After Jiang Yunling was able to get out of bed, the Zhang and Lin families simply combined their dinners.
The Zhang family provided the ingredients, and Lin Qiqi did the cooking.
But Lin Qiqi kept a rough record of every meal. Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang didn’t mind, but she couldn’t keep taking advantage forever—she would repay it all in the future.
That evening, Uncle Zhang finally got his long-awaited braised pork knuckle.
Such a rich dish was too heavy to eat in large amounts, so Aunt Zhang only allowed him one piece.
The rest was to be stored in a shaded cabinet for the next meal.
Even one piece was enough—Uncle Zhang ate without even lifting his head.
It was simply too delicious.
The skin was stewed to the point of melting—no chewing needed. A light press of the tongue and it dissolved into rich, fatty goodness.
Even more impressive, the lean meat inside wasn’t dry.
It retained a firm texture without getting stuck in the teeth.
Absolutely incredible.
Uncle Zhang didn’t just eat the meat—he even used steamed buns to wipe the sauce clean off the plate.
Faced with Aunt Zhang’s eye-roll and comment of “No self-control,”
he chuckled and gave Lin Qiqi a thumbs-up.
Only after satisfying his craving did he slowly pick at some cold wild vegetables and chat while eating.
“Sigh, back in the day, factory jobs were iron rice bowls. Now… not so certain anymore.”
Aunt Zhang, already tired of hearing his trivial talk, said, “What is it this time?”
“This time it’s serious. You know Wu Deyun from our factory?”
“The team leader of Workshop Three—he was fired.”
“They say he won’t even get a pension. He came to the factory today to make a scene—that’s how everyone found out.”
“Fired?” That really was serious.
Aunt Zhang became interested. “What for?”
“Not sure.” Uncle Zhang shook his head. “I saw a notice posted at the factory gate. It said his personal conduct was problematic and severely affected the company’s image.”
He was just chatting casually, but Lin Qiqi, who had been quietly eating, took it seriously.
Jiangcheng’s economic development was accelerating—many factories were likely transitioning into enterprises.
If someone could be fired for personal conduct, then if she gathered evidence and reported Lin Zhengxian…
Would it be possible for him to be fired from the welding rod factory too?
He hadn’t shown up recently, but as long as he was still employed there, he might cause trouble.
He took Jiang Yunling’s life-saving money to support a mistress—she wouldn’t let him live comfortably either.
But in truth, the Lin family hadn’t been doing well lately.
Old Master Lin had three sons: the eldest Lin Zhengxian, the second Lin Zhengrong, and the youngest Lin Zhengguang.
Because of this, Yang Sufen always walked around the village with her head held high.
Unfortunately, all three sons were useless.
The eldest at least had a position in the city’s welding rod factory, but the other two could only farm in the countryside.
Now all three were married, yet they hadn’t built a single new house.
More than ten people crowded into the same old brick house Yang Sufen had built when she got married.
When Lin Zhengxian lived in the city, it was manageable.
Now that he had returned—and brought Shui Lian with him—the house became unbearably crowded.
Even before summer arrived, it already smelled of sweat and bodies.
Although Yang Sufen favored her eldest son, the other two were still her sons.
Only she knew about the 2,000 yuan Lin Zhengxian had taken.
She wanted him to use it to build another house in the village.
“Zhengxian, look how crowded it is now. Why not take out that money and build another house? You and Shui Lian would be more comfortable.”
Lin Zhengxian had always been under her control.
Jiang Yunling had never interfered either—whatever he said went.
He was about to agree when Shui Lian objected.
“Mom, when you introduced me to Zhengxian, you said he had a house in the city. But now we’re stuck in this broken rural place.”
“As for that 2,000 yuan, Zhengxian and I have already discussed it. Once he saves a bit more from his salary, we plan to buy an apartment in the city.”
“Buy an apartment?!” Yang Sufen’s temper flared.
But Shui Lian wasn’t afraid—she knew exactly how to handle her.
“City apartments are convenient. There’s a big hospital nearby, plus kindergartens and schools.”
“When the time comes, we’ll bring you and Dad to the city. You can help take care of your grandson and enjoy retirement.”
“It’ll also be better for the child’s education.”
As she spoke, Shui Lian gently touched her lower abdomen and lowered her head.
Other arguments might not work—but mentioning a grandson always did.
Sure enough, Yang Sufen softened.
“Well… that’s not impossible.”
“But right now, we can still squeeze in during spring. In summer, it’ll be unbearable…”
“How about building the house first? If you want a city apartment later, I’ll have your brothers figure something out.”
Shui Lian sneered inwardly.
The second and third sons?
Since she got with Lin Zhengxian, she hadn’t seen them contribute a single cent.
Why would she, not yet thirty, be with a man over forty?
For his money—to escape the mountains and move to the city.
“Mom, if you want a solution, there is one.”
Shui Lian bit her lip and glanced timidly at Lin Zhengxian.
“Doesn’t Zhengxian still have a house in the city? If we could…”
She had long wanted to move there.
But the last time Yang Sufen tried to seize the house, she came back humiliated and furious for days.
So Shui Lian hadn’t dared bring it up again.
“Right!” Yang Sufen slapped her thigh. “How did I forget about that!”
Last time, she had gone alone and unprepared.
This time, she would bring the second and third sons.
With two grown men beside her, she didn’t believe she could lose to those two women.
Confident, she said, “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely get that house for us.”
She reached out and touched Shui Lian’s belly.
“In a couple of days, Grandma will go get a house for my precious grandson.”
But she didn’t notice the mocking smile on Shui Lian’s face.
Grandson?
There was no grandson in her belly.
The pregnancy was a lie—to deceive Lin Zhengxian and Yang Sufen.
Even the so-called fortune-teller who said it would be a boy—she had arranged that too.
Otherwise, how could she escape that hellish home?
But pregnancy couldn’t be faked forever.
Lin Zhengxian was older now—ten minutes at night was all he managed.
How could she possibly get pregnant?
To secure her place in the Lin family, she had to give birth to a son.
Shui Lian bit her lip, watching Yang Sufen’s arrogant figure leave.
If she didn’t go all out, she would end up like Jiang Yunling.
Once drained dry, she would be discarded without hesitation.
She would give the Lin family a grandson.
But whose child it would be… that was another matter.