“Sister-in-law, I will also work hard collecting grass and earn lots of work points for you.”
Xiao Caocao said while carefully feeling the egg in her hand, quickly expressing her determination.
“You don’t need to work too hard—just one work point is enough!”
“Alright, you girls can go back now.”
Lu Miaomiao smiled as she looked at the three little girls full of confidence and waved them off.
The three girls, holding their eggs, giggled and left chattering happily.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I was thinking that I’m a educated youth after all. Not earning even one work point doesn’t really make sense. So I might as well give them a little benefit every day and let them help me work.
It’s not because I pity them—I’m not some great kind saint.”
Lu Miaomiao watched the three girls leave, then turned back to see Xiao Bian’an smiling gently at her. She immediately defended herself stubbornly.
“Alright, I understand. You just want to be lazy and not go cut pig grass.”
Xiao Bian’an’s tone was unconsciously indulgent, knowing she was just being stubborn.
Lu Miaomiao took out four tea eggs, four boiled eggs, two packs of peach crisps, two packs of sponge cakes, and a bag of brown sugar from the box.
“How did you get so many eggs? Aren’t you afraid they’ll go bad?”
Xiao Bian’an was surprised.
Other foods could last a few days, but boiled eggs in this summer heat—especially stuffed in a box—would spoil easily.
“It’s not too many. You and I each eat two eggs, and then give two each to father and mother—that’s just right.
You can eat first. I’ll go deliver some things to them.”
She packed four eggs into a small basket, along with a pack of peach crisps, brown sugar, and sponge cakes.
“Thank you, Miaomiao.”
Seeing her put most of the food into the basket, Xiao Bian’an felt warmth in his heart.
“Thank me for what?”
“For giving me two eggs? Or for loving me and even being a dutiful daughter-in-law because of me?
Think of how you’ll repay me when I come back.”
Lu Miaomiao teased him like a rogue, then took advantage of his distraction and kissed his handsome face before quickly heading to his parents’ room.
“Such a little hooligan… who’s the husband here, really?”
Xiao Bian’an touched the spot she kissed, muttering helplessly, though the smile at the corner of his mouth couldn’t be hidden.
In truth, Lu Miaomiao’s thinking was simple. Since she planned to settle in this family, and the elders had decent character and were Xiao Bian’an’s parents, treating them well would help maintain harmony.
After sending her off, Niu Cuihua looked at the food on the table, moved to tears.
“This daughter-in-law has really changed… she even gives us such good things. This must cost several yuan.”
“Wife, don’t cry, don’t cry. Eat your egg.”
Xiao Aiguo quickly handed her a peeled egg.
“Alright, I’ll eat. You eat too, there’s enough for both of us.”
Her wrinkled face showed rare shyness.
This man wasn’t very clever, a bit simple-minded, but he was truly good to her. She was content in this life.
Remembering her daughter-in-law’s instructions that they must finish the eggs tonight and not save them for the grandchildren—otherwise they would be forced to spit it back out—the old woman obediently ate.
From childhood until now, this was the first time she had ever eaten two eggs at once. So delicious.
If Lu Miaomiao knew her thoughts, she would probably say she was overthinking—she simply didn’t want to waste food on ungrateful people.
In the eldest son’s room:
“Dad, Mom, eggs!”
Zhaodi’s innocent face was full of reluctance, but she still handed the eggs to her parents.
“I also have one. Auntie gave it to me—for you, Dad and Mom!”
Lai Di smiled shyly and carefully handed over her egg with both hands.
“How did your aunt give you eggs? Those are very precious.”
Liu Guilan was both happy and worried—she had nothing valuable to return the favor with.
The family was so poor they mixed bran into their rice. They couldn’t raise chickens, and eggs were extremely rare. Even when they occasionally got some, they were usually eaten by the “golden grandson” Xiao Zhengguo.
So this was the first time in five years the girls had ever eaten such a delicious thing.
“We helped auntie work… cut pig grass… one work point… auntie, little aunt, and us, we all worked together.”
Zhaodi explained haltingly.
Liu Guilan listened patiently and thought the younger sister-in-law must have simply wanted to give the children food. She seemed quite decent after all.
“Good girls, you eat. Your parents don’t like eggs. After eating, go find your aunt and sleep early.”
She gently patted their heads.
Meanwhile, Xiao Caocao originally planned to give the egg to her parents, but seeing her sister-in-law already bringing food over, she stopped. Her sister-in-law had not only become stronger today—but also kinder.
In the second branch’s room:
“Oh my son, does it hurt? That damn woman—I’ll make her pay back sooner or later!”
Liu Huifang cursed while applying purple medicine on Xiao Zhengguo.
“Enough, woman! When we were beaten you ran faster than a rabbit. Now you remember he’s your son? Crying crocodile tears!”
Xiao Bigui was also in pain all over.
“Put medicine on your daughter too. They’re both your children. Don’t be biased.”
“Trash girl, couldn’t even protect her brother—wasting medicine on her is useless!”
Liu Huifang scolded Xiao Daya with disgust, poking her forehead and pinching her arm.
“I will work hard to protect my brother next time, Mom. Don’t be angry.”
Xiao Daya said obediently.
She believed she was a “worthless girl” and that everything she had to do was serve her brother well so her mother would be happy and not hit her.
“Liu Huifang, come massage my waist. It hurts like hell. Daya, go sleep with your aunt. Zhengguo, go find your cousin Goudan. Get out of this room.”
Xiao Bigui waved them away impatiently.
The Xiao family’s housing arrangement was as follows:
The parents lived in the smallest room.
The second branch occupied the largest room, originally meant for the eldest branch, but they shamelessly took it because they married earlier.
Lu Miaomiao and Xiao Bian’an lived in the second-smallest room, since he was in the army and rarely home.
The four girls lived in the former room of a married-out daughter.
Xiao Zhengguo and Goudan lived in the woodshed, even though Zhengguo was the so-called “golden grandson,” because there was simply no space.