“Bang! Bang! Bang!”  

Jiang Qiuyue pounded fiercely on the wooden door of the Lin family.  

“Who is it?” Lin Erzhu snapped as he went to open the door, only to get smacked in the face with a stick the moment he showed himself. “Jiang Qiuyue, have you lost your mind?”  

Seeing Jiang Qiuyue raise the stick again, he immediately turned and ran inside, shouting, “Mom! Dad! Come quick! Jiang Qiuyue is hitting people!”  

Jiang Qiuyue kicked the Lin family’s door open. As Wang Chunhua and the others rushed out, she glanced around coldly. “Where’s Lin Xiao? Tell her to come out.”  

“You still have the nerve to mention Lin Xiao? Look at what you did to her!” Wang Chunhua also grabbed a stick but was stopped by her husband.  

Lin Fugui frowned. “Jiang Qiuyue, what exactly do you want?”  

“Dad’s so smart—can’t you guess? I’m here for money,” Jiang Qiuyue sneered. “Lin Xiao broke my plate and ruined the taro cakes I worked so hard to make. You owe me compensation.” She held up one finger. “One yuan. Consider it a discount.”  

“What? How dare you ask for a whole yuan for some lousy cakes?” Wang Chunhua shrieked.  

Lin Erzhu, clutching his forehead, glared at her. Ever since the family split up, their meals had gotten worse, while the tantalizing smells from next door tormented them daily. “Eldest sister-in-law, aren’t you being too petty? We’re family! You won’t even share your taro cakes with us, and now you have the gall to demand money?”  

Lin Xiao couldn’t hold back and rushed out. “Exactly! You’d rather feed outsiders than your own family. Jiang Qiuyue, you’re betraying your own kin!”  

“Lin Xiao, you don’t even call me ‘sister-in-law.’ What ‘family’ are you talking about?” Jiang Qiuyue tightened her grip on the stick. “I’ll give you one last chance—either hand over the money quietly, or no one walks away unharmed.”  

“Mom and Dad, don’t even think about calling for help. I don’t mind ruining Lin Xiao’s reputation, but it’ll be hard for you to find her a husband afterward.”  

Lin Xiao had just graduated from junior high—prime marriageable age—and Wang Chunhua was indeed afraid.  

But Lin Xiao refused to back down. “Don’t be scared! There are more of us. If we fight, we won’t lose.” Her face still throbbed with pain, and she longed to crush Jiang Qiuyue under her feet.  

Jiang Qiuyue wasn’t intimidated. She had been eating well lately and practicing yoga regularly—her physical condition was excellent.  

Lin Fugui, the old fox, wouldn’t dirty his own hands. Lin Erzhu and his wife were too cowardly to step up. Lin Sanzhu was selfish and wouldn’t take a beating for Lin Xiao. The only ones who might actually fight were Lin Xiao and Wang Chunhua.  

Two against one? Jiang Qiuyue could handle that easily.  

“No one listening to you?” Jiang Qiuyue strode straight toward Lin Xiao. “Lin Xiao, was my last beating not painful enough? Or are you just asking for another one to teach you fear?”  

As she closed in, Lin Xiao grabbed a stick, but Jiang Qiuyue knocked it away. Just as Jiang Qiuyue was about to strike, Lin Fugui roared, “Enough!”  

“Go get her the money!” With that, he slammed the door to his room.  

“Old man?” Wang Chunhua couldn’t bear to part with the money, but more than that, she was unwilling. Still, with the patriarch’s order, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and hand it over.

After Jiang Qiuyue left, Wang Chunhua hugged her daughter and wailed, “Oh heavens, what kind of shrew is this? How are we supposed to live like this from now on?”  

Lin Xiao couldn’t understand it. “Dad, what’s there to be afraid of? Jiang Qiuyue is just an orphan. If she dares to mess with us, we can just burn her house down at night—let’s see how tough she acts then!”  

She had just come home for the holiday and saw Lin Beibei holding taro cakes. Without a second thought, she snatched and ate them. That’s how things had always been—why had everything changed just because she went away to study?  

“Use your brain for once!” Lin Fugui, who had once doted on his daughter, now wanted to crack her skull open to see what was inside. “Look at how ruthless Jiang Qiuyue is. If we burn her house down, do you think she’ll just let it go?”  

“If this gets reported to the authorities, who’s going to take the fall—you or me?”  

“And you’re already eighteen. Your mother and I have already asked matchmakers to find you a husband. Do you still want to marry into a good family or not?”  

“I don’t need you to find me a husband!” Lin Xiao shoved her mother away and sat sideways, sulking. “What kind of ‘good family’ could you possibly find? I refuse to spend my life farming. I’m going to the city to live on state rations!”  

She wiped her tears, but her cheeks still throbbed with pain. “You’re all scared of Jiang Qiuyue, but I’m not. Just wait—I’ll write to Big Brother. He used to dote on me. If he finds out Jiang Qiuyue hit me, he’ll make her pay!”  

Hearing this, the Lin family could only pin their hopes on Lin Dazhu.  

They couldn’t deal with Jiang Qiuyue, but Lin Dazhu could—after all, Jiang Qiuyue’s living expenses came from him.  

Without money, how could Jiang Qiuyue keep acting up?  

She definitely couldn’t.  

While Lin Xiao schemed about how to humiliate Jiang Qiuyue, next door, Jiang Qiuyue examined the wounds on Lin Beibei’s hands and said sternly, “Next time you see your aunt or uncles, run far away. You’re still too small to fight them. If anything happens, come find me first. Understand?”  

“But Mom, you didn’t used to say that,” Lin Beibei mumbled, eyes still red.  

“Before, I was foolish—I thought kindness could be repaid with kindness. But now I understand: whoever treats me well, I’ll treat well in return. And whoever bullies us, I’ll pay them back double. You two remember this too. Be grateful, but also learn to see who’s truly good to you and who’s fake.” She patted the children’s heads, knowing these lessons might be too complex for them now, but repetition would help them remember.  

Lin Beibei nodded vaguely. “Then, Mom… can I skip bath time today?”  

His arm was scraped, and he didn’t want to bathe.  

“No. It’s so hot—you’ll stink if you don’t wash.” Bathing was non-negotiable for Jiang Qiuyue. “I’ll help you later.”  

“Fine, I’ll do it myself…” Lin Beibei pouted. Mom had changed so much lately. Bathing every day was annoying, but she stood up for him now—he really liked this new version of his mom.  

By evening, Jiang Qiuyue and the two children, freshly washed, sat in the yard watching the moon rise.

She told them a fairy tale, and the moonlight stretched the shadows of the mother and her two children long across the ground, creating a warm and cozy scene.  

Early the next morning, Niu Zhuangzhuang came running in tears. “Auntie Jiang, were you going to give me taro cakes yesterday?”  

Auntie Jiang’s cooking was the best. When he heard his grandmother mention it, he couldn’t hold back his tears and came running over, bawling.  

“Oh dear, I was so busy fighting yesterday that I forgot about you.” Seeing Niu Zhuangzhuang cry, Jiang Qiuyue chuckled. “Don’t cry. Auntie will make some more later. Play with Beibei and Nan Nan here—you’ll definitely get to eat some today!”  

Niu Zhuangzhuang instantly stopped crying. “Really?”  

“Of course! Auntie’s an adult—I don’t lie to kids.” No sooner had Jiang Qiuyue finished speaking than Granny Niu rushed in. “Take it easy, Granny, it’s fine. Let Zhuangzhuang stay and play here.”  

(Aunt Niu Changed to Granny Niu)

Granny Niu had only casually mentioned it to her daughter-in-law, never expecting her grandson to overhear that the cakes were originally meant for him. The boy had bolted straight here.  

“No need, Qiuyue. Don’t indulge this brat.” Granny Niu bent down to scold him. “Aren’t you ashamed?”  

Niu Zhuangzhuang puffed out his cheeks and huffed. For delicious food, he had no shame.  

“Granny, it’s really fine. I did plan to give Zhuangzhuang some yesterday. Beibei’s hurt and can’t go out today, so it’s perfect for Zhuangzhuang to keep him company.”  

After much persuasion, Granny Niu finally agreed to let Zhuangzhuang stay. But when she returned home, she came back with a basket of fresh vegetables.  

Looking at the hollowheart greens, beans, and other veggies on the ground, Jiang Qiuyue kneaded a fresh batch of dough. Today, besides the taro filling, she’d also make ones with green beans and shredded potatoes.  

She called the three children over to help, and soon, the aroma wafting from the yard had the kids glued to the spot, drooling.  

Next door, Lin Xiao kept swallowing her saliva. Sitting by the kitchen door, she complained irritably, “Second Sister-in-law, why is your cooking so bad? Yesterday it was sweet potato porridge, and today it’s stir-fried greens—look how burnt they are! How is anyone supposed to eat this?”  

Since Jiang Qiuyue had stopped doing chores, all the housework had fallen on Qian Li. Now, with her sister-in-law back home, not only did she refuse to lift a finger, but she also nitpicked endlessly.  

Qian Li walked to the kitchen door and deliberately flicked her damp rag, splashing water onto Lin Xiao. “Xiao Xiao, if you don’t like my cooking, make it yourself. Or better yet, go next door and see if Jiang Qiuyue is willing to feed you!”  

“Second Sister-in-law, what’s your problem?” Lin Xiao jumped up.  

“My problem? I’m busy cooking for this whole family!” Qian Li slammed the kitchen door shut. Thinking about how Jiang Qiuyue used to handle all these chores, life had been so much easier. She deeply regretted it now.  

If she’d known all the housework would land on her, she would’ve just humored Jiang Qiuyue back then.  

Lin Xiao, used to throwing her weight around at home, saw Qian Li’s attitude and shoved the door open. “Who do you think you’re glaring at? You married into the Lin family—housework is your job! Walking around first thing in the morning like someone owes you a hundred yuan!”

“Lin Xiao, is that any way to talk?” Qian Li threw down the rag, completely done. “You’ll get married too someday—better pray you don’t end up with a sister-in-law as nasty as you!”  

“Who are you calling nasty?!”  

“You!”  

Listening to the commotion next door, Jiang Qiuyue thought to herself—Lin Xiao really was a troublemaker.

But the commotion was a good thing—having a daughter like Lin Xiao was truly the Lin family’s blessing.  

Next door, Qian Li also refused to keep working. After all the back-and-forth, Wang Chunhua ended up grumbling and cooking the meal herself.  

Having not cooked in years, Wang Chunhua made the food unbearably salty. The Lin family could barely swallow a bite, making them even more desperate for Lin Dazhu’s reply.  

Meanwhile, far away in the military camp, Lin Zhengrong was officially promoted to regimental-level after two days. He went to Political Commissar Wang to request leave.  

Seeing that he hadn’t gone home in years, Political Commissar Wang approved a full month’s leave without hesitation.  

“Spend more time with your family. Comrade Guowei will handle things here—no need to worry about work.”  

Wang Zhong handed him the leave slip. “Also, about what I mentioned before regarding bringing your wife to live on base—discuss it with her when you go back. Being alone isn’t as good as having someone by your side. Many don’t even qualify for this arrangement, but you do now. Think it over carefully.”  

“Understood, Commissar.” Lin Zhengrong took the slip.  

“Once you’ve decided, send me a telegram. I’ll help you apply for housing.” Wang Zhong had heard from Chen Guowei that Lin Zhengrong’s wife was a very simple, unpretentious woman.  

Simple was good—a simple spouse wouldn’t interfere with Lin Zhengrong’s work.  

After securing his leave, Lin Zhengrong returned to his dorm to find Chen Guowei.  

“Finally going home, eh?” Chen Guowei rummaged through his drawer, pulled out a tin box, and scooped out a handful of candies for Lin Zhengrong. “For the kids. I’ve been saving these.”  

Lin Zhengrong didn’t refuse. “Thanks.”  

“Come on, no need for that between us.” Chen Guowei was genuinely happy for him. “By the way, Commissar Wang suggested bringing your wife to live on base—you should really consider it. Stop bunking with me. Wouldn’t it be nicer to hold your wife at night?”  

Lin Zhengrong said he’d think about it. After packing his luggage, he went to buy train tickets.  

The journey home wasn’t easy—two days by train to the county town, then a bus ride to the village.  

The moment he stepped into the village, Granny Niu recognized him.  

She hadn’t heard Jiang Qiuyue mention Lin Dazhu’s return, so she was both surprised and delighted for Jiang Qiuyue.  

With Lin Dazhu back, someone could finally stand up for Jiang Qiuyue. Overjoyed, she led him toward home. “Qiuyue moved out after the split—yours is the house on the right. Go on in! She’ll be thrilled to see you!” Not wanting to intrude on the couple’s reunion, she didn’t follow.  

Staring at the divided courtyard, Lin Zhengrong hesitated before pushing open the right-side door.  

The first thing he saw was the fair-skinned figure reclining on the chair. For a moment, he thought it was an illusion.  

…Was this really Jiang Qiuyue?