CHAPTER 710: CHAPTER 703: FINALLY TOOK ACTION

Sisi and the others were happily drinking and eating at Zhang Jie’s house, with the liquor being He Family Liquor brought by Sisi. Although the dishes were a bit burnt, it didn’t affect everyone’s appetite. The atmosphere was very good, and the children, separate from the adults, gathered at their own table. They opened a bottle of fruit wine, their little faces turning red like apples, looking so tempting to take a bite.

Compared to the laughter and song of Sisi and the others, Xu Qianwen was restless at the Tian Family. It was already the sixth day; she had a day and a half left. If she didn’t act soon, she feared there wouldn’t be such a good opportunity in the future!

Xu Qianwen took out a small paper packet from her inner pocket, looking at it repeatedly. Her teeth bit into her lower lip, leaving a trace of blood, as her eyes emitted a chilling light. Her otherwise wavering heart finally settled.

"He Sisi, tomorrow you will go accompany Tian Lili!" The corners of Xu Qianwen’s mouth twisted into a cold smile.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month

Because Tian Aiguo was leaving for Inner Mongolia the next day, Granny Zhao got up early to start working. She nestled in the kitchen, frying small fish coated in batter until they were crispy—an excellent dish to accompany liquor, and also Tian Aiguo’s favorite snack.

In the past, Xu Qianwen was quite attentive to Tian Aiguo’s lifestyle, often preparing fried small fish in advance. But in recent years, Xu Qianwen became distracted, frequently visiting Tian Lili at the hospital for no apparent reason. She didn’t even cook three meals a day, going to the dining hall instead, much to Granny Zhao’s heartache, causing her increasing annoyance with Xu Qianwen.

Just like that, the old lady cleaned several pounds of small fish yesterday, and got up early today to start frying. Once done, she stored them in a jar, enough to last a month or two!

Sisi wanted to help fry the fish, but Granny Zhao waved her away, "The smell of oil and smoke is strong; don’t let it choke you. Besides, you’d have to bend over, and then your chest will start hurting again!"

Tian Manlan also shooed Sisi away, deftly snatching the strainer from Granny Zhao and squeezing herself in.

"I’ll fry them—it’ll just take an hour or two. Mama, you and Ah Nan go rest."

Nowadays, Tian Manlan’s way of doing things increasingly mirrors Granny Zhao’s style, and Granny Zhao didn’t fuss with her daughter, taking off her apron and pulling Sisi back to the living room.

As she stepped out of the kitchen door, she couldn’t help but turn back and remind, "Fry them crisp, your Third Brother likes them crispy."

"Got it, as if I don’t know Third Brother’s taste?" Tian Manlan responded robustly, not even turning around.

Sisi whispered in Granny Zhao’s ear, "Granny, Auntie is becoming more and more like you."

Granny Zhao smiled with satisfaction, patting Sisi’s hand warmly. Her youngest daughter was living well now, all thanks to Ah Nan!

Xu Qianwen walked out from the inner room with a beaming smile, surprising everyone. The sun must have risen from the west today!

The person who always wore a gloomy expression was suddenly smiling so brightly; wasn’t that a rare sight?

"Mama, Ai Guo and I will return to Inner Mongolia tomorrow, so today I’ll make some black sesame dumplings for everyone, okay?"

Granny Zhao was puzzled by Xu Qianwen’s behavior. What nerve did she connect wrong again? She initially wanted to refuse, unable to enjoy dumplings made by such a daughter-in-law, fearing indigestion.

Feeling the pressure from her hand, Granny Zhao changed her tune, "It’s nice you have the thought; go ahead then. If you need any ingredients, let Weihua go and buy them."

"Weihua has already gone to buy leaf lard; he should be back soon." Xu Qianwen looked in high spirits.

Shortly after she spoke, Tian Weihua entered with a large piece of leaf lard, "Mama, is this enough lard? I made sure the owner picked the best, not a trace of residue."

"Enough, enough." Xu Qianwen extended her hand to take the lard and headed to the kitchen, seemingly ready to make dumplings.

Tian Weihua was also delighted, finally seeing Mama back to normal. He went inside to ask his wife to help Xu Qianwen in the kitchen.

"Ah Nan, what’s going on?" Granny Zhao asked Sisi quietly.

"Granny, just wait for a good show!" Sisi replied in a low voice.

Granny Zhao immediately understood and was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end, wishing she could rush into the kitchen and tear Xu Qianwen into pieces.

"Granny, calm down. We can’t be sure yet. Brother Xin Hua and I have been waiting these days just to see Third Aunt make a move!" Sisi comforted her.

Granny Zhao still couldn’t contain her anger, muttering hatefully, "If she actually does such a heartless thing, I won’t spare that wretch!"

Inside the house, Sisi exchanged a look with Tian Xinhua, who nodded slightly. The Old Man’s eyes flashed as he exchanged a glance with Tian Aiguo, understood only by the two of them.

Over an hour later, Tian Manlan finished frying the fish, bringing in a basket of fragrant fried small fish.

Sisi couldn’t resist grabbing a skewer of small fish to eat, nodding as she said, "Auntie, these fried fish are really fragrant; delicious."

Seeing Sisi eating with such relish, Shou Jizu’s mouth started watering. He grabbed a small fish to chew on, unable to stop himself once he started. As he reached for more, Tian Manlan smacked his hand away hard.

"If you eat them all, what will my brother eat? You’re a grown man and still can’t control your mouth!"

Shou Jizu sulkily withdrew his hand, his reddened hand showing that the person hitting didn’t hold back.

A heartbroken Shou Jizu cast an aggrieved look at Tian Manlan, his pitiful gaze akin to a wronged little dog, softening Tian Manlan immediately. She reassured him, "Tomorrow I’ll fry you a big plate and let you eat to your heart’s content."

Shou Jizu was finally satisfied, grinning foolishly.

"Uncle, haven’t you tasted all the delicacies outside? Why fight over a few small fish?" Sisi intentionally remarked.

Shou Jizu, now better at sweet-talking than before, immediately responded, "How could that be the same? No matter how good things are outside, they can’t compare to what Auntie makes. I’d rather eat her homemade greens every day than feast on delicacies outside!"

His words made Tian Manlan and Granny Zhao overjoyed, unable to contain their smiles, especially Granny Zhao, who was increasingly satisfied with this young son-in-law, charmed daily by Shou Jizu’s flattery.

The Old Man snorted lightly, "Slick fellow," he thought. Only his absent-minded wife and daughter would believe him. He wasn’t buying it.

The Old Man subconsciously ignored the joy he felt from listening to Shou Jizu’s words.

Sisi curled her lips at Shou Jizu; he only knew how to sweet-talk. If he had to eat greens for a month, he’d surely sneak out to find meat!

A while later, Wei Hua’s wife emerged from the kitchen, saying that Xu Qianwen sent her out, as she wasn’t much help inside.

Sisi sneered inwardly, "Better for acting alone!"

These mother and daughter pairs are truly two of a kind; they don’t even bother coming up with new tricks for harming others—always relying on drugging. Did they really think she had a pig brain?

And what kind of drug did Xu Qianwen use this time?

She was indeed looking forward to finding out!