“Okay, I understand. From now on, if anyone regrets it, they’re called a puppy.”

Ye Chenchuan’s deep voice couldn’t hide his amusement.

The sleepwalking little girl, oblivious to the exchange, blinked her dark lashes and continued to babble. After some gentle coaxing and managing to persuade Ye Chenchuan to give her another bottle of the delicious peach blossom wine, she happily skipped back to her room.

At this time, the villagers were all sleeping deeply, with soft snores filling the room. No one noticed when the little girl went out and came back. She quickly settled back onto her bed and fell into a sweet sleep.

In the darkness, Ye Chenchuan stayed by the little girl’s side until she was safely back in her room before he left.

Wanyue slept exceptionally well that night. In the morning, her cheeks were rosy and she didn’t yawn as much as usual. Her mood was significantly better.

While preparing breakfast, she cheerfully helped Zhao Xiuying with the firewood.

Zhao Xiuying looked at the usually lazy little girl with curiosity and said to Chen Juhua, “Mother, it’s as if the sun is rising from the west today. Our little Jiao Jiao (term admiration for Wanyue) is even helping with chores.”

Chen Juhua smiled at the remark.

Song Wanyue giggled. She wasn’t sure what had happened, but it seemed like something pleasant occurred last night. She only had a vague memory of it and couldn’t recall the details.

Since she couldn’t remember, she decided not to dwell on it. Once breakfast was ready, she happily ate and forgot about it entirely.

After breakfast, the Song family cleaned up the dishes and went about their tasks. It was a sunny day, with the scorching sun hanging high in the sky. The floodwaters had receded quickly, and today, the village officials who had gone down the mountain to investigate returned with good news. They reported that the water had receded significantly and they could already see the stone houses at the grain-drying area at the village entrance. In a few more days, the floodwaters would be completely gone and everyone would be able to return home.

Upon hearing the great news, everyone was overjoyed. They were cheering and celebrating as if it were the New Year and it was almost as if they were about to set off firecrackers to mark the occasion.

It was truly wonderful, there was finally hope for better days ahead.

Chen Juhua was also smiling widely, today was a good day and it deserved a celebration.

The old lady thought for a moment, then took out a package of beef jerky wrapped in brown paper from her small bundle. This jerky had been bought for her by her son, Song Xiangdong, during his business trip to another city. Fu Ji was a century-old shop known for its exceptional beef jerky, which was flavorful and had a satisfying chew.

Chen Juhua had been reluctant to open this package, but now it was perfect to share with the kids at home.

She unwrapped the brown paper and found eight pieces of beef jerky. After a moment’s thought, she decided to keep two pieces for her two older grandsons, Wenxuan and Wenjie, who were at school. The remaining six pieces she set aside to give to her little granddaughter.

“Come here, my dear,” Chen Juhua called out to her granddaughter, Song Wan Yue, who was playing in the yard with her friends and reading a storybook. Song Wan Yue ran over with a smile.

“Grandma, what’s up?”

Chen Juhua, noticing her granddaughter’s cheeks flushed from the sun, took out her handkerchief and wiped her face before carefully handing her the beef jerky.

“My dear, this is some special beef jerky I’ve been saving. It’s really delicious. 

You can have two pieces and I’ll give the rest to the other kids. Go on and eat.”

Chen Juhua urged her granddaughter with affection. Song Wan Yue looked at the jerky with lowered eyes, took a step back and smiled.

“Grandma, I don’t like beef jerky.

You should save it to share with Grandpa.”

“What are you talking about, child?”

Chen Juhua chided gently.

“This is beef jerky, it’s really tasty. Besides, there are eight pieces in total, so Grandpa and I will have our share. Surely I can’t miss out on giving you some good stuff, right?”

Chen Juhua feigned annoyance, but inside she was delighted. After distributing the jerky to the kids, she had only one piece left, which she intended to save for Song Laotou (Grandpa Song).

Knowing her grandmother’s temperament, Song Wan Yue realized she wouldn’t be able to refuse. She pretended to accept the jerky and quickly slipped one piece into Chen Juhua’s mouth while Chen Juhua was smiling.

“Grandma, let’s eat it together.”

The little girl beamed with joy.

“You child!”

Chen Juhua said with a smile, her heart warmed by the gesture. She felt deeply touched by her granddaughter’s thoughtfulness.

…

After the grandmother and granddaughter had enjoyed their beef jerky together, Chen Juhua found an opportunity to call over the three boys at home. Each of them received their piece of jerky without missing a single bit.

The Song twins, Wen Zhe and Wen Bo, were in their teens and no longer found beef jerky as exciting as when they were younger. But the six-year-old Xiangdang was thrilled, savoring the jerky with delight. He planned to eat half now and save the rest wrapped in the brown paper under his pillow for whenever he craved a snack.

Just then, Liu Hongmei returned home in a huff with her vegetable basket. She had gone with a group of village women to forage for wild vegetables and possibly some wild fruits. While the others had filled their baskets, Liu Hongmei ended up with barely half a basket. 

Seeing the others’ full baskets, Liu Hongmei fumed with frustration. She grumbled and complained about her bad luck, which made the others avoid her.

When she saw her son Xiangdang bouncing with joy holding the beef jerky, she was about to scold him but stopped when she realized it was her own child. However, she noticed the jerky in his mouth and her eyes lit up.

“Son, where did you get that beef jerky?”

Liu Hongmei asked.

“Grandma gave it to me.

It’s a big piece.”

Xiangdang replied happily.

“Let me see. Did you get all of it or did everyone in the family get some?”

“Everyone got some!

Grandma said we all get a share. My big sister got two pieces.”

What?

Wan Yue got two pieces of beef jerky.

Liu Hongmei was infuriated. Why should that little girl get two pieces? It’s beef jerky, after all meat! 

Her own family members in her hometown were struggling with barely enough food, yet here was a treat being hoarded at her in-laws’ house. Why couldn’t her mother-in-law send some to her family?

The injustice made Liu Hongmei seethe with anger. She had tried to find an opportunity to visit her family when the villagers relocated to the mountain temple, but was thwarted by busybodies Zhao Xiuying and Lin Yuehong. 

Liu Hongmei was still unsatisfied. As the villagers descended from the mountain, she had someone discreetly inquire about her family’s situation.

As it turned out, Liu Hongmei did indeed find out some news about her family.

The person who inquired about news reported that during the flood, Liu Family Village, where Liu Hongmei’s maternal family lived, was fortunate to receive advance warning from Song Jiandian’s messengers. The village chief acted quickly to evacuate the villagers, saving around 300 lives.

However, Liu Family Village wasn’t as well-prepared as Dahe Mountain Village. In the rush, many villagers couldn’t take their food supplies with them. By the time they reached a safe area and could wait for the floodwaters to recede, those without food were left in dire straits.

Liu Hongmei’s family was among those suffering. When the informant saw her family, they were so emaciated they looked like ghosts from a horror story.

The informant wondered why Liu Hongmei’s family was in such a dire state when many others in the village were also without food. The reason was clear, Liu Hongmei’s family was known for being lazy and indulgent. While others managed to forage for wild fruits, vegetables or fish and even found some wild sweet potatoes or taro to make soup, Liu Hongmei’s family was too lazy to help themselves. They spent their days lying on their beds, waiting for food to be handed to them.

Liu Hongmei’s brother was a local troublemaker who even tried to steal food from the village children, only to be beaten by their fathers. The rest of the villagers had little respect for Liu Hongmei’s family. When the old woman went around asking for food, she was quickly turned away and insulted.

With no other options, Liu Hongmei’s family was left to drink water and slowly starve, becoming gaunt and skeletal.

When the informant shared this with Liu Hongmei, his tone was filled with disdain, which was clear to anyone listening. But Liu Hongmei didn’t see it that way. To her, her maternal family was above reproach and she couldn’t accept that others looked down on them.

Heartbroken by the suffering of her family, Liu Hongmei cried bitterly and returned home, not even thanking the informant for the information.

The informant was left bewildered, wondering what kind of person Liu Hongmei was. 

Alas, he had run into Liu Hongmei.

—

Liu Hongmei, tearfully contemplating borrowing some food from her mother-in-law to send to her family, was hesitant. Earlier, Chen Juhua had sternly warned her that if she dared to give any of the family’s food to her lazy relatives, Liu Hongmei might as well pack up and return to Liu Family Village.

Liu Hongmei understood her mother-in-law’s temperament. Chen Juhua was a woman of her word if Liu Hongmei went through with it, she wouldn’t be welcome in Song’s household anymore.

Despite this, Liu Hongmei still tried to shamelessly ask for some money to send to her family, not as a loan but as a gift. Chen Juhua, not fooled, reacted harshly, leading to a severe scolding that left Liu Hongmei crying out in pain.

Seeing her aunt’s distress, Song Wan Yue sighed, thinking that Liu Hongmei was acting like a cruel stepmother from a past life.

Liu Hongmei had no choice but to hide outside, crying. By the time dinner came around, her eyes were swollen and red, looking as if they had been stung by bees. Lin Yuehong, puzzled by Liu Hongmei’s appearance, asked,

“Third Sister in Law what happened to your eyes?

They look like those of a village white hen!”

Liu Hongmei was furious and thought,

“Lin Yuehong, are you comparing me to a white hen?”