Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 196: Who’s Outside?

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Who's Outside?

The small wooden house of Mo Qianni's family had two floors, its walls covered in ivy, lush and green. Outside was a small courtyard with a chicken coop and a patch of land where some onions and garlic were grown.

Once they entered and set down their luggage, Ma Guifang called out to Yang Chen, "Son-in-law Yang, you're all wet. Better dry off and change into some clean clothes first. Tonight, you'll sleep in the room on the east side of the second floor with Ni Zi."

"Mom," Mo Qianni hurriedly interjected, "I'll sleep with you."

After all, they hadn't reached that level of intimacy yet. The thought of sharing a room with Yang Chen made Mo Qianni immediately shy away.

Ma Guifang laughed and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking? You're both grown-ups. Sleeping with your mom, what's that like?"

Before Mo Qianni could argue further, Ma Guifang warmly addressed Yezi, "Little Ye, can you bear with it? The house is small, so you'll sleep with your auntie, alright?"

Yezi cast a helpless look at Mo Qianni, nodding happily. Mo Qianni blushed deeply, playfully protested to her mother, but Ma Guifang acted as if she hadn't seen it and turned to Yang Chen, "Son-in-law Yang, do you have clothes to change into? Change into this set. I'll wash this one for you, and you can hang it out to dry tomorrow when the sun comes out."

Yang Chen quite admired his newly acquainted mother-in-law. She indeed had good taste. If she put her daughter in his bed, it must be a wise decision.

Men are always quick to change clothes. Yang Chen went upstairs to the prepared room, glancing around at the old bamboo furniture. He undressed, wiped himself dry, and put on a set of long-sleeved clothes and pants. Although he didn't feel cold, dressing like this would seem more normal to others.

When he came downstairs, smoke was already billowing from the kitchen stove. Mo Qianni finally returned to her mother's side, with no shortage of topics to discuss. Meanwhile, Yezi was picking wild vegetables, occasionally joining in the conversation. The three women were happily engaged.

As a big man, Yang Chen felt awkward intervening. He pulled up a bamboo chair and sat in front of the courtyard, watching the endless rain, lighting a cigarette, leisurely waiting for dinner.

Mo Qianni, who was busy at the stove, saw Yang Chen lounging at the doorway with his legs crossed and thought he should at least make some effort in front of her mother. So, she called out, "Yang Chen, come help my mom chop vegetables!"

To her surprise, before Yang Chen could get up, Ma Guifang immediately told him to stay seated and scolded Mo Qianni, "You girl! Who asks a man to come into the kitchen? You're so thoughtless!"

Mo Qianni pouted in silence, feeling aggrieved after her mother's reprimand. Yang Chen, witnessing Mo Qianni, who usually had a strong demeanor, acting like a little girl, found it amusing and chuckled to himself.

"Mom, see? He's laughing at me!" Mo Qianni complained to Ma Guifang in a low voice.

Ma Guifang glanced at Yang Chen and smiled satisfactorily, then whispered to Mo Qianni, "I was worried about what kind of son-in-law you'd bring back. Now I can rest assured. Yang Chen is a good man. You'll be fine with him. I trust him."

"Really?" Mo Qianni was surprised by how quickly she had passed the test. She asked excitedly, "Mom, how did you figure it out?"

"Just from the way you two came back. He carried such heavy luggage alone without even using an umbrella in the rain. When we were at the village entrance, he stood there drenched, without a single complaint. He didn't try too hard to please me or act superior. Such a simple and reliable man. So, Ni Zi, the son-in-law you chose, I'm very satisfied," Ma Guifang explained.

Mo Qianni, hearing this and seeing Yang Chen sitting at the door with a smug expression, felt warm inside and suddenly realized there was nothing to be upset about.

Yang Chen had no idea Ma Guifang thought so highly of him. Carrying luggage and getting soaked in the rain were nothing to him, not even worth complaining about! As for flattering his mother-in-law, it wasn't that he didn't want to; he just didn't know how, afraid of doing it wrong!

Yang Chen nibbled on wild vegetables, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Mo Qianni's suggestion. If they really brought her mother-in-law to Zhonghai, wouldn't it expose their relationship to her? By then, instead of smiling at him, she might come at him with both kitchen knives! But being filial to the elderly was only right, so Yang Chen could only swallow his bitterness. Who asked him to be so open-minded and inclusive?

At that moment, Yezi came out of the kitchen carrying a sandpot and placed a pot of wild mushroom and chicken bone soup on the table, emitting a charming natural fragrance.

Ma Guifang picked up a ladle, took Yezi's bowl, and smiled as she scooped some soup for her. "Here, Yezi, you've worked hard. Have a bowl first. I'll serve one for Yang son-in-law too. These wild mushrooms were picked today, very fresh. Drink more soup."

Because the weather was chilly, the hot soup was indeed tempting. Soon, all four of them had drunk a bowl or two, feeling warm and comfortable.

Just as they were about to continue eating and chatting, they heard knocks on the big wooden door in the courtyard.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The iron rings on the wooden door were knocked continuously from outside.

"Why is someone coming at this late hour?" Mo Qianni asked, puzzled.

Ma Guifang also felt curious. "Who's outside?"

She asked, but there was still no response, just the continuous knocking.

A strange smile flickered across Yang Chen's face. "We'll know if we go and see. Maybe it's not a person, but a ghost?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?! Where would a ghost come from?" Mo Qianni pushed Yang Chen discontentedly. In fact, the atmosphere was eerie and cold at the moment, and she was a bit scared.

"I'll go and open the door!" Yezi, being brave, volunteered, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and ran out from under the eaves, braving the rain to get to the door.

At that moment, both Ma Guifang and Mo Qianni, sitting at the table, suddenly clutched their heads in pain and shook their heads in discomfort.

"Why am I suddenly so sleepy?"

Mo Qianni muttered, then collapsed on the table with a "thud," unconscious!

"Thud!"

Ma Guifang also suddenly fell onto the table, knocking over the wine glasses on the table. Fortunately, it was a wooden table, and the glasses made a sound as they rolled to the side without breaking.

Seeing the mother and daughter both collapse and fall asleep, Yang Chen didn't panic. Instead, he looked towards the door.

At that moment, Yezi, who had reached the door, happened to open it.