Daqing, Erqing, and Gaogao didn’t take offense when Lu Mingliang scolded them. Instead, they chuckled awkwardly. The steaming dumplings in front of them were too enticing. These were white-flour dumplings—something they rarely, if ever, ate, even during the New Year. Still, as children of struggling families, they hesitated to touch such a luxurious meal.

At first, Erqing and Gaogao had been too hungry to think, but after hearing Lu Mingliang’s words, they withdrew even further, refusing to even look at the food.

“Eat,” Lu Mingliang urged, pushing them toward the table. “Back then, my brothers and sisters wouldn’t have made it without Aunt Lianhua and Aunt Xifeng’s help. My mom went out of her way to buy meat for these dumplings and even set some aside for you to take home. Just make sure your grandma and aunts don’t find out. Who knows when my mom will have such a generous moment again? You’d better eat while you can!”

As he spoke, Lu Mingliang placed a steaming bowl of dumplings in front of the three boys and pushed them toward the table. Despite his encouragement, the boys still hesitated, even trying to back away. Gaogao, the youngest, made a break for the door, but Lu Mingliang was quick to grab him. Without hesitation, he picked up a dumpling and stuffed it into Gaogao’s mouth.

Caught off guard, Gaogao instinctively bit into the dumpling. The chewy white-flour wrapper and savory, slightly spicy filling immediately filled his mouth with flavor. Unable to resist, he chewed and swallowed, his eyes wide with delight.

“Well, how is it?” Lu Mingliang grinned. “Say what you want about my mom, but she makes amazing food. Daqing, Erqing, come on! We’ve all eaten our fill—this bowl is just for you. My mom is still cooking dumplings for your moms in the kitchen. Eat up, then head home and let them try some too.”

Excited to finally repay those who had helped him, Lu Mingliang felt a newfound respect for Shen Meng.

Outside the door, Shen Meng listened for a moment, holding her slotted spoon, then returned to the kitchen. She didn’t mind Lu Mingliang’s comments—she knew their relationship hadn’t yet reached the closeness of true maternal bonds. There was still something missing.

---

Just as Shen Meng finished plating a large bowl of mixed-flour dumplings, Xie Jinghao arrived with her son Xiaogang. The remaining dumplings were left to cool on a plate for Daqing, Erqing, and Gaogao to take home.

“Jinghao, come in! Xiaogang, look at these dumplings Auntie made. Quick, eat while they’re hot. The dipping sauce is mild enough for you, too,” Shen Meng said warmly.

Jinghao hesitated. Xiaogang, however, had grown bolder recently and no longer feared Shen Meng as he once did. He eagerly awaited the evening, knowing Auntie always had good food for them.

“Sister-in-law, why do you always save food for me? Just these past days, I’ve had pork buns, fish soup, and meat noodles. I haven’t even finished sewing clothes for your kids, but I’ve eaten so much of your good food!”

“Don’t worry about that. You’re pregnant, and that’s what’s important. You need to eat well so you can have a healthy delivery. Xiaogang, help yourself.”

“Thank you, Auntie!” Xiaogang said, grabbing a dumpling and nibbling on it. Tonight, his grandmother had served cornmeal mush and mixed-flour cornbread. With his uncles eating so fast, Xiaogang barely had a chance to eat. He knew the only good meals he’d get were from Shen Meng.

“Eat up, Jinghao. I’ve already eaten. I worked hard tonight—you wouldn’t want to waste my effort, would you?”

Moved to tears, Jinghao picked up her chopsticks. Shen Meng smiled. Over the past two weeks, Jinghao had been eating better, and her complexion had noticeably improved. She had been so thin before—little more than skin and bones—despite her pregnancy.

Shen Meng thought about Jinghao’s fate in the original story. After giving birth to a daughter, Jinghao had suffered health complications that left her unable to have more children. Her mother-in-law, Liu Sanjin, deemed the girl unlucky, and Jinghao’s family lived under constant scorn. With no opportunities for advancement, they toiled on two measly acres of farmland, and both their children grew up without prospects.

Shen Meng was determined to change that. For Jinghao’s kindness toward her children, she would do whatever she could to help.

---

As Jinghao and Xiaogang ate, Shen Meng heated some water and prepared a bath. She headed to the room to fetch the children, her focus immediately landing on Lu Mingkai. His eyes lit up when he saw her but quickly dimmed when he realized what was coming.

“Mom, I don’t want to take a bath!” he whined.

“No bath, no sleeping with me,” Shen Meng declared. “I don’t like stinky kids.”

Lu Mingfang, who was practicing her handwriting, immediately raised her hand. “Mom, I’ll take a bath! I can wash myself now—I won’t make you tired. I’ll smell so good I can sleep with you!”

Lu Mingkai pouted. “Traitor!”

“Let’s go!” Shen Meng said firmly. “You rolled around in the dirt today—there’s no way you’re getting into bed without a bath.” She scooped him up and carried him out. Mingfang let out a sigh of relief. At least she’d been spared the indignity of being scrubbed like a fish.

When Mingyang returned home, he heard Mingkai’s familiar cries. He rolled his eyes. “It’s just a bath—what’s the big deal? If Mom bathed me, I wouldn’t make a sound.”

---

In the kitchen, Mingkai emerged red-faced, covering himself with his hands. Tears filled his eyes as he glared at Shen Meng. “Mom, you’re the worst! Auntie Jinghao and Xiaogang were still here, and you just—just stripped me like that!”

Shen Meng chuckled, quickly dressing him and sending him off to play.

---

Daqing and Erqing finished their dumplings and followed Mingliang to the kitchen. Shy and hesitant, the boys lingered at the door until Daqing finally spoke up.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“No, thank you,” Shen Meng replied with a smile. “You’ve always saved food for Mingyang and his siblings, even when it was hard on you. Here are two bowls of dumplings for your moms. Take them home while it’s still dark, and make sure no one else finds out.”

“We will, Auntie. Thank you!” Daqing said. He led his brothers outside but turned back after a few steps. Grabbing his brothers’ heads, he made them bow deeply toward Shen Meng before they left.

---

Meanwhile, Wang Lianhua was cradling her daughter to sleep, worry etched across her face. It was late, and Daqing and Erqing still hadn’t returned. She feared they’d wandered too close to the river. Her husband was nowhere to be found—probably off drinking again.

When the boys finally arrived, they rushed to their room, quickly closing the door behind them.

“Why are you back so late? Don’t take your brother out so late again. Now get on the bed and sleep!”

“Mom, look at this!”

Wang Lianhua’s eyes widened as she stared at the dumplings they revealed.

“Where did you get these? White-flour dumplings! Such a luxury—how could you bring them home?”

“Mom, Mingyang’s mom made them. She told us to eat and bring some back for you to try.”

Lianhua was shocked. “You foolish boys! We barely gave Mingyang’s family anything worth mentioning, and now you’re taking such expensive food from them? How could you be so thoughtless?”

Her rare sternness left the boys flustered.

“Mom!” Daqing protested. “Auntie insisted! She said to eat them while they’re hot and to keep it a secret from Grandma and Dad!”