Chapter 23 - 023: Let Them Regret and Repent
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Zhang Shanni had tidied herself up and left the left wing just after six o'clock, searching around but unable to find Xie Jingchen's dirty clothes, so she could only head to the front courtyard.
For the countryside, six o'clock was not early. Diligent women were basically all up and had started their household chores. Even though land had not been allocated to individual households yet, in more remote areas, many people were already privately cultivating some wasteland, planting vegetables, and raising chickens, ducks, and geese, especially since communal meals had been abolished.
"Mom, let me help you." As soon as Zhang Shanni arrived at the kitchen, sure enough, she found Zhou Xiuhua washing rice. Seeing the several sweet potatoes lying aside, she swiftly washed them, helped cut them up, and started making breakfast porridge.
"Ah, little girl, why are you up so early?" Zhou Xiuhua was two parts more satisfied seeing Zhang Shanni up so early.
"It's not early, Mom. What else can I do?" Zhang Shanni chopped diligently, and in just three or four minutes, she had cut five sweet potatoes, ready to be cooked. She stopped and looked towards Mrs. Xie.
"There's no rush, you still need to go to town with Shitou soon, don't get your clothes dirty." Zhou Xiuhua stirred the rice porridge without even turning her head as she spoke.
"... Oh." Zhang Shanni felt a bit at a loss; although she had the original host's memories, some habits were not really her own, and she didn't know what to do. Just at this moment, Xie Jingchen finally showed up.
"Mom——" Xie Jingchen burst into the kitchen, sweating profusely, just in time to see Zhang Shanni standing like a little wife beside her mother-in-law, playing with the hem of her garment somewhat helplessly. When she saw him, she smiled joyfully, her dark face not diminishing her cheerfulness at all.
"Eh~"
Xie Jingchen's expression relaxed, as if he had just greeted his mother and turned his attention to Zhang Shanni, first with surprise, then as if figuring something out, said: