Chapter 51: Milk Candy

Jiang Fubao tiptoed on her chubby little feet and stuffed a milk candy into each girl’s mouth.

The three sisters’ cheeks instantly puffed up.

“Mm… so sweet! Cousin, is this candy? Where did you get it?”

Eight-year-old Sun Zhaodi had never eaten candy before.

If not for having tasted wild fruits from the mountains, she wouldn’t even know what “sweet” was.

Yet no matter how delicious wild fruit might be, it could not compare to the piece of candy now melting on her tongue.

The faint frown that always lingered between her brows relaxed in this moment.

Happiness welled up inside her, tinged with sweetness.

“This is milk candy. Is it good? Fubao hid it secretly. Sisters, don’t tell anyone. If my brothers find out, they’ll pester me endlessly. You must keep this a secret, okay?”

Jiang Fubao casually made up an excuse to cover her tracks.

“Alright, I won’t tell. Thank you, Fubao-sister.” Sun Zhaodi hurriedly shut her mouth and nodded repeatedly.

“I won’t tell either. Fubao-sister, you’re so kind.”

Sun Laidi’s eyes curved like crescent moons. She also had naturally upturned lips that gave her a smiling expression. If only she had more flesh on her thin frame, she’d certainly be a delicate little beauty.

“Thank you, Fubao-sister.”

Sun Simai imitated her two older sisters and thanked Jiang Fubao as well.

She and Jiang Fubao were both three years old, though she had been born two months earlier.

When the three Sun sisters had finished their milk candies, Jiang Fubao finally led them back to the front yard.

By now, the adults in the main hall had already finished eating and were clearing away the bowls.

Jiang Fubao sat back down on a stool, holding her bowl, eating her now almost-cold meal.

“Zhaodi, bring your sisters inside.”

From the hall, Zhang Jinlan called out to her granddaughters.

The three Sun sisters obediently walked in.

Jiang Fubao followed them with her bowl.

When there was gossip to be heard, she always stayed at the front line.

“Good children, did you eat your fill?” Zhang Jinlan asked, eyes brimming with tears.

She hadn’t seen her granddaughters in so long, and now each one of them looked so thin.

Before the meal, she had deliberately given them extra scoops of egg.

“We’re full.”

Sun Zhaodi nodded earnestly. Today she had eaten to her heart’s content.

The rice porridge and eggs had been delicious, and the milk candy was even better. Even now, the sweetness lingered in her mouth. As she spoke, she couldn’t help licking the sugary bits stuck between her teeth, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, pack a dou of grain, and put the remaining eggs into the bamboo basket. Later, let Sanhe take them back to her in-laws’ house. Sanhe, the children are still young. Make sure they eat well and don’t go hungry. Malnourished bodies get sick easily.

And think of it—after raising them for so many years, after spending so much grain, wouldn’t it be a huge loss if something happened? If you raise them well, you can still get some bride-price for them in the future, right, co-mother-in-law?”

Zhang Jinlan’s words were directed at Zhou Xiufen, pointed but wrapped in concern.

She even turned Zhou Xiufen’s own words back on her—
to leave her no room to argue.

“I know, Mother.” Jiang Sanhe’s eyes turned red.

It had been so long since she last returned to her mother’s house.

The last time was shortly after giving birth to her youngest daughter.

Now that girl was already three years old.

Yet her mother still doted on her like before.

“Yes, yes, co-mother-in-law, you’re right. But our household is poor, not enough grain to eat, so the children have gone hungry. Don’t worry, from now on I’ll treat them better. Though they’re just money-losers, after all these years of raising them, I do have feelings. You can rest assured.

Sanhe, take the children now, time to head back.”

Zhou Xiufen was shrewd and naturally understood Zhang Jinlan’s meaning.

But she didn’t get angry.

When you eat someone’s food and take their things, you can only smile and appease them.

“Our family isn’t wealthy either. I can’t give you much help. Child, come back often to see me. If anyone bullies you, return home. Your brothers will stand up for you!”

Zhang Jinlan gripped her daughter’s hand, rambling on, tears streaming freely.

Zhou Xiufen, watching from the side, looked as though her eyes might spit fire.

Three years ago, because her daughter-in-law’s third child was yet another girl, she had been so furious that she hadn’t even let her complete her postpartum recovery.

That incident had caused the Jiang family to storm into Sun Village—
they had beaten her son black and blue, and even she had been slapped twice by Zhang Jinlan.

Though those events were now past, the resentment in her heart had never dissipated.

And Zhang Jinlan’s words just now brought that memory burning back.

Zhou Xiufen forced down her rage.

She turned and left the hall with her granddaughters.

Her son Sun Fu and grandson Sun Tiesuo followed close behind.

“Here, take this half tael of silver. Whatever you do, don’t let your mother-in-law know. Don’t be foolish like before, understand? In my heart, I support you divorcing. If you come back, I’ll find you a good new husband. If you don’t want to marry again, then just stay here at home. I’ll provide for you for life.”

As soon as they stepped out, Zhang Jinlan hurriedly pressed a broken piece of silver into her daughter’s hand, whispering anxiously.

“Mother, I’ve told you many times—I won’t divorce. If I do, what about the children? The Sun family won’t let me take them. If I stay, at least they can still eat.

If I divorce and Sun Fu remarries, how hard would it be for my girls to live under a stepmother?

Besides, I don’t believe I can’t give birth to a son. Just wait for my good news. Though Mother-in-law is strict, she hasn’t starved me. If I married elsewhere, would it be any different? Wouldn’t I still have to bear children?

And if I still can’t bear a son? Would I divorce again?

And you, Mother—can you really support me for a lifetime? Unless I die before you do.”

Jiang Sanhe’s words left Jiang Fubao, who had been secretly listening nearby, completely stunned.

“You silly girl! Talking about death and such—do you want me, your mother, to bury her own child? You’ll drive me to my grave! Why must you cling so stubbornly to the Suns?

If you divorce and return, at worst you can stay single forever. You could still visit your children sometimes.

You claim it’s for their sake, but look at them—skinny as refugees. And you, their mother, don’t protect them. You only think about producing a son.

If I had been like you, do you think you’d have grown up safe and sound?”

Zhang Jinlan gazed at her daughter in bitter disappointment.

Years of influence from her in-laws had changed her daughter beyond recognition.

“Mother! Sun Fu is the only son of the Suns. If I don’t give him a son, then their line will end with him. Who will inherit their incense?

You have so many sons, so you don’t fear this. But I don’t have that luxury. Enough, I won’t argue with you. My in-laws are still waiting outside. Mother, I’m leaving. When Tongjin marries, I’ll bring the children back to see you again.”

Jiang Sanhe clenched the silver tightly and left the hall without looking back—
ignoring the pain she left in her mother’s heart.

“Grandma, don’t cry.”

Jiang Fubao hugged her grandmother’s leg, comforting softly.