Last night, Shen Zhimei had only half-bowl of wild vegetable soup. This morning, she hadn’t even managed a sip of water. After working all morning on an empty stomach, her body felt weak, her limbs trembling, and she could barely muster the strength to walk.

Because she hadn’t handed over the quilts, Old Lady Qian hadn’t even used a few drops of oil in the cooking these past days.

Wild vegetable soup consisted of a few scoops of boiling water with a handful of wild greens tossed in and a pinch of salt for flavor.

Soup without even a hint of oil—how was it any different from the pig slop cooked up by the production team?

Of course, Qian Dabao and Qian Zhizhi didn’t have to worry about food. Old Lady Qian always had something tucked away in her cupboard to keep them from going hungry.

Qian Xingsheng, her eldest son and pride, had also given her a treasured grandson. There was no way she would let him go without. Special meals for him were a regular occurrence.

As Qian Xingsheng’s wife and Qian Dabao’s mother, Xie Xiaofen naturally benefited from this favoritism.

In the end, it was only Shen Zhimei’s family who had to scrape by, eating coarse grain and wild vegetables.

Every year, even though the family divided up plenty of fine grains…

“Wife, Mother hasn’t been feeling well these past few days. Don’t take it to heart,” Qian Xingwang said softly as he caught up to Shen Zhimei, carrying a hoe over his shoulder.

A bitter smile tugged at Shen Zhimei’s lips.

Take it to heart?

Did she dare? In the Qian household, Old Lady Qian was the heavens, and she was the mud on the ground.

If Old Lady Qian didn’t pick on her, she already had to be endlessly grateful.

“Wife…” Seeing Shen Zhimei remain silent, Qian Xingwang called out again.

“I understand,” she replied reluctantly, nodding.

Seeing her agreement, Qian Xingwang’s furrowed brows eased slightly.

From a neighboring field where they were pulling weeds, Da Ya and Er Ya spotted their parents. Overjoyed, they grabbed their baskets and ran over.

“Father, Mother!”

The two little girls called out in unison.

“Hey!” Shen Zhimei forced a smile.

Qian Xingwang took the baskets from their hands with a grin, carrying them himself.

The family of four walked home, chatting and laughing.

“Mother, why is there smoke coming from our house? Could something be on fire?” Da Ya suddenly pointed toward the Qian household, her tone laced with worry.

Shen Zhimei and Qian Xingwang looked up, alarmed.

In recent years, although Xie Xiaofen often shirked her chores, complaining of backaches and other minor ailments to make Shen Zhimei cook, she still occasionally prepared meals and helped with household tasks.

But ever since Shen Zhimei gave birth to Er Ya and her womb had remained barren, Old Lady Qian’s dissatisfaction with her had grown.

Xie Xiaofen had gradually handed over all the cooking and cleaning duties to Shen Zhimei, citing the need to care for Qian Dabao.

While others rested after work, Shen Zhimei had to cook, wash dishes, and clean the house. By the time she fed the chickens and did the laundry, the horn signaling the start of work would sound again.

In the past two years, as Da Ya and Er Ya grew older, almost all the household chores—collecting firewood, gathering wild vegetables, sweeping, and feeding the chickens—fell on the three of them.

The family rushed home, their steps hurried.

As they entered, they saw Qian Zhizhi carrying a fragrant plate of twice-cooked pork into the main hall. Spotting them, she smiled and said, “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Da Ya, Er Ya—wash your hands and eat.”

Shen Zhimei frowned instinctively, feeling uneasy.

Da Ya and Er Ya hesitated, startled.

“Alright!” Qian Xingwang set down the baskets and hoe, heading to the well to wash his hands.

“What are you standing there for? Aren’t you hungry?” he asked, turning to his wife and daughters, his tone cheerful.

Shen Zhimei set down her hoe, forcing a smile as she gestured for Da Ya and Er Ya to wash their hands.

Just as they sat down at the table, a dish of braised pork, glistening with oil, was brought out. The tender, glossy meat quivered on the enamel plate, emitting an enticing aroma.

Qian Dabao immediately grabbed two pieces with his chopsticks, stuffing them into his mouth and chewing loudly.

Da Ya and Er Ya swallowed involuntarily but didn’t dare pick up their chopsticks.

Xie Xiaofen and Qian Xingsheng stared at the plate of braised pork, their mouths watering.

“Eat! What are you waiting for?” Old Lady Qian walked in with a large bowl of white rice, smiling.

Xie Xiaofen quickly stepped forward to take the bowl. “Mother, you haven’t even sat down yet. How can we, the younger generation, start eating?”

Pleased, Old Lady Qian took the seat of honor.

Shen Zhimei stared at the table full of dishes, unease growing in her heart.

When a bowl of white rice was placed before her, her anxiety reached its peak.

“Second Daughter-in-law, you need to eat more. You’ve gotten so thin. You need to build up your strength so you can give our Qian family more children!” Old Lady Qian said with a smile, placing a piece of braised pork in Shen Zhimei’s bowl.

She continued to add pieces of meat to Shen Zhimei’s bowl.

Xie Xiaofen and Qian Xingsheng exchanged knowing glances, silently communicating.

They knew better than anyone how Old Lady Qian usually treated Shen Zhimei. Whatever was happening today, it wasn’t out of kindness.

Embracing the mentality of not wasting free food, Xie Xiaofen and Qian Xingsheng helped themselves to the dishes, eating heartily.

Shen Zhimei stared at the meat in her bowl, her hands trembling as she struggled to hold her chopsticks.

Seeing her remain silent, Old Lady Qian spoke again.
“Second Daughter-in-law, your sister-in-law is getting older. It’s about time she got married. Two years ago, I asked your eldest uncle to gather some cotton for quilts and new clothes for her dowry…”

Shen Zhimei’s hand shook.

Old Lady Qian cleared her throat and continued,
“But the cotton harvest hasn’t been great these past two years, and your uncle hasn’t been able to manage. I was thinking, didn’t your mother give you two quilts? Lend them to your sister-in-law for now. When the cotton harvest improves next year…”

“Mother, you can have anything, but I can’t give you those quilts or the cotton,” Shen Zhimei said firmly, setting down her bowl and chopsticks.

“I already said I’ll return them next year. What more do you want? Don’t push your luck!” Old Lady Qian slammed her chopsticks on the table, her voice sharp with anger.

The loud noise made Da Ya and Er Ya flinch in fear.

“Wife, maybe you should lend the quilts…” Qian Xingwang said hesitantly, glancing at the enraged Old Lady Qian.

“They aren’t from my mother. They’re from my younger sister,” Shen Zhimei interrupted. “You know her health. She’s sick almost every day of the year, always drinking bitter medicine. Even so, she earned money by writing articles to buy those quilts for me and her nieces.

“If I give them away, would I still be human?” Her eyes turned red as she spoke.

“Enough with your excuses! Either hand over the quilts today, or take your quilts and your worthless daughters and get out of our house!” Old Lady Qian snarled, her face dark with fury.