In the Kitchen

Looking at the battered and broken pots and pans in the kitchen, Jian Xiu was already seething with rage, wishing she could tear that so-called “scar-faced man” into pieces.

This wasn’t just about debt collection—it was outright murder.

He had better not show up in the afternoon.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t mind letting him know exactly who he was messing with.

Qian Hongmei seemed to understand that these damaged pots and pans were completely useless for cooking.

“Jian Xiu, help me sort out the food first. I’ll go borrow a pot from Xue Mei so we can at least have something to eat for now.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Jian Xiu replied indifferently.

There was really no other choice.

They could afford to go hungry for a meal, but the three patients in bed couldn’t.

She glanced at the medicinal herbs placed nearby, assuming they must have been prescribed by the doctor for her eldest brother and father.

She brought them to her nose for a sniff but couldn’t make out much.

Setting them down, she walked toward the front of the house.

Since the pot hadn’t arrived yet, she might as well tidy up the front area.

As soon as she stepped in, she heard her mother’s voice.

“Mother, you’re awake? Do you feel unwell anywhere?” Jian Xiu asked worriedly.

Seeing Jian Xiu in person, her mother finally felt a weight lifted off her heart.

Earlier, Zhang Zixuan had already explained their current situation to her. After hearing everything, she had finally let out a breath of relief.

Thinking it over, it made sense. If they hadn’t severed ties with their relatives, how would her daughter have had the time to visit them?

“I’m fine, my dear. I feel much better after a nap,” her mother said with a gentle smile.

As she spoke, she attempted to sit up.

Seeing this, Jian Xiu quickly sat by the bed and carefully helped her up.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zixuan had already started cleaning up the mess in the house with Liu Tou and Qi Tou.

Even though his legs were not in great condition, he had a wheelchair, so he was just a bit slower than others.

“Mother, what are you doing? Sister-in-law just said you need to rest properly!”

Jian Xiu quickly stopped her mother from getting up.

“I’m fine. I was going to cook for you all!”

“Mother, there’s no rush. Sister-in-law has gone to borrow a pot from Xue Mei. You should lie down and rest. Once it’s ready, I’ll bring it to you.”

Just as she finished speaking, Qian Hongmei came rushing in from next door, carrying a ceramic pot.

“I got the pot!”

“Mother, rest a little longer. I’ll make you something delicious,” Jian Xiu said softly.

Perhaps it was a lingering sentiment from the original owner’s memories, but seeing her mother like this made Jian Xiu’s heart ache inexplicably.

In her memories, her mother had always doted on her.

Although their family was not wealthy, her mother always made sure she had the best food available.

Others might have said that raising a daughter was a waste, but her mother had never thought that way.

In the Kitchen

By the time Jian Xiu entered the kitchen, Qian Hongmei was already stoking the fire.

“Sister-in-law, I see there’s a water jar over there. It’s a little damaged, but we can still use it to boil some soup and cook vegetables. Let’s use the borrowed pot for the medicine.”

Earlier, she had considered using the broken jar for the medicine, but since it was cracked, the recessed area was too shallow, and the medicine might spill over.

Of course, they could cook food first and then prepare the medicine, but seeing that her eldest brother and father were still unconscious, Jian Xiu was beginning to feel anxious.

“Alright, I’ll take care of the medicine. I know which herbs are theirs,” Qian Hongmei said with a smile.

With that, the two women divided their tasks.

Jian Xiu was quick and efficient—something she had learned back when she lived at the old house.

In just half an hour, the meal was ready.

She even used the bottom of the broken jar to make some white porridge.

This kind of porridge was the best for patients, especially those recovering from serious illnesses.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll take some to Mother,” Jian Xiu said, scooping porridge into a wooden bowl.

“Go ahead, she must be hungry.”

…

The aroma of food had already filled the air, and Jian Xiu’s mother smelled it long before she saw it.

When she saw the bowl of white porridge Jian Xiu brought, she curiously asked, “Where did your sister-in-law borrow the rice from?”

Earlier, Zhang Zixuan had only told her they had severed ties with the old house, but he hadn’t mentioned that they were doing better now.

“Mother, I brought it with me. Don’t worry, I have plenty.”

“I’m not hungry. Give it to the children,” her mother said.

“Don’t worry, I made a big pot, and there’s rice too. Everyone has enough to eat—adults and children alike.”

“You silly girl, why would you cook rice? Do you know how expensive rice is? One bowl of rice could be stretched into three days’ worth of porridge,” her mother said, distressed.

Hearing this, Jian Xiu could only shake her head helplessly.

She had heard this kind of talk countless times before.

Back in the old house, it was something she heard nearly every day.

She was already used to it.

“Mother, just eat,” she reassured.

Seeing no other choice, her mother finally took the bowl.

However, as she was about to take a bite, she saw the eager eyes of Jie Jie and Ting Jie.

Before she could offer her own share to them, Qian Hongmei came in with two more wooden bowls.

Though they called it the front and back of the house, it was really just two mud-brick rooms connected together.

“Mother, I’ve already prepared food for them. Don’t worry, there’s plenty. Just eat,” Qian Hongmei said with a smile.

Hearing this, Jian Xiu’s mother finally took a sip from her bowl.

But after just one mouthful, her eyes widened in shock.

“Jian Xiu, is there meat in this porridge? I can taste meat!” she asked in disbelief.

As she spoke, she lowered her head and carefully examined the wooden bowl.

Upon seeing the small bits of minced meat, she felt an overwhelming sense of heartache.

Not only was the porridge thick and rich, but even these tiny bits of meat were enough to make her emotional.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she had tasted meat.

“Mother, don’t worry. This didn’t cost us money. It’s wild boar meat—I dug a pit and trapped it. It’s good for nourishment.”

Earlier, she had chopped the meat using the only remaining cleaver in the kitchen.

Now that she thought about it, there wasn’t a single undamaged item in the entire house.

As she saw her mother finishing her porridge, Jian Xiu finally asked, “Mother, do they always come like this?”

Even though she didn’t specify who “they” were, her mother understood immediately.

Realizing she couldn’t hide the truth from her daughter, she sighed and nodded helplessly.

If her guess was right, those people would probably be back again soon.

The thought of it filled her with fear.

Seeing the concern in her mother’s eyes, Jian Xiu reassured her, “Mother, don’t worry. I already have a way to deal with them.”