Chapter 20: The Two Eldest Sisters of Rockstone Village

“What exactly did you say to the Zhao brothers?” Even after leaving Wanqu, as they walked the road toward Leishi Village, Aunt Zhang continued to eye Fu Zihou, unwilling to let the matter rest.

Fu Zhi, Tai, and the others were just as curious. They all wondered what method Fu Zihou could possibly have to make that Wei woman look upon Zhao Han with new favor.

“Earlier, I saw that Lai woman. She seems to be on very good terms with Miss Wei, and quite protective of her. So, I suggested that Zhao Gu, as the elder brother, make a bit of a sacrifice and spend more time with Miss Lai,” Fu Zihou replied, feigning helplessness as he revealed his so-called plan to his inquisitive family.

He had not told his family the whole truth. Even the Zhao brothers themselves could scarcely imagine it, and if he did tell, his family would surely think him mad.

“That’s all it was?” Zhang’s interest drained away at once.

Even Tao, standing to the side, shot him a disapproving look. “You should know, Wei’s family is either made up of powerful officials or great generals and nobles! And that Lai woman doesn’t seem ordinary either—she speaks with conviction, not the gentleness of a meek girl. How could you suggest such a thing to the Zhao brothers?”

Tao complained, dissatisfied. After all, the Zhao brothers had been so helpful and generous; her son meant well, but she feared his meddling might backfire, harming the bond between her son and the Zhao brothers.

“Mother! I won’t do it again,” Fu Zihou quickly promised, looking to appease his mother.

With the incident behind them, the group continued toward Leishi Village, and soon it was time for Tai to settle accounts with Fu Zhi. Watching Fu Zhi plead for forgiveness as he pushed the cart, the rest of the Fu family simply watched with amusement—no one intended to speak up for him.

Not until dusk fell did they finally arrive at Leishi Village.

Leishi Village lay on the road north from Wanqu to Kuangcheng County. After leaving the main road for a side path, they found themselves in a remote area. The village had only about a hundred households, most bearing the surname Lei. Fu Zihou’s second sister, Fu Nian, had married into the village, and later their elder sister, Fu He, had moved there as well.

Compared to Fu He’s situation, Fu Nian was far more prosperous. Thus, their grandfather and Tao had decided to first seek shelter at the better-off home of the second daughter.

Besides, this was Leishi Village—how could one pass through without first visiting the family by marriage, only to go directly to the recently arrived Fu He? If the Lei family claimed that the Fus looked down on them, the Fus would have no grounds to refute it.

But the truth was, the Fus had only visited the Lei family once or twice before.

“Who is it?”

Arriving at the gate of a courtyard, Fu Zihou, carrying his bundle, knocked. A voice called from within, and Fu Zihou explained who he was.

When it was clear the visitor was from the Fu family, the door opened a crack. Both the man inside and Fu Zihou recognized each other.

“Come in,” said the man, his tone cool as he glanced at the group behind Fu Zihou.

“Thank you,” Fu Zihou replied. If he remembered correctly, the man was Lei Kai, the son of his second brother-in-law’s elder brother, three years older than his cousin Fu Zhi.

Lei Kai’s indifference made it clear they were not exactly welcome, but they had already been seen—it would be awkward to turn and head straight for the elder sister’s house instead.

Moreover, Fu Zihou had heard from his mother that his elder sister’s place was quite cramped.

Night was falling, and their grandfather’s old legs were aching from a day’s journey. Once darkness came, the cold would intensify. Their mother and the others needed a place to rest.

“Is my second brother-in-law at home?” Fu Zihou asked, as though he hadn’t noticed the lack of warmth.

“He is,” Lei Kai replied quietly.

Fu Zihou nodded, saying no more.

“Father, slow down…” As their cousin-in-law and the women helped the old man into the house, Fu Zihou watched Lei Kai slip silently into the courtyard. He exchanged a glance with Old Liu, who frowned as well.

However, no matter how much Fu Lao disliked it, they had little choice but to enter for now, if only so their elders could rest.

At the back, Fu Zhi began to untie the luggage from the wheelbarrow.

“Cousin!” Fu Zihou called, motioning with a shake of his head to leave the luggage as it was.

Fu Zhi, catching the hint from Old Liu and his cousin, nodded, though unsure of the reason.

Inside the courtyard, upon hearing of the Fu family’s arrival, Fu Zihou’s second sister, Fu Nian—clearly pregnant—came out beaming.

“Grandfather, Mother, Aunt, you’re all here! Where’s Father? I’ll have Lei Kai fetch Big Sister—she’ll be so happy to see you!”

As she spoke, she asked Lei Kai, who had just opened the door, to go fetch Fu Zihou’s elder sister, Fu He.

Everyone was surprised to see Lei Kai, who’d just been so cold, obey Fu Nian without hesitation.

“Nian’er, where is your husband? Why don’t I see him?” Tao asked, curious why her son-in-law was nowhere to be found, especially seeing her daughter expecting again.

“He’s not home! Grandfather, Mother, you must be hungry. Lei Jing isn’t here, and I can’t get his sisters-in-law to help. I’ll ask Big Sister to make something for you,” Fu Nian said with a smile, rubbing her belly, glancing around the small courtyard with a helpless and regretful expression.

At her words, not only the elders but even Fu Zhi’s face changed slightly.

What did she mean, she couldn’t get them to help? Lei Kai had just been so obedient! And when Fu Zihou asked if her husband was home, Lei Kai had said yes—but now, in front of everyone, Fu Nian claimed her husband wasn’t home. Clearly something was amiss…

“It’s alright! These days, if they’re not your own, you can’t expect much. Isn’t that right, Nian’er?” Zhang interjected with an affectionate tone, as though fully understanding her difficulties.

“Thank you, Aunt, for understanding,” Fu Nian replied, still oblivious to Zhang’s loaded words. She only wondered when her aunt had become so easygoing—perhaps she’d changed with time.

“By the way, Mother, what brings you all here?” Fu Nian asked, seeing the whole family in tow as if they meant to move in.

Tao’s expression grew awkward and her gaze saddened. Just as she was about to explain, her sister-in-law Zhang spoke first.

“Refugees—we had to flee. The Fu family was attacked by refugees a few days ago…”

In the courtyard, Fu Nian’s cheerful expression faded as her aunt chattered on, anxiety creeping across her face at the prospect of the Fu family settling in.

Despite his fatigue from a day’s walk, Fu Zihou, seeing the atmosphere, had little desire to stay. He joined Old Liu outside to watch over the luggage.

Not long after, from a side path next to the courtyard, a woman hurried toward them, followed closely by a man.

At the sight of the woman, Fu Zihou finally smiled—the suffocating feeling left by his second sister vanished in an instant.

“Zihou!” the woman cried out excitedly before she reached him.

“Big Sister!” Fu Zihou called back.

No matter how long the separation, the bond of blood erased all distance.

“Zihou! You’ve grown so much!” Fu He rushed up, barely greeting Old Liu before grabbing her brother’s hands, eyes shining with tears.

The man beside her, dressed in plain clothes but with a scholarly air, watched as his wife held Zihou’s hands, then caught his breath and respectfully greeted Old Liu.

Old Liu returned the greeting politely.

“Brother-in-law!” Fu Zihou said gratefully, seeing how well his sister had been cared for.

“You’ve become more and more handsome, Zihou!” Qu Bo, his brother-in-law, replied with a wide smile.

But before Qu Bo could say more, Fu He, learning that her grandfather and mother were in her second sister’s courtyard, hurried off to greet them, with Old Liu following close behind.