Grandma Lu wasn’t in the best of spirits, so after chatting with her for a while, Lu Qingyuan helped her lie down to rest.

She tiptoed out of the room.

As soon as she reached the doorway of the main hall, she saw two little rascals squatting in the courtyard, their little backsides sticking out as they busily rolled mud balls.

Lu Qingyuan had two older brothers, both already married. Her eldest brother, Lu Qingming, and his wife had a son named Jiasheng, while her second brother, Lu Qingtian, and his wife had a son named Lusheng.

Jiasheng and Lusheng were their nicknames. Jiasheng was born at home, while Lusheng was born on the road when his mother was returning from her maternal home.

The two little ones were only a year apart and were inseparable, always sticking together to play.

Lu Qingyuan rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists, and began flipping over the bed sheets, blankets, and clothes drying in the courtyard.

Although the early spring sun was pleasant, it wasn’t as strong as the scorching summer sun.

Turning them over twice a day ensured they dried thoroughly. Otherwise, if some spots didn’t get enough sun, they would carry a musty smell.

“Aunt!”

Jiasheng ran over, his little dirty hand pointing toward the kitchen, his face full of excitement. “Grandma said to cook the meat once you got back!”

“Yes, yes!”

Lusheng trailed right behind his brother, nodding enthusiastically. “It’s cured meat! Slurp!”

Seeing Lusheng practically drooling, Lu Qingyuan pursed her lips and smiled. “Alright.”

Spring was a busy season in the fields, a time for hard labor. They needed to eat well to keep up their strength. Otherwise, once the body was worn out, it was hard to recover.

She had just returned from a matchmaking meeting, and after chatting with Grandma Lu for a while, it was already past ten o’clock—just the right time to prepare lunch.

She picked up a vegetable basket and left the courtyard, heading to the family’s private plot. There, she pulled up four plump turnips—these were the last few left.

She shook off the excess dirt clinging to the roots. For the stubborn bits that wouldn’t come off, she used a sickle to trim the bottoms before placing them in the basket.

Their garlic sprouts were growing well, with slender green leaves swaying gently in the breeze. Even before getting close, she could already smell the strong garlic aroma.

Lu Qingyuan swiftly grabbed a handful, then skillfully trimmed off the muddy roots with her sickle before placing them in the basket.

Glancing to the side, she spotted a lush mustard green plant growing beautifully. The thought of stir-fried mustard greens flashed through her mind, and without hesitation, she harvested it as well.

In just a short while, her basket was filled to the brim.

Standing by the courtyard gate, Jiasheng and Lusheng watched eagerly. When they saw her coming back from the field, they immediately ran toward her, one in front and one behind.

“Aunt, let me help carry it!”

“I want to help too! I want to help Aunt!”

“Alright.” Lu Qingyuan lifted the basket slightly higher.

The two little boys each stretched out a tiny hand to support the bottom of the basket.

Feeling as if they were making a huge contribution, their freshly cleaned yet already dirty little faces lit up with proud smiles.

Once they reached the kitchen, the two kids washed their hands and followed her inside, sitting down on their small wooden stools, eagerly waiting for her to assign them a “task.”

Lu Qingyuan handed them the garlic sprouts.

“You know what to do, right?”

She smiled as she asked.

“Of course!”

Jiasheng grinned as he carefully peeled away the outer layers. “Remove these two layers we can’t eat!”

“That’s right!”

Lusheng nodded his little head, signaling for Lu Qingyuan to go ahead with her own work and not disturb them.

She placed a porcelain basin in front of them before turning around to peel the turnips.

The turnip greens and peels were taken to the backyard, where she fed them to the chickens in the coop behind the woodshed.

Inside the cupboard, there was a slab of cured meat that had already been scorched and cleaned.

Lu Qingyuan stoked the fire and washed the cured meat in hot water. Then she scrubbed the wok, filled it with fresh water, and set the meat to boil.

Turning back, she washed the mustard greens, quickly slicing them into thin strips and placing them in a peony-patterned porcelain basin.

“Aunt! We finished peeling the garlic sprouts!”

Jiasheng carried the porcelain basin over and handed it to her.

Lu Qingyuan praised the two little boys, making them beam with pride before they ran off to play.

She rinsed the garlic sprouts clean, then used the back of the heavy kitchen knife to smack the base of the stems, crushing them slightly before chopping them into segments. She placed the prepared sprouts in a small bamboo tray, ready for use.

Since Grandma Lu was elderly, the food needed to be soft and easy to chew.

When the cured meat was almost ready, Lu Qingyuan scooped out a small portion and continued boiling the rest. She diced this small portion into tiny cured meat cubes and put them into the small stove pot to cook a pot of cured meat porridge.

When the radish was added to the pot, Lu Qingyuan placed two bamboo strips over the cured meat porridge and steamed a large bowl of egg custard on top.

Before Father Lu and the others even stepped into the courtyard, they were already greeted by the rich aroma of cured meat.

“It smells amazing!”

Lu Qingtian took a deep breath, savoring the scent.

“Hurry up!” urged Lu Qingming from behind him.

“Dad, big brother is telling you to hurry up!” Lu Qingtian grinned as he patted Father Lu, who was walking ahead of him.

“This is fast enough, this is fast enough,” Father Lu replied with a smile.

“Oh, you little brat, Lu Qingtian! I told you to hurry up, and instead, you’re rushing Dad?”

Lu Qingming locked Lu Qingtian in a playful chokehold. The latter, using all his acting skills, let out exaggerated cries.

Feeling embarrassed, Second Sister-in-law Lu turned her head away, while Eldest Sister-in-law Lu covered her mouth and chuckled.

Mother Lu raised her hand and gave both of her sons a smack.

“You’re both fathers now, yet you’re still fooling around! Stop it already!”

Hearing the commotion, Jiasheng and Lusheng came running out of the kitchen.

Their little legs moved swiftly as they called out excitedly.

“Grandpa, Grandma, you’re back!”

“Dad, Mom, you’re back!”

“Uncle, Aunt!”

“Big Uncle, Big Aunt!”

The two little ones enthusiastically greeted everyone, their excitement endearing to all.

Second Uncle Lu and Third Uncle Lu, who were following behind, watched the scene with envy.

Then they turned to look at their own disappointing sons.

“Look at these two kids, aren’t they wonderful?”

“Exactly! If you two got married, wouldn’t we have grandsons or granddaughters too?”

Second Uncle Lu and his wife had two sons—the elder one was named Lu Qingguo and the younger one was named Lu Qingguang.

Third Uncle Lu and his wife had only one son, Lu Qingjun.

Lu Qingguo and Lu Qingguang were already used to being nagged about marriage, so they simply acted as if they hadn’t heard anything.

But Lu Qingjun wasn’t so lucky. He stomped his foot in frustration, still carrying his hoe.

“Dad, Mom, I’m only fifteen! Why are you talking about marriage? Have you lost your minds?”

Third Uncle Lu and his wife exchanged glances and quickly changed the subject.

“There’s still porridge left from this morning, right? Is there enough to eat?”

“There’s plenty. Just throw in a handful of salted greens, chop them up, and sprinkle them on top. Simple and easy,” someone replied.

Feeling ignored, Lu Qingjun muttered under his breath, “I really can’t deal with you all.”

Meanwhile, Father Lu and the others had already washed their hands and were helping serve the food.

A porcelain bowl filled with oil-infused radish soup boiled with cured meat. A large plate of stir-fried garlic sprouts with cured meat slices. A small ceramic jar of stir-fried baby mustard greens. A big porcelain bowl of cold-dressed fiddlehead ferns. And a pot of mixed grain rice.

The fiddlehead ferns were leftovers from the ones Eldest Sister-in-law Lu had gathered the day before. Lu Qingyuan made sure to use them all in a cold salad.

Fiddlehead ferns in early spring were the freshest and most delicious. Whenever someone had the time, they would go out and gather some to add variety to their meals.

Lu Qingyuan scooped some egg custard into Jiasheng and Lusheng’s bowls, then took the cured meat porridge and the remaining large portion of egg custard into Grandma Lu’s room.

“Grandma, it’s time to eat.”

Grandma Lu sat up as Lu Qingyuan helped her put on an outer layer and guided her to sit by the wooden storage cabinet.

Handing her a spoon, Lu Qingyuan tidied her collar and pushed open the wooden window slightly, letting more light into the room.

“Don’t fuss over me, go eat your meal.”

Grandma Lu urged her.

“Alright. If you need anything, just call us.”

Lu Qingyuan said before heading back to the main hall.

When she returned, the entire family was waiting for her, no one had started eating yet.

The two little ones stared at the dishes on the table, practically drooling, looking utterly adorable.

“Let’s eat.”

Once Lu Qingyuan sat down, Mother Lu smiled and nodded, signaling everyone to start.

Lu Qingyuan sat between Eldest Sister-in-law Lu and Second Sister-in-law Lu.

As soon as they picked up their chopsticks, they each placed a piece of cured meat into Lu Qingyuan’s bowl.

Already accustomed to their care, Lu Qingyuan didn’t refuse. Instead, she flashed them a soft smile and lowered her head to start eating.

“This is delicious! Is this the first time we’re having baby mustard greens this year? They’re so tender!”

Lu Qingtian was the most talkative, exclaiming after every bite.

“It is tender. Did Grandma get some?” Mother Lu asked.

“Grandma said she doesn’t want any,” Lu Qingyuan shook her head.

“Grandma finds it too bland,” Lu Qingming chuckled. “She’s getting older, so she thinks everything tastes plain.”

She preferred stronger flavors.

But since she was unwell, Lu Qingyuan could only make her egg custard a little richer—adding an extra spoonful of sesame oil, a bit of salt, and a few drops of soy sauce.

“Grandma loves Chinese toon leaves.” Second Sister-in-law Lu suddenly recalled.

“There are two Chinese toon trees near the small bamboo grove. They should be sprouting around this time. Qingtian, go check later. If there are fresh shoots, pick some, and we’ll make an egg stir-fry for Grandma tonight.”

“There aren’t any left,” Eldest Sister-in-law Lu shook her head. “Yesterday afternoon, when I went to gather fiddlehead ferns, I took a detour to check, and they were all picked clean.”

Father Lu chuckled upon hearing this. “At this time of year, Chinese toon leaves are a rare treat. It’s no surprise they’re gone the moment they sprout.”

Jiasheng and Lusheng were too focused on eating to pay any attention to the conversation among the adults.

Those who did hard labor naturally ate heartily. By the time everyone put down their chopsticks, only a small bowl of radish was left.

“Oldest and second son, help me clean up.”

With that, Father Lu began gathering the dishes. Lu Qingming and his brother got up to assist, while Jiasheng and Lusheng ran to Grandma Lu’s room to collect her dishes.

“Great-Grandma, we’re here to take the dishes.”

“Alright, alright, take it slow.”

Grandma Lu beamed as she watched her two great-grandsons.

Mother Lu and her two daughters-in-law pulled Lu Qingyuan into Jiasheng and Lusheng’s small room for a chat.

Second Sister-in-law Lu was the last to enter. After bolting the door, she sat beside Lu Qingyuan, took her hand, and asked in a low voice, “Did it work out?”

Before Lu Qingyuan could speak, Mother Lu clicked her tongue.

“Of course not. She wasn’t willing from the start.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu glanced at their younger sister-in-law, who was smiling sheepishly and avoiding eye contact. She immediately slapped her thigh and turned to Mother Lu.

“Mom, you got it right. It didn’t work out.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu sighed in disappointment and gently squeezed Lu Qingyuan’s delicate hand.

“What a good family they are. Little Sister, why are you thinking so much? In my opinion, once you marry into that family, the kind of life you lead will depend on you.”

Lu Qingyuan blinked. “Second Sister-in-law, I can’t even accept the thought of marrying into that family, let alone actually doing it.”

“What exactly are you afraid of?”

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu was puzzled.

To them, the Tan family’s conditions were excellent. If Tan Chang’an weren’t in poor health, they wouldn’t have looked for a capable, hardworking woman from the countryside. There were plenty of city girls eager to marry into their family.

“First of all, our families are not well-matched,” Lu Qingyuan counted on her fingers as she explained. “I don’t want to get married and then have you all turned away when you visit me. This isn’t just me exaggerating.”

“Take Aunt Lin’s niece, Xiulan, for example. Didn’t she marry into a good family?”

“But when Aunt Lin brought vegetables over, she wasn’t even given a sip of water. Instead, her in-laws mocked her for freeloading. Aunt Lin’s family was so furious that they didn’t visit for years. Even Xiulan herself was suppressed by her in-laws—she could only send New Year gifts home and wasn’t allowed to visit.”

The Tan family’s conditions were even better than that.

And from what the barrage of comments said, Lu Qingyuan couldn’t even imagine how miserable her life would be if she married into their family.

She simply wanted a peaceful life, free from messy troubles.

Seeing Lu Qingyuan’s strong resistance, the three women exchanged glances.

“Then, after meeting Tan Chang’an, do you think he’s someone worth marrying?” Mother Lu asked.

“That’s right. If he’s reliable, he can protect you in their home, and you won’t suffer,” Eldest Sister-in-law Lu agreed.

Second Sister-in-law Lu urged Lu Qingyuan to think carefully before answering.

“…He takes great pride in his family,” Lu Qingyuan recalled how Tan Chang’an had gone on at length about his supposedly ‘ordinary’ family. “But I can understand that. His family is indeed well-off.”

And that was precisely why Lu Qingyuan was even more determined not to get involved with him.

Mother Lu frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then said, “Forget it. If it didn’t work out, then it just means there was no fate between you. Let’s take our time. There’s no rush.”

“I’m not in a hurry,” Lu Qingyuan lowered her eyes, “but Grandma is.”

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Grandma Lu’s health was indeed deteriorating day by day.

“Spend more time with her. She has always loved you. She just worries about you, not because she wants to force you into marriage,” Mother Lu said softly.

“I know.”

Lu Qingyuan’s eyes turned slightly red as she nodded.

That afternoon, after Father Lu and the others went out to work, Lu Qingyuan cleaned the entire main hall and courtyard.

Jiasheng and Lusheng were playing in Grandma Lu’s room, saying they wanted to keep her company.

Grandma Lu had slept a lot in the morning, so in the afternoon, she liked to sit against the bed and watch her great-grandsons play house.

Lu Qingyuan returned to her own room.

Thinking of the voice she had heard in her mind earlier that morning, she couldn’t help but call out, “Are you there?”

No response.

Lu Qingyuan thought back carefully to what the voice had said. “Original Text Live Streaming System?”

[Original Text Live Streaming System at your service. Do you have any questions, Host?]

A cute mechanical voice suddenly chimed in.

Startled, Lu Qingyuan jumped to her feet. She hurried to close the half-open wooden window, then bolted the door before sitting back on her bed, clutching her chest.

“What exactly are you?”

[I am the Original Text Live Streaming System.]

“What is this system for?”

[With the rapid development of planets, and in response to the demands of a vast readership, all completed stories can now be live-streamed from within the book’s world.]

[When the Host triggers the live stream, a barrage of comments will appear. The Host can understand the plot through these comments, but must not let the viewers discover that you are aware of the live stream’s existence. If discovered, the Host’s live stream will be permanently shut down, and your fate will follow the original storyline, unable to be changed.]

Lu Qingyuan’s face turned pale at those words.

So, if the viewers found out that she knew about the live stream and could see their comments, she would be forced to marry Tan Chang’an and suffer for the rest of her life, just as written in the original story?

“Does the live stream get triggered every day?”

[Once per day, with an uncertain duration.]

Lu Qingyuan’s palms were already sweaty.

“If I keep it a secret and the viewers never find out, what do I get in return?”

[Once your fan count reaches five hundred, you will start receiving gifts from them. The rewards will be distributed after each live stream.]

“Will you always be in my head?”

[Rest assured, Host. If you don’t seek out the system, I will not appear. You don’t have to worry about your daily life—I won’t monitor or spy on you.]

Lu Qingyuan pressed her lips together. Could she really trust that?

But whether she believed it or not, there was nothing she could do. The system had already bound itself to her. She had no choice but to comply with its rules.

She refused to marry Tan Chang’an. She didn’t want to be the tragic heroine of a bitter love story!

“In this world, am I the only one bound to you, or are there others?”

[Only you, Host. You are the original protagonist. The readers only want to experience this world from your perspective.]

“Why would I marry Tan Chang’an? I had already made up my mind to keep my distance from him before we even met. How did I end up marrying him anyway?”

Lu Qingyuan was quite puzzled.

[Sorry, Host. The system can’t answer this question, but you can find the reason through the barrage of comments.]

Lu Qingyuan: ……