Chapter 16: A Woman with a Good Life

“Come in and smell it yourselves; it’s real,” Zhou Yun insisted.

Her sense of smell was quite active. She detected not only the meaty aroma but also the rich fragrance of the dish.

The female educated youths were stunned. They stepped into the kitchen, sniffing the air like Zhou Yun.

“It does smell like…”

“Did someone cook meat in our kitchen?” Several of them frowned.

“Zhou Yun!”

At that moment, Zhou Yun’s husband came over, carrying their crying son. “When can we eat? Our son has been crying from hunger.”

“Soon, I’ll get to it right away.” Zhou Yun, seeing her son crying so miserably, immediately gave up on her investigation and hurriedly added water to the sorghum flour to make porridge.

By this time, many other educated youths had returned to the courtyard, and amidst the noise, everyone forgot about the incident.

The houses weren’t soundproof, and Jiang Yuman inside could hear the conversation.

She couldn’t help but sigh to herself: “In the future, I must prepare meals earlier and keep them warm in my space. Otherwise, being constantly watched is not good.”

Or perhaps build a private kitchen.

There was a collapsed small room next to their assigned house, and she had already considered using it to build a small kitchen.

Having their own kitchen would alleviate her worries.

Jiang Yuman didn’t intend to scrimp and save. She preferred to take the extra effort rather than let her family suffer.

Speaking of her family, many people had returned, yet Fu Jingchen and the others were still out.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuman got up from her seat, intending to look out the window.

Before she could stand up, the door was pushed open.

Immediately afterward, the Fu family walked in.

As soon as they entered, they were hit with a strong meaty aroma.

“Mom, Dad, Jingchen, Haitang, you’re back! Are you all hungry? Come and eat.”

Jiang Yuman greeted them with a smile.

Fu Haitang was exhausted, her hands covered in blisters, and her stomach was rumbling. Seeing the closed door to their house, she felt extremely unhappy.

She assumed her sister-in-law was still sleeping in bed.

After all, she used to sleep until noon.

Thinking about returning from work and having to cook and serve her sister-in-law, Fu Haitang was furious!

But when she pushed open the door, she found her sister-in-law sitting in the room with a smile on her face!

Not only that, but on the table in front of her was a large pot of glistening braised pig trotters and steaming hot steamed buns!

She couldn’t help but swallow her saliva, speechless, “You… did you make this?” Her voice was full of disbelief.

Was she hallucinating?

Fu’s Mother quickly closed the door, preventing outsiders from seeing, then walked forward, “Manman, did you make all this?”

Her question was exactly the same as her daughter’s. She was too surprised that she even forgot to scold Fu Haitang for not calling her “sister-in-law.”

“Yes,” Jiang Yuman glanced at Fu Jingchen, “I told Jingchen yesterday that you guys were doing heavy work and needed good food, so I went to the commune this morning to buy some delicious things.”

Fu’s Mother looked at Fu Jingchen, who nodded in confirmation.

Clearly, the couple had discussed this.

Fu’s Mother let out a sigh of relief, then sat down at the table, feeling distressed. “You’re pregnant and feeling unwell, yet you still went to all this trouble to cook for us.”

Jiang Yuman’s eyes twitched. The original owner, when she was pregnant, had always complained about being unwell.

Therefore, her family was exceedingly indulgent toward her.

But, she couldn’t bear the thought of her family returning from hard work in the fields only to have to cook and serve her.

“Mom, Dad, Haitang, you guys worked so hard. Come, try my cooking.”

She quickly served the pig trotters to everyone.

Fu’s Mother took a bite, deeply moved. “Delicious, truly delicious.”

She had no idea her daughter-in-law was such a good cook.

“Jingchen, you should eat too,” Jiang Yuman said to Fu Jingchen.

Fu Jingchen nodded. Seeing that his lips were a bit dry, Jiang Yuman poured him some soup.

After a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup, everyone at the table looked satisfied.

The soup was truly excellent!

Besides quenching their thirst, it made them feel lighter!

As for the large pot of braised pig trotters, even those who hadn’t worked would have found it hard to resist, let alone those who were starving after a morning of hard labor.

The pig trotters were golden brown, fatty yet not greasy, with a superb texture!

The gravy could be drizzled over the steamed buns, which were also perfectly cooked—soft and delicious.

The combination was simply heavenly.

Fu Haitang, in particular, chewed on the pig trotters and ate the steamed buns, her eyes half-closed in satisfaction.

Although she had initially been upset about Jiang Yuman not working, after this meal, her resentment lessened considerably.

If her sister-in-law stayed home and cooked delicious meals for the family every now and then, it wouldn’t be so bad.

After all, her cooking was truly exceptional!

Even better than the master chefs at restaurants.

After the meal, the family was completely satisfied.

They ate all the pig trotters and finished every drop of the seaweed egg drop soup.

Fu Haitang, with a full stomach, sat on her stool, unwilling to move.

She was completely stuffed.

Fu Jingchen, however, was more proactive. After the meal, he got up to wash the dishes.

Jiang Yuman didn’t stop him.

In her opinion, men should do housework.

Although she hadn’t worked, she had also worked hard by going to town in the morning and cooking this meal.

Rule number one for a woman with a good life: learn to be lazy and let go of housework, and your husband will cherish you more.

Their rooms were side by side, with a place to wash dishes outside each room, so they didn’t have to go to the kitchen.

Fu Jingchen quickly finished washing the dishes and came back.

Returning to their room, Jiang Yuman applied some hand cream while asking, “What time do you guys go back this afternoon?”

“Two o’clock.” Fu Jingchen said, looking at her.

“Then come and take a nap.” Jiang Yuman patted the bed.

After she spoke, she waited a long time without hearing a sound.

She turned to look at him curiously, seeing his deep gaze fixed on her, she couldn’t help but ask,

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you moving?”

Fu Jingchen sat down beside her, his gaze softening. “You worked hard today.”

He hadn’t expected her to manage the household so well.

Returning home today to see a hot meal and his wife, brought warmth in his heart.

They had been married for so long, but he had no idea his wife was such a good cook.

Being gazed at by her husband with such deep eyes, Jiang Yuman’s body tingled for a moment.

But she was too clear-headed to let him take this for granted.

She immediately lowered her eyes, looking self-reproachful, and said.