“Xiaomeng, take the money back! How could you carry so much cash around? If someone found out, wouldn’t they rob you?”

Shen Yutian had never seen so much money in his life. Instead of feeling excited, he was filled with fear. His little sister had traveled to Shenjiaji with four kids, passing through two villages along the way. If any troublemaker had noticed her, the consequences could have been disastrous.

Wang Guizhi covered her eyes, “Good heavens, put it away! It’s blinding me. How could you be so bold, carrying that much cash out in the open?”

Shen Shoutian stared at the stack of money on the table, his eyes turning red. After living in poverty for so many years, seeing such a large sum was both exhilarating and overwhelming. The excitement was natural, but resisting the temptation to covet it required real strength.

Shen Meng quietly observed their reactions. It was under intense stimuli like this that a person’s true nature often revealed itself.

She was willing to help the Shen family for two reasons: first, because she owed her life to the original owner of her body; and second, because her parents had shown her such kindness after she awoke in this world.

However, she would never tolerate them treating her like a piece of meat to be drained dry. Thankfully, the Shen family didn’t disappoint her.

Shen Shoutian: “Xiaomeng, I’m really happy that you’re thinking about us, but Zhenping earns that money with his blood and sweat. We’re not the kind of family that takes advantage of others. Take it back. As for the repairs, your second brother and I will figure something out. No matter how hard it is, we can’t let a married daughter spend her money on us.”

“Big Brother—”

“No, Xiaomeng. Take the money back. Tomorrow, I’ll take you home. Tonight, you stay with Mother and catch up. She misses you every day.”

Shen Shoutian was already standing up, unable to bear the contrast between their dire situation and the enticing stack of money on the table. The internal conflict was too much for him.

“Wait, Big Brother. I’m not taking the money back. Here’s what we’ll do: this 150 yuan will be a loan to you, Second Brother, and Xiaobin. Fifty yuan is for me to honor our parents. The rest is for buying fabric, shoes, and socks for the kids. This house is really unlivable. A heavy rain could bring it down. Do you want to watch our parents and the children suffer? Besides, we won’t always be like this. You can pay me back when you earn enough in the future.”

“No—”

Shen Yutian interrupted, “Alright!”

“Second Brother?”

Shen Shoutian couldn’t believe his brother had agreed so quickly. Borrowing such a large sum felt daunting—he didn’t even know how to begin spending it.

“Big Brother, Xiaomeng’s right. We’re still young. It’s just 150 yuan—we’ll pay it back eventually. If you don’t borrow it, then you and Sister-in-law can keep living in this rundown house. But I’m moving into a new one. Oh, and Xiaomei didn’t want me to say this, but she’s pregnant again. I won’t let her suffer anymore.”

Wang Guizhi was startled, “What? Xiaomei’s pregnant? You rascal, why didn’t you tell us earlier? She’s been working the past few days. How far along is she? Has she been overworking herself? No wonder you haven’t let her hold Hongxing lately!”

Wang Guizhi shot several angry glares at her second son, wishing she could smack him. Shen Yutian’s tanned face flushed deep red.

At the door, Su Xiaomei and Lü Qinlan, who had come to say something, paused. They hadn’t expected the family to discuss such sensitive topics.

If it were up to them, they’d prefer not to borrow money. Being in debt felt oppressive, making it hard to enjoy life. Whether life was tight or comfortable, each day passed just the same.

But when they looked at their children, then at their sister-in-law’s kids, their maternal instincts stirred. What mother didn’t want her children to eat well, dress warmly, and live comfortably?

Shen Meng smiled, “Perfect. Second Brother, go find someone tomorrow to tear down the old house and build a new one. Make it bigger with extra rooms. This money should be enough. The black tiles might take more effort to source, but I’ll ask around.”

“Alright!”

Shen Yutian laughed, watching Shen Meng place the money in Wang Guizhi’s hands.

“Use what’s needed. No rush to pay me back—living well is what matters most.”

Wang Guizhi’s eyes welled with tears as she clutched the money. Her emotions were a whirlwind. She never imagined that the daughter she once cradled could now shield them from life’s storms.

When Shen Fugui woke and learned about the situation, he was furious. Shen Meng knew it was because he felt protective of her. She shed a couple of tears and accused him of not treating her like family. His anger melted instantly, leaving him red-faced and silent.

That evening, Shen Meng cooked dinner with Lü Qinlan.

Earlier, she had discovered that the family had saved the remaining meat from lunch—a small plate of string beans stir-fried with pork—for the children to eat or for her to take home.

Speechless, she chopped up all the pork belly and used sweet potato starch to make chicken-style gravy. She combined it with cabbage, eggs, and cilantro to create a pot of chicken stew.

She also made eggplant, stir-fried pork with chili, and used generous scoops of lard for cooking, much to Lü Qinlan’s alarm.

The aroma wafted out of the Shen family courtyard, teasing their neighbors, who couldn’t help but hover near the walls, drinking cold water to suppress their cravings.

With the kerosene lamp lit, the family gathered around the table. No one dared move their chopsticks. It was the most abundant meal the Shen family had ever seen—better than any New Year’s feast. The platter of greasy, golden fried cakes especially tempted the children, who swallowed hard.

“Why aren’t you eating? Dig in!”

Wang Guizhi hesitated, “Xiaomeng, life can’t be spent like this. No matter how much money you have, it’ll run out if you keep spending like this!”

“This is a special occasion, Mother. Don’t worry. We’re all grown now. It’s our turn to care for you and Father. Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Little Brother, everyone eat! After dinner, clean up and rest early, or Mother will fret over the cost of kerosene.”

Wang Guizhi smiled, “You cheeky girl. Alright, everyone eat. Let’s taste your sister’s cooking.”

With that, the family began to eat. Shen Yutian couldn’t hold back any longer, grabbing two bites of stir-fried pork. The spicy, savory flavors exploded in his mouth. It was delicious beyond words.

He happily passed some to Su Xiaomei, while everyone else enjoyed their bowls of chicken stew, seasoned with pepper and paired with fried cakes. The meal left everyone sweating and deeply satisfied.