The evening glow spread across the sky, and Dahe Village was bathed in golden clouds, creating a beautiful scene.

The day’s heat faded, and a cool evening breeze gently brushed past the faces of the four family members.

As they approached the house, Zhao Sidan and Wu Huiniang rushed out anxiously to greet them.

Cheng Wanwan spoke calmly, “Wash your hands, let’s get ready to eat.”

Wu Huiniang quickly brought out the warm food from the pot, while Zhao Dashan took out a bowl and placed half a chicken inside it.

On the wooden table, there were four dishes and six bowls of millet rice.

Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sanniu were stunned.

They had caused trouble outside and thought they would be punished when they returned.

Unexpectedly, there was such a feast—a stew of rabbit meat with radish, mushroom and egg soup, stir-fried green beans, and the large hen they had brought back.

It was even more abundant than a New Year’s meal.

Their mouths watered uncontrollably.

Zhao Sidan’s stomach had long been growling with hunger.

He couldn’t wait any longer and grabbed his chopsticks.

Cheng Wanwan said, “Huiniang, bring another bowl.”

Wu Huiniang immediately fetched a bowl from the kitchen.

Cheng Wanwan scooped out some rabbit and radish. “Sidan, take this to your grandfather and grandmother.”

Zhao Sidan licked his lips, took the bowl, and ran off in a flash.

As night fell, the Zhao family’s old house had already finished their dinner—buckwheat porridge with wild vegetables and a cornbread roll for each person, with some long beans inside.

It was enough to fill their stomachs about halfway, which was considered a good meal in Dahe Village.

“Old man, I think I smell meat?” Zhao Granny sniffed the air. “Who can still afford to eat meat at this time?”

Zhao Grandpa took a puff of dry tobacco. “In three to five days, at least half of the village will run out of food. What do you think we should do?”

“Wasn’t there a locust plague last year too? The government won’t just ignore us,” Zhao Granny said while sewing. “Today, the village head went to town, and the county magistrate said the imperial court is preparing to hold a rain-seeking ritual. Hopefully, the rain will come soon…”

Just then, someone called from the yard. “Grandma!”

Zhao Granny quickly put down her needlework. “That kid Sidan is here again? Did his mother beat him?”

She opened the door and saw Zhao Sidan holding a bowl.

From afar, she thought he had come to beg for food.

But as he got closer, she realized—it was a bowl of meat!

The delicious aroma from earlier was coming from this bowl!

“Grandma, my mother told me to bring this over. I’m going back now!”

Zhao Sidan, mouth watering, stuffed the bowl into Zhao Granny’s hands and ran off—he had to go back and eat rabbit meat!

Zhao Granny stood there, dumbfounded.

She thought her ears were playing tricks on her.

That wasteful daughter-in-law of hers actually sent her a bowl of meat?

The fragrance spread through the yard, and the rest of the Zhao family came out.

Zhao Erwang, the youngest son of Zhao’s second family, said, “I heard from Tie Zhu that Sidan caught a rabbit today. This must be rabbit meat! It smells amazing!”

Zhao’s second daughter-in-law was shocked. “Sister-in-law actually gave something to Mother?”

Normally, if she had food, she would send it to her maiden family, the Chengs.

For so many years, she only ever came to the Zhao family to take things, never to give.

“This morning, Sidan took three radishes, a handful of beans, and an egg from here,” Zhao’s third daughter-in-law murmured. “It’s about even.”

But Zhao Granny didn’t think so.

That wasteful woman had given them five copper coins earlier, and now she was sending over a big bowl of meat soup.

Since when had she ever been so generous?

That woman only acted nice when she needed something from the Zhao family. \

Zhao Granny was determined to find out what she was up to.

She heard her grandchildren swallowing their saliva—two grandsons and four granddaughters.

If she gave it out, it wouldn’t be enough for everyone.

Giving it only to the boys wouldn’t seem fair either.

She waved her hand. “This was given to me, not to you. You’re not getting any.”

She carried the bowl back inside.

Even Zhao Grandpa was surprised. “Since when has the eldest daughter-in-law been so filial?”

“She’s up to something,” Zhao Granny sneered. “But since she sent it over, I’m not going to waste it. You need a full belly to deal with her.”

She took a bite.

The rabbit meat was tender and flavorful, the radish soft and delicious.

In her sixty years, she had never eaten anything so good. Since when had Dashan’s wife become such a good cook?

…

Back at home, as soon as Zhao Sidan returned, Cheng Wanwan announced it was time to eat.

The four boys devoured their food, shoveling rice into their mouths and chomping down on rabbit meat. Even the normally reserved and cautious Wu Huiniang ate heartily.

Cheng Wanwan had thought there would be leftovers, but to her surprise, not even a drop of soup remained.

The six of them leaned back against their chairs, completely satisfied.

“This is the first time I’ve ever eaten so much…” Zhao Sidan patted his full stomach. “Mother, can we eat until we’re full again tomorrow?”

The others all looked up at their family’s backbone.

Cheng Wanwan took a sip of water and said, “There’s no more food left at home.”

Five faces fell.

As expected, they were out of food. At least tonight’s meal should last them for three days…

“But—” Cheng Wanwan placed a silver hairpin on the wooden table. “This was a token from your father when he proposed to me over ten years ago. Back then, I was blind with stupidity and gave it to the Cheng family. Now that I’ve cut ties with them, I don’t want to keep it anymore. Tomorrow, we’ll pawn it for some food.”

At the mention of their father, the four boys’ eyes turned red.

Zhao Dashan, who had the clearest memories of their father, clenched his fists. “This was Father’s gift to you. We can’t pawn it!”

Cheng Wanwan smiled. “Without pawning the hairpin, we won’t have money to buy food. I think your father wouldn’t want to see his sons go hungry.”

The four boys fell silent.

Their father had given their mother a silver hairpin, but they couldn’t even protect it.

Zhao Ergou spoke slowly, “One day, I’ll get this hairpin back.”

Tonight, their mother had cut ties with the Cheng family for them.

One day, he would let their mother wear golden hairpins and silk clothes.

Sensing their low spirits, Cheng Wanwan changed the subject. “Dashan, go ask Uncle Da if his ox cart is going to town tomorrow.”

It took over an hour to walk to Taiping Town, farther than either of the two Cheng villages. If she had to walk, she’d be exhausted.

Zhao Dashan nodded and left.

Zhao Sidan had never met his father. His father had gone to war before he was born and never returned. It wasn’t until last year that news of his death arrived.

He didn’t feel much grief for a father he had never known. At this moment, his sorrow wasn’t for his father—it was for the rabbit on his plate.

He gathered all the rabbit bones from the wooden table, wrapped them in leaves, and buried them in the yard…

That was the only thing he could do for the rabbit.