The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 13: Inviting the Second Uncle’s Family for Fish

Father Xu nodded with relief. “It’s good that you understand.”

“Dad, Mom, don’t be angry anymore. It’s not worth getting upset over such nonsense. That old lady Lin will probably avoid us after seeing our reaction,” Xu Zhizhi said.

“From now on, she’ll take a detour when she sees you,” Xu Da Niu added.

Mother Xu, unusually, said, “Zhizhi, it’s too sunny outside. Don’t go to the fields this afternoon.”

“Mom, it’s fine. If I go, we’ll finish faster and come back earlier,” Xu Zhizhi replied, shaking her head.

Seeing her insistence, the family didn’t press further. Father Xu stayed home to weave baskets, while Xu Xiao Wu stayed nearby to cut grass for the chickens, helping his father by fetching tea and passing willow strips.

The mother and her two children continued harvesting corn. After working for two hours, it was almost dinner time, so they carried their baskets back home.

On the way, they ran into Xu Erhu from the second uncle’s family. He seemed like he wanted to say something to Xu Zhizhi but left without a word. Normally, he would call her “sister,” so Xu Zhizhi asked her mother and Xu Da Niu to go ahead.

Mother Xu left, but Xu Da Niu refused to go. Xu Zhizhi told him to put down his basket and chase after Xu Erhu while she waited by the roadside. Soon, the two returned, one after the other.

Xu Zhizhi asked, “Erhu, do you have a problem with me?”

“No, Sister Zhizhi,” Xu Erhu replied softly, looking down.

“Then what’s troubling you?” Xu Zhizhi sensed it had something to do with her.

“Wang Daya’s family wants to break off the engagement with my older brother,” Xu Erhu finally said after some hesitation.

Xu Dahu and Wang Daya had been engaged for two years and were planning to marry by the end of the year. Xu Zhizhi immediately suspected Wang Shishi had stirred up trouble.

“Do you know if Wang Daya wants to break it off, or is it her family’s decision?” Xu Zhizhi asked.

Xu Erhu explained that Wang Daya didn’t want to break the engagement and had secretly told his brother. It was her grandmother who insisted, saying the Xu family’s reputation had been tarnished after Jin Zijun broke off the engagement with Xu Zhizhi, making them unsuitable for marriage.

They didn’t understand why this was happening now, as it had been several days since the breakup, and there had been no issues before. His brother mentioned it during lunch, and their father said there was nothing they could do if the other family wanted to break it off. Jin Zijun was an ungrateful traitor, and the Xu family couldn’t do anything about it.

His mother was worried that his older sister, Chunhua, might also be affected, as she was supposed to get married after the New Year. She complained quietly at home, afraid her husband would scold her if he heard.

They all knew Xu Zhizhi wasn’t at fault. Jin Zijun’s betrayal wasn’t her doing, and she had already suffered enough from the breakup.

That’s why Xu Erhu had hesitated when he saw Xu Zhizhi earlier.

After hearing Xu Erhu’s story, Xu Zhizhi felt frustrated. Was she really being punished for breaking off an engagement? What kind of nonsense was this? Next time she saw that scumbag, she’d beat him up to vent her anger.

To ease her guilt, Xu Zhizhi said, “Erhu, go tell your family to come to our house for fish tonight.”

Xu Da Niu was puzzled—they didn’t have any fish at home. But he wouldn’t contradict his sister, so he added, “My sister makes the best fish. Third Uncle and the others had some at our place yesterday.”

Xu Erhu had heard from Xu Erniu how delicious it was.

“Okay, Sister Zhizhi. I’ll go tell my sister not to cook,” Xu Erhu said happily.

Xu Zhizhi and her brother hurried home. Along the way, they greeted villagers they met. Once home, Xu Da Niu finally asked, “Sis, we don’t have any fish.”

“Yes, we do. I set a fish trap in the river this morning. I’ll cut the sweet potatoes and start cooking the porridge, then go check the trap,” Xu Zhizhi said matter-of-factly, though she was making it up.

Xu Da Niu believed her. “Then tell me where it is, and I’ll go check.”

“You stay home and tend to the fire, chop wood, and fetch water. There’s plenty to do.”

Xu Xiao Wu, seeing his siblings return, quickly asked, “Sis, are you tired?”

Both siblings replied, “Not tired.”

The three of them entered the kitchen, each taking their usual roles—tending the fire, fetching water—working together seamlessly.

Xu Zhizhi peeled and diced the sweet potatoes, washed a large bowl of rice, and put it all in a big pot to cook. Then she headed to the river. She hadn’t set any trap that morning.

She quickly made one on the spot and, in a secluded spot, added a drop of spiritual spring water. Soon, a few small fish swam in, including one over a pound—likely the biggest in the river. She had placed a few fish in her portable space yesterday and now swapped the small ones for the larger ones she had stored. The fish she had put in yesterday had grown significantly, now weighing over two pounds each.

She carried them home, cleaned them, and cut them into pieces. She sautéed some chicken-foot mushrooms, minced ginger, and scallions, then fried the fish until golden on both sides. After adding water and boiling it until the broth turned milky white, she added the sliced mushrooms.

The result was a large pot of fish stew, enough for two big plates. She also prepared a cold wild vegetable dish.

Just as she finished, the second uncle’s family arrived. Unexpectedly, the third uncle’s family came too.

Fortunately, there was enough porridge and fish. They set up two tables—one for the men and one for the women.

The Xu family’s eldest branch had three men, the second branch also had three, and the third branch had two, making a full table. The brothers helped their eldest brother take the seat of honor.

The women also filled a table of eight.

Father Xu and third uncle had eaten the fish yesterday and thought they knew what to expect, but the sweet potato porridge, fragrant and soft, exceeded their expectations. The fish, enhanced by the mushrooms, was even more delicious.

For the second uncle’s family, it was their first time tasting such a dish. They had never eaten fish this good or porridge this flavorful in their lives. Even the wild vegetables were a first-time delight.

Xu Dahu, who had been upset about the broken engagement, felt his worries melt away with the delicious meal. He was a simple, honest farm boy, two months younger than Xu Zhizhi.

Second Aunt, known in the village as Xu Ersao, was the type who liked to take advantage of small opportunities but wasn’t malicious. Her earlier complaints at home were out of concern for her children, a natural reaction to a tough situation.

Faced with such a delicious and filling meal, all her worries vanished. She focused on eating as much as she could.

Xu Chunhua and Xu Xiaohua were ordinary, honest farm girls without any ill intentions. They ate shyly, keeping to themselves.

Third Aunt was a capable homemaker, but her strong personality made her critical. Seeing so much food, she couldn’t help but think Xu Zhizhi was wasteful.

Her eldest daughter, Xu Lanhua, took after her father’s kindness. She ate cautiously, glancing at her aunts and cousins, unsure of what to think but clearly without any ulterior motives.

Xu Honghua, from the third uncle’s family, struck Xu Zhizhi as a scheming girl upon seeing her again. She wasn’t someone to get close to.

As she ate, Xu Zhizhi observed the family. She had a good sense of them now. As the eldest of the Xu family’s third generation, she liked this role.

Taking on this responsibility wasn’t difficult for her, and she was confident she could lead her siblings to a better life.

She loved striving on her own but even more enjoyed lifting others up with her.

(End of Chapter)