Chapter 2

Shen Yiyi closed her eyes and opened them again, and surveyed her surroundings—the dimly lit small house with blue bricks, a wooden-framed bed, a grayish-blue quilt, a tightly shut small window, and a worn-out dark red cabinet, with an old-fashioned deep red suitcase resting on top. 

The room was quite messy.  

Everything looked so familiar!  

Shen Yiyi covered her lips, laughing and crying at the same time. 

She had returned.  

She had returned to 1973, before she had abandoned her husband and children to follow Lin Jiadong back to the city. 

Everything was still in time!  

In this life, she would no longer be bound by the plot.  

In this life, she would love Li Chen and their three sons wholeheartedly!  

As she was thinking, Shen Yiyi suddenly remembered the matter of supplies. 

She quickly closed her eyes, silently recited the command to enter the space, and immediately saw an endless array of neatly arranged shelves filled with all kinds of supplies—rice, flour, meat, sugar, medicine, fruits, and more.  

Shen Yiyi picked up a handful of rice and was pleasantly surprised to find that the rice in the bag had not decreased. 

This meant that everything in this space was renewable.  

In other words, she had an unlimited supply of resources!  

Shen Yiyi was overjoyed. 

Although with her abilities, she could live well in any environment, who would ever complain about having an extra golden finger?  

—  

“Waa!” A sharp, wailing cry caught Shen Yiyi’s attention.

She listened closely and realized it was the cry of her youngest son, Xiao Bao. 

Quickly exiting the space, she opened the door and stepped outside. 

In the courtyard, a few children were arguing over something.  

“Waa! T-This was what my dad caught for—for my mom to eat! Give it back to me—wuu wuu~”

Surrounded by a group of older children, the three smaller ones in the middle were none other than her three sons. 

The one speaking was Xiao Bao, he was crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, yet still stubbornly trying to snatch the fish back from the older boy’s hands.  

Standing beside him, who was clenching their fists tightly and glaring angrily at the older kids, were Da Bao and Er Bao.  

The one leading the group in snatching the fish was a boy named Tiezhu, from the third branch of the Li family. 

He was usually arrogant, rarely did any farm work, and spent his days idling around the village with a gang of younger boys.  

In these times, every household was poor, and getting even a bite of meat was a rare occasion. 

However, Li Chen was a capable man who often brought back wild game for her and the children to eat.  

Father Li had three sons and two daughters. 

Shen Yiyi and her family belonged to the second branch. Since she had married in without doing farm work and had given birth to the Three Baos, her sisters-in-law were dissatisfied and had pushed for them to separate  from the main household.  

Unable to get meat for themselves, Tiedan and his gang of troublemakers often targeted the Three Baos, especially when Li Chen was not around.  

Tiezhu grinned mischievously. “Are you three stupid? Your Mom is selfish. If you give her this fish, she’ll eat it all herself, and you won’t get a single bite. You’d be better off giving it to Grandpa and Grandma. When they cook it, they might at least bring you a couple of pieces.”  

Xiao Bao stepped forward, insisting: “No! It’s for my mom! Give it back!”  

“No way!” Tiezhu sneered before tossing the fish to another boy. “Goudan, catch! We haven’t had meat in ages!”  

As he spoke, he casually shoved Xiao Bao, nearly knocking him over. 

Da Bao quickly stepped in to steady his younger brother.  

Er Bao, who had been about to snatch the fish, turned furious the moment he saw Tiezhu push Xiao Bao. Swinging his small fist, he shouted: “Don’t you dare hit my Xiao Bao!”  

Tiezhu had been caught off guard and actually took a punch from Er Bao.  

Er Bao was only six years old, so the punch didn’t hurt much. But Tiezhu’s pride couldn’t take the humiliation. 

Enraged, he raised his hand to hit Er Bao—only to suddenly find himself lifted off the ground by the collar.  

“Who? Who dares to grab me?!” Tiezhu kicked wildly in the air, his face flushed with anger as he reached behind him to claw at the person holding him. But when he looked up, he met Shen Yiyi’s slightly cold gaze.

“Second… Second Aunt-in-law?”  

Tiezhu instantly froze.  

“Who were you planning to hit?” Shen Yiyi narrowed her eyes.  

“I… I…” Tiezhu stared at Shen Yiyi’s fair and beautiful face, which carried a chilling air. Fearfully, he swallowed hard. “I wasn’t going to hit anyone.”  

“Liar!” Er Bao immediately tattled in a loud voice. “Mom, Tiezhu just pushed Xiao Bao, almost making him fall! He also stole our fish!”  

Tiezhu glared at Er Bao. “Shut—ah, ouch, ouch!”  

Shen Yiyi lifted him slightly higher by his collar, her expression a half-smile. “Who were you telling to shut up?”  

“I—wuu wuu~” Tiezhu’s clothes were pulling at his throat, making him choke in pain. 

He immediately burst into tears. “I—I won’t dare anymore, Second Aunt-in-law! Please let me go!”  

“Do you know what you did wrong?” Shen Yiyi remained unmoved. “Will you still bully the Three Baos and steal from them?”  

“No! I won’t! I won’t dare anymore!” Tiezhu quickly promised, frantically signaling Goudan to return the fish to Xiao Bao.  

Goudan and the other boys were completely stunned. Trembling, they hurriedly handed the fish back.  

Xiao Bao wiped his nose and reached out to take the fish, hugging it tightly to his chest.  

Only then did Shen Yiyi release Tiezhu.  

“Run!” The moment he was free, Tiezhu bolted faster than a rabbit, his little followers scrambling after him.  

When he had run a safe distance and was sure Shen Yiyi couldn’t catch him, he turned back and shouted viciously: “You wicked woman! Shameless! Lazy and greedy! Sooner or later, my Second Uncle will divorce you!”  

Shen Yiyi’s expression turned cold. Before she could react, the Three Baos were already fuming. Standing with their little hands on their hips, they shouted back: “Our mom is not a wicked woman!”  

Shen Yiyi felt a warmth in her heart.  

Tiezhu shouted. “Stop calling her ‘Mom’! She doesn’t even like you! She’s going to abandon you soon, run back to the city, and live the good life without you—”  

“Li Tiezhu!” Shen Yiyi’s face darkened as she rolled up her sleeves.  

Li Tiezhu immediately cowered, and his gang scattered like frightened birds.

“You’re lying!” Er Bao was so furious that he wanted to chase after them, but Shen Yiyi quickly held him back. 

Even so, he still shouted at Li Tiezhu’s retreating figure: “My mom would never leave us! My dad said she will always stay with us!”  

“Er Bao!” Shen Yiyi hurriedly pulled him closer. 

Hearing his words, her heart ached with a bittersweet feeling. She crouched down to meet his gaze, her smile soft and gentle. “Don’t chase after them. Later, Mom will go to their house and demand justice, so he won’t dare insult me again, okay?”  

This was the first time his Mom had ever been so close to him, and with such warmth. Er Bao felt a little shy. “Mm…”  

“Good boy.” Shen Yiyi noticed his face was smudged with dirt and reached out to wipe it clean.  

Er Bao turned even redder with embarrassment.  

When Da Bao and Xiao Bao saw their Mom treat Er Bao so gently, they couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.  

Being only two years old, Xiao Bao couldn’t hide his emotions. He clutched the fish tightly, toddled over and held it up. “Mom~ Fish fish!”  

“Alright, fish fish.” Shen Yiyi said with a smile and took the fish from him.  

“Hehe!” Xiao Bao giggled, revealing his tiny white baby teeth, looking absolutely adorable.  

Shen Yiyi was utterly charmed and couldn’t resist leaning over to plant a kiss on his little cheek.  

As she pulled away, Xiao Bao’s bright eyes sparkled. He pouted his lips, leaned in and gave her a wet, sloppy kiss in return. “Mua~”  

Shen Yiyi ended up with a face covered in baby drool and couldn’t help but laugh.  

“Mom, me too!” Er Bao quickly ran over, not wanting to be left out.  

Shen Yiyi kissed his cheek as well. 

Following Xiao Bao’s example, Er Bao returned a kiss, grinning happily.  

All this time, Da Bao had been standing a little distance away, neither too close nor too far. He twisted his fingers together and pursed his lips. 

He also wanted his Mom’s affection, but… he was the eldest—he is a big boy now…  

“Da Bao, come here.” Shen Yiyi called out to him.  

Da Bao hadn’t expected his Mom to call him. 

His eyes widened in surprise, and after hesitating for a moment, he shyly walked over. “Mom?”  

“Mua!”

Shen Yiyi kissed Da Bao on his little face.  

His blush was immediately visible to the naked eye. Covering the spot where he had been kissed, his face was filled with embarrassment.  

Er Bao urged him: “Big Brother, you haven’t kissed Mom yet! Xiao Bao and I both did.”  

Xiao Bao eagerly echoed his second brother: “Yes! Kiss, kiss!”  

Da Bao’s face turned even redder as he glared at his two younger brothers. But when he noticed his Mom looking at him, he shyly lowered his head.  

Watching this heartwarming scene, Shen Yiyi saw the admiration and attachment in her children’s eyes, as if she had never once neglected them. 

Her eyes grew hot with emotion.  

In the past, bound by the constraints of the storyline, she had not treated them well. As their Mom, she owed them far too much.  

What had she done to deserve such three adorable and understanding sons?  

Guilt swelled in her heart.  

“Mom, why are you crying?” Er Bao noticed her tears and panicked, circling around her anxiously.  

Xiao Bao reached out with his small hand to wipe her tears. “Mom, don’t cry~”  

Da Bao was the most distressed of all. He thought his Mom was crying because he hadn’t kissed her, so he immediately leaned in and, with a loud “mwah-sound”, he kissed her cheek. 

In a rush, he said: “Mom, don’t cry! Da Bao kissed you!”  

Shen Yiyi had been overwhelmed with sorrow, but the moment she heard Da Bao’s words, she couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. 

She quickly wiped her tears away, and reassured them: “Alright, alright, Mom won’t cry!”  

“Xiao Bao! Your hands smell like fish! Don’t stink up Mom!” Er Bao scolded, quickly yanking Xiao Bao’s hand away.  

Xiao Bao pouted in defiance and sniffed his hand. 

Sure enough, it reeked of fish. 

Feeling wronged, he looked up at Shen Yiyi. “Mom, I’m sorry…”  

“It’s okay.” Shen Yiyi said gently. “Mom doesn’t mind. Xiao Bao is just worried about me.”  

Hearing this, Xiao Bao instantly brightened up and beamed. Then, with quick little steps, he ran off. “I’m going to wash my hands!”  

“Xiao Bao, slow down! Don’t fall!” Da Bao immediately chased after him to protect his younger brother.  

The water vat was tall and large, and Shen Yiyi worried they might fall in. She quickly took Er Bao’s hand and followed them. “Don’t rush. Mom will scoop the water for you.”