Wang Fengqin’s chest heaved violently. Her throat sounded like a bellows being pulled. She stared at Ye Jin’s fair little face, eyes carrying a faint trace of provocation. She was so angry she wished she could tear her apart on the spot.
But thinking of her daughter’s eyes, she had no choice but to suppress all her rage and force out a smile.
“You must be tired, right? Have you eaten lunch? If not, Mom will make something for you.”
“I want braised pork, garlic stir-fried water spinach, and a soft boiled egg.”
Ye Jin listed the dishes without hesitation.
The anger Wang Fengqin had just suppressed surged up again.
“You, you are going too far.”
“I know Mom is the best. Mom will make whatever I want, right?”
Ye Jin smiled innocently. Wang Fengqin’s face turned dark. She rubbed her chest hard, afraid she would be driven into cardiac arrest.
“Fine. Mom will go to the village and buy some meat. If I can get it, I will make braised pork. If I cannot, then there is nothing I can do.”
It was already around four in the afternoon. The village butcher shops were long out of meat. Wang Fengqin was clearly trying to brush her off, but Ye Jin did not buy it at all.
“I was frightened so badly yesterday, I still have not recovered. Today I just want braised pork. With Mom’s ability, if you want to buy meat, you can definitely get it, right?”
At this point, Wang Fengqin had no choice but to grit her teeth and nod.
“Fine. Mom will go buy meat. You light the fire, cook the rice, and prepare the other dishes.”
Ye Jin did not respond. Wang Fengqin went back to her room to get money. In the room, Zhang Duo had already heard their conversation and was grinding her teeth in hatred.
When Wang Fengqin entered, Zhang Duo grabbed her arm by sound.
“Mom, that little bitch harmed me so badly. Are you really going to spend money to buy her meat? She does not deserve it.”
“For your eyes to recover sooner and for you to go back to school beautifully, Mom can endure a little grievance. We will let her be arrogant for a couple of days.”
Zhang Duo clenched her teeth in anger, but Wang Fengqin quickly soothed her.
“My good daughter, do not be angry. It is not worth ruining your health.”
Only then did Zhang Duo calm down slightly.
When Wang Fengqin came out, Ye Jin had already returned to her room. She could only raise her voice and remind her.
“Ye Jin, Mom is going to buy meat. Remember to cook the rice.”
Lying on the bed, Ye Jin lazily lifted her eyelids and could not even be bothered to pretend.
The house was silent. Wang Fengqin clenched her fists in anger and stormed out.
At this time of day, there was no meat left in the village. Wang Fengqin had to shamelessly go from house to house begging, finally scraping together half a jin of meat, all while being ridiculed.
“Your daughter’s eyes are like that already, and you still think about eating meat?”
“You should be more sensible instead of always thinking about food.”
“It is the girl who wants it. As her stepmother, if I do not follow her wishes, she will accuse me of abusing her in the village.”
Wang Fengqin sighed deliberately. The villagers looked even more conflicted, but in the end only said, “Other people’s children are hard to understand. No matter how good you are to them, it is useless.”
Having finished playing the good person, Wang Fengqin returned home with the meat. As soon as she entered, she saw the cold stove and empty pots again. That little wretch had not even lit the fire, let alone cooked.
Wang Fengqin trembled with anger but could only suppress it and cook herself.
An hour later, she finished braised pork, garlic water spinach, and fried an egg. She accidentally overcooked the first one, so she made another. This time it looked perfect, golden and soft with a beautiful soft yolk.
“Bah, that little wretch does not deserve to eat such good food.”
Wang Fengqin spat a lump of phlegm onto the egg, then flipped it over, hiding it.
After finishing, she called Zhang Duo out first, then went to call Ye Jin.
When Ye Jin finally came out lazily, she did not even bother to serve herself rice. Wang Fengqin had to serve them each a bowl.
“I told you, I was so tired from cooking and buying ingredients. Try Mom’s cooking. Especially this soft boiled egg, it is best eaten hot.”
She pushed the bowl toward Ye Jin.
Ye Jin frowned slightly and said, “I do not feel like eating soft boiled eggs anymore.”
“Always so picky. If you do not want it, give it to me.”
Zhang Duo snatched the bowl and shoved it into her mouth.
“Stop, do not eat it!”
But it was too late. Zhang Duo had already eaten half in one bite.
Only then did Ye Jin notice that the half egg in Zhang Duo’s mouth was covered with something unknown.
“This is mine! Why can I not eat it?”
Zhang Duo, unable to see clearly, ate even faster.
Wang Fengqin watched helplessly as her daughter finished the contaminated egg and swallowed her disgust.
“Anyway, leave one egg for your sister. This one is not soft boiled. You do not mind, right?”
She reluctantly pushed the other egg over.
Ye Jin took it and ate it without hesitation.
Wang Fengqin had no appetite, her mind still on what had just happened.
After eating, she instinctively ordered Ye Jin to clean the table.
“Mom is tired today. Can you clean up?”
“Oh, I am too full. I just want to lie down. Besides, I always cleaned up after cooking before. Mom even said whoever cooks cleans. So you can do it yourself.”
Ye Jin smiled and stood up.
As she reached the door, she suddenly paused.
“Mom, I just saw something on the egg Zhang Duo ate. It looked like yellow hardened phlegm. I thought she would not be able to chew it, but she swallowed it so fast.”
She shut the door.
The moment Zhang Duo, who had only managed to eat half a bowl of rice, heard this, her stomach churned violently. She grabbed the table and vomited uncontrollably.