RYEY – Chapter 67 I Didn’t Bully Second Sister-in-law

“Of course we’re going. We have to stock up enough firewood, and see if we can find some game and wild fruits. Once the snow seals off the mountain, we won’t be able to get anything.”

“Wife, Lele, come out and help.”

Hearing Li Huan’s voice, the women quickly set aside their blankets, threw on coats, and walked out. They saw Li Huan and Skinny Monkey each pulling a flatbed cart into the courtyard.

“Heavens, where did you get so much coal?”

Cheng Qiao’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the coal. In her storage space, she still had an old-style coal briquette stove. If she set one up in the room for the winter, she could use it to cook soups and nourishing dishes to strengthen the body.

Especially Mother Li—ever since marrying into this family, Cheng Qiao had been secretly paying attention to her health. On the surface she looked fine, but whenever the wind blew or the temperature changed, she was guaranteed to come down with a cold or fever.

And when it came to food, all the good stuff always went into Li Le, Li Huan, or her own bowls, while Mother Li herself never allowed more than a bite or two. Clearly, her health foundation was weak. She needed proper nourishment.

Right, but it couldn’t be just random supplements—she should ask Uncle Ye, the village doctor, about what someone like her mother-in-law should eat.

“I want to go see Uncle Ye.”

“Wife, are you not feeling well? Why do you need to see the village doctor?”

“I think Mother’s body is too weak. I have a coal stove and pot. This winter we can make some good food to strengthen her.”

“Wife…”

Li Huan’s eyes warmed. Other daughters-in-law in the village were all eager to scrape things off their mothers-in-law. Some hardhearted mothers-in-law, on the other hand, only thought of how to torment their daughters-in-law.

But in his family, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along so well, and even the sisters-in-law were like true sisters. What virtue or fortune did he, Li Huan, have to deserve such a good mother, a good younger sister, and such a considerate wife?

“Tomorrow then. Today let’s unload the coal first—Skinny Monkey has to get back.”

“Then I’ll prepare something for him to eat. It’s not easy for him either.”

“Mm. Wife, send him off with the pheasant we caught yesterday. Just make him some simple food, don’t tire yourself.”

“Mother, look at Brother, sticking so close to Second Sister-in-law. Ugh, unbearable to watch.”

“You dead girl, you’ve only learned a few words from your second sister-in-law and already you’re misusing idioms. Unbearable to watch? Then close your eyes.”

“Fine, I’ll close them. Ow—it hurts!”

Li Le, eyes shut, walked toward the cart and stubbed her toe hard on the wheel. She yelped in pain, making Mother Li fume. This dead girl was becoming less and less like a proper young lady.

“Lele, go wash the clothes.”

Mother Li spoke sternly. Even though Skinny Monkey was like family, he was still a young man. Her daughter was too lively, and that might leave a bad impression.

Skinny Monkey of course understood Mother Li’s thoughts. He stole a glance at Li Le, then grinned and went to move coal. Pouting, Li Le grabbed a basin full of dirty clothes and went to the well in the neighboring courtyard, rolling the pulley to draw water.

Li Huan’s yard was separated from Mother Li’s by a wall, but he had opened a gate between them. This way the two courtyards became one, making it convenient to go back and forth.

Li Le hauled up bucket after bucket of well water. Her second sister-in-law brought out a lot of soap, telling her to use it freely and not to worry—if it wasn’t enough, she would buy more at the supply co-op.

Seeing the neatly stacked pile of more than a dozen bars of soap, Li Le was amazed at how Second Sister-in-law could have so much. But when it came time to use them, she no longer held back.

Since Second Sister-in-law liked cleanliness, she had to make sure everyone’s clothes were washed spotless so she wouldn’t be disliked. While the weather wasn’t too cold yet, she should also wash the whole house inside and out.

Once the coal was unloaded and the courtyard cleaned, Mother Li and Cheng Qiao went to the kitchen to cook dinner. Skinny Monkey, clutching the pheasant and big steamed buns Cheng Qiao had given him, slipped away quickly.

He needed to prepare—Brother Huan had said that when the village slaughtered pigs for the New Year, he would get some pork for him. That would be another good chance to earn.

Everyone wanted to celebrate the New Year well, but with ration coupons for meat, sugar, and cloth all in short supply, the black market was their only choice.

“Lele, why are you washing so many clothes?”

Cheng Qiao came to call her for dinner, only to see the clothesline in the yard full and the basin by the well still half full of washed and unwashed clothes.

“Second Sister-in-law, you haven’t been here a full year, so you don’t know—our winters can freeze people to death. That’s why I’m washing everything now while it’s not too cold, so we can make it through the winter comfortably.”

Cheng Qiao sighed. Of course she knew how cold the winters here were. But cold weather was one thing—human hearts could be even colder.

“Come eat first. Afterward, I’ll help you wash.”

“Okay! What’s for dinner today? Is there any of that grilled sausage?”

Ever since she’d eaten one from the grocery store, Li Le couldn’t forget the taste and always asked about it.

Cheng Qiao explained it wasn’t easy to get—she had only stumbled upon it in town. If they wanted more, they’d need sausage casings, pork stuffing, and slow roasting over fire. And even then, the taste might not be the same.

Hearing how troublesome it was, Li Le’s craving quickly retreated. With Second Sister-in-law in charge of meals now, the family was eating much better—she couldn’t be greedy.

“Wife, do you want to eat grilled sausage? If you do, I’ll look in town and buy more if I find them.”

Cheng Qiao secretly rolled her eyes at him. He was clearly the greedy one. Hmph, no way she’d let him have it.

“No, too greasy.”

She shook her head. She really didn’t want it—maybe because she was pregnant, even the smell of grilled sausage made her nauseous.

“If Wife doesn’t want it, then Lele, you’re not allowed to eat it either. What if your second sister-in-law has a baby in her belly? Eating it might hurt her.”

Li Huan hurriedly added. Li Le was startled and waved her hands quickly. “No, no, I won’t eat it!”

Mother Li’s eyes lit up. It had been almost a month since Cheng Qiao married into the family—maybe she really was carrying Li Huan’s child. At that thought, she sternly scolded Li Le: “Grilled sausage, grilled sausage, is that all you think about? Why not roast your mother instead?”

Li Le: “…#￥…”

“Second Sister-in-law, if you really have a baby, when it’s born, I’ll help you take care of it, okay?”

Hearing that, Cheng Qiao’s nose stung, her eyes filled with tears. She nodded hard. In this life, she would protect Li Le, her own child, and Li Huan.

The next morning, Mother Li stayed home busying herself. Li Le went to the back mountain to chop firewood and dig wild vegetables, and to look for black fungus, hazel mushrooms, matsutake, and porcini—mountain goods from the mid-slopes.