Ruling the Historical Romance Novel as the Female Supporting Character-Chapter 74: The Petty Qin’s Mother
"Did he bully you?" Qin Kaize’s gaze turned icy.
Ke Zeming instinctively wanted to defend himself, but his self-control kept him from interrupting the couple’s conversation.
"Not really bullying," Su Yijia replied. "It’s within his duty. I was a bit scared and annoyed when I realized I was being followed but wasn’t immediately apprehended. But thinking about it now, they must have been absolutely sure I wouldn’t get hurt. I was just worrying unnecessarily." She used her hand to gesture a small amount, appearing somewhat aggrieved, like a naive kitten.
Seeing her in this vulnerable state, even Ke Zeming felt he might have been too harsh on her. Besides, the reason he kept a distance and delayed the arrest was not only to ensure they wouldn’t be detected but also due to his suspicion of his best friend’s new wife.
He wanted to see if those men would really harm her. He even suspected they might fake injuries to stage a sympathy ploy, making them trust her more.
Ke Zeming noticed Qin Kaize’s intense gaze shift toward him. It felt as if the stare was from the depths of hell.
Feeling guilty, Ke Zeming lowered his head slightly and said, "I’m sorry; it’s my fault. I’ll accept any punishment you deem fit."
"Carry 10 kilograms each leg, one-hour single-leg training. One leg falls, 100 push-ups with weights," Qin Kaize responded with a long list of physical penalties, clearly enraged.
Although Su Yijia could understand, it didn’t mean she wasn’t angry. So, she had no intention of pleading for leniency at the moment.
Ke Zeming, feeling the pain in his muscles, clenched his teeth and nodded. "Alright, we’ll do as you say."
He left the room and went to the back of the car to retrieve sandbags. He had prepared for this, knowing Qin Kaize’s temperament well. With sandbags strapped to his hands and feet, he positioned himself in a spot where Qin Kaize could see him and stood on one leg.
"It’s now 6:40. You guys continue; I’ll go make dinner," Su Yijia said as she got up and went to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, there were only basic condiments like salt and soy sauce. The lard Su Yijia had rendered and the rapeseed oil she had purchased from the food station was put in her own room by Qin’s mother due to Yijia’s previous excessive use.
Su Yijia sighed but didn’t want to retrieve them now. After a long day, she didn’t want to deal with more conflicts. Besides, arguing wouldn’t change the situation.
In the city, each worker was entitled to half a kilogram of cooking oil per month. However, in reality, households needed around 770 grams per person each month, so the distributed amount was insufficient. Most families used a small amount of oil on gauze to grease the pan while cooking, ensuring the food wouldn’t stick.
Su Yijia glanced at her portable storage and took out the remaining sixteen pounds of soybeans she had collected last time. She extracted 5 pounds of oil and poured a portion into an empty white vinegar bottle, which she cleaned with boiling water, placing it on the stove. The rest of the oil was stored in a large soup bowl and returned to the storage.
As it was getting late, she opted for a simple dinner. She made green bean soup, stir-fried bell peppers with meat, sweet and sour fish fillets, garlic lettuce, and tomato and egg soup. She then served the dishes with the help of Gao Huabin, placing them on the table in the yard.
Su Yijia noticed Ke Zeming’s disapproving gaze, but she finished her meal anyway. Then she started to feed Qin Kaize the green bean soup. After simmering for a long time, the green beans were similar to congee and could fill one up with half a bowl.
