Chapter 13

Gu Keqing lifted the cloth covering the back basket and began taking things out.

A tin of wheat milk essence, two glass jars of powdered milk.

Two plucked hens, half a pork leg, a bag of apples, and a bag of fragrant pears.

There were also ten meat buns and four pork knuckles.

Gu Keqing stopped counting—she couldn’t take out any more, or her secret would be exposed.

Mother Shen, Qi Zhiyun, and Han Dashuan all glanced over.

All this wouldn’t cost any less than several hundred yuan, right?

“Sis—sister-in-law, you bought so many delicious things, must have spent a lot of money,”

Han Dashuan’s mouth nearly watered at the sight of the two plump hens.

“These were all bought with the money Shen Yan gave me. Here, have a couple of meat buns to fill your stomach first.”

Gu Keqing took some buns from the oiled paper wrapping and handed them to Han Dashuan.

Han Dashuan wiped his hands on his clothes, wanting to take them but feeling a little embarrassed.

His eyes darted over to Shen Yan.

“Your sister-in-law’s giving them to you—take them.”

Once Shen Yan spoke, Han Dashuan grinned and accepted them.

“Mmm… delicious, how can it smell this good?”

Seeing him eating happily, Gu Keqing handed two more to Mother Shen and Qi Zhiyun.

“Mother, sister-in-law, you eat too.”

Mother Shen, always mindful of money, waved her hand. “You all eat. I’m old—anything’s fine for me.”

Gu Keqing pretended to be upset.

“Mother, Shen Yan and I can both earn money. I sold soap today and made quite a bit. If you don’t eat, I’ll be angry.”

“Well… then I’ll have one.”

Mother Shen smiled as she took the bun, and the moment she bit into it, the savory meat aroma filled her mouth.

“Sister-in-law, you have one too. Your health isn’t good—you should eat more meat.”

Gu Keqing shoved a big meat bun into Qi Zhiyun’s hands.

“Sister, you’re always so good to me. How will I ever repay you in the future?”

Qi Zhiyun’s voice was choked as she took the bun.

“Oh come on, haven’t I said before? Just make clothes and shoes for me.”

Seeing that everyone’s attention was now on the buns, Gu Keqing reached back into the basket and took out clothes.

Four men—eight sets of ready-made clothes; three women—six sets of ready-made clothes, plus several bolts of fabric.

“Mother, I bought two sets of clothes for everyone in the family. It’s hot—now we can change and wash them.”

She sorted the clothes in front of Qi Zhiyun and placed them by her side.

“Keting, you treat us so well. Once I’m better, I’ll work for you like a horse or an ox.”

Qi Zhiyun quickly stood up, her eyes turning red again.

“My dear girl, what great fortune the Shen family must have had to marry you. You’ve only just come here and already bought so many things for the family. Mother’s heart…”

Mother Shen’s voice grew hoarse.

After the Shen family’s misfortune, the once–commander’s wife had suffered a lot.

“Mother, what are you saying? We’re family—no need for such words.”

Gu Keqing smiled and put her arm around Mother Shen’s shoulder.

Seeing his wife treat his family so well, Shen Yan’s heart softened like a warm spring. His gaze toward her grew even gentler.

Of course, Gu Keqing had her own plans.

Since Qi Zhilan had bought so many good things, she would surely come by soon to curry favor.

The Shen family wasn’t stupid—they would naturally compare who treated them better.

Pitting the powerful, polished female lead Qi Zhilan against a backgroundless cannon-fodder “doomed early” supporting character…

Gu Keqing wouldn’t dare let her guard down.

“Mother, let’s go cook the chicken in the kitchen. Since Dashuan’s here today, let’s make both—one braised, one stir-fried.”

She gave Qi Zhilan a wink, signaling her to take the chickens inside.

“Sister-in-law, can I really eat here?”

Han Dashuan licked his lips after finishing the buns, rubbing his still-hungry stomach while gazing longingly toward the kitchen.

“If you want to stay for dinner, you have to chop firewood first—let’s go!”

Shen Yan shot him a glare and got up to leave the yard.

“Auntie, I’ll go chop some wood with Brother Yan!”

Han Dashuan trotted after Shen Yan, delighted—he’d have a good meal tonight!

“Brother Yan, earlier I thought you spoiled your wife too much, but now I get it—your wife’s like a golden nugget. If I had such a good wife, I’d pamper her too.”

Han Dashuan was truly impressed by the bold way Gu Keqing had just taken things out.

A woman willing to spend so much for her husband’s family—forget the commune, you wouldn’t find many even in the whole county.

Especially not in a village.

“Mm, she’s my wife. How could anyone compare?”

Shen Yan replied without changing expression.

“Tsk tsk… I see now—you’re completely smitten. In front of others, you’re like an ice cellar, but with your wife, you’re all tenderness. Makes me jealous. Heh… suddenly I want to get married too.”

Han Dashuan scratched his head in envy.

“Save up more money. When fate comes, it’ll happen naturally.”

Shen Yan stopped at a dead tree and began chopping.

“Got it—chicken for dinner tonight!”

Han Dashuan thought of meat and chicken soup, and his strength grew.

…

Back at the educated youth spot, Qi Zhilan sat sulking on the heated brick bed.

Her face was dark as a thundercloud.

“Qi Zhiqing, what’s wrong? Bad mood?”

Xia Ye popped a fruit candy Qi Zhilan had bought into her mouth and sat down to chat.

To Sun Lili and Xia Ye, Qi Zhilan was a fool.

When everyone lacked clothes and food, she still bought so many things to share—if that’s not stupid, what is?

But as long as they could get food, what was the harm in saying a few nice words?

What they didn’t know was that in the future, they would both die because of their greed.

“Qi Zhiqing, do you want to make money?”

Qi Zhilan bit her cheek and said, “I have a way to earn some—want to hear it?”

“What way? Tell me!”

Seeing Wang Zishan wasn’t around, Xia Ye quickly leaned closer.

Qi Zhilan lowered her voice.

“Go get Sun Lili in here. The three of us will talk it over.”

In her past life, Qi Zhilan had known there were many mushrooms in the back mountain.

Last time, a villager secretly dug some, dried them at home, and sold them on the black market for a lot of money.

But the back mountain’s resources were collective property—if the production team found out, they would report it.

At worst, you could be paraded around and sent to a labor farm.

Still, Qi Zhilan was desperate for money and couldn’t care less.

But she didn’t dare go up the mountain alone, nor go to the black market by herself.

So she planned to drag these two gluttons along as scapegoats.

If something happened, she could just push the blame onto them.

After all, in her past life, Sun Lili and Xia Ye had died early anyway.

If they were going to die, better to die by her hand.

When Sun Lili came in, Qi Zhilan laid out her plan to them.

“What? Steal collective property? If anyone found out, our days as educated youths would be over.”

Sun Lili was greedy, but not stupid.

She didn’t dare take such a risk.

Qi Zhilan coaxed,

“We can go right after work, when everyone else is eating. No one will notice.”

“And there are wild pheasants in the mountain too.”