I’ll Butcher Pigs to Support You! 95

Chapter 95: My 100% Blackened, Broken Wife [7]

Song Yugui was coaxed and no longer paid any mind to Song Xingchuan. The two of them left with the baby.

Song Xingchuan pressed his lips together, only daring to stand where he was, watching their retreating backs, a sense of loss in his heart that he couldn’t hide. He actually still liked Shen Xizhi a little more, but his mother would never agree to him being with Xizhi.

Chi Xiangyue was more lively, full of energy, not at all like a dignified and elegant young lady, just very beautiful.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Just as he was thinking, she came bouncing over. “Xingchuan, they told me there’s a show to watch outside. Where is it?”

Song Xingchuan: …

He said slowly, “The show is already over. Let’s go back.”

“Ah.”

Chi Xiangyue was a little dejected and left without waiting for him. He couldn’t help but clench his fists behind her.

He always felt that Chi Xiangyue didn’t like him.

But when they reached the village entrance, she inexplicably came back to walk side by side with him, talking happily.

Song Yugui and Shen Xizhi hadn’t had time to eat lunch. They had originally planned to cook when they got back, but they had run into that kind of thing on the road. They hadn’t even had time to argue, let alone think about eating.

It was already past mealtime.

“Let’s steam some egg custard for Xiaobao. This is quick. We can add two more eggs and have some too.”

We can eat eggs again today.

Shen Xizhi’s eyes filled with a smile. She obediently nodded. “Mmm!”

Song Yugui carried the streaky pork to Sister-in-law Shen’s house next door.

Sister-in-law Shen happened to be at home. Seeing her return, she quickly waved at her. “Aiya, I just came down from the mountain. I heard you had a fight with the people from Songjia Village for that one of yours?”

Yesterday, she had still disagreed with them being together. Today, she had become ‘that one of yours’.

Song Yugui nodded helplessly. “They were the ones who were unreasonable first.”

“Tsk, tsk, I didn’t see it, sister-in-law. You can actually curse people.”

Of course I can. Who can’t curse people? You’re underestimating me.

She straightened her back.

“It seems you were really provoked. So, did Shen Xizhi really not do those things?”

Sister-in-law Shen was a little curious and went closer to gossip. She could always hear some rumors from Songjia Village in Lijia Village, and they were so detailed she had thought they were true.

Hearing this, Song Yugui immediately became serious and shook her head. “Of course she didn’t. Xizhi wouldn’t do that kind of thing.”

“You trust her that much?”

“I asked if anyone in Songjia Village had seen it, and no one had.”

There were only rumors, but no one had seen it with their own eyes. Of course it’s fake! My poor wife has been bullied all along in Songjia Village.

“Ya, they don’t have any evidence?”

“Of course not. If they did, they would have come out to confront me a long time ago.”

So she was very angry. They were all just looking at her wife being all alone and deliberately bullying her!

“Then Shen Xizhi is also too miserable.”

Song Yugui also felt sorry for her wife but didn’t say anything more. Her wife was still waiting at home. It wasn’t good to chat for too long.

She gave the streaky pork in her hand to Sister-in-law Shen. “You were sick a few days ago. Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law. You can have this meat.”

“Ya, what are you doing? We’re neighbors. It’s only right that we help each other. How can I take your things? Take them back quickly.”

“Even if we help each other, I can’t just take advantage of you, sister-in-law. My family sells meat, and we have plenty of it. Don’t be so polite with me. Otherwise, I won’t dare to ask you for help next time.”

After she had persuaded her a few times, Sister-in-law Shen finally accepted it with a blushing face and then took out some radishes with mud on them from her house and gave them to her.

“I just dug these up. You can have Shen Xizhi cook them for you. She should know how to cook. You’ve already brought her back. She has to do something. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Song Yugui thought to herself, I’ve gotten another setting for the original owner. She probably wasn’t very good at cooking.

“Mmm, Xizhi knows how to cook. Then I’ll be going back first.”

“Aiya, hurry back.”

Although everyone thought it was not good to marry Shen Xizhi, it was, after all, someone else’s family matter. No matter how bad it was, they didn’t have to meddle.

When Song Yugui returned home, the orange-yellow egg custard was already ready, a large bowl of it. Xizhi was scooping up the egg custard and blowing on it to cool it down before feeding it to Xiaobao.

Xiaobao was very happy eating it and kept waving her small arms.

She walked over and poked Xiaobao’s mouth, asking warmly, “How many eggs did you use? Such a large bowl.”

Hearing her ask, Shen Xizhi was a little guilty. She had never been able to eat an egg all year round before, and she… she really wanted to eat it. Seeing that there were many eggs at home, she had beaten them all, about… six or seven. But she hadn’t picked up the new eggs from outside yet.

She didn’t speak. Song Yugui looked at her strangely, went closer, and kissed her. “What’s wrong? You can eat as much as you want. I was just asking casually.”

She guessed that Xizhi was afraid of being scolded by her, so she coaxed her.

Shen Xizhi was kissed again, the tips of her ears white with a hint of pink. She lowered her eyes shyly and only then said softly, “I… I used six. Egg custard is not filling. Xiaobao has to eat a little more.”

She secretly pushed the responsibility onto Xiaobao.

Also so cute.

Song Yugui rubbed Xizhi’s head. “Mmm, you can’t just focus on Xiaobao. You should eat a little more too.”

Her wife had to eat eggs every day. How could her body be good if she didn’t eat eggs?

“Mmm, mmm, okay.”

Li Shuhe was very good to everyone in the family. She also had money. She was very rich, much richer than Song Xingchuan.

Song Xingchuan was considered well-off in the village, but all his money had to be managed by his mother. He had never helped her in the slightest.

It was still better to be the head of the household early on.

“Shall we have stewed ribs for dinner? Okay?”

She asked.

Hearing that they were having meat, Shen Xizhi’s eyes lit up. She looked extremely expectant and obediently nodded in agreement.

Song Yugui then negotiated with her. “Then can you cook in a little while? I feel like your cooking is a little more delicious.”

The other’s expression was gentle, her tone submissive. She first said, “Your cooking is also very delicious. I like it very much.”

Then she finally nodded. “I should have been cooking for you and managing the household chores in the first place.”

This was what she should have been doing in the first place.

She had already been eating for free at someone else’s house. Of course she had to do what she could, lest the other think she was useless. Cooking, compared to earning money, was already very simple and easy.

“Good baby.”

Song Yugui rubbed her wife’s small face.

Shen Xizhi lowered her eyes, hiding the expression in them, and nuzzled her palm softly.

Song Yugui’s heart was even more warmed. She turned to get two bowls, served Xizhi a full bowl of egg custard, and also served herself a small bowl to line her stomach.

“I see Xiaobao has almost finished eating. You don’t have to mind her. You can eat first.”

She was worried that her wife would be hungry, but Shen Xizhi shook her head. “No. Xiaobao is not full yet.”

She pressed on Xiaobao’s stomach, which was flat.

Perhaps thinking that she was playing with her, Xiaobao immediately grinned, and her small feet even kicked the quilt a couple of times.

“You’re better to Xiaobao than I am, her older sister.”

Shen Xizhi said warmly, “She’s your sister. Of course I should be good to her.”

She’s acting again, as if she cares so much about her.

But her own wife, even when she was acting, was very cute.

She lowered her head to eat her own egg custard and finished it in a few mouthfuls. She lifted her hand to take the other bowl, and Shen Xizhi’s heart tightened. What! She’s finished her own and now she’s going to eat mine? Didn’t she say she was giving it to me? I shouldn’t have fed the child first. I was just trying to show my meticulous care for Xiaobao, treating her like a treasure. I didn’t expect to miss out on the egg custard. She was so regretful and also complained that Song Yugui didn’t keep her word.

But she hadn’t expected the other to scoop up a spoonful of egg custard and actually bring it to her mouth.

“Aren’t you feeding Xiaobao? Then you can feed Xiaobao, and I’ll feed you.”

Shen Xizhi’s eyes widened slightly. Being urged, “Open your mouth.”

Only then did she open her mouth in a daze, and a mouthful of salty, tender, and smooth egg was fed in.

A child couldn’t eat too much salt, so only a little salt had been added to the egg custard, but the taste was still very good.

Shen Xizhi swallowed a mouthful, then looked at the spoon in Song Yugui’s hand with eager eyes. She chuckled lightly and continued to feed her.

After a bowl of egg custard, she finally didn’t feel her stomach burning anymore.

She often had no food to eat before and could only go hungry. Over time, her body had been ruined. If she didn’t eat again, her stomach would burn with a fiery pain.

“Let’s just have a bowl of noodle soup for lunch. We still have a little meat left over from yesterday. We can chop it up and add it in. The festival is in a few days. I’ll take you to town to buy a new set of clothes and some New Year’s goods?”

The festival…

This once-a-year day of family reunion, she had never experienced it, had never bought New Year’s goods, had never worn warm clothes, had never eaten the festive candied hawthorn, and sometimes not even enough to eat.

Shen Xizhi held the child and trembled. Thinking that this person had already bought her several sets of clothes, she couldn’t help but ask in a small voice, “Still buying? I already have some. It’s okay if we don’t buy any.”

So considerate.

“Buy. No one bought you clothes before. Now I’ll make it up to you. Of course you have to wear new clothes for the New Year.”

New Year, such a novel saying.

She had already tried to persuade her. Song Yugui insisted on buying, so that was her business.

Shen Xizhi happily thought about what it would be like to have someone buy her new clothes during the New Year.

In the past, in Shenjia Village, her parents would always have a new set of clothes made for Shen Yaozu just before the New Year. She always wore tattered clothes that her parents didn’t want. She had been very envious at that time. Now, could someone also buy her new clothes?

Thinking of her kindness, Shen Xizhi was even more eager to please her. After she had coaxed the child to sleep, she went to cook. This was the first meal she had cooked for her. Although it was just a simple noodle soup, she also made it with extra care.

She even poached a golden, crispy fried egg on top. Only after she had served it did she call for Song Yugui to come and eat.

Song Yugui saw the obvious difference between the two bowls and was stunned for a moment. “Why are the meat and egg all in one bowl? Are there no more eggs at home?”

The other bowl was bare, with just a little bit of green vegetables, very plain.

Shen Xizhi set the chopsticks for the two of them. “You work hard to earn money every day. Of course you have to eat better. I’m just waiting for you to come back at home. It doesn’t take much effort. It’s fine for me to just eat whatever.”

How could that be? This was completely contrary to my wife-fattening plan! I will never agree!

“No! Our family is not as poor as your ex-wife’s. How can we not afford a little meat and an egg? Since you’ve married me, I can’t let you live a hard life like before.”

Song Yugui raised an eyebrow and took the initiative to sit down in front of the bowl without meat or an egg.

Shen Xizhi hadn’t expected her to say these things. She had even mentioned Song Yugui and had even left the bowl with meat and an egg for her to eat. But she was the one who was being raised at home and eating for free. The work she did was not tiring. How could she eat better than the head of the household, Li Shuhe? She was immediately anxious. “You… you can have this bowl! I won’t be like this in the future. You can just have this one bowl today, okay?”

She pushed the bowl that was piled high with ingredients in front of Song Yugui.

Afraid that the two of them would go back and forth and still be hungry, Song Yugui used her chopsticks to split the egg in two and also put some meat into her own bowl. “I’ll have this bowl, and you can have that one. You can put a little more meat next time. The meat I save every day, you can just use it all. And you don’t have to save the eggs. Just make a few for however many people are eating. If you particularly want to eat them, you can even crack a few more for yourself.”

I… I can even crack a few more eggs!

Shen Xizhi pressed her lips together and smiled. She didn’t even have time to eat her noodle soup and nimbly jumped behind Song Yugui to massage her shoulders, like a young girl, a complete contrast to the steady and dignified villain in the novel.

She touched her wife’s small hands, which had done too much work and were a little rough, and silently felt sorry for her, also thinking that she would buy her some vanishing cream to apply in the future. A girl’s skin was very important.

“Alright, stop massaging. Let’s eat first.”

“Mmm!”

“You’re so good to me.”

After a few mouthfuls of hot noodle soup, she suddenly said, as if she were a little moved, her fingers holding the chopsticks turning white at the knuckles.

Song Yugui’s lips curved up. “I’m so good to you. Then do you like me?”

The young woman suddenly stiffened, her head buried low, her words inexplicably carrying a hint of feigned coyness and guilt. “I like you. Of course I like you. You’re my wife. If I don’t like you, who else can I like?”

Hah, is it real or fake? I knew the moment Xizhi opened her mouth! If you don’t like me, you don’t like me. Anyway, you’re my wife now. You’ll like me sooner or later.

After they finished eating, Shen Xizhi took the initiative to go and wash the dishes. She refused to let Song Yugui do it, insisting on showing off her virtuousness. Song Yugui couldn’t win against her and, hearing Xiaobao crying inside, had no choice but to go and coax the child first.

It was unclear when it had started to snow outside. After finally coaxing the child, Song Yugui went to the kitchen to find her wife, wanting to sit by the window with her and watch the snow. The original owner was someone who knew how to enjoy life. There was a soft couch by the window in her room. It was very nice to sit there and feel the breeze or look at the scenery.

“Xizhi, are you done washing? If not, I’ll help you.”

Seeing Xizhi still busy, she went closer to help, then suddenly frowned, held Xizhi’s wrist, and pulled her red claws out of the water. A vein throbbed on her forehead as she glared at her. “Shen Xizhi! Why are you washing the dishes with cold water?!”

Shen Xizhi looked at her blankly. Seeing her angry, she subconsciously snatched her hand back and hid it behind her, taking a timid step back, her expression anxious, as if she had been frightened, and bit her lip, at a loss. “N-not with water, what do I use to wash?”

Don’t you wash dishes with water?

She didn’t understand Li Shuhe’s meaning and felt that she was deliberately looking for trouble, a little scared and a little sad. Today was the first day they had set a marriage contract. Was Li Shuhe going to find a reason to hit her?

Could she not even wait a single day?

She… she had clearly said she would be good to me, but she’s being fierce with me on the first day…

Shen Xizhi suddenly felt a little wronged. She pressed her lips together, lowered her head, the corners of her eyes slightly red.

She was not a person who liked to cry, but Song Yugui was an exception. When she met her, she just had an uncontrollable urge to cry. Although her eyes were not filled with tears now, the corners of her eyes were also a little red, clearly sad.

Song Yugui couldn’t stand to see her wife like this. The moment she saw her like this, her heart ached so much. She quickly took a step forward. Shen Xizhi restrained her instinctive fear of lesbians and didn’t retreat any further.

They had already set a marriage contract. She had no way out.

If Li Shuhe dares to hit me, she… she’ll put pot ash in Li Shuhe’s rice!

Song Yugui was unaware that her own wife was filled with resentful black water in her heart. She held her red little hands and frowned. “You’re washing with cold water, and you’re still wronged.”

She opened her collar a little and stuffed her hand in. Half of her snowy white chest was revealed, without a shred of shyness.

Shen Xizhi’s eyes went straight. After a long while, she finally reacted, pouted her lips, still wronged. “You have to wash dishes with water. Wiping them is not clean.”

She had thought that Li Shuhe didn’t want her to use water to wash the dishes, and her resentment almost solidified and enveloped her, as she explained in a serious but not loud voice.

Song Yugui was speechless. “Are we talking about the same thing? I’m not telling you not to use water to wash the dishes. I’m telling you not to use cold water. You should at least heat the pot before you wash. Look at your frozen hands. You’ll get frostbite in the future, and you’ll have it coming.”

She then pulled out the red little hands that had made her own chest cold and examined them carefully for a while. She always felt that they were a little swollen. Please don’t really get frostbite.

“Forget it. You wait here. I’ll go to Sister-in-law Shen’s house and ask if she has any medicine.”

After she spoke, she tidied her clothes and turned to leave nimbly, leaving the stunned Shen Xizhi behind, not moving, even her raised hand maintaining the height at which it had been released.

So she wanted me to heat the water before I wash, because she’s afraid my hands will get cold, not because she wants to be fierce with me…

The heart that had been pounding in her chest silently went back into her stomach. She was so scared, so afraid of being let down again, so she was always like a startled bird. And she had misunderstood Li Shuhe again. Would she be angry?

No, she probably won’t. Shuhe probably didn’t notice. She’s so stupid. She didn’t even hear me deliberately coaxing her. She probably didn’t notice that I misunderstood her. Forget it. Whether she noticed or not, I’ll coax her properly later.

Shen Xizhi thought so.

On a cold day, Sister-in-law Shen’s family didn’t go out. Li Yan opened the door. Seeing it was Li Shuhe, he called out to his wife.

She asked Sister-in-law Shen for some medicine for frostbite. Luckily, Sister-in-law Shen really had some.

After thanking her, she took the ointment and went back.

Shen Xizhi was still standing in the kitchen, her long, dark hair hanging down obediently, a hint of darkness in her eyes. It wasn’t until she heard a noise behind her that a light lit up, and she trotted over, surrounding Song Yugui and calling her warmly, “Shuhe.”

Song Yugui squeezed her palm. It was still cold. She couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “I told you to wash the dishes with cold water, and you still washed for so long. Your palms are all cold and won’t warm up.”

She really is concerned about me, more than I am about my own body.

Shen Xizhi was moved in her heart and became even gentler with her, her voice as if it had been mixed with water. “I’ve been used to doing these things since I was little. I won’t get frostbite. And using hot water to wash is too wasteful of firewood. We don’t have much firewood at home.”

It was winter now, and it was not good to go up the mountain to gather firewood. The young woman was very worried and just wanted to save a little here and there. And besides, she had always washed with cold water before and after she had gotten married. Her family was reluctant to waste firewood. Anyway, she was the only one who suffered. It wouldn’t freeze them. Song Yugui was too lazy to go and gather firewood, and she couldn’t gather much by herself, so she could only use it sparingly.

Li Shuhe’s family also didn’t have much firewood, only one bundle left. She was even thinking of going to the mountain to gather some tomorrow in the snow.

Song Yugui didn’t know her diligent little snail’s thoughts. She glanced at the firewood and said, “You don’t have to worry about this. If there’s not enough firewood, just tell me. It was probably all used up when you were sick a while back. I’ll go to town to buy a few bundles then.”

The young woman’s eyes widened slightly. “Can you also buy firewood?”

“As long as you have money, you can buy anything.”

Have you not heard that money can make the devil turn the millstone?

Shen Xizhi sighed. If she had known, she would have gone to gather firewood to sell back then.

But everyone hated her. If she had done that, probably no one would have bought it.

“Mmm, I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

If it were her, she would definitely be reluctant to spend money to buy firewood and the like. She could gather a lot herself if she worked a little harder. But the one who earned money at home was Li Shuhe, so of course it was up to her how to spend it. She could also be a little more relaxed.

Shen Xizhi held Song Yugui’s arm and just looked up at her with an obedient smile.

Her mouth, which had been about to scold her a couple more times, couldn’t open.

She knew Xizhi was deliberately trying to please her, but knowing was knowing. She just couldn’t bear to be fierce with her.

“Even if you’ve never had frostbite before, you should still be careful. Hold out your hand. I’ll put some medicine on it for you.”

“Oh.”

Shen Xizhi obediently held out her pale, red claws. After the medicine was applied, she endured the shyness in her heart and held Li Shuhe. “Are you still angry with me? You were so fierce just now. You scared me. Don’t be so fierce with me next time, okay?”

Song Yugui lowered her eyes, and her large, watery eyes looked at her, her lashes trembling slightly, her small face pale and full of a desire to please.

“Was I fierce just now?”

She refused to admit it and seriously applied the medicine to her hand.

Shen Xizhi also nodded very seriously, her long, slender brows furrowed tightly, but she didn’t dare to say anything more to her.

She was afraid she would get angry.

How could Song Yugui have such a petty personality? Even if she were petty with others, she was usually quite generous with her wife and never got angry with her.

In her past life, it was Xizhi who got angry more, and she was on the way to coaxing Xizhi every day.

She had clearly seen her wife nod, but she still said, “I’m not fierce. I’m the best to you. How could I be fierce with you?”

She was just fierce and now she won’t admit it. Shen Xizhi pouted her lips and didn’t argue with her about this topic anymore, just pressing her cheek against her shoulder, her dark eyes staring at her hand applying the medicine for her. The ointment was cool and very comfortable when applied. She nuzzled her again without a sound, secretly acting coquettishly with her.

No matter how Xizhi changed, she was still sweet and soft on the inside.

“Mmm, it’s done. You can go and stand on the side.”

“Oh.”

Shen Xizhi obediently stood on the side but saw her take a handful of dry firewood and go back to the stove, as if she were going to start a fire. She quickly went up and volunteered, “I’ll do it. I’ll start the fire.”

“Go and stand on the side. Or you can just sit on my lap and watch me start it?”

She looked up, looking at her with a half-joking expression.

Shen Xizhi’s snowy white cheeks suddenly turned red, and she shyly turned her head away.

Song Yugui just smiled and didn’t speak. She stuffed a few pieces of firewood into the stove and lit the dry grass. Who knew that in a short while, her view would be blocked by a coy, slender figure? The person had really come over, her white fingers, which had been smeared with a layer of ointment, resting on her shoulder. Then she carefully bent down and sat on her lap, adjusted her posture to wrap her arms around her neck, her gaze seeming extremely pure as she asked sweetly, “Is this okay?”

Song Yugui’s breathing inexplicably stopped for a moment, and she was reminded of the kitchen play.

Forget it. Don’t think about it first. The current wife might not be willing to play with her. Even if she did, it would definitely be with a reluctant heart, and she would still secretly curse her a thousand times in her heart.

She came to her senses, held her wife’s small waist, and said happily, “So proactive today.”

Shen Xizhi was always perceptive and thought a lot. The other’s momentary daze was seen by her, and her fingers secretly tightened on the back of her collar. Her voice, however, was still gentle. “Who is Shuhe thinking of? I’m here, and you’re still thinking of someone else?”

Her large, dark eyes blinked, with a hint of grievance.