"How can we leave now, Mom? Look how thin the children have gotten from hunger—I feel so guilty!" Nan Sheng deliberately put on a remorseful expression, making Nan's Father and Mother dizzy with frustration.
"Did you starve them? You didn’t feed them?"
Nan Sheng nodded silently. Nan's Mother smacked her daughter’s arm, tears of anger welling up. "I raised you too naive, with only a single-minded heart. Not only have you suffered, but you’ve dragged these two children into it too."
Nan's Mother continued, "But you can’t live your whole life out of guilt. If you’ve made a mistake, our whole family will help make it right. I just want you to find someone who truly cares for you."
Nan Sheng had never known the warmth of family before. At this moment, feeling her parents’ unconditional love, her eyes reddened.
Seeing this, the elderly couple knew their daughter was hurting too and couldn’t bear to scold her further, waiting instead for her to make her own decision.
"Dad, Mom! I’ve made up my mind—I’m staying with the Lin Family. Before Lin Han left, he gave me all his savings, and his monthly stipend is sent back on time. He’s a reliable man, and I know he’ll give me a comfortable life in the future. Besides, the children are well-behaved. The older one is hardworking, and Qiqi knows to gather firewood and wild vegetables for me at home. I’ll live properly from now on."
Originally, the old couple had felt their daughter was wronged by marrying Lin Han. But after learning the truth, they felt some guilt toward the Lin Family and no longer objected.
Nan's Mother wiped her daughter’s tears with a handkerchief. "Don’t cry. Stay if you want. The two villages are close anyway—we can look after you if anything happens."
Nan Sheng clung to her mother’s arm. "Mom, I’ve missed you so much. Don’t go to the fields today, okay? Let’s spend time together as a family."
Nan's Mother couldn’t resist her daughter’s pleading. Besides, she had so much to say to her. She glanced at Nan's Father. "What do you think, dear?"
Nan Jingyu agreed without hesitation, wanting his wife to ask more about their daughter’s life with her in-laws so he could rest easy.
"Wife, you stay home with the kids. My son and I will go to work. It’s the busy season—it wouldn’t be right for the whole family to skip."
Before leaving, he even slaughtered a hen to nourish his daughter and the two children.
"Big Kid, Qiqi, Grandpa and Uncle are off to work. Let your mom take you around to explore!"
Faced with his grandfather’s sudden enthusiasm, the older boy was a little overwhelmed—why did his smile seem so suspicious?
Qiqi, however, grinned sweetly. "Grandpa, come back soon so we can eat meat together!"
Once outside, Nan Mingli couldn’t help but ask, "Dad, didn’t you oppose Sister marrying that widower? Why are you so nice to those two brats now?"
He’d even killed a chicken! Each household was only allowed to keep two, and that was an egg-laying hen!
Nan's Father nearly smacked his son into the ditch. "Manners! Call him brother-in-law from now on. ‘Widower’ sounds awful."
Nan Mingli: "…"
Wasn’t it you who called him that first? How did Sister’s visit change your attitude so fast?
Worried his son might say the wrong thing, Nan's Father explained the whole story. "Be good to those kids from now on. Your sister was in the wrong—we have to make it up to them. What if they hold a grudge later?"
Nan Mingli nodded silently. If not for the rule against superstition, he’d have suspected Lin Han was a fox spirit in disguise—what a disaster.
Remembering her daughter loved wild herb dumplings, Nan's Mother took the children to pick greens in the mountains, proudly introducing them as her grandchildren to everyone they met.
She’d decided: even if people mocked her daughter’s marriage, as long as the family acted unbothered, the gossips would lose interest.
Though fiery-tempered, Nan's Mother was gentle with children. By afternoon, even the older boy was calling her "Grandma" warmly.
"Oh, my dears, no more picking—Grandma can’t carry any more!"
Sizhe took the basket without hesitation. "I’ll carry it, Grandma. Pick as much as you like."
Nan's Mother patted his head. "Such a good boy. But it’s getting late—we should head back. Next time you visit, your uncle can take you fishing."
Sizhe led the way with the basket, while Nan's Mother and Siqi walked hand-in-hand behind, the little girl’s chatter drawing laughter.
Back home, chicken was already stewing in the pot. Worried it might not be enough, Nan Sheng added a chunk of preserved meat. With a few vegetable dishes, it would be a hearty meal.
"Mom! Come see! Grandma picked so many greens—she’s making us dumplings tomorrow!"
Nan Sheng stepped out, taking the basket with a sigh. "You really shouldn’t have. You finally get a break, and you go up the mountain?"
Nan's Mother knew her daughter meant well, but country folk never rested unless they were bedridden.
"You love wild herb dumplings, don’t you? I’ll make plenty tomorrow—you three can have them for lunch too." She added, "Since your husband’s away, visit more often with the kids. It’ll ease our minds."
Nan Sheng agreed to everything, savoring the care. "I will, Mom. Rest now—we’ll eat once Dad and Brother return."
She settled the children in the west room with pastries to tide them over. "Tired from the mountain? Nap for a while."
As work hours ended, Nan Sheng started cooking, though Nan's Mother now tended the fire.
Waking to find her spot taken, Siqi pouted but didn’t dare challenge her grandma.
When the food was ready and the men still hadn’t returned, Nan Sheng grew uneasy. "Mom, should we check on them?"
In the original story, only Nan's Mother was hurt by the crazed ox. Keeping her home had seemed enough to change fate, but the delay made Nan Sheng anxious.
Nan's Mother waved it off. "No need. Some slackers drag out work—the foreman might’ve held them back."
Much later, Nan Mingli rushed in, pale. "The old cowherd let the ox graze on poisonous weeds. It went mad before being killed—trampled crops and flung the herder aside!"
Many in the fields had been hurt dodging the beast—sprains, falls—so Nan's Father stayed to help.
