Chapter 21: A Bowl of Warmth

Old Madam Lin didn’t need to finish her sentence before Jia Dafu understood. She brought this meat to get him to manipulate the distribution of private plots.

Even without the meat, just because Lin Qinghuan had brought the county magistrate here and embarrassed him as village head, he would have to teach her a harsh lesson. She needed to learn her place.

“You’re being too polite. It’s a small matter. I’ll handle it exactly as you say.” Jia Dafu agreed with a smile and signaled his wife to take the meat.

The village head’s wife had been eyeing that meat too. Now they could have an extra meal.

She was used to this. Every village head took perks. If people brought gifts for things within their power, they accepted them all. After all, they were the ones in charge.

Old Madam Lin kept looking back at the meat as she left. She hated to part with it, but thinking about teaching that wretched girl a proper lesson made it worth it.

Lin Qinghuan, meanwhile, had no idea what these people were plotting.

When she got back, she started boiling water to kill the chicken. Lin Qingyu had completely cleaned out the woodshed. The light was a bit dim, but it was fine for sleeping.

“Pretty sister, can we sleep next to big brother?” Da Bao and Xiao Bao came up to her, rubbing their little hands, eyes pleading as if afraid she’d refuse.

She hadn’t expected Qingyu to win the children over so quickly.

But she was happy to see it. Qingyu didn’t have many friends in the village, so having the two kids with him was good.

“No problem, but you’ll get cold sleeping. I’ll go to the county tomorrow and buy you a thicker quilt.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao jumped for joy and ran off to play.

After Qingyu finished cleaning up, he washed his hands and went into the kitchen. “Sister, anything I can help with?”

“Wash the greens. We’re having chicken soup today to celebrate our new start.” Lin Qinghuan held up the fat hen.

Granny Fu was really good to her. A chicken like this would be bought up the moment it was brought to the county market. Someone might even pay three hundred more coins for it.

After Lin Qingyu went out, she entered the space. She still had points left from last time, so she exchanged them for some seasonings and household items, plus five eggs to boil for breakfast tomorrow.

After scalding it with boiling water, she plucked all the chicken feathers quickly.

She singed the surface lightly over the fire, then gutted it and chopped the meat into small pieces.

Xiao Hanting leaned against the headboard. The book in his hand was the same as usual, but today he couldn’t read a single word. Maybe it was because there were two more people around.

The sky grew darker. Steam rose in the kitchen. The children laughed and played in the yard. It was peaceful and harmonious.

For the first time, he felt the warmth of a home, the presence of family. It was beautiful. He wanted to stay in this moment forever.

Soon the fragrance of chicken soup wafted out. It was rich, the kind that made your mouth water.

Xiao Hanting wasn’t someone who cared much about food, but even he swallowed.

Just like that, he gained a deep appreciation for Lin Qinghuan’s cooking.

“Father, sister told us to bring you hot chicken soup. Drink it to warm up. She’s stir-frying the vegetables and then we’ll eat.”

Da Bao carried the bowl steadily without spilling a drop, looking at him as if asking for praise.

“Did you two drink?” Xiao Hanting took the bowl and asked gently.

“Yes, sister gave us some right away.” Xiao Bao kept nodding beside him, as if still savoring the taste of the soup.

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