After sending off the nosy Li Zhaodi, the family of three cheerfully headed home.

As they neared their house, they spotted three figures—one adult and two children—sitting outside their door.

“Eldest Sister?” Xiao Weidong’s face lit up with surprise.

From a distance, Shen Zhimei, who might have heard Weidong’s voice or spotted them approaching, quickly stood up, dusting off her slightly faded pants and smoothing her daughters’ patched clothing.

“Big Sister, Daya, Erya!” Xiao Weidong ran ahead with a wide grin.

“Uncle!” The two young girls timidly called out, their voices soft but polite.

Xiao Weidong beamed, nodding as he turned to look at Li Qiuhua and Shen Zhihuan walking behind him. “Mom, Third Sister, hurry up!”

“Big Sister!” Shen Zhihuan called sweetly, her smile warm and genuine.

The original Shen Zhihuan’s elder sister might have been timid and mild-mannered, but she had been genuinely kind to her.

Back when the adults were all busy working in the fields, Shen Zhimei had taken on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. In fact, Shen Zhihuan had essentially been raised by her eldest sister.

For a long time, wherever Shen Zhimei went, she carried the frail Shen Zhihuan on her back. Any good food or treats were always reserved for her little sister.

This care was in stark contrast to their second sister, Shen Zhilan, who hoarded anything good for herself.

One summer, for instance, a nearby reservoir released water, bringing with it an influx of fish. The production team organized a fishing team, and every family received a portion based on their work points. Families with higher work points got bigger fish, while families like the Shen’s, who earned fewer points, received a tiny fish barely the size of a hand.

That day, Shen Zhilan, who hadn’t stepped into the kitchen for years, suddenly volunteered to cook. Li Qiuhua had thought her second daughter was finally growing up and became responsible.

But in the end?
Only the fish head and tail made it to the table—the entire middle section had mysteriously disappeared.

“Auntie,” the two young girls greeted Shen Zhihuan shyly.

“Good girls!” Shen Zhihuan smiled, giving each of their cheeks a playful rub.

Though they were thin, their cheeks were soft—better than her bony hands, at least.

“Zhihuan, are you feeling better?” Shen Zhimei asked gently, her warm voice filled with concern as she studied her sister’s pale complexion.

After hearing from a neighbor that her younger sister had broken off her engagement with the Su family, Shen Zhimei had been worried sick. But living in the neighboring village, under the watchful eye of her domineering mother-in-law, she hadn’t been able to leave her chores to check on them.

She had anxiously waited until today, her day off, and set out at dawn with her two daughters. Even so, it seemed she was a bit late.

“Much better!” Shen Zhihuan replied with a smile. She reached into Li Qiuhua’s pocket for the house key and unlocked the door.

“Grandma,” the two young girls chorused as they entered.

“Yes, yes!” Li Qiuhua smiled warmly, pulling them into a hug. “I haven’t seen you two in months. My Daya and Erya have grown into proper young ladies!”

“Mom!” Shen Zhimei stepped forward, reaching out to help Li Qiuhua with her heavy basket.

Li Qiuhua glanced at the gossiping neighbors nearby and shook her head. “Let’s go inside first.”

Only after closing the courtyard gate and entering the main room did Li Qiuhua let Shen Zhimei take the basket off her shoulders.

“When did you get here? Why didn’t you send someone ahead to let us know?” Li Qiuhua asked, smiling as she hugged her two granddaughters tightly.

She couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions looking at her eldest daughter’s weary face.

Her son-in-law, Qian Xingwang, was a decent man, gentle and kind, but his mother…

When it came to being unreasonable and domineering, Qian’s mother was unmatched in the entire village.

“We arrived this morning,” Shen Zhimei replied with a smile, placing the basket in a corner of the room.

Shen Zhihuan called Weidong over to fetch the peach crisps and White Rabbit candies from the basket for the three visitors while she took the cold meat buns into the kitchen.

“Zhihuan, don’t trouble yourself. We already ate the cornbread we brought this morning. We’re not hungry,” Shen Zhimei protested quickly.

“Maybe you’re not, but Daya and Erya must be,” Shen Zhihuan countered without looking back as she headed for the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Xiao Weidong had already dug out the peach crisps and candies from the basket and handed two pieces of peach crisp to each of the little girls.

The girls hesitated, looking up at their mother for permission.

“Why are you looking at your mom? Just eat! There’s more if you finish those,” Li Qiuhua said, giving Shen Zhimei a pointed look as she gently coaxed her granddaughters.

“Big Sister, have some too!” Xiao Weidong offered, holding the bag of peach crisps out to Shen Zhimei.

“I’m not hungry. Save them for later…” Shen Zhimei tried to refuse, shaking her head.

Peach crisps were a rare treat. It was one thing for the children to have a couple of pieces, but as an adult, how could she take food meant for the kids?

“Big Sister, just eat! There’s plenty in the basket.” Xiao pushed the bag into her hands.

“Take them! Zhihuan bought several packages. You can even take two back home for Daya and Erya,” Li Qiuhua encouraged.

“Bought several packages…” Shen Zhimei blinked, momentarily stunned.

Did she hear that right? Or had she misunderstood her mother?

Before she could process this, Shen Zhihuan emerged from the kitchen with the warmed meat buns.

Despite some initial resistance, the three guests finally gave in to Shen Zhihuan’s persistence and sat down to eat.

Watching her daughters eat with such joy, Shen Zhimei’s eyes grew misty.

Since marrying into the Qian family, any bit of meat in the house always went to her father-in-law, elder brother-in-law, or his two sons.

Her mother-in-law might spare a few scraps for her younger daughter, but Shen Zhimei and her two girls were usually left with nothing.

“Big Sister, we bought some meat. Stay for lunch with Daya and Erya,” Shen Zhihuan said, pulling out a large slab of pork belly and two big bones from the basket.

“You don’t have to…”

“Don’t even try to argue. The Qian family can survive without you for one day. Today, you’re staying for lunch, no matter what.” Before Shen Zhimei could refuse, Shen Zhihuan left for the kitchen, leaving no room for discussion.