For some reason, Lu Minggui felt a lump in her throat as she watched everything.
“Drink, drink! Ah-Nai will drink too!” she said, her voice trembling.
The three of them didn’t speak any further, each holding a large porcelain bowl and eating.
The spinach was slightly sweet, the eggs fragrant and tender. As the soft egg ribbons slipped down their throats, they moistened their empty stomachs.
A bite of the black bun, chewed with the porridge, was pure delight.
Normally, the coarse buns would scratch the throat, but paired with the savory egg soup, they became a delicacy.
Finally, some coarse grain rice filled the stomach. Warmth spread through them, and their whole bodies seemed to relax.
None of the three had ever felt this full, and they silently rubbed their bellies.
For some reason, Shen Juye felt a twinge in her nose and wanted to cry.
Today seemed like the happiest day since she had married into the Song family.
Lu Minggui also felt the urge to cry. Having survived the famine years, she knew that such a peaceful day might last only a little over a year.
Her heart was anxious, uncertain about the future, yet she felt that perhaps coming back to life had given her a new chance.
The room was quiet.
Finally, Manman spoke first: “Ah-Nai, Mother, I’ll wash the bowls now.”
Before anyone could respond, the little hands carried the basin and bowls out.
Lu Minggui got up to help but was stopped by Shen Juye: “Mother, let Manman do it.”
In the past, Lu Minggui would have thought a girl helping with chores was no problem.
But thinking of the eldest son’s three children, who never did housework and only played around, she realized it was unfair to Manman.
Besides, Manman had already helped with the fire.
“I’ll go. There isn’t much water left in the jar; we need to fetch more,” she said.
Shen Juye thought her mother-in-law seemed oddly considerate today. She had cooked egg soup, brought it to her bedside, and now didn’t want Manman doing chores.
Could it be because Dahe had died that she was being nice to them?
No, Dahe wouldn’t die!
Shen Juye shook the thought away and said: “Mother, I’ll go then.”
“No, you’re pregnant. You can’t do heavy work…”
As they pushed and pulled, voices of other children sounded outside:
“Song Manman! You’re stealing food!”
“Yeah, are you taking advantage of the house being empty?”
The children speaking were Song Dazhi’s two kids.
The older one was Jinbao, eight years old.
The younger was Erfen, seven, a girl. The youngest, Yinbao, wasn’t present—probably still playing outside.
Both children were sweaty and had just returned from outside.
Jinbao stepped closer, eyeing the basin and bowls on the ground. Everything had already been eaten, so he saw nothing.
Erfen sniffed and suddenly exclaimed: “Smells so good! Eggs! They’re eggs!”
“They’re stealing eggs at home!”
“I’ll tell Mother! Ah-Nai and Second Aunt’s stinky girl dared to steal good food!”
Erfen, thinking she had found a huge piece of evidence, glared angrily at Manman.
Jinbao stepped forward and pushed Manman to the ground: “Stinky girl, I’ll teach you!”
Caught off guard, Manman fell, pouting and on the verge of tears.
But she forced herself to stop crying.
This wasn’t the first time Jinbao and Erfen had bullied her.
In the past, when she complained to her mother, Lu Minggui would go to the eldest daughter-in-law to argue, only to be scolded herself.
Ah-Nai did not intervene; she let it be.
With her father gone, Manman learned that at home, the eldest son’s family ruled. Even Ah-Nai listened to them.
No one would help her, so she endured silently, even when Jinbao bullied her repeatedly.
Seeing her timid reaction, Jinbao felt triumphant and prepared to kick her.
Manman closed her eyes tightly, ready to endure the blow quietly.
But the expected kick never came. Instead, Jinbao yelped in surprise.
She opened her eyes to see Jinbao on the ground, while Erfen stood by, motionless.
Ah-Nai was standing in front of her.
Manman’s heart warmed. The tears she had held back finally slipped out. She whispered softly, “Ah-Nai…”
Ah-Nai was protecting her! Ah-Nai was so good!
Lu Minggui hadn’t realized that a single act of defense would make Manman forget the past and start liking her wholeheartedly.
Hearing the commotion, she had rushed out, saw Jinbao ready to kick Manman, and instinctively kicked back.
She didn’t hold back, sending Jinbao sprawling to the ground.
Erfen, standing nearby, giggled and didn’t help her brother.
Jinbao cried out in pain, thinking it had been Second Aunt.
He, always timid, never thought Lu Minggui would intervene and tried to protest with his eyes shut.
“Ah! Murder! The wicked woman is trying to kill me!”
“Mother! Come see! Second Aunt’s going to beat me to death!”
Lu Minggui felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
This was the eldest grandson of the Lu family, and he had clearly grown up spoiled. Looking at his tantrum, one might think he was some rogue.
Angry, she grabbed a broom and swung at Jinbao:
“I’ll teach you to be a rascal! Acting up at your age! Bullying Manman!”
Jinbao then realized the person hitting him wasn’t Second Aunt but Ah-Nai.
Seeing the big broom coming down, he dared not lie there any longer.
“Ah-Nai, stop! It hurts!”
But Lu Minggui held back no anger, swinging harder each time.
Jinbao ran around the yard, wailing.
After a few hits, he finally found a chance to escape through the gate.
Villagers often saw naughty children chased around the village by adults, venting their frustration.
Lu Minggui didn’t follow. The exertion left her slightly winded.
Though her body had regained two decades of youth, she was still over forty, so her strength wasn’t limitless.
Setting down the broom, she turned to Erfen, who was still standing: “You’re not free either. Help Manman wash the bowls.”
Though Jinbao had just been beaten, Erfen wasn’t afraid of Lu Minggui.
Lu Minggui normally ignored her, and Song Dazhi and his wife treated her well, never making her do chores.
Besides, Shen Juye and Manman usually did all the housework.
Thus, Erfen spent most of her time playing outside.
Hearing Lu Minggui tell her to wash bowls, she pouted in protest:
“Ah-Nai, why should I wash bowls when you ate the food?”
“Didn’t you steal the eggs? I can smell them!”