“Mom, it’s fine. Our second child is quite good. Why don’t we match him with Qiuye? Why wouldn’t he agree?” Xu’s mother said, her voice rising with irritation.
Grandma Xu shot her a sharp look and scolded, “Lower your voice. You’re talking like you’re picking a fight.”
Xu’s mother instantly quieted down. No matter how fiery her temper, she could never mimic her mother-in-law’s gentle, ladylike demeanor. Just listening to her slow and delicate way of speaking was enough to make Xu’s mother want to crawl out of her skin from impatience.
After leaving the money behind, she didn’t linger another second. Turning on her heel, she headed back home.
That evening, she surprised everyone by making dumplings filled with fish and meat. She even used white flour—soft, refined, and rare for an ordinary day. The dumpling skins were thin and nearly transparent, stuffed generously with filling. When they came out of the pot, they shimmered like pearls.
“Mom, what’s the special occasion today? Why are we eating white flour dumplings?” Mr. Xu asked, a bright smile lighting up his usually stern face. Even the hand holding his chopsticks seemed to brim with boundless strength.
Ever since their daughterstarted getting along better with the family, Mr. Xu had visibly changed. His spirits were lifted, and the dullness in his eyes was replaced with youthful vitality.
“What special occasion? A good day is a good enough reason to eat dumplings!” Xu’s mother snapped, but just then, she slapped her thigh as if she’d remembered something important. “Oh no! I completely forgot something! I went into town to withdraw the money today…”
Everyone looked at her in confusion.
“Your third brother sent money back home, and I forgot to collect it!” she exclaimed, smacking her forehead.
She had felt something was off all day—so it was this! How could she forget something as important as money?
Xu’s mother looked utterly regretful.
Xu’s eldest son chuckled sheepishly. “It’s fine, Mom. We can just go tomorrow. The money’s not going anywhere.”
Xu’s mother rolled her eyes at him. She could’ve had that money in her hands already! Wouldn’t it be more satisfying to hold it a day earlier? Brat—you really don’t understand anything!
“Go wash your hands and eat. We’re having fish and meat dumplings today! I learned the recipe from your little sister.” She quickly got to work on a second batch—there were many mouths to feed at home, and one pot would never be enough.
“Shitou, go deliver some to Grandpa Xu’s place,” she instructed as she filled a large bowl, afraid there might not be enough food at the old house.
The boy grabbed the basket and dashed out the door in a flash.
“Mom, I’ll take some over to Grandma Huo’s place and Sister Da Ya’s house,” Xu Ying said as she packed two bowls into another basket.
Xu’s mother nodded in approval. “That’s the right thing to do. Huo Chen and Lu Da Ya helped rescue you—of course we should return the favor.”
“Got it, Mom!” Xu Ying replied with a cheerful smile before heading out.
Xu’s mother watched her daughter disappear down the road, then turned to the rest of the family seated around the table.
“Look at that—my daughter has a kind heart. Whoever treats her well, she remembers it for life. She never forgets kindness. That’s the kind of girl she is.”
She swept her gaze across the table.
Xu Lao’er, the best at flattery—and her own son, after all—grinned and chimed in without hesitation. “Little sister doesn’t just have a good heart. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have passed the exam to become a commune school teacher. Don’t worry, Mom. Once I get paid, I’ll buy her new clothes and good food every month.”
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law. Xu also raised her head and added, “Mom, my salary isn’t much, and I have children to feed. But don’t you worry—our little sister won’t have to lift a finger at home. I’ll clean the house and do her laundry so she can come home and rest without worry.”
Eldest Brother Xu, still the same as always with his simple, honest smile, added, “Mom, I’m strong. If anyone dares to bully my little sister, I’ll beat them to death!”
And then came a little voice from outside.
“Grandma, when I grow up, I’ll earn lots of money for Auntie Xu Ying! When I get married, my wife and I will both earn money for her!” Shitou came running back, having overheard their conversation halfway down the lane, and joined in to flatter his Auntie.
Seeing this, Xu’s mother felt warmth bubble in her chest. She was thoroughly pleased. One by one, she picked up dumplings and placed them in their bowls.
“You’re all good to your little sister, and she sees that. You know what kind of person she is—if you treat her well, she’ll return it a hundredfold. You’ll never lose out.”
And that was true. Just this year, her sister-in-law had made her several new outfits— which sister-i-law Xu kept folded and stored away like treasures.
“Auntie is back! Hurry up and eat!” Shitou dashed over like the wind, taking the food Xu Ying brought and setting it quickly on the table. He even pulled a stool out for her.
Xu Ying raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Why are you being so attentive all of a sudden?”
“Auntie , what do you mean? This is what I should do!” Shitou grinned with a goofy smile.
Xu Ying chuckled and couldn’t help but pinch the little guy’s chubby cheek.
Shitou’s face flushed red instantly. He pouted, “Auntie, you can pinch Huzi’s face, not mine!”
“And why not?”
Shitou straightened up with pride. “Because I’ve grown up now! I’m nine years old! I’m a big boy! You can’t treat me like a baby anymore!”
Xu Ying burst out laughing. The little guy wasn’t even ten, yet already trying to act like a man.
“Alright, alright. Our Shitou has grown up. You’ll protect your Auntie from now on, right?”
“Of course!” He puffed up his chest and clenched his fists. “If anyone bullies you, I’ll knock them down!”
At the Xu family table, everyone held their bowls and happily munched on the steaming dumplings. Joy filled the air like a gentle breeze.
But in the two houses next door, the scene was anything but joyful.
Especially in Liu Haiyun’s home.
The mouthwatering aroma of meat drifted in from the Xu household, making her nose twitch like a bloodhound.
She hadn’t had meat in over a month. All she could taste anymore was bitterness from wild vegetables and plain porridge.
“Yimu, do you smell that? They’re eating meat next door again! Why is their life so good? It’s like they have meat every day!”
Wu Yimu didn’t even look up as he chewed his dry corn bun. It tasted even more like sawdust now.
“How are they doing so well? He’s the captain. his children have jobs. And yet… we’re still like this.”
Liu Haiyun snorted. “Isn’t it just because he’s a captain? So many educated youths in the village, and not one of them turned out so lucky. Everyone knows Xu Shengcai was just a thug. He only got into the commune school by pure dumb luck—or maybe with a little help from his dear daddy.”
“And that captain’s daughter—can she even cook? A sow could climb a tree before that girl learned to boil water.”
She spat the words like venom.
“Shhh! Don’t talk nonsense,” Wu Yimu said, alarmed. “Watch what you say.”
Liu Haiyun scoffed. “What? I’m just telling the truth. Look at Captain Xu’s family, and look at ours. It’s like night and day.”
“And don’t act like we were living in luxury either before. If you ask me, you’re just as corrupt as he is!” she added bitterly.
Wu Yimu scowled. “Oh, shut up.”
She stuffed a few more bites into her mouth, but they tasted like ashes. Later, she returned to her room, her heart full of resentment.
Zhou Huiru was right—Captain Xu only lived comfortably thanks to the people around him. The wicked always get the sweetest fruit.
The more Liu Haiyun thought about it, the angrier she got. That bastard…
She ground her teeth all night, and in her dreams, she reported Captain Xu and had him arrested.
“You fool, why are you giggling in your sleep? I’m heading to work,” Wu Yimu grumbled as he patted her face and got up.
Liu Haiyun woke with a start and snapped, “What are you doing? I was about to see Captain Xu get beaten up!”
“Beaten up? Who hit him?” Wu Yimu asked, wide-eyed.
“The police, of course! He was corrupt, so they beat him to a pulp,” she said proudly, stretching.
“Serves him right… and you ruined it. Ugh, what a waste of a good dream.”
Wu Yimu shook his head, alarmed. “You’ve really lost it. Saying things like that could get us kicked out of the village if someone hears you.”