When Mother Xu saw the iron lunchbox in her daughter’s hands, she blinked in surprise. “No wonder everyone says that state-owned restaurants treat their employees well. The food’s not only delicious, but the benefits are generous. No wonder people fight to get in—this truly is what they mean by ‘good treatment.’”
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she glanced around warily and lowered her voice every couple of seconds. “But… you can really bring food home? That won’t get you in trouble, will it?”
Xu Ying merely shrugged and pushed the bycycle forward with an easy smile. “Mom, what’s there to worry about? If no one takes the leftovers, they’ll be wasted. We’re just being conscientious and cherishing food. After all, growing rice isn’t easy for the common folks. We’re simply being frugal and practical.”
Mother Xu lifted her chin at that, completely convinced. “That’s right. Our family’s girls aren’t the type to waste good food.”
The two chatted and laughed all the way home.
As they reached the door, little Shitou came charging out like a gust of wind, with Huzi trailing behind him. Both boys darted forward, their arms flung around Xu Ying’s thigh as they cried out in unison, “Auntie ! We missed you so much!”
Xu Ying’s heart melted at the sight of the two little ones. “I missed you too. Now be good, take the lunchbox and put the food on the table.”
Shitou obediently took the iron lucnh box from her hands and placed it on the table. The moment he opened the lid, a mouthwatering aroma filled the room, instantly lifting everyone’s spirits.
But this rich fragrance didn’t stop at Xu’s home.
Next door, things weren’t so peaceful—especially in the Zuo household. The neighboring couple, both young and notoriously greedy, had been enduring the smell of meat drifting from Xu Ying’s kitchen for days. It was driving the woman half mad.
“Wu Yicai,” Liu Haiyun snapped, her tone impatient, “how long has it been since we had a decent meal? That old hen we boiled last time doesn’t even count. I haven’t seen a scrap of meat in this house for ages!”
Wu Yicai, a man with a sallow, cunning face, flicked ash from his cigarette onto his trouser leg and replied slowly, “Meat’s a luxury these days. Look around—the only time people get to eat it is during Chinese New Year. You’ve got to be content with what we have.”
He glanced at her sideways. “I mean, sure, if you were with someone else, maybe they’d bring meat every week. But with me, once every fortnight is all I can manage. You think I don’t want to eat like kings every day? These days, people are smart. They stash their food where no one can find it. I go to their homes, and it’s like there’s nothing there!”
Hearing that, Liu Haiyun’s expression turned sour. “Are you complaining now? I’ve only just started to enjoy a few good days with you, and you already seem fed up. You sure you don’t have another woman stashed away somewhere, eating your hidden meats?”
Wu Yicai’s face twisted in mock horror. “Haiyun, how could you think that? I can barely feed you, let alone another woman! And I’d have to be a fool to leave such a beautiful wife like you for some loose woman outside. You’re the only one who truly cares for me.”
His words soothed Liu Haiyun’s temper, and she rolled her eyes at him with a coy smile. “Hmph, just remember that.”
Wu Yicai let out a quiet sigh of relief—crisis averted.
But as Liu Haiyun sat down to eat the bland vegetables on the table, she couldn’t help wrinkling her nose at the smell wafting from next door. She muttered with a mix of envy and suspicion, “Yicai, how does that Xu family manage to eat meat every day? Where do they get the money? And even if they have money, where are they getting the meat tickets?”
Wu Yicai could only shake his head helplessly. How would he know?
Liu Haiyun’s mood instantly soured again. “You claim to be capable, and yet you can’t even get me a few bites of meat every day!”
Wu Yicai let out another sigh. There was a time, not long ago, when he lived large. He could walk into places and fill his basket with food, enjoying spicy meats and rich dishes like a warlord. But those days were gone.
He had been scammed by a previous lover who ran off with his money, leaving him with nothing. It was only after he met Haiyun—when he was at his lowest—that someone truly helped him. He would never forget that.
He pulled something from his coat and handed it to her. “Don’t worry. I might have a big job lined up soon. If it goes well, I’ll buy you meat every day. Here, take this for now—it’s worth a fortune.”
It was a nugget of gold, roughly the size of a small palm.
Liu Haiyun’s eyes sparkled as she held it. Her mood changed instantly, the unhappiness evaporating as she admired the gleaming treasure under the light.
As night fell, moonlight bathed the earth in a pale glow. Under its cold gaze, the barren grasslands cast eerie shadows, like a ghostly forest of flames flickering in silence.
In this unsettling scene, several men gathered under the cover of darkness. Among them was Dong Wenzhong, the very man Chen Yanran had urged to enlist help against Xu Ying.
“Cousin,” one of them said, his voice low and coaxing, “the captain’s daughter is pretty, right? She’s got a good job, her family’s well-off… If you win her over, you’ll be living the high life in no time.”
He looked at the others meaningfully. “Doesn’t matter who it is—whoever lands her will marry into fortune.”
But under the moonlight, Dong Wenzhong’s face was twisted with resentment.
He couldn’t win Xu Ying’s heart, so he’d rather ruin her.
Yanran was right—Xu Ying was a fickle, manipulative woman. She had pretended to like him, only to flirt with others behind his back.
The more he thought about her, the more hatred boiled in his chest. These days, he toiled under the hot sun until he felt faint, and all because her father had it out for him.
Across from him, Dong Wenqiang and Dong Wenjie exchanged glances and nodded. They were willing to go along with his plan.
But even among family, selfishness ran deep.
Dong Wenqiang narrowed his eyes. “Wenzhong, didn’t that girl chase after you before? Now you’re trying to hand her over to us? That doesn’t sit right. What if we do marry her? People will talk!”
Dong Wenjie added coldly, “Exactly, Cousin. If you don’t like her, just say so. Why use such dirty tricks?”
Dong Wenzhong’s face contorted with rage, but when he told them about Xu Ying’s recent actions, the two brothers exchanged smirks behind his back.
So that’s what this was about.
“Oh, I see now,” Dong Wenqiang sneered. “You’ve got a grudge against her. But her dad’s the village captain—if something goes wrong, we’ll be the ones in trouble.”
Desperation clouded Dong Wenzhong’s judgment. “I’ll give you each ten yuan if it works out.”
That was enough to shut them up.
Both brothers clapped him on the shoulder and grinned. “Then wait for the good news.”
With that, they melted into the moonlit shadows.
From behind a nearby tree, Chen Yanran stepped out, her face gentle as she approached Dong Wenzhong. “Wenzhong, don’t feel bad. If Xu Ying hadn’t forced our hand, none of this would’ve happened.”
Dong Wenzhong had felt a flicker of guilt, but her words poured oil onto the flames in his heart. It was true—if not for Xu’s family pushing him around, he wouldn’t be like this.
“Yes,” he said with hatred in his voice, “Xu Ying’s selfish. She deserves to suffer.”
As he looked at Chen Yanran’s delicate face, his eyes softened with affection. Her cheeks turned pink under his gaze, and she lowered her head shyly.
That simple gesture was enough to make Dong Wenzhong feel like he had made the right choice. Even if life was hard, he would grit his teeth and get through it.
“Yanran,” he said gently, “our life might stay tough for a while, but I promise—once I get a chance, I’ll find a good job. Just wait a little longer.”
Chen Yanran nodded faintly, but her eyes were filled with a quiet unease.