Xu’s mother had just returned from work and was about to start preparing lunch when she noticed Xu Ying wasn’t home. Her face instantly turned pale with worry.
Hearing a noise behind her, she turned to see a few people walking back. Her tone carried a hint of anger as she scolded, “Shitou, who told you to take your aunty out? Don’t you know she just recovered from an illness and needs to rest?”
Xu Ying quickly ran over, trying to ease her mother’s anger. “Mom, look what we found!”
Shitou, eager to help, carried the basket on his back and hurried over.
Seeing her daughter take the initiative, Xu’s mother held back her frustration. “What is it? Isn’t this just pigweed?”
“There’s more than pigweed, ” Shitou grinned as he removed the weeds covering the top, revealing white duck eggs and chicken eggs beneath.
Xu’s mother’s eyes widened in astonishment, her earlier anger completely forgotten. She quickly shut the door and rushed forward. “Where did all these come from?”
“Mom, there’s still more underneath!” Xu Ying said with a smile.
Xu’s mother hurriedly took out the eggs, then removed the remaining layer of pigweed—only to gasp in shock at the sight of fresh fish and pheasants underneath.
She stood there, stunned for a moment, her throat moving as if swallowing her disbelief. Then she looked at Xu Ying, excitement shining in her eyes. “Yingying, you found all this?”
Xu Ying’s lips curled into a proud smile as she nodded. “Mom, let’s make fish soup for lunch! I want to drink fish soup.”
Xu’s mother clapped her hands delightedly. “Alright! Oh, our Yingying is truly blessed. Look at this—everyone went up the mountain hunting and came back empty-handed, but when Yingying goes, she brings home all these treasures.”
She was so overjoyed she could hardly contain herself.
Shitou chimed in enthusiastically, his eyes shining. “Exactly! My aunty is amazing. Even those educated youths from the village went up the mountain and didn’t find a single chicken feather. But my aunty went once and caught so much!”
Hearing her grandson praise her daughter, Xu’s mother beamed proudly. “Of course—she’s my daughter after all!”
“Mom, let’s send some fish and pheasant to Nai and Grandpa too,” Xu Ying suggested.
The elderly couple lived with Xu’s second uncle family. Normally, the parents would live with the eldest son, but their family was different. It wasn’t because Xu Jianguo was unfilial or the parents favored the second son—it was because the second daughter-in-law had suffered too much.
There were three children in the second branch. Xu Shengshun, the eldest son of the second family, had been the family’s pride since childhood: smart, top of his class, a high school graduate. The day he married his sweetheart of three years, he had also been assigned a good job—a day meant for double celebrations.
But fate had other plans. Just as the family was basking in joy, Xu Shengshun tripped over a stone, falling hard onto a sharp rock. Blood poured from his head. By the time he woke up in the hospital, the job was gone—and everyone was waiting for his new bride to call off the marriage.
But she didn’t. She married him anyway, wholeheartedly, and devoted herself to caring for him.
Xu’s family had always been blessed with loyal, affectionate daughters-in-law, and Xu’s mother had never forgotten the sacrifices made by the second family.
Without hesitation, Xu’s mother handed a fish and a pheasant to Shitou. “Put these in a basket and deliver them quietly, so no one sees.”
It would’ve been fine if it was just some steamed buns or pancakes, but meat? If others saw, it would stir up envy and gossip.
Though quick-tempered, Xu’s mother was prudent when it came to managing family matters.
Shitou nodded obediently, tucked the gifts into the basket, covered them with cloth, and hurried off.
Xu’s mother looked at the pile of wild game left on the ground and couldn’t stop smiling. She gathered everything into the kitchen, then selected the biggest fish, squatting beside the water vat to start cleaning it.
Xu Ying squatted beside her. “Mom, let’s send the extra fish to the Lu family.”
Xu’s mother glanced at her daughter affectionately. “My girl’s heart is too kind. But no, I won’t send the fish over. I’ll stew it later, and you can personally bring some to Da Ya. If I send the fish to her house, she might not get even a bite.”
Xu Ying thought about it and realized her mother was right. Lu Da Ya’s family favored sons over daughters. A boy was a treasure; a daughter was just grass.
If she delivered the fish there, Da Ya probably wouldn’t get to eat any of it. If not for Da Ya’s natural strength from good genetics, she wouldn’t have been able to save Xu Ying earlier—she’d nearly fainted by the river from exhaustion.
“Mom, do you need help?” Xu Ying asked, watching her mother work.
“You just go rest in the room,” Xu’s mother replied gently. Her loud, sharp tone with outsiders softened completely when talking to her daughter, afraid of frightening her.
But Xu Ying wasn’t one to sit still. After all those years of struggling to survive in the apocalypse, she wasn’t used to lying idle.
Her eyes darted to the vegetable garden at the door. She rushed over, pulled up a white radish, and grinned. “Mom, let’s stew the fish with radish. And I remember we still have mushrooms at home. Later, we can add mushrooms to the soup and fry some green peppers with eggs.”
Xu’s mother happily agreed. “Okay, I’ll listen to you!” With all these good things suddenly in the house, she didn’t feel the slightest bit of stinginess.
Meanwhile, Shitou had arrived at the second house. Inside, his aunt was gently wiping saliva from Xu Shengshun’s mouth.
“Auntie, my little aunt caught fish and pheasants on the mountain. Grandma told me to bring some over for you.”
“This fish is huge! Your little aunt’s amazing,” Zhang Ru exclaimed in surprise.
Shitou lifted his chin proudly. “Isn’t she? Even those educated youths couldn’t catch a thing, but my little aunt brought home all this in one trip!”
Zhang Ru chuckled at his bragging. “Yes, yes, our Yingying is the best.”
Uncle Xu Shengshun, seeing the pheasant, smiled childishly. “Meat… there’s meat!”
Zhang Ru glanced lovingly at her husband. “Good boy. Stay here, I’ll make you some fried meat.”
“Auntie, I’m heading back!” Shitou said, itching to return for the feast.
Zhang Ru let him go, handing the basket back. Watching the fish and pheasant in the kitchen, she hummed a cheerful tune.
Others might think she was foolish for giving up an easy life to marry a disabled man—but only she knew: this fool had given her happiness no one else could.
So what if he was “foolish”? She was willing.
Shitou ran home, closing the door behind him. Xu’s mother had just finished cleaning the fish.
“Grandma, can I start the fire now?” he asked eagerly.
Seeing the radishes already cut, Xu’s mother smiled. “Go ahead. Look how hardworking your aunty is—just got back from hunting and already washing and chopping vegetables.”
Xu Ying’s lips twitched. Even this made her mother proud.
In the apocalypse, she’d relied on no one but herself. Now, suddenly back in this warmth—a home shielded from the wind and rain, a family full of love, peace, and stability—it felt like a blessing beyond words.
Shitou giggled and squatted by the stove, starting the fire. “My aunty isn’t just hardworking—she’s amazing.”
Xu’s mother felt her heart sweeten like honey, and she looked at her grandson with rare tenderness. “You’ll get an extra piece of fish at lunch today.”