Onlookers turned their heads toward the commotion.
Standing on the steps was a young woman with a bandage wrapped around her head and a patched red jacket, her clear, sharp eyes scanning the crowd. This was none other than Cheng Rong, the youngest daughter of the Cheng family and the absolute center of today’s gossip.
“What are you all making a fuss about? My head was split open; I can’t take all this noise.”
Cheng Rong walked down the steps, and the crowd instinctively parted to let her pass. Since the main character had arrived, a good show was about to begin. In this siheyuan (courtyard), Cheng Rong was a force to be reckoned with. Relying on the pampering of her parents and the backing of her two older brothers, she was domineering, wild, and headstrong. However, she wasn’t the brightest—stubborn to a fault.
With her clear eyes fixed on Wang Cuihong and Cheng Fanfang, she didn’t have her usual aggressive, claw-baring look. Instead, her gaze sent a chill straight down people’s spines.
“This sister-in-law of mine is usually wildly overbearing,” Wang Cuihong thought, “she’s never looked at anyone with such a chilling gaze before, like she can see right through a person’s heart.”
Feeling the fixed stare, Cheng Fanfang immediately put on an expression of fright, though her eyes didn’t flicker with the slightest bit of evasion. Accustomed to reading people’s faces, Cheng Rong immediately caught the provocation in the girl’s eyes, thinking, This little brat really has two faces.
“Sister-in-law, what kind of scene are you making here? Do you know how much this is hurting my head?” Her tone remained familiar—fierce and unreasonably stubborn.
Hearing this, Wang Cuihong quickly turned back to the surrounding crowd and wailed, “Little sister-in-law, sister-in-law is begging you, don’t make Fanfang give up her temporary factory job. Sister-in-law is just afraid this child is going to think things through and try to kill herself again.”
At this point, Cheng Fanfang slowly chimed in, her voice trembling, “Little aunt, I’m begging you. This is an opportunity I worked so hard to get. Please don’t take it away, I’m begging you.”
With the two of them putting on a duet, the onlookers began whispering and criticizing Cheng Rong’s various flaws once more, their eyes filled with disapproval toward Li Chun霞 (Li Chunxia) and her daughter.
“Shut your traps!”
“I don’t care about your temporary job position at all! Even if I go down to the countryside, I can still live a prosperous, comfortable life!”
This was Cheng Rong’s genuine thought. The ingredients in her kitchen were enough to feed her for over half a year; even going down to the countryside, she would definitely live better than these people.
Everyone present froze for a moment, and then someone couldn’t help but laugh. Others followed suit and chuckled along. This girl really was wildly stubborn; her brain must have been scrambled from the fall. Comparing going to the countryside to living in the city—and competing with Fanfang, who actually had a job? Talk about a joke.
Wang Cuihong and Cheng Fanfang froze too, never expecting that this stubborn troublemaker Cheng Rong would actually express a willingness to go down to the countryside.
“As a youth who actively responds to government policies, I, Cheng Rong, will follow the footsteps of the masses, voluntarily go to the countryside to accept re-education, and engage in rural construction. So rest assured, sister-in-law, I won’t snatch my eldest niece’s spot. Stop making a fuss about dying and living from now on, or if it aggravates the injury on my head, I’ll report you for obstructing my progress in going to the countryside. Did you hear that?”
Without waiting for Wang Cuihong and Cheng Fanfang to reply, Cheng Rong turned domineeringly and walked toward her family’s courtyard.
Knowing that once her daughter uttered these words, she was bound to go to the countryside, Li Chunxia felt a pang of heartache. Glaring fiercely at her eldest daughter-in-law and eldest granddaughter, she followed her daughter back into their family’s courtyard.
“Daughter, do you really not want that position anymore?”
“Yeah, Mom. Since I’ve decided to go to the countryside, I won’t make a fuss out of it anymore. If someone really reports us, it wouldn’t look good for Dad’s job either.”
Hearing her daughter being so sensible, Li Chunxia was momentarily caught off guard. Cheng Rong quickly told her mother that her head hurt a little and she was going back to rest.
Heart aching, Li Chunxia nodded and told her daughter to get some well-deserved rest while she went off to take care of chores.
The Cheat Code Unlocked
Back in her room, Cheng Rong looked at the bowl of porridge thin as water and a cornmeal bun the size of half a fist. Although she wasn’t particularly hungry, she ate it clean.
When she finished eating, Cheng Rong closed the door and re-entered her modern kitchen.
“Ding! Congratulations to the host for automatically activating the Food Live-Streaming Reward System! Complete the system’s half-hour live-streaming mission every day, and you can get a chance to draw a prize afterward. The prize will appear in the kitchen. Does the host choose to start the live stream?”
The cold mechanical voice sounded, making Cheng Rong’s heart race. She never expected an even bigger surprise right here.
Cheng Rong turned on the two fill lights in the kitchen, took a piece of spare ribs out of the refrigerator to thaw, and turned on the rice cooker to cook rice.
Once the preparations were done, Cheng Rong excitedly activated the food system’s live-streaming task.
“Start.”
As soon as the words fell, a blue light screen appeared in front of Cheng Rong. The actions of Cheng Rong inside the screen synchronized immediately, and a thirty-minute countdown began in the upper right corner.
Drawing on her past streaming experience, Cheng Rong combined food preparation with step-by-step explanations. By the time a plate of sweet and sour spare ribs was finished, Cheng Rong checked the time on the screen—there were still ten minutes left in the broadcast.
So, Cheng Rong took a bottle of Happy Water (Cola) from the fridge, scooped a bowl of rice from the rice cooker, placed it next to the sweet and sour spare ribs, and started a mukbang.
Perhaps this body hadn’t eaten meat in a long time, because Cheng Rong devoured the entire plate of sweet and sour spare ribs clean. It was beyond satisfying.
After eating and letting out a burp, the time for her first broadcast was up.
“Thank you, host, to completing the system food live-streaming mission. You have earned one prize draw.”
As soon as the system broadcast finished, a large turntable appeared on the screen. There were no prize indicators on it, only a red draw button in the very center.
“The host can press the draw button to start the lucky draw.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Rong pressed the button. After spinning several times, the large turntable finally came to a stop.
“Congratulations to the host for winning 50 catties of premium rice!”
As the system voice finished broadcasting, a sack of rice truly materialized in the kitchen.
Opening the sack and looking at the snow-white rice, Cheng Rong’s mouth split into a wide grin. In this era of severe food shortages, if she could live-stream and draw prizes every day, she wouldn’t have to fear going hungry at all.
This food live-streaming system was seriously powerful. Her life in the countryside would have even greater security now.
Cheng Rong moved the rice rewarded by the system into the storage room, cleaned up the mess from the broadcast, organized the kitchen, and stepped back out.
Returning to her bed, she dozed off for a bit and woke up to find it was already midday.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of knocking echoed, and Cheng Rong got up to open the door. The moment it opened, a thin, pole-like boy walked in carrying a bowl.
“Sister, time to eat.”
The boy was the original owner’s younger brother, Cheng Jianhua, with whom she didn’t have a very close relationship. Mostly, it was because the original owner was petty and simple-minded, always competing with her youngest sibling for parental affection and sometimes even snatching food meant for him.
However, this younger brother had a very good temper, never holding grudges against his domineering older sister, and even sharing good food with her when he had it.
Cheng Jianhua placed the bowl on the table and pulled an egg out of his pocket, setting it down as well.
“Sister, Mom asked me to give this to you. Eat up quickly, and I’ll take the bowl back when you’re done.”
As the boy spoke, he stared longingly at the egg on the table, swallowing hard despite himself.
“Did you get one?”
Thinking his sister was being petty again—worrying he might have gotten an egg too—Cheng Jianhua quickly said, “No, only you got an egg.”
The family didn’t raise chickens; eggs had to be bartered for, making them quite precious.
How could Cheng Rong miss the yearning in the little guy’s eyes? She picked up the warm egg from the table, peeled off the shell, split it in half, and handed one half over.
“You and I will share it, half each.”
Cheng Jianhua’s eyes lit up, mixed with deep confusion. Why is his sister being so generous today? Realizing she wasn’t teasing him and genuinely wanted to share, he said, “Sister, you eat it yourself. You hurt your head; you need to eat good things to recover.”
Cheng Rong smiled inwardly; the little guy was quite sensible.
“Take it. Half each, and our bond won’t breach.”
A growing teenager could eat a house down, and with the family’s heavy financial burden, Cheng Jianhua was lucky to feel half-full every day. Seeing that his sister was genuinely sharing, Cheng Jianhua carefully took the egg and happily began nibbling on it in small bites.
Once Cheng Rong finished her thin porridge and steamed bun, the sensible little fellow collected the bowls and chopsticks.
Cheng Rong had a good impression of this kid—he didn’t throw bratty tantrums, meaning she could definitely reward him with good food in the future.
Grandma’s Visit
Shortly after finishing her meal, the curtain at the door was lifted again, giving Cheng Rong—who was lying on the bed pondering life—a sudden start.
Standing at the doorway was an old woman wearing a gray coat, with gray hair and a slightly hunchbacked posture. Following right behind her was Cheng Rong’s mother, Li Chunxia.
Seeing the same round face as her mother’s, Cheng Rong knew this elderly woman was the original owner’s maternal grandmother.
Grandma Li lived with her eldest son’s family, not far from the Cheng residence—just two alleys away.
“Grandma!”
“Ah, Rongrong!”
The old woman briskly entered the room, sat down on the chair next to Cheng Rong’s bed, and gazed at her affectionately. Nearing seventy years of age, Grandma Li was still remarkably robust. Having raised only a son and a daughter, she doted heavily on Cheng Rong’s mother.
“Rongrong, is your head alright now?”
Looking at this kind elderly woman, Cheng Rong remembered that in the original owner’s memories, Grandma always treated her well. So, she returned a sweet, obedient smile.
“Grandma, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
The old woman nodded happily, first pulling ten eggs out of a cloth bag she carried and handing them to her daughter. Then, glancing outside to ensure no one was around, she carefully dug out a handkerchief from her bosom, using her aged hands to unfold it layer by layer.
The handkerchief was already quite worn, and inside it were coins.
“Rongrong, Grandma knows you’re about to go down to the countryside. I’ve prepared five yuan for you so you won’t go hungry out there.”
Looking at the stack of small-denomination coins (mostly 15-cent notes) in the old woman’s hands, Cheng Rong felt a mixture of warmth and tightness in her chest. God knows how long the elderly woman had to scrimp and save to accumulate these savings.
Living with her uncle and aunt, Grandma Li relied solely on her eldest uncle’s income to support the household, making ends meet in a tight budget. Even though it was only five yuan, it represented a very long period of accumulation.
“Grandma, I don’t want this. You keep it for yourself.”
Hearing her granddaughter’s words, Grandma Li glared playfully, shoved the money into Cheng Rong’s hands, and walked out the door.
Cheng Rong froze for a moment. Watching her mother follow outside to see Grandma off, she stared blankly at the loose change in her hands.
This money was Grandma’s token of love; she would keep it safe for now, and she would definitely make sure to filialize Grandma well in the future.
Family Dinner Dynamics
Just as Li Chunxia finished seeing her mother off and returned to the courtyard, she caught her eldest daughter-in-law, Wang Cuihong, peeking into her daughter’s room.
Thinking of what happened earlier that morning, Li Chunxia still had pent-up frustration. She immediately cornered Wang Cuihong and gave her a tongue-lashing.
Hearing her mother scold her eldest sister-in-law, Cheng Rong felt not a single ounce of sympathy. That sister-in-law was a total lotus blossom—she loved instigating the original owner to do stupid things while quietly reaping all the benefits.
Around six in the evening, Cheng Rong’s father, Cheng Dazhi, and eldest brother, Cheng Jianshe, finally returned home. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Cheng Dazhi asked his wife and learned about the scene the eldest family had pulled today.
Being somewhat afraid of his wife, Cheng Dazhi grew furious upon hearing that his wife and youngest daughter had been wronged. He pointed a finger at his eldest son and chewed him out thoroughly, reducing Cheng Jianshe to complete silence.
The second brother, Cheng Jianguo, watched his older brother get chewed up with malicious glee, occasionally adding fuel to the fire.
Li Chunxia didn’t care much for this second son either; he had married a wife who constantly funneled resources back to her maiden family. This ungrateful son practically wished he could move into his in-laws’ house permanently.
Well aware that her second son only handed over a fraction of his carpenter earnings while keeping the lion’s share to fund his wife’s family, Li Chunxia piped up:
“Second son, why isn’t your wife back yet at this hour? Anyone who didn’t know better would think my daughter-in-law was still waiting to be married back at her maternal home.”
Hearing the barbs hidden in her mother-in-law’s words, the second daughter-in-law, Jin Dahua, had just walked in.
“Right on time, just in time for dinner.”
Jin Dahua caught the underlying meaning instantly. Wearing a forced smile without saying a word, she hurried back to her room and ruthlessly pinched her husband.
When dinner officially began that evening, Cheng Rong walked out of her room on her own.
Seeing the gauze wrapped around his youngest daughter’s head, Cheng Dazhi felt an even deeper wave of resentment toward the eldest family—those blockheads.
“Youngest daughter, does your head still hurt?”
“Dad, my head is completely fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Good, then Dad can rest easy.”
Cheng Rong plopped down right next to her father, Cheng Dazhi, while her younger brother, Cheng Jianhua, sat beside their mother.
Looking at the large bowl of porridge, a basket of cornmeal buns, and a small dish of salted vegetables on the table, Cheng Rong felt her heart twitch. Living conditions in this era were genuinely harsh, especially when it came to food.
As the matriarch of the Cheng household, Li Chunxia held the power of food distribution. She ladled two generous scoops of thick porridge into the bowls of Cheng Dazhi and her two older sons. Cheng Rong and Cheng Jianhua got bowls that were slightly thicker, while the rest were served porridge so watery it looked like clear soup.
Seeing the watery porridge in her own bowl compared to Cheng Rong’s, the second daughter-in-law, Jin Dahua, curled her lips. Rolling her eyes, she dropped a casual comment.
“Sister-in-law, when is our Fanfang going to report to the factory? What a bright future she has—truly the first among all our daughters.”
At those words, everyone paused mid-sip.
Li Chunxia: These idiots just won’t let people eat in peace.
Cheng Dazhi: Second son married a moron.
Everyone else: Even food can’t plug your mouth.
Seeing their parents’ faces darken, everyone else at the table cast unified, cautious glances first toward the quietly sipping Cheng Rong and then at the trembling Cheng Fanfang.
Given Cheng Rong’s explosive temper, another brawl was bound to start.
“Mom, your pickled vegetables really stimulate the appetite. Make sure you pack a big jar of them for me when I go down to the countryside.”
Cheng Rong smiled and acted affectionately toward her mother, showing zero intent to throw a tantrum.
Everyone stared in astonishment at the lack of an explosion.
“Alright, since my youngest girl likes them, Mom will pack you a big jar.”
Cheng Rong returned a sweet smile, then turned her sights onto her two sisters-in-law.
“Sisters-in-law, I’m heading down to the countryside soon, so you two better prepare some things for your little sister-in-law. I’m going to build up the rural areas—it’s a glorious mission! The family needs to give full support, got it? Especially eldest sister-in-law, they say ‘an eldest sister-in-law is like a mother.’ You can’t mistreat me, or else I’ll pull the same stunt as my eldest niece and hang myself outside your and eldest brother’s door. Believe it?”
The original owner’s persona was wildly unreasonable anyway; what’s wrong with demanding a few items with a thick skin?
None of these people were simple characters; if you didn’t bleed them for resources, they wouldn’t learn to shut their traps.
As soon as Cheng Rong finished speaking, the complexions of Wang Cuihong and Jin Dahua turned ashen. Before they could snap back, their mother-in-law, Li Chunxia, spoke up.
“Second family’s, don’t run around these next few days. Stay home and make two pairs of cloth shoes for Rongrong—one thin pair, one thick pair. Eldest family’s, you provide a bolt of fabric, and I’ll sew a thick set of clothes for Rongrong. That’s settled.”
With the matriarch laying down the law, no matter how reluctant the two daughters-in-law felt, they were pinned down by their respective husbands. Didn’t they see the dark expressions on the heads of the household?
Whispers of Division
After dinner concluded, everyone returned to their respective rooms.
Thinking about the bolt of fabric her mother-in-law demanded, Wang Cuihong felt a burning rage in her chest. But given the scene she had caused today, refusing outright was out of the question.
With the whole family living under one roof, they still had to subsidize the second brother’s family while the second sister-in-law milked her own maternal family. Later on, they’d have to help the youngest son get married, and knowing the parents’ habits, they’d likely have to send monthly allowances to the youngest daughter down in the countryside too. This lifestyle was unsustainable.
Recalling what her daughter had said the day before, Wang Cuihong broached the topic of splitting the family household with her husband.
“Split the family? Why bring that up all of a sudden? Mom and Dad will never agree.”
“Dear, look at our family right now. You and Big Ya both have jobs. If we don’t split the family, all our earnings have to be handed over to Mom and Dad. The second brother’s family has no job, and the family will definitely bleed money to support little sister-in-law in the countryside. Our branch is bound to get the short end of the stick. If we split the family, the money we save stays with us for our Dabao, and we can live quite comfortably.”
Though Cheng Jianshe looked honest on the surface, he was actually quite calculating inside. Hearing mention of his only son, Cheng Jianshe felt his wife made a valid point.
“Look, Big Ya saved a leader and got a factory job opportunity—who knows, maybe she can even get a regular staff position and have a bright future later on. This time Mom and Dad didn’t let Big Ya give up her spot, but what if the second family tries to eye this position later? Would you be willing to hand it over?”
Of course Cheng Jianshe wouldn’t be willing. He certainly didn’t want his family’s property going to the second brother’s household; good opportunities had to be saved for his own son.
“Then how do we bring this up with Mom and Dad?”
Seeing her husband agree to splitting the family, Wang Cuihong felt a weight lift from her chest and quickly muttered that she would find a way to bring it up ASAP.
While the couple plotted enthusiastically, they failed to notice a dark shadow flashing past the back window of their room.