Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31
Chapter 31
The moment she poured the white powder into a cup of hot water, others were momentarily shocked because it looked no different from poison. Only when they smelled the aroma of the ginger dissolving into the water did everyone stand in amazement.
"Let Uncle Liang drink first, and after that, he can rest." She told Aunt Liao, stopping her from being preoccupied. The middle-aged woman’s hands trembled as she looked at the cup of dense ginger scent, feeling heavy-hearted.
Her eyes, already blurred from crying, began to moisten again.
"You, Yueqian... this is very precious. If Uncle Liang survives, we will never forget this kindness," Aunt Liao said before moving towards her husband.
Everyone helped the middle-aged man sit up to drink the hot ginger water. Initially, Uncle Liang did not want to rise as he was out of strength, but upon hearing Aunt Liao whisper that it was ginger water, he felt compelled to get up so as not to waste it.
Everyone knew how nutritious ginger was. People in the city liked to buy it for cooking. Previously, their rural areas also had abundant ginger. However, once they realized it was valuable, everyone rushed to dig it up for sale.
It didn’t happen only in their village. The poor throughout the kingdom were abundant, and anything that was worth money was sold off. Eventually, ginger became very expensive. Even to buy a ginger root for planting, they didn’t have the money to invest.
Moreover, with the snow covering like this, the ginger would wither and die within a few days. These gingers were not cold-resistant like the new genetically modified varieties. They were fragile and rare, mostly found deep in the forest because they had shade from the sun and were protected from being completely buried by snow.
People in these times did not know how to farm in greenhouses. When the snow fell, all the vegetables died.
It took at least 11-12 months to harvest mature ginger, especially in an era without growth enhancers, fertilizers, or chemicals. The ginger roots had come from forests, and ultimately, they harvested none.
Thus, after the ginger on the mountains was depleted, it was difficult to find any more. Fortunately, some villages located on the mountains could grow ginger to exchange for other foods. However, being backward and underdeveloped, even mountain villages were not wealthy. Ginger there was cheap because buyers had to transport it further. And when they bought food to bring back home, it was very expensive.
Life was as sad as this until everything was reformed. Otherwise, such situations would continue.
"Ha," after drinking the entire cup, the middle-aged man lay down, but he immediately knew that he had escaped the clutches of death.
The warm liquid flowed down his throat to his stomach and soon spread warmth throughout his body. From being cold and trembling, now snuggled under the wonderful blanket, he no longer shivered. All that was left was for his body to warm up and rest a bit.
Seeing her husband’s face turn from pale purple back to a healthy color made Aunt Liao touch her chest happily. The children did the same, embracing their mother, glad that the danger had passed.
"Yueqian, thank you, thank you so much, truly," Aunt Liao approached, holding the young woman’s hands.
The last time she had survived, she knew Yueqian was knowledgeable. Therefore, this time she risked her husband’s life following her advice.
Initially hesitant, afraid that the outcome might turn out that she trusted the wrong person, but now she was very happy. It was good that she believed in Yueqian, and she thought about how good it was that she had fainted last time. If it hadn’t been for that fainting, she would never have known that Yueqian was such a good person. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"It’s alright, now there’s no need to worry much. My husband and I will head back first," Yueqian said, seeing that the matter was resolved.
However... before Yueqian could leave Aunt Liao’s house, just as she turned around, she found herself under the fierce gaze of a malevolent demon.
“Is it Granddaughter-in-law Yueqian who gave ginger to treat A’Liang?” asked a young woman’s voice. By her side were Ji Chuang and Mu Tian, supporting her.
Yueqian stepped behind Mu Heng, who was now acknowledged as her husband. It was natural for her to seek refuge behind him, and he felt a sense of pride that his wife saw him as a protector in times of insecurity.
Indeed, that was the case. Mu Heng wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist, using his large frame to shield her, signaling that anyone who wanted trouble would have to go through him first.
This action drew unified looks of disapproval from the Mu family, but since this was someone else’s home and they were only visiting after hearing the news, they couldn’t act out in front of everyone.
“Elder Sister Zhu Luan, please come inside. The snow outside is still thick,” the elderly mother of Zhu Liang spoke out.
She invited the older woman into the house, despite her reluctance to have them enter.
“Fine. How is Xiao Liang feeling now?” The elderly woman entered the house upon the invitation.
She walked up to Yueqian and grabbed her small arm, then leaned on her, as if to force Yueqian to support her into the house.
It appeared as if they were a loving mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, as if the recent incident had never happened.
Yueqian narrowed her eyes, her legs not moving an inch. As the other party leaned on her, Yueqian stumbled towards her husband, making it seem as though she was being bullied. Well... even though she was exiled, remember, she was a villainess before.
“Ah! Husband...” the beautiful woman cried out, falling into her husband’s arms. Mu Heng quickly steadied her.
The young man’s eyes were stern as he embraced his wife quickly, and truly, Yueqian played her part well. She gave pitiful looks towards Grandmother Zhu, acting like a child who was bullied.
Others were greatly shocked, but Grandmother Zhu was even more startled!
Her intention wasn’t to bully the other; her husband had seriously instructed her to not cause trouble and to be friendlier towards them. All she wanted was for the other party to help her into the house, to show closeness like a family. Why then did it seem like she had deliberately fallen towards Yueqian causing the latter to stagger?!
This was not it. This... was not right!!
“Dear Granddaughter-in-law, I didn’t mean it,” the speaker was unintentional, but the other had already fallen into her husband’s chest, and she, who initially needed support, now stood firm, showing strength and not stumbling further.
If she were smooth, she should have fallen too, at least to claim that she too was just as weak and not scheming anything. But now, it was too late. Yueqian, who had fallen, now had the sympathy of many bystanders.
“It’s alright, it was I who didn’t balance well,” Yueqian acted like she forgave the elder, her image of a villainess now turned into a pitiable heroine.
“You, it’s... I...” Grandmother Zhu hesitated, at a loss for words. The way Yueqian did not take this seriously; she didn’t even give the elderly woman a chance to explain herself.
"Let’s go, Qian’er," Mu Heng was extremely displeased. His wife was undoubtedly pushed intentionally, so he tightly embraced her and lifted her up, intending to carry her home, if not for the remaining Mu family members blocking their way.
"How can you leave just like that? I heard you provided ginger to A’Liang? That ginger has great properties. In such cold weather, if my father who is also your grandfather had some, he surely wouldn’t fall ill this winter," Mu Tian said, standing in their way, not letting them leave easily.
That ginger was valuable, and if the other side still had some, they would want it—not to consume themselves but to sell for a good price.
"That’s true, those gingers could help keep your grandparents healthy this winter. Do you have any more, Granddaughter-in-law?" Ji Chuang chimed in, nearly salivating at the thought of the money she could make from selling the ginger.
Mu Heng was about to say that there was no more ginger, but Yueqian spoke first.
"The ginger certainly must come with me. However, these gingers are not meant to show filial piety to anyone. They are part of my dowry. I must keep the remaining ginger for my husband and future children. I truly apologize."
"But if you wish to show filial piety to your father and mother, you can still buy the ginger from my dowry. Once the weather warms up, I will have the chance to go out and replace the old stock."
"I’ll set a price based on the market rate. I won’t overcharge because after all, we were once family. Even though we have separated and are no longer related by contract, I would not take advantage of you," Yueqian said with a sweet smile.
Every word she spoke had an underlying meaning, forcing the elders to demonstrate filial piety towards their own parents because she and her husband were just the grandchildren.
Moreover, she also reminded them that they were now cut off from each other, with contracts stipulating no further claims of filial duties. More than that, this was her dowry, not belonging to anyone from the Mu family lineage!
Even though she was a part of her husband’s property, she was not the property of her husband’s grandfather or grandmother.
Besides not losing any ginger, she might even make some money. Or, even if these shameless people refused to buy the ginger, she had already shown generosity. In such cold weather, if they wanted ginger, the price would multiply. If they went into town now, ginger prices were likely unaffordable.
Yueqian looked at those whose mouths were agape, not really enjoying it as much as when she had to argue with the young ladies in the capital—it required far more thinking.
"Mu Heng, then you should get it, shouldn’t you? You left the house once you had everything. After all, when you had nothing to eat, you clung to our house. How shameless," Mu Tian said. She was foolish and envious.
Even though she had nothing on Yueqian, since the latter was an in-law, she had a right to speak to Mu Heng.
"That’s right, Husband. After this, we should show some filial piety," Yueqian interjected.
Her words made Grandmother Zhu’s face light up, but only for a fleeting moment.
"We should also pay respects at the graves of your parents. We should be thankful that they fought for us to separate homes. Otherwise, I might not have had the chance to marry you. Who knows, by now you might have been squeezed dry to the bones!" Yueqian’s words were sharp, knowing precisely how to slap people’s faces effectively.
