CHAPTER 91: CHAPTER 91 THIS IS A GOOD IDEA

Even without Feng Simei spreading the news, word that Yunyi had brought back a large package was already causing quite a stir in the village.

Widow Qiu, who lived in the alley, had just served sweet potato leaf porridge when her youngest son started complaining, "Mom, can’t we have something decent to eat for once?"

Widow Qiu slammed her chopsticks on the table. "You think I don’t want to eat solid food? In a few more days, we might not even have this porridge, yet you’re still being picky! Eat it or don’t!"

Qiu Baolin saw that his mother was serious and didn’t dare say anything more, only muttering, "When will these days ever end?"

Widow Qiu glared at her youngest son, grinding her teeth. "Day after day, all you do is laze around, and you still dream of eating your fill? Dream on!"

Just then, Qiu Baojuan came running in. "Mom, is the food ready? I’m starving!"

Widow Qiu immediately scolded her, "Where have you been running off to again? You’re so grown up, yet you never think to come back and help with the cooking."

Qiu Baojuan reached into the basket and took out a wild vegetable cornbread. "I was with Lingzi under the big locust tree, listening to the educated youths talk about city life. I wonder when I’ll ever get to see a big city?"

No sooner had she spoken than Widow Qiu’s slap landed. "Always daydreaming about nice things!"

Qiu Baojuan clutched the back of her head where it stung. "Mom, can’t you be a little gentler? What if you knock me silly?"

Widow Qiu glanced sideways at her daughter. "You’re not that bright to begin with. If you become a bit sillier, you might even be more obedient and save me some worry."

Qiu Baojuan let out a "HMPH!" and fiercely bit into the wild vegetable cornbread in her hand. "I wish I were Chu Zhiqing!"

Qiu Baolin took a sip of sweet potato leaf porridge. "Finish eating and go to sleep. Maybe you’ll dream about it."

Yet Widow Qiu asked, "Why did you bring up Chu Zhiqing?"

Qiu Baojuan swallowed the mouthful of cornbread. "It would be great if Chu Zhiqing were my sister-in-law! Then wouldn’t I get to share some of her tasty treats?"

At these words, Widow Qiu and Qiu Baolin exchanged a look.

Qiu Baolin turned to his sister. "How do you know Chu Zhiqing has good food?"

Qiu Baojuan took a sip of her porridge before continuing, "Just now, by the locust tree at the village entrance, I saw her riding back on Uncle Suo’s oxcart. Feng Dazui said those two especially large packages on the cart belonged to Chu Zhiqing. The people under the locust tree also said those packages must be full of good things to eat."

Widow Qiu chewed on her chopsticks in silence for a long moment. When the idea finally clicked, her face lit up with a greedy smile. "That’s not a bad idea."

Qiu Baojuan didn’t understand her mother’s meaning. "Mom, what are you saying?"

Widow Qiu waved her hand. "You’re just a child, why ask so many questions?"

Qiu Baolin, however, had understood. He quickly finished the porridge in his bowl, ate two more cornbreads, and then pushed his bowl aside. "Mom, eat quickly. I have something to tell you."

Widow Qiu downed her porridge in a few gulps and pushed her bowl towards her daughter. "Wash these bowls."

Then she stood up and walked into the inner room.

Once inside, Qiu Baolin began, "Mom, what do you think about what my sister just said?"

Widow Qiu burst into a smile. "You think it’s a good idea too, don’t you?"

Before dinner, the village chief had come to her about a certain matter. At the time, she hadn’t thought of a suitable person for the task he’d assigned. But after hearing her daughter’s words, an idea sparked: why not let her own family benefit rather than an outsider? After all, if the plan succeeded, it wasn’t as if a young girl like that could cause any real trouble. As for Liu Chenglin, she needed to consider him more carefully. That man always had a cold face and was clearly not to be trifled with. Helping the village chief was one thing, but she couldn’t afford to get herself embroiled in the process.