Chapter 3: Sister-in-law is so jealous

“——Time to eat!”
“Jin, Yin, and Caibao, come in and eat!”
“Lu Jun, Lu Di, if you don’t come now, you won’t get served!”

Du Yumei’s loud voice rang from outside, and the door was pushed open immediately.

“Xiao Xi, should I bring your food in, or will you come out to eat with An’an?”
“Mom, I’ll come out with An’an.”

Ji Xiao Xi quickly got out of bed, holding Lu Qi’an’s hand as they went out. The main hall’s large Eight-Immortal table was already full, and everyone’s eyes turned toward Ji Xiao Xi.

Based on Xiao Xi’s personality in the previous century, she would have casually waved and greeted everyone, but the version of Xiao Xi in this era was timid, so she probably wouldn’t greet them.

“Mom, let’s sit there.” Before she could respond, Lu Qi’an had already pulled her toward a seat.

As soon as they sat down, Ji Xiao Xi heard a somewhat familiar voice.

—Ah, she’s here!—

The first round of trouble after entering the book world. It was the same person who, when she first arrived, had asked outside if she was already dead.

“Xiao Xi, you really have the luxury illness! Just fainted a little, and Mom even slaughtered our egg-laying hen to specially stew it for you to recover—just for you alone. We got nothing! Mom is really spoiling you.”

Ji Xiao Xi looked at the woman across the table. The jealousy in her eyes practically burst out. Ji Xiao Xi didn’t respond but covered her chest, lowering her brows, and coughed theatrically, ready to fire back sarcastically.

“Aunt, my mom just woke up, and you made her cough again! You’re so mean!”

Lu Qi’an stood up like a little knight, protecting her. He might not understand the aunt’s sarcasm, but he knew that whenever Mom did anything, the aunt would always complain. Sometimes Mom would hide and cry; sometimes she’d even cough from frustration. In his little mind, the aunt was speaking badly of Mom. With Dad not at home, he had to protect her!

Sun Xuexiang said, “Hey, how can a child talk to elders like that?”
“What’s the matter? Xiao Xi is sick, are you also sick?”

Du Yumei placed the chicken soup in front of Ji Xiao Xi and loudly snapped back at Sun Xuexiang. This eldest daughter-in-law had an annoying mouth, always causing trouble.

“Well, when I was sick, I never got a chicken stew like that,” Sun Xuexiang mumbled softly.

Du Yumei glared at her. “I see you just flap your mouth. Our family has only two chickens, don’t you know?”

“Stop talking; you’ll never close your mouth during meals,” the eldest brother, Lu Jingguo, scolded sharply.

Sun Xuexiang quietly shut her mouth; her husband’s words still carried weight.

Lu Jingyi, the second brother, and his wife Shen Jiao exchanged glances and, taking advantage of the conversation between the eldest sister-in-law and Mom, helped themselves to extra dishes. Their two sons, Lu Jun and Lu Di, were fast with their chopsticks, just like their parents.

—Not eating enthusiastically means you have ideological problems!

Sun Xuexiang, feeling grumpy, reached for some food and realized at least half of the dishes were gone. Nearby, the second brother and his wife had full bowls. In the Lu family, one couldn’t take too much in one chopstick. Clearly, the second brother and his wife had taken extra while she was talking with her mother-in-law.

—So infuriating!

Her mother-in-law shot her another glare, making it impossible for her to take more. Perhaps thinking it unfair to serve the chicken only to Ji Xiao Xi, Du Yumei also made a bowl of egg soup using four eggs. But now, most of the eggs were gone, and the soup had dwindled significantly. Lunch had already been late, and it was rare to eat eggs, plus Du Yumei’s egg soup didn’t crumble the eggs too finely—one could scoop chunks with chopsticks—but now it was almost just soup. She was frustrated.

Ji Xiao Xi looked at the oily yellow chicken soup in front of her and swallowed. She didn’t usually like chicken soup, but the original body seemed to have long been deficient in nutrients and fat. This rare treat was irresistible. She poured a bit of chicken soup into Lu Qi’an’s bowl and added some chicken pieces for him.

The cornbread soaked in chicken soup, infused with its aroma, was simply heavenly. Other children looked enviously at Lu Qi’an’s bowl.

Lu Qi’an’s big eyes stared wide as he held the bowl with both hands protectively. “Mine!” He grabbed a piece of cornbread, eating with his mouth full of oil. Kids in this era didn’t need to be fed; they ate on their own. But Ji Xiao Xi was thoughtful, picking the meat off the chicken bones for him. This little guy had just protected her; she had to treat him well.

Sun Xuexiang, watching Ji Xiao Xi finish picking the meat and toss the bones on the table, was even angrier. Those bones could have been gnawed! How could she just throw them? This Ji Xiao Xi was full of flaws. Her husband had died in the war, no one would send her allowances anymore, so who would indulge these habits in the future?

“By the way, Xiao Xi, we went to inquire today. Shao Dayong from the neighboring production team wrote back. He didn’t say Jingchuan died in the war, only that he led his regiment to the front. You don’t need to worry too much. Jingchuan will definitely return safely,” Lu Jingguo said.

Sun Xuexiang tugged on Lu Jingguo and whispered, “Why did you bother asking about this? What’s it to you?”

So annoying! As soon as Xiao Xi fainted, everyone suddenly cared so much. When she was sick, all she got were two boiled eggs.

“That’s my brother. How is that not my concern? Haven’t you used the tickets Jingchuan sent?” Lu Jingguo said sternly, thinking his wife talked too much.

“…”

“Big brother, good job. Jingchuan will definitely be fine. I told you, how could Jingchuan possibly die in battle? It was just rumors. I can’t stand the gossiping women in the village,” Du Yumei snorted coldly.

“Big brother, thank you for telling me this,” Ji Xiao Xi smiled at Lu Jingguo.

“No problem. I never believed that Jingchuan couldn’t protect himself. I know my own brother,” Lu Jingguo said calmly.

“Exactly! Jingchuan has always been the toughest in Baiyun Village. Even at the front, he’d make the enemies flee back home,” Lu Jingyi added, smiling.

He didn’t believe his brother could die in battle. His brother had always been smart, never taking losses. When they inquired, it turned out the death rumors were false. But when the initial news came, no one was prepared. Plus, Ji Xiao Xi didn’t know Lu Jingchuan well; hearing the news, she fainted immediately, causing everyone to panic.

“Hmm, I’ll wait for him to come back.”

【Host, there’s gossip to consume. Key character detected nearby.】