Old Madam Zhao heard her grandsons and granddaughters beside her constantly swallowing their saliva. Two grandsons, four granddaughters – one piece each wouldn't even be enough, and giving only to the grandsons and not the granddaughters wouldn't do either.
She waved her hand. "This is something your eldest uncle's wife respectfully gave to this old woman, so I won't be giving any to you."
She carried the bowl of rabbit meat into her room. Even the old man was startled. "When did Eldest's wife become so filial?"
"She must be hiding some scheme." Old Madam Zhao sneered. "Since she took the initiative to bring it, it would be foolish not to eat free food. If I don't eat my fill, how will I have the energy to deal with her?"
Old Madam Zhao took a bite. The rabbit meat was tender, fresh, and delicious, the radishes soft and fragrant. She had lived for 60 years but had never eaten anything so delicious. When did Da Shan's wife's cooking skills become so good?
Zhao Si Dan quickly returned home, and Cheng Loan Loan immediately announced that it was time to eat.
The four boys were all eaters. They lowered their heads and vigorously shoveled rice, not forgetting to open their mouths for rabbit meat. Even the shy and pretty young daughter-in-law, Wu Hui Niang, ate silently and heartily.
Cheng Loan Loan thought there would be leftovers, but she didn't expect that even a drop of leftover soup would be drunk.
The family of six leaned back in their chairs, satisfied, and let out a burp.
"This is the first time I've eaten so much..." Zhao Si Dan rubbed his small belly. "Mother, will we be able to eat our fill again tomorrow?"
The others heard this and simultaneously looked up at the most reliable person in the family.
Cheng Loan Loan took a sip of water and said, "Indeed, there's no more food at home."
Five faces fell. There really was no more food at home. Fortunately, they had eaten their fill today, so they should be able to last for three days...
"However—" Cheng Loan Loan placed a silver hairpin on the wooden table. "This is the engagement token your father gave me more than ten years ago. Before, I was blinded by greed and gave it to the Cheng family. Now that I've completely severed ties with the Cheng family, I don't want to keep this silver hairpin either. Tomorrow, I'll take it to the market to exchange for some food."
At the mention of their father, the four children's eyes immediately reddened.
Zhao Da Shan was the one with the strongest memories of his father. He clenched his fists. "This is something Father gave Mother, we can't sell it!"
Cheng Loan Loan smiled and said, "If we don't sell the silver hairpin, we won't have money to buy food. I don't think your father, with his spirit in heaven, would want to see his sons go hungry, would he?"
The four sons fell silent.
Father could give Mother a silver hairpin, but they didn't have the ability to keep it.
Zhao Er Gou slowly opened his mouth and said, "One day, I will buy this hairpin back."
Today, Mother severed ties with the Cheng family for their sake.
One day, he would ensure Mother wore golden hairpins and silk brocade.
The four children's spirits sank. Cheng Loan Loan changed the subject. "Da Shan, go ask Uncle Da if the ox cart is going to town tomorrow morning."
Da He Village to Taiping Town took more than an hour, even further than going to Cheng Family Village twice. If she walked, she would be completely exhausted.
When Zhao Si Dan was still in his mother's womb, his biological father was already on the battlefield and never returned. It wasn't until last year that news of his death in battle arrived.
He had never seen his biological father. His grief over losing his father was not even as strong as his feelings for the rabbit on the table before him.
He gathered all the rabbit bones from the wooden table, wrapped them in leaves, and buried them in the yard... This was the only thing he could do for the rabbit...