Lu Mingyang set down the firewood, but instead of rushing into the kitchen, he watched Shen Meng’s slow, careful steps with alarm.

A sugar-coated trick—this was definitely a sugar-coated trick!

The evil woman was clever, that was for sure. In just a single day, she’d nearly won over his younger brothers and sister with a few small gestures. How could they forget everything from the past so quickly? They were so naive. Lu Mingyang clenched his fists, vowing that no matter what nice food she made for dinner, he wouldn’t touch a bite. Not a single bite.

“Hey, brother, what are you doing standing there? The green bean soup’s so sweet, and there’s a whole big bowl of it. It’s so hot outside—maybe we shouldn’t go back for more firewood.”

Lu Mingyang walked to the kitchen, grabbed his bowl, and downed the green bean soup in a couple of big gulps.

“No more firewood today,” he agreed. “We’ve already gathered some. Let’s rest on the kang. Oh, by the way, did something poke your foot while you were walking? Rinse it with clean water later.”

“Got it!” Lu Mingliang grinned, glancing around the kitchen. His eyes landed on the clay pot on the stove. Lifting the lid, he found even more green bean soup inside. Thrilled, he picked up a ladle and took a sip.

“Want more, brother? There’s some left here.”

“No, one bowl was enough. You go ahead and have some—just don’t get caught.”

“Hehe!”

One brother snuck a few more sips, while the other kept watch outside the kitchen. After a while, they left the kitchen, spread out the firewood to dry, washed their hands and feet, and went back to the west room to lie down.

On the kang, Lu Mingfang and Lu Mingkai were just waking up, rubbing their eyes sleepily. Mingkai was thrilled. He had spent the entire afternoon cuddled with Shen Meng, and now, feeling a bit bolder, he whispered softly, “Mama.”

Lu Mingfang glanced warily at Shen Meng, instinctively thinking to grab her younger brother and leave. But she hesitated, remembering how her mother had held her that afternoon, how she’d asked Auntie to make her a warm winter coat and shoes from that soft cloth and fluffy cotton. She still couldn’t believe it.

Shen Meng didn’t sleep in the afternoon. She had been sleeping for the past two days. While the kids had napped, she’d gone to her space, watched a movie, and had a bowl of green bean soup before returning. Now, she pretended to wake up, looking sleepily at her two kids.

“Oh, when did you wake up? Why didn’t you wake me?”

“We didn’t want to wake you up while you were sleeping,” whispered Mingkai, a bit shy but staying comfortably snuggled in her arms. It felt so nice to be held by Mom that he didn’t want to leave.

Shen Meng looked fondly at her little boy and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

“Good boy. Mingfang, I made some green bean soup while you were sleeping and added some rock sugar for sweetness. Take Mingkai and go enjoy it. Keep your voices down, though; your older brothers are resting in the west room.”

Mingfang hesitated, then nodded, getting up and lifting her little brother, who seemed just as bewildered. At the door, she turned back and looked at Shen Meng.

“Mom, you should keep resting. If you need anything, just call for me.”

“Alright, go on, dear.”

Mingfang blushed shyly at her mother’s words, smiling a little as she carried Mingkai out.

As the siblings drank their green bean soup, Mingkai couldn’t help but giggle. “Big sister, Mom just kissed me! Did you see it? She kissed me right on the forehead. Hehe!”

“I saw it,” Mingfang said, giving him an affectionate look. “Mom must really like you, Mingkai.” She felt a pang of sadness as she spoke. After all, Mingkai was Mom’s actual child, born to her. Mom had promised to treat her well, but still… she hadn’t kissed her, only Mingkai.

Biting her lip, Mingfang wondered if she’d been too cold. Mom had said she wanted to change, she was doing all these nice things: cooking them fine white noodles, making sweet green bean soup. While she hadn’t done anything to show her appreciation; she was always just running away. What if that hurt Mom’s feelings, and she went back to her old ways?

Realizing this, Mingfang felt a stab of worry. Watching her little brother happily drinking, she made a decision: next time, she’d be kind to Mom too. Adults liked kids who spoke sweetly to them. Yes, she’d just need to be sweeter.

Meanwhile, Liu Sanjin was feeling frustrated. She asked for leave after working halfway in the afternoon , she’d decided to go home, nearly earning a scolding from Lu Debang. During harvest time, every household—even the elderly and young—pitched in, so the village leaders weren’t thrilled to see her leave.

Xie Jinghao brought her a bowl of cool water as she settled onto the kang and gently called, “Mother.” Liu Sanjin just gave a cold huff.

Unbothered, Xie Jinghao calmly placed the water nearby, expecting her mother-in-law to rehash old grievances. She waited, unperturbed.

“It’s our third son unlucky fate,” Liu Sanjin muttered bitterly. “If he hadn’t married you, he’d have had a shot at schooling instead of being forced to work as a temporary worker at the mines, slaving away to support you.”

Xie Jinghao stayed quiet. She was an orphan, raised by a her kind grandma who passed away when she was young.After her grandmother died, her close relatives occupied the old house and wanted to drive her out. When she tried to drown herself, Lu Jiasheng had saved her. He had been about to marry someone else—a marriage that would have opened doors for him, maybe even sending him to college and securing a government job.

At the time, she hadn’t wanted to marry him and risk ruining his life. She’d even tried to refuse him, but Lu Jiasheng had insisted, vowing to treat her well. Lu Zhenping had covered the wedding costs, giving her a new family. Since then, she and Lu Jiasheng had built a happy life, even if Liu Sanjin never let her forget her background.

Seeing that her quiet daughter-in-law wasn’t reacting, Liu Sanjin suddenly snapped, “Tonight, you’re cooking. Make some cornbread dumpling soup, and cook two eggs for the eldest daughter-in-law, plus a vegetable dish with some lard. Take it to her at the end of the day. Bring Jiaxuan and Jiaojiao along; they can carry it.”

Xie Jinghao noticed the shift—Liu Sanjin must’ve overheard some gossip. She was putting on a show to make herself look good.

Shen Meng was lying on the kang, and Lu Mingkai carefully poked his head over. Seeing his mother looking at him, he giggled.

“Mom, what’s for dinner?” he asked hopefully, still savoring the taste of the green bean soup. Just then, Lu Mingyang walked out of the west room, scowling. He didn’t care what she made; he wouldn’t eat it.

“There’s no need to cook tonight,” Shen Meng said. “Your grandma will be bringing food over.”

Lu Mingyang: …

Ugh, he’d spoken too soon!