Chapter 17: Refuse to Deliver Grain? Just Skip a Meal!

Chapter 17

“What a despicable little bastard!”

Li Wang continued her tirade. “Look, just look at your favored second son! How dare he eat well behind our backs? What a hateful creature—may his whole family perish!”

Old Li remained silent.

Could it be true that the second son was secretly eating without them?

How could that be possible?

Perhaps the food simply wasn’t ready yet?

Yes, that must be it.

The second son had always been quite filial. Just yesterday, when he accidentally set the kitchen on fire, Li Feng didn’t say a word. Over the years, Old Li had instilled many ideas into the second son, and under his guidance, the boy would never do anything to betray him.

Even the big dog, Er Niu, had been influenced by the second son and treated both of them with respect; how could such utter disobedience occur?

Comforting himself with this thought, Old Li settled down, saying, “Why are you making such a fuss? Look at the things you’re saying! We’re both bedridden now—my leg is broken, you can’t get up either. The second son has to handle everything inside and outside the house. Shouldn’t we be thinking about how hard he’s working for us?”

“Besides, you know what kind of person he is. He would never do anything to hurt us.”

“Wait and see—he’s still thinking about us.”

With that, Old Li fell silent and waited patiently.

Li Wang, half doubtful, was too weak to get up. All she could do was curse.

The two of them waited.

Their stomachs growled.

The enticing aroma outside the room faded, but no food was brought to them.

Old Li was stunned.

Where was the meal?

Had the second son truly forgotten them?

Li Wang snapped, “What did you just say?”

“Wasn’t the second son supposed to be kind and filial? Didn’t you say he’d bring us food? Where is it? Where are the dishes?”

“The smell was so strong, but we haven’t had a single sip of soup, not even a piece of pickled bread. That ungrateful wretch! When I get better, I’ll accuse him of being unfilial and make him do hard labor!”

“Enough!”

Old Li suddenly shouted.

Startled, Li Wang turned to see it was him yelling. Unable to hold back, she twisted around and bit his waist hard.

“Ah!”

Old Li yelped in pain and slapped her away, turning her head sharply. “You crazy woman, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Isn’t this family chaotic enough already?”

“You just eat, eat, eat—are you some starving ghost reborn?”

“The third son is about to take the exam. He said he’s very confident about passing the scholar’s test this time. If you report the second son now, are you trying to ruin the third son’s chances?”

“Really?”

Hearing this, Li Wang ignored the pain and turned toward Old Li. “Did the third son really say that?”

“Can he really pass the scholar’s exam?”

“Are we really going to become the parents of a scholar?”

Old Li looked at Li Wang’s hopeless expression and nodded, pride shining in his eyes.

“Look at you, so hopeless. Don’t babble nonsense. Just endure it for now.”

“When my leg gets better, I’ll visit the village shaman at the edge of town and ask her to read our family’s fortune—see what’s really going on.”

At his words, Li Wang quieted immediately.

That’s right.

Everything depended on the third son. She almost made a mistake!

But…

Her stomach rumbled uncontrollably.

Since last night’s meal, she hadn’t eaten properly. Now she was so hungry her vision blurred. She had never endured such hardship before.

Since giving birth to the second son, apart from the first two difficult years, life had been comfortable for her.

The eldest son was occasionally considerate.

The third son was sweet and affectionate.

The second son, though lacking ambition, was an excellent worker and had several sons of his own.

The household was well maintained, without her having to worry about a thing. She was the most well-off woman in the entire village of Li’s family.

Even the ladies of the landlord and village chief’s families didn’t live as well as she did.

That had always been her pride—but now she was suffering like this.

“I’m hungry,” she said.

“Let the second son bring us something, will he?”

Old Li looked at his wife, shrugged, and said, “Give me three wen, and I’ll go ask the second son.”

“What?!”

Li Wang immediately clutched her robe and shouted at Old Li, “What nonsense are you talking about? Paying money just to eat in our own home—are you out of your mind?”

“Second son, you lazy donkey, where the hell are you? Hurry up and bring me food!”

“You little wench, you dare to be unfilial now? Just wait until I get better—let’s see how thick-skinned you really are...”

Nearby, Big Sister, who was fetching water and washing dishes, shivered in fright.

She glanced at Father.

Father was eating breakfast and carving a toothpick for himself. He lay beneath the jujube tree, picking his teeth while watching the clouds drift by—a picture of contentment.

Eldest and second brothers were busy—one chopping firewood, the other washing clothes.

Third brother was tidying up the dishes she had washed.

Fourth and Fifth Niu were helping—one carrying clothes for third brother, the other lying by Father’s feet, chatting and laughing merrily.

Second Sister was curled up on Father’s knees, sleeping soundly.

Big Sister watched the scene with tearful eyes. She suddenly felt like crying.

She had never dared to imagine such a scene before.

Everyone in the family was busy, constantly on their feet.

Father had to work in the fields, do heavy labor, and teach eldest, second, and third brothers how to farm.

When finished, he would go hunting in the mountains, never a moment’s rest.

Though Father cared for them, he was rarely home.

Grandfather and Grandmother disliked her, thinking she was useless.

But...

She had tried very hard—washing clothes, cooking, washing dishes, caring for her siblings, tidying the house—it was all on her. Yet Grandmother seemed never satisfied.

A few days ago, Father suddenly changed.

They no longer had to work the fields.

Father stopped teaching her brothers to farm.

He took them to the mountains to hunt.

He taught them lessons and told them they were about to split the family property!

But—could they really divide the household?

In a daze, Father stood up, carrying her sister, followed by Fifth Niu. The three of them went to the main house.

After a while, they came out again.

Father still wore a smile.

Second Sister and Fifth Niu were beaming with joy.

Grandfather and Grandmother no longer scolded.

The whole courtyard radiated peace and harmony.

Big Sister was stunned. What had Father done?

Why had Grandmother suddenly stopped yelling?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Father approaching until his warm hand rested gently on her head. She snapped back to reality, looked up, and saw Father’s broad smile and heard his tender words:

“This is the key to the cellar—your grandmother gave it to me.”

“Take some food from the evening meal. Make some dark wheat bread for your grandparents and cook a bowl of millet porridge.”

“All right, Father!”

Big Sister reached out to take it, feeling unexpectedly cherished.

Grandmother had handed over the cellar key?

...