Rebirth in the 60s: A Path to Counterattack-Chapter 48 - 0. Lianshan gives gifts to express gratitude

The reason the eight brothers Fulu, Shou and Xi are so proactive is all thanks to the second sister-in-law Su Hongying.

Lianshan went up the mountain at night, caught two rabbits, and then caught a half basket of small miscellaneous fish down the river. Early the next morning, he packed everything and took it to Liu Shouyi’s house, straight up saying he wanted to express a bit of gratitude for the second sister-in-law’s help.

Su Hongying didn’t bother with any polite refusals, she smiled and accepted the rabbits and little fish: "Perfect timing, these two rabbits’ skins can be taken off and your second brother can prepare them when the weather cools down a bit, along with a few that are kept at home, to make a small fur jacket for the children’s aunt to wear. The small fish are good for making soup, and can be simmered with some wild vegetables to make a nourishing broth for the aunt to drink a couple of bowls. On the other hand, the rabbit meat isn’t suitable for the aunt as she is pregnant, so we might as well prepare it – send one to my maiden family to express your thoughts. And the other can be stewed with some potatoes; later you and Lian Hai, Lian Yue and their family can come over.

It’s rare to have some meat; everyone can satisfy their cravings together!"

"Please don’t, second sister-in-law, you really shouldn’t do this! These fish, these rabbits were caught to thank you. For Shuzhen, I can go catch more later – no one will be shortchanged, least of all her. Brother Da Fu and the others helped me a great deal, and a rabbit cannot express such gratitude. Once I return the borrowed wood, mud bricks, and roofing grass. Someday I will take Lian Hai and Jianshe into the mountains to find some good things and reward my eight good brothers." Lianshan repeatedly waved his hands, feeling that such a small gift shouldn’t demand the whole family to come over for dinner; how could he be so shameless?

He quickly said there were things waiting for him at home, urged Su Hongying to turn over the basket containing fish, and dashed home without giving her half a chance to invite their whole family over to eat rabbit meat.

Su Hongying shook her head with a laugh: Does the little guy think this shakes off the sister-in-law’s desire for reciprocal relations and bringing families closer?

You can run away, but you can’t escape! Didn’t he know?

The two yards are right next to each other, practically opening a window and being able to hear what the neighbor says. Lianshan spoke like this for some time, how could Liu Shouren and Shuzhen in their yard not hear?

Just that now Lianshan’s house has been built, and even though he and Shuzhen’s marriage had not been publicized, it became an open secret in this little Liu family village.

Watching as the marriage house is completed, and with furniture soon being prepared, the wedding date is destined not far off; Liu Shouren deliberately restrained the younger sister from meeting Lianshan. For fear that the two would get along too well and harmoniously, and unwanted words spoken by those full and free would harm the younger sister’s reputation.

Though ever since Dai Weiguo, that dog * son, abandoned his wife and child thereby giving her a bad label, followed by her suicidal attempt jumping in the river, then his separation immediately from his own wife. With the malicious spreading of old relatives and friends within the Dai family, and that troublesome woman Wu Xia maliciously undermining her, the younger sister’s reputation became blacker than ink. Upon swiftly deciding to remarry, more rumors swirled.

The more it was like this, the more Liu Shouren felt attention was necessary instead of letting the pot drop, allowing rumors to turn more fierce.

Restraining the younger sister while letting everyone know divorce and being labeled as bad, quick remarries were not her fault, while casting some doubt for those who disliked Lin Yuanzhi’s climbing up through nepotism becoming head of Liu family village, they could add effort to spread how Lin Yuanzhi, as captain, got frightened by a harmless snake in the grass and pissed himself – that would be the right approach!

After all, when it comes to rumors, the more you argue, the more they spread. To stop the storm, besides ignoring it, another bigger and more amusing piece of news overtaking it is the proper way.

And Liu Shouren thought, this joke about their captain Lin could completely overshadow the little rumors about the younger sister.

In her new life, Shuzhen no longer felt the pressure from public attention like in her past life, let alone caring about a useless reputation.

But as her older brother cared about her in every aspect, afraid that she’d suffer even the slightest grievance, she couldn’t bear to let him down. Therefore these days, she obediently behaved. She tried to keep her interactions with Lianshan private; when he came to them delivering goods or asking opinions, it was always in the company of her elder or second brother, sister-in-law, and little nephews, while also keeping conversations brief.

With or without reason, she walked around the vegetable gardens in front and behind the houses of her elder and second brother, under the pretext of helping care for the garden, practicing exercising her powers.

The eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and long beans in the yard were all forced by her to mature for harvesting in full abundance; the small plot barely totaling five acres planted with various vegetables unbelievably yielded more than enough for consumption.

Aside from cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, which were unsuitable for drying, Su Hongying picked two large baskets and gave them to her maiden family and several brothers and sisters. They also picked some for the Lian family siblings: Lian Hai, Lian Yue, and her apart from that, the two sister-in-laws simply decided to start making dried vegetables.

String beans were cut into strips, long beans into slices, eggplants into chunks. They were laid out to dry under the sun and stored when dried thoroughly; during winter, when there are only radishes, potatoes, and cabbages, these would be the rare new dishes.

Were it not for the second sister-in-law’s happy demeanor while drying vegetables muttering about how this year’s garden exceeded expectations, fearing exposure Shuzhen slowed her power augmentations. Perhaps right now, the two sisters-in-laws would still be dealing with eggplants, beans, and long beans!

As they heard Lianshan’s move but didn’t see anyone come over, the two couldn’t help wonder what stirred him up and ventured over to take a look. Sure enough, seeing those two blood-stained rabbits and the basin full of assorted small fish, Shuzhen grinned; knew definitely work came her way today.

Indeed, the second brother looked relieved seeing a savior had arrived: "Quick, quick, Brother, lend a hand. Get the stew going for those needing stewing and broths made for those needing broth. Even if you cannot invite those three siblings from the Lian family, properly send some portions over. We can’t let all of Lianshan’s hard work over two shifts feed only the brothers and neglect his intentions!"

When saying those five words ’Lianshan little guy,’ he exaggerated the sounds intentionally, casting a meaningful glance toward Shuzhen, and couldn’t be more obvious his teasing intent.

Since the second brother gradually started to approve of Lianshan, he fondly banters with Shuzhen now and again, enjoying when she protested turning red-faced and resentful towards him. Her second brother’s wicked humor made Shuzhen exasperated.

Knowing he would get all the more zealous if engaged, Shuzhen only stayed silent, quietly sitting on the small stool moved over by her big nephew Jianguo, rapidly helping the second sister-in-law trim fish.

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