Chapter 26: Two Bowls of Chicken Soup
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Tong Chuxue went into the kitchen, lifted the lid of the earthenware pot, and filled two bowls to the brim with soup.
Since she was the hostess, she ought to act like one. How could she be stingy when serving soup to her guests?
Carrying out two generously filled bowls of chicken soup, Tong Chuxue watched as the rich fragrance spread throughout the courtyard. Even before tasting it, the Lei couple knew it had to be delicious. Yet the moment they reached for the bowls, they snatched their hands back—the sides were simply too hot.
Seeing that they dared not touch the bowls, Tong Chuxue put on an innocent smile and asked in feigned surprise, “What’s wrong? This soup tastes best when it’s hot.”
Freshly cooked chicken soup was covered with a layer of golden chicken fat. One of its functions was to seal out the air, keeping the soup hot for a remarkably long time. Some people might see little steam rising from the surface, only to discover the moment they drank it that it was scalding.
The Lei couple were not fools. Naturally, they understood this and refused to drink it just yet. Luo Changhui began making small talk. “Snow Girl, now that you’ve moved into your new house, you haven’t even shown us around.”
“Auntie is right. Once you finish your soup, I’ll give you a tour.” Tong Chuxue did not yield an inch. “The soup hasn’t gone cold yet, so hurry up and drink it.”
It had been Luo Changhui who first asked for chicken soup. Now that Tong Chuxue had placed it right in front of her, refusing to drink would only make her appear unreasonable.
When the Lei couple still made no move, Tong Chuxue pressed them further. “What’s the matter? Weren’t you the one who wanted soup, Auntie? Since you asked for it, I’ll wait right here until you finish the bowl.”
“You’re threatening me!” Luo Changhui said angrily.
“I don’t understand what you mean, Auntie. I’m only trying to entertain you properly. How could that possibly be called a threat?” Tong Chuxue looked utterly innocent. In any case, the chicken soup would not cool anytime soon, and she was in no hurry.
Luo Changhua, however, was the first to lose patience. “Sis, if you want to drink it, then drink it already.”
Luo Changhui shot him a furious glare. Did he think she did not want to drink it? It was simply too hot.
“If you don’t want it, then forget it.” Tong Chuxue reached for the bowls, intending to carry the soup back to the kitchen.
That was something Luo Changhui could not accept. Ordinary families could hardly afford chicken soup more than a few times a year. Unless it was a major festival or other special occasion, who would willingly stew a chicken at home for no reason?
Provoked by Tong Chuxue, Luo Changhui stopped caring about the heat. She picked up the bowl, blew on it twice, and gulped the soup down. Lei Qianfu, afraid of losing out, lifted the other bowl and poured it straight into his throat.
Beneath the fragrant layer of chicken fat lay scalding hot broth. The moment the Lei couple finished drinking, they stood there with their mouths open, gasping for air, unable to utter a single word. After shooting Tong Chuxue a vicious glare, they hurried home with their son, Lei Haizheng.
Having witnessed everything, Lin Chunyan apologized awkwardly to Xu Jinniang. “I’m sorry. We never expected the Lei family to come over.”
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Xu Jinniang knew it was not the Luo family’s fault. “It isn’t your fault. Their legs belong to them. If they insist on coming, what can you do?”
After sending everyone off, Tong Chuxue and Xu Jinniang began clearing away the bowls and chopsticks.
“Chuxue, you didn’t add anything to the soup you served the Lei family, did you?” Xu Jinniang asked. From what she had observed of her daughter in recent days, Tong Chuxue was clearly not the sort of person who would meekly endure being bullied.
Tong Chuxue smiled guiltily. How could she have been willing to serve the Lei family soup for nothing? Naturally, she had seized the opportunity to add a little “something extra.”
Night fell over the Lei household.
Lei Qianfu paced anxiously outside the outhouse. “Are you done yet?”
Luo Changhui squatted inside, her stomach twisting with wave after wave of pain. She was suffering terribly. “I’m not going to be done anytime soon. Find somewhere else!”
But where could he go in the middle of the night?
Lei Haizheng finally suggested, “Dad, there’s no one in the woods behind the house. Why don’t you go there?”
Lei Qianfu felt that he had reached the limit of his endurance. He could not worry about anything else. Taking three steps in two, he rushed into the woods behind the house.
Squatting in the grass, he thought furiously that Tong Chuxue, that wretched girl, must have added something to the soup. Otherwise, how could he possibly have such severe diarrhea?
There were countless mosquitoes and insects in the summer night woods. The moment Lei Qianfu crouched down, dozens of mosquitoes swarmed him. He had no choice but to relieve himself while shifting from side to side. Unfortunately, he misjudged one movement and splattered himself.
What a meal. He had suffered a tremendous loss!
The Lei family did not finally settle down until close to midnight. Lying in bed, the husband and wife unanimously concluded that Tong Chuxue was certainly behind what had happened that day.
They should have realized it long ago. Ever since the Tong family had divided their household, that little girl had been like a wolf cub baring its claws. Anyone who provoked her would not escape until she had bitten off a piece of flesh.
The Lei couple were not the only ones unable to sleep that night. Lei Haizheng tossed and turned in bed as well, his mind filled with the words he had heard that afternoon.
Tong Chuxue had told Xu Jinniang that she had obtained a stem of dendrobium. At the time, she probably had not known that anyone was outside the door, so there was a good chance she had been telling the truth.
But that girl was so difficult to deal with. Without coming up with some sort of plan, obtaining it would certainly not go smoothly.
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Who would make the best partner?
Lei Haizheng went through the families he knew one by one, and at last found an ideal collaborator.
The following afternoon, most of the men in the village were busy working in the fields. Once the women had finished their household chores, most of them gathered together to chat.
Following a narrow path, Lei Haizheng made his way to the Luo household.
At that moment, Luo Huifeng was practicing his writing on the ground in the courtyard. He looked up and saw Lei Haizheng approaching.
Lei Haizheng smiled at him and asked, “Is your elder brother home?”
So he had come looking for his elder brother. Holding a twig, Luo Huifeng pointed toward Luo Huian’s room. “He’s in there.”
Lei Haizheng immediately strode into Luo Huian’s room, moving with such urgency that Luo Huifeng silently edged closer in the same direction.
Luo Huian was reading inside when he suddenly heard footsteps. He raised his eyes and glanced over, only to find Lei Haizheng standing there.
“Cousin, what brings you here today?” Luo Huian asked, setting down his book.
“You’re reading?” Lei Haizheng glanced at the spine. In truth, he could not read at all. He simply found it absurd that Luo Huian, dragging around such a sickly body, still hid in his room reading books. Could he possibly be hoping to sit for the imperial examinations?
Whether Luo Huian took the examinations or not had nothing to do with him. He had come this time because he had a major plan to discuss with him.
“Cousin,” Lei Haizheng said warmly, as though he had completely forgotten what had happened the previous day. “I have a business opportunity that can make us a fortune. Do you want to join me?”
Luo Huian cast him a cool glance. “Not interested.”
He reached for the book on the table, intending to continue reading, but Lei Haizheng pressed a hand down on it.
“Cousin, this really is a major business deal. Why don’t you hear me out first?”
Luo Huian’s brows drew together slightly. He was just about to order him out when Lei Haizheng’s next words instantly changed his mind.
“That little girl Tong Chuxue somehow found a stem of dendrobium. I hear it’s worth a great deal of money.”
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