Chapter 30: A Slight Easing, Should I Believe?

The four members of the family carried a large basin of fried rice toward the old house. Many people noticed and were full of curiosity, whispering among themselves—had this family reconciled with the main branch again?

When they arrived, unlike previous visits when they were stopped at the door, the gate was opened quickly this time. Seeing who it was, Wen Nong moved aside in a hurry and shouted into the house to report that the eldest uncle’s family had arrived.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Li and Mrs. Cai were cooking with Wen Di, while Mrs. Luo and Old Wen were inside, and the rest of the family either played in the yard or waited in their rooms for dinner.

“Grandpa, Grandma, we’re here!” Wen Yao called out as she entered.

Mrs. Luo came out and saw Wen Xiu Yi carrying the basin at the rear, Wen Yao leading Big Head at the front, grinning cheerfully at her, and Wen Jun politely greeting his grandparents.

“Hehe, Mom, where’s Dad?” Wen Xiu Yi could only muster the courage to greet them.

Mrs. Luo glanced at her eldest son and snorted, “Your father’s inside. What’s that you’re carrying?”

Wen Xiu Yi offered the basin forward. “We didn’t sell all the rice today. Yao Yao said you called us back for dinner, so I fried all the leftover rice. Mom, where should I put this?”

Mrs. Luo was a little surprised. She looked at the basin in Wen Xiu Yi’s hands—there was enough rice for the whole family, and if sold, it would fetch quite a sum.

“That much rice—how much would it have sold for?” Mrs. Luo said with a pang, shooting Wen Xiu Yi a reproachful look—a real spendthrift.

Wen Xiu Yi grinned sheepishly. “It’s not that much. If we don’t eat it today, we can’t sell it tomorrow. We never sell overnight rice. Mom, where should I put it?”

Hearing this, Mrs. Luo accepted it a little more. After all, it was food, and though it wasn’t hot weather, overnight rice wasn’t good.

“Where else? Put it in the kitchen, where else?” She had accepted his explanation, but still looked at Wen Xiu Yi as if he were a sore sight.

Wen Xiu Yi didn’t want to upset the old lady, so he carried the basin into the kitchen. Mrs. Li and Mrs. Cai were stunned for a moment when they saw him, but when they saw the large basin of what looked like rice, Mrs. Li’s eyes lit up.

“Big brother, what’s this?” Mrs. Li came closer and saw it was indeed rice—each grain fried golden, with eggs and shredded meat mixed in, looking and smelling delicious.

She remembered the big bowl of meat the old lady had brought back earlier—it was pork intestines, but somehow Wen Yao managed to cook it so well, there wasn’t the slightest unpleasant taste.

Now Wen Xiu Yi brought in this large basin of rice, and Mrs. Li’s smile nearly reached her ears.

“This must be that fried rice Yao Yao said you sell at the dock, right?” Mrs. Li said as she took the basin from Wen Xiu Yi.

Wen Xiu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, wiped his hands on his clothes, and nodded. “Yes. It’s a little cold now, so could you two sisters heat it up before serving? I’ll just head out now.”

“Alright, alright.”

Wen Xiu Yi turned to leave, relieved—he hadn’t been this nervous in years.

Mrs. Luo stood at the door, and only when Wen Xiu Yi came out did she shoot him a look. “Come in with me.”

Wen Xiu Yi shrank his neck and followed obediently.

Inside, Mrs. Luo and Old Wen sat on the kang bed, a stool set a little way in front of them. Mrs. Luo stared at him, and Wen Xiu Yi called out to his father and hesitantly took a seat on the little stool.

Wen Yao, holding Big Head, climbed onto the kang bed—it was warmer there.

Old Wen looked up at him, tapped his pipe, and asked, “How’s business these days?”

“It’s alright. Word has spread at the dock that our fried rice is tasty, so plenty of people come for it,” Wen Xiu Yi answered honestly.

Old Wen didn’t know what else to say, only remarked, “As long as business is good.”

Mrs. Luo, seeing her husband’s attitude, glared at him in disappointment and continued, “Let me ask you, are you really not going to make the same mistakes again?”

When it came down to it, this son had once been their brightest hope. The whole family had supported him, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they’d given everything for him. His two younger brothers had gone to work in the fields early, all to earn money for his schooling.

He’d passed the scholar exam, married the teacher’s daughter, and good days seemed within reach. But their indulgence and leniency had led him astray.

He squandered the family’s fortune, lost his wife, and nearly destroyed his children.

Now, seeing their son finally turning over a new leaf, the old couple didn’t know if they should believe it. They’d seen this before, afraid he was only after their money again.

The old lady’s question meant her heart was wavering. Wen Xiu Yi seized the moment, pledging earnestly, “Father, Mother, I promise you, I’ll never make such mistakes again. I’ll work hard to provide for the children. I swear, if I go astray again, let the heavens strike me down.”

Mrs. Luo said nothing; he’d made such oaths before, but what had come of them?

“Forget it. Since you’ve separated from the family, how you live is your own business. As for Liu…” Mrs. Luo glanced at Big Head and Wen Yao playing beside her, and swallowed the words she’d meant to say. “Alright, see if the second and third families have finished cooking, and get ready to set the table.”

“Oh,” Wen Xiu Yi replied, relieved—he’d expected a harsh lecture, but thankfully, it didn’t come.

At dinner, the children thought it was New Year’s—there was meat and rice, and the rice was especially delicious, with meat, eggs, and vegetables.

Though Wen Xiu Yi had brought a lot, there were many mouths in the Wen family, so each only got a small bowl. Fortunately, Mrs. Li had steamed cornbread, and everyone ate their fill.

After the meal, Mrs. Li and Mrs. Cai cheerfully cleaned up—such a sumptuous meal was rare in the household.

The rest gathered in Mrs. Luo and Old Wen’s room, sitting together on the kang and the floor. Wen Di, Wen Ying, and Wen Yao huddled, whispering, while Big Head quietly played with the toy Sixzi gave him.

Wen Jun joined a few other brothers, listening to their questions about his experience running the stall.

Wen Xiu Yi and his two brothers sat together, all awkward, staring at each other.

Wen Xiu Zhu and Wen Xiu Qing still felt uneasy—it seemed this new big brother was hardly real.

Just as Wen Xiu Yi was about to scrape a three-bedroom, one-living-room floor with his feet, Mrs. Luo finally spoke, telling everyone to disperse—the noise was giving her a headache.