Chapter 3 – Sister-in-law is Amazing

Xiaobao quickly let go of his hand and smiled a little sheepishly.

At that moment, Ruan Jiaojiao also came up holding the fish.

Naturally, she took Big Bao’s hand and said to him,
“Dabao, Mama will hold you, and you hold Xiaobao. Let’s all go home together!”

Since one of her hands was busy carrying the fish, she couldn’t hold Xiaobao. She knew that out of the two, Dabao had suffered the most over the years, so she wanted to give him a little more care.

Dabao held tightly—one hand in his mother’s, the other clasped around his little brother’s. He was so happy he could burst.

His eyes welled up with hot tears, but he didn’t dare cry, afraid of worrying Mama and Xiaobao.

When Ruan Jiaojiao noticed the redness in her eldest’s eyes, her heart ached. She silently resolved that once they got home, she’d cook something delicious for the two of them!

The three of them—one tall, two small—walking down the street, with Jiaojiao carrying a huge fish, drew plenty of attention.

“Isn’t that Fu Ting’s wife? Good heavens, where’d she get such a big fish?”

“No way! Wasn’t Fu Ting’s wife always lazy and gluttonous? How could she be fishing, and even looking after the kids?”

“Merciful heavens, the world really is changing!”

“I feel like I’m dreaming. Rubbed my eyes, but no—Fu Ting’s woman is actually being a housewife?”

Some mischievous brat passing by, jealous and drooling at the sight of the fish, sneered nastily:
“Dabao! Xiaobao! Your mom’s making that fish for Comrade Huo, not for you two! She doesn’t care about you at all—you’re just kids with no one to raise you!”

Dabao’s little hand stiffened.

He pressed his lips together, pretending he hadn’t heard and didn’t care.

He had a strong sense of pride—but what could he do? Before, their mother really hadn’t cared for them. He and Xiaobao were like wild children, born but not raised…

Fu Ting never abandoned them, but he was a rough man, not good at tending to children’s hearts.

Ruan Jiaojiao suddenly stopped, let go of Dabao’s hand, and just as Dabao’s heart sank further—she bent, snatched up a stone, and hurled it hard at the gossipy brat’s leg!

“Yowww!!” The little troublemaker, caught off guard, squealed like a pig. When he rolled up his pant leg, his skin was already turning blue.

“Waaah! It hurts! Bad person! Bad woman!”

Still just a child, he burst into tears from fright and pain, not daring to provoke Ruan Jiaojiao again.

Balancing the fish in one arm, Jiaojiao planted her other hand on her hip and announced loudly to everyone around:
“Listen up! I, Ruan Jiaojiao, have mended my ways. From now on, I’ll live a good life with Fu Ting. And if anyone dares bully my two precious sons—I’ll fight them to the end!”

To prove it, she even showed her slender white arm.

Truth be told, she didn’t look very intimidating. But her man did—Fu Ting had once been the village thug at the foot of the mountain!

It was only after meeting her that he’d turned over a new leaf.

So, if only out of respect for Fu Ting, no one laughed at Jiaojiao’s sudden declaration of reform.

Dabao remained tense and silent, but Xiaobao couldn’t hold back:
“Yay! Baby has Mama to protect him now! Xiaobao’s so happy! And Brother’s happy too! Just… Brother’s too shy to say it out loud~”

Dabao: “……”

Seriously, little brother, do you have to sell me out like that?

Jiaojiao ruffled Dabao’s hair and then tapped Xiaobao’s cheek.
“Mama will always protect you two. It’s getting late—let’s hurry home and cook!”

“Okay!” This time, both little beans answered in unison.

Not far away, Fu Ting and his good friend Gu Yun had seen everything.

Gu Yun’s jaw had been hanging open the whole time. He kept doubting his own eyes. Was that really Ruan Jiaojiao? That spoiled, coquettish woman who lived up to her name—and who had cuckolded Fu Ting before?!!

“Brother Ting, what’s going on? How did she suddenly come around?”

But Fu Ting’s head was full of last night—Ruan Jiaojiao’s wild, passionate self. Hearing Gu Yun’s question, he blurted out, completely off-topic:
“Your sister-in-law is amazing.”

Gu Yun: “???”

Fu Ting coughed twice, deliberately exposing the scratch marks on his neck—living with a fierce wife meant always bearing battle scars!

Gu Yun: “!!”

Good heavens, she did that?

“So Sister-in-law really has come around then… Let’s just hope she isn’t pretending.”

After all, Jiaojiao had done that before—pretending to live a good life with Fu Ting, only to swindle money from him and hand it to Comrade Huo.

Honestly, Fu Ting himself was a little worried.

Gu Yun, never one to fear death, added:
“Thing is, she only said she’d cook for Dabao and Xiaobao. She didn’t say anything about cooking for you. Maybe… she’s decided to live for the kids, but still doesn’t want to live with you?”

“I’m just saying, Brother Ting! Don’t take it to heart, okay~”

Fu Ting: “……” Thanks a damn lot for your ‘just saying,’ you mutt.

He was annoyed, but like Dabao, too proud to admit it. So he straightened and declared:
“Didn’t I keep her busy all night? That’s why she’s being obedient now! Hmph—if she dares go back to Huo Yunshu, I’ll just keep her busy another night, so she won’t be able to get out of bed!”

Gu Yun: “……!”

“Brother Ting, you’re so domineering and mighty!”

Meanwhile, Jiaojiao had taken Dabao and Xiaobao home.

The Fu family was simple. Fu Ting had an older brother and an older sister. His brother and sister-in-law lived in the old Fu house next door with their parents. His sister had married into a nearby village and only returned for holidays.

Since Fu Ting had forced Jiaojiao into marriage—a shameful thing—he’d split from the family and set up his own household.

During the day, Fu Ting worked, and at night he had to look after the two little ones. He barely had time to keep the house in order.

Their home had three rooms and a small courtyard, but no money for a proper gate. The rooms: one bedroom, one kitchen, one storage room.

The place was messy and dusty, with only the bedroom halfway clean.

Jiaojiao wanted to send the kids there while she cooked, but they insisted on helping. Dabao even explained solemnly,
“Just in case Mama doesn’t know how to cook and sets the house on fire.”

Jiaojiao: “……”

…Fine.

Children of poor families really did grow up fast.

At five, what had she been doing? Wetting herself in kindergarten and getting punished to stand. Yet Dabao and Xiaobao already knew how to cook.

Her heart ached, but she didn’t want to cry in front of them. So she forced a smile and said,
“Alright then, today you’ll finally get to taste Mama’s cooking!”

In the house, there was only oil, cornmeal, a few basic seasonings, and some small greens. The kitchen held a big iron wok and a pile of firewood beside it.

Luckily, in her original world, Jiaojiao had enjoyed cooking. Feeding two little beans wouldn’t be a problem.