Despite their aching bodies, Wei Dazhuang and Wei Sanzhuang finally finished their work.

Wei Aiguo, however, remained cheerful. Everyone who had tasted the wild vegetables that day told Aiguo to have his wife bring more tomorrow. Wild vegetables were everywhere, so asking for a little wouldn't be a problem, right? Nobody stood on ceremony with Aiguo.

When he had time in the evening, Song Yan talked about it and felt particularly relieved.

Wei Aiguo: "It's satisfying. They're afraid of me, they'll definitely stay away from me. I'm just afraid they'll make things difficult for you after I join the army."

Song Yan wore a contemptuous expression. "If you don't provoke them, will they help me when I'm in trouble? Won't they take advantage of me whenever they get the chance?"

"cannot."

"If that's the case, what am I afraid of? Even if they want to retaliate against me, it won't be that easy."

Most women are afraid of retaliation, but Song Yan wasn't; she wanted nothing more than to rush forward herself. This made Song Yan quite endearing.

"Then I'll try to be as harsh as possible. I'll make them afraid."

Song Yan likes this.

When Song Yan delivered the food, his cart was loaded with two large basins of wild vegetables: one of purslane and the other of plantain. Song Yan had specially brought the vegetables for the person who had helped him yesterday.

Aunt Wei thought to herself: They think they can bribe people with just a little bit of wild vegetables.

Wu Meili shared the same thought. Although she thought the vegetables were quite delicious, she figured they were still just wild vegetables.

The most surprised were the educated youth. Song Yan's cooking used to be terrible! Now they all envied Xiaoxiao and Li Yuanzhao, especially Xiaoxiao, who ate at Song Yan's house every few days. The most upset was He Jianian. Even wild vegetables tasted so good; what about dumplings and fish?

He Jianian said sourly, "You're all so moved by a pot of wild vegetables. You helped us yesterday, and Song Yan only sent a pot of common wild vegetables. That's so stingy. It's not as good as his fish, is it? Xiaoxiao!"

When Xiaoxiao was serving the dishes, Song Yan said that it was a waste to give He Jianian such delicious food. She added that she would bring fish next time, and the thought of He Jianian eating it made her heart ache.

"He Jianian, if you don't like it, then don't eat it. Who else doesn't like it?" Jiang Xiaoxiao said, picking up the dishes.

Everyone immediately said, "We didn't think that way." Such delicious food, anyone who complains would be crazy!

Jiang Xiaoxiao divided the food evenly among the group. "If He Jianian doesn't like it, then don't eat it. From now on, Song Yan won't send you anything, so you won't have to complain."

"That's not what I meant," He Jianian tried to explain, but it was no use. Almost all the food had been shared.

The next time Song Yan delivered food, she brought two buckets of fish soup. This was clearly meant for everyone. Song Yan gave the fish soup to those who had helped her. When the first bucket was half empty, Xiao Xiao took it away. She skipped over He Jianian and served each of the educated youth a bowl. Jiang Xiao Xiao muttered, "Song Yan is so stingy, you're complaining about her things. Besides, you didn't even help Song Yan. You won't get this fish soup." When it came to the other male educated youth, she said, "You don't mind, do you? If you don't mind, have a bowl."

Such fragrant fish soup, anyone who complains would be crazy! Everyone could see that Jiang Xiaoxiao was deliberately not planning to give He Jianian any. The fish soup was made by Song Yan, so it was probably Song Yan's idea. Who's stupid? Offending Song Yan means no fish soup. Everyone silently drank their own fish soup. He Jianian was furious, but he couldn't bring himself to argue; he couldn't very well say he was craving the fish soup.

Having witnessed all of this, Song Yan had to give Xiaoxiao a thumbs up; such a friend is truly amazing.

Harvesting wheat was incredibly tiring; most people lost a lot of weight by the end, but Wei Aiguo didn't. For the ten days or so they worked there, everyone would go to his house to eat lunch every day when his family delivered food. Whether it was wild vegetables or vegetables from the garden, anything from his family tasted especially good. They could eat fish every other day, in soup, braised, or steamed varieties. Of course, Song Yan didn't forget Old Han and the others, bringing them plenty of good food.

Everyone agrees that Wei Aiguo found a wonderful wife. She cooks excellent meals, is filial to her elders, and is exceptionally kind to Wei Ping and Wei An. And then there's Song Yan's fishing skill; each fish weighs three or four pounds, and she always manages to bring back several. How does she catch so many fish? Her skill is truly impressive!

Actually, Wei Aiguo ate even better that evening, having white flour dumplings and steamed buns. He especially loved the braised rabbit stewed by Song Yan. Making fish jelly was too much work, so he saved that for his own dinner.

Song Yan's cooking wasn't this good at first! But her cooking got better and better over time. Wei Aiguo felt this was a blessing.

The wheat harvest finally came to an end amidst everyone's praise. Aside from being tired, everyone had different feelings.

At Aunt Wei's house: Seeing so many people surrounding Wei Aiguo and his wife every day makes them furious. Wei Aiguo and his wife are also incredibly unreasonable; they don't even bother to serve them a bowl of the buckets of fish soup they're served.

Wei Lao Er's wife: I think you're all just looking for trouble! You never learn from your mistakes! Didn't Wei San Zhuang get beaten up by Wei Ai Guo again yesterday?

Captain Wu: Giving Wei Aiguo face is the right thing to do. Just for his wife's sake, we have to turn a blind eye when things get tough. That food was so delicious. During the autumn harvest, everyone has to bring meals, so maybe we can have a few more meals then?

He Jianian: Is Song Yan blind? How come he can't see that Jiang Xiaoxiao is making things difficult for me? During the entire autumn harvest, he only tasted wild vegetables once, and he didn't get to eat any of the other good food.

Wu Meili: Why do I feel that Song Yan is getting prettier and prettier? She cooks well, and she's filial. In He Jianian's eyes, could it be that Song Yan is better than herself?

A young man of similar age to Wei Aiguo: A good wife is never too late. He doesn't expect his wife to be a fisherman like Song Yan; he just hopes her cooking doesn't taste like pig swill.

Aunt Wei also received a lot of praise. When the old ladies in the village came to visit her, they would all say a few words of praise about her daughter-in-law.