoni by the window, her body couldn't help but tremble.

She hoped it wasn't Fang Hongying’s doing!

She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and met the gaze of Sanfu, who had run back. She squatted down, holding Lin Xiangrong. "Sanfu, come and see your little sister."