The weather in May still carried a lingering chill. The villagers of Meng Family Village woke early to the sound of roosters crowing, and smoke curled up from every household chimney.
Meng Yao skillfully increased the fire beneath the stove, wiped her hands, and tossed a handful of washed greens into the oil-smoking wok. Instantly, loud sizzling sounds filled the kitchen.
Her expression remained calm as she seasoned and stir-fried the vegetables with practiced ease.
This had been her daily life at nineteen in her previous life.
Father Meng had already gone to the village to begin his bookkeeping work for the day, while Mother Meng headed to the fields to earn work points. In her past life, Meng Yao had been far too sensible. Even without her parents asking, she always woke early to prepare meals.
Not only did she handle all the household chores, but whenever she had time, she also helped out in the fields.
As for Meng Yu…
Heh.
As the older sister, she had to do every chore in the family and had no spare energy for studying. Meanwhile, Meng Yu lived like a spoiled young lady, using the excuse of preparing for college to avoid work. After meals, she would hide in her room claiming to study, when in reality she was simply being lazy.
Many people gossiped behind their backs, saying the Meng family had no sons and treated their two daughters like boys. They even let the younger daughter take the college entrance exam, only for her to fail miserably. It was embarrassing.
For a long time, Meng Zhihong and Zhao Meilan could hardly hold their heads high in the village.
The stir-fried greens glistened with oil, paired with soft millet porridge cooked until creamy and fragrant corn cakes.
Three portions of breakfast were neatly arranged on the table.
“Father, Mother, come eat,” Meng Yao said as she handed chopsticks to the two who had just washed up.
Meng Zhihong sat down and, as usual, took a sip of porridge. But for some reason, the moment it entered his stomach, he felt an invisible warmth spreading through his body, washing away his exhaustion and filling him with energy.
“Ah Yao, this porridge…”
Meng Yao smiled. The water used for today’s porridge had been specially taken from the spirit spring inside her space.
She had cooked today specifically to test the effects of the spirit spring water. Her parents worked hard every day, especially Zhao Meilan, who had to labor in the fields earning work points. Spirit spring water was perfect for relieving fatigue.
She had even prepared an extra bottle for Zhao Meilan to bring with her to the fields later.
“Dad, I added a little sugar to the porridge today. Doesn’t it make you feel energized after drinking it?”
Beside him, Zhao Meilan also took a sip and immediately felt refreshed and invigorated.
She looked up, about to praise her daughter, when she suddenly froze.
Meng Yao’s skin looked soft and fair today, her hair glossy and black. Not only did she look healthier, but she seemed brighter and more radiant overall.
“Ah Yao looks so pretty today,” Zhao Meilan praised sincerely.
Meng Yao only smiled silently as she bit into a corn cake, feeling cheerful.
Thinking about how she would never again follow the army to Jingxi City in this life, and that she now had the spirit spring space with her, her mood became even better.
Jingxi City was near the islands. Things that were easy to eat here were almost impossible to find there. Even the simplest seasonings were difficult to buy. Every meal had been bland and watery. Just thinking about it now made Meng Yao uncomfortable.
She would never live that kind of life again.
The thought filled her heart with indescribable relief.
Seeing that there were only three breakfasts on the table, Zhao Meilan subconsciously asked, “Ah Yao, where’s your sister’s portion?”
In her previous life, Meng Yao had truly doted on Meng Yu. She had never once let her younger sister do any housework. But in this life, Meng Yu could forget about being served by her again.
And the possibility that Meng Yu might not even be her biological sister only made Meng Yao angrier.
If Meng Yu really wasn’t her real sister, then what had all these years of enjoying their parents’ love and her care meant?
A fraud!
Meng Yao swallowed the food in her mouth and naturally smiled.
“Father, Mother, didn’t you say before that both my sister and I should take the college entrance exam? I thought Ah Yu is still young and may not have much self-discipline, so I want to help correct that. From now on, she should do her own chores and serve her own meals. She needs to start with small responsibilities. If she can’t even handle small things or refuses to do them, then she definitely won’t put effort into studying either.”
Meng Yao looked troubled.
“I heard this from the educated youths sent to the village. They said studying isn’t easy. I’m doing this to strengthen Ah Yu’s willpower. What do you think?”
Zhao Meilan nodded repeatedly without the slightest suspicion. Her Ah Yao was kind-hearted, so she must truly be doing this for her sister’s own good.
“It’s thoughtful of Ah Yao to care this much,” Meng Zhihong said with satisfaction. Then he suddenly added, “But don’t just supervise your sister. You also need to focus more on your own studies. If there’s anything you don’t understand, write it down first. I’ll help ask the educated youths later. Both you and your sister must work hard, get into university, and bring honor to our Meng family!”
Since the topic had reached this point, Meng Yao immediately continued.
“Father, Mother, I was just about to tell you. Could you give me three yuan today? I want to go to the county town to buy some practice exam papers. I heard registration for the college entrance exam has started, so I’ll also sign up both me and my sister while I’m there.”
Meng Zhihong immediately became excited.
“Wait, Ah Yao, you finally want to take the university exam too?”
Meng Yao smiled and nodded at her father.
In her previous life, when Meng Zhihong and Zhao Meilan encouraged both daughters to attend university, Meng Yao hadn’t wanted to burden the family financially, so she had voluntarily given up the opportunity for her sister.
Thinking back now, she felt foolish.
Why should she?
This time, she would never do that again!
Having been given another chance at life, she absolutely had to take the college entrance exam, attend university, and earn a degree!
Seeing that her daughter had finally changed her mind, Zhao Meilan also became happy.
“Ah Yao, don’t blame your father and me for forcing you and your sister to take the exam. Yesterday, your father already mailed a reply to the matchmaker. The wedding dates for you and your sister haven’t been decided yet. Your father’s idea is to hold the weddings after the admission letters arrive. Do you understand why?”
Of course Meng Yao understood, but she shook her head anyway.
Zhao Meilan continued, “People in the village gossip behind our backs, saying we only managed to find such good marriage prospects because of your grandfather’s status as a martyr. They say our Meng family is reaching above our station.”
She sighed softly.
“But honestly, they’re right. Our family really is climbing too high. Your father and I thought that if both you and your sister could get into university, then at least you’d have the status of college students. Your future in-laws would look at us more favorably and wouldn’t make things difficult for you and Ah Yu because of social status.”
Meng Yao naturally understood all of this.
“Father, Mother, don’t worry. I’ll definitely work hard.”
At eight-thirty in the morning, sunlight brightly filled the courtyard.
Meng Yu had enjoyed a peaceful and comfortable sleep. By now, no one remained in the Meng household. Those who needed to work had already gone out.
As usual, she washed her face and brushed her teeth before lazily plopping down into a chair beside the table.
She reached out casually—
And grabbed nothing.
Turning her head, she found the table completely empty. There was no prepared meal waiting for her, only half a jar of pickled radish sitting to the side.
Frowning, she got up and walked into the kitchen.
She lifted the lid off the stove pot in one motion, only to find it scrubbed spotless. Refusing to believe it, she continued searching through the kitchen.
After searching everywhere, she found absolutely nothing.
Since she had woken up late, all that searching only left her stomach growling with hunger.
Furious, she kicked over an empty bucket nearby.
She couldn’t help cursing Meng Yao in her heart. Usually, breakfast would already be served on the table or kept warm in the pot. Why was there nothing today?!
Returning to the main room, she searched again, only to discover there wasn’t even a single snack in the house.
Having already experienced a few days of luxury in her previous life, Meng Yu increasingly despised this poor family. She wished she could marry Song Wei immediately and begin living a good life.
No rush, no rush. Just wait a little longer!
Since she couldn’t cook, she could only endure her hunger and return to her room to lie down again.
She planned to wait until noon and properly question Meng Yao when she returned.
At that moment, however, Meng Yao had no interest in whether Meng Yu had eaten or not. Riding in the village horse cart, she had already set off for the county town.