Ch 6: Reborn to Raise My Husband

Qin Niazi paced outside the door with her hands tucked in her sleeves, glancing toward the house where the hunter had returned and promptly taken Qi Beinan inside. The door had been shut, and she had no idea what the two were discussing.

Just as she was about to press her ear to the door, it opened from within.

Startled, Qin Niazi quickly stepped back. Xiao Hu stepped out looking to be in a good mood and told her, “Make a good meal tonight.”

She immediately followed by his side, but once she got close, the strong scent of wild game and blood on him made her wrinkle her nose and step farther away.

“He’s really a relative?”

“Not a relative, an old acquaintance.”

“How come I’ve never heard you mention you had an old acquaintance who was a scholar?”

Xiao Hu didn’t bother hiding it. He replied honestly, “Back when Beinan’s mother was alive, she and Xiao Bao’s mother were close as sisters. After they each married, the Xiao and Qi families stayed in touch.”

Hearing this connection, Qin Niazi felt somewhat uneasy, though the stone hanging in her heart finally dropped.

When she first heard Qi Beinan’s parents had passed away and he was an old acquaintance of the Xiao family, she’d feared he had come to seek refuge.

Now, knowing they weren’t even real relatives but just a household once close with the former wife, she felt more at ease.

Someone that distant wouldn’t likely choose the Xiao family to depend on.

Still, she asked, “But it’s the end of the year—what important business brings him here? Don’t tell me he came to borrow money?”

Seeing Xiao Hu remain silent, her expression changed. She figured she had hit the mark and instantly grew displeased.

The year-end meant plenty of expenses, and just days ago she’d promised her own family she’d send them pork and grains come New Year. If money were lent out now, how could they still afford it?

So she said, “You go risk your life in the mountains for a few coins, and this house isn’t exactly wealthy. What kind of ‘old acquaintance’ doesn’t keep in touch normally but shows up the moment they need something—”

Xiao Hu suddenly stopped in his tracks and gave her a look. Qin Niazi felt her heart skip a beat.

He didn’t get angry, but something in his demeanor shifted. In a calm voice, he said, “Beinan didn’t come to borrow money.”

“Oh… he didn’t…” Qin Niazi responded. “Then why is he here? He really came all this way just to deliver something his parents told him to? What on earth was it?”

Xiao Hu didn’t answer her directly. “Cook dinner first. I’ll explain later.”

Qin Niazi opened her mouth to press further, but upon seeing the unyielding look in Xiao Hu’s eyes, she swallowed her words.

He wasn’t one to joke. If he said no, then it meant no.

“Alright, if we’re eating well tonight, I’ll make meat. I just bought a slab of pork belly from the city today.”

Xiao Hu gave a small nod. He’d returned from the mountains carrying a bamboo basket on his back, filled with the past few days’ game.

In the eleventh lunar month, hunting had no particular taboos—everything was fair game. But compared to other seasons, fewer animals moved about in the forest.

This time he brought back only one pheasant, two wild rabbits, and three pairs of quail. No large catch.

That was typical when living off the mountain—getting bits and pieces was the norm. Coming back with something was already good fortune. Getting deer, goat, or wild boar was considered sheer luck.

He pulled out a white-furred rabbit. “Stew it.”

Qin Niazi eyed the rabbit, its round eyes still open wide. “We’re eating this well tonight?”

“Beinan came all this way.”

Qin Niazi inwardly pouted. She hefted the rabbit, which was heavy with autumn fat—almost lifeless.

She thought, Xiao Hu is being awfully generous to that boy. Normally he wouldn’t even let us eat these things.

“Well, I suppose we should eat well. Can’t let that boy go back saying we villagers were inhospitable. And he even brought treats and snacks for Chao Ge’er and Bao Ge’er. I’ll get started stewing it now.”

She said all the right, virtuous words, tied on her apron, and was about to take the rabbit to the kitchen.

Xiao Hu asked, “Where are the two kids?”

Wang Chao Ge’er had always feared Xiao Hu deep down and didn’t like his hunter stepfather one bit. As soon as he heard he’d returned, he shut himself in his room.

He was currently stuffing his face with the snacks Qi Beinan brought.

Qin Niazi replied, “Chao Ge’er is in the house. I’ve been teaching him to do some needlework. That way, he can mend your clothes in the future. You always wear them thin when you go into the mountains. He’s really focused right now—I’ll go call him.”

“If he’s studying seriously, let him be. Don’t interrupt him.”

Qin Niazi smiled, then thought aloud, “As for Bao Ge’er…”

“Oh dear—why’s my son hiding when he sees his father come home?”

Qin Niazi pulled Xiao Yuanbao out from behind the door with a laugh and said, “What a timid thing. It’s your father, not some stranger.”

Xiao Hu looked at the little figure in front of him—wrapped up in thick layers, head down, staring at his toes. He looked round, but that sharp little chin couldn’t be hidden.

Xiao Hu frowned. “He seems thinner.”

Qin Niazi huffed, “You men, all you know is how to earn money. Not a clue how fast kids grow. When they shoot up, they naturally slim down a bit. What, you think they stay chubby like toddlers forever? At this age, ten days can make a big difference. Do you even realize how long you’ve been off in the mountains?”

Xiao Hu truly didn’t know how to care for a child. After Xiao Bao’s mother passed, he had taken care of him alone for a time.

He had never intended to remarry, but his clumsy, rough ways made it hard to look after a child. After his mother’s death, Xiao Bao cried constantly, fell sick frequently, and grew thin like a little kitten.

He hadn’t known what to do back then—each day he was restless and overwhelmed. Fortunately, a matchmaker introduced Qin Niazi, and only then did he finally have someone who knew how to care for a child.

Xiao Hu reached out, wanting to hug his boy. Xiao Yuanbao had clearly missed his father after not seeing him for a while, but the sudden reunion made him shy. He bashfully took a step back to hide.

Seeing this, Qin Niazi stepped in and blocked Xiao Hu. “You stink of the wild. You’ll make Bao Ge’er gag. Go wash up—he’s avoiding you because you smell.”

Xiao Hu glanced down at the grime on his body, and reluctantly withdrew his hands.

Qi Beinan stood quietly in the shadows, observing the whole family’s interaction.

He thought to himself—Qin Niazi really was something else. Every word of hers sounded caring on the surface but was actually meant to keep father and son distant. When it came to sowing discord, she was a master.

With the way things were going, these two, already unfamiliar with each other, would only drift farther apart under her subtle interference.

Qi Beinan stepped forward in large strides. “I thought Xiao Bao didn’t like me and was hiding. Turns out he’s just this shy, even with his own father.”

He squatted between the couple, smiled at Xiao Yuanbao, and asked, “Xiao Bao, does your father stink?”

Xiao Yuanbao shook his head. “No, he doesn’t.”

Hearing that, Xiao Hu’s expression softened. He reached out again and scooped up his son.

Xiao Yuanbao was still a bit timid, but once he was in his father’s arms, his eyes lit up with joy. He quickly wrapped his arms around Xiao Hu’s neck.

Watching the scene, Qin Niazi felt as if she had swallowed something bitter.

She turned to look at Qi Beinan—only to find him already looking at her.

His smile was calm and warm, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Auntie, you really are so thoughtful.”

Qin Niazi had just been annoyed by how talkative the boy was and had planned to give a cutting remark. But that completely out-of-place line, paired with his oddly direct gaze, made her heart skip a beat.

She was momentarily speechless. Smoothing her apron, she turned and went to the kitchen.

That night, with Xiao Hu’s approval, Qin Niazi prepared a spicy, fermented rabbit stew.

Wild rabbit had a gamier smell than domestic rabbit, so she used heavy seasoning. The big basin of rabbit meat was chopped into even chunks and stewed to a glossy brown in thick, golden sauce.

The meat was tender, juicy, and fragrant. The aroma filled the entire house and made mouths water.

Qin Niazi dipped her chopsticks into the sauce for a taste—her face lit up with pride.

She was very pleased with her cooking that day. If her husband, always biased toward his son, tried this, he’d surely regret not having taught her his hunting tricks along with his culinary skills.

After stewing the meat, she made a light winter mallow and radish soup to balance the richness of the dish.

As she dropped slices of radish into the boiling water, she couldn’t help but reflect—back when she lived with that old man, even getting a single bite of meat was difficult. Where could she ever have imagined having meat stews and fresh soup like this?

She had finally made it.

“Beinan, eat more. You’ve come all this way, and our home doesn’t have much to offer. I hope you don’t mind my poor cooking,” she said at the table, pushing the dish toward Qi Beinan. “Your uncle caught this rabbit himself. Wild rabbit is more tender than domestic, not easy to find even outside.”

“Auntie’s cooking is wonderful. I’m the one who’s intruding. Thank you both for taking such good care of me.”

Qi Beinan spoke sincerely—Qin Niazi’s cooking really was good. Back in the day, he’d always found Xiao Yuanbao’s food delicious; maybe he’d picked up a thing or two from her.

Qin Niazi took pride in her cooking. Without this skill of hers, there was no way a widow with a child could’ve married into a household like this, especially with her modest background.

The Xiao family wasn’t wealthy, but Xiao Hu had a craft. They could afford salt more easily than most farmers.

With a smile on her face, she said, “If you like it, I’ll make something different for you tomorrow.”

She even thoughtfully placed a piece of meat into Xiao Yuanbao’s bowl—something she didn’t even do for Chao Ge’er.

Xiao Hu drank a cup of cloudy liquor. He never brought alcohol into the mountains for fear it might lead to mistakes. Only when he returned could he enjoy it in peace.

Up in the mountains, he survived on simple fare—mostly flatcakes just to fill his belly. Now that he was home, drinking hot soup and eating warm meat, he couldn’t help but eat a few extra bites.

Looking at how polite and cordial everyone was—Qin Niazi so warm and gentle—it truly looked like a harmonious family.

Xiao Hu was in a good mood. He said aloud that Qin Niazi would surely be pleased with how sensible Qi Beinan was. He put down his wine cup.

“Since the whole family is here, I’ll say this now.”

His tone could hardly hide his cheer. “From now on, Beinan will stay here with us. He’s family.”

With that, he picked his wine cup up again.

The moment Qin Niazi heard those words, her head went blank with a loud buzz.

She stared blankly at Xiao Hu, who was looking serious—clearly not joking—and even seemed pleased. Her heart dropped like a stone falling from her stomach.

She missed her mark trying to pick up a piece of meat and slowly pulled her chopsticks back. Her appetite was gone.

Forcing a smile, she said, “You—don’t tell me you’ve had too much to drink and are talking nonsense.”

Xiao Hu replied, “Beinan’s parents are gone, and he’s still so young and alone. I was close with his parents—I can’t just let him drift with no one to turn to.”

Qin Niazi forced herself to appear calm, still putting on her understanding act. “Beinan’s situation is truly pitiful. I feel for him too. If he can stay here, of course that’s a good thing. But… his surname is Qi. No matter how close we are, I’m afraid his relatives might not approve…”

Xiao Hu set down his wine cup and said, “Though not kin by blood, there’s still a bond. When Xiao Bao’s mother was still alive, she met Beinan at the Qi household, and the two families exchanged tokens to settle a marriage early on.”

“Now that the Qi family has met with misfortune, it makes sense for him to come here. His remaining relatives are hard to get along with, so he really had nowhere else to go.”

Hearing this, Qi Beinan immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks, rose to his feet, and respectfully bowed toward Qin Niazi. “I ask Auntie to lend me half a roof’s shelter. My parents have passed, and my kin are as vicious as wolves. I truly had no choice but to seek help from Uncle and Aunt. Whatever kindness and favor I receive here, I will remember with all my heart, and once I’m grown, I will surely repay it.”

Qin Niazi was choked silent, her chest rising and falling. She knew it—someone coming from far away right before the New Year could never mean anything good.

She had thought at first that he wasn’t here to seek shelter, but after all that circling, it still came down to the same outcome.

She wanted to snap and drive him out right then, but she didn’t dare disgrace Xiao Hu to his face. She swallowed her temper and tried to keep her voice even: “Beinan is a scholar. Our countryside home is rather coarse and rustic. Auntie would be delighted for you to stay, only I fear you won’t be used to it.”

Qi Beinan replied with a gentle smile, “Auntie’s concern is appreciated. I myself was born into a farming family. I’m used to such things—I’m certainly not a pampered person.”

“I was worried coming here might trouble you, but Uncle Xiao told me that Auntie is exceptionally understanding and kind. That turns out to be entirely true—I’m truly fortunate to have met you.”

Qin Niazi felt her breath catch. That wasn’t an agreement she’d given—yet Qi Beinan had twisted it into one, and even placed a shining halo over her head.

She glanced at the approving look in Xiao Hu’s eyes. With both men cornering her like this, she couldn’t very well lose face then and there.

Grinding her molars, she said, “Well then, I’ve no worries. You can stay and see how things go.”

Chao Ge’er, clutching his rice bowl, was already eight this year. Though not good at reading the room, he understood enough of the conversation to get excited. His eyes lit up. “Mother, is Brother Beinan really going to live with us now?”

The pastries and fruit that Qi Beinan had brought were delicious today. He was hoping the older boy would get him more in the future. If he became the older brother in their house, wouldn’t that mean sweets every day?

Qin Niazi shot him a look. “Eat your food. Children shouldn’t interrupt when adults are talking.”

Xiao Hu turned to Qi Beinan. “Sit and eat. Like I said—your Auntie isn’t one to fuss over things.”

Qi Beinan nodded and complied. He knew Qin Niazi wouldn’t agree so easily, but now that she’d said he could stay for the time being, there was no need to press the point.

So he sat back down, smiled, and praised her a little more, making Qin Niazi feel thoroughly uncomfortable.

Inwardly pleased, he picked up a piece of rabbit leg and tried to place it into Xiao Yuanbao’s bowl, where the boy had been quietly eating his rice with his head down.

But just as the chopsticks approached, Xiao Yuanbao subtly shifted his bowl. The movement was small, and the meat still landed in his bowl—but the message was clear.

Qi Beinan’s brows moved slightly.

Qin Niazi, ever sharp-eyed, caught the motion and was secretly delighted—this cowardly little one didn’t like Qi Beinan.

That could be a perfect excuse to stir things up. Xiao Hu cared deeply for his own son—perhaps he’d reconsider everything.

She immediately placed a piece of meat into Xiao Yuanbao’s bowl, cooing in a gentle tone while purposely saying things that would poke at his displeasure: “Your father said Brother Beinan will be living with us from now on. It’s the same whether it’s him giving you food or me.”

“Now you’ll have two brothers at home. You can all play together—how wonderful, isn’t it?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes turned red.

None of it was wonderful.

His father and Qin Niazi weren’t kind at all—they kept bringing new brothers into the house.

And Qi Beinan wasn’t nice either. He clearly said going to Uncle Li’s house to be a brother would be better, but he didn’t believe him—he insisted on staying here instead.

Xiao Yuanbao had no way to speak his sorrow aloud. He didn’t dare cry or throw a tantrum at the dinner table, so his chest only felt tighter, his nose more stuffed.

He didn’t want to cry and be laughed at by Chao Ge’er as a crybaby, so he lowered his head and shoved a piece of meat into his mouth, hoping to plug up the tightness in his throat.

What he didn’t expect was—this spicy rabbit stew… was so good.

So he buried his face in his bowl, stuffed his mouth with meat, and kept eating in big bites. His round eyes, finally occupied, began to shed tear after tear.

As long as he didn’t cry out loud—then it didn’t count as crying!

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