Braised fish, stewed chicken with mushrooms, and stir-fried cured pork.  

As the long-awaited cured pork melted in her mouth, Rong Xiaoxiao felt a wave of pure bliss.  

Only after eating her fill did she finally turn her attention to the others at the table.  

There were two new faces, though this wasn’t her first time meeting them.  

The tall, slender woman sitting beside Wu Pingzu was Duan Yue, her future sister-in-law.  

The two had been dating for two or three years, yet only recently had their engagement been settled.  

As the eldest son, Wu Pingzu was at an age where most men were already married. The long courtship wasn’t because he didn’t want to wed—it was the woman’s family who had delayed the marriage.  

From what Rong Xiaoxiao had heard, Duan Yue was also the eldest among her siblings, with brothers and sisters several years younger. Her family had wanted her to care for them a few more years, so they kept postponing her marriage.  

If not for the looming threat of being sent to the countryside, the Duan family would likely have dragged it out even longer.  

Rong Xiaoxiao could roughly guess their reasoning.  

Marrying now was far better than being shipped off to some remote village. If Duan Yue married, she’d remain in town—close enough to help her family if needed.  

Not to mention, her future son-in-law was a temporary worker at the factory, a proper wage-earning laborer.  

Glancing at her eldest brother, who sat silently with his head bowed, and then at Duan Yue, who kept stealing glances at the pile of supplies prepared for the countryside, Rong Xiaoxiao noticed the hesitation in the latter’s expression. Clearly, she had something on her mind.  

With these two in the household, life at home was bound to get lively.  

Too bad she wouldn’t be around to see it.  

“Wife, eat up, eat up!” Wu Ping’an enthusiastically piled meat dishes into the bowl of the sturdy woman beside him. “Want me to refill your rice?”  

The woman, who looked even burlier than Wu Ping’an, nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes! Mom’s cooking is amazing—I could go for two more bowls!”  

Rong Xiaoxiao chuckled to herself.  

She wasn’t the only one with a healthy appetite at this table.  

Her future third sister-in-law was an even more enthusiastic eater than her.  

Watching the woman devour her meal with such gusto, Rong Xiaoxiao—who had already eaten her fill—suddenly felt tempted to grab another bowl herself.  

Nearby, Wu Chuanfang’s smile stiffened slightly at the woman’s praise.  

This couple truly was a match.  

Not even married yet, and one was already calling her “wife,” while the other was addressing her as “Mom.”  

All in all, it was a lively meal.

Not long after the meal, Wu Pingzu and his brother escorted their girlfriends home.  

The remnants of the feast had been cleared away, and after a short rest, Wu Chuanfang said, “Go pack your luggage. There’s quite a bit to carry, but at least you two sisters are traveling together—you can keep an eye on each other on the train.”  

She had specially traded for large cloth bags to hold all the miscellaneous items. Though heavy to shoulder, they were at least convenient.  

Of course, mailing the supplies was also an option.  

But the postage would be exorbitant. Rather than wasting money on shipping, it was better to let the girls keep the cash—having money in hand would give them security.  

Besides, she knew her youngest daughter was strong.  

Carrying all this wouldn’t be much trouble for her.  

As for Pinghui?  

Well, wasn’t there that “revolutionary comrade” of hers? Surely, given their deep bond, he wouldn’t just stand by if she struggled with the load?  

Wu Chuanfang knelt on the floor, sorting items. “Everything’s divided into two sets—don’t mix them up.”  

Rong Xiaoxiao crouched beside her, quietly moved as she tallied the supplies.  

There were clothes and bedding for all seasons, daily necessities like thermoses and aluminum lunch boxes—even the smallest details had been considered. With these, they could settle into rural life comfortably without needing to buy anything else.  

“Mom, maybe we shouldn’t take so much,” Wu Pinghui hesitated. “The way Sister-in-law was looking at us earlier… I think she had objections.”  

“Hah! What right does she have to object?” Wu Chuanfang scoffed. “I’m spending my own money—since when do I need her permission? Or does she think that once she marries into this family, everything your father and I saved automatically becomes theirs?”  

Rong Xiaoxiao wasn’t the only one who’d noticed Duan Yue’s pointed glances.  

Everyone at the table had seen them.  

If not for wanting to keep the family gathering harmonious, Wu Chuanfang would’ve lashed out earlier.  

She knew exactly what Duan Yue—and the Duan family—were thinking.  

As the eldest son, and with Wu Ping’an becoming a live-in son-in-law, Wu Pingzu was now the sole heir to the Wu family line. The Duans couldn’t help but entertain ideas.  

To them, every penny spent on the daughters was a waste—after all, wouldn’t Wu Pingzu inherit everything eventually?  

Pfah!  

If they pushed her too far, she’d kick Wu Pingzu out without a second thought.  

Who cared about continuing the family line? She could just as easily take in a son-in-law instead.  

“I’ve already made it clear to your eldest brother,” she said coldly. “The job he has now is the one I gave up. Until he becomes a full-time employee, half his wages go to this household every month—no exceptions.”  

Wu Chuanfang knew her eldest son’s temperament all too well—he was the type who wouldn’t utter a word even after three strikes with a stick. If left to his own devices, it’d take him seven or eight years just to secure a permanent position.  

“If Duan Yue wants to support her own family, fine. I won’t take a single cent of what she earns—she can give it to whomever she pleases. But if she thinks she can squeeze our family dry to pad her own, she can forget about it.”  

Wu Pinghui frowned. “Won’t that cause problems?”  

“Whether it does or not isn’t your concern. Stop overthinking it—just take what’s given to you.” Wu Chuanfang sighed as she looked at her second daughter.  

Never thinking of herself, always so agreeable, dutiful, and kind—on the surface, it sounded like a good temperament.  

But people like that were the easiest to take advantage of.  

…

“Little sis, come here for a sec.”  

Rong Xiaoxiao had been engrossed in listening to their mother’s lecture, but Wu Ping’an, who had just returned, called her outside. “Hurry up! I saw someone fishing by the creek up ahead. Wanna go try our luck?”  

“Yes!” Rong Xiaoxiao sprang to her feet.  

Rolling up her sleeves as she walked out, she thought to herself—I’ve never fished before, but what if protagonist luck kicks in? Maybe I’ll haul in a whole bounty! 

Fish! Tender, fragrant, delicious fish—who wouldn’t want that?  

But then…  

Staring at the barren riverbank, Rong Xiaoxiao scrunched her face. “Third Brother… where are the fish?”  

“Fish? Even if someone caught any, it wouldn’t be us.” Wu Ping’an chuckled. “We don’t even have a fishing line. Did you really think you’d magically catch something?”  

Rong Xiaoxiao pouted.  

“Alright, alright. I called you out here for something good.” Wu Ping’an glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then crouched down and rummaged inside his sock.  

Rong Xiaoxiao watched, baffled.  

What could possibly be hidden in there? But when she saw what he pulled out, her eyes widened. “Where did you get all this money?!”  

“Shh! Keep it down!” Wu Ping’an pressed a finger to his lips, checking again that no one had heard. Then, he began counting—small bills and change, a thick little stack.  

He split the pile in half and handed one portion to her. “This is twenty-five yuan. Spend it wisely.”  

Then, he passed her the other half. “This is another twenty-five, for Second Sister. But you know how naïve she is. If I gave it to her directly, Fang Gaoyang would swindle it out of her in no time. You hold onto it—give her some only if she’s truly struggling.”  

Seeing his little sister’s stunned expression, he added sternly, “And don’t hand it all over at once. Not unless she wakes up and sees Fang Gaoyang for what he really is. Otherwise, this money won’t even benefit her.”  

The two stacks of cash sat heavily in her palms. For once, Rong Xiaoxiao was at a loss.  

Third Brother didn’t even have a job—who knew how long he’d scrimped and saved to gather fifty yuan? Her voice wavered slightly. “You’re just… giving this to us?”