Chapter 12

Zhang Zhi rejected the idea of splitting the family, and the spark in Ding Yushu’s eyes faded.

Although she was brave and willing to risk her life for food, she knew Zhang Zhi was the one supporting the family. Without his agreement, there was no point in causing trouble. She shot both of them an angry look before sulking alone.

Zhang Rui and Tian Jiao, who stayed out of the argument, each received a piece of Ding Ding Candy.

When Zhang Rui’s mother left, he quickly handed the candy to his daughter, saying, “Eat it fast, or someone might take it back.”

He doubted that his second sister-in-law would accept his mother’s strict rules. For her, eating was more important than her husband or child.

Tian Jiao blinked, her cheeks full with candy, and asked, “Dad, can I save some for Sister Huahua?”

Zhang Rui nodded. “Sure, I’ll hide it for you. You can give it to her tomorrow.”

Tian Jiao smiled, her eyes curving with happiness as she hugged her dad’s strong arm. “Thank you, Dad.”

They shared a happy moment, but elsewhere, tension filled the air.

Zhang Zhi tried to comfort Ding Yushu again, but she pushed him away with a glare. “Leave me alone, Zhang Zhi! Are you doing this on purpose? You just can’t stand seeing me at home with the kids, can you? Why do you want me to work? Isn’t it enough that I gave your family a grandson?”

Zhang Zhi was worn out from working long hours, often without a full meal. Despite having good food at home and sometimes dining out with his boss, he had lost weight.

His mother and wife were both unhappy, and his wife didn’t understand him at all. Exhausted, he asked, “Do you think just having children is all that matters?”

Ding Yushu hesitated, surprised by the serious and maybe even cold look on Zhang Zhi’s face for the first time. She muttered, “What else do you want me to do? Dabao is still so young. What will he do without me?”

Zhang Zhi softened his tone, saying, “You know why Mom doesn’t let you watch him. Start working tomorrow, just behave for a while. I’ll ask Mom to go easier on you; she might come around.”

Ding Yushu bit her lip, wanting to argue but unsure. She believed she wasn’t wrong; eating well was most important. As a middle child, she had always had to fight for food growing up and sometimes ate quickly before her sisters could take it.

What was wrong if Dabao cried a bit? All the children cry.

Though unwilling, she knew she had to endure it. But inside, her frustration was only growing. She thought her mother-in-law was too harsh, her husband was just following orders, and her son didn’t understand anything and was a burden.

Later that evening, Dabao was sent to Zhang Zhi’s room after dinner, prepared by Li Mizhen.

But the atmosphere was tense, even though Zhang Rui brought some meat home.

At first, Ding Yushu didn’t want to come to dinner, but she finally did after Li Mizhen called her several times. Still, Li Mizhen gave her no meat, even stopping Zhang Zhi from sneaking her some. Angry, Ding Yushu left after only a few bites, and the remaining food was finished by the men.

Frustrated, she returned to her room with nothing left to eat.

Li Mizhen, who had often overlooked her daughter-in-law’s behavior, was now determined to put a stop to it. She decided she couldn’t let her grandson be influenced by Ding Yushu’s ways.

Before, Li Mizhen would only scold or lightly punish Ding Yushu. But now she was serious. Her grandson, over a year old, could eat simple foods, and she wouldn’t let him follow his neglectful mother anymore.

The next morning, Tian Jiao heard a loud commotion from the next room. She got up slowly, rubbed her eyes, and mumbled, “Second Aunt really has it rough.”

She could hear Ding Yushu’s occasional yells amidst the noise. Then, as she woke up fully, she heard her father Zhang Rui calling her from outside. She quickly got out of bed, eyes wide open, and replied cheerfully, “Good morning, Dad!”

Zhang Rui, eating breakfast and amused by the drama, responded happily, “Good morning!”

Zhang Zhi had gone to work, and Li Mizhen was scolding Ding Yushu, who wanted to sleep in. Holding Dabao, she called out sternly, “Go to work, or you won’t eat anymore!”

Ding Yushu protested, “Why? I won’t go!”

Ignoring her, Li Mizhen held the child and stood at the door, blocking her. Breakfast was already eaten, so Ding Yushu had no choice.

Dabao thought they were playing and clapped his hands, laughing.

Defeated, Ding Yushu’s face turned pale, and with one last glance, she ran in the opposite direction.

When Tian Jiao came out while eating the steam bun, she whispered, “Dad, where’s Second Aunt?”

“Isn’t that the direction of the fields?”

Zhang Rui curled his lips and explained in a low voice as he peeled an egg. “She’s just out having fun. She’s being lazy and avoiding work.”

After peeling one egg, he started on the second. He had some extra money now, and his mother mentioned that the hens had been laying more than usual—five hens producing ten eggs daily—so everyone could enjoy an egg.

Zhang Rui glanced at his daughter, whose innocent face hid a knowing look. Remembering the incident with the cloth coupon and other odd events, he had a strong hunch that their hens’ sudden increase in egg-laying was somehow due to her.

Li Mizhen soon returned and gave her third son a playful swat with a stick, not hitting him hard but enough to make her point. She said, “Don’t teach the child bad habits. Finish up, take her to school, and then get back to work.”

Zhang Rui rubbed his backside and shrugged. Looking down, he saw his daughter grinning up at him with bright eyes and pinched her cheeks. “You cheeky girl, are you laughing at your dad?”

Tian Jiao quickly shook her head, looking innocent. “No!”

…

After breakfast, Tian Jiao was sent off to school, where she met up with Zhao Xiaohua and the other kids. She pulled out a piece of Ding Ding candy. Candy was a rare treat, and even though this was just simple candy sold by a peddler who traded for goods, it was a special treat for them.

Each child took a small piece of the candy, savoring it as they skipped along the road, grinning widely.

This time, Zhang Rui didn’t accompany the kids to school. He waited until they were all together and then went back to his work.

He was talented at carpentry and quickly crafted a sturdy bench, which he tested for durability before continuing with other projects.

Zhang Rui planned to start selling his carpentry items and keep his eye on factory jobs. With his junior high education, he could potentially get a factory job, but those positions were limited and usually inherited within families, so he had to wait for an opening.

He had some savings, so he could manage in the meantime. Carpentry was in demand, and if it weren’t for the factory’s better stability, he wouldn’t be waiting for an opening.

Meanwhile, Li Mizhen watched her son in the yard, still surprised at his skill. After half a year, he had really developed a knack for carpentry. She didn’t interrupt him.

Seeing her son grow up was enough for her. She and her husband could still manage, and it was worth the time investment. If he became as successful as his older brother, that would be a bonus.

Working in the fields was hard, and the family had chosen to send him to learn carpentry to avoid it. Zhang Rui hadn’t let them down. Once playful, he now worked hard at home all day, taking only brief breaks. He was truly no longer the pampered child he used to be.

At noon, Tian Jiao came home from school, proudly carrying two eggs she’d found. “Grandma, I found bird eggs!”

Zhang Rui, working in the yard, immediately set down his tools and walked over. “Bird eggs? Where did you find them?”

Tian Jiao looked up with pride. “On the way home, on that little hill. Brother Dazhu climbed up to get them. There were four eggs, so we shared them.”

As she explained, she looked a bit guilty. Lunch was usually simple, and she had overheard Zhao Xiaohua mention getting a fried egg from her mother. Just then, she had stumbled upon the bird eggs on the hillside.

Zhang Rui noticed a hint of guilt on his daughter’s face. He smirked, then told Li Mizhen, who was just as surprised, “Mom, scramble up some eggs.”

Li Mizhen nodded, “All right.” She smiled at Tian Jiao, saying, “Since you found them, eat extra.”

“Thank you, Grandma!” Tian Jiao beamed and skipped out of the kitchen.

…

At lunch, everyone except Zhang Zhi returned home. The last to arrive was Ding Yushu.

Looking clean and cheerful, she greeted Li Mizhen, “Mom, is Dabao hungry? Let me feed him.”

Li Mizhen sneered, glancing at Dabao playing in the yard. “No need. He’s already eaten.”

Ding Yushu’s face tightened. “Oh, thank you for helping, Mom. I’ll go eat.”

As she headed for the kitchen, Li Mizhen suddenly blocked her way with a stick, saying sternly, “You want to eat without doing any work? No chance!”

Ding Yushu’s expression shifted, and she snapped, “Why? I was going to see the captain, and now you’re stopping me from eating?”

Li Mizhen raised her chin, challenging her. “Go if you want. Do you think I’m afraid?”

“You… you…” Ding Yushu stammered, pointing at her mother-in-law in frustration, clearly wanting to fight but held back by the stick in her path. “This isn’t fair. You give that useless girl food for nothing, but I can’t eat? Isn’t Dabao my son? I’ve done so much for the Zhang family!”

Li Mizhen laughed coldly. “You always pride yourself on being so educated and superior, yet now all you think of yourself as is a ‘baby-making machine.’ Is giving birth all that matters?”

Furious, Ding Yushu charged forward, eyes red, ignoring the stick in her path. “I don’t care, I’m eating. If you don’t let me, it’s abuse!”

“Then go ahead and see what happens!” Li Mizhen barked, swinging the stick at her.

“Ow! That hurts! You’re crazy!” Ding Yushu screamed as she was hit, holding her head to shield herself. Her high-pitched cries echoed, but everyone in the yard acted as though they didn’t hear.

That troublesome brother-in-law even took Dabao away. While the family was having dinner in the main room, a quarrel broke out in the courtyard.

Seeing this, Ding Yushu’s face twisted with anger. She shouted, “No! I want a family split. If I don’t, I’ll be beaten to death…”

Li Mizhen, unfazed, continued her scolding as she hit him, “You can separate the family if you want, but you’re not taking Dabao with you! If you raise him to be lazy and greedy, it’s better if he weren’t born at all!”

Caught off guard by the harsh words and the beatings, Ding Yushu burst into tears, “Fine, then! If you don’t want him, then I don’t want him either! I’m going to talk to the captain. Your family is insane. You can raise someone else’s child but won’t even give me food to eat…”