The next morning, when Jicheng got up to feed the pigs, he noticed a pile of fresh-looking pigweed stacked nearby. Unable to suppress a grin, he went back inside and planted a loud kiss on Chunfu’s sleeping face, earning a groggy grumble of complaint from her.
Chunfu had woken up an hour earlier to cook porridge and boil eggs for him, and had only just fallen back into a deep sleep when he disturbed her. Irritated, she snapped, “You’re such a nuisance. Keep this up, and you’ll go hungry tomorrow.”
Jicheng busied himself packing his things, trying to appease her. “Alright, I’m leaving now. Won’t disturb your sleep anymore.”
But once awake, there was no going back to sleep. Chunfu sat up, rubbing her eyes, and noticed Jicheng’s clothes were disheveled. She beckoned him over to straighten them while chattering away, “No point sleeping now. I’ll just take a nap at noon. I made extra food today—share some with Zhou Jing. It’s rare for you to have a brother you get along with, so look out for each other. Things have been hectic at home lately, but once things ease up, invite him over for a meal. On the day of the flower-viewing party, I’ll have to wait outside, but we’ll know the results early. When delivering the fruit porridge, we might find a way—but let’s be clear, don’t ruin my plans.”
Though Jicheng didn’t say anything, his heart swelled with joy. With a quick “I’m off,” he left the house. Chunfu got up, dressed, and folded the bedding. Once done, she joined Liansheng’s wife to cut pigweed. Their pigs were at a crucial growth stage—not a single meal could be missed. The thought of the decent income they’d have by New Year filled her with energy. No one turns their nose up at money.
As expected, Qiaoyun was already in the field. Spotting Chunfu from afar, she called out loudly, “Little sister-in-law!”—unfazed by anyone’s judgment. Liansheng’s wife chuckled. “Jiliang’s Qiaoyun isn’t a bad sort. If not for Jier-shu and his wife keeping her in check, she’d be quite lively and talkative. Chunfu, I’m not pushing you to befriend her, but as the saying goes, ‘Don’t hit a smiling face.’ Understand?”
Chunfu nodded. She didn’t refuse Qiaoyun’s help but didn’t engage with her either—she had nothing to say. The mess of the Ji family was something most avoided, and she had no reason to wade into it. Unbothered by Chunfu’s indifference, Qiaoyun efficiently helped gather pigweed, packing the basket tightly before adding more. Eyeing Chunfu’s slight frame, she hesitated. “Little sister-in-law, can you carry this?”
Though heavy, Chunfu had been eating and sleeping well lately, so she had the strength to manage. She smiled at Qiaoyun and headed home.
Watching them leave, Qiaoyun sat by her family’s plot for a while, bitterness swelling as she stared at the land she’d toiled over for years—now someone else’s. The chaos at home was beyond fixing. No land meant no food, and their meager grain wouldn’t last long. Her mother insisted on feeding Jikun eggs for his health, while poor Jiliang didn’t even get an eggshell. The injustice gnawed at her.
She sat until the sun was high before standing, dusting off her pants, and wiping her tears. Entering the house, she saw her mother sitting in the yard, basking in the sun with Jikun. Qiaoyun headed to the kitchen with a handful of greens, only for her mother to snipe, “Your father and Jiliang are out looking for work. Think no one’s left to keep you in line? Fawning over Jicheng’s idiot wife. Have you no shame? If you don’t, our Ji family still has dignity to lose. Look at the time—hurry up and cook! Trying to starve us?”
Qiaoyun tossed the greens into a wooden basin and strode out. “Mother, who’s been gossiping to you? Isn’t our family in enough turmoil?”
Jier’s wife didn’t even glance up, confident Qiaoyun wouldn’t confront the source. “Chunju passed by this morning and mentioned seeing you with her. Had I known you’d be so spineless, I’d never have agreed to the matchmaker pairing you with Jiliang. Enough talk—just cook. Your elder brother’s hungry.”
Being a daughter-in-law was hard enough without a mother-in-law grinding her underfoot. Qiaoyun, never one for patience, had only held back these years for Jiliang’s sake. Now, her lungs felt ready to burst. Coldly, she retorted, “Why listen to that gossip Chunju? Her man’s been shacking up with a widow from another village for days. She’s a rabid dog biting at everyone. Best ignore her.”
“At least she greets me respectfully and gave us half a basket of pigweed. You? Helping that idiot instead of your own family. Do you even want this marriage?”
Qiaoyun sighed, her head throbbing. Her mother-in-law couldn’t tell friend from foe, swallowing every slight while reserving her venom for family. “Mother, we sold our pigs. What use is pigweed?”
The pigs they’d raised so well—poached just as they were about to turn a profit. Who wouldn’t seethe? She’d bought those piglets herself, fed them day after day. Who saw her effort? Just critics. Swallowing her rage, she added, “I like helping little sister-in-law. She’s kind. Didn’t Father want to cozy up to Jicheng, hoping for handouts?”
Jier’s wife exploded, jumping up with a curse. “Nonsense! He owes us! Jicheng’s heartless—we raised Jiliang, saving him the trouble, and he repays us with ingratitude? He can’t escape this. After all these years, he’ll pay us back. Poor my Jikun, his health so frail…”
As their argument escalated, a commotion erupted outside. A group rushed in carrying Jiliang, Xiangcheng’s uncle red-faced with fury. “Where’s Jier? Get him out here!”
Qiaoyun froze at the sight of Jiliang—pale as a ghost, clutching his chest, writhing in pain, lips bitten bloody, sweat drenching his face. Sobbing, she cried, “Jiliang! What happened? Don’t scare me like this!”
Liansheng stepped forward, frowning. “He looked unwell while working but wouldn’t say why. After moving a few bricks, he collapsed, gasping for air. Terrifying. How’d he end up like this?”
Jier’s wife forced a smile. “So delicate for a young man? Just a little bump the other day. Carry him inside—his father will handle it. I’m just a woman; I can’t decide anything.”
Qiaoyun, livid, wiped her tears. “How can you say that? Jiliang’s suffering for Jikun! Those loan sharks kicked him in the chest. Dr. Han said his lungs are injured—he needs rest, not hard labor! Yet you and Father drove him out at dawn. Are you trying to kill him? After all the money he gave you from his work, can’t you even let him recover?”
The onlookers gaped. Most knew Jikun had caused trouble, but none realized Jiliang bore the brunt. The man was too obedient—a puppet to his father’s whims. Disgusted but unable to ignore Jiliang’s agony, someone volunteered to fetch Jier, finding him napping under a willow tree north of the village.
Jier, dragged back, grumbled, “Can’t even let me rest.”
Xiangcheng’s uncle glared. “Jier, you’re rotten to the core! I hired villagers to help build, and you sent Jiliang—injured—to work? Hoping he’d die so you could extort me? Never seen a father so biased—one son a pampered lord, the other a slave. Shame on you! Your late brother would rise from his grave to throttle you!”
The yard erupted in chatter, Jier flushing under the collective scorn. Jikun, woken by the noise, roared, “Busybodies! Even if Jiliang dies, it’s our business! Get out before I chase you off!”
Xiangcheng’s uncle scoffed. “Fine son you’ve raised. He’s your problem now. The Xiang family wants no part of this.”
Dr. Han, rushed over, examined Jiliang and snapped, “Did I not warn you? No more labor—just rest. If you want him alive, come get medicine. Six months of treatment and care might help.” After emergency aid, Jiliang stabilized.
Under public condemnation, Jier had no choice but to send his wife for medicine with their last coins. Dr. Han left swiftly—this household was unbearable.
Jikun spat at Jiliang. “Useless, always causing trouble. Daring to call me brother—tainting this place.”
Qiaoyun, seething, waited until the medicine arrived and everyone was present before speaking. “Father, since Jiliang’s crippled, let’s split the household. Better than this endless strife.”
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