Chapter 30: Is This Your Future Daughter-in-Law?

The team members all began scratching their heads. The frustration they had just endured still lingered heavily in their chests. Now, bringing this up only made their heads ache more. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to go into the mountains... but ever since autumn began this year, they truly hadn’t caught a thing! If they could have brought back some meat, they wouldn’t be slacking off every day. With so many mouths to feed at home, young and old alike, who wouldn’t want to eat meat? But meat was simply nowhere to be found. The mountains at night were frozen solid, with no animals stirring. Others might not know the situation, but could their team leader, Qian Weiguo, be unaware of these facts?

“If you really don’t want to go, fine! I’ll go alone! Whatever I hunt, it’s mine! Don’t come whining to me later!” Qian Weiguo huffed as he strode away, hands behind his back.

...

After the people from Wulipu left, the villagers of Zhangjiatun stayed gathered together. Li Huifang and a few others came out of the house, and everyone shouted curses at Qian Weiguo and his group.

“The people from Wulipu are rotten to the core!”

“We’ll never marry our daughters off to that place again!”

“Their jealousy is just laughable!”

“Yangzi is honest and kind-hearted; they shamelessly lost face for nothing! And you were still trying to help them save face.”

“Did you see Qian Weiguo’s expression just now? Ha! He looked like he’d eaten some poisonous mountain mushrooms!”

Everyone was amused that Qian Weiguo’s group had been left with no dignity. Yet some worried they might go elsewhere to make up for it.

Zhang Yang, however, wasn’t concerned. “If people want to do harm, you can’t always stop them. But as long as our whole Zhangjiatun stands united, if they try any more tricks, it’ll be their downfall.”

Hearing Zhang Yang’s words, the villagers all praised him, “That’s right! Exactly!”

After chasing off the troublemakers, everyone returned home to warm themselves. A few lingered hesitantly in the yard, reluctant to leave.

“Ladies, is there something else you want to say?” Zhang Yang asked.

One woman smiled awkwardly. “Oh, nothing much... it’s just that when I went out just now, I brought along two jins of white flour, hoping to trade it with your family for some roe deer or wild boar meat...”

The other two women also smiled sheepishly. “My husband said he was going to the mountain with you last night, but his old ailment flared up suddenly, making his legs weak. He didn’t want to slow everyone down, so he didn’t go.”

“But the children at home are crying for meat; I really had no choice but to shamelessly come and ask.”

Zhang Yang quickly pulled out a stool for them to sit. “Please don’t say that. If you want to trade, just say so next time. If we have extra, we’ll definitely trade with you.”

Li Huifang agreed. “We’re all neighbors from the same village. Don’t be so formal! Whenever our family has any trouble, everyone always helps out. It’s us who should be thanking you.”

“Nonsense! It’s what neighbors should do! Yangzi is so capable, bringing back the militia squad for Zhangjiatun — your family has contributed the most!”

“No, no…”

While they chatted, Zhang Yang had already gone to the woodshed and cut a few pieces of frozen roe deer meat through the window.

“Ladies, here’s a portion each. Take it home!”

The women were overjoyed. “Wonderful! Thank you so much!”

As they took the meat, they insisted on stuffing the white flour they brought into Li Huifang’s arms.

Li Huifang waved her hand. “No, no, we have enough at home...”

“You have so many mouths to feed. There’s no such thing as too much grain. Please take it!”

“Yes, if you don’t accept the flour, how can I accept this meat?”

The three women continued to push the flour onto her. When Li Huifang refused again, they turned to Zhang Yan. Holding the just-asleep Ya Ya, Zhang Yan hurried back inside.

The women then shifted their attention to Lin Qiushui standing by the door.

“That girl is pretty! I remember you’re from the educated youth team, right?”

“I’ve never seen Yangzi bring a girl home before. You’re the first!”

“Looks like you might be Yangzi’s future wife? Just perfect — then this flour is for you. Take it!”

Lin Qiushui, unaccustomed to such attention, was caught off guard and ended up with three bags of white flour stuffed into her hands.

Having completed their mission, the women left Zhang Yang’s home happily.

Lin Qiushui stood frozen in place, wanting to cry but with no tears. “This…”

Zhang Yang smiled. “Since they said they came to trade for meat, you should accept the flour.”

Lin Qiushui lowered her head. “I’m causing you all trouble again.”

“It’s nothing!” Zhao Dong encouraged her. “The first time is awkward, but you’ll get used to it next time, sister-in-law.”

Sister-in-law?

Five or six pairs of eyes inside and outside the main house suddenly turned sharply toward Zhao Dong.

Zhao Dong scrambled, “Yangzi, don’t hit me! I didn’t say it first! Those ladies started it! Why don’t you hit them?”

This time Zhang Yang wasn’t going to let him off.

Grabbing the firewood stick by the wall, he silently chased Zhao Dong around the yard, determined to teach him a lesson.

“Yangzi! I’m sorry! I really know I was wrong! I won’t joke around anymore!”

As he ran, he slapped his own mouth.

Zhang Yang kept up the chase relentlessly.

Li Huifang watched anxiously, shouting, “Slow down! The ground is slippery!”

Zhang Yan laid the sleeping Ya Ya back on the kang and then pulled Li Huifang and Lin Qiushui inside to sit.

Seeing Lin Qiushui’s cheeks flushed like apples, Zhang Yan said to Li Huifang, “Look at how Dongzi made that girl feel! Her face is practically on fire!”

Li Huifang finally looked at Lin Qiushui. “Oh, it’s true. Girl, don’t take it to heart. Those two boys are just mischievous, not bad…”

“Mother, come inside and sit down.” Zhang Yan glanced at the yard. “Let those two fight it out. We’ll have some soup!”

Yes!

The fragrant pork soup was ready but no one had yet tasted it.

All because those people from Wulipu had stirred up trouble.

Zhang Wen and Zhang Fei, two sisters, had been eager for a while. Seeing their brothers playing in the yard and guests inside, they took the initiative to work in the woodshed.

When the two little ones brought in the meat soup, Lin Qiushui felt even more embarrassed than before.

“I should be the one working!”

Zhang Yan gently stopped her, face blossoming into a smile. “How can that be! You are our guest. When have guests ever been made to work?”

“Sister, sit!” Zhang Fei patted the kang. “It’s warm!”

Zhang Wen imitated Li Huifang’s earlier hospitality, holding the bowl of soup with both hands and offering it to Lin Qiushui.

“Sister, have some soup!”

“Thank you.”

Taking the warm bowl, Lin Qiushui’s eyes misted over faintly.