Chicken stew, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and spicy rabbit.
The three dishes weren’t ready yet, but their rich aroma had already drifted through the yard, making mouths water.
At this moment, Grandma Zhang completely believed her daughter’s words. She sat in the yard, swallowing hard.
“Why does it smell so good? I’ve never felt so hungry in my life,” she murmured, her eyes glued to the kitchen door.
And it wasn’t just Grandma Zhang. Even the two neighboring families were stirred into a frenzy by the fragrance.
Drawn by the mouthwatering smell, their heads popped over the courtyard wall, curiosity burning in their eyes. The moment they spotted Xu’s mother sitting contentedly in the yard, they instantly understood what was happening.
“I was wondering why it smelled so good—it turns out Guiying’s back,” one neighbor said knowingly.
Xu’s mother beamed proudly. “That’s right! We couldn’t come back empty-handed, so we bought some meat. My daughter’s amazing at cooking. If I make it, the meat turns out plain and tasteless, but when she cooks, it’s like magic—the aroma’s incredible!”
Her words bubbled with excitement, and at the end, she almost leapt to her feet in delight. “Ah, it feels so good to have such a capable daughter. I finally have something to show off!”
Hearing this, the neighbors exchanged skeptical glances. Was she bragging? After all, wasn’t Guiying had that pampered girl who never did a lick of work? How could she suddenly know how to cook?
But… the smell was undeniable.
Just as they were wondering who was behind this culinary marvel, they saw a young girl walk out of the kitchen.
“Grandma, the last two dishes will be ready soon. When will Grandpa and Uncle be back?” Xu Ying carried out a big pot of chicken stew, the fragrance instantly doubling in intensity, making everyone’s stomachs growl.
The neighbors were stunned. Their eyes widened like saucers.
“This… this is really Xu Ying?!”
“I haven’t seen her for a year, and she suddenly knows how to cook?”
Xu’s mother took the chance to boast again, grinning ear to ear. “Of course! My daughter’s just like me—clever and quick to learn. Once she sets her mind to it, she can master anything. I’m telling you, the first time she cooked for us…”
And so began a thirty-minute string of praise, one story after another.
By the time Grandpa Zhang and Uncle Zhang returned home, washed their hands, and sat down at the table, Xu’s mother was still going strong with her storytelling.
“Sis, you’re back?”
“Don’t interrupt!” Xu’s mother waved her hand dismissively, unwilling to lose momentum.
The neighbors, who had been watching this whole time, had stopped listening to her words. Their attention was completely captured by the feast laid out on the table. They couldn’t help but gulp.
The fragrance was simply too tempting.
Grandma Zhang and Grandpa Zhang had been starving for ages.
“Grandma, Grandpa, don’t wait for Mom. Let’s eat first,” Xu Ying suggested warmly.
Grandpa Zhang eagerly nodded. He picked up his chopsticks and popped a piece of chicken into his mouth.
“Mmm—so good!” he exclaimed in surprise. The meat was tender and juicy, not tough at all.
Then he took a sip of the broth—and his eyes lit up even more.
The chicken soup had been simmering for over an hour. All the essence of the pheasant had melted into the broth. Just one sip made his entire body feel warm and nourished. The rich, savory taste lingered between his lips and teeth, impossible to forget.
Meanwhile, Xu’s mother was still in the middle of her proud monologue, completely unaware that the others were already devouring the food like there was no tomorrow, afraid they wouldn’t get enough if they hesitated.
[Favorability +1, +1…]
Hearing the pleasant system notification, Xu Ying was deeply satisfied. But when she turned toward the wall, she was startled—more than a dozen heads were now poking over, their eyes round with amazement.
Originally, only one neighbor had climbed up to peek. But then another curious neighbor asked, “What are you looking at?”
“Look at the food!” the first neighbor replied, wiping his mouth.
“What’s so interesting about food?” But curiosity got the better of them, and soon enough, they too were craning their necks over the wall. And so, one by one, they gathered.
Xu Ying chuckled at the sight and generously filled two bowls of soup, handing them over. She also left some scrambled eggs with mushrooms and spicy rabbit aside for them.
[Favorability +1, +1…]
“It’s so delicious—I could eat this every day and never get tired of it!”
“This meat… it’s divine.”
“I’ve never tasted anything like it before.”
“Neither have I. I swear I could eat this every day and still crave more!”
The neighbors weren’t ungrateful. After enjoying the food, they brought back clean bowls along with a few eggs and fresh vegetables as a token of thanks to Grandma Zhang’s house.
Xu’s mother didn’t even need to brag anymore—the taste had spoken for itself. Everyone already knew Xu Ying’s cooking was simply unmatched.
“It’s my turn to wash the dishes!” Uncle Zhang said cheerfully as he strode into the kitchen without needing to be asked.
As the eldest son—and the only male in the family—Uncle Zhang had been raised differently from most boys in this era. Thanks to Xu’s mother’s teachings, he hadn’t grown up entitled or lazy despite living in a society that favored sons over daughters.
From a young age, Xu’s mother had instilled in him:
“You’re the only man in our family. We’ll all be relying on you in the future. If your sisters or I ever get bullied, you have to be the first to stand up for us. When your sisters get married, you’ll need to help your parents more around the house. Your father and I will grow old one day—we won’t be able to handle the heavy work. You’ll have to carry that burden, understand?”
Uncle Zhang had grown up hearing these words again and again. They’d long since shaped who he was.
That’s why, without anyone telling him, he automatically stepped into the kitchen to help.
Xu Ying gave him an approving smile. She had to admit—her uncle truly had a heart of gold.
But she couldn’t help remembering how things had turned out in her past life.
After marrying, his wife frequently returned to her parental home, taking things from the Zhang household without asking. Even though Grandma Zhang and Grandpa Zhang were kindhearted and never complained, it wasn’t fair.
Her Uncle , with his easygoing, gentle nature, had turned a blind eye for the sake of peace. But because of this, he had to work twice as hard to support not one but two families.
In the end, Uncle Zhang had worked himself to an early grave. Whenever Xu Ying thought about it, her chest tightened with anger. She silently vowed that she wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
After the meal, Grandpa Zhang chatted with his daughter for a while. His gaze drifted toward the pheasants, hares, and wild ducks hanging in the yard, and his heart ached. Thinking about the family his second daughter had married into, he couldn’t help but worry whether she was being treated well.
Once Grandma Zhang and Uncle Zhang left for work, Xu’s mother handed Grandma Zhang two yuan before heading home with Xu Ying.
Grandma Zhang watched her daughter’s figure disappear into the distance and sighed deeply before turning back toward the yard.
When Xu’s mother returned to the village, she didn’t forget her mother’s instructions. She grabbed a few eggs and went straight to Xu Jiangmin’s house.
The moment Xu Jiangmin’s wife heard her mother’s message, her eyes gleamed with calculation. She nodded obediently, but as soon as Xu’s mother left, she ran straight to her own mother’s house—the Zhou family—and spilled everything: how the Zhang family had money now, how both sons had stable jobs, how her brother-in-law was even a team leader earning a high wage every month.
The Zhou family grew greedier. Instead of lowering the bride price, they raised it by another two yuan.
When Grandma Zhang heard the new amount, she was so shocked she fainted on the spot.
Uncle Zhang, who had always been mild-tempered, finally lost his cool. He glared at the Zhou family, his voice shaking with fury.
“This marriage is off! And I want every penny we gave you returned!”
The Zhou family hadn’t expected this honest, timid family to back out. Zhou’s mother sneered dismissively at Uncle Zhang.
“Zhang Baobao, think carefully. You’re already twenty-one. The neighbor’s daughter got married at seventeen or eighteen, and their kid’s already three or four. But you? You’re still single. Your parents aren’t getting any younger—they’re dying to see grandchildren. If you cancel this marriage, don’t come crying to us for help later!”
Uncle Zhang’s face turned crimson with anger. “I’d rather stay single my whole life than ever beg your Zhou family for anything!”
At this, the neighbors who’d enjoyed Xu Ying’s cooking couldn’t help chiming in:
“Baobao, with that much bride price, you could marry two wives! The Zhou family’s daughter isn’t some phoenix descended from heaven—there’s nothing so special about her. If they don’t want the marriage, forget it. I’m telling you, you’re better off without her.”