Fu Xin Ci was extremely worried when she heard someone banging on the main gate outside.
Her courtyard was large, and if it were a normal knock, she wouldn't have heard it from her room.
Since she could hear it now, it meant the person outside wasn't knocking, but smashing the gate.
Thinking of someone smashing her main gate, Fu Xin Ci immediately exited her space and then activated her wood elemental ability towards the gate.
Before Fu Xin Ci even reached the gate, she heard Meng Yu Luo's voice, "You people are so unreasonable. If you come to visit, you should know the etiquette of a guest, not come and smash the door."
"I'm smashing it, what are you going to do about it? Hurry up and open the door for me."
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Fu Xin Ci already knew who the visitor was.
Just then, Qi He also came out of the main room, following Grandpa Meng with a huff. As he was about to speak, Fu Xin Ci stopped him.
"You go back inside, don't show yourself."
Qi He didn't want to go back, but Fu Xin Ci lowered her voice and explained, "It's not good for you to be here."
Thinking that although Madam Qi was troublesome, she was his second aunt and held the position of an elder, Qi He reluctantly hid in the side room.
With Qi He, the troublesome weak point, gone, Fu Xin Ci, full of fighting spirit, prepared to open the door.
Then she heard the sound of several people running towards the gate from outside, followed by Meng Yu Tang's voice, loudly asking, "Who are you people? Why are you smashing my second uncle's gate?"
"Yes, you country bumpkin. Without asking what happened, you come and smash my second uncle's gate. How outrageous!"
This was the first time Fu Xin Ci had heard Meng Qi Shan speak so eloquently.
"Brother, you don't need to talk nonsense with this shrew. Since she dared to smash our second uncle's gate, let's beat her up."
"You're not allowed to smash our second uncle's gate."
"Yes, you're not allowed to smash our second great-uncle's gate."
Meng Qi Ren and Meng Yu Lin, who had run over later, also waved their small fists in defiance.
Truly, proximity to red makes one red, proximity to ink makes one black. These boys had all learned to fight from Fu Xin Ci.
The group of boys yelling at Madam Qi flustered her.
She had been dominant in Qi Family Village for so many years, and no child had ever dared to confront her like this.
She glanced again at the large courtyard, which was worlds apart from the surrounding mud huts and thatched cottages.
She thought of the wealthy families in town, who were not afraid of her. Even if she invoked her elder brother's name, they would scoff.
Could it be that this household was also not afraid of her elder brother?
Considering this possibility, Madam Qi withdrew her hand, her expression shifting uncertainly as she stared at the group of boys in front of her, contemplating their chances of victory if her family were to fight them.
However, before she could figure it out, a man in his thirties walked over from not far away. He was thin, his clothes seeming to hang loosely on him.
His gloomy gaze made one's scalp tingle, and he looked like he was full of wicked schemes.
Madam Qi had been tricked by such a person in town before; with just a few words, he had dug several traps for her.
Recalling that time, she had almost lost her trousers and had to pay so much that she almost pawned Qi Lao Er's undergarments. She dared not say another word and shamefully dragged her three children back the way they came.
Qi Lao Er also reflexively covered his waist.
Meng Qing Huai was puzzled. When had he become so powerful? He hadn't even used the words he had prepared, so why did that shrew run away?
Qi Lao Er: That time they were extorted, he was stripped down to his underwear.
He had a phobia and didn't dare to linger here.
Seeing that the family that had been so aggressive moments ago was now meekly leaving.
Meng Qing Huai and the children looked at each other, bewildered, as if they hadn't even started yet, and it was already over.
Fu Xin Ci, inside the gate, was also quite confused. They had been smashing the main gate so loudly just now, and now it was eerily silent. This didn't make sense!
As Fu Xin Ci and Meng Yu Luo were about to work together to open the main gate, they heard Meng Qi Ren's tender voice from outside saying, "Dad, that shrew is gone. What should we do next?"
"Heh heh, let's have your second uncle make dumplings!" Meng Qing Huai was just teasing his youngest son, not expecting someone inside the courtyard wall to hear him.
"If you want dumplings, come over and help."
"Second brother." Meng Qing Huai hadn't expected his teasing words to be heard by his second brother, and he was extremely embarrassed for a moment.
The children, however, were delighted and eagerly asked, "Second great-uncle, are we making dumplings now?"
"I bought some pork in town today. You kids hurry and pull some cabbages, then wash them thoroughly with well water."
"Okay."
Meng Yu Tang and Meng Qi Shan ran off to pull cabbages, discussing how they would help chop the filling in the kitchen after washing them.
With so many people, chopping the filling was also a task requiring strength.
Fu Xin Ci and Meng Yu Luo joined forces to open the main gate and saw Meng Qing Huai digging a hole in the ground with his foot.
Grandpa Meng glanced at it disdainfully and snorted, "Tell me, how old are you to still be acting like a child and being so annoying? You've dug a hole right at my entrance, which I had neatly tidied."
"Second brother, I'll fill it up for you right now." Meng Qing Huai did as he said, quickly filling the hole with his foot, stomping on it firmly a few times, then cautiously looked at his second brother.
Grandpa Meng, however, instructed Meng Qi Cheng to pull some cabbages. "Qi Cheng, pull a few more. There are many people today."
"Okay." Meng Qi Cheng felt that since their family of three had come to work at their second uncle's house, their lives had become much happier.
Not only did they get to eat well every day and eat their fill, but they also got to eat good food every few days, like today, when their second uncle was organizing dumpling making.
When the boys carried the cabbages into the courtyard, Mrs. Fang, Mrs. Zhong, and Mrs. Tian learned that Grandpa Meng was organizing dumpling making for today.
"Making dumplings is great, we're all in for a treat today." Fu Yu also understood that if they wanted to change their taste, making dumplings was the best option.
After all, making other dishes, if they were to stir-fry a few dishes on the spur of the moment, would be somewhat unrealistic.
Nowadays, when it wasn't a festival or holiday, being able to casually prepare a few dishes with some oil was definitely considered a sign of wealth.
Grandpa Meng's family was also considered wealthy now, at least Grandpa Meng could organize dumpling making if he wanted to.
While Grandpa Meng was busily preparing to make dumplings, Madam Qi, who had been suppressing her anger, was leading her husband and three children back.
It seemed that their family's random attempts wouldn't work, and they would have to go back and find her elder brother.
Their dejected family crossed the small river and were about to follow the dirt path towards the military outpost.
Then they heard someone say, "Qi Jiao, are you Qi Jiao?"
Qi Jiao turned around and saw a girl slightly older than her looking at her with a look of pleasant surprise.
Qi Jiao looked at the girl; she really couldn't remember who this girl was.
Qi Lao Er, however, recognized her. "You're that girl from the He family?"
He Xiao Ni didn't expect Qi He's second uncle to speak with such a rustic accent. She was so annoyed that she regretted greeting them.