Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Why Are You Punching the Wall?

Unable to find the source of the ash, Yi Meng decided not to dwell on it.

There are still many things to do, and since her own space can’t be disclosed yet, she must prepare everything thoroughly for now.

Just as she was about to chop vegetables with the knife, Yi Meng paused again.

The wound on her finger had vanished, and the blood on the chopping board had completely disappeared, as if it had never been there.

The healing of the wound could be credited to the space’s effects, but what about the blood on the board?

Yi Meng recalled the startling sound of a loud clang.

The sound seemed to drop exactly where the blood had fallen, which is also where there had been dust just now.

Suddenly, she remembered the small stone her daughter had given her this morning.

She couldn’t help but wonder if it was her imagination; she kept feeling that the ash she had just discarded seemed to be about the same size as that stone.

She hurriedly touched the spot where she used to keep the stone, but found nothing.

“Was it really that stone?”

Yi Meng quickly dropped the knife and rushed out of the kitchen, just in time to see her daughter holding hands with Qi Shilang, walking towards the backyard.

“Manbao!”

Yi Meng called out, but the children were chatting and laughing too loudly to hear her.

Yi Meng wanted to catch up and ask, but she just took two steps and stopped again.

Just yesterday, she had talked to her daughter about the space, and after a night’s sleep, her daughter gave her a stone, and then the space appeared.

So now, if she asks her daughter what happened, what would her daughter say?

Would she complain about her Grandpa Jade Emperor like last time when it thundered but didn’t rain?

If it really is like that…

Yi Meng looked down at her previously injured finger, and a bold guess arose in her mind.

Perhaps this space was a gift from the Jade Emperor.

What a splendid plus gift it was!

The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight. Although the sun wasn’t as scorching as at noon, it was still bright and dazzling.

Yi Meng looked up at the sky, joined her hands together, and kneeled before the heavens with such sincerity for the first time.

“Thank the Jade Emperor for granting the space! Rest assured, I will take good care of Manbao; I will do everything I can to ensure her life is carefree!”

After silently saying these words in her heart, Yi Meng supported herself on the ground and kowtowed three times.

When she raised her head again, she saw a rainbow suddenly appear in the direction she knelt towards.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but Yi Meng felt that the rainbow seemed to be shining with a golden glow.

However, the rainbow appeared for a brief moment, so short that many people didn’t have time to see it clearly before it disappeared.

Yi Meng smiled knowingly.

She knew that it was a response from the heavens.

Standing up, she took a deep breath and washed her hands again as she began seriously preparing for the upcoming escape from famine.

But she couldn’t help but feel somewhat doubtful.

If Manbao was truly favored by the heavens, then why arrange this escape from famine?

Could it be that Manbao is a heavenly immortal, coming down to undergo tribulations?

…

Mrs. Qi, Qi Quanjin, and Qi Quanyin were the first to return.

When they returned, Mrs. Qi’s complexion wasn’t very good, and her eyes were somewhat red.

Yi Meng saw it and knew that the Cheng Family was not going to join the Qi Family in fleeing.

This was understandable; with so many people to drag along, leaving one’s homeland is never easy.

Mrs. Qi washed her face and tidied her hair, and when she emerged again, she had reverted back to her usual appearance as Mrs. Qi Sr.

“Third daughter-in-law, what have you been up to today?”

While speaking, Mrs. Qi took out a small key and opened a cabinet deep inside the kitchen.

Yi Meng quickly recounted what she had done today and saw Mrs. Qi pull out a bamboo basket from the cabinet.

“Look at these eggs. If we can’t store them, just boil them all. It’ll save everyone from eating rotten or smelly ones.”

Mrs. Qi handed the bamboo basket to Yi Meng and took out several clay jars: “These contain sugar and some other things. See if you can use them.”

The cabinet stored precious or fragile items, primarily to prevent them from being destroyed by the impulsive boys in the family, not to guard against daughters-in-law.

Yi Meng was familiar with the contents of the cabinet, and after examining them, she said, “Mom, I’ll make tea eggs with these eggs! Boiled slightly salty, they should last a couple of days longer.”

Many of the items in those jars were bought on Yi Meng’s suggestion, mostly various seasonings.

The variety of seasonings in this era wasn’t much, with items like star anise and fennel often considered medicinal herbs.

To purchase them, one had to go to the pharmacy; they weren’t available elsewhere.

Items from the pharmacy are never cheap, so once bought, they were classified as valuable goods and stored in the cabinet.

Previously, during large meal preparations, Yi Meng hadn’t thought of using these precious items, but now seeing the eggs, she thought of making tea eggs.

“Alright, do as you see fit!”

Regarding cooking, Mrs. Qi still trusted the third daughter-in-law’s skills.

Besides using slightly more oil and salt, the rest was flawless.

Yi Meng responded with a quick “Yes.”

Qi Manman had just woken up from her nap and shouted for her grandmother upon hearing Mrs. Qi’s voice.

Mrs. Qi’s face instantly brightened with joy, talking affectionately while heading towards the room.

Yi Meng shook her head with a smile.

Her daughter, besides needing her at night, always sought her grandmother first during the day.

“Such a little troublemaker.”

Yi Meng remarked fondly, then began placing the eggs in a basin for cleaning.

After cleaning the eggs and boiling them in cold water until cooked, she fished them out to cool, then placed them in a pot with water, tea leaves, star anise, cinnamon, salt, soy sauce, and other seasonings.

While simmering the marinade, she made small cuts on the eggs with a knife.

This way, the eggs could absorb flavors more easily.

Though over time, the eggs would become salty, but they’d last longer; a bit of saltiness wouldn’t hurt.

By dusk, Qi Dafu and Qi Ercai finally returned with their respective wives.

In comparison, Qu Laodi appeared in the best condition.

Her eyes weren’t red, but one cheek was slightly flushed, and she even hummed a tune cheerfully on her way back.

Qi Ercai, conversely, looked upset, even visibly showing signs of anger.

Mrs. Qi, puzzled, called Qi Ercai to the kitchen while Qu Laodi was tidying up in the room.

“Second son, what’s going on with your Yue Family?”

Mrs. Qi could guess it was related to Qu Laodi’s family, but couldn’t understand what happened to elicit such contrast in reactions between the couple.

Mention of this topic made Qi Ercai so angry that he punched the wall.

Mrs. Qi was displeased at once and scolded, “Qi Er, what’s wrong with you? Why are you punching the wall?”

Seeing her mother-in-law angry, Yi Meng, who was also working in the kitchen, thought to persuade him quickly.

However, before she could speak, her mother-in-law’s next words surprised her, causing her to stagger almost to the point of falling.

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