Looking at the four adorable little ones, Kang felt she had nothing of value to offer and said apologetically, "Auntie came in a hurry today and couldn't bring you any gifts. I'll definitely bring you something fun next time I come."
Hearing this, Da Bao shook his head.
Kang asked somewhat disappointedly, "Don't you like it when your aunt buys you gifts?"
Da Bao said, "No, it's just that my uncle and aunt rarely come over."
Little Erbao added, "We don't need any gifts."
The three little ones chimed in, "We're so happy that they came to see us."
These words made Ning Xu and Kang Shi fall in love with the four little dumplings. Who could resist clean, cute and polite little dumplings?
After the meal was ready, the family sat together and were very surprised to see the food Ning Huan had prepared.
Since it was almost noon, Pang decided to combine breakfast and lunch. So Ning Huan prepared several stir-fries and stews for lunch, and two desserts to be served after the meal.
Ning Huan originally didn't want to do so much, after all, she still had some resentment towards Ning Xingde and the others, but considering that Pang Shi was going home today, she should cook something delicious.
The table full of delicious food surprised Ning Xingde. He looked at Ning Huan and asked, "Huan girl, did you make this?"
Seeing Ning Huan nod, Ning Xu was still somewhat skeptical: "Sis, did you really make this?"
Just like Ning Liang's initial reaction to the food Ning Huan had prepared, before Ning Huan could even explain, Ning Liang had already explained to Ning Xingde, Ning Xu, and Kang Shi: "Father, elder brother, sister is different now. Her cooking is delicious. You should try it."
Thinking back to before Ning Huan got married, Ning Xu and Ning Liang had eaten many of her cookings. They were so bad they were like they were about to die. But now, these dishes of delicious food were laid out in front of them, supposedly made by Ning Huan.
Ning Xu swallowed hard, feeling a little scared.
Ning Liang found it somewhat amusing to see his older brother like this; wasn't this just like when he first arrived?
However, he ignored Ning Xu and started picking up food for himself. His sister's cooking was so delicious that Ning Xu would definitely try to take it from him once he tasted it.
After Ning Xu tried picking up a bite of food, he indeed started fighting with Ning Liang for it.
"Brother, I don't think you dare to eat the food that eldest sister makes, so you might as well eat less and leave the rest for me!"
"Dream on, I think you're the one who should leave some for me to eat."
Even the Kang family was surprised that Ning Huan's cooking was so delicious, and Ning Xingde kept nodding, saying, "Huanhuan has grown up and has such good cooking skills."
After having dessert, Pang took Ning Liang and Ning Xu to the kitchen, intending to take Ning Huan and the brewing materials she had prepared the day before with her. Upon hearing that Ning Huan had secured the business of the Drunken Smoke House in town and even had her family run it, she was deeply moved.
When Kang came out, she saw that Ning Xu's eyes were red, as if he had been crying.
She asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Did Mother scold you?"
Ning Xu shook his head and said to Kang Shi, "Mother just told me that my sister talked to the owner of Zuixianlou in town about a liquor business, and she also asked us to brew liquor with Mother so that we can share the profits and make money together."
Kang was surprised: "Really? You want us to brew wine together?"
"You're going to give us a share of the money?"
She felt utterly ashamed now. She had treated her mother-in-law that way before, and she hadn't been friendly to Ning Huan either. But she hadn't expected Ning Huan to repay evil with kindness, not resenting them, and even giving them money to earn.
That's Zuixianlou! If you don't do business with anyone else, you can make so much money just from Zuixianlou all year round.
Moreover, Ning Xingde and the others had tasted Ning Huan's newly brewed wine, and it tasted really good. Compared to before, many more people were buying their wine.
While Madam Pang was packing her belongings in the room, Ning Huan repeatedly told her, "Mother, it's fine to have my eldest brother and the others help you brew wine, but you must never tell them the secret recipe."
"You must have your own secret recipe to rely on, so that you can have a status at home and your father and the others will listen to you willingly."
Pang nodded. How could she not understand her daughter's words? Ning Xingde's words were just empty threats; they were just words he used to coax her after a quarrel. If they went home, his true nature would be revealed soon enough.
Only when you are truly capable will you have a voice in your family.
She said to Ning Huan with emotion, "Huanhuan, I really have to thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know how your father would have bullied me."
Ning Huan shook her head: "Mother, no need to thank me. I can only be at ease as long as you are doing well."
Before leaving, Ning Huan gave Pang a lot of things, and only stopped when she knew that the whole family couldn't carry them all.
She instructed Ning Xu and Ning Liang: "You two help your mother with the chores more, and you need to brew the wine faster. There's not much going on at home lately, so let's brew wine together. The owner of Zuiyanlou is probably going to ask for it soon."
The two brothers nodded and replied, "Don't worry, sister, we will definitely help Mom with the work and not let her suffer alone."
The four little ones waved goodbye to their grandparents just like Ning Huan did. Seeing them like that, Kang Shi really couldn't bear to leave.
"I'll bring you some delicious food next time your aunt comes."
After the four little ones politely said goodbye to Madam Kang, they went back to their room with Ning Huan.
Not long after Pang left, around dusk, Tusheng suddenly ran over: "Auntie, something bad has happened! Aunt Juan is in trouble! The village chief asked me to call you over to check on her!"
Ning Huan frowned: "What happened? Why did you suddenly call me over?"
Tu Sheng hurriedly grabbed Ning Huan and ran outside, crying as he ran, "Aunt Juan and Uncle Mao Wa had another fight, and in a fit of anger, she hanged herself!"
Hearing this, Ning Huan didn't ask any more questions. Lives were at stake, so saving lives was the priority.
The "Aunt Juan" mentioned by the locals is named Fan Juan, and she is Mao Wa's wife in the village. In the original owner's memories, Mao Wa's mother, Mao Shi, always wanted Fan Juan to give birth to a son.
He came up with countless terrible ideas in his quest to have a big, healthy grandson.
They drank water boiled with children's urine and took medicine prescribed by barefoot doctors, causing chaos and disorder every day.
Later, Fan Juan still couldn't give birth to a son, but instead gave birth to three daughters in succession, which completely devastated Mao.
Instead of searching for folk remedies, they started thinking about how to kick Fan Juan out of the house.
He would pick fights with her and torment her for no reason. Although Mao Wa felt sorry for his wife, he also felt that it wasn't wrong for his mother to want a grandson.
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