Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 68 The Hidden Dangers of Half a Basin of Donkey Bones

Just as the two were about to go to sleep, they heard the sound of Zhang Kaiju opening the door.

"Oh my! Your sister-in-law is like the sun has risen in the west."

In my opinion, it's like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—it's all up to no good.

Yang Wuni muttered something under her breath, then covered her head with the blanket.

"Dad, bring it in. I've taken off my clothes; it's cold outside."

Zhang Changyao put on the blanket and waited for Zhang Kaiju to bring the things in.

Zhang Kaiju used one foot to pry open the door a crack and squeezed his body inside.

He hung a piece of donkey meat he was carrying on a nail on the wall of Zhang Changyao's house.

He placed the small basin of bones he was holding on the kang (a heated brick bed), in front of Zhang Changyao.

"My dear son, your sister-in-law said she's going to give Wu Ni some nourishing food."

"Donkey meat won't keep well, so braise it with salt and soybean paste and eat it slowly." Zhang Kaiju gave the instructions before pushing open the door and going back inside.

"Wu Ni, get up quickly, the donkey bones are still warm."

"Oh my! It smells so good! Look, my drool is dripping into the bowl!"

Zhang Changyao lifted Yang Wuni's blanket and stuffed the piece of meat he had just torn off into her mouth.

"Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground, how about it? Delicious, isn't it?"

Zhang Changyao pulled Yang Wuni up and draped the blanket over her.

He stuffed a large bone into her hand and asked her with a happy expression.

"It's delicious, but I don't know what to trade it for."

Your sister-in-law is the type who won't stand for anything, so I suspect she's up to something shady.

Yang Wuni gnawed on a donkey bone, but after eating the donkey meat, she felt uneasy.

"Wu Ni, don't always try to see through people from the bottom of their hearts."

What if your sister-in-law has learned her lesson and is genuinely concerned about your health?

Sisters-in-law come from all walks of life; there's a long road ahead for them to navigate life.

You should learn from your sister-in-law and send some good stuff to Guiye and Guibao.

Zhang Changyao watched Yang Wuni eat and swallowed hard.

"Zhang Changyao, why aren't you eating?" Yang Wuni asked Zhang Changyao after finishing a piece of food.

"Wu Ni, these are all for you to eat. Only when you are full can my son grow strong."

Zhang Changyao took a small bone out of the basin and handed it to Yang Wuni.

"Zhang Changyao, where are the three? If you don't eat any, I won't eat any either."

Yang Wuni cleaned her oily fingers.

They stuffed the bone that Zhang Changyao was holding into Zhang Changyao's mouth.

Zhang Changyao picked up another large bone from the basin and handed it to Yang Wuni.

The two of them started gnawing on it, and soon only three bare donkey bones remained.

"Wu Ni, your medicine is almost gone. Let's go to the health center for a few days tomorrow."

Dr. Qiu said that treatment is free and he'll even give us a subsidy!

If you stay at home and don't go to the health center, then we won't receive the subsidy.

Zhang Changyao carried the washbasin from the floor to the kang (a heated brick bed) for Yang Wuni to wash her hands.

"Zhang Changyao, is that really what Dr. Qiu said?"

That's perfect, you can take this donkey meat to Wang Jianjie.

This stuff is too precious; it would be a waste if it ended up in our stomachs.

"It's better to get ahead of the game than to have your ears pierced before you're even ready to get married."

Yang Wuni touched her belly and nodded in agreement with Zhang Changyao's suggestion.

Before dawn, Zhang Changyao got up and started tidying up.

Yang Wuni lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and acted lazy. She looked at the little pony on the ground, feeling uneasy, and didn't want to go.

Finally, the two came up with a good idea: to hitch up the carriage and take the foal with them.

Upon hearing this idea, Yang Wuni immediately became interested.

Go down to the fields to prepare hay for the chestnut horses and bring half a cart of corn husks for the foals.

"Changyao, what are you and Wuni up to?" Zhao Xiulan asked Zhang Changyao, leaning against the window.

"Aunt Xiulan, I'm going to take Wuni to the health center for a few days."

"We'll come back once she's fully recovered, and then we can start farming."

Zhang Changyao was in a good mood, so he spoke loudly.

"My dear son, your Aunt Xiulan and I also want to go to town."

"When you go, could you take us with you?"

Upon hearing Zhang Changyao's words, Zhang Kaiju immediately poked his head out of the door and asked.

"Okay, you and Aunt Xiulan get ready, we'll be leaving right away."

Zhang Changyao didn't think too much about it and readily agreed.

"Wu Ni, did you two eat the donkey bones your sister-in-law brought?"

After getting into the car, Zhao Xiulan tucked the blanket around Yang Wuni and chatted with her casually.

"Hmm!" Yang Wuni disliked the topic and gave a brief and concise answer.

"Wu Ni, I must say you're quite the capable sister-in-law."

No matter what kind of people they were before, they're not possessive of food anymore; they gave both our families bones and meat.

With planting season fast approaching, we can't just stand by and watch their family's misfortune unfold.

We're all family, so we don't speak like outsiders. The same goes for the three of us.

Your father and I discussed it, and we've decided that the three of us should farm together.

"I'm old, I'll take care of the children and cook for you, the young people can do the farm work."

Zhao Xiulan pinched Yang Wuni's legs under the covers and discussed it with her.

"Aunt Xiulan, my horse is too old. It farms three families' land. Aren't you trying to kill it?"

Yang Wuni felt sorry for the chestnut horse, so she didn't immediately agree to Zhao Xiulan's "suggestion".

"Xiulan, stop talking. Your method won't work at all."

Yumi and Wuni don't get along and can't work together.

"My suggestion is the best approach; it's better for everyone if the sisters-in-law don't get along."

Zhang Kaiju turned around to stop Zhao Xiulan, who was still trying to persuade Yang Wuni.

"Aunt Xiulan, my father is right. No matter how good the relationship is, you can't go into business together."

In any partnership, there will be disagreements and disputes.

It's better for everyone if we all just do our own thing.

Zhang Changyao, who was driving the carriage, interrupted without turning around.

"Okay, your father agrees with you, so let's listen to him."

I came up with this idea because I was afraid you two wouldn't agree.

It seems I don't know much about your family.

Zhao Xiulan stopped talking and lowered her head, rubbing the hem of her clothes.

A few kohlrabi grains were squeezed out and popped into my mouth, making a "crunching" sound.

"Dad, Aunt Xiulan, where are you two going? I'll take you there."

Once inside the town, Zhang Changyao turned around and asked Zhao Xiulan.

"Youngest son, take Wu Ni to the hospital for a checkup first."

Your Aunt Xiulan and I took a horse-drawn carriage to buy things, and then went to visit your Aunt Xiulan's cousin.

We'll be back before evening, and then you can take us home in the carriage.

Zhao Xiulan glanced at Zhang Kaiju but didn't speak. Zhang Kaiju then answered Zhang Changyao's question.

"Father, the foal is too young to travel too far."

Or, we could have Zhang Changyao take the two of you there.

When you're coming back tonight, I'll have Zhang Changyao pick you up.

Yang Wuni had a bad feeling and refused Zhang Kaiju's offer.

"My dear son, Wu Ni is worried about your father driving the carriage."

Tell Wu Ni, wasn't I good at raising horses?

Ten farmhands, two horses, and three oxen—weren't they all trained by my own hands?

Foals need to be trained from a young age so they become more obedient as they grow older.