Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Chu Wei could not help but laugh. This was the first time she saw Chen Ji’s bitter expression at being despised by his two daughters when he was once the little tyrant of Peach Blossom Town.
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and chase her back. She’s my granddaughter. If you lose her, I won’t let you off,” Mrs. Chen scolded with her eyes closed.
Seeing that she was finally talking to him, Chen Ji hurriedly said, “Mom, your eyes…”
Mother Chen’s expression turned cold as she roared, “Are you blind? With your elder brother and his wife taking care of my illness, even if I can’t get myself cured, the two of them will take care of me until I die of old age. In this lifetime, I’ve put all my energy into their family. This is what they should do. It has nothing to do with you and your family. I don’t need you to worry about me. Hurry and go back to your own home.”
Chen Ji’s face twitched. No matter what his mother said, he would not be angry. He was just worried about her eyes.
Children like them would never be able to do anything to their parents. They were most afraid of meeting an elderly like Mother Chen who was stubborn and did not listen to advice.
Chen Ji gritted his teeth. Those who knew him well knew that when he did that, it was a sign that he was going to flare up.
Zhao Jinli secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Her mother-in-law quarreled with Chen Ji in just lines of conversation. To her, it was something she was very happy to see. At least, her mother-in-law could not complain anymore. The more her mother-in-law kicked up a fuss, the faster Chen Ji would return to the army. He might even leave tomorrow morning.
Although Chen Ji had a bad reputation, he was very filial. Since he could not persuade his mother to go for treatment, he would probably leave Chu Wei in Peach Blossom Town to take care of her in a fit of anger.
Since all she did was listen to the situation in the small room, Zhao Jinli kept making mistakes in her cooking. She either added too much salt, or the condiments were too heavy. Especially the prawns that had just been cooked, she actually added salt three times. She didn’t even need to eat it, just smelling it was enough to make her feel sick.
She ended up with plate of braised prawns that was both fragrant and delicious but way too salty. Zhao Jinli could not bear to throw it away, so she could only bite the bullet and eat it herself.
“Scram, quickly scram. Both of you, scram together!” Mrs. Chen roared. If not for the fact that she couldn’t see, the walking stick would have already smashed onto Chen Ji’s body.
Chu Wei and Chen Ji were chased out. The eldest sister-in-law carried the big prawns and said with a smile, “The food tonight is not bad. Stewed prawns, stewed goose in an iron pot, and a few green vegetables. Will you stay and have some?”
Chen Ji was in a bad mood. When he heard Zhao Jinli’s voice, he felt annoyed. He looked at her with a dark face. Zhao Jinli almost peed on the spot and couldn’t say a word.
Although she was a shrew by nature, from the first day she married into the Chen family, she was afraid of Chen Ji. Every time she saw him, her legs and stomach would turn.
After leaving the main house, Chen Ji and Chu Wei returned home.
“Mom, don’t let Dad in. Quickly chase him away!” Just as they entered the house, they heard Chen Ying shouting while hiding under the blanket. Chen Yan was hiding under the blanket, looking very afraid of Chen Ji.
Chu Wei frowned. She wanted to ask them to acknowledge him as their father again, but she didn’t expect them to hide under the blanket. However, she thought about it and didn’t say anything. Chen Ji had left home for six years, and the children needed time to accept him.
“Have a seat first. I’ll go prepare the food.” After saying that, Chu Wei walked into the kitchen and got busy.
She had been separated from her husband for six years. Naturally, she would prepare a sumptuous and delicious meal. She did not dare to say that it would be seven plates or eight bowls, but at least four dishes and a soup, plus a pot of good wine. She had passed by the Ding Family’s wine shop and bought it last month.
Soon, the kitchen was filled with fragrance. The two little fellows were already full. In addition, they were against Chen Ji. Hence, they hid under the blanket and didn’t come out.
Mushroom chicken stew, steamed carp, stir-fried beef, steamed pork ribs with glutinous rice, a pot of winter melon soup, sticky rice, onion dip, and a few cloves of garlic. These were all Chen Ji’s favorite dishes. Chu Wei had prepared them before noon and had heated them up for their meal.
It was a long day in summer. Although it was already past six, the sky was still bright. Many neighbors passed by the small courtyard repeatedly in various poses and excuses. Many gazes looked through the fence. Everyone wanted to see what had become of the town bully after returning from the battlefield.
“Yo, Chen Ji is back!” Big Nose Wang walked past the front of the courtyard and pretended to be surprisedU
Chen Ji nodded at him and said, “Wang Er Uncle, long time no see. Come in and have a seat?”
Big Nose Wang staggered and almost threw away the hoe on his shoulder. Chen Ji actually greeted him. Was he seeing a ghost?
When Chen Ji was young, Big Nose Wang had deliberately tried to scare him. In the end, Chen Ji used a cannon to break his super-sized nose. He had to have three stitches done to his face afterwards. After that, he and Chen Ji became enemies. They didn’t even talk when they bumped into each other on the road.
When Chen Ji grew up, he was invincible in the entire town. Every time he saw him, Big Nose Wang would walk far away..