Chapter 11

Tian Jiao’s words drained the color from Ding Yushu’s face.

However, as someone who prioritized food above all else, Ding Yushu was not about to give up. She retorted fiercely, “No! You’re talking nonsense! Hand over the meat quickly, or nobody will eat tonight.”

“Ding Yushu, how can you say that? Do you want others to starve? I don’t think you’ll be having dinner tonight!” 

A familiar roar echoed through the room. Everyone turned to see the old lady entering with one hand on her waist, pointing at Ding Yushu’s nose while cursing.

Though not an overly strict mother-in-law, she was firm and had a soft spot for her family. She had never heard of such a diligent daughter-in-law in the surrounding villages. Her grandson was already one year old, yet she worked hard all day and cooked when she returned home, while her daughter-in-law stayed home with the child and only had to wash her own clothes.

But she often lashed out at her daughter-in-law.

At that moment, Li Mizhen returned home and overheard the commotion. She had hurried back early to cook, realizing there was no ginger in the house. She needed ginger to remove the fishy odor from the meat, so she rushed to fetch some from her garden. As she returned, she heard her eldest grandson crying and her daughter-in-law’s angry voice.

A woman nearby asked with a smirk, “Hey, what’s going on? Is there a fight again? I think you’re too lenient with your daughter-in-law. Whose mother-in-law is as soft and easy to push around as you?”

Li Mizhen was furious enough to laugh. It was her softness that allowed this lazy woman to raise her voice at home.

She picked up her grandson, exclaiming, “Zhang Dagen, why are you moving so slowly? Is someone carrying you?”

Zhang Dagen hurried back from the field, holding farm tools, but was suddenly given his baby grandson. He stole a quick glance at his wife, terrified, and turned to leave with his grandson in his arms, forgetting his farm tools.

Tian Jiao felt frightened by the impending conflict. She trembled, unsure whether to continue eating or not, with the bowl at her lips.

Zhang Rui calmly supported her, saying, “Eat, it’s okay. You did nothing wrong.”

She began to trust her new father and resumed drinking the soup.

Ding Yushu, still rigid and scared, saw the father and daughter watching her with gloating expressions. The chubby girl had grown plump but continued to indulge in meat. Filled with anger and fear, she stiffly retorted, “Mom, you can’t be so biased! Look at Zhang Rui! He bought meat for that wretched girl and cooked it for her! My Dabao hasn’t had anything to eat!”

Li Mizhen sneered and picked up a stick to attack: “Biased? You’re blind to the fact that the second, third, and fifth brothers cook for you from time to time? What’s wrong? Now that the third brother has bought meat, you refuse to accept it? He was going to let the whole family eat together and gave his daughter more food in advance to nourish her! What did I do to you? Are you really so petty that you’re glaring at a five-year-old? Ding Yushu, did you starve in your past life and come back as a ghost?”

Ding Yushu was bewildered by this barrage of accusations. How did it turn into a family matter?

She dodged the stick but couldn’t help herself from replying, “What big family? That wretched girl is the only one getting meat…”

At that moment, Tian Jiao let out a small snort. Ding Yushu, who had been dodging quite well, tripped over her own feet and fell to the ground, just as she had done before.

That was too much!

She had actually called her a wretched girl? No, Tian Jiao had never offended her, so why the animosity?

Feeling a bit wronged, Tian Jiao became naturally displeased.

The impact was immediate with just that light sound.

Watching Ding Yushu fall and be reprimanded by her mother, Zhang Rui began to feel a twitch in his eyelid as he glanced at his daughter.

Yet, the adorable little girl simply pouted, sipping her soup with narrowed eyes, seemingly unfazed by the chaos unfolding around her.

It took her quite a while to finish her bowl of soup.

Satisfied, Tian Jiao patted her belly, which bulged like a ripe watermelon, making a hollow sound, as if to signal it was ready.

She wiped her greasy mouth with her chubby hands and handed the bowl to Zhang Rui. The excitement had faded from her cute face, leaving her looking pale and soft, almost like porcelain. In a sweet voice, she said, “Dad, there’s a big piece of meat left. Jiaojiao will save it for you.”

She hesitated, unable to eat the meat herself.

Her father had been watching her closely, so she thought he must want the meat badly, especially since she had never seen him eat anything good, which was quite pitiful. Therefore, she held back, ignoring the enticing piece of meat and simply sipping the soup.

That piece of meat was truly large, filled with her daughter’s affection.

Zhang Rui was at a loss for words, and his doubts faded. Such a sweet little girl—he couldn’t worry about anything else; she felt like a gift from above.

He took the bowl, drank the soup, and popped the last big piece of meat into his mouth. It really was delicious. “Thanks, my little girl. Come on, let’s put away your bag. Do you have any homework today?”

Tian Jiao nodded. “Yes, the teacher said we should practice big characters, and there’s math…”

They walked into the house together, hand in hand, and Zhang Rui quietly stayed with his daughter as she did her homework.

Actually, she didn’t need him there. Tian Jiao had amazing self-control and was good at understanding things, so she had no trouble on her own. But with him around, she felt more comfortable and secure.

Zhang Rui also felt calm and content.

Normally, he wasn’t the type to sit still. Even at the factory or while doing carpentry, he loved joking around. But now, he could sit with his daughter in peace.

If his sixteen-year-old self could see him now, he’d be shocked. No, even his self from twenty days ago wouldn’t believe it.

Family love is an amazing thing.

Ever since he decided to take in this little girl, he’d found himself wanting to be the kind of father she could look up to. He wanted to be more patient, more thoughtful, and to care for her in every way he could.

…

After the commotion outside settled down, Zhang Zhi returned to find the yard in a mess again. Ding Yushu was crying in the house. With a headache, he went inside to calm her down. “Look, honey, I brought you Ding Ding Candy. I found some while driving today and traded for it.”

He had actually bought the candy, but since private transactions weren’t allowed, he had to act like it was bartered.

Ding Yushu paused her tears and took the candy, muttering, “Do you know how far your brother has gone? He bought meat for that girl…”

Zhang Zhi replied firmly, “Jiaojiao is a part of our family. You can’t say that. She would feel hurt if she heard.”

His wife was not very tactful with her words, which he had gotten used to over time. Normally, it wasn’t a big deal, but now that there was a gentle girl in the family, he couldn’t let her be called names.

He knew Ding Yushu called her mother’s child “dead girl” out of habit, so he didn’t think she meant harm. But Ding Yushu truly disliked Tian Jiao. She felt that with this girl around, there was less food, and more of Zhang Zhi’s earnings went to her. She wasn’t willing to accept it.

So, when Zhang Zhi tried to reason with her, she coldly replied, “No! She’s just a dead girl, a stray from who knows where. And now all the good food is going to her, while our Dabao hasn’t even tasted any!”

She deliberately changed her words toward the end.

Zhang Zhi’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to scold his wife, they heard a loud kick at the door.

Li Mizhen stormed in with a fierce expression. “Hand over the Ding Ding Candy.”

Ding Yushu quickly hid the candy behind her back. “No, Zhang Zhi gave it to me!”

Li Mizhen sneered, “Fine, from now on, you won’t get any eggs, meat, fabric, or anything else that Third Brother and we elders provide.”

Zhang Zhi didn’t really know what was happening. It was all his wife’s one-sided complaint. Seeing his mother so angry, he panicked. “Mom, what’s going on?”

Li Mizhen didn’t hold back. She smacked her son on the head, making him dizzy, and said furiously, “What do you think? This woman has been spoiled by you! Third Brother went out of his way to buy meat for everyone, and even gave the little girl extra to help her gain weight. But all she got was a small bowl of soup before your wife started making a fuss. She’s got some nerve to act like this. You spoil her with treats, but she only cares about herself and no one else!”

With that, she glared at Ding Yushu, who shrank against the bed, and twisted Zhang Zhi’s ear. “Starting now, you’re not allowed to buy anything. If you have extra money, give it to me. Dabao’s still young and can’t eat much anyway; he can have some soup. Don’t listen to her nonsense. She doesn’t care about anyone else. Fine, she’ll work outside, and I’ll handle the house chores. Starting tomorrow, that’s the plan.”

Ding Yushu was terrified when she heard she’d have to work. She started sobbing, “Mom, please, I was wrong. Give the candy to that girl; I don’t want it…”

She realized that candy was less important than keeping her current life. As long as she got through this, there would be food for her tomorrow.

Feeling pity for her, Zhang Zhi endured the pain in his ear and said softly, “Mom, she was just upset. Please let it go. She’s Dabao’s mother, after all…”

As usual, they smoothed things over.

But this time, Li Mizhen was truly furious. She’d had enough. With another child in the family, the difference in how she treated others became more obvious.

With a resigned look, she made a final decision. “Either you split the family, or you follow my rules.”

Her words left Zhang Zhi and Ding Yushu stunned. Zhang Zhi looked pale, while Ding Yushu seemed pleased, but she held back.

Exhausted, Zhang Zhi handed the candy to his mother. “Mom, we won’t split the family.”

Family rules were taken seriously in the village. Families that split often had parents who were unfair, leading to gossip. Though their mother had her faults, she’d always been fair in providing for them.

There was no way he’d divide this family.