“Every woman gets pregnant and has children. Back when I was carrying you kids, not only did I never go to the hospital for checkups, but I even delivered every one of you at home by myself!”  

“When I was giving birth to your eldest brother, it was right in the middle of the summer harvest. Even after my water broke, I still managed to cut four rows of wheat before going into labor!”  

“That’s just how it is for women. Li Zhaodi isn’t some delicate, high-class lady—why bother going to the hospital? It’s just a waste of money.”  

“Our family has so many mouths to feed—where would we get the extra money to take her to the hospital for checkups?”  

“Sweetheart, if you ask me, you’re just like me—too kind-hearted.”  

In the end, Wang Xiu’e still couldn’t resist praising Lin Wanwan.  

In Wang Xiu’e’s eyes as a mother, her daughter Lin Wanwan was perfect in every way—flawless.  

After hearing her mother’s words, Lin Wanwan realized she hadn’t thought things through and fell silent.  

Today, the family was lucky enough to slaughter a chicken. Worried that her daughter-in-law’s cooking would ruin her precious hen, Wang Xiu’e snatched the spatula from her eldest daughter-in-law’s hands and took over the kitchen herself.  

Years ago, one of her ancestors had been an imperial chef in the palace, so she had picked up a few tricks.  

Though she couldn’t whip up a full imperial banquet, she had a firm grasp on everyday home cooking.  

Soon, the rich aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, mouthwatering and irresistible.  

The little kids of the Lin family pressed their faces against the doors and windows, peeking eagerly into the kitchen.  

Wang Xiu’e scooped a small spoonful of lard from the family’s pork fat jar. Once the oil was hot, she tossed in the chopped chicken and began stir-frying.  

When the chicken turned golden brown, she added a pot of pre-boiled hot water, and the pot bubbled vigorously.  

With so many mouths to feed, one chicken was far from enough—especially since they still had to invite that pretty-boy from the educated youth outpost over to discuss marriage later.  

At least half a bowl of chicken had to be saved for him.  

Wang Xiu’e dug out a few potatoes hidden in the corners and ordered her eldest daughter-in-law to wash and chop them, planning to stew them with the chicken.  

If there wasn’t enough chicken, potatoes would make up the difference.  

The smell of braised chicken and potatoes grew richer and more intoxicating. Lin Wanwan, who had been resting in her room, couldn’t help but swallow hard at the aroma.  

So fragrant.

It was an instinctive reaction from this body—starved for oil and protein, desperate for a taste.  

After all, these were hard times. People were struggling to survive, some even resorting to eating tree bark and clay. No matter how much Wang Xiu’e and Lin Shuisheng doted on their daughter, they couldn’t afford to feed her meat every day.  

In the end, it all came down to poverty.  

Unable to resist the tantalizing smell any longer, Lin Wanwan wobbled her plump little body out of her room.  

The children crowding the kitchen door quickly made way for their aunt.  

Seeing her daughter standing dumbly at the entrance, Wang Xiu’e waved her in with a smile.  

“Hungry, aren’t you? Mom made your favorite—braised chicken with potatoes. Eat as much as you want later.”  

“Thanks, Mom.” Lin Wanwan stepped closer, her nose filled with the savory, spicy aroma that made her mouth water.  

Just then, an untimely growl echoed through the room.  

Realizing the sound had come from her own stomach, Lin Wanwan’s face flushed red.  

In her past life, she had tasted every delicacy under the sun—who would’ve thought she’d be drooling over a simple home-cooked chicken in this one?  

Thankfully, none of her business rivals from her past life were around to witness this, or her hard-earned reputation would’ve been ruined.  

A pang of guilt flashed across Wang Xiu’e’s face. She blamed herself for being a neglectful mother, letting her daughter go hungry.  

So, as soon as the braised chicken and potatoes were ready, she immediately picked out the drumsticks and plopped them into her daughter’s bowl.  

Both drumsticks went straight to Lin Wanwan.

Lin Changfu, seeing his aunt eating meat, couldn’t resist running up to Wang Xiu’e, tugging at her clothes, and whining, “Grandma, I want meat too!”

“Eat, eat—just like your mother, a bunch of starving ghosts reborn.” Despite her scolding, Wang Xiu’e still fished out a piece of meat from the pot for him.  

But when Lin Changfu saw that she had given him the chicken tail, his little face scrunched up in disappointment.

“Grandma, you’re biased! You gave Auntie the drumsticks but gave me the tail!”

Lin Wanwan, caught in the crossfire, suddenly found the drumstick in her mouth less tasty—though she wasn’t foolish enough to give hers up.  

The drumstick in her bowl was given to her by her mother. If Lin Changfu wanted one, he should go ask his own mother—what did it have to do with her, his aunt?

Besides, he wasn’t her only nephew. She had three nieces too.

Two drumsticks weren’t nearly enough to split among four kids.

Rather than dealing with complaints over who got what, it was better not to give any out at all. 

Wang Xiu’e, furious at her grandson’s accusation of favoritism, yanked the chicken tail back and dragged him out of the kitchen by his ear.  

Deprived of his meat, Lin Changfu threw himself on the ground, kicking and screaming, demanding to be fed.  

No meat? Then he wouldn’t get up.  

Wang Xiu’e glared at her useless eldest grandson, her frown deep enough to crush a fly. Then she shot a disgusted look at her second son, who was just standing there like an idiot.  

“Your son’s acting like this, and you, his father, won’t even discipline him?”

“Truly, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. No wonder you’ll never amount to anything.”

Lin Shuisheng, who had just returned from the outhouse, stiffened at her words—he couldn’t help but feel she was indirectly scolding him too.  

But as a lifelong henpecked husband, he said nothing, though his heart ached a little at the sight of his grandson rolling on the ground.

That is, until he heard the brat had tried to steal his precious daughter’s drumstick.

Instantly, all sympathy vanished.

A kid who didn’t even know to respect his elders needed to be taught a lesson. 

Lin Youzhu, humiliated by his mother’s reprimand, stormed over, yanked down Lin Changfu’s pants, and delivered a series of sharp smacks to his backside.  

The boy howled like a scalded cat.

“You little brat! You ever dare steal from your aunt again?”

“…N-No! Never again!”

Only when his arm grew tired did Lin Youzhu stop.

Sniffling and rubbing his sore bottom, Lin Changfu secretly swore vengeance against his aunt in his heart.

He hated that fat pig.

With both drumsticks in Lin Wanwan’s bowl, she ate one herself and gave the other to Wang Xiu’e.  

But Wang Xiu’e couldn’t bear to eat it.

While Lin Wanwan was outside washing her hands, she hid the drumstick away, planning to use it the next day to make noodles for her daughter.

By dinnertime, the shameless Li Zhaodi had completely “forgotten” her mother-in-law’s order that she skip the meal.

Without waiting to be called, she rushed to the table, her eyes glued to the bowl of meat.

The rest of the family was no better—like starving ghosts who hadn’t eaten in centuries, they stared at the meat, unwilling to look away.

But until Wang Xiu’e gave the word, no one dared touch their chopsticks.

Seeing the kids practically drooling, Lin Shuisheng urged,

“Old woman, the kids have worked hard all day. Let’s eat already. Finish up before dark so everyone can rest.”

Kerosene lamps cost money, after all—every penny counted in these times.

The moment he finished speaking, Wang Xiu’e straightened up and began dishing out the food.