Chapter 18: Who did you say has a cheap life?

She hesitated, her cheeks flushing even deeper, but in the end, she gently rested her hand upon his.

Song Xingzhi’s lips curled into a smile as he steadied her, helping her to stand.

"Thank you, Clerk Song," Zhang Chunxue said, her voice barely a whisper as she kept her head bowed.

Feeling the faint perspiration and softness of her palm, an indescribable joy surged within Song Xingzhi. Seeing that Zhang Chunxue no longer seemed as resistant to him as before, the smile on his face deepened.

"You're welcome, sister-in-law. Do be more careful when walking from now on."

After bidding farewell to Song Xingzhi, Zhang Chunxue and Zhong Xiaoxiao hobbled toward home.

Supporting her mother, Zhong Xiaoxiao finally let out the words she had been holding back the entire way: "Mom, why are you so unwelcoming toward Teacher Song? No wonder he tutored me in secret and kept telling me not to let you know!"

Hearing her daughter’s innocent question and recalling the intimate gesture from just moments ago, Zhang Chunxue realized that her daughter hadn't sensed a thing, assuming only that her mother simply disliked him. She felt both annoyed and amused—the silly girl was truly oblivious when it came to matters of the heart.

She sighed softly, thought for a moment, and then spoke carefully: "Xiaoxiao, your mother is a widow. Clerk Song is an unmarried man. If we associate too much, the villagers will wag their tongues, and their gossip could drown us. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Zhong Xiaoxiao pouted and retorted unconvinced: "Mom, that’s not right! You’re single, and Teacher Song is single. Even if you two wanted to be together, who would that bother? Besides, you’re still so young and kind. If you want to find someone new, it’s a perfectly proper thing to do. There’s nothing to be afraid of!"

Her daughter’s words struck Zhang Chunxue like a bolt of lightning, piercing straight to her heart. She froze, her footsteps faltering.

In her past life, whenever she mentioned the thought of remarrying, her three sons would scream and threaten suicide in their fierce opposition. They called her shameful, accused her of lacking virtue, and said she was betraying their late father. She never imagined that her own thoughtful "little padded jacket" of a daughter would feel this way.

Zhang Chunxue’s eyes grew hot, and she nearly burst into tears.

Zhong Xiaoxiao, unaware of her mother’s turmoil, was busy calculating happily. Teacher Song was well-educated, handsome, and kind to both of them. Her mother was capable, beautiful, and good-hearted, though her life had been bitter. If these two could be a pair, it would be a perfect match!

Zhong Xiaoxiao secretly decided that she would have to find a way to play matchmaker. She wanted her mother to live a good life!

Back home, the courtyard was quiet. Zhang Chunxue returned to her room first. Although the wound on her sole had been bandaged, the long walk had caused it to bleed through. She sat cautiously on the edge of the bed and unwrapped the cloth and handkerchief. Song Xingzhi’s snow-white handkerchief was stained with a small patch of blood. She fetched a basin of clean, cold water, soaked the handkerchief, and scrubbed it meticulously, refusing to leave even the slightest trace of blood.

Looking at the handkerchief, Zhang Chunxue felt a dilemma. It was a personal item, and since it had been used to bandage her foot, she felt it improper to simply return it. She decided that when she went to the market, she would buy a new piece of fabric to make him a replacement or simply purchase a high-quality one to compensate him. She carefully folded the clean handkerchief and tucked it into the bottom of her trunk before heading to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the crucian carp and loaches were still wriggling in the bamboo basket. Zhang Chunxue moved with practiced efficiency; with a few swift chops on the cutting board, she cleaned the largest carp. She told Zhong Xiaoxiao, who had followed her in: "Xiaoxiao, go to Auntie Wang’s at the end of the village and see if there’s any freshly ground tofu. Buy a block."

Zhong Xiaoxiao chirped "Alright!" and ran off with the child in her arms.

Zhang Chunxue set up the wok, poured in a little oil, and seared the carp until both sides were lightly golden. She added water, dropped in some ginger slices, covered the pot, and focused on simmering the fish soup for Zhou Mingli. Before long, the rich, savory aroma of the soup drifted out of the kitchen, threading through the air and whetting the appetite until it filled the entire courtyard.

"Oh my, what smells so good?" A sharp, thin female voice rang out at the gate.

Li Hongjuan, leading her three-year-old son Zhong Hongqing, peered toward the kitchen. She sniffed the air hard, her eyes gleaming with greed, her mouth nearly watering.

"Mom, what delicious thing are you making?" Li Hongjuan asked with a forced smile, stepping into the kitchen doorway. "Why not give little Hongqing a taste? He is your eldest grandson, after all!"

Zhang Chunxue turned, her gaze falling on Zhong Hongqing’s chubby face.

Her eldest grandson, Zhong Hongqing... Zhang Chunxue’s heart twinged sharply, as if pricked by a needle. She remembered her past life, how she had raised this grandson through hardship, always giving him the best of everything to eat and drink. And yet? When she was bedridden and unable to care for her own needs, this grown man in a suit and tie would visit her with a face full of disgust and impatience; he wouldn't even step into her room. What had he said back then? He said his grandmother was too filthy and he didn't want to go in.

Filthy? He found her filthy then? Yet when he was small and she was cleaning up his waste, was he not filthy then?

Zhong Hongqing drooled, "Grandma, I want to eat fish..."

Instantly, Zhang Chunxue’s expression darkened. "Eat? Eat what! This is medicinal soup for your second aunt. It’s for the sick; what are you children crowding around for!"

Li Hongjuan’s smile froze, and she felt deeply displeased. She pursed her lips and muttered, "It’s just an illness, does it need to be this precious?"

"Who else gets to drink fish soup when they’re sick? At the end of the day, she’s just a money-losing asset who couldn't even bear a son. Her life is cheap; she doesn’t deserve such good things."

Although spoken softly, the words were perfectly clear in the quiet kitchen. Zhang Chunxue’s expression turned icy. "Who did you say has a cheap life? Zhou Mingli is precious in my house! More precious than gold! You managed to birth a boy, but I don't see you, as a mother, being any nobler than anyone else. I think your life is the one that's quite cheap!"

Zhang Chunxue didn't spare Li Hongjuan a shred of face. Li Hongjuan’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot. Her chest heaved with anger, and she pointed at Zhang Chunxue, unable to speak for a long moment: "Mom! How can you say that to me? I’m your daughter-in-law, and Hongqing is your own grandson!"