Chapter 196: Who's Outside?

The small wooden house of Mo Qianni's family had two floors, its walls covered in ivy, lush and green. Outside was a small courtyard with a chicken coop and a patch of land where some onions and garlic were grown.

Once they entered and set down their luggage, Ma Guifang called out to Yang Chen, "Son-in-law Yang, you're all wet. Better dry off and change into some clean clothes first. Tonight, you'll sleep in the room on the east side of the second floor with Ni Zi."

"Mom," Mo Qianni hurriedly interjected, "I'll sleep with you."

After all, they hadn't reached that level of intimacy yet. The thought of sharing a room with Yang Chen made Mo Qianni immediately shy away.

Ma Guifang laughed and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking? You're both grown-ups. Sleeping with your mom, what's that like?"

Before Mo Qianni could argue further, Ma Guifang warmly addressed Yezi, "Little Ye, can you bear with it? The house is small, so you'll sleep with your auntie, alright?"

Yezi cast a helpless look at Mo Qianni, nodding happily. Mo Qianni blushed deeply, playfully protested to her mother, but Ma Guifang acted as if she hadn't seen it and turned to Yang Chen, "Son-in-law Yang, do you have clothes to change into? Change into this set. I'll wash this one for you, and you can hang it out to dry tomorrow when the sun comes out."

Yang Chen quite admired his newly acquainted mother-in-law. She indeed had good taste. If she put her daughter in his bed, it must be a wise decision.

Men are always quick to change clothes. Yang Chen went upstairs to the prepared room, glancing around at the old bamboo furniture. He undressed, wiped himself dry, and put on a set of long-sleeved clothes and pants. Although he didn't feel cold, dressing like this would seem more normal to others.

When he came downstairs, smoke was already billowing from the kitchen stove. Mo Qianni finally returned to her mother's side, with no shortage of topics to discuss. Meanwhile, Yezi was picking wild vegetables, occasionally joining in the conversation. The three women were happily engaged.

As a big man, Yang Chen felt awkward intervening. He pulled up a bamboo chair and sat in front of the courtyard, watching the endless rain, lighting a cigarette, leisurely waiting for dinner.

Mo Qianni, who was busy at the stove, saw Yang Chen lounging at the doorway with his legs crossed and thought he should at least make some effort in front of her mother. So, she called out, "Yang Chen, come help my mom chop vegetables!"

To her surprise, before Yang Chen could get up, Ma Guifang immediately told him to stay seated and scolded Mo Qianni, "You girl! Who asks a man to come into the kitchen? You're so thoughtless!"

Mo Qianni pouted in silence, feeling aggrieved after her mother's reprimand. Yang Chen, witnessing Mo Qianni, who usually had a strong demeanor, acting like a little girl, found it amusing and chuckled to himself.

"Mom, see? He's laughing at me!" Mo Qianni complained to Ma Guifang in a low voice.

Ma Guifang glanced at Yang Chen and smiled satisfactorily, then whispered to Mo Qianni, "I was worried about what kind of son-in-law you'd bring back. Now I can rest assured. Yang Chen is a good man. You'll be fine with him. I trust him."

"Really?" Mo Qianni was surprised by how quickly she had passed the test. She asked excitedly, "Mom, how did you figure it out?"

"Just from the way you two came back. He carried such heavy luggage alone without even using an umbrella in the rain. When we were at the village entrance, he stood there drenched, without a single complaint. He didn't try too hard to please me or act superior. Such a simple and reliable man. So, Ni Zi, the son-in-law you chose, I'm very satisfied," Ma Guifang explained.

Mo Qianni, hearing this and seeing Yang Chen sitting at the door with a smug expression, felt warm inside and suddenly realized there was nothing to be upset about.

Yang Chen had no idea Ma Guifang thought so highly of him. Carrying luggage and getting soaked in the rain were nothing to him, not even worth complaining about! As for flattering his mother-in-law, it wasn't that he didn't want to; he just didn't know how, afraid of doing it wrong!

The three women continued chatting and cooking, their efficiency surprisingly high. In no time, they brought out five or six dishes. Mo Qianni suggested they move the Eight Immortals table to the door to enjoy the cool breeze and avoid the stuffiness inside.

So, the three women and one man gathered around the table under the eaves. The dim yellow light from a 40-watt tungsten bulb illuminated the table, where dishes like mountain chicken and wild vegetables, typical fare in rural households, were served. It wasn't too late for supper, even though it was a time when most people would already be asleep.

Ma Guifang somehow produced a large plastic soda bottle from somewhere and said affectionately, "Here, this is the rice wine I brewed last year. It's not bad. It was almost finished, but I saved it when I heard you were coming back."

Yang Chen couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Well, now she's become "your mom"!

Mo Qianni was surprised. "Mom, you drink now? I remember you didn't drink before."

"Ah, it's been over ten years. Ni Zi, you've grown up. Your mom changes too, you know? When there's nothing to do, a little drink can help pass the time," Ma Guifang replied lightly. But to Mo Qianni's ears, it felt bittersweet, making her nose tingle. She felt sorry for not being able to accompany her mother properly and said softly, "I'm sorry, Mom."

Ma Guifang smiled and gently tapped Mo Qianni's forehead. "Silly girl, what do you have to apologize for? Now that you're successful in Zhonghai, I have face too. Everyone praises me for having such a good daughter. It's just that I get a little bored by myself, but it's not like I don't have food to eat or clothes to wear."

Yezi didn't drink, obediently eating her meal, while Yang Chen and Mo Qianni both poured themselves a small glass of wine.

As they reminisced about the past, Mo Qianni remembered something important and hurriedly asked, "Mom, has Zhang Fugui come back?"

When Zhang Fugui was mentioned, Ma Guifang's movements paused, and she sighed lightly. "Some time ago, people who came back from outside said he was being chased by loan sharks. After that, there was no news."

Because Zhang Fugui had already signed the divorce agreement and was afraid of Mo Qianni and Yang Chen, he didn't dare to come back asking for money. So, the possibility of him returning was indeed slim.

Mo Qianni breathed a sigh of relief, raised her glass, and smiled, "Mom, I toast to you. We can finally live peacefully now."

Ma Guifang also raised her glass, smiling with a hint of emotion. "Yes, it's all in the past now. In the blink of an eye, my daughter is about to get married, and I'm getting old. It's good that Yang son-in-law has come."

Yang Chen eagerly clinked glasses with his future mother-in-law. The homemade rice wine was indeed fragrant, and he had been craving it for a while. "Yezi, don't be shy. Just treat this place like your own. Eat more," Ma Guifang invited Yezi, who seemed a bit reserved, and served her a piece of chicken.

Yezi thanked her repeatedly, then put down her bowl and stood up. "Aunt Ma, I'll go to the kitchen and bring out the mushroom soup. It's almost ready."

"Alright, go ahead," Ma Guifang said with a smile. "Yezi is so considerate."

Once Yezi went into the kitchen, Mo Qianni turned to Ma Guifang and said, "Mom, this time I've come back, and I want to take you to Zhonghai. Just do some simple packing in a couple of days, and come with us."

Ma Guifang sighed. "Ni Zi, Mom knows you're filial, but Mom has lived on this hill for over forty years, almost half a lifetime. It's not easy to just leave. Besides, going to the big city, I'll be like a fish out of water. You both have jobs, and I won't be able to do anything. Even if I just stay at home and take care of things, it'll be boring."

"But if you stay here, it's so far from Zhonghai, and as you get older, there's no one to take care of you. How can I feel at ease?" Mo Qianni said anxiously.

Ma Guifang wasn't stubborn. She realized that being alone would bring many troubles in her old age. At this moment, she could only remain silent, taking a sip of rice wine and saying, "Ni Zi, let Mom think about it. Isn't it a few days before we leave? Mom will tell you what to do then."

Mo Qianni could only nod and set the topic aside for now.

Yang Chen nibbled on wild vegetables, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Mo Qianni's suggestion. If they really brought her mother-in-law to Zhonghai, wouldn't it expose their relationship to her? By then, instead of smiling at him, she might come at him with both kitchen knives! But being filial to the elderly was only right, so Yang Chen could only swallow his bitterness. Who asked him to be so open-minded and inclusive?

At that moment, Yezi came out of the kitchen carrying a sandpot and placed a pot of wild mushroom and chicken bone soup on the table, emitting a charming natural fragrance.

Ma Guifang picked up a ladle, took Yezi's bowl, and smiled as she scooped some soup for her. "Here, Yezi, you've worked hard. Have a bowl first. I'll serve one for Yang son-in-law too. These wild mushrooms were picked today, very fresh. Drink more soup."

Because the weather was chilly, the hot soup was indeed tempting. Soon, all four of them had drunk a bowl or two, feeling warm and comfortable.

Just as they were about to continue eating and chatting, they heard knocks on the big wooden door in the courtyard.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The iron rings on the wooden door were knocked continuously from outside.

"Why is someone coming at this late hour?" Mo Qianni asked, puzzled.

Ma Guifang also felt curious. "Who's outside?"

She asked, but there was still no response, just the continuous knocking.

A strange smile flickered across Yang Chen's face. "We'll know if we go and see. Maybe it's not a person, but a ghost?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?! Where would a ghost come from?" Mo Qianni pushed Yang Chen discontentedly. In fact, the atmosphere was eerie and cold at the moment, and she was a bit scared.

"I'll go and open the door!" Yezi, being brave, volunteered, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and ran out from under the eaves, braving the rain to get to the door.

At that moment, both Ma Guifang and Mo Qianni, sitting at the table, suddenly clutched their heads in pain and shook their heads in discomfort.

"Why am I suddenly so sleepy?"

Mo Qianni muttered, then collapsed on the table with a "thud," unconscious!

"Thud!"

Ma Guifang also suddenly fell onto the table, knocking over the wine glasses on the table. Fortunately, it was a wooden table, and the glasses made a sound as they rolled to the side without breaking.

Seeing the mother and daughter both collapse and fall asleep, Yang Chen didn't panic. Instead, he looked towards the door.

At that moment, Yezi, who had reached the door, happened to open it.