The Moonlight Was Clear.

Cheng Wanwan had a dream.

In her dream, she saw the person she had secretly admired in her past life.

That man was as graceful as jade, his gaze gentle.

He knelt on one knee before her and proposed.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably like a startled deer.

Just as she was about to accept the ring, some mischievous kid kicked her, and she woke up suddenly.

It was all just a dream, leaving her feeling empty and lost upon waking.

In this era, she no longer had the right to talk about love. She had never even held a man’s hand, yet now she had to arrange marriages for her sons.

Cheng Wanwan groaned as she climbed out of bed.

Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Zhao Dashan had already fetched a bucket of water and placed it in the courtyard.

Fetching water in the morning wasn’t something they used to do because no one in the family had the habit of washing their face or rinsing their mouth after waking up.

But these past few days, Cheng Wanwan had issued a strict rule: everyone must wash up in the morning, or they wouldn’t be allowed at the dining table.

Wu Huiniang was boiling water while washing clothes in the courtyard before hanging them up to dry.

Cheng Wanwan unlocked the grain cabinet with a key.

They consumed about three to five pounds of grain each day and replaced two to three pounds regularly, making the stock look plentiful.

She took out two pounds of millet to cook porridge and prepared some lotus root to mix with flour for making fried lotus root sandwiches.

Normally, they would contain meat, but since they had none, she pretended to grab two eggs from the chicken coop instead.

She fried the eggs and placed them between the lotus root slices before deep-frying them.

She wasn’t skilled in cooking, so she gave instructions while Wu Huiniang handled the actual work.

The three boys, still lying in bed, smelled the aroma of fried food.

They licked their lips and, with their eyes still closed, sleepwalked straight to the stove, drooling uncontrollably.

“Wash your face first!”

Cheng Wanwan swatted away their hands.

Zhao Ergou scooped up a handful of cool well water and splashed it on his face, instantly shaking off his sleepiness.

As he lifted his head, he saw someone standing at the entrance of the courtyard.

At first, he thought he was still dreaming.

He rubbed his eyes and looked again.

Zhao Sidan was the first to exclaim, “It’s Sister Shuiqin!”

Cheng Wanwan also saw the person at the door.

Ah, young people in love—they were so clingy.

They had just met yesterday, and here she was, showing up again early in the morning.

As a lonely single woman, she really didn’t want to be force-fed this display of affection.

“Auntie.” Sun Shuiqin seemed a little embarrassed but tried her best to act natural. “I came to talk to Ergou for a moment.”

Cheng Wanwan waved her hand. “Go ahead, don’t mind me.”

She lowered her head to continue her work, but her ears were perked up, listening closely.

This wasn’t gossiping—it was simply concern for her son’s love life.

“Ergou, when I entered the village just now, I saw several people pacing back and forth at the entrance. They stopped me and asked a lot of questions. What’s going on?”

Sun Shuiqin’s voice was soft and pleasant.

Normally, Zhao Ergou was a sharp guy, but right now, his brain was turning to mush.

Cheng Wanwan had been enjoying the gossip, but the moment she heard Shuiqin’s question, she sobered up.

Sun Shuiqin’s surname was Sun.

Everyone in Dahe Village with that surname had married in from Guihua Village.

Could she have been sent by Guihua Village to gather information?

She cleared her throat and said, “Sidan, invite your Sister Shuiqin inside to have breakfast with us.”

Sun Shuiqin quickly waved her hands. “No, no, no, how could I stay for food? Actually… Auntie, actually, I… I…”

She stammered, struggling to get her words out.

Zhao Ergou hurriedly said, “Shuiqin, just say whatever’s on your mind. My mom is easy to talk to.”

Cheng Wanwan’s mouth twitched.

Had this kid already forgotten how fierce she could be?

She studied Sun Shuiqin carefully.

In her past life, she had worked her way up to becoming a businesswoman, so she was highly skilled at reading people.

Yesterday, she had seen Shuiqin from a distance and hadn’t noticed anything.

But today, up close, she could tell that Shuiqin wasn’t as innocent as she appeared.

That misty, watery gaze seemed deliberately performed—there was no real emotion behind it.

On the other hand, her son was completely falling for it.

With a gentle smile, Cheng Wanwan said, “Shuiqin, just tell me. If I can help, I certainly won’t refuse.”

Sun Shuiqin’s eyes filled with tears. “Auntie, could we… could we borrow another twenty pounds of grain?”

At those words, Zhao Ergou immediately tensed up.

His eyes instinctively darted toward his mother.

He was afraid Shuiqin might upset his mother before even marrying into the family.

Cheng Wanwan kept her smile as she replied, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to lend. But we just lent out ten pounds yesterday, and now you’re asking for twenty today. If I agree too easily, my other sons might have something to say about it.”

Zhao Sanniu shook his head like a rattle drum. “Mom, I don’t mind—just lend it.”

Zhao Sidan was about to echo him, but Cheng Wanwan shot him a sharp look.

These boys really knew how to undermine her.

She turned to Zhao Ergou. “You know how much grain we have left. Do you think we should lend it?”

Zhao Ergou was about to shake his head, but then he saw Sun Shuiqin’s teary eyes, looking as if she might cry.

His heart felt as if it was being squeezed.

He gazed at the girl in front of him, completely at a loss.

Cheng Wanwan sighed helplessly.

If she refused, she’d feel like she was breaking up a pair of lovebirds.

She spoke calmly. “Shuiqin, we can’t spare twenty pounds, but we can manage ten.”

Sun Shuiqin’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Auntie! Thank you so much…”

Cheng Wanwan sent Zhao Ergou inside to fetch the grain.

His face was a mixture of emotions, but he obeyed and went inside.

As he left, Cheng Wanwan turned to Sun Shuiqin with a kind expression. “Shuiqin, I can tell you’re a good girl. Our Ergou isn’t very understanding—please don’t hold it against him.”

Sun Shuiqin hesitated for a moment, then softly replied, “Of course, I wouldn’t blame him.”

Hearing that, Cheng Wanwan’s expression cooled slightly.

She had only casually downplayed her son, yet Sun Shuiqin immediately followed along.

That meant, in her heart, she also blamed Ergou for not agreeing to lend the grain right away.

She was still young—her thoughts were too easy to read.

So, in the end, ten pounds of grain were given away, but the gratitude she received in return didn’t seem sincere.

Cheng Wanwan felt bad for Ergou.

But Zhao Ergou himself didn’t feel bad at all. He emerged carrying the grain, his face flushed. “Shuiqin, I’ll walk you home.”

Cheng Wanwan said coolly, “There are patrols at both ends of the village. If people see you two alone, it’ll ruin Shuiqin’s reputation. Huiniang, go with them.”

Wu Huiniang put down her work and walked with Sun Shuiqin.

Zhao Ergou watched her slim figure disappear down the path before turning back to his mother. “Mom, thank you.”

Cheng Wanwan asked, “Are you sure you want to marry this girl?”

Zhao Ergou blushed and gave a shy nod.

Cheng Wanwan sighed.

Her son was already too deep in this. He couldn’t see Shuiqin’s other side at all.

She’d have to do some digging into this girl’s family situation…