Chapter 22 Arriving Home

The old oxcart swayed and rattled into the village, moving at a moderate pace.

It was the time when people finished work, and the villagers were walking home in twos and threes.

The villagers walking along the road were all drawn to the people on the oxcart.

One of them, named Shen Yiyan, immediately rushed forward when he saw Shen Zishan sitting on the oxcart, and asked with concern, "Shanzi, how is your injury? Are you feeling any better? What happened? How did you get injured?"

His anxious expression revealed that his concern was genuine.

Shen Zishan smiled sincerely and warmly and said softly, "Brother Yiyan, don't worry, I'm fine now. I just need to rest for a while after I get home."

Hearing this, Shen Yiyan finally felt relieved and nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's good, that's good! As long as you're alright, we can all rest assured."

"I was planning to visit you in the hospital, but I'm busy in the fields and can't leave."

“It’s alright, I know the village is busy, but we can still see them when we get back,” Shen Zishan said, glancing at the driver. “We’ll head back now.”

Knowing he couldn't keep them waiting, Shen Zishan said apologetically, "Brother Yiyan, I'm sorry, let's talk later, I have to go back now."

Shen Yiyan quickly stepped aside, waving as she said, "Okay, Shanzi, you should go back and rest. I'll come see you when I have time."

As they spoke, the oxcart continued its slow journey and soon arrived at the door of the Chong family's house.

The two sons and daughters-in-law of the Shen family, along with their three children, were sitting together eating lunch. When they saw the oxcart carrying several people parked in front of their house, they all looked up and peered out.

Qian Ahua's eyes darted around nervously, because she knew in her heart that her mother-in-law wasn't home today, so she had taken the opportunity to make several fragrant eggs, and now she felt guilty.

As soon as Qian Daniu got off the bus, she walked straight inside without looking back, not even bothering to do something as simple as helping the people in the bus out.

As Shen Zishan watched her departing figure, his eyes grew increasingly dim, as if shrouded in a layer of gloom.

Ma Aning appeared exceptionally cautious, slowly moving her body off the oxcart before finally managing to stand firmly on the ground.

Then, she turned around and reached out to help Chen Zishan without hesitation, her concern evident in her expression.

Standing to the side, Chen Zhong watched this scene with a heavy heart, feeling helpless and speechless at his wife's behavior.

He thought to himself, no matter how anxious he was, he should have helped his son out of the car and settled him properly! How could he treat his son like this?

Just then, Qian Daniu rushed into the house and immediately spotted the fragrant plate of scrambled eggs on the table.

Immediately, she roared in uncontrollable rage, "You shameless slut! While I was away, you ruined all the eggs in the house! I'll teach you a lesson today!"

Hearing this scolding, Qian Ahua was not afraid at all; she had always been the most outspoken person in the family.

She puffed out her chest and replied confidently, "Mom, don't say that! We have to work every day, we're exhausted, and we don't get any oil or fat. Our bodies are about to give out! Can't we eat a few eggs to nourish ourselves?"

As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at his sister-in-law, who stood silently beside him like a quail, not daring to utter a sound.

He muttered to himself, "Coward."

With a face full of anger, Qian Daniu grabbed a broom that was leaning against the side and swung it hard at Qian Ahua without saying a word.

Qian Ahua, on the other hand, dodged left and right like a nimble monkey, skillfully avoiding Qian Daniu's fierce broom attack.

She was still tightly holding a pair of chopsticks in her hand when she suddenly picked up a large spoonful of eggs from the plate on the table and quickly stuffed them into her mouth, which was still chewing.

Seeing this, Qian Daniu's anger burned even more fiercely. She gritted her teeth, quickened her pace, and swung the broom with even greater force and ferocity.

However, Qian Ahua seemed to completely disregard Qian Daniu's anger, continuing to run and rummage through her food with chopsticks, eating with relish.

Time waits for no one. Although Qian Danu was initially full of vigor, she was getting older and her physical strength was limited.

After chasing for only a short while, she felt her legs go weak, her breathing become rapid, and she gradually lost her strength.

Finally, she had to stop, put her hands on her knees, and gasp for breath.

Just then, Ma Aning and Shen Zhong carefully helped Shen Zishan slowly walk into the house.

Upon seeing Shen Zishan, Qian Ahua ran up to him without any hesitation, completely unafraid that Qian Daniu would come up and hit him.

Looking at the cast on his leg, he said with a mocking expression, "Oh ho, Third Brother's back, huh! Look at your leg, all in a cast! Tsk tsk tsk, well, you're probably going to lose your job!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Aning was instantly enraged. She glared at Qian Ahua with wide eyes.

"Second sister-in-law, you don't need to worry about Brother Shan's work! You should spend more of your free time taking care of your own two children!"

“Look at you, you’ve sent your daughter to her maternal grandparents’ house for so long and you still haven’t brought her back! Don’t let her come back looking as thin and frail as she did last year.”

Qian Ahua's eyes darted away after hearing Ma Aning's words. "Look at what my sister-in-law is saying. My daughter is going to her maternal grandmother's house, where she's enjoying a good life. How could she possibly lose weight?"

“I hope so,” Ma Aning didn’t want to argue with him anymore. “Brother Shan, let me help you to your room to rest. I’ll make you something to eat and bring it in later.”

"Hmm," Shen Zishan didn't dare put all his weight on his pregnant wife. He could only trouble his father.

Even so, after carefully helping the person into the room, Ma Aning was already covered in sweat, with glistening beads of sweat sliding down her cheeks and wetting the hair at her temples.

At this moment, Shen Zishan was filled with deep self-blame and guilt.

He pretended to have a leg injury, thinking it was just a simple test of his character, but he never expected it would make his pregnant wife, who was about to give birth, so tired and exhausted.

"Wife, are you tired?" Shen Zishan asked softly with heartache, his gaze fixed on the woman who had silently sacrificed for him.

Ma Aning smiled gently, a smile as warm as the spring sun: "I'm not tired. Are you hungry? I'll go out and ask my mother for some ingredients and cook something delicious for you."

With that, he turned and prepared to leave.

"Thank you for your hard work, my wife..." Shen Zishan murmured, looking at her retreating figure with deep gratitude.

"Oh, why are you saying all this? We're husband and wife, there's no need to be so polite."

Ma Aning turned around and scolded him, then looked at Chen Zhong sitting to the side, "Dad, I'm going to make lunch first. Please take care of Xia Shan Ge."

He nodded heavily and waved for her to get back to work.

However, at this moment, Shen Zishan felt extremely cold inside.

He was always very devoted to his elder brothers and their children, showing them great care and concern.

But now he was injured and stood at the door watching helplessly as his pregnant wife struggled to help him into the room, while the two of them just kept eating and didn't even offer a word of greeting or a helping hand.

Thinking of this, Shen Zishan couldn't help but sigh and shake his head inwardly.

From now on, they would treat each other as strangers, Shen Zishan silently made up his mind.