Chen Dachun waved his hand and gently patted Chen Xiaobei's shoulder. "I told you long ago I don't want rent. If you mention it again, you're treating me like an outsider."
Fine, if it had come to this, Chen Xiaobei gave up.
"Alright then, Brother Dachun, if you ever need any help in the future, just ask. Oh, and when I go to the county town, I'll visit your place too."
Returning from the fields, the sun was already setting in the west. Cui Hongyu had started preparing dinner.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei return, Chen Qiao'er skipped and hopped to greet him, "Brother, brother, Sister-in-law said we're eating the vegetables we grew ourselves tonight."
Chen Xiaobei looked at Cui Hongyu with surprise. Had the vegetables from the field matured so quickly?
Cui Hongyu walked over, her expression somewhat flustered. "Husband, I waited for you for a long time and took the liberty of making a decision. I thought, since we're going to sell these in the county town, we should taste them first. If they're not delicious, or if they're poisonous, we wouldn't feel at ease selling them."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei smiled.
"This is perfectly normal. It's hardly taking liberties. Remember, from now on, you can make decisions on all important and minor matters in the household. You don't need to ask my opinion."
"Yes, your opinion is my opinion."
Upon hearing Chen Xiaobei's words, Cui Hongyu's eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly reacted, shaking her head like a rattle drum and waving her hands in front of her.
"No, no, it's still you, Husband, who decides everything. I..."
Chen Xiaobei stepped forward, took her hand, and said emotionally, "Hongyu, you and I are husband and wife. We need to discuss everything together, so your opinion is my opinion."
Cui Hongyu's face turned even redder.
Looking at her flushed face, like a ripe red apple in autumn, Chen Xiaobei couldn't resist pulling her into his embrace and kissing her cheek.
This made Chen Qiao'er, who was nearby, overjoyed. She clapped her hands and shouted loudly, "Shame on you, shame on you, Brother is kissing Sister-in-law."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei let go of Cui Hongyu, turned around, and went to grab Chen Qiao'er. "You little rascal, watch me spank your bottom."
Chen Qiao'er yelped in fright, ran two laps around the big locust tree, and then threw herself into Cui Hongyu's arms.
Seeing this scene, Cui Hongyu's heart felt warm, and a happy smile bloomed on her face.
Chen Xiaobei was completely different from the rumors. She was now completely at ease. This was a man worth entrusting her life to.
After comforting Chen Qiao'er, she turned and went into the kitchen. After a burst of fragrant aroma, a steaming plate of stir-fried greens came out. With the addition of lard, the dish was naturally delicious and appetizing.
While eating, Chen Xiaobei joked with Cui Hongyu, "Now you're reassured, aren't you? These vegetables are edible and not poisonous."
Cui Hongyu nodded in agreement, her face once again beaming with a happy smile.
Frankly speaking, since marrying into Chen Xiaobei's family, the quality of her meals was no worse than at home; in fact, it was even better.
Just like lard, she couldn't afford to eat it every day at home.
However, Chen Xiaobei was not satisfied with this standard. Cui Hongyu's act of tasting the vegetables tonight had reminded him.
He had been so preoccupied with going to the county town every day to sell medicinal herbs.
Although he had bought food back.
But what kind of food was it? Rice buns, lard, bones, but never any vegetables.
The fish they caught in the morning was what they ate. If they didn't catch fish, they ate a few slices of preserved vegetables. He truly felt he had let down Cui Hongyu.
Thinking of this, he silently resolved to go buy vegetables himself tomorrow. He would discuss it with Old Wu and trade for some vegetables he didn't have. He had to ensure that Hongyu could eat vegetables at every meal.
The next morning, Chen Xiaobei woke up before dawn.
Taking his cast net, he headed towards the river. He wanted to try his luck. If he managed to net a couple of fish, it would also add to their income.
Even if he caught a few small fish, it would be a treat for Hongyu and Qiao'er.
His luck today was clearly quite good. In a short while, he caught a large fish, about a foot and a half long.
Seeing this fish, Chen Xiaobei was secretly delighted. His large water bladder finally had a use.
By the time the sun rose, Chen Xiaobei had caught two more fish, one about a foot long and the other half a foot long.
Chen Xiaobei ran home, retrieved the large water bladder, went to the river, and filled it with water. He then carefully placed the two large fish inside. As for the smallest one, he simply carried it home in the cast net.
Seeing that there was fish to eat, Chen Qiao'er became excited and jumped with joy.
Cui Hongyu, however, frowned and repeatedly waved her hands. "Husband, since you have a water bladder to transport live fish, even smaller ones might be accepted by that restaurant."
Chen Xiaobei, however, shook his head firmly. "No, I won't sell them even if they accept them. I'm keeping these fish for my wife."
Facing these naked declarations of love, Cui Hongyu was clearly unaccustomed to it, and her face instantly turned red.
Looking at that rosy apple, Chen Xiaobei truly found it hard to restrain himself.
In his previous life, he had been a master.
But he too had desires and passions. He had also studied under masters in dimly lit rooms, or those that were not so dim.
Now, with all his skills, he couldn't use them.
Yes, the main culprit was Chen Qiao'er, this little sister who was a burden.
Looking at Chen Qiao'er, Chen Xiaobei shook his head helplessly.
Before the house could be reinforced, he probably had to endure a few more days.
The trip to the county town today was relaxed and pleasant. Chen Xiaobei leaned back leisurely on the donkey cart.
The large water bladder was hung on the donkey's back, ensuring no water would spill. As for the lingzhi mushrooms and ginseng, he had to keep them in sight to watch over them.
He left at a leisurely pace, while the entire Hetou Village was in an uproar.
"Look at Chen Xiaobei, useless as ever, but married a good wife!"
"Who's not saying that? Cui Hongyu brought a lot of dowry. Just the silk and satin filled a horse cart."
"Yes, look at Chen Xiaobei, he's even bought a donkey cart now."
"There are only three donkey carts in our entire village, tsk tsk."
Listening to the villagers' gossip, the village elder, Chen Anbang, felt a pang of discomfort.
With a gloomy expression, he said, "Chen Xiaobei, a spendthrift. He'll squander all of Hongyu's dowry sooner or later."
He still wasn't satisfied after saying these words and cursed a few more times. Seeing him unhappy, the villagers dared not say more and dispersed.
At this moment, an unwelcome guest also arrived at the village entrance.
It was a young man who looked somewhat thin and gaunt.
The village guard on duty, named Chen Daqiang, immediately shouted, "Who are you? What are you doing in Hetou Village?"
The young man, with a fawning smile, cupped his fists towards Chen Daqiang and said, "Brother, I'm here to visit relatives. Chen Yutian is my maternal uncle."
Upon hearing that he was Chen Yutian's nephew, Chen Daqiang smiled. "Ah, go in then. Go straight ahead, turn after that tree, and you'll be there."
At this moment, Chen Daqiang did not realize that an event that would change the structure of Hetou Village was about to unfold.