Chapter 96

They had grown up in a household where they were either beaten or scolded daily. At the age of ten, they were married off, serving their in-laws, managing household chores, and bearing sons. They always thought life was supposed to be this way, never imagining it could be different.

Sun Jinhua, after being stunned, looked at Zhaodi with a malicious glare, thinking about how poorly she had lived as a child. Why, as another girl, did Zhaodi have a better life than her?

Moreover, the good days she had in the Fan family were because she was capable of bearing children! She had given birth to four sons, and her status was due to them. If she had given birth to daughters, would she have her current status?

She didn’t want to bear daughters at all; she had hoped to have another son, but it didn’t work out! Not even managing to bring another brother, eventually, her daughters would be married off for a dowry.

However, she was dark, thin, and short. When the time came, her dowry wouldn’t be much, and her four brothers couldn’t count on her to help them. Useless…

Fan Zhaodi’s timid eyes suddenly looked towards Shuiqing, filled with an unprecedented brightness. But this light dimmed when it met her mother, Sun Jinhua’s, unfriendly gaze.

Lowering her head, she thought about how she wanted to be a mother like her second aunt in the future.

Shuiqing coldly observed Sun Jinhua, knowing she hadn’t changed her mind. She hadn’t expected to change Sun Jinhua’s mind. Her goal was to influence children whose thoughts weren’t yet formed. Even a slight impact could be life-changing for them.

Unfortunately, this little girl, Fan Zhaodi, had such a mother. Her family and relatives couldn’t shelter her from the storm and might become her biggest obstacles in the future.

After visiting Yan Qiuxing and her daughter’s room, Sun Jinhua saw the envy in her daughter’s eyes and scolded, “You shallow thing! Are you thinking of becoming someone else’s daughter because their family is better? Look at yourself, would they even want you?”

Fan Zhaodi, scolded to the point of not being able to lift her head, shrank back, her small shoulders trembling.

Shuiqing frowned.

Yan Qiuxing, who was originally in the kitchen preparing food, rushed out, pulling Fan Zhaodi behind her and glaring at Sun Jinhua angrily. After Sun Jinhua had pushed her last time, she no longer recognized her as her aunt!

Although Zhaodi wasn’t her biological sister, they grew up together, endured beatings and scoldings together, and squatted together with their bowls to eat!

She looked at Sun Jinhua coldly and asked, “You may be domineering in the Fan family, but do you think you can still act arrogant in my house?”

Sun Jinhua wanted to say she could beat her own daughter to death if she wished, but seeing the disapproving looks around her, she unwillingly swallowed her words and left in a huff.

The other women continued their tour enthusiastically.

Fan Zhaodi stood there dazed for a while before lowering her head and following.

“Little sister, wait a moment!” Yan Qiu poked her head out of the kitchen and called softly.

Fan Zhaodi stopped at the familiar call. Her four brothers at home always called her “Hey” or Zhaodi. Only her elder sisters called her little sister. She didn’t like her name, and her elder sisters knew that, so they never used it privately. But her grandmother, mother, father, and brothers didn’t care if she liked it or not.

Yan Qiu came out holding a lotus leaf package, opened it to reveal soft white buns, and whispered, “I’ve warmed these in the kitchen. Eat them quickly before you go back.”

If she took them back or if Sun Jinhua saw them, she wouldn’t get even a bite!

Fan Zhaodi, seeing the white buns, swallowed her saliva. She didn’t take them but quickly looked towards her second aunt, fearing her elder sister would get scolded for giving her the buns without permission.

Shuiqing despised Sun Jinhua and her son Dazhu, but Fan Zhaodi was different. She too had suffered under Sun Jinhua, and her life was already bitter. Shuiqing wouldn’t help her, but she also wouldn’t add to her troubles.

Seeing her second aunt nod, Fan Zhaodi’s eyes brightened again. She carefully touched the soft, bouncy buns, smiling happily at just the touch. She took a bite, the taste of meat and juice filling her mouth, and she swallowed it whole without really tasting it.

“Eat slowly, don’t choke. I got six buns, enough for you,” Yan Qiu whispered.

Yan Qiuxing quickly returned to the kitchen and came back with a bowl of warm water.

Fan Zhaodi nibbled on the buns, tears streaming down her face. After finishing all six buns, she thanked the three of them, “Second Aunt, Big Sister, Second Sister, thank you.”

“Quick, go back, and don’t let it slip!” Xing Hui reminded.

Fan Zhaodi nodded hurriedly.

“If… if…” Yan Qiu looked up at Shuiqing. Seeing she did not object, she continued, “If you get too hungry, come find Big Sister quietly. I’ll make you something to eat.”

Fan Zhaodi shook her head, “If Mom finds out, she’ll definitely come over and argue with you.”

She didn’t mind getting beaten, but if her mom came to argue, her sisters would suffer. She wanted to say they could take her along to gather wild vegetables, but seeing her sisters eating meat buns, she thought they wouldn’t need to do that anymore. So she said quietly, “I’m leaving now.”

Yan Qiu and Xing Hui escorted her to the gate. When they returned, they both had slumped shoulders.

Shuiqing sighed but said nothing.

Fan Zhaodi was a good child, but she couldn’t help her. Unlike Heizi and Lingran, who were alone and could be fed, Fan Zhaodi had a large family behind her, including Fan Qian, Sun Jinhua, and Fan Dazhu.

If she gave her a bun to take back, next time they would force Fan Zhaodi to come for five, ten, or even a basketful of buns! And Fan Zhaodi wouldn’t get to eat any of them. Her life would not improve; it would get worse.

---

At noon, they prepared two banquet tables.

One was to thank the women who had helped with the work, and the other was to entertain the elderly in the village.

The dishes weren’t many in variety, but they were ample in quantity!

There was a large bowl of cabbage stewed with meat, a bowl of old hen soup, a bowl of pickled fish, a bowl of scrambled eggs with yellow chives, and a large bowl piled high with tea eggs.

The first four dishes were for eating there, and the last was for the children to take home.

Such a table of dishes was indeed sincere.

The women who had helped for more than half a month were stunned when they saw the feast.

Although they didn’t get paid, lunch was provided. Today they came mainly to share in the joy.

They had thought the food during the workdays was already quite good and expected today’s to be better, but not this good!

“Chicken, pork, fish, and eggs, Shuiqing, are you not thinking about the future?”

“You can’t waste chicken and eggs like this.”

“This, I feel guilty eating it.”

Shuiqing smiled, “You’ve helped for more than twenty days without taking a penny. Can’t you have a meal with meat and eggs?”

They, instead, were worrying about her.

Wang Guifen and the others opened their mouths, then finally said happily, “Alright, today we’ll have a good meal!”