It was the time of Grain in Ear, and the weather grew hotter by the day.
A few days ago, after a heavy rain, one wall at the innermost part of the Qiao family’s house collapsed. The two Qiao brothers were busy rebuilding it.
Their home only had three rooms in total. If they didn’t fix it quickly, the family of eight wouldn’t have enough space to live in.
Qiao Mianmian brought over some tea. “Big Brother, Second Brother, take a break. The sun is scorching. Mother is worried you’ll get heatstroke.”
“It’s fine. We brothers have thick skin. This bit of sun is nothing,” Qiao Jiawang said as he took the tea from his sister and drank it in one gulp. He quickly waved his hand. “But you, Mianmian, go stand under the eaves. Don’t let the sun tan you.”
Qiao Jiaxing added, “That’s right, little sister. Big Brother and I are here. You go rest.”
“I have to bring Father his meal. I can’t rest,” Qiao Mianmian said. She set down the teapot and turned into the kitchen, where her mother, Madam Lin, handed her a packed lunch box.
“The weather is hot. Pork won’t sell well. Tell your father to save his strength and not shout nonstop. If his throat goes hoarse, it’ll waste tea,” Madam Lin said carefully, living frugally as always. “Come back after delivering the food. I’ll wait for you so we can eat.”
The Qiao family only ate two meals a day. This was their morning meal. Qiao Mancang had gone out to sell meat before dawn, so someone from the family would bring him food.
Today’s meal was rice cooked with pork scraps and sweet potatoes. It looked mushy and unappetizing—and it didn’t taste much better.
Qiao Mianmian glanced at the pot and sighed inwardly. She had been here for two days now and could confirm one thing: Madam Lin’s cooking was… indescribable. It had nothing to do with “delicious.”
She was truly unlucky. Just after quitting her boss and preparing to open her own small restaurant, a car accident sent her into this place—Daye, a dynasty that didn’t even exist in history books.
Fortunately, her parents had divorced in her previous life and neither cared about her. Even if she died, there was no one to miss her. Since she had transmigrated, so be it. It was just that the living conditions here made her want to sigh.
There were nine people in the Qiao family. Madam Lin and Qiao Mancang formed a remarried family, and Qiao Mianmian was the youngest daughter born after the remarriage.
As the youngest, she was naturally doted on—within the limits of what the family could afford. Because of this, the original owner had developed a bit of a princess-like temperament, doing no housework and dreaming of marrying a scholar to become a scholar’s wife.
Coincidentally, last month, a new family moved into the alley. Their youngest son was already a licentiate and preparing for the provincial exam.
The original owner fell in love with him at first sight, secretly stole meat to give him, and was rejected. Too ashamed to face her family, she jumped into the river in anger—allowing Qiao Mianmian to take her place.
After speaking with Madam Lin, Qiao Mianmian carried the wooden lunch box and went out. At the door, she ran into her grandfather, who had just returned from casting his net.
“Why are you the one delivering the food? Let your brothers go. My dear, you’ve only just recovered. What if the sun harms you?” Qiao Youfu called out worriedly.
“My brothers are busy rebuilding the wall. I have nothing to do, so I’m helping,” Qiao Mianmian said. She felt embarrassed to eat without contributing. Everyone else was busy, and she couldn’t rest at ease.
“Oh my, our Mianmian has grown up. You know how to care for your elders now,” Qiao Youfu said with a wrinkled smile. “Go carefully. Walk along the walls and avoid the sun. Come back after delivering the food. Today I caught three fish—one will be saved for you to eat tonight.”
He looked at his granddaughter with affection. After Qiao Mancang remarried, he only had one daughter, and the whole family cherished her like a treasure. Now that she was nearing adulthood and becoming more and more beautiful, he only hoped she would marry into a good family.
After chatting with her grandfather for a while, Qiao Mianmian headed out. The sun had grown even hotter.
Her home was at the end of the alley. Along the way were more than a dozen households, all familiar neighbors who greeted her warmly.
It was mealtime. Some who had already eaten were heading out to work.
“Oh, Mianmian is delivering food today? Your father will be happy.”
“Mian girl, my Chunsheng just caught some river snails yesterday. Take a bowl home later—your father loves them.”
“Come by my house too. My sister-in-law brought a basket of pears. Take some for your family.”
“And from my house…”
By the time she walked from the end of the alley to the entrance, it took quite a while because of all the enthusiastic neighbors.
When she passed the Xu family, she glanced at their tightly closed door and quickened her pace.
They were the only newcomers in the alley. It was said their ancestors had produced a high-ranking scholar who had served as an official in the capital. Unlike ordinary people, Madam Xu always wore a veil when going out—no one had seen her face.
Qiao Mianmian turned two streets and reached her father’s meat stall. She called out crisply, “Father!”
Hearing his youngest daughter’s voice, Qiao Mancang quickly turned. “My good girl, why are you here? Where are your brothers?”
“They’re busy rebuilding the wall.” Qiao Mianmian glanced at the stall. Her father partnered with someone, each taking half a pig. They went to the slaughterhouse every two or three days. It had already been an hour since dawn, but more than half the meat remained unsold. The offal hadn’t been touched at all, and flies buzzed around it.
“Rebuilding the wall doesn’t stop them from delivering food. How could they let you come?” Qiao Mancang said, heart aching for his daughter. “Even if your brother runs a bit more, he’s faster than you. Go back quickly. It’s too hot.”
Sweat soaked his body, dripping from his arms. If he felt this way, he feared his daughter would suffer even more.
Qiao Mianmian said she wanted to come herself. “I’ve been stuck at home too long. Besides, I’ve grown up—I should help the family. Father, eat first. I’ll watch the stall.”
Qiao Mancang laughed. “Do you even know how to sell?”
A neighboring vendor asked if she was his daughter. Qiao Mancang proudly replied, “My youngest daughter. Look at her—bringing me food in this heat. Daughters are more thoughtful than sons.”
Qiao Mianmian thought to herself: she only came once, and her father praised her like this. He truly loved his daughter.
It was a pity the original owner couldn’t see that and chose to jump into the river.
But now that she had taken over this body, she would live well in her place. Being poor wasn’t a problem—if she worked hard, they would become better off sooner or later.
The neighboring vendor sighed enviously. “You’re lucky. Your sons are capable, your daughter is filial. Mine only think about themselves…”
Qiao Mancang agreed to watch his stall briefly and urged Qiao Mianmian to go home. “I’ll bring the lunch box back. You go.”
She was about to leave when the officials collecting stall fees arrived.
“Wasn’t it four coins?” Qiao Mancang frowned.
“New rule today—five coins a day now. The notice was posted yesterday. Didn’t you see it?” one officer said, picking up a piece of fatty meat. “How much is this?”
Qiao Mancang hadn’t come out yesterday because he was fixing the wall, so he didn’t know. With the heat, fewer people bought meat, and unsold meat had to be sold cheaply to restaurants. Business was already bad, and now the fee had increased—even one coin mattered.
Still, he forced a smile. “The wall at home collapsed, so I was busy yesterday. For others it’s forty coins, but for you, thirty is fine.”
“Alright, cut it for me. I’ll come back later,” the officer said. Vendors didn’t dare offend them.
After they left, Qiao Mancang muttered under his breath, “Officials eat well while we common folk struggle just to survive.”
Hearing this, Qiao Mianmian sighed silently and headed home.
Before she arrived, neighbors who had offered things earlier came out and pressed them into her hands.
“Tell your mother not to skimp on ingredients. Snails need strong seasoning to taste good,” Chunsheng’s mother said, patting her arm. She looked at Qiao Mianmian’s fair face with satisfaction, already thinking how nice it would be if she became her daughter-in-law someday.
Qiao Mianmian noticed her gaze just as her mother hurried over.
“You girl, didn’t I tell you to come back quickly? Everyone is waiting to eat,” Madam Lin said, taking her hand. Seeing the snails, she knew they were from Chunsheng’s family.
Though frugal, she understood neighborly exchanges. Smiling, she thanked them and said, “I picked some bitter bamboo shoots. They’re good in summer. I’ll have Jiawang send some over later.”
On the way home, they received more gifts from two other households before finally arriving.
Madam Lin had two daughters from before, and Qiao Mancang had two sons. Now one daughter had married out, leaving four children and two elders—eight people in total.
Today, except for the fourth sister who worked at an embroidery shop, six of them were home for the meal.
Seeing Qiao Mianmian return, Qiao Youfu said worriedly, “Next time, let your brothers deliver the food. Look, your face is red from the sun.”
Her brothers echoed the same.
The whole family treated Qiao Mianmian like a treasure. If she said she wanted to earn money, would they even agree?
She looked at them, troubled, when her stomach suddenly growled.
Forget it—eating came first.
No matter what, being full was the most important thing.
As for the fish tonight—she absolutely couldn’t let her mother cook it. Even simple braised rice turned out terrible in her hands… (feels like crying).