Chapter 154

"What if your wife gets into college and decides she's too good for a country bumpkin like you?"

Mary Stone chopped meat on the cutting board while side-eyeing her third son. She saw things clearly—that wife of his, with her delicate looks and refined air, didn’t seem the type to settle down quietly.

"Don’t worry, Ma." Michael Stone grinned, deftly turning the meat in his hands. "Emily’s good to me. She’s just a bit reserved, not the type for sweet talk."

"Hmph!" Mary snorted. "That’s how you fool yourself!"

Unbothered, Michael cheerfully arranged the marinated meat into a basin. "I’m heading to town for salt. I’ll grab Emily some snacks while I’m at it."

"Go on, then!" Mary waved her cleaver at him. "Just seeing you annoys me!"

Once her son was gone, Mary tucked two choice cuts of pork belly into the cupboard and polished the stove until it gleamed. She needed to visit her son’s house—see how this cured meat was supposed to be made.

More importantly, she needed to figure out what Emily was really up to. If that girl was planning to ditch Michael the moment she got into college, Mary would make sure that plan never saw the light of day.

"Mrs. Stone, you’re home alone?"

Emily Johnson, crouched in the yard cleaning pig offal, startled at the voice. She looked up to see her mother-in-law at the gate and quickly wiped her hands as she stood.

"Ma, you’re here. David and Tommy are out playing. Michael went to town for salt."

Mary scanned the yard. The snow hadn’t fully melted, and the cold wind nipped at her neck. She marched straight to the kitchen, frowning at the pile of meat on the counter.

"Michael asked me to help with the cured meat."

Emily trailed behind, her stomach knotting. She had no idea how to make cured meat—didn’t even know what kind of branches to use for smoking.

"Ma, I heard cypress branches are used for smoking?"

"Mm, with dried orange and pomelo peels too." Mary briskly tied on an apron. "Salt it for a few days first, then hang it to smoke."

"Then... thank you for your help, Ma."

Mary’s gaze landed on the pile of pork bones in the corner—some already salted, others still bloody. And that heap of offal? She doubted Emily’s soft hands had even touched it.

"How about sausages?" Emily suddenly suggested. "I bought the spices, but... I’m not sure how to stuff them."

Mary huffed. City girls and their fussiness. But seeing the hopeful look in her daughter-in-law’s eyes, she nodded.

The two women worked all morning—one chopping meat, the other mixing spices. By the time Michael returned, the yard was strung with rows of plump red sausages, and the rich aroma of bone broth bubbled from the stove.

"Sausages?" Michael’s eyes lit up. "You and Ma made these?"

Emily lifted her chin proudly. "Let’s invite Pa for lunch too."

Michael’s heart softened. He took over her task. "You two rest. I’ll handle the rest."

"Michael..." Emily tugged his sleeve, her voice sweet. "I was thinking of making spiced pork too, but... I don’t know if it’s marinated with soy sauce..."

"Do it!" Michael agreed without hesitation. "I bought all kinds of spices. Whatever you want, we’ll make it."

Mary rolled her eyes. The way these two fawned over each other was sickening even to a mother. But... that little pout of Emily’s really was hard to resist.

Fine. As long as the girl stayed loyal to Michael, Mary could afford to be a little kinder.