Chapter 20: The Leng Family Acts Inhumanly

The stove was placed at the Leng family's doorstep just as desired. Knowing this was Leng Hui's thoughtful gesture, Tang Lin straightened her clothes before solemnly stepping over the brazier.

The smoke from the burning pomelo leaves in the stove acted like a cleanser for impurities; her clothes even carried a faint fragrance of pomelo, which was refreshing to the senses.

After Tang Lin entered the house, Chen Shumei silently picked up the stove and left.

Leng Hui walked a circle around the room. The Qingming vegetables she had brought home yesterday were tossed in a corner, unwashed.

Neither Old Mrs. Leng nor Sun Xiaojuan, who usually stayed at home, were in sight; only Leng Mei, who was home recovering from bone fractures in the side room, was present.

"Do they not know Mom was discharged from the hospital today, or are they doing this on purpose?"

Leng Hui was furious that they dared to treat her mother with such disregard.

Leng Yongkang placed the items brought from the hospital into the side room of the main house, then stepped out from behind the door curtain.

"Maybe they went to the farmers' market to buy groceries. Huihui, you shouldn't always assume the worst of your family; that's not good. If your grandma and the others heard you, they'd be so heartbroken."

Leng Hui let out a scoff.

Embarrassed, Leng Yongkang rubbed his nose and sat down, preparing to pour himself a glass of water.

However, Leng Hui snatched the kettle away first.

Leng Hui poured a glass of warm water for Tang Lin and had her sit in a chair to rest. Then, she rolled up her sleeves, preparing to personally cook a delicious meal to celebrate Tang Lin's arrival.

Seeing Leng Hui enter the kitchen, Leng Yongkang began to complain to Tang Lin: "Look at the daughter you raised. She's increasingly showing no respect for me as her father."

Tang Lin gave a light snort. "If you want her to respect you, you first need to set an example and keep her in your heart. Stop thinking about mistreating my precious daughter for the sake of the family."

To let her daughter suffer grievances while feeling aggrieved himself—there was no logic in the world like that. One cannot claim all the benefits for oneself.

Feeling that he couldn't communicate with Tang Lin, Leng Yongkang stood up, intending to help Leng Hui with the cooking.

However, for the rare occasion that he proactively wanted to help, he was startled by the scene he saw standing at the kitchen doorway.

"Leng Hui, what are you doing?"

"Huihui, what's wrong?"

Leng Yongkang's shout startled Tang Lin, who was resting in the chair, making her heart race as she thought Leng Hui was in danger.

Leng Hui turned back and glared at Leng Yongkang with dissatisfaction. "You're a grown man, stop being so jumpy. You scared my mother."

Hearing Leng Hui's voice, Tang Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

Leng Yongkang, however, was holding his breath, pointing worriedly at the cured pig head soaking in a basin. "You're soaking the whole pig head in hot water? We can't eat this much in one meal. Soaking it in water makes it spoil easily. If your grandma finds out when she gets back, watch out—she won't let you off easy!"

"It's not the whole thing; there's only half left."

The "cured pig head" was actually a deboned pig face. Some had been eaten during the New Year and the last time, so only about half remained.

Once sliced thin, it would only amount to about two bowls. One bowl would be used for Qingming dumpling cakes, and the other would be stir-fried with garlic sprouts; the flavor would be excellent.

"Even if it's half, if you let your grandma arrange it, she could boil it six or seven times. You're doing it all at once. If your grandma finds out, she'll raise hell!"

Leng Yongkang wailed inwardly; how did he end up with such a troublesome daughter?

Leng Hui looked up and said innocently, "I gave her the chance, but she didn't arrange it. If she won't, then I have to. My mother can't be discharged from the hospital without having a good meal, can she?"

The veins on Leng Yongkang's forehead throbbed. "Why does communicating with you feel so difficult now?"

Was this just about a single meal?

Sitting outside, Tang Lin couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile. She knew Leng Hui was doing this on purpose.

To deal with the Leng family's lack of consideration, if negotiation didn't work, she would solve the problem with direct, blunt force.

Wasn't Old Mrs. Leng being stingy with the meat, unwilling to let her eat?

Then they would just cook it all.

And then no one would eat it later.

As Leng Yongkang turned around, he noticed the smile on Tang Lin's lips.

He pressed his hand to his forehead, his head buzzing.

"Where are you going?"

Leng Yongkang was preparing to go out for some fresh air. Hearing Tang Lin's question, he ignored her and continued walking out.

"When Huihui finishes the meal later and we finish all the meat, don't blame us for not leaving any for you."

Should Leng Yongkang's foot, which was about to cross the threshold, continue forward or pull back?

He was caught in a dilemma.

Tang Lin curled her lips triumphantly, seemingly oblivious to Leng Yongkang's predicament, and casually picked up a nearby primary school textbook to flip through.

Ultimately, Leng Yongkang retreated. The temptation of meat was irresistible.

Not two minutes after Leng Yongkang found a seat, he saw Leng Hui emerge from the kitchen holding a hammer. She dragged a wooden box from under the bed and began smashing the lock.

"Hey, hey, hey! Leng Hui, why are you picking locks again!" Leng Yongkang scolded.

Leng Hui gave him a roll of her eyes. "To make Qingming cakes with rice flour, of course."

They had wasted a lock last time; if he didn't stop her, this new lock would also be ruined.

Leng Yongkang rushed forward to try and grab the hammer from her hand. "Can't you just use a key to open the lock?"

Leng Hui countered, "Do you have a key?"

Leng Yongkang: "..."

Finding him a nuisance, Leng Hui pushed him aside. Before he could react, she brought the hammer down. The new lock Old Mrs. Leng had bought just a few days ago met its end.

"What a sin!" Leng Yongkang slapped his forehead, looking as if the sky were falling.

Tang Lin scolded him irritably, "Who are you putting on this deathbed act for? If you're so capable, don't eat later!"

Leng Yongkang rubbed his face and sat back down beside Tang Lin, saying with a mournful expression, "I think she's the reincarnation of the Monkey King. She's absolutely lawless, treating this house like the Heavenly Palace to cause chaos."

"Pfft!"

Tang Lin couldn't help but laugh. She pursed her lips. "If this house were the Heavenly Palace, the gods up there must be incredibly poor."

Hearing this, a smile even more unsightly than a cry appeared on Leng Yongkang's face.

Leng Hui cooked very quickly. She had learned how to make dumpling cakes at the Jiang family's house that day, and this was the perfect time to practice. Although the cakes turned out in strange shapes, they tasted quite good.

The remaining pig head meat was stir-fried with garlic sprouts, and the aroma was instantly released.

She then made an egg drop soup, and lunch was ready.

Smelling the fragrance coming from the kitchen, Leng Yongkang's craving for alcohol rose, but unfortunately, there was no alcohol in the house.

Even Leng Mei, who had been silent in the side room, could no longer stay still. She called out softly a few times, "Uncle, Auntie."

Tang Lin signaled for Leng Yongkang to go and carry her out.

Sitting at the table, looking at the plate full of cured meat, the basin of Qingming dumpling cakes, and the large bowl of egg drop soup.

To be honest, Leng Mei greatly admired Leng Hui's courage.

She didn't know where things had gone wrong. In her previous life, Tang Lin was supposed to have died in this car accident, yet she hadn't.

Furthermore, the usually eccentric and taciturn Leng Hui had changed; her temperament seemed to have become assertive, daring to snap back at you if things didn't go her way.

Leng Hui helped Tang Lin pick up food. Noticing that Leng Mei was staring blankly at the dishes on the table, she asked in confusion, "Aren't you eating? Are you afraid your grandma will come back and take her anger out on you?"

Leng Mei shook her head, picked up her chopsticks, and put a piece of meat in her mouth. As the long-lost salty flavor hit her palate, Leng Mei glanced at Leng Hui. Seeing her eating happily, her own appetite improved significantly.

Leng Hui noticed that whenever she picked up meat, Leng Mei would steal a glance at her. It made her feel uneasy, and just as she was about to lose her temper, Leng Mei would withdraw her gaze.

Leng Hui cursed inwardly: *What a weirdo!*