After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 130: What a Ruthless Woman

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: What a Ruthless Woman

Fang Qin tossed the chicken aside carelessly and turned to leave, leaving Xie Xinghua standing alone. Her eyes fell on the chicken whose neck was twisted and blood still stained its beak, and a flicker of doubt crossed her mind: Could this chicken have been stolen? But this thought was fleeting; after all, she was never one to meddle in others’ affairs.

Therefore, Xie Xinghua took a deep breath, picked up the chicken, and walked straight to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Xie Xinghua’s movements were skilled and orderly.

She first boiled a kettle of water, carefully immersed the chicken into it, quickly removed the feathers, then meticulously cleaned the insides, each step displaying her familiarity with this household chore.

Afterward, she chopped the chicken into even pieces, placed them in a clay pot, and simmered them with water.

Although her cooking skills were not exceptional, soon the rich aroma of chicken soup silently filled the entire kitchen, tantalizingly.

Xie Xinghua unconsciously licked her dry lips, a hint of bitterness arose in her heart.

Indeed, having not tasted meat in a long time, she began to falter in the face of temptation.

Thinking of the chicken meat now minced and mixed into the soup, a bold thought flashed through her mind: Sneaking a few bites surely wouldn’t be noticed, right? Perhaps, if she just avoided the conspicuous parts like the head, wings, and feet, and stealthily scooped a small bowl, it might satisfy her long-standing craving for meat.

After ensuring no one was around, Xie Xinghua stealthily peeked around, quickly scooped up a small bowl of meat, and carefully checked again to make sure no one was in the outer room before hurrying back to her own room.

She instructed the children to keep quiet, then walked out the door pretending nothing was amiss, intending to deceive everyone.

However, fate seemed always to enjoy playing little jokes.

Just as Xie Xinghua stepped out, she unexpectedly ran into Fang Qin. Her heart fluttered with panic at that moment, but she managed to maintain a calm facade outwardly.

The two encountered each other unexpectedly at the kitchen door. Fang Qin’s gaze was piercing, as if she could see through everything, scrutinizing Xie Xinghua with a hint of suspicion in her voice, "Weren’t you supposed to be watching the chicken soup in the kitchen? Why did you go inside?"

Xie Xinghua, prepared for this, responded nonchalantly, "It’s your elder brother—he wet his pants again. I went back to help him change into clean ones."

Upon hearing this, Fang Qin frowned, a hint of disdain flashing across her face.

"Don’t touch my stuff with your dirty hands, move aside."

Fang Qin commanded impatiently, and Xie Xinghua quickly stepped aside, her heart thumping with nervousness as she watched Fang Qin lift the pot lid and gently stir with a spoon, afraid something might be discovered.

Fang Qin carefully selected the chicken head, buttocks, breastbone, feet, and other easily distinguishable parts, placing them into another bowl, before carelessly scooping some broth and then instructing Xie Xinghua, "Take these to the old lady’s room."

It was not until this moment that Xie Xinghua secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it appeared her secret had not been discovered.

She carefully carried the bowl of specially selected "gifts" to Lady Zhao’s room.

After gently placing the bowl on Lady Zhao’s table and briefly informing her it was the youngest sister-in-law’s thoughtfulness, Xie Xinghua hurriedly left, well aware of the scarcity of the contents in the bowl, worried that any delay might lead to further reprimands.

Entering the room, she saw her three daughters sitting around the rare bowl of chicken, eyes shimmering with desire, yet none dared to start eating.

"Mom, come quickly."

The youngest daughter called out, her voice filled with anticipation.

San Ya urged gently with her delicate and slightly urgent voice within the room, her tone carrying a subtle sense of care and concern.

On hearing this, Xie Xinghua quietly closed the door to avoid disturbing the neighbors, then slowly walked into the inner chamber, her steps infused with a blend of gentleness and caution.

"Why aren’t you eating?"

She asked softly, her voice as gentle as a breeze brushing against one’s cheeks in spring, filled with maternal love and warmth.

"Waiting to eat with Mom."

The eldest looked up, his eyes flickering with naive persistence, as he gently responded.

Although his voice was soft, it was incredibly firm, revealing his endless attachment and respect for his mother.

That sentence, like a warm current, instantly flowed through Xie Xinghua’s heart, warm yet slightly bitter.

She smiled faintly, picked up a piece of meat, savored it carefully, and then said gently to the child, "Mom has already eaten, the rest is for you and your sisters to share."

Her words were filled with love and reluctance, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the softest part of her heart.

"Mom, another piece."

At this moment, the second child clutched his chopsticks tightly and cautiously offered another piece of meat, his eyes full of hope and innocence.

Xie Xinghua looked at the child’s expectant eyes, her heart full of pity, and ultimately, she could not bear to refuse this small request and accepted it.

The meat was limited, and with many mouths to feed in the family, each person could only get a few pieces, with more just being broth sprinkled with a few shreds of meat.

Xie Xinghua did not forget anyone, carefully feeding the weak Jiang Wangshan every last drop of soup and shred of meat with movements filled with a mother’s delicate warmth.

After the meal, she silently washed the dishes, softly returning them to their places as if painting a serene canvas. Every step seemed so composed, yet hidden within was a deep maternal love.

When Jiang Xunzhong saw the bowl Xie Xinghua brought back with just a few remnants of meat, he quickly helped the mournful Lady Zhao to her feet.

Due to Jiang Youfu’s sudden death, Lady Zhao was physically and mentally exhausted, having barely consumed anything for several days, and had visibly lost weight.

Seeing the sparse bits of meat in the bowl, Lady Zhao’s lips trembled slightly, her eyes flashing with complex emotions before she spat, saying coldly, "This heartless woman."

Her words carried both resentment and helplessness.

Despite her complaints, deep down she could not ignore the precious food and eventually forced herself to drink the broth, beginning to eat for the first time in ages.

This scene was quietly observed by Jiang Xunzhong standing nearby.

After Lady Zhao had eaten a little, Jiang Xunzhong finally spoke slowly, his tone calm but firm, "Youfu is gone; we cannot rely on the first wife’s family. We should treat the second wife’s family better, after all, we might have to depend on them in the future."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lady Zhao sharply looked up, her gaze a mix of sarcasm and disdain.

"Don’t think I can’t see your little schemes, are you not just concerned about that short-lived ghost’s bloodline? Youfu may be gone, but I still have Dazhuang. Why should I grovel to a cripple?"

Her words were sharp and cutting.

"Listen to me clearly, if I find you taking things from the house for them again, you will suffer the consequences!" Lady Zhao’s words were like sharp blades, chilling and glinting.

Jiang Xunzhong had intended to discuss things calmly, but faced with Lady Zhao’s aggression, he gradually lost his patience.