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Hello, dear readers! I’m truly sorry for not posting any updates over the past few days. To make it up to you all, I’ve unlocked 17 CHAPTERS! Please note that this may not be reflected on the NU page right away, as it’s part of a mass update/unlock. Once again, thank you so much for reading my translations. Enjoy the chapters~! (づ> v <)づ♡

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Chapter 99

Before long, Li Dabin arrived. Shen Yiyi took the opportunity to ask him to bring the wild pheasant meant for Li Sanhong back as well.  

On Li Sanhong’s side, Jiang Ailing had been urging him to collect the game ever since he returned.  

Thinking about how he had held them back and caused his eldest brother to cut his hand, Li Sanhong felt embarrassed to go. With his usual bluntness, he said: “I didn’t contribute much. It was all big brother, second brother, and second brother’s little brother-in-law who did the hunting. We already got twenty pounds of pork, so we shouldn’t take anything else.”  

“What are you talking about? You went along with them, so the game should be shared equally. Just hurry up and go. If you don’t, we really won’t have anything to eat. Even if you don’t think about yourself, at least consider your son and daughter!”  

“I’m not going!” Li Sanhong said. “What’s there to consider? Isn’t twenty jin of wild boar meat enough for us?”  

“You…” Jiang Ailing wanted to say more, but just then, Li Dabin called out to them. “Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law asked me to bring you a pheasant.”  

Hearing this, Jiang Ailing quickly went outside. When she saw the game inside the sack in Li Dabin’s hands, her eyes lit up. “Big Brother, you brought it back for us? Thank you so much!”  

“Eh? Third Sister-in-law, this, this…” Li Dabin wanted to explain that Second Sister-in-law had only given them a single pheasant. But he wasn’t good with words, and in his flustered state, his mind went blank. He could only watch as Jiang Ailing took the sack from his hands.  

Just as Jiang Ailing was about to ask Li Sanhong to boil water and prepare the game, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the sack from her grasp.  

“What are you doing? That’s ours!” Mother Li bellowed, grabbing a pheasant from the sack and tossing it to Jiang Ailing. “This is yours!”  

Holding the pheasant, Jiang Ailing looked incredulously at the remaining pheasants, wild rabbits, and even a mountain goat in the sack. “This is too unfair!”  

“Then go ask your husband how much effort he put in!” Mother Li snapped impatiently. Lately, she had found Jiang Ailing increasingly unpleasant to look at, and by extension, her own youngest son as well. Naturally, she felt no sympathy for them.  

She shoved the sack back into Li Dabin’s hands and said gruffly: “Take it back and clean it up. We’re having meat tonight!”

“Eh, got it!” Li Dabin, afraid that Jiang Ailing might snatch it again, grabbed the sack and hurriedly ran back to his own kitchen.  

Before leaving, Mother Li let out a cold snort in Jiang Ailing’s direction.  

Jiang Ailing carried the pheasant back into the house, fuming. “Li Sanhong, your second brother and the others are too biased! Big Brother actually got two pheasants, a wild rabbit, and even a mountain goat! And we only got a single pheasant! This favoritism is ridiculous. Even Mother laughed at us. Are you even their real family member?”  

Li Sanhong, growing impatient, said: “Didn’t I already tell you? I didn’t help much.”  

“Then why didn’t you help?”  

“Then why didn’t you help?” Li Sanhong shot back.  

Jiang Ailing was momentarily speechless.  

Ignoring her, Li Sanhong took the pheasant and went to prepare it.  

Jiang Ailing was both angry and frustrated. Thinking of something, she suppressed her emotions for now.  

---

That evening, Shen Yiyi’s family enjoyed a warm and comforting mutton soup, filling the house with warmth and happiness.  

After that day, Shen Yuxuan completely idolized his eldest brother-in-law.  

The next day, he eagerly pulled his eldest brother-in-law along with Da Bao and Er Bao to the river to catch fish.  

At home, Shen Yiyi, her mother, and Xiao Bao stayed behind.

After breakfast, just like the day before, Mother Li came over to sit by the fire, knitting a sweater while chatting with her mother.  

Meanwhile, Shen Yiyi read a book while playing with Xiao Bao.

Partway through, a knock sounded at the door. Shen Yiyi went to open it.  

Standing outside were two unexpected visitors—Jiang Ailing and Jiang Wanrou.  

This was Shen Yiyi’s first time seeing Jiang Wanrou since her rebirth.  

In their past life, they had been mortal enemies, bound by deep-seated hatred.

But in this life, they were merely two unfamiliar acquaintances.  

The moment Jiang Wanrou saw Shen Yiyi, a fleeting expression flashed across her eyes. She was well aware that Shen Yiyi had once admired Lin Jiadong, the man she herself had won over.  

Jiang Wanrou had no particular feelings toward Shen Yiyi, but because Lin Jiadong loved her, she always carried a subconscious sense of superiority whenever she faced Shen Yiyi.  

Jiang Ailing, oblivious to the silent calculations between the two, grinned amiably and said: “Second Sister-in-law, what are you doing staying home on such a cold day? Why not go out for a walk with Mother-in-law?”  

As she spoke, her eyes subtly scanned the room.  

Shen Yiyi had no idea what Jiang Ailing was after, but that didn’t stop her from disliking her. She sneered: “Whether we go out or not, what business is it of yours?”  

Jiang Ailing was caught off guard, not expecting Shen Yiyi to be so blunt and unyielding.  

Jiang Wanrou stepped in to defend her sister, her voice soft yet laced with a hint of reproach. “Second Sister-in-law, my sister is your sister-in-law after all. How could you speak to her like that?”  

She deliberately emphasized Second Sister-in-law, as if reminding Shen Yiyi of something.

Shen Yiyi was more than happy for Jiang Wanrou to call her that title, but she found her words utterly ridiculous. “So you knocked on our door just to demand my attitude? Are you the one who’s sick, or am I the crazy one?”  

With that, she slammed the door shut right in their faces with a loud bang.  

“Second Sister-in-law…” Jiang Ailing started to say something, but Jiang Wanrou pulled her back. “Sister, forget it. It’s obvious she doesn’t like you.”  

“Aiya, you silly girl! Can’t you see I have something to discuss with her?” Jiang Ailing said, irritated.  

“Sister.” Jiang Wanrou frowned: “what exactly do you need from her?”  

Jiang Ailing leaned in and whispered something into Jiang Wanrou’s ear.  

“What?” Jiang Wanrou was stunned. “Sister, you want to set me up with Shen Yiyi’s brother?” And even have her make an impression in front of Mother Shen?  

“Shhh! Keep your voice down!” Jiang Ailing hurriedly covered Jiang Wanrou’s mouth. “I’m only thinking of you! You’re already 23. If you don’t get married soon, you really won’t find a good match!”  

Of course, her definition of a good match was quite different from others’.  

“I…” Jiang Wanrou’s eyes flickered, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.  

Jiang Ailing continued: “You’ve been staying in town lately, so you don’t know. Shen Yiyi’s family is doing really well. She mentioned before that her dad is a factory director and her mom is a community office director. When her mom came over, she drove a small car and even brought a lot of dowry.  

“Most of it was wrapped up tightly, so we couldn’t see what was inside, but we did see the bicycle. If they could give their daughter that much dowry, what kind of family do you think they are?”

“Even more importantly, how many people can actually afford to drive a small car? Not many! They claim it’s borrowed from a leader, but if they didn’t have some connections, which leader would lend them a car? Besides, her grandparents used to fight alongside the leaders. Even if they’ve retired now, their family isn’t one that ordinary people can compare to! If you marry into that family, your sister and I will be able to enjoy a good life as well.”  

Jiang Wanrou’s gaze flickered. She hadn’t expected Shen Yiyi’s family to be so well-off. After a moment of hesitation, she quickly regained her composure and said firmly: “Sister, this isn’t going to work. With the attitude Shen Yiyi showed us just now, how could she ever let me marry her brother?”  

Hearing this, Jiang Ailing grew irritated again. “If only her brother were here, with your looks, he’d definitely fall for you!”  

Jiang Wanrou didn’t respond immediately, as she was always confident in her own beauty and charm.  

Since she couldn’t reach the high branch for now, Jiang Ailing shifted tactics. “Didn’t you say last time that the son of the vice factory director at the textile factory was pursuing you? What are you planning to do about that?”  

The thought of the greasy, pudgy man made Jiang Wanrou feel repulsed. “He looks like that… Sister, I don’t want to be with him.”  

“Wanrou, don’t be so picky.” Jiang Ailing said earnestly, as if giving advice. “You’re beautiful and smart, that’s true, but you’re already 23. If you keep being so choosy, no good family will want you.”

“Although the vice factory director’s son doesn’t look great, at least he has money. Don’t forget, you’re still just a temporary worker. If you get together with him, it’ll be easy for his dad to get you a permanent position. Besides, you promised to help your sister live a good life!”  

It was the last sentence that truly carried weight.  

“…” Jiang Wanrou lowered her head.  

“You’d better think carefully about what I’ve said.” Jiang Ailing continued, pausing for a moment before extending her hand toward Jiang Wanrou. “What about your wages for this month? Lend them to your sister. We’ve just split up the family, and there’s a lot to buy. Tie Zhu and Goudan need new clothes too.”  

Jiang Wanrou bit her lip, took 12 yuan from her pocket, and handed it to Jiang Ailing.  

“Only 12 yuan?” Jiang Ailing said, surprised.  

“Sister, I’m a temporary worker. My salary is only 17.5 yuan a month. I need to save a little for myself.” Jiang Wanrou explained.  

“So you’re saving 5 yuan for yourself?” Jiang Ailing remarked. “You really don’t know how to manage money. From now on, just give your salary to me. I’ll save it for you. When you get married, I’ll give it to you as your dowry.”  

“…” Jiang Wanrou remained silent.  

“Did you hear me?” Jiang Ailing asked again. “Don’t tell me you think I’d steal your money? Don’t you have any conscience? Don’t you remember how I raised you after our parents passed away, cleaning up after you and taking care of you?”  

Jiang Wanrou could only respond: “…I heard you.”  

Jiang Ailing finally smiled in satisfaction.