Chapter 11: Rejected by Her Own Family, Playing Clever

Upon hearing the noise, Lu Huaiguo also wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled honestly. “Sister-in-law, I’ll just go home to eat.”

“Second Brother, don’t be polite with me, we’re all family. You’ve been busy all morning, just eat here. The meal’s already prepared, don’t be shy.”

Ye Qiu went straight to the kitchen and brought out the dishes—one meat, one vegetable, and a rich, creamy fish soup. Just the sight of it made Da Ya swallow her saliva. She was about to carry her own food outside when Lu Zhinan and Lu Zhibei each took an arm and pulled her to the table.

Once everyone sat down, Da Ya still felt uneasy. She kept her head down. “Third Auntie, I’ll just eat my own corn buns.” As she spoke, she opened the basket. Inside was the meal Wu Laidi had packed for her—colorful and strange, no one knew what was in it.

“Don’t waste the food either. Bring it out and eat together. Da Ya, eat the bun first. You can have the corn buns later.” Ye Qiu handed Da Ya a large, soft steamed bun and signaled for her to hurry and eat.

The father and daughter devoured their food hungrily. Lu Huaiguo, being a grown man, ate a bun in just a few bites. After finishing, he was about to start on the corn buns when Ye Qiu quickly stuffed another bun into his hand. “Second Brother, eat more. I made plenty.”

By the end of the meal, there were only some leftover juices from the two dishes, which Lu Huaiguo mopped up with his bun. The fish soup was also drunk to fullness. Holding his belly, he rested on the bench.

Ye Qiu didn’t let Da Ya go home empty-handed either. She packed a few steamed buns for her and let her take the remaining fish soup. “Da Ya, tell your grandma that the fish soup needs to be drunk quickly. The weather’s hot—it won’t keep for long.”

Seeing that only Lu Huaiguo came today, Ye Qiu sensed something. She went back and brought out half a bucket of malted milk powder. “This is for your mom. She’s pregnant—needs nourishment.”

As she spoke, she stuffed a few White Rabbit candies into Da Ya’s pocket and whispered: “Don’t be silly and give them all away. Share them with your sister.”

Da Ya held the candies in her pocket, her eyes curved in joy, and ran home. When Wu Laidi saw the buns and fish soup in the basket, her eyes widened and she almost jumped up in happiness.

She had always known—so long as she treated her Third Sister-in-law well, as long as there was anything good to eat, Ye Qiu would remember her.

After handing over the steamed buns and fish soup to her grandma, Da Ya tilted her head and gave the malted milk powder to her mother. “Mom, Third Auntie gave this to you.”

Zhao Menglan took one look and said nothing. She turned and walked off with the things in hand. Wu Laidi happily took the malted milk powder from Da Ya’s hands and returned to her room beaming.

Da Ya touched the candy in her pocket. While her mom was gone, she quietly called her younger sister Xiao Ya over, raised a finger to her lips and said “shhh.” “Don’t tell Mom.” Then she peeled a candy and popped it into her sister’s mouth. The two of them held hands and ran outside to eat their candy.

While the second household got a good meal and gifts, the first household didn’t fare so well. The three of them went home with empty stomachs. Lu Hailiang walked in front holding his son’s hand, face full of anger, while Zhuang Meifeng followed behind, anxiously trying to explain.

“Husband, listen to me, my parents didn’t mean it that way.”

Lu Hailiang was already fuming. He couldn’t help but raise his voice. “You know exactly what they meant. Zhuang Meifeng, your parents looking down on me is one thing, but your nephew even bullied Tianjie—and you’re telling me it wasn’t on purpose?”

They were both sons-in-law of the Zhuang Family, and Zhuang Meifeng had an older sister who was also home today. Just because her sister brought better gifts, the Zhuang parents were all smiles. But when they saw her carrying only some vegetables, their attitude turned cold, and they barely acknowledged her.

Lu Hailiang had tried to endure it, thinking they were his wife’s family. But he didn’t expect them to separate even at mealtime. The others ate wheat buns, while the three of them chewed on cold corn buns.

Zhuang Meifeng’s nephew was unruly and even shoved Tianjie. Lu Hailiang couldn’t stand it anymore. Who didn’t love their own child? In a fit of rage, he flipped the table, grabbed his son, and stormed off—refusing to tolerate such treatment.

“Maybe… maybe he didn’t mean it. Kids just play rough. They don’t know their strength.” Even now, Zhuang Meifeng still tried to defend her nephew.

Lu Hailiang stared at Zhuang Meifeng. For the first time, he thought she was unbelievably foolish—dumber than the pigs in the village. He shook off her hand and said coldly: “You can go back by yourself from now on. I’m never going back there. Tianjie won’t either.”

They argued all the way home. Hearing the commotion, Wu Laidi got up from her bed and wiped some malted milk powder on her mouth. “Eldest Sister-in-law, you’re back?”

In front of Wu Laidi, Lu Hailiang didn’t want to argue with his wife. He just nodded and went back to the room. Lu Tianjie ignored his mother too, let out a cold snort, and ran off. Seeing father and son both cold toward Zhuang Meifeng, Wu Laidi figured she must have been snubbed at her mother’s place.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, you really missed out this time.” Wu Laidi wore a regretful look as she clapped her hands, describing the lunch Ye Qiu had made. “You wouldn’t believe how Da Ya praised the food—said it was so good she wanted to lick the bowl clean.”

“Third Sister-in-law really knows how to do things. She even made a special trip to bring Mom some fish soup. And when she found out I was pregnant, she gave me a whole jar of malted milk powder. I just drank some—it’s so delicious.”

Wu Laidi bragged hard in front of Zhuang Meifeng, even turning her head slightly to show off the powder on the corner of her mouth.

Zhuang Meifeng trembled with anger. She was mad her husband didn’t understand her, and even angrier at Wu Laidi for showing off. She took a deep breath, glared at Wu Laidi, and stormed off.

At dinner that night, Zhuang Meifeng didn’t say a word. Lu Hailiang and Lu Tianjie were both eating heartily. Seeing the scene, Zhao Menglan curled her lips into a smile and said sweetly: “First’s Wife, what did you all have for lunch to make Tianjie so hungry now?”

Zhuang Meifeng fumbled for words but couldn’t name a single dish. Lu Tianjie, still innocent and blunt, shouted directly: “Grandma, there was nothing! Just cold corn buns! I’m never going back to Grandma’s house again—they were eating meat while we just watched!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. There was meat—you just didn’t see it.” Zhuang Meifeng quickly tried to cover, feeling the burning gaze from Wu Laidi.

Lu Tianjie turned his head: “I’m not talking nonsense. Grandma’s just biased. Hmph.”

Zhuang Meifeng’s face turned pale, then green, embarrassed and speechless. Just then, Lu Huaiguo finally came home. Without saying a word, he poured himself a glass of cold tea and downed it.

“Second, you’re back so soon?” Zhao Menglan had thought he’d be working late.

Lu Huaiguo smiled and came forward. “Mom, Third Sister-in-law said there’s no rush. A couple more days will finish the work. The ground’s already done, just need to do the walls.”

“I ate at her place too. Third Sister-in-law’s cooking really is something. The braised chicken with pancakes was delicious. You all eat—I’m going to lie down.”

He turned and walked off, leaving the others staring at each other. Zhuang Meifeng suddenly coughed and called out: “Second Brother, you must be tired today. How about I let your Eldest Brother help you tomorrow?”