How could Xu Ying possibly be willing? In her previous life, Lu Daya had died early because of her ignorance. Now, Xu Ying was determined to make up for it in this life.
Besides, how could a human life be repaid with just a few meals? This girl was really too simple and down-to-earth.
“Sister Da Ya, is my life worth just a few meals? Aren’t you looking down on me?” Xu Ying teased, feigning anger.
Lu Daya immediately panicked. “No! That’s not what I meant. Oh, I really can’t accept it.”
She’d already received so many good things from the captain’s family—she couldn’t keep accepting like this. Thinking of her mother, she added cleverly, “Yingying, if you give this to me now, my mom will just take it away when I get home. How about… you save it for me? Next time we meet, you can give it to me.”
Xu Ying thought for a moment. Mother Lu’s personality hadn’t changed—she’d definitely snatch it away. So she nodded. “Alright, I’ll give it to you next time, after it’s cooked.”
Lu Daya waved goodbye and hurried home.
As soon as she stepped through the door, Mother Lu spotted her and sneered coldly. “You little wench. You really landed on your feet this time. Getting in with the captain’s family… that’s some ability you’ve got.”
“But don’t forget, Da Ya, I’m your mother. You went off to Xu’s house eating their good food—did you think of me and your father? A worthless girl like you, eating things that aren’t yours!”
Mother Lu’s gaze sharpened. “What exactly did you eat at Xu’s house?” she demanded.
Lu Daya’s eyes sparkled. She answered honestly, “I didn’t really eat anything. The captain’s wife just gave me a bowl of multi-grain noodles.”
“Just that?” Mother Lu raised an eyebrow, a little disappointed. Looks like the Xu family wasn’t doing as well as she’d imagined, even with Xu Jianguo as the captain.
Hearing it was just some coarse noodles, Mother Lu lost interest in questioning further.
Seeing her mother’s attitude soften, Lu Daya breathed a sigh of relief and quickly slipped into the kitchen. “Mom, I’m going to wash the dishes.”
Mother Lu snorted but didn’t stop her.
Lu Daya hurried inside. The captain’s family had been so good to her—they’d even let her stay over to recuperate without worrying about gossip. She couldn’t bring trouble to their door.
Meanwhile, back at the Xu house, Shitou remembered what his great-grandfather had said. After Lu Daya left, he faithfully repeated everything to Xu’s father.
Xu’s father looked remorseful after hearing it. It was his failure to properly discipline his daughter that had caused his father such worry all these years.
Before Xu’s father could speak, Xu Ying stepped forward. “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I won’t ever have anything to do with Dong Wenzhong or Chen Yanran again.”
Father Xu eyed her suspiciously, struggling to believe she’d changed so suddenly.
Xu Ying added quickly, “It’s true! I realized something’s not right between Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran.” She told them everything she’d witnessed, not hiding a single detail.
Father Xu’s expression darkened as he listened. He’d suspected as much before but hadn’t dared say anything, afraid she wouldn’t believe him and think he was falsely accusing them. Originally, he’d planned to gather evidence before confronting her—but to his surprise, she’d seen through them herself.
“Yingying, I told you something was off between them a long time ago! But you wouldn’t listen then. At least now you know. Those two? They’re up to no good, both of them,” Xu’s sister-in-law scolded angrily.
Xu Ying nodded earnestly. “I understand. I won’t have anything to do with them anymore.”
Father Xu and Mother Xu finally felt relieved. Their daughter had seen Dong Wenzhong’s true colors—they could stop worrying at last.
Once everything was settled, Father Xu rested for a bit before heading out to work with the others.
Taking advantage of the good weather, Mother Xu dragged out all the bedding and quilts to air them in the sun.
Shitou still had to gather pigweed that afternoon. Xu Ying couldn’t sit still either—she slung a basket over her back, ready to head into the mountains.
“Mom, I’m going to the mountain to see if I can find anything good again.”
Mother Xu thought of her daughter’s uncanny luck. Who knew—maybe she’d come back with something valuable. “Don’t go too deep into the mountains, just stay around the edges,” she reminded.
“Got it, Mom.” Xu Ying grinned and set off, taking her two nephews along.
As they neared the mountain pass, they ran into Dong Wenzhong.
Dong Wenzhong stood under a large tree, looking haggard. The moment he saw Xu Ying, his eyes lit up with excitement—as if he’d forgotten the way she’d scolded him last time.
“Yingying! Where are you going?” he called eagerly.
Xu Ying shot him a frosty glance. If it weren’t for all the people around in broad daylight, she’d really have loved to throw a sack over his head and beat him up to vent her anger.
“Do you need something, Dong Zhiqing?” she asked icily.
“Yingying, what’s wrong? What did I do? Why are you acting like this?” Dong Wenzhong forced a smile.
He’d originally thought that ignoring Xu Ying for a few days would make her come crawling back. But it had only been two days, and he couldn’t stand it anymore.
Without Xu Ying’s help, these past days had been miserable. Every meal was wild vegetable dumplings or thin rice porridge—just the thought of it made him gag. And even after eating, he still felt weak and dizzy at work.
Yanran was starving too. Watching her suffer made him feel even worse.
“Dong Zhiqing, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Xu Ying said, lifting her chin proudly. “I just don’t like you anymore. So please—don’t bother me again.”
With that, she grabbed Huzi’s hand and walked away without a backward glance.
Dong Wenzhong stood there, stunned.
How could she not like him anymore? Just like that?
Did she misunderstand him somehow?
Panic rose in Dong Wenzhong’s chest. He was about to call out to explain when Deputy Captain Xu Jiangmin strode over.
Seeing Dong Zhiqing, Xu Jiangmin’s face twisted in disgust. “Dong Zhiqing, what are you hiding here for? Time to get to work!”
“I—I feel dizzy, not well,” Dong Wenzhong muttered, rubbing his head theatrically. Out of the corner of his eye, he peeked at Xu Ying’s retreating figure, hoping she’d turn back out of pity.
Xu Jiangmin barked a laugh. “You always get dizzy when it’s time to work! It’s almost winter, you know. How many work points do you think you’ve earned? When it’s time to distribute food for New Year, you’ll be starving if this keeps up.”
Then he glanced toward Xu Ying’s direction, a mocking smile on his face. “Oh right… I heard you and the captain’s daughter aren’t so close anymore. That true? If it is… things might get rough for you this year.”
Dong Wenzhong’s face flushed red. Thinking of how Xu Ying had treated him lately filled him with dread.
He’d been faking dizziness before—but now, after days of barely eating, it wasn’t an act anymore. Every swing of the hoe made his head spin.
Xu Jiangmin shook his head, done wasting words. “Rest if you want, but get back to work soon.”
Dong Wenzhong leaned heavily against the tree, utterly dejected.
Meanwhile, Xu Ying led Shitou and Huzi up the mountain. Shitou went off to gather pigweed as usual while Xu Ying took Huzi along to collect firewood.
Winter wasn’t far off—better stock up now before the snow came and they ran out.
Huzi trailed after her, more playing than helping, toddling along at her heels.
Just then, a familiar figure approached from the woods.
“Xu Ying.”
Huo Chen’s voice called out as he walked quickly toward her.