Chapter 30: Tensions Ease—But Should They Trust Him?
The family of four carried a large basin of fried rice and headed to the old house. Many villagers who saw them were filled with curiosity, whispering among themselves—had the Wen family reconciled with the eldest branch?
Unlike the last few times when they were stopped at the door, this time the gate opened quickly. When Wen Nong saw it was them, he immediately stepped aside and shouted into the house to announce that Eldest Uncle’s family had arrived.
In the kitchen, Li-shi and Cai-shi were cooking with Wen Di. Granny Luo and Old Man Wen were sitting inside the house. The rest of the family were either playing in the courtyard or waiting in their rooms for dinner.
“Grandpa, Grandma, we’re here!” Wen Yao called out cheerfully as she stepped through the door.
Granny Luo came out and saw Wen Xiuyi carrying a large basin at the back, Wen Yao leading Da Tou at the front—grinning cheekily—and Wen Jun properly greeting, “Grandpa, Grandma.”
“Heh, Mother, is Father in?” Wen Xiuyi braced himself and greeted her.
Granny Luo glanced at her eldest son and snorted. “Your father’s in the room. What’s that in your hands?”
Wen Xiuyi stepped forward, lifting the basin. “The leftover fried rice we didn’t sell today. Yao said you invited us for dinner, so I fried all of it and brought it over. Mother, where should I put it?”
Granny Luo looked a bit surprised. She eyed the large basin—it looked like enough to feed their entire extended family. How much would that be worth if sold?
“This much—how much could it have sold for…” she muttered, feeling a little pained as she shot a glare at Wen Xiuyi. What a wasteful fool.
Wen Xiuyi chuckled sheepishly. “Not that much, really. Besides, leftover rice can’t be sold the next day. We don’t sell day-old food. So, Mother, where should I put it?”
That explanation softened Granny Luo’s expression slightly. After all, it was food that people were going to eat. Even if the weather wasn’t hot, leftover food was still less than ideal.
“Where else? In the kitchen, of course.” Though she accepted his reasoning, she still looked at him like he owed her money.
Not wanting to anger her further, Wen Xiuyi carried the basin into the kitchen. When Li-shi and Cai-shi saw him, they both froze for a second. But when they spotted what he was holding—a huge basin of rice—Li-shi’s eyes lit up.
“Big Brother, this is…?” Li-shi came closer and saw it really was rice, every grain golden and fluffy, with bits of egg and shredded meat—fragrant and appealing.
She recalled the large bowl of meat Granny had brought back earlier. Even if it was pig intestines, somehow Wen Yao had made it without a trace of foul odor—and it was delicious.
Now Wen Xiuyi had brought over such a large basin of rice. Li-shi’s grin practically reached her ears.
“This must be that fried rice Yao was talking about that Big Brother sells at the docks, right?” she said, taking the basin from Wen Xiuyi without waiting to be asked.
Relieved, Wen Xiuyi wiped his hands on his clothes and nodded. “Yeah, it’s probably cooled down a bit. When you two have time, just reheat it and it’s ready. Uh… I’ll just step outside.”
“Of course, of course.”
Wen Xiuyi turned and walked out, letting out a long breath. He hadn’t felt this nervous in years.
Granny Luo stood at the door, glaring at him as he exited. “Come inside.”
Wen Xiuyi shrank his neck, gave a soft reply, and followed her in.
Inside, Granny Luo and Old Man Wen sat on the heated brick bed, a small stool placed a short distance in front of them. Granny Luo stared at him while Wen Xiuyi greeted his father and sat down awkwardly.
Wen Yao, holding Da Tou, climbed straight onto the bed—it was warmer there.
Old Man Wen glanced at his son, tapped his tobacco pipe, and asked, “How’s business these days?”
“Not bad. Word’s gotten around at the docks—people say our fried rice tastes good, and there’s quite a few regulars now,” Wen Xiuyi replied honestly.
Old Man Wen wasn’t sure what else to say and merely muttered, “Mm. As long as business is doing okay.” Then he fell silent.
Granny Luo glared at him in disappointment before continuing, “Let me ask you—are you really done with your foolish ways?”
After all, this was the son they had once pinned all their hopes on. The entire family had pooled everything just to support him through the scholar’s exams. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the whole family sacrificed for him.
His two younger brothers had gone to work in the fields at an early age just to earn money so he could study.
And when he finally passed as a xiucai and even married his teacher’s daughter, it had seemed like the good times were finally here. Who could’ve predicted that their indulgence and spoiling would lead him to ruin?
He squandered the family fortune, lost his wife, and nearly destroyed his two children along the way.
Now that they were finally seeing a bit of change in him, the old couple didn’t know whether to trust him or not. After all, this wasn’t the first time he’d pretended to reform—what if he was just after their money again?
The fact that Granny asked meant she was wavering. Wen Xiuyi seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.
“Father, Mother, I swear—I’ll never be foolish again. I’ll work hard to support my kids. I swear on my life—if I ever go back to my old ways, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable death.”
Granny said nothing. She’d heard these kinds of oaths before. And the result?
“Forget it. Now that you’ve split off, your life is your own business. Liu-shi, she…” Granny glanced at Da Tou and Wen Yao playing nearby and swallowed the rest of her sentence. “Enough. Go check if Second and Third Brother’s wives are done cooking. Get ready to set the table.”
“Okay.” Wen Xiuyi had braced himself for a long lecture and was relieved to have avoided it.
At dinner, the younger kids thought it was some kind of festival. There was meat, there was rice—and not just any rice, but that delicious fried rice with meat, egg, and vegetables.
Even though Wen Xiuyi had brought quite a lot, the family was big. Everyone only got a small bowl, but Li-shi had steamed some cornbread to go with it, so everyone left the table full.
After dinner, Li-shi and Cai-shi happily washed up. It had been a long time since the family had eaten so well.
The rest of the family gathered in Granny and Grandpa’s room. The kang bed and the floor were full of people. Wen Di, Wen Ying, and Wen Yao huddled together whispering, while Da Tou quietly played with a toy Liuzi had given him.
Wen Jun sat with the other brothers, answering their curious questions about what it was like selling food at the dock.
Wen Xiuyi sat with his two younger brothers. The three of them were visibly awkward, staring at each other with big eyes and small eyes, not knowing what to say.
Wen Xiuzhu and Wen Xiuqing still hadn’t quite gotten used to this version of their eldest brother. He didn’t seem real.
Just as Wen Xiuyi was about to scrape a hole in the floor with his feet, Granny finally spoke up, telling everyone to scatter. “Too many people in one room—gives me a headache.”
