The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 67: The Son-in-Law

Xu Zhizhi and Xiao Jingheng, along with a few younger brothers, managed to build the bamboo house in the backyard in just one afternoon.

As the sun was about to set, the Xu family began preparing dinner. Xu Zhizhi called Xu Daniu to catch two fish, intending to teach her two cousins how to make sauerkraut fish.

Xiao Jingheng, thinking the kitchen was full of women, decided to stay behind and continue tidying up the newly built bamboo house.

Father Xu helped him make a simple bed, which Xiao Jingheng fixed in place himself. For now, the house was just a place to sleep.

By dinnertime, Third Aunt Xu and Xu Honghua had arrived. Her son, Erniu, had gone back to tell them that there would be a new dish for dinner.

Mother Xu and Xiaowu also came together. Mother Xu, having eaten dishes made with the spiritual spring water from Xu Zhizhi’s portable space, rested for the afternoon, and her headache was gone. She felt that her daughter’s kindness had lifted her spirits, which helped her recover faster.

Third Aunt Xu pulled Xu Honghua along to apologize to Mother Xu. Xu Honghua was reluctant but didn’t show it on her face. Mother Xu, who hadn’t been upset with her in the first place, was in a good mood and didn’t dwell on it.

The men who had been working sat at two tables, eating in the courtyard, while the women sat at one table, eating in the bamboo house next to the kitchen.

Xu Honghua wanted to find Xiao Jingheng, but she didn’t dare to go into the courtyard alone, as it was filled with the men who had been working.

As she ate, she craned her neck to look toward the courtyard entrance. Third Aunt Xu now understood what she was up to and was furious! However, she didn’t want to say anything in front of so many people, so she kept her head down and focused on eating. She hadn’t eaten lunch and was genuinely hungry.

The sauerkraut fish was a refreshing and appetizing dish. Even those with poor appetites could enjoy it.

Third Aunt Xu found the food more and more delicious, and her mood improved as she focused on eating.

Xiao Jingheng, watching the men at the table eat somewhat awkwardly, wasn’t fond of eating food prepared by others. He finished a bowl of rice in a few bites and left the table.

He returned to the bamboo house he and Xu Zhizhi had built that afternoon.

He sat on the bed and shook it—it was quite sturdy. The fresh bamboo scent couldn’t mask the fragrance of the quilt…

The bamboo house was located behind Xu Zhizhi’s courtyard, so the noise from the dinner outside was somewhat muffled, but with his sharp hearing, he could still hear everything clearly.

One of the men said, “Brother Xu, why did your son-in-law eat so little and then leave?”

“What do you know? He’s from a big city, not like us rough folks who eat like gluttons,” another man replied.

“Hahaha!”

“That’s true! He’s a noble young master and a new son-in-law, so of course he eats more delicately.”

Father Xu thought to himself that his son-in-law wasn’t delicate at all—he had eaten a lot at lunch. But he didn’t tell them that.

Instead, Father Xu said, “Yes, maybe he’s just shy. Don’t worry about him and eat as much as you want. I think he felt a bit out of place sitting here, so now you can relax.”

“That’s right! We were afraid of embarrassing you, worried that the son-in-law would think we’ve never eaten fish before!”

“Dazhuang, have some shame! It’s not like you’ve ever eaten such delicious sauerkraut fish before!”

“Hehe…”

“Zhizhi is so capable. How does she know how to make such delicious food? I’ve never tasted fish like this in my life!”

“Yeah! If it weren’t for the fish bones, who would even know this was fish?”

Xiao Jingheng listened with pride, as if he had invented the dish himself. Besides, he wasn’t shy—he just didn’t feel like eating. The sauerkraut fish was made with the same fish and sauerkraut, so why did theirs taste so much worse?

What he didn’t know was that when there were no outsiders around, Xu Zhizhi cooked with the spiritual spring water from her portable space. How could the taste compare? When there were outsiders, Xu Zhizhi wouldn’t cook herself. In fact, she thought her two cousins had a natural talent for cooking—they learned quickly and even cooked better than she did.

Xu Zhizhi herself wasn’t much of a cook, so she found the original sauerkraut fish delicious and ate with great relish.

After dinner, the men who had been working went home.

Xu Honghua’s neck was sore from craning, but she still hadn’t seen Xiao Jingheng come out.

Second Aunt Xu and Third Aunt Xu went in to clean up the dishes, and Xu Honghua thought her chance had come. She followed them in but still didn’t see the person she was longing for.

By then, Xiao Jingheng was already asleep. He hadn’t slept much the previous night, and after spending the day with Xu Zhizhi and eating food he had never tasted before, he was in a great mood and slept soundly.

Xu Honghua searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. Her mother, having finished cleaning the dishes, quickly called her to go home.

She then went to the kitchen to look but still didn’t see the man!

The Xu family’s cousins and younger siblings no longer treated her well. When she asked a few people, they perfunctorily told her they didn’t know.

Xu Dahu, Erhu, and Daniu, of course, knew about the bamboo house in the backyard—they had helped build it.

Xu Honghua was furious and glared at Xu Zhizhi, but there was nothing she could do!

Xu Zhizhi loved seeing people hate her but being unable to do anything about it…

While teaching her two cousins how to make sauerkraut fish, Xu Lanhua chattered away, telling Xu Zhizhi all about how her sister had made their mother so angry she nearly vomited blood.

At dinner, Third Aunt Xu looked pale, but Xu Zhizhi pretended not to notice, lest Xu Lanhua get scolded later.

She knew Xu Honghua hadn’t given up and was still looking for Xiao Jingheng, but she didn’t care. If a man could be stolen by someone as foolish as Xu Honghua, Xu Zhizhi would never want him in the first place.

Xu Zhizhi thought Xiao Jingheng would be in the new bamboo house, but she never imagined he was already asleep.

Assuming he was tidying up or adjusting the bed, she didn’t go to check. Instead, she helped her younger brother escort their mother back to the old house to sleep.

The next day, Xiao Jingheng woke up refreshed. The sky was just beginning to lighten. It was the deepest and most restful sleep he had had since he was twelve.

Nan Ba, hearing movement outside, came in and said, “Young Master, you’re doing well! Eating well, sleeping soundly, while we subordinates are left chewing on dry rations…”

“Get lost. If you have something to say, say it. Yesterday at lunch, I set aside a bowl of sauerkraut fish for the dog to eat, didn’t I?” Xiao Jingheng snapped.

“Hehe… Next time, save a bowl for me. That flavor… I’ve never tasted anything like it in my life. Young Master, you have a conscience.”

“Enough nonsense,” Xiao Jingheng said sternly as he washed up (the water had been prepared by Nan Ba).

“Nan San, following your orders, has already found your shadow guard, Yueyue. He’s seriously injured, and the others haven’t been found yet. My master asks how you want to handle Yueyue?”

“Send a message to quietly transfer Yueyue to me. The others, once contacted, are to stay where they are.”

“Understood.”

Everything returned to silence, as if no one had ever been there. After washing up, Xiao Jingheng sat in meditation for a quarter of an hour.

(End of Chapter)