Chapter 16: A Visit to Granny Fu

“I see you only have one bed here. How are we going to sleep tonight?”

Xiao Hanting was clearly taken aback, probably not having thought about it.

A blush crept up to the tips of his ears, and he felt a little hot all over.

“As for the bed, there’s no extra one for now. How about you sleep on the other end, and we’ll make do for the time being?”

Xiao Hanting was also in a difficult position. After all, they had no romantic foundation. Sleeping in the same bed without any mental preparation would be hard for anyone to accept, so he understood.

Lin Qinghuan nodded. It seemed this was the only option. One person sleeping at each end, no interference.

“Then you rest a bit longer. I’ll help Qingyu finish packing and then cook.”

She almost fled the room. Lin Qinghuan took a deep breath to calm herself. She had lived two lifetimes, yet here she was, blushing and heart racing like a girl with a first crush. All over discussing sleeping arrangements.

After moving all the items from the woodshed, Lin Qingyu was in charge of cleaning.

Lin Qinghuan looked at the slightly wilted greens and decided to go buy a chicken from a villager to stew, celebrating their first day here and their final break from the Lin family.

“Qingyu, watch the two younger brothers. I’m going out.”

The kitchen only had a broken bamboo basket. Lin Qinghuan picked it up with one hand and headed out.

Among the villagers, the one she remembered most clearly was Granny Fu, a kind-hearted person. Back when Lin Qinghuan was tormented by Old Madam Lin and forced to wash clothes in the river during winter, Granny Fu had spoken up for her.

Granny Fu’s surname was Fu, but her life had not been happy. She lost her father early, her son in middle age, and her daughter in old age. She had never had a single good day in her life.

Arriving at Granny Fu’s wicker fence gate, Lin Qinghuan called out cheerfully.

“Granny Fu.”

Granny Fu, who was feeding the livestock, immediately put down her scoop and came to open the door.

“What brings you here, child?”

“I came to buy a chicken to nourish Hanting and the children.” Lin Qinghuan smiled.

“I heard about what happened with the Lin family. You’ve had a hard life, child. Without your parents around, they treated you so poorly. But Scholar Xiao is a good man. Even though his leg is disabled, he’s not like those heartless Lin folks. You can have a good life with him.”

Granny Fu spoke a long string of words like an elder to Lin Qinghuan.

But every word was for her own good, so Lin Qinghuan didn’t argue.

“I’ll catch you a big hen. Stew it in a pot, very nutritious.” Granny Fu went to grab a basket to catch the chicken.

She caught the fattest one in the yard for Lin Qinghuan and even tied its feet before putting it into the basket.

“Granny Fu, how much for a hen now?” Lin Qinghuan took out her money pouch but didn’t know how much to give.

It wasn’t her fault. The Lin family had meat only once every ten days or half a month. Eating eggs was reserved for festivals, and chicken was even more impossible. So she had no idea about the price.

“What money? I’m an old widow living alone. How much can I eat? This chicken is my wedding gift to you.” Granny Fu refused to take any money.

Lin Qinghuan appreciated her kindness but still left a tael of silver. After all, the hen was so plump because Granny Fu had put in effort. She couldn’t just enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor for free.

Granny Fu pretended to be angry. “Why are you being so distant, child? I told you it’s free. Just take it and eat.”

Lin Qinghuan replied with a grin, “If you say that, I’ll come every day and eat up all your livestock.”

With that said, Granny Fu had no choice but to accept the money, but she didn’t let Lin Qinghuan leave. Instead, she went to the field to pick some vegetables for her to take back.

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