Ye Qingguang quickly shielded his mother and turned to Old Madam Ye.
“Grandma! How can you hit my mother? You’re bad! Grandma, you’re a bad person!”
Although Ye Qingguang was already seven and generally sensible, he said this in all seriousness.
Old Madam Ye felt deeply disheartened—not only with Ye Qingguang, but also with Ye Qingmin.
Even though both were sons of the family, the differences were stark. The eldest household’s two sons and Ye Qing’an of the third household were obedient, sensible, and filial.
But the twins from the second household, she suspected, had been spoiled by Liu Xiuxiu. They were selfish, arrogant, and assumed the world owed them.
Old Madam Ye could hardly bear to look at her two little grandsons. Ye Anran, on the other hand, stared at Ye Qingguang, frowning and wailing.
But the more she looked, the stranger it seemed. Both Liu Xiuxiu and Ye Erhe had almond-shaped eyes, yet Ye Qingguang and Ye Qingmin had large, double-lidded eyes. Their facial features showed no resemblance to Liu Xiuxiu or Ye Erhe.
Something felt off. Although Ye Anran had just joined the Ye family and generally liked them, she couldn’t help but notice that the second household’s twins bore no resemblance to their parents.
She even began to wonder… could they really not be Ye Erhe’s children? But it was only speculation.
Old Madam Ye finished her scolding and said, “Alright, alright, let’s eat.”
Ye Laopo (Old Madam Ye’s daughter-in-law) served the family.
In this farming household, the matriarch usually distributed the food. Laborers received more; women and children less.
Old Madam Ye served Ye Anran first, ladling a bowl of wild boar soup and a steamed bun with plenty of meat. She smiled warmly.
“You’re our family’s lucky star, dear. Eat more—you’re so thin. At home, eat to your heart’s content. Grandma’s here. If it’s not enough, I’ll make sure you get extra.”
Ye Anran looked at Old Madam Ye, at the generous portion in front of her, and then at the portions Old Madam Ye gave to the others, feeling a warm glow in her heart.
For some reason, Old Madam Ye liked her particularly. She was given the most food in the house, though she couldn’t possibly eat it all.
Seeing this, Liu Xiuxiu clenched her fists.
“Mother! How can you be so biased? She isn’t even a Ye. She’s not one of our children, yet you give her more than the men of the household? Mother, have you been bewitched by her?”
Old Madam Ye ignored her and turned to Ye Erhe.
“Erhe, after the meal, take your wife back to her family for a few days. She keeps causing trouble here.”
Ye Erhe nodded. “Mother, understood.”
Liu Xiuxiu protested. “Mother! I only said two words! Do you forbid me from speaking? You want to send me back? Is there an evil mother-in-law like you in the world?”
Old Madam Ye slapped Liu Xiuxiu.
“You’ve been spoiled, and now you call me evil? Which family doesn’t favor the sons over daughters-in-law? Look at our household—you’ve had it easy!”
Liu Xiuxiu muttered quietly, covering her face. Today she was furious.
Everyone at the table focused on their food, ignoring her complaints.
After the meal, the family was content. It had been a long time since they’d had meat, and today they all ate their fill.
Old Madam Ye then looked at Ye Sanhe.
“Sanhe, go to the city and have a scholar give your daughter a proper name.”
Ye Sanhe promptly left.
Liu Xiuxiu lay on the bed, sulking. No matter how she tossed and turned, she felt the household favored everyone but her. The eldest and fourth households seemed foolishly generous, and now a new mouth had been added to the family. She was left alone to complain and look like the villain.
Ye Erhe scolded her, “Xiuxiu, if you don’t change your temper, this household cannot tolerate you.”
Liu Xiuxiu clawed at Ye Erhe.
“You useless coward! I’ve been married to you all these years, bore you two sons, and you treat me like this? The whole family bullies me, and you—my husband—don’t defend me, only side with your mother! Life is unbearable.”
Ye Erhe, truly furious, slapped her hard.
“You can handle it, or leave. You strut around here, sneak food into your belly… fine. The third household brought home a little girl—that’s their business. What does it have to do with you? Jumping around like a monkey, who are you showing off to?”
Liu Xiuxiu, holding her face, ran out of the Ye family house, tears streaming.
She barely got far before colliding with a man—none other than Qian Dashan.
Qian Dashan looked at her, then quickly picked her up into his arms.
“Oh! I’ve missed you so much, and you rush right into my arms like this?”
Liu Xiuxiu struggled.
“You pervert! What if someone sees us? Let’s find a secluded place.”
Qian Dashan nodded eagerly, rubbing his hands in a lecherous manner.
Liu Xiuxiu sneered at him inwardly. Were it not for their two sons, she might never have bothered… but she held leverage over Qian Dashan, and the boys were his. If he spoke out, her good life would be ruined.
Despite Qian Dashan’s family being poor and burdened, Liu Xiuxiu was unwilling to let go of the comfortable life in the Ye household.
They found a secluded spot. Qian Dashan tried to kiss her, but Liu Xiuxiu, eyes red, pushed him aside.
“Dashan, I’m suffering! If it weren’t for our two sons, would I need to suffer in the Ye household?”
Tears streamed down her face.
Qian Dashan, knowing she had clearly been wronged again in the Ye household, held her tightly.
“Xiuxiu, I know you’ve suffered! And it’s my fault.”
Liu Xiuxiu coldly snorted. “You know you’re useless? You haven’t married or had kids. Shouldn’t you be in the city working, earning something useful?”
Qian Dashan paid no attention. He just wanted to be with her.
Liu Xiuxiu kept complaining about the Ye household, but Qian Dashan, unable to wait, pinned her down.
“All right, Xiuxiu, I know your suffering… now let me comfort you.”