Su Ci swallowed the last bite of the soft, gelatinous pork skin.
She took out a handkerchief and dabbed lightly at the corner of her lips.
Her movements were unhurried and refined—
as if she were savoring foie gras in a French restaurant.
This made things miserable for the three “spectators” in the courtyard.
Gulp.
A loud sound.
That was Lu Xiangbei swallowing his saliva.
Completely uncontrollable.
His salivary glands were like a broken faucet, flooding nonstop.
Drool slipped from the corners of his cracked lips,
dripping onto the patched military uniform so dirty its original color was unrecognizable,
leaving a dark wet stain.
Lu Xiangbei clenched his palms tightly.
His nails dug into his flesh, trying to use pain to restore his slipping sanity.
Useless.
His stomach convulsed.
His entire body screamed with hunger.
His eyes were like hooks,
firmly embedded in that basin of glossy, red-braised pork.
He couldn’t tear them away.
Behind him, Lu Xiangnan had started sniffing.
Her eyes were red.
Not from grievance—
but from craving so intense it brought tears.
Su Ci lifted her eyelids slightly.
Her gaze swept over the three soot-smudged little faces,
finally settling on Lu Xiangbei’s stubborn yet yearning expression.
“Want some?”
Her red lips parted slightly.
Her voice was lazy, carrying the satisfaction of a full stomach.
Two simple words—
yet they pierced straight through Lu Xiangbei’s ears.
Yes.
He wanted it like he was going mad.
But his mouth seemed glued shut.
It was the last shred of dignity he had as the “head of the household.”
Su Ci chuckled softly.
She extended her hand—
her wrist pale as snow, starkly out of place in the dingy surroundings.
With her chopsticks, she picked up a trembling piece of pork belly—
fat and lean layers intertwined, coated in thick caramelized sauce.
The piece hovered three inches from Lu Xiangbei’s nose.
Steam rose.
The rich aroma drilled straight into his nostrils.
“If you want it, I have a condition.”
Her wrist tilted slightly, the meat swaying.
“Go wash your paws clean by the well.”
“Then come back.”
“Call me ‘Sister-in-law.’”
“And this piece is yours.”
Sister-in-law.
Those two words burned like red-hot coals against Lu Xiangbei’s face.
This woman had taken his brother’s room.
Thrown out his brother’s bedding.
And now she wanted to buy his dignity with a piece of meat?
Dream on!
“I—”
Lu Xiangbei ground his teeth, the word “get lost” stuck in his throat—
when suddenly a shadow darted past him.
It was Lu Xiangdong.
The usually quiet, brooding third child.
But now he moved like a nimble monkey.
He rushed to the well,
scooped water,
scrubbed his hands—
so fast it was almost a blur.
After washing, he ran to the stone table,
holding a chipped bowl with both hands.
He looked up at Su Ci.
In his black-and-white eyes—
there was only that piece of meat.
“Sister-in-law.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But it was crisp.
Without hesitation.
Su Ci raised a brow slightly.
This kid had potential.
She loosened her chopsticks.
The meat dropped into the bowl.
Lu Xiangdong didn’t eat immediately.
Instead, he retreated to the wall and crouched down.
Carefully, he took a small bite.
He closed his eyes.
That expression of pure bliss—
was more devastating than any insult.
Lu Xiangnan couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Waaah!”
It wasn’t clear whether she was crying or excited.
The little girl rushed to wash her face, didn’t even wipe the water off,
and hurried back.
“Sister-in-law! I want some!”
“Good girl.”
Su Ci picked up another piece and gave it to her.
In an instant,
only one “lonely holdout” remained in the courtyard.
Lu Xiangbei stood there.
Listening to the chewing sounds of his siblings.
Watching the oil glisten at the corners of their mouths.
Smelling that deadly sweet-and-savory aroma in the air.
This was torture.
Dignity?
Pride?
In the face of pure carbs and fat—
they were as fragile as paper.
Once, he had fought stray dogs over half a moldy bun.
Now a whole basin of braised pork was right in front of him.
All he had to do—
was open his mouth.
And he could live.
Lu Xiangbei stared at the meat, breathing heavily.
Three seconds.
Just three seconds.
His backbone collapsed.
He walked stiffly to the well.
Cold water washed over his dirt-covered hands—
and washed away that last bit of stubborn pride.
After washing,
he walked to the table.
Lowered his head.
“…Sister-in-law.”
His voice was muffled, like his mouth was full of sand.
Su Ci rested her chin on her hand, lazily playing with her chopsticks.
“Didn’t eat? I can’t hear you.”
Lu Xiangbei suddenly raised his head.
His eyes were bloodshot—
a mix of ferocity from hunger and reckless surrender.
“SISTER-IN-LAW!!!”
The shout was thunderous.
Even the neighbor’s chickens were startled into clucking.
Satisfied,
Su Ci picked the biggest, fattest piece of meat—
a perfect three-layer cut.
Glossy skin, tender flesh.
Clang.
The meat dropped into Lu Xiangbei’s greasy bowl.
“Your reward.”
His hands trembled.
He didn’t even have the strength to move aside.
Right there—
he stabbed the meat with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.
One bite—
Boom!
It was like an explosion in his brain.
After so long,
rich fat flooded his mouth.
The skin was soft and sticky,
melting at the slightest movement of his tongue.
The lean meat was soaked in sauce,
falling apart instantly.
Salty, sweet, savory, fragrant—
all four flavors, combined with heat,
rushed down his throat and burned into his stomach.
His shriveled stomach—
finally found comfort.
Delicious.
So damn delicious.
He had never eaten anything like this in his life.
Lu Xiangbei devoured it ravenously,
his cheeks bulging like a hamster.
As he ate—
tears mixed with grease ran down his face.
So good.
Even if that wicked woman poisoned him tomorrow—
this bite alone would be worth it.
Su Ci picked up her bowl of white rice.
Watching the three little wolf cubs buried in their food,
a faint smile curved her lips.
House Rule Number One:
Obey, and you get meat.
Achieved.
..
The wind in the courtyard died down.
Only the sounds of satisfied burps rose and fell.
A symphony of overfilled stomachs.
The enamel basin that had been full of braised pork—
was now so clean it reflected light.
Even the last bit of thick red sauce
had been wiped up with half a corn bun by Lu Xiangbei—
not a drop wasted.
The three children slumped on small stools by the wall,
their eyes slightly unfocused.
The “oil-drunk” daze of people long deprived of fat.
Lu Xiangbei rubbed his swollen belly, his brain a bit foggy.
He looked at the woman by the stone table.
Su Ci was carefully wiping her lips—
despite there being no trace of grease—
with a pristine white handkerchief.
The setting sun cast a glow on her.
Her silk blouse shimmered like pearls.
Completely out of place in this shabby, patched-up courtyard.
Was she really here to join the army?
She looked more like a wealthy young lady from the old society,
inspecting a slum.
Lu Xiangbei gritted his teeth, trying to regain his earlier fierceness.
But the warmth in his stomach
felt like a gentle hand smoothing down all his spikes.
When you’ve eaten someone’s food, your words soften.
The ancients were right.
Su Ci folded her handkerchief and stood up slowly.
“Full?”
Her voice was lazy, like a cat just waking up.
Three dirty little heads nodded in perfect unison.
“Good.”
Her eyes flicked toward the pile of dirty dishes.
“Energy replenished. Time to work.”
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Warmth lasted less than three seconds.
Su Ci didn’t waste words.
She pointed at the empty basin.
“My hands are delicate. Can’t touch detergent or grease.”
“You wash the dishes.”
“Scrub the pot clean.”
Then she turned and walked away, her skirt swaying sharply.
Lu Xiangbei straightened abruptly, veins popping on his neck.
“Why should—”
Before he could finish,
she stopped.
Half her face turned back, hidden in shadow,
only her pale chin visible.
“Oh, right.”
Her tone was light, as if talking about the weather.
“I’ve already planned tomorrow’s menu.”
“Braised chicken with potatoes.”
“The chicken has to be deep-fried first—crispy outside, tender inside.”
“And white rice to go with it.”
Gulp.
An especially loud swallow echoed in the quiet courtyard.
Lu Xiangbei’s mind exploded.
Fried chicken?
White rice?!
The pork he had just eaten was still churning in his stomach—
yet his mind was already craving tomorrow’s chicken.
Was this woman a devil?
She knew exactly how to control people.
Without another glance,
Su Ci smiled faintly and went back inside.
“What are you staring at?!”
Embarrassed and angry, Lu Xiangbei smacked Lu Xiangdong on the back of the head.
“Go wash the dishes!”
“If you break even one, you won’t get even a chicken butt tomorrow!”
The two younger ones immediately jumped up,
grabbing dishes and rushing to the kitchen—
afraid that even a second’s delay
would cost them their next meal.