Chapter 13: My Dearest Little Treasure

The little fangirl was certainly obedient—Bai Xi was satisfied with Chen Rui’s good behavior, but upon hearing her words, Bai Xi couldn’t help but twitch her face. Well, never mind, it wasn’t worth quibbling with a child.

“And the three of you, what are you still standing around for? Take your portions home. That’s all the meat I have—I won’t be keeping you for dinner.” Bai Xi’s way of shooing people out didn’t sound harsh in the least. Instead, she came across as adorably fierce.

Chen Zhaodi glanced at Ma Lian’er and the other woman, catching their uncertain, conflicted expressions. After a moment’s thought, she nodded.

Seeing Chen Zhaodi take her bowl, the other two stepped forward as well to collect their own shares.

The three of them, almost in unison, echoed Chen Rui in their thanks.

“Thank you, Ancestor, for your generosity.”

Bai Xi was speechless. She waved her hand, signaling them to leave, amused and bemused—she almost felt as if she were back in the Heavenly Realm.

A large pot of stewed wild goose still had more than half left. Bai Xi considered, then scooped half into a big vegetable bowl for storage, only then beginning her own meal.

Ah, the smell was divine!

This was how things should be—eating meat, savoring its rich aroma. What was so great about vegetables? She wasn’t some rabbit spirit.

Bai Xi devoured bite after bite, and soon found using chopsticks too cumbersome. Rolling up her sleeves, she simply grabbed a goose leg and gnawed away.

Though Bai Xi had no cooking oil left—and, in fact, her household was the most likely in the village to have any, so the others surely had none at all—even so, the stewed goose smelled and tasted heavenly, its meaty fragrance filling the treehouse.

She had been craving meat for days, and after using her pressure, was hungrier still. Faced with so much meat, Bai Xi certainly didn’t hold back.

Don’t let her small stature fool you—her appetite was not small at all.

The pile of meat diminished visibly, until her stomach protested that not another bite could fit. Only then, thoroughly satisfied, did Bai Xi stop. Looking down at her greasy little hands, she showed a flash of distaste—being mortal was such a bother.

After washing her hands, Bai Xi patted her rounded belly as she walked to the table. There were still some chunks of meat left in the big bowl. After a moment’s thought, she covered it with a bamboo lid and left it be.

As for washing dishes and cleaning up—what nonsense. She had absolutely no idea how to do such things.

The weather outside was beautiful, but Bai Xi, already used to her own idleness, was even less inclined to go out after eating her fill. She sat on the couch, glanced outside, then drew the window closed, lay down, and was too lazy even to pull up the thin blanket beside her. Humming softly, she rubbed her tummy, and was soon fast asleep.

Just before drifting off, Bai Xi mused that as long as she had a bit of pressure left to use, things weren’t so bad—at least she wouldn’t go hungry.

Meanwhile, the four who had left Bai Xi’s home with their bowls of meat had already arrived back at their houses.

Chen Zhaodi and the others returned after mealtime; their families had saved some rice for them, but had eaten already. Even so, the whole family gathered around the table, eyeing the big bowl of meat and swallowing drily.

“Did the Ancestor really give this to you?” asked Chen Zhaodi’s mother-in-law, an old woman of sixty-two. She might have lost two teeth and spoke with a whistle, but she was tough as nails—whether transplanting rice, reaping grain, tending vegetables, or hauling water, nothing fazed her.

Chen Zhaodi nodded. “Yes, Mother, it was given by the Ancestor.”

“Ma Lian’er, Old Li’s wife, and I went to cook for her, and she gave us each a bowl of meat.” She wasn’t surprised her mother-in-law was skeptical. Such a big bowl of meat felt like a dream even as she carried it home.

“Did anyone else get some?”

“Yes, everyone who was called to help did.”

With that, Mrs. Chen was reassured. Her greatest fear was that Chen Zhaodi might have been tempted and sneaked the meat home; if word got out, she’d be ruined.

Mrs. Chen looked at the bowl of meat, then at her three grandsons and two granddaughters, all drooling as they stared. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Since it’s from the Ancestor, let’s give each child two pieces for now. Lunch is over, so don’t eat too much—overeating is bad for your health. The rest, we’ll save for dinner.”

Mrs. Chen had three sons. Chen Zhaodi was the eldest daughter-in-law, with one son and one daughter. The second daughter-in-law had come the following year and had a child, and the third married in three years later and bore a son and a daughter as well.

Though there was the occasional minor friction or rivalry between the three daughters-in-law, Mrs. Chen kept them all in line and was always fair—whoever was in the right, she would support.

“Alright,” Chen Zhaodi replied without complaint.

She and her mother-in-law had not separated households. Bringing home a bowl of meat was no different from the grain she earned from work—everything was managed by her mother-in-law. Mrs. Chen was generous and had never resented the fact that her eldest daughter-in-law had only one son and one daughter despite being married the longest.

The other two daughters-in-law, standing by, had no objections either.

Soon, chopsticks were brought out, and Mrs. Chen divided the meat equally among her five grandchildren—two pieces each, with barely any difference in size.

The children, who had been waiting impatiently, grabbed their meat as soon as it was handed over and stuffed it into their mouths, devouring it ravenously.

The meat was so delicious that it only took a few bites to finish a piece; two were gone in a matter of seconds. By the time they realized, the flavor was barely lingering and the meat was gone. Luckily, their fingers were still slick with grease, and they quickly licked them clean.

Watching the children eat so happily made those who had already eaten drool, while Chen Zhaodi, who hadn’t yet eaten, only felt her stomach growling louder.

“Mom, here.” Chen Zhaodi’s daughter still had a piece of meat left—she had only eaten one. Though she wanted it badly, she forced herself to ignore her craving and offered the remaining piece to her mother.

Chen Zhaodi looked at her daughter, saw the longing on her face, but her daughter still insisted on giving her the meat. Chen Zhaodi’s heart warmed—daughters really were a mother’s little confidantes, while sons, she thought, were indifferent; even with meat, they never thought of her.

With that, she shot her son a reproachful glare.

Chen Zhao, catching his mother’s look, realized what she meant and felt a bit embarrassed. “Um, Mom, I—I forgot. My share at dinner will be for you. I won’t eat it.”

Hearing this, Chen Zhaodi felt a bit better but still scolded him, “I don’t believe you, you glutton.”

“Mom, you should eat it. The meat’s delicious,” Chen Ling urged, trying to press the piece to her mother’s lips.

“No need, Mom doesn’t need it. You eat it, quickly.” There was still plenty in the big bowl—enough for everyone to have two or three pieces for dinner—no need to take her daughter’s.

The other two daughters-in-law looked at their own children—too late, the meat was already gone.

The second daughter-in-law, with only a son, felt alright—sons were never as considerate. But the third daughter-in-law felt a pang; her own daughter hadn’t thought of her at all, unlike Chen Zhaodi’s.