Chapter 7

In the past, if anyone didn’t get anything, it would surely be Liu Yu’s dad, her mom, and Liu Ye.

But now, the tides have turned, and fate is fair. Nie Xiaocui saw Liu Li looking frustrated, and though she was unhappy, she couldn’t hide a smile inside—serves you right!

Liu Yu set down the bowl and chopsticks. She had only had a bowl of porridge. Though she was very hungry, she held back, waiting for the time when her stomach would shrink, eat less, and naturally lose weight. She was determined to lose weight, and simple food suited her just fine. But her parents and younger brother couldn’t go hungry!

She gave her two steamed buns, one to her brother and one to her mother.

Nie Xiaocui didn’t take them, instead looking puzzled: “Yu, you only had one bowl? Aren’t you afraid you’ll be hungry? Come, Mom will give you half a bowl of porridge.”

Liu Ye also thought something was off and handed over half of the bun she had bitten into: “Sis, if you’re still hungry, I’ve got more.”

Even Liu Jianjia looked at his daughter with a confused gaze.

“Mom, since I came out of the river, my appetite’s been off. I just can’t eat,” Liu Yu shook her head, speaking falsely. She really was hungry, and the original person could really eat. She would often finish her own portion, and her parents and sister would stretch their food to give her some extra, even making her special meals.

Nie Xiaocui understood and softly said, “Ah, Yu, you soaked in the Duobao River, and the water there’s so cold—it’s bad for your body. Let me think of something, and I’ll get you some good food to nourish you.”

Liu Yu frowned. She thought to herself that she really didn’t need it: “Mom, with all this meat on me, I don’t need any extra nourishment. But Yu’er, look at how thin he is. He’s fifteen, the time when he’s growing. Shouldn’t we give him some nourishment?”

Nie Xiaocui looked at her youngest son seriously and said, “Alright, I’ll make sure to nourish him too when I’m preparing food for you.”

Liu Yu didn’t say anything else, thinking to herself that her younger brother seemed like he had been picked up. Other families pampered their sons, but in her family, the daughter was treated like a treasure! Fortunately, Liu Ye didn’t feel wronged. She really had to make it up to him later.

After dinner, the oil lamp burned through oil quickly. Though the cotton oil used for lighting wasn’t as expensive as vegetable oil or lard, it still cost money. The Liu family was so poor that it almost made a noise when they moved. To save oil, Grandfather Liu Dagang sent everyone to one room to sleep.

The main house in the Liu family’s home was divided into two rooms. One was for the parents, and the other, separated by a curtain, was where Liu Ye slept. Liu Yu, as the favorite, was treated especially well and had a room all to herself.

Before bed, Nie Xiaocui came over.

Sitting by Liu Yu’s bed, Nie Xiaocui rummaged through the rough cloth jacket she was wearing and surprisingly pulled out a round bundle.

—-

In the dim light of the stars, Liu Yu saw that it was a bunch of small potatoes.

Nie Xiaocui smiled: “Today, I asked your dad to help me with the plowing. That field had potatoes last year, and some small ones weren’t picked clean. While plowing, I picked up a few. I spent the whole morning picking them up and washing them clean. You only had a bowl of soup tonight. I’m worried you’ll be hungry, so keep them for yourself.”

Looking around for something to put them in but not finding anything suitable, Nie Xiaocui tossed all the small potatoes into a basin on the shelf.

Liu Yu was a little touched, thinking how her mom had even left this small thing for her, like a treasure: “Thank you, Mom.”

Nie Xiaocui clicked her tongue, a bit displeased: “You’re my daughter. Who else should I pamper if not you? No need to say thanks! Now go to sleep. I have to work again tomorrow morning.”