Chapter 6: Spoils of War

Lian Yuqing was making a conscious effort to mend her relationship with the Wei family. After all, she was living and eating there for free—if she acted all arrogant and domineering, who knew if someone might spit in her food?

As her son and daughter-in-law bantered playfully as if no one else were around, Chen Caiqi felt relieved. A young couple who could live together peacefully was better than anything else.

Wei Dong had bought ten pears. He and Wei Ximin didn’t eat any. Chen Caiqi made the decision: one each for herself, Miaomiao, and Chunsheng, and the rest were given to Lian Yuqing to take back to her room.

But Lian Yuqing just grabbed two from the bag. “No need. Everyone should eat together.”

Chen Caiqi wanted to say more, but Lian Yuqing was already gone.

“Dongzi, this…”

Wei Dong nodded to his mother. “You guys eat.”

Lian Yuqing might be spoiled, but she was never stingy. Or maybe she just didn’t think much of pears—probably considered them too ordinary.

That afternoon, Sun Dazhi’s mother came to the Wei household with two chickens and a basket of eggs.

Trying to embarrass her, Lian Yuqing loudly said to the people nearby, “Miaomiao, help me count these. Are there really thirty?”

Without thinking much of it, Wei Miaomiao squatted down and began counting.

“…27, 28.”

“Sister-in-law, I counted three times. There are only 28 eggs,” Wei Miaomiao said honestly.

Lian Yuqing gave a cold snort. She had meant to make a sarcastic point, but ended up uncovering the truth—Sun Dazhi’s mother had tried to pull a fast one.

Wei Dong asked, “Aunt Jiang, what’s going on here?”

Sun Dazhi’s mother hadn’t expected Lian Yuqing to actually count the eggs. Her face flushed pale and red in turns. Exposed, she snapped angrily, “I never went to school! I can’t count!”

Lian Yuqing turned to Wei Dong and said, “Why don’t we just reject all of this and go to the police? Times are tough, and I doubt her son’s worth more than these things.”

Wei Dong replied, “Alright.”

“Wait—wait! I didn’t mean not to give the eggs, I just miscounted, that’s all. Dongzi, you know your aunt can’t read or write. I’ll go get the rest right now!”

She practically flew out of the yard and came running back within five minutes—even though her house was at the entrance of the village. Clearly desperate to save her son.

Thirty eggs filled the whole basket. Each egg was scrubbed clean—no chicken poop, not even a speck of dirt. It was obvious how much she cherished those eggs.

“Miaomiao, switch these eggs into our own basket. Give her basket back.”

As she was about to leave, Sun Dazhi’s mother hesitated and asked, “You’re not really going to report my son to the police, are you?”

Lian Yuqing smiled sweetly and walked up to her. “If he dares mess with another girl, I’ll kick him so hard he’ll never have children. Your family line will end.”

“You little—” The words bitch hovered at her lips but she swallowed them back.

Arms crossed, Lian Yuqing watched as Sun Dazhi’s mother left in frustration. Wei Miaomiao clapped. “Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”

After all, Sun Dazhi’s mother was one of the top three fighters in the village. Her son was a good-for-nothing troublemaker who often harassed girls. But if anyone tried to hold him accountable, the family would twist it and accuse the girl of seducing him. Not only would the girl not get justice—her reputation would be ruined.

Lian Yuqing patted Miaomiao on the shoulder. “Sweet little lamb, stick with me. Learn how to protect yourself, so you won’t be bullied by your husband or in-laws when you marry.”

After Lian Yuqing left, Wei Miaomiao looked at her brother. “Big Brother, why did she look at you like that?”

Wei Dong replied calmly, “She was taunting me.”

When Chen Caiqi came home from work, Lian Yuqing gave her ten eggs and told her to make scrambled eggs.

Chen Caiqi frowned. “That’s way too many!”

Lian Yuqing ignored her protest and casually pointed at the chicken coop. “Mom, let’s butcher one of those chickens too. I want braised chicken.”

Chen Caiqi looked toward her son. Wei Dong said, “She brought it.”

Frugal her whole life, Chen Caiqi had never been this extravagant. While Wei Dong was killing the chicken, she kept walking out to check, wanting to stop him—but in the end, she held back.

That night, the table was full: a big bowl of scrambled eggs and an even bigger bowl of braised chicken.

Seeing Wei Chunsheng and Wei Miaomiao eat happily, Chen Caiqi didn’t feel quite as pained.

Sure, it was a little wasteful—but at least they weren’t eating it alone. That was how she consoled herself.

Delicious! This was the most satisfying meal Lian Yuqing had eaten since transmigrating—because it was her spoils of war.

She picked up a piece of chicken and critiqued, “Tastes good, but the meat’s too tough.”

Wei Miaomiao, chewing with delight, disagreed—Not tough at all!

Wei Dong knew she was picky. Still, despite her complaints, Lian Yuqing finished a whole bowl of rice. He noticed all of it.

That night, back in their room, Chen Caiqi grumbled to Wei Ximin, “Fish at lunch, chicken at dinner. If this keeps up, we’ll go bankrupt.”

Wei Ximin was already in bed, eyes closed. “Eating doesn’t cost you anything. Did we spend a cent on that fish or chicken?”

Chen Caiqi couldn’t argue with that. In the end, she muttered, “Cooking meat still uses up oil!”

But by then, Wei Ximin was already snoring.

“Useless man.”

This time, Wei Dong had been granted extra leave to visit home. His superiors had considered how he had been deployed on a mission on his wedding night—before even consummating the marriage. What woman would be okay with that? They gave him fifteen days to come home and sort out domestic matters.

No one knew where Wei Dong had gone that morning. Lian Yuqing sat in a chair, munching on a pear. Honestly, the pears Wei Dong bought were really good—juicy and sweet.

“Can you quiet down?” Wei Chunsheng said irritably.

Without even lifting her eyelids, Lian Yuqing replied, “Nope.”

It was the weekend, so school was off. Wei Chunsheng was home. Instead of studying in his room, he insisted on doing his homework in the main hall.

“Can’t you go to your room?”

“I can’t,” he replied.

Lian Yuqing sneered—what a little brat.

Wei Chunsheng was annoyed by this shameless woman. Everyone in the family helped out. Even his brother, on leave, would chop wood and carry water. But her? She just lounged around eating all day—didn’t even lift a finger.

Truth was, he didn’t want to be around Lian Yuqing either. But his room didn’t have a window, so it was dark even during the day. He didn’t want to turn on the light to save money. Reading in the dark could ruin his eyes, and the family couldn’t afford glasses.

After finishing the pear, Lian Yuqing got bored and wandered over to watch Wei Chunsheng do his homework.

Sensing her behind him, he sneered, “Can you even understand it?”

Unbothered, Lian Yuqing smiled sweetly. “Is it that hard?”

She pointed at a few problems. “This one, this one, and this one—you got them all wrong.”

Wei Chunsheng frowned, thinking she was bluffing.

“Don’t believe me? Check the answer key then~” Arms crossed, full of confidence.

Suspicious but curious, he flipped to the answer page—and sure enough, she was right.

Lian Yuqing laughed even louder. “Miaomiao said you always get first place? Your school must suck—five questions and you got three wrong.”

Wei Chunsheng’s face turned red, ears even redder. He wanted to argue, but couldn’t. His grades were good, yes—but English was his weakness.