Chapter Twenty-Six: Chicken Feet with Pickled Peppers

"Village chief, I truly didn't do it!" Li Fulan protested her innocence. "I've always served my mother-in-law with devotion and managed this household without a single complaint. How could I possibly have such thoughts?"

"Stop pretending to be the good person," Lai Ruyu snapped. "Let me tell you, if you think you can kick our mother out, you're dreaming!"

She was terrified that Li Fulan would send old Mrs. Lin to her own home instead.

Old Mrs. Lin glared furiously at her two daughters-in-law. To be honest, she trusted neither of them anymore. She felt both were plotting to avoid caring for her, which is why they’d egged her on to make a scene at the third son's house.

"Enough!" Lin Shengrong saw Luo Hongming’s face grow dark and quickly clapped a hand over Lai Ruyu's mouth. "Can’t you keep quiet for once?"

Seeing her own husband not take her side, and her daughter still pinned to the ground, Lai Ruyu’s heart filled with grievance—she was on the verge of tears.

"I don't care what either of you is thinking. This matter ends here. Family affairs should be handled behind closed doors. Don't turn the whole village upside down!"

Luo Hongming’s words carried such authority that no one dared utter a sound.

He then patted Lin Sangqian's head before leaving.

Lin Shengrong hurriedly signaled Aunt Wu and the others to release Lin Shuimei and, after much effort, dragged Lai Ruyu away.

The onlookers dispersed. Old Mrs. Lin looked at her second daughter-in-law and sneered, "Well, well, I never saw it before—you’re quite the schemer."

"Mother, I truly am not," Li Fulan pleaded, wounded. "Do you really think your daughter-in-law is that sort of person?"

"All I know is you goaded me into making a scene at the third son's house," old Mrs. Lin retorted. She glanced at Lin Hongda, her pride wounded, and turned to enter the house.

Hmph! They want to drive her away? She simply won't go! And from now on, she wouldn’t believe a single word from either of her daughters-in-law.

Li Fulan cast a venomous look at Lin Sangqian, who stood there all innocence. She was convinced this whole affair must somehow trace back to Lin Sangqian.

Just wait, you troublesome girl!

Lin Jiantong was furious as well, but the pain in his stomach reminded him just how terrifying his third brother had become. Swallowing his anger, he hurried his wife into the house.

"Father, Mother, let's go home too," Lin Sangqian said with a yawn. "I'm tired and want to sleep."

"All right."

Hand in hand, the family of three returned home. Lin Sangqian rejoiced inwardly. She’d only set out to make old Mrs. Lin distrust Lai Ruyu and Li Fulan, but as a bonus, the two women had ended up brawling.

Now, the feud between the eldest and second households would only escalate.

They’d certainly be too busy with their own troubles to bother her family for a while.

She and her parents could finally focus on building a prosperous life.

Back home, Lin Sangqian headed straight to her room and soon fell asleep. Liao Shuxia was still embroidering handkerchiefs, while Lin Hongda sat nearby, watching with longing.

After a while, he sighed deeply.

"What are you sighing about?" Liao Shuxia glanced at him. "Why all the moaning?"

"Wife, look at you now. Your embroidered handkerchiefs can be sold. Our daughter’s food sells, too. But me? I can't do anything—not even help with the cooking."

Lin Hongda felt utterly defeated.

Back in the modern world, he’d been the breadwinner.

Now, his wife and daughter supported him.

Liao Shuxia rolled her eyes. "Are you stupid? Have you forgotten how good you are at fighting? Just think—if it weren’t for you, what would become of us two women? No matter how much we earned, wouldn’t someone just come and take it from us?"

With those words, Lin Hongda’s confidence returned.

"In that case, I’ll protect you both from now on. No one will ever hurt you!"

"Enough, we’re family. No need for all this nonsense," Liao Shuxia said, needle flying through the cloth. "We’re lucky, you know? The three of us ended up here together—we’re not alone."

"Yes!" Lin Hongda nodded vigorously and, taking advantage of her inattention, kissed her on the cheek.

"Oh, you rascal! We’re an old couple—what’s gotten into you?"

"Hehe..."

...

Perhaps the previous day's events had been too exhausting, for Lin Sangqian slept late into the morning. When she finally opened her eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.

She yawned, lingered a bit longer in bed, and finally dragged herself up.

After washing up, she stepped outside and saw Lin Hongda exercising in the courtyard.

"Up at last?" he greeted her with a broad smile. "I saved you some breakfast."

"Did Mom make it?" she asked, heading to the kitchen.

"She did. There were two eggs left, so she made egg porridge."

Lin Sangqian entered the kitchen, ate a little, and began preparing pickled pepper chicken feet.

First, she placed the chicken feet in cold water and brought it to a boil, letting it simmer a bit before fishing them out. Then, she boiled garlic, star anise, cinnamon, chicken bouillon, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, and salt for a while, added the chicken feet, and simmered for another fifteen minutes. After fishing out the chicken feet and cooling them in water, she placed pickled peppers, white vinegar, salt, water, and the chicken feet in a jar, sealing it tightly. In about two days, they would be ready.

Lin Sangqian was confident—this spicy pickled chicken feet, unheard of in this era, would definitely be a hit.

She figured the five pounds of chicken feet she’d prepared would sell out quickly.

Lin Hongda poked his head in and asked, "Daughter, are we going to town today?"

"Isn’t Mom still working on her handkerchiefs? Let’s wait until they’re done and the chicken feet are ready—then we’ll go."

"All right."

At that moment, Uncle Qin’s voice sounded at the gate, "Old Third, Lin Third, are you home?"

"Here, Uncle Qin!" Lin Hongda hurried out. "What brings you here?"

"My younger brother’s building a new house and we’re short on hands. Can you come help? Of course, you’ll be fed! If you want wages, I can..."

"Uncle Qin, what are you saying? It’s just helping out—no need for pay," Lin Hongda laughed. "I’ll let my wife and daughter know and come right over!"

"Good, I’ll wait here for you."

As Lin Hongda walked back inside, Uncle Qin watched his back and couldn’t help but marvel—Lin Third was truly different now!

In the past, no one would have asked Lin Third to help with such things. Even if they had, he wouldn’t have bothered. But now, he seemed cheerful and reliable.

After telling his wife and daughter, Lin Hongda left with Uncle Qin.

Free for the moment, Lin Sangqian opened her system space to see what else she could exchange for lunch and dinner.

After some thought, she exchanged for ten eggs, a bundle of baby bok choy, and a pound of flour—she’d make noodles today.

After putting everything away, she heard footsteps outside.