Chapter 23

Shen Yiyi felt much more at ease.

Thinking about the fact that he was the Main Villain, Shen Yiyi no longer found it surprising that he had so much money.

After all, later on, he would become a business tycoon capable of competing with the male lead. It was only natural that he had some means of making money.

Seeing that she didn’t continue questioning him, Li Chen let out a sigh of relief.

He reached out to take the kettle. “I’ll go boil some water and scald the kettle.”

“Alright!” Shen Yiyi nodded and reminded him: “Boil a little more. We’ll have steamed buns for lunch, and then each of us will have a cup of malted milk.”

Eating steamed buns dry wouldn’t do—they’d choke on them.

“Got it.” Li Chen replied, carrying the kettle as he walked out.

Shen Yiyi took three buns and called out: “Three Baos are still next door. I’ll go bring them back and take two buns over to Dad and Mom.”

“Okay.”

—

After Shen Yiyi left, Da Bao and Er Bao didn’t return to the old house with Dahua.

They were at the age where they were full of energy. In the past, they had always been kept at home by Li Chen to take care of Xiao Bao. Now that Xiao Bao had Dahua looking after him, they finally had the chance to run outside and play.

But they still remembered that their Mom said they would be coming back for lunch. So when they saw the adults had already finished work, they ran back as well, first heading to the old house to bring Xiao Bao home.

Just as they were leading Xiao Bao away, they saw their grandmother returning. They immediately greeted her obediently.

Mother Li, seeing how dirty they all were from playing, told them to wait while she scooped some water for them to wash up.

Jiang Ailing glanced at them with disdain and muttered behind Eldest Sister-in-law Li: “Sister-in-law, those kids from next door are here to freeload again. It’s so annoying.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Li smiled gently and advised her: “Third Sister-in-law, Xiao Bao and the others don’t eat much. Don’t be so petty. If Mom hears you, you’ll get scolded again.”

Jiang Ailing had come to complain in hopes of getting Eldest Sister-in-law Li on her side. But after hearing her response, she was absolutely furious.  

She couldn’t understand how her sister-in-law could be so spineless. No matter how little those kids from the Second Household ate, food was still food—their food! And who said they ate little?  

They clearly ate more than pigs!  

Jiang Ailing gritted her teeth. She hated Shen Yiyi to death.  

Just yesterday, because of Shen Yiyi, her son Tiezhu got a beating, and she herself was sent by Mother Li to help with the harvest.  

It had completely exhausted her. On the way back just now, she had told Mother Li that she didn’t want to go to the fields in the afternoon. She planned to stay home, cook, and tend to their private plot, suggesting that Da Hua should go reap the rice instead.  

Mother Li had immediately scolded her, saying that even an old woman like her hadn’t complained about being tired, yet Jiang Ailing always tried to slack off. She even criticized her, saying she never actually worked on the private plot and that her cooking wasn’t anything special either. The reprimand had been merciless, leaving Jiang Ailing completely humiliated.  

She was fuming. And yet, that Shen Yiyi got to stay home all day doing nothing, even waiting for Li Chen to come back and cook before she would eat. Not once had Mother Li scolded her for it. How was that fair?!  

Her resentment was at its peak. And now, the moment she returned, she saw the Three Baos in the old house. Instinctively, she assumed they were there to freeload again, just like before.  

She had originally wanted to use Eldest Sister-in-law Li as a tool, but since that failed, she couldn’t hold back anymore. Seizing the moment when Mother Li had gone inside, she sneered and said in a sarcastic tone: “Da Bao, why are you here again? Where’s your Mom? Didn’t she make you any meat today?”  

Er Bao, always sharp, immediately sensed that Jiang Ailing had no good intentions. He had never liked this Third Aunt-in-law, so he loudly declared: “My Mom went to town! She’ll be back soon!”

Then, as if to make a point, he added proudly: “She also said she’d bring us something delicious!”  

Jiang Ailing froze for a moment, her expression turning awkward. “Who knows if she’s just lying to you?”  

“That’s nonsense! My Mom would never lie to us!” Da Bao and Er Bao snapped, glaring at her.  

Jiang Ailing muttered under her breath: “Who knows? She never cared about you before.”

“Eat, or go to work!”  

Jiang Ailing saw the thick, steaming sweet potato porridge in Mother Li’s hands and immediately knew it was meant for the Three Baos.

She was furious—this Mother-in-law of hers was always playing favorites!  

Afraid that if she didn’t act fast, there wouldn’t be any left for her, she rushed to the kitchen, scooped herself a bowl, and squatted by the doorway, slurping it down quickly.  

Da Bao and Er Bao refused to eat, but Xiao Bao was truly hungry. As soon as Mother Li fed him, he ate obediently.  

Watching Mother Li feed Xiao Bao, Jiang Ailing couldn’t help but let her sharp tongue loose again. “Mom, didn’t you say Second Sister-in-law wants to live a good life with Second Brother now? Yet here she is, dumping the kids on you again—and eating our food while she’s at it.”  

Mother Li had also felt uneasy when she returned home and saw the Three Baos in the courtyard. Could it be that the Second Household had only been making empty promises after all?  

But she knew exactly what Jiang Ailing was thinking. Annoyed, she scolded: “Why is your mouth always so vile? The Second Family gave me money before! And besides, this isn’t even your food they’re eating! I’m giving them my share!”  

Jiang Ailing was scolded but refused to accept it.

How was it not her food?  

If the Three Baos ate Mother Li’s portion, that meant Mother Li had less to eat. If she ate less, she’d have less strength for work. If she worked less, she’d earn fewer work points.  

And since she and Mother Li hadn’t split households yet, Mother Li earning fewer work points meant that she, Jiang Ailing, would get less too!  

But Jiang Ailing didn’t dare argue with Mother Li about this. She could only mutter bitterly: “You treat them so well, but don’t expect them to be filial to you in return…”  

Before she could finish, a sweet, clear voice interrupted her.  

“Oh? What’s all the excitement about?”  

Jiang Ailing turned her head and saw Shen Yiyi pushing open the door, stepping inside with a bright smile.  

Her face was radiant and undeniably beautiful.  

“Mom!”  

“Mom!”  

“Mom!”  

The Three Baos immediately called out, rushing toward Shen Yiyi.

The Three Baos lit up the moment they saw her and immediately ran toward her.  

Shen Yiyi affectionately patted their little heads.  

Xiao Bao sniffled, his big, watery eyes shining as he stared at the oil paper bag in her hand. “Mom, is it something delicious?”  

“You little puppy nose!” Shen Yiyi playfully tapped his tiny nose. “But this is for Grandpa and Grandma.”  

Then, she turned her gaze to the people in the courtyard.  

Because someone had arrived, everyone inside the house had come out as well.  

Shen Yiyi greeted Father Li and Mother Li, then handed the oil paper bag to Mother Li. “Mom, I bought these steamed buns from the market this morning. One for you, one for Dad, and one for Da Hua.”  

She looked toward Da Hua, who had been so busy that she hadn’t even had time to eat. Pointing to the oil paper bag, she said: “Da Hua, one of them is for you.”  

“Oh! Thank you, Second Aunt-in-law!” Da Hua hadn’t expected to receive one as well and quickly responded with gratitude.  

“Ah, Second Family, just take them back.” Mother Li said, feeling a little embarrassed. She gently pushed the bag back toward Shen Yiyi. “You bought these, you should eat them yourself… Or let the Three Baos have them. There’s no need to give any to me and your Dad.”  

“Mom, these are from Da Bao’s Dad and me, as a sign of filial piety to you and Dad.”  

As she spoke, Shen Yiyi glanced at Jiang Ailing, then swept her gaze across everyone else in the house. Her tone was straightforward and unapologetic.  

“I’m happy to give these to you and Dad. But if they end up in someone else’s hands, Mom, then there won’t be a next time.”  

Everyone—Mother Li, Jiang Ailing, and the others—froze for a moment.  

Shen Yiyi didn’t care about their varied expressions. She simply took the Three Baos and left for home.  

The Li family could still hear their joyful chatter as they walked away—

“Mom, what did you buy?”  

“Delicious, fragrant meat buns! Do the Three Baos like them?”  

“We love them!”  

“Mom, aren’t buns very expensive?”  

“They are. But Grandma sent Mom some money again. Now I can buy the Three Baos lots and lots of fragrant meat buns, and malted milk too. When we get home, Mom will make malted milk for you. How about that?”  

“Yay! I love malted milk the most! It’s so sweet! Heehee!”