I'll Raise Pigs to Support You - Chapter 11

Dinner was stir-fried cabbage with pork. The fatty parts were rendered into lard for cooking, and the aroma alone was mouthwatering.

Though it had only been a few days, Song Yugui felt as if she hadn’t eaten meat in months. She couldn’t help but salivate.

The cabbage had been borrowed from Aunt Li—fresh, crisp leaves stir-fried in lard with a bit of pork, the scent alone enough to whet the appetite.

The meal wasn’t even ready yet, but Song Yugui was already staring eagerly.

Shen Xizhi wielded the spatula and quickly said, “It’ll be ready soon, Wife. Please sit for a while.”

But Song Yugui shook her head like a rattle-drum. “No, no. Xizhi, what do you think—after I get my wages, we’ll buy some cabbage seeds and grow a few heads ourselves, okay?”

Cabbage grew quickly and tasted delicious, much better than wild vegetables!

Shen Xizhi’s eyes lit up. The thought that Song Yugui had actually found work in town and was willing to contribute the earnings to the household finally made her look at her properly.

“I can clear a spot in the yard to plant cabbage.”

There were only two of them, so they wouldn’t need much. There happened to be a small plot in the yard that had once been used for vegetables, though it had long been neglected. If they wanted to grow cabbage, she could reclaim it.

Song Yugui didn’t know much about farming and left it all to Shen Xizhi. Nodding, she said, “Oh, then I’ll buy the seeds. Are the other family fields far from here?”

The Song family had once been somewhat well-off, so their land was close to home, sparing them long trips during busy farming seasons. Shen Xizhi knew the locations well.

“Mm, not far.”

“Then next year, let’s plant some rice.”

“Okay.”

As long as it was something proper, she would obey her wife in everything.

The stir-fried cabbage with pork was soon ready, its lardy fragrance wafting through the air as it was brought to the table.

Song Yugui took out the last two bowls and filled them with rice for both of them.

Just as Shen Xizhi finished setting out the dishes, a steaming bowl was pressed into her hands, the snow-white rice neatly packed inside.

She froze, instinctively looking up. “Wife…”

Outside, the autumn wind rustled through the leaves, while inside, her wife’s unconsciously gentle smile made her lose herself in thought.

Song Yugui had already lifted her skirt and sat down gracefully, picking up her chopsticks to eat. Hearing this, she also looked up. “What’s wrong?”

The young girl cradled the bowl in both hands. The swelling on her fair skin had faded, leaving only her snow-white hands, so pale they rivaled the rice. Her thick lashes fluttered as she glanced over timidly, biting her rosy lips. “I… I can’t eat this much. Wife, you have it.”

Her wife had worked hard today to find a job. She had cooked extra rice, fearing that if she didn’t eat enough, she wouldn’t have the strength to work. But now, most of it had ended up in her own bowl.

Looking at her wife’s portion… it seemed about the same as hers.

She… she only needed a little. She didn’t need this much.

Having grown up in the Shen family, where men were prioritized, her first reaction was that she wasn’t worthy.

She wasn’t worthy of eating more rice than her wife.

She had been married off for a hefty sum of silver—she was supposed to be her wife’s accessory.

How could she receive the same treatment as her?

This thought filled her with unease.

When treated poorly, she resented it. But when treated well, she couldn’t help but wonder—why?

Why the sudden kindness? Why had the beatings stopped?

Song Yugui, however, only had one reaction after looking her up and down: She’s so thin. So terribly thin. How could she not eat more? Without eating, how could she ever gain weight?

Eat! You must eat!

With a cold hum, Song Yugui rejected Shen Xizhi’s suggestion. “If I tell you to eat, then eat. No more nonsense.”

Her sharp gaze swept over the girl, noting her hesitation. Deliberately raising her voice, she added, “Why aren’t you eating? Not listening to me now?”

The words “not listening” struck like a hammer to the chest. In the past, those words were often followed by a beating. Shen Xizhi instantly grew fearful, her slender fingers tightening around the chopsticks as she quickly stuffed a bite of rice into her mouth. Chewing with puffed cheeks, her big, dewy eyes blinked up at Song Yugui.

Not even the stars shone as brightly as her eyes.

Song Yugui’s heart softened, but she didn’t show it. This household only had the two of them, and she hoped that, for as long as their marriage lasted, she could be Shen Xizhi’s support.

A pillar of support couldn’t appear too soft—otherwise, she wouldn’t seem reliable.

So she merely nodded slightly. “Eat. From now on, you’ll eat this much every day.”

“Oh.”

Who would want to go hungry if they could avoid it?

Shen Xizhi obediently agreed, burying her face in her bowl like a little squirrel, her cheeks continuously stuffed full.

Song Yugui noticed she was only eating plain rice, not touching the dishes. Frowning, she decided this wouldn’t do.

“Look up.”

At her command, the girl instantly raised her head, her round eyes obediently fixed on her.

So endearing it made one’s heart melt.

Now that her face wasn’t blocking the bowl, Song Yugui picked up a piece of glistening meat and placed it in the little hollow she’d made in her rice.

Shen Xizhi froze, her expression blank, as if unsure what this meant.

Song Yugui was almost exasperated.

Wasn’t it obvious?

“Plain rice is tasteless. Have some vegetables.”

She had figured it out by now—if she was firm and stern, Shen Xizhi would obey without question. But if she was gentle and accommodating, the girl would hesitate, even try to argue. So disobedient.

“Oh.”

Shen Xizhi responded again, lowering her head to eat the rice mixed with fragrant lard and actual meat.

Even in the Song household, let alone the Shen family, she rarely ever got to eat meat.

She hardly even knew the taste of it…

Such good things were always reserved for her younger brother—just like how she had been forced to sacrifice her dignity and future happiness, marrying a woman just to secure money for her brother’s education.

Her fingers clenched around the chopsticks, knuckles whitening, as a thin layer of moisture gathered in her eyes. So this was what meat tasted like. So this was why it was so delicious.

Her head remained bowed, so Song Yugui didn’t notice her little wife was on the verge of tears. She only felt the silence was a bit heavy, but that was normal. The novel’s great villain was quiet by nature, a reserved girl.

“Eat more. You’re so thin it’s uncomfortable to hold you.”

Every night when she hugged her to sleep, she could feel her bones.

As she spoke, she added another helping of crisp cabbage to Shen Xizhi’s bowl.

Shen Xizhi was an excellent cook. The cabbage stir-fried with pork was refreshingly crisp, rich with the fragrance of fat.

Song Yugui wished she could eat this dish every day!

Hmph, once they grew their own fresh cabbage at home, she’d eat it daily!

Another bite of vegetables landed in Shen Xizhi’s bowl, intensifying the heat in her eyes. From then on, every time Song Yugui took a bite for herself, she added one to Shen Xizhi’s bowl. Soon, the girl could hardly keep up. She had already eaten so much today—leftovers could be saved for tomorrow!

Finally managing to collect herself, she mumbled softly, “Wife, no more. I’ve had enough.”

But the moment she spoke, something was clearly off.

Song Yugui’s brow furrowed in disbelief and confusion. “You’re crying???”

Wait—why?!