Han Liu lay face down on the kang (a heated brick bed), not daring to move an inch.
Thirty strokes of the cane nearly killed him.
"That old man is here for the first time; I've never seen him before."
"He should be more capable than Magistrate Zhu; he's not even afraid of the magistrate."
"Honey, did you really see that brat Han Luoyu make a move?"
Han Liu's wife cleaned her husband's wound, but there was no medicine at home.
There were no other doctors in their village, so she couldn't even think about Doctor Xu; she knew that even if she went there to ask for help, he wouldn't help her.
However, farmers have their own methods. She took some wood ash from the stove, selected some fine ash, and sprinkled it directly onto Han Liu's buttock wound. Although it hurt a lot when she applied it, it was quite effective at stopping the bleeding.
At this point, Han Liu's wound was no longer so painful.
The wound was exposed, a completely dark patch.
It's already starting to dry; it'll be fine once it scabs over.
However, to recover, it will take at least ten days to half a month of rest in bed.
"I saw her. She's not very old, and she looks thin and weak, but she's actually quite strong."
Han Liu said bitterly.
"Why didn't you call for help then?"
Han Liu's wife asked, puzzled.
If we had caught the thief red-handed, how could that brat have made any excuses?
"Hmph, why are you calling for people?"
Han Liu said fiercely, "Everyone in the village is in cahoots with them. If I say anything, will anyone care?"
"They'll just be covering for her."
Han Liu said with a disappointed look, "I thought Magistrate Zhu would be able to handle it, but in the end..."
"Hey, honey, what are we going to do next year?"
There are now seven or eight mouths to feed in the family.
The food we have at home won't last much longer.
In the past, we could borrow some money from other families, but that brat Han Luoxue has blocked that path too.
"How about I go talk to Han Qiang and apologize to that brat?"
Han Liu's wife asked with a worried expression.
"No way. Let's wait until after the New Year. I refuse to believe they'll just stand by and watch us starve to death, we're all from the same village!"
"Besides, I really saw that girl Han Luoyu kill someone. If Han Luoxue doesn't give us some hush money, I'll continue to expose her."
Han Liu said fiercely.
Han Liu's wife frowned; she always felt that Han Luoxue wasn't so easy to talk to.
Han Feng's family was in a similar situation. However, he felt mostly regret.
"Do you think our family was short of food back then?"
If they had paid on time back then, their lives would be different now...
Look at the lives of the villagers, then look at your own...
This food won't even last a month. If they don't get Han Luoxue's seedlings then, and the village can't borrow any more grain, are they just going to wait to die?
"Honey, shall I go and apologize to them during the New Year?"
Han Feng's wife is a responsible young woman.
"Okay! It's the New Year, they shouldn't be able to do anything to you."
Han Feng is now filled with regret; his family shouldn't have gone against Han Mingyuan's family.
...
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, quite a few people came to Han Mingyuan's house to offer their New Year's greetings.
The two old men, wanting some peace and quiet, went to Han Luoxue's bridal chamber in the back. The two old men loved to bicker, making a lively scene.
Han Mengze and Xu Zixian also gathered around, listening to the two talk, enjoying each other's company.
In the kitchen, Han Luoxue was directing Han Yuchen to chop the filling.
Soup dumplings must be filled with pure meat filling, which must be chopped properly.
The pig skin was prepared after breakfast. Since it was cold at this time, it was placed in a shady place outside. Even if it didn't freeze completely, it would be almost ready.
Yunniang was kneading the dough, which didn't require Han Luoxue to say much, as Yunniang was already quite skilled at kneading dough.
"Sister, are these soup dumplings really that delicious?"
Han Luoyu was still not quite convinced. They were similar to dumplings, so the difference shouldn't be that big.
You'll find out in a moment.
There's no refrigerator here. Actually, if you're making it in the summer, you don't need to use pork skin jelly. You can just make some sauce and add it directly.
"Third brother, third brother, Happy New Year..."
As everyone was busy preparing, New Year's greetings suddenly came from outside the door.
Yunniang hurriedly went out, only to find that Han Lenghua and Yan Gang had arrived with two children.
"Aunt, Uncle."
Han Luoxue's eyes crinkled with laughter when she saw the group approaching.
Yan Gang carefully supported Han Lenghua, as if his aunt were a fragile doll.
"Little Xue, I haven't told you yet, your aunt is pregnant."
Han Luoxue was stunned when she heard this.
"Really pregnant?"
"Yes, it's been almost three months."
Han Lenghua touched her belly and said with a happy expression.
"I really have to thank you. If you hadn't helped me get better, how could I have gotten pregnant again?"
Han Lenghua's eyes were red as she spoke. She had injured her body and thought she would never be able to get pregnant again.
At her mother-in-law's house, she was even more often scolded as a hen that couldn't lay eggs.
But who would have thought that Han Luoxue would say she had a solution?
She was skeptical at the time.
However, she was still overjoyed when she found out she was really pregnant.
"Sister Xue'er, my little brother is so well-behaved."
Xiao Ya touched Han Lenghua's belly with a happy expression.
How did you know it was a little brother?
"I have a feeling it must be."
Hearing the little girl's innocent words, Han Luoxue smiled.
"Xue'er, actually daughters and sons are the same. Your brother-in-law and I have become indifferent to it. If we have this one, we won't want any more in the future."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
