Under Bai Lan’s loving gaze, Yu Yangyang gradually fell silent.
Fine.
As expected, this explanation was simply too difficult to make anyone believe.
Yu Yangyang was just thinking about how to come up with a reasonable excuse for food that had seemingly appeared out of thin air when Bai Lan gently said,
“Mom believes you.”
Yu Yangyang’s amber eyes settled on Bai Lan’s face.
Bai Lan was the typical image of a rural woman from ancient times.
She was about 1.6 meters tall and wore a short, washed-out jacket covered in countless patches. Despite its condition, it was fairly clean.
She had an oval-shaped face covered with wrinkles and the marks of years of hardship. Her eye sockets and cheeks were sunken. Though she was only in her thirties, she looked more like an elderly woman in her eighties or nineties.
Yet her facial features were delicate and attractive. It wasn’t difficult to imagine that she had once been a gentle and beautiful woman.
At this moment, her aged face was filled with kindness and understanding.
“Yangyang has a secret. Mom knows that now, so Mom won’t ask any more questions.”
Bai Lan’s expression suddenly became serious.
“But there’s one thing you must remember, Yangyang. No one is allowed to know that an immortal gave you this food, understand?”
“Not even your father or your brothers.”
During a famine like this, food was more valuable than gold.
If anyone found out that her daughter had such an ability, the consequences would be terrifying!
Yu Yangyang looked at the woman’s serious face and curled her fingers slightly.
Her eyes became a little red.
She had indeed chosen to tell Bai Lan because she had seen how fiercely Bai Lan loved the original Yu Yangyang.
Yu Yangyang genuinely craved the family affection she had never experienced in either of her two lives.
But she knew how to make choices.
If Bai Lan became frightened, fearful, or greedy, then even with this weak body, Yu Yangyang would find a way to leave.
At this moment, however, Yu Yangyang finally decided to tie herself to this family.
Seeing the little girl’s red-rimmed eyes and pitiful expression, Bai Lan’s heart softened.
She thought she had been too serious and frightened her daughter.
Bai Lan immediately softened her voice.
“Mom isn’t saying that your father and brothers don’t like you.”
“Your father talks in his sleep, and your brothers… they just have some misunderstandings about you. They’re also closer to your uncle’s family…”
Bai Lan didn’t know how to explain it.
Yu Yangyang’s ability absolutely had to remain a secret!
Suddenly, Yu Yangyang hugged Bai Lan.
She rested her head against her mother’s chest and spoke softly.
“Mom, I understand.”
“Mom, how can you be so good to me?”
In Bai Lan’s heart, Yu Yangyang was the most important person in the world.
This was also the first time Bai Lan had been hugged like this by her daughter.
Her heart felt full and warm.
She gently patted the little girl’s back.
“Silly child. Isn’t it only natural for your mother to be good to you?”
No.
In her previous life, Yu Yangyang had seen plenty of news about parents abusing or even killing their own children.
The original Yu Yangyang had truly been incredibly fortunate.
Even after becoming such a spoiled and troublesome person, her parents had continued to love her.
Yu Yangyang gently touched her chest.
Don’t worry.
Now that I’m here, I’ll love Mom and Dad very, very much too.
Inside the chipped clay pot, translucent brown rice porridge simmered and bubbled.
Gurgle, gurgle…
The rich fragrance of rice filled the air.
Bai Lan watched the fire while occasionally glancing at Yu Yangyang, who was sitting obediently beside her.
She spoke gently.
“Yangyang, wait a little longer. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Yu Yangyang obediently nodded.
At that moment, Yu Shanghua and Yu Lan emerged from the dilapidated room.
Yu Shanghua sniffed the air and complimented his wife,
“Wife, your cooking skills have really improved.”
She had somehow managed to make even such watery gruel smell this delicious!
Yu Jin had also finished cleaning the purslane and eagerly came over.
“Mom, when are we eating? It smells so good!”
Yu Yan was more composed, but even his stomach, which had been mistreated for so long, could recognize the aroma of rice.
It drew him over as well.
The family of six gathered around.
The firelight illuminated each of their faces, while the contents of the clay pot were obscured by smoke and steam, filling the air with a wonderful fragrance.
Yu Yan calmly asked,
“Mom, you’re not making gruel today, are you?”
Bai Lan looked around.
Seeing that everyone was practically drooling, she hadn’t intended to hide it anyway.
“I’m making rice porridge today.”
“What?”
“Rice porridge?”
Yu Jin immediately asked,
“Mom, where did we get rice?”
Yu Shanghua was also confused.
“Yeah, where did the rice come from?”
Even when they had been at home, they couldn’t afford to eat something like this.
How had they somehow gained rice while fleeing from the famine?
Bai Lan calmly replied,
“Why are you all asking so many questions? It’s enough that we have something to eat.”
“I found it at the bottom of the grain sack. I hadn’t noticed it before.”
Their belongings were packed into countless large and small bundles during the journey.
It was perfectly plausible that she had overlooked something.
Yu Jin immediately understood.
“I know! Grandpa and Grandma must have given it to us, right?”
Then Yu Jin shook his head.
“No. That’s not right. Grandpa and Grandma hate Yu Yangyang so much…”
“It’s Rongrong!”
“Rongrong must have felt sorry for us and secretly put it in our luggage.”
Yu Yangyang raised her head and glanced at him.
The firelight reflected against her cheeks, making her look particularly delicate and beautiful.
Bai Lan: “……”
“It wasn’t Rongrong.”
But Yu Jin wore an expression that said he was absolutely certain.
“If it wasn’t Rongrong, then who else would treat our family this well?”
“Mom, I’m not trying to criticize you, but you’ve been deceived by Yu Yangyang. You’ve stopped mentioning Rongrong lately. If Rongrong finds out, she’ll be hurt.”
Bai Lan was so angry that she nearly rolled her eyes.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell them that the food had actually been produced by Yangyang’s ability.
She tapped Yu Jin’s hand with the spoon.
“Why do you talk so much nonsense? Hurry up and put the vegetables in!”
Yu Jin grimaced from the pain and muttered under his breath as he added the wild vegetables to the porridge.
Bai Lan looked at Yu Yangyang.
“Yangyang, don’t pay any attention to him. Your second brother is an idiot.”
Yu Yangyang wasn’t angry.
Instead, she was beginning to feel curious.
Yu Jin was normally sharp-tongued and harsh.
But whenever he mentioned Yu Rongrong, his entire demeanor became gentle and delighted.
Clearly, he really liked her.
So this is what the lucky heroine is like?
Yu Jin glanced at them.
“Mom, if the food was clearly given by Rongrong, what does she have to do with it?”
His tone was somewhat hostile.
It was Rongrong’s contribution. Don’t even think about taking credit for it, Yu Yangyang.
Bai Lan blurted out,
“How does it have nothing to do with her? Yangyang gave us the food!”
Yu Jin laughed.
“Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? What can Yu Yangyang do besides causing trouble?”
“If you say she gave it to us, then where did she get it?”
Bai Lan was speechless.
She looked at the others.
“What about you? Do you think the same thing?”
Yu Yan stared straight ahead with a calm expression and said nothing.
Bai Lan was furious.
“You’re all going to regret this!”
Yu Shanghua hurriedly said,
“Wife, don’t be angry. I believe you. I believe in Yangyang too!”
He didn’t actually believe it.
He also thought Bai Lan was simply saying this because she wanted their sons to accept Yangyang more quickly.
But Yu Shanghua was biased toward his wife and daughter.
His wife and daughter were his family.
Rongrong might be a good child, but ultimately, she belonged to someone else’s family.
Besides, the rice had already been given to them.
Who cared who had given it?
If his wife said it was from Yangyang, then it was from Yangyang.
At this moment, Yu Yan also spoke.
“Whatever Mom says goes.”
His reasoning was even simpler.
If he didn’t go along with Mom, she would start arguing.
And he hated arguments.
As for Rongrong…
He could simply keep his thoughts about her in his heart.