The thin wooden door swung shut, immediately cutting off the noise and prying eyes from outside.
With a solemn expression, Lin Wanxing carried the heavy mesh bag of apology gifts into her own small, yet meticulously tidy room, and placed it on the table.
In just a few days, this room had transformed completely.
Everywhere was spotless and gleaming—she believed in living well for herself. This space was hers.
Once inside, the righteous expression on her face vanished instantly. She slid the door bolt shut, sat on the edge of the kang, and began meticulously inventorying her spoils.
The more she counted, the wider her smile grew.
Lin Wanxing had no intention of saving these fine things!
The Gu family, especially Gu Jianfeng’s mother and Gu Xiuxiu, had reluctantly agreed to hand them over precisely because they believed she was a frugal, even stingy, country girl who would be too reluctant to use such precious items. They were certain she would eventually save them, bringing them back to benefit the Gu family.
Hah, think again.
Did they think only they knew how to enjoy good things?
In her past life, the original Lin Wanxing had suffered and toiled like an ox for them, yet they never showed her an ounce of compassion. Now that she was here, why should she deprive herself?
The malted milk powder was a real treasure. The original host had worked in the fields year-round, eating bland, watery food with no oil or meat, giving all the good things to her younger siblings. Her once-pretty face had lost its color, her eyes dull and lifeless.
Even her waist had grown so thin her clothes hung loosely.
This was exactly what she needed to nourish her body.
The jar was red and yellow, adorned with plump ears of wheat—just looking at it was enticing.
It had been days since she’d had anything good to eat. Drink!
Without hesitation, she pried open the tin lid. A rich aroma of milk and malt filled the air.
This contained wheat flour, condensed milk, powdered milk, and cream—unlike the milk tea and cakes of later generations, these were rare treats in this era.
Lin Wanxing found a clean enamel mug and, being good to herself, scooped out three generous spoonfuls. She poured in boiling water from the thermos and stirred.
As she gently stirred with a small spoon, the malt-colored liquid swirled, releasing a sweet, tempting aroma of milk and wheat. She blew on it lightly and took a careful sip.
Mmm, smooth, sweet, and rich—the ultimate luxury of this time.
Her eyes curved into a smile as she drank, sip after sip, finishing the entire mug in no time. A comforting warmth spread through her stomach.
After finishing the drink, she turned to the egg cakes. Wrapped in oiled paper, she opened it to find four small, golden, fluffy cakes exuding the fragrance of eggs and butter.
She picked one up and took a bite, revealing the tender, airy interior. The texture was fine, sweet, and delicious. Excellent! Fresh and good quality.
She ate one and saved the rest for tomorrow.
Finally, there was the dark blue polyester fabric. The material was thick, the color rich—a genuine luxury in these times. No wonder Gu Xiuxiu had been so heartbroken.
Lin Wanxing ran her fingers over the smooth fabric and laughed softly.
Gu Xiuxiu probably still expected her sister-in-law to be as frugal and honest as the original host—always thinking she didn’t deserve such fine fabric, saving it all for Gu Xiuxiu instead.
She held it up against herself. The length was just right for a blouse—neat, stylish, and spirited.
She wasn’t like the original host, who always deprived herself of good things for others, wearing tattered clothes while everyone else benefited.
This fabric, she was keeping. Once the fuss died down, she’d find a chance to make it into something for herself.
As for the jar of snowflake cream and the White Rabbit milk candies—these were later purchases by Gu Jianfeng, and she didn’t hold back on those either.
That evening, after washing her feet and face, Lin Wanxing took out the snowflake cream, scooped out a small dollop, and carefully smoothed it over her face and hands. A moisturizing fragrance filled the air.
Her somewhat dry, rough skin instantly felt nourished.
Lin Wanxing smiled as she massaged her face—she was finally living a decent life!
Over the next few days, Wang Shufen and Lin Jianguo seemed utterly heartbroken over the apology gifts. Cooking became a haphazard affair—sorghum flour steamed buns or boiled sweet potatoes with pickled radish, leaving the two half-grown children looking pale and sallow.
Their family’s conditions weren’t the worst in the brigade. Wang Shufen and Lin Jianguo used to occasionally prepare something special, like a bowl of white noodles or shepherd’s purse stir-fried with eggs.
But now, there was nothing!
Still, seeing Lin Wanxing eat the same plain fare made them feel somewhat balanced. They at least had Wang Shufen sneaking them some sugar now and then, or their grandmother visiting and pitying them enough to give them an egg.
But Lin Wanxing had nothing!
Lin Wanxing remained unperturbed. She finished her steamed buns in a few bites and retired to her room early.
Then she would open her tin, unwrap a milk candy, take a bite of egg cake, or sip some malted milk powder—bliss!
While the rest of the Lin family looked pale and weary, Lin Wanxing grew rosy-cheeked, energetic, and bright-eyed.
It left them puzzled and secretly gritting their teeth.
In just a few days, she had finished nearly half the jar of malted milk powder, devoured all the egg cakes, and polished off several milk candies.
The remaining treats, she carefully hid in a concealed corner under the kang mat, weighing it down with bricks to ensure the Lin family’s little mice wouldn’t find them.
She, Lin Wanxing, was no old workhorse who suffered herself while taking care of others.
What came into her hands was hers!
Enjoying the present was the only real principle.
Forced to perform good deeds daily under Lin Wanxing’s urging, Wang Shufen was so exhausted she barely had time to drink water!
Only after several days did she remember—what happened to those fine things the Gu family had brought that day?
She had been working from dawn till dusk these past days, barely even seeing the sun, and the family was still eating nothing but bland, watery food.
Lin Wanxing wasn’t the type to enjoy luxuries—it was up to Wang Shufen to enjoy those good things herself.
The thought of those treats fueled Wang Shufen’s efforts. That evening, she barely ate two steamed buns, her mind fixed on searching Lin Wanxing’s room for those goodies to satisfy her own hunger.
When Lin Dabao and Lin Xiaoya asked if she was hungry after eating so little, she smiled kindly and patted their heads, saying, “Mom isn’t hungry. You two eat up.”
It hadn’t even been a few days, and she was already forgiving these two little troublemakers, playing the loving mother again.
But as Lin Dabao and Lin Xiaoya forced down the steamed buns and pickled vegetables, they felt no gratitude whatsoever.
They wanted the good stuff too!!
That night, Lin Wanxing went next door to Aunt Zhang’s place to deliver something.
Wang Shufen immediately hurried into her room.
Taking advantage of Lin Wanxing’s absence, she ransacked the room.
Under the kang mat, inside the old wooden chest, along the cracks in the wall… Wang Shufen worked up a sweat, searching every possible hiding spot. But she found nothing!
Aside from a few old clothes and random odds and ends, where were the malted milk powder and egg cakes?
Not even a scrap of fabric was in sight!
Wang Shufen wiped the sweat from her forehead, her heart sinking.
No way… Could that wretched girl really be so bold? Did she actually eat all the things meant for her? Does she have no shame? So many people in this family are waiting!
Her searching grew more frantic, no longer caring if Lin Wanxing returned and caught her.
Still, she found nothing.
With a heavy thud of realization, a sense of foreboding washed over her.
Furious, Wang Shufen flung the kang mat aside and stormed back to the main room.
She rushed in and hissed at Lin Jianguo, “Husband, it’s bad! Those things the Gu family sent—I’m afraid that wretched girl has already used them all up herself!”
“What?” Lin Jianguo was taken aback, looking up and putting down his pipe. “How could she possibly have finished all those things by herself? Wanxing isn’t that kind of ungrateful person. “She’s so frugal and hardworking—she wouldn’t bear to use those good things!”
“That’s what I thought too! But I searched high and low, and there’s not a trace left. I bet she ate them all herself. No wonder she’s been eating so little these past days without complaining, yet her complexion looks so rosy!”
Wang Shufen trembled with anger. “That heartless girl! We’ve been slaving away outside, playing the good people, while she’s been feasting behind closed doors! No wonder she’s put on some weight lately!”
Suddenly, Dabao burst into tears.
He had been hiding by the door, watching Wang Shufen search. He had hoped she would bring back some treats for them.
Sobbing, with snot running down his face, he wailed, “I want egg cakes! I want malted milk powder!”
Xiaoya whimpered too, her mouth watering. “Mom! I haven’t even had a single White Rabbit milk candy…”
Lin Jianguo’s expression darkened. He chewed on his pipe, his chest heaving.
All those good things, gone to that little girl?
He couldn’t swallow this injustice.
But what could they do—confront her?
Lin Wanxing would definitely deny it. And if they pressed the matter, she would know they had searched under her kang mat.
Besides, Lin Wanxing was about to marry into the Gu family. With the Gu family and Gu Jianfeng backing her, and given how she’d been preaching about sacrifice and contribution lately—something seemed off about her these days.
“There’s no way she could’ve finished all those good things by herself. I bet… she probably gave them away to those needy families,” Lin Jianguo speculated, and Wang Shufen’s heart clenched in pain as the realization hit her.
“Would she really do that?” Wang Shufen gritted her teeth, so angry she felt dizzy. Thinking back on Lin Wanxing’s recent behavior, it seemed all too likely.
She lowered her voice. “Those things were meant for our family. All that talk about her keeping them to take back to the Gu family was just empty words. I thought… when the Gu family checks the dowry later, would they really bring up a bit of malted milk powder?”
“Our family hasn’t gained any benefit from this. This won’t do, it won’t do.”
Lin Jianguo muttered to himself, then suddenly remembered their earlier discussion about demanding a double bride price from the Gu family. His resolve hardened.
“Jianbin’s first week memorial is almost over. Before Wanxing marries, we need to properly discuss the bride price with the Gu family.”
Wang Shufen immediately understood his meaning. Fueled by anger, she tapped the table urgently. “Yes! The bride price! We haven’t seriously discussed the bride price yet! The bride price is meant for us.”
“If the Gu family’s two brothers are marrying the same bride, they should pay two bride prices. For Jianbin’s share—since he’s passed away, his compensation should count, right? As for Jianfeng’s share—he’s alive, an officer, so it definitely shouldn’t be less.”
The more they thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Their daughter was marrying out anyway—like water spilled on the ground. If they didn’t take more now, they’d have no chance later.
They had to reclaim their losses from the Gu family, with interest.
…
That evening, after finishing his military procedures and family chores, Gu Jianfeng tidied himself up neatly and brought a package of pastries bought from town to the Lin family to discuss wedding details.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he sensed the atmosphere was different from before.
Lin Jianguo and Wang Shufen sat on the threshold of the main room—one silently weaving bamboo strips, the other sullenly sewing shoe soles. Neither greeted him with their usual enthusiasm. Lin Dabao and Lin Xiaoya hid inside, peeking out at him from the doorway.
“Uncle Lin, Aunt Wang,” Gu Jianfeng set down the pastries and spoke respectfully.
“Jianfeng’s here,” Lin Jianguo lifted his eyelids to glance at him, expressionless.
“Hmm, is something wrong?” Gu Jianfeng wasn’t slow; he could sense the unusual tension.
Wang Shufen put down the shoe sole and sighed, beginning to play the sympathetic role: “Jianfeng, sit. There are some things, though difficult to say, that we must discuss openly. When Wanxing marries into your family… our hearts… well, it’s hard to put into words.”
Gu Jianfeng’s expression turned serious. He sat down beside them, hands resting on his knees, and said earnestly, “Aunt Wang, please speak your mind.”