Lin Hongying carried a small stool and went back inside after just a few bites of her sauerkraut and minced pork noodles.  

But everyone remembered that bowl of steaming, fragrant noodles.  

The tangy, salty aroma wafted through the wind, drifting into everyone’s noses. Just watching her eat with such relish was enough to make people swallow their saliva. The neighbors couldn’t stop thinking about it—when New Year’s came, they had to make a pot of sauerkraut and minced pork noodles.  

Before long, Lin Hongying came out cheerfully with several bowls of noodles—one for Grandma Xu, one for Brigade Commander Zheng, one for Auntie Wu (who had given them winter melon and sauerkraut), and one for Uncle Song (who had provided the noodles).  

Lin Hongying left the front door wide open as the couple ate heartily.  

Let’s see who dares to come freeload now!  

Qian’s daughter-in-law watched Lin Hongying and silently swallowed her saliva.  

Just last week, Lin Hongying had been just like her—both weighed down by their own troubles. In fact, Lin Hongying had been worse off, constantly worried about being driven out, about being gossiped about and scorned by the families in the compound for being shameless.  

But now, she seemed completely unbothered by what others said… She dared to hit the Zhou children, dared to curse at people. Yet, this version of her seemed so vibrant, so unrestrained. It was something Yang Xiu’e could never achieve.  

Lin Hongying noticed Yang Xiu’e standing there in a daze, her eyes filled with gloom and resentment.  

She remembered Yang Xiu’e’s “kindness of a meal” toward the original host—she had once given the starving girl a bowl of porridge. So, Lin Hongying scooped her a bowl of minced pork noodles.  

“I got married today. Have a taste to celebrate.”  

For the neighbors who didn’t get noodles, Lin Hongying handed out wedding candy. Every household on the first floor that she was on good terms with received some—except for the Zhou family, who got nothing!  

This move made it clear that Lin Hongying wasn’t stingy, but if anyone tried to take advantage of her by making a scene, they could forget about it!  

…

The Zheng Household  

Grandma Xu ate the steaming bowl of sauerkraut and minced pork noodles that Lin Hongying had specially delivered, finding it more delicious with every bite.  

When Dr. He returned from work and heard about Lin Hongying beating up the Zhou family’s three brats, she remarked with some surprise, “Sometimes, Lin Hongying really surprises people. She actually dared to provoke a troublemaker like Widow Zhou.”  

“But they’re a widow with orphaned children. Even if she ‘won,’ she still comes off looking bad. After all, she’s from the countryside and doesn’t know any better…”  

Dr. He noticed the piping-hot noodles on the table, which looked incredibly appetizing. “Mom, did you make this pork noodle dish? It smells amazing.”  

“Hongying brought it over,” the old woman said flatly.  

“Why only two bowls?” Dr. He grabbed a pair of chopsticks. “Did Old Zheng go on another mission?”  

Without looking up, Grandma Xu replied, “Nope. She specifically brought it for Old Zheng. None for you.”  

“After all, she ‘doesn’t know any better’—” she added pointedly. “Don’t expect someone you look down on every day to still generously bring you food.”  

Dr. He visibly stiffened. “I was just stating facts. It’s not just me—plenty of people in the compound think the same way.”  

Grandma Xu said, “She and her husband just registered their marriage today. You should give up on your matchmaking plans. Personally, I think she did well—settling scores with boldness… reminds me a bit of Old Man Shao.”  

“Tell me honestly—when you heard about the Zhou kids getting beaten up, didn’t it feel satisfying? Didn’t she do what no one else dared to do?”  

Dr. He chuckled. In her heart, she had to admit—it did feel satisfying…  

If those three brats were her kids, she’d have spanked their butts raw long ago. How could she have let someone else do it first?

……

The Next Day

A young soldier from the communications office came to deliver a message to Lin Hongying: “Sister-in-law, your family called you.”

Lin Hongying went to the communications room to answer the phone.  

“Hello…” The line buzzed with static before a loud shout came from the other end: “Granny Long from Lin Family Village, your granddaughter is on the phone!”

After a moment, a warm, aged voice came through—”Hello… Hongying?”

That familiar voice made Lin Hongying freeze, memories flooding in like a tidal wave.  

It was a voice she would never forget!  

It was the gentle call that woke her before dawn every school morning; the anxious murmurs of “Does it still hurt? Just bear with it a little longer” whenever she was sick; the soft reminder to “Come home early” every time she left for school.  

The Lin family had always favored sons over daughters, but it was her grandmother who had resolutely taken her hand and led her out of the mountains, scrimping and scavenging just to send her to school. Yet, in her final year of high school, her grandmother had passed away, leaving her forever.  

“Without my grandmother, I would never have come this far; without me, her later years would have been lonely.” It wasn’t until after her grandmother’s death that Lin Hongying truly understood the weight of those words.  

Since then, she had never heard that voice again. Now, her eyes reddened instantly, her throat clogged as if stuffed with cotton.  

At this moment, a thousand emotions condensed into fragmented words: “Mm… Grandma, it’s me, Hongying.”

A long silence followed on the other end.  

Then, after what felt like an eternity, a hesitant voice replied: “Yingbao?”

Tears streamed down Lin Hongying’s face like broken pearls. “Yes, Grandma, it’s Yingying! I’ve missed you so much!”

Hearing this voice—one she had yearned for day and night, one she had only ever heard in dreams—her tears fell uncontrollably.  

“Good, good, it’s really you!” Granny Long’s voice trembled with excitement. “Are you doing alright over there? Is the northeast too cold? Is that Shao boy treating you well? Now that I’ve finally reached you, my heart can rest easy.”

Lin Hongying replied urgently, “I’m doing great! Shao Qingfeng and I got married—we registered yesterday. Grandma… how have you been? I’ll send you some things.”

Over the phone, her grandmother’s voice was full of relief. “My Yingying has grown up.”

“No need to send anything, we have everything here. Now that you’re married to Qingfeng, just come visit when you can. That’s all I ask.”

Lin Hongying asked about family matters, but phone calls in this era were monitored by operators, so sensitive topics had to be avoided.  

Her grandmother spoke plainly: “Let me update you—I’m doing fine, not too cold here! But last month, your grandfather was assigned to labor reform in Yimeng, Inner Mongolia. It’s harsh there, but he’s tough, he’ll manage. Your father hasn’t come home in years, and your mother has remarried.”

Their years of unspoken understanding told Lin Hongying that in this life, her grandfather, father, and mother were not the ones she had known—because they had never referred to each other like that before.  

Yet, through the original host’s memories, Granny Long’s face was identical to her grandmother’s from her past life!  

She carefully noted down their address and her grandfather’s location.  

After hanging up, Lin Hongying still felt dazed.  

Frowning, she began to ponder—Why did she and the original host look exactly alike? Why was her grandmother the spitting image of the original host’s grandmother? Was this just a coincidence?

Fate had brought Lin Hongying here, and she had once resented it deeply. This era was one of extreme poverty, scarcity, and a society struggling to rebuild.  

But now, it seemed like everything had fallen into place for a reason.  

In this life, Lin Hongying finally had the chance to make it up to her grandmother—to let her enjoy the happiness of family!