Chapter 35: Shen Junmei’s Change

Dabao and Xiaobao’s mouths were covered in crispy meat crumbs. With their round, bulging tummies, they still said, “Not enough, not enough, we want more!”

Feeling sorry for her sons, Ruan Jiaojiao fried more meat for them, never stingy with the oil.

Of course, she also balanced their meals with vegetables, preparing some greens for Dabao and Xiaobao.

The two little boys felt especially blessed. To them, they had a fairy for a mother—she could even make stir-fried vegetables taste delicious.

Meanwhile, next door—

Jindan stared at the thin rice gruel in his bowl and the radish pickles Shen Junmei had prepared. His face darkened.

Why?

Why could those two little bastards, Dabao and Xiaobao, eat such good food?

Jindan’s mouth watered uncontrollably.

He immediately ordered Shen Junmei, “Ma, I want meat! Didn’t you go to Grandma’s house yesterday? You didn’t bring back any meat?”

“Hmph, I knew it. You only ever take our family’s things back to your mother’s house, giving them all to your brothers!”

In truth, yesterday Shen Junmei had only taken eggs back.

Normally, when she visited her family, she would bring a piece of pork.

But this year, something in her suddenly woke up. She realized that every time she took meat back, it ended up in her brother and sister-in-law’s stomachs—she herself never got a single bite.

And worse, her mother acted like it was only right.

She would say: “Fu Jun treats you well. Your household is doing fine, no problems at all. You must be eating meat every day. We, on the other hand, have nothing but coarse grain and wild greens. Your sister-in-law doesn’t have anything good to build her health with. You should give in more. Otherwise, how will she bear you nephews?”

This year, when Shen Junmei went back, she told them Fu Jun had lost his job, lost money, and that Jindan had once been kidnapped by traffickers. To make up for him, all the meat in the house had gone to him.

And the result?

Heh. Her family not only didn’t pity her, they scolded her for being heartless—for forgetting how she’d grown up now that she had a husband and son.

But how had she grown up? She had been born and thrown by the roadside for three days. When she didn’t die, her mother, scared by the omen, decided it must be Heaven’s will and reluctantly took her back to raise.

Did a single phrase like “I gave birth to you and raised you” mean she was destined to serve them her whole life?

Now, Shen Junmei saw clearly. She had grown up not because of her parents’ kindness, but because her fate was simply tougher than death.

Thinking of this, Shen Junmei’s heart ached bitterly.

She had just rendered lard, and gave Jindan the cracklings. She said, “Eat this first, it’s tasty too. In a few days, I’ll think of a way to get you some meat.”

“I don’t want it! Fried fat can’t compare to the good meat Dabao and Xiaobao eat! I don’t want it!”

“You! Go to Second Aunt’s house! I don’t care how you do it, but you must bring me meat back. Otherwise, I won’t eat at all!”

Jindan crossed his arms, acting like he was some big shot.

But… but… Shen Junmei suddenly laughed. Once you step out this door, Fu Jindan, what exactly are you worth?

Besides me, who else would serve you like a little master?

He had nearly sold off Dabao and Xiaobao before, only to suffer a beating from Old Liu. And now, instead of learning his lesson, he was telling her, his own mother, to go beg Ruan Jiaojiao for meat? Did he think she had no shame?

This time, Shen Junmei didn’t indulge him. She brought his food over and ate it herself.

Jindan froze. “Ma, I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?”

“Eat if you want. If not, then starve. If you want meat so badly, go ask for it yourself. Why should I do it for you? I’m your mother, not your slave!”

“!!!”

Jindan was completely stunned by the storm of her words.

What was going on?

Why had his mother become so sharp, even arguing with him? Did she not love him anymore?!

Jindan refused to believe it.

So he said, “Fine, then I won’t eat! I’ll starve to death! When I die, you won’t be able to have another son, and the whole village will laugh at you!”

He wriggled his little butt, turned, and stomped away.

He thought Shen Junmei would surely call him back.

After all, she was the one who cherished him most, who relied on him most. She would never ignore him.

But Shen Junmei said nothing. She kept eating with relish.

Jindan: “…” His fists clenched tight.

Fine! I don’t believe you won’t give in to me!

Jindan held his head high and strode away. Behind him, Shen Junmei ate until her belly was full.

She finally understood—no matter how sweet, one shouldn’t spoil a child too much. No matter how bitter, one shouldn’t make oneself suffer. Once you let go of the idea that you must bear sons and raise them just to continue your husband’s line, life only becomes easier.

And so, Jindan went hungry for a whole night.

It was the first time in his life he had starved. The feeling was unbearable.

By evening, his stomach was growling loudly, but Shen Junmei simply went to sleep, ignoring him.

Jindan: “…” It’s over. Mama doesn’t love me anymore.

Yet, he also realized for the first time how Dabao and Xiaobao must have felt when they lived in his house, going hungry.

So this is what hunger felt like…

Meanwhile, Shen Junmei was secretly delighted. So it turned out that eating her fill, ignoring her husband and son, and sleeping soundly was this comfortable!

Mother and son had very different moods that night.

The next morning, Jindan rushed out for breakfast.

He decided to give Shen Junmei some face—even if there was no meat, he would obediently eat everything!

Who knew, Shen Junmei hadn’t even prepared his breakfast.

She had eaten her fill already and gone out back to check on her cabbages.

Cabbage was the easiest winter vegetable to grow, but many had still died off.

Not hers. She carefully adjusted warmth and water according to the weather, so hers were fresh and tender.

Shen Junmei secretly transplanted her best cabbages into Ruan Jiaojiao’s plot.

She didn’t even know why—only that she felt she should do something good for Ruan Jiaojiao.

In the past, it was already good enough if she didn’t steal from Ruan Jiaojiao’s fields. Who would’ve thought she’d ever give her food instead?

Ah well, what’s done is done. She just needed to slip away quickly before being discovered.

She would count it as repaying Ruan Jiaojiao for snatching Jindan back from Old Liu’s hands.

But when she looked up, she saw Ruan Jiaojiao standing at the back gate with Dabao, smiling at her.

Shen Junmei: “…”

She wished she could find a hole in the ground to hide in!

Xiaobao was playing inside, so Ruan Jiaojiao had only brought Dabao out. She hadn’t expected to stumble upon this scene.

But it wasn’t beyond her expectations.

She had long seen that Shen Junmei wasn’t a bad person—just bound by feudal thinking.