Meng Yu hadn’t expected Meng Yao to be so cold. Having gone a whole day without eating, she was seething with frustration.
Now, she didn’t even have the energy to vent her anger.
She said weakly, “Fine, if there’s nothing, then hurry up and cook. I’m starving to death.”
Meng Yu’s parents hadn’t returned at noon, so no one had prepared lunch. She had been hungry since morning, only nibbling on a tomato at midday, and now her head was spinning.
Meng Yao, of course, knew she hadn’t eaten.
So what? In this life, she wasn’t going to indulge this sister of unclear origins!
She unpacked the items from her bag one by one, her tone indifferent. “What’s the rush? It’s still early. We can wait until Mom and Dad get home to cook.”
Meng Yu was fuming on the side and couldn’t help but let her anger seep into her tone. “I’m starving to death! I haven’t eaten all day. What’s there to wait for? Hurry up and cook!”
Meng Yao put down what she was holding and stared at her coldly.
Meng Yu realized her tone had been too harsh and immediately backed down, putting on a pitiful face. “Sis, you’re the best. Please cook. I’m really hungry!”
Meng Yao watched her for a moment, then curled her lips slightly. “Looks like you really are hungry. Fine, I’ll cook.”
Meng Yu let out a sigh of relief, her voice weak and feeble. “When you’ve finished cooking, remember to call me. I’ll go back to my room to study for a bit.”
“Alright, wait then.”
Meng Yao knew this was just another excuse to avoid helping, using studying as a cover. Still, she was curious—could Meng Yu, who had experienced Rebirth, actually get into university this time?
Back in her room, Meng Yu angrily shoved the quilt off the bed.
She cursed Meng Yao in her mind, but then took a deep breath and reminded herself that no matter what Meng Yao said now, she mustn’t break ties.
She was still counting on getting some money from Meng Yao after she married into the Gu family. After all, even though the Gu family later faced confiscation of family property, Meng Yao would still have some dowry from them when she married.
Once she had thoroughly swindled Meng Yu’s money, she would already have left with Song Wei to follow the army. By then, Meng Yao wouldn’t even be able to find her.
She would completely sever ties with this impoverished family.
At this thought, her stomach growled loudly. She glanced irritably at the time, wondering when Meng Yao would finish cooking.
Although Meng Yao had agreed to cook for Meng Yu, she was actually busy with her own tasks in the kitchen, refusing to simply act as Meng Yu’s maid.
First, she organized the seeds she had bought, then focused her mind and entered the Space. Immediately, a vast expanse of land appeared before her.
Just as she was wondering how to plant the seeds, they seemed to obey a command and instantly settled into the soil. She suddenly understood—in the Space, she could control things with her mind.
She then used her mind to water the land with Spirit Spring Water. The seeds she had just planted suddenly sprouted, breaking through the soil and growing at a visible speed!
Meng Yao was overjoyed. If vegetables could grow this quickly in the Space, what would happen if she placed live chickens, ducks, or fish here?
Everyone craved meat these days. If animals could multiply at this rate, wouldn’t she become rich in the future?
She decided to find an opportunity to test this.
When she left the Space, she filled a kettle with Spirit Spring Water.
She didn’t plan to use the Spirit Spring Water for cooking. Instead, she intended to pour it into the kettle her parents often used for tea.
In this life, Meng Yu can forget about getting any benefits from her!
After emerging from the Space, Meng Yao took out the test papers she bought today and began reviewing them. She first completed all the questions she knew how to answer, leaving the ones she didn’t understand aside to figure out slowly.
She refused to believe that what others could learn, she couldn’t. It was simply a matter of putting in more time and effort.
When she heard Zhao Meilan and Meng Zhihong talking in the yard, she put away the test papers and started boiling water and cooking in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Meng Yu also heard the voices of her parents. She instinctively thought that since her parents were back, Meng Yao must have already served the food and placed it on the table. Struggling to get up with her weak body, she prepared to eat.
Just then, she happened to see Meng Yao poking her head out of the kitchen and saying to their parents, “Mom, Dad, you’re back. Rest for a bit and have some water. The food will be ready soon.”
As she spoke, she handed a teapot filled with Spirit Spring Water to her parents.
“No rush. Your dad and I have been resting well lately. We didn’t feel tired at all today and are full of energy,” Zhao Meilan said.
Usually, when she returned from the fields, Zhao Meilan would be too exhausted to speak. But today, for some reason, aside from feeling a bit physically tired, she didn’t feel weary at all.
Meng Zhihong was also in high spirits.
Meng Yao smiled and said, “Mom, you’re getting younger by the day.”
Zhao Meilan took the teapot, drank a sip, and felt her fatigue vanish instantly. She then passed the teapot to Meng Zhihong beside her.
“Sweetie, let me help you cook today,” Zhao Meilan offered.
Meng Yao declined, “No need. You and Dad should rest. I’ll handle it.”
Seeing their daughter so sensible, Zhao Meilan and Meng Zhihong felt warmth in their hearts.
Before they could praise Meng Yao, a furious roar suddenly came from the living room.
“What! You wretched girl, you haven’t finished cooking yet!” Meng Yu had come out of the bedroom and, not seeing the prepared food on the table, heard Meng Yao casually mention it wasn’t ready yet. She could no longer control her temper.
Zhao Meilan and Meng Zhihong noticed Meng Yu’s agitation and frowned deeply.
Meng Yu was clearly famished and lashed out at Meng Yao, “It’s been an hour! Why isn’t it ready yet? Are you trying to starve me to death? Would that make you happy?”
Meng Yao remained silent, quietly leaning against the kitchen doorframe and watching her with a blank expression.
Zhao Meilan couldn’t hold back any longer and scolded Meng Yu, “How dare you speak to your sister like that! A-Yao works hard to cook for the family. How can you treat her this way?”
Meng Zhihong also frowned. His tone was much harsher than Zhao Meilan’s, and his expression was stern. “No respect for your elders! Talking about starving to death at your age—if you’re hungry, can’t you cook for yourself? Who do you think you are, waiting around to be served every day? Do you think you’re some ancient landlord who needs maids to attend to you?”
They usually indulged their younger daughter, but when it came to matters of principle, they were not lenient!
“Meng Yao is your sister! Not your maid! Even if you lack gratitude, your attitude is unacceptable. Apologize to your sister!”
Although the Meng family lived in the countryside, influenced by the late Mr. Meng, they had always educated their children with the etiquette and norms of a respectable family. They would never allow Meng Yu to behave so recklessly!
Coming to her senses, Meng Yu realized she had lost control earlier. But as she looked at Meng Yao’s expressionless face, the anger from starving all day churned inside her. No matter what, she would not lower her head to apologize.
With a cold snort, she returned to her room and slammed the door shut.
Meng Zhihong angrily flicked his sleeve and scolded, “Since you’re in such a temper, you can skip dinner tonight!”
Such serious arguments rarely occurred in the Meng household. Meng Yu buried herself under the quilt, crying bitterly in grievance, unable to understand why, after her Rebirth, her parents had started siding with Meng Yao. She could only sob and curse Meng Yao between tears.
Her heart grew even more determined to leave home far behind and never return. Soon, she thought, once she married Brother Song Wei!
Things progressed exactly as Meng Yao had hoped. She obediently comforted Zhao Meilan and Meng Zhihong, making the elderly couple feel even more heartache for their eldest daughter.