The scene they had just witnessed was so startling that neither boy said a word as they stepped away from the doorway. Lu Mingyang wiped the sweat from his face and plopped down on the ground, breathing heavily. Lu Mingliang looked like he was about to say something but then lowered his voice instinctively.

“Brother, did you see that? Little brother and sister were actually letting the evil woman hold them! It was scary. Do you think she’s possessed? And what’s wrong with our brother and sister? Why would they let her hug them like that?”

Lu Mingyang shot him a look. He had expected this. That evil woman wouldn’t change so easily—she was definitely scheming something. Of course, she would try to win over Mingfang and Mingkai, the younger ones. They were easy to fool. Soon, she would probably find a way to take them all out, and while he and Mingliang weren’t looking, she’d sell off the younger kids. He was sure of it. Still, he couldn’t say anything now—Mingliang couldn’t keep a secret, and he didn’t want the woman to get suspicious.

“Mingliang, don’t go around calling her ‘the evil woman.’ She’s our mother. And remember, you ate two bowls of her noodle soup with egg at lunch. Tonight, we’ll ask Mingfang and Mingkai what’s going on, but in the meantime, be polite to her, okay?”

“I know, I know! I’m always polite. I smile so much my face practically cracks whenever I see her. Mingfang and Mingkai are fine. Shall we go collect more firewood?”

Lu Mingyang thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, this pile isn’t nearly enough. We need to fill the woodshed.”

“Okay,” Mingliang replied. “Oh, and if anyone asks, remember: Grandma didn’t call us to eat, and Mom’s lying injured on the kang. You made us some potatoes for lunch, right?”

Lu Mingyang frowned. “Why would we say that?”

“Brother, think! We need to let people know. Eventually, word will get back to Dad, and he’ll confront Grandma about it. If our mom stops feeding us, at least Grandma might give us food, and don’t forget Dad’s army buddies sometimes send things to the family. Since Grandma benefits from what they send, she should be helping us out.”

Mingliang’s reasoning was a bit hurried, and he nearly bounced on his toes as he spoke. How could his brother not understand something so simple?

“Mingliang, we’re still part of the Lu family,” Mingyang reminded him seriously. “Let’s keep things calm and not dig up the past. We don’t want any more problems.”

Mingliang rolled his eyes slightly. What problems could there be? If they complained, the worst they’d get called was “ungrateful” or “disloyal,” but he was used to it by now.

After the two boys left, Shen Meng carefully shifted the sleeping children, covering them with a thin blanket. She chuckled to herself, thinking of the shock on the boys’ faces. It was a good start. Once they saw her caring side, they’d let their guard down bit by bit. Slowly but surely, she could gain their trust.

While Shen Meng was enjoying a cozy nap with her children in the new house, life was not going as smoothly at the old Lu family home. Lu Jiaxuan and Zhou Jiaojiao were finding it difficult to adjust after just one night there.

Zhou Jiaojiao hadn’t complained at all, and she was even working harder than before, eager to handle all the household chores. This made Lu Jiaxuan feel incredibly guilty. The previous night, they’d been on the brink of getting closer when suddenly they heard loud coughing and the sound of someone urinating just outside. Lu Jiaxuan knew immediately that it was his second brother relieving himself near the wall. All desire disappeared in an instant, leaving behind only awkward silence. Zhou Jiaojiao had turned away, covering herself with the blanket, and he could hear her quiet sniffles.

Now, watching her in the cornfield, bending to break off ears of corn, Lu Jiaxuan’s heart ached for her. He mentally made a note to talk to his mother that evening.

“Brother Jiaxuan, what are you looking at? My sister-in-law has gone far away.” joked Sun Shanzi, his friend.

“Get back to work, you lazybones,” Lu Jiaxuan replied, annoyed. Lu Jiaxuan had been called over to help with the harvest since it was the busy season. Soon, he’d be back in the warehouse, logging the corn. He had plenty on his plate, so the last thing he needed was teasing.

“No slacking here, Jiaxuan! I just wanted to let you know, I overheard some women gossiping that your family didn’t invite that woman and the brats for lunch. I wanted to give you a heads-up so that it doesn’t come back to bite you or your wife.”

Lu Jiaxuan’s face darkened at the news. After a moment, he frowned and looked at Sun Shanzi sternly. “Don’t talk about them that way again. That’s my sister-in-law and my nephews and niece. Show some respect.”

Sun Shanzi shrugged. “Hey, I just don’t like her. She’s always freeloading off your mother and staying in that nice brick house that should have been yours! Just thinking about it gets me worked up. Shen Meng is so greedy. And as for Zhenping…why did he marry someone like her in the first place?”

“Enough. You’re out of line, Sun Shanzi. I understand, but I can handle it. Go back to work,” Lu Jiaxuan said, waving him away.

Sun Shanzi had grown up with Lu Jiaxuan, and they’d been close for years. Seeing that Jiaxuan wasn’t in a good mood, he dropped the topic and turned to leave. Just before he walked off, he turned back with a suggestion.

“Oh, and I heard the commune is hiring. One of the supervisors there knows your brother Zhenping. Why don’t you write him a letter and see if he can pull some strings for you? If you get that job, you’ll be officially employed and earning a proper salary. Just think of how comfortable you and your wife could be!”

Lu Jiaxuan raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but he simply waved Sun Shanzi off without a word.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang, though small, each carried large bundles of firewood. They were dripping with sweat, their pants rolled up, and bare feet dusty. Anyone who saw them felt a pang of sympathy.

“Did you hear? They say the Lu family didn’t call Mingyang and his siblings for lunch again. Shen Meng is still lying on the kang—almost passed out, apparently. It’s pitiful, really.”

“Pitiful? It’s her own doing. She tried to push Jiaojiao into the river but got butted by a cow instead. She brought it on herself.”

“Still, her kids are the ones suffering. It’s sad. Such well-behaved children. I asked Mingliang what they had for lunch, and he whispered that Mingyang just made them some potatoes. Imagine that. It’s a hard life, truly.”

“Isn’t Old Lady Lu (Liu Sanjin) a kind person, though? I don’t think she’d neglect the kids, no matter how mad she is at Shen Meng.”

“Who knows?” someone else muttered.

Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang overheard the gossip but kept silent. When they returned home with another load of wood, they spotted Shen Meng stepping out of the kitchen.

“Back already? I made some green bean soup. It’s in the kitchen, still warm. Go have some, and then take a break,” she said.

The boys didn’t feel like acknowledging her, but as soon as they heard there was food, Lu Mingliang dropped his bundle and dashed to the kitchen. On the low table were two bowls of green bean soup, still steaming. He took a big sip and exclaimed, “Wow! It’s so sweet!”