Chapter 14: Setting the Rules

“I’m back.”

When Xu Lian arrived home, he helped Yang Chan’er off the donkey cart, holding her delicate hand as they walked inside together.

Seeing Yang Chan’er’s vibrant and beautiful appearance, Wang Cuiyun and Li Xiya were taken aback for a moment.

However, Wang Cuiyun’s expression quickly darkened as she glared at Xu Lian. “Why did you bring Yang Ye’s maiden daughter here? Don’t take me for a fool! Maidens like her don’t come for free. How much grain did that wretch Yang Ye swindle from you?”

Li Xiya noticed Xu Lian’s preference for Yang Chan’er’s beauty and tugged at Wang Cuiyun’s sleeve. “Mother, Brother Lian has already brought her back. It’s not like we can send her away now. What’s done is done-say no more.”

Wang Cuiyun’s face remained grim. “We have just begun to enjoy days with food in the house, and now this young man of ours brings home a maiden. She’s going to eat up all our grain. How can we live like this?”

Ignoring her complaints, Xu Lian gently guided Yang Chan’er over to Li Xiya, giving her an encouraging look.

Yang Chan’er understood and bowed quickly. “Chan’er, greets Sister Xiya.”

Seeing her obedience and politeness, Li Xiya praised her with a smile. “Brother Lian has good taste. You’re so pretty.”

Yang Chan’er shyly replied, “Sister Xiya is also beautiful.”

Pleased, Li Xiya held her hand and led her aside, chatting about women’s matters.

When Xu Lian noticed that the two of them got along well, he felt reassured. He fed some fodder to the little black donkey and brought in two chickens and two fish, placing them before Wang Cuiyun. “Hurry up and cook, your master is hungry.”

At the sight of the chicken and fish, Wang Cuiyun’s eyes lit up. Her sour expression instantly vanished, replaced by a wrinkled but cheerful smile. “Alright, alright.”

Li Xiya looked stunned. Stealing beef from the quarry a few nights ago was one thing, but now Xu Lian had brought home chickens and fish. She couldn’t help but feel worried. “Brother Lian, where did you get the meat this time?”

Xu Lian briefly explained his promotion to assistant manager at the quarry. “The rooster and fish were gifts from Manager Han to celebrate.”

“What did you say?”

Wang Cuiyun, who was cutting the fish, nearly sliced her hand and let out a sharp cry. She spun around with her eyes wide open. “You became the assistant manager of the quarry?”

Xu Lian raised an eyebrow at her shocked reaction. “What else?”

“You’re the assistant manager now, in charge of hundreds of workers? Does that mean we’ll have meat to eat every day?”

Wang Cuiyun’s excitement turned her face red, making her appear years younger.

Xu Lian calculated aloud. “With 18 taels of monthly salary and the workers’ offerings, eating meat every day shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Master!”

Wang Cuiyun exclaimed happily.

Li Xiya blushed with embarrassment on her behalf, glancing at Yang Chan’er. “My mother’s just like this; don’t mind her.”

Yang Chan’er gently shook her head. “Why should I mind her? I also come from a poor family. Being with Brother Lian allows me to live a good life. Brother Lian is so capable – I am just as happy as Aunt Wang.”

Wang Cuiyun couldn’t help but take another look at her. “You’re quite the sweet talker. Since Brother Lian has become the assistant manager, with power, influence, and food, I won’t say much about him marrying a maiden like you. But remember, Xiya grew up with Brother Lian. They’re childhood sweethearts. Don’t think that you can use your looks to compete with her for his affection, or you’ll regret it.”

Her tone was stern, and tears welled up in Yang Chan’er’s eyes. “Don’t worry, Aunt Wang. I understand. Sister Xiya will always be my elder sister.”

Li Xiya, touched, put her arm around Yang Chan’er and said to Wang Cuiyun, “Mother, you’re thinking too much. Chan’er is kind and obedient. She’ll get along well with me.”

Wang Cuiyun snorted. “I hope so.”

Xu Lian didn’t step in to defend Yang Chan’er. With more women in the household, it was necessary to set some ground rules. Out of respect, he held Li Xiya in high regard. Any woman he brought into the family would have to respect her-that was non-negotiable.

Li Xiya glanced at the tearful Yang Chan’er, then at Xu Lian, who remained silent. Turning to Wang Cuiyun, she said, “Mother, let’s cook the rooster too. Make extra dishes tonight to celebrate Brother Lian’s promotion and Chan’er joining the family.”

“Alright.”

Wang Cuiyun’s mood improved as she began humming a cheerful tune while preparing the chicken and fish.

Li Xiya gently nudged Xu Lian to sit next to Yang Chan’er. “Brother Lian, keep Chan’er company while I help with the food.”

Since he had brought Yang Chan’er into the family, Xu Lian wasn’t one to shy away. He immediately put his arm around the blushing Yang Chan’er and began chatting with her to build rapport.

Li Xiya gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing.

After a long day of work, dinner took some time to prepare, with both chicken and fish being slaughtered and cooked, resulting in a variety of dishes.

By the time dinner was ready, it was almost the end of the first watch of the night.

The table was filled with chicken, fish, offal, and dried beef. Yang Chan’er couldn’t help but swallow hard at the sight-she had clearly never eaten such a lavish meal before.

Ever attentive, Xu Lian served a piece of chicken to Li Xiya and then a piece of fish to Yang Chan’er. “Eat up.”

As for Wang Cuiyun, she needed no prompting. She was already gnawing on a chicken drumstick, her face slick with grease.

The meal left all four of them stuffed and smiling, and the atmosphere at the table was harmonious and cheerful.

Of course, this harmony was based on material abundance. In a world where lack of food and hunger could strain even the closest of relationships, a full belly made all the difference. The reality was just that practical.

As night fell, Xu Lian stretched lazily and remarked, “It’s getting late. Time to rest.”

After letting their food settle for a while, Li Xiya picked up a small ceramic cup and a knife, unwrapping the bloodstained cloth around her wrist.

Yang Chan’er quickly stepped forward, offering, “Sister Xiya, let me handle it.”

Li Xiya gently shook her head. “You just joined the family. Tonight is not the right time.”

Understanding the implication, Yang Chan’er blushed as she shyly glanced at Xu Lian, then stepped back without insisting further. Indeed, it wasn’t her time yet.

Li Xiya filled the small cup with her blood, opened the door, and placed it at the entrance before shutting it again. Then she took Wang Cuiyun’s hand and led her into the inner room, closing the door behind them.

Now, only Xu Lian and Yang Chan’er remained in the outer room. What was there to wait for?

Xu Lian felt a rush of heat and immediately pounced on her like a wolf on a lamb.

“Ah! Brother Lian, wait…” Yang Chan’er managed to stammer as she pulled out a piece of cloth and spread it out beneath them.

Xu Lian stopped in shock. What was this…?

Yang Chan’er whispered softly, “My family wanted you to know that the 85 jin of grain spent on me was worth it.”

Her sincerity and practicality left Xu Lian speechless. Since she was so earnest, he wouldn’t let her down.

Inside the old mud house, the darkness was broken only by the silvery moonlight streaming through the small window, casting frosty patterns on the floor.

The night passed in a frenzy of passion, like a raging storm on the sea. Even when the fearsome and sinister Night Patrol arrived, they were ignored.

Fortunately, the Night Patrol drank the blood from the ceramic cup and left without showing any interest in the household’s activities.