After Death, I Finally Met The Man Of My Dreams

Chapter 99: Yard Work

Yichen and his brothers hurried to work in the yard. The sun was rising quickly in the sky and they hoped to get it down by the end of the day at the latest.

"This is worse than what happened to our little garden at home but still better than the fields." Yi Ming commented as he worked.

"Will the damage cause any major problems for the village in regards to food shortages or the cost rising?" Yichen asked. He and Mochou had become rather self sufficient with their garden but he still worried.

"Luckily the first harvest of grain and rice has passed and this second one only started not long ago. The farmers can still replant and grow a new crop before it gets cold again. It will have some affect in the prices but no one will be starving." Yi Ming said.

Yichen was glad to hear it. He didn't care if people starved to death but he did worry about the rise in crime often seen when food was scarce. Their home had thick walls and sturdy gates but they lived apart from the other villagers. It would be an easy target for criminals no matter how securely they built it.

"Don't worry, after what you did no one will dare come here to steal or even look at this house with bad intentions." Yi Xuan joked.

"Are you saying I did something wrong?" Yichen said with a glare.

"No. You were right to punish them. And I believe that The best punishments are those that last long after the wounds have healed."

"Shut up and clean." Yichen growled in response to his younger brother's smirk.

...

Mochou stayed inside all morning. At one point he asked Yichen to kill a couple quails for him but aside from that he stayed inside quietly. He spent the time cooking a generous meal for Yichen and his brothers as thanks for the help.

He started by making a hearty vegetable soup. They had a lot of damaged vegetables from the storm and he needed to use them quickly before they rotted. He also made cured pork belly Bao bun sandwiches, fried quail instead of chicken pieces in a sweet and sour sauce, stir fry vegetables, and some fried noodles with rabbit and vegetables.

The meal looked great and smelled even better. Unfortunately to make it Mochou vomited three times and almost fell asleep twice.

With everything ready Mochou popped his head out of the house for the first time all morning.

"Yichen, lunch is ready." He announced for everyone to hear.

"Sister-in-law Mochou, it smells great." Yi Xuan said as he hurried over. Yichen grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him back without restraint or mercy.

"What are you doing?"

"Who said you were invited to lunch?" Yichen asked in an intimidating voice.

"Isn't it common courtesy to thank someone for their help with a meal?" His brother said in an aggrieved tone.

"Isn't it common courtesy to not come into people's homes uninvited?" Yichen rebuked.

Mochou ignored the fight happening between Yichen and his youngest brother and turned to Yi Ming.

"I made a lot of food. Please, come join Yichen and I for lunch." Mochou told him.

Yi Ming looked over at his younger brother. Yichen had obviously been paying attention because because he stopped bickering with Yi Xuan long enough to give his permission.

"You are lucky my spouse is more forgiving and thoughtful than me." He said before taking the lead to enter inside to eat.

When everyone finished cleaning up and had sat down to eat Mochou walked over to Yichen and leaned over to whisper in his ear.