Xu Ying didn’t care at all. She merely glanced at Third Aunt Xu, raised her eyebrows, and smiled gently, “Third Aunt, let’s eat.”
Third Aunt Xu hesitated, darting another worried glance at the man, but in the end, she listened to Xu Ying. Uneasily, she sat down at the table, preparing to eat.
As soon as she took her seat, the younger children followed her, sitting down one by one.
Xu Ying smiled warmly as she invited them to eat, silently waiting for the system notifications she knew would come.
Sure enough, as Aunt Xu and the others started eating, the system’s familiar prompts chimed in her mind: [Favorability +1, Favorability +1, Favorability +1…]
For lunch, aside from the fragrant stewed chicken soup, there was also a plate of scrambled eggs.
Aunt Xu was reluctant to eat the meat. She gingerly took a sip of the chicken soup and her eyes immediately lit up. “This soup is delicious! Jianshe, you have to try this.”
She scooped up a spoonful and raised her hand to feed him. Seeing this, Xu Jianshe opened his mouth, about to drink from the spoon—
Xu Ying swiftly knocked her uncle’s wrist aside. “That’s not for you.”
Xu Jianshe blinked in confusion as the spoonful of broth was pulled away. He scratched his head anxiously. “Yingying, stop fussing with your uncle, will you? Your third uncle really doesn’t want to work. It’s too tiring.”
Xu Ying’s eyes narrowed, sharp as knives as they sliced across Xu Jianshe’s figure. “Oh? It’s too tiring for you to work in the fields? You’re a grown man. If you’re already tired, what about my third aunt?
She’s a woman married to a useless man. She has to go to the fields to earn money to feed you and my cousin, then come home to cook and clean for you.
You tell me—is she tired? Do you ever stop to think about her exhaustion?”
Her last words rang out loudly, carrying a righteous anger that filled the air.
Xu Ying couldn’t comprehend how some men could be so heartless—so selfish. For their own comfort, they turned a blind eye to their wives’ struggles, letting them suffer silently.
Scum like this… they didn’t deserve happiness.
Her gaze was icy, her fury burning through her stare like sharp blades.
Xu Jianshe shuddered under her glare. For the first time, he felt a chilling dread from his niece that made his heart tremble.
“S-she’s tired too…” he muttered, his lips barely moving.
“She’s not just tired—she’s exhausted. Body and soul. And you—you’re the reason she’s like this! Xu Jianshe, look around. Which family has a woman carrying the entire household on her back? How did our Xu family end up raising a useless man like you?”
Xu Ying’s voice was filled with disgust. Every time she thought of what her uncle had done, it felt like seeing a distorted reflection of her past self. Half of her was like Xu Jianshe: betraying the ones who cared about her. The other half was like her aunt: silently enduring, sacrificing everything for a family that never deserved it.
The realization made her stomach churn with nausea.
At some point, Father Xu had arrived at the doorway, quietly watching the scene unfold. His gaze softened as he looked at his daughter, standing tall and unyielding.
“Good girl,” he murmured with quiet pride. “Who says my daughter’s unreasonable? Look at her—every word hits right to the heart.”
His face darkened as he turned his disappointed gaze toward his younger brother.
“Dad, why are you here?” Xu Ying’s eyes glistened as she saw him, moisture gathering in her lashes.
“I came to find you. You’ve been gone half the day. Your mother’s waiting for you to come home for dinner.” Father Xu stepped inside, his expression both loving and concerned as he saw the frustration on his daughter’s face. Clearly, she’d been infuriated by her uncle’s nonsense.
“Brother, I was wrong,” Xu Jianshe finally lowered his head, his voice weak and defeated. Whether he truly regretted it or was simply acting—no one could say.
Father Xu’s face held only disappointment. His brother had been like this since childhood. Beating him, scolding him—none of it worked. Their father hadn’t given up on him, but…
“Daughter, let’s go home. If he keeps living like this, I’ll personally ask your grandfather to make your third aunt divorce him. Then he can go wherever he wants. Our family won’t keep feeding him.”
Father Xu spoke with a gentleness reserved only for his daughter, but when he turned back to Xu Jianshe, his glare was like thunder.
“Dad, wait,” Xu Ying tugged his sleeve, “I still have something to say to my third uncle.”
Father Xu frowned, puzzled, but watched as his daughter pulled her uncle aside. He tried to eavesdrop, but they spoke in whispers. All he could see was his brother’s expression shifting—from fear, to guilt, and finally to a sheepish grin.
Father Xu was dying of curiosity.
As they left the house, he couldn’t hold back any longer. “Daughter, what exactly did you say to him?”
Xu Ying gave him a mischievous smile. “That’s a secret.”
Then she changed the subject with a playful tone.
“Dad, I really feel sorry for Third Aunt. She married someone like him… her whole life’s going to be wasted. And my cousins—so pitiful.”
Hearing this, Father Xu’s expression dimmed again. His brother’s wife and kids were pitiful. But no matter how much they scolded or punished him, that boy never changed. They couldn’t beat him to death.
“Dad, leave Uncle’s affairs to me, okay? You and Grandpa—don’t interfere.” Xu Ying clung to his arm, acting spoiled.
Father Xu was surprised. “You?”
“It’s okay, Dad. Just trust me.” Xu Ying’s smile carried a rare confidence.
She wasn’t ready to give up yet. Her third uncle wasn’t completely rotten. He’d never turned against their family, never disrespected their elders. Maybe… just maybe, he could still be saved.
Besides, she still needed his help.
Father Xu hesitated, but in the end, relented. “Alright. Whatever you want.”
As they returned home, they saw the family waiting at the table, smiling warmly at her.
“Come on, daughter, let’s eat.”
“Little sister, sister-in-law got hot water for you. Wash your hands first.”
“Yeah, wash your hands. You always say raw water isn’t clean.”
Xu Ying smiled softly as she dipped her hands into the basin. The water was warm—just right.
Once she sat down, the whole family began eating together.
After lunch, Xu Ying went back to her room and dove into her work. In her past life, she’d collected countless reference books to help Dong Wenzhong pass the commune teacher exam. She’d even gone out of her way to please the teachers to get insider knowledge.
And in the end, it was thanks to her that Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran became teachers.
A flicker of cold hatred crossed Xu Ying’s eyes.
Not this time. They wouldn’t have that chance again.
She found the old textbooks from her second brother’s shelf and began compiling everything she remembered from her past life.
By the time the sun began to set, Xu Ying stretched her sore back, looking proudly at the thick stack of notes she’d written and diagrams she’d drawn.
She rushed out excitedly. “Second Brother! I made these study notes just for you! I’ve highlighted all the important points—study them carefully!”
Second Brother looked at the pile, stunned. “Little sister… you’re not pranking me, are you? You’re saying… I can pass the exam just by reading this?”
Xu Ying’s eyes sparkled. “Second Brother, this is special insider info I got for you. If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to Daya.”
She picked up the notes and pretended to leave.
Second Brother panicked. “Wait, wait! Little sister, are you serious? These exams are top secret! Where did you even get this stuff? Don’t lie to me.”
Xu Ying turned, her expression calm and confident. “Second Brother, I’m your sister. How could I ever trick you?”