The wicked sister-in-law is in charge; meals include fish and shrimp.

Chapter 42 Owe 5 Wen

Wen Luozhi went to check on the potatoes in the field. Wen Ziming had taken good care of them. At a glance, there were no gaps in the furrows, and the field was a lush green expanse.

"Little sister, the sun shouldn't be so harsh in a few days, so don't worry, these potato sprouts definitely won't spoil."

He liked the sight of the potato sprouts growing so well, as they were something that would ensure his family had enough to eat during the winter. He was so worried that he couldn't sleep at night.

One moment I'm worried it'll be dug up by rats, the next I'm worried someone will come to steal it.

After all, other people in the village have also planted it now. Although they don't know how well it's growing, they're afraid that others might see it and like it, so they'll steal it and plant it themselves.

He now wishes he could spend every single moment of the day with them.

Wen Luozhi patted Wen Ziming on the shoulder with a mature smile and said, "Of course I trust you with my brother!"

"I have something very important to discuss with everyone today. Let's go call Mom and Dad to go home; it's about time anyway."

Wen Ziming nodded, and the whole family, young and old, arrived in the village before sunset.

As soon as Wen Luozhi stepped into the courtyard, she frowned. Wen Zizhou was nowhere to be seen; there was only a large pile of untouched firewood. She knew without a doubt that he had gone to slack off again.

Seeing that her face looked pale, Xie He quickly comforted her, "Daughter, you must be terribly hot from going to the fields. Go get some hot water to wash up and then rest. Mom will call you when dinner is ready."

Wen Luozhi nodded, took a shower, and then went to the kitchen to help cook a few dishes.

As soon as the dishes were served, before anyone could even sit down, Wen Zizhou rushed out of the room, plopped down, and reached for the plate of braised pig's trotters.

Wen Luozhi was holding a rice spoon when she saw his hand and slapped it without hesitation. "Third Brother, your hearing and memory aren't good either. I told you we'd eat dinner when you finish chopping that pile of firewood in the yard."

Wen Zizhou cried out in pain after being hit, but before he could even complain, Wen Luozhi grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the yard.

He clung desperately to the door, yelling, "Mom! Come save me! That little rascal won't give me any food!"

Hearing his shouts, Xie He rushed out with a pair of chopsticks. Seeing the scene before her, she snorted coldly and then invited the others to sit down and eat.

"Father! Please save me!"

"I want to eat too!" Seeing that Xie He ignored him, Wen Zizhou turned to Wen Muchuan, who was sitting down, for help.

Wen Muchuan merely glanced at him indifferently, then picked up his glass of wine and took a sip, feeling so comfortable that he couldn't help but shake his head.

Yes! His daughter is so good! She's so filial to buy such good wine for her old man!

Only a fool would go against his daughter! He wouldn't pay any attention to that silly third son.

Wen Zizhou asked everyone in his family for help, including not only the youngest Xiao Hu, but also Li Chunxing's unborn nephew.

Wen Luozhi was annoyed by his calling, so she loosened his collar and stretched out her small, white hand towards him with an impatient expression.

"What are you doing?!" Wen Zizhou stopped shouting and asked her.

"You want to eat without working? There's no such thing as a free lunch! Give me money if you want to eat."

"A meal consisting of vegetarian dishes costs ten copper coins, while a meal with meat costs fifteen copper coins."

Wen Luozhi stretched her hand out in front of him again and said with a grin, "Cooking in the kitchen on such a hot day is hard work, Third Brother, don't worry, I won't pocket this money."

"Tonight's dinner is cooked by my eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, and mother. Third brother should have meat, right? That'll be five copper coins for each of them."

The three of them turned to look at her as soon as they heard what she said.

"Third brother, you can't just eat for free! Second sister-in-law thinks what little sister said makes sense. If you don't work and still want to eat, you'll have to buy it with money."

Yang Guilan felt a little smug. Although her mother-in-law had been saving up a few coins for the two sisters-in-law these past few days, it wasn't enough. No one would be foolish enough to complain about having too much money!

Li Chunxing nodded, a rare occurrence for her. Her younger sister had just repeatedly warned her in the kitchen not to indulge his laziness.

Xie He, of course, wholeheartedly agreed with her beloved daughter's actions.

She got up, walked up to Wen Zizhou, and held out her hand, saying, "Give me fifteen coins, so I can divide it."

"Where would I get any money!" Wen Zizhou yelled, then plopped down on the ground, acting like a scoundrel.

Xie He ignored him, pulled Wen Luozhi down to sit, and put a large chicken leg into her bowl. "Girl, eat up, this chicken has been stewing for a long time."

The others ignored Wen Zizhou and ate their meat and vegetables with relish.

Wen Zizhou lay sprawled on the ground, licking his lips. He refused to believe that no one would come and call him for dinner!

The aroma of meat was agonizing for him, but no one woke him up for a long time.

Finally, someone came over, and when he looked up, he saw that it was Wen Luozhi.

She was holding a chicken leg in her hand, and there were several pieces of braised fish and braised large intestine in her bowl, each exuding an enticing aroma.

"Mmm (chewing) This chicken that Mom stewed (chewing) Mmm! (chewing) It's so delicious! (chewing)" Wen Luozhi gnawed on the chicken leg, making smacking sounds on purpose.

Wen Zizhou swallowed hard and silently patted his stomach; his appetite had been whetted long ago.

Wen Luozhi picked up another piece of braised pork intestine and waved it in front of him. He opened his mouth, and Wen Luozhi quickly stuffed the braised pork intestine into her own mouth. "Mmm (chewing) So fragrant, Third Brother, tell me, how can there be such delicious food in this world?"

Wen Zizhou couldn't take it anymore. He got up from the ground and said to Wen Luozhi, "I'll owe you fifteen coins, okay? I'll owe you fifteen coins!"

"Please let me eat, my dear sister! I'll go chop wood after I finish eating! I'll never be lazy again, Third Brother is so hungry, boohoo!"

He clung to Wen Luozhi's skirt, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face. Wen Luozhi smiled, stuffed a piece of braised pork trotter from the bowl into his mouth, patted his face, and said, "Then if Third Brother washes the bowl for three days straight, that'll be three coins. So we still owe Mother and the others twelve coins."

"As long as Third Brother washes the dishes, that counts as you've done the work, and you won't be charged for your meal. Everyone will be watching you."

Wen Zizhou nodded excitedly. It was just washing dishes! It wasn't difficult; he could do it. Besides, he'd get food too—it wasn't a bad deal!

"Tomorrow, your third brother will set up a food stall in town. For every twenty coins he earns, one will be given to you as a reward for his hard work," Wen Luozhi continued. "No matter where or how you sell it, whatever you earn is yours."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zizhou paused in his slurping of the pig's trotters and asked incredulously, "Are you serious?"

He'd heard from his parents that if they set up a stall in town, they could earn at least four hundred coins in a morning. If he sold for a whole day… he'd have to calculate how many coins that would be… well, a lot!

Wen Luozhi stood up, took a bite of rice, and said, "A word I, Wen Luozhi, keep is a word."

Wen Zizhou was amused. He sat down properly at the table but didn't dare to pick up his chopsticks right away. He glanced at Xie He cautiously.

"What are you looking at me for! Your sister said you can eat, so eat. Remember to wash the dishes after you eat! Chop the firewood before it gets dark!" Xie He handed him the rice bowl, which contained a chicken leg.

“Mother…” Wen Zizhou took the bowl with a choked voice, his lips pursed.

"Look at you, so pathetic! This chicken leg was a reward from your sister to Xiao Liu! She saved it for you, her older brother!"

After Wen Zixun returned from town, he went to the fields to weed. After finishing his work, he filled the water tank at home with water, and Wen Luozhi gave him the other chicken leg.

Wen Zizhou looked at Wen Zixun with teary eyes, "Sixth Brother..."

Wen Zixun scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "I acted impulsively this morning and shouldn't have hit Third Brother, but Third Brother, you're not allowed to bully your little sister anymore. Consider this chicken leg my apology."

Wen Zizhou immediately became arrogant, "You're my little brother, I'm your third brother, how could I be angry with my younger brother!"