Chapter 12: Pretending Not to Understand
Fortunately, there was no one at the village entrance at this hour. Otherwise, their cartload of goods would have definitely sparked a wave of gossip.
The three of them had already anticipated this and deliberately slowed their pace, making sure to arrive home just as night fell.
Before they even reached the door, it swung open from the inside. A man who bore a striking resemblance to Wen Xiuyi—about seventy to eighty percent similar—stood in the doorway. When he saw the cart full of goods, he froze, momentarily forgetting to greet them.
“Second Uncle?” Wen Yao called out, snapping Wen Xiuzhu back to reality.
Wen Xiuzhu glanced at them, then rubbed his eyes as if to confirm he wasn’t seeing things.
Wen Xiuyi peeked out from behind the cart and looked at his somewhat dazed younger brother. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help!”
“Oh, right.” Wen Xiuzhu finally snapped out of it and quickly stepped forward to help Wen Xiuyi push the cart into the house. Wen Yao followed closely behind, promptly shutting the door with a thud.
Though, to be fair, whether the door was closed or not didn’t make much of a difference.
“Big Brother… you didn’t go gambling again, did you?” Wen Xiuzhu frowned at the sheer amount of goods, and his first thought was that Wen Xiuyi had gone gambling again, won big, and used the winnings to buy all this stuff. Otherwise, where else would they get the money?
Wen Xiuyi didn’t even need to ask what he meant by “gambling.” Instead of explaining, his gaze landed on the newly repaired kitchen. The stove was fixed, and though there were no walls, a simple shed had been built. At the very least, it would shield them from the sun and rain.
“Oh, the kitchen’s done! Thanks for the hard work. I bought some meat—take some home for the kids to enjoy.” Wen Xiuyi spoke as he rummaged through the cart. “Yao Yao, Xiao Jun, help unload the goods.”
Wen Xiuzhu stared at him blankly, wondering if he had misheard.
What did his big brother just say? He bought meat? And he was letting him take some home for the kids?
Was this really his big brother? Was it?
Seeing the family of three begin unloading, Wen Xiuzhu quickly moved to help. Once everything was moved into the makeshift kitchen, he hesitated for a moment before pulling Wen Xiuyi aside.
“Big Brother, I’m just saying… Dad and Mom have already patched up so many of your messes. Can’t you change your ways? Even if not for yourself, at least for your three kids. Ever since Sister-in-law left, if you still don’t get your act together, they’ll be doomed.”
Wen Xiuyi mentally cursed at the sheer mess he had inherited, then sighed and replied, “I didn’t gamble. I won’t gamble anymore. From now on, I’m going to focus on raising my kids properly.”
“Huh?” Wen Xiuzhu had fully expected his brother to yell at him for meddling, as he always did. Instead, hearing something so responsible left him stunned.
He must be dreaming. How else could he be hearing such decent words from his big brother?
“Alright, enough of that.” Wen Xiuyi gave him a shove and changed the subject. “What did the kitchen repairs cost?”
Successfully distracted, Wen Xiuzhu answered, “About twenty to thirty wen. We didn’t have materials at home, so Dad collected some from the village. Third Brother and I finished everything in a day. But seriously, you really aren’t gambling anymore?”
Wen Xiuyi shot him a glare. “I said I quit, and I mean it. Keep bringing it up, and I’ll knock you out.”
Wen Xiuzhu instinctively shrank back. Wen Xiuyi just laughed heartily and went back to sorting their purchases.
They had bought twenty jin of rice, twenty jin of flour, some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, as well as five jin of meat—all of which cost over four hundred wen.
Since fried rice required a wok with a handle, they had also placed an order at the blacksmith for one, which would be ready for pickup tomorrow. That alone cost another hundred wen.
Adding in the cost of the stall, the buckets, and basins, the money they had earned from selling herbs earlier that day was almost completely spent.
Still, at least they had found a sustainable way to make a living. No matter how well or poorly business went, at the very least, they wouldn’t starve.
Wen Xiuyi cut off a strip of meat, about two jin in size, then pulled out a fist-sized clay bottle from the cart. He lifted it to his nose, inhaling deeply, and his face immediately relaxed in bliss.
Wine.
It couldn’t compare to modern liquor, but it was still fragrant.
However, Professor Wen had been sober for many years. He only sniffed the aroma and didn’t take a sip. After all, he needed this bottle to smooth things over with the old family home.
“Alright, let’s go visit Dad and Mom. I need to talk to them anyway.” Wen Xiuyi grabbed the goods and headed out, instructing Wen Yao to make dinner, saying he’d be back to eat.
Datou, who had been sitting by the door playing with his clay figurine, immediately stuffed it into his chest pocket and toddled after him on his short legs.
Wen Xiuzhu instinctively reached out to pick Datou up, but the little guy dodged him entirely and ran straight for Wen Xiuyi.
…??????
This kid—wasn’t he asking for trouble?
But then, Wen Xiuzhu watched in utter disbelief as Wen Xiuyi casually shoved the goods into his hands and, without hesitation, scooped Datou up into his arms.
Wen Xiuzhu wanted to rub his eyes, but his hands were full. He could only stare in stunned silence at their father-son interaction.
Even Datou tilted his head curiously at him.
Good heavens… is this really my big brother?
Datou was nearly four years old, and this was the first time Wen Xiuzhu had ever seen Wen Xiuyi carry him!
This was beyond strange—everything about this was beyond strange.
“This has to be an illusion,” Wen Xiuzhu muttered, shaking his head as he followed after them.
When they arrived at the old home, Li Shi heard movement outside and assumed it was her husband returning. But when she opened the door, she was met with the sight of Wen Xiuyi carrying Datou.
Her smile froze immediately—she didn’t know whether to maintain it or let it drop.
“Big Brother’s here,” she said stiffly, blocking the doorway and raising her voice slightly.
The chattering inside the courtyard immediately died down.
Behind Wen Xiuyi, Wen Xiuzhu was still reeling from shock, holding the wine and meat with a dazed expression. When he reached the door and saw Li Shi blocking the entrance, he frowned. “Why are you standing there like that?”
Li Shi frantically shot him a look.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Wen Xiuzhu asked in confusion.
Li Shi: “……”
Wen Xiuyi pretended not to notice Li Shi’s frantic signaling and asked directly, “Are Dad and Mom home?”
“They are… I think,” Li Shi replied, suddenly on high alert.
Are they? Either they were home, or they weren’t—why the hesitation? Clearly, she was afraid he had come to freeload again.
But Wen Xiuyi wasn’t here to mooch. One way or another, he was stepping inside today.
He patted Datou’s bottom lightly and whispered in his ear, “Son, it’s up to you now.”
Datou understood instantly. He slid down from Wen Xiuyi’s arms and darted past Li Shi, slipping through the doorway before she could stop him.
And honestly, she had no reason to stop him—after all, it was just Datou.
Once inside, Datou ignored everyone else and ran straight to Luo Shi, tugging on her sleeve and pointing relentlessly toward the door.
After a long pause, Luo Shi finally spoke. “Second daughter-in-law, let him in.”
She wanted to see what kind of nonsense he was up to this time. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t soften her stance.
