Ch 18: Reborn to Raise My Husband

Qi Beinan was in the kitchen tending the fire. The roast chicken he bought that morning had long gone cold, and a layer of congealed grease had formed on the oiled wrapping paper.

He chopped the whole chicken into pieces so it would reheat faster in the steamer.

Xiao Yuanbao came running into the kitchen. Seeing that Qi Beinan really was there, he unconsciously let out a long sigh of relief and happily ran over to grab his hand.

He leaned against Qi Beinan, resting his head on his shoulder, soft hair drooping, without saying a word.

“What’s wrong?”

Qi Beinan saw he was acting clingy and let him lean in. “Did you sleep well?”

Xiao Yuanbao nodded, too shy to admit he was afraid Qi Beinan had gone back to Qiu County, so he just softly said, “A little hungry.”

Qi Beinan couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me check if the chicken is heated through.”

He stood up and took Xiao Yuanbao to the stove. When he lifted the lid, a burst of scalding steam whooshed out, instantly clouding their vision.

As the steam dispersed, a rustic clay bowl full of chicken released a rich, savory aroma.

Qi Beinan wet his fingers slightly and lifted the bowl, now glistening with golden chicken fat.

He pulled out a whole drumstick he’d cut especially, blew on it, and handed it to the eager little one craning his neck to look.

Xiao Yuanbao stared at the big chicken leg, his stomach genuinely hungry, and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

But even after receiving it, he didn’t immediately take a bite. Instead, he raised it slightly and said, “Brother eats first.”

Qi Beinan didn’t turn down the kind gesture. He leaned in and took a symbolic bite.

The chicken was a bit dry, but still fragrant and delicious. He praised it, “Mmm, smells amazing.”

Pleased, Xiao Yuanbao clutched the drumstick and ran back to sit by the stove, happily eating by the fire.

Qi Beinan, seeing the little one so contentedly munching on chicken, smiled and used the leftover winter amaranth greens to cook up a quick soup.

By the time the meal was set on the table, Xiao Hu and Fang Youliang were already deep into their drinks.

Fang Youliang couldn’t hold his liquor as well as Xiao Hu, and a red flush had crept up his face.

Seeing the roast chicken being served, his stomach growled with desire. It had been ages since they’d had meat at home.

But faced with such good food and wine, he felt uneasy. He’d come to hear about a job, yet here he was being treated like an honored guest.

Since Xiao Hu hadn’t yet brought up the matter of work, Fang Youliang didn’t dare ask outright and instead joked, “Brother Xiao’s family really celebrates early—today isn’t even the 24th yet.”

Qi Beinan replied, “I went into town today to set up a stall. The roast chicken vendor had one left, was packing up in a hurry, and sold it cheap—so I picked it up.”

“I thought it’d go well with drinks, but I’m too young to drink. It’s dull for Uncle Xiao to drink alone, so I called Brother Fang over. I hope you’ll come visit often in the future too.”

Hearing this, Fang Youliang thought, This young lad is really considerate. “How could I, an elder, accept such generosity? You mustn’t be so polite in the future.”

Qi Beinan replied with a smile, “The younger generation always listens to their elders.”

Then he glanced at Xiao Hu, who nodded knowingly.

Qi Beinan then took out the labor permit and handed it to Fang Youliang.

“I happened upon this county job posting while I was in town. With the year-end near, Uncle Xiao doesn’t have time to go. I wonder if Brother Fang would be interested in the work.”

Fang Youliang picked it up but didn’t recognize the characters—he nearly held it upside down.

Surprised, he asked, “What kind of place needs something this official just to hire labor?”

“Don’t laugh at me, Beinan. I’m just a rough guy. Can’t read at all, don’t know a thing. I’ve never seen this kind of thing.”

Qi Beinan patiently explained how official county job postings worked.

He added, “The pay’s decent—better than most places—but the exact length of the job depends on the county. You’d have to report in to find out.”

When Fang Youliang heard the job paid over 100 wen a day plus a sheng of rice, he was so stunned he stood right up, suddenly holding the permit like it was gold.

He’d never heard of such good county jobs and didn’t even try to hide his inexperience. Excited and astonished, he asked, “Re–really?”

Qi Beinan nodded. “It’s real. See the official seal? It’ll be recognized anywhere. Back when I lived in Qiu County, I saw similar county job postings, but because they paid more than regular jobs, they weren’t widely advertised. We folks out here in the countryside rarely hear of them.”

Xiao Hu added, “It’s true. I’ve never done one myself, but when I delivered mountain goods to the village folk, I heard them talk about it.”

Now that he was sure it was legit, Fang Youliang actually grew a bit uneasy. “But… such a good job… Brother Xiao, you’re not going up the mountain now—why don’t you take it instead?”

“I can’t go, that’s why I called you. If I had the time, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

Xiao Hu said, “Look around the village—if I can’t go, who else but you? Don’t waste this permit.”

Fang Youliang felt a surge of warmth and poured himself another full bowl of wine. “Brother Xiao, I’ll do it!”

He said it and really downed the whole bowl in one go.

“Beinan, I thank you. Brother, I thank you!”

Grateful and moved, he kept repeating his thanks.

Xiao Hu called him to sit down and eat some meat.

Until now, Xiao Hu hadn’t said what the job was, and Fang Youliang had been on edge. Now, with the permit in hand, the uncertainty disappeared. He relaxed visibly and drank with a much lighter heart.

Qi Beinan was helping serve food when he noticed the unconcealable joy on Fang Youliang’s face. Catching him in high spirits, he glanced at Xiao Hu—clearly the perfect moment to dig into something serious.

“Youliang, when you first came to the village, you were just a little tyke running around naked. In the blink of an eye, you’re already a grown man.”

Receiving Qi Beinan’s cue, Xiao Hu followed up, cutting to the chase: “I’ve known your temperament all these years, and you know mine. So tell me—when your house wall collapsed, such a big thing, why didn’t you come tell me?”

Fang Youliang hiccupped from the wine and answered apologetically, “Big Brother, I was going to ask you for help… But my mother was afraid it’d trouble you.”

Xiao Hu’s brows furrowed. “Trouble? After all these years of back-and-forth between the Xiao and Fang families, you call that ‘trouble’?”

“I’m a straightforward man, not as thoughtful as your auntie was. Ever since she passed, the Fang family’s become distant. Tell me honestly, Youliang—have I done something to make you avoid me?”

Fang Youliang’s face flushed with guilt. Faced with Xiao Hu’s questioning, he looked away. “N-no… Nothing like that.”

Xiao Hu saw this and grew more anxious—there really is something!

His chest tightened. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll never figure it out even if I rack my brains day and night! What could possibly be so difficult that it can’t be talked through?”

Fang Youliang saw how worried Xiao Hu was and felt torn. His mother had strictly forbidden him from saying anything. But seeing that Xiao Hu was still the same as before—even now helping him get such a good job—how many people would do that?

Even if he couldn’t take the job, he could sell the permit and someone would pay handsomely for it.

He understood deep down that this was the Xiao family looking out for him.

“Well, spit it out! Are you trying to make me die of anxiety?”

Fang Youliang gritted his teeth. “Big Brother, you know I’m a straightforward guy. Our families have been close for years—how could I want to hide anything? But it’s been hard to bring this up.”

Xiao Hu pressed, “Our families are basically like one household. What could possibly be unspeakable?”

“Ai—it’s… it’s Qin Niazi…”

With the help of liquid courage, Fang Youliang spilled everything Qin Niazi had done—honestly and in full.

“We are poor. That’s true. But we never intended to take advantage of anyone. With things like that… how could I bring it up to you? Even if I had thicker skin, I couldn’t open my mouth.”

“You know my mother. She’s mild on the outside, but inside, she has her pride.”

Fang Youliang’s voice turned pained, eyes reddening. “Never mind everything else. Qin Niazi looks down on our poverty—fine. Plenty of people in this village do. But to say that my second sister and third brother stole from her? That’s unacceptable. Once children are labeled like that, how can they ever hope to marry?”

Xiao Hu was dumbstruck. Even though he didn’t spend much time in the village, he had sensed something off about the Fang family for a while.

He’d originally thought that the change was because Xiao Bao’s mother used to visit Grandma Sun often. Now that she was gone, he figured it was normal for the Fang family to fall out of contact.

At first, he hadn’t thought much of it. But as time passed, the distance became more noticeable. He’d even wondered if there had been a misunderstanding.

Only now did he realize—there was no misunderstanding. It had really happened.

His chest felt cold, and he clutched his chopsticks tightly.

With a loud crack, he slammed them onto the table.

Xiao Yuanbao, nibbling on a chicken leg, his mouth slick with oil, was startled by his father’s sudden outburst and shrank closer to Qi Beinan.

Qi Beinan had more or less guessed the situation would be like this, so the details didn’t surprise him. Without making a fuss, he gently scooped Xiao Yuanbao into his arms. “Let’s go clean your mouth, little brother.”

“Mm,” Xiao Yuanbao softly replied.

“Brother Xiao, I may have had some wine, but I’m not so drunk I’m speaking nonsense. All of this has weighed on me for a long time. Whether you believe me or not, just saying it out loud has lifted a burden.”

Fang Youliang was no fool. At this point, most people would urge Xiao Hu to see Qin Niazi clearly.

But that was a family matter. He was the junior—how could he pass judgment on his elder’s household?

This was something only a senior could address.

So he said, “My mother said it too—Qin Niazi is the one sharing a roof with you. Everyone has their own way of dealing with people. Please don’t be angry.”

Xiao Hu wanted not to be angry—but how could he not?

The whole thing with Xiao Bao already stabbed at his heart like a bed of thorns. He hadn’t even had time to catch his breath, and now he finds out that Qin Niazi looked down on the people closest to them and accused their children of theft?

What had once been a close, neighborly relationship had been torn to shreds by her.

She wasn’t here to build a home—she was here to collect debts.

Xiao Hu was flooded with emotions, his chest tight and bitter.

“I was blind—blame me for being blind. I never doubted her. Who would’ve thought she’d use my trust to behave like this.”

Qi Beinan listened from the corridor connecting to the main hall. All the effort today had finally paid off—this muddled father-in-law of his finally saw what kind of person Qin Niazi really was.

They talked a while longer. Xiao Hu offered Fang Youliang some comforting words, assuring him he hadn’t known and telling him the Fang family should stop distancing themselves.

Earlier, the wine had been merry. Now, it was more for drowning sorrows.

Qi Beinan didn’t know what Xiao Hu would do about Qin Niazi from here on. It would depend on what happened when she returned.

But if he went back to pretending nothing was wrong—if he chose to stay deaf and blind—then Qi Beinan would have to make other plans.

˙✧˖°🎓 ༘⋆｡ ˚