Su Xiaoqi laughed until she could barely catch her breath.
“Mother-in-law,” she said, “do you actually enjoy being threatened by us?”
Yang Huaihua felt bitter inside but couldn’t say a word.
She grabbed a bowl and went into the room, opening the cabinet.
As she pulled out the flour bag, Su Xiaoqi appeared at the door.
She didn’t even have time to hide it.
Su Xiaoqi had already grabbed the flour bag and refused to let go.
“I’ll just scoop one more bowl of flour.”
Yang Huaihua shook her head furiously.
“Then I’ll cook noodles and share some with you all later. How about that?” Su Xiaoqi said calmly. “We should resolve things peacefully when possible.”
While Yang Huaihua hesitated—
Su Xiaoqi suddenly grabbed the flour bag and ran.
“Su Xiaoqi! Stop right there!”
Her roar woke up the entire neighborhood. Everyone knew the Xu household was about to erupt again.
In the kitchen, Su Xiaoqi quickly scooped two large bowls of flour into a basin.
By the time Yang Huaihua arrived with a bowl, she had already lost her strength and leaned against the doorway, staring at the flour with a pained expression.
“That flour was meant for your brother’s wedding tomorrow…”
“Then don’t worry about tomorrow. Potatoes cooked more are also delicious,” Su Xiaoqi said casually, handing the flour bag back.
“Don’t be angry, Mother-in-law. I’ll serve you a big bowl of noodles later.”
Yang Huaihua looked like she was about to cry.
“You think I’m that greedy?”
“If you don’t want it, that’s fine.”
“Who said I don’t want it!” she snapped and snatched the flour bag back.
Yang Xiaolin watched Su Xiaoqi in shock.
This woman had become terrifying.
Not someone to provoke.
Su Xiaoqi was a foodie through and through. In her past life she had traveled everywhere eating delicacies and could also cook simple home-style dishes.
Not a top chef—but someone who naturally knew how to make food taste good.
That morning, she personally cooked fish soup hand-pulled noodles.
The aroma of fried fish spread everywhere.
Little Xu Xiaocui leaned on the doorstep, sucking her fingers.
“Can a worthless girl eat fish tail?”
Xu Tiansheng ran up behind her and pulled her pigtails.
“Idiot. Fish don’t even have tails you can eat. You get nothing.”
Xiaocui cried.
Not because her hair hurt—but because she never got to eat anything good.
Just then, Su Xiaoqi raised her spatula.
“Get lost.”
Xu Tiansheng immediately ran away.
She crouched down and pinched Xiaocui’s cheek.
“Wait a bit. I’ll give you fish tail.”
Xiaocui’s tears stopped instantly.
“Auntie, fish really have tails, right?”
“Yes.”
Soon, a big pot of yellow catfish noodle soup was ready.
When the noodles were done, Yang Huaihua rushed over with bowls.
“I’ll serve your sister first. Meizhen likes yellow catfish.”
“I’ll serve first,” Su Xiaoqi stopped her. “Zhou Ye and I will eat first.”
She filled a large bowl for Zhou Ye—one whole fish inside, noodles packed full.
Then she served herself another big bowl.
Seeing this, Yang Huaihua’s heart sank.
“You should at least leave some for your sister. A woman eating so much is wasteful.”
Su Xiaoqi nodded.
“You’re right, Mother-in-law. I’ll share mine with Xiaocao and Second Brother.”
She and Zhou Ye exchanged a look and walked outside with their bowls.
Leaving behind a furious, eye-rolling Yang Huaihua.
Su Xiaoqi picked up a piece of fish belly.
“Xiaocui, open your mouth.”
The little girl obediently squatted down and opened her mouth.
Once she tasted the fish, she covered her mouth happily and chewed slowly, eyes shining.
“Fish tail is so good!”
Su Xiaoqi gave her a noodle strand.
“Eat slowly.”
Xu Tiansheng tried to snatch it, but a single look from her made him retreat.
“I want fish! I want noodles!”
“Go ask your grandmother,” she said flatly.
He ran off unwillingly.
In the kitchen, the noodles were divided.
“Eat, eat, eat! Do you think food will kill you?” Yang Huaihua snapped as she portioned the food.
She gave half to Xu Yetian and half to Xu Meizhen—keeping none for herself.
“Can you two work more and eat less?” she complained again.
Su Xiaoqi ignored her. She had no intention of fighting for chores—Xu Meizhen did none anyway.
“Zhou Ye gives you enough money for me to eat and drink. Why should I work?”
Xu Meizhen snapped back,
“You already took 300 yuan!”
“That was compensation for emotional harm from Yang Xiaolin and Hong Shanpang. Don’t mix things up.”
Outside, villagers were already smelling the fish aroma.
“Breakfast with fish today?” someone asked.
“Since Zhou Ye came back, your family eats much better,” another said enviously.
Xu Yonghua’s face darkened.
“If he didn’t come back, it would be better.”
But his steps home only quickened.
Meanwhile, Zhou Cao walked at the back, weak from long-term hunger.
“Second brother…”
Zhou Zheng stopped and gave her a wild fruit.
“Eat this first.”
“It only makes me hungrier,” she whispered.
“I’ll give you more corn porridge later,” he said, patting her dry hair.
At home, Xu Yonghua immediately shouted,
“Why are you all eating in secret? I’m the eldest son of this family—I should get a share!”
Even Xu Yong’an had nothing, but he dared not speak.
“Forget it. Let Dad eat,” he muttered.
Meizhen quickly finished her bowl and slipped away.
“Mom, I’m going to pick wild vegetables.”
“Good girl, stay near the foot of the mountain,” Yang Huaihua said lovingly.
Then she turned and scolded the daughters-in-law again.
“Hurry up and eat breakfast, then go work! Useless women, lazier than pigs!”
Yang Xiaolin protested,
“We just got back—we haven’t even drunk water.”
“Talk back again?” Yang Huaihua glared, and she immediately went silent.