“Er Wa, your clothes look so nice today!” Shidan said enviously as he crowded around Da Wa and Er Wa together with the other villagers. “I’ve never seen clothes this pretty before.”
Chun’er, who had come to the fields with the adults, also noticed them. She stared enviously at the bow in Da Wa’s hair and the dress she was wearing.
“Da Wa, you look so pretty today,” she said. “Your dress is beautiful, and your bow is beautiful too.”
Chun’er and Da Wa often cut pigweed together, and the two girls were close in age.
Da Wa touched the bow on her head and smiled happily.
“My mom bought it in the county town last time. She said the bow was pretty, so she bought it for me.”
“Your mom treats you so well,” Chun’er said with obvious envy.
Children didn’t understand much, but the adults thought differently.
Everyone in the village knew how badly Li Tingyun had treated her children before. Besides, such beautiful bows weren’t even sold in town—they could only be found in the county city.
And unlike food, this kind of thing was expensive and purely decorative. Li Tingyun had suddenly spent money on something like this for the children?
When had she changed so much?
“Old Yi,” someone teased, “looks like your third son’s wife actually has a soft heart after all. Even after losing her backbone, she’s managed to pull herself together and start treating the children well. Maybe she’s finally matured.”
When the news of Yi Yang’s death had arrived from the army, the two elders of the Yi family had been devastated too, so heartbroken they could barely eat.
But no matter how sad they were, life still had to go on.
Every day they forced themselves to work, then returned home at night to grieve in secret.
Father Yi sighed deeply.
“I just hope she’s truly changed. As long as she can treat the children my third son left behind well, I’ll be satisfied.”
Da Wa waited and waited, but seeing that her grandparents still weren’t moving, she urged anxiously,
“Grandpa, Grandma, let’s hurry home. My stomach’s already starving flat.”
The moment Er Wa thought about the delicious lunch they’d had, and the sweet watermelon from the afternoon, he nearly drooled. His stomach already felt like it was growling.
Without another word, Er Wa grabbed Father Yi’s hand while Da Wa held Mother Yi’s, pulling them toward home.
Mother Yi let herself be tugged along while speaking quietly to Father Yi.
“This morning I promised Third Daughter-in-law I’d bring her something nourishing tonight. But I haven’t even gone home yet, let alone prepared anything. If we show up empty-handed… do you think she’ll be angry?”
Father Yi himself had no idea why Third Daughter-in-law had suddenly invited them to dinner.
In all these years, ever since the third branch separated from the main family, the old couple had never once eaten at their house.
And now, combined with the sight of Da Wa and Er Wa suddenly dressed in such fine clothes, Father Yi couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
Could this be a final meal before she ran away?
After dinner, would Third Daughter-in-law disappear?
Otherwise, how could anyone explain why she had suddenly become such a different person—treating the children well and even inviting the two elders over for dinner?
The more Father Yi thought about it, the more convinced he became.
Quickly, he said to Mother Yi,
“Then hurry home first. Catch a chicken and bring it over. See if there’s anything else nourishing in the house and bring that too for Third Daughter-in-law.”
He didn’t know whether such things would even matter to her, but hopefully, for the sake of the children and these gifts, she wouldn’t leave.
Mother Yi was clearly thinking the same thing.
She nodded and said to Da Wa,
“Da Wa, you and your brother go back with Grandpa first. Grandma’s going home to change clothes and bring you something tasty.”
Unlike Third Daughter-in-law’s indifference toward the children, Mother Yi treated all the Yi family grandchildren equally.
Whenever there was good food or useful things, the children always came first. Boys and girls received the same share.
But usually obedient Da Wa shook her head this time.
“No, Grandma. Come eat at our house first, then go change later. Mom cooked lots of dishes—they’re really delicious!”
Mother Yi exchanged another uncertain glance with Father Yi.
Could this really be a farewell meal?
Just as they were still trying to think of excuses to persuade Third Daughter-in-law to stay, they arrived at her house.
“Dad, Mom.”
Li Tingyun stood at the doorway holding the energetic San Wa, greeting them with a warm smile.
Yet somehow, Mother Yi felt there was a strange sense of relief hidden inside that smile.
“You must be hungry,” Li Tingyun said cheerfully. “I already finished cooking. Go wash your hands and come eat.”
Father Yi and Mother Yi answered yes and headed to the well to wash up.
The moment they stepped inside, the rich smell of meat filled the room.
It still wasn’t time yet to exchange work points for grain, and the last time the Yi family had eaten meat was half a month ago.
After going so long without meat, the smell alone made both elders swallow hard, and their already hungry stomachs growled even louder after a full day of labor.
But once they finished washing and saw the dishes on the table, they were completely stunned.
Da Wa and Er Wa were already sitting properly at the table. They had wanted to start eating the moment they saw the food, but Li Tingyun had said everyone had to be seated first, so the children obediently waited.
Sitting down, Mother Yi couldn’t help asking,
“Third Daughter-in-law… when did you prepare all this food?”
There was chicken, meat, eggs—an incredibly lavish spread.
“Dad, Mom, hurry and eat,” Li Tingyun urged as Da Wa and Er Wa finally began eating.
“Ah…” Mother Yi held her chopsticks nervously. “Third Daughter-in-law, we came straight here after work today, so… I’ll bring those nourishing things over tomorrow instead, alright?”
Li Tingyun smiled gently.
“There’s no need, Mom. I already have everything here. Keep the good things for you and Dad to eat.”
Father Yi also spoke up.
“Third Son was still so young when this happened. I know the one suffering most is you. But don’t ever do something foolish again. There’s still a baby depending on you.”
Glancing at Da Wa and Er Wa, who were happily eating, and then down at San Wa in her arms, Li Tingyun nodded.
“Dad, don’t worry. I won’t do anything foolish again. These three children still need me. I won’t collapse.”
Besides, the one who had tried to do something stupid was the original owner—not her. The original owner had jumped into the river to threaten her childhood sweetheart, not Li Tingyun herself.
Hearing her words, Father Yi and Mother Yi finally relaxed.
Mother Yi reached out her hands.
“You get hungry easily while nursing. Let me hold San Wa while you eat first.”
“There’s no need, Mom. I already ate a little earlier, so I’m not hungry right now,” Li Tingyun replied. “You and Dad just got off work—you must be starving. You eat first.”
Mother Yi glanced at the untouched dishes. When they first entered, the food had clearly not been touched at all.
Knowing Third Daughter-in-law was simply being considerate toward them, Mother Yi stopped refusing and finally began eating.