In the days that followed, the Pei family courtyard began preparing for the New Year.
During this time, Pei Yao secretly visited Zhang Niangzi several times, and Zhang Niangzi seemed to have become a different person.
She started to learn how to coax Qi Dayong, and often she would say things to please him.
This struck Pei Yao as odd.
Although Zhang Niangzi used to be submissive to Qi Dayong, she was stubborn and would not try to please him.
She would never take the initiative to strike up a conversation with him.
Zhang Niangzi once said that when she was at home, she would only reply with one sentence for every ten sentences Qi Dayong would say.
Zhang Niangzi was a woman of few words, and Qi Dayong never took her words to heart, so she gradually became even less willing to talk to him.
However, on both of Pei Yao's visits, Zhang Niangzi would take the initiative to talk to Qi Dayong and would even act coquettishly towards him.
Even when Qi Dayong was about to go out drinking with his cronies.
Madam Zhang wouldn't say anything more, and would even thoughtfully remind him to eat and drink well.
Although Qi Dayong remained indifferent, he was still somewhat pleased inside.
Who doesn't love a wife who's both affectionate and clingy?
At least for this period of time, Qi Dayong has not been fighting with Zhang Niangzi as frequently as before.
Pei Yao was relieved for Zhang Niangzi, at least she wouldn't have to keep getting new wounds on top of old ones like before.
However, she was also worried about Madam Zhang, because she felt that something was wrong with Madam Zhang's current state.
………
With the Lunar New Year approaching, Pei Yao used to smoke some cured meat every year to save for the following year.
So now she's also planning to smoke some cured meat and sausages before the New Year.
A New Year with cured meat is what makes it feel like the New Year.
I just overheard Uncle Niu Er saying that there was a freshly slaughtered pig in Liujia Village next door.
Pei Yao then bought half a pig, and the man was very happy, saying he would send it back to Pei Yao.
The man was a farmer, so he simply put half a pig in a basket, picked it up, and left.
He knew Pei Yao. His wife used to work for the Pei family at Liangshui Well, so the meat he sold to Pei Yao was two coins cheaper per pound than to others.
Pei Yao asked him to cut a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat from the half-pig.
She strung the bamboo leaves together and carried them by themselves.
The rest I just asked him to take home.
Pei Yao then took the succulent piece of pork belly to find Zhang Niangzi.
When Pei Yao arrived, Zhang Niangzi was seeing Qi Dayong off at the courtyard gate.
Pei Yao quickly hid behind a haystack by the roadside.
Ever since that incident, Qi Dayong has harbored great hostility towards the Pei family.
Every time Pei Yao came to see Zhang Niangzi, Qi Dayong would get angry at her.
Pei Yao was hiding in a haystack not far away, watching what was happening.
Zhang Niangzi's face was directly facing Pei Yao's direction.
Pei Yao could clearly see the emotions on Zhang Niangzi's face, which made her feel even more strongly that something was wrong with Zhang Niangzi.
Even when she saw Qi Dayong off, Zhang Niangzi still had a smile on her face.
But as soon as Qi Dayong left, Zhang Niangzi's face instantly turned cold.
And there was a cold killing intent in his eyes.
That was an expression Pei Yao had never seen on Zhang Niangzi's face before.
Pei Yao was so startled by the expression on Zhang Niangzi's face that her thoughts went blank for a moment.
She couldn't believe that the look she had just seen came from Zhang Niangzi's face.
The small door closed again only after Zhang Niangzi turned and disappeared through the doorway.
Pei Yao then realized what was happening and looked in the direction where Zhang Niangzi had left for a while.
After a long while, Pei Yao took the piece of meat again and knocked on the door.
Zhang Niangzi's puzzled voice came from the courtyard: "Dayong, is that you back again?"
Pei Yao: "...Zhang Niangzi, it is I, Pei Yao."
The courtyard gate was quickly opened from the inside.
When Zhang Niangzi saw Pei Yao, a look of surprise flashed across her face, but she quickly hid that emotion.
She looked at Pei Yao with cold eyes: "Miss Pei, why are you here again? Didn't I tell you before not to come to my house anymore? Someone like me is not worth your repeated visits. You are an unmarried young lady, so you should stop meddling in other people's affairs. Otherwise, the village will start gossiping."
Pei Yao looked at her calmly, but Zhang Niangzi did not meet her gaze.
After a long while, Pei Yao sighed. Zhang Niangzi was not a good actress; Pei Yao could see through her thoughts instantly.
After a long pause, she finally said, "Madam Zhang, is there anything I can help you with?"
Just moments ago, Madam Zhang was deliberately putting on a fierce expression, but for a moment, her expression crumbled.
She turned her head away, refusing to look at Pei Yao, but her voice was no longer as cold as before: "Miss Pei, thank you for your kindness, but... you can't help me with my matter."
Zhang Niangzi's voice choked up at the end.
She stopped talking, and Pei Yao tactfully changed the subject: "Madam Zhang, I bought too much meat today, so I'm giving you some."
As Pei Yao spoke, she pushed the meat in her hand toward Zhang Niangzi.
However, without even thinking, Madam Zhang declined, saying:
“Miss Pei, this gift is too valuable. You should take it back.”
This time, Zhang didn't give Pei Yao a chance to speak, and directly took a step back and closed the courtyard gate.
Pei Yao stood at the door, looking at the tightly closed courtyard gate, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
I just felt really sorry for Zhang Niangzi; they had forced her into this state.
Pei Yao carried the meat home, and when he returned, Yunniang and the others were processing the meat he had bought.
The large, fat pigs raised by fishermen in the coastal countryside have a thick layer of fat.
Because the villagers often go to the beach to collect sea snails and shrimp for them, cook them, and mix them into the pig feed.
Pei Yao had already composed herself on the way.
Yunniang and Chen Fang were processing meat in the yard when they heard a noise at the door and looked up.
"Mother, Aunt, I'm back." Pei Yao smiled.
Yunniang smiled at her and said, "Yao'er, you're back. Your aunt and I are cleaning the meat you had sent back."
Before leaving home today, Pei Yao specifically told Yunniang and Chen Fang that she was going to Liujia Village to buy meat.
We'll smoke all the cured meat later.
Yunniang and Chen Fang had never eaten it before, but Pei Yao said it sounded pretty good.
Pei Yao went in and took the piece of meat she was holding and put it in the meat bowl.
Chen Fang was still curious: "Yao girl, why was there a piece of meat brought back separately?"
Pei Yao had already prepared her words, saying, "I originally intended to give it to Madam Zhang, but Madam Zhang wasn't home, so I had to bring it back."
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