Zheng Juan arrived with her two daughters-in-law in tow.  

The elder daughter-in-law, Xu Guizhi, had shifty eyes that darted around, her expression dripping with disdain at everything she saw.  

The younger daughter-in-law, Du Yan, kept her head meekly bowed, docile as a lump of dough that could be kneaded at will.  

Zheng Juan walked in the middle, looking every bit like a wealthy matriarch flanked by attendants, her demeanor lofty and imposing.  

If not for their patched clothes, one might easily mistake them for a family of means.  

With an air of haughty superiority, they stepped into the shabby house.  

Zheng Juan’s face betrayed no emotion—neither joy nor anger, neither scorn nor disgust—as if she were a detached, enlightened Buddhist, free from worldly attachments.  

But the words she spoke were like the blade of the King of Hell—cold and merciless.  

“Someone as filthy as you should have the decency to leave on your own, taking your bastard child with you.”  

Zheng Juan’s arrival was sudden and silent.  

She hadn’t announced herself before entering, simply stepping through the unlatched door.  

Lan Qingshuang was in the middle of nursing Little Fuman when a large shadow fell over them. Before she could even see who it was, those words reached her ears.  

Dazed, she looked up and met Zheng Juan’s eyes, half-hidden in the shadows. For some reason, those eyes seemed to gleam with venom and a hidden satisfaction.  

Startled by the voice, Little Fuman twisted her tiny neck to look.  

Perhaps nourished by the blessings of Tianchi’s (Heavenly Lake) auspicious aura, the little one’s senses were remarkably sharp.  

Even backlit, she could clearly make out Zheng Juan’s features, her aura, and the subtle emotions lurking beneath.  

Compared to Granny Wang’s outward hostility, Zheng Juan was clearly the more insidious type.  

Even from a distance, the little one felt an instinctive dislike.  

[Oho, oho! It’s that classic scene the fairy sisters always talk about!]  

[Here’s five million—leave my son.]  

[Mama, Mama, five million! Five million!]  

[With five million, we could live like immortals, Mama! Who needs Daddy anyway?]  

Lan Qingshuang, who had been scowling at Zheng Juan’s words, nearly burst out laughing. Silly child, the Ye family probably doesn’t even have five million to their name.

She had no idea where the little one had picked up such absurd phrases.  

Ye Zhoushan, who had just reached the doorway in time to hear his daughter’s inner monologue, was baffled.  

What five million? And why doesn’t she need her daddy?

This little traitor.  

Quickening his steps, he entered and saw his mother and two sisters-in-law. His brow furrowed slightly, but he approached calmly. “Mom, what brings you here?”  

[She’s here to give Mama five million and tell her to take her precious little bundle and scram!]  

Little Fuman smacked her lips in her mother’s arms, rolling her tiny eyes with an adorably haughty expression.  

Lan Qingshuang bit back a laugh. This kid’s really hung up on that five million, huh?

Ye Zhoushan’s eyes darkened.  

Facing her son, Zheng Juan shed her imperious air.  

She even managed a faint smile, adopting the gentle, kind demeanor of a loving mother.  

“I heard something happened at your place, so I came to check on you.”  

“You silly boy, such a big incident, and you didn’t even send word to us.”  

“You’ve only moved out for a short while, and already you’ve grown distant from your mother?”  

Her words might as well have outright accused Lan Qingshuang of being a troublemaker who drove a wedge between mother and son.  

Ye Zhoushan didn’t seem to notice the implied jab and waved it off with a smile. “It’s nothing serious. You’re busy, so I didn’t want to bother you.”  

“Come, have a seat. Stay for dinner—Grandma Deng lent us some fine grains to help the baby’s mother with her milk. You should have some too, Mom, to nourish yourself.”  

The words sounded oddly phrased, and Zheng Juan’s expression soured slightly.  

Xu Guizhi, however, missed the subtext entirely and latched onto the mention of fine grains.  

“That sounds wonderful! I always said my brother-in-law is a filial son.”  

“Mom, why don’t you sit for a bit? I’ll go fetch the kids so they can meet their little cousin.”

Zheng Juan shot Xu Guizhi a dark look.  

Xu Guizhi stiffened, shrinking her neck and not daring to make another sound.  

Zheng Juan took a deep breath. This idiot… Well, it was fate.  

“Lao Si, it’s your mother’s fault. I know you’re struggling, but there’s nothing I can do to help.”  

“Everything at home is controlled by your grandma. As a daughter-in-law, I…”  

She sighed. “Don’t worry, I’ll try to talk to her later.”  

Ye Zhoushan was used to Zheng Juan’s tactics and waved it off indifferently. “It’s fine. I can manage.”  

Zheng Juan smiled. “That’s good. You go about your business. I should head back now—your father will make a fuss if I’m gone too long. If anything comes up, remember to come home and tell me. Don’t shoulder everything alone.”  

Without so much as a glance at Lan Qingshuang or Little Fuman, she turned and left.  

Ye Zhoushan saw her out with an unreadable expression.  

When he turned back, he was met with his wife’s half-amused, half-mocking face.  

His scalp prickled. “Heh, sweetheart, don’t be mad. I won’t let anyone disturb your confinement again.”  

Lan Qingshuang scoffed. “I don’t want to go from being called ‘damaged goods’ to a ‘wicked daughter-in-law.’”  

“Why don’t you just pack us up and send us away? Wouldn’t want me ruining your mother-son bond or tarnishing the Ye family’s reputation.”  

Ye Zhoushan’s voice turned low and firm. “Don’t say things that only hurt the ones you love and please the ones you hate. You and our daughter are staying right here with me. No running off anywhere.”  

Lan Qingshuang pursed her lips. “And who exactly is the ‘loved one,’ and who’s the ‘hated one’?”  

Ye Zhoushan pressed his lips together, refusing to answer, and changed the subject.  

“Once your confinement is over, we’ll go register our marriage and get our daughter’s household registration sorted.”  

“Our family of three will be officially tied together—no one can separate us.”  

Lan Qingshuang had been living off the grid before, afraid that applying for household registration would expose her location if the authorities checked with Zhou Village. So, they’d never legally married—just handed out some wedding candy in the village and announced their union. No banquet, but that was normal these days when everyone was poor.  

Now that her status was secure, Ye Zhoushan wanted to make it official.  

Lan Qingshuang had no objections.  

Since Ye Zhoushan didn’t want to talk about the Ye family, she dropped the topic and brought up tomorrow’s plans instead.  

“Tomorrow, you’re going to work in the fields like everyone else. No running around, understand?”  

Ye Zhoushan hated field work and immediately shook his head. “No way. I need to stay home and take care of you two.”  

“When I have time, I’ll go up the mountain. If I’m lucky, I can trade stuff for money or ration coupons.”  

That was far more practical than backbreaking labor.  

With their daughter so fragile, he couldn’t risk not having money in case of emergencies.  

Lan Qingshuang glared. “You are going to work. I don’t care what else you do, but our family’s food rations come first.”  

“Whatever plans you have, put them on hold. Once my confinement’s over and I can earn work points myself, you can do whatever you want.”  

Ye Zhoushan refused. “Even after your confinement, you’re not working. Stay home, take care of the baby, and rest. I’ll handle everything else.”  

“Your man can provide for you two just fine.”  

Lan Qingshuang pinched his arm. “Are you trying to piss me off? If you can ‘provide just fine,’ why are we this poor?”  

“This isn’t a discussion—it’s an order. You are working tomorrow. If you don’t earn at least ten work points, you’ll regret it.”  

[Giggle, silly Daddy, serves you right!]  

Ye Zhoushan’s eye twitched. When did my sweet, soft wife turn into a tigress?

And this little traitor…

Both of them were absolute tyrants.  

Gently prying his wife’s hand away, he coaxed, “Don’t be mad. The doctor said you shouldn’t get upset. My skin’s too rough—you might hurt your hand.”  

“Fine, fine, I’ll go. Happy now?”