Father. I've Redone It.

Although Han An Nuong was mentally prepared for the matter of "sister-in-law and uncle being together" to be known, when it was truly known by others, Han An Nuong still had the urge to dig a hole in the ground and bury herself.

After all, this kind of affair between a brother's widow and his younger brother was easier said than accepted.

Tran Mac knew his sister-in-law was just thin-skinned; she would get used to it later.

Tran Mac embraced his sister-in-law with one arm while eating meat with the other.

...

Phuc Trach Village was only so large. As the weather warmed up, the aroma of cooked food from the Tran family naturally drifted to the homes of other villagers.

"Brother Mac Nhi is truly promising. At his age, after paying the hunting tax and poll tax, he still has money to eat meat."

"Perhaps the bear meat from last time isn't finished yet."

"In my opinion, Brother Mac Nhi must have struck it rich. During this period, he has gone into town several times, back and forth. Each time he returns, he brings back many things. Now he's even supporting Brother Thuy's family."

"I think Brother Mac Nhi must be relying on yamen connections. Those few bailiffs who came before were all respectful to Brother Mac Nhi. Also, I heard that Er Gou and Vuong Ma Tu, they didn't just disappear; they were... by Brother Mac Nhi..."

"Pah! Such words are fine to say at home, but you mustn't spread them outside... That Brother Mac Nhi, he's a vengeful type."

"I understand. Ai, the last time my family ate meat was still during the New Year before last. That taste, I've almost forgotten it. You said Brother Mac Nhi was such a good person before, always greeting us warmly, readily agreeing when we borrowed grain. How has he changed into a different person now?"

"Isn't it because the villagers bullied Brother Mac Nhi for being young, thinking he was easy to bully? If not for Vuong Ma Tu's leg incident, which changed Brother Mac Nhi, who knows what state he'd be bullied into by the villagers. Brother Mac Nhi's heart is still good. Not only did he arrange Uncle Dai Lam's funeral affairs, but he also sent grain to Uncle Dai Lam's and Uncle Tong Dien's families twice, before and after."

"..."

Tong Dien's house.

Tong Dien's eldest son-in-law, Luu Thu, was a lazy person. Before, when Tong Dien and his eldest daughter Van Nuong were still alive, they could still supervise him a bit.

But after this incident happened, Luu Thu equivalently inherited all of the Tong family's assets, and there was no longer anyone who could supervise him.

After selling off all of the Tong family's fields and land and paying the taxes, he took the remaining money and squandered it.

As a live-in son-in-law, no matter where in the Dai Song imperial dynasty, he would be looked down upon. This period of being looked down upon had been long. Now that no one was supervising him, Luu Thu was very eager to vent, to prove himself, and actually started mixing with the village ruffians.

Later, he even invited them into his home, as if wanting to prove before his "friends" that he was the head of the family. He would either beat or scold his ten-year-old younger daughter, making her do all the dirty and strenuous chores in the house, putting on the image of a tough and strict "stern father."

There was also another reason: the main reason he was looked down upon by Tong Dien was that, as a live-in son-in-law, he and Van Nuong had two daughters. Tong Dien blamed him for this.

Now that Tong Dien was dead, Luu Thu naturally transferred a portion of his resentment onto his own younger daughter.

In the main bedroom, Luu Thu and a ruffian from another village were sitting on the bed drinking wine.

To say it was wine, it was actually just a kind of water with a slight alcoholic smell.

This kind of "weak wine" sold particularly well in Binh Dinh County; one wen could buy a large bowl.

"Brother Luu, I heard you sold off all your fields and land, and paid the hunting tax and poll tax?" the ruffian from the other village said.

"Ai, don't even mention it. This damn yamen is even darker than the Thanh Ha Gang. Three mu of fields and land didn't even sell for ten taels of silver. After paying the taxes, what's left in my hands is just this little bit." Luu Thu took a sip of wine and said angrily.

Hearing this, the two ruffians glanced at each other, both seeing disappointment in the other's eyes. Then one said, "Brother Luu, you're still too honest. If it were me, after inheriting this Tong family, the first thing I'd do is sell the fields and land. When the yamen comes to collect taxes, I'd just slip into the mountains and forests. After the tax collection is over, I'd come back out. That way, you'd save so much silver."

"Tax evasion." Luu Thu's pupils contracted. He then put down his bowl and said softly, "That's a serious crime. At this age, if caught, one could be beaten to death."

"Can't be caught. Look at me, aren't I fine now? Before, as soon as those tax collectors came, I'd get news and slip out the back. Besides, I'm all alone, sold my land long ago, so I don't worry at all about the yamen forcibly taking my land," the village ruffian said.

"I heard the northern rebels are about to attack, the world is about to change. In this icy and snowy land, the yamen people can't possibly keep watch at my house all the time. If they fail to catch me a few times, the yamen will give up. Besides, the yamen no longer cares about matters outside the city."

Hearing this, Luu Thu was somewhat envious and said, "I'm not alone like you. I still have a daughter. If I run away, what about her? I can't possibly take her with me to hide as well; she's still so young..."

"Isn't that easy? Just sell her to a brothel. Some old masters in the city like that type. You could get a sum of silver," the ruffian from the other village, perhaps having drunk too much or for some other reason, blurted out without even passing it through his pig brain.

Luu Thu was about to get angry.

"Crash..."

A sound came from outside the room.

Luu Thu went out to look. It was pitch dark. He brought a candle over and only then discovered that his younger daughter, Tong Min, had been tripped by the threshold and fallen to the ground. A plate had shattered, and the freshly stir-fried peanuts were scattered all over the floor.

But Luu Thu, instead of asking if Tong Min was hurt, started scolding, "So useless! Can't even do this little thing right! It seems your mother really spoiled you when she was alive."

Tong Min was in pain from the fall, tears welling in her eyes, but she didn't dare to cry out. She slowly stood up, squatted down, and picked up the peanuts one by one. Finally, holding them in her small hands, she extended them towards Luu Thu: "Father... Father, I... I didn't mean to. Please don't be angry, okay? I... I picked them up. Take a look."

Luu Thu wanted to push her away with one hand, but seeing Tong Min's appearance, he raised his hand and then lowered it, huffing coldly, "They're all so dirty, how can they be eaten?"

"Father, they can be eaten." Tong Min picked up a peanut, wiped it on her clothes, then put it in her mouth and said, "Father, look."

"You eat them yourself."

Dropping this sentence, Luu Thu turned and went back into the room.

The ruffian's voice sounded: "What happened?"

"Nothing, the child is useless, broke a bowl. Come, drink."

"..."

Outside the room, tears slid from Tong Min's eyes, but she didn't dare to cry out loud. After a moment, she took out another bowl, wiped it clean, picked up the remaining peanuts, then returned to the kitchen, wiped each one clean, and then put them back in the pot to stir-fry.

Finally, Tong Min dished them up, carried the bowl, and walked towards the main bedroom. This time, she was very careful, taking small step by small step. At last, she finally brought it before Luu Thu and said with a smile, "Father, I've redone it."

Two days later, the waterproofing and smoke-proofing work on the cellar was completed.

What remained was to dig a passage from Tran Mac's house to Truong Ha's house, connecting the two homes. Once great chaos arrived, whether it was rebels or bandits, or anything else, they would definitely target Tran Mac's house.

It was midday.

Han An Nuong had almost finished cooking, and everything was laid out together.

On the table, there were wild vegetables stir-fried with lard, cornmeal momo, wheat rice, sweet fermented rice wine, and also a plate of soybeans as a drinking snack. Of course, meat was also indispensable.

The sweet fermented rice wine didn't have much alcohol content; it was sweet upon entry, so Han An Nuong could also drink it.

Truong Ha was very considerate, proactively pouring a bowl for Tran Mac and Han An Nuong.

Gurgle, gurgle!

The wine entered the bowl, the sound crisp, its color clear and slightly yellow, the rice fragrance pure.

Tran Mac had just taken a sip of rice wine when a voice sounded from outside the room: "Is Brother Mac Nhi here?"

"Brother Mac, it's Luu Thu." Without needing Han An Nuong to go look, Truong Ha stood up, glanced, and said.

"You ask him what's the matter," Tran Mac put down his wine bowl and said in a low voice.

Actually, towards the Tong family, Tran Mac felt a trace of guilt in his heart. If he hadn't killed Tran Ho, the Thanh Ha Gang might not have searched the village, thereby causing the Tong family to... ai...

Truong Ha went out and chatted with Luu Thu for a while, then quickly came in and said, "Brother Mac, he said he has something to tell you. Oh right, he also brought Tong Min with him."

"Tell me?" Tran Mac's eyes widened. He picked up a soybean and ate it, then said, "Let him come in."

"Brother Mac says you can come in," Truong Ha called out from outside the room.

Han An Nuong picked up some food and put it in her bowl, then prepared to carry her bowl into the inner room. Tran Mac pulled her hand, had her sit down, and said, "Sister-in-law, no need for that in the future. You sit down and listen too."

"Al... Alright."

In Phuc Trach Village, no matter whose house it was, when men discussed matters, the womenfolk would proactively go into the inner room to avoid them and wouldn't get involved. Today, this small gesture from Tran Mac made Han An Nuong feel an inexplicable bit of small joy in her heart.

But what happened next made her unhappy.

Luu Thu led a little girl into the room.

"Brother Mac Nhi, Brother Thuy, Mistress Han." Luu Thu greeted each person, bowing and scraping, then gently pulled his daughter down and said, "Min Nhi, hurry up and greet everyone."

"Brother Mac Ca, Brother Thuy Ca, Sis... Sister Han." The little girl, Tong Min, lifted her head, a smile on her face, and called out sweetly. When she saw the food on the table, especially the meat, her eyes couldn't help but sparkle a little, saliva forming in her mouth. Afraid of being discovered, she quickly lowered her head again.

Tran Mac and Truong Ha nodded and smiled. Han An Nuong, however, stood up and walked over, squatted down halfway in front of Tong Min, and pinched Tong Min's soft little face: "Min Nhi is so good. You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

Saying so, she pulled Tong Min to the table, used chopsticks to pick up a piece of pork, and gave it to Tong Min.

What happened to the Tong family couldn't help but make Han An Nuong feel sympathy for her.

Tong Min carefully swallowed her saliva but didn't take it, instead turning her head to glance at Luu Thu.

"Hurry up and thank this sister," Luu Thu said.

"Thank you, Sister Han." After Tong Min took it, she didn't eat it herself first but tore off half and turned to give it to Luu Thu: "Father, you eat."

Han An Nuong was stunned.

Luu Thu, seeing the three people's gazes sweep over, smiled embarrassedly and said, "Father isn't eating, you eat it."

Only then did Tong Min begin to eat in small mouthfuls.

Tran Mac glanced at the two of them. Luu Thu and Tong Min were both dressed very cleanly. Especially Tong Min, the cotton-padded jacket she was wearing looked new, and her hair was still damp, probably just washed.

Tran Mac poured him half a bowl of sweet fermented rice wine and said, "Speak, what is it?"

"Thank you, Brother Mac Nhi." Luu Thu drank the sweet fermented rice wine in his bowl in one gulp, then said with a smile, "Brother Mac Nhi, what do you think of Min Nhi?"

Tong Min was about ten years old. At this age, her features hadn't fully developed yet. Moreover, she seemed not to have eaten a full meal for a long time; prolonged hunger made her look thin and sallow.

Tran Mac's brow furrowed: "If you have something to say, say it directly."

Luu Thu smiled and rubbed his hands. First, he showered Tran Mac with a round of "rainbow farts," saying his future wife will surely be the daughter of a prince or general, then said, "If Brother Mac Nhi doesn't mind, let our two families be united by marriage. Let Min Nhi be your 'little one'."

The words fell.

"Cough, cough..." Truong Ha, who was drinking sweet fermented rice wine, perhaps drank too hastily and was choked by it. He covered his mouth and coughed several times.

If Tong Min weren't present, and it was difficult to say such things in front of a child, Truong Ha would definitely have said, "Where do you get the courage to say such a thing? Marriage alliance? Do you think you're worthy?"

Brother Mac was someone who could even kill Tran Ho, a proper martial artist master.

Even if he was looking for a "little one," what kind of "little one" couldn't he find? Would he possibly fancy a young village brat?

Even Han An Nuong felt the two were mismatched.

However, her heart felt as if it was being squeezed by someone.

Especially Luu Thu's sentence, "Brother Mac Nhi's future wife will surely be the daughter of a prince or general," made Han An Nuong's heart instantly feel empty.

After all, whether by law or ethics, she was Tran Mac's sister-in-law and definitely couldn't become his wife.

Even if she didn't care about her reputation, and Tran Mac didn't care, she had to care about Tran Mac's reputation.

The two could be together, but it definitely couldn't be openly displayed.

Tong Min also stopped chewing the meat in her mouth, lowered her head, and clutched the corner of her clothes, a hint of shyness in her eyes.

Although she was only ten, the children of poor families mature early. Moreover, in the common folk, people marrying at thirteen or fourteen was commonplace. She already understood a little and knew what her father's words meant.

But Tran Mac, hearing these words, his mouth twitched. He had no pedophilic interests, nor any thoughts of "playing a raising simulation." In his eyes, Tong Min was just like an elementary school student.

Moreover, when it came to women, he was very realistic. He only liked young, beautiful, well-figured "older sisters." En... and also had a touch of "Cao Cao's disposition."

Towards Tong Min, he truly didn't have a single thought.

Of course, he also didn't refuse too directly. After all, the little girl was right in front of him; he wanted to avoid hurting her self-esteem.

Tran Mac said, "What are you joking about? She's still a child. What kind of father are you? Besides, Uncle Tong and your wife Van Nuong only passed away such a short time ago. The three-year mourning period isn't even over, and you bring this up..."

Tran Mac's gaze turned cold, glaring at Luu Thu.

Luu Thu shivered but still didn't want to give up just like that. He said, "Brother Mac Nhi, you can let Min Nhi stay by your side as a maid or something. Don't look at her young age, but she's very obedient and can do anything."

Saying so, his eyes looked towards Tong Min.

Tong Min, seeing Luu Thu's gaze, hurriedly nodded towards Tran Mac: "Brother Mac Ca, Min Nhi is very obedient and won't cause you any trouble."

Tran Mac smiled, gave a cornmeal momo to Tong Min, and said, "Brother Mac Ca isn't saying you're not obedient. It's just that you're still young. The most important thing right now is to go back and observe mourning for your mother, and also your grandfather and grandmother. Don't think about anything else."

His gaze shifted back to Luu Thu: "I don't want to say it a second time."