I’ll Butcher Pigs to Support You! 15

Chapter 15

By the time she finished cutting the pig feed, the sky had brightened considerably. Song Yugui returned with a full basket of grass to find that Shen Xizhi was already awake, busy starting a fire in the front hall.

“What are you doing?” she asked, approaching.

The moment Shen Xizhi saw her, a hint of timidity unconsciously appeared on her face. Her body flinched back slightly, but she quickly corrected herself, her expression turning blank as she continued to start the fire.

Song Yugui slowly: ?

From last night to this morning, she had finally noticed that something was off with Shen Xizhi. She frowned and stepped forward. “What’s wrong with you? In a bad mood first thing in the morning?”

Who had upset her now?

Shen Xizhi lowered her eyes. “It’s nothing. I’ve made some congee. Wife should have some before you go.”

“Oh.”

Since she said it was nothing, she didn’t know what else to ask. She gave a dry reply and looked her up and down, left and right, with a frown.

Why is her mood off? She seems so cold.

Having grown used to the young woman’s timid demeanor, she found her sudden coldness quite unsettling.

“What’s really wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Seeing her continued sullenness, Song Yugui couldn’t help but ask again after a short while.

Shen Xizhi bit her lip, glanced at her, then turned back to the fire. A moment later, she glanced at her again, then continued with the fire.

This went on until Song Yugui finally realized something was wrong.

She pointed a finger at herself, her face a mask of disbelief. “I bullied you?”

A second ago, she had been thinking about who had bullied the villain and how she would definitely stand up for her. Now, she just felt that the villain was being unreasonable!

I’ve been diligently cutting grass, feeding the pig, and earning money to support the family. How have I bullied you?! You’re talking nonsense!

She was angry.

Song Yugui glared at her.

Seeing her anger, Shen Xizhi became frightened again. She only dared to glance at her before quickly lowering her eyes, pressing her rosy lips together, and saying softly, “I didn’t say that.”

“Hah, but that’s what you meant.”

“I didn’t, I don’t.”

“If you didn’t, why were you looking at me like that and giving me the cold shoulder!”

Song Yugui’s words were filled with indignation. She was about to say more when the other hastily interrupted her, “The congee is ready. I’ll get you a bowl.”

Cold a moment ago, now proactive. Song Yugui was suspicious. “You’re not trying to poison me with undercooked congee, are you?”

Shen Xizhi: …

It wasn’t that she was overthinking it. She just didn’t know when the villain in the original story had started plotting to kill the original owner. She had to be vigilant.

“Wife, you can’t die from eating undercooked congee,” she couldn’t help but reply in a muffled voice.

Besides, why would she kill her?

Murder was a capital offense. As a weak woman, how could she dare to do such a thing?

Hearing that she wouldn’t die, Song Yugui relaxed a little and replied, muttering, “I didn’t even do anything to you. I really don’t know why you’re angry.”

In her eyes, it was as if she was the one being unreasonable, the one at fault.

That’s not it at all.

Shen Xizhi’s eyes deepened. Her fingers, holding the ladle, tightened, her knuckles turning white. She scooped up another spoonful of the thin soup, and finally, unable to hold back, she threw the large ladle back into the pot. Congee splashed everywhere, startling Song Yugui into full alertness.

“Wh-what’s wrong now?”

I told you her mood was off! And she wouldn’t admit it!

Song Yugui glared at her. The young woman wanted to glare back, but she didn’t dare. She could only bite her lip, turn her head away, and defend herself in a wronged tone, “Since I’ve married you, I would never do anything to disgrace my own name!”

Song Yugui was stunned. Huh?

What was she talking about? Who said she would?

I didn’t say that.

“You… you’re talking nonsense?”

Song Yugui slowly frowned, staring at her, even wanting to check if she had a fever.

Shen Xizhi grew even angrier. She didn’t glare at her, but for once, she stomped her foot like a normal young girl to vent her frustration. “I’m not talking nonsense! You’re the one who thinks I’m a wanton woman!”

“I’m not, I don’t! I never said that! Don’t think you can just pin everything on me!”

Song Yugui’s gaze was wary, as if Shen Xizhi were about to frame her for something.

This only made the other even more furious.

“Last night, you suspected me of having an affair with your cousin.”

Her voice was thick with a sense of grievance that could drown a person.

She stood there, steeped in her sense of injustice, looking at her with reddened eyes.

Like every woman who had been falsely accused of promiscuity with no way to appeal.

These words were like a sledgehammer, sending Song Yugui’s head spinning. She didn’t understand in the least when she had ever said such beastly things.

She wasn’t the original owner!

Her face twitched. Once again, unable to hold back, she cursed with trembling lips, “You’re full of it! When did I ever say I suspected you of having an affair with my cousin?”

In the novel, the two of them did have some ambiguity, but they hadn’t reached that part of the plot yet! Why would she say that? And even if they had, she and Shen Xizhi would have long been divorced by then. What business was it of hers if they were having an affair or not!

Shen Xizhi opened her mouth to retort, then suddenly froze. She realized that she had never explicitly said she suspected her. She had just inferred it.

Her small mouth opened and closed, closed and opened, and finally, she said resentfully, “That’s what you meant!”

“That’s not what I meant. You misunderstood.”

She would absolutely not admit to something that had nothing to do with her. She was already carrying enough of the original owner’s baggage; she would not tolerate any more false accusations.

Her eyes looked at Shen Xizhi seriously. The young woman gritted her teeth, placed the half-full bowl of congee she had just ladled in front of her, and stormed off.

Song Yugui: ?

What’s the meaning of this? I used to get two bowls, and today I only get half a bowl? Hmph, half a bowl it is. I don’t even care.

She completely ignored the fact that she could have ladled the congee herself.

The congee was made by Shen Xizhi, the rice was bought by Shen Xizhi, so of course, how much she ate was also up to Shen Xizhi. Hmph, if she doesn’t want me to eat, then I won’t eat.

Song Yugui angrily carried the half-bowl of congee to the dilapidated wooden table, where only a small dish of leftover stir-fried cabbage with pork from yesterday sat.

Shen Xizhi sat to one side. The cold wind blew on her head, finally clearing it.

Seeing her looking very unhappy, she gradually became anxious.

What had she just said?

She had actually accused Song Yugui and even given her the cold shoulder…

Was she insane?

Song Yugui had always had a bad temper. It was already surprising that she hadn’t hit her immediately after being provoked like that.

A sense of unease rose in Shen Xizhi’s heart. The unhappy bravado from just now was gone without a trace. She clutched the corner of her clothes, not daring to look at her, wishing she could be invisible, as if she didn’t exist at all.

Like a timid quail.

Song Yugui didn’t notice that the person who had just been throwing a tantrum at her was now being obedient again. She angrily finished the congee in her bowl, barely touching the vegetables, then slammed the bowl and chopsticks down on the table, making a crisp clatter.

Shen Xizhi flinched at the sound and silently turned her head away, not daring to look at her.

She could only see the other’s snowy neck, slender and fragile, as if it would break with a single snap.

“Turn your head around!” Song Yugui demanded fiercely.

The young woman flinched in fear, her fingers digging into her palms. She slowly, reluctantly turned to face her, her head bowed.

She thought, She’s still angry. Is she going to hit me? But if she hits me, what if she’s late for work in town? She just found that job; will she lose it?

The young woman’s face was ashen, yet she was still concerned about her wife’s job.

But her wife knew none of this.

Her wife was still feeling wronged for being given the cold shoulder for no reason and was determined to clear things up with the villain.

“I have to go to town soon. You’re at home alone, so don’t let your imagination run wild. I don’t think you’re having an affair with Song Xingchuan. I just don’t want you to have too much contact with him. Didn’t you say he seemed rude? He didn’t even call you ‘sister-in-law’ yesterday, which clearly shows he doesn’t respect you. Stay away from him, or if he bullies you, you’ll have to come to me with red eyes to stand up for you.”

She crossed her arms, her clear eyes looking at her. She was still a little angry, but seeing Shen Xizhi’s bravado gone and her growing timidity, she couldn’t let out any more anger. She could only silently turn her head away.

Shen Xizhi pressed her lips together. It took her a long time to understand that she was explaining to her, explaining that she really didn’t mean that.

She was still hesitant, not knowing whether to believe her or not. Song Yugui glanced at the sky, feigned an impatient frown, and threw out one last sentence. “With my temper, if I really suspected you, I would have made a scene last night. Why would I have waited until now? I’m going to town. If you’re still angry, we can talk about it when I get back tonight.”

After speaking, she deliberately walked over and, in retaliation, messed up her soft, dark hair until it was a tangled mess. “Remember to drink the congee. And you’re not allowed to wash clothes for anyone. I’m leaving.”

Very good, very in line with the original owner’s character.

The woman turned and strode away, still a little angry, but she knew she couldn’t take it out on the villain anymore, or she would be poisoned when she got back tonight.

Shen Xizhi sat there in a daze, watching her retreating figure, still not having fully processed it. An explanation, a show of intimacy, a display of concern—all in the same day.

Song Yugui was right. With her temper, if she really thought that, she would have beaten her half to death long ago…

She hadn’t gotten angry and hit her. She had misunderstood.

The young woman’s heart was filled with apprehension, her beautiful eyes brimming with unease. I misunderstood her. Did I make her angry?