Chapter 59: Touch the Jade Pendant?

Everyone pitched in to help clean up the Qin family's courtyard, and they gathered some money to plan for rebuilding the Qin house.

Hua Qinci intended to move directly to the city, but Qin Mingyue pulled a long face and insisted she preferred the countryside, finding it peaceful. Hua Qinci couldn't quite understand Qin Mingyue's sudden change in attitude—did she really believe the rumors swirling among the villagers, that she was a harbinger of misfortune for the Qin family?

The thought made Hua Qinci want to laugh; if Qin Mingyue believed such gossip, there was nothing Hua Qinci could do. Rural women were like that, though city folk weren't much better. Otherwise, how could her family have been branded rebels overnight?

A deep sadness welled up within Hua Qinci, but since she had survived, it meant Heaven had shown her mercy. If Shang Jinxiu and the young concubine from the Qian family insisted on provoking her, she would start with them and test her own abilities. If it was a fight they wanted, she would face them to the end. She wanted to see who would ultimately claim victory.

For now, Hua Qinci and her family were staying at Wei Zhen's house. The happiest of all was Wei San'er.

Though Wei San'er was slow-witted, Hua Qinci had always tended to his minor illnesses since childhood. The family had little money, and Wei Zhen could do nothing about it. Wei San'er had always been fond of Hua Qinci, relying on her like a younger brother depends on his elder sister.

In Wei San'er's heart, Hua Qinci was his favorite person. Since he was young, he had a habit of sitting on his rooftop, waiting for the lights in Hua Qinci's house to go out before he would sleep. Even after Hua Qinci married, his gaze never wavered.

Wei Zhen, his mother, could do nothing about it—he was simple-minded and unable to work, so she let him be.

"Flower, here's a chicken egg for you."

At noon, Wei Zhen brought out the family's best food to host Hua Qinci’s family. Wei San’er happily picked the egg from his own bowl and gave it to Hua Qinci, his face blooming with joy.

“Eat it, Flower. Mother said I was hurt, so she boiled me an egg. I saw you were hurt too, so this egg is for you—it’s really tasty.”

Wei San’er urged Hua Qinci to eat.

Hua Qinci gently returned the egg to Wei San’er’s bowl and patted his big head. “Since it’s for you, San’er, you should eat it. It’ll help you get well faster. Once you’re better, you need to go out and work to support the family.”

“Mm-hmm! Then I’ll marry Flower and make her my wife. I’ll take care of Flower, is that good?”

Wei San'er's words left Hua Qinci embarrassed, Wei Zhen awkward, and Qin Mingyue furious.

The more Qin Mingyue looked at Hua Qinci, the more displeased she became. She took two forceful bites before declaring she was full and left the table.

Wei Zhen apologized while tapping Wei San'er, who pouted and stormed off with his bowl.

The Wei family's patriarch, Wei Daming, was frail and bedridden, and Wei Zhen herself was ill—her condition flared painfully whenever the weather changed. The only healthy ones were the eldest daughter, Wei Dachun, and the second son, Wei Erwa.

Wei Dachun was twenty and still unmarried, shy and quiet. Wei Erwa was eighteen, sturdy but bashful, and because of the family’s circumstances, struggled to find a wife.

The household depended on these two children to work the fields and support the family. Both were out in the fields that day, working from dawn to dusk.

“Sky, come here, I have something to ask you,” Qin Mingyue called.

Though Qin Mingyue was now a widowed countrywoman, she had once been young and beautiful, and she wasn't foolish—otherwise, she couldn’t have safely given birth to Qin Youtian and survived in this rural life.

Seeing Qin Mingyue was angry, Qin Youtian hurriedly excused himself to Hua Qinci, put down his bowl, and followed after her.

Qin Mingyue led Qin Youtian to a corner, glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then asked, “Sky, be honest with me—when you went to the city this time, did you touch that jade pendant?”