Chapter 14: A Plate of Eggs, I Dared Not Eat

At lunchtime, the atmosphere in the room was somewhat heavy.

No one spoke first.

The people seated at the table just sat quietly, while those serving the food silently placed bowls on the table.

There were no fancy dishes on the table—just a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a dish of salted vegetables, and a few large, thick flatbreads made from coarse grains. The meal didn’t look appetizing at all.

Although the Zhao family no longer had their land, their life wasn’t quite as miserable as it might have seemed.

Zhao Maizhou often went hunting in the mountains during this time. When he was lucky, he could catch some game. Even if he didn’t sell it, he could at least satisfy his own appetite with it.

But the problem was that Chen Shuilian always had her precious eldest son on her mind, and she never forgot about him, even when he wasn’t home.

So, the wild game they caught was never for them to eat; it was always sold for money.

Just in case her eldest son ever needed money, she could help him out quickly.

After all, he was living alone in the county, unfamiliar with the area, and he would inevitably need money for something. As for the two younger sons, they were always around her, so it was fine if they had to endure a little hardship with their meals.

In the past, she hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with this, but now, after realizing her mistakes, she saw just how ridiculous her actions had been. She had been utterly biased.

Just thinking about it made her heart ache. They were all her sons—why did the younger two have to suffer while the eldest had everything?

Chen Shuilian couldn’t help but look at Zhao Maizhou with a softer gaze.

But Zhao Maizhou didn’t know what was going on. Seeing his mother’s gaze, he shivered in fear.

Why was his mother looking at him like that?

Had he been eating too much lately?

But the weather had been good recently, and he had been running up the mountain every day, using a lot of energy. He was always hungry and never felt full even when he ate a little less…

her chopsticks first and began serving the food.

Zhao Fengtian, still feeling a little confused by his mother’s uncharacteristic behavior, sat quietly, looking at the food on the table. He couldn’t help but think that today’s atmosphere felt different—something was off. But he didn’t dwell on it too long, as the scent of the scrambled eggs filled the air, making his stomach rumble.

Chen Shuilian didn’t pay much attention to her son’s puzzled expression. After all, she had a lot on her mind. She had been thinking about how to make things right for her two younger sons. She knew that Zhao Maizhou and Li Xiaoxing had been working hard and had been enduring their hardships without complaint, so perhaps, just perhaps, she could make it a bit easier for them, starting with something as simple as adding eggs to their meal.

As she placed the eggs onto their plates, she glanced at Zhao Maizhou and Li Xiaoxing, her expression still softening. “Eat well,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of affection.

Zhao Maizhou, still uneasy, hesitated a little but, seeing the eggs, decided not to think too much about it. The eggs smelled so good, and he hadn’t had them in a long while. Without further thought, he picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

Li Xiaoxing, ever the observant one, noticed how quiet everyone was and decided to break the silence. She turned to Zhao Fengtian, who was still looking thoughtful. “How’s the medicine, Brother Fengtian?” she asked, trying to steer the conversation.

Zhao Fengtian, distracted by the food, nodded and smiled. “It should be fine. The medicine was a bit expensive, but it’s worth it if it helps.”

“Good,” she said softly, before taking a bite of her food. Her thoughts, however, kept drifting to the strange atmosphere at the table, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to change soon.

Despite her unease, they all ate in silence, each person lost in their own thoughts, wondering what the future would hold for them in this unpredictable household.

After taking a bite with their bowls and chopsticks, the others finally started eating.

Although the plate of eggs in the center smelled so good, no one dared to pick up their chopsticks, not even glancing at it.

They all kept their eyes straight ahead, quietly eating the wild vegetables with the flatbread in their hands.

Chen Shuilian couldn’t help but feel a shiver in her heart. This was truly pitiful; she had forced these kids into such a state.

They didn’t even dare eat the eggs in front of them.

At that moment, she became a bit angry, but the anger was directed at herself.

She knocked her chopsticks against the edge of the bowl, making a crisp sound.

Everyone looked up, staring at her in confusion.

Chen Shuilian pointed to the plate of eggs. “Why is everyone just staring blankly? The eggs are right there, and no one’s eating them. You’re all just eating that nasty wild vegetable. Eat, eat, eat. What’s so good about it?”

For a moment, the others couldn’t believe their ears. Did their mother really just tell them to eat the eggs…?

Wasn’t that supposed to be for her to replenish herself?

As expected, everyone’s thoughts were all the same. They never even considered that the eggs were for them.

Even with Chen Shuilian’s words, no one dared to pick up their chopsticks.

Li Xiaoxing kicked Zhao Maizhou under the table and gestured with her eyes for him to speak up.

Zhao Maizhou blinked his eyes, clearly helpless.

He didn’t dare speak either…

After what had just happened, who knew what their mother really meant by this?

If they said the wrong thing, they were done for.

Why don’t you speak?

Li Xiaoxing understood the look in his eyes and immediately put on a bitter expression.

She definitely didn’t dare speak carelessly either…

That would be like committing a crime on purpose, right?

Luckily, someone saved the overly silent atmosphere—Zhao Fengtian, the unlucky child.