Taking advantage of the moment, the women who had always been irritated by Chen Yanran’s delicate and charming demeanor seized the opportunity to criticize her loudly:
“Comrade Chen , I really didn’t expect you to be this kind of person.”
“I always thought you were kind and soft-spoken, but it turns out you’re so calculating.”
“Lu Daya risked her life to save Xu Ying, yet you had the nerve to claim credit for it? If Xu Ying hadn’t seen through you, even if Lu Daya had died, no one would’ve been able to clear her name or avenge her!”
Chen Yanran’s face grew paler and paler as the crowd refused to let up.
“ComradeChen , you’re truly shameless—still insisting you saved Xu Ying at a time like this. If I were you, I’d want to crawl into a crack and disappear.”
“She’s not even embarrassed. This girl is really scheming. I used to think she was just pampered and delicate, but who knew she harbored such a dark heart? We’d better keep an eye on the children at home so they don’t get influenced by her.”
As the harsh words piled on, Chen Yanran’s face drained of all color. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Seeing the accusing glares all around her, she quickly covered her mouth in shame and fled back to the educated youth center.
“Yanran, Xu Ying, you’ve gone too far!” Dong Wenzhong glared furiously at Xu Ying and chased after Chen Yanran in anger.
Xu’s father turned and checked on his daughter, feeling relieved to see she looked perfectly fine.
“Let;s go home, daughter.”
Xu Ying nodded and followed her father home.
Tonight’s dinner was radish stewed with pheasant soup.
When Xu’s mother saw her husband and daughter return, she immediately beamed: “Yingying, come here and try the pheasant soup I made for you. See if it’s good!”
Hearing this, Xu Ying hurried to wash her hands and headed to the kitchen.
As soon as she stepped inside, Xu’s mother handed her a piece of chicken liver: “Quick, eat this. The liver’s cooked just right—it’ll help nourish your health.”
Xu Ying had loved chicken liver since childhood. Seeing her mother offering it so kindly, she didn’t hold back. She took it with a grin and went out to the yard to eat.
Shitou and Huzi watched her from the side, swallowing their drool. For some reason, Shitou felt like his aunty had changed.
Before, his aunty always looked at them coldly, as if they were strangers. But now, she smiled warmly whenever she saw them, making them feel comforted.
Gathering his courage, Shitou led Huzi over.
Xu Ying looked up, saw the two little boys, and immediately smiled: “Come here—do you want some?”
Their eyes lit up at once, and they eagerly nodded: “We want some!”
Finding them adorable, Xu Ying went into the kitchen holding her bowl and pouted sweetly at her mother: “Mom, is the chicken ready? I want some.”
Seeing her daughter acting like a greedy child, Xu’s mother laughed and scooped several pieces of meat into Xu Ying’s bowl: “Go ahead, eat as much as you want. Even if you finish the whole pheasant, no one will dare say a word.”
Xu Ying gave her mother a bright, sweet smile: “Thanks, Mom!”
Xu’s mother chuckled happily: “Silly girl, you’re the one who caught the pheasant! Eat up—if it’s not enough, I’ll dish up more later.”
Xu Ying carried the bowl out and called the two little boys into her room.
Sister-in-law Xu saw this with a puzzled expression. When her sons ran back out of their aunt’s room, she quickly called out: “Shitou, Huzi, what were you doing in your aunty’s room?”
Huzi replied cheerfully: “auntygave us meat—it was really yummy!”
Siister-in -law Xu couldn’t believe it. Usually, her sister-in-law guarded food like treasure, always thinking of Dong Zhiqing when she had good things. How could she have shared meat with her sons?
She turned to Shitou in disbelief: “What did you go in there for?”
“We were eating meat! But aunty said not to let Grandma know—otherwise Grandma would scold us again.” Shitou licked his lips, savoring the delicious taste.
Now Sister-in-law Xu finally believed it. Thinking of her sister-in-law’s sudden change, she couldn’t help smiling: “Your aunty’s so kind to you—you must remember her kindness.”
“I will, Mom! I’ll never forget it!” Shitou promised earnestly.
In the kitchen, Xu’s mother finished preparing the meal. Sister-in-law Xu hurried over to help serve.
Once everything was on the table, the Xu family washed their hands and sat down to eat.
Just like in the morning, Xu’s mother ladled out a bowl of chicken soup: “Eldest son, daughter-in-law, take this soup to Lu Daya. Stay and make sure she drinks it before you come back.”
Sister-in-law Xu took the bowl, understanding immediately: “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure she drinks it all.”
Xu’s mother nodded in satisfaction: she trusted her daughter-in-law to handle it.
“Alright, let’s eat.” Xu’s father finally spoke, and everyone picked up their chopsticks eagerly.
The pheasant soup was incredibly flavorful.
Even though Xu Jianguo was the team captain, their life wasn’t much easier than others’. After all, a young man was expected to endure hardship. With several children at home, Xu Jianguo’s salary was the family’s main income. The rest came from the work points they earned in the fields.
This year, the third son of the Xu family had good luck. He’d saved the daughter of a transportation team leader from danger. Out of gratitude, the leader helped him secure a job at the transportation company. After two months of probation, he was made a formal worker ahead of schedule.
He brought home two months’ salary, keeping ten yuan for himself and handing over the remaining twenty-eight yuan to the family.
Thanks to this, the Xu family’s situation had improved.
In the past, Xu Ying—being a girl raised pamperd—rarely had spending money. Xu’s mother pitied her daughter and secretly gave her pocket money every month.
But every bit of it had gone straight into Dong Zhiqing’s hands.
Now that Xu Ying had been reborn, she would never make such foolish mistakes again.
“Mom, Dad, you go ahead and eat. I already ate a lot earlier—I’m pretty full.” Xu Ying quickly stopped her mother when she tried to put more meat in her bowl.
Shitou’s eyes widened anxiously. His aunty hadn’t eaten a single bite earlier—she’d given it all to him and Huzi!
Xu Ying shot him a look, signaling him not to speak.
Reluctantly, Shitou clamped his mouth shut. He realized his aunty really had changed for the better… but also seemed a bit silly now.
Xu’s mother felt touched. Since she thought her daughter had indeed eaten enough, she didn’t press further. She simply gave a few extra pieces to her husband and shared the rest among her sons.
Xu’s brother moved quickly, picking up several pieces for his wife.
Xu’s mother frowned: “My daughter is the only truly filial one. Unlike some sons, who forget their mothers as soon as they get a wife.”
Feeling awkward, Xu’s brother hastily placed a piece of meat into his mother’s bowl: “Here, Mom—eat some.”
Xu’s mother snorted and deliberately looked away.
Worried, Xu’s brother grinned and added another piece: “Come on, Mom—have some meat.”
“Hmph!”
“Mom—eat meat!” Xu Ying piped in cheerfully.
At that, Xu’s mother’s stern face immediately melted into a smile: “Oh, my daughter’s so thoughtful!”
Xu’s elder brother: “······”
Xu’s second brother: “······”
Meanwhile, Sister-in-law Xu hurried back after making sure Lu Daya had finished the soup. Afraid the family might not leave her even a scrap of meat, she rushed to the kitchen.
When she sat down and saw several pieces of meat left in the bowl for her, her eyes reddened. She looked at her husband, choking up: “Shengli… did you eat any meat?”
“I ate. These are for you—hurry, eat.” Xu’s brother urged gently.
Sister-in-law Xu picked up the meat, tears brimming in her eyes as she ate.
Xu Ying watched her quietly, feeling even more respect for her sister-in-law.
In her heart, she thought: her eldest brother really didn’t deserve such a good woman.
Her sister-in-law had been raised in the county town. Both her parents worked at a meat factory, so she’d grown up comfortably. Who could’ve imagined that her eldest brother, drenched by a storm one night while doing odd jobs, would one day win the favor of such a girl…