Plop—a tear of shame fell.
Shen Xiaoyun hurriedly wiped it away, took a big bite of meat, and then spoke softly, “Dad, I can deliver the meal to Mom and the others by myself. The weather is so hot, and the road is long. Let Sister-in-law rest at home.”
Jiang Yingying glanced at her in surprise. Had this girl suddenly changed her disposition? Was she so easily won over?
Shen Qinghong carefully picked out the remaining dried meat from his bowl, set it aside, and said, “It’s your sister-in-law’s first day since marrying into the family. She ought to familiarize herself with the family’s land!”
In the countryside, land was everything. How could a new bride not be allowed to know about the family’s fields?
Moreover, Xuelian had specifically instructed before leaving in the morning that Yingying should go along to deliver the meal, hoping the two young ones could bond a little.
Last night, they had slept in separate beds.
This matter weighed heavily on Xuelian’s mind.
Shen Xiaoyun nodded. Though her feelings had shifted, her initial attitude had been so poor that she felt too embarrassed to apologize outright. Instead, she simply quickened her pace of eating.
Then, without waiting for Jiang Yingying to finish her meal, she dashed out and busied herself organizing the things to take to the fields.
Wen Qin and Wen Cong, being young, had small appetites and were quickly full after just a few pieces of dried meat.
They watched their new auntie, who ate delicately and took small bites, their little faces full of anticipation. “Auntie, can we go with you and Auntie to deliver the meal?” they asked.
Before Jiang Yingying could respond, they quickly added, “We’ll be good! We promise not to run around, and we can even help with work!”
It’s often said that children from poor families mature early. Though these two were young, they were already little helpers during the busy farming season. They usually worked in the fields, but with summer approaching and the midday heat becoming unbearable, the elderly couple had been keeping them from going.
Jiang Yingying blinked. She had no experience looking after children, especially ones so young.
What if the children got tired or thirsty on the way? She couldn’t carry them or comfort them.
Just as she hesitated, Shen Qinghong spoke up, “Let them come along to help carry some things.”
Jiang Yingying gave a gentle warning first. Smiling, she set down her chopsticks and said, “Auntie isn’t very strong, but I’ll do my best to take care of you. You must promise to behave!”
Wen Qin, being the older one, patted his chest and declared, “Don’t worry, Auntie! I’m strong!”
His earnest, grown-up demeanor amused Jiang Yingying. She said nothing more, took a few more sips of soup, and then set down her bowl and chopsticks, ready to clean up.
Shen Qinghong quickly stopped her. “I’ll take care of this. You should hurry and bring the meal to your mother and the others! The road is long and rough—don’t waste time.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yingying didn’t insist on helping.
After all, she hadn’t really wanted to do the chores in the first place…
It was the early days of the household contract responsibility system. The Shen family had few members, and due to Shen Qinghong’s previously unfavorable class status, the land allocated to them was in a remote area at the foot of the mountains, quite far from where they lived.
Even so, every household was working with renewed enthusiasm.
In the past, they earned work points, but now it was different—now they were working for their own family!
On the way, Shen Xiaoyun carried the basket, while Wen Qin and Wen Cong held the water bottles. Jiang Yingying, in contrast, carried nothing and followed behind, unburdened.
Even city roads were narrow in those days, let alone the rural dirt paths.
The scorching sun beat down overhead. Though Jiang Yingying carried nothing, she was panting after just a few steps, feeling as if she might faint at any moment.
The scorching sun showed no mercy, even with trees lining both sides of the path, the heat relentlessly seeped into their bodies.
Jiang Yingying’s face was drenched in sweat, leaving her too breathless to speak. “Xiaoyun, let’s rest for a while before continuing. It’s just too hot.”
Shen Xiaoyun was also soaked in sweat, but her steps remained steady as she pressed forward. Hearing this, she glanced at Jiang Yingying and frowned with a hint of reproach. “We’ve only walked a short distance. Second Brother and Mother haven’t eaten yet!”
Jiang Yingying wiped her sweat, feeling somewhat ashamed as she looked at the two young children. Even Wenqin and Wencong, the little toddlers, hadn’t complained or asked to stop. Gritting her teeth, she wiped her sweat again and said, “Let’s go!”
But Shen Xiaoyun stopped. She pointed to a tree ahead and said, “Forget it, let’s have some water before we continue.” Then, as if overexplaining, she added, “I’m just worried Wenqin and Wencong might get too tired!”
The girl was a bit stubborn, but her heart was in the right place.
Without hesitation, Jiang Yingying plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. “How much farther?”
Shen Xiaoyun glanced at the path. “Almost there. That mountain up ahead is the spot.”
The Shen family’s land was located at the westernmost edge of the village. Though large, it was barren due to its proximity to the mountain.
In an era where farmers relied entirely on the land for survival, the family had only Shen Yao as the male laborer. Shen Qinghong needed medication year-round, and there were two young children to feed. It was no surprise they lived in poverty.
Shen Xiaoyun was only sixteen but had been working in the fields for several years already.
In contrast, Jiang Yingying was the youngest in her family, with several older siblings. Her father was the village chief, and her mother had always doted on her since childhood. She rarely did any work, let alone farm labor.
Two people who would never have crossed paths had somehow ended up together.
After resting for about ten minutes, they stood up and continued westward.
After another twenty minutes or so, they finally spotted the golden rice fields and the figures swinging hoes under the sun.
“Mother! Second Brother!” Shen Xiaoyun called out loudly, quickening her pace. “Come and eat first.”
Shen Yao wore only a white tank top, soaked through with sweat. His well-defined, sturdy muscles were strikingly visible under the sunlight.
Jiang Yingying couldn’t help but sneak a few extra glances, inwardly clicking her tongue. What a waste—with a body like that, he should’ve been a model.
Li Xuelian also walked over, wiping her sweat. When she saw Wenqin and Wencong, she smiled. “Why did you two tag along?”
Wenqin, clutching a large lunchbox, chirped brightly, “Grandma, little brother and I came with Auntie to deliver food!”
Shen Xiaoyun shot him an annoyed look. “With Auntie? Am I dead or something?”
Wencong, naive and oblivious, chimed in, “Auntie isn’t dead.”
The innocent remark made the adults burst into laughter.
Jiang Yingying found a rock to sit on and waved them over. “Mother, Brother Yao, come and eat.”
She lifted the lid, and a rich aroma of meat wafted out.
Li Xuelian’s expression shifted. She hurried over to peer into the lunchbox. “Yingying, where did this meat come from?”
The last time the family had eaten meat was during the New Year. After that, their only two meat ration tickets had been traded for grain. Then Shen Qinghong fell seriously ill, and even basic sustenance became a struggle…
Inside the aluminum lunchbox were several cornmeal pancakes, a spoonful of greens, and a generous layer of dried meat piled on top.
Even Shen Yao glanced over a few extra times.
Jiang Yingying set the lunchbox on the ground, placed a large water bottle beside it, and took Li Xuelian’s hand with a smile. “Mother, you work so hard—you need to eat more meat to keep up your strength! This is from my mother. You and Brother Yao should have more.”
Although it was only dried meat, in an era when food was precious, its aroma still wafted enticingly into their nostrils.
Li Xuelian couldn’t help but swallow, yet she shook her head: “Silly girl, if we eat all this meat at once, how will we manage our lives? Your parents must have saved for who knows how long to set aside this meat for you. Put it away properly and save it to eat gradually!”
“Someone my age doesn’t crave such things!”
After she spoke, Shen Xiaoyun, who was sitting nearby, blushed. She had eaten several large mouthfuls of meat at the noon meal!
She had been as greedy as a starving ghost—how utterly shameful!
Jiang Yingying covered her mouth and laughed: “Mother, in such hot weather, this meat won’t keep. If you don’t eat it and it spoils, wouldn’t that be even more of a waste?”
Shen Yao didn’t know the reason for her sudden change in attitude, but he lowered his gaze and said, “We have a well at home. If we wrap the meat in oiled paper and store it there, it can last for many days.”
Jiang Yingying shot him a glare: “Brother Yao, I only brought out the meat because I care about you!”
Her tone carried a hint of coquettishness, and her flushed cheeks from the journey made her appear even more charming. Shen Yao turned his face away, his tone somewhat awkward: “Just behave properly.”
No sooner had he spoken than his arm was sharply pinched. Li Xuelian glared at him with exasperation: “Fool! Yingying has feelings for you!”
How the two of them ended up married was something everyone understood perfectly well.
Shen Yao remained unmoved as he sat down, eating large mouthfuls of cornbread and vegetables, but not touching the meat at all.
Li Xuelian also sighed and sat down, picking out the smallest piece of meat before pushing the lunchbox back: “Yingying, take this back and store it properly.”
Seeing no other option, Jiang Yingying grabbed a handful of dried meat with her hand and swiftly stuffed it into Shen Yao’s mouth as he was eating his vegetables: “Brother Yao, if I tell you to eat it, then eat it!”
Before Shen Yao could react, she placed the remaining meat in front of Li Xuelian, widening her eyes in feigned anger: “Mother, if you don’t finish this, I’ll be upset!”
Li Xuelian’s eyes reddened. She took a large bite of the dried meat, her lips trembling: “Alright, I’ll eat it!”
Shen Yao felt a pang of bitterness in his heart but remained silent.
Even if he had ambitions in his heart, there was no opportunity for him to realize them now. That his mother hadn’t tasted meat in over half a year was a testament to his own incompetence as a son.
Whatever Jiang Yingying’s intentions might be, he would accept her kindness today. If they were to divorce in the future, as long as he had the means, he would be willing to give her a larger share of their possessions.
The aroma of the meat drifted into the distance. The people working in the nearby fields were also eating their meals and couldn’t resist craning their necks to look over.
Those farming here were among the poorest families in the village.
Shen Hongcui pinched her daughter: “Second girl, go see what delicacy Li Xuelian’s family is eating!”
Shen Ling reluctantly got up: “Brother Shen Yao is already married—what’s the point of me going over there?”
Shen Hongcui naturally understood her daughter’s feelings and spat in disdain: “Li Xuelian’s family is dirt poor. Would you marry into that just to starve? I’m only telling you to go take a look, not to talk to that boy!”
Shen Ling and Shen Yao’s families lived close by and had grown up together. Though Shen Yao wasn’t much of a talker, he was tall and strong—what woman wouldn’t be attracted?
If her mother hadn’t objected, she would have married him long ago. How could someone like Jiang Yingying, that seductress, have gotten her chance?
Poor Brother Shen Yao, ending up with a woman like that!
Shen Ling tore up a handful of wild grass, refusing to admit to herself that she was jealous of Jiang Yingying’s good looks.
Shen Hongcui, unable to sit still any longer from the growing scent, simply grabbed Shen Ling and went straight over to see what was going on.