Chapter 4

Liu Yu raised an eyebrow, realizing for the first time that being tall and heavy had its advantages, especially when surrounded by a bunch of small and skinny people.

Chen Shi looked up at Liu Yu, who was half a head taller, swallowed, and hesitated. She retreated, muttering as she walked away, “You ungrateful girl! I’ll tell your father tonight—our Liu family doesn’t have such a fierce girl like you!”

As Chen Shi walked away, though, she wasn’t satisfied. Passing through the yard, she spotted several Luohua chickens pecking at the ground.

That ungrateful girl had spoken all the sweet words, but still refused her. Relying on others was like leaning on a mountain—it would collapse. The wall would fall, and she would have to take matters into her own hands to satisfy herself.

Without a second thought, Chen Shi acted swiftly. She grabbed one of the chickens, holding it by the wings, not caring that it was still flapping its wings. She quickly sneaked back into the room where she and her husband slept.

Liu Ye, with sharp eyes, saw everything. He shouted, “Sis, grandma stole our Luohua chicken!”

Liu Yu saw it too and made a “shh” gesture with her finger. “Don’t worry, let her steal it.”

These days, food was scarce, and a chicken was a precious thing. Liu Ye became anxious, “We only have six chickens in total, and each one is more valuable than the last!”

Liu Yu pulled her younger brother to her side. “I’ve figured out this grandma of ours. She’s just bent on bullying our family. She’s stolen our chicken, and we’re not going to get it back, no matter what. Instead, let’s just have a good meal tonight.”

Liu Ye’s face turned even more troubled. “Sis, you know grandma’s character. This chicken—Uncle and Aunt can eat meat, Second Uncle’s family can drink soup. Our family will be lucky if we even get a feather! We need to get it back before it’s killed. That Luohua chicken might have laid eggs by now.”

Liu Yu looked at Liu Ye seriously. This younger brother of hers, unlike her, was growing into a handsome young man. He was fourteen or fifteen, already tall and slender. In the scorching summer sun, everyone else had darkened, but he still had fair skin. However, his hair was dry and yellow, a clear sign of malnutrition. He was thin and frail, his legs smaller than her arms.

Liu Ye had never had a full meal. He was an honest boy, and as his older sister, whenever Liu Yu wanted more to eat, he would eat less without a word. In those days, everyone had a fixed portion of food, and their parents always made sure Liu Yu ate as much as she wanted. The little food their family had all went to her stomach.

Liu Yu reached out and patted his head. “Alright, let’s do it your way! We’ll get the chicken back alive! If it’s about strength, with my build, I’m not afraid of anyone.”

Liu Ye, having witnessed what had just happened, nodded in agreement—his grandmother, such an unreasonable person, had backed down in front of his sister.

Once the decision was made, Liu Yu immediately set out to act. She took a quick look around.

—-

The old Liu family hadn’t divided their property yet. The family lived in an old courtyard house: Chen Shi and her husband lived in the main room, Liu Lao Er’s family lived in the north room, Liu Lao San’s family lived in the south room, and only the eldest family occupied the east room, which was cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Liu Yu had Liu Ye stand in front of the old couple’s house, keeping watch.

Inside, Chen Shi saw Liu Ye standing at her door and thought he had come to demand the chicken back. So, she shut the door tightly and didn’t come out, not showing her face, thinking: what could this chubby girl do to her?

However, Liu Ye didn’t leave. He stood there, not moving, and when he got tired, he sat down at the door. He was determined to stay there until the matter was resolved.

Liu Yu, meanwhile, was keeping track of time. As soon as her father, Liu Jianjia, and her Uncle Liu Jianmin returned, Liu Yu calmly appeared: “Dad, Grandma said we’re slaughtering a chicken today!”