amaotonovel Chapter 8 'Do you hate me?'
Chapter 8 'Do you hate me?'
Shan Qiyu immediately disagreed, "Your injury..."
"My injury looks serious, but the wound is actually not deep. I'm just so weak because I lost too much blood. I felt much better when I took the medicine this morning."
These past few days, fearing that others would notice something amiss, she has been applying the wound medicine herself.
Meng Fuqing said, "Mom, our family owes so many favors to the villagers. I don't want to just lie at home and do nothing. I want to do my part for this family."
Upon hearing this, Shan Qiyu felt a warm current slowly flowing through her heart. Her Qingqing was still the same considerate and sensible Qingqing as before. Even if she was sometimes indifferent after being injured, it was all because of her father who died young.
Putting aside her children, hasn't she herself changed a lot after experiencing so much?
She said gently, "I know you're sensible. Go if you want to, just don't go into the mountains. It's okay if you don't find any wild vegetables. I'll go to town in a couple of days and things won't be so tight at home."
Meng Ranran's eyes sparkled with hope for the future. She raised her voice and assured her, "Mother, we'll definitely be able to dig up lots of wild vegetables tomorrow! Don't worry."
"Mother, Ali wants to go too!"
Shan Qiyu readily agreed.
Meng Ali was still young, and his emotions were easily read on his face. His father's death was not a sad thing for him.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling, and said loudly, "When Ali grows up, he'll go up the mountain and bring lots of meat for Mother and my sisters!"
Meng Fuqing glanced down at him. This kid was promising, like a professional pie-in-the-sky.
Listening to her children's childish words, Shan Qiyu smiled easily, as if the reluctant words she had just spoken would come true in the next moment.
"Cousin."
Someone called out from behind the mother and her children.
The four of them turned their heads to look at Meng Linlang, who was looking at them with a charming expression, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Meng Linlang had delicate features and wore a light blue, narrow-sleeved long dress. The fabric of the dress was obviously cotton. She had her hair styled in two buns and looked as tender as a lotus bud just beginning to bloom.
Both Meng Cheng'an and his wife were capable. Yuan Qianniang was good at cooking and managed to find a job in the county. Meng Cheng'an was skilled at farm work and had also learned hunting from hunters in other villages. Therefore, even in years of famine, the family lived comfortably.
Shan Qiyu hurriedly asked, "Linlang, is there something you need to see your cousin about?"
Meng Linlang nodded slightly. "I want to talk to my cousin."
Meng Fuqing glanced at Meng Linlang curiously, wondering what the two had to say to each other. However, she didn't refuse.
Dan Qiyu was also puzzled, but she didn't ask too many questions. She only said to her two daughters, "Ranran, wait here for your sister. You two shouldn't stay outside for too long, or you'll get a headache again."
The two nodded in unison.
After the mother and son left, Meng Linlang walked up to Meng Fuqing with a light smile, "Cousin, how is the injury on your head?"
"much better."
Meng Linlang had been carefully observing the person in front of her, and the awkwardness between them became even more pronounced when they spoke.
She said to Meng Ranran, "Ranran, I want to have a private talk with your sister. Could you please go a little further away?"
Meng Ranran gave Meng Linlang a strange look.
People who used to never even glance at them suddenly coming over would only seem strange.
Meng Ranran, who was still hesitating, could only pout and reluctantly walk to a tree after seeing the wink Meng Fuqing gave her, keeping a close eye on the two of them.
"Cousin, I've noticed you seem to have changed. Do you dislike me?"
Meng Fuqing raised one eyebrow slightly; she shared the same question as Meng Ranran.
When the original owner tried to please Meng Linlang, Meng Linlang never paid any attention to him. Why is it that just because she was a little indifferent, he has to rush to ask for an answer?
Besides, his father is dead, is it appropriate for him to be all smiles?
Although she thought it was quite suitable.
"You think too much."
Meng Linlang continued, "In the past, because of my uncle... well, it's not appropriate for us juniors to discuss the affairs of our elders. Now that my uncle has passed away, and we juniors have no unresolved grudges, we should visit each other more often. What do you think, cousin?"
Meng Fuqing nodded indifferently, "Oh, that makes sense."
“I know my cousin’s family is running out of food. I’ll bring her some food next time. It may not be much, but it’s a token of my appreciation.”
Meng Fuqing gave him a "good person" card, saying, "Yeah, you're really nice."
"Can I go visit my cousin tomorrow?"
Meng Fuqing was about to nod again when she realized something, "I'll take my younger brother and sister-in-law to dig for wild vegetables tomorrow."
At this time of year, where else can you find wild vegetables if you don't go into the mountains? Is this family just going to eat whatever leafy greens they can find?
Meng Linlang thought to herself, but said aloud, "How about I join you? I have nothing to do at home anyway."
Tsk.
"Does your family lack wild vegetables?" Meng Fuqing asked.
Meng Linlang was taken aback, "I don't lack it, I just..."
"So you're going to have fun? It's dangerous up in the mountains, cousin, you shouldn't join in. Is there anything else?"
Meng Linlang was stunned by the rapid change in the person's attitude, and then she was furious when she came to her senses.
She had already gone up to Meng Fuqing and tried to get close to her in a humble manner, but Meng Fuqing didn't appreciate it at all? And even wanted to send her away?
For a moment, Meng Linlang's cheeks puffed up slightly with anger.
Who is this person?!
Meng Fuqing believed she had been quite kind to Meng Linlang. Seeing that Meng Linlang didn't speak, she said, "If my cousin has nothing else, my sister and I will leave first."
After saying that, she waved to Meng Ranran and turned to walk home.
Left standing there, Meng Linlang stomped her foot in frustration.
She had originally decided that not only would she not do anything bad to Meng Fuqing, but she would also be on good terms with him.
It would be best to let everyone in the village know how good she was to him, so that when Meng Fuqing pushed her into the water, the whole village would trust her even more and despise Meng Fuqing.
Unexpectedly, Meng Fuqing was no longer willing to even pretend when facing her.
Since that's the case, Meng Linlang didn't want to waste her efforts for nothing.
Anyway, her character is obvious to all. The villagers believe everything she says in the dream, and they will not let Meng Fuqing get away with it.
Meanwhile, Meng Ranran was telling Meng Fuqing that Meng Linlang was acting strangely, "Sister, my cousin used to ignore us the most, what could she possibly want from you?"
"Oh, now that our father is dead, she's willing to talk to us again."
Meng Ranran choked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Meng Fuqing rubbed his nose. "That's basically what it means."
She simply simplified things.
Meng Ranran: ...
She thought for a moment, then said matter-of-factly, "Sister, I know my cousin doesn't like our family, and I don't like her either. Don't associate with her."
The reason she didn't like it was simple: she vividly remembered how her older sister would smile and talk to her cousin, but her cousin would ignore her.
She doesn't yet understand the rights and wrongs among adults, and her likes and dislikes are very distinct.
Meng Fuqing thought about Meng Linlang's expression when she left. Perhaps it was the love from her parents and relatives that gave Meng Linlang an arrogance that was different from other girls in the village.
So she reassured Meng Ranran, "She probably won't come near me anymore."