“Grandma, come quickly! These two little pests actually have money to buy notebooks and pencils!” Qian Dabao snatched the notebooks and pencils from Da Ya and Er Ya’s hands and shouted loudly.

Noticing the two girls sneaking back to their room, Qian Dabao thought they had hidden some goodies to eat. But instead…

Qian Dabao raised the notebooks and pencils high above his head, smugly looking at Da Ya and Er Ya, who were on tiptoe, trying to snatch them back.

At the doorway of the main hall, Old Lady Qian, happily munching on sunflower seeds, perked up when she heard her precious grandson call her. She quickly stood up, her face darkening when she caught bits and pieces about purchases.

Even though she hadn’t heard exactly what was bought, it didn’t stop her from getting angry.

Stuffing the sunflower seeds into her pocket, Old Lady Qian stormed toward the commotion.

Qian Zhizhi, sensing there was drama unfolding, leisurely followed, still munching her seeds.

When Qian Dabao saw Old Lady Qian approaching, he eagerly handed the notebooks and pencils over to her.

The moment Old Lady Qian stepped into the room, Da Ya and Er Ya shrank back, trembling like frightened rabbits.

Old Lady Qian glared at the items in Qian Dabao’s hands, her face darkening further, her anger visibly surging. She then turned her gaze toward the two little girls, her fiery eyes almost spitting flames.

“Grandma, that useless woman and these two pests must have hidden something else,” Qian Dabao tattled, tugging on Old Lady Qian’s sleeve.

Old Lady Qian smiled at Qian Dabao, nodding in agreement, but her glare toward the two girls grew even sharper.

How dare they hide things from her? Clearly, she had underestimated that shameless woman.

Pushing aside the two trembling little girls, Old Lady Qian made a beeline for Shen Zhimei’s clothes trunk.

When Shen Zhimei returned home, soaked to the bone, she was greeted by a scene of utter chaos.

Her winter coat, summer blouses, and pants—already worn and faded—were strewn all over the floor. Even her neatly tied bundle of menstrual cloths hadn’t been spared.

Tears welled in Shen Zhimei’s eyes, but she dared not say a word. She squatted silently, picking up her trampled clothes.

“Are you blind or dead? Can’t you see what time it is? Or are you trying to starve this old woman who runs the household?” A sharp, shrill voice pierced through the air before she could finish tidying up.

Shen Zhimei flinched at the sound, trembling as she scrambled to find some slightly clean clothes to change into. She then hurried off to the kitchen.

Just as Shen Zhimei placed the wild greens into the pot, Old Lady Qian marched in, holding four eggs.

“Steam these in two bowls. Don’t forget to add extra oil,” she commanded, slamming the eggs onto the counter before storming off.

Shen Zhimei glanced at the tiny oil bottle, sighed, and added a ladle of cold water to the hot iron pot.

Once the water boiled, she tossed in the prepped wild greens, blanching them until they were tender before draining and seasoning them with soy sauce and a pinch of salt.

By the time the wild green soup was ready, the egg custard had steamed to perfection.

From their spot by the stove, Da Ya and Er Ya could smell the delicious aroma of the egg custard. Unable to help themselves, they swallowed their saliva quietly.

But when they saw the custard bowls placed before Qian Zhizhi and Qian Dabao, disappointment flashed across their eyes.

“Grandma, you eat some too,” Qian Dabao offered, pushing a bowl of custard toward Old Lady Qian.

“My little Dabao is so considerate.” Old Lady Qian smiled lovingly but pushed the bowl back toward him. “Grandma doesn’t want any. You eat up and grow big and strong.”

Qian Zhizhi cast a sidelong glance at Qian Dabao before taking a small spoonful of custard herself. But the moment the creamy custard entered her mouth, a wave of nausea surged up her throat.

She fought hard to swallow it, but her stomach churned uncontrollably, and the urge to vomit intensified.

Clamping a hand over her mouth, she rushed outside, retching violently in the courtyard.

Hearing the sound of dry heaving, Old Lady Qian’s expression shifted slightly.

Xie Xiaofen glanced at the bowl of custard in front of Qian Zhizhi’s vacant seat, her face betraying a complicated mix of emotions.

Meanwhile, Qian Dabao quickly polished off his own custard before eyeing the bowl left untouched by Qian Zhizhi.

In the courtyard, Qian Zhizhi grew increasingly panicked.

It had been two months since her last period.

She had seen the signs of pregnancy before—with Xie Xiaofen and that useless woman both showing similar symptoms.

Recently, she’d even noticed her waistline thickening…

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She tried to suppress her nausea, but her rebellious stomach kept churning up sour bile.

“What’s wrong with Zhizhi? If she’s not feeling well, she should go to the clinic before it turns into something serious,” Qian Xingsheng suggested, frowning. Though his tone feigned concern, irritation simmered underneath.

Was she trying to disgust everyone at the table?

Xie Xiaofen discreetly tugged at Qian Xingsheng’s pants leg under the table, signaling him to stop talking.

Mistaking her gesture as encouragement to show more concern, Qian Xingsheng immediately set his chopsticks down.

“Should I fetch the doctor now?” he asked, feigning urgency.

“Do you think money grows on trees?” Old Lady Qian snapped, slamming her chopsticks onto the table.

Xie Xiaofen quickly pulled Qian Xingsheng back into his seat, laughing awkwardly. “It’s just a little chill and an upset stomach. She’ll be fine in a few days.”

Hearing this, Old Lady Qian’s expression softened slightly.

Meanwhile, Qian Zhizhi, who had been terrified at the mention of fetching a doctor, felt a wave of relief upon hearing Xie Xiaofen’s explanation.

If she really was pregnant… what would she do then?

When she saw Qian Dabao finishing her custard, she let out a silent sigh of relief.

As Qian Zhizhi sat back down, Shen Zhimei hurried to the stove to serve her a bowl of hot wild green soup.

For once, Qian Zhizhi didn’t nitpick, accepting the bowl without complaint.

Once everyone had left, Old Lady Qian dragged Qian Zhizhi into her room and locked the door behind them.

“Who?” she demanded, her eyes boring into Qian Zhizhi.

Pale-faced and trembling, Qian Zhizhi hesitated.

“Who?” Old Lady Qian repeated, her voice dripping with malice as she glanced at Qian Zhizhi’s still-flat belly.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Qian Zhizhi stammered, trying to maintain her composure.

“Who’s the father of that bastard in your belly?” Old Lady Qian barked, barely restraining herself from slapping Qian Zhizhi.

This wasn’t something that could be hidden!

“It’s He Chunsheng,” Qian Zhizhi muttered, lowering her head.

The words nearly sent Old Lady Qian into a fit of apoplexy.

He Chunsheng…

Just thinking about He Chunsheng’s domineering mother made her blood boil.

That woman was a nightmare!

“You… How could you—” Old Lady Qian started, only for Qian Zhizhi to grab her arm, her voice trembling with desperation.

“Mother, you have to help me!”