After returning home, Han Luoxue recounted the events of the day, and Yunniang smiled and said:
"We have a small cellar under this house, but it's not very big. How about we expand it by hollowing it out?"
“Okay, I’ll find Han Yuchen and the others. With more people, it’ll be faster to dig.”
Although the group consisted of both men and women, they were all used to farming and could handle this task with ease. In just one day, the cellar had tripled in size.
On the third day, the Liu family's carriage arrived, carrying a full load of goods. However, the carriage was covered, so no one knew what it was.
She came a few more times, and the villagers were very curious. Some people came over to ask, but Yunniang always managed to fool them.
Meanwhile, Grandma Han and Li Aidi have also been busy these past few days.
Li Aidi was sent back to her parents' home. She told them about the grain issue and said that if it wasn't resolved, Han Qiang wouldn't let her go back.
Her mother glared at her, raised her hand, grabbed Li Aidi's ear, and twisted it hard, making Li Aidi almost cry out in pain.
"This is the first time I've heard of someone wanting to take back things they've given to their parents' family."
"You useless piece of trash, how long have you been with Han Qiang? You can't even hold onto his heart. Tell me, what good are you since I gave birth to you?"
"You brat, where are we going to get any food? Look at our family, with over a dozen mouths to feed, do you think two pounds will be enough?"
Li Aidi was stunned. Her mother hadn't said that when she brought it back to her that day.
"Mother, I just took it back first. Don't you know me? I'll bring it back to you another day."
"Hmph, it's only right that you take it back another day, but you can't take it back today. Do you know where all the grain went? It's all inside their bellies. If you really want it, go ahead and cut them open and take it."
The old woman pointed at the children, and Li Aidi's face stiffened. She said with difficulty, "But if I can't get them back, Han Qiang won't want me anymore."
"You useless thing, you believe everything he says? You have so much grain at home, why don't you give us some? You brat, if he doesn't want you anymore, I'll exchange you for meat."
"Even though you're a bit old, there should still be someone who wants you."
Li Aidi was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. Her mother was a woman of her word; she really could do such a thing.
Li Aidi didn't know how she got home, but when she arrived, the door was closed. She pounded on the door, and after a long time, someone came to open it. It was Han Qiang.
"Honey, I'm home."
Li Aidi was so aggrieved she almost cried. Han Qiang looked at her empty hands and said coldly, "Where are your things?"
"I..." Li Aidi hid her hands behind her back, not daring to look Han Qiang in the eye.
"Didn't you get it back?" Han Qiang's face darkened.
“My mother said she’s already eaten it all, there’s none left,” Li Aidi said in a low voice. Han Qiang sneered, “Your family is quite something, they’ve only eaten two jin of grain in one day.”
“I…” Although Li Aidi had always been supporting her mother, she was not stupid. She knew that her family might have eaten some of the food, but it was definitely not all of it.
"Didn't I tell you, if you can't get it back, don't come home?"
Han Qiang gave Li Aidi a push, then slammed the door shut.
In the courtyard, the sons and daughters-in-law peeked out. The family had long been annoyed with Li Aidi, especially the two daughters-in-law. They also had their own families, but unlike Li Aidi, they didn't only think about their own families.
Han Kun watched as Han Qiang closed the door, then glanced at the sky outside and asked uneasily:
"Father, it's dark outside. Is Mother alright all by herself outside?"
"Hmph, she's incredibly bold. If she's really scared, she should go to her parents' house."
Han Qiang said irritably. He already knew that Li Aidi had run into a snag at her parents' home this time. There wasn't a single good person in her family; they were a bunch of ingrates, ruthless bastards.
If Li Aidi repents this time, they can still live together. If she remains stubborn, there's no point in continuing this relationship, since their son is already an adult and their grandson is quite grown up.
Han Kun wanted to say something, but in the end he remained silent.
Meanwhile, Li Aidi outside the door was banging on the door desperately, trying to get home.
Hearing the commotion, the neighbors peeked out and most of them spat and added, "Serves you right."
When Grandma Han heard that Li Aidi had returned, she hurried over on her bound feet. She grabbed Li Aidi's clothes and shouted, "Where's the grain? Where's my grain? That's the grain our family is waiting for to save our lives!"
Li Aidi kept shaking her head; if there had been food, she would have gone home long ago.
"You didn't ask for it back? Won't your family return the grain to you?"
Grandma Han's triangular eyes glared like copper bells, and in her anger, she punched Li Aidi twice. Li Aidi was in so much pain that cold sweat poured down his forehead.
Despite her advanced age and petite stature, Grandma Han is incredibly energetic and hardworking.
"I... Auntie, let go first!" Li Aidi cried out in pain. She desperately tried to pry open Old Lady Han's hand, but found that she was no match for her.
Despite the commotion outside, no one came out of Han Qiang's house; the front door remained tightly shut. Old Mrs. Han seemed to understand something; she turned her hand to Li Aidi's hair and began to tear at it forcefully.
"You... let go. I'll give you your food, I promise I'll pay you back."
Li Aidi never expected Old Lady Han to be so crazy; she thought she would be beaten to death by this old woman.
But her heart was even colder; her family didn't care about her. Her husband and son lived just a wall away, listening to her being beaten and scolded without offering any help. And what troubled her even more was where to get those two pounds of grain?
Returning to her parents' home was out of the question; according to her mother, if she were sent back, she would be sold. Meanwhile, Han Qiang's grain supplies were tightly controlled; not a single grain could be stolen.
"You said you would return the grain to me, so when will you give it to me?" Old Mrs. Han was not someone who could be easily fooled. She loosened her grip slightly, but still held Li Aidi's hair tightly.
"I'm going back to my parents' house right now."
Li Aidi looked guilty, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Hmph, you'd better get it back to me." Old Mrs. Han curled her lip disdainfully before releasing Li Aidi. She didn't forget to warn her:
“If you don’t get the grain back for me by tomorrow, I’ll go to your mother’s village and spread rumors about you. I’d like to see if your family can afford to lose face. A married daughter tricking her way back to feed her parents is a unique case in our town.”
Old Mrs. Han's words frightened Li Aidi so much that she shrank back. Her family also cared about their reputation; if such words were to spread, her parents would beat her to death.
The grain was easy to send, but wanting it back...
Thinking of her mother's attitude, Li Aidi almost cried. Her mother was so incomprehensible. What was wrong with temporarily returning the grain to her? Wouldn't she continue to send grain there once she had some in hand?
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