Shitou’s face lit up with even more joy, and as soon as he heard there was an extra peice for him , he couldn’t hold back his words and began blowing rain bow farts . He blurted out, “Grandma, it’s not about whether there’s meat or not. I really think my aunty is amazing.
Look at her—who in our village is as beautiful as my aunty? Who’s as knowledgeable as she is? Who’s cleaner and tidier than her? My aunty isn’t just pretty and capable; she’s also respectful to the elders, and she takes care of me and Huzi like we’re her own brothers. That’s the kind of person she is.”
As he spoke, Shitou gave a big thumbs-up.
Mother Xu couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Alright, alright, it’s good that you know how wonderful your aunty is. When you grow up, don’t be like those ungrateful brats. You’d better be filial to her, you hear me?”
Shitou immediately nodded solemnly. “yes, I definitely will! When I earn money in the future, I’ll buy new clothes for my aunty.”
Hearing this, Mother Xu was thoroughly pleased.
Just then, Father Xu returned with his sons from work. As soon as they stepped into the yard, they caught a whiff of the rich aroma of cooked meat.
“Mom, are we having meat for dinner tonight?”
Mother Xu chuckled. “This fish? Your little sister caught it. She was worried that your bodies were getting weak, so she hurried into the mountains to catch some wild game to help nourish you.
If you don’t treat your sister well, won’t your conscience bother you?”
Brother Xu’s eyes widened in surprise. “Mom, she caught it?” He wasn’t doubting his mother’s words, but it was hard to believe—his little sister had been pampered and spoiled her whole life, barely able to do chores at home.
How could she possibly climb a mountain to catch fish? Not to mention, the weather was getting colder. If she fell into the river, wouldn’t that be fatal?
“What’s wrong? You don’t believe it?” Mother Xu glared at him. “Shitou, tell your second uncle what your aunty did today.”
Receiving the cue, Shitou quickly spoke up. “Second Uncle, my aunty and I went to the mountain today. We didn’t just catch three fish—we also caught three pheasants! And we picked up eight pheasant eggs and ten wild duck eggs too!”
As soon as these words left his mouth, everyone in the yard brightened with excitement.
Second Brother Xu finally believed it, his face full of astonishment. “Little sister, you’re really something!”
Just the day before, he and his older brother had set traps in the mountains but caught nothing.
Brother Xu thought the same and looked at his sister with newfound admiration.
Father Xu gazed at his daughter with both pride and worry. “It’s our daughter’s good fortune to find so many wild things on the mountain.” But then he frowned slightly. “Still, don’t go to the river again, daughter. You were lucky this time that Daya happened to be there to pull you out. You can’t count on being that lucky next time.”
Xu Ying obediently nodded, wrapping her arms around her father’s arm as she spoke sweetly, “Okay, Dad, I understand.”
It was the first time Father Xu had ever been hugged so affectionately by his daughter. His grin stretched so wide it nearly reached the back of his ears. He gazed at Xu Ying, his smile silly and full of joy. “Good, good, as long as you understand.”
Brother Xu and Second Brother Xu looked on with envy.
Meanwhile, Sister-in-law Xu pursed her lips, unimpressed.
“Mom, do you have some fish soup set aside for Lu Daya? I’d like to bring it to her,” Xu Ying asked, turning to Mother Xu.
Mother Xu fetched a bowl of fish soup she had already prepared. “Go on, but don’t stay too long—you need to come back for lunch.”
Xu Ying nodded, took the fish soup, and hurried out.
It was noon, and most people in the village were home eating, so the streets were quiet.
When Xu Ying arrived at the Lu family’s home, they were also eating.
Mother Lu’s eyes crinkled into a smile when she saw Xu Ying.
The Lu family’s eldest brother and his wife glanced at Xu Ying and couldn’t help smirking to themselves. Just this morning, the captain had already brought over a basket of eggs and some snacks.
And now Xu Ying had arrived with a basket again. Both of them felt secretly thrilled.
“Ah, Xu Ying’s here! Did you come to see Daya?” Mother Lu stepped forward cheerfully. “She just woke up—she’s in the house.”
As she spoke, she reached out to take the basket from Xu Ying.
But Xu Ying sidestepped, dodging her hand with a polite smile. “Mother Lu, which room is Daya in? I brought her some fish soup to help her recover.”
Mother Lu’s smile stiffened, a flicker of displeasure flashing in her eyes. What’s this? Is she afraid I’d take it for myself? I’m her mother—what’s wrong with me eating something from my own daughter?
She glared at Xu Ying but didn’t dare say anything outright, knowing Xu Ying’s father was the village captain. Muttering under her breath, she led Xu Ying into the house.
“Daya, Xu Ying brought you some fish soup!”
Xu Ying followed Mother Lu inside and saw Lu Daya lying in bed. Her thin frame looked fragile as a bamboo stalk, her face pale and lifeless.
Seeing her in such a state, Xu Ying felt a pang of guilt.
“Sister Daya, thank you for saving me the other day. If not for you, I wouldn’t be alive right now.” As she spoke, she set the basket on a nearby table and took out the bowl of soup.
She glanced at Mother Lu and asked gently, “Mother Lu, could you get a pair of chopsticks for Daya?”
Mother Lu paused, her eyes lingering greedily on the steaming fish soup. She swallowed hard, then reluctantly went to the kitchen for chopsticks.
Xu Ying took them and handed them to Lu Daya, then passed her the bowl. “Sister Daya, you’ve just woken up—you need to nourish your body. Drink it while it’s hot.”
Mother Lu’s eyes flashed with frustration as she glared at her daughter, signaling her with exaggerated winks. This damn girl dares to drink it herself? Just wait until Xu Ying leaves—I’ll make her regret it.
Why waste such good fish soup on her? It would’ve been better to feed it to my precious grandson.
“Sister Daya, if you don’t want to drink it, I’ll just pour it out,” Xu Ying said lightly, watching Mother Lu’s reaction with cool indifference.
“No, no! Why pour it out?” Mother Lu spoke up hurriedly. “Daya, drink it quickly! Don’t let it go to waste!”
Seeing this, Lu Daya smiled faintly, then quietly took a sip of the soup.
Mother Lu, realizing she wasn’t getting any of it, huffed in defeat and left the room.
Watching Lu Daya sip the soup, Xu Ying’s guilt deepened.
If there was anyone she owed most in this life, it was her family—but the second person was Lu Daya.
She knew very well that in her past life, it had been Lu Daya who saved her.
But after she woke up, people said it was Chen Yanran who had saved her. She’d been furious, ready to confront her parents and clear things up.
But then, Dong Wenzhong—whom she secretly liked—had come to her, looking righteous. “Yingying, I know you’re kindhearted. Yanran’s like a sister to me. If you expose this, her reputation will be ruined. Please… do it for me. Help her, just this once.”
At the time, Chen Yanran had also cried and begged her.
And for Dong Wenzhong’s sake, she’d stayed silent, letting Chen Yanran take the credit.
Meanwhile, poor Lu Daya—already overlooked by her family—had fallen ill after saving her. But with no money for medicine, her fever never broke. In the end, she’d died from it.
Xu Ying hated herself every time she thought about it.
In her past life, Chen Yanran had enjoyed countless privileges thanks to being called her “savior.” Father Xu gave her cushy jobs, and later even arranged for her to become a teacher.
“Sister Daya, why aren’t you drinking anymore?” Xu Ying asked softly, seeing her pause.
Lu Daya hesitated, then looked up timidly. “Can… can I save some for my second brother?”
Xu Ying blinked in surprise but quickly shook her head firmly. “No, you’re too weak. You need every drop of this soup.”
Lu Daya was already eighteen, but aside from her height, she looked nothing like an eighteen-year-old girl. Her body was so thin and frail, she seemed like she could be knocked over by a gust of wind.