《Reborn in the 80s: Everyone Falls For Me》


 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Reborn

    ?1: Chapter 1: Reborn 1: Chapter 1: Reborn ¡°Niannian, my poor child...¡±


    The woman¡¯s wailing and sobbing, so intense that they made Xu Niannian¡¯s scalp ache, she wrapped her head with a thick white cloth, so heavy that Xu Niannian almost couldn¡¯t lift her head.


    Seeing Xu Niannian with a stupefied expression, Yang Cuihua cried even more sorrowfully, hugging her with snot and tears, her corpulent body shaking nonstop.


    ¡°My child¡¯s father, if our Niannian doesn¡¯t make it, I don¡¯t want to live either...


    my poor child...¡±


    It was this last, sharp cry that jolted Xu Niannian back to her senses.


    Looking at the plump woman before her, crying as if life wasn¡¯t worth living, Xu Niannian felt fate was playing a cruel joke on her.


    An hour ago, she was on an airplane, having just taken a nap, and she couldn¡¯t understand why everything changed when she woke up.


    In just an hour, she had absorbed all the information in her mind.


    Simply put, she had traveled through time, to a girl with the same name as hers, but whose identity couldn¡¯t be more different.


    A girl living in the 1970s and ¡¯80s.


    It was the year 1980, just two years after the start of the reform and opening up, and this body was precisely 16 years old.


    Looking up at the woman who was still sobbing in front of her, Xu Niannian opened her mouth dryly, wanting to cry, and so she really broke down, tears falling heavily.


    This must be a dream, it has to be, otherwise how could she have been reborn in this godforsaken era.


    After struggling to become a multimillionaire on her own, she hadn¡¯t even started to enjoy her money, and then she was suddenly thrust through time.


    Fine, time travel on its own was one thing, but to end up in such a poor era, and to be in such a destitute family at that.


    Could there be anything more tragic than this?


    No, there couldn¡¯t be!


    Xu Niannian cried so hard that it caught Yang Cuihua¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Niannian...


    my Niannian, let mom see, where does it hurt?¡±


    Seeing Xu Niannian finally reacting instead of sporting a vacant expression, Yang Cuihua was both delighted and distressed, terrified that her daughter was in any trouble.


    Xu Niannian cried so despairingly that her voice became hoarse, and the woman¡¯s strength was so great that she almost choked on her sobs.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine...¡± she quickly said.


    Hearing Xu Niannian speak, Yang Cuihua got even more excited and called out toward the outer room, ¡°My child¡¯s father, our Niannian is talking...


    ¡±


    In the main room outside, Dawei sat at the doorway smoking a dry pipe, the smoke curling up in rings, a fretful sigh on his face, accompanied by three boys, two older, one younger.


    The eldest was about fifteen years old, the middle one around eight or nine, and the youngest looked about three or four but was actually six, a little turnip head who resembled someone not well-fed.


    Hearing the noise from inside, Dawei jerked, his body trembling, and his pipe clattered to the ground as he stood up excitedly, his lips quivering.


    ¡°Zhiqiang, did you hear what your mother said?¡±


    Standing in front of him, the oldest boy, with a somewhat irritable expression, begrudgingly answered, ¡°Mom said sister is awake.¡±


    At this, Dawei pushed Xu Zhiqiang aside and hurried into the room stumbling, ¡°Father¡¯s precious child...¡±


    ¡°Brother, the annoying brat is awake, what do we do now?


    We won¡¯t have any more good days ahead,¡± said Xu Zhicheng, the nine-year-old.


    ¡°What can we do?


    Keep serving her, she¡¯s our parents¡¯ precious darling,¡± replied Xu Zhiqiang, pursing his lips with discontent, kicking over a stool in front of him.


    The youngest, Duoyu, clutched Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s leg in fear, muttering pitifully, ¡°Big brother, is sister going to eat Duoyu¡¯s meat again?¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Xu Zhiqiang said through clenched teeth, his adolescent face taut with tension.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s original self was haughty and domineering, taking advantage of her parents¡¯ favoritism to always bully her three younger brothers.


    It was the youngest, Duoyu, who suffered the most, as Xu Niannian would take her frustrations out on him by biting him.


    It was because of this that Duoyu was so fearful of his sister.


    In the room, after Dawei burst in, he clung to Xu Niannian, calling her ¡°my child, my dog.¡±


    Villagers tend to use ¡°dog¡± as an endearment for a beloved child.


    Xu Niannian twitched at the corner of her mouth upon hearing this.


    Right after her mother finished crying, her father began.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t handle it anymore and said hastily, ¡°Dad, mom, I¡¯m really okay now, I just want to rest a bit.¡±


    Hearing this, Dawei quickly let go of Xu Niannian, and Cuihua said with concern, ¡°Niannian, you rest well then, mom will go make you something to eat.¡±

 Chapter 2 - 2 1 Reborn_2

    ?2: Chapter 1: Reborn_2 2: Chapter 1: Reborn_2 Xu Niannian just wanted some peace and quiet, and nodded repeatedly at Yang Cuihua¡¯s words.


    When Yang Cuihua left, she took Xu Dawei with her, to avoid disturbing her daughter¡¯s rest.


    Finally alone, Xu Niannian let out a sigh of relief.


    Now she had the chance to sort out her thoughts properly.


    She was certain that she had indeed transmigrated and into the body of this girl no less.


    With the original host¡¯s memories, Xu Niannian knew very well what kind of person she was.


    It was ironic that in the ¡¯70s and ¡¯80s, when everyone favored sons over daughters, her parents were the odd ones out, treating their daughter like a golden lump but treating their son as if he were a loss.


    Xu Niannian did not agree with favoring sons over daughters, nor the reverse.


    She believed sons and daughters should be equally loved by their parents.


    But this favoritism towards daughters was not just slight; it was so extreme it was almost laughable.


    The daughter could do no wrong, whereas the son could do no right and was constantly criticized.


    It was precisely because of her parents¡¯ indulgence that the original host had become so arrogant and domineering.


    She would beat or scold her brothers constantly, was lazy and gluttonous, at 16 years old she couldn¡¯t even cook a meal or wash her clothes, always enslaving her brothers.


    If something displeased her, she enjoyed hitting her brothers for fun, truly losing all sense of morality.


    The original host was injured because her older brother was out working and no one was there to cook for her.


    Panicking from hunger, she demanded her nine-year-old second brother to cook.


    If the food wasn¡¯t to her liking, she¡¯d lose her temper and chase his head with a frying pan.


    The pain was too much for him, and he pushed her in defense.


    This was how the original Xu Niannian ended up being pushed onto the threshold and got a bloody wound on her head.


    At this point in the memory, the present Xu Niannian arrived.


    Having just transmigrated, it felt like she was about to die from the pain, lying there like a beached fish.


    Thinking back now, she figured the original host must have died from that fall, which led to her transmigration.


    Thinking about the nasty things the original host did, Xu Niannian thought she really had it coming.


    Lying on the straw mat, she looked around the room, feeling dizzy.


    The room was made of old wooden planks, and judging by their decay, they must have been many years old, dark and somber in color.


    It wasn¡¯t a big room, only about ten square meters, and everything inside was in plain sight.


    The bed she was lying on was about one and a half meters wide, an old-fashioned wooden bed placed against the wall.


    Besides the bed, there was an old dressing table and a rickety desk, missing one leg.


    The dressing table was made when Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei got married.


    As Xu Niannian grew up, she became particularly fond of beauty and demanded this dressing table.


    Yang Cuihua, who doted on her daughter, didn¡¯t hesitate for a second and agreed immediately.


    When Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei came out of Xu Niannian¡¯s room, just one glare from Cuihua could scold someone to death.


    ¡°Useless trash, the older one¡¯s useless and so is the younger one, none of you know how to protect your sister, just knowing to freeload for food.


    Zhiqiang, go, make your sister a sugar water egg.¡±


    Yang Cuihua still didn¡¯t know the reason for Xu Niannian¡¯s injury.


    If she knew it was Xu Zhicheng who pushed her, she would surely beat him to death.


    Xu Zhicheng shrank behind Xu Zhiqiang out of fear while Zhiqiang remained somewhat calmer.


    Seeing his mother¡¯s attitude, he knew the lazybones hadn¡¯t yet managed to speak up.


    He had no choice but to obediently go to the kitchen, make a sugar water egg, and bring it to Xu Niannian.


    For now, placating that lazybones was the priority.


    Otherwise, if mom found out, the third child would be half-dead even if not beaten to death.


    Xu Dawei was better than Yang Cuihua in this regard.


    Although he also doted on his daughter, he didn¡¯t go as far as to dismiss his sons completely.


    The youngest son, Xu Duoyu, hearing about the sugar water egg, had his eyes light up and went over to Yang Cuihua with a pitiful look.


    ¡°Mom, I also want a sugar water egg.¡±


    Yang Cuihua glared fiercely, her lips flipping over and she scolded, ¡°Eat, eat, eat, that¡¯s all you know.


    Eggs are precious, and our family has only so few.


    If we give them all to you, what about your sister?


    Go away, I have to go to work.¡±


    The family was poor, Xu Dawei was lame and couldn¡¯t move easily, unable to do much work on the construction site.


    If Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t go, the family would be ruined.


    So, knowing Xu Niannian was alright, Yang Cuihua hurried off to work.


    Xu Dawei dragged his leg off to collect firewood.


    In this house, one couldn¡¯t expect any sound insulation, so Xu Niannian heard every word Yang Cuihua scolded from outside.


    Thinking of the dressing table in the room, Xu Niannian struggled to sit up.


    In the dusty mirror, Xu Niannian could vaguely see her own reflection, the mirror was blurred because it was covered in a layer of dust.


    A face like an egg, almond eyes, born with bright eyes and white teeth, she had a seductively adorable appearance.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but gasp.


    She knew from her memories that the original host had always been known as a beauty in the whole region.


    But she hadn¡¯t imagined she would be this beautiful, the very epitome of a disaster-bringing beauty.


    She involuntarily touched her face, which was slightly yellow.


    Even so, it was so beautiful that it was hard to look away.


    If her skin were whiter, how much more unbearable would it be?


    No woman doesn¡¯t love beauty, and looking at such a face, Xu Niannian finally found some consolation in the fact that she was not only younger but also prettier.


    Falling short in family circumstances wasn¡¯t a big deal; she could always earn money by herself.


    As she was thinking this, there was a creak, and the door to the room opened.


    Xu Zhiqiang came in with the sugar water egg.


    Xu Niannian turned her head and saw her brother who was just a year younger than her.


    ¡°Sister, mom told me to make you this sugar water egg.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang handed the clay bowl with the sugar water egg to Xu Niannian expressionlessly.


    Xu Niannian assessed the brother before her.


    He looked a bit like her, and his features were quite handsome.

 Chapter 3 - 3 2 Being Treated as a Flood Beast

    ?3: Chapter 2: Being Treated as a Flood Beast 3: Chapter 2: Being Treated as a Flood Beast In memory, this younger brother always had a poor attitude towards her; the reason was nothing else but Xu Niannian¡¯s sharp tongue.


    She would always criticize her brother when there was an issue or not, especially this one who was only a year younger than her because he was the only one who would talk back to her.


    Xu Niannian, having been spoiled, could not bear Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s retorts and naturally held the most dissatisfaction towards him.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s mother, Yang Cuihua, was a woman with a powerful capacity for brainwashing; she always nagged in front of Xu Niannian, saying that sons were a loss, that they¡¯d require a dowry for marriage and a division of the family home.


    Under Yang Cuihua¡¯s influence from a young age, Xu Niannian also believed that boys were a financial drain.


    Whenever Xu Zhiqiang did something that was not to her liking, Xu Niannian would start hurling insults, absolutely embodying Yang Cuihua¡¯s aggressive spirit.


    Although Xu Niannian did not want people to notice that she wasn¡¯t the original person, she also did not want to deliberately become as spiteful and petty as the original to gain trust.


    So she just casually responded, ¡°Leave it in the main room; I¡¯ll go out to eat.¡±


    Hearing her words, Xu Zhiqiang visibly paused, incredulous as he looked at Xu Niannian.


    Was this lazybones really not scolding him today?


    On any other day, if she saw him and didn¡¯t berate him a few times, she wouldn¡¯t be content.


    Meeting his surprised gaze, Xu Niannian felt a bit uneasy, touching her nose.


    Had he noticed something off about her?


    She was inexplicably nervous.


    Really, to be in her early twenties and still feel nervous.


    Although Xu Zhiqiang was surprised, he did not say much else and simply carried the bowl of sweetened egg soup outside.


    Outside, Xu Zhicheng was holding Xu Duoyu¡¯s hand.


    Despite being only nine years old, he spoke with a maturity beyond his years.


    Seeing Xu Zhiqiang come out with the bowl, he stepped forward and asked, ¡°Why isn¡¯t sister eating?¡±


    The glutton usually loved such foods; typically, if there was a bowl of sweetened egg soup, she would gulp it down in no time.


    He suspected the lazybones was skipping the food because she planned to pick a fight with him first.


    The little guy saw Xu Niannian come out, face tensed up tight.


    Even though he disliked Xu Niannian, he still feared this overbearing older sister.


    As for Xu Duoyu, he was eagerly staring at the sweetened egg soup Xu Zhiqiang held in his hands, his mouth practically watering.


    Dark little hands embraced his round, burgeoned little belly.


    Kids at this age, even if they are thin, tend to have protruding bellies.


    Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and without answering Xu Zhicheng¡¯s question, he just placed the sweetened egg soup on the main room¡¯s square table.


    This table, used for daily meals, was made of wood and looked quite worn and dark.


    As soon as Xu Niannian approached the table, she saw Xu Zhiqiang habitually pull out a stool for her.


    The servile attitude was truly astonishing; this wasn¡¯t how a younger brother behaved, but more like a servant.


    In Xu Niannian¡¯s view, younger brothers and sisters should be treated with affection, not expected to serve.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself from now on,¡± she said with a calm expression, her words giving nothing away, making it impossible to discern her emotions.


    Xu Zhiqiang paused again.


    Had this sloth changed her ways?


    Usually, if he was even a bit slow pulling out the stool, she would curse at him.


    Could it be that her brain got damaged?


    The so-called sweetened egg soup was just water boiled in a pot, with an egg beaten into it, and some sugar added¡ªthat was all.


    The bowl containing the sweetened egg soup was a grey clay bowl.


    Xu Niannian, truly hungry by now, cared not for the taste and took a sip right away.


    Indeed, it didn¡¯t taste all that great.


    Just as she took a sip, Xu Niannian noticed a small turnip head appear opposite her at the table.


    This little turnip head was Xu Duoyu, the youngest brother of the original person, his eyes fixed on the bowl of sweetened egg soup, his big, round eyes full of longing.


    The little turnip was only as tall as the table, his dark little hands on its edge, Xu Niannian saw him swallow several times.


    Perhaps because Xu Niannian looked at Xu Duoyu for too long, Xu Zhicheng and Xu Zhiqiang quickly pulled Xu Duoyu away.


    Xu Zhicheng hastily explained, ¡°Sister, Duoyu didn¡¯t mean to eat.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang stood in front of Xu Duoyu, his face darkening, ¡°If you want to hit someone, hit me.


    Duoyu is still small and can¡¯t withstand your torment.¡±


    Xu Niannian was perplexed.


    What had she done?


    Why was everyone treating her as if she were a raging flood and savage beast?


    However, remembering how cruel the original owner had been to her three younger brothers, it was indeed not much different from a raging flood and savage beast.


    In memory, once Xu Duoyu had merely said, ¡°Sister, I want to eat your syrup-soaked egg.¡±


    At that time, Xu Duoyu was not even two years old, and there was much he didn¡¯t understand.


    Xu Niannian pinched Xu Duoyu¡¯s face and cursed loudly, pinching so hard that he bled and was swollen for several days.


    Yet, instead of disciplining Xu Niannian, Yang Cuihua not only beat Xu Duoyu but also said she would throw him out to feed the stray dogs.


    This frightened the then innocent and ignorant Xu Duoyu into illness.


    Xu Zhicheng and Xu Zhiqiang were also terrified and had to talk Yang Cuihua into keeping their brother.


    Truly a sister no better than a beast.


    It¡¯s no wonder the younger brothers were so afraid of her.


    Beyond fear, there was likely hate too.


    In her previous life, Xu Niannian had been an orphan, never having enjoyed familial affection, but she had a profound fondness for children.


    How could the original owner have been so heartless as to bully such a small child?


    Recalling this, Xu Niannian¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but she found herself unable to swallow the syrup-soaked egg.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink it,¡± she said in a tone so indifferent that, without any expression, it seemed quite harsh.


    Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s brows furrowed deeply.


    ¡°This is the best food we have in the house, what more do you want?¡± he said, his voice already carrying a tinge of anger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t want anything, just suddenly don¡¯t feel like eating.


    I¡¯m not hungry,¡± she replied.


    After speaking, she beckoned to Xu Duoyu, ¡°Come here.¡±


    Xu Duoyu shivered in fear.


    Xu Zhicheng protectively held Xu Duoyu close, saying anxiously, ¡°Sister, Duoyu is still young and doesn¡¯t understand anything.¡±


    He thought that Xu Niannian was discontent with Xu Duoyu¡¯s behavior from earlier, wanting to take her anger out on him.


    Xu Niannian was somewhat helpless.


    What a beast the original owner was, look at the mess she left behind.


    She pursed her lips, took the bowl, and handed it to Xu Zhicheng, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat it anymore, you two share it.¡±


    ¡°Sister, what are you talking about?¡± Xu Zhicheng asked, dubious.


    Xu Niannian knew that no matter how much she said, these brothers she had bullied too harshly would not easily trust her.


    So, she intentionally made a stern face, ¡°Come here.


    My words don¡¯t matter, do they?


    If you don¡¯t come here, believe me, I¡¯ll hit you.¡±


    Sure enough, the threat worked.


    The two, who had been stubbornly refusing to come over, still looked uncertain but obediently walked over.


    Xu Zhicheng seated Xu Duoyu on the long bench, slowly taking a seat next to Xu Niannian, effectively placing himself between Xu Duoyu and her.


    Only then did Xu Niannian notice Xu Duoyu trembling continuously out of fear.


    ¡°Drink it!¡±


    Xu Niannian pushed the bowl towards the two kids, commanding.


    Xu Zhicheng, seeing that Xu Niannian genuinely meant to give them the syrup-soaked egg, looked at her with a mixture of shock and disbelief, finding it inconceivable.


    Xu Zhiqiang watched Xu Niannian warily, not understanding what she was up to.


    Even though Xu Niannian gave the order with a stern face, compared to the original owner¡¯s arrogance and overbearing manner, her words were still much gentler.

 Chapter 4 - 4 3 The Collapsing Image

    ?4: Chapter 3: The Collapsing Image 4: Chapter 3: The Collapsing Image Seeing Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t as fierce anymore, Xu Duoyu, still young, didn¡¯t have such complicated thoughts.


    In his mind, since sister had told him to drink it, she probably wouldn¡¯t hit him.


    His dark little hands stretched out to grab the sides of the bowl and pulled it towards himself.


    ¡°Duoyu, put it down!¡± Xu Zhicheng yelled in alarm.


    Xu Duoyu¡¯s black glistening eyes stared at the sugar water and egg inside, wishing he could gulp it down in one go.


    Upon hearing his second brother¡¯s voice, he looked at Xu Zhicheng bewildered, his small hands clutching the earthen bowl tightly, unwilling to let go, holding it as if it were a precious treasure, even licking his lips, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.


    ¡°Second brother, sister said she won¡¯t drink it,¡± hope filled his large dark eyes.


    Xu Zhicheng was furious, when had this lazy bone ever kept her word.


    Xu Zhicheng loved his younger brother and definitely didn¡¯t want to see Xu Duoyu get beaten later, ¡°Sister, you better drink it yourself.¡±


    As he spoke, he reached out to grab the bowl from Xu Duoyu¡¯s hands, but Duoyu¡¯s little hands held onto the rim of the bowl stubbornly, gazing defiantly at Xu Zhicheng, refusing to let go.


    Xu Zhicheng didn¡¯t let go either, and the two of them ended up at a stalemate, with the eldest, Xu Zhiqiang, watching, his eyes stinging with distress.


    In this household, only the three brothers were truly related.


    Their parents favored the sister, treating their three sons as if they were less than human, reserving all the good things in the house for the sister.


    Being poor, they could only eat twice a day and were never full, with each only getting half a bowl, and that too was coarse grains.


    It was different for the sister, who didn¡¯t have to do anything and still got to eat three meals a day, better than what they had.


    As a child, he too had envied her; even though he was only a year younger than his sister, the difference in their treatment was like heaven and earth.


    He had cried and made a fuss, but each time his tears and tantrums only led to their mother¡¯s beatings, while Xu Niannian had never been touched by their mother from childhood to adulthood.


    Eventually, he grew accustomed to it.


    Sugar water with egg was a rare delicacy; he had never had it since he was born, yet Xu Niannian could eat it every few days.


    With a lump in his throat, Xu Zhiqiang said, ¡°Duoyu, let go.¡±


    He swore that he would one day give his younger brothers a better life.


    Xu Zhiqiang being the eldest, his words carried more weight than Xu Zhicheng¡¯s.


    Reluctantly, Xu Duoyu could only let go of the bowl.


    But his eyes seemed glued to the egg.


    Watching this scene, Xu Niannian sighed internally, thinking how inhuman the original owner of the body had been.


    Initially, she was worried about being exposed for behaving differently and had considered putting on an act.


    Now, however, she could no longer feign indifference.


    How could she bear to be stern knowing how pitiful these children were?


    ¡°Duoyu, have it, I don¡¯t want to eat,¡± she said, her voice much softer as she told Xu Zhiqiang, ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn, I told Duoyu to drink it.¡±


    After she spoke, Xu Niannian realized that her three brothers were staring at her as if they had seen a ghost.


    Especially Xu Zhicheng, who was looking at her suspiciously, his eyes seemed to ask, ¡°Is this really my sister?¡±


    Xu Niannian knew acting too out of character would arouse suspicion, so she casually concocted an excuse, ¡°I hit my head earlier and forgot many things, I only remember your names.


    You can tell me about them when you have time.¡±


    At these words, Xu Niannian could clearly feel Xu Zhicheng¡¯s body stiffen suddenly, but she didn¡¯t care.


    She knew why he reacted like that, as the bruise on her head had come from his push.


    Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s lips quivered, ¡°Have you really forgotten?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I can¡¯t remember, I only know that you guys are my younger brothers,¡± Xu Niannian lied through her teeth without batting an eye.


    Meanwhile, Xu Duoyu, taking advantage of the others¡¯ distraction, cautiously hooked the bowl toward himself with his finger and sipped a mouthful of the egg soup.


    The sweet taste instantly made Xu Duoyu squint his eyes in satisfaction, the brightness in them filled with disbelief, as if he had tasted a delicacy from the mortal world.


    Xu Niannian, seeing his gluttonous kitten demeanor, couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of heartache, reminded of her own childhood.


    She had lived a lonely life, and though she later made a lot of money, she could never make up for the absence of familial affection.


    Now that she had this opportunity, Xu Niannian suddenly felt somewhat grateful, grateful that although she had lost her wealth, she had gained the family members she so longed for in her previous life.


    At first, she was unhappy about being reborn into such a poor family, but now she felt it was quite good.


    She was determined to change her younger brothers¡¯ perception of her, she would be good to them.


    ¡°Zhiqiang, tell me about your sister¡¯s past!¡± Xu Niannian casually brought up a topic, trying to get closer to Xu Zhiqiang.


    But she realized Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s gaze became even stranger, a look of wanting to speak but stopping himself.


    Xu Niannian then grasped how foolish her question had been.


    The original owner of her body always bullied these three brothers, by asking Xu Zhiqiang to talk about her past, wasn¡¯t she asking Xu Zhiqiang to recall how she used to bully them?


    Xu Niannian felt somewhat helpless, but the question had already been asked, she couldn¡¯t take it back.


    So Xu Niannian pretended not to see the resentful look in Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s eyes.


    Xu Zhiqiang wondered whether Xu Niannian really had forgotten or was merely playing with him, his eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.


    Xu Niannian also knew that no matter what she said, Xu Zhiqiang wouldn¡¯t easily trust her, her only hope was that he would gradually change his opinion of her over time.


    Xu Zhiqiang hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a stool opposite Xu Niannian and began to tell her about her past, though his attitude wasn¡¯t very serious.


    The only reason he complied was for fear that Xu Niannian might go mad and hit someone again.


    However, what he talked about were the occasions when Xu Niannian had been normal, not mentioning any instances where she had bullied the three brothers.


    This was his way of preparing for both possibilities.


    If Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t truly forgetful, he wouldn¡¯t get scolded for this approach, and if she really had forgotten, then even better, maybe she would change her past habit of hitting and scolding them at the drop of a hat.


    Xu Niannian hitting or scolding him didn¡¯t bother him, his concern was her bullying the other two brothers, who were still so young; even Xu Zhicheng, the oldest of them, was only nine years old.


    They couldn¡¯t withstand her torment.


    While he spoke, Xu Niannian took the chance to observe her younger brothers carefully.


    The eldest, Xu Zhiqiang, bore some resemblance to her in facial features, but his skin was rather yellowish.


    The second brother, Xu Zhicheng, looked like their father, Xu Dawei, and wasn¡¯t as handsome.


    The youngest, Xu Duoyu, because he was still little, didn¡¯t resemble anyone in particular, his eyes were big, but he was very thin and also dark.


    Yet the three brothers shared a common appearance, all of them wearing patched clothes; there were so many patches that the original fabric was hardly visible anymore, and they all looked malnourished.


    In contrast, her own clothes, although made of coarse fabric, had no patches.


    In those times, clothes without patches were already considered quite good.


    Even Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua were wearing patched clothes.


    After talking for a long while until his mouth was dry, Xu Zhiqiang noticed Xu Niannian was still staring at him, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling apprehensive.


    What was she planning to do?


    Xu Niannian, resting her chin in her hand, saw that Xu Zhiqiang had finished speaking and even casually poured him a glass of water.


    Suddenly, Xu Zhiqiang looked at her as if he had seen a ghost.


    Xu Niannian calmly said, ¡°Drink some water.¡±

 Chapter 5 - 5 4 The Mom Who Only Loved Her Daughter

    ?5: Chapter 4: The Mom Who Only Loved Her Daughter 5: Chapter 4: The Mom Who Only Loved Her Daughter Xu Zhiqiang hesitated for several moments before he took the teacup and sipped from it.


    Xu Duoyu was still sweetly sipping his sugared water egg, the child knew who treated him well, holding out the bowl to Xu Zhicheng,


    Xu Zhicheng¡¯s mouth twitched several times.


    Seeing the egg sticking to Xu Duoyu¡¯s lips, he couldn¡¯t help swallowing his saliva several times.


    He had never had sugared water egg before.


    Watching Xu Zhicheng like this, Xu Niannian felt nothing but sorrow.


    For her, accustomed to all sorts of delicacies, she could not comprehend the level of desire the people of this era had for an egg¡ªa dish considered everyday fare in the future.


    ¡°You two share it, I¡¯m going back to my room to rest,¡± she said.


    Having said that, Xu Niannian got up and returned to her room.


    No sooner had Xu Niannian left than Xu Zhicheng took a sip from the bowl, daring not to drink too much, just tasting it.


    Accustomed to eating coarse grains, this first taste of egg, so tender and fragrant in his mouth, made him reluctant to swallow, though it was just a small bite.


    ¡°Brother, you should have a sip too,¡± Xu Zhicheng said.


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t drink it, letting the two younger brothers finish it by themselves.


    After finishing the sugared water egg, Xu Zhicheng eagerly said,


    ¡°Brother, do you think our sister got possessed by a ghost or something, to forget all the past, and also...


    ¡±


    ¡°And what?¡± Xu Zhiqiang asked.


    Xu Zhicheng lowered his voice and muttered,


    ¡°It¡¯s like she¡¯s become different.¡±


    Although sister still kept a stern face, she didn¡¯t scold them or hit them, and she even let him and Duoyu have the sugared water egg.


    In the past, Xu Zhicheng wouldn¡¯t have dared to imagine such a thing.


    Lying in the hall, Xu Niannian, despite Xu Zhicheng keeping his voice very low, still heard everything.


    With a bruised forehead, Xu Niannian was truly in pain and couldn¡¯t care about much, soon drifting off to sleep.


    In the evening, Dawei Xu and Yang Cuihua returned from outside one after another.


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s mouth was her downfall; as soon as she returned, she began scolding vehemently.


    One moment lambasting Dawei Xu for being good for nothing, the next berating the three sons for being an eyesore and wasting food.


    It was Yang Cuihua¡¯s voice that woke Xu Niannian.


    Coming out from her room, she saw Yang Cuihua seizing Xu Duoyu¡¯s ear, scolding,


    ¡°You little scamp, what are you doing clinging to the bowl licking it?


    After you¡¯ve licked it, how are we supposed to eat?


    Don¡¯t you think it needs washing?¡±


    As she spoke, she snatched the bowl from Xu Duoyu¡¯s hands, her nose sharp, detecting the egg smell almost instantly.


    Her expression turned ugly on the spot, and she started yelling,


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got nerve, stealing eggs to eat!


    Those are your sister¡¯s food.


    They call you Duoyu (surplus), and you truly are an unnecessary little scamp.


    Let¡¯s see if mother doesn¡¯t throw you out to feed the dogs.¡±


    She grabbed the crying Xu Duoyu, intending to take him outside, and Xu Niannian, panicked, hurried over to grab Yang Cuihua.


    But Yang Cuihua was full of energy, while Xu Niannian felt dizzy after just a few steps and failed to catch up.


    Yang Cuihua had reached the courtyard entrance by the time Xu Niannian had only just left the room.


    Fortunately, Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng, carrying back baskets, arrived just in time to block Yang Cuihua¡¯s path.


    ¡°Mom, what did Duoyu do?¡± Xu Zhiqiang anxiously blocked Yang Cuihua.


    ¡°Move aside!


    Today I must throw out this extra brat to feed the dogs.


    He even dares to steal and eat what belongs to his sister,¡± she exclaimed.


    On hearing this, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his hands tightly holding onto Yang Cuihua, and his resentment towards Xu Niannian deepened by yet another degree.


    It turned out her kind gesture of giving Duoyu the sugared water egg at lunchtime was for this very moment.


    ¡°Mom, it wasn¡¯t Duoyu who stole the eggs; my sister gave them to Duoyu herself.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re spouting nonsense!¡± Yang Cuihua blurted out angrily: ¡°Niannian would never do such a foolish thing.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng, terrified, cried as he clung to Yang Cuihua¡¯s waist, begging, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t throw Duoyu away, Duoyu really didn¡¯t steal the eggs, my sister gave them to him.¡±


    Xu Niannian finally staggered to the gate.


    Upon seeing Xu Niannian with a bandage wrapped around her head, soaked with blood, Yang Cuihua panicked.


    She let go of Xu Duoyu without care, regardless of whether he might be killed from the fall.


    ¡°Niannian, oh my heart, why did you come out?


    Go back and rest properly.¡±


    Fortunately, Xu Zhiqiang caught him in time.


    Xu Duoyu, sobbing uncontrollably, clung to Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s neck and cried bitterly.


    Holding Xu Duoyu, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s gaze was fixed threateningly on Xu Niannian; if she dared to falsely accuse Duoyu today, he would take a knife and kill her.


    Xu Niannian, already feeling dizzy, got even dizzier after being jostled by Yang Cuihua.


    ¡°Mom, listen to me, Duoyu really didn¡¯t steal anything, I let Duoyu have the egg soup.¡±


    At these words, Yang Cuihua was visibly taken aback and immediately burst out crying, ¡°My Niannian, what¡¯s happened to you...¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng were also shocked as they stared at Xu Niannian.


    So it really wasn¡¯t her who had wronged Duoyu; it was their mother who had misunderstood.


    Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t expected that a bowl of sugar water with an egg could cause such an uproar.


    Outside was not the place to talk, and with all the crying and commotion, many neighbors had come out to see what the fuss was about.


    Xu Niannian quickly pulled Yang Cuihua into the house, knowing that calming down the ¡®big Buddha¡¯ was the most important thing at the moment.


    The family entered the house and shut the door behind them.


    The aunt from next door, while cracking sunflower seeds in her yard, complained to her husband, ¡°The Xu family¡¯s at it again.


    Tell me, does Yang Cuihua have shit for brains or what?


    She neglects her three precious sons and treats that girl like a golden lump.


    It¡¯s bad enough for the woman to be foolish, but Xu Dawei is being equally stupid.¡±


    Her husband grunted and clacked his Liberation shoes on the ground to shake out the dirt.


    ¡°As if you don¡¯t stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong,¡± he retorted.


    The auntie pursed her lips disapprovingly but didn¡¯t argue with her husband, continuing to crack seeds.


    Meanwhile, inside the Xu Family Hall, Xu Niannian had finally managed to explain the sequence of events with great difficulty.


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Niannian sat on chairs by the dining table while Xu Zhiqiang and his brothers stood in a row in front, waiting for Yang Cuihua to decide their fate.


    After hearing the whole story, Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t help but spit in disgust and said irritably, ¡°If your sister tells you to eat, you eat.


    She pities you, but I¡¯ve never seen you pity her.¡±


    The three brothers, Xu Zhiqiang included, hung their heads as she scolded them, not daring to talk back.


    Because talking back would only result in a beating, without solving anything.


    Xu Niannian, her head throbbing, listened to Yang Cuihua¡¯s tirade.


    She knew that one can¡¯t rush when eating hot tofu, and in Yang Cuihua¡¯s firmly entrenched mind, not only were the sons useless, but they were also a losing proposition.


    Changing her mind instantly was impossible; it was going to take time.


    Although Yang Cuihua was dissatisfied, the decision had been made by her daughter, and she feared that saying too much would make her daughter think she disapproved of her.


    The foolish son had benefited, and according to her daughter, not only had Duoyu had the egg soup, but Zhicheng had as well.


    They had already taken advantage of the good, and she couldn¡¯t go on scolding them, but that didn¡¯t mean she could just keep silent; she had to find another approach.


    ¡°Your sister loves you so much.


    She endured hunger and couldn¡¯t bear to eat, instead giving you precious food.


    In the future, you must repay your sister.


    Once you grow up and earn money, you have to provide for her.


    The best food and drink should always go to her first.


    Do you hear me?¡±


    Xu Duoyu didn¡¯t understand any of this, while Xu Zhicheng and Xu Zhiqiang just smirked.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth twitched for quite a while before she finally recovered.

 Chapter 6 - 6 5 Almost Brainwashed

    ?6: Chapter 5: Almost Brainwashed 6: Chapter 5: Almost Brainwashed Yang Cuihua seemed to think it was not enough and dragged Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng in front of her to educate them.


    ¡°Did you hear that?


    In the future, you both must take good care of your sister.


    Do you think it¡¯s easy for her?


    For the two of you, she goes hungry without eating.


    If anyone dares to be unkind to her, your old mother will not let you off, even as a ghost.¡±


    Xu Duoyu was too young to understand what Yang Cuihua was saying, probably only aware that Mom wanted him and his brother to treat their sister well.


    Xu Zhicheng wasn¡¯t too happy about listening, as in his mother¡¯s eyes, the sister could do no wrong.


    However, he didn¡¯t dare to retort, fearing that he¡¯d be thrown to the dogs.


    Because Yang Cuihua would always scare them with the threat of being thrown to feed the dogs.


    Xu Niannian felt a headache coming and covered her forehead with her hand, thinking the old lady was unbelievable, able to argue black was white.


    To prevent her from scolding further, Xu Niannian quickly pulled her aside, ¡°Mom, what are you talking about?


    There¡¯s no need to speak of ghosts.


    You¡¯re still young and bound to live a long and healthy life.¡±


    With the host¡¯s memories, Xu Niannian knew that once Yang Cuihua started scolding her sons, it wouldn¡¯t end in less than an hour.


    If she didn¡¯t interrupt, her mother could continue the scolding until dinner time.


    Yang Cuihua was immediately moved and, taking her daughter¡¯s hand, wiped away tears, ¡°I always knew that in this family, only our Niannian cares about Mom the most.¡±


    ¡°Look at the lot of you, who is as sensible as your sister?¡±


    With the daughter¡¯s care close at hand, looking at her sons was increasingly irritating to the eye.


    ¡°Enough, enough, stop standing around.


    Those who have chores, go do them quickly.


    Zhiqiang, hurry up and cook, Zhicheng, go help your father chop firewood, and Duoyu, you shouldn¡¯t be idle either, help your brother out.


    Cook faster, your sister hasn¡¯t eaten all day, she must be starving.¡±


    After sending the three brothers away, Yang Cuihua turned back and, seeing the blood on her daughter¡¯s head, her heart ached again, ¡°My poor Niannian...¡±


    Xu Niannian, observing how Yang Cuihua commanded even the little Xu Duoyu to work but insisted that she should not, profoundly realized the vast difference in her mother¡¯s heart between daughters and sons.


    She was curious why, while other families adored their sons, Yang Cuihua doted on her daughter instead.


    Let alone in the ideologically feudal 1980s, even in later eras, there were more people favoring sons over daughters than vice versa.


    ¡°Mom, look at how young Duoyu is; should I help my younger brother out instead?¡±


    ¡°How could that be!¡± Yang Cuihua disapproved with a stern face, ¡°My daughter, did you hurt your brain?


    How can you devalue yourself like that?


    Is the kitchen a place where you should be?¡±


    Startled by her suddenly raised voice, Xu Niannian was stunned for a moment before she recovered and realized what her mother had said.


    She couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth; why wasn¡¯t the kitchen a place for her?


    She wasn¡¯t some ¡®golden lump.¡¯


    No, that¡¯s wrong; in Yang Cuihua¡¯s heart, she was the ¡®golden lump.¡¯


    Xu Niannian still wanted to struggle a bit, ¡°But Mom, Duoyu is still young.


    What if he gets hurt?¡±


    ¡°Hurt?¡± Yang Cuihua laughed, ¡°What¡¯s there to do?


    If he gets hurt, we¡¯ll just let him heal.¡±


    Xu Niannian felt a bit dizzy with the response.


    If someone gets hurt, just heal them; it seemed like there was nothing wrong with that.


    Ah, no, that¡¯s not the issue.


    The problem is why, knowing how easily Duoyu could get hurt due to his young age, she still made him work in the kitchen.


    She almost got sidetracked by the old lady.


    Perhaps noticing Xu Niannian¡¯s unusual behavior, Yang Cuihua asked suspiciously, ¡°Niannian, what¡¯s wrong with you today?


    Why are you persistently speaking up for your brothers?¡±


    Yang Cuihua was somewhat unhappy.


    Her daughter usually shared the same heart with her.


    Why was she suddenly so concerned about those little brats today?


    She even let them eat the sugar water egg, not even considering how precious that was, not for those two little brats to consume.


    Hearing Yang Cuihua¡¯s question, Xu Niannian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly made up a lie, vaguely saying, ¡°I had a bad dream.¡±


    ¡°What dream?¡± Yang Cuihua asked.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua so interested, Xu Niannian suddenly had a good idea.


    She spoke with seeming significance, ¡°I don¡¯t really remember the specifics, but I remember there was a person with a black face and a white face warning me, saying that if I wasn¡¯t nice to my brother, after I died, I would go down to the Eighteen Levels of Hell.¡±


    ¡°Black and white face?¡± Yang Cuihua was startled; wasn¡¯t that the black and white Wuchang?


    Good heavens, they say that people who have had a close brush with death can see those officials from below.


    Yang Cuihua pondered.


    Her daughter had survived a great disaster; could it be that she actually went there and back?


    No wonder her daughter let those two little brats have the sugared egg for lunch.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua with a solemn expression, Xu Niannian tentatively asked, ¡°Mom, do you think we should be nicer to my brother from now on?¡±


    Yang Cuihua immediately answered, ¡°Niannian, don¡¯t be afraid; even if it¡¯s the Eighteen Levels of Hell, your mom will block it for you.


    Anyone who dares bully my daughter, even if I¡¯m dead, I¡¯ll go down and turn their world upside down.¡±


    Xu Niannian suddenly felt thunder rolling in the sky.


    Why couldn¡¯t the old lady be more adaptable?


    Was she really her mother, to be so heartless toward her own son?


    If Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t slightly resemble her, Xu Niannian would really suspect that her three brothers weren¡¯t born to Yang Cuihua.


    ¡°Mom, can¡¯t we just be a little nicer to brother?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been harsh to them; I haven¡¯t shortchanged them on food or drink,¡± Yang Cuihua said.


    Xu Niannian felt somewhat helpless; this was considered not being harsh?


    What would be considered harsh then?


    If this woman wasn¡¯t the original mother, which is equivalent to her current mother, with her explosive temper, she really wanted to point at the old lady¡¯s nose and curse her out.


    Unfortunately, reality is reality; there are no ifs, and Yang Cuihua was now her mother.


    She couldn¡¯t help but be curious, ¡°Mom, you see, other families cherish their sons, why are you so...


    to my brothers?¡±


    Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t finished her sentence, because she really didn¡¯t know what word would be most appropriate to describe it.


    Eventually unable to think of anything better, she squeezed out the somewhat euphemistic words ¡°strict.¡±


    Hearing Xu Niannian ask this, Yang Cuihua¡¯s face lit up with pride.


    ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re foolish; your mom is different, my thinking is more advanced than theirs.


    Those old hags always say daughters are a losing venture, sons are the golden lump, but I don¡¯t see it that way.¡±


    She took Xu Niannian¡¯s hand, speaking very earnestly, ¡°Sons, when they get married, not only have to give dowries to others, they also have to split our house with them.


    After a son gets a wife, he¡¯ll only listen to his wife; people always say ¡®marry a wife and forget one¡¯s mother.''¡±


    ¡°Daughters are different; they don¡¯t need their parents to prepare a house for marriage, and they can also get dowries.


    Tell me, who is really the losing venture?¡±


    Xu Niannian was stunned by her words, thinking that the old lady seemed to make sense; upon careful consideration, it seemed to be the case.


    Ah, spit, no, that¡¯s not right; how had she been brainwashed so quickly, in just a moment?


    Children, how could they be described as a losing venture?


    Could it be that the old lady doted on her because she wasn¡¯t a losing venture?


    Obviously, that was impossible.


    Yang Cuihua was just saying that.


    Given her love for her daughter, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to give not just money but even her life.

 Chapter 7 - 7 6 A Poor Family

    ?7: Chapter 6: A Poor Family 7: Chapter 6: A Poor Family Yang Cuihua was chatting with Xu Niannian in the main room, and she didn¡¯t bother to keep their voices down.


    She wasn¡¯t afraid her son would hear them.


    Thus, their opinions about their children were clearly heard by Xu Zhicheng, who was outside helping to chop firewood, as well as Xu Zhiqiang, who was busy in the kitchen.


    Xu Duoyu also heard, but he didn¡¯t understand the meaning yet.


    Xu Zhiqiang, expressionless, cooked the meal, letting Xu Duoyu play nearby without really asking him to help, his eyes betraying no emotion.


    The young boy had already learned to endure and keep his feelings hidden.


    However, Xu Niannian¡¯s made-up dream was spoken so softly that, except for Yang Cuihua, nobody else heard it.


    Before long, Xu Zhiqiang had prepared and brought out the meal.


    The so-called meal was nothing but the coarsest of coarse grains.


    Rice bran porridge, boiled with a few green vegetables, and a dish of dark, salty pickles.


    Rice bran was something that, even in the remote rural areas of later generations, no one would eat¡ªit was feed for pigs.


    Yet in the Xu family, it was the staple food.


    Because the Xu family only had two people capable of working, Yang Cuihua and Xu Zhiqiang.


    Xu Dawei was lame, unable to work, always in pain, and there were five mouths to feed at home.


    The food earned from just two people¡¯s labor was never enough for the family.


    So every year, when grains were distributed, Yang Cuihua would exchange finer grains like sorghum and corn for even coarser rice bran.


    Because not many people ate rice bran, one pound of sorghum or corn could be traded for five to six pounds of rice bran.


    Yet even though the family was this poor, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei still ensured that Xu Niannian could eat somewhat better food every meal.


    For instance, now, while the entire family was eating rice bran porridge, only the bowl in front of Xu Niannian contained white rice porridge.


    White rice was a rare fine grain during this era; an ordinary rural family could only get about 15 to 20 pounds of it per year.


    But precisely because it was so rare, poorer families couldn¡¯t bear to eat it, often trading it for coarser grains like sorghum and corn.


    Thus, the overly diluted white rice porridge in front of Xu Niannian was indeed enviable.


    Xu Niannian genuinely couldn¡¯t stomach rice bran, as someone accustomed to eating white rice, switching to the dirt-colored rice bran would certainly be unpalatable.


    But seeing that everyone in her family was eating rice bran, while she alone had white rice porridge, she really couldn¡¯t swallow it.


    She didn¡¯t have much affection for this family presently, since she was only reborn, and these people weren¡¯t her true relatives.


    But to completely disregard them, she also couldn¡¯t bring herself to do that.


    Besides, she craved family affection more than anyone, and given this opportunity presented before her, how could she willingly give it up?


    Therefore, she was determined to treat this family well.


    To make them her true relatives.


    ¡°Niannian, why aren¡¯t you eating?


    Is it because you¡¯re not feeling well?¡± Yang Cuihua asked when she saw Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t touched her food, thinking she might be unwell.


    Xu Niannian quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll eat, I¡¯ll start right now.¡±


    Xu Duoyu was sitting to her left, along with Xu Zhiqiang at the table, eagerly staring at the white rice porridge in her bowl.


    Seeing his innocent gaze, Xu Niannian¡¯s heart softened a great deal.


    ¡°Duoyu, do you want to try some of my porridge?¡±


    As soon as Xu Niannian asked, Yang Cuihua glared fiercely at Xu Duoyu, ¡°What are you thinking, you rascal?


    Coveting your sister¡¯s food again?¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Xu Niannian shouted, wincing, ¡°I can¡¯t eat that much.¡±


    Catching her daughter¡¯s look, Yang Cuihua held back her dissatisfaction with her younger son and said no more.


    In fact, her daughter having that dream made her a bit uneasy; for her daughter¡¯s safety, she still decided to endure it for a while.


    Duoyu¡¯s tiny heart trembled as he was yelled at by Yang Cuihua.


    He held Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s waist with his little hands, his tiny lips pursed in a way that seemed he was about to cry but wasn¡¯t.


    Xu Zhiqiang set down his chopsticks and soothed him, ¡°Duoyu, be good.¡±


    Dawei also disapproved of Niannian giving their son the white rice porridge¡ªit was such a small amount of fine grain, and Niannian didn¡¯t have enough for herself.


    However, he usually sided with his wife¡¯s opinion.


    Since she hadn¡¯t stopped their daughter from sharing, he didn¡¯t say much.


    Niannian picked up Duoyu¡¯s bowl and poured rice bran porridge into the pot¡ªhe hadn¡¯t yet eaten.


    Then she shared half of the porridge from her own bowl with him.


    Xu Zhiqiang gave Niannian a meaningful look, and Niannian just pretended she didn¡¯t see.


    Let them suspect.


    She had already said what she needed to say.


    Letting her continue to be as arrogant and bullying as the original owner, tormenting younger children, was out of the question.


    Having received the white rice porridge, Duoyu gulped it down eagerly, almost too fast to swallow, devouring it.


    This sight made Niannian feel a pang of heartache.


    Yang Cuihua, on the other hand, reluctantly pursed her lips, unwilling to part with that bit of fine grain.


    Seeing Duoyu eating so happily brought a smile to Niannian¡¯s face, and the salty pickled vegetables in her dish didn¡¯t seem so hard to swallow after all.


    She swore she must change this family¡¯s living conditions.


    Things were really too austere.


    She couldn¡¯t get involved in other people¡¯s lives, but since she had been reborn into this family, she couldn¡¯t let her own family live such a hard life.


    After dinner, the family soon went back to their rooms to sleep¡ªthere wasn¡¯t much entertainment in this era, and everyone went to bed early.


    It was only then that Niannian realized that the room she was staying in was the largest in the house.


    The room of Yang Cuihua and Dawei was not as spacious as hers.


    Not to mention Xu Zhiqiang and his brothers¡¯ room.


    Moreover, the three brothers shared one room and had only one bed.


    Niannian had just sat down on the bed when there was a knock on the door.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Niannian looked at the door suspiciously.


    Who would come to see her at this time?


    Could it be Yang Cuihua?


    As this thought crossed her mind, she heard Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s cool voice from outside: ¡°It¡¯s me!¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang?


    What did he want with her?


    She remembered that this younger brother rarely initiated contact with her unless it was necessary.


    But what could possibly require his attention at this time?


    After entering the room, Niannian bolted the door, having to get up to answer it.


    As she opened the door, she saw Xu Zhiqiang, unsmiling, carrying a basin of water inside.


    ¡°Here, wash your feet.¡±


    Seeing Xu Zhiqiang carrying in the foot basin, Niannian remembered¡ªthe original owner never washed her feet outside; she always had Xu Zhiqiang bring the water inside for her wash, which was sheer laziness.


    And because she couldn¡¯t stand this younger brother, the original owner always did things to insult Xu Zhiqiang while washing her feet.


    Like rubbing her feet on his face, shaking water onto his body, or wiping her feet on him, using his clothes as a towel.


    Sitting on the bed when this thought crossed her mind, Niannian¡¯s slippers were already being removed by Xu Zhiqiang, who was about to put her feet into the basin.


    Niannian shivered, sharply pushing Xu Zhiqiang away: ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang hadn¡¯t expected her to push him and was unprepared¡ªhe ended up sitting on the ground...

 Chapter 8 - 8 7 Mending and Repairing, Another Year Goes By

    ?8: Chapter 7: Mending and Repairing, Another Year Goes By 8: Chapter 7: Mending and Repairing, Another Year Goes By Xu Zhiqiang thought Xu Niannian was deliberately messing with him again.


    His face looked awful, as he pursed his lips tightly and said nothing.


    Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t expected that push to send the boy tumbling to the ground.


    She hurried to help him up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang was still fuming and hadn¡¯t expected Xu Niannian to apologize, so he looked at her in utter amazement.


    Xu Niannian thought he had gone mad with anger and apologized once more, ¡°Really, I¡¯m sorry, it wasn¡¯t on purpose.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang eyed Xu Niannian suspiciously, and she didn¡¯t notice his scrutiny.


    As she helped him up, Xu Niannian said helplessly, ¡°In the future, you don¡¯t need to bring me water for washing my feet; I¡¯ll wash outside by myself.¡±


    Perhaps it was the sincerity in Xu Niannian¡¯s gaze, but eventually, Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t say anything at all.


    When Xu Zhiqiang returned to the room and lay down on the bed, Xu Zhicheng came over to him while Xu Duoyu was already asleep.


    ¡°Brother, did Sister pick on you tonight?¡±


    Every time Big Brother brought foot-washing water for Sister, he would return with a sulky expression, and Xu Zhicheng knew he must have suffered her bullying.


    However, Sister seemed a bit different today, and Xu Zhicheng wondered if she hadn¡¯t given Big Brother a hard time today.


    Having never felt the love of a father or mother, and cherished only by his brother, Xu Zhicheng viewed Xu Zhiqiang as a fatherly figure in his heart.


    Xu Zhiqiang pursed his lips, ¡°Just go to sleep.¡±


    Thinking of Xu Niannian¡¯s uncharacteristic behavior throughout the day, Xu Zhiqiang wondered if she really couldn¡¯t remember the past?


    Of course, this thought could only be suppressed in his heart.


    If Xu Niannian really had forgotten the past and would no longer bully the three brothers, then he hoped she would never remember it.


    The next day, Xu Niannian got up bright and early while Yang Cuihua and Xu Zhiqiang had already gone to work.


    Xu Dawei had also gone out to gather firewood, and apart from her, only Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng were at home.


    When Xu Niannian came out of her room, Xu Zhicheng was washing Xu Duoyu¡¯s face.


    At just nine years old, Xu Zhicheng was still a child, but he took care of Xu Duoyu like a little adult, displaying remarkable maturity.


    Xu Niannian sighed, ¡°The children of the poor take on responsibilities early in life.¡±


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re awake?¡± After washing Xu Duoyu¡¯s face, Xu Zhicheng looked up to see Xu Niannian standing at the door watching him.


    It was baffling; when did this lazybones ever wake up before the sun was high in the sky?


    Why so early today?


    Of course, he didn¡¯t dare speak these words out loud.


    Still young, Xu Zhicheng couldn¡¯t hide the emotions in his eyes.


    Xu Niannian saw at a glance what he was thinking.


    The original host was lazy, sleeping for more than ten hours each day, but she wasn¡¯t like that, accustomed to waking up early, feeling uncomfortable with just a few extra hours of sleep.


    With only the three siblings at home, Xu Niannian found herself bored.


    Xu Duoyu was young and unable to do any chores, simply sitting on the threshold watching Xu Zhicheng feed the chickens.


    Xu Niannian decided to also grab a small stool and sit in the yard.


    She hadn¡¯t had the chance to observe the house properly yesterday, but today she finally took the opportunity.


    The house was a clay structure with wooden boards, smeared on the outside with a layer of cement.


    Inside, it was simply three bedrooms and a hall.


    All together, it amounted to about seventy square meters.


    The yard, however, was much larger than the house itself.


    The yard was enclosed by a low earthen wall, which just encompassed the entire clay building.


    There were some leafy greens planted behind the house.


    In the front yard, a path led to the doorway, with bamboo poles forming two small enclosures on each side.


    On the left side were two laying hens, clucking away, and Xu Zhicheng tossed a few cabbage leaves into their pen.


    This became possible only after the reform and opening-up policy of the previous two years, when families dared to grow vegetables and keep two laying hens.


    Before the reform and opening-up, peasants weren¡¯t allowed to reclaim land privately, nor could they grow crops on their own.


    Even the number of hens was regulated; every family could only keep one.


    Any family that dared to keep more would be accused of practicing capitalism and subjected to public shaming and struggle sessions.


    After feeding the chickens, Xu Zhicheng pulled Xu Duoyu over to the nearby well to draw water.


    Xu Dawei had dug the well himself before he got injured, which saved them the trouble of carrying water.


    Watching Xu Zhicheng press down on the iron bar above the well a few times and water came out, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but feel curious.


    She had never seen such a thing before.


    ¡°Zhicheng, what are you doing?¡± Xu Niannian asked curiously.


    As soon as Xu Duoyu saw Xu Niannian coming over, he was so scared that he hid behind Xu Zhicheng, making Xu Niannian seem like the Tiger Auntie.


    Xu Zhicheng didn¡¯t like his sister, but she was the local tyrant of the family and no one dared to offend her.


    Upon hearing her question, Xu Zhicheng pursed his lips and said without much heart, ¡°Washing clothes.¡±


    ¡°Washing clothes?¡± Xu Niannian blinked, ¡°Where are the clothes?¡±


    No sooner had she asked this than she saw Xu Zhicheng take off his clothes and throw them into the basin.


    Then he also helped Xu Duoyu take off all his clothes and trousers, leaving Xu Duoyu standing there naked.


    Xu Niannian was somewhat stunned.


    Was this how they washed clothes?


    Where were the clothes to change into?


    As she thought this, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but ask out loud.


    Then she saw Xu Zhicheng looking at her with a weird expression, somberly saying, ¡°There¡¯s only one set of clothes.¡± Did she really not remember?


    With his reminder, Xu Niannian finally remembered that her three younger brothers, apart from Xu Zhiqiang who had two sets of clothes, Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu each only had one set.


    And they were all hand-me-downs that Xu Niannian had worn when she was little.


    Throughout the year, in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, by patching and mending the same thin set of clothes was all they had.


    It was fortunate that it was summer now, so the cold wasn¡¯t an issue.


    But what about in winter?


    Wouldn¡¯t they freeze to death?


    Thinking of the clothes she had in her room that she couldn¡¯t wear, Xu Niannian felt a lump in her throat.


    Although their family was poor, because Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei doted on her, they would use all the household¡¯s cloth coupons every year to get fabric to make clothes for her.


    So in those days, Xu Niannian had quite a lot of clothes by comparison.


    And those clothes had been saved from the rest of the family.


    For instance, her three brothers, aside from Xu Zhiqiang who had two sets of clothes, Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng only had one set each for the whole year, and it was worn for several years at that.


    Even Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua only had two sets of clothes.


    Thus, in the memories that Xu Niannian had received, the family was always wearing patched clothes.


    Her family really was very poor.


    Because Xu Niannian was there, Xu Zhicheng felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate to take off his pants.


    After washing the clothes, Xu Zhicheng hung them on the surrounding wall.


    It was hot, and they didn¡¯t take long to dry.


    Xu Niannian went back to her room, took out the clothes she couldn¡¯t wear, and based on her estimation, cut them to sizes suitable for Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu.


    She planned to sew them up in the evening, and give them to her two brothers the next day.


    Xu Niannian, in her previous life, had gone from an orphan to a multimillionaire through her incredible cooking skills and genius for fashion design.


    Modifying clothes was a small matter for her; she had learned to do it back at the orphanage.


    The morning passed quickly, and while Xu Niannian was still pondering in her room at noon, Xu Zhicheng had already finished cooking lunch.


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Zhiqiang came back from the fields, hurriedly ate their meal, and then continued with their work.


    Before leaving for work, Yang Cuihua pulled Xu Niannian aside into the room and stuffed a cornbread into her hand.


    ¡°Mom, where did you get this?¡± Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be working?


    Where did she find time to make cornbread?


    Hearing her daughter¡¯s question, Yang Cuihua¡¯s face lit up with pride, ¡°I met your grandmother on the way; she told me to bring this to you.


    Hurry up and eat it, look at how thin you¡¯ve become.¡±


    Holding the cornbread the size of a palm, which still had some mud and ash on it because Yang Cuihua had kept it in her pocket all morning,


    Xu Niannian felt a bit upset, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not hungry, you eat it.¡±


    The old lady, though she had quirky ideas, loved her daughter deeply.


    As Yang Cuihua hurried off to work, tears threatened to spill from her eyes upon hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s considerate words, ¡°My dear, I¡¯m not hungry, you go ahead and eat it before the kids come hankering after it.¡±


    With that said, Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t wait for Xu Niannian to respond and walked away, swinging her hips.

 Chapter 9 - 9 8 Edible Slurry

    ?9: Chapter 8: Edible Slurry 9: Chapter 8: Edible Slurry Clutching the cornbread in her hand, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t eat it after all.


    The skinny and petite Xu Duoyu stood at her door, his scrawny little hand scratching the doorframe, staring eagerly at the cornbread in her hand, yet only looking, not daring to speak.


    He still remembered that just drinking a bowl of sugar water with an egg had almost gotten him thrown to the dogs by Mom.


    Xu Niannian was very fond of children, especially since this Xu Duoyu was her actual little brother in this current body, making her feel even more compassionate towards him.


    She squatted down and gently waved to Xu Duoyu, ¡°Duoyu, come to sister.¡±


    Xu Duoyu stood there dumbfounded, not daring to move, his big black eyes wide open.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s voice became even more gentle, ¡°Come here, Duoyu, sister will give you cornbread.¡±


    As she spoke, she even shook the cornbread at him.


    Ultimately, being young and having gone so long without a full meal, Xu Duoyu couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and walked over to Xu Niannian with his little belly sticking out.


    Xu Niannian laughed as she scooped him into her arms, but the action was so sudden, and since Xu Duoyu had long been bullied by Xu Niannian, he was so frightened that he opened his mouth to wail.


    Fortunately, Xu Niannian quickly covered his mouth in time.


    Xu Duoyu stared at Xu Niannian with wide, panicked eyes.


    Was sister going to bite him again?


    Unable to scream, Xu Duoyu¡¯s tears fell drop by drop.


    Seeing this made Xu Niannian¡¯s heart ache, she hurriedly wiped his tears away, ¡°Why are you crying?


    Sister isn¡¯t going to hit you.¡±


    It took a while to coax the little guy, and Xu Niannian, smiling, stroked his fuzzy radish-like head and handed him the cornbread.


    ¡°Here, Duoyu, be good, you can¡¯t cry anymore, okay?¡±


    Xu Duoyu looked at Xu Niannian foolishly.


    Sister wasn¡¯t going to hit him?


    Children are forgetful and don¡¯t have many twists and turns in their thoughts.


    Seeing Xu Niannian handing him the cornbread and telling him he could eat it, he cherished the bread like a precious gift.


    Xu Niannian saw him use his lean hand to wipe away tears and then look at her with eager eyes, holding the cornbread, ¡°Sister, will Mom throw me to the dogs?¡±


    Xu Niannian was taken aback, not expecting this question, and for a moment she was at a loss whether to laugh or to feel sad, ¡°No, you just don¡¯t tell Mom, and it¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    The eyes of Xu Duoyu immediately lit up, and after squirming a few times in her arms, he broke free and ran outside with the cornbread, shouting as he ran, ¡°Second brother, bread, cornbread...¡±


    Xu Niannian listened, feeling an inexplicable warmth in her heart.


    What a good child, not even having enough to eat himself yet still thinking of those who were kind to him.


    It seems Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng did not dote on him for nothing.


    When Xu Zhicheng saw the cornbread in Xu Duoyu¡¯s hands, he frowned and asked, ¡°Where did you get that?¡±


    No wonder Xu Zhicheng was suspicious; honestly, in their home, nobody would be willing to give a cornbread to the three brothers to eat.


    Such snacks were not something they could ordinarily have.


    Cornbread might not be considered a rarity in other households, but their family was just too poor.


    Holding up the cornbread, Xu Duoyu replied with simple honesty, ¡°Sister gave it to me.¡±


    ¡°Sister gave it to you?¡± Xu Zhicheng clearly didn¡¯t believe it.


    But considering that Xu Niannian was even willing to give them sugar water with an egg to drink, maybe it really was from sister.


    Could it be that sister had truly changed for the better?


    In the late afternoon, around five or six o¡¯clock, Xu Niannian saw Xu Zhicheng with a basket on his back, holding Xu Duoyu¡¯s hand as they were about to go out.


    She quickly pulled Xu Zhicheng aside, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Given that Xu Niannian had given Xu Duoyu a piece of cornbread that day, Xu Zhicheng¡¯s attitude toward her had softened a bit.


    ¡°We¡¯re going up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables.¡±


    ¡°Dig for wild vegetables?¡± Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes immediately lit up; she loved wild vegetables.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you guys.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng was obviously taken aback again, ¡°Sister, you, you want to go?¡±


    In the past, she hated going out the most.


    Could it be she forgot what happened before, and even her personality and preferences changed?


    Of course, at Xu Zhicheng¡¯s age, even if he found it strange, he wouldn¡¯t think too much about it.


    Although sister¡¯s personality had improved, Xu Zhicheng still didn¡¯t dare to contradict her.


    Xu Niannian followed Xu Zhicheng up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables, her head still wrapped in a thick circle of coarse cloth.


    On the way, they encountered several aunties, and Xu Niannian politely greeted each one.


    The aunties didn¡¯t feel surprised either.


    The previous Xu Niannian, in order to marry into a good family, cared a lot about her own reputation.


    Although she didn¡¯t do farm work, she claimed to others that she did all the household chores.


    She was also very polite to outsiders.


    Seeing that Xu Niannian was still so insincere with outsiders, Xu Zhicheng thought to himself that a leopard can¡¯t change its spots, always knowing how to please others.


    Little did Xu Niannian know that, in her own little brother¡¯s eyes, just being a bit more polite to others was seen as currying favor.


    Once they reached the mountain, Xu Niannian took a deep breath.


    The air in nature was indeed refreshing.


    She saw that Xu Zhicheng¡¯s so-called vegetable picking was just yanking a couple of handfuls of wild chives.


    After walking for a while, Xu Niannian suddenly spotted a small river and, dragging Xu Duoyu with her, ran over to it.


    After drinking some water by the riverbank, Xu Niannian smiled contentedly.


    Moreover, this trip allowed Xu Niannian to spot something good.


    The rocks along the small river were covered with wild water fungus.


    This was truly a treasure.


    Thinking about the meals at home where every time the only side dish was pickled vegetables, Xu Niannian¡¯s teeth felt sour.


    As a foodie who had tasted delicacies from all around the world, how could she endure a life of eating pickled vegetables every day?


    Without wasting words, Xu Niannian started prying off the water fungus with Xu Duoyu.


    Xu Duoyu didn¡¯t understand anything and only knew that when Xu Niannian asked him to do something, he just did it.


    Being obedient always reduced the chances of getting beaten.


    After Xu Zhicheng finished picking chives, he turned around and saw Xu Niannian squatting by the river with Xu Duoyu.


    He was so scared he quickly ran over, fearing they might fall into the river.


    Although he knew how to swim, he couldn¡¯t save someone as big as Xu Niannian.


    ¡°Sister, what are you doing?¡± Xu Zhicheng hurried over and asked.


    Seeing her scraping something mushy on the rocks, he wondered, ¡°What are you doing with that stuff?¡±


    Having said that, the little bit of newfound respect Xu Zhicheng had for Xu Niannian vanished again.


    Such a grown person, still playing with mushy stuff.


    Xu Niannian, busy prying off water fungus, said, ¡°I¡¯m getting water fungus.


    We can have an extra dish today.¡±


    ¡°Extra dish?


    Can you eat that stuff?¡± Xu Zhicheng asked in astonishment, automatically ignoring the fact she called the mushy stuff water fungus.


    Xu Niannian nodded as if it were only natural, ¡°Of course you can eat it...¡±


    Mid-sentence, Xu Niannian suddenly remembered that the villagers had basically never eaten water fungus.


    She quickly changed her tune, ¡°I read about it in a book at school.¡±


    Xu Niannian was the only high school student in the village.


    Being learned carried weight, and ever since the Gaokao was reinstated three years ago, in 1977, educated people were greatly respected.


    Hearing that she had read it in a book, Xu Zhicheng didn¡¯t doubt it and looked at Xu Niannian with utter admiration.


    Indeed, educated people were different.


    He also yearned to study, but it was a pity that his family would never support him going to school.


    Xu Zhicheng didn¡¯t dwell on his sadness for long.


    Hearing that Xu Niannian said the mushy stuff was edible, he immediately joined the fray and helped gather it.


    The three of them together soon gathered almost half a basketful.


    Hearing from Xu Zhicheng that there was plenty of it, Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t greedy and decided it was time to stop.


    It was hot weather, and Xu Niannian took another handful of water to wash her face.


    Seeing many fish at the bottom of the river, she licked her lips longingly.


    Meat.


    She felt like she hadn¡¯t eaten meat in lifetimes.

 Chapter 10 - 10 9 Extra Meal

    ?10: Chapter 9: Extra Meal 10: Chapter 9: Extra Meal ¡°Sis, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Having gathered enough wild vegetables, Xu Zhicheng wanted to hurry back; he still had to rush to cook dinner, not knowing whether Dad had returned or not.


    Xu Niannian stared at the fish in the river, suddenly remembering that Xu Zhicheng was an excellent swimmer.


    ¡°Zhicheng, you can swim, right?¡± Xu Niannian asked, her eyes shining as she looked at Xu Zhicheng.


    Meeting Xu Niannian¡¯s sparkling eyes, Xu Zhicheng¡¯s face tightened, ¡°A little.¡± What does she want to do?


    She wouldn¡¯t be thinking about playing in the water, would she?


    ¡°Great, can you catch fish?¡± she asked, pointing at the plump fish swimming in the river.


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhicheng was immediately shocked, ¡°Sis, what are you talking about?


    This is the collective¡¯s property; we can¡¯t just catch them willy-nilly.¡±


    It was only then that Xu Niannian remembered that before the reform and opening up, these things couldn¡¯t be caught or, if caught, had to be handed over to the collective.


    But it had been since 1978, two years ago, that the reforms and opening up had started, and now the state was even encouraging individual businesses.


    In the past, doing business was labeled as speculation and profiteering, but not anymore.


    Haven¡¯t you heard the collective¡¯s loudspeakers blaring slogans every day, encouraging the development of individual businesses in the village?


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we catch them, now that the policy has changed?


    Don¡¯t you know we can do business now?


    Listen to your sister, it¡¯s fine, go down and catch fish, we¡¯ll have an extra dish tonight.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng looked at Xu Niannian with suspicion; she wasn¡¯t planning on getting revenge on him, was she?


    Seeing him unmoved, Xu Niannian deliberately put on a serious face, ¡°So, my words don¡¯t matter anymore, huh.¡±


    With a fierce glare from her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, which was more effective on Xu Zhicheng than anything else, he reluctantly submitted to the tyranny of Xu Niannian.


    As he took off his clothes, he thought to himself, his sister was still the same as ever, always threatening them; if they didn¡¯t obey, they¡¯d get beaten up.


    He had thought she had changed for the better, but it seemed it was all an illusion, just like a dog can¡¯t change its habit of eating poop.


    Xu Niannian, of course, knew what Xu Zhicheng was thinking, she could tell by his look.


    Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t a gentle person; on the contrary, she was quite sharp-tongued.


    But she never bullied anyone.


    The reason she was only gentle to Xu Duoyu and not as much with Xu Zhicheng and Xu Zhiqiang was because she thought these two were older and could easily become suspicious.


    If she changed too much all at once, it would arouse suspicion.


    This wasn¡¯t an era where most people embraced materialism.


    In this era, many still held onto feudal superstitions.


    If those two started to think she was possessed by a ghost, that would be troublesome.


    So even though she wanted to be nice to these two, her attitude wasn¡¯t that gentle.


    Except with little brat Xu Duoyu.


    Everything must be done gradually, there had to be a process.


    As Xu Zhicheng went into the water to catch fish, Xu Niannian and Xu Duoyu watched from the shore.


    It must be said, Xu Zhicheng¡¯s swimming skills were exceptional, and he was good at catching fish too.


    He caught a big, plump fish in no time.


    Xu Zhicheng held it, the fish thrashing and flailing with such force that it slapped against Xu Zhicheng¡¯s chest with loud slaps.


    ¡°Sis, the basket, quick, pass me the basket,¡± Xu Zhicheng called out as he swam to the riverbank.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t dare let Xu Duoyu get close to the river edge for fear he might fall in; she told him to stay aside and quickly brought the basket over to catch the fish.


    The fish was almost three or four pounds.


    Because fishing in the river had been forbidden for the past few years, and there was no heavy industrial pollution, the river fish were big and plump, and moreover, they weren¡¯t wary of humans nearby, which is why Xu Zhicheng was able to catch one so easily.


    With fish and water fungus, tonight we finally don¡¯t have to eat salty vegetable buns.


    After just a few meals of salty vegetable buns, Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth was sore, and she had no idea how her family managed to eat salty vegetable buns meal after meal, day after day.


    In her basket, not only were there chives, but also fish and water fungus, and on the way back, she had even picked some wild coriander and green onions by the roadside.


    Today was truly a great harvest.


    Xu Niannian was in a great mood, with a smile on her face.


    Xu Duoyu was small and couldn¡¯t walk halfway, and Xu Zhicheng was carrying the basket, about to pick up Xu Duoyu, but was swatted away by Xu Niannian.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    This statement shocked Xu Zhicheng, what devilish idea was his sister cooking up now?


    Xu Duoyu, scared, clung to Xu Zhicheng¡¯s leg, but Xu Niannian didn¡¯t care how Xu Zhicheng conspired against her, she picked up Xu Duoyu with a smile, saying, ¡°Duoyu is good, your sister will carry you.¡±


    Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t bitten Xu Duoyu for two days, and at first, Xu Duoyu was somewhat scared, stiffening his little body while held in Xu Niannian¡¯s arms.


    After walking a while and seeing that Xu Niannian didn¡¯t hit him, Xu Duoyu¡¯s courage grew slightly, his small hands hugging Xu Niannian¡¯s neck.


    Xu Zhicheng followed behind, staring at Xu Niannian strangely all the way.


    They encountered many people on the road, and Xu Zhicheng was worried about attracting trouble, so he had hidden the fish among the wild plants, and no one could tell.


    Xu Niannian was a famous beauty known throughout the villages; on the road, many young men stared at her intently, as if they wanted to glue their eyeballs to her.


    Xu Niannian acted as if she saw none of it, happily laughing with Xu Duoyu.


    In the fields, Zhang Family¡¯s Auntie nudged Yang Cuihua, who was digging, ¡°Cuihua, Cuihua, isn¡¯t that your Niannian over there?¡±


    Yang Cuihua, busy with work and nudged by Auntie Zhang, said impatiently, ¡°What now, second wife, I¡¯m busy hoeing here, trying to get me docked points?¡±


    Auntie Zhang was originally a widow, and now remarried; everyone called her Auntie Zhang, but only Yang Cuihua liked to expose people¡¯s shortcomings, always referring to her as the second wife.


    Auntie Zhang was immediately irritated, ¡°Tsk, no good deed goes unpunished.


    I¡¯m reminding you that your Niannian has come out, so she doesn¡¯t get harassed by some rogue again.¡±


    Being too beautiful is also a sin.


    Xu Niannian was so beautiful that there were always some restless rogues eyeing her.


    Even in these times, when moral conduct was strictly enforced, some still liked to verbally harass beautiful young women.


    Of course, verbal harassment these days was already at the level of rogues.


    As soon as Yang Cuihua heard this, she threw down her hoe in fright and looked around, indeed seeing her Niannian.


    Not only did she see her daughter out and about, but also that Bunny brat Duoyu being held by Niannian.


    Being too far away to catch up even if she ran over immediately, Yang Cuihua spat fiercely and planned to discipline that little rascal later for daring to be held by her golden lump.


    Auntie Zhang, watching Yang Cuihua¡¯s panic, angrily spat and muttered, ¡°Serves the husband right for having a lame leg.¡±


    However, she only dared to whisper it.


    Yang Cuihua was notoriously fierce in the village; no one would dare to provoke her without ending up in a heap of trouble.


    Of course, Xu Niannian knew nothing of what had transpired here.


    She hadn¡¯t even seen her mother in the field, after all, it was too far away.


    Once inside the house, Xu Niannian finally put Xu Duoyu down, and Xu Dawei had already come home, boiling water in the kitchen.


    Hearing noises, he hurried out to see.


    Seeing all three siblings gathered, his son carrying a large basket, his daughter¡¯s face red with the signs of being out in the sun, he immediately guessed that his daughter had followed his son to pick wild vegetables.


    Xu Dawei disapproved and said to Xu Zhicheng, ¡°Zhicheng, why did you let your sister go with you to pick vegetables?


    Haven¡¯t you seen she still has a wound on her head?¡±


    Xu Zhicheng hung his head, silent.


    Here it came again; no matter what, as long as he was with his sister, they were the ones at fault.


    Xu Niannian, seeing Xu Zhicheng looking downcast, quickly explained, ¡°Dad, it was me who wanted to go with Zhicheng.


    It¡¯s not his fault.¡±


    At these words, Xu Zhicheng looked up at Xu Niannian in surprise; he had not expected Xu Niannian to speak up for him.


    Xu Dawei naturally wouldn¡¯t blame his precious daughter and thus didn¡¯t ask further.

 Chapter 11 - 11 10 Impoverished

    ?11: Chapter 10: Impoverished 11: Chapter 10: Impoverished Xu Zhicheng came back, and Xu Dawei naturally couldn¡¯t be bothered to stay in the kitchen.


    Clamping a dry pipe between his teeth, he sat at the door puffing away, planning to hand over the cooking to Xu Zhicheng, who was only nine years old.


    Xu Zhicheng was used to it, too.


    To be fair, as a married couple, they were among the finest exemplars of extremity, hands down the oddest of parents, exceptionally unfair to their several sons.


    But Xu Niannian was the least qualified to speak up about it.


    Because even if these two were extreme to everyone else, they couldn¡¯t have been any better to her.


    Xu Zhicheng went into the kitchen, where Xu Dawei had already started the fire.


    Xu Niannian followed him into the kitchen, which was utterly bare except for a stove and a big iron pot.


    This big iron pot served as both the rice pot and the vegetable pot.


    It was a dual-purpose pot, there was no choice, they were poor.


    Seeing Xu Niannian following him in, Xu Zhicheng asked, ¡°Sis, what are you doing in here?¡±


    Since Xu Niannian had spoken up for him again today, Xu Zhicheng¡¯s attitude towards her improved a bit once more.


    Xu Niannian rolled up her sleeves, ¡°Helping you cook.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng thought he had misheard, and quickly said, ¡°No need, I can do it myself.¡± Could she even cook?


    All she ever did was eat and sleep, sleep and eat, the epitome of idleness, she better not waste food.


    Xu Niannian glared, ¡°Don¡¯t look down on people, I¡¯ve been studying since I was little, I¡¯ve read a lot of books, including ones on cooking.¡±


    At first, Xu Zhicheng didn¡¯t believe her but didn¡¯t dare to contradict Xu Niannian either.


    However, when Mom finds out later that Sis went into the kitchen, he¡¯s for sure going to get beaten again.


    Xu Niannian rolled up her sleeves, full of gusto, and looking at the pot on the stove, she suddenly asked, ¡°How do you cook this rice?¡±


    Xu Zhicheng almost choked on his saliva.


    Just as he thought, he shouldn¡¯t have trusted this lazybones.


    It wasn¡¯t Xu Niannian¡¯s fault, honestly, she really didn¡¯t know how to cook something like rice bran.


    ¡°I better do it,¡± said Xu Zhicheng.


    Xu Niannian could only stand to one side, looking deflated.


    If she couldn¡¯t make the rice, she could still cook the dishes.


    She squatted down, took out the water fungus, and placed it in a wooden basin, intending to wash it clean, while Xu Duoyu squatted obediently in front of her.


    After these past couple of days of interaction, Xu Duoyu realized his sister might not be as terrible as he thought.


    Just then, Yang Cuihua and Xu Zhiqiang returned as well.


    The moment Yang Cuihua got home, she kicked Xu Dawei sitting at the door and asked in a surly tone, ¡°Where¡¯s Baby Nian?¡±


    ¡°Inside,¡± replied Xu Dawei, puffing on his dry pipe.


    Yang Cuihua made a beeline for Xu Niannian¡¯s room.


    Not finding Xu Niannian there and about to yell, she saw Xu Niannian carrying a wooden basin out from the kitchen.


    Her heart instantly trembled, ¡°My Baby Nian, why did you run off to the kitchen, is that a place for people to be?¡±


    Seeing Yang Cuihua return, Xu Niannian was also startled.


    Hearing her words, she was immediately at a loss for words.


    How is it not a place for people?


    In this household, who hasn¡¯t been in the kitchen besides her?


    As if everyone but her isn¡¯t human.


    Seeing that she was about to wail again, Xu Niannian quickly stopped her, ¡°I was lying down and felt so uncomfortable, I wanted to move around a bit.¡±


    Yang Cuihua was about to say something else when Xu Niannian cut in quickly, ¡°Mom, I just saw that you were too tired, and I thought about making you something delicious to eat.¡±


    At those words, Yang Cuihua was indeed caught up in being moved.


    She kept wiping away tears, saying her daughter was the best.


    Since she didn¡¯t wail, Xu Niannian finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    This old lady really wasn¡¯t easy to appease.


    When Yang Cuihua saw the watery mess in Xu Niannian¡¯s basin, she couldn¡¯t help but start questioning again, and Xu Niannian hurriedly explained.


    She repeated to her the same story that she had told Xu Zhicheng, and Yang Cuihua was still impressed by her daughter¡¯s broad knowledge.


    Without a word, Xu Zhiqiang came over, took the basin from Xu Niannian, and headed towards the water well in the yard, ¡°I¡¯ll do the washing.¡±


    Her hands suddenly empty, Xu Niannian was momentarily stunned.


    This younger brother, his speed was maybe a bit too fast.


    Xu Duoyu had originally followed Xu Niannian, but as soon as Xu Zhiqiang came back, he scampered off with him.


    Yang Cuihua pursed her lips, and for a change, she actually praised Xu Zhiqiang, ¡°He does have an eye for what¡¯s needed, knowing how to care for his sister.¡±


    In the basin along with the watery goo, there were also chives and cilantro, as well as green onions¡ªthe things that needed washing had all been thrown into the basin.


    And there was a big fellow in the kitchen.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t dare to kill the fish; she only knew how to cook, never how to kill.


    So she had Xu Dawei kill the fish.


    When Xu Dawei heard he had to kill the fish, he was so scared that his smoking pipe dropped to the ground.


    ¡°Niannian, let it go quickly, if you get caught, even dad can¡¯t protect you!¡± Xu Dawei said, face stricken with terror.


    Yang Cuihua was also frightened.


    Xu Niannian had no choice but to again explain things to them.


    The spring breeze of Reform and Opening Up had been blowing for two years, yet most people were still very conservative.


    Forget about doing business, even raising more than two poultry at home was becoming scary as they feared that this spring breeze might not last and winds might reverse.


    After hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s explanation, Yang Cuihua asked, uncertain, ¡°Niannian, are you sure it¡¯s really alright?


    Maybe we should just let it go.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom, don¡¯t worry.


    Have you forgotten that your daughter is a high school student with broad knowledge?¡± Xu Niannian patted her chest with a show-offy bravado.


    Her mom was swayed by that.


    Xu Niannian was the only person in the village who graduated from high school, smart as a whip, and sure enough, Yang Cuihua was quickly persuaded by her words.


    Still, worried about gossip, she sent Xu Dawei to kill the fish in the kitchen and even locked the main door tight.


    After a while, Xu Zhiqiang had also washed the vegetables.


    Xu Niannian wanted to take over the task, but Zhiqiang insisted he would do it, and Xu Niannian didn¡¯t want to ruin these good ingredients.


    It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t trust Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s cooking skills, but people of that era were only focused on filling their bellies, not caring if the food tasted good.


    After finally snatching away the right to cook, Xu Niannian had to kick Xu Zhiqiang out when he watched from the side.


    Xu Zhiqiang wasn¡¯t concerned about her; he was worried that if she messed up, the ones getting scolded would still be him and his two brothers.


    Xu Dawei had already prepared the fish and was waiting for her to cook.


    Worried that the smell might spread while cooking, he tightly closed all the doors and windows.


    In those times, every household was poor, and eating anything lavish without a legitimate source had to be done in secret, except during the New Year.


    The two old hens at home laid two eggs each day, and Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t bear to sell them.


    She saved them all for Xu Niannian to nourish her body.


    Each day, Xu Niannian ate one egg, occasionally two, and there were still more than a dozen left in the egg basin.


    In the main hall, Yang Cuihua asked with a worried face, ¡°Niannian, she won¡¯t get burned, will she?¡±

 Chapter 12 - 12 11 A Delicious Meal

    ?12: Chapter 11: A Delicious Meal 12: Chapter 11: A Delicious Meal Xu Dawei, as a concerned father, sent Xu Zhiqiang to check: ¡°Go see how your sister is doing.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang had just been sent out.


    Yang Cuihua also said, ¡°Right, right, right, Zhiqiang, go help out and make sure your sister doesn¡¯t get burnt.


    This is her first time cooking.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang, feeling helpless, had to go back into the kitchen.


    Xu Niannian was cooking fish.


    There was no vegetable oil at home, only lard, which is the oil rendered from pork fat.


    The pigs raised during that era were all grown without feed and the rendered oil was much more fragrant than the oil in later generations.


    The family was poor and usually reluctant to use oil.


    They stored it in a large clay pot and sparingly used it for cooking.


    Even when they did use it, they would just dab a bit with chopsticks into the water for boiling.


    Half of it was already gone.


    Xu Niannian had originally planned to steam the fish, but considering the family¡¯s dire poverty and lack of amenities, she decided to boil it instead, so the leftover soup could be used to soak rice.


    As soon as Xu Zhiqiang entered, he saw Xu Niannian scooping out a small half-spoonful of oil.


    Xu Zhiqiang usually did the cooking and was always cautious to use very little.


    Seeing Xu Niannian add so much oil in one go, he was distressed and said urgently, ¡°Use less oil.¡±


    To himself, he thought, she really is used to living like a young lady, unaware of the family¡¯s situation.


    Does she think we¡¯re rich?


    If the family really had money, they wouldn¡¯t be unable to afford even coarse grains like corn and have to settle for rice bran.


    Xu Niannian was busy cooking and hadn¡¯t noticed Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s arrival, so his voice startled her.


    The oil was already in the pan, and she responded, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    She knew Xu Zhiqiang wanted to save, but she couldn¡¯t bear the daily meals of salted vegetables and leftovers, nor did she plan for the family to keep struggling.


    In the highly competitive market of her future generation, Xu Niannian was able to become a multimillionaire with her skills.


    Not to mention the 1980s, where it seemed anyone could make money doing business.


    In that era, it was rare for businesses not to make money.


    It was mainly due to high market demand and the shortage of supply.


    Xu Niannian had her own plans, oblivious to Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s darkened expression at her casual ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    If she cooked like this a few more times, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford oil.


    Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t concerned about that.


    In the mindset of a businessperson, it was better to earn more than to save.


    As the lard hit the hot iron pan, it quickly started sizzling, melting swiftly and releasing an enticing fragrance.


    Xu Zhiqiang seldom used that much oil when he cooked, hardly using anything beyond a dab, so naturally, he never experienced such a smell.


    The sudden aroma made him swallow involuntarily, not out of greed, but as a natural reaction.


    Xu Niannian, however, didn¡¯t notice.


    After heating the oil, Xu Niannian added a few slices of ginger, which brought out their aroma, then poured in a whole big bowl of water.


    She had already sliced the fish meat into thin slices, placed in a bowl, and she didn¡¯t discard the spine and bones but would add them to the pot as soon as the water boiled.


    At home, the only seasoning they had was salt, and ginger was something Xu Niannian had to search the kitchen for, mainly to remove the fishy taste.


    As the fish was thinly sliced, it cooked quickly, and Xu Niannian hastily grabbed the chopped green onions from the chopping board, scattering them at the bottom of a porcelain basin.


    But the iron pot was too heavy for Xu Niannian to lift, so Xu Zhiqiang had to help pour it into the basin.


    This was the only porcelain basin in the house, purportedly part of Yang Cuihua¡¯s dowry when she married Xu Dawei.


    The rich aroma of the lard combined with the fresh taste of fish meat, and the boiling hot soup poured into the basin brought out the scent of the green onions.


    The smell alone was mouthwatering.


    After pouring, Xu Niannian sprinkled some more green onions on top, making the dish both appealing and delicious.


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei had already smelled the delicious aroma from outside.


    ¡°Husband, what¡¯s Niannian cooking, it smells so good?¡± Yang Cuihua said while smacking her lips and craning her neck towards the kitchen.


    ¡°Won¡¯t you know in a bit?¡± he said.


    Xu Dawei, too, was utterly enticed by the aroma; he sucked on his smoking pipe, which usually was his favorite pastime, but it suddenly seemed tasteless.


    As for Xu Zhiqiang inside, there¡¯s no need to say; he had never smelled anything so delicious in his life.


    Especially since he was right there, the smell was even more overpowering, making him swallow his saliva several times.


    ¡°Are you going to bring this out?¡± he asked.


    Xu Niannian shook her head, ¡°No need, we¡¯ll bring everything out together when it¡¯s all done, just find a lid to cover it so it doesn¡¯t get cold, it won¡¯t taste as good if it does.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang hurriedly covered it with a pot lid.


    After finishing the fish, Xu Niannian planned to make scrambled eggs with Chinese leeks.


    It was only after Xu Zhiqiang had put the lid on that he realized Xu Niannian was going to cook more dishes.


    He hurriedly said, ¡°Sis, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    Usually, there was only one dish at home, pickles and bun noodles.


    The pot of fish soup was already a luxury, and cooking more would be an even greater indulgence.


    Xu Niannian cracked eggs while shaking her head, ¡°There are two more dishes, what¡¯s the rush?¡±


    ¡°Two more!¡± Zhiqiang exclaimed in shock, so astonished that his voice changed.


    It was rare to see any expression other than indifference on the face of this younger brother, and Niannian felt amused: ¡°Yes, two more.¡±


    Zhiqiang had already seen her cracking eggs.


    He opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately decided against it.


    The eggs at home were essentially her own; not only was nobody else allowed to eat them, their mother never ate them either.


    In their family¡¯s situation, these eggs were no different from Niannian¡¯s personal possessions.


    Xu Niannian scooped another half spoonful of oil into the wok, finely chopped the leeks, and cracked four eggs at once since there were many mouths to feed at home.


    This made Zhiqiang feel extremely distressed.


    Although eggs were never a part of their own meals, he understood just how precious they were.


    Their place was backward and poor; every household in the village only dared to keep one or two chickens, and when they laid eggs, they were saved to be traded for money when going to the city.


    Only their household would consume eggs at home.


    As a result, Niannian¡¯s level of squandering, in Zhiqiang¡¯s eyes, had climbed another notch.


    Little did Niannian know that just making a meal would evoke so many feelings in Zhiqiang.


    She was still busy cooking; she beat the eggs into the chopped leeks, mixed them well, and added a bit of salt, then waited for the oil to heat before pouring the mixture in.


    The eggs quickly began to sizzle in the wok, turning into golden chunks, shiny and emitting an inviting scent.


    The egg pancake was successfully done, and Niannian hurriedly took it out and placed it on a plate.


    Afterward, Zhiqiang saw Niannian bring a wooden basin to the stove-top; it contained something slushy, which she referred to as water fungus.


    To enhance the flavor, Niannian had torn the fungus into thumb-sized pieces and, having some ginger left over, she chopped it up and added it in.


    Then, she added the green onion and coriander that were on the chopping board into the basin, sprinkled over some chili powder, and added salt.


    There was no soy sauce, so salt would have to do.


    She heated another half spoon of oil and then, using an iron spoon, scooped it up and poured it directly over the green onion, ginger, coriander, chili, and other seasonings, immediately creating a sizzling sound.


    The aroma was instantly brought out, and Niannian hurriedly stirred everything to mix well.


    She made a large basin of water fungus, enough to leave for Yang Cuihua and Zhiqiang to eat in the morning when they were off to work; water fungus can last a bit longer.

 Chapter 13 - 13 12 Exceptionally Gifted

    ?13: Chapter 12: Exceptionally Gifted 13: Chapter 12: Exceptionally Gifted The delectably tempting three dishes were finally ready to be served.


    And the only thought in Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s mind now was that Xu Niannian must absolutely not be allowed in the kitchen ever again.


    At this rate of squandering, it wouldn¡¯t take many days before the house¡¯s cooking oil would run out.


    As she started making the delicious food once more, Xu Niannian suddenly felt a surge of pride.


    With a plate of cold mixed water fungus in one hand and a pan of omelettes in the other, Xu Zhiqiang carried a large porcelain basin full of fish.


    The family had already been waiting at the dinner table.


    Seeing the dishes Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang brought out, everyone¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment.


    Xu Niannian felt a bit smug inside.


    Pulling Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei to sit on the bench, Xu Niannian said, ¡°Mom, try it and see if it¡¯s tasty.¡±


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei looked at the basin of fish soup and then at the omelette, swallowing mouthfuls of saliva continuously.


    Even on New Year¡¯s their table wasn¡¯t usually this lavish.


    Yang Cuihua was directly tempted by the aroma, but looking at the omelette and the glistening oil on top, what she felt more of was heartache.


    Water fungus and fish soup were manageable, since they were wild, but eggs were precious, and now they were all used in cooking¡ªwhat would their Niannian eat?


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips moved as she thought to tell Xu Niannian to set the eggs aside, and that she was fine with just eating them herself.


    But before she could speak, she was preempted by Xu Niannian.


    ¡°Mom, this is the first time I¡¯m cooking for you all, you can¡¯t not eat it.


    If you don¡¯t, it¡¯s like you¡¯re saying your daughter¡¯s cooking is not good,¡± she said.


    Those words effectively blocked what Yang Cuihua wanted to say.


    Not having the heart to reject her daughter¡¯s face, Yang Cuihua could only sigh.


    Such precious ingredients, how could she bear to use them for cooking¡ªher silly Niannian.


    Yang Cuihua thought to herself, and Xu Niannian naturally noticed it.


    The family seated around the dinner table, Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng had already been tantalized to the extreme.


    But with the head of the family not starting, nobody dared to move their chopsticks.


    Clearly, in their home, Yang Cuihua was the head of the family.


    No matter how much Yang Cuihua was reluctant, she couldn¡¯t change the situation, with the whole family waiting on her.


    With another sigh, she took a ladle and scooped fish soup into each bowl, adding several slices of fish meat, and giving Xu Niannian the most fish.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng held their bowls, their eyes lighting up.


    There was no grain husk in Xu Niannian¡¯s bowl, as she had tried a bit in the kitchen earlier and found it really hard to swallow, even less satisfying than enjoying the soup and dishes.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was picky, the taste of the bran was just too hard to stomach, scratching her throat and being sticky.


    People in this era were only concerned with filling their stomachs, but she wasn¡¯t from here.


    Asking her to adapt all at once was indeed a bit difficult, especially since in her future life, she was a gourmet who had savored delicacies from all over the world.


    Moreover, she had evolved from a chef to a gourmet.


    The family held their bowls and ate heartily, wolfing down the food, with Xu Duoyu eating even faster than Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian hurriedly told Xu Duoyu to slow down to avoid choking on a fishbone.


    Xu Niannian observed carefully and realized that although Yang Cuihua was partial toward her, she was still more generous toward her children than to herself.


    She scooped several pieces of fish into the soup bowls for Xu Zhiqiang and his two brothers, as well as several for Xu Dawei, but her own bowl contained only soup.


    Xu Niannian sighed helplessly, guessing that when she earlier mentioned throwing Xu Duoyu to the dogs, it was just for show.


    She had misunderstood.


    So she simply took a spoon and gave herself a big scoop of fish.


    Yang Cuihua hurriedly said there was no need, to which Xu Niannian responded, ¡°It¡¯s necessary, Mom, the weather is hot, and the fish won¡¯t last long.


    It¡¯s better to eat it before it goes bad.¡±


    ¡°Then you should eat more yourself,¡± Yang Cuihua said affectionately.


    ¡°Look how thin you¡¯ve gotten.


    It¡¯s Mom¡¯s fault for being useless and making our Niannian suffer.¡±


    As she spoke, she moved to wipe away her tears.


    Xu Niannian glanced at her own slender arm and realized she was indeed quite skinny.


    But she liked it.


    In her previous life, she was always surrounded by delicious food.


    Although she wasn¡¯t extremely overweight, the extra fat around her waist was not to be underestimated.


    Xu Niannian said, ¡°I can¡¯t eat that much by myself.


    Mom, you work hard every day.


    You should eat more.¡±


    These words struck a chord with Yang Cuihua.


    Before Xu Zhiqiang started working, she alone had to support the household.


    Was it easy for her?


    But her husband had a lame leg and often complained of pain, unable to work, and she felt powerless to change their circumstances.


    Truly, only a daughter knew how to give her comfort.


    She hadn¡¯t doted on her daughter for nothing.


    After scooping a big spoonful of fish for Yang Cuihua, Xu Niannian did the same for Xu Dawei and her three younger brothers.


    Xu Duoyu held his small bowl, his black eyes shining brightly, his mouth greasy from eating.


    Xu Zhicheng wasn¡¯t much better off.


    Only Xu Zhiqiang seemed a bit better.


    The fish really couldn¡¯t last much longer, but the fish soup could be kept for soaking rice.


    The whole family ate, their mouths glistening with grease.


    This was the most delicious thing they had ever had.


    Xu Duoyu, being young, couldn¡¯t control his appetite.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t allow him to eat too much for fear he would overeat.


    Unable to continue eating, Xu Duoyu smacked his lips regretfully, gazing longingly at the porcelain basin with the fish on the dining table.


    He also glanced at Xu Zhiqiang from time to time.


    Xu Zhiqiang knew he had eaten a bit too much that evening, and he didn¡¯t soften his heart.


    It was Yang Cuihua who couldn¡¯t help but scold, ¡°You little bunny brat.


    Your sister is telling you not to eat for your own good.


    What are you looking at?


    Do you believe I will beat you to death?¡±


    Scared, Xu Duoyu shuddered.


    Xu Niannian, her head hurting, pulled on Yang Cuihua, ¡°Mom, stop hitting Duoyu all the time.¡±


    Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with it; in her heart, her daughter was always so kind.


    On the other hand, Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng across the table were a bit taken aback.


    After all, in this house, the person who hit Xu Duoyu the most was not their sharp-tongued mother but, rather, their lazy, greedy, and fierce older sister.


    However, her unusual behavior over the past few days was no longer a rare event, so they merely flashed a moment of surprise.


    The image of Xu Niannian in their minds was quietly shifting, but they were unaware, and Xu Niannian didn¡¯t know either.


    As for Xu Niannian¡¯s ability to prepare such delicious dishes, her excuse was that she had read about it in a book and casually boasted about her extraordinary talent.


    After all, the original host was used to being narcissistic, and her family didn¡¯t doubt her story; moreover, it wasn¡¯t unheard of for someone to cook deliciously their first time.

 Chapter 14 - 14 13 Business Opportunities

    ?14: Chapter 13: Business Opportunities 14: Chapter 13: Business Opportunities Xu Niannian had two bowls of fish soup and then stopped eating.


    Yang Cuihua kept urging her to drink more, but Xu Niannian didn¡¯t drink anymore; she couldn¡¯t¡ªshe was too full.


    They had made only three dishes, but the quantities were generous.


    And yet, they had polished off every last bit.


    When Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei put down their chopsticks, there was still a hint of reluctance.


    Xu Dawei casually wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and smacked his lips, ¡°Our Niannian is really something, the first time cooking and it¡¯s so delicious.¡±


    ¡°If Dad likes it, Niannian will cook for you often,¡± Xu Niannian said.


    This made Xu Dawei so happy he squinted gleefully, ¡°No need to do it often, my girl, I¡¯d pity you too much for you to stay in the kitchen all the time.¡±


    Yang Cuihua quickly agreed, ¡°Exactly, you¡¯re our little treasure, you can¡¯t be doing these dirty chores.¡±


    When Yang Cuihua said this, she completely disregarded the other three brothers, as if they were just picked up from somewhere.


    Xu Niannian worried that these words would hurt her three younger brothers¡¯ feelings, but to her surprise, they seemed completely unfazed, clearly used to it.


    This left Xu Niannian feeling rather awkward.


    After dinner, Xu Dawei continued to smoke his pipe, while Yang Cuihua started sorting beans with a dustpan.


    Xu Zhiqiang and his two brothers also helped.


    Xu Niannian wanted to help as well, but Yang Cuihua wouldn¡¯t hear of it, insisting that she go back to her room to rest.


    Having no choice, Xu Niannian returned to her room.


    Once in her room, Xu Niannian saw the coarse clothing she¡¯d tossed onto the bed.


    She remembered that she had been meaning to make clothes for Xu Zhicheng and his two brothers.


    The room was lit by a kerosene lamp, and with her good night vision, Xu Niannian could see clearly.


    Her fingers held the embroidery needle and swiftly threaded and stitched.


    One of Xu Niannian¡¯s strengths in her previous life was fashion design.


    But before she learned fashion design, her family skill was making clothes, mending and patching was even easier.


    In a short while, Xu Niannian had finished one garment; Xu Duoyu¡¯s clothes were small and didn¡¯t require much work¡ªshe only tightened the waistline, which was quick since it was an alteration of her own clothes, not made from scratch.


    After finishing Xu Duoyu¡¯s clothing, Xu Niannian started sewing Xu Zhicheng¡¯s.


    By the time she was finished with both, it was very late.


    Without a watch and no clock in the house, Xu Niannian could not tell the exact time.


    She guessed it was definitely past 10 p.m.


    based only on her biological clock.


    Because only after this time would she start to feel sleepy.


    At this point, Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng had definitely gone to bed.


    Xu Niannian could only wait until tomorrow to give them the clothes.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t know that Xu Zhicheng and Xu Zhiqiang had just finished picking beans with Yang Cuihua and had been in bed for only a few minutes.


    Xu Duoyu had already fallen asleep.


    In the next room, because the bed was only 1.2 meters wide, the three couldn¡¯t sleep on one side; Xu Zhiqiang had no choice but to sleep on one side with Xu Duoyu, while Xu Zhicheng slept on the other.


    Unable to sleep, Xu Zhicheng asked, ¡°Brother, are you asleep?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t answer, so Xu Zhicheng asked again, ¡°Bro, are you asleep yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Xu Zhiqiang replied, reluctantly.


    Xu Zhicheng felt a bit conflicted, ¡°Brother, have you noticed that sister seems a bit different?¡±


    ¡°Different how?¡± In the darkness, Xu Zhiqiang opened his eyes, recalling how Xu Niannian scooped oil in the kitchen earlier with a reckless abandon.


    Xu Zhicheng counted on his fingers, ¡°Just different, these past two days sister hasn¡¯t hit us, and she¡¯s been cooking for us, and it¡¯s particularly tasty.¡±


    Remembering the egg pancakes and boiled fish Xu Niannian made, Xu Zhicheng licked his lips again, couldn¡¯t believe how delicious the mush was¡ªit was so much better than the salty pancakes.


    He made a point to emphasize again, ¡°Really tasty.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Xu Zhiqiang responded with a single hum and then fell silent.


    Upon hearing Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s response, Xu Zhicheng said, ¡°Bro, you also think Sis has changed, right?


    Today, she even hugged Duoyu, and she usually hates Duoyu the most.


    It seems like hitting her head and forgetting the past is actually a good thing.¡±


    At that moment, Xu Zhicheng thought to himself that if Xu Niannian ever reverted to her previous arrogant ways, he¡¯d push her again until she forgot all about the past.


    Xu Zhicheng lay in bed muttering to himself, and while doing so, he actually talked himself to sleep.


    And he was kicking off the covers, too.


    It was hot, so Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t bother getting up to cover him.


    *


    The next day, Xu Niannian got up early as usual.


    But there was someone who got up even earlier than her.


    Xu Dawei went to gather firewood without fail because he had nothing else to do.


    The firewood in winter wasn¡¯t dry enough, so taking advantage of summer and autumn to prepare the dry firewood wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    With the fields busy today, Yang Cuihua and Xu Zhiqiang had headed out early, and Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu were with them.


    According to Yang Cuihua, not only did they have to work the fields today, but they also had to split the seedlings.


    Splitting seedlings meant separating the seedlings that were stuck together, one by one.


    Yang Cuihua planned to take the two of them to help out a bit.


    Xu Niannian planned to contribute to the family¡¯s effort as well, but Yang Cuihua absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    Having her daughter cook was already the limit of Yang Cuihua¡¯s tolerance; how could she possibly let her do fieldwork?


    Helpless in this matter, Xu Niannian found that her grandmother was entirely unyielding, holding fast to her rigid views.


    Since she couldn¡¯t go to the fields, Xu Niannian was left alone at home.


    She pondered how to start earning her first pot of gold.


    After thinking for a while, an idea suddenly lit up in her mind¡ªit was already May.


    On the fifth day of the fifth month was the Dragon Boat Festival, and Niannian remembered there were dragon boat races in the town, right on the long river.


    Where there were competitions, there were people, and where there were people, there were business opportunities.


    Initially, Xu Niannian planned to make ice pops and sell them in the fields to the farmers working there.


    After all, in the heat of summer, everyone wants something cold to relieve the heat.


    Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t very feasible.


    First, the village was too poor, and the families working in the fields didn¡¯t have much money.


    Even if they did, they were reluctant to spend it on such things.


    Second, she had no refrigerator and couldn¡¯t make ice pops.


    This was the most realistic problem.


    Thinking this, Xu Niannian turned her attention to the dragon boat races.


    The dragon boat races here were always lively, attracting large crowds every year.


    People who came to enjoy were certainly willing to occasionally spend a bit of money.


    Xu Niannian planned to sell chilled sugar water, not for much, just eight cents a cup.


    In the present era, pennies were still widely used, which was a lot more than the monetary units in later generations.


    Those textile factory workers only earned around ten yuan a month.


    Seeing the situation at home, they definitely couldn¡¯t put up much capital, so Xu Niannian had no choice but to start with this kind of low-cost business.


    She intended to make sugarcane water¡ªjust boil the sugarcane into sugar water, then chill it.


    Xu Niannian remembered that yesterday, when she went up the mountain with Xu Zhicheng to dig wild vegetables, she saw a few scattered wild sugarcanes, although she didn¡¯t know if they were sweet.


    She planned to go have a look.


    If they were usable, she would immediately ¡®recruit¡¯ them.


    The thought of being able to make money soon filled Xu Niannian with fighting spirit.

 Chapter 15 - 15 14

    ?15: Chapter 14 15: Chapter 14 At this moment, Jin Yu, having failed his mission, made a hasty decision to parachute.


    He fell from the sky and only opened his parachute when he reached a certain distance from the ground.


    Feeling an unusual sensation in his body, Jin Yu furrowed his brows deeply, a glint of ferocity flashing in his eyes.


    Damn bastards, daring to drug him with that stuff.


    Eventually, Jin Yu drifted into a large mountain range.


    Under the drug¡¯s influence, his mind became cloudy, and he felt his head spinning more and more.


    Xu Niannian had just found a place with wild sugarcane when she noticed something below.


    Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a person.


    And he was a handsome man who could make one¡¯s mouth water.


    Xu Niannian, being a sucker for good looks, walked over subconsciously.


    It seemed like the man had passed out.


    ¡°Hey, wake up, are you alright?¡± To prevent sunburn, Xu Niannian had also worn a straw hat when she left home.


    But as she approached, the man suddenly opened his eyes, sharp as a hawk hunting its prey.


    Xu Niannian was taken aback for a moment, such beautiful eyes.


    Xu Niannian was still swooning when suddenly, the world spun around her.


    Several hours later, Jin Yu passed out.


    Xu Niannian looked at the sky helplessly.


    Turning her head to gaze at his handsome and compelling face, Xu Niannian felt like she wanted to commit murder; indeed, not all people with good looks were good people.


    But in truth, she wouldn¡¯t dare.


    Nor did she want to spread the news.


    Besides, it would definitely cause a great commotion.


    Although she didn¡¯t care about her so-called reputation, she also disliked being talked about.


    Most importantly, she didn¡¯t want Yang Cuihua to find out about this.


    If Yang Cuihua knew, she would probably cry herself to death.


    She might even force her to marry this man.


    The only thing that comforted her was that this man didn¡¯t have yellow teeth or a flabby body, otherwise, it would have been utterly disgusting.


    Even at this time, she was still able to think about such things.


    Xu Niannian felt she really was extraordinarily carefree.


    The deed was done and there was no way Xu Niannian was going to end her life over someone else¡¯s mistake.


    She also didn¡¯t dare to actually kill the man.


    At this time, Xu Niannian truly felt like crying without tears¡ªwhat a mess this was.


    She even suddenly had the leisure to admire the man¡¯s handsome face.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help thinking, luckily she was fixated on looks, and luckily this man was attractive.


    She concluded with a sigh that this was truly a world that judged by appearance.


    It¡¯s not like she would really go seeking death.


    Shivering, she got up to leave.


    In the end, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help it and turned back, landing a kick on the man¡¯s face.


    Such a waste of a good face.


    *


    By evening, Jin Yu finally woke up, groggy and confused.


    Memories flooded his mind, but the images were very blurred, because he hadn¡¯t clearly seen the person¡¯s face at that time.


    Jin Yu suddenly held his forehead, suffering a headache as he remembered the events before he fainted.


    This undoubtedly was a dark spot in his life¡ªhe couldn¡¯t believe he had made such a mistake, and how panicked the other person must have been at that time.


    Just then, a helicopter descended from the sky, and he even heard Huzi¡¯s voice.


    Huzi was the assistant who always followed him.


    Jin Yu looked deeply toward the nearest village from here.


    This woman, whoever she was, he had to take responsibility.


    If she wanted to sue him, he would accept it; if she didn¡¯t sue, he would marry her.


    This responsibility he had to bear.


    But all this had to wait until after he dealt with his urgent affairs.


    He couldn¡¯t be reckless now¡ªhe would have to inconvenience her to wait a little longer.


    By then, it would be up to her wishes whether she wanted to hit or kill him!

 Chapter 16 - 16 15 New Clothes

    ?16: Chapter 15: New Clothes 16: Chapter 15: New Clothes Withdrawing her gaze from the village, Jin Yu turned around and walked expressionlessly toward where the helicopter had landed.


    He wouldn¡¯t let go any of the bastards responsible for drugging him.


    ¡°Young Master Jin... are you all right?¡± Huzi was directing people to search for Jin Yu when he turned around and saw Jin Yu approaching, and he hurriedly went up to meet him.


    Jin Yu¡¯s face was void of emotion, and he squeezed out two words through his clenched teeth, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    The one who was hurt was the woman he had injured.


    This was the first time Huzi had ever seen such an ugly expression on Jin Yu¡¯s face.


    Usually, Jin Yu wasn¡¯t like this.


    *


    When Xu Niannian returned home, it was already close to evening; she had left in the morning.


    Otherwise, being discovered would have spelled trouble.


    Realizing she was actually thanking that person, Xu Niannian slapped her face, speechless.


    Damn it, she was thanking him for nonsense, her thoughts were not right.


    Luckily, when she left in the morning, she had left a note saying she had something to do and had to go out for a while.


    Xu Dawei had studied up to the second grade and recognized some simple characters.


    So when Xu Niannian returned home, the family didn¡¯t react with exaggerated curiosity, only Yang Cuihua asked where she had been.


    Xu Niannian vaguely answered, ¡°Oh, I went to a classmate¡¯s house.¡±


    Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t pursue the matter further.


    Xu Niannian had already graduated from high school and occasionally would go out to see her classmates.


    Yang Cuihua wasn¡¯t suspicious of her.


    Back in her room, Xu Niannian threw herself directly onto the bed, exhausted.


    To say she wasn¡¯t upset would definitely be a lie.


    Even though he was a top-tier handsome guy, it couldn¡¯t alleviate the loss in Xu Niannian¡¯s heart.


    In her dreams, she always thought she would marry a man she liked.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that fate would not favor her calculations, as she still hadn¡¯t found a man she liked.


    Luckily she hadn¡¯t met someone she liked, otherwise her mindset wouldn¡¯t be as good as it was now.


    Life had to go on, and the only reason Xu Niannian used to comfort herself was that the other party was handsome and well-built; not a bad deal after all.


    Looking at the two pieces of clothing she had placed on the side, Xu Niannian sighed.


    These were the clothes she made last night for Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng, but she hadn¡¯t had the chance to give them yet.


    She had planned to give them tonight, but she wasn¡¯t in the mood now; she needed to first mourn her own sorrowful feelings.


    Recalling the hateful face of that man in her mind, Xu Niannian grit her teeth, hoping she would never meet him again.


    The next day, Xu Niannian indulged in a lie-in, as she had insomnia until late the previous night.


    After sleeping off her feelings, the sadness and grief had also passed.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t intend to dwell in sadness forever.


    Life had to go on, and she couldn¡¯t be defeated by this.


    She still needed to make money, strive for wealth, ensure her family could live a better life, and value the beautiful life with her loved ones.


    After coming to this realization, Xu Niannian was filled with fighting spirit, determined to visit the forest again tomorrow; by then, that man would definitely not be there anymore.


    *


    Today it rained, so Xu Zhiqiang and Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t go to work, and the whole family stayed at home.


    Xu Zhiqiang was feeding the chickens outside while Yang Cuihua was picking beans at home, with Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng helping by her side.


    The two had run around in the yard that morning, their trouser legs covered in mud and their clothes a bit damp.


    But there was nothing they could do; they each had only one set of clothes.


    Before Xu Niannian even got out of bed, she had already forced herself to forget everything about yesterday.


    Life had to go on, and she couldn¡¯t keep dwelling on those unhappy events.


    With clothes for Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng in hand, Xu Niannian stepped out of her room to see her mud-covered younger brother.


    ¡°Duoyu, Zhicheng, take these clothes and change into them so you don¡¯t catch a cold,¡± Xu Niannian said.


    Upon hearing her voice, Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng simultaneously lifted their heads to gaze blankly at the clothes in Xu Niannian¡¯s hands.


    Yang Cuihua, puzzled, asked, ¡°Niannian, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I saw that Duoyu and Zhicheng only have one set of clothes each.


    I have a few in my closet that don¡¯t fit me anymore, so I thought I¡¯d give them to them.¡±


    Xu Niannian had several items of clothing and pants she could no longer wear, and Yang Cuihua had suggested giving them to Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu since their daughter couldn¡¯t wear them anyway.


    But at the time, Xu Niannian had refused immediately, crying and making a fuss, accusing Yang Cuihua of not loving her anymore.


    The former Xu Niannian was extremely domineering, never willing to give away even the clothes she no longer wore, especially the two items she still liked.


    She was even more reluctant to part with them.


    Yang Cuihua, doting on her daughter, couldn¡¯t bear to see her upset.


    She soothed Niannian, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to give them away, then don¡¯t,¡± and never brought it up again.


    Now seeing Xu Niannian taking the initiative to offer her clothes to Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng, Yang Cuihua wondered if something had upset her daughter.


    ¡°Niannian, what¡¯s wrong?


    Don¡¯t scare Mom!¡±


    Seeing Yang Cuihua¡¯s anxious look, Xu Niannian hastily said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine.


    I was just being childish before.


    Since I can¡¯t wear these clothes anyway, it¡¯s better to give them to Duoyu and Zhicheng.¡±


    While saying this, Xu Niannian purposefully winked at Yang Cuihua.


    Yang Cuihua immediately remembered the weird dream Xu Niannian had told her about and suddenly understood why her daughter was doing this.


    ¡°Hurry up and take them; your sister is giving you clothes.¡± Seeing her two dumbstruck sons still staring at their sister, Yang Cuihua gave each of them a slap on the back.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng looked incredulously at Xu Niannian, blankly accepting the clothes she handed to them.


    The reason Xu Niannian told Yang Cuihua those things was naturally to avoid her mother¡¯s suspicion when she was kind to her brothers in the future.


    Receiving new clothes, Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng cherished them like treasures.


    Xu Zhicheng, afraid that the dirt on his hands would stain them, rubbed his hands on his pants before carefully touching the new clothes.


    Although they were Xu Niannian¡¯s hand-me-downs, to the brothers they were as good as new¡ªespecially since they had no patches.


    Xu Zhicheng¡¯s eyes suddenly grew warm, turning red as he stammered, ¡°Thank you, sis.¡±


    This time, his thanks were heartfelt.


    Mom¡¯s eyes were only ever on Niannian, and each year the family¡¯s cloth coupons were used only to make clothes for her.


    He and Duoyu had been wearing the same set of clothes for several years, patched over patches, until the original fabric could hardly be seen.


    Xu Duoyu, being younger, was simply happy to have new clothes and didn¡¯t feel the same overwhelming emotion as Xu Zhicheng, who was nearly moved to tears.


    Watching this scene, Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes grew slightly teary.


    What good children they were; she resolved to give them a better life.


    Yang Cuihua, struggling to contain her emotion, quickly said, ¡°You¡¯d better remember your sister¡¯s kindness.


    Look at her, sacrificing her own clothes for you two.


    You¡¯ve got to be good to your sister in the future, or Mom won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡±


    ¡°Mm, Duoyu will be good to sis,¡± Xu Duoyu said, joyfully holding the new clothes.


    He agreed with whatever Yang Cuihua said, his big round eyes filled with happiness.


    Yang Cuihua looked at Xu Duoyu with satisfaction, glad that her care for the little rascal wasn¡¯t in vain.

 Chapter 17 - 17 16 Drumming Up Business

    ?17: Chapter 16: Drumming Up Business 17: Chapter 16: Drumming Up Business The youngest, Xu Duoyu, had already expressed his stance, but Xu Zhicheng hadn¡¯t spoken up yet.


    When Yang Cuihua saw this, she wanted to lecture him.


    Before she could speak, Xu Zhicheng choked up and said, ¡°I will be good to my sister.¡±


    As long as sister stays this way, not becoming like she was before, always bullying him and Duoyu, he would definitely be good to her.


    Only then did Yang Cuihua feel satisfied.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile, ¡°Then I¡¯ll thank you guys in advance.


    Hurry up and change your clothes, and wash and hang the dirty ones.¡±


    Xu Duoyu had been eager to change into new clothes; hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s words, he clutched the clothes and trotted toward the room, and Xu Zhicheng followed him in.


    Xu Niannian crouched down, intending to pick beans with Yang Cuihua, who quickly stopped her, ¡°Niannian, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Picking beans with Mom, right?¡± Xu Niannian said with a smile.


    Yang Cuihua exclaimed, ¡°How can I let you do that, it¡¯s dirty, Mom would feel pained.¡±


    ¡°If Mom can do it, why can¡¯t Niannian?¡± Xu Niannian said with a laugh, her clear eyes gleaming with mirth.


    Yang Cuihua was immediately moved, ¡°My good Niannian.¡±


    Although Yang Cuihua wasn¡¯t very nice to others, and could even be said to be excessive, she truly doted on Xu Niannian with all her heart.


    In just a few days, Yang Cuihua had shown Xu Niannian what it felt like to be cherished by a mother.


    For Xu Niannian, who longed for familial affection, this was more precious than any wealth.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng entered the room and soon came out, wearing well-fitting blue coarse cloth clothes.


    Yang Cuihua was puzzled; she remembered Niannian¡¯s two garments weren¡¯t that small.


    And they didn¡¯t have a cinched waist either.


    With a doubt in her heart, Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Niannian, how did these clothes shrink so much?


    I don¡¯t remember them being this small originally?¡±


    Xu Niannian¡¯s heart jolted, suddenly recalling that the original owner was a lazybones who couldn¡¯t do anything.


    Worried that Yang Cuihua would grow suspicious, Xu Niannian quickly said, ¡°Oh, I cut them and altered them to fit Duoyu¡¯s and Zhiqiang¡¯s sizes.¡±


    As she spoke, Xu Niannian turned her palm up to show Yang Cuihua, feigning a pitiful tone, ¡°To make these two pieces of clothing, look, Mom, my fingers got pricked by the needle so many times.


    I worked all night long, stitching and undoing, undoing and stitching again; it really tired me to death, this mending job is really not meant for humans.¡±


    To sound more credible, Xu Niannian even started to complain.


    Upon hearing this, Yang Cuihua, no longer harboring any suspicions, took Xu Niannian¡¯s hand and said with concern, ¡°Look at you, I told you not to do chores, and now you¡¯ve hurt yourself.


    Don¡¯t do this kind of work in the future, Mom will sew for you.¡±


    Seeing that she had gotten past this issue, Xu Niannian nodded repeatedly, ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡±


    But she had no real intention of letting Yang Cuihua do the work; she was already working hard enough every day.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t know that her explanation, concocted to avoid Yang Cuihua¡¯s suspicions, had thoroughly moved Xu Zhicheng.


    The young boy swore to himself in secrecy that he would be good to his sister from now on.


    Yang Cuihua pulled Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu over to take a closer look at the seams.


    Seeing they were stitched as finely as if done by a sewing machine, Yang Cuihua was so pleased she couldn¡¯t stop praising her daughter¡¯s ability, boasting that she had learned it all in a day.


    Luckily, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei blindly believed in their daughter¡¯s brilliance; otherwise, anyone else would surely have been suspicious.


    Soon, the sky cleared up outside.


    Xu Duoyu helped Yang Cuihua pick beans, while Xu Zhicheng went to wash the clothes they had changed out of.


    Because Xu Niannian had mentioned being pricked by the needle, Yang Cuihua absolutely wouldn¡¯t let her pick any more beans.


    Left with no choice, Xu Niannian grabbed a stool and sat in the courtyard to bask in the sun.


    After the rain had stopped, the sun came out, and the temperature was just right, warm and cozy.


    Xu Niannian glanced over and saw two clumps of chive roots in the corner of the wall; they were from wild chives cut a few days ago.


    The chives had been made into egg pancakes, but these roots had been left and not thrown away.


    Thinking about how the backyard was full of nothing but green vegetables and cabbages, Xu Niannian grabbed some leek roots and headed to the backyard, planting them in the vegetable plot.


    Leeks could grow several harvests.


    Xu Zhiqiang happened to come over to fertilize the vegetables when he saw Xu Niannian planting the leek roots.


    ¡°Sister, what are you doing with that stuff?¡± Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t like Xu Niannian too much, but he always called her ¡®sister¡¯.


    Xu Niannian turned around, wiping her face, ¡°Of course I¡¯m planting them to eat, so we don¡¯t have to go so far to cut leeks anymore.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang had never thought of that, although they all knew that wild leeks could grow back after being cut, he had never considered keeping the roots to plant in the yard.


    It wasn¡¯t just him; Yang Cuihua hadn¡¯t thought of this either.


    It wasn¡¯t only Yang Cuihua and Xu Zhiqiang who hadn¡¯t considered this; at that time, the people in the village had little exposure and fixed ways of thinking.


    In every household¡¯s yard, only green vegetables and cabbages were grown, and nobody planted anything else, so nobody had thought about it.


    The fact that Xu Niannian was planting leek roots in the yard startled both Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei.


    Yang Cuihua slapped her forehead, ¡°How come I didn¡¯t think of that?


    Niannian is really smart.¡±


    Xu Dawei was also beaming with joy.


    That evening, as the family sat around the dinner table, there was a little bit of the cold wood ear salad from two days ago, and since Xu Niannian didn¡¯t go out that day, she made a fried egg.


    She used a lot of oil, too.


    It distressed Yang Cuihua immensely.


    ¡°Niannian, you don¡¯t need to make eggs.


    Just save them for yourself to eat,¡± she said.


    The family was poor, and the two eggs laid daily by the old hens were the only delicacy Yang Cuihua could give her daughter.


    ¡°How could that be?


    Duoyu and Zhicheng are still growing,¡± Xu Niannian replied.


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips moved; she wanted to say that those two brats didn¡¯t deserve eggs and would be lucky just to have rice to eat.


    However, she could only swallow those words, fearing they might hurt her daughter.


    She still remembered the dream Xu Niannian had shared.


    Xu Duoyu was eating and licking his lips as if he wanted to swallow his tongue, too.


    Xu Niannian fried four eggs, and along with the cold wood ear salad, the family ate their fill.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng had greasy mouths.


    In the past few days, Xu Niannian¡¯s kindness towards her two brothers didn¡¯t escape Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s notice, and he stopped bullying them.


    However, thinking about how Xu Niannian scooped out a big spoonful of oil to fry the eggs that day, Xu Zhiqiang felt exceedingly distressed.


    If they continued like this, their home would soon run out of oil.


    Xu Niannian, wanting to earn money and openly improve the family¡¯s situation, naturally had to tell Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei.


    After dinner, she disclosed her intention to start a business to the two, and the family had not yet returned to their rooms; they were sitting in the hall.


    After hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s words, Yang Cuihua exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What?


    You want to do business?¡±


    Xu Niannian nodded seriously, ¡°Yes, mother, I want to do business to make some money for a proper dowry in the future.¡±


    With no other excuse at hand, Xu Niannian had to use a dowry as her shield.


    Hearing Xu Niannian talk about doing business, Xu Dawei was so startled that his smoking pipe dropped to the floor.


    ¡°Niannian, listen to dad, you can¡¯t get involved in speculative ventures.


    If you get caught, you could be made to wear a dunce cap and have your tails cut off,¡± he said.


    Yang Cuihua also cautiously added, ¡°Exactly, Niannian, I can¡¯t let you do this.


    You don¡¯t need to worry about your dowry; your father and I will find a way.¡±

 Chapter 18 - 18 17 Planning to Do Business

    ?18: Chapter 17: Planning to Do Business 18: Chapter 17: Planning to Do Business Xu Niannian knew the result would be like this; these old folks¡¯ thoughts are still stuck before the economic reform and opening up.


    She busily explained to the couple.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, doing business now isn¡¯t about speculation and profiteering anymore.


    It¡¯s already been two years since the reforms and opening up, and the state even encourages individual entrepreneurship.


    Our business is supported by the government...


    How could it lead to wearing high hats and cutting off tails?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the head of our production brigade shout slogans every day through the loudspeaker?


    If you don¡¯t believe it, you can go ask the head of the brigade.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yang Cuihua asked uncertainly.


    She wasn¡¯t well-educated and didn¡¯t know whether these slogans meant anything.


    Not just Yang Cuihua, in this era, although there had been economic reforms and opening up, most people still clung to old ways of thinking and were afraid to change easily.


    Despite Xu Niannian¡¯s repeated assurances that nothing was amiss, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei were still somewhat anxious and simply took a flashlight to visit the head of the production brigade at his home.


    The head of the production brigade was also surnamed Xu, named Xu Aiguo, a forty-year-old with a junior high school diploma.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei come over, he wondered what trouble Yang Cuihua was going to stir up this time.


    It wasn¡¯t that Xu Aiguo was paranoid; it¡¯s just that Yang Cuihua had a reputation as a shrew and her visits never spelled good news.


    But what could he do, since he was the head of the village brigade?


    Even though he was reluctant, he still had to be hospitable.


    He could act like the head of the brigade in front of others, but those airs were useless in front of Yang Cuihua.


    ¡°Dawei, what brings you here?¡± Xu Aiguo asked with feigned concern.


    As soon as Yang Cuihua entered, she smelled the aroma of meat and said sourly, ¡°Wow, is the brigade leader¡¯s family having meat?¡±


    Xu Aiguo hurriedly wiped the oil from his mouth: ¡°What are you talking about?


    We can¡¯t even have enough to eat, where would we get meat?


    Today, Dongzi¡¯s mom just added a couple of drops of oil to the vegetables.


    What brings you here?


    Is there something you need?¡±


    Dongzi was Xu Aiguo¡¯s only son, about the same age as Xu Niannian, and he was always thinking about marrying Xu Niannian.


    But Xu Aiguo disagreed; he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke this potential in-law.


    Yang Cuihua snorted dismissively.


    A couple of drops of oil?


    She could tell the difference between the smell of oil and meat.


    How much grain might they have exploited from the common people, otherwise how could they live so well?


    However, she had a purpose for coming today and it wasn¡¯t just to uncover the brigade leader¡¯s cooking habits.


    And although she wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, she didn¡¯t want to offend the brigade leader lightly, lest her family be overlooked for any future privileges in the brigade.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, Brigade Head, as you know, our Niannian is educated and full of ideas.


    Today she¡¯s been talking to her mom and me about starting a business, and I thought, isn¡¯t that speculation and profiteering?


    But our daughter said it¡¯s allowed to do business now.


    So, her mother and I hurried over to ask the Brigade Head what¡¯s really going on.¡±


    Xu Dawei had read a couple more years of books than Yang Cuihua and spoke more eloquently, with measured approach.


    Of course, Xu Dawei dared to bring up this matter because the brigade was proclaiming encouragement of individual entrepreneurship through the loudspeakers every day.


    If it were before the economic reforms, Xu Dawei wouldn¡¯t have dared to ask, fearing that before he could open his mouth, he¡¯d be detained for punishment.


    So the daily shouting of slogans through the loudspeaker was not completely useless.


    At least it made people dare to ask.


    Xu Aiguo thought it was some other matter and was relieved.


    As long as Yang Cuihua wasn¡¯t stirring up trouble, everything was negotiable.


    Hearing that Xu Dawei said his daughter wanted to try her hand at doing business, Xu Aiguo quickly said, ¡°Dawei, what are you talking about?


    What involution and speculation?


    That¡¯s all old thinking.


    The spring breeze of reform and opening-up has been blowing for two years now.


    The government is now encouraging individual entrepreneurship.


    Doing business is a good thing, that¡¯s responding to the government¡¯s call.


    Tell Niannian, it¡¯s good, and I, Xu Aiguo, will be the first to support her.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Dawei immediately felt hopeful but was just worried about people talking behind his back in the village.


    It¡¯s true that the government allowed for individual entrepreneurship, but if anyone were to engage in business secretly, they would still be pointed at and scolded.


    And they would also be looked down upon.


    Sensing Xu Dawei¡¯s hesitation, Xu Aiguo quickly added, ¡°Dawei, you don¡¯t need to worry about this.


    Just let Niannian do what she wants, and if anyone dares gossip behind her back, I, Xu Aiguo, will be the first not to let them off.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Dawei was overjoyed and couldn¡¯t stop smiling, and so was Yang Cuihua, thrilled beyond measure: ¡°Then we must thank the brigade leader.¡±


    ¡°No thanks needed, this is all part of my job as the brigade leader,¡± he responded.


    With the brigade leader¡¯s approval, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei were relieved and hurried home.


    After they left, Xu Aiguo¡¯s wife, Ding Guihua, came out, still holding a plate of meat.


    ¡°Oh my, that scared me to death.


    Yang Cuihua has a big mouth, if she had seen this, who knows, by tomorrow the entire village might know we¡¯ve been eating meat.¡±


    As the brigade leader, Xu Aiguo, too, could take some small advantages when the food was distributed in the collective.


    But he needed to be mindful of his image, fearing others would find out and make a big fuss.


    Xu Aiguo wiped his mouth, still thinking about the meat: ¡°Exactly, that blabbermouth, who would dare to provoke her.¡±


    Ding Guihua said with a sneer, ¡°That girl Xu Niannian has really been spoiled by Yang Cuihua, thinking about doing business and not ashamed of it.


    Only those without prospects and unable to earn work points would think about engaging in such shameful speculation.¡±


    Xu Aiguo didn¡¯t like hearing that.


    He tapped his chopsticks against the bowl: ¡°Comrade Ding Guihua, I must criticize you.


    It seems all the words I just said were in vain.


    What do you mean shameful?


    The nation is now developing, and encouraging individual entrepreneurship is a good thing.


    Only when the people develop can the nation develop along with them, and vice versa.


    If the nation is to develop, we common folks must also contribute.


    You need to let go of these old thoughts.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know.


    I just said a few words¡ªlook how many you¡¯ve said?¡±


    Xu Aiguo laughed: ¡°Who asked you to be the wife of the brigade leader?


    Your thinking has to keep pace with mine.¡±


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei got back home and immediately called Xu Niannian out of her room.


    Xu Zhiqiang heard the noise and also came out.


    Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu also came out, curious to see what was going on.


    The family sat down in the main room.


    Xu Dawei cleared his throat: ¡°Your mother and I went to the brigade leader¡¯s house, and we asked him about this matter.¡±


    Xu Niannian smiled with pursed lips: ¡°What did the brigade leader say?¡±


    ¡°The brigade leader said there¡¯s no issue, that you can go ahead,¡± Yang Cuihua eagerly shared the good news with Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    Even if the brigade leader didn¡¯t agree with this kind of thing personally, he would definitely have to say he encouraged it publicly.


    And if he agreed, that was even better.


    Xu Niannian explained her first business idea to Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei.


    The Dragon Boat Festival was the day after tomorrow, and there would definitely be a large crowd for the dragon boat races.


    Everyone would be thinking about having fun and likely wouldn¡¯t bring water.


    It was already hot, and it was easy to get thirsty.


    There were few people doing business, but it wasn¡¯t nonexistent; however, they sold fruits.


    Fruits were rare commodities now, costing three or four dimes a pound, and not everyone was willing to spend that money.


    So the question was, what to do when thirsty?

 Chapter 19 - 19 18 The Good of Parents

    ?19: Chapter 18: The Good of Parents 19: Chapter 18: The Good of Parents Xu Niannian had long thought it through, she would sell ice-chilled sugarcane water.


    She would boil the sugarcane in water to infuse the sweetness into the water, then cool the water down and chill it with ice cubes.


    It would be sweet, wouldn¡¯t make your mouth dry the more you drank, and it was cheap, just 8 Mao a cup.


    It was bound to sell well.


    When she shared this idea, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei both fell silent.


    Their thinking was rather traditional and, having been accustomed to poverty, they didn¡¯t understand what those who were slightly better off might think.


    Eight Mao was indeed cheap, but for them to spend eight Mao on a cup of water instead of enduring the thirst until they got home seemed outrageous.


    However, since it was their daughter who wanted to do this, Yang Cuihua clenched her teeth and agreed.


    But she figured that this business probably wouldn¡¯t make money.


    The reason Xu Niannian discussed it before taking action was that she needed financial support; she had to prepare some things in advance.


    But all these things required money, and she didn¡¯t have a penny to her name.


    Although she had never run a business, Yang Cuihua knew that starting a business required capital.


    ¡°Niannian, tell me how much money you need, and I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± she said.


    In front of Xu Niannian, Yang Cuihua never admitted to being poor, even though their family was so impoverished they were nearly unable to put food on the table.


    Xu Niannian had already calculated the cost, so as soon as Yang Cuihua asked, she had an answer ready: ¡°Five yuan.¡±


    Upon hearing it would cost five yuan, Yang Cuihua immediately panicked, her anxious lips blistering, ¡°What, that much?


    How much can you make from selling sugared water?¡±


    No wonder Yang Cuihua was shocked.


    In this era, workers at the textile factory in town, the ordinary ones, earned just over ten yuan a month.


    Even those in management only made thirty yuan a month.


    Five yuan was almost half a month¡¯s salary for an ordinary worker.


    And the Xu family¡¯s circumstances were far from those with family members working in factories.


    The family had a total savings of eight yuan.


    Could you blame Yang Cuihua for being shocked?


    ¡°Niannian, how about we don¡¯t do this after all?


    I can support you, and you don¡¯t need to worry about your dowry,¡± she suggested.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t know exactly how much savings they had, but judging from Yang Cuihua¡¯s reaction, it couldn¡¯t be much.


    Fearing that Yang Cuihua would be reluctant to part with the money, Xu Niannian quickly assured, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry.


    I will definitely earn this money back for you.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Yang Cuihua hesitated.


    She adored her daughter, but she dared not frivolously spend what little emergency funds they had.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua¡¯s hesitation, Xu Niannian continued to press on: ¡°Mom, life at home is so hard.


    I want to do my part for the family with my own ability.


    Don¡¯t you trust Niannian?


    And don¡¯t forget, I¡¯ve graduated from high school, I have a lot of knowledge and won¡¯t make a losing deal.¡±


    Xu Niannian was playing the emotional card as well as boasting about herself.


    Yang Cuihua had always believed her daughter Niannian was the smartest.


    Since her daughter said she could make money, then she definitely could.


    Biting her lip, she finally agreed.


    ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll go get you the money,¡± she said.


    In her heart, Yang Cuihua thought that even if they couldn¡¯t make money, with her daughter having spoken to such a degree, she absolutely could not negate her daughter¡¯s intention.


    It was five yuan, so be it.


    If they lost it, they could earn it back later.


    They could not let their daughter feel sad and heartbroken, and they couldn¡¯t undermine her confidence.


    When Xu Dawei heard that the capital needed was as high as five yuan, he immediately felt a bit disheartened.


    The dragon boat races lasted only one day.


    Forget making a profit; it would be good enough if they could recover the capital.


    But like Yang Cuihua, he couldn¡¯t bear to dampen his daughter¡¯s enthusiasm either.


    Xu Zhiqiang, with his clever mind, had listened from the beginning and thought Xu Niannian¡¯s approach was workable: ¡°Sister, let me go with you!¡± he exclaimed.


    Xu Niannian had already planned to ask Xu Zhiqiang for help, so when he offered voluntarily, she naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯ll come with me when the time comes.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiqiang nodded vigorously: ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yang Cuihua hurried into the main house and grabbed the cloth bag where she kept her money.


    It was a floral-patterned handkerchief, so old that its original colors could no longer be discerned.


    Xu Niannian watched as Yang Cuihua opened the cloth bag and took out a bunch of change¡ªall Mao notes, along with a few fen coins.


    Yang Cuihua counted out the notes one by one, giving fifty Mao notes to Xu Niannian.


    The handkerchief was all the money Yang Cuihua had, and seeing as she gave more than half of it to her, Xu Niannian felt a bitter taste in her heart.


    This floral handkerchief was Yang Cuihua¡¯s money hiding spot; losing five yuan meant more than half its thickness was gone, indicating that she had, at most, only four yuan left.


    With so little money at home, Yang Cuihua was still willing to give her so much to do business¡ªhow could Xu Niannian not be moved?


    This was more than half of the family¡¯s savings, and besides, she could tell that ever since she mentioned needing five yuan as capital, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei didn¡¯t believe she could make any money.


    Even so, they were still willing to take out the money; the only reason other than fear of her disappointment, was love.


    Xu Niannian once again profoundly felt the depth of love Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei had for her.


    Glancing at Xu Zhiqiang, who looked on with envy, Xu Niannian thought how wonderful it would be if these parents could treat her brother just as well.


    The reason Xu Niannian needed five yuan was to buy some additional tools and to have a safety buffer.


    Early the next morning, Xu Niannian got out of bed.


    The dragon boat race was scheduled for tomorrow, so she had to get everything ready in advance today.


    She sent Xu Zhicheng with Xu Duoyu to the mountain to cut down all the sugarcane, while Xu Dawei borrowed a bull cart from the production team leader and hauled the sugarcane back with Xu Zhicheng.


    As they passed by, if anyone asked, Xu Dawei vaguely answered, ¡°We¡¯re fertilizing the vegetable garden.¡±


    With reform and opening up, although land reform had not yet been implemented in Hongshan Town and villagers were still collectively working for work points, households were allowed to cultivate their own vegetable gardens.


    Many families didn¡¯t have enough fertilizer and liked to cut wild vegetable stalks to use as fertilizer for their gardens, so the villagers did not suspect anything when they heard Xu Dawei¡¯s explanation.


    Meanwhile, Xu Niannian went shopping with Xu Zhiqiang for the necessary items.


    To sell sugary water, first and foremost, one definitely needed buckets to hold the water; secondly, clean white cloth was needed to cover them, as many buckets sold nowadays didn¡¯t come with lids.


    After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in 1978, China entered a era of reform and opening up.


    To stimulate the economy, the state encouraged private entrepreneurship, and various ration coupons gradually became obsolete, starting in the big cities.


    The winds of reform, blowing for two years, finally reached Hongshan Town.


    Now in the year 1980, going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things, one no longer needed various coupons for most items, except for the particularly scarce ones.


    This greatly relieved Xu Niannian¡ªthings would have been difficult if they still required coupons.


    With five yuan in her purse, Xu Niannian walked into the supply and marketing cooperative with Xu Zhiqiang.


    The staff member at the entrance of the cooperative was a woman in her thirties, seated in the front, knitting a woolen sweater.


    Xu Niannian searched for a while before she found the buckets.


    After looking over the various sizes of buckets, she decisively chose the largest size and took six of them.

 Chapter 20 - 20 19 A Book of Business Wisdom

    ?20: Chapter 19: A Book of Business Wisdom 20: Chapter 19: A Book of Business Wisdom After choosing six buckets, Xu Niannian also planned to buy cloth covers to place on top of the buckets, to prevent dust from falling into the water.


    However, after looking, she saw that all the cloth covers sold at the supply and marketing cooperative easily shed fibers, which was even less desirable.


    In the end, after much consideration, Xu Niannian simply tore off four feet of blue coarse cloth.


    Although the cloth was rough, it wouldn¡¯t shed fibers because it had no fibers to shed.


    The sugar water business would only last for the Dragon Boat Festival, it wasn¡¯t a long-term venture; Xu Niannian didn¡¯t plan for it to be.


    This was just a means to earn startup capital for the business.


    The buckets were forty cents each, and the coarse cloth was thirty cents per foot.


    She bought six buckets and four feet of cloth.


    The total cost was three yuan and sixty cents, leaving one yuan and forty cents.


    Xu Niannian then changed forty cents into small change.


    This would make it easier to give change when the time came.


    After purchasing these items, Xu Niannian took Xu Zhiqiang back home.


    Yang Cuihua had been impatiently waiting; if she didn¡¯t have work to do, she would have definitely accompanied her daughter.


    Even though they were just going to the town and Xu Zhiqiang was with her, Yang Cuihua still felt uneasy; she couldn¡¯t help worrying about her daughter¡¯s beauty attracting troublemakers.


    After finishing her work, she waited at the entrance of the village.


    Xu Niannian could see Yang Cuihua from a distance.


    ¡°Mom, why did you come here?¡± Xu Niannian hurried over.


    Seeing her daughter¡¯s face red from the sun, Yang Cuihua felt a pang of distress, ¡°I came to pick you up, why didn¡¯t you wear a straw hat when you went out?¡±


    Xu Niannian explained, ¡°It wasn¡¯t hot when I left.¡±


    From the beginning to the end, Yang Cuihua acted as if she didn¡¯t see Xu Zhiqiang, treating him like thin air, which was fine since Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t mind and was used to it.


    On the way home, Yang Cuihua peppered Xu Niannian with questions about the purchases, and Xu Niannian diligently reported everything she had bought.


    Once at home, Xu Niannian immediately got to work on boiling the sugar water; Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Dawei helped peel the sugar cane and cut it into sections.


    Xu Niannian filled their big iron pot with water, while Xu Duoyu squatted on the ground, picking up sugar cane peels to chew.


    Seeing this, Xu Niannian gave him a big section to gnaw on instead.


    Getting the treat, Xu Duoyu couldn¡¯t close his little mouth with joy, hugging the sugar cane with his dark little hands, smiling sweetly, ¡°Thank you, sister.¡±


    His dirty hands left several black fingerprints on the sugar cane, but Xu Niannian, amused, didn¡¯t scold him.


    Before long, Xu Dawei and Xu Zhiqiang finished preparing the big bundle of sugar cane, just as the water boiled.


    Xu Niannian scooped five scoops full of sugar cane into the pot with a large iron ladle.


    She had tasted the sugar cane earlier, and it was sweet enough; with the amount she added, the boiled syrup should turn out fine.


    With the sugar cane processed, there was nothing left for Xu Dawei to do, so he simply left the kitchen.


    After finishing the sugar cane, Xu Duoyu clung to Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s leg, curiously looking up to see what Xu Niannian was doing.


    Xu Zhiqiang simply picked him up for a better look.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the water to boil.


    In the meantime, Xu Niannian continuously stirred the pot with a ladle.


    When the sugar cane was nearly soft, she pressed it flat with the back of the iron ladle to squeeze out the sweet juice.


    She boiled three large pots in total, with one pot just enough to fill two buckets.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t rush to pour it into the buckets right away.


    She first used the ladle to remove the large pieces of sugar cane residue, then covered the buckets with cheesecloth to slowly filter out the remaining bits.


    After filtering back and forth four times, the syrup was finally rid of residue.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhiqiang stayed in the kitchen throughout, with Xu Niannian instructing and Xu Zhiqiang handling the task.


    After all, the iron pot was too large, and it became even heavier when filled with water.


    Xu Duoyu followed closely, watching Xu Zhiqiang, like a little glutton.


    By the time they finished, it was almost dark.


    Boiling six buckets of sugar water took quite a bit of time, not to mention a good amount of firewood burned.


    After finishing these tasks, Xu Niannian was already drenched in sweat.


    The family hadn¡¯t had dinner yet, their stomachs growling with hunger.


    Xu Duoyu¡¯s belly made even louder rumbling noises.


    There was some wheat flour left in the house, which Yang Cuihua had specifically set aside for Xu Niannian¡¯s meals.


    Xu Zhiqiang was about to cook rice bran when Niannian said, ¡°Let me do it.


    Zhiqiang, go to the backyard and pick two heads of cabbage, clean them thoroughly.¡±


    Usually, when cooking rice bran, they indeed added greens and cabbage¡ªthere was no choice, the family was too poor to eat much rice bran, always afraid they wouldn¡¯t make it to the next grain distribution.


    Xu Zhiqiang agreed and took Xu Duoyu to the backyard to pick vegetables.


    Meanwhile, Xu Niannian poured out the wheat flour, mixed it with water, and began kneading the dough.


    Once the flour touched the water, she worked quickly and soon had a ball of dough.


    When she was on her own, she always liked to make dough drops.


    The wheat flour wasn¡¯t much, probably just enough for one family meal, which Xu Niannian dumped out completely.


    Making dough drops didn¡¯t require the dough to rest; it could be kneaded into a ball and torn into pieces and boiled directly once the water boiled.


    Soon, Xu Zhiqiang returned with Xu Duoyu, holding two large heads of cabbage.


    As soon as they arrived, they saw Xu Niannian kneading the dough.


    Duoyu¡¯s eyes were fixed on the white dough on the board, looking longingly, and even rubbed his eyes vigorously with his small hands.


    ¡°Sister, is that white flour?¡± Xu Duoyu asked eagerly.


    That was fine grain, and in their family, only Niannian got to eat it while everyone else had to stick to rice bran.


    Every time Niannian ate it, they could only watch.


    Once, when he took advantage of Niannian going into the kitchen, he sneakily licked the edge of the bowl.


    He got caught by her and she almost beat him half to death.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Dawei taking the beating for him, he would have been beaten to death.


    Xu Duoyu was forgetful about most things, but he remembered very clearly the many times Niannian had beaten him.


    Xu Zhiqiang was also stunned.


    He thought Xu Niannian was making it just for herself and hurriedly said, ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve used too much flour.¡±


    Xu Niannian was in the midst of kneading.


    The better the dough was kneaded, the chewier it would be, and the tastier the meal.


    Kneading dough was all about technique, something she had learned from a Lanzhou noodle shop owner she watched.


    Hearing Xu Zhiqiang, Niannian wiped her sweat and said, ¡°It¡¯s not too much; it¡¯s just enough for our family.


    We may even run short.¡±


    ¡°Sister, can Duoyu have some too?¡± Upon hearing Niannian say it was just enough for the family, Duoyu¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Xu Niannian loved to see Duoyu¡¯s gluttonous little expression¡ªit was simply too cute.


    ¡°Why not?


    Our whole family can eat,¡± Niannian said with a smile.


    Overjoyed, Xu Duoyu hugged Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s neck, ¡°Big brother, sister said we can eat dough drops.¡±


    Xu Duoyu was only bolder when Xu Zhiqiang was around.


    Normally, he was as timid as a little cat, avoiding everyone.


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t say a word, his throat tightened as he looked at Niannian kneading the dough with complex emotions.


    He had witnessed Niannian¡¯s changes over these few days.


    Previously, Niannian was the person Zhiqiang hated the most, with his mother being the second.


    But now, in just the short span of three or four days, he found his hatred waning.


    ¡°What are you standing there for, hurry up and wash the vegetables.


    I¡¯m waiting to use them,¡± Niannian said.


    With mixed feelings, Xu Zhiqiang took the vegetables and washed them.

 Chapter 21 - 21 20 Making Their Lives Better

    ?21: Chapter 20: Making Their Lives Better 21: Chapter 20: Making Their Lives Better The water in the pot boiled quickly, and there was still a bit of oil left in the earthenware jar¡ªnot much, just about half a spoonful.


    Xu Niannian directly scooped half a spoonful into the soup.


    Xu Zhiqiang saw this, opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately didn¡¯t say anything at all.


    The most important part of making noodle dumplings is the kneading of the dough.


    As a nationally renowned chef in her previous life, Xu Niannian naturally paid great attention to her food.


    Under the right conditions, she would never cut corners.


    This was a matter of respecting the food.


    Therefore, when kneading the dough, Xu Niannian was particularly meticulous about her technique, kneading it clockwise 36 times, then counterclockwise 30 times, twisting it into a ball, and slamming it on the kneading board with skillful strength.


    Afterwards, she kept stretching and kneading it continuously.


    To Xu Zhiqiang, this seemed purely like a superfluous action with no practical use.


    After he finished washing the vegetables, Xu Niannian put them into the pot first and then began to tear the dough into pieces.


    Noodle dumplings, as the name implies, don¡¯t have a uniform shape¡ªthey¡¯re just like little lumps.


    Xu Niannian worked quickly and in no time had torn all the dough and thrown it into the pot.


    The pork fat boiled with the greens, and the fragrance wafted out.


    When the noodle dumplings began to float, Xu Niannian immediately grabbed a handful of chopped green onions and threw them in, cooking out their aroma.


    When the noodle dumplings float, it¡¯s time to turn off the heat.


    However, with a wood-burning stove, there¡¯s no way to simply turn it off, so Xu Niannian had Xu Zhiqiang lift the pot off the fire and set it aside.


    Yang Cuihua watched as Xu Niannian used up all the white flour in the house to make noodle dumplings and felt a wrenching pain in her heart.


    The family of six all sat around the dining table, and Yang Cuihua handed out bowls of noodle dumplings while complaining.


    Feeling deeply pained and clutching at her chest, she could only lament, ¡°Niannian, why don¡¯t you listen to your mother?


    You could¡¯ve just eaten this yourself.


    Why did you have to make so much?


    Sigh...¡±


    While speaking, Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t help but let out another sigh.


    Xu Niannian hurriedly comforted her, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make money tomorrow.


    Then Niannian will buy some more.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng¡¯s eyes were glued to the noodle dumplings in his bowl, his mouth watering, and Xu Duoyu also held his bowl with both hands, staring eagerly, swallowing his saliva over and over again.


    Even Xu Dawei and Xu Zhiqiang couldn¡¯t help but move their mouths several times, just waiting for Yang Cuihua to finish her scolding so they could start eating.


    This was white flour noodle dumplings, after all.


    Used to eating rice bran every day, they only got to eat white flour noodle dumplings occasionally, during the New Year festivities, and the family had almost forgotten the taste of it.


    Furthermore, in previous years during the New Year, it was coarse flour, not fine flour.


    The white flour Xu Niannian used today to make the noodle dumplings was the best high-gluten flour, something they had never eaten before.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua ready to continue her scolding, Xu Niannian quickly said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m hungry, let¡¯s start eating.¡±


    As soon as Yang Cuihua heard Xu Niannian was hungry, she no longer felt like nagging and immediately called everyone to eat.


    Almost the moment Yang Cuihua announced it was time to eat, everyone made their move.


    Xu Duoyu slurped the noodle dumplings from his bowl, chewing loudly, holding the bowl and drinking the soup with a gurgling sound.


    Xu Zhicheng wasn¡¯t any better, and the whole family ate their noodle dumplings heartily, their faces glowing with pleasure.


    Xu Dawei was the first to finish, even drinking all the soup, leaving not a drop behind.


    Wiping his mouth, he thought, ¡°This high-gluten flour is really something else, so satisfying to chew, and the surface is both soft and slick.


    One bite and your mouth is full of the taste of fine grains.¡±


    Xu Niannian received the largest share, but she couldn¡¯t finish it.


    Because Xu Duoyu was little, he got the smallest portion.


    After Xu Dawei finished his, Xu Duoyu also finished his own and was still licking the bottom of his bowl when Xu Niannian gave him some from her own bowl.


    Immediately, Yang Cuihua was displeased, ¡°You accursed bunny brat, always eyeing your sister¡¯s food.¡±


    Startled by her shout, Xu Duoyu shivered, and Yang Cuihua even pretended to grab the chopsticks to hit him.


    Xu Niannian quickly held Yang Cuihua back, saying with a headache, ¡°Mom, why are you scaring Duoyu?¡±


    Yang Cuihua retorted, ¡°When did I scare him?


    I just want to beat him to death.¡±


    Xu Niannian was momentarily speechless.


    That was a compelling reason.


    ¡°Mom, I just couldn¡¯t eat that much, so I gave some to Duoyu.


    Duoyu didn¡¯t even ask me for it.


    Please stop scaring him whenever you can.¡±


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips moved several times, but she didn¡¯t argue with her daughter; instead, she glared fiercely at Xu Duoyu.


    Scared, Xu Duoyu shivered again.


    Xu Niannian saw everything but was unable to speak up.


    It seemed that the mentality of her mother, so-called prime quality, had to be gradually reformed.


    She saw clearly that when it came to their daughter¡¯s interests, her sons were all class enemies.


    After being frightened by Yang Cuihua several times, Xu Duoyu dared not eat anymore.


    Clutching his bowl, he looked at Yang Cuihua with sad eyes brimming with tears, pursed lips, and dared not speak.


    ¡°Duoyu, be good.


    Come over to sister.


    Don¡¯t be afraid, mom is just scaring you, she won¡¯t hit you.¡±


    Xu Niannian directly took Xu Duoyu to sit next to her and coaxed him to eat.


    Since she couldn¡¯t change Yang Cuihua¡¯s mindset right away, she could only try her best to be kinder to her brothers.


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t speak from beginning to end, but his face was tightly drawn.


    Xu Zhicheng also dared not speak much.


    After being coaxed by Xu Niannian for a while, Xu Duoyu finally began to eat, little by little.


    Seeing him continue to eat, Xu Niannian showed a relieved smile.


    It wasn¡¯t easy.


    After eating, Xu Duoyu became a bit clingy to Xu Niannian and kept close to her wherever she went.


    It seemed that only by Xu Niannian¡¯s side did he feel safe.


    Even when Xu Niannian wanted to go to sleep, he wished to follow her into the room.


    Yang Cuihua tried to nag a few words but was stopped by Xu Niannian¡¯s gaze.


    Seeing her daughter¡¯s pleading eyes, Yang Cuihua eventually held back and didn¡¯t curse.


    With Xu Duoyu clinging to her, Xu Niannian had no choice but to sit on the stool with him in her arms, telling him stories until the little one fell asleep.


    Finally, Xu Niannian breathed a sigh of relief and carefully carried Xu Duoyu towards the three brothers¡¯ room.


    Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng followed into the room as well.


    Seeing that there was only one bed about one meter and twenty centimeters wide in the room, Xu Niannian was stunned.


    The three brothers squeezed into such a tiny bed?


    How could they sleep comfortably?


    ¡°Give Duoyu to me!¡± Xu Zhiqiang lifted the quilt, wanting to take Xu Duoyu.


    Xu Niannian frowned, ¡°Nevermind, let Duoyu sleep with me for now.¡±


    Although Xu Duoyu was a boy, he had just turned six, so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s words clearly stunned Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng, who looked at her incredulously.


    Isn¡¯t she the one who hates others touching her bed the most?


    In the past, if Duoyu even brushed against her bed, he would be grabbed and hit for quite a while.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t have time to consider Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng¡¯s thoughts.


    Her arm was very sore now, so holding Xu Duoyu, she headed to her own room.


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t even have a chance to stop her.


    Before leaving, Xu Niannian also said, ¡°Get up a bit earlier tomorrow, we¡¯ll go sell sweet soup together.¡±


    Finally putting Xu Duoyu on the bed, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but shake her hand; it was really sore.


    Looking at Xu Duoyu¡¯s rosy little face, Xu Niannian smiled softly.


    It felt good.


    She too had a younger brother of her own now.


    In the past, she always envied others for having siblings.


    And now, not only did she have them, but she suddenly had three.


    She would definitely make sure they had a better life.

 Chapter 22 - 22 21 Selling Sugar Water

    ?22: Chapter 21: Selling Sugar Water 22: Chapter 21: Selling Sugar Water The next day, Xu Niannian got up very early, while it was still dark, probably around five in the morning.


    It was about an hour¡¯s walk from here to the town, so they would arrive around half-past six or seven.


    The dragon boat races were held at Hongshan Town, a major traditional custom of Nancheng County, which was a county of neither large nor small size, governing nine towns.


    Of the nine small towns, only Hongshan Town had a long river, so every year there were especially many people coming to watch the dragon boat races.


    People from other towns would also come, and many from the county itself would join to see the excitement.


    This tradition had been suspended for about ten years during the Cultural Revolution.


    Only in the past few years, after the reform and opening-up, was the custom of dragon boat races revived.


    Anticipating that many people would come early to secure a spot, getting there early was essential to find a good location for their stall.


    Xu Duoyu was a light sleeper; as Xu Niannian got up and dressed, she woke him up.


    The little boy, groggy and rubbing his eyes, could barely make out the person standing in the room because it was still dark, with only a hint of dawn breaking.


    By the height, he mistook her for Xu Zhiqiang.


    ¡°Big brother, why are you up so early?¡± came the soft, whiny voice, full of coquettish charm.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s heart melted instantly at his call.


    ¡°Duoyu, be good and sleep a little longer.


    I¡¯m not your big brother; I¡¯m your sister.¡±


    Hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s voice, Xu Duoyu sat up with a start, his voice trembling as he called out, ¡°Sister...¡±


    Xu Niannian, worried he would fall off the bed, quickly lit the kerosene lamp.


    Only then did Xu Duoyu realize he was in his sister¡¯s bedroom, sitting on her soft and spacious bed.


    Remembering times when he accidentally touched his sister¡¯s bed and got a spanking, his little face turned pale with fear.


    ¡°Sister, where¡¯s, where¡¯s brother...¡±


    The little guy was shivering with fear, looking timidly at Xu Niannian, who felt unbearably heartbroken.


    She softened her voice and said, ¡°Brother is sleeping in his room.


    From now on, you¡¯ll sleep with your sister.¡±


    Three brothers crowded into a bed that was only 1.2 meters wide, probably not very comfortable.


    Xu Duoyu was still young, only six years old.


    They would make him a small bed in their room, and it wouldn¡¯t be too late to have him sleep there later.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s voice was so tender that Xu Duoyu couldn¡¯t help but forget his fears.


    Seeing that he stopped shivering, Xu Niannian said, ¡°Duoyu, be good and sleep a bit more.


    Later, Zhicheng will come to take you.


    I have to get up early to sell things.¡±


    Xu Duoyu didn¡¯t speak but clung to Xu Niannian¡¯s neck, refusing to let go.


    His intense lack of security made it difficult for Xu Niannian to persuade him to release her, no matter how much she soothed him.


    Seeing that he couldn¡¯t sleep like this, Xu Niannian decided to take him with her.


    After helping him get dressed, Xu Niannian then took him out of the room.


    She thought she had gotten up early, but to her surprise, others were up even earlier.


    Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua were still in bed, but Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng had already gotten up.


    The two sat in the main room, appearing to be ready and just waiting for her.


    Xu Niannian handed Xu Duoyu over to Xu Zhicheng then went to wash up; they set off immediately after she was ready.


    Originally, only she and Xu Zhiqiang were supposed to go, but Zhicheng and Duoyu wanted to come too, so she left a note for Xu Dawei, so they wouldn¡¯t worry.


    Although it was doubtful that he and Yang Cuihua would actually worry much about Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng.


    The six buckets of sugar water were quite heavy, but fortunately, Xu Dawei had borrowed a bull cart from the brigade leader the night before.


    Xu Zhiqiang alone moved the sugar water to the cart and began pushing it along.


    The journey was long, and they spilled quite a bit of water along the way.


    With the concern that Duoyu might not handle such a long walk, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhicheng took turns carrying him.


    Most of the time, it was Xu Niannian who bore the load, as there was no helping it; Zhicheng was just nine years old himself.


    Upon arriving at Hongshan Lake, indeed there were already many people who had come early to secure spots; they all wanted to watch the race and were worried about getting squeezed to the back if they arrived later.


    There were also a few fruit stands, but not many.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t set up along the shore; she chose a position towards the rear, as she feared the front would be too crowded to sell her goods when the time came.


    By this time, it was already past seven o¡¯clock.


    Xu Niannian gave Xu Zhiqiang forty cents, asking him to go to the largest nearby store to have some blocks of ice frozen in their freezer, which they could pick up at noon.


    Xu Niannian spread a coarse cloth on the ground before setting down the buckets.


    Soon enough, people began to trickle in, but no one was buying water yet, as it was still early.


    Xu Niannian was beautiful, and just standing there, she was an attractive sight.


    Although nobody was buying water, quite a few young men were passing back and forth in front of her stall.


    The dragon boat races were set to start at nine o¡¯clock and promised to be lively.


    An hour before the race began, the entire Hongshan Lake was already surrounded by spectators.


    The calls of vendors and cheers of support were unceasing, as the onlooking crowd turned red-faced and thick-necked from shouting encouragement.


    Soon, the blazing sun in the sky began radiating heat.


    It gradually warmed up.


    Nobody was buying water at first, which made Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng somewhat anxious.


    But Xu Niannian remained very calm.


    It wasn¡¯t until the heat became unbearable that Xu Niannian finally told Xu Zhiqiang to fetch the ice blocks.


    With exactly six blocks of ice, she placed one into each of the six buckets and then began to call out.


    ¡°Sweetened drinks for sale!


    Tasty and cool sweetened drinks, only eight cents a cup, eight cents a cup, a deal you won¡¯t regret, no chance of being cheated.¡± In pursuit of profit, Xu Niannian shouted out all the advertising slogans she knew.


    Eight cents wasn¡¯t expensive, in fact, it was quite cheap.


    Many of the young men had noticed Xu Niannian setting up her stand earlier, yet they were unaware of what she was selling.


    Now, hearing her call out, they thought, finally an opportunity to speak with the beauty.


    Soon, two young men came over, both with sweaty foreheads and sunburnt red faces.


    ¡°How much for this water?¡± one of the young men asked knowingly.


    Seeing a customer, Xu Niannian immediately greeted him with a smile, her large watery eyes sparkling, and said crisply, ¡°Eight cents a cup, very cheap.


    The weather is so hot, big brothers, wouldn¡¯t you like a cup to relieve the heat?¡±


    Xu Niannian was already an uncommon beauty in the region, and her smile, combined with her bright eyes and white teeth, instantly captivated the two young men, who immediately said, ¡°We¡¯ll take two cups.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Xu Niannian said with a smile.


    Xu Zhiqiang lifted a handkerchief and filled two large ceramic cups with sweetened water.


    Because there were ice blocks in the buckets, the cups themselves were chilled.


    The two young men took them and drank up right away.


    The cool sweetness of the sugarcane water, coupled with the cold that penetrated to the core, provided instant relief as they drank it down.


    In this weather so hot the very air felt scorched, such a beverage was incredibly refreshing.


    The two young men had initially only wanted to find an excuse to talk to Xu Niannian and hadn¡¯t expected her water to be so thirst-quenching, nor did they anticipate the sweet taste.


    They promptly ordered another two cups.


    With only six cups available at home and no disposable cups, Xu Niannian had to use a basin to rinse the cups with clean water, washing them on the spot as soon as the patrons finished drinking.


    After each drank two cups, they jointly paid forty cents.


    Xu Niannian wanted to give change, but the two men insisted on not taking it, saying there was no need for change.


    However, Xu Niannian still gave them their change.


    Since the first sale went through, Xu Zhicheng, who previously seemed dispirited, immediately perked up and became spirited in his approach.

 Chapter 23 - 23 22 Demand Outstrips Supply

    ?23: Chapter 22: Demand Outstrips Supply 23: Chapter 22: Demand Outstrips Supply Xu Duoyu sat quietly behind the stall, not speaking, just gazing around with wide eyes.


    Once the first sale had been made, the young men who had been sizing up the situation finally realized that the beautiful girl running the roadside stall was selling water.


    Instantly, their interest was piqued.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s looks, to use modern terms, were absolutely stunning.


    In other words, she was both gorgeous and had a great figure.


    The young men¡¯s eyes were glued to her.


    Xu Niannian found her long hair to be a nuisance, so she simply gathered it at the back of her head with her fingers and tied it up with a string.


    Her high ponytail, along with her delicate face, exuded youthful vibrancy.


    The weather was indeed hot enough to make sweat run down your back.


    Before long, people started feeling thirsty.


    A few young men approached and asked, ¡°How much for your water?¡±


    Seeing new customers, Xu Niannian greeted them warmly, ¡°Eight cents a cup, would you gentlemen like one?¡±


    Every time Xu Niannian called them ¡°gentleman¡±, combined with her pretty face, she left several of the young men blushing, whether from the sun or shyness, it was hard to tell.


    Beautiful women are always popular, regardless of the era.


    Even in these impoverished times, the slightest bit of refined beauty can carry an air of arrogance, especially in front of men.


    Such a beautiful woman as Xu Niannian, speaking so warmly and kindly, made the young man who had initiated the conversation stutter slightly, ¡°We¡¯ll....


    we¡¯ll have five cups.¡±


    There were five of them in total, just enough for one each.


    Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng had already prepared the water when they saw people coming by.


    Xu Niannian took the money, and they handed out the water to the customers.


    The young men had originally just wanted an excuse to talk a bit more with the beauty in this hot weather and also fancied a drink of water.


    But they didn¡¯t expect the water to be so ice-cold and sweet, chilling them to the core and greatly alleviating the heat, with a pleasant sweetness to boot.


    One of the young men said, ¡°Another cup, please.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Niannian took the money and passed the water with a beaming smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s really so refreshing,¡± another young man commented.


    People tend to follow the crowd, so seeing several people gathering around, others curiously came over to ask what was going on.


    Upon learning that water was for sale and hearing it was particularly refreshing¡ªand only eight cents a cup on such an extremely hot day¡ªmany followed suit, wanting to try for themselves.


    Within a short time, a crowd had gathered around the small stall.


    Unfortunately, there were not enough cups to go around, with only six people able to drink at a time.


    Moreover, a particularly pressing issue was the few young men who had already drunk were still lingering around, watching Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian, helpless, politely said, ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯m busy here with the business.


    If you¡¯re not planning to buy more, could you please make way so others can come and buy water?¡±


    Xu Niannian, with her beautiful looks, when she smiled, her eyes curved, and her bright, sparkling eyes were captivating.


    And with her friendly attitude, the young men suddenly felt embarrassed to stay any longer, and they quickly cleared out to let others buy water.


    With nearly a thousand people coming to watch the dragon boat races and only one water seller, many were so parched they couldn¡¯t stand it but didn¡¯t want to spend too much on buying fruits.


    When word got out that water was for sale here, the news spread from ten to a hundred, and many people came over to buy water in an ongoing stream.


    The stall was crammed with people in no time, and Xu Niannian, while taking money, called out, ¡°Would everyone please line up?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng were overwhelmed with the workload.


    With so many people waiting to buy water and each cup needing to be washed in a basin after use,


    Xu Zhicheng eventually called Xu Duoyu over to wash the cups while he and Xu Zhiqiang handled the water.


    Xu Niannian was so busy collecting money that she nearly got dizzy and miscalculated the accounts.


    There were simply too many people.


    Xu Niannian had considered the possibility of selling water during such an event, confident that the business would do well, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated it being this successful.


    And well, given the scorching weather that was hot enough to sear the ground, it was no surprise that people, having been out in the sun all morning to watch the race, would be parched.


    Because the crowd was so dense, they seemed to block the air itself, and the heat made Xu Niannian sweat profusely.


    After about half an hour of non-stop busyness, the situation finally began to improve, and the crowd started to thin out a little.


    At last, she could catch her breath.


    Looking at the bulging wallet, Xu Niannian asked Xu Zhiqiang, ¡°How much water do we have left?¡±


    ¡°Just one bucket.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang was also dripping with sweat, and his face was beet-red.


    He hadn¡¯t expected the business to be so booming that both he and Zhicheng¡¯s arms had grown sore from pumping water.


    Though their arms were sore, their spirits were lifted¡ªthey were making money.


    Xu Niannian looked up at the clear, cloudless sky, a vast expanse of blue.


    Last year¡¯s dragon boat race had gone on until almost evening, but now it was only noon, and they were down to their last bucket of water.


    With some sugarcane still left to boil at home, Xu Niannian thought for a moment and said to Xu Zhiqiang, ¡°Zhiqiang, rush back home and boil the remaining sugarcane and bring it here.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang, who was already excited from selling so much water, upon hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s words, quickly responded, ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang took the ox cart and five empty buckets and headed back.


    Taking advantage of the lull in customers, Xu Niannian took out fifty cents from her pocket and gave it to Xu Zhicheng, asking him to go to the store to get the owner to freeze a few more blocks of ice.


    Not long after Xu Zhicheng had left, more people came to buy water.


    This time, it was a couple.


    The woman, seeing how pretty Xu Niannian was, felt a bit displeased, but her thirst overtook her.


    The fruit she ate only made her thirstier.


    Slightly annoyed, the woman asked, ¡°How much for a cup of water?¡±


    ¡°Eight cents a cup.


    How many would the beauty like?¡± Xu Niannian asked cordially.


    The woman, initially displeased, was instantly charmed by the designation ¡°beauty,¡± warming up considerably and even beginning to view Xu Niannian more favorably.


    ¡°Two cups,¡± she replied, much more cheerfully.


    Xu Niannian smiled and prepared a cup for each of them, ¡°Please enjoy.¡±


    The smile was mainly directed at the woman.


    Having learned from the morning¡¯s interaction, Xu Niannian realized the power of her looks, thus she was careful not to engage too much with men, focusing her conversation on the woman instead, to avoid unnecessary trouble.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was afraid of trouble, but she preferred not to invite it.


    Seeing that Xu Niannian, despite her beauty, was very proper, the woman¡¯s favorable impression of her increased considerably.


    ¡°Your water is quite sweet.


    Did you add rock sugar?¡± the woman inquired.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just boiled from sugarcane.¡±


    ¡°Boil water from sugarcane?¡± the woman exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°That¡¯s really odd.¡±


    After finishing her water, the woman handed her cup back to Xu Niannian, and, little by little, more customers arrived.


    It was good that Xu Zhicheng came back to help.


    This was the reason it was easy to make money in business during this era¡ªsupply didn¡¯t meet demand, and the demand exceeded the supply.


    If this were in the future, the entire riverside would be lined with vendors; it wouldn¡¯t be this easy to sell so much water.


    About an hour later, the last bucket of water was sold.

 Chapter 24 - 24 23 Missing Out

    ?24: Chapter 23: Missing Out 24: Chapter 23: Missing Out ¡°Sister, what do we do, we¡¯re out of water,¡± Xu Zhicheng said with a worried look on his face.


    That¡¯s less money we¡¯ll make.


    Xu Niannian also felt it was a pity, but there was nothing that could be done, the water had all been sold.


    She could only hope that Zhiqiang would hurry back, but waiting for his return would take at least another two hours.


    He had already been gone for over an hour.


    Then another person came asking.


    Xu Niannian said with embarrassment, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, we¡¯ve sold out.


    I¡¯ve sent my brother back to get water, you can come back in two hours to buy some.¡±


    People come to buy water because they are thirsty, who can wait another two hours?


    But with none left, there was no other option but to go buy some fruit to make do.


    In this weather, even the fruit being sold was a bit warm from the sun.


    It could relieve thirst for a moment but wouldn¡¯t last long and didn¡¯t cool you down.


    It wasn¡¯t nearly as refreshing as drinking iced water.


    Several more people came to ask, and Xu Niannian dismissed them all with the same explanation.


    Watching the disappointed people walk away felt like watching banknotes fly out of her pocket.


    Xu Niannian was extremely reluctant to see them go.


    Xu Zhicheng also felt incredibly distressed and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sister, how much longer before brother comes back?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, just wait a little longer.¡±


    Xu Duoyu had been sitting quietly in the back all this time until his stomach began to growl.


    The little one bashfully hung his head in embarrassment.


    Xu Niannian slapped her forehead, realizing she had been too busy selling water and had forgotten to buy something for her brothers to eat.


    Xu Niannian quickly took out a fifty-cent piece and gave it to Xu Zhicheng, ¡°Zhicheng, go to the street and buy a few meat buns.¡±


    This was the first time Xu Zhicheng had ever held so much money.


    He was afraid he¡¯d lose it, clutching the coin tightly in his hand.


    Hearing Xu Niannian mention meat buns, his face turned bright red with excitement, ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Once Xu Zhicheng left, Xu Niannian scooped up Xu Duoyu to hold him, pinching his chubby little face, her smile full of joy.


    Xu Duoyu was not as afraid of Xu Niannian as before.


    Held by Xu Niannian, his little hands wrapped obediently around her neck.


    He asked in a soft voice, ¡°Sister, are we going to eat meat buns later?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re eating meat buns, does Duoyu like them?¡±


    Hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s affirmative response, Xu Duoyu nodded vigorously, ¡°Like.¡±


    After all, they were meat buns.


    How could he not like them?


    It wasn¡¯t long before Xu Zhicheng returned, carrying several large buns in his hand.


    The buns were two fifty apiece, quite expensive, but one fifty was just enough to buy six big meat buns.


    The meat buns sold now were much more substantial than those in the future, almost as big as a bowl, and filled with lots of meat.


    Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t expected the buns to be so large.


    She handed one each to Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu.


    Xu Duoyu¡¯s tiny hands struggled to hold the large bun, which was not only hard to grip but also hot.


    Xu Zhicheng kept switching hands because of the heat, while Xu Duoyu, seemingly unaffected by the temperature, clutched the bun tightly, afraid it might accidentally slip to the ground.


    Seeing Xu Duoyu¡¯s little hands turning red from the heat, Xu Niannian simply put her own bun back in the bag and took Xu Duoyu¡¯s bun.


    ¡°Here, let sister feed you.¡±


    Xu Duoyu¡¯s eyes roundly fixed on the bun, didn¡¯t cry or fuss when Xu Niannian took it away but said in a tender voice, ¡°Sister eat.¡±


    After saying this, the little one¡¯s face turned bright red, utterly adorable.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but give Xu Duoyu a kiss.


    Xu Duoyu was almost scared stiff because Xu Niannian used to like biting him, and he thought that the sister who used to hit him had come back.


    His little body tensed up in an instant.


    The anticipated pain didn¡¯t come.


    Instead, a soft touch pressed against his face.


    Xu Duoyu was obviously stunned, staring blankly at Xu Niannian.


    Sister didn¡¯t bite him!


    And she had kissed him, too.


    Xu Duoyu immediately became shy and nestled her head into Xu Niannian¡¯s embrace.


    Xu Niannian pinched off a bun, tenderly fed it to Xu Duoyu¡¯s mouth, bite by bite.


    The little one had a small mouth but not a small stomach, and surprisingly managed to eat an entire large meat bun.


    Xu Zhicheng had finished his meat bun a while ago, his face flushed red and shining with grease.


    Unable to resist, he licked his lips.


    Seeing that, Xu Niannian asked if he was still hungry and if he wanted another one.


    Xu Zhicheng looked up excitedly, ¡°Sister, can I really have another one?¡±


    Xu Niannian laughed, ¡°What are you talking about?


    Of course, you can.¡±


    Then Xu Zhicheng ate another big bun.


    Xu Duoyu wanted to eat more too, but Xu Niannian didn¡¯t let him; his little stomach was already bulging.


    The children had never eaten pork buns before.


    They only knew they were greedy and didn¡¯t understand the feeling of fullness.


    It wouldn¡¯t do to let them overeat.


    Several people came by during this time to ask if there was still water, and Niannian told them there was none.


    After a while, Xu Niannian finally saw Xu Zhiqiang returning with the ox cart.


    He had rushed back so quickly that his face was covered with sweat.


    Niannian handed him a handkerchief, ¡°Wipe off your sweat.¡±


    Without much thought, Zhiqiang took it and wiped his face, only realizing afterward that the handkerchief was Niannian¡¯s, which made him feel a bit uneasy.


    In the past, his sister had always disdained him.


    She wouldn¡¯t even let him touch things she had discarded, let alone use her cherished handkerchief.


    ¡°Thank you, sister.¡± Xu Zhiqiang discovered that his older sister had really changed.


    However, this change felt very good to him.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you?


    Zhicheng, give a bun to our brother.¡±


    ¡°Eh, alright,¡± Xu Zhicheng agreed cheerfully.


    He had wanted to give his older brother a meat bun earlier but since the buns were bought with the money his sister had earned, he didn¡¯t dare to presume without her permission.


    As Xu Zhiqiang ate the precious and rare meat bun, he felt a warmth in his eyes.


    Afraid that Zhicheng would struggle to carry the ice blocks, Niannian sent Zhiqiang to fetch the ice while he ate.


    People who had come to watch the competition left and came; some had been playing since morning.


    Seeing that Niannian had brought a few more buckets of sugar water, they hurried over to buy water, dying of thirst.


    The water in the buckets was still warm, and Niannian apologized, ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯m very sorry, the water hasn¡¯t cooled down yet, it¡¯s a bit warm.¡±


    The young man had been waiting a long time just to quench his thirst, his throat almost smoking.


    He didn¡¯t care if it was hot or not.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, give me a cup.¡±


    Since the customer didn¡¯t mind, Niannian had no reason to complain about making money.


    She quickly had Zhicheng pour a cup of water for the young man.


    The young man drank three cups in a row, and Niannian charged him twenty-four cents.


    Zhiqiang returned with several large blocks of ice in his hands.


    Niannian hurried to put the ice in the water buckets.


    In about ten minutes, the sugar water turned icy cold.


    Even when the water was still warm, quite a few people bought it.


    That afternoon, quite a number of people came by, not as many as at noon, but still quite a few.


    Zhicheng washed the cups, Zhiqiang was in charge of pouring water, and Niannian handled the money and change.


    The water sold out around the time the sun was setting.


    It would take an hour to walk from the town to their home, and by the time they got there, it would be dark, so Niannian didn¡¯t dare to stay longer.


    She hurried back with her younger brothers.


    As they rushed through the entrance of the town, a dark green jeep drove by.


    It was the only car on the whole street, and Niannian couldn¡¯t help but take a second look.


    A very ordinary driver; there was no one else in the car.


    Niannian withdrew her gaze, and just then, Jin Yu, who was sitting in the back seat, straightened up and asked, ¡°Have you found the person I¡¯m looking for?¡±

 Chapter 25 - 25 24 Making Big Money

    ?25: Chapter 24: Making Big Money 25: Chapter 24: Making Big Money Because Jin Yu¡¯s shoelace had come undone, he bent down to tie it, thus missing the chance for Xu Niannian to see him.


    The driver, Jin Yu¡¯s assistant Huzi, heard Jin Yu¡¯s words and hurriedly said, ¡°Not found.¡±


    Jin Yu had people go to the place where the accident happened to look for news, to see if any girl had recently become emotionally unstable, or to clearly ask if anyone had gone to the small hill where the accident occurred.


    Two days passed, and they still couldn¡¯t find her.


    He was waiting, waiting for the girl to take the initiative to find him.


    If she decided to go through legal proceedings, he wouldn¡¯t run from the responsibility he should bear; he wouldn¡¯t flee either.


    Considering the girl¡¯s reputation, Jin Yu naturally wouldn¡¯t allow people to investigate in a high-profile manner, nor had he told his subordinates what exactly had happened that day.


    Xu Niannian was naturally unaware of Jin Yu looking for her.


    At this moment, she was happily hugging Xu Duoyu and hurrying home.


    Inside the Xu Family Hall, Xu Dawei was puffing away at his dry pipe.


    Yang Cuihua looked out the door several times.


    ¡°Child¡¯s father, how long do you think Niannian will take to come back?


    Could something have happened to her?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense.


    Our Niannian is a lucky girl.


    How could anything happen to her?¡±


    Yang Cuihua quickly agreed, ¡°Right, right, right, you¡¯re right.


    Our Niannian is lucky; nothing could happen to her.


    Look at what I¡¯m saying¡ªpah, pah, pah¡ªlet all the bad words be spat away.


    May the ancestors not take offense.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, they heard the cheerful voice of Xu Duoyu.


    Yang Cuihua hurried out to meet them, even before she saw them, starting to call out from inside the house, ¡°My Niannian, you¡¯re finally back.


    Mommy was so worried.¡±


    ¡°Mom, we¡¯re back,¡± Xu Niannian called out happily, holding Xu Duoyu.


    When the family entered the house, Xu Dawei saw the empty bucket that Xu Zhiqiang brought in and his eyes lit up, pondering that his daughter must have sold all the sugar water.


    The family sat around the dining table as Xu Niannian grabbed all the money from her pocket, which included cents and Mao notes, piling up on the table.


    Everyone in the family, except for Xu Niannian, stared at the money on the table with eyes wide open.


    Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng knew they had made some money today, but they didn¡¯t know they had made so much.


    Xu Duoyu didn¡¯t understand anything, just that there was a lot of money; his eyes were shiny and bright.


    Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua were stunned by the large amount of money.


    ¡°Niannian, what did you do...¡± Xu Dawei asked in disbelief.


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips trembled even more, ¡°Nian, how did you make so much money?¡±


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t yet know how much money she had made and quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s count and see how much there is in total.¡±


    So the family began to count the money.


    Only Xu Duoyu played with his fingers, hugging them.


    With the whole family counting, the process was fast; after a short while, the money on the table was all picked up.


    Xu Niannian said, ¡°I have a total of twelve yuan and twenty cents here.¡±


    Yang Cuihua said, ¡°I have seven yuan, eighty-four cents here.¡±


    Xu Dawei said, ¡°I have exactly eight yuan.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang said, ¡°I have ten yuan and sixty cents.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng pursed his lips, ¡°I have nine yuan here.¡±


    In total, they had forty-seven yuan and sixty-four cents.


    Including the one yuan fifty cents spent on buying buns, it was forty-nine yuan and fourteen cents.


    Subtracting a few small tips, they had sold over six hundred cups of water.


    Making so much money on the first day, Xu Niannian was thrilled to bits, happier than when she had made a few hundred thousand in her previous life.


    Excluding the cost, they had made a profit of forty-four yuan.


    Receiving so much money for the first time, both Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua were shocked.


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips were a bit shaky, ¡°Niannian, is all this what you earned today?¡±


    Xu Dawei was no better, trembling as he asked, ¡°Baby Nian, is this money all ours?¡±


    Xu Niannian knew the two were happy and nodded emphatically, ¡°Yeah, Mom and Dad, this money is our family¡¯s.¡±


    To Xu Niannian, her money was the family¡¯s money.


    If it weren¡¯t for Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei¡¯s unconditional support, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to make so much money.


    Overcome with excitement, Yang Cuihua snatched all the money and handed it to Xu Niannian, ¡°Baby Nian, keep the money you earned yourself.¡±


    Xu Dawei nodded in agreement, ¡°Right, Baby Nian, keep it yourself.¡±


    The two doted on Xu Niannian unconditionally.


    Yang Cuihua also feared that Xu Zhiqiang and his brothers might covet Xu Niannian¡¯s money, so she hastily added, ¡°Even though you helped out today, all this money was earned by your sister.


    Don¡¯t get any ideas.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s originally excited eyes turned cold, and Xu Zhicheng seemed as if he had been doused with cold water.


    The money was indeed earned by their sister; they had never thought to take it.


    And with their mother running things, and they still being young, the money wouldn¡¯t end up with them even if it wasn¡¯t given to Xu Niannian.


    But Yang Cuihua¡¯s direct precautions pained them somewhat.


    Seeing that her brothers¡¯ expressions were a bit off, Xu Niannian quickly said, ¡°Mom, what are you talking about?


    We¡¯re all family, why make distinctions?¡±


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips moved as if to say something, but Xu Niannian tugged at her sleeve and she fell silent.


    Zhiqiang said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m tired, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡±


    Zhicheng also hurried off.


    Duoyu, sitting next to Niannian, tried to scramble after his older brothers but was held tight by Niannian, ¡°Duoyu, be good, don¡¯t run off.¡±


    Xu Niannian was worried; it had not been easy to start improving her two brothers¡¯ views of her.


    When her brothers turned their faces away, Yang Cuihua was about to start scolding when Xu Niannian quickly covered her mouth.


    ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡±


    Yang Cuihua hummed through closed lips, and Xu Niannian said, ¡°Mom, promise me first, don¡¯t scold the brothers.¡±


    Yang Cuihua nodded, and only then did Xu Niannian let go of her.


    As soon as her hand was released, Yang Cuihua unleashed a torrent of curses.


    ¡°Those damn kids, come out here!


    Your mother can¡¯t speak now, huh?


    Showing me those faces, it looks like you don¡¯t want to live.¡±


    Xu Niannian was completely disheartened.


    What happened to not yelling at people?


    Xu Niannian had a headache.


    After ranting to her heart¡¯s content, Yang Cuihua finally felt better.


    Xu Niannian said, ¡°Mom, have you yelled enough?¡±


    Yang Cuihua replied, ¡°I¡¯ve yelled enough.¡±


    Then, with a joyful expression, she pulled Xu Niannian close, ¡°My dear Niannian, you really know how to make money.


    I always knew our Niannian was capable.¡±


    While Yang Cuihua scolded her sons, Xu Dawei had remained silent, but hearing her praise their daughter, Xu Dawei squinted his eyes and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s right, our Niannian is very smart.¡±


    Xu Niannian nodded helplessly as Yang Cuihua stuffed her with all the money.


    Xu Niannian still needed to do business and required capital, so she didn¡¯t refuse, but she couldn¡¯t keep it all for herself.


    She gave Yang Cuihua 19 dollars and 14 cents, keeping 30 dollars for herself to use as capital for her business.


    Yang Cuihua absolutely refused to take it, but was ultimately persuaded by Xu Niannian and went back to the house to store the money away.


    At bedtime, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei happily went to sleep.


    After helping Duoyu clean up for bed, Xu Niannian took him back to their room, lifted him onto the bed, and tenderly rubbed his head, ¡°Duoyu, be good and sleep for a bit, okay?


    Sister is going to talk to Big Brother.¡±


    Duoyu was very obedient, ¡°Duoyu will be good.¡±

 Chapter 26 - 26 25 The Emergence of Space

    ?26: Chapter 25: The Emergence of Space 26: Chapter 25: The Emergence of Space Arriving at the door of Xu Zhiqiang and his brother¡¯s room, Xu Niannian knocked.


    Inside, neither Xu Zhicheng nor Xu Zhiqiang could sleep.


    In the past few days, due to Xu Niannian¡¯s change, the two brothers had gradually let go of their former guard against her.


    Actually, they hadn¡¯t intended to struggle with Xu Niannian about anything, but having their own mother guard against them like this left them both feeling somewhat upset.


    Even though they were already accustomed to Yang Cuihua¡¯s attitude towards them, they still felt sad and disappointed deep down.


    Hearing the knock, they didn¡¯t need to guess to know it must be Xu Niannian.


    Because there were so few people in the house, Xu Duoyu would not knock when entering, and neither would Yang Cuihua or Xu Dawei.


    Lying in bed, Xu Zhiqiang felt somewhat annoyed, and the knocking only increased his irritability, but he knew he had no reason to lash out at Xu Niannian.


    Even if he had a reason, he wouldn¡¯t dare, not unless he didn¡¯t want to stay in this family anymore.


    Seeing Xu Zhiqiang hesitating to get out of bed to open the door, Xu Zhicheng softly asked, ¡°Brother, should we open the door?¡±


    ¡°Sleep your sleep,¡± Xu Zhiqiang said and got up to open the door.


    Xu Niannian stood awkwardly at the doorway.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xu Zhiqiang asked directly.


    Xu Niannian sighed, knowing that Xu Zhiqiang was feeling uncomfortable.


    ¡°Zhiqiang, don¡¯t take to heart what mom said earlier.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang knew why she had come; it had to be about this issue, and he wasn¡¯t surprised.


    The slender boy¡¯s face was tense, and he made no comment.


    Xu Niannian felt helpless, unsure how to comfort him since Yang Cuihua and her husband¡¯s favoritism was a fact.


    As the favored one, she truly enjoyed and felt comfortable with it, but being on the neglected side would certainly be uncomfortable.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, in the future, the money I earn won¡¯t shortchange you.¡±


    ¡°You think what I want is money?¡± Xu Zhiqiang suddenly raised his voice, startling Xu Niannian.


    His eyes reddening, he quickly lowered his head: ¡°Sorry.¡±


    The young boy awkwardly hung his head down, and Xu Niannian saw his hands clenched tightly at his sides, veins bulging out.


    Xu Niannian knew that comforting words coming from her might feel like she didn¡¯t understand the pain since she was the favored one and he the overlooked one.


    Thinking this way, Xu Niannian suddenly felt a twinge of pain in her heart.


    Perhaps it was because of the blood ties between the body she inhabited and the person before her, seeing Xu Zhiqiang clearly struggling but stubbornly pretending to be strong made her unexpectedly feel compassion.


    Seemingly possessed, she pulled Xu Zhiqiang into a hug, her voice raspy: ¡°You still have your sister, and I¡¯ll be good to you guys in the future.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise.


    Suddenly pulled into a hug by Xu Niannian, Xu Zhiqiang stiffened for a moment, then his face turned red.


    Listening to her gentle voice, Xu Zhiqiang, who initially wanted to push her away, hesitated.


    Such a gentle and concerned manner made his eyes moisten unwittingly.


    His family had always favored his elder sister, who would either hit or scold them, while his parents turned a blind eye.


    Thus, even though he had both parents, he had never felt their love and concern.


    Being older than Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu, he had always pretended to be strong, trying to show his younger brothers that it was okay, even if their parents were not affectionate, they still had him, their elder brother.


    Yet, he overlooked the fact that he was only 15 years old.


    But now, this sister he had hated to the core was actually telling him, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you still have your sister, and I will be good to you in the future.¡±


    At that moment, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s heart, which had long been feigning solidity, seemed to be singed by something, causing his chest to heat up.


    A teenager is sensitive, and he could clearly feel Xu Niannian¡¯s sincerity.


    The resentment and indignation he had felt before suddenly vanished without a trace.


    ¡°Sister...¡± Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s voice was hoarse, for the first time seriously acknowledging this sister: ¡°I didn¡¯t want to take your money.¡±


    Xu Niannian felt a pang in her heart and released the youth who was even taller than she was, speaking gently, ¡°Yes, sister knows.¡±


    Xu Niannian was not a gentle person; on the contrary, she was actually quite sharp-tongued.


    But faced with these pitiable younger brothers, she found herself subconsciously wanting to treat them gently.


    Perhaps it was the longing for familial affection in her past life, or some other reason, that Xu Niannian didn¡¯t even want to pretend anymore.


    These young boys, so sensible, so obedient, clearly deserved to be treated with gentleness.


    ¡°Sister, it¡¯s getting late, you should go back to your room and sleep,¡± Xu Zhiqiang was the first to break the silence.


    After Xu Niannian had left, the warm feeling in Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s chest didn¡¯t disappear.


    Holding the blanket, Xu Zhicheng stared up at the ceiling with puppy dog eyes and naively said, ¡°Brother, I like the sister who can¡¯t remember things.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s throat moved, and he uttered a ¡°Hmm,¡± knowing what his brother meant.


    He liked the sister they had now.


    It was because Xu Niannian had become so much better after she stopped remembering the past that Xu Zhicheng would say such a thing.


    He also liked the sister they had now.


    *


    When Xu Niannian returned to her room, Xu Duoyu was already asleep.


    Looking at Xu Duoyu¡¯s innocent sleeping face, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but reach out and touch his little face, thinking it was good, she had family too.


    She had the love of her parents and several younger brothers who needed her love.


    Xu Niannian suddenly became very attached to her current life, having long since lost the initial resistance she felt when she first crossed over.


    Although their home was poor, it was filled with the familial affection she had always longed for.


    On the surface, the three Xu brothers despised Xu Niannian, but in reality, they were so easily moved by her simply because they always craved familial love deep down.


    She understood that feeling.


    Because she understood, she wanted to be doubly good to her brothers.


    With these thoughts, Xu Niannian inevitably fell asleep.


    In her drowsy state, Xu Niannian suddenly had a dream where she inadvertently entered a vast white world.


    Where was this?


    Looking around at the world shrouded in mist, Xu Niannian felt confused and lost, wondering if this was a dream.


    She reached out her hand instinctively, wanting to touch the fog before her eyes.


    As soon as she stretched out her hand, it seemed as if a force from the opposite side pulled her over forcefully.


    Xu Niannian let out a cry as she tumbled down.


    The place where she fell was right by a small stream, and Xu Niannian, who couldn¡¯t swim, flailed and swallowed several mouthfuls of water.


    Just when she thought she was going to drown, her body suddenly floated up.


    Xu Niannian looked around in amazement.


    She was now drifting in a small river.


    The river was silvery and somewhat transparent.


    The source of the river was a round stone pedestal, concave like a container, filled with a milky liquid to the brim.


    On both sides of the river, there were four square patches of land.


    Even with all her experience, Xu Niannian was stunned by the scene before her.


    This, this, this...


    Is it a dream?


    Had she wandered into a wonderland?


    How could she have such a pointless dream, she thought, and told herself, ¡°Just wake up and it¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than Xu Niannian immediately awoke, opening her eyes to see her own room, and was even more astonished.


    Why did she feel like she hadn¡¯t been asleep?


    Was that just now really a dream?

 Chapter 27 - 27 26 Heat Rash

    ?27: Chapter 26: Heat Rash 27: Chapter 26: Heat Rash Assuming she was dreaming, Xu Niannian closed her eyes, planning to sleep.


    As soon as she closed her eyes, she returned to that same dream.


    This time, Xu Niannian was shocked.


    She had just closed her eyes and hadn¡¯t fallen asleep yet, so how was it possible to immediately dream, let alone return to the previous dream?


    Thinking of some novels she had read out of boredom in her previous life, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but wonder, could it be that this was not a dream, but a space?


    Having experienced something as unbelievable as transmigration, Xu Niannian quickly calmed down after her initial surprise at the emergence of a space.


    To verify if it was real, Xu Niannian silently willed herself back, and then she returned to her own room.


    After countless cycles, she proved this was indeed a space.


    Xu Niannian had previously fallen into a stream, and her clothes were wet, so it was her body that entered the space, not just her consciousness.


    Fearing she would wet the bed, she quickly got up and changed her clothes.


    After changing, Xu Niannian lay on the bed, feeling somewhat uneasy.


    Anyone who suddenly gained a space would feel uneasy.


    Glancing over at the sleeping Xu Duoyu, Xu Niannian closed her eyes, thought of the space, and was immediately inside it.


    This time, Xu Niannian examined the items in the space very carefully.


    A stream, a spring, and land.


    That was all there was.


    Approaching the spring, she looked at the milky liquid in the stone basin and silently wondered, could this substance have bone cleansing and marrow washing capabilities like in the novels?


    As if drawn by some attraction, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t resist lowering her head, opening her mouth, and burying it into the white milky liquid of the spring, drinking it to the full in one breath.


    There was only so much white milky liquid in the spring, and she forcefully drank half a basin full.


    But just as she lifted her head, her body immediately tightened up, and she experienced the torturous pain of bones twisting and muscles contorting, so intense that the veins on Xu Niannian¡¯s face bulged visibly.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Xu Niannian let out a cry of pain, rolling to the ground in agony.


    The pain was probably worse than childbirth, as if every vein, muscle, and bone in her body was being remade.


    It was so painful that Xu Niannian had trouble breathing, her breath as threadlike, feeling as if she might die in the next second.


    After a wave of intense pain, Xu Niannian lay on the ground and rested for nearly an hour before she staggeringly got up.


    As soon as she stood up, she felt something sticky all over her.


    Looking at the back of her hand, it was covered in dark mud, and Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes rolled back, wondering if this was the legendary Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing.


    However, Xu Niannian was perplexed, why had she drunk so much?


    It was as if there was an attraction inside it.


    In fact, at the beginning, she didn¡¯t plan to drink that much.


    She had only intended to try a little, but as soon as she took a sip, she couldn¡¯t help but drink her fill in one go.


    Although she found it strange, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t have time to ponder.


    What was most important now was to wash off the mud on her body as soon as possible.


    Fortunately, there was a stream nearby, and Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t wait to jump in and clean off all the mud.


    After washing, Xu Niannian immediately felt relaxed all over.


    The feeling of weakness in her body also vanished, and before she could reflect on this, Xu Niannian suddenly saw her own reflection in the stream.


    Staring at the stunning beauty with bright eyes and white teeth in the water, Xu Niannian covered her face in disbelief.


    What¡¯s going on?


    Is this glowing white person her?


    Xu Niannian was startled.


    She had thought that drinking that stuff would cause some changes, but she never expected the changes to be so great.


    When her original body had yellowish skin and was already stunningly beautiful, now her skin glowed white, and her lips were rosy pink, so beautiful it was almost indecent.


    The change in her skin condition seemed to have completely transformed Xu Niannian.


    The original Xu Niannian, despite having delicate features, was only considered a beauty in their local area because her skin wasn¡¯t in the best condition.


    Now with her skin snow-white and as smooth as cream, Xu Niannian felt that to describe the woman in the stream as ¡°nation-toppling beauty¡± would be an understatement.


    Without time to rejoice, Xu Niannian covered her face and exclaimed, ¡°Oh my god.¡±


    With such a drastic change, how was she going to explain it to others?


    Would people think of her as a monster?


    After leaving the space, Xu Niannian quickly found some long clothes and pants to wear, and hurriedly sewed a mask during the night.


    After trying on the mask in front of the mirror, Xu Niannian shamefully discovered that even like this, she was still shockingly beautiful.


    The next day, as soon as Xu Duoyu woke up, he saw his sister completely wrapped in a piece of coarse blue cloth, leaving only her eyes exposed.


    ¡°Sister, what happened to you?¡± Xu Duoyu rubbed his eyes in confusion, not understanding why Xu Niannian had wrapped her head like that.


    ¡°Sister has got prickly heat,¡± Xu Niannian mumbled.


    Having wrapped herself up like a zongzi, Xu Niannian then received concerned attention from everyone in the family.


    First thing in the morning, Yang Cuihua saw her daughter wrapped up like a zongzi and anxiously pulled Xu Niannian aside, ¡°Oh my Baby Nian, what¡¯s happened to you?¡±


    Xu Dawei also looked at Xu Niannian with a worried face.


    Usually his daughter cared greatly about her appearance, wishing the whole world knew what she looked like, so it was shocking to see her suddenly wrapping up her face; something must have happened.


    Even Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng looked at Xu Niannian with concern.


    Feeling her family¡¯s care, Xu Niannian helplessly said, ¡°I¡¯ve got prickly heat.¡±

 Chapter 28 - 28 27

    ?28: Chapter 27 28: Chapter 27 Xu Niannian¡¯s prickly heat issue caused Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei much distress; they even thought it affected Niannian¡¯s appearance.


    Their daughter always cared most about her looks, and they worried she wouldn¡¯t withstand the blow.


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei took great pains to console her.


    Appearance is secondary; what matters most is to be healthy, they comforted her in various ways.


    Even to take care of Xu Niannian¡¯s emotions, Yang Cuihua decided to take a day off from work.


    Not only would she not go to work, but she also forbade Xu Zhiqiang from going, keeping the whole family at home, fearing that Niannian, in her sadness, might do something regrettable.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry at this.


    No matter what she said, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei looked at her with such pain in their faces, thinking she was only forcing a smile to comfort them.


    Helpless, Xu Niannian could only say, ¡°We¡¯ve run out of oil at home; I¡¯m going to the county to buy some fat to render into oil.¡±


    She could have bought it in the town, but Niannian also wanted to do some business and planned to go to the county to figure out the lay of the land.


    Upon hearing that Niannian wanted to go to the county, Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei were even more convinced she was surely affected by the prickly heat and intended to seek treatment in the county.


    Their daughter had always been proud and disliked sharing her concerns with them.


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei considerately suggested, ¡°Let Zhiqiang go with you then.¡±


    Xu Niannian knew that given Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei¡¯s level of concern for her, they would never feel at ease letting her go to the county alone, so she reluctantly agreed.


    In the morning, Xu Niannian boiled all the remaining eggs at home; if she didn¡¯t buy some food soon, they¡¯d be reduced to eating rice bran.


    And that was something she could not stomach.


    Arriving in the county with Xu Zhiqiang, Xu Niannian planned to buy some fatty pork first, to render oil when back home, and also to purchase some rice.


    On their way, Xu Zhiqiang kept glancing at Niannian unconsciously.


    Unable to resist, Niannian asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang hesitated but eventually said only one sentence, ¡°Sister, you¡¯ll definitely get better.¡±


    Xu Niannian: ¡°...¡±


    With a somewhat helpless, wry smile, Niannian thought if they saw her face now, they probably wouldn¡¯t speak like that.


    That morning, Niannian couldn¡¯t help but return to her room to look in the mirror again.


    The woman in the mirror had skin as lustrous as ice and as white as coagulated grease, smooth and delicate to the touch.


    The original Niannian was already a great beauty, but after drinking the water from the spring, she underwent a drastic transformation.


    Her original pale-cherry lips were now tender and pinkish, softly colored, plump, and glossy.


    The greatest change besides her skin color had to do with her eyes.


    Niannian¡¯s eyes were the standard almond shape.


    Big and bright, with long and curly lashes.


    While their shape hadn¡¯t changed after drinking the spring water, the expression in them had.


    Now, when she opened her eyes, they seemed filled with a shimmering light, giving people a seductive look even with a normal gaze.


    A single playful glance at someone might captivate their soul.


    Even as a woman herself, Niannian¡¯s heartbeat quickened when she looked at herself in the mirror, let alone others.


    Beyond the changes in her face, she also noticed that her voice had changed.


    Her voice was once crisp, but now it had a deeper, more enchanting tone; hearing it herself made her feel weak.


    If she didn¡¯t deliberately suppress her voice when speaking, she might give herself away.


    But she couldn¡¯t keep her face covered and her voice lowered forever.


    Since Yang Cuihua and the others thought she was here to buy medicine, she might as well use this as an excuse to gradually change.


    ¡°Sister, what are you thinking about?¡± Xu Zhiqiang, seeing Niannian silent for so long, couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Niannian hurriedly responded, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll buy the fatty pork.¡±


    When she set her mind on something, she did it.


    Xu Niannian dragged Xu Zhiqiang to the Department Store first.


    Things were indeed better in the county compared to the town.


    In the town, there was only the supply and marketing cooperative with a limited variety of goods.


    The county¡¯s Department Store had many things available.


    Seeing the Butterfly brand sewing machines displayed in the front, Xu Niannian felt a pang of envy and thought, once she had saved enough money, she would definitely buy a sewing machine and make her own clothes.


    On her way there, she noticed a stark difference between the county and the towns and villages.


    The women in the village pretty much stuck to three color tones for their clothes.


    Black, blue, grey!


    But it wasn¡¯t the same for the women of the county.


    Two years had passed since the reform and opening-up, and many county women had started wearing clothes in other colors.


    Such as tender yellow, water blue, and light pink.


    Bold colors like bright red, though, were still not worn by anyone.


    After purchasing the fatty meat, she bought some basic cooking seasonings and rice and wheat flour.


    From the money she had earned doing business, Xu Niannian had given Yang Cuihua 19 yuan and 40 cents, keeping 30 yuan for herself.


    She spent 12 yuan in total on the ten jin of rice and flour, along with the meat and seasonings, which made Xu Niannian wince at the expense.


    The money seemed to fly away too quickly.


    Xu Zhiqiang followed Xu Niannian around, and watching her buy not just fatty meat but also fine grains like rice and flour, he had to restrain himself several times from advising her against it.


    In the end, he didn¡¯t say anything.


    After all, it was her own money, and she could spend it however she wanted; he just felt a bit pained about the spending.


    Xu Niannian picked out a good variety of cooking seasonings.


    When it came to food, she never shortchanged herself¡ªif she was going to eat, she would eat well.


    Of course, that was predicated on having the financial means to do so, which meant she needed to earn more money.


    Selling water that day, she made 49 yuan on the very first try, which looked promising, but Xu Niannian knew that was largely because of the once-a-year dragon boat race drawing a large crowd, and she was the only one selling water, which led to that successful outcome.


    To make real money, she had to carefully plan a business she could maintain over the long haul.


    Having purchased what she needed, Xu Niannian brought Xu Zhiqiang to a traditional medicine clinic situated deep in an alleyway,


    which she had found only after asking many people for directions.


    At the end of the alley, there stood a moderately sized courtyard, an independent old-style residence.


    There was even a military jeep parked inside.


    Xu Niannian had no concerns about herself being recognized, but she worried that Xu Zhiqiang might give them away if he accompanied her in.


    She quickly said, ¡°Zhiqiang, wait for me outside.


    I¡¯ll be back in a moment.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang thought Xu Niannian was concerned he¡¯d see her current state, and considerately responded, ¡°Alright, you go ahead, sis.¡±


    With that, Xu Niannian entered the courtyard.


    ¡°Old Wu, what do you think about my condition?¡± Jin Yu asked the elder across from him with a calm demeanor, his handsome face serious.


    Old Wu withdrew his hand: ¡°I know it¡¯s unlikely to ask you to leave your current position, but you still need at least a month or two to recuperate.


    Let me take good care of you.¡±


    ¡°That long?¡± Jin Yu frowned, not one to sit idle.


    Just as Old Wu was about to speak, a brisk set of footsteps approached from outside, and Jin Yu quickly raised his hand to stop Old Wu from continuing.


    Soon after, a soft and delicate voice came from outside: ¡°Excuse me, is anyone there?¡±


    The voice was tender and intriguing, and Jin Yu, hearing just a phrase, immediately furrowed his brows deeply, wondering who this improver woman was.


    Speaking in such a seductively soft tone, was she trying to entice someone?

 Chapter 29 - 29 28 Enemies Meet

    ?29: Chapter 28: Enemies Meet 29: Chapter 28: Enemies Meet Since she didn¡¯t know the person, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t purposefully lower her voice when she came here.


    But the moment she spoke, she was taken aback.


    She covered her mouth subconsciously.


    Why did her voice sound even more enticing than before?


    Her voice was soft and tender, with a seductive lilt, capable of making anyone¡¯s body tingle.


    Xu Niannian herself tingled.


    Goodness gracious, this voice was truly tempting someone to their doom.


    As no one replied for a while, Xu Niannian tried to walk toward the inner room where there was no door, only a string of door curtains.


    Through the curtains, Xu Niannian saw two people inside.


    One, a man in a suit with his back to her, and an old man facing her.


    Seeing her approach, the old man greeted her with a warm smile, ¡°Young lady, you¡¯ve come to see the doctor, right?


    Please come in.¡±


    Xu Niannian saw that the man with his back to her was buttoning his suit and hesitantly asked, ¡°Is it alright for me to come in?¡±


    Old Wu glanced at Jin Yu who had finished buttoning up and, knowing Xu Niannian was being considerate, said with a laugh, ¡°It¡¯s fine, he¡¯s all set.¡±


    Having buttoned his suit, Jin Yu decided not to intrude since Old Wu still had a patient to attend to.


    ¡°Old Wu, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    After speaking, Jin Yu rose to leave, just as Xu Niannian was entering from outside.


    The two walked towards each other, face to face.


    The moment Xu Niannian saw his face, she was instantly shocked, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    Jin Yu clearly sensed her change in expression, paused his steps, and took another look at the woman.


    The woman was wrapped up from head to toe, even wearing coarse cloth gloves on her hands.


    Overall, she seemed quite ordinary, except for those beautiful eyes that were excessively so.


    Bright, round, and large, her eyes were like those that could speak, brimming with the moisture of spring, at a glance they shone with a lustrous autumnal glow.


    There was a sultry charm at the bottom of her eyes, making them a bewitchingly beautiful pair.


    Yet unlike the provocative allure in her eyes, her clear and distinct pupils conveyed innocence and purity.


    What kind of eyes were these?


    They had an exotic beauty, interweaving complexity and contradiction, seductiveness with innocence, and radiance with purity.


    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Jin Yu snapped out of it and, seeing the woman look at him as if she had seen a ghost, asked puzzledly.


    ¡°No, nothing...¡± Coming back to her senses, Xu Niannian quickly covered her face and spoke.


    This beast, how could he be here?


    She definitely didn¡¯t want this beast to see her.


    She still wanted to live her life well; how could she if he had seen her?


    Seeing him in a black suit and with an air of someone who thinks he¡¯s the boss, Xu Niannian decided to keep her distance.


    He looked far too dangerous.


    She might as well consider the past incidents as food for a dog or a duck¡¯s romp.


    But what kind of person was Jin Yu, the best at reading people¡¯s expressions and judging their moods?


    Could he possibly not have heard the concealment in Xu Niannian¡¯s tone?


    As Xu Niannian tried to move forward, Jin Yu suddenly reached out to grab her and demanded sharply, ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    There were too many people trying to probe information about Jin Yu; he naturally wouldn¡¯t let any suspicious person slip by.


    Xu Niannian was eager to get away from him, so she walked rather quickly.


    Thus, instead of grabbing Xu Niannian¡¯s hand, Jin Yu pulled at the coarse cloth wrapped around her head.


    With that tug, Xu Niannian spun around on the spot, her body uncontrollably falling backward.


    Jin Yu reached out with one hand and caught her in his arms.


    The blue coarse cloth flew up into the air, and time seemed to freeze at that second.


    The air around them seemed to stop flowing as well.


    Jin Yu, holding the woman in his arms, stared in astonishment, forgetting to react.


    Xu Niannian, stunned that he had seen her, opened her mouth wide, unsure of how to respond.


    Jin Yu¡¯s grip tightened slightly.


    Through the coarse blue fabric, he could distinctly feel just how slender the waist of the woman before him was.


    A waist so delicate it seemed it couldn¡¯t withstand a single embrace.


    How could there be such a beautiful woman in this world?


    On her exquisite face, that was almost perfect, Jin Yu¡¯s mind was flooded with a cascade of adjectives.


    The woman before him had skin so pale it shone, with a texture so fine that not a single pore was visible.


    Her bright, captivating almond eyes stared at him in astonishment, like pools of spring water, glistening with enticing ripples.


    Her lively gaze tensed up one¡¯s body, and her delicate beauty, with lips parting in surprise, was irresistibly charming.


    Jin Yu¡¯s gaze deepened, and the hand around her waist tightened subconsciously.


    With just one look, he had a reaction he shouldn¡¯t have had.


    It was Xu Niannian who first snapped back to reality.


    Seeing his astonished yet unfamiliar gaze, she wondered if he failed to recognize her.


    Although her features had not changed, her skin and complexion had undergone a significant transformation.


    Anyone familiar with her would definitely recognize her at first glance.


    But not the man before her.


    They had only met once.


    With that thought, Xu Niannian quickly closed her mouth and calmly straightened her body, struggling to free herself from his embrace.


    Jin Yu also came back to his senses because of her movements.


    ¡°Why did you pull off my headscarf...¡± Xu Niannian questioned with pursed lips.


    Assured that the man before her did not recognize her, Xu Niannian¡¯s attitude took a complete one-eighty.


    This beastly scum, indeed a beast, reacted immediately upon seeing a beautiful woman, pah, a scumbag.


    Xu Niannian had realized his physical reaction when she came to her senses.


    After all, it was quite evident, and she had been almost cradled by him previously.


    Jin Yu suppressed the astonishment in his eyes and was very displeased with his own reaction.


    At the moment, he couldn¡¯t care less if there was something odd about the person before him, and, with a cold glance, he left.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s question went unanswered, leaving her stomping her foot in anger, such an ill-mannered scumbag.


    Old Wu hurried to smooth things over, asking Xu Niannian what she was doing here.


    In front of the elder, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t bring herself to show her displeasure.


    She forced a polite smile and told Old Wu that someone at home was sick and that she needed to get some medicine for the cold.


    Before heading back, Xu Niannian wrapped the coarse cloth back around her head.


    The jeep in the yard had disappeared; without hesitation, she knew it belonged to that scumbag.


    Pulling Xu Zhiqiang back home, Xu Niannian¡¯s first order of business was to brew medicine in the kitchen using the family¡¯s sand pot.


    Thinking of encountering that scumbag in the county, Xu Niannian was simply seething with rage.


    Scumbag, truly a disgusting creature.


    To have such a reaction from one glance.


    Even if she admitted that she was indeed overly enchanting after using the spring water, it shouldn¡¯t have been to the extent of having such a reaction from just one look.


    Huh...


    He is truly worthy of being a beast capable of committing rape, with nothing but lust on his mind.


    Vulgar, filthy, contemptible, bastard.


    She better not see him again, or else...


    Or else what?


    Xu Niannian hugged her head, despairingly leaning on the table.


    This damned beast, what could she possibly do to him?


    He clearly seemed like someone not to be messed with.


    Even though Xu Niannian had traveled through time, she still just wanted to be a proper businesswoman, not worried about food and drink and making a lot of money.


    As for someone who seemed better left unprovoked, she thought it best just to entertain the idea of how to teach him a lesson.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere, in the C-district top-secret compound...


    Jin Yu glared at the woman before him with a gloomy face, his sharp eyebrows twisted into several knots.


    Wu Lan looked at her son with a heartache: ¡°All Mom did was ask you to go on a matchmaking date, if you don¡¯t want to, then don¡¯t, why glare at your mom like that?¡±

 Chapter 30 - 30 29 The Blind Date Partner

    ?30: Chapter 29: The Blind Date Partner 30: Chapter 29: The Blind Date Partner Jin Yu pressed his lips tightly together, his mind still pondering over the enchanting woman he had encountered at Old Wu¡¯s place that afternoon.


    Tsk, her voice was indecent, and her appearance even more so.


    Having lived for so many years, Jin Yu had seen all sorts of women, but it was indeed the first time he had done something so embarrassing.


    Just one look and he had reacted.


    He didn¡¯t even know where that woman had learned the art of fox seduction.


    ¡°Son, would you say something?¡±


    Seeing her son pressing his lips together without speaking, Wu Lan felt like giving him a couple of slaps, this silent and sullen guy; yet she couldn¡¯t bear to do it, as he was her only son.


    Jin Yu, hearing her words, finally deigned to give his mother a look: ¡°Mom, your son already has a woman, stop thinking about arranging blind dates for me all the time.¡±


    ¡°What, you¡¯ve got a woman?¡± Wu Lan was shocked: ¡°Not a man?¡±


    The corner of Jin Yu¡¯s mouth twitched: ¡°Mom...¡±


    ¡°Hehehe...¡± Wu Lan laughed dryly, asking with a face full of suspicion, ¡°Which family¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Which family¡¯s daughter?


    Jin Yu frowned deeply, remembering the woman he had forcefully taken: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    But he would definitely find her.


    After all, he was the second in command of Organization C¡¯s secret division, and since he had taken her innocence, he had to give her an explanation.


    As long as she was willing to nod, she would be his wife for life.


    That incident had happened against his will, and he only hated those bastards for drugging him.


    It was of no use to be annoyed and regretful now, and it wasn¡¯t Jin Yu¡¯s style either.


    What was most important now was to find that woman and ask her if she would marry him.


    If she was unwilling, he would try his best to fulfill her needs.


    If she was willing, then she would be the only woman for him for the rest of his life, as he had destroyed her purity.


    The woman whose purity was ruined by him, who could she marry to have a good life?


    He was effectively ruining her entire life.


    ¡°You... don¡¯t know?¡±


    Wu Lan looked at her outstanding son in astonishment: ¡°You¡¯ve got a woman, and you don¡¯t know which family¡¯s daughter she is?¡±


    Jin Yu clicked his tongue: ¡°In any case, stop arranging blind dates for me.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do, I¡¯ve already promised someone, if you really have a woman, then bring her to meet your mom,¡± Wu Lan insisted.


    ¡°There will be a day,¡± Jin Yu said.


    Wu Lan almost choked with exasperation: ¡°Son, when you were twenty, you already told your mom this, now you¡¯re 26, look at your peers, which one isn¡¯t married?¡±


    ¡°Then go acknowledge them as your sons,¡± Jin Yu said with his arms crossed and a chilly tone.


    Wu Lan almost choked with exasperation again.


    ¡°Oh son, mom is begging you, just accompany me this once, even if it¡¯s just for show, at least let your mom have an excuse to give others.


    I¡¯m your real mom, you can¡¯t just watch your mom be criticized by others, right?¡±


    Wu Lan knelt on the ground, grasping Jin Yu¡¯s hand and pleading.


    Jin Yu glanced down, pulled her up with his hand, and said in a serious tone, ¡°Comrade Wu Lan, are you trying to reduce your son¡¯s lifespan?


    You are my mom; don¡¯t use the word ¡®beg¡¯ with me.¡±


    ¡°Then what can I do if you won¡¯t go?¡± Wu Lan said with a heavy heart.


    Jin Yu rubbed his temples, feeling a headache: ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Wu Lan¡¯s face lit up with joy, clinging to her son¡¯s hand again.


    Jin Yu held up a finger: ¡°I¡¯m just going to reject her, not to meet her for a match.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Wu Lan agreed readily.


    Jin Yu eyed his mother suspiciously: ¡°Comrade Wu Lan, are you playing some kind of trick?¡±


    Wu Lan panicked internally, thinking it was just like her son to know even what she was thinking.


    But at this moment, how could Wu Lan admit it?


    Lying to her son had become second nature for her.


    She denied it outright: ¡°What kind of person do you take your mom for?


    Even if I wanted to manipulate you, I wouldn¡¯t dare joke about someone else¡¯s daughter.¡±


    Her face was full of feigned anger.


    Thinking about it, Jin Yu felt it made sense.


    His mother might be a bit muddled, but she would only play tricks on him and his father; she would never do anything bad to others.


    With that thought, Jin Yu felt relieved.


    ¡°Which day did you set up the meeting for?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow!¡± Wu Lan¡¯s face turned red with excitement as she saw there was hope.


    This was great; her son had finally fallen into the trap.


    Heh...


    She wouldn¡¯t harm another girl, but this girl was different.


    She was the daughter of the Zhu San Family, who had studied abroad, both beautiful and scholarly.


    The key was that their entire family had set their hearts on her son.


    This crooked idea was even agreed to by the girl herself.


    Once the deal was done, they would get married right away.


    Wu Lan¡¯s heart swelled with joy, almost bubbling over.


    She was finally going to have a daughter-in-law to play with.


    Jin Yu nodded his head, stood up, and walked up to the second floor.


    Wu Lan wanted to follow, but Jin Yu said coolly, ¡°Comrade Wu Lan, your son needs to take a bath.¡±


    Wu Lan: ¡°...¡±


    This damn kid, always calling her Comrade Wu Lan, Comrade Wu Lan¡ªshe¡¯s his mother.


    *


    On the other side, Xu Niannian had finished preparing the medicine.


    In front of the whole family, she filled a big bowl with the traditional remedy for the cold, lifted the corner of her headscarf, and gulped it down.


    The bitterness made Xu Niannian¡¯s brows furrow deeply.


    Yang Cuihua felt sorry for her: ¡°Baby Nian, have some preserved fruit to counter the bitterness.¡±


    These preserved fruits were treasures indeed.


    Xu Niannian took them suspiciously; her mouth was indeed bitter, but it wasn¡¯t so urgent that she needed the fruit this very second.


    ¡°Mom, where did you get this preserved fruit from?¡±


    Seeing Xu Niannian¡¯s spirits lifted as she spoke, Yang Cuihua smiled with pursed lips, ¡°Your grandma gave it to me.


    Weren¡¯t you going to the county for medicine this morning?


    I knew you couldn¡¯t stand the bitterness, so I specially went to ask your grandma for it.¡±


    Only then did Xu Niannian remember she had a grandmother.


    Not just a grandmother, but also an uncle and an aunt.


    Her aunt lived in the county town, and although times were hard, every visit she would bring some expensive snacks to her grandmother.


    Her grandmother¡¯s favorite was Xu Niannian, her granddaughter.


    She would always secretly give the good stuff to Yang Cuihua to bring to her.


    Assured that the preserved fruit had come through legitimate means, Xu Niannian confidently popped it into her mouth; indeed, the traditional medicine was frighteningly bitter.


    Xu Duoyu was oblivious and, having never had much good food since he was little, couldn¡¯t help but look longingly at the treat.


    But he was well-behaved and never cried or made a fuss to have some.


    Because everything nice in the house was his sister¡¯s, and he was used to that.


    Moreover, his sister didn¡¯t hit him anymore, so seeing her with something tasty didn¡¯t upset him as it used to.


    ¡°Sis, is the medicine bitter?¡± he asked sweetly.


    Xu Niannian narrowed her eyes and rubbed Xu Duoyu¡¯s head, ¡°It¡¯s very bitter, so Duoyu needs to be good and not get sick.


    Then you won¡¯t have to drink bitter medicine.¡±


    ¡°Besides, the doctor said this medicine could beautify, and it¡¯ll make your sis even prettier,¡± Xu Niannian purposefully said so the others could hear.


    Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t explain why she had suddenly become so pale.


    After finishing the traditional medicine, Xu Niannian went into the kitchen.


    Xu Zhiqiang, worried she couldn¡¯t manage alone, followed to help.


    Xu Niannian had Xu Zhiqiang cut up the pork fat and put it in a pot to render out the lard.


    She had bought ten pounds of rice and ten pounds of white flour, along with some basic cooking condiments.


    Now they were left with just 18 yuan, and Xu Niannian wanted to open a restaurant in the county.


    But obviously, her starting capital wasn¡¯t enough, so she needed to start with some small-scale business.


    What should she start with?


    Xu Niannian¡¯s best skills lay in cooking and sewing.


    She hadn¡¯t had time to explore the market to understand the situation regarding sewing clothes.


    So she decided to start with food, making pastries and the like to sell first, especially since she had bought quite a few condiments.


    Xu Niannian clenched her fist, planning to go to the county town tomorrow.


    She just hoped she wouldn¡¯t run into that scumbag again.

 Chapter 31 - 31 30 Gourmet Food Manual

    ?31: Chapter 30: Gourmet Food Manual 31: Chapter 30: Gourmet Food Manual Xu Zhiqiang was slicing fatty meat.


    After cutting it, he threw it into the pot to fry out the lard.


    Xu Niannian locked the rice and white flour in the cabinet to keep the rats away.


    A big pot of lard, afraid that the aroma might drift outside, Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua hurried to seal every vent in the kitchen tight.


    In those days, pork came from pigs that were never fed commercial feed, and the flavor was simply irresistible.


    The fat rendered from that pot was so fragrant it made mouths water.


    It drew Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng over as well.


    Two little heads peeked into the kitchen.


    Xu Duoyu swallowed hard, staring eagerly at Xu Niannian.


    Even Xu Zhicheng couldn¡¯t help but swallow several times.


    Xu Niannian smiled, scooped out some cracklings with a bit of lean meat from the pot, sprinkled some salt on them, and gave a few pieces to each of them.


    The two tykes cradled the cracklings excitedly, their eyes gleaming.


    Taking advantage of Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua not noticing, they stuffed them into their mouths and wolfed them down, the crunch echoing.


    Eating with their mouths slick with grease.


    Xu Zhiqiang saw this and felt a pang of discomfort.


    He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Eat slowly, don¡¯t burn yourselves.¡±


    A big pot of fatty meat was just enough to fill the biggest earthen jar at home to the brim.


    Xu Niannian had Xu Zhiqiang separate the cracklings and the fried lard into different containers.


    At dinner time, Xu Niannian casually cooked some noodle dumplings for the family.


    The family, eating noodle dumplings, couldn¡¯t be happier.


    Never mind that it was fine grain.


    The fact that it was so delicious made them want to swallow their tongues along with their meal.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng almost ate themselves into a stupor, but luckily Xu Zhiqiang held them back; otherwise, they would have kept eating.


    Having fine grain to eat delighted the two brothers, but Yang Cuihua was not so pleased.


    Her daughter finally earned some money, bought fine grain, and didn¡¯t eat it in secret.


    Instead, she insisted on sharing it with the whole family.


    Feeling discontent, Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t help but nag, ¡°Eat less, you two bunny brats.


    Are you reincarnated from starving ghosts?¡±


    A finger pointed straight at Xu Duoyu¡¯s head, who was the most excited eater, pushing his head to one side.


    ¡°Let me tell you, don¡¯t think just because your sister bought fine grain that you can take advantage of it in the future.


    That¡¯s all hers.


    She earned the money with difficulty, so don¡¯t squander it.¡±


    Yang Cuihua was used to nagging, and compared to the vile things she used to say, this didn¡¯t sting the heart too much.


    Xu Zhiqiang opened and closed his mouth several times, but in the end said nothing, just buried his head and kept eating.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s head was still wrapped in coarse cloth.


    Drinking medicine was fine, but eating was inconvenient since it took so long.


    So she simply made an excuse and took her bowl to her room to eat.


    As a result, she had no idea that this meal of noodle dumplings had once again caused Yang Cuihua to look at the three brothers with disfavor.


    She felt her daughter had finally earned some money, only to have it consumed by her sons.


    Xu Niannian planned to go to the town to sell pastries the next day.


    After eating, she came out and mentioned it to Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei.


    Xu Dawei, still puffing on his dry pipe, felt delightful after a meal of noodle dumplings and was proud of his capable daughter.


    So when he heard Xu Niannian planned to sell pastries, he immediately agreed.


    Yang Cuihua instructed Xu Zhiqiang to go with her.


    Xu Niannian tried to say it wasn¡¯t necessary, but Yang Cuihua was insistent on this matter.


    Unable to decline, she reluctantly agreed.


    Pastries had to be made fresh to taste good; overnight they wouldn¡¯t be as fragrant, and the ingredients would not be fresh.


    So Xu Niannian went to bed early to get up early the next day.


    Xu Duoyu slept obediently inside.


    But as soon as Xu Niannian closed her eyes, she immediately appeared in the magical space.


    At that moment, Xu Niannian was somewhat bewildered.


    She saw an old book with yellow pages suddenly appear in the void above the space.


    As Xu Niannian reached out her hand, the book automatically dropped into her grasp.


    The book¡¯s cover had only four big characters: ¡°Gourmet Food Manual.¡±


    Upon seeing it, Xu Niannian immediately burst into laughter.


    It was actually the Gourmet Food Manual.


    As a chef herself, she had a significant interest in¡ªand research on¡ªfood.


    The sight of those four characters¡ªGourmet Food Manual¡ªignited an unprecedented, intense curiosity within her.


    If this book had appeared anywhere else, she might not have been so enthused.


    But this place was different; it was a product of the mystical realm.


    She had previously drunk just a bit of the milky-white spring water from this space, and her body had undergone such a drastic change that the effects were even better than those of the Miraculous Elixir.


    So Xu Niannian regarded the Secret Treasure before her very highly.


    She flipped to the first page where, on the left, there was a beautifully intricate circular design that enchanted Xu Niannian even through just a picture.


    On the right was an explanation of the method.


    The first three characters read: ¡°Liuyue Su.¡±


    After a quick glance at the step-by-step guide, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help feeling somewhat disappointed.


    Liuyue Su, such a poetic name, yet it turned out to be just a fancier-looking pumpkin cake.


    She had thought that a recipe from this space would be something incredible.


    Pumpkin cake was something she had mastered eons ago.


    And her pumpkin cake had even won first place in a city-wide pastry competition.


    The reason she didn¡¯t go on to the provincial level was that she had other things to attend to and didn¡¯t continue in the pastry contest.


    And since she was more skilled at cooking, she hadn¡¯t spent much more effort on pastries afterward.


    The only difference in the recipe was that although it was for pumpkin cake, the steps were more complex than the ones she used before, and it specifically required water from the space for the preparation.


    Even though it was still a pumpkin cake, and Xu Niannian was indeed a bit disappointed, she decided to give the method and steps in the recipe a try.


    What if the taste was significantly different?


    Remembering the transformative experience she had gone through after drinking the spring water, Xu Niannian hastily went to the stream to drink a few mouthfuls, curious if it would have any effect.


    Almost ten minutes passed with no impact or changes, and that¡¯s when Xu Niannian felt relieved.


    It seemed that only the spring water had the potential to change one¡¯s constitution.


    She certainly didn¡¯t want to sell non-human creations to others; it would be terrible if they started seeing her as a monster or a lab specimen for research.


    Thinking of this, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    The cookbook was thick, and Xu Niannian wanted to flip further down, but no matter how she tried, she couldn¡¯t turn to the second page.


    What¡¯s going on?


    Curious, Xu Niannian thought it impossible that such a thick cookbook would only contain the recipe for one pastry.


    If that were the case, it would be too disappointing!


    Perhaps sensing Xu Niannian¡¯s disdain, the cookbook suddenly trembled all over.


    And then Xu Niannian saw a line of small print appear at the bottom of the first page.


    ¡°To unlock the next recipe, the first dish must meet the requirements.¡±


    Attached was the method on how to test if the requirements were met.


    That was to place the first finished pastry into the stream.


    If the stream swallowed it up, it meant the criteria were met; if it continued to float, it was a failure.


    That serious?


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but stare at the calm stream, wondering if the water might be some kind of sprite.


    However, the space had no second person beside her to answer her doubts, so she had to swallow her questions.


    Of course, in reality, she had a rough idea that the space was definitely special, but to call it a sprite was a bit of a stretch.

 Chapter 32 - 32 31 The Role of the Stream

    ?32: Chapter 31: The Role of the Stream 32: Chapter 31: The Role of the Stream Around five o¡¯clock in the morning, before the sky had lightened, Xu Niannian got out of bed.


    Xu Duoyu was still asleep while she moved lightly to the kitchen.


    Originally, Xu Niannian thought she would have to start the fire herself, but to her surprise, as soon as she entered the kitchen, she saw Xu Zhiqiang busying himself there.


    The stove was already fired up, beneath which the matches hissed, the flame vigorous.


    ¡°Zhiqiang, when did you get up?¡± Xu Niannian looked at Xu Zhiqiang in amazement.


    He was kneeling on the ground, face dirty from tending to the firewood, drenched in sweat.


    His head was covered in sweat.


    Hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s voice, Xu Zhiqiang looked up at her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say yesterday that you wanted to sell pastries?¡±


    The county had a morning market, and Xu Niannian wanted to sell there, which would definitely require an early start.


    Worried she couldn¡¯t manage by herself, Xu Zhiqiang had specially risen early to warm the stove for her.


    Xu Niannian, touched, looked at Xu Zhiqiang, yet she didn¡¯t say thanks.


    She knew Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t need it; besides, between siblings, such formalities seemed out of place.


    Luckily, before she left her room, she remembered to cover her face.


    Now was not the time, at least not until she had taken the medicine for a week or two.


    On the stove, a big pot of water was heated, and upon seeing Xu Niannian arrive, Xu Zhiqiang hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s hot water in the pot, go wash your face, and tell me whatever you need done.¡±


    Xu Niannian acknowledged with a hum, moving adeptly to fetch water and wash her face clean.


    She wanted to experiment with the pumpkin pie recipe from the Gourmet Food Manual, curious about any differences from the ones she made before.


    But the manual stated that it had to be made with creek water from the space, and she couldn¡¯t possibly enter the space to fetch water with Xu Zhiqiang watching.


    Moreover, the creek water in the space was silver, which would be quite a sight for Xu Zhiqiang.


    With that in mind, Xu Niannian found an excuse to send Xu Zhiqiang to her room, to carry Xu Duoyu to sleep with Xu Zhicheng.


    Since she and Xu Zhiqiang were going out to sell pastries, Xu Duoyu would have to be left in Xu Zhicheng¡¯s care.


    Xu Zhiqiang, not thinking otherwise, immediately left the kitchen after Xu Niannian¡¯s instruction.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xu Niannian quickly grabbed a bucket, slipped into the space, and filled it to the brim with water.


    Just as she stepped out of the space, Xu Zhiqiang lifted the kitchen curtain and came in.


    Seeing Xu Niannian actually carrying a full bucket of water, he was somewhat taken aback.


    Xu Niannian, upon seeing Xu Zhiqiang, was already stunned.


    Oh my, how could he be so fast?


    He saw it!


    She, she, she, how was she going to explain?


    Most crucially, the water in the bucket was silver, and Xu Zhiqiang, being such a clever man, would surely be suspicious.


    As Xu Niannian agonized over how to explain, Xu Zhiqiang finally snapped out of his surprise.


    ¡°From now on, just let me handle fetching the water.¡±


    He figured that Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t done much physical work before, and although her temperament had improved, her body, unaccustomed to labor, would surely struggle with carrying such a large bucket of water.


    Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s calm reaction startled Xu Niannian for a moment.


    What was going on?


    Didn¡¯t he find it very strange?


    Silver water!


    Before the thought could settle, Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes darted to the bucket and she suddenly realized that the originally silver water had turned transparent, indistinguishable from ordinary water.


    Xu Niannian was puzzled.


    Could it be that the water was only silver inside the space?


    While it was weird, Xu Niannian felt a greater sense of relief.


    That was close, almost discovered.


    It seemed next time she entered the space, she had to ensure her surroundings were secure first.


    There were still two old pumpkins at home.


    Xu Niannian had a good memory, and the recipe was simple, she had glanced over it hurriedly last night and memorized the steps.


    Xu Zhiqiang, because of tending the fire, had gotten himself dirty, so Xu Niannian told him to take a bath.


    Following the steps in the recipe, Xu Niannian first peeled the pumpkin, washed it clean, then sliced it thinly and soaked the slices in a ladle of water.


    Since she was going to make pastry, out of the wheat flour Xu Niannian bought yesterday, five pounds were glutinous rice flour.


    After soaking the pumpkin in stream water for about ten minutes according to the recipe, Xu Niannian finally took out the pumpkin slices and placed them on the pot to steam.


    While the pumpkin slices were steaming, she took out the glutinous rice flour and poured a ladle of stream water over it.


    This being her first attempt, and not sure if the method from the space was reliable, she didn¡¯t dare to prepare too much, scooping only three bowls of glutinous rice flour.


    According to her previous experience, glutinous rice flour didn¡¯t need to be soaked in water.


    Xu Niannian even doubted whether it could still be used after being soaked in water?


    It was at this moment that Xu Niannian noticed some changes in the water soaking the glutinous rice flour.


    A faint layer of black material surfaced, so light in color that Xu Niannian almost thought it was the reflection from the aluminum basin.


    The white glutinous rice flour was at the bottom of the water and hadn¡¯t mixed with the water as Xu Niannian had imagined.


    Instead, there was a clear separation; the glutinous rice flour settled at the bottom of the basin, water at the top, with the black material appearing like small particles of dust.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help thinking of the impurities her body had expelled after she had drunk the spring water previously.


    Looking at the black dust floating on the water with a sense of eeriness, she actually felt it was somewhat similar to her reaction after drinking the spring water.


    Could it be that just as the spring water enabled one¡¯s body to undergo Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing after drinking, this stream water could have a similar effect on plants or food?


    No, that¡¯s wrong, plants don¡¯t have marrow or bones.


    Could it be the secretion of impurities?


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t pay close attention when she was soaking the pumpkin slices, as the color was very faint, and since pumpkin is yellow, it wasn¡¯t easy to notice.


    After soaking for about ten minutes or so, Xu Niannian quickly poured out the water.


    The soaked glutinous rice flour was only slightly damp on the surface.


    Xu Niannian felt that the glutinous rice flour seemed even whiter after soaking, to the point of almost glowing.


    Guessing the time, the pumpkin slices were nearly ready, so Xu Niannian opened the lid of the pot.


    As soon as she lifted the lid, a rich fragrance of pumpkin filled the air, so intense that Xu Niannian could even taste the sweetness in the air.


    After cleaning up, Xu Zhiqiang wanted to help Xu Niannian in the kitchen.


    The moment he lifted the curtain, he was attracted by the sweet aroma.


    A wonderfully tempting fragrance of pumpkin wafted through the air, involuntarily making one¡¯s mouth water.


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t particularly like sweets, but smelling this aroma, surprisingly, he didn¡¯t find it unpleasant, rather, he felt like the cravings in his stomach were being stirred up.


    Xu Niannian too was shocked, followed by a surge of intense excitement.


    It was worthy of being a product from the space.


    In her joy, Xu Niannian quickly took out the pumpkin slices, mashed them into pumpkin puree, and mixed it with the glutinous rice flour.


    Following the method described in the recipe, she stirred clockwise continuously.


    She kept stirring until everything turned golden yellow, and after sprinkling a small amount of white sugar, she took it out and kneaded it into small round cakes.


    Xu Niannian was dexterous, and her skill perfected in her previous life allowed her to shape all the pumpkin cakes to nearly the same size and put them back in the pot to steam again.


    Once cooked, she took them out, heated up the pot, and placed them on top to bake, until both sides turned golden brown, and then took them out.


    As the recipe instructed, she dumped them all into the bucket filled with the stream water.


    Xu Zhiqiang originally wanted to help out but realized he couldn¡¯t do much, so he could only stand there foolishly watching Xu Niannian busy herself.

 Chapter 33 - 33 32 Delicious Food is Served

    ?33: Chapter 32: Delicious Food is Served 33: Chapter 32: Delicious Food is Served After soaking the pumpkin cakes in the water bucket for almost half an hour, Xu Niannian finally took them out.


    The pumpkin cakes that had been soaked in creek water had a faint sheen on their surface, and the previously light blackened spots from frying had all but disappeared.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s guess was correct; the creek water indeed had the effect of removing impurities from food.


    She counted them, a total of sixty-two pieces, all of a moderate thickness.


    Extending a finger, she pinched off a piece of a cake and tasted it.


    The soft and glutinous texture melted in her mouth, the skin was crisp and, as she bit down, the tender insides flowed, the rich pumpkin flavor lingering between her teeth and lips.


    The insides were as tender as steamed eggs, creamy in texture, and melted in the mouth upon entry.


    Xu Niannian had never tasted such delectable pumpkin cakes before.


    Even in her previous life, as a nationally renowned gourmet, known for having tasted food from all over the world, she had never come across pumpkin cakes as delicious as these.


    Because pumpkin cakes didn¡¯t really put one¡¯s culinary skills to the test; as long as a patissier had a modicum of skill, they would generally all taste about the same, without much variation.


    But the difference with these was just too great.


    After swallowing, the rich pumpkin flavor still lingered in her mouth.


    Actually, the aroma of pumpkin wasn¡¯t usually that appetizing.


    But, after being soaked in the creek water, it somehow developed an entirely different flavor.


    It was indescribable and unexplainable exactly what the taste was, all she knew was that it was so delicious it made one crave for more.


    However, Xu Niannian noticed a minor flaw¡ªit was a bit too sweet.


    This made her frown slightly.


    After having made confectioneries so many times, she knew exactly how much of each seasoning to add to the main ingredient.


    Why were these too sweet?


    She had definitely tasted the sweetness of the pumpkin before adding the sugar.


    Xu Niannian frowned, her expression concealed by the headscarf; only her eyes were visible, not her furrowed brow.


    Seeing that she had been silent for a long time, Xu Zhiqiang couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How¡¯s the taste?¡±


    Xu Niannian handed the piece of pumpkin cake in her hand to Xu Zhiqiang, ¡°You try.¡±


    Because she was making pumpkin cakes, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t wear cloth gloves.


    Catching a glimpse of her fair and delicate hands, Xu Zhiqiang was taken aback for a moment, wondering when his sister¡¯s skin had become so white.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t notice Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s gaze, thinking he was looking at the pumpkin cake.


    She encouraged, ¡°Try it?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang took it and, imitating Xu Niannian, pinched off a bit and put it in his mouth.


    The moment it touched his palate, Xu Zhiqiang felt that rich fragrance.


    Xu Niannian watched him chew, and asked with some concern, ¡°How is it?¡±


    After swallowing, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Sister, this is really delicious.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang had never tasted anything as delicious as this before, wishing he could even swallow his tongue along with it.


    One bite revealed a crispy skin and tender inside, exuding a fragrance that swirled around his teeth, almost lifting his cravings out of him.


    Xu Zhiqiang looked at Xu Niannian with a newfound admiration¡ªhis sister really was different, a true intellectual, capable of making anything.


    He had once thought her to be useless, but it seemed he had been wrong.


    He guessed that she just used to be lazy and didn¡¯t want to make the effort.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit too sweet?¡± Xu Niannian asked.


    ¡°No, how could it be too sweet?¡± Xu Zhiqiang replied in surprise, ¡°The flavor is just right.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Niannian breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed her own tastes were just too picky.


    Seeing that he still had half of it in his hand, Xu Niannian said, ¡°Well, if it¡¯s delicious, finish it.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiqiang, holding the half-piece of pumpkin cake, scratched his head uncomfortably.


    ¡°I wanted to let Duoyu and Zhicheng have a taste.¡±


    As he spoke these words, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s previously nonchalant heart momentarily fluttered with trepidation, anxiously watching Xu Niannian, afraid of being rejected.


    Upon hearing this, Xu Niannian was taken aback, ¡°You eat it, I¡¯ll save a few for them later.¡±


    ¡°A few, so many?¡± Xu Zhiqiang exclaimed in surprise, ¡°No, there¡¯s no need, sister, weren¡¯t you going to sell them?¡±


    ¡°We still have glutinous rice flour at home.


    When we come back, I¡¯ll just make more for them to eat,¡± Xu Niannian replied with a smile.


    Xu Zhiqiang looked at her eyes, now crinkling with laughter, and felt a surge within his heart.


    Since he couldn¡¯t remember past events, he was constantly amazed by how kind his sister had become.


    That was fine grain after all, and yet she was willing to share it with them every time.


    He only knew the taste of rice bran and had never eaten anything as delicious as this.


    He was only a year younger than Xu Niannian.


    Before Zhicheng and Duoyu were born, he would always see Yang Cuihua secretly giving pumpkin cakes to Xu Niannian.


    Every time, all he could do was watch longingly.


    He remembered that when he was very young, merely vying with Xu Niannian for a single corn cake led to her biting him all over the face.


    When their parents returned, they only mildly scolded Xu Niannian, and the matter was glossed over.


    Since then, he knew that all the good things in the house would never be his turn.


    However, now, that sister whom he had once loathed so deeply was being kind to him time and again.


    Naturally, Xu Niannian had no idea just how moved Xu Zhiqiang felt because of her casual remark.


    She packed the pumpkin cakes into a basket and covered them with a clean handkerchief, ready to head out.


    Xu Zhiqiang intended to accompany Xu Niannian, as Yang Cuihua was worried about her getting bullied if she went out alone.


    Xu Zhiqiang took the basket from her hands, saying, ¡°Let me do it.¡±

 Chapter 34 - 34 33 Why Not Just Rob Someone

    ?34: Chapter 33: Why Not Just Rob Someone 34: Chapter 33: Why Not Just Rob Someone Xu Niannian didn¡¯t argue with him on this matter.


    When Xu Zhiqiang took the basket from her hands, he couldn¡¯t help but think of her previously fair skin as he noticed the gloves on her hands.


    *


    Elsewhere, Jin Yu had just gotten out of bed when he was dragged downstairs by Wu Lan.


    Seeing Wu Lan¡¯s excited expression, Jin Yu, rubbing his forehead, said, ¡°Comrade Wu Lan, I¡¯m just going to refuse, not actually going on a blind date, you don¡¯t have to be so happy.¡±


    Wu Lan didn¡¯t care about that at all, and just kept nodding, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t say that if you saw Xinyu now.¡±


    ¡°No matter who I see, the answer will be the same,¡± Jin Yu said indifferently, resting one of his long legs on the coffee table, looking lazy.


    Wu Lan chuckled, ¡°The Zhu family¡¯s daughter is different.


    She is a well-educated returnee from abroad, and she is also beautiful.


    Mom has approved her, she is a nice girl.¡±


    Beautiful?


    Jin Yu couldn¡¯t help but think of the woman he saw at Old Wu¡¯s place yesterday.


    Could any woman be as beautiful as that improper woman?


    It would be very difficult to encounter another who could even match such exceptional beauty.


    Even when faced with such a beauty, he was only physically moved but not emotionally stirred.


    Did he expect to fall in love at first sight with Zhu Xinyu?


    What a joke.


    All he wanted now was to find the woman he had wronged, marry her, and bring her home, without giving a second thought to anything else.


    After walking for an hour in the mountains and riding a minibus for another hour, they finally arrived at the county.


    Xu Niannian felt as if her bones were nearly shaken apart.


    ¡°Sis, how are you feeling?¡± Xu Zhiqiang looked at her somewhat listless eyes and worriedly supported her arm.


    Xu Niannian waved her hand, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    The two of them arrived in the county and asked quite a few people before they found out where the morning market was.


    Xu Niannian carried the basket with Xu Zhiqiang as they headed to the morning market, where people had already started setting up their stalls.


    The county was different from the town and the villages.


    It had been two years since the reform and opening up, and there were quite a few people doing business, but not too many.


    Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang found a spot to stand, with Xu Zhiqiang holding the basket.


    Xu Niannian planned to sell pumpkin cakes for thirty cents each.


    The cakes were not big, so thirty cents each was quite expensive.


    Others sold their goods by weight, while she sold by piece, which amounted to almost the same price as meat.


    Xu Niannian believed that no matter the era, there would always be a gap between the rich and the poor, and pastries were not meant to be sold as breakfast.


    Besides, she was not running a shop, so she didn¡¯t need to use the tactic of thin profits and high turnover yet.


    Moreover, most people in the county had jobs, unlike the people in the village, and there were still many who were willing to pay a higher price for refined and delicate snacks.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t shout about her goods.


    Instead, she just lifted a corner of the cloth cover, letting the aroma drift out.


    And indeed, the fragrance of the products made with water from the creek was irresistibly tempting.


    As soon as she lifted the cover, quite a few people gathered around, asking curiously, ¡°What are you selling here?¡±


    This was a lady with a shopping basket, dressed tidily.


    Xu Niannian enthusiastically introduced her, ¡°This is called Liuyue Su, it¡¯s really delicious.


    Would you like to try some?¡±


    That lady scrutinized her with a shrewd glance, ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a pumpkin cake?


    Call it Liuyue Su, such fancy names for nothing.¡±


    Although the lady said that, she still stretched out her hand towards Xu Niannian, ¡°Give me a bit to taste.¡±


    At that moment, what the lady was thinking was that there was no harm in tasting something free; it¡¯s a waste not to try it when there¡¯s no cost.


    Xu Zhiqiang heard Xu Niannian was planning to let people taste for free and didn¡¯t quite understand.


    This stuff was so exquisite, how could she simply give it away for free?


    Everyone was greedy for freebies.


    If every person came to taste one for free, wouldn¡¯t they suffer a huge loss?


    Seeing the worry in Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s eyes, Xu Niannian calmly patted his arm, signaling him to be at ease.


    In front of the lady, Xu Niannian took out a piece and pinched off a piece the size of a fingernail to give to the lady, ¡°Try this and see how it tastes.¡±


    Although Xu Niannian herself felt the pumpkin cakes were not yet perfected, for others they were a heavenly delight, and she was very confident in this.


    Seeing Xu Niannian give her such a tiny piece, the lady immediately felt displeased.


    As she stuffed it into her mouth, she complained, ¡°How stingy, how can you do business like this.¡±


    Set on belittling the cakes after seeing Xu Niannian¡¯s stinginess, the lady was determined to criticize a few words.


    However, the taste of that tiny piece of pumpkin cake was so delicious it made her forget to grumble.


    Delicious, it was too delicious.


    The lady covered her mouth and, after swallowing, the lingering taste made her almost wish she could swallow her own tongue.


    It really was too scrumptious.


    Even with her caustic tongue, she couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Delicious, it really is too delicious.¡±


    Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Xu Niannian, ¡°How do you sell this?¡±


    Xu Niannian seemed to have anticipated her reaction and smiled as she held up three fingers, ¡°Thirty cents.¡±


    ¡°Per pound?¡± The lady¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Xu Niannian shook her head, ¡°Each.¡±


    ¡°What?


    Thirty cents each, are you trying to rob people?¡±

 Chapter 35 - 35 34 Wu Lans Plan

    ?35: Chapter 34: Wu Lan¡¯s Plan 35: Chapter 34: Wu Lan¡¯s Plan The aunt¡¯s yell echoed through the morning market, capturing the attention of many people there.


    They thought to themselves, ¡°Three dimes apiece, what kind of item is so expensive?¡±


    In this world, the one thing people never lack is curiosity.


    They crowded around, eager to see what was going on.


    The aunt pointed at Xu Niannian, ¡°Young girl, doing business doesn¡¯t mean you can be so heartless.


    How can you charge three dimes for such a tiny cake?¡±


    It was only because these pumpkin cakes were so delicious and the aunt wanted to buy some for her son, who was about to take the college entrance exam, that she was speaking with Xu Niannian in such a way.


    If it were anyone else, they would¡¯ve been scolded by now.


    Isn¡¯t this robbery?


    The cakes were so small that about five or six of them would make a pound, and at three dimes each, wouldn¡¯t a pound cost one and a half or two yuan?


    That¡¯s the price of pork.


    When the onlookers heard the aunt speak this way, they chimed in, ¡°Young girl, you really are selling them too expensive.


    Could you give us a discount?


    You can¡¯t do business like this.¡±


    Xu Niannian knew that many people would find the price unacceptable as soon as she announced it.


    If these were ordinary pumpkin cakes, she definitely wouldn¡¯t sell them for this much.


    But these were different, made with water from Space Creek and crafted by her, an accomplished chef.


    She also had other plans in mind and didn¡¯t want to start by setting the price too low.


    Therefore, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t get angry and kindly explained, ¡°Auntie, these Liuyue Su are made from high-quality glutinous rice flour, which isn¡¯t cheap.


    Besides, you¡¯ve tasted them yourself and know how delicious they are.


    To produce such a tasty treat definitely requires a lot of steps; I spent an entire day making these.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± The aunt hesitated; although she was brash and liked a bargain, she wasn¡¯t unreasonable.


    Given what Xu Niannian had explained, it seemed the price wasn¡¯t too outrageous.


    Moreover, with the girl¡¯s friendly demeanor, the aunt didn¡¯t feel right continuing her complaint.


    But to simply hand over the money was hard for her; it was so expensive, and not even pork¡ª it felt like she was being cut to the quick.


    Xu Zhiqiang had stayed silent the whole time.


    When he heard Xu Niannian say they were three dimes each, he was shocked.


    So expensive¡ªwould anyone be willing to buy them?


    Then, hearing her assert without a blush or breathless word that she had worked a whole day on them, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s head began to spin.


    Had he remembered wrong, or had she actually spent just over an hour instead of the entire day?


    As the aunt wavered, Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t in a hurry to push; good products aren¡¯t afraid of commanding high prices.


    If something is genuinely good, there will always be more people willing to spend money on it.


    The salaries in the county differ from those in the town.


    In the town, some small factories pay an ordinary worker about fifteen yuan a month.


    But it¡¯s different in the county, with many textile mills and various factories where the monthly wages for ordinary workers are around thirty yuan.


    Three dimes for one, five to six per pound, one and a half or two yuan for a pound is indeed a bit expensive, but it¡¯s not unaffordable.


    Taking advantage of the aunt¡¯s hesitation, Xu Niannian quickly gave out samples of the cake to the onlookers.


    Those who came were just there to see the spectacle, with no intention to buy upon hearing the price.


    However, no one turns away free stuff, even if it¡¯s only the size of a fingernail cap.


    Yet as soon as they tasted it, their expressions immediately changed.


    The first young man to taste it exclaimed excitedly, ¡°This is so delicious, young girl, give me two.¡±


    ¡°Eh, sure,¡± Xu Niannian replied as she took out two pumpkin cakes and bagged them in a paper bag.


    She had folded the bags herself from clean exercise books she hadn¡¯t finished in school.


    With one buyer, naturally, there came a second.


    While the product was indeed pricey, it was just that tasty, so others paid up without fuss.


    Surprisingly, the second buyer was the aunt, who decided to buy six despite the pained expression on her face.


    Xu Niannian immediately gave her an extra one on the house.


    The aunt had just been showing a look of distress, but upon seeing Xu Niannian give her an extra, her face instantly blossomed with joy.


    She received it with a grin, thinking to herself, ¡°This girl really knows how to attract business¡ªa whole three cents apiece.¡±


    Having earned three cents for free, the auntie couldn¡¯t stop smiling happily.


    The snacks were so delicious that, except for those who truly couldn¡¯t afford to spend the money, most tried and then bought one or two.


    Buying more might be painful, but one or two could still be afforded.


    People love a spectacle, and seeing a crowd gathering around Xu Niannian, they joined in for the excitement.


    Xu Niannian, as usual, offered samples first.


    Xu Zhiqiang, seeing how good the business was, couldn¡¯t help but be surprised.


    These city folk really are willing to spend the money.


    Three cents could buy quite a bit.


    And yet they were willing to buy such a small cake that couldn¡¯t even fill the stomach.


    With many people coming, though most only bought one or two, sales went quickly.


    Before long, there were only seven or eight pieces left in Xu Niannian¡¯s basket.


    Xu Niannian was so delighted she couldn¡¯t stop beaming.


    Suddenly, she felt extremely curious about the recipes in the space.


    She really wanted to know what other recipes were available.


    With just her own cooking methods, the snacks would still be tasty but definitely wouldn¡¯t have such an alluring effect.


    She had to admit that with the addition of Space Creek Water, the flavor was genuinely delicious and hard to forget.


    Even someone who had tasted all sorts of gourmet food like her couldn¡¯t resist the temptation, let alone people from this era who hadn¡¯t had much opportunity to try such delicacies.


    Most people were just looking to appease their hunger; their cooking skills were average, and only in the county would people be willing to spend money on these precious pastries.


    In a town like this one, they would surely not sell.


    Xu Zhiqiang finally understood why Xu Niannian allowed people to taste for free.


    If something was so expensive, people who had never tried it would certainly think twice before purchasing.


    It was her capitalizing on the psyche of those who couldn¡¯t refuse a free taste that lured in the customers.


    But it was also because her snacks were truly delicious.


    Although Xu Zhiqiang found them very tasty, he hadn¡¯t expected that she could sell them for such a high price.


    He had assumed it was because he hadn¡¯t eaten many good things before and so he felt that way.


    It turned out others felt the same.


    After a wave of customers left, Xu Niannian counted and there were still eight cakes in the basket.


    Wu Lan was happy today; her son was finally willing to go on a blind date, and he had even drunk the enhanced water she had prepared before leaving.


    When he and Xinyu go on their date...


    Ah, she couldn¡¯t continue thinking about it, she was going to be a grandmother very soon.


    With joy, she carried a small basket and strolled to the morning market, planning to buy an old hen to stew for her future daughter-in-law to nourish her body.


    She just so happened to see a curious-looking woman at the corner of the street, her head wrapped up tightly.


    Driven by curiosity, Wu Lan approached.


    As soon as she got near, she was greeted by an enticing sweet smell.


    ¡°Girl, what are you selling?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    She sniffed.


    Wow, what a fragrant aroma.


    Seeing a new customer, Xu Niannian greeted her enthusiastically, ¡°This is called Liuyue Su, auntie, would you like to try it?¡±


    Xu Niannian originally intended to call her ¡°matron,¡± but upon noticing that, though the woman was older, she had a graceful charm and elegant demeanor, she quickly corrected herself.


    Wu Lan, hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s soft, tempting voice, couldn¡¯t help but take another look at her.


    That look allowed her to catch Xu Niannian¡¯s smiling eyes.


    Wu Lan¡¯s heart quivered, thinking, ¡°What beautiful eyes.¡±


    She wondered what the face under the cloth looked like, having never seen such attractive eyes before.


    ¡°Auntie, would you like to try it?¡± Seeing the woman staring blatantly at her, Xu Niannian reminded her, somewhat embarrassed.

 Chapter 36 - 36 35 Enemies Meet Again

    ?36: Chapter 35: Enemies Meet Again 36: Chapter 35: Enemies Meet Again When Xu Niannian called out like that, Wu Lan snapped back to reality and stopped staring at her eyes.


    Upon seeing the golden pastries in the basket and taking a light sniff, Wu Lan thought, mmm, they seemed to smell quite nice.


    ¡°Miss, did you say I could try one?¡± Wu Lan asked casually.


    Xu Niannian quickly replied, ¡°Yes, of course, please have a taste.¡±


    Picking a small piece to hand to Wu Lan, who looked at it and elegantly placed it in her mouth.


    Even in this era of poverty, there were still families of privilege.


    Wu Lan came from such a family, where pastries, seen as a delicacy by others, were just snacks to her.


    She would receive several batches a month of confections made by the most famous pastry chefs in the capital.


    So, Wu Lan didn¡¯t have high expectations for Xu Niannian¡¯s pastries, she simply thought the smell was indeed good and just wanted to try something different.


    But she wasn¡¯t expecting that the moment she took a bite, her craving would be so intensely triggered.


    Delicious, it was simply too delicious.


    Having tasted so many pastries, Wu Lan had never encountered any as tasty as this, not even those made by the capital¡¯s master chefs.


    The crust was crunchy, the inside soft and smooth, with a melting texture that left a delightful fragrance on her lips and teeth.


    Wu Lan closed her eyes in enjoyment, savoring the rich fragrance; the taste was exceptional.


    ¡°Miss, how much are you selling these Liuyue Su for?


    I¡¯ll take them all.¡±


    If Wu Lan found something tasty, she was willing to pay whatever the cost, especially since it wasn¡¯t just ordinarily delicious.


    There were eight pastries left in the basket, and Xu Niannian said, ¡°Three dimes each, that¡¯s a total of two yuan and forty cents.¡±


    Wu Lan paid without hesitation, thinking to herself that she definitely had to let her son try some when she got home.


    Pah, her son was on a blind date at the moment, and he might have already got under the sheets by now.


    Comrade Wu Lan was quite open-minded.


    In her opinion, her son had always been so responsible; if he managed to win over the Zhu Family¡¯s daughter today, marriage would practically be a foregone conclusion.


    After selling all the pumpkin pastries, Xu Niannian took Xu Zhiqiang to the Department Store in the county, as they only had about two pounds of glutinous rice flour left at home.


    She needed to buy some ingredients, and she didn¡¯t want to only sell pumpkin pastries forever; she planned to get other items as well.


    Out of 62 pastries, subtracting the one given away and the one eaten, 60 were sold in total, amounting to eighteen yuan.


    After accounting for the cost of the glutinous rice flour, she had earned a total of fifteen yuan for the day.


    Although it wasn¡¯t as much as what she¡¯d made selling water on that one very busy day, Xu Niannian was quite pleased since it was the equivalent of a month¡¯s salary for a worker in town and because the amount she made today was from a smaller batch.


    Moreover, selling pastries was a business she could keep up for the long term.


    Of course, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t always come to the morning market to sell; she wanted to open a shop, but didn¡¯t have enough starting capital yet, so she needed to work even harder.


    With the remaining eighteen yuan from before, and having earned another eighteen today, she now had a total of thirty-six yuan in hand.


    After purchasing glutinous rice flour and some spices she hadn¡¯t been able to buy last time at the Department Store, which cost her sixteen yuan, she was left with only twenty yuan.


    This time Xu Niannian bought twenty-five pounds of glutinous rice flour, leaving her with plenty to confidently make more batches.


    Initially feeling quite satisfied with today¡¯s earnings, once she spent it, Xu Niannian immediately felt financially tight again.


    Continuing like this wasn¡¯t sustainable; she needed to earn a lot of money quickly if she wanted to open a shop in the county.


    How could she open a shop with such a small amount of money?


    After buying what they needed, Xu Niannian felt so hungry that she could eat an entire cow.


    She and Xu Zhiqiang hadn¡¯t had breakfast yet.


    Xu Niannian was someone who valued enjoyment; if she made money, she needed to spend it, otherwise, what was the point of making it?


    So, she decided to treat herself and Xu Zhiqiang, who had come with her.


    She decided to take Xu Zhiqiang to a restaurant.


    She planned to dine at a state-owned restaurant.


    Private businesses were now allowed, but Xu Niannian still wanted to visit the legendary state-owned restaurant from the eighties.


    However, an awkward situation arose when Xu Niannian remembered that you still needed coupons to eat at a state-owned restaurant.


    Private businesses had been permitted, and many places had already stopped using coupons.


    But at state-owned restaurants, you needed grain coupons, and if you wanted meat, you also needed meat coupons.


    Originally planning to just grab a bite anywhere, Xu Niannian caught the longing look in Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s eyes.


    A place like a state-owned restaurant existed only in stories for Xu Zhiqiang.


    He never imagined he¡¯d have the chance to dine in one.


    So, when Xu Niannian suggested they eat at a state-owned restaurant, Xu Zhiqiang forgot to refuse.


    Out of options, Xu Niannian could only wait at the restaurant entrance, hoping someone would be willing to exchange their coupons for money.


    She only intended to try her luck, but to her surprise, she actually found someone willing to make the trade.


    It was a man in his forties.


    Xu Niannian merely hinted at the exchange, and he immediately agreed.


    Happy with a pound of grain coupons and four liang of meat coupons, they went in.


    There were several empty tables in the hall, and Xu Niannian chose the one closest to the window, a square table.


    They ordered one meat dish and one vegetarian dish, and Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang happily started eating.


    It was Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s first time eating plain white rice; such enticingly white rice was indescribable.


    He ate voraciously, wolfing down his food.


    Watching him eat with such joy, Xu Niannian¡¯s appetite grew.


    Yet she noticed that Xu Zhiqiang kept picking the vegetables and never once touched the braised pork.


    Xu Niannian certainly didn¡¯t think he disliked the meat; she knew he was reluctant to eat it.


    With no other choice, Xu Niannian had to put several pieces of meat into his bowl.


    Xu Zhiqiang paused, swallowing the rice in his mouth, and with red eyes awkwardly said to Xu Niannian, ¡°Sis, you eat it.


    You earned this money, and it should be you who enjoys it.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, what kind of logic is that?


    Don¡¯t listen to mom¡¯s nonsense.


    If Sis tells you to eat, you eat.


    Besides, didn¡¯t you help Sis out, too?


    Without your help, it wouldn¡¯t have been so easy for me,¡± she countered.


    Xu Zhiqiang gripped his chopsticks tightly; he knew Xu Niannian was comforting him.


    Today, he hadn¡¯t actually been much help¡ªit was all her effort.


    Seeing that Xu Niannian truly cared for him, Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t say anything more, took the meat with reddened eyes, and started eating it large bites.


    Xu Niannian finished eating before Xu Zhiqiang because she hadn¡¯t eaten much.


    Waiting for Xu Zhiqiang, Xu Niannian had the opportunity to take a good look at what a state-owned restaurant from the eighties was really like.


    There wasn¡¯t anything particularly special about it.


    After looking around, Xu Niannian noticed a beautiful girl sitting at the front seat, wearing a white dacron shirt, fanning herself with a small fragrant fan and looking displeased.


    She glanced toward the entrance from time to time.


    Just then, a sudden urge to urinate struck Xu Niannian, so she stopped looking and asked the head chef where the restroom was.


    There weren¡¯t any restrooms in the state-owned restaurant, a rarity indeed for restaurants of the era to have one.


    Fortunately, there was a public restroom across the street.


    Following the direction given by the head chef, Xu Niannian found the public restroom.


    In her urgency, she forgot to look up at the signs for the men¡¯s and women¡¯s sections.


    After all, she assumed that at this time, restrooms were generally unisex.


    But as soon as she rushed in, she bumped right into someone¡¯s chest.


    The firm chest made Xu Niannian realize she had definitely run into a man.


    She quickly looked up.


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    Both exclaimed in unison, surprised to see each other.

 Chapter 37 - 37 36 Getting Beaten Up

    ?37: Chapter 36: Getting Beaten Up 37: Chapter 36: Getting Beaten Up Xu Niannian never thought the world could be so small.


    Since she transmigrated to this time, she had now encountered the same man three times.


    The first time he overpowered her, the second time they met, he harassed her immediately, offering her an indecent salute.


    The third time, which was now, she had run into him again.


    What kind of cursed fate was this?


    Jin Yu hadn¡¯t expected to encounter that improper woman from yesterday here either.


    He had originally thought she spoke in an improper tone, and that her appearance was improper, but it turned out her thoughts were even more lewd.


    This was a men¡¯s restroom, and she had actually come here.


    What was she planning to do, peep at men going to the bathroom?


    Because Xu Niannian¡¯s head was wrapped in thick cloth, leaving only her eyes visible, Jin Yu subconsciously labeled her as a perverted woman.


    Or even an unhealthy freak.


    The awkward eye contact between the two was broken by Xu Niannian first, ¡°You, you, you...


    Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I should be asking you, what are you doing here?¡± Jin Yu¡¯s eyebrows knitted in a frown, and feeling that soft, feeble voice of hers, a fiendish fire started to rise within him.


    That same fiendish fire he had just suppressed.


    Jin Yu discovered that he had been drugged by his mother because he hadn¡¯t eaten anything, and as soon as he arrived at the restaurant, he experienced an unspeakable reaction.


    In order to avoid fulfilling his mother¡¯s expectations, he had hastily rushed to the restroom to take care of it.


    Now, hearing this woman¡¯s voice, that desire he had just managed to suppress was rising again, swiftly and strongly.


    Jin Yu¡¯s face turned red with restraint.


    Xu Niannian, realizing she had come here to use the toilet, glared furiously at the man in front of her, ¡°Let me go.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, footstep sounds came from outside, and Jin Yu¡¯s eyes changed as he quickly pulled Xu Niannian into an adjacent stall.


    Xu Niannian let out a shocked ¡°Ah¡± and tried to scream, but Jin Yu roughly covered her mouth.


    Xu Niannian thought he was going to use force on her again, struggling frantically, attempting to open the door with her hands, but his other strong hand wrapped around her.


    With just one hand, he firmly trapped both of hers.


    She tried to kick him, but was restrained by his long leg.


    Xu Niannian was now entirely held in his embrace, her eyes wide open in shock, unable to believe that during her life, she would fall into the same man¡¯s clutches twice.


    Was he going to do that to her again?


    Xu Niannian thought helplessly, and she could clearly feel his obvious arrogance down there.


    The voices outside continued, two men talking and the sound of them urinating.


    Then there was another round of footsteps, clearly indicating the two outside had left.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes were filled with desperation.


    At that moment, the man behind her suddenly let her go, and his deep voice sounded above her head, ¡°You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Xu Niannian turned around, and with a fierce slap, she struck his face, furiously cursing him, ¡°Beast!¡±


    Jin Yu hadn¡¯t expected this perverted woman who had run into the men¡¯s restroom to turn around and slap him.


    His face twisted to one side from the impact.


    When had Young Master Jin ever been slapped by a woman?


    He had always been the one to strike others, never the one to be struck.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t hit women.


    In fact, he respected women quite a lot, but he hadn¡¯t expected to be slapped by this twisted woman, and right on the face, too.


    ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± Jin Yu turned his head, his teeth clenched as he glared at the oblivious woman before him.


    ¡°Slap!¡± Xu Niannian¡¯s backhand was another slap, balancing out the previous one on Jin Yu¡¯s face, ¡°I am teaching a lesson to a beast.¡±


    She was so angry she felt like her chest was going to explode, only she knew how scared she had been when he had trapped her again.


    Old grievances and fresh anger combined, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t care less about her fear; she just wanted to beat this scoundrel to death right then and there.


    Two bright red palm prints stood out on Jin Yu¡¯s face, his brow twitched frantically, his tongue circling around his teeth.


    Such a motion would appear crude if done by someone else, but performed by him, was filled with a wild handsomeness.


    His gaze was dangerously fixed on Xu Niannian, ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because I don¡¯t hit women, you can do whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t hit women, I hit men.¡± Xu Niannian wanted to slap him again, but he roughly grabbed her wrist and pinned it against the door panel.


    ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡± Jin Yu was struggling to contain the desire within his body.


    Being close to this woman, the drug inside his body seemed to be stimulated, and the enchanting scent emanating from her, coupled with the drug¡¯s influence, nearly made him lose his reason.


    His eyes were bloodshot.


    Although her entire face was wrapped in coarse cloth, Jin Yu still remembered her stunningly beautiful features.


    Looking at her watery and large eyes right now, his mind was filled with the fleeting glimpse he had caught of her yesterday at Old Wu¡¯s place.


    This woman was damn seductive, and without any concerns for love, just a single glance into her eyes was enough to easily arouse the deepest desires in a man¡¯s heart.


    Xu Niannian was frightened by his demeanor.


    She couldn¡¯t help but step back, but there was only the door behind her; even if she wanted to escape, there was nowhere to retreat.


    Her bright eyes, clear and distinct in black and white, were misty with water vapor, bewitchingly captivating the soul.


    Jin Yu only had to look seriously for a moment to feel the desire inside him surging relentlessly, almost causing him to turn into a beast.


    Fortunately, his rationality was still intact; the dose of the drug his mother had given him wasn¡¯t too strong.


    Catching a glimpse of the panic beneath her anger, Jin Yu let go of her hand and said coldly, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t barge into the men¡¯s restroom.¡±


    Men¡¯s restroom?


    Xu Niannian was stunned.


    This was the men¡¯s restroom?


    Isn¡¯t...


    there a distinction between men¡¯s and women¡¯s restrooms here?


    Only then did Xu Niannian realize that this restroom was different from the ones she had been to before.


    Clean, tidy, very much like the bathrooms of the future.


    Do they already have this kind of facility restrooms now?


    Xu Niannian was somewhat confused and walked out of the restroom in a daze.


    Upon reaching the door, she turned back for a glance and saw the shining characters ¡°Men¡¯s Restroom¡± above the entrance.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but cover her face, realizing she had overthought, comparing the county to the village.


    Even in the counties of the ¡¯80s, it was not entirely without this kind of restroom.


    Moreover, this place was located in the center of the county town.


    Then earlier...


    did she hit the wrong person?


    So when he pulled her inside, it wasn¡¯t to assault her, but to avoid being discovered by other men?


    No, that¡¯s not right...


    He is a beast, and even if he didn¡¯t really do anything to her this time, maybe it was because it wasn¡¯t convenient here.


    He was already physically aroused; he¡¯s either a beast or a pervert.


    Having such a handsome face, and yet only doing these sleazy things.


    Peh!


    Hurriedly going to the women¡¯s restroom to take care of urgent matters, Xu Niannian had just come out when she ran into a man leaving the men¡¯s restroom.


    Xu Niannian looked down and saw his hands wet with water; on his long fingers, droplets were still dripping down.


    Her eyes unintentionally glanced at a certain part of him, it had deflated, huh, surely he had taken care of it with his hands in the restroom.


    Sleazy man.


    With how obviously she looked him over, how could Jin Yu not have noticed?


    His expression darkened immediately, indeed she was an indecent woman.


    Which normal woman would stare at that part of a man?


    She had the nerve to call him a beast, yet it was she who looked like a hooligan.


    Xu Niannian glared at him, but unaware that due to her beautiful eyes, when she glared with those almond-shaped eyes, she looked endearingly seductive, stirring a tantalizing charm.


    Jin Yu felt a ¡°ghostly fire¡± rise within him from her gaze; with this kind of woman, the more attention you give her, the more indecent she becomes.


    He simply ignored her completely and walked away.

 Chapter 38 - 38 37 Taking Mother for Fun

    ?38: Chapter 37: Taking Mother for Fun 38: Chapter 37: Taking Mother for Fun After using the restroom, Xu Niannian returned to the restaurant to wait for Xu Zhiqiang, only to unexpectedly encounter that plague once again.


    Jin Yu also saw Xu Niannian, his sharp brows knitting together.


    Why had this woman followed him too?


    What did she want to do?


    Jin Yu had always felt that Xu Niannian was problematic.


    Otherwise, why would she wrap herself up like that every day?


    Xu Niannian had no clue what Jin Yu was thinking.


    She strode up to Xu Zhiqiang, huffing and puffing, trying her best to make her tone sound not so angry.


    ¡°Zhiqiang, are you done?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang had just finished eating.


    He wiped his mouth and said, ¡°I¡¯m done, sister.


    We can go now.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Niannian responded nonchalantly and left with Xu Zhiqiang, not forgetting to glare at that beast before leaving.


    Jin Yu was perplexed by her stare.


    Zhu Xinyu saw that Jin Yu kept staring at that strange woman and felt somewhat displeased, yet she didn¡¯t want to show it in front of him.


    She pretended to be generous and called out, ¡°Brother Yu.¡±


    Jin Yu snapped back to reality and looked at the woman before him.


    The daughter from the Zhu San Family?


    ¡°My name is Jin Yu.¡±


    Zhu Xinyu thought he was introducing himself, her head lowered shyly as she covered her lips with a light laugh, all traces of her previous impatience gone.


    ¡°Brother Yu, I know.¡±


    Seeing the Zhu San Family¡¯s daughter acting all coy and pretentious, Jin Yu¡¯s brows twisted into a knot.


    She knew and still called him Brother Yu?


    Was her brain not functioning properly?


    ¡°You¡¯re even a year older than me,¡± Jin Yu reminded her of this fact.


    Implicitly suggesting that it wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to call him Brother Yu.


    Zhu Xinyu¡¯s smile froze on her face.


    She had never expected Jin Yu to be so dismissive.


    Zhu Xinyu had always liked Jin Yu, and even though Jin Yu might not know who she was, she had known about him since she was a child.


    In Zhu Xinyu¡¯s eyes, Jin Yu was her perfect lover.


    Outstanding in every way, someone to look up to.


    Her father had said that at his young age, he was already the second in command at the C division.


    ¡°Brother Yu, Auntie must have told you about the purpose of your visit today,¡± said Zhu Xinyu, biting her lower lip uncomfortably and looking shyly at Jin Yu.


    Jin Yu¡¯s gaze remained unchanged: ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Really!¡± Zhu Xinyu¡¯s face lit up with joy, thinking that his willingness to come to the blind date must have been because Auntie Wu Lan had tricked him into it.


    She had heard that he had always rejected blind dates, so could it be because the prospective match was her that he hadn¡¯t refused this time?


    However, Zhu Xinyu¡¯s happiness did not last long, as the blunt Jin Yu immediately added, ¡°I came here today to reject you.¡±


    Zhu Xinyu: ¡°?¡±


    ¡°Brother Yu, are you joking with me?¡± Zhu Xinyu¡¯s face turned pale.


    Jin Yu furrowed his brow, not dwelling on the issue of what she called him, and seriously told Zhu Xinyu, ¡°I have someone I¡¯m going to marry, and it¡¯s not you.¡±


    Zhu Xinyu had worked hard to make herself so perfect, just to be worthy of Jin Yu, and upon hearing his words, she was utterly shocked: ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Jin Yu¡¯s lips twitched with a maddening nonchalance, ¡°My future wife.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree!¡±


    Zhu Xinyu, overwhelmed by shock, momentarily lost control of her emotions and stood up angrily.


    Jin Yu glanced at her.


    That one look, sharp and imposing, frightened Zhu Xinyu, making her shiver involuntarily.


    Jin Yu sneered coldly, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    After rejecting Zhu Xinyu, Young Master Jin directly walked out of the state-owned restaurant, leaving her without a glimmer of hope.


    Zhu Xinyu bit her lip in anger: ¡°Brother Yu, I won¡¯t give up on you.¡±


    The response to her was Jin Yu¡¯s cold and disdainful voice, ¡°Old man, I¡¯m not as old as you.¡±


    With a single sentence, he successfully turned Zhu Xinyu¡¯s face the color of liver.


    When Jin Yu got home, the first thing he did was to settle accounts with his old lady.


    Wu Lan was in the living room doing embroidery.


    Hearing footsteps, she thought Jin Nandong had come back and smiled as she lifted her head, ¡°Mr.


    Jin, our son...¡±


    But when she looked up, she met Jin Yu¡¯s smiling face.


    Wu Lan¡¯s smile froze, and she planned to slip away but was pulled back by the collar by Jin Yu.


    ¡°Comrade Wu Lan, Mr.


    Jin isn¡¯t here, don¡¯t you think you owe Xiao Jin an explanation for what happened today?¡±


    Wu Lan was directly pressed by Jin Yu to sit on the sofa, his straight long legs resting on the coffee table, his gaze ice-cold as he stared at her.


    Made nervous by her own son¡¯s stare, Wu Lan felt particularly humiliated.


    Yet she was also curious to know if her son and the Zhu Family¡¯s young lady had made progress.


    Glancing at her son, Wu Lan cautiously asked, ¡°Did it work out?¡±


    Jin Yu curled his lips, revealing a debauched smile.


    Seeing this, Wu Lan suddenly sensed drama, her own smile glittering and hands trembling, ¡°Do I have hope for a great-grandson?¡±


    She was excited to stand up, but Jin Yu pressed her shoulders down again.


    ¡°Your great-grandson is still wandering among the common folk.¡±


    Wu Lan didn¡¯t understand Jin Yu¡¯s meaning, too preoccupied with her joy, ¡°That¡¯s great, all my hard work hasn¡¯t been in vain.¡±


    ¡°So, Comrade Wu Lan, you admit that your son was drugged by you today, huh?¡±


    ¡°...


    Hehe, son, the process isn¡¯t important,¡± Wu Lan chuckled dryly.


    Jin Yu withdrew his legs and sat on the sofa, leaning back lazily, nothing like the seriousness he displayed outside.


    ¡°Comrade Wu Lan, I¡¯ve said it before, I have a woman I want to marry.


    You, my dear mother, should just focus on tending to the flowers and teasing the cats when you have nothing else to do.


    You could even walk Mr.


    Jin if it¡¯s necessary, but don¡¯t go looking for heartaches with me,¡± he said.


    Mr.


    Jin, who was far away in the secret department of area C, couldn¡¯t help but sneeze.


    Wu Lan knew her own son well.


    Hearing his words, she realized she had celebrated too soon; the Zhu Family¡¯s young lady obviously wasn¡¯t in the bag.


    Yet the son mentioning again the woman he wanted to marry piqued Wu Lan¡¯s curiosity.


    Could it be true?


    All she wanted was for her son to get married quickly; anyone other than a man would do.


    Thus, Zhu Xinyu and the like were dismissed to Java Country in a second.


    ¡°Son, do you really have someone you want to marry?¡±


    Seeing his mother¡¯s happy face, Jin Yu replied with a sly smile, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How far has it progressed?¡±


    ¡°To the stage where you want your great-grandson.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Wu Lan¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t close with joy, and she excitedly said, ¡°Son, are you serious?¡±


    Jin Yu was relatively good-tempered about this matter, ¡°Really, so don¡¯t set up any more of these needless arrangements for me.¡±


    Hearing Jin Yu say this, Wu Lan quickly replied, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you hurry up and bring her home?


    What if she gets pregnant by accident, then what?¡±


    Jin Yu closed his eyes, his head resting on the sofa.


    He did wish to bring her home, but where would he find her?


    The last time he fainted, there were over a dozen villages in the vicinity; he didn¡¯t know where she was.


    It was, of course, impossible for Jin Yu to claim he liked someone when he didn¡¯t even know what they looked like.


    He didn¡¯t know whether she was round or flat.


    But he had taken her body.


    For the rest of his life, he could only marry that woman.


    Unless, after finding her, she told him in person that she didn¡¯t want to marry him.


    Not hearing a response from Jin Yu, Wu Lan kept her happy tone, ¡°Son, what¡¯s my daughter-in-law like?


    Is she pretty?¡±


    Jin Yu smirked, ¡°How should I know?¡±


    Wu Lan¡¯s face instantly darkened, and she exploded, ¡°You rotten kid, are you messing with your old mother?¡±

 Chapter 39 - 39 38 Casting a Wide Net

    ?39: Chapter 38: Casting a Wide Net 39: Chapter 38: Casting a Wide Net As for the temper Wu Lan threw, Jin Yu didn¡¯t care at all, not even batting an eyelid.


    His mother was always all bark and no bite.


    Looking at his indifferent, like a pig not fearing boiling water, Wu Lan was so angry she was almost half-dead but couldn¡¯t be bothered with him.


    She took out the Liuyue Su she bought at the morning market and deliberately chewed it ostentatiously in front of him.


    Having another taste, Wu Lan was still drooling over the flakiness and fragrance of the Liuyue Su.


    Smelling the strong aroma, Jin Yu twitched his nose and glanced at Wu Lan.


    Comrade Wu Lan was happily munching on a golden pastry.


    Jin Yu sniffed, the smell wasn¡¯t bad, ¡°Give me a piece.¡±


    ¡°Humph, buy your own.¡± Wu Lan rolled her eyes and ignored him.


    Jin Yu walked into the kitchen and helped himself to a piece.


    Wu Lan saw it but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Jin Yu only knew the pastry smelled nice but didn¡¯t expect it to taste so delicious; he couldn¡¯t help going back into the kitchen and grabbed the remaining pieces, devouring them one after another.


    Wu Lan huffed, ¡°Tastes good, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Jin Yu said insincerely.


    Wu Lan rolled her eyes speechlessly, so it¡¯s just ¡®not bad¡¯?


    Would he eat that many if it was just ¡®not bad¡¯?


    She couldn¡¯t be bothered to nitpick with him.


    She had figured it out; whatever he said about the woman he wanted to marry was just an excuse to brush her off.


    Heh...


    Thankfully, she had cast a wide net, asking countless relatives and friends, as well as her husband¡¯s subordinates¡¯ relatives and their friends, to set up connections.


    She had led all the beautiful girls home to check them out, planning to get her son married off as soon as possible during his rest time.


    As for the Zhu Family¡¯s daughter, if her son didn¡¯t fancy her, she couldn¡¯t do anything, it was beyond her help.


    Wu Lan made up her mind to get Jin Yu married off as soon as possible.


    Meanwhile, Jin Yu was thinking he had to speed up finding that woman.


    His mother might be unreliable, but she did say something right, what if someone accidentally got pregnant?


    An unwed pregnancy would do great harm to a girl; just the gossip from the village alone could drive someone to desperation.


    Chastity was too important for a woman.


    Thinking of marriage, Jin Yu closed his eyes, and for some reason, the image of that peculiar woman popped into his mind.


    Tsk, aside from her bizarre behavior, she really is a ravishing beauty that one could feast their eyes on.


    Realizing he had inexplicably thought of that improper woman, Jin Yu slapped his forehead and opened his eyes to look at the ceiling, feeling ridiculous.


    Of all people to think about, it had to be the hooligan woman who barged into the men¡¯s bathroom.


    There¡¯s truth in what women say, men really are creatures that think with their lower half.


    Jin Yu discovered that he had just recalled the woman¡¯s appearance and already had an inappropriate response.


    The kind of beauty that could bring disaster to the nation and the people, a woman who could bring disaster to the nation and the people.


    Jin Yu labelled Xu Niannian in his mind with such a tag.


    On the other side, Xu Niannian returned home and made pumpkin cakes for her family first.


    The pumpkin cakes made with Space Creek Water tasted so good that the whole family was glowing with happiness.


    Yang Cuihua ate and said, ¡°Baby Nian, how did you make this, why is it so delicious?¡±


    Even Xu Dawei just buried his head in eating.


    Not to mention Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng; they stuffed their faces one after the other, causing Yang Cuihua to worry.


    She wanted to scold them, but the food was so delicious that not only the two kids but even she herself couldn¡¯t help wanting more.


    Only Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s actions didn¡¯t seem as voracious.


    Xu Niannian said with a smile, ¡°Mom, if you like it, I¡¯ll make more for you in the future.¡±


    At these words, Yang Cuihua¡¯s eyes immediately teared up, and the food in her mouth tasted even more delicious, ¡°Mom knows, only Baby Nian knows how to be considerate to mom.¡±


    Xu Niannian: ¡°...¡±


    Why must the old lady stir up family conflicts whenever she¡¯s moved?


    That one sentence immediately offended Xu Zhiqiang and his two brothers, as well as Xu Dawei.


    Xu Niannian could only offer a dry smile.


    Fortunately, Xu Zhiqiang and his brothers didn¡¯t take such comments seriously.


    Yang Cuihua, feeling sorry for her daughter, couldn¡¯t help but wipe her mouth after eating, ¡°Baby Nian, you¡¯re only allowed this meal today, understand?


    Keep the fine grains you¡¯ve bought for yourself to eat.¡±


    Xu Niannian smiled with pursed lips and remained silent.


    To change the subject, she quickly told Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei that she had earned a total of 18 yuan today, with a profit of 15 yuan after deducting costs.


    This news delighted Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei immensely.


    They hadn¡¯t been this happy even when they made over forty yuan from selling water, because that was a one-day thing, but the pancakes could be sold every day.


    After dinner, Xu Niannian drank an entire big bowl of Chinese medicine in front of her family.


    She contemplated removing the coarse cloth in a few days.


    Wrapped in such a layer during this weather was unspeakably uncomfortable.


    That night, after Xu Duoyu fell asleep, Xu Niannian slipped into the space again.


    The Gourmet Food Manual couldn¡¯t be taken outside at all.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t wait to find out what the second dish was.


    To discover the recipe for the second dish, she needed to make the first recipe¡¯s dish to a certain standard.


    Xu Niannian took out the pumpkin pancakes she had made in the evening and placed them in the creek following the method.


    To see if they would be engulfed by the water.


    The pumpkin pancakes she made for sale during the day were slightly too sweet because she hadn¡¯t known that soaking the pumpkin slices in the creek water would enhance their sweetness and she used too much sugar.


    For this evening¡¯s batch, she intentionally avoided this problem.


    Therefore, the pumpkin pancakes made in the evening were even more delicious than those sold in the morning.


    Even for someone like her who had tasted all kinds of delicious food from around the world, they were mouthwatering, let alone for others.


    Therefore, Xu Niannian was full of confidence, believing that she would surely succeed, and planned to memorize the recipe for the second dish tonight to try it out the next day.


    However, reality was cruel, and the water did not engulf the pumpkin pancakes.


    Xu Niannian waited for over ten minutes, but the pumpkin pancakes still floated on the silver surface of the water.


    Xu Niannian was utterly astonished.


    What¡¯s going on?


    Could it be a mistake?


    They were made so deliciously, yet still didn¡¯t meet the standard?


    That¡¯s not scientifically logical.


    Could it be that the details didn¡¯t meet the standard?


    Xu Niannian was a person who refused to give up; since it didn¡¯t work, she had to keep trying.


    With a swoosh, she left the space and ran to the kitchen in the middle of the night, bringing out a bucket of Space Creek Water from the space to cook pumpkin pancakes.


    The only thing Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t done according to the recipe was to carve designs on the pumpkin pancakes.


    Worried about waking up the family, Xu Niannian tried to make as little noise as possible, but she still woke up Xu Zhiqiang.


    ¡°Sis, what are you doing?¡± Xu Zhiqiang walked into the kitchen dressed.


    Xu Niannian was momentarily stunned, thankfully, she had not removed the cloth from her face despite it being late at night.


    ¡°I¡¯m baking pancakes.


    You should go rest; tomorrow you¡¯ll be accompanying me to sell them,¡±¡± she said.


    Xu Zhiqiang, without a word, stepped in and began adding wood to the stove, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    ¡°Ah... No need, really, go back to sleep.


    You¡¯ll need to be energized for tomorrow.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang was silent, his head down as he added wood to the fire.


    After he finished, he immediately picked up the pumpkin he had bought for the villagers today and started peeling it.


    His silent yet stubborn demeanor made Xu Niannian guiltily cover her face.


    If she had known, she would never have impulsively come out.

 Chapter 40 - 40 39 The Right Steps

    ?40: Chapter 39: The Right Steps 40: Chapter 39: The Right Steps Now that I¡¯ve somehow startled Xu Zhiqiang, I see his stubborn look and my heart is touched to a mess.


    How could the original owner bear to bully such a wonderful brother?


    Since I¡¯ve already done what I shouldn¡¯t have, I can¡¯t give up halfway.


    So, the siblings started to get busy.


    Following the recipe, I carefully made the dishes, I could recite the Gourmet Food Manual by heart already.


    Xu Niannian was very skilled in carving, as she used to practice these skills every day when she was a chef.


    Remembering the patterns from the recipe, I carved them out with focus.


    Zhiqiang saw his sister grabbing a toothpick carved from a chopstick and quickly working on the pastry, carving out beautiful designs in no time.


    Glancing at the intricate patterns on it, Zhiqiang¡¯s admiration and awe for Xu Niannian grew even more.


    When the first batch of delicate pumpkin pastries came out, just the smell made Niannian salivate.


    Having tasted Xu Niannian¡¯s pumpkin pastries before, Zhiqiang knew the flavor and couldn¡¯t help but drool at the scent.


    Truthfully, Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t fond of sweets like pastries, including those she made in her past life, she was just willing to eat them, but never craved them like this.


    Niannian scooped out two and gave one to Zhiqiang.


    After just one bite, I realized it tasted even better than before, and the pleasure it brought made me involuntarily squint my eyes in satisfaction.


    It was simply too delicious.


    Zhiqiang couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°Sister, these taste better than the ones you made during the day.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡± I licked my finger with a smile and replied cheerfully, ¡°I think so too.¡±


    The reason I snuck out to cook late at night was to check the second recipe.


    After finishing, I found an excuse to sneak off to my room with the pumpkin pastries and secretly entered my secret space.


    However, to my disappointment, it still wasn¡¯t up to standard.


    I refused to believe it, I just couldn¡¯t accept that I couldn¡¯t make it right.


    Sometimes, when Xu Niannian¡¯s stubbornness kicked in, no one could hold her back.


    So I ran back to the kitchen and started the second attempt.


    This time, I was even more meticulous than before, especially in carving the decorative patterns, making them more exquisite and paying attention to the shapes.


    Zhiqiang had thought that after finishing one batch, which had more than sixty pieces, it would be enough, but he didn¡¯t expect me to continue.


    He immediately realized that his sister was much more diligent than he imagined.


    Seeing Zhiqiang¡¯s eyelids fighting to stay open, Niannian told him to go back and rest.


    He really couldn¡¯t hold on any longer; the most he could do here was to peel the pumpkin skin.


    He simply peeled all the pumpkin skin at once and sliced the pumpkin before going to rest.


    In the kitchen, only Xu Niannian was left, making it even more convenient for her to move in and out of her space.


    Without Zhiqiang by my side, Niannian worked even more efficiently.


    This time, I paid special attention to details.


    I even used stream water to steam the pumpkin slices.


    I didn¡¯t even know how long I had been busy.


    Failing time after time only fueled my determination.


    I couldn¡¯t believe that all my efforts wouldn¡¯t meet the standards; that would be a slap in the face for me as a chef and a gourmet.


    This time I couldn¡¯t afford to maintain a chef¡¯s dignity, continually tasting and adjusting as I cooked.


    After careful tasting, I indeed discovered some problems with the details.


    The dough wasn¡¯t kneaded finely enough.


    Finally, I don¡¯t know which batch it was, but when I tasted a pastry that finally had no issues, I rushed it into my space nonstop.


    Excited, I waited by the stream with widened eyes.


    I watched as the pumpkin pastries sat on the surface of the stream water.


    After a second, two seconds, there was still no reaction.


    My smiling face stiffened.


    This doesn¡¯t make sense.


    Why isn¡¯t it successful?


    Could the recipe be wrong?


    Xu Niannian had only looked at the recipe once, because she had a particularly good memory, especially when it came to recalling the methods of making gourmet dishes.


    So, she remembered it after just one glance.


    Could it be that there was a problem with the recipe?


    Unable to resist, she pulled out the recipe to check it over again.


    After a careful comparison, Xu Niannian¡¯s brows furrowed.


    She had checked it once before, and there was no mistake, and there was no mistake this time either.


    Where, then, was the problem?


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but lower her head in thought.


    As she bowed her head, she just happened to see the smallest line of text at the bottom of the recipe.


    The font of this line was smaller than all the others.


    She had to lean in close to see it clearly.


    Xu Niannian leaned in and, when she saw what the words were, she was thrown into disarray.


    It turned out that all this time, she had been missing a step.


    No wonder it had never met the standard.


    The step she had missed was to inject stream water into the shaped cakes.


    The method of injecting the stream water was also explained above, she just needed to make a hole on top of the cake and pour it in.


    That hole was right at the center of the floral pattern on top of the cake.


    Back in the kitchen, Xu Niannian made a new batch following the complete steps.


    This time, she injected stream water into all of them.


    After they were steamed, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t wait to try a bite.


    At one bite, a liquid pumpkin filling flowed out of the cake, the smooth texture and refreshing fragrance was so delightful it made Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth unable to close.


    Delicious, simply too delicious, Xu Niannian involuntarily squinted her eyes in enjoyment.


    No wonder the previous ones had never qualified, the taste was simply too far off.


    The previous pumpkin cakes, though they too oozed liquid when bitten into, did not have the smoothness and fragrance of these ones.


    The taste was so wonderful that Xu Niannian didn¡¯t want to use the vulgar name ¡°pumpkin cake¡± anymore, indeed there was reason in calling it Liuyue Su.


    She skipped to the space with her new creation; this time, it was a success.


    Xu Niannian was so excited she almost plunged into the stream, but fortunately, she steadied herself in time.


    Now that she had succeeded, it meant the second recipe should be available, what could it be?


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help thinking it would be great if it was a main dish.


    Compared to pastries, she preferred main dishes.


    Eagerly, she opened the Gourmet Food Manual, and the second recipe came into view.


    The name was Butter Sauce, what the heck?


    After reading through the steps carefully, Xu Niannian understood that it was just a type of sauce that could be mixed with rice or noodles.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, it was like being sent a pillow when feeling sleepy.


    She was planning to open her own shop, and with this Butter Sauce, paired with her culinary skills, it would be like a tiger growing wings.


    But right now, the most important thing was the initial capital.


    She didn¡¯t have much money left on her, only about 20 yuan.


    She needed to hurry and sell something to make some capital.


    She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to make the Butter Sauce, as it was almost dawn and she hadn¡¯t slept all night, feeling a bit lethargic.


    She hadn¡¯t noticed it while busy making things, but now that she came back to her senses, she felt like her eyelids were fighting each other.


    But she was about to go to the county to sell things, and she had made so many Liuyue Sus that were still untended to.


    Thinking of the magic of the stream water, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but draw a bucket of water to heat up and have a body wash.


    As Xu Niannian thought, although the stream water could only remove impurities from food, it didn¡¯t change her outer body.


    But after washing with stream water, she felt clear-headed and refreshed, completely free from her previous fatigue.

 Chapter 41 - 41 40 Enemies on a Narrow Road

    ?41: Chapter 40: Enemies on a Narrow Road 41: Chapter 40: Enemies on a Narrow Road After bathing in the creek water, Xu Niannian felt refreshed.


    Returning to the kitchen and seeing that huge pile of Liuyue Su, Xu Niannian covered her face and almost cried.


    It seemed she had accidentally made too many.


    To make qualified Liuyue Su, she had used up almost all of the pumpkin and glutinous rice flour she had bought.


    After counting, there were roughly five hundred.


    When would she be able to sell them all?


    The morning market only lasted for so long, and after that time, no one would come to the morning market to buy anything.


    Her snacks were indeed delicious, but they were also indeed expensive.


    Many people didn¡¯t have the purchasing power even if they wanted to buy them, and at most would only buy one or two to taste.


    How much traffic would she need to sell them all?


    Not everyone was willing to spend that much money on such a small cake.


    If she had more time, she could guarantee that everything would be sold.


    But the morning market lasted for such a short time, how could she sell so many?


    Xu Niannian thought anxiously for a long time and suddenly, her eyes lit up as she came up with an excellent idea.


    Really, how could she not have thought of this before?


    If she made too many, she could go and find others to sell them.


    Those places that sold dry goods and cakes would definitely be able to sell them.


    Doing business to the highest degree wasn¡¯t about how much she could sell by herself, but how much others could sell for her.


    And to have others begging to help sell for her at that.


    Previously, because she had thought about opening a shop, she worried that letting others help her sell would take away her future business.


    How limited her thinking had been at the time.


    She hadn¡¯t thought that when she opened her shop later, she wouldn¡¯t mainly sell cakes.


    Moreover, she could get free advertising from others.


    An excellent idea suddenly formed in her head.


    Just as she was thinking, Zhiqiang had also woken up.


    Seeing the kitchen piled with so many cakes, Zhiqiang was shocked.


    ¡°Sister, how did you make so many?¡±


    When he went to bed last night, there hadn¡¯t been even half as many.


    How long had she stayed up making more after he went to sleep?


    ¡°Can we really sell all of these today?¡± he asked, concerned.


    Xu Niannian took a deep breath and said confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can sell them all.¡±


    How could they possibly not sell out?


    Since today¡¯s quantity was a bit much, Xu Niannian simply packed them up in clean bags and went to the county town with Zhiqiang carrying them.


    Though there were more than five hundred, the cakes were not big and one large bag was just enough to hold them.


    Upon reaching the county town, Zhiqiang still wanted to go to the morning market, but Xu Niannian held him back.


    Xu Niannian said, ¡°We¡¯re not going to the morning market today.¡±


    Zhiqiang puzzled, ¡°Not going to the morning market?


    Where are we going then?¡±


    ¡°To the dry goods store.¡±


    Places that sold dry goods generally also sold cakes.


    Xu Niannian found the best store with the busiest trade in the center of the county town.


    Because her face was wrapped in a layer of cloth, people curiously stared at her.


    Xu Niannian, unafraid of strangers, took two Liuyue Su in her hands and asked Zhiqiang to wait outside while she went in.


    The dry goods store was doing well since it was located in the center of the county town and was large in scale.


    Comparable to an average restaurant.


    The hall was roughly two hundred square meters, with several square tables set up inside.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t rush to find the owner at first but asked the passing customers why the store did so well selling just dry goods.


    The customers told her that the reason the business was so good was that the owner¡¯s daughter could sing opera, and the son-in-law could tell stories.


    Many wealthy men and women with time to spare would come here to listen to opera.


    While listening to opera, it was natural to buy some cakes or sunflower seeds as snacks.


    This form of entertainment, most popular in ancient times and during the Republican period, was also favored by quite a few people with a taste for nostalgia.


    Hearing this, Xu Niannian was even more satisfied with the place; under such circumstances, it would be much easier to sell the cakes she brought.


    What she feared was not the lack of people, but that those who came wouldn¡¯t be willing to spend money.


    Those with the leisure to spend such spare change for entertainment, would they really be reluctant to buy some exquisite cakes?


    After inquiring about the situation, Xu Niannian headed straight for the counter.


    A young girl was guarding the counter, and she happened to be someone Xu Niannian knew.


    Strictly speaking, they weren¡¯t really acquainted, but they had had a fleeting encounter before.


    Seeing Xu Niannian approaching her wrapped in a thick scarf, the girl was somewhat afraid, worried that Xu Niannian might have some contagious disease.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t start by trying to build rapport with anyone, since there really wasn¡¯t any rapport to build.


    This girl was none other than the woman from the couple who had initially had some objections to her when Xu Niannian first went to sell water.


    ¡°Miss, does your shop accept cakes?¡± Xu Niannian asked straightforwardly, not liking to beat around the bush, directly stating her purpose.


    Upon hearing this, the girl thought she was just another peddler coming to sell goods and waved her off dismissively, ¡°We don¡¯t accept, we don¡¯t accept, our shop has plenty of cakes, we don¡¯t need yours.¡±


    Saying this, she was about to shoo Xu Niannian away, not because she looked down on Xu Niannian or was trying to bully her, but because Xu Niannian was so thoroughly covered up, she was apprehensive that she might indeed have a contagious disease.


    ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t be hasty, I guarantee my cakes will bring better business to your shop.¡± Seeing that she was about to drive people away, Xu Niannian quickly said.


    Maybe because Xu Niannian¡¯s voice was so pleasant to listen to, the girl gave Xu Niannian another look but still said, ¡°I¡¯ve said no, our shop sells cakes, we make them ourselves.¡±


    Xu Niannian wanted to say more, but suddenly she heard a familiar and annoying voice behind her.


    Startled, Xu Niannian hurriedly covered her eyes, talk about a small world.

 Chapter 42 - 42 41 All are Sins

    ?42: Chapter 41: All are Sins 42: Chapter 41: All are Sins Jin Yu recognized Xu Niannian at a glance; Xu Niannian¡¯s appearance was too distinctive to miss.


    Wearing blue coarse cloth clothes, tall and slender, she even wrapped up her face and head.


    Jin Yu¡¯s narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly; this woman, how could he encounter her everywhere?


    Really just a coincidence?


    Jin Yu did not quite believe in so many coincidences.


    Could she be stalking him?


    With suspicions in his mind, Jin Yu walked straight towards Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian, keeping her head down, heard the footsteps behind her getting closer and closer, wishing she could bury her head into her chest.


    This demon, a lunatic.


    She had been intentionally avoiding him.


    Didn¡¯t he notice she was unwilling to see him?


    Yet he still approached her.


    Li Qingshui at the counter blushed at the sight of the tall and handsome man walking towards her.


    ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Li Qingshui had a partner, but that didn¡¯t stop her heart from fluttering at the sight of Jin Yu¡¯s envy-inducing, handsome face.


    Jin Yu glanced indifferently at Li Qingshui and knocked on the counter in front of Xu Niannian.


    The knocking sound came, and Xu Niannian knew it was that demon.


    Reluctantly, she raised her head and glared at him unwillingly.


    Her beautiful almond eyes were large and bright, watery, she glared at Jin Yu cutely, with an allure that was full of seductive charm.


    Jin Yu¡¯s eyebrows twisted tightly.


    Was this woman trying to seduce him?


    ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the purpose of your stalking?¡± Jin Yu asked impatiently.


    He liked quick battles and had no patience for beating around the bush.


    Xu Niannian had not even had time to lament this fatal entanglement when she heard Jin Yu¡¯s words, and was instantly stunned, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Li Qingshui watched with curiosity as this peculiar woman apparently knew the handsome man in front of her.


    Jin Yu ignored the gazes of others and directly asked Xu Niannian, ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat for the third time.


    Tell me, why are you stalking me?


    For money?


    Or for something else?¡±


    Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily, ¡°You¡¯re too full of yourself, who is stalking you?


    Clearly, I came here first.


    If anyone is stalking, it¡¯s you stalking me.


    How did it become me stalking you?¡±


    Xu Niannian found it amusing; it seemed this man was not only a beast and a pervert but also a narcissistic lunatic.


    Jin Yu¡¯s brow furrowed, it did seem to be the case.


    He had come here on a whim; it was impossible that she got wind of his movements in advance.


    ¡°Lunatic,¡± Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but curse again.


    Jin Yu¡¯s forehead creased into a knot, could it really just be a coincidence?


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jin Yu asked with a click of his tongue.


    ¡°None of your business.


    Are we acquainted?¡±


    Xu Niannian retorted rudely.


    His question did remind Xu Niannian of her purpose for being there.


    She glared at Jin Yu, annoyed again; it was this lunatic¡¯s fault she had almost forgotten something important.


    Hurriedly, she turned back to the woman at the counter and enthusiastically said, ¡°Miss, the pastry I made is really tasty, you won¡¯t believe it until you try.¡±


    As she spoke, Xu Niannian handed two Liuyue Su pastries to the woman.


    Li Qingshui had faintly smelled a delicate fragrance earlier, wondering where it had come from, and here it was brought by the peculiar woman in front of her.


    As soon as Xu Niannian took them out, the fragrance became even more pronounced.


    Moreover, this batch of Liuyue Su, to meet the standard of the space requirement, Xu Niannian not only made the flavor better, but also made the shape and the patterns on them very beautiful.


    At the sight of them, Li Qingyue¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, and even Jin Yu beside her was taken aback for a moment.


    Although the shape was different, he remembered that taste.


    Could it be that the Liuyue Su his mother bought before was made by this woman?


    He stood to the side, unobtrusively watching.


    Even though the dry goods store was opened by Li Qingshui¡¯s parents, she was essentially the one managing it.


    Without even tasting, just by looking at the exquisite appearance and the fragrant smell, one could tell this was no ordinary item.


    Xu Niannian was incredibly astute.


    As soon as she saw the look in Li Qingshui¡¯s eyes, she immediately knew Li Qingshui was interested and quickly stuffed the pastry into her hands.


    ¡°Try it and see, I guarantee that if you find it unappetizing, I won¡¯t take a penny from you.¡±


    Of course, not taking any money was out of the question; Xu Niannian was just spouting a habitual line.


    But her words drew a snort of laughter from Jin Yu, thankfully he didn¡¯t laugh out loud.


    Li Qingshui had always run the dry goods store and sold pastries.


    Seeing a business opportunity, she naturally wanted to seize it and didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with Xu Niannian, taking a bite right away.


    The crispy shell crumbled to reveal a fragrant, tender, and creamy filling.


    As soon as she bit into it, a yellow custard-like substance oozed out, filling her entire mouth.


    How fragrant it was, and so delicious that Li Qingshui almost swallowed her own tongue.


    Xu Niannian watched with satisfaction as Li Qingshui savored it.


    It seemed the deal was sealed.


    Jin Yu glanced at Li Qingshui¡¯s expression of enjoyment with astonishment.


    Was it really that delicious?


    ¡°I¡¯ll have one,¡± said Jin Yu.


    Xu Niannian bared her teeth at him, but he didn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°Why should I give it to you?¡±


    Jin Yu clicked his tongue and pulled out five dollars from his pocket, slamming it onto the counter with authority, ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    Five dollars?


    Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes narrowed as she quickly pocketed the money, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    While speaking, she handed him another pastry and then ignored him.


    Pinching the golden pastry between two fingers, Jin Yu raised an eyebrow; from up close, he saw that this pastry was much more exquisite than the one he had eaten before.


    The intricate pattern on top was not just beautiful but painstakingly hand-carved, not pressed from a mold.


    How skilled must one be to achieve this?


    He glanced subconsciously at the oddly dressed woman in front of him.


    Was this truly made by her?


    At this moment, Xu Niannian was conversing with Li Qingshui.


    After trying the Liuyue Su that Xu Niannian offered, Li Qingshui decided on the spot.


    She must discuss a long-term cooperative arrangement with Xu Niannian, no matter what.


    Xu Niannian asked Li Qingshui with deliberate amusement, ¡°How is it, how¡¯s the taste, okay?¡±


    It was more than okay; it was incredibly delicious, pastry like she¡¯d never tasted before.


    Businesspeople often like to keep things to themselves and not show everything upfront, but Li Qingshui didn¡¯t bother with these roundabout ways.


    She cut to the chase, ¡°Big sister, your pastries are truly delicious, and they¡¯re the best I¡¯ve ever tasted, but let me be upfront.


    Although they¡¯re tasty, you also know about everyone¡¯s purchasing power.


    Don¡¯t ask for too high a price, or else if I can¡¯t sell them, I¡¯ll just end up with stock that can¡¯t be stored for long.¡±


    Upon hearing Li Qingshui¡¯s words, Xu Niannian took another look at her, not expecting to meet such a well-matched business partner.


    She had thought Li Qingshui would downplay the taste to push for a lower price.


    She didn¡¯t like to beat around the bush.


    Facing a straightforward partner, she also got to the point.


    ¡°Alright, big sister.


    Since that¡¯s what you¡¯ve said, I won¡¯t bother with the nonsense.


    I¡¯ve sold these pastries at the morning market before, for three dimes each.


    They sold out in less than an hour, so the price will stay the same.


    I¡¯ll give them to you for three dimes each too.¡±


    Hearing this, Li Qingshui immediately frowned, ¡°If you sell them for three dimes retail at the morning market, and give them to me for the same price, how would I make a profit?¡±

 Chapter 43 - 43 42 I Will Not Sell to You

    ?43: Chapter 42: I Will Not Sell to You 43: Chapter 42: I Will Not Sell to You Xu Niannian knew she would say that, and was not surprised.


    She explained with a smile.


    ¡°Big sister, don¡¯t be in a hurry.


    What I sold before was unimproved, and the business was very good at the time.


    Even selling for three cents each, many people were willing to buy.


    The one I¡¯m giving you now, not only does it taste better than the previous ones, but its appearance is also much prettier.


    With such a finished product sold at retail, it¡¯s definitely worth more than three cents each, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Moreover, I can guarantee that as long as you don¡¯t sell them for more than five cents, your business will surely be very good.


    Making this stuff really is time-consuming and requires more expensive ingredients.


    You should be able to taste the difference, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be so delicious.


    Three cents is the lowest price I¡¯ve offered, and I can¡¯t go any lower.¡±


    Seeing that Li Qingshui was straightforward, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t beat around the bush and laid her cards on the table.


    Originally, she planned to tell others four cents each, and then when they bargained, she would drop to three cents.


    But Li Qingshui was decisive, so Xu Niannian didn¡¯t bother with those roundabout tactics.


    She hadn¡¯t lied; whether it was the glutinous rice flour or other seasonings, she chose the pricier options.


    Li Qingshui understood what Xu Niannian meant by her words, which was that she wouldn¡¯t sell for less than three cents.


    She didn¡¯t doubt what Xu Niannian said.


    If the food was so tasty and she sold it for four cents, with a small profit but quick turnover, she could still make a lot.


    Anyway, it didn¡¯t require much effort from her, just needed to be marketed a bit in the shop.


    Thinking this way, Li Qingshui made a decision on the spot, ¡°Deal, I agree, but you have to accept one condition from me.¡±


    ¡°What condition, you say,¡± Xu Niannian said.


    Li Qingshui didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Let¡¯s have mutual benefit.


    Since we aim to make money, let¡¯s all make it together.


    I won¡¯t sell for more, just four cents, but you have to promise to supply me at least twice a week, and in my vicinity, you can¡¯t cooperate with anyone else.¡±


    Li Qingshui¡¯s words were completely within Xu Niannian¡¯s expectations.


    Anyone with a knack for business wouldn¡¯t be too foolish.


    If she supplied to everyone nearby, even if the food was really delicious, its value would decrease if it was available everywhere.


    In that case, her own shop wouldn¡¯t get extremely busy.


    And it sounded like, from her words, there weren¡¯t just one condition but two.


    First, to supply regularly, and second, not to collaborate with other shops in the vicinity.The idea of supplying regularly was exactly what Xu Niannian had in mind, and she had considered the point about not partnering with nearby businesses as well.


    She agreed right away, ¡°Big sister, your point is very reasonable, no problem.


    I can do that.


    Considering your place is in the center of the county, even if I look for other business partners, I¡¯ll seek out shops on the outskirts of the county.


    How does that sound?¡±


    Naturally, Li Qingshui wanted Xu Niannian to cooperate exclusively with her, but she also knew that wasn¡¯t realistic.


    The product was too exquisite and delicious, and it would represent a business opportunity wherever it went.


    People always say, ¡®fine wine needs no bush,¡¯ and if the food is delicious, it will naturally sell well no matter the location.


    The county was so large, others surely wouldn¡¯t just cooperate with her alone.


    The suburbs were far from here, and her place was right in the central area of the county, where business was definitely the best.


    Li Qingshui agreed on the spot and exchanged names with Xu Niannian.


    Off to one side, Jin Yu heard Xu Niannian¡¯s sweet and soft voice, and thought to himself that she should be called Xu Jiaojiao instead.


    When Li Qingyue learned that Xu Niannian had made over five hundred pieces this time, she promptly asked her, ¡°How long can this stuff last?¡±


    Xu Niannian thought for a moment.


    Since the product was from the space, it should last for about three days without a problem.


    It might not be as delicious as originally if it sat too long, but the flavor probably wouldn¡¯t be too far off.


    ¡°It should last for three days.


    If it gets hard, you can have someone steam it, or take it home to steam as well.¡±


    With a shelf life of only three days, Li Qingshui hesitated.


    Over five hundred of them, and she was selling them at forty cents apiece.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if she could sell them all in three days, so she simply gritted her teeth, ¡°Fine, you can have them all.


    Where are the goods?¡±


    ¡°You want all of them?¡± Xu Niannian was shocked for a moment.


    That¡¯s over five hundred...


    Quite the bold move.


    But...


    she liked it.


    Xu Niannian always enjoyed doing business with straightforward people.


    Once the deal was made, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t say another word, immediately went out to have Xu Zhiqiang bring the goods inside, treating Jin Yu as if he was thin air.


    This time, Xu Niannian had made over five hundred pieces, but she only planned to give Li Qingshui five hundred.


    She still had to find partners in the four cardinal directions of the city.


    Five hundred Liuyue Su pastries at thirty cents each amounted to 150 dollars.


    After Li Qingshui counted the quantity, he immediately gave the money to Xu Niannian.


    Getting so much money in one go, Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes squinted with joy, hardly able to see her pupils, looking every bit the money-grubber.


    Jin Yu watched from the side and sneered to himself, ¡°Money-grubber.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t expect his sister to come in and sell everything in one visit.


    He thought for sure they wouldn¡¯t be able to sell all of today¡¯s batch, and yet it hadn¡¯t even been half an hour, and she had sold them all.


    Because of this, Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s respect for Xu Niannian was unbounded.


    After selling the goods, there was obviously no need for Xu Niannian to stay any longer.


    But just as she was about to leave, she was stopped by Jin Yu.


    Xu Niannian now found this man completely disagreeable.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she glared at Jin Yu, teeth clenched.


    Jin Yu¡¯s lips curled, ¡°You took five dollars from me.¡±


    ¡°That was your own doing.


    I¡¯ve given you the item.


    We¡¯ve settled the transaction; what else do you want?¡±


    ¡°Thirty cents apiece, you only gave me one,¡± Jin Yu said with a skin-deep smile, his narrow phoenix eyes curving upwards, a gaze more seductive than a woman¡¯s.


    Xu Niannian held back her frustration.


    It seemed he wasn¡¯t bothered about the money; he was deliberately picking a fight with her.


    A brute, a degenerate.


    It¡¯s just because he finds her attractive that he¡¯s deliberately teasing her, isn¡¯t it?


    She wouldn¡¯t have it.


    With a ¡°snap¡±, Xu Niannian shoved the five dollars back into his hand, fiercely saying, ¡°Here, take it back.


    The one I gave you before, consider it fed to the dogs.¡±


    Li Qingshui, not being very familiar with Xu Niannian, saw this but didn¡¯t meddle any further.


    Xu Zhiqiang thought Jin Yu was trying to bully Xu Niannian.


    His slender frame stepped in front of her to protect her but was pulled aside by Xu Niannian, who glared at Jin Yu, fuming with anger.


    Unfortunately, her voice was sweet and soft, and because she had drunk water from the spring, it carried a hint of allure.


    Her eyes, large and bright, brimmed with water as she glared, failing to convey her anger to the recipient but instead seeming enticing.


    Jin Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed, his deep gaze harboring unknown danger.


    He pressed his tongue against his teeth, shoved the money back into her hand, and before Xu Niannian could ask what he was doing, he snatched the bag from her hand.


    Jin Yu weighed the bag in his hand and said, ¡°Five dollars, enough to buy this place.¡±


    Xu Niannian bit her teeth in anger, ¡°I¡¯m not selling it to you.¡±

 Chapter 44 - 44 43 Coming Up with Another Plan

    ?44: Chapter 43: Coming Up with Another Plan 44: Chapter 43: Coming Up with Another Plan ¡°Not selling?¡± Jin Yu chuckled dismissively, ¡°Took the money and not giving the goods?¡±


    ¡°Who took the money?


    It was you who insisted on giving it to me.¡±


    Seeing Jin Yu¡¯s smug face, Xu Niannian felt an itch in her teeth¡ªwhat a nuisance.


    Jin Yu raised his eyebrows and met her clear, big eyes.


    He clicked his tongue.


    She really was a temptress.


    If she was a spy sent by the enemy to seduce him, then it was clear she had succeeded.


    Facing those constantly seductive eyes, Jin Yu really wanted to take her right then and there.


    The thought flashed through his mind, and Jin Yu reached out his hand towards Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian was but a paper tiger; she would back down as soon as someone made a move.


    The key was their unequal strength; even if she didn¡¯t back down, it was pointless.


    Seeing Jin Yu¡¯s hand reaching towards him, she stepped back warily.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Jin Yu narrowed his eyes.


    What was he doing?


    He must have been crazy to have lustful thoughts about an indecent woman.


    Tsk.


    What a damn ghost.


    Xu Zhiqiang also quickly stood in front of Xu Niannian, assuming a protective stance.


    Xu Niannian knew Xu Zhiqiang was definitely no match for the man before her¡ªwhat a joke, the difference in their builds was too great.


    But she was still moved by Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s actions; her caring hadn¡¯t been in vain.


    Jin Yu¡¯s gaze swept over the two of them, and seeing Xu Niannian¡¯s moved expression, he sneered silently, took his stuff, and left the dried goods shop without another word.


    His departure was without any warning, and Xu Niannian was taken aback for a moment.


    He just left like that?


    She had thought this beast wanted to do something to her.


    The remaining Liuyue Su was taken away by Jin Yu, and Xu Niannian could no longer continue to seek collaboration with the stores in the suburbs, so she had to go home.


    Still, she was quite upset.


    Carrying the items, Jin Yu walked into his house, strode into the living room, and sat down on the sofa.


    With his arms crossed in front of his chest, he had a thoughtful expression on his face.


    Thinking back to his entanglement with that woman, Jin Yu clicked his tongue.


    If she hadn¡¯t intentionally followed him, their fate was indeed too strange.


    In the large compound, he could hardly meet the same person twice or three times, and it was amazing that in such a big town, he happened to run into that woman three times.


    Huh...


    Right, what was her name?


    She seemed to be called Xu Jiaojiao.


    Now, Jin Yu could recall the stunningly beautiful face he glimpsed upon their first meeting, even with his eyes closed.


    How could there be such a beautiful woman in this world?


    To say she was as beautiful as a fairy-like girl would be no exaggeration.


    Jin Yu had seen his fair share of beauties, but he had never seen one as beautiful as her.


    It¡¯s just that she was somewhat indecent, always using her eyes to lure him, playing hard-to-get with him.


    Tsk, he really wanted her.


    Jin Yu couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips with the tip of his tongue, his long phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, like a lion lying in wait on the grassland, his eyes as sharp as a hawk¡¯s, staring intently at a spot, waiting for his prey to approach in the grass.


    As soon as the prey drew near, he would not hesitate to unleash his sharp claws, aiming to kill with a single blow.


    Realizing that he was thinking about another woman, Jin Yu couldn¡¯t help but rub his temples.


    Damn it, what on earth was he thinking about.


    Spreading his hands behind his head and reclining on the sofa, Jin Yu sighed softly and couldn¡¯t help but think of the woman he forced himself upon when his mission failed.


    Where could she be?


    He didn¡¯t even know the woman, so naturally, there couldn¡¯t be any absurd feelings for her.


    But after all, he had harmed someone.


    That responsibility, no matter what, he had to bear it.


    Dismissing the inappropriate thoughts, Jin Yu glanced at the quietly sitting cakes on the coffee table, his slender fingers picked one out.


    The golden color was vibrant and bright, carved with a complex and exquisite pattern.


    Could it be the handiwork of that woman?


    He took a bite.


    With just one bite, Jin Yu tasted that it came from the same person who made the ones he had eaten before.


    But this time, it was clearly more delicious and also looked better.


    Having listened to the woman negotiating with the shop owner before, Jin Yu had of course heard her words.


    There were indeed improvements.


    Liuyue Su, huh?


    The name was nice, the taste was even better.


    Jin Yu wasn¡¯t a glutton, but he couldn¡¯t help but eat several pieces.


    Soon, the cakes in the bag made their way to his stomach, and when he reached for more, there were none left.


    Jin Yu lay on the couch, and after a fruitless grab, he frowned in annoyance.


    Just at that moment, Wu Lan came home, and from a distance, Jin Yu could hear her excited laughter.


    To Jin Yu, dealing with his own mother was always a source of helplessness.


    Hearing her laugh so happily, she was certainly up to no good¡ªdefinitely not anything good for him in any case.


    Without a hint of hesitation, Jin Yu leaped up like a cheetah from the sofa, dashed to his room, opened the window, and jumped out from the second floor, agile and graceful.


    When Wu Lan pushed open the door and walked in with a filled-to-brimming smile, she said, ¡°Come on, come in, let¡¯s have a chat.¡±


    The person who followed Wu Lan inside was a woman in her forties, full of shrewdness and calculation.


    Sitting down calmly with Wu Lan to talk about the day¡¯s matters, she was actually scanning around the house with her eyes all along.


    Wu Lan couldn¡¯t be more satisfied, as someone had finally come to propose a girl for her son, reportedly a very beautiful girl at that.


    The woman who came with Wu Lan, named Du Chunming, worked in an office.


    Wu Lan had many card-playing friends, and she had them all on the lookout for beautiful girls.


    It was well-known that she wanted to arrange a marriage for her son.

 Chapter 45 - 45 44 Making a Mess of the Matchmaking Register

    ?45: Chapter 44: Making a Mess of the Matchmaking Register 45: Chapter 44: Making a Mess of the Matchmaking Register The other party was not only the son of the Jin Family but also a young man with limitless prospects, who wouldn¡¯t scramble for the opportunity.


    But as Wu Lan made it clear, she wants a beauty, and those who aren¡¯t attractive need not be introduced.


    It wasn¡¯t that Wu Lan was discriminative based on looks; it¡¯s just that her son was too stubborn, and even beautiful women might not catch his fancy, let alone those who weren¡¯t attractive.


    Moreover, she was determined to resolve this matter quickly while her son was resting, cutting through the mess with a sharp knife.


    Otherwise, when her son went back to his work, how could she arrange a match for him?


    Although Wu Lan didn¡¯t understand his job very well, she knew enough to realize that once he started working, he could be gone for ten days to half a month without a trace.


    So it would be best to find someone pretty, preferably someone who could make her son fall in love at first sight.


    As for the ¡°beloved¡± her son spoke of, she didn¡¯t believe a single punctuation of it.


    So when they heard Wu Lan wanted someone particularly beautiful, quite a few gave up the thought.


    Many wanted to curry favor with the matriarch of the Jin Family, but they didn¡¯t want to fill the ranks only to be ineffective.


    Worse yet, they might fail to win her favor and even offend her.


    All effort for no gain.


    Du Chunming¡¯s husband also worked in a confidential department at C, and the news made her somewhat interested.


    She had a daughter herself, but unfortunately, her daughter was rather plain.


    Even as her mother, she couldn¡¯t deny that her daughter¡¯s looks couldn¡¯t be considered beautiful.


    She came today with the intention of introducing someone else.


    If she could help make this match happen, how could she fear not reaping some benefits later?


    Du Chunming¡¯s mental calculations were ringing loud and clear.


    And truth be told, she had indeed seen an exceptionally beautiful girl.


    She was from her cousin¡¯s side of the family.


    Her cousin, Ding Guihua, was married to a village cadre in Qingshan Village of Hongshan Town.


    Du Chunming had been close with her cousin since they were young, and last year when she visited her cousin, she indeed saw an extremely attractive girl in their village.


    Thinking of the girl¡¯s appearance, Du Chunming almost wanted to exclaim in admiration.


    Not to mention the men; even she, a woman, couldn¡¯t help but be amazed.


    ¡°Sister Du, are you saying that you really know a very beautiful girl?¡± On the way, Wu Lan had heard Du Chunming describe how attractive the girl was and was extremely eager.


    She wished she could take the girl home right then.


    ¡°Sister Wu, it¡¯s true, I, Du Chunming, never lie.


    Any man who lays eyes on that girl wouldn¡¯t be able to resist being smitten.¡±


    ¡°Is she really that beautiful?¡± Hearing her talk so extravagantly, Wu Lan, changing from her previous excitement, couldn¡¯t help but ask skeptically.


    Du Chunming knew that no one would believe her words, but she replied, ¡°Sister Wu, I¡¯m not deceiving you.


    If you don¡¯t find her attractive when you see her, I, Du Chunming, will immediately resign from my job.¡±


    The institution where Du Chunming worked was a governmental one, a secure job.


    Hearing her say this, Wu Lan immediately believed her.


    Wu Lan knew better than anyone how important a good job was nowadays.


    She figured that, even if the girl¡¯s beauty wasn¡¯t as exaggerated as claimed, she must still be a very fetching beauty.


    ¡°Alright then, pick a time soon, ask if the girl is willing, and if she is, bring her over tomorrow for us to meet.¡±


    Hearing this, Du Chunming¡¯s eyes immediately crinkled in a smile, ¡°Sister Wu, there¡¯s no need to rush.


    I have to ask for the girl¡¯s consent first.


    I¡¯m working tomorrow, but I¡¯ll go and ask the day after.


    Even if she agrees, she¡¯ll likely want to get ready first.


    At the soonest, I¡¯ll be able to bring her over in three or four days.¡±


    Although Wu Lan was anxious, she also understood the practicalities.


    It wouldn¡¯t be fair to expect the girl to skip work just to fulfill her marriage prospects.


    However, Du Chunming¡¯s intention was to give the girl a few days to make herself look her best, preferably more like a city girl.


    When it comes to mutual attraction, one can¡¯t simply force a split.


    That wouldn¡¯t look good if word got out.


    The leaders had even said that being a poor farmer for three generations was most glorious.


    Once the rice was cooked, who could stop it?


    After all, Wu Lan had only asked for a beautiful girl.


    Even if she wasn¡¯t satisfied in the end, she would have her justification.


    She hadn¡¯t asked for the girl to say she was from the city.


    The reason for these twisted thoughts was mainly to guard against city folks looking down on villagers, refusing them at first sight.


    That wouldn¡¯t do at all.


    Du Chunming was absolutely determined not to allow that.


    Since she had set her mind to it, she couldn¡¯t allow things to fall through.


    Even if Wu Lan wasn¡¯t pleased with her later on, as long as the girl managed to marry into the family, how could Du Chunming not gain some advantage?


    With the 155 yuan earned, plus the previous 20, Xu Niannian had 175 on hand.


    She dragged Xu Zhiqiang to the Department Store to buy more glutinous rice flour.


    Thinking of the second recipe, they also bought beef and some other necessary seasonings.


    After purchasing a heap of items, the two took the bus back to town.


    Just as they returned to the village, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but sneeze several times.


    At the entrance of the village stood a woman with a beaming smile on her face.


    Xu Niannian remembered her.


    Ding Guihua, the wife of the village head.

 Chapter 46 - 46 45 The Disguise Falls Off

    ?46: Chapter 45: The Disguise Falls Off 46: Chapter 45: The Disguise Falls Off Xu Niannian was particularly polite outside, especially to strangers.


    Of course, that was because the original host wanted to maintain a good reputation so she could marry into a good family later.


    This Ding Guihua was one of the people the former Xu Niannian would flatter.


    However, the original host was very smart about it; although she flattered Ding Guihua, she never let it show.


    So when she suddenly saw Ding Guihua smiling at her, Xu Niannian was not surprised.


    ¡°Aunt Ding.¡±


    As they passed by, Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Niannian both politely greeted her.


    Ding Guihua smiled and squinted her eyes, even more enthusiastic than usual, grabbing Xu Niannian¡¯s hand, ¡°Yo, Niannian, you¡¯re back.¡±


    When Xu Niannian returned, her gloves had accidentally gotten dirty, so she didn¡¯t wear them.


    Feeling the soft, delicate skin of her palm, Ding Guihua thought to herself, how could Yang Cuihua, that shrewish woman, have given birth to such a beautiful daughter.


    She had known before that this Xu family girl was so beautiful, surely she would be able to marry into a good family.


    It turned out she was right.


    Hearing what her cousin said over the phone, Ding Guihua felt a twinge of jealousy.


    She had a daughter too; why wasn¡¯t she as beautiful?


    Otherwise, this good fortune would not have fallen on this girl¡¯s lap.


    Xu Niannian was somewhat overwhelmed by the team leader¡¯s wife¡¯s enthusiasm.


    Because of the team leader, Ding Guihua usually had a bit of arrogance in the village.


    This was the first time Xu Niannian had been treated with such fervor by Ding Guihua.


    The key was she kept touching her hand, and Xu Niannian, somewhat embarrassed, withdrew her hand and used conversation to ease the awkwardness, ¡°Aunt Ding, is there something you need?¡±


    Ding Guihua smiled and narrowed her eyes, but suddenly fixated on the coarse cloth on Xu Niannian¡¯s face, ¡°Niannian, what happened to you?¡±


    Ding Guihua worried, hoping it wasn¡¯t a scarred face, which would mean no advantage would be gained.


    ¡°Ah...


    I got some prickly heat a few days ago, so today, I went out to sell some things and also bought some medicine on the way back,¡± hurriedly explained Xu Niannian.


    ¡°Prickly heat!¡± exclaimed Ding Guihua in shock and horror.


    Xu Niannian was surprised; this woman wasn¡¯t her mother, after all.


    Even if she really had prickly heat, there was no need for such exaggeration.


    And from her memories, Ding Guihua wasn¡¯t particularly kind to her junior.


    Of course, in those days, being from the same village, people had no obligation to be nice to her.


    As Xu Niannian was thinking about how to continue the conversation, Ding Guihua suddenly reached for her face, shouting, ¡°Let Auntie take a look.¡±


    It was too late for Xu Niannian to stop her.


    The coarse cloth on her face was pulled down, and without its cover, her stunningly beautiful features were revealed.


    Seeing Xu Niannian¡¯s current appearance, Ding Guihua and Xu Zhiqiang were stunned into stillness.


    Her facial features were the same, as was the shape of her face, but her skin had become incomparably white, so white it seemed to glow.


    Her watery apricot eyes were clear and distinct, both large and bright, impossibly beautiful.


    Even Ding Guihua, a middle-aged woman, couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva at the sight.


    Xu Zhiqiang was too shocked.


    His sister had always been the great beauty of their locality, and even though they had grown up together, accustomed to seeing her face, he still found her pretty.


    But he had never imagined that one day, she could be even more beautiful.


    It had only been a few days, what on earth had happened?


    How could she have become so white all of a sudden?


    Not only was her skin whiter, but her complexion was also incredibly good.


    Red lips, white teeth, bright eyes, and teeth, skin fairer than snow.


    All the wonderful adjectives could not fully describe the beauty of Xu Niannian at that moment.


    Of course, both Xu Zhiqiang and Ding Guihua, who had never been to school, could not think of such phrases.


    In both of their eyes, Xu Niannian was simply beautiful, too beautiful, incredibly beautiful at this moment.


    Seeing their astonished expressions, Xu Niannian felt both awkward and anxious.


    Fortunately, she had prepared in advance, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have been able to explain.


    ¡°Auntie, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Ding Guihua had been silent, so Xu Niannian had to speak first to break the awkwardness.


    It took a while for Ding Guihua to come to her senses, and she stammered, ¡°Niannian, when did you become so white?¡±


    In fact, after Xu Niannian drank from the spring, in addition to her skin becoming whiter, there were also some subtle changes.


    For instance, the expression in her eyes had changed, her complexion had changed, and so had her lip color.


    The former Xu Niannian, although attractive, was not stunning to the point where one couldn¡¯t look away.


    Because of her poor skin, no matter how attractive her features were, the longer you looked, the more flaws you¡¯d notice, and thus she wasn¡¯t as breathtaking as at first glance.


    But now it was different, her skin had become very good.


    Ding Guihua, a middle-aged woman, wouldn¡¯t be envious; after the initial amazement, she just felt a bit sour.


    Why did someone else¡¯s daughter have to be so beautiful?


    Xu Zhiqiang was also curiously looking at Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian coughed and hurriedly brought out the explanation she had prepared.


    Feigning surprise, she held her face, ¡°Ah, have my prickly heat been cured?


    How can this medicine be so effective?¡±


    Ding Guihua caught the keyword at once, ¡°You took medicine?¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯ve been taking herbal medicine these past few days, it¡¯s been quite bitter.¡±


    Upon hearing that Xu Niannian became this white from drinking herbal medicine, Ding Guihua believed it right away.


    After all, Xu Niannian¡¯s facial features hadn¡¯t changed.


    She immediately became intrigued, ¡°Where did you buy this medicine?¡±


    Xu Niannian blinked and said without turning a shade of red or losing her breath, ¡°It¡¯s from a street vendor in the county town, but I couldn¡¯t find him today, so I bought today¡¯s medicine from somewhere else.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ding Guihua immediately gave up her plan, as she had wanted to buy some for her own daughter.


    Xu Zhiqiang was frowning at Xu Niannian, who quickly gave him a look.


    Ding Guihua¡¯s disappointment lasted only a minute.


    It was immediately replaced by joy.


    She had been worried that if Xu Niannian¡¯s appearance was ruined, it might affect her cousin, especially since her cousin had been bragging about it.


    They had heard that the potential suitor was an important figure; if they didn¡¯t get the benefits and offended someone for nothing, that would be terrible.


    However, she wouldn¡¯t talk to Xu Niannian about such matters; it was better to go find Yang Cuihua.


    In those days, parents decided on matrimonial matters.


    There was no use talking to a girl about it.


    Ding Guihua only knew that Yang Cuihua doted on Xu Niannian, but she didn¡¯t realize that at home, both Dawei and Yang Cuihua would never refuse her if Xu Niannian asked for anything.


    Therefore, she had the full power to decide.


    Seeing the doubt disappear from Ding Guihua¡¯s eyes, Xu Niannian quickly asked her, ¡°Auntie, did you need something from me?¡±


    Ding Guihua snapped out of it, too embarrassed to keep staring at the young girl, ¡°No, no problem.¡±


    She then walked away with a smile on her face.


    Xu Niannian had a puzzled look on her face, this...


    why was it so strange?


    But Xu Niannian didn¡¯t dwell on it.


    Since Ding Guihua had pulled off the coarse cloth from her face, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t keep it wrapped around her.


    As she encountered many villagers along the way, upon seeing their shocked expressions, Xu Niannian must have repeated the same story she told Ding Guihua countless times.


    It exhausted her quite a bit.


    Once the news spread, the entire village came to know that Dawei, the lame man¡¯s daughter, had become even more beautiful.

 Chapter 47 - 47 46 Crooked Reasoning

    ?47: Chapter 46: Crooked Reasoning 47: Chapter 46: Crooked Reasoning Even Yang Cuihua had heard the news from someone else¡¯s mouth.


    After finishing her work, she immediately slung the hoe over her shoulder and ran home.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t know how excited her mother was.


    Yang Cuihua knew her daughter had developed prickly heat and watched her cover her face every day, worried sick that she would ruin her looks.


    Her daughter loved beauty so much that if she turned ugly, her daughter would probably cry herself to death.


    It seemed that drinking that dark, unsightly herbal medicine every day was really useful.


    There is always gossip in front of a beauty.


    Luckily, Xu Niannian had been a well-known beauty in the ten miles around the village since she was young.


    So, the villagers accepted it quickly and were curious to run over to the Xu family¡¯s home.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s modest-sized earthen house was immediately crammed with people.


    Each person came with some excuse, but in reality, they just wanted to see if Xu Niannian really had become beautiful again.


    After seeing her, each person returned home with a stony face.


    Just what is the secret of this daughter of the Xu family, Dawei¡¯s daughter?


    Although in that era, everyone generally favored boys over girls, they all understood one truth: if a girl is beautiful, as long as nothing untoward happens, she could definitely marry into a good family.


    These days, morals were strictly enforced; not everyone dared to be a hooligan openly.


    Dawei had been splitting wood in the house, and he was shocked too when he saw Xu Niannian return.


    Xu Niannian quickly trotted out her prepared story.


    Dawei, who doted on his daughter like his life, naturally wouldn¡¯t suspect anything.


    He happily watched as people from the village came to his home under various other pretexts just to see his own daughter, making him profoundly proud.


    After everyone had left and Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth was dry from talking, she looked up and saw Xu Zhiqiang staring at her.


    Xu Niannian, feeling a bit guilty, smacked her lips, ¡°Zhiqiang, what are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°Sister, why are you lying to people?¡±


    Xu Niannian was startled and almost fell off her stool.


    Had he realized she was lying to people?


    As she was anxiously pondering how to fool Xu Zhiqiang, she heard him say, ¡°That medicine clearly wasn¡¯t bought from the street-side quack.¡±


    On hearing that this was his concern, Xu Niannian¡¯s heart settled back down.


    Really, she was scared to death.


    She had thought he had discovered something about her space.


    Before telling this lie, Xu Niannian had already thought about how to explain to Xu Zhiqiang.


    Since he¡¯d been following her these past few days, he definitely knew where she had bought the medicine.


    She said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice that those people just wanted to find out where to buy the medicine?


    What if everyone goes to buy it, becomes beautiful, and overshadows your sister?¡±


    The original owner of the body was extremely vain, and as soon as Xu Niannian said this, Xu Zhiqiang instantly understood.


    His sister was afraid of others becoming as white as her.


    After saying this, Xu Niannian still nervously asked Xu Zhiqiang, ¡°Zhiqiang, don¡¯t you think I¡¯m too selfish?¡±


    Xu Niannian knew this excuse would definitely make Xu Zhiqiang have a negative impression of her.


    But there was no other way, she could only say that, or it would make no sense.


    If everyone went to that store to buy medicine and then realized it was useless, wouldn¡¯t that just prove she had lied?


    She really cared about this younger brother.


    Not only because she finally had a family, but also because of Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s protection.


    The feeling of being protected by a family member was truly wonderful, and she didn¡¯t want to lose it for anything.


    Seeing Xu Niannian¡¯s nervous eyes, Xu Zhiqiang was stunned for a moment.


    When he met her overly beautiful face, his cheeks flushed instantly.


    ¡°No matter what, you are still my sister.¡±


    So, as long as she didn¡¯t bully them, he would always support her.


    The reason why Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng were so easily moved by Xu Niannian¡¯s actions wasn¡¯t because she owed them a great debt or treated them exceptionally well.


    It was because Xu Niannian was their blood sister.


    Their previous hatred and distaste for her stemmed from the expectation that this longed-for family member would be good to them, yet she turned out to be the very person who treated them the worst.


    Everyone craves something.


    For Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng, their greatest craving was the care from their kin.


    Xu Duoyu was still young and didn¡¯t understand many things.


    But even so, he was close to her so easily because Xu Niannian was his blood sister.


    Hearing Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s words, Xu Niannian felt incredibly moved in an instant.


    ¡°Zhiqiang...


    you¡¯re really kind,¡± she said, her voice choked with emotion.


    Xu Niannian was someone with a tender heart, especially valuing her hard-won family since she had grown up without any blood relatives.


    Seeing her cry suddenly, Xu Zhiqiang panicked: ¡°Sister...


    sister, don¡¯t...


    don¡¯t cry.¡±


    Yang Cuihua had just arrived home when she heard Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s words.


    She rushed over and pulled Xu Niannian to her, asking frantically, ¡°Baby Nian, what¡¯s wrong?


    Don¡¯t scare me.¡±


    When Yang Cuihua pulled Xu Niannian to her, the first thing she noticed wasn¡¯t her daughter¡¯s dramatic change in appearance, but the tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Why are you crying, Baby Nian, my Baby Nian?


    Who has bullied you?¡± Yang Cuihua¡¯s face immediately grew stern, with the air of someone ready to grab a knife and fight anyone who dared to bully Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian quickly wiped her tears and explained to Yang Cuihua, ¡°Mom, no one¡¯s bullying me.


    It¡¯s Zhiqiang...¡±


    ¡°What?


    Xu Zhiqiang, you bunny brat, you¡¯ve got some nerve, daring to bully your sister.


    I¡¯ll beat you dead,¡± she said, ready to rush over.


    Before Xu Niannian could even finish her words, Yang Cuihua interjected, scaring her into hastily hugging her mother¡¯s waist: ¡°Mom, mom, slow down, let me finish what I was saying!¡±


    ¡°Let go, Baby Nian.


    Let mom take care of this first, then you can continue,¡± Yang Cuihua said, glaring.


    Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s face darkened immediately.


    Xu Niannian, caught between laughter and tears, and afraid that Yang Cuihua would misunderstand, hurriedly said, ¡°Mom, Zhiqiang hasn¡¯t bullied me.


    He¡¯s been nice to me.


    I¡¯m crying because I¡¯m moved.¡±


    Hearing this, Yang Cuihua was taken aback and asked incredulously, ¡°Really?¡±


    Xu Niannian helplessly replied, ¡°Really, Mom.


    I¡¯m not lying to you.


    Zhiqiang is being good to me.


    He wouldn¡¯t bully me.¡±


    Xu Niannian said this hoping it would make Yang Cuihua be a bit nicer to Xu Zhiqiang.


    To which Yang Cuihua responded, ¡°He should be good to you.


    After all, you are his sister.¡±


    Xu Niannian: ¡°... And Zhiqiang is still my brother, so I should also be good to him.¡±


    Hearing this, Yang Cuihua, worried that Xu Niannian would naively give all her hard-earned money to her brothers, quickly started to work on changing her thoughts.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the same.


    They only have one sister like you, but you have three younger brothers.¡±


    Xu Niannian was immediately at a loss for words: ¡°...¡±


    So it was still the rarity that made something valuable.


    Xu Zhiqiang had long since grown accustomed to Yang Cuihua¡¯s reasoning.


    In the past, when Xu Niannian treated them poorly, every time he heard this talk, Xu Zhiqiang would be upset for a long time, feeling as if his heart was being sliced with a knife.


    Now that Xu Niannian was being kind to the three brothers, Xu Zhiqiang unexpectedly found that it seemed quite reasonable upon hearing Yang Cuihua¡¯s words.


    They, the three brothers, should be good to their sister.

 Chapter 48 - 48 47 The Powerful Brainwashing Mom

    ?48: Chapter 47: The Powerful Brainwashing Mom 48: Chapter 47: The Powerful Brainwashing Mom This time, they made 155 yuan in total, and adding the leftover money from last time, they had 175 yuan altogether.


    On the way back, they spent more than 30 yuan on necessities.


    There was still rice at home, so Xu Niannian only bought glutinous rice flour and spices to make Butter Sauce.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua so anxious and agitated, Xu Niannian quickly closed the door and took out the remaining 140 yuan.


    Xu Zhiqiang already knew how much she had made and had been surprised before.


    But it was Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei who couldn¡¯t withstand the shock.


    With a ¡°clatter,¡± the dry tobacco pipe in Xu Dawei¡¯s hand fell to the ground.


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s eyes widened even more, staring at the coins on the table with an expression as if she had seen a ghost.


    Yang Cuihua was shocked.


    ¡°Niannian...


    Baby Nian...


    Mom isn¡¯t seeing things, am I?¡±


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s head felt a bit dizzy.


    In her whole life, she had never seen so much money.


    This this this...


    Was it really earned by her daughter?


    Xu Dawei was equally stunned.


    Previously, when his daughter earned over forty yuan in a single day by selling water, he had thought it was already incredibly impressive.


    He didn¡¯t expect that in such a short time, his daughter could earn so much money again, such a large pile¡ªit must add up to almost a hundred yuan by now.


    Seeing the shock on their faces, Xu Niannian affectionately walked over and took Yang Cuihua¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Mom, this is the money Zhiqiang and I have earned.


    From now on, we can live a good life and won¡¯t have to eat bran anymore.¡±


    Previously, Xu Niannian had brought rice home, but whenever she went out to sell things, Yang Cuihua never touched the rice and instead cooked and ate the bran.


    She intentionally said the money was earned by her and Xu Zhiqiang, just to change Yang Cuihua¡¯s attitude towards Xu Zhiqiang.


    Xu Zhiqiang looked at Xu Niannian with emotion, his throat aching with the urge to explain, but after receiving a stern glance from Xu Niannian, he closed his mouth.


    Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei finally snapped out of their shock.


    Yang Cuihua hurriedly grabbed a bag and put all the money from the table into it, as if afraid that others might see it.


    After securing the money, Yang Cuihua stuffed it into Xu Niannian¡¯s hands and urged frantically, ¡°Baby Nian, quick, go hide the money.¡±


    Xu Niannian had no choice but to put the money back in the room before coming out.


    The family of four sat around the large table in the main room.


    Yang Cuihua finally learned from Xu Niannian that the money was all earned from selling pumpkin cakes.


    Everyone in the family had tasted Xu Niannian¡¯s pumpkin cakes, and Yang Cuihua still remembered their delicious aroma to this day.


    So tempting, she still couldn¡¯t help swallowing saliva when thinking about them.


    Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua had been farmers all their life, and they were among the poorest in the village.


    Even the poorest families in the village could still eat coarse grains like corn.


    Their family could only eat bran, which was used to feed pigs.


    Every time she thought about the hardships of their family life, Yang Cuihua felt distressed.


    She couldn¡¯t help her tears and choked up with a sigh, ¡°My Baby Nian finally has something to be proud of.¡±


    Yang Cuihua loved this daughter the most.


    She hadn¡¯t managed to provide her a good life and didn¡¯t know how many nights she had cried.


    Now things were better, her daughter could earn money by herself, and even after getting married, she would be able to stand tall in her in-laws¡¯ house.


    Xu Dawei, not a man of many words, just kept grinning foolishly and nodding repeatedly towards Xu Niannian.


    After expressing her feelings, Yang Cuihua then remembered the main purpose of hurriedly coming back from the field.


    Only then did she notice that her daughter had indeed become much more beautiful.


    Her face wasn¡¯t just free of prickly heat, it was radiant and glowing, like it was smeared with foundation as smooth as the city girls, even more beautiful than them.


    Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t help but feel a rush of pride as she touched Xu Niannian¡¯s face and said, ¡°My Baby Nian is really pretty.¡±


    She didn¡¯t ask why Xu Niannian suddenly became whiter and more beautiful.


    Because in Yang Cuihua¡¯s eyes, her daughter was a Heaven-designated Fairy, and any positive change was simply to be expected.


    Lucky indeed, favored by the heavens.


    Not only beautiful but also capable of cooking delicious food, and earning money.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua¡¯s proud smile, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.


    It seemed that matter was now put to rest.


    Just as Xu Niannian was about to ask where Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu had gone, Yang Cuihua cleared her throat and said to Xu Zhiqiang with seriousness.


    ¡°Your sister said that you earned this money together with her?¡±


    Xu Niannian immediately thought: ¡°...¡±


    She knew her mother couldn¡¯t sit still.


    Xu Zhiqiang looked at Xu Niannian, who was desperately winking at him.


    Xu Zhiqiang had no choice but to ¡°hm¡± in acknowledgment.


    Yang Cuihua asked, ¡°Then tell me, what exactly did you help with?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang couldn¡¯t lie, and upon being questioned by Yang Cuihua, he candidly replied, ¡°Helped Sis boil water, peel pumpkins, and carry them into the county town.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Yang Cuihua showed a smile to Xu Zhiqiang for the first time, ¡°Not bad, knowing your sister¡¯s business is hard work and helping her with these little things.¡±


    Xu Niannian held her forehead, anticipating that the words to follow from Yang Cuihua would surely not be pleasant.


    Sure enough, before Xu Zhiqiang could even respond, Yang Cuihua spoke again.


    ¡°Your sister earned so much money mainly because her food is delicious.


    You just helped a little, I¡¯m not wrong, am I?¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Xu Niannian having a bad dream back then, deciding to be kind to these ¡°bunny brats,¡± Yang Cuihua wouldn¡¯t bother with all this talk and would just grab the money without any explanation.


    And here she was, having to figure out how to make this bunny brat willingly be nice to her Baby Nian.


    Yang Cuihua was stating the facts, and after hesitating for a minute, Xu Zhiqiang immediately ¡°hm¡¯d¡± again in agreement.


    Yang Cuihua continued, ¡°So, most of the money was earned by your sister, right?


    Shouldn¡¯t it be put with your sister¡¯s share?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang thought this made sense and ¡°hm¡¯d¡± again in acknowledgment.


    Dawei smoked his dry tobacco pipe, nodding along.


    Xu Niannian guessed Yang Cuihua¡¯s intentions and hurriedly said, ¡°Mom, Zhiqiang has helped after all.¡±


    The moment Yang Cuihua faced Xu Niannian, her attitude couldn¡¯t be better, smiling from ear to ear, ¡°Baby Nian is sweet, Mom knows.¡±


    Before Xu Niannian could say anything more, Yang Cuihua turned to Xu Zhiqiang and said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve helped your sister, Mom won¡¯t shortchange you.


    You¡¯ve helped, so it¡¯s only fair that you get some money.¡±


    Upon hearing this, both Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang were stunned; were these words really coming from their mother?


    Surely she hadn¡¯t been bewitched.


    Yang Cuihua, however, appeared completely calm.


    Xu Zhiqiang quickly said, ¡°Mom, I didn¡¯t think about taking any of Sis¡¯s money.¡±


    He had helped voluntarily, and besides, his sister was good to him now, so it was right for him to assist.


    After hearing this, Yang Cuihua nodded in satisfaction, posturing herself: ¡°It¡¯s best that you think this way; Mom isn¡¯t unreasonable, after all.


    Since your sister earned money and you helped, it would be unreasonable not to share some with you.¡±


    ¡°Since you only helped a little, Mom will make the decision for your sister and give you one dollar.¡±


    One dollar was indeed trivial compared to the 150 dollars Xu Niannian earned, but compared to the income of migrant workers or even factory workers in town, it was a decent sum.


    The average worker in town only earned a dozen dollars a month, which averaged to less than one dollar a day.


    Yang Cuihua was being more than generous, which shocked Xu Zhiqiang, while also stirring feelings inside him.


    Actually, their mom, despite favoring his sister, hadn¡¯t been too harsh on them.


    At least they were only less favored than his sister, and in terms of food and living, there was no real difference from their parents; it was only because of the family¡¯s poverty.


    Xu Zhiqiang was moved when Yang Cuihua added, ¡°You¡¯re still young, not yet at the age to get a wife.


    This money should be kept with Mom, to save for when you¡¯re ready to get married, you have no objections, right?¡±


    Naturally, Xu Zhiqiang had no objections.


    In any household, it was the parents who handled the money.


    Even if he wasn¡¯t married, or if he was married without having left the family home, he would still have to hand over the money to his parents.


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re right; keep it with you,¡± Xu Zhiqiang said.


    He was actually quite content with Yang Cuihua giving him just one dollar; anymore, and he would have felt too embarrassed to accept it, as it was his sister¡¯s effort that earned it.


    If it weren¡¯t for his sister, he wouldn¡¯t have had a single cent.


    Xu Niannian had witnessed the entire exchange and just stared dumbfounded at Yang Cuihua.


    In the end, Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t get a penny, yet he was touched by Yang Cuihua¡¯s gesture.


    The old lady¡¯s brainwashing skills were quite formidable.

 Chapter 49 - 49 48 Finding the Home Door

    ?49: Chapter 48: Finding the Home Door 49: Chapter 48: Finding the Home Door Xu Niannian had become more and more beautiful, a piece of news that didn¡¯t take long to spread through the entire village.


    As the great beauty of the surrounding eight villages, she had always been the focus of young men¡¯s attention.


    Quite a few people used the excuse of looking for Xu Zhiqiang to run to the Xu Family¡¯s house to see for themselves.


    But Xu Niannian had no interest in being ogled; after chatting with Yang Cuihua, she bolted into her room to hide.


    When Auntie Wang from next door saw so many people heading to Xu Niannian¡¯s home, she spat in disdain and said to her son,


    ¡°Pah, a loss-making good-for-nothing, I don¡¯t know what there is to be proud of.


    No matter how pretty, what use is it if a woman can¡¯t work?


    She¡¯ll still end up not getting married; which family would want to support such a big burden for nothing?¡±


    The moment her words fell, she saw her son running out of the courtyard.


    She stopped berating Xu Niannian and hurriedly asked, ¡°Son, where are you going?¡±


    Without turning his head, her son simply said, ¡°I¡¯m going to Uncle Dawei¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°What are you going there for?¡±


    ¡°Uncle Dawei¡¯s foot is bad; I¡¯m going to chop wood for him.¡±


    Auntie Wang didn¡¯t need any further explanation; she snapped, ¡°You get back here to your mother.¡±


    However, her son had already entered Xu Dawei¡¯s yard.


    Auntie Wang suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart, feeling that she had raised her son for nothing.


    That evening, Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu only returned home late, covered head to toe in dirt.


    Yang Cuihua inevitably scolded them, and was even about to resort to hitting them.


    In Xu Zhicheng¡¯s basket was a big, fat fish.


    He promptly took it out, ¡°Mom, we caught this fish to help sister nourish her body.¡±


    Seeing the big, fat grass carp cradled in his arms, Yang Cuihua stopped scolding.


    She held Xu Zhicheng¡¯s face and planted a heavy kiss, ¡°Our Zhicheng is so understanding.¡±


    Glancing over at Xu Duoyu, covered in mud, her eyes widened and Xu Duoyu took a step back, his eyes wet.


    Hurriedly, he presented the wild vegetables in his hands, ¡°Sis, sis likes to eat these.¡±


    So, Xu Duoyu also received a heavy kiss from Yang Cuihua, turning his little face red.


    Yang Cuihua was happy, ¡°Take it to the kitchen.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng quickly went to the kitchen with the fish while Xu Duoyu followed him, little by little, with the wild vegetables.


    Reaching the furthest part of the house, the two of them looked at each other, still in shock.


    Xu Zhicheng said with an expression of being favored beyond belief, ¡°Mom kissed me.¡±


    Xu Duoyu shyly puffed out his little belly, ¡°Mom kissed me too.¡±


    No child doesn¡¯t yearn for their mother¡¯s affection.


    Having been treated roughly by Yang Cuihua since childhood, the two little ones still longed for their mother¡¯s love.


    For dinner, Xu Niannian made a spicy boiled fish slice dish, letting the fish feed in the stream for half an hour beforehand.


    She was now cooking almost exclusively with stream water.


    Considering her family members weren¡¯t used to very spicy food, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t dare to add too much spice.


    She cut the fish slices thinly, sprinkled them with Sichuan pepper powder and sesame oil, and added stir-fried chili oil to the mix.


    A simple boiled fish dish turned out to be numbly spicy, the piping hot chili oil sizzling on top, its fragrance spreading immediately, full of that bite and zest.


    The wild vegetables were also soaked in stream water for a while before being stir-fried.


    Xu Niannian kept the preparation of the wild vegetables simple, but even so, having been soaked in stream water made them incredibly fragrant.


    That evening, Xu Niannian cooked rice, rinsing the grains clean with stream water before cooking them in it.


    Just lifting the lid of the pot released the rich aroma of the rice, each grain full and glistening with a lustrous sheen.


    Rice, for the entire Qingshan Village, was considered a delicacy only to be had during the New Year celebration by most households.


    Let alone for the modest Xu Family, considered the poorest in the village.


    The family sat around the dinner table, each one of their eyes shining bright.


    ¡°Sis, is this rice?¡± Xu Zhicheng stared eagerly at the bowl of rice, swallowing hard several times.


    Even Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t help salivating.


    Because Xu Niannian had earned 155 yuan that day, Yang Cuihua refrained from scolding her sons and let them eat their fill.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng cheered happily, while Xu Zhiqiang was slightly more composed.


    Not only was there rice, but there were also delicious dishes to go with it, and the family ate to their heart¡¯s content.


    Seeing the food made with stream water, Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes also brightened.


    She hadn¡¯t been wrong; even food items not from recipes, as long as they were prepared with stream water, tasted ten times better than the originals ¡ª she couldn¡¯t help but indulge herself.


    *


    On the deserted hillside, Jin Yu arrived at the spot where he had failed his mission and his parachute had dropped him.


    With hands on his hips and a blade of grass in his mouth, his narrow, phoenix-like eyes squinted slightly.


    This was the place where he had caused trouble for that girl.


    To prevent his mother from incessantly pestering him, Jin Yu decided to find the girl sooner rather than later, to put a stop to his mother¡¯s eagerness to set him up on blind dates.


    Though he hadn¡¯t gotten a good look at the girl¡¯s face, Jin Yu clearly remembered the sound of her voice.


    Crisp and bright.


    That kind of sharpness right in the throat, he thought.


    If he heard it again, with his memory, he would definitely recognize her.


    He remembered the girl had threatened him, saying her family lived in the nearby mountain village.


    Looking up, there were at least five or six small villages around the area.


    Always one for action, Jin Yu, wearing his thick military boots, headed directly towards the first small village on the left.

 Chapter 50 - 50 49 The Demon Comes Calling

    ?50: Chapter 49: The Demon Comes Calling 50: Chapter 49: The Demon Comes Calling Jin Yu¡¯s visit came at an awkward time; by the time he reached the village, night had already fallen.


    Jin Yu couldn¡¯t help but kick a pebble on the ground, tsk, what a pain in the ass.


    He had planned to visit each household to gather information, but now it seemed there was no time for that.


    Visiting people¡¯s homes late at night, others would only think he was up to no good.


    But it clearly wasn¡¯t realistic to go back now either.


    With no other option, Jin Yu simply picked a house to stay for the night.


    He wouldn¡¯t go back until he found that girl.


    He simply couldn¡¯t believe it; just a few small villages, and he couldn¡¯t find a single person.


    From a distance, he saw a house with another building beside it; Jin Yu headed to the first house.


    This was an earthen house, like most houses in the village.


    Since there was no one in the courtyard, Jin Yu walked right in through the gate that was tied up with wooden sticks.


    At the main house¡¯s entrance: ¡°Hello, may I ask...¡±


    He had barely started speaking when the door of the main house was pulled open from the inside, and immediately a basin of hot water was poured over his head.


    Jin Yu hadn¡¯t expected the homeowner to open the door so quickly, nor had he expected to receive a welcome with hot water.


    Caught off guard, he was drenched like a drowned rat.


    Xu Niannian was just coming out to pour out the water she had used to wash her feet, not expecting to douse someone with it.


    Most importantly, she hadn¡¯t expected that at this time of night, someone would come to her house.


    She didn¡¯t even hear footsteps, which was especially strange.


    It was pitch dark, and Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t see clearly the person she had splashed with foot-washing water, just felt that it was a tall man.


    Thinking it was a fellow villager, she hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, are you alright?¡±


    Her soft voice snapped Jin Yu back to reality.


    Xu Niannian forgot to lower her voice, and that enchanting tone sent shivers down Jin Yu¡¯s spine and made it dance.


    The dark night concealed the thick ink in his eyes, Jin Yu gritted his teeth, ¡°Xu Jiaojiao...


    is it really you?¡±


    What kind of cursed fate was this, how could he bump into her no matter where he went?


    At first, Xu Niannian was stunned when she heard the name Xu Jiaojiao; when did she become Xu Jiaojiao?


    No, that voice sounded a bit familiar, didn¡¯t it?


    Stepping closer, Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Why is it you?¡±


    Now that they were close, both could clearly see each other¡¯s faces.


    Jin Yu hadn¡¯t expected it to actually be this woman.


    His hair, still dripping black ink, Jin Yu carelessly stroked his hair back, pressing it behind his head, his pitch-black eyes staring intently at the woman in front of him, gaze sharp.


    ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡±


    When Jin Yu was nonchalant, he gave off a very dangerous vibe, let alone when he was staring at someone.


    That sharp gaze was enough to intimidate even the most vicious of criminals.


    But Xu Niannian seemed completely unaffected, not expecting this beast to appear in front of her again.


    Apart from grinding her teeth at the tacky coincidence, her aversion to him as a person was even stronger.


    So when she heard his questioning, she bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.


    ¡°What do you mean, how come I¡¯m here?


    This is my home.


    Shouldn¡¯t I be here?


    Instead, what about you?


    Not content staying in your own county town at night, what brings you to our small place?¡±


    Since Xu Niannian always encountered Jin Yu in the county town, she naturally regarded him as a city person.


    ¡°You¡¯re from this village?¡± Jin Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flowing from within.


    ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re the one?¡± Xu Niannian replied to him irritably.


    This Demon, how come he¡¯s everywhere, like a lingering ghost.


    Jin Yu looked at Xu Niannian thoughtfully, and by now, Xu Niannian had already torn off the coarse cloth from her face.


    The dim light in the room spilled outside, and there she stood in front of him, vivaciously, her skin glowing palely, with a pair of big, bright apricot eyes glaring at him.


    His gaze drifted downward, to where she had hitched up her pant legs to her calves, revealing a section of fair and delicate shins.


    One had to admit, this woman was fair from head to toe, and as he narrowed his eyes and met hers, her bewitching big eyes made Jin Yu¡¯s mouth go dry.


    He stood there with his hands on his hips, looking cool, and clucked his tongue, unable to resist running his tongue around his teeth, thinking how this woman never forgot to exude her seductive charm.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t speak but still kept a cool expression, Xu Niannian¡¯s face darkened to the point of dripping ink.


    She was just about to close the door and ignore this scoundrel.


    Then she heard Yang Cuihua come out from inside, ¡°Baby Nian, who are you talking to?¡±


    Originally intending to go to sleep, Yang Cuihua hurried out upon hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s voice, eager to see what was happening.


    Once outside, she saw Jin Yu standing in the courtyard, his tall figure imposing.


    Whether it was Jin Yu¡¯s physique or looks, wherever he was thrown, he would certainly stand out.


    This was the first time Yang Cuihua had seen such a good-looking young man.


    Her gaze swept over him and Jin Yu instantly reined in his intimidating presence, speaking before Yang Cuihua had a chance to.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, hello, I¡¯m passing through from another village, came here to handle some matters, I wonder if I could stay at your place for one night.¡±


    When facing Yang Cuihua, Jin Yu¡¯s attitude was that of a perfectly polite citizen.


    ¡°You can...¡±


    ¡°You cannot.¡±


    Two voices burst out, one hesitant, one firm, the former from Yang Cuihua, the latter from Xu Niannian.


    Yang Cuihua immediately pulled Xu Niannian aside, ¡°Baby Nian, be good, obedient, quickly let the guest in.¡±


    Xu Niannian¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    When had this old lady become so easy to talk to?


    Was this still the famous shrew, Yang Cuihua, who respected no one but her daughter?


    Yang Cuihua had her reasons for acting this way, of course.


    The young man was obviously no ordinary individual, and although Yang Cuihua was brazen, she was not blind to obvious facts.


    She still had that discerning eye; recognizing that the man¡¯s status was not simple, first, he was not someone to offend, and second...


    for such an extraordinary young man, it was natural for Yang Cuihua to want her daughter to have more contact with him.


    Jin Yu seemed not to notice the gleam in Yang Cuihua¡¯s eyes, his demeanor remained proper, his smile friendly.


    Xu Niannian incredulously glanced at Yang Cuihua, then at Jin Yu, who could be described as the epitome of polite, her mind not quite catching up.


    Was it that the sky was about to change, or was she still not awake from a dream?


    In the end, Jin Yu was still ushered in by Yang Cuihua.


    Only then did Yang Cuihua notice that Jin Yu¡¯s hair was all wet, and his face and clothes were also drenched.


    Wanting her daughter to make an impression, Yang Cuihua quickly pushed Xu Niannian to fetch a face towel for Jin Yu to dry off with.


    Xu Niannian was reluctant, but in front of Yang Cuihua, she couldn¡¯t be too obvious about it.


    Jin Yu casually pulled at his lip towards her.


    Xu Niannian snorted and used the towel she used for drying her feet for Jin Yu instead.


    By this time, Yang Cuihua had already gone back to her room to rest, leaving Xu Niannian in charge of hosting Jin Yu and arranging for him to sleep in the main room.


    Jin Yu took the towel, catching a faint fragrance on it, without suspecting that Xu Niannian had given him a foot towel.


    What he did not know was that ever since Xu Niannian had drunk spring water, even her feet emitted a fragrant scent.

 Chapter 51 - 51 50

    ?51: Chapter 50: 51: Chapter 50: Drying his hair, Jin Yu looked up at Xu Niannian.


    As he thought about the unresolved, complicated karma he had with this woman and the fact that she was living here, a possibility crossed his mind.


    Could this person be her?


    Because of his intense focus, Jin Yu¡¯s gaze was very aggressive.


    Xu Niannian glared back at him, ¡°Pervert, why are you staring at me like that?¡±


    That look of hers, so irresistibly cute, almost melted him.


    If not for his strong self-control, he feared he couldn¡¯t stop himself from pulling this woman over and violating her.


    ¡°You live here?¡± he asked thoughtfully, causing Xu Niannian to suddenly become vigilant.


    Meeting his suspicious gaze, a bad guess formed in her heart.


    This beast couldn¡¯t possibly be here for her, could he?


    ¡°You...you have a problem with that?¡± Xu Niannian stuttered.


    Feeling afraid because she thought he might know she was the woman he had forced himself upon.


    Clearly, this man had no simple identity.


    When it came to butting heads, her whole family combined was no match for him.


    ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Jin Yu stared at her suspiciously, his slightly husky voice in the quiet night seemed particularly seductive.


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help shivering; when this man became flirty, probably few women could withstand it.


    ¡°Who says I¡¯m nervous?


    I just find you disagreeable,¡± Xu Niannian said through clenched teeth.


    Jin Yu remembered their first meeting, when her face had been wrapped in coarse cloth.


    If she really were the woman he had wronged, she wouldn¡¯t be acting so nonchalantly.


    And her voice didn¡¯t match either.


    The other woman¡¯s voice had been clear and crisp, unlike this woman¡¯s, which was mellow and tempting no matter who she spoke with.


    Jin Yu quickly dismissed the suspicions in his mind.


    Just then, a burnt smell wafted from the kitchen.


    Jin Yu frowned, ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡±


    Xu Niannian sniffed carefully, then suddenly remembered something and screamed before running into the kitchen, not caring about Jin Yu.


    Jin Yu narrowed his eyes, hands on his hips, and followed her into the kitchen.


    Xu Niannian had planned to make the second dish from the recipe, Butter Sauce, that night.


    Before washing her feet, she had put oil and other seasonings in the pot.


    Then, because of Jin Yu¡¯s sudden appearance, she had completely forgotten about it.


    Xu Niannian rubbed her brow in annoyance; this beast was too distracting.


    She shouldn¡¯t let this beast affect her.


    With the contents of the pot burnt, Xu Niannian had no choice but to start over.


    At this point, she had forgotten about Jin Yu¡¯s presence.


    Her hair being in the way, she simply twisted it up and secured it with a wooden hairpin, revealing a stretch of her pale and graceful neck.


    Jin Yu stood at the kitchen door, his hands braced on the frame, his eyes on the busy Xu Niannian.


    Watching her pale neck, Jin Yu couldn¡¯t help but press his tongue against his teeth.


    This woman truly had the assets to charm men.


    If she were sent to spy and seduce men, she would be sure to hook every one of them.


    Watching her bustle about in the kitchen, Jin Yu¡¯s eyes slightly lifted.


    He had thought a beautiful woman like her would surely do nothing at home, with her delicate, white, tender hands not looking like those of someone who did housework.


    Before, when he had seen her selling Liuyue Su, he thought it was something her family had made for her to sell.


    After a lot of busy work, Xu Niannian finally cleaned the pot.


    The pot was so big that Xu Niannian seemed to struggle when pouring out the water.


    Jin Yu immediately noticed the red marks on the palms of her hands from lifting the heavy pot.


    As she walked out with the pot, wobbly, water spilled on the floor, and she accidentally stepped in it.


    Her foot slipped, and she lost control, lunging forward with a crash.


    She closed her eyes in fear.


    Suddenly, a force came from her waist, catching her before she fell, and the pot she was carrying was taken from her hands.


    Xu Niannian was surprised and heard a scoff from above, ¡°You think closing your eyes will make it all go away?¡±


    Hearing this mocking voice, Xu Niannian quickly opened her eyes and looked up to see the beast¡¯s smiling face.


    But the smile in his eyes was full of explicit scorn.


    She abruptly stood up, ¡°Mind your own business.¡±


    ¡°Considering you gave me shelter for the night, I¡¯ll help you out with the chores for free,¡± he said with a low chuckle, his eyes lifting to reveal a playful smile as he carried the pot outside.


    Xu Niannian watched his towering figure, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    A beast was a beast, even doing a good deed seemed sleazy.


    Tch, casting those flirtatious glances at her.


    Did he think she would submit to his good looks?


    Tch, she would rather look at herself than him.


    Such a large pot of water, and Jin Yu had held her with one hand while steadying the pot with the other.


    He was indeed a beast of strength.


    It reminded Xu Niannian of the time when she struggled with all her might against him and still couldn¡¯t escape in the slightest, her hatred making her teeth itch.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she couldn¡¯t beat him, plus having a face that was still bearable to look at, she would have bashed his head with a stone before running away that day.

 Chapter 52 - 52 51

    ?52: Chapter 51 52: Chapter 51 After pouring out the dirty water, Jin Yu directly placed the pot on the stove for Xu Niannian, hands on his hips, and commanded, ¡°Make me something to eat.¡±


    A look of entitlement on his face.


    Xu Niannian glared, ¡°Why should I?¡±


    Jin Yu took out five yuan from his pocket, ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    The familiar dialogue, the familiar scene, Xu Niannian gritted her teeth and immediately bent for the money, ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡±


    Realizing what she had said, Xu Niannian wished she could slap herself in the face.


    When would she ever get rid of this money-grubbing trait?


    Always thinking with her wallet rather than her brain upon seeing money.


    Well, now that she had already said it, it would be too embarrassing to take it back.


    It just so happened she had planned to experiment with Butter Sauce; it made him the perfect guinea pig.


    There were exactly two stoves in the kitchen; Xu Niannian had bought a pot for cooking rice when she was in the county town, perfect for both uses.


    Fortunately, she had drawn two buckets full of stream water beforehand.


    She cleaned the rice with stream water and cooked it in the pot.


    Rolling up her sleeves, she began making Butter Sauce.


    To make Butter Sauce, one needed butter, beef, Sichuan pepper powder, green onions, chili, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, and a variety of standard ingredients.


    Xu Niannian had read the recipe and memorized the content in her mind.


    She cleaned the mushrooms, sliced them first, then diced them, soaking them in the stream water to remove impurities.


    She did everything methodically.


    Xu Niannian was skilled with a knife; as she diced the mushrooms, not only was she fast, but she also managed to cut them into uniform thickness.


    One could only hear the continuous sounds of the knife chopping on the cutting board.


    Very quickly, she was done.


    Jin Yu watched her white, slender fingers, completely spellbound.


    He thought, what beautiful hands, white and slender, making him want to pinch them uncontrollably.


    Xu Niannian had marinated the beef in stream water for about ten minutes before reducing it to minced meat.


    With all the necessary ingredients ready, Xu Niannian began to heat the pot and add oil.


    First, she melted the butter into a liquid state in the pot.


    The scent of butter was very fragrant; as soon as it melted, the rich aroma filled the air.


    After the oil was hot, Xu Niannian tossed in the green onions, chili, garlic, and star anise to release their fragrance.


    Xu Niannian intended to use this Butter Sauce as the main ingredient for opening a restaurant.


    Considering that some people dislike these ingredients, after the flavors were released, Xu Niannian used a skimmer to remove all the drained green onions and garlic.


    The butter mixed with these flavors was absolutely tantalizing.


    Next, she added the shiitake mushrooms and minced beef to the pot to stir-fry.


    To blend the fresh and tender taste of the mushrooms with the beef, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t stir-fry them separately but together right away.


    Moreover, cooked this way, the mushroom¡¯s flavor would be even more delicious.


    After both the beef and mushrooms turned golden brown, Xu Niannian then sprinkled in the prepared chili powder¡ªthe most important part of the Butter Sauce was having plenty of chili.


    Adding the chili, it dyed the beef and diced mushrooms inside thoroughly red, shining with a crimson light.


    After stir-frying them well, Xu Niannian finally sprinkled in the basic seasoning, salt, and Sichuan pepper powder.


    Having completed these steps, she added a bowl of stream water, and then it was time to cover it with a lid to simmer slowly.


    The flavor was already enticing enough while frying, but with the added stream water simmering inside, the aroma became even more seductive.


    Jin Yu watched from the side, unable to resist sneaking a glance at Xu Niannian.


    When she was cooking, she was focused and immersed, a sight to be enamored with.


    After stewing for a full ten minutes and the rice was ready, Xu Niannian lifted the pot lid.


    As soon as she did so, a rich fragrance wafted out.


    Little red bubbles bubbled cheerfully in the pot.


    Xu Niannian quickly ladled it into a large bowl, sprinkled some chopped green onions on top, and gave it a stir.


    She served Jin Yu a bowl of rice.


    Because the rice was cooked with stream water, each grain was plump, gleaming with a lustrous shine.


    Ladling two heaping spoonfuls of Butter Sauce over the rice, the rich and fragrant sauce was tantalizing and mouthwatering.


    Jin Yu wasn¡¯t particularly picky about food; due to his profession, he only required sustenance.


    But just the smell alone was enough to make anyone salivate.


    Now, Jin Yu was Xu Niannian¡¯s guinea pig.


    Ditching her previous reluctance, she served him with a smile, ¡°Try it and see.¡±


    The bright red sauce shone enticingly.


    Not to mention its tempting scent, just the sight alone was drool-worthy.


    Jin Yu took it, dug in his spoon, and took a bite.


    The mushrooms were plump and bouncy, the beef fragrant and delicious.


    The tingling spiciness made the appetite soar; paired with the rice, the savory and spicy sauce overflowed in the mouth.


    Jin Yu disliked sweets.


    If the previously mentioned Liuyue Su could be considered a delicacy, then this bowl of rice with sauce was a culinary delight.


    The rich sauce made it impossible for Jin Yu not to lick his lips.


    He devoured five bowls of rice in one go, eating until his stomach was stretched to its limits.


    Jin Yu¡¯s way of eating was actually quite unrestrained¡ªnot at all elegant, but not rude either.


    Instead, it could make others¡¯ appetites surge.


    Although Xu Niannian didn¡¯t like Jin Yu, seeing him enjoy the food she made imbued her with an undeniable sense of satisfaction.


    ¡°Is it good?¡± She asked Jin Yu with her bright, sparkling eyes.


    Jin Yu had just put down his bowl, and when he looked up, he met those bright, seductive eyes.


    With his belly full and warm, lustful thoughts emerged, and he felt an instant reaction.


    Cursing under his breath, ¡°Fuck,¡± Jin Yu thought this woman¡¯s eyes must be laced with an aphrodisiac.


    ¡°Stay away from me,¡± he suddenly said harshly.


    Xu Niannian immediately got angry.


    This ungrateful wretch, she had just cooked for him, and he snapped at her without delay.


    ¡°Are you sick?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but push him.


    But her hand accidentally slipped from his chest and, losing control of her body, she fell toward him.


    Jin Yu grabbed Xu Niannian¡¯s collar with one hand, and with too much force, there was a ripping sound, and the clothes tore in his hand, leaving her bare and tumbling into his embrace.

 Chapter 53 - 53 52 The Sudden Situation

    ?53: Chapter 52: The Sudden Situation 53: Chapter 52: The Sudden Situation Jin Yu squinted his eyes, instinctively lowering his head.


    Upon meeting Jin Yu¡¯s gaze, Xu Niannian instantly snapped awake and shoved Jin Yu away.


    She looked at him incredulously, ¡°You...


    ¡±


    Her finger pointing at Jin Yu was trembling.


    Jin Yu finally came back to his senses as well.


    Realizing what he had done, Jin Yu furrowed his eyebrows deeply.


    Damn, what exactly was he doing?


    He already had a woman he wanted to marry, even though he didn¡¯t yet know who she was, but he was determined to find her and marry her.


    Staying faithful was a line he had set for himself.


    How could he do something that would wrong that girl?


    Before Xu Niannian could even scold Jin Yu, he suddenly pulled away and strode out of her front door.


    Leaving Xu Niannian alone, stomping her foot in frustration in the middle of the room.


    *


    ¡°Scumbag, aaahhh...¡±


    Xu Niannian cursed Jin Yu in her heart while brushing her teeth.


    No, no, the next time she saw this man, she must avoid him at all costs; she didn¡¯t want to ever see him again.


    Ah!


    Xu Niannian ruffled her hair in irritation, nearly stepping on the little chick in her home and quickly retracting her foot in fright.


    She absolutely, absolutely didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with this scumbag any longer.


    After brushing her teeth countless times, Xu Niannian angrily stormed back to her room and pulled the blanket over her face.


    Meanwhile, Jin Yu, who had left, had returned to the previous hill, lying halfway up with his hands crossed under his head as a pillow.


    Jin Yu felt like he became someone else the moment he met Xu Jiaojiao, as if he were bewitched.


    His heart turned into a mess just seeing her.


    Heaven knows why that woman had to be so beautiful for no reason.


    And she always looked at him with those pitiful, helpless eyes.


    Thinking of her unsettling gaze, Jin Yu clicked his tongue and stamped a label on Xu Niannian: This girl is a no-go zone; stay away.


    Ever since he had hurt that woman, he had told himself that for this lifetime, he could only marry that woman.


    Unless that woman was unwilling to be with him.


    But damn Xu Jiaojiao, always intentionally or unintentionally disturbing him, causing his thoughts to be in constant turmoil.


    *


    To open up the market for Liuyue Su first, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t rush to make Butter Sauce to sell the next day; instead, she made almost five hundred more Liuyue Sus.


    This time, Xu Niannian did not take them to Li Qingshui, as the agreed supply time had not yet arrived.


    This time, she and Xu Zhiqiang took the Liuyue Sus to the edges of the city in four directions: east, south, west, and north, to find partners.


    The four shops weren¡¯t all dry goods stores; two of them were breakfast shops.


    Xu Niannian took out the Liuyue Sus, not in a hurry to discuss the price, but let others taste it first.


    Without exception, every shop owner who tasted the Liuyue Su agreed to cooperate with Xu Niannian.


    The two dry goods stores that did pay were straightforward, and like Li Qingshui in the city center, they not only took the current stock but also arranged the next Liuyue Su supply time.


    However, since their shops were on the outskirts, they did not request a large quantity.


    Anticipating that the flow of customers at the city outskirts would not be as good as in the city center, Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t made too many, only five hundred.


    The two dry goods stores on the outskirts took 300 Liuyue Sus, and the other two breakfast shops shared the remaining 200.


    Since she had promised Li Qingshui not to supply Liuyue Su to other shops in the city center, Xu Niannian had made it clear to these partners from the east, south, west, and north beforehand that if they moved their shops to the city center, she would no longer supply them with Liuyue Su.


    This matter was just starting to take shape, and the four partners readily agreed, after all, who knew what the future held.


    And given their current circumstances, it was not feasible for them to move to the city center just yet.


    Compared to the straightforwardness of the dry goods store owners, the two breakfast shop owners were more conservative and played by the rules.

 Chapter 54 - 54 53 Cooperation

    ?54: Chapter 53: Cooperation 54: Chapter 53: Cooperation In order to open the market for Liuyue Su, Xu Niannian did not rush to make and sell Butter Sauce the next day, but made about five hundred Liuyue Su instead.


    This time, Xu Niannian did not take them to Li Qingshui, as the agreed time to supply him had not yet arrived.


    She and Xu Zhiqiang took the Liuyue Su to the edges of the city in four different directions¡ªeast, south, west, and north¡ªto find potential business partners.


    Not all four shops were dry goods stores; two of them were breakfast stands.


    Xu Niannian brought out the Liuyue Su, and instead of discussing prices right away, she let people taste them first.


    Without exception, the owners of the shops who tasted the Liuyue Su all agreed to partner with Xu Niannian.


    The two dry goods stores were straightforward with their payments, and just like Li Qingshui in the city center, they not only took the current stock but also scheduled the supply for the next batch of Liuyue Su.


    However, since their shops were on the outskirts of the city, they did not place large orders.


    Xu Niannian had anticipated the lower foot traffic on the city outskirts compared to the city center, which is why she only made five hundred.


    Three hundred were split between the two dry goods stores, and the remaining two hundred were divided among the two breakfast stands.


    Because Xu Niannian had promised Li Qingshui not to provide Liuyue Su to stores in the city center, she made it clear to the four potential partners in the east, south, west, and north that if they moved their shops to the city center, she would no longer supply them with Liuyue Su.


    This arrangement was just taking shape, and the four partners agreed readily, after all, who knows what the future holds.


    Moreover, given their current circumstances, it was not feasible to move to the city center.


    Compared to the easygoing dry goods store owners, the breakfast shop owners were more conservative and by the book.


    Although they took this batch of Liuyue Su, they did not make arrangements with Xu Niannian for the next order.


    After all, Xu Niannian was selling them to the breakfast shops at three mao each, suggesting a retail price at most four mao.


    Four mao for a small pastry that couldn¡¯t fill someone up was considered expensive by those in the business, not to mention the customers.


    There was no question that the pastries were delicious, but there was concern that they were too expensive and few people could afford them.


    The dry goods store owners were shrewd, clearly adept at business, so Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t worried about how they were going to sell the pastries.


    However, the breakfast shop owners seemed a bit honest and simply focused on selling breakfast.


    Xu Niannian then gave them a tip: for any customers who came for breakfast, give them a little taste.


    Upon hearing this, the breakfast shop owners were immediately reluctant, and protested to Xu Niannian, ¡°It¡¯s so expensive, how can we give it away for free?


    No, that won¡¯t do.¡±


    Xu Niannian quickly explained that because the price was high, many who had not yet tasted it would be put off as soon as they heard the price.


    It would be better to let customers taste first, and after they were attracted by the flavor of Liuyue Su, then talk about the price.


    For those who appreciated good food, they might just grit their teeth and buy a piece to indulge; with more people buying, wouldn¡¯t that alleviate the concern about not being able to sell?


    At four mao each, although the unit price was high, it was not unaffordable, especially in the county town.


    Most people in the county town had jobs¡ªeating it every day was definitely not affordable with life and family to provide for, but indulging occasionally was within reach.


    The most important thing was that the food was delicious.


    To persuade the breakfast shop owners to give a free taste, Xu Niannian used themselves as an example.


    She asked them if they would have agreed to partner with her if they had heard the price before tasting the food themselves.


    Although the two landladies were simple folks, they were not foolish.


    After listening to Xu Niannian¡¯s analysis, they immediately understood and knew she was right.


    In no time, they sold another five hundred cakes, and Xu Niannian was overjoyed.


    The incident from the previous night where she accidentally got too close to that beast was immediately tossed aside.


    Dragging Xu Zhiqiang with her, she went back to the Department Store to buy glutinous rice flour and rice.


    There was still half a bag of rice left at home, but in order to convince Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei that their family could have rice meals in the future, Xu Niannian decided to buy some extra.


    Meanwhile, Ding Guihua finally staggered over to Xu Niannian¡¯s house.


    At that time, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang were still loitering around the county town.


    Other than Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Niannian, everyone else was at home.


    Since there was no need to work today, Yang Cuihua was washing clothes at home, mainly Xu Niannian¡¯s.


    As for the clothes of Xu Zhiqiang¡¯s three brothers, this task fell on Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu, the two little rascals.


    Yang Cuihua kept applying soap on Xu Niannian¡¯s clothes as she washed.


    Xu Duoyu just reached out to grab the soap when Yang Cuihua slapped his hand away, frightening Xu Duoyu into quickly hugging his hand.


    Yang Cuihua scolded, ¡°You little mischief Monkey, what do you need the soap for?


    The soap is for your sister; she loves being clean.


    You¡¯re always grubby.


    Anyway, after washing, you¡¯ll just go and roll in the dirt again.


    You¡¯re not allowed to use it, wasteful brat.¡±


    Xu Duoyu was stunned by Yang Cuihua¡¯s scolding, and Xu Zhicheng quickly pulled him behind his back for protection.


    Yang Cuihua was in full swing of her scolding when Ding Guihua sashayed through the gate of Xu Niannian¡¯s house with her swaying hips.


    ¡°Oh my, Sister Yang, are you doing laundry?¡± Ding Guihua, who had previously shown disdain for Yang Cuihua, approached with a smile and took Yang Cuihua¡¯s hand.


    Yang Cuihua waved her off, ¡°Don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯m busy washing my daughter¡¯s clothes.¡±


    Yang Cuihua was notorious for being a shrew.


    She wouldn¡¯t even give face to the brigade leader, let alone Ding Guihua, the leader¡¯s wife.


    Ding Guihua, accustomed to Yang Cuihua¡¯s fiery temper, wasn¡¯t offended and kept smiling.


    ¡°Washing what clothes now?


    I have something good to discuss with you...¡± She tried to pull Yang Cuihua up, afraid of being rejected again, Ding Guihua quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s about the lass Niannian.¡±


    The moment Yang Cuihua heard it involved her daughter, she promptly placed the clothes in the washbasin, briskly wiped her hands on the clothes, and hurried Ding Guihua inside the house.


    ¡°Wife of the brigade leader, speak up, what¡¯s happened with our baby Nian?¡± Her expression was extremely worried, fearing that something had happened to Xu Niannian.


    Ding Guihua, not fond of Yang Cuihua but eager about this matter, hastened to reassure her, ¡°Sister Yang, don¡¯t be nervous, it¡¯s not bad news; it¡¯s something good.¡±


    Hearing it wasn¡¯t bad news, Yang Cuihua instantly felt relieved.


    Feeling relieved, she complained, ¡°Wife of the brigade leader, next time make your point quicker, you almost gave me a heart attack with all that suspense.¡±


    Ding Guihua choked on her words, now being blamed?


    If it weren¡¯t for knowing Yang Cuihua¡¯s aggressive nature, she would have liked to give her a piece of her mind.


    She hurriedly relayed the proposition made by her cousin Du Chunming to Yang Cuihua.


    After hearing the terms of the proposition, Yang Cuihua was so shocked her jaw nearly dropped, ¡°Are their terms truly that good?¡±


    Anxious that the mother who adored her daughter might have a sudden outburst, Ding Guihua quickly said, ¡°They are that good, why would I lie to you?


    If they hadn¡¯t specifically asked for a beautiful girl, it wouldn¡¯t even be your Niannian¡¯s turn.¡±


    As she spoke, Ding Guihua couldn¡¯t help but let her true thoughts slip out.


    Yang Cuihua immediately took offense, her face turning fierce, ¡°Wife of the brigade leader, what are you talking about?


    Why wouldn¡¯t it be my Niannian¡¯s turn?


    My Niannian is gorgeous, a one-of-a-kind beauty in miles around.


    No other girl can compare.


    I still have to see if my Niannian is even interested in that person.¡±


    Ding Guihua had experienced Yang Cuihua¡¯s fierceness before, and seeing her scowl, was afraid she would pounce to start a fight, so she quickly took a step back, ¡°You¡¯re right, Sister Yang.¡±

 Chapter 55 - 55 54 Blind Date 1

    ?55: Chapter 54: Blind Date 1 55: Chapter 54: Blind Date 1 Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang returned home to find Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng immediately running over, excitedly circling around Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang.


    To be precise, they were circling around Xu Zhiqiang, who was carrying things.


    Xu Niannian scooped up Xu Duoyu in her arms and kissed her, making Duoyu shyly bury her face in Xu Niannian¡¯s shoulder, causing Niannian to burst into hearty laughter.


    Xu Dawei was drawing water when he saw Xu Niannian come back, his eyes curving into smiles: ¡°Baby Nian is back.¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Xu Niannian nodded vigorously.


    ¡°Dad, where¡¯s mom?¡±


    No sooner had she spoken than Yang Cuihua and Ding Guihua came out of the house.


    At that moment, Yang Cuihua was smiling happily, holding Ding Guihua by the hand and repeatedly calling her ¡°Sister Ding.¡±


    Xu Niannian looked confused.


    Was this her mother?


    Ding Guihua spotted Xu Niannian and greeted her warmly, leaving Niannian feeling awkward.


    Had the wife of the brigade commander switched her core too?


    Why had she suddenly become so enthusiastic?


    After Ding Guihua had left, Xu Niannian pulled Yang Cuihua inside the house.


    ¡°Mom, what brought Aunt Ding to our house?¡±


    Yang Cuihua, in high spirits now, led Niannian into the room and said with a beaming smile, ¡°Good news.¡±


    ¡°What good news?¡± Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    What good news could make Yang Cuihua this happy?


    Yang Cuihua looked at her own daughter¡¯s radiant appearance with a proud face.


    Her daughter was just too beautiful, second to none.


    ¡°Baby Nian, come with mom to town tomorrow.¡±


    Xu Niannian was planning to go to the county town anyway.


    She wanted to see how Li Qingshui¡¯s business was doing.


    But she didn¡¯t agree outright.


    Unusual behavior usually signaled trouble.


    Yang Cuihua rarely went to the county town; she typically shopped at the cooperative on the town.


    She had a premonition that Yang Cuihua¡¯s wish to take her to the county had something to do with Ding Guihua.


    She asked again, ¡°Mom, what did Aunt Ding really come to see you about?¡±


    Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t keep it a secret.


    Her daughter was nearly seventeen and it was time to discuss marriage.


    Although she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of giving her away, she couldn¡¯t let her own reluctance ruin her daughter¡¯s chance at a good marriage.


    The match had such good prospects; once Niannian married into that family, she was bound to have a good life.


    Cuihua was sure that Ding Guihua wouldn¡¯t dare to deceive her.


    Once her daughter was married into a good family, she would have peace of mind.


    So she told Xu Niannian the purpose of Ding Guihua¡¯s visit.


    Upon hearing it, Niannian was utterly shocked, ¡°What!


    A blind date!¡±


    ¡°Shh, keep your voice down.


    Why are you so loud?¡± Yang Cuihua quickly covered Niannian¡¯s mouth.


    Niannian widened her eyes and pulled her mother¡¯s hand away, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to go.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t understand why her daughter was so opposed and quickly said, ¡°Baby Nian, don¡¯t worry.


    I¡¯ve asked, the other party has good conditions, and he¡¯s an official.


    Your Aunt Ding said he¡¯s also quite handsome.¡±


    Xu Niannian helplessly held her forehead.


    She was not even seventeen yet and had never even considered the matter of marriage.


    What was all this?


    ¡°Mom, listen to me, I really don¡¯t want to go...¡±


    ¡°Baby Nian, don¡¯t worry, mom won¡¯t force you,¡± Yang Cuihua immediately interrupted Xu Niannian.


    Niannian hadn¡¯t had time to reflect on her mother¡¯s understanding when she quickly continued, ¡°Let¡¯s just go have a look.


    If you really aren¡¯t satisfied, just give me a signal and I¡¯ll find an excuse to take you away, okay?


    It doesn¡¯t hurt just to look.¡±


    Yang Cuihua really didn¡¯t want her daughter to miss out on such a good man.


    If this were any other matter, as long as Xu Niannian said no, Yang Cuihua would never force her.


    But a man with such good conditions was truly hard to find.


    Moreover, this time it was the parents of the young man who had taken the initiative to come looking for their Niannian.


    The man was from the city, and although Niannian was pretty and could earn money, Yang Cuihua knew that city people looked down on villagers.


    Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her daughter having to work the fields after getting married; marrying into the city would be perfect.


    Since ancient times, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship has been difficult to manage, and it¡¯s always better for parents to approach proactively than for the daughter to engage with someone in secret.


    So, of course, Yang Cuihua hoped her daughter would take a liking to the young man.


    Although Yang Cuihua was bold and forthright, apart from doting on her daughter, her mindset wasn¡¯t that different from that of typical rural women.


    Looking into Yang Cuihua¡¯s expectant eyes, Xu Niannian felt helpless.


    The discussion had gone so far that it would be too much for her to refuse.


    She might as well just take a look, and then she could simply say she wasn¡¯t interested.


    She wasn¡¯t planning to marry so soon since in this era, once a blind date went well, marriage was usually close at hand.


    Not to mention the issue of what kind of person the other party was, she was no longer a virgin now.


    She knew better than anyone how highly this era valued chastity.


    Which man could accept that his wife wasn¡¯t a virgin?


    Xu Niannian was not a woman of this era; she had modern thinking.


    If the other person really minded, she wouldn¡¯t be willing to marry either.


    She could live alone just fine.


    With these thoughts, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but curse the beast responsible for her situation.


    Eventually, Xu Niannian gave in and agreed to Yang Cuihua¡¯s request.


    Upon hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s agreement, Yang Cuihua immediately became ecstatic, her joy overflowing.


    She took Niannian by the hand, chattering, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go.


    While we still have some time, let¡¯s go to town and buy a beautiful outfit.¡±

 Chapter 56 - 56 55 Blind Date 2

    ?56: Chapter 55: Blind Date 2 56: Chapter 55: Blind Date 2 Seeing Yang Cuihua so happy, how could Xu Niannian bear to refuse her kindness?


    On matters that didn¡¯t cross any boundaries, she was willing to oblige.


    This was also a way to repay Yang Cuihua for her kindness to her.


    Arriving in town, Yang Cuihua dragged Xu Niannian into several tailor shops.


    The styles that the tailors showed Niannian didn¡¯t satisfy her.


    She enjoyed life and, having earned money, she naturally didn¡¯t hesitate to spend it.


    She had indeed planned to make some nice clothes for herself, but had been too busy with her business to give it any thought recently.


    However, the styles were all too old-fashioned.


    Knowing she could make clothes herself, she decided to just buy fabric and sew her own.


    Yang Cuihua felt worried, ¡°This...


    won¡¯t we be pressed for time?¡±


    With the matchmaking meeting the next day, Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t want others to look down on her daughter.


    Seeing her daughter dressed in coarse clothes, Cuihua felt a wave of sorrow.


    Xu Niannian hurried to reassure her, and after some persuasion, Cuihua agreed to let her buy fabric and make her own clothes.


    The owner of the dressmaking shop was a woman in her early forties.


    From the moment Niannian walked in, the woman¡¯s eyes lit up several times.


    The woman, running her own tailor shop, had a say at home and wielded great authority, and she was someone who cared about face.


    With only one son in the family, she hoped to find a beautiful daughter-in-law, so she could have face when visiting relatives.


    She bombarded Xu Niannian with questions, and hearing that Niannian wanted to make her own clothes, she wasn¡¯t upset but grew even more satisfied with her.


    ¡°Miss, how much fabric do you need?¡± she asked.


    The clothes her family wore were all worn and tattered, so naturally, Niannian wasn¡¯t just going to buy fabric for herself.


    She ordered six bolts of cloth in total.


    All of them the most expensive kind available.


    The tailor, Fourth Mother, was immediately stunned, ¡°Miss, all together, that will be almost thirty dollars.¡±


    Thinking the purchase was for herself, Cuihua assumed her daughter really liked these things.


    Now that her daughter could earn money, she didn¡¯t feel the pinch and generously agreed, ¡°Buy.¡±


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s generosity shocked Fourth Mother.


    In her line of work, she had developed the ability to gauge the status of her customers by their dress and the way they spoke.


    Because Niannian¡¯s appearance was so stunning, Fourth Mother had sized her up when she walked in.


    Supposing she was probably from the countryside with average means.


    But now, she realized she had misjudged.


    Thirty dollars¡¯ worth of fabric was purchased without hesitation.


    That¡¯s thirty dollars, after all!


    In the county town, someone with a job might only make about thirty a month.


    Even with her own business, earning around a hundred a month, she wouldn¡¯t casually throw away thirty dollars.


    What Fourth Mother thought, of course, was unknown to Xu Niannian; she just wanted to hurry and take the fabric home.


    Yang Cuihua thought the same as she feared they wouldn¡¯t have enough time to make the clothes.


    Without hesitation, Xu Niannian counted out thirty dollars and handed it to Fourth Mother, ¡°Owner, here, can you please put it in a bag for me?¡±


    Fourth Mother took the money, stunned, and mechanically packed the fabric for Niannian.


    Only after Xu Niannian and her mother had walked away did she remember she hadn¡¯t had the chance to ask if the girl was already promised to someone.


    Back at home, under Yang Cuihua¡¯s supervision, Xu Niannian reluctantly entered the room.


    After taking her own measurements, she shook off her previous dejection, and with excitement began making the clothes.


    Although she had no interest in the matchmaking, she was very interested in dressmaking.


    Especially since they were for her own wear¡ªwhat girl doesn¡¯t want to dress herself pretty?


    She had bought rose pink and off-white fabric, expensive but of high quality, smooth to the touch, perfect for the weather.


    Although it was the era of reform and opening up, most people still wore a uniform palette of black, blue, and gray.


    The times were conservative, and Niannian dared not be too ostentatious.


    With the off-white fabric, she made a form-fitting, long-sleeved top with a V-neck and lantern sleeves on the arms.


    A simple yet attractive style, not too revealing, and with the rose pink fabric she crafted a pleated skirt that fell to her ankles.


    Both pieces were simple.


    A set of top and skirt, Niannian finished in about an hour.


    Eager to try them on, she put them on right away.


    Standing before the mirror, she saw the woman reflected inside and her mouth fell open in surprise.


    This was...


    simply stunning.


    She couldn¡¯t help swallowing hard.


    It¡¯s said that clothes make the man, or in this case, the woman.


    Even in plain coarse clothing, Niannian was the focus of attention.


    Wearing bright, colorful clothes made her look even better, dazzling to the point that even she was taken aback when she saw herself.


    Suddenly, Niannian regretted buying such conspicuous clothes¡ªwhat if someone took a fancy to her and wouldn¡¯t leave her alone?


    No, no, it would be better to wear her old clothes to the meeting.


    She had just made up her mind when Yang Cuihua pushed the door open.


    Cuihua caught sight of the clothes Niannian was wearing and was so shocked she couldn¡¯t close her mouth, ¡°Baby Nian...¡± Yang Cuihua¡¯s unusual tone drew the attention of the entire family.


    As everyone beheld Niannian in her current attire, their eyes widened.


    Xu Dawei thought: His daughter was so beautiful.


    How had he managed to have such a lovely daughter?


    Xu Zhiqiang thought: Sister looks so beautiful.


    Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng had no idea, only that Sister now looked just like the fairy-like girl people often talked about.

 Chapter 57 - 57 56 Door-to-Door Matchmaking

    ?57: Chapter 56: Door-to-Door Matchmaking 57: Chapter 56: Door-to-Door Matchmaking The next morning, Xu Niannian was dragged out of bed early by Yang Cuihua, dressed in the clothes and skirt she had made the night before.


    The villagers all rose early, unlike the youth of future generations, who sleep late into the morning, with most waking around six or seven o¡¯clock.


    Xu Niannian was beautiful, and even in plain clothes, she was already enough to draw people¡¯s attention, let alone today in such vibrant attire.


    Her cream-colored top was tailored to be form-fitting, immediately highlighting her shapely figure.


    Dark-skinned people can look even darker in cream-colored clothes, but Xu Niannian was different¡ªher skin was white and smooth all over, like a peeled egg.


    The skin below her neck was so white it gleamed, and as soon as she stepped out the door, she immediately caught the villagers¡¯ gazes.


    As they walked along, many people greeted Yang Cuihua, and Xu Niannian politely spoke with the elders, too.


    The neighbors all asked Yang Cuihua what they were up to.


    Since nothing was set in stone yet, even though she was satisfied with the other party¡¯s conditions, Yang Cuihua naturally wouldn¡¯t say anything to avoid tarnishing her daughter¡¯s reputation.


    When asked, she said they were going to the city to buy some things.


    She also said they were going to meet up with the captain¡¯s wife to go together.


    After Yang Cuihua had walked away, Zhang Family¡¯s Auntie spat out in disdain, ¡°Buy what?


    Dressed so fancily, she¡¯s definitely taking her daughter matchmaking.¡±


    Zhang Family¡¯s Auntie was the one Yang Cuihua often complained about.


    ¡°Mom, do I really have to wear this?¡± Xu Niannian, while awkwardly but politely greeting the villagers, asked Yang Cuihua.


    After seeing the clothes she made last night, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t have much choice but to wear them.


    She certainly liked the clothes she made herself, but the problem was, she didn¡¯t want to wear them for matchmaking.


    All along the way, Yang Cuihua saw many young men and grown boys in the village staring at her daughter, and she couldn¡¯t help smiling with satisfaction.


    Oh...


    it was her own fault for having such a beautiful daughter.


    ¡°Just wear this, don¡¯t be afraid.


    We¡¯re in the era of reform and opening up now, and girls should dress nicely.


    Baby Nian, don¡¯t worry.


    If anyone dares talk behind your back, I, your mother, will tear their tongue out,¡± Yang Cuihua reassured.


    Yang Cuihua had a reputation as a fierce woman, and her fiery temper meant she could get into a fight with someone at the slightest provocation.


    Not many in the village dared to provoke Yang Cuihua, and hearing this, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but shiver¡ªher mother was too fierce.


    Knowing her mother¡¯s stubborn character, Xu Niannian simply gave up resisting.


    When they arrived at the captain¡¯s house, Ding Guihua was already waiting at the door, and the moment she saw Xu Niannian¡¯s outfit for the day, her eyes immediately lit up with delight.


    ¡°Our Niannian is truly radiant,¡± she couldn¡¯t help saying.


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s lips twitched a few times, thinking to herself, who is your Niannian, that¡¯s her Baby Nian.


    But in the end, she didn¡¯t speak up.


    After all, no matter what old mother Ding was plotting today, if it worked out, her daughter would enjoy endless blessings¡ªany benefits would be mostly for her daughter, so she didn¡¯t bother to engage in a war of words.


    The three of them arrived in the county town after about two hours of walking from the village to the town and then taking a bus from the town to the city.


    By the time they reached the county town, it was nearly ten o¡¯clock, and the city was abuzz with activity.


    Yang Cuihua was wearing clothes Xu Niannian had sewn the night before, a deep purple top and trousers.


    Purple is dignified and elegant.


    Because Yang Cuihua was plump, and to give her daughter face, she strutted around with her chest puffed out, not at all intimidated, wearing her clothes with an air of prosperity.


    As the three of them walked through the county town, passersby, regardless of gender or age, couldn¡¯t help but stare at Xu Niannian.


    Xu Niannian felt so scrutinized that her face turned red and her neck swelled, thinking to herself, who said people in this era were conservative¡ªweren¡¯t they supposed to blush after just an extra glance at a girl?


    Those men¡¯s gazes didn¡¯t show a hint of conservatism or shyness.


    Ding Guihua brought the two to find her cousin Du Chunming.


    Du Chunming worked in a government office; although her position was minor, she was at least a civil servant, which was considered a particularly respectable job.


    She had originally planned to visit Xu Niannian in the countryside personally, but regrettably, the colleague who always coordinated with her fell sick and was hospitalized.


    With the workload piling up, she was too busy to manage, so she had no choice but to call Ding Guihua to be responsible for bringing the person over.


    At the entrance of the government office, employees, both male and female, would spare Xu Niannian several glances as they arrived and departed from work.


    One man even collided with a tree trunk as he tried to get a better look at Xu Niannian.


    Du Chunming had already arranged to take someone over for a matchmaking visit with Wu Lan today; receiving the notification from the security guard, she immediately headed downstairs.


    She hadn¡¯t even gotten close when she caught sight of Xu Niannian¡¯s excessively pretty face, and Du Chunming couldn¡¯t be more pleased.


    Such a bright and lovely girl, not only would men be unable to resist complimenting her, even she as a woman couldn¡¯t help but remark how truly stunning she was.


    It seemed like this match was one hundred percent going to be a success.


    Elated, Du Chunming immediately went from a cool attitude to a warm one, affectionately holding Xu Niannian¡¯s hand as they headed towards the Military District Compound.


    Meanwhile, Wu Lan was sweet-talking her son, ¡°Son, Mama¡¯s friend is coming over today.


    Could you help entertain her daughter for a bit?


    Mama has to go play mahjong with someone.¡±


    Jin Yu was wearing a black tank top, camouflage pants below, and on his feet a pair of thick military boots.


    His straight long legs were carelessly draped over the coffee table, and he was chewing on a chopstick in his mouth.


    He had spent the last couple of days running around the village trying to find that girl, but to no avail.


    Thinking about how he had actually been kissed by another woman that day, Jin Yu felt a wave of irritation.


    He felt like he had done something wrong to his woman.


    Upon hearing Wu Lan¡¯s words, Jin Yu abruptly pulled his military cap down over his face, ¡°Not interested.¡±


    Wu Lan was suddenly lost for words.


    ¡°Hey, you bunny brat, can¡¯t your old mother command you anymore?¡±


    As she spoke, she came over and took the hat off Jin Yu¡¯s face, ¡°Listen or not, if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll get Mr.


    Jin to deal with you.¡±


    Jin Yu rolled his eyes, sat up straight, and withdrew his feet from the coffee table, ¡°How old is this girl that she needs my care?¡±


    Wu Lan thought for a moment, then vaguely said, ¡°...seventeen.¡±


    She glossed over the prefix of the number.


    Jin Yu, upon hearing this, thought to himself, finally, it¡¯s not about matchmaking.


    ¡°Alright, have her come to my room before you all leave.¡± Having said that, Jin Yu returned to his own room.


    Wu Lan immediately smiled with narrowing eyes, just as Du Chunming arrived with her visitors.


    Wu Lan had made a special point to inform the duty guards beforehand, so Du Chunming¡¯s entrance was smooth and unimpeded.


    She led Xu Niannian and the others to Wu Lan¡¯s home like she had been there many times before.


    The moment Wu Lan saw Xu Niannian, she couldn¡¯t tear her gaze away; what a beautiful girl.


    As if she had been nourished on white snow, she was so white and radiant.


    Wu Lan looked at Du Chunming in astonishment, ¡°This this this...


    is this the girl you were talking about?¡±


    Seeing Wu Lan¡¯s reaction, Du Chunming knew she was very satisfied.


    And why not, Wu Lan had been planning to find a beautiful daughter-in-law.


    A girl as lovely as Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t be found even if one searched with a lantern, so how could there be any dissatisfaction?


    Yang Cuihua was also quite happy with the other party¡¯s attitude.


    She knew it, her daughter couldn¡¯t possibly be unappealing to anyone.

 Chapter 58 - 58 57 Bluffing

    ?58: Chapter 57: Bluffing 58: Chapter 57: Bluffing Xu Niannian recognized Wu Lan at a glance.


    Wasn¡¯t this the noble lady who had helped her pack up her Liuyue Su at the morning market last time?


    It seemed that coincidences were indeed quite common in this world.


    Wu Lan, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t recognized Xu Niannian, as her face had been well covered at the time, and Wu Lan hadn¡¯t really seen Xu Niannian¡¯s face.


    She just felt that her bright eyes seemed familiar, as if she had seen such beautiful eyes somewhere before.


    However, now was not the time to think about these things.


    What was most important was to let her son and this young lady see each other.


    Good heavens, with such a charming and appealing young lady, her stubborn son surely wouldn¡¯t turn up his nose at her.


    Seeing Wu Lan staring at the girl without speaking, Du Chunming hurriedly smiled and said, ¡°Sister Wu, what do you think about this...¡±


    Wu Lan immediately snapped back to reality and hurriedly ushered everyone into the living room.


    Xu Niannian curiously surveyed the room¡¯s decor.


    She used to enjoy life and knew a bit about everything; seeing the decorative items in this family¡¯s house, she thought to herself that this family must be quite extraordinary.


    Living in a large compound and in a detached two-storey house, no wonder her mother was so excited.


    In any era, money and power have always been sought after by the masses.


    If one could marry into such a family, one probably wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food and drink for the rest of one¡¯s life.


    Of course, this was just what Yang Cuihua and the others thought; Xu Niannian didn¡¯t feel the same way.


    With such a big difference in family backgrounds, the real suffering would come later.


    Xu Niannian had intended just to go through the motions today, but seeing the family¡¯s conditions, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit anxious.


    What if this family took a fancy to her and insisted on having their way with her?


    Her family couldn¡¯t afford to provoke such people, unless they didn¡¯t like her.


    But Xu Niannian felt this probability was quite low.


    The original owner of this body was undeniably beautiful, and after being cleansed by the Spatial Spring Water, she had become even more stunning.


    Few men could resist such temptation.


    Xu Niannian thought about how she could make herself unappealing to others.


    From the moment Xu Niannian entered, Wu Lan had been sizing her up, and now that she saw her gaze contained no ostentatious yearning for luxury, Wu Lan was even more pleased with her.


    Although she wanted a daughter-in-law, she wasn¡¯t looking for a woman with short-sighted vision.


    She felt that this young lady was exactly to her liking, beautiful and presentable, and most importantly, she didn¡¯t have a vulgar air about her.


    The entire demeanor of the young lady was gentle and quiet, and although beautiful, her expressions were remarkably pure.


    Xu Niannian, feeling awkward from being stared at by Wu Lan, could only offer an embarrassed smile.


    This smile, so charming and alluring, made Wu Lan even more fond of her, and she laughed with her mouth covered, seeing none of the pretentious airs expected of a lady of her status.


    Yang Cuihua had heard from Ding Guihua about how good the other party¡¯s conditions were, but she had only heard about it and hadn¡¯t expected their family to be so well-off.


    Look at this house, how imposing, situated right in a large compound.


    It would give them prestige just to talk about it.


    Ding Guihua, on the other hand, felt a pang of envy.


    Why couldn¡¯t she have such a beautiful daughter?


    It was truly disheartening.


    The main purpose today was for the two youngsters to meet for a blind date, but the man hadn¡¯t appeared even after quite some time, making Yang Cuihua frown and ask with a stern face, ¡°Where is your son?¡±


    Wu Lan was slightly embarrassed by the other¡¯s blunt question and hurriedly said, ¡°He¡¯s still in his room taking a shower, wanting to look his best.


    Or how about I take you for a stroll around the neighborhood first?¡±


    This response pleased Yang Cuihua even more; it showed that the other party was taking this blind date seriously and not just going through the motions.


    As for Wu Lan suggesting a walk, Yang Cuihua was also perceptive, guessing that Wu Lan was looking to give the young couple a chance to be alone together.


    As this was a large compound, Yang Cuihua was sure that the other party wouldn¡¯t dare do anything untoward, and so she agreed.


    Thus, the four older women decided to vacate the premises, and Xu Niannian certainly could infer what they were implying.


    But her thoughts were like Yang Cuihua¡¯s: only significant figures lived in this kind of compound, where personal conduct was strictly monitored.


    As long as they didn¡¯t want to lose the titles they wore, they wouldn¡¯t do anything too outrageous.


    Since she had already come, it was unrealistic not to meet the other person, so she didn¡¯t object either.


    Before the four elders left, Wu Lan took a moment to whisper to Xu Niannian, ¡°Girl, my son is waiting for you in the first room upstairs.


    He¡¯s shy and doesn¡¯t dare come down.


    Don¡¯t worry, my son is a decent man; he won¡¯t do anything to you.¡±


    In this place, unlike in rural areas, even if people were nosy, they wouldn¡¯t rush to someone¡¯s house to gawk on the same day.


    Therefore, Wu Lan wasn¡¯t worried about leaving Xu Niannian alone with her son, potentially ruining the girl¡¯s reputation.


    Besides, Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t from around here, so even if there were rumors, it wouldn¡¯t affect her.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that her son was difficult to coax, Wu Lan wouldn¡¯t have had the woman go directly to the room to find her son.


    Wu Lan spoke so quietly that only Xu Niannian heard her, while Yang Cuihua and the others didn¡¯t catch it.


    Xu Niannian was surprised for a moment and looked at Wu Lan curiously.


    Unfortunately, after saying this, Wu Lan had already rushed out with the others, and the door was closed behind them.


    Xu Niannian was no fool; after a careful thought about the whole situation, she pretty much understood what was happening.


    If the other party wasn¡¯t deliberately trying to harm her, then it meant the man was also reluctant to go on the blind date.


    Otherwise, why would the prospective match continue to stay in his room getting ready after she had arrived at his home?


    That was not a sign of respect; it showed a lack of upbringing.


    It was unlikely that a family like that wouldn¡¯t understand such manners.

 Chapter 59 - 59 58 The Scene

    ?59: Chapter 58: The Scene 59: Chapter 58: The Scene Clearly, the other party belonged to the latter category.


    She probably didn¡¯t want to go on a blind date, perhaps she already had someone she liked, and it might have been that her family didn¡¯t approve.


    The fact that the other party was unwilling perfectly matched Xu Niannian¡¯s hopes, which was even better.


    Regardless of how good the family conditions of the other party were, for the time being, she didn¡¯t want to get married.


    With that in mind, Xu Niannian moved towards the stairs.


    The first room at the top of the stairs.


    When she reached the door, Xu Niannian hesitated for a moment before raising her hand to knock.


    At that moment, Jin Yu had just taken a post-battle bath, his hair dripping wet as he dried it with a towel in one hand.


    Hearing the knock, and remembering what his mother had told him, Jin Yu debated whether he should change into new clothes first.


    As he contemplated this, another knock sounded from outside the door.


    Jin Yu no longer hesitated and walked barefoot to the door.


    He thought to himself that it was just a little boy after all, and for a man to show a bare thigh or go shirtless was perfectly normal.


    And so, Jin Yu opened the door.


    A door had separated their line of sight, but as it opened, their eyes met.


    Xu Niannian was about to continue knocking, her hand already raised, while Jin Yu¡¯s other hand was busy drying his hair.


    For a brief moment, both stopped their movements, looking at each other in surprise.


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    Two shocked voices rang out simultaneously.


    Xu Niannian was the first to recover, and seeing Jin Yu¡¯s attire and realizing there was no one else in the room, conspiracy theories flooded her mind.


    Without saying a word, she turned to run, but Jin Yu had also snapped back to reality, and cursed under his breath.


    How could this woman have chased him down to his house?


    Seeing her attempt to flee, his hand moved faster than his brain, stretching out a long arm to grab hold of the collar of Xu Niannian¡¯s clothing.


    Xu Niannian was focused on escaping, while Jin Yu had exerted too much force.


    With their opposing forces at play, a ¡°rip¡± sound was heard, and the person ran off, leaving the cloth behind.


    Xu Niannian was stunned, no longer caring about her clothes as panic set in.


    She stumbled down the stairs, while Jin Yu quickly chased after her, still holding onto her garment.


    Jin Yu thought that if this woman could find her way to his home, his suspicions were correct¡ªshe must be a spy aiming to bewilder him.


    He suspected she might have even sprinkled some love potion on herself.


    Thinking to escape?


    No way.


    Who was Jin Yu?


    He was known as the cheetah leader in the team, and his speed was not something Xu Niannian could match.


    In a flash, Jin Yu caught up with Xu Niannian at the staircase entrance.


    Xu Niannian was frantic.


    How could this beast be here?


    Could it be that all of this was his plan?


    No wonder Ding Guihua had found her, speaking of finding a beautiful girl for a blind date.


    It was all a lie.


    The mother and daughter were out to harm her.


    Once wasn¡¯t enough for this beast, and he wanted to do it a second time.


    Even in death, she would not yield this time.


    In the midst of their struggle, Xu Niannian suddenly missed a step and fell down the stairs.


    Jin Yu instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist and twisted their bodies around.


    Before they could steady themselves, Xu Niannian swung her claws, poking Jin Yu in the eye.


    Jin Yu had intended to grab the railing, but Xu Niannian kept struggling, and even with his skill, he couldn¡¯t ward off her scratching.


    The two tumbled down the stairs, and Jin Yu, being a man, wouldn¡¯t allow Xu Niannian to bear the brunt of the fall.


    During the roll, Jin Yu firmly protected Xu Niannian, and by the time they landed, she was on top of him, still in shock.


    But before Xu Niannian could catch her breath, Jin Yu flipped on top of her after they successfully landed, straddled her thighs, and Iron Hand caught hold of her wrists, lifting them above her head.


    ¡°Let go of me,¡± Xu Niannian screamed with a sobbing note in her voice.


    Jin Yu had several scratches on his face from Xu Niannian¡¯s nails.


    He wiped his face casually with the back of his hand and smirked with a sneer, ¡°Go on, keep running.¡±


    Crazy woman, crazy spy, she had some nerve to infiltrate the compound and even find his home.


    Xu Niannian was immobilized, her hands and feet firmly within his control.


    Hearing his arrogant words, fury rose within her, and she forcefully headbutted him.


    Jin Yu snorted, ¡°Fancy moves.¡±


    Then without ceremony, he pressed down on her.


    Leaning close to her ear, he intended to check if she had any listening devices or the like, when suddenly, the main door leading to the house was opened from the outside.


    Jin Yu looked up as four shrieking voices rang out in unison.


    Yang Cuihua felt like she was going to faint; her Baby Nian...


    Wu Lan was initially elated, thinking her son had finally taken a liking to this girl, but then she realized what her son had done, her forehead heating up, almost making her faint as well.


    Meanwhile, Ding Guihua and Du Chunming were a mix of sourness and joy.


    It seemed this matter was set in stone.


    All four old ladies were experienced, and they knew exactly what had happened.

 Chapter 60 - 60 59 Negotiation

    ?60: Chapter 59: Negotiation 60: Chapter 59: Negotiation Half an hour later...


    Jin Yu had already put on his clothes and was sitting on the sofa, his face ashen.


    Opposite him sat Xu Niannian, Yang Cuihua, Ding Guihua, and others.


    Wu Lan was also sitting on the opposite side with her son.


    At this moment, Xu Niannian was wearing Wu Lan¡¯s clothes, her face filled with gloom as she stared at Jin Yu across from her, tear stains still visible at the corners of her eyes.


    In the half hour, Wu Lan had not only scolded Jin Yu but also explained the reason for Xu Niannian¡¯s presence there.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying she came here for a matchmaking meeting with me?¡± Jin Yu raised his eyes, a cold frost in his gaze, which made Wu Lan involuntarily shudder.


    ¡°Regardless of whether it¡¯s true or not, you shouldn¡¯t have done such excessive things to the young lady.


    Jin Yu, you¡¯re a man, and I don¡¯t need to remind you of what you should do now.¡±


    Wu Lan spoke fiercely, her voice laced with both apprehension and ire, unable to condone her son¡¯s wrongdoing, for fear of raising a menace.


    Jin Yu glanced at Wu Lan, ¡°What exactly did you tell me?¡±


    Jin Yu was angry, very angry, his handsome face emanating a chill.


    Only Wu Lan dared to say a few more words; the others didn¡¯t dare to join in.


    Xu Niannian stayed silent out of anger.


    Yang Cuihua was silent too, not because she didn¡¯t dare to speak but because she wanted to see what the other party would do.


    She recognized Jin Yu as the young man who had stayed over at her house that day.


    As for Jin Yu¡¯s various qualifications, Yang Cuihua was naturally quite satisfied.


    But, the matter of him bullying her daughter couldn¡¯t just be left at that.


    She was curious to see how this man would solve the problem of shredding her daughter¡¯s reputation.


    The best outcome would surely be marriage.


    If Ding Guihua weren¡¯t there, she would¡¯ve rushed up and scratched at him first before saying anything else; after all, even if they couldn¡¯t marry, it wouldn¡¯t affect her daughter¡¯s reputation.


    But with fellow townsfolk like Ding Guihua present, the best outcome now would be for the man to be willing to marry her daughter.


    Since he hadn¡¯t made a statement yet, she wasn¡¯t in a position to settle scores first.


    Otherwise, if they became family, her daughter would be the one to suffer in the future.


    Wu Lan, unaware of Jin Yu¡¯s suspicion that Xu Niannian was a spy, felt even more troubled by her son¡¯s attitude.


    ¡°Speak properly!


    You have to give us an explanation today.


    You almost...


    anyhow, I¡¯ve said my piece.


    If you don¡¯t marry Niannian, it goes against heaven¡¯s will, neither your mother nor your father will agree to it.¡±


    Wu Lan knew that her son had ultimately not succeeded, but it had been a close call.


    This responsibility, her son must bear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to marry him,¡± Xu Niannian suddenly asserted, a look of disgust towards Jin Yu in her eyes.


    Only the devil knows what schemes their family held.


    Yang Cuihua was startled and hastily grasped the agitated Xu Niannian, her voice full of affection, ¡°My dear Baby Nian, your mother is here, no one can bully you.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Yang Cuihua¡¯s last-minute worry and insistence on coming back to check, her daughter might have already been harmed.


    Actually, Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t that heartbroken, as ultimately nothing had happened, but being treated this way made her feel uncomfortable.


    Why should he have the right to treat her like this time and again?


    Did she truly deserve to be bullied by him?


    She didn¡¯t want to marry such a bastard.


    Reputation be damned.


    Let it go to hell.


    Better to lose it than to marry such a beast.


    She¡¯d rather lose her reputation.


    Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xu Niannian, whose eyes were rimmed with red, and with an air of irritation, ran his fingers through his hair.


    He stood and approached her, saying coldly, ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    ¡°I have nothing to discuss with you,¡± Xu Niannian replied angrily.


    Wu Lan and Yang Cuihua were both extremely anxious.


    Yang Cuihua swiftly took hold of Xu Niannian, ¡°Baby Nian, can you please talk it out with him?¡±


    Yang Cuihua¡¯s eyes held genuine worry, but her way of thinking was different from a modern person like Xu Niannian.


    She believed that since her daughter¡¯s body was seen by a man and it was witnessed by fellow townspeople, the best option for her daughter now was to marry Jin Yu.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t want to worry Yang Cuihua, so she helplessly said, ¡°Fine, just wait here for me.¡±


    After speaking, Xu Niannian headed for the door first, with Jin Yu following behind.


    After closing the door, before Jin Yu said anything, Xu Niannian raised her hand and slapped Jin Yu across the face.


    This time, Jin Yu didn¡¯t dodge.


    Xu Niannian looked at him angrily, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, I won¡¯t marry you.


    Don¡¯t even hope that I¡¯ll marry you.


    Nothing happened between us, and I don¡¯t need you to take responsibility.¡±


    Jin Yu lifted his eyelids, ignoring the burning pain on his face.


    He hadn¡¯t expected it to be a misunderstanding.


    He was also aware of how important reputation is to an unmarried girl.


    By the accent, there was a woman in the house who was from the same township as her mother.


    In that situation earlier, he hadn¡¯t had the time to think about what he was wearing, let alone expect to tear her clothes.


    Jin Yu had no one he liked; for him, it made no difference whom he married.


    But now the situation didn¡¯t allow for it, as he had already completely harmed another girl and could only marry that girl.


    Yet, he hadn¡¯t expected to find himself in the situation that had unfolded today.


    There just wasn¡¯t a solution that could satisfy both sides.


    The only option was to pretend to be engaged for now, and then go look for that girl.


    Given a year, if he found her, he could have her take the initiative to break off the engagement and push all the blame onto him.


    That way, even if others gossiped, they would only speculate there was something wrong with him, not blame her.


    Seeing Xu Niannian¡¯s furious expression, Jin Yu put his hands on his hips and grinned, ¡°You might not care about your reputation, but your mom has to care.


    The woman in the flowery dress inside, she is from your village, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    The only person inside wearing a flowery dress was Ding Guihua.


    Xu Niannian knew he spoke the truth; she was unclear about what kind of mouth Ding Guihua had, but it certainly wasn¡¯t very tight-lipped.


    Once word spread, she might not care about gossip, but her family undoubtedly would.


    Yang Cuihua was a hot-tempered woman, but she cared most about her daughter.


    The thought of others fabricating stories about her would surely be upsetting.


    But for her to marry this beast was not an option either.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Xu Niannian asked warily.


    Jin Yu sighed, looking at Xu Niannian¡¯s charming face, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t want to marry you either.


    There¡¯s someone else I want to marry.¡±


    ¡°So what are you suggesting?¡± Xu Niannian asked with a frown.


    Jin Yu looked up at the gloomy sky, which reflected his mood at that moment.


    ¡°Pretend engagement.


    A year from now, you can find any reason to break off the engagement and put the blame on me.


    That way, your reputation won¡¯t suffer too much.¡±


    It was certainly better than rumors of her being violated and the violator not wanting her either.


    Although he hadn¡¯t done anything to this woman, now that the situation had come to this, rumors would expand and distort with each retelling.


    Who knew what they would turn into?


    Yet Xu Niannian was watching him suspiciously, ¡°What are you plotting?¡±


    With her wary look, Jin Yu really wanted to curse.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, there¡¯s someone I want to marry, so you don¡¯t need to suffer from any persecution complex or narcissism.


    My identity is special, and the only reason this happened was because I suspected your identity.


    Why would you run so fast if there was nothing wrong?¡±


    His obvious impatience made Xu Niannian temporarily believe that he didn¡¯t want to marry her.

 Chapter 61 - 61 60

    ?61: Chapter 60: 61: Chapter 60: ¡°Do you really have someone you like?¡± Xu Niannian asked warily.


    If he truly had someone he liked, she would believe that he didn¡¯t want to marry her.


    But since this man always had a lecherous reaction upon seeing her, even if it was a fake engagement, she wouldn¡¯t want to have much contact with him.


    When had Jin Yu ever been guarded against like this?


    However, he didn¡¯t care about Xu Niannian¡¯s attitude.


    He simply said, ¡°I will marry no one but her.¡±


    Liking someone was impossible, as Jin Yu himself had never liked anyone, but he would marry no one but that girl.


    In the future, if he found her and she was willing to marry him, he would try his best to treat her well, as that was his duty as a man.


    He didn¡¯t know where that girl was right now.


    Thinking of her alone, grappling with the anxiety of her reputation being ruined, Jin Yu felt a strong sense of self-reproach.


    When he said he would marry no one but her, the determination in Jin Yu¡¯s eyes was unmistakable.


    Xu Niannian temporarily believed his words, but then a question arose.


    ¡°Since you have someone you like, aren¡¯t you afraid she will be angry if you get engaged to me?¡±


    Staring into Xu Niannian¡¯s pretty almond-shaped eyes, Jin Yu rubbed his hair with some irritation, ¡°I haven¡¯t found her yet.¡±


    If he had found her, there wouldn¡¯t be all this trouble today.


    Xu Niannian automatically interpreted it as he had lost contact with the person he liked.


    After all, in the past few years, policies were restrictive, and often knowledge workers were sent down to the villages.


    A person like Jin Yu would likely have a preference for an intellectual as well.


    She hadn¡¯t expected this beast to be so infatuated.


    But this didn¡¯t change the fact that he was led by his lower half.


    She was still a bit worried, ¡°Then you promise you will never fall in love with me, or want to marry me.¡±


    Jin Yu looked at Xu Niannian oddly, ¡°Xu Jiaojiao, why are you so narcissistic?¡±


    Xu Niannian: ¡°...¡± When had she ever been called Xu Jiaojiao?


    But seeing the disdain in his eyes, it seemed unlikely he would fall for her.


    As for his beastly reaction, that could only be attributed to his certain vigorous aspect, even though his brain was still in control.


    Had there not been any issues these few times?


    About the first incident, Xu Niannian had thought it over many times; the beastly man at that time seemed somewhat off, as if drugged, his consciousness impaired.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have failed to recognize her.


    ¡°A gentleman¡¯s revenge is not too late even after ten years.¡± The debt owed to her would have to wait until she had the means to deal with it.


    For now, the main task was to get through the immediate difficulties.


    It was impossible not to care about her reputation; but compared to marrying someone she detested, she would rather ruin her reputation.


    But since this beast had said he wouldn¡¯t marry her, there would be no problem.


    Xu Niannian readily agreed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have a fake engagement.¡±


    Jin Yu raised his eyebrows, not expecting her to agree so quickly.


    He hadn¡¯t been acquainted with this woman for long but had seen her several times; Jin Yu thought of her as nothing but twisted.


    Jin Yu tugged at his lip, his face burning hot with pain.


    Having met this woman so many times, he had been slapped more times than he could count.


    All the slaps he had endured in his life were thanks to this woman.


    Sure enough, not one beautiful woman is a good thing.


    Tsk, it really hurts.


    No sooner had he reflected on this than he saw Xu Niannian staring at his face.


    Jin Yu was on guard, ¡°Xu Jiaojiao, what are you thinking of doing?¡±


    Xu Niannian was on the verge of blowing up, ¡°My name is not Xu Jiaojiao; it¡¯s Xu Niannian.¡±


    ¡°Xu Niannian?¡± Jin Yu frowned, ¡°What a tacky name.¡±


    Now Xu Niannian was even angrier, a rush of fury building in her chest.


    This beast had a talent for infuriating her.


    After taking several deep breaths, Xu Niannian asked, ¡°Then what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Jin Yu.¡±


    ¡°Abstinence?¡± Xu Niannian¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Your name¡¯s not so great either, but your mother was quite prescient.¡±


    She knew her son was a beast, so she gave him such a name.


    Jin Yu could easily understand the look in her eyes and his complexion immediately turned steely.


    He couldn¡¯t stand it when people misconstrued his name.


    And it seemed that everyone did.


    After hearing Jin Yu¡¯s explanation, Xu Niannian found out that Jin Yu didn¡¯t even know about today¡¯s blind date with her.


    Therefore, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t have a good impression of Wu Lan either.


    Neither mother nor son were good people.


    What kind of people deceive others like this?


    Even if her family held high authority and was powerful, there was no need to bully the common people in this manner.


    Is it because they think she¡¯s easy to bully without any backing?


    After their discussion, they returned to the living room.


    Yang Cuihua hurriedly asked Xu Niannian how the talk went, Ding Guihua had a look of eager anticipation, and Du Chunming was extremely anxious.


    He was afraid of missing out on the benefits and offending people from both sides.


    Wu Lan was even more anxious, repeatedly giving her son covert glances.


    Jin Yu simply glared at her.


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t begin to speak; it was his place to speak about such matters.


    She sat silently beside Yang Cuihua.


    Jin Yu coughed, unbuttoning the top button of his collar, and for the first time in his life, he felt nervous about lying.


    Because of his action, everyone in the room noticed the finger marks on his face.


    Clearly, he had been slapped.


    Considering Xu Niannian was the only one who had gone out with him just now, it was evident who had done it.


    Wu Lan felt sorry, Ding Guihua secretly rejoiced, Yang Cuihua felt relieved, while Du Chunming was on edge.


    Jin Yu glanced at Xu Niannian and coughed forcefully, ¡°This matter...


    cough...


    I¡¯ve decided...


    to get engaged to Comrade Xu Niannian.¡±


    His speech was filled with pauses.


    Once he had finished, Jin Yu¡¯s cheeks were red to the tips of his ears.


    Shameful to lie.


    As a grown man, he was actually lying.


    It was really disgraceful.


    ¡°What, an engagement!¡±


    No sooner had Jin Yu finished speaking than the room erupted with the heightened voices of four women once again.

 Chapter 62 - 62 61 Cant Escape

    ?62: Chapter 61: Can¡¯t Escape 62: Chapter 61: Can¡¯t Escape Under the scrutiny of four elderly women, Jin Yu nodded stiffly and mechanically, making an earnest effort as he said, ¡°Comrade Xu Niannian is so beautiful; I, I, I...


    have decided to marry her.¡±


    After finishing his speech, Jin Yu¡¯s face felt scorched, even more burning than when Xu Niannian had hit him before.


    Ding Guihua had thought this intimidating-looking man would definitely not agree, but she didn¡¯t expect such a quick turnaround.


    Because she¡¯s too beautiful?


    She couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xu Niannian and, seeing her radiant face, felt a sourness in her teeth; indeed, she was a bit too beautiful.


    Hmph, what¡¯s the use of outer beauty, men are all shallow.


    Apart from Ding Guihua¡¯s sourness, the other three were ecstatic.


    Wu Lan had been feeling guilty about deceiving her son, but now she felt she had done something absolutely right.


    Yang Cuihua was quite satisfied with Jin Yu¡¯s behavior and said with a stern face, ¡°Since you¡¯ve said this, and things have developed to this point, choose a date on your side and come over to set the engagement.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Jin Yu let out a huge sigh of relief.


    Damn, this was more nerve-wracking than facing enemies on the battlefield.


    Excited, Wu Lan grabbed Yang Cuihua¡¯s hand, ¡°My in-law, rest assured, we will definitely not treat Niannian unjustly; we¡¯ll come over to propose marriage the day after tomorrow.¡±


    Yang Cuihua was then satisfied.


    *


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, Xu Niannian sighed for the tenth time.


    How had things come to this state today?


    Having returned from the county town, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help thinking it would have been better if she hadn¡¯t gone to that darn matchmaking.


    ¡°Sister, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Zhicheng, feeding the chickens in the yard, asked curiously when he heard Xu Niannian¡¯s continual sighs.


    Xu Niannian glanced at him and huffed, ¡°Your sister has gotten into big trouble.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Zhicheng, thinking Xu Niannian had encountered some difficult problem, became so anxious his little face turned red, ¡°Then then then...


    what do we do?¡±


    Seeing Xu Zhicheng as frantic as anything, Xu Niannian, not having the heart to see him so worked up, stuck out her tongue at him, ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Xu Zhicheng looked at Xu Niannian blankly, and unlike his cluelessness, Xu Duoyu, who had been squatting in front of Xu Niannian and gazing up at her, was much more sensitive.


    He knew Xu Niannian just didn¡¯t want to tell him, and felt a little down about it.


    Catching the hint of disappointment in his eyes, Xu Niannian felt helpless.


    Why were all three brothers so sensitive?


    She explained with resignation, ¡°My new clothes got ruined, and it¡¯s really bothering me.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhicheng¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened; it was just because new clothes were ruined.


    His sister loved looking pretty, and it would indeed make her very upset if her clothes were ruined.


    Before, Xu Niannian had bought good-quality new fabric for the whole family but hadn¡¯t had the chance to sew it for them yet.


    However, to make them happy, Xu Niannian had put the fabric in their rooms a long time ago.


    These past few days, Xu Zhicheng had even been sleeping with the new fabric.


    ¡°Sister, let me give you my fabric to make clothes,¡± the little guy said with reluctance, yet with determination.


    Xu Niannian was taken aback and looked at Xu Zhicheng in astonishment.


    She knew how much Xu Zhicheng liked that new fabric, and he was willing to let her make clothes out of it?


    Putting aside the issue of the clothes, Xu Niannian was immediately moved.


    This little brother was too considerate, a real heartwarming treasure; how could she have such an adorable little brother?


    The gloominess in Xu Niannian¡¯s heart was instantly cured.


    Well, sod it, even if she was worried, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that she had once again gotten entangled with that beast.


    Better to be happy than to fret over something that would be annulled in a year anyway.


    Maybe it wouldn¡¯t even take a year.


    This situation was too irritating, and Xu Niannian had no interest in contemplating recipes.


    Yang Cuihua had already rushed off to inform Grandma Xu and the second uncle and aunt about this matter.


    Grandma Xu had three children in total: the eldest, Xu Dawei, the second son, Xu Erhong, and the youngest daughter, Xu Sanya.


    Xu Dawei was Xu Niannian¡¯s father.


    Since Xu Dawei¡¯s family was the poorest, Grandma Xu always lived with Xu Erhong, Xu Niannian¡¯s second uncle; while Xu Sanya was married to someone in the town and had the best living conditions among the siblings.


    Yang Cuihua hadn¡¯t returned for half a day, most likely because she went to the second uncle¡¯s house to discuss the matter before running off to the town to find her aunt.


    Speaking of which, the second uncle¡¯s home was not far from theirs, both in the same village, just at the opposite ends, one at the head and the other at the tail of the village.


    In her memory, Xu Niannian¡¯s second uncle was particularly fond of her.


    Yang Cuihua, half-walking and half-running, rushed to Xu Erhong¡¯s home and before even entering the yard, she bellowed, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m here, hurry up and open the door.¡±


    Grandma Xu, who had been scolding her second granddaughter in the main room, immediately ran out upon hearing Yang Cuihua¡¯s voice.


    Seeing Yang Cuihua¡¯s face flushed with excitement, she quickly unlocked the gate of the yard.


    She moved swiftly, not at all like a sixty-year-old lady.


    ¡°Cuihua, what¡¯s gotten into you?


    Rushing like you¡¯re racing to be reborn?¡±


    The moment Grandma Xu spoke, her blunt nature was evident.


    Yang Cuihua responded irritably, ¡°What are you on about, Mom?


    Not a single nice word out of you.¡±


    Fortunately, Yang Cuihua had grown accustomed to her mother-in-law¡¯s sharp tongue.


    ¡°Come in, I¡¯ve got something to tell you, it¡¯s about your precious granddaughter,¡± Yang Cuihua ushered.

 Chapter 63 - 63 62 Precious Bump

    ?63: Chapter 62: Precious Bump 63: Chapter 62: Precious Bump As soon as Grandma Xu heard it concerned her precious grandchild, she ran even faster than Yang Cuihua, quickly pulling her into the house.


    While Xu Sisi, Xu Erhong¡¯s daughter, was busy working, she saw Yang Cuihua come in and her face beamed with enthusiasm, ¡°Auntie, you¡¯re here.¡±


    Yang Cuihua, intent on discussing important matters, waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Go play over there.¡±


    Grandma Xu, too, had a stern look on her face, ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt.¡±


    Xu Sisi immediately pouted in silence.


    These two were about to discuss something again, and her mother had said that whenever her auntie and her grandma met, she must be informed.


    She just didn¡¯t understand why these adults always had to be so secretive about their affairs.


    Once Yang Cuihua and Grandma Xu were in the old lady¡¯s room, Grandma Xu asked eagerly, ¡°Cuihua, tell me quick, what has happened to my precious baby?¡±


    Despite Grandma Xu¡¯s shrewd appearance, whenever it came to anything concerning Xu Niannian, the old lady was more anxious than anyone.


    Knowing how much the old lady adored her daughter, Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°Mom, Baby Nian chose someone yesterday, and the suitor is coming tomorrow to propose.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Grandma Xu was shocked, her lips trembling, ¡°My Baby Nian is betrothed?


    How come I didn¡¯t know, damn you, how could you keep this from your mother.¡±


    With that, the old lady smacked Yang Cuihua¡¯s back.


    Yang Cuihua, thick-skinned, didn¡¯t mind, ¡°Mom, listen to me first, don¡¯t get agitated, wasn¡¯t it just yesterday that they met?


    I didn¡¯t know it would happen so quickly either.¡±


    The old lady knew Yang Cuihua¡¯s character all too well; if it wasn¡¯t for giving birth to Baby Nian, the treasure, she would have really liked to whack her with a cane.


    Such matters should have been communicated to her beforehand.


    But now that it was already done, the old lady didn¡¯t bother to argue about it.


    The most important issue now was the suitor¡¯s conditions.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the situation with this suitor?¡± Grandma Xu got straight to the point.


    Jin Yu¡¯s credentials were beyond reproach; leaving aside the fact that he had bullied her daughter, Yang Cuihua was extremely satisfied with him.


    Furthermore, on the way back, her daughter had also clarified the misunderstanding at that time.


    Yang Cuihua only had that one gripe about Jin Yu, which was resolved after a word from Xu Niannian, leaving her feeling much relieved.


    When the old lady inquired, Yang Cuihua grinned from ear to ear, unable to contain her joy, ¡°Excellent, just excellent...¡±


    She went on to tell Grandma Xu all about Jin Yu¡¯s family background.


    Upon hearing, Grandma Xu was absolutely delighted, ¡°Is it really that good?¡±


    ¡°Truly, I¡¯ve even been to their house to see for myself.


    Mom, I won¡¯t go into details now.


    Remember to tell Erhong and his wife when they get back, and I have to go to town to let my younger sister know.


    You all should come over early tomorrow.¡±


    Grandma Xu still had many questions, but this news indeed had to be conveyed to the third sister.


    It was her niece getting engaged, and as her aunt, how could she not be present?


    Thus, Grandma Xu didn¡¯t hold her back and before letting her go, she didn¡¯t forget to give Yang Cuihua two corn cakes, ¡°Take these back for my treasure to eat.¡±


    Without a word, Yang Cuihua grabbed the corn cakes and headed to town, munching on one while thinking, her daughter couldn¡¯t eat such coarse stuff anymore.


    She resolved to have her daughter send some pumpkin cakes to the old lady later; they tasted wonderful, and she wanted the old lady to also sample her beloved granddaughter¡¯s cooking.


    No sooner had Yang Cuihua stepped out of Xu Erhong¡¯s home, than Xu Sisi dashed off to the fields to inform her mother, Liu Guimei, that Yang Cuihua had come to visit.


    The moment Liu Guimei heard this, she immediately threw down her hoe and hurried home.


    Fearing she might miss out on some news, Xu Erhong, seeing her rush, also dropped his hoe and chased after her.

 Chapter 64 - 64 63 The Reason

    ?64: Chapter 63: The Reason 64: Chapter 63: The Reason Liu Guimei and Xu Erhong arrived one after the other, and at this time, the old lady was scolding Xu Sisi.


    ¡°You impertinent girl, thinking you¡¯ve grown wings, where did you run off to when I told you to wash the clothes?


    And letting me, an old bag of bones, do it myself, look at what you¡¯re capable of.¡±


    As the old lady chastised Xu Sisi, she poked her head with her finger, ¡°How come you have no memory?


    Did the dogs eat it or what?¡±


    Xu Sisi had grown used to being scolded by her grandma and could mostly tune it out, letting it in one ear and out the other.


    Hearing the old lady¡¯s words, she just kept nodding, ¡°I know, Grandma, stop poking, you¡¯ll poke my head silly.¡±


    The old lady was even more displeased with her perfunctory attitude, ¡°So you think you¡¯re smarter, do you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, in your eyes, only Sister Niannian is the smart one,¡± Xu Sisi rolled her eyes.


    The old lady immediately said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡±


    In an instant, Xu Sisi felt as if she¡¯d been struck by an arrow, a chilling sensation in her heart.


    Her grandma was just too blunt.


    The old lady was still intending to lecture her when Liu Guimei spoke up, ¡°Mom, did my sister-in-law just come over?¡±


    Xu Erhong followed in after her.


    The old lady gave Liu Guimei a glance, her eyelid sagging, and said sarcastically, ¡°Your nose is sharper than anyone else¡¯s, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Liu Guimei didn¡¯t mind being mocked, as she had become accustomed to it.


    Just like Yang Cuihua had gotten used to the old lady never saying anything nice about her, Liu Guimei also got used to the old lady¡¯s occasional sarcastic remarks.


    As the ungrateful son, Xu Erhong, would say, ¡°Just take it as if my mom is farting, it might stink but it won¡¯t kill anyone.¡±


    Ever since Xu Erhong said those words, Liu Guimei had an epiphany and never took issue with the old lady again.


    Because other than her vicious tongue and harsh words, the old lady didn¡¯t bear any malice.


    When she first gave birth to her eldest daughter, Sisi, and it turned out to be a girl, although the old lady grumbled that she¡¯d given birth to a loss-making goods, she stuffed all the tasty things in the house into her mouth.


    During her confinement, the old lady also didn¡¯t make her do any work.


    She¡¯d hurried back for a reason.


    With her sister-in-law¡¯s temper and her mother-in-law¡¯s nature, the two together were always capable of stirring up a bunch of infuriating trouble.


    That¡¯s why she rushed back.


    She hastily brought the old lady into the room, and, not pleased, the old lady grumbled at her, ¡°Let go, let go, what in the world are you doing?¡±


    Xu Erhong was also curious about why his wife had suddenly run home.


    Without hiding anything, Liu Guimei asked directly, ¡°Mom, what was my sister-in-law coming here for?¡±


    When Xu Erhong heard Yang Cuihua had been to their home, he too curiously looked towards the old lady.


    The old lady looked at them both with annoyance, but remembering the matter with her treasured granddaughter, her eyebrows curled up with delight.


    Yet even though the old lady was clearly very happy, she deliberately kept a serious face, feigning indifference as she said, ¡°What could it be?


    Isn¡¯t it just that Niannian agreed to someone¡¯s proposal?


    Her mother came to notify me, so we can go support Niannian at the event tomorrow.¡±


    Since marrying into the Xu Family, Liu Guimei hadn¡¯t suffered any wrong other than the old lady¡¯s sharp tongue, and she was aware of the old lady¡¯s fondness for the eldest daughter of the Xu family¡¯s eldest brother.


    But not a single person in the family thought there was anything wrong with the old lady¡¯s favoritism.


    Because Xu Niannian closely resembled the deceased Old Master Xu, the father of Xu Dawei and his siblings, and the old lady¡¯s late husband.


    She looked as if she¡¯d been cast from the same mold as him; he had passed away when Xu Dawei and his siblings were still very young, succumbing to an illness, leaving abruptly.

 Chapter 65 - 65 64 The Family Bustles About

    ?65: Chapter 64: The Family Bustles About 65: Chapter 64: The Family Bustles About Upon hearing Old Lady Xu say that Xu Niannian was to be engaged, Liu Guimei and Xu Erhong exclaimed in surprise at the same time, ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    Old Lady Xu had been just as shocked when she first received the news, but now seeing how startled Xu Erhong and his wife were, she instantly felt full of disdain.


    ¡°Keep your voices down,¡± she snapped.


    ¡°You¡¯re acting as if you¡¯re a bunch of cowherds who have never seen a bird¡¯s egg.


    Our Niannian is already 17 by nominal age; it¡¯s time she got engaged.¡±


    In fact, Old Lady Xu also resented Yang Cuihua for not informing her sooner.


    But Yang Cuihua had run off too quickly, all in order to inform Xu Sanya; she hadn¡¯t had the chance to vent her frustrations.


    Taking out her irritation on Xu Erhong and his wife made her feel much better.


    Coming back to her senses, Liu Guimei said, ¡°Niannian is indeed at the age to be engaged.¡±


    Xu Erhong, on the other hand, was somewhat reluctant, ¡°Our Niannian is only 17, what¡¯s the rush?¡±


    ¡°What would you, a man, understand?¡± Old Lady Xu, hearing the ignorant words from Xu Erhong, felt like hitting him in the face with a club.


    Xu Sisi simply rolled her eyes helplessly.


    Had they forgotten she was there?


    Finding herself completely disregarded, Xu Sisi decided to just go back to her room to sleep.


    When Yang Cuihua reached the town, Xu Sanya, without a word, packed her belongings and followed Yang Cuihua back to Qingshan Village.


    All the way, she fretted over whether her precious niece would meet someone worthy.


    Old Lady Xu, in her youth, had been infatuated with beauty; it was said that her late husband had been ardently pursued until he was caught by her.


    Old Master Xu was handsome, and he had deeply loved Old Lady Xu.


    When he died, she had been disconsolate until Xu Niannian was born.


    Because of the striking resemblance, Old Lady Xu treasured Xu Niannian like a precious gem, and the influence on Xu Niannian¡¯s siblings was such that they doted on her excessively.


    Xu Niannian felt her skin crawl as she noticed her Young Aunt staring at her intently.


    Why was she gazing at her like that?


    Could it be she¡¯d discovered she wasn¡¯t really Xu Niannian?


    In her memory, the Young Aunt had always been extremely kind to Xu Niannian.


    As Xu Niannian felt increasingly tense, Xu Sanya suddenly turned to Yang Cuihua and asked, ¡°Sister-in-law, why does Niannian look even prettier than before?¡±


    Yang Cuihua loved hearing others praise her daughter¡¯s looks.


    Hearing her niece¡¯s comment, she smiled until her eyes were but slits, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter; how could she not be pretty?¡±


    Xu Sanya rolled her eyes wordlessly, ¡°What does that have to do with you?


    It¡¯s because Niannian has a good grandfather.¡±


    Then she kept patting Xu Niannian on the head, ¡°Our Niannian is just so pretty.¡±


    Yang Cuihua was keen to show off her daughter¡¯s culinary skills in front of others, to let them see how prized her daughter was.


    Usually, whenever Xu Niannian made something, her mother would nag about it, but now she actually let Xu Niannian make Liuyue Su for Xu Sanya.


    Since Jin Yu¡¯s family would be visiting the next day to finalize the engagement and a lot of people were expected, Xu Niannian decided to make a large quantity of Liuyue Su.


    When Xu Sanya tried the Liuyue Su prepared by Xu Niannian, she couldn¡¯t close her mouth, exclaiming how delicious they were and that she had never tasted anything so good before.


    After eating her fill, Xu Sanya went on and on praising Xu Niannian.


    The next day, even before Xu Niannian had gotten out of bed, she was woken up by the noise outside, and even Xu Duoyu was stirred awake by it.


    The little one rubbed his eyes, his voice soft and sticky, ¡°Sis, what¡¯s happening outside?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, you just go back to sleep.¡±


    After coaxing Xu Duoyu back to sleep, Xu Niannian got dressed and went outside.


    By that time, Old Lady Xu and Xu Erhong and his wife had already arrived, and even Xu Sisi and Xu Doudou were there.


    Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng were also present.


    The whole family was busily tidying up the house.


    Xu Niannian widened her eyes in bewilderment¡ªsuch a big fuss?

 Chapter 66 - 66 65 Betrothal 1

    ?66: Chapter 65: Betrothal 1 66: Chapter 65: Betrothal 1 Isn¡¯t it just an engagement?


    Why make it so grand?


    Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t know that Xu Niannian¡¯s family background had already been shared with everyone at home.


    The old lady felt that being a peasant for three generations was honorable, but their status couldn¡¯t compare to that of other families.


    To avoid being looked down upon, even though the house was shabby, it had to be tidied up and made presentable.


    As Yang Cuihua was wiping the table, she saw Xu Niannian and hurriedly said, ¡°Baby Nian is awake, go eat in the kitchen quickly, don¡¯t stay here, it¡¯s very dirty.¡±


    Early that morning, the old lady had brought the whole family over.


    Out of gratitude for the old lady¡¯s kindness in the past, Yang Cuihua cooked a meal of white rice, wincing at the cost.


    Seeing the white rice, whether it was the old lady or Xu Sanya, or Xu Erhong and his wife, they were all shockingly amazed.


    Xu Sanya, with her straightforward ways, even said, ¡°Big sis, did you steal someone¡¯s rice?¡±


    Yang Cuihua was so indignant at the remark that she nearly threw her shoe at her young aunt¡¯s face.


    Then she told them about Xu Niannian starting her own business and making money.


    However, Yang Cuihua didn¡¯t reveal how much was earned, only saying it was about ten yuan a day.


    This already left the whole family in shock for a long time.


    After their shock, the family seemed to take it for granted, not doubting Xu Niannian for a second, especially since Yang Cuihua had said that the village cadre encouraged it.


    The old lady¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile: ¡°I always knew our Baby Nian was like her granddad, smart and capable.¡±


    Xu Erhong and Xu Sanya added, ¡°Our dad is really something.¡±


    Xu Dawei slapped the two of them, resulting in them hurriedly covering their backs.


    Xu Dawei said, not without irritation, ¡°What are you talking about, you two blockheads?¡±


    Realizing their mistake, the two could only sheepishly smile.


    Liu Guimei felt helpless.


    This whole family had been poisoned with something called Xu Niannian.


    But to the elders, Niannian had always been well-behaved, and Liu Guimei also liked her niece a lot.


    In short, in the eyes of the family, there was one unwavering belief: whatever Xu Niannian did was right, and as long as she was willing to do it, it was bound to be impressive.


    Speaking of which, Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t actually gone to the kitchen to eat when Yang Cuihua called her.


    With a rag in her hand, Xu Niannian helped with the wiping too.


    Yang Cuihua couldn¡¯t stop her and immediately became choked up: ¡°Only Baby Nian knows to cherish her mother, those three brothers of yours...¡±


    ¡°Mom, mom, mom, that¡¯s enough, no need to say the rest.¡± Hearing her starting to complain again, Xu Niannian quickly cut her off.


    Bending down to continue wiping the table, without even applying much force, the old lady ran over wailing as if for her life and snatched the rag from her hand.


    She scolded Yang Cuihua: ¡°You wretched thing, how could you let Baby Nian touch such dirty stuff?


    Daughters should be cherished, do you hear me?¡±


    Xu Niannian wanted to explain, but before she could speak, Yang Cuihua readily admitted her error: ¡°Mom, I was wrong.¡±


    Xu Niannian: ¡°...¡±


    Xu Sisi was cleaning the door frame, and when she heard the old lady¡¯s words, her eyes lit up: ¡°Granny, does that mean I can also stop doing the dirty work?¡±


    The old lady glanced at her: ¡°Off you go, you want a part in everything, don¡¯t you?


    I don¡¯t let your sister do the dirty work because she¡¯s fairer than your granddad.


    Look at you, dark as a lump of coal, you¡¯re meant for the dirty work; it¡¯s not your turn for the clean jobs.¡±


    Xu Sisi: ¡°...¡±


    So she wasn¡¯t the precious daughter...


    In her memories, Xu Niannian and Xu Sisi were neither close nor distant, because the original owner felt Xu Sisi was too dark and it was beneath her to be seen with her.


    But Xu Niannian actually thought Xu Sisi was quite good, straightforward in character.


    And she wasn¡¯t bad looking either, just a bit dark.


    Unable to do any work, Xu Niannian simply went to the kitchen, planning to heat up the Liuyue Su, but discovered that after being left overnight, the Liuyue Su somehow tasted even better.


    After cooling down, the fragrance did not dissipate but became even more intense.

 Chapter 67 - 67 66 Betrothal 2

    ?67: Chapter 66: Betrothal 2 67: Chapter 66: Betrothal 2 She thought she should hurry up and take care of these miscellaneous matters because the goods at Li Qingshui¡¯s place must be almost sold out.


    She had promised to supply her with goods two to three times a week.


    Before long, lively voices came from outside, and Xu Niannian hurried out to see.


    It turned out Jin Yu and Wu Lan had arrived, and besides them, there was also a tall middle-aged man, as well as Ding Guihua¡¯s cousin Du Chunming.


    Jin Yu¡¯s appearance shared a resemblance with the man by about sixty percent, and combined with the man¡¯s similar aura, it was hard for Xu Niannian not to know who he was.


    Today, Jin Yu was dressed more formally, in a white linen shirt and a pair of black trousers.


    His physique was good, a simple shirt, but he somehow managed to wear it like it was a high-end item costing tens of thousands in the future.


    The reason it was so lively outside was that the Jin family had come by car.


    In those days, those who could drive were very rich and powerful people.


    Many people in the village had never seen a car, and upon seeing Jin Yu drive into the village, those who saw it followed out of curiosity.


    Ding Guihua also ran over to watch the excitement.


    Seeing the car parked in front of the Xu Family¡¯s gate, the villagers were guessing when the Xu family had established relations with such a wealthy family.


    What made people more envious was that everyone had brought a big pile of things in their hands.


    Malt Extract, high-gluten flour, brown sugar, some fine tobacco and liquor, as well as half a pig.


    Thanks to Ding Guihua¡¯s explanation, the villagers realized that this was an engagement gift for the Xu family.


    A gift of this magnitude for an engagement was truly unprecedented in the village.


    Ordinary families would bring about ten eggs, about twenty pounds of corn, and half a pound or a pound or two of pork for an engagement.


    This was half a pig, and looking at it, it seemed to be a big pig that had been raised for over a year, perhaps weighing over two hundred pounds.


    Many in the village were envious, especially Auntie Wang, who lived closest to Xu Niannian¡¯s home.


    So much pork, how long would that take to eat?


    Just thinking about having meat for every meal made Auntie Wang very envious.


    And those unmarried girls, seeing Jin Yu¡¯s handsome features, blushed one after another.


    Being watched by so many people, Jin Yu didn¡¯t seem nervous and, holding his things, went straight into the Xu¡¯s house.


    All the way, Jin Yu was driving, and he didn¡¯t even ask Du Chunming, the matchmaker, and directly found the Xu family¡¯s house.


    This made Wu Lan think that her son meant Xu Niannian when he said he wanted to marry that girl.


    She was even more satisfied with the decision she had made.


    As Jin Yu entered, he happened to see Xu Niannian, his eyelids twitched, and he sized her up from head to toe.


    Xu Niannian was still wearing the rose-colored dress from yesterday, and her top was a white shirt brought by her Young Aunt.


    Her hair being too long, Xu Niannian simply tossed it to the side and braided it into a fluffy twist braid.


    With her snow-white skin and pretty looks, dressed this way, she was as beautiful as a fairy-like girl with a pure and lovely aura.


    Yet when Jin Yu glimpsed her watery apricot eyes, he felt a seductive air about her.


    He couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, running it around the inside of his teeth, ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    Xu Niannian was somewhat of a face-connoisseur, seeing Jin Yu dressed up so smartly, she couldn¡¯t help but stare a little too long.


    It was his annoying voice that snapped her back to reality, hastily she moved aside to let Jin Yu put the things in his hands onto the table.


    Normally, it was the matchmaker¡¯s job to open the discussions during an engagement.


    The main room of the Xu family was a bit small, with two tables in the middle, one of which had been brought over by her second uncle from their house.

 Chapter 68 - 68 67 Exchange Engagement Tokens

    ?68: Chapter 67: Exchange Engagement Tokens 68: Chapter 67: Exchange Engagement Tokens The two families sat at the table, beginning to discuss the important matter of setting the engagement.


    Xu Niannian and Jin Yu, the two protagonists, each stood on one side.


    More precisely, the elders on both sides wanted to send them away, as the discussion of the bride price and various rituals took place, making it inconvenient for the younger pair to be present.


    A guest in one¡¯s home deserves respect, especially since they would soon be related by marriage.


    Yang Cuihua hurriedly gathered Xu Niannian to take the delicious Liuyue Su she had made out of the kitchen.


    Although Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t particularly fond of Jin Yu and his mother, she wouldn¡¯t forsake proper manners.


    Upon hearing Yang Cuihua¡¯s words, she immediately carried out the Liuyue Su she had prepared in the kitchen.


    As soon as she brought it out, the rich aroma also scattered into the air.


    Wu Lan certainly remembered this scent.


    Her eyes instantly brightened.


    Xu Niannian placed the Liuyue Su on the table.


    The Xu family relatives, having already tasted it earlier that morning, knew how delicious it was and appeared fairly nonchalant.


    But it was different for the people from the Jin Yu family.


    They stared eagerly at the golden cakes.


    Yang Cuihua watched their expressions with satisfaction.


    She was clearly proud but pretended to be modest and polite as she invited, ¡°Please have a taste, dear relatives.


    This is a little token of Niannian¡¯s.


    Please make do with it.


    This girl likes to dabble in making such things in her free time.¡±


    With a smiling face, Wu Lan took one, thinking it might just be the smell that was familiar.


    So Wu Lan took a bite.


    Instantly, that familiar savory taste filled her mouth, the rich and soft filling inside flowed smoothly, and the outer crust was crispy and tender on the inside.


    This was exactly the Liuyue Su she had eaten before, no, that¡¯s not right, this was several times more delicious than any Liuyue Su she had tried before.


    The rich flavor made Wu Lan want to swallow her tongue along with it.


    Delicious, incredibly delicious.


    As Wu Lan ate, the taste was so exquisite that up to now, she still had her eyes closed, savoring.


    Seeing her exaggerated performance, Du Chunming and Jin Nandong were both surprised.


    Could it really be that delicious?


    With that thought, the two of them also put aside serious matters and each grabbed a piece to taste.


    As soon as they took a bite, their expressions immediately changed.


    Du Chunming chewed more quickly, while Jin Nandong calmly took another piece.


    Wu Lan was not to be outdone and immediately reached out for more.


    The three of them instantly started competing for the pastries.


    Jin Yu stood behind them, watching their unladylike behavior with a full head of cold sweat.


    He and Xu Niannian stood behind their parents.


    Jin Yu arched an eyebrow and took a glance at Xu Niannian, just as he caught her smiling eyes.


    She looked beautiful when she smiled, her eyes curved into crescent moons, standing demurely with a blissful expression on her face.


    Xu Niannian particularly loved seeing others enjoy the things she made.


    It gave her a sense of satisfaction.


    It was as if she felt needed.


    She watched others intently, her eyes clear and sparkling.


    So focused was she that she failed to notice Jin Yu staring at her all the while.


    Over here, Wu Lan and the other two finally finished the Liuyue Su on the plate, with three hands simultaneously reaching out to the empty dish.


    Realizing the plate was empty, they awkwardly withdrew their hands.


    It seemed they had forgotten the real issue at hand.


    Yet Wu Lan, seemingly oblivious, asked Yang Cuihua enthusiastically, ¡°Mother-in-law, where did you say you bought these?¡±


    Wu Lan had quite the appetite, and at this moment, she couldn¡¯t care less about saving face.


    She had bought some Liuyue Su at the morning market before and had been thinking about them ever since.


    However, when she went to the market again, the girl who had been selling them was no longer there.

 Chapter 69 - 69 68 The Mysterious Old Lady

    ?69: Chapter 68: The Mysterious Old Lady 69: Chapter 68: The Mysterious Old Lady Yang Cuihua said with annoyance, ¡°What do you mean bought?


    This is made by our Niannian.¡±


    ¡°Niannian made it herself!¡± Wu Lan looked at Xu Niannian in disbelief and amazement.


    Meeting her bright, apricot-shaped eyes, a spark suddenly flashed, realizing something extremely important.


    Oh my God, Niannian was that little girl selling pancakes at the morning market back then.


    No wonder she felt those eyes were familiar the first time she saw Niannian.


    Realizing all these things were made by Xu Niannian, Wu Lan was extremely pleased with her.


    Even Du Chunming and Jin Hai took another surprised look at Xu Niannian.


    She was incredibly skillful and dexterous.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s elders, seeing the astonished looks of the three, puffed out their chests, thinking, their family¡¯s great treasure was indeed formidable.


    Look, these distinguished guests were seeing their treasure in a new light.


    The main purpose today was to confirm the engagement.


    Confirming the engagement was just a formality, where the two families would discuss the bride price and the wedding date.


    The Jin Yu family brought a large portion of a pig, which itself was a gift unmatched in the village.


    This gave Xu Niannian¡¯s family an extraordinary sense of honor.


    As Old Lady Xu used to say, the brush of their clothes when walking could be fierce enough to knock someone down.


    Due to the strong insistence of Jin Yu and Xu Niannian, the wedding was set for one year later.


    In Nancheng County, there is a custom where the engaged couple must exchange gifts as a pledge of committing for life.


    The parents from both sides must also exchange tokens.


    And these must be presented on the table.


    The token that Wu Lan gave to Xu Niannian was a jade bracelet, and Xu Niannian, who knew her stuff, saw that it was Zhengyang green jade.


    Jade is prized for its green, and among greens, Zhengyang green is the most valued.


    Also, such a large bracelet, so thoroughly green, clearly worth a fortune, could Wu Lan really be giving it to her?


    And so openly...


    Xu Niannian felt slightly dizzy, weren¡¯t Jin Yu and his father soldiers?


    Even with high ranks and substantial allowances, they couldn¡¯t afford such things, could they?


    Could it be illicit bribes received on the side?


    Jin Yu caught Xu Niannian¡¯s look with a click of his tongue, this silly girl, what a look.


    Their Jin family had been upright for generations, thank you very much.


    Comrade Wu Lan indulged because she had a wealthy father in the capital.


    Yang Cuihua and the others didn¡¯t recognize the value, but they knew the item presented was not cheap.


    Only Old Lady Xu¡¯s eyelids twitched.


    When she married, her husband had given her a similar bracelet, reportedly worth a fortune.


    Seeing Xu Niannian hesitating to accept, Wu Lan cordially said, ¡°Niannian, take it, this was given to me by Jin Yu¡¯s grandmother when I got married; once you and Jin Yu are wed, we¡¯ll be family.¡±


    Such a valuable item, Xu Niannian was sure she wouldn¡¯t accept it and was about to refuse when she saw Jin Yu give her a look.


    Xu Niannian hadn¡¯t had time to ponder his meaning when Wu Lan already pressed the bracelet into her hand.


    Left with no choice, Xu Niannian could only accept for the moment; since she and Jin Yu¡¯s engagement was fake, she could always return it to him later.


    Yang Cuihua intended to give Jin Yu a simple article of clothing made from the fabric Xu Niannian had bought the other day.


    But before she could present it, she heard Old Lady Xu clear her throat heavily.


    Yang Cuihua knew her mother-in-law too well, such a cough meant she had something to say.


    So she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to give the gift, curious about what Old Lady Xu had to say.


    Old Lady Xu lifted her eyelids, glanced at Jin Yu, then slowly pulled out a handkerchief from her purse in a deliberate manner.


    The handkerchief was very clean, unfolded layer by layer with meticulous care.


    As she unwrapped the object, everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on what was in her hand.


    Even Xu Niannian was shocked.


    Wrapped in her grandmother¡¯s handkerchief was a jade finger ring.


    And it was clearly made from the very finest mutton-fat jade.

 Chapter 70 - 70 69 A Gleam in the Eye

    ?70: Chapter 69: A Gleam in the Eye 70: Chapter 69: A Gleam in the Eye The old lady¡¯s action truly shocked Jin Yu¡¯s family.


    Even Du Chunming¡¯s eyes were wide open.


    Although Du Chunming was not knowledgeable about goods, he had a good eye, and with such fine jade, he thought, how much must it be worth?


    The entire Xu Family, both young and old, wondered if the old lady was starting to bluff people again.


    ¡°In-laws, this...¡± Wu Lan hesitated, wondering if the gift might be too valuable.


    Especially for their family.


    Even though Wu Lan did not look down on others, she couldn¡¯t help but admit that the Xu Family did seem really poor.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as valuable as what you¡¯ve given,¡± said the old lady, her voice neither light nor heavy, with a smile on her face.


    She pulled Xu Niannian¡¯s hand and said to Wu Lan, ¡°Our Niannian is the treasure of our family.


    Since your family values our Niannian, we can¡¯t shortchange this young man, Jin Yu.¡±


    The old lady was very good with words, not outright asking the other party to treat Xu Niannian well in the future.


    It simply stated an attitude, that although their family was poor, they still had something to offer, and it also indicated that, regardless of whether the other party was rich or not, their Niannian should not be bullied.


    With that single statement, Wu Lan swallowed the rest of her words.


    Jin Yu and Jin Nandong, on the other hand, didn¡¯t have such convoluted thoughts, feeling that since it was an exchange of engagement tokens, anything given by the other side was acceptable.


    They wouldn¡¯t scorn something cheap, nor would they find anything wrong with a valuable gift.


    Therefore, Jin Yu accepted it as a matter of course.


    When it was time for the younger pair to exchange tokens, Xu Niannian gave a piece of Liuyue Su, but she made a nice show of it with her words.


    ¡°Our family is poor, and we don¡¯t have much to offer, so this Liuyue Su is handmade by me.


    It symbolizes my skills.


    Once I marry into your family, all of my skills, whether to make money or whatever, will serve your family.¡±


    The subtext was as follows: anyway, our family is destitute, we have nothing to give, and the matter of serving will be after marriage, and she wouldn¡¯t really marry him.


    However, to Wu Lan and Jin Nandong, the subtext they heard was: From now on, I will be a part of your family.


    Wu Lan couldn¡¯t stop smiling and nodding her head, saying, ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡±


    Jin Nandong, meanwhile, nodded in satisfaction.


    His son was a man with good judgment; if he made a choice, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong.


    The value of the gift was not important; what mattered was the sincerity of the person involved.


    Only Jin Yu understood Xu Niannian¡¯s real subtext, and he sneered inwardly, pulling a bullet out of his pocket and placing it on the table.


    ¡°This is the bullet that was removed from me the first time I was injured,¡± Jin Yu pointed towards his heart, ¡°taken out from here.¡±


    The engagement was something where the parents¡¯ gifts were significant, but what the young couple gave did not need to be so formal.


    Therefore, Xu Niannian¡¯s family was not upset by Jin Yu presenting their treasure with a mere bullet, but rather, they were more satisfied with Jin Yu because of his reasoning.


    It seemed that the young man really was captivated by their Niannian.


    Wu Lan and Jin Nandong knew about Jin Yu¡¯s first injury, so they had no doubts.


    Only Xu Niannian looked at Jin Yu suspiciously.


    What was this trash up to?


    Playing the deep love card?


    Wasn¡¯t it too cheesy?


    After all, they were only pretending to be engaged, nothing more.


    Noticing Xu Niannian¡¯s gaze, Jin Yu¡¯s thin lips curved upward into a mischievous smile.


    Xu Niannian was almost dazzled by his handsome smile.


    What followed was a discussion about the engagement gifts.


    When it came time to discuss this matter, Xu Niannian and Jin Yu were both kicked out.


    Yang Cuihua even asked Xu Niannian to take Jin Yu for a good tour.


    The two walked side by side, with Jin Yu¡¯s stature being quite tall, and Xu Niannian, at a height of one meter seventy, slender and elegant.


    Coupled with both of their exceptionally good looks, they did make a strikingly well-matched pair as they walked together.


    ...Adding an extra chapter here, underwear, because Tencent suddenly couldn¡¯t see the digressions, so I¡¯m mentioning it here.


    The story is rushing for the free list.


    Pals, hurry and leave messages, punch the card with your recommendation ticket to support underwear, woo woo 555~ Love you all

 Chapter 71 - 71 70 The Seeds of Suspicion

    ?71: Chapter 70: The Seeds of Suspicion 71: Chapter 70: The Seeds of Suspicion The village didn¡¯t have much to offer for a stroll, so Xu Niannian simply took Jin Yu to wander through the oilseed rape fields.


    It was the season when the rape flowers were in full bloom, and the hills and fields were swaying with their splendid demeanor.


    Xu Niannian loved such beautiful scenery.


    Walking on the ridges filled with blooming flowers, she couldn¡¯t help but walk backward, forgetting about the existence of Jin Yu.


    As morning edged into midday, the sun blazed brilliantly but gently, not scorching.


    Breathing in the scent of the flowers among the rice paddies, Xu Niannian, entranced, spread her arms and looked up at the sun as she continued to walk backward.


    The golden sunlight shone upon her, lending her beauty a floral radiance, while her snow-white skin under the sun resembled the finest mutton-fat white jade.


    The wind came and blew her vibrant rose-colored skirt in Jin Yu¡¯s direction.


    Jin Yu walked with a foxtail grass in his mouth, following Xu Niannian¡¯s footsteps.


    His narrow phoenix eyes squinted slightly, whether to appraise the person in front of him or because the sunlight was too dazzling.


    The woman was as lovely as a painting.


    She had the serenity of a landscape painting, the vibrancy of an oil painting, and the purity and simplicity of a sketch.


    Of course, that was just the surface.


    Jin Yu believed that Xu Jiaojiao, this woman, must be quite scheming.


    Although this matchmaking encounter was purely an accident, Jin Yu felt that he could not afford to take it lightly.


    This woman¡¯s allure was too potent for men.


    Even he, with his strong self-control, was often so enticed by her that he lost his senses¡ªother men were no doubt even less resistant.


    It was as if Xu Niannian had only just remembered Jin Yu¡¯s existence, and she slowly opened her eyelids.


    ¡°Hey, Jin Yu, I¡¯ll give you back the bracelet your mom gave to me, can you give back my grandmother¡¯s finger guard in return?¡±


    Perhaps because of the sunlight, Xu Niannian¡¯s voice sounded particularly crisp with comfort.


    Her crisp voice made Jin Yu lose focus for a moment.


    He gazed at Xu Niannian, dazed, and after his stupefaction, his emotions suddenly became somewhat agitated.


    ¡°Say that again.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Niannian looked at Jin Yu in confusion, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not planning to welsh on the deal, are you?¡±


    Her voice regained its lazy, enchanting, milky quality.


    Jin Yu wondered if he had misheard just now.


    For a moment, he actually thought Xu Jiaojiao¡¯s voice was very similar to that of the woman who cried out that day.


    Was it an illusion?


    Jin Yu began to doubt his own judgement.


    Could it be that the girl¡¯s cries at that time were indeed different from her normal speaking voice?


    After all, under extreme tension, it is very common for the voice to change.


    Because of excessive tension, the throat tightens, the vibration frequency of the tonsils increases, and the volume tends to rise subconsciously.


    Jin Yu didn¡¯t know if his speculation was correct.


    All this time, he had been unable to find any information about that girl.


    Could there be a possibility that it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t find her, but that the girl was unwilling to admit it?


    If the person was Xu Jiaojiao...


    As Jin Yu pondered, something suddenly flickered in front of him.


    He looked down, directly into Xu Niannian¡¯s large, round apricot eyes.


    Xu Niannian glared at him angrily, ¡°Hey, you brute, you¡¯re not really going to cheat me, are you?


    The bracelet your family gave is worth much more than the finger guard from my grandmother.


    We¡¯re not seriously betrothed, so you can¡¯t really take the finger guard with you.¡±


    ¡°Brute?¡± Jin Yu chewed on the words, asking her with a depth of meaning, ¡°You seem to really like calling me a brute?¡±


    Xu Niannian glared, without a moment of hesitation, ¡°That¡¯s because you are a brute.¡±


    ¡°Have I done anything to you?¡± Jin Yu pressed on immediately, his words leaving no room for pause, and his tone aggressive.


    It¡¯s hard for people to lie under extreme tension, and even if they do lie, they tend to reveal faults easily.

 Chapter 72 - 72 71 Spirited Counterattack

    ?72: Chapter 71: Spirited Counterattack 72: Chapter 71: Spirited Counterattack And Jin Yu was a master at spotting flaws.


    As soon as Xu Niannian showed the slightest bit of irregularity, Jin Yu could immediately capture it.


    ¡°Of course, you have treated me like an animal before.


    Last time at the public restroom across from the state-run restaurant, you dragged me into the stall, and even had that disgusting reaction to me.


    If that¡¯s not beastly, what is?¡±


    Xu Niannian did not hesitate for a second before directly calling out Jin Yu¡¯s misdeeds: ¡°And last time at my place, didn¡¯t you do the same thing...


    Hmph.¡±


    Jin Yu, scolded relentlessly, forgot to doubt Xu Niannian and uncomfortably lowered his head to touch his nose.


    It seemed like what she said was true.


    No sooner had Jin Yu lowered his head than Xu Niannian immediately breathed a sigh of relief, showing a close call expression, nearly spilling the beans about him raping her.


    She certainly didn¡¯t want to stay entangled with this jerk.


    Already having a fiance? was headache enough for her, let alone adding a sexual relationship to the mix.


    She might as well jump off a building.


    Luckily she had a moment of quick thinking and suddenly remembered his various misdeeds.


    Was Jin Yu just doubting her?


    Why did the way he asked that question give her a sense of danger lurking from all around?


    This guy couldn¡¯t be planning to kill her to silence her, could he?


    Upon reflection, Xu Niannian felt her analysis was very reasonable.


    As for the job Jin Yu did, she had heard it was a position with unlimited prospects, even though she did not know what exactly he did.


    In these times, when morals were so strictly enforced, if the issue of him raping a woman were exposed, his chances for promotion would be doomed.


    And he would also face prison.


    He definitely wanted to find her and then silence her by killing her.


    No, no, she had to keep her mouth shut.


    Ah, she could accuse him of rape, Xu Niannian thought as she slapped her forehead, how could she have forgotten about this?


    Her excitement lasted less than two minutes before Xu Niannian remembered something crucial.


    No, rapists won¡¯t be executed by firing squad, and with the Jin Yu family connections, if she blatantly came out to accuse him, she would be destroyed before she could rise to power.


    It would be a loss not worth the risk.


    Revenge plans should be long-term strategies, taking it slow, step by step, growing stronger first.


    When she had the money to hire a hitman, that would be Jin Yu¡¯s doomsday.


    Thinking this, Xu Niannian nodded solemnly once more.


    Jin Yu looked at her oddly, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    His deep voice abruptly penetrated Xu Niannian¡¯s ears, and with a start, she lifted her head; her expression seamlessly transitioning from annoyance and hesitation to a face full of anger.


    ¡°Hey, Jin Yu, can you act like a man and return my family¡¯s finger guard to me?¡±


    Jin Yu, expressionless, replied, ¡°Before the marriage, the finger guard and bracelet will be kept with your grandmother and my mother.


    Don¡¯t worry, our family isn¡¯t missing your small trinkets.¡±


    Xu Niannian, after hearing that, huffed coldly, thinking to herself, sure enough, he¡¯s a corrupt official, so wealthy.


    Jin Yu, clearly understanding Xu Niannian¡¯s contemptuous look, simply didn¡¯t bother explaining, finding it troublesome.


    The story behind this was long-winded.


    Better left unsaid.


    Anyway, Xu Jiaojiao was of no importance to him, she could think whatever she wanted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, after the marriage arrangement is dissolved, I will return your family¡¯s finger guard to you.¡±


    Xu Niannian snorted, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±


    Thinking of the bullet Jin Yu had given her before, Xu Niannian pulled it from the pocket of her clothes and handed it to Jin Yu.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your crappy bullet.¡±


    The tokens exchanged by the parents of both sides were for the young couple too, but before marriage, according to tradition, they would be kept by their respective parents.


    As for the items exchanged between the two of them, they would keep them themselves.


    Jin Yu looked down and saw a bullet lying in the palm of a delicate hand.


    Her fingers were slim and long, pale with a faint pink hue, her nails neatly trimmed.


    Jin Yu¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, and he looked up to Xu Niannian, ¡°You don¡¯t think I was serious earlier, do you?¡±

 Chapter 73 - 73 72 Almost Spilled the Beans

    ?73: Chapter 72: Almost Spilled the Beans 73: Chapter 72: Almost Spilled the Beans ¡°What does that mean?¡± Xu Niannian asked, puzzled, thinking he had been serious before.


    Wait a minute...


    Xu Niannian suddenly pocketed the bullet, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Jin Yu, ¡°So all that cheesy love talk you said at my house was fake?¡±


    Jin Yu put his hands in his pockets, bowed his head, and leaned close to Xu Niannian.


    Because of the difference in their heights, Jin Yu¡¯s action gave the immediate impression that he was about to kiss Xu Niannian.


    ¡°Could it be that you were telling the truth?¡± Jin Yu hooked his lips into a shallow smile, his cool and thin lips exuding a rascal charm.


    He shook the Liuyue Su in his hand, ¡°Wasn¡¯t I just playing along with you?¡±


    As he spoke, Jin Yu took a bite and said, ¡°A cake can be eaten for a lifetime, but I¡¯m certainly not interested in having a person.¡±


    Looking at Jin Yu¡¯s ¡®I¡¯m-so-awesome¡¯ expression, all cool and explosive, Xu Niannian pinched her fingers, finding this man incredibly annoying.


    She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Thanks for nothing, I thank your ancestors for all of mine.¡±


    Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°On behalf of my ancestors, I¡¯ll reply to yours, you¡¯re welcome.¡±


    ¡°So this damn bullet, can I just throw it away?¡± Xu Niannian asked, pretending to throw it.


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Jin Yu suddenly spoke to stop her.


    Xu Niannian turned around, holding back her anger.


    She smiled and through gritted teeth said, ¡°Do you have any more ridiculous requests?¡±


    Xu Niannian didn¡¯t realize that her smile just then was mesmerizing and radiant.


    Even more dazzling than the sun in the sky.


    Bathed in golden light, Jin Yu was a bit dazed.


    He thought to himself, this woman is really toxic.


    To look like this, could she be a ¡®Demon¡¯ reincarnated?


    ¡°Hey, Beast, can you stop ogling me.¡± Realizing Jin Yu was staring blankly at her again, Xu Niannian really wanted to pull off her shoe and hit him in the face with it.


    Having a crush on a woman and still staring at another, he is truly garbage and a beast.


    A scumbag.


    Pah!


    Jin Yu came to his senses and explained, ¡°If you throw it away, what will you say when your parents ask about it?¡±


    His words successfully made Xu Niannian hesitate.


    Although the beast was annoying, what he said wasn¡¯t entirely without reasoning.


    The tokens of engagement exchanged between two young people could be kept by themselves, but given her mother¡¯s personality, she would surely inquire about it later.


    What would she say then?


    Forget it, she might as well just keep it.


    Just as she came to this conclusion, Xu Niannian saw Jin Yu stuff the last bit of Liuyue Su into his mouth.


    That was the engagement token she had just given him.


    ¡°...Aren¡¯t you afraid your mother will also ask you?¡±


    Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, ¡°My mother doesn¡¯t ask me about these things.¡±


    Alright then, she wouldn¡¯t ask.


    Afterward, they bickered all the way, Xu Niannian feeling a blockage in her chest, always feeling she was on the losing end in a verbal clash with the beast.


    Unconsciously, Xu Niannian wasn¡¯t looking where she was going, just following the path, and ended up at a small hill nearby.


    This very hill was the place where Xu Niannian was strong-armed by Jin Yu.


    Walking ahead with her head down, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t notice Jin Yu¡¯s pace slowing down.


    Jin Yu kept silent mainly because he didn¡¯t want to get any closer to this woman.


    Because he found that she always had a magical power that made him lose his focus.


    Until Xu Niannian unknowingly walked up here.


    Jin Yu suddenly stopped, staring at Xu Niannian¡¯s figure, his narrow phoenix eyes slightly squinted.


    Could she really be the one?


    Or was it just a coincidence?


    Xu Niannian, having walked a distance, noticed that he wasn¡¯t following and turned around irritably, ¡°Hey, can you pick up the pace?¡±


    Jin Yu gazed at Xu Niannian thoughtfully, making her alarm bells ring, thoughts buzzing in her head.


    He approached her at a leisurely pace, his tall figure closing in, giving a sense of oppression.

 Chapter 74 - 74 73 Blushing from Praise

    ?74: Chapter 73: Blushing from Praise 74: Chapter 73: Blushing from Praise Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but step back, not realizing there was a vine behind her, which she tripped over, losing control and falling backward.


    Xu Niannian closed her eyes, tense.


    Just when she thought she was going to fall flat on her face, suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.


    Jin Yu held Xu Niannian around the waist with one hand but didn¡¯t immediately help her up; instead, he leaned down, closing in on her.


    ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡±


    Meeting his dangerous gaze, Xu Niannian emphatically denied, ¡°Not at all!¡±


    ¡°Do you come here often?¡± Jin Yu changed the subject, and because of the close proximity, he could clearly catch the faint, pleasant scent wafting from the woman before him.


    The fragrance lingered around his nostrils, inescapable.


    Hearing Jin Yu¡¯s question, Xu Niannian quickly glanced around, and recognizing this as the spot where Jin Yu had taken advantage of her, her heart panicked, although her face was as composed as an old dog¡¯s.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?


    My house is so close by, how could I not come here often?¡±


    Jin Yu observed Xu Niannian¡¯s expression closely.


    Calm, too calm, and too natural.


    If it had really been her back then, she would have recognized him instantly as the man who had wronged her.


    Her silence only meant she didn¡¯t want him to know.


    But if that were the case, having him bring up the matter and seeing the location of the incident, she couldn¡¯t possibly act so naturally.


    It seems it really wasn¡¯t her.


    Thinking this, Jin Yu lost the desire to probe any further and crudely pulled her up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back, they should have come to an agreement by now,¡± he said.


    Without waiting for Xu Niannian¡¯s consent, Jin Yu turned and walked back the way they had come.


    Xu Niannian hurried to catch up, breathing a huge sigh of relief at Jin Yu¡¯s lack of suspicion towards her.


    That was too close!


    *


    After Xu Niannian and Jin Yu returned home, the families had already settled the marriage arrangements.


    Due to Xu Niannian and Jin Yu¡¯s adamant requests, the marriage was set for one year later.


    At noon, Xu Niannian cooked a large table full of dishes, and even boiled rice.


    Xu Niannian was a chef-level cook, and with the help of stream water, even simple dishes were turned into delicious cuisine by her.


    Her display of skill completely shocked both families, and the table of dishes was devoured in no time.


    Compliments were what Xu Niannian had in abundance at the dining table; they came from all around her, and even she, thick-skinned as she was, couldn¡¯t help but blush at the praise.


    Even Du Chunming and Ding Guihua couldn¡¯t help but look at Xu Niannian with new respect.


    Ding Guihua knew Xu Niannian¡¯s family situation better than anyone, the poorest household in Qingshan Village.


    A family like that could afford to serve such a large table of people white rice?


    Recently, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang had been leaving early and returning late to do their business, which was known to everyone in the village, and Ding Guihua was all the more informed.


    However, she, like the rest of the village, didn¡¯t take it seriously.


    They felt holding a business was beneath them and also believed they couldn¡¯t be earning much.


    After tasting the dishes prepared by Xu Niannian, Ding Guihua was convinced that, with Xu Niannian¡¯s cooking skills, probably a good sum of money had been made.


    And now that Xu Niannian had a marriage arrangement with a prestigious family like the Jin Family,


    her social status was naturally on the rise.


    It seemed she had to put away her dismissive attitude toward the Xu Family from now on.


    Who knows, she might need to curry favor with them in the future.


    Not only did Du Chunming and Ding Guihua think highly of her, but even Wu Lan and Jin Nandong were taken aback.


    After all, in those days, white rice was considered a luxury, not even factory workers were guaranteed to have it every meal.


    Who would be willing to serve rice to their guests?


    Only Jin Yu was quite nonchalant about it.


    Xu Jiaojiao, that woman had casually sold over 150 yuan worth of goods at the dried seafood store last time; could she possibly worry about not being able to afford rice?

 Chapter 75 - 75 74 Contradiction 1

    ?75: Chapter 74: Contradiction 1 75: Chapter 74: Contradiction 1 Xu Niannian and Jin Yu¡¯s sham engagement finally came to an end after seeing off Jin Yu¡¯s family of three and the matchmaker, Du Chunming.


    Once the guests left, Niannian¡¯s young aunt, her second uncle and his wife, along with the old lady, also took their leave.


    Niannian had made a lot of Liuyue Su last night, and had taken forty or fifty pieces back to her young aunt and her second uncle¡¯s homes, respectively.


    The old lady thought Niannian didn¡¯t earn money easily and kept insisting she shouldn¡¯t take any.


    It was only after Niannian¡¯s insistence that they finally took them home.


    The old lady really doted on Niannian.


    When she was leaving, she even slipped Niannian some money.


    Niannian kept saying no, but the old lady insisted persistently.


    Niannian, having no choice, reluctantly accepted it.


    She thought that she would buy some tasty treats for the old lady when she went to the county town tomorrow.


    The old lady secretly gave Niannian money, and it didn¡¯t escape the eyes of Xu Sisi and Niannian¡¯s second aunt, Liu Guimei.


    In those days, a few bucks were equivalent to several hundred in later times.


    When Xu Sisi saw it, her expression was somewhat resigned, while Liu Guimei was inscrutable.


    As for Xu Erhong, the second uncle, and Xu Sanya, the younger aunt, they would have felt it appropriate even if they had seen it.


    Who else in the family bore such a striking resemblance to the old master than Niannian?


    However, Niannian couldn¡¯t comfortably enjoy the favors of others without offering something in return.


    On the way home, Xu Sisi felt somewhat upset, thinking her grandma was excessively biased.


    She had asked her grandma for fifty cents to buy stationery just yesterday and had been refused.


    Liu Guimei saw her daughter¡¯s sadness and sighed with a sense of helplessness.


    Being part of such a family, she wondered if it was a blessing or a curse.


    At night, lying in bed, Liu Guimei thought it over and decided it was time to discuss it properly with her husband.


    After their youngest son, Xu Doudou, had fallen asleep, Liu Guimei woke up Xu Erhong.


    Erhong, cranky from being woken up, was quite impatient, ¡°What¡¯s going on?


    It¡¯s the middle of the night, we¡¯ve got work tomorrow, don¡¯t bother me.¡±


    Erhong wasn¡¯t usually like this, but when his morning mood flared up, he became very impatient.


    Fortunately, Guimei had grown accustomed to it.


    She reached out and pinched his nose, and within a minute, Erhong was awake, gasping for breath.


    He sat up abruptly, looking around blankly, ¡°What¡¯s going on, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Guimei also sat up, ¡°You ask me what¡¯s going on?


    I have something to tell you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so important that it can¡¯t wait till morning and you have to wake someone up in the middle of the night?¡±


    Erhong¡¯s tone was still impatient, but at least his voice wasn¡¯t as loud as before.


    It was also because the old lady¡¯s room was in the east house, and they were in the west house, that Guimei dared wake him up late at night.


    ¡°Erhong, today mom gave Niannian a few bucks, you saw it, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Erhong thought it was some big matter, not expecting it to be this, and said discontentedly, ¡°You woke me up just for this?


    She¡¯s our niece, what¡¯s wrong if mom gives her some money?


    Why are you so petty?¡±


    Guimei knew he would react like this, feeling stifled and caught between frustration and resignation.


    ¡°Xu Erhong, I know mom is biased because dad died early and she transferred all her longing for dad onto Niannian, but shouldn¡¯t there be a limit to everything?¡±


    ¡°How has she gone beyond limits?


    Mom hasn¡¯t moved everything from our house to big brother¡¯s, has she?¡± Erhong said, not caring about the issue.


    In his eyes, they were all family anyway, so there was no need to fuss over such matters.


    His nonchalant attitude genuinely infuriated Guimei.


    Out of anger, she blurted out, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare?¡±


    Erhong¡¯s impatient expression changed, and he looked at Guimei seriously, ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t dare?


    If my mom did give it away, what would you do, fight her over it?¡±


    This tone from Erhong was already a clear sign of great anger.

 Chapter 76 - 76 75 Contradiction 2

    ?76: Chapter 75: Contradiction 2 76: Chapter 75: Contradiction 2 Liu Guimei was very clear about her husband¡¯s temper, knowing she could only stroke it the right way and not go against the grain or it would only make matters worse.


    Moreover, she knew in her heart that Old Lady Yu would never really move all the things from their home to Xu Erhong¡¯s home.


    Since it was something impossible, there was no need to make a fuss over it.


    She backed down, ¡°Alright, I was wrong about this matter, I shouldn¡¯t have spoken about our mother that way, but our mother indeed has her wrongs, too.¡±


    Seeing Liu Guimei soften her tone, Xu Erhong softened as well and slowly started reasoning with her.


    ¡°Guimei, I hope you understand that we and my older brother are all family.


    His family¡¯s condition is really bad, and it¡¯s only right for mom to help them out.


    Besides, rest assured, although mom favors Niannian, she¡¯s not senile.¡±


    ¡°The money we have with mom, she definitely won¡¯t give to Niannian.


    The money given to Niannian is from what the three of us give mom out of filial piety.


    You say the money¡¯s all given to her, isn¡¯t it up to her to decide who to give it to?¡±


    ¡°But your mom is too biased.


    Didn¡¯t you see how upset Sisi got when mom gave Niannian the money today?¡±


    Xu Erhong rubbed his hair in frustration, ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense.


    Isn¡¯t Sisi already used to it?¡±


    This statement choked Liu Guimei up, as if all he could figure out after pondering so long was this rationale.


    Liu Guimei was so angry she felt physical pain.


    As a result, she harbored quite a bit of resentment toward Xu Niannian¡¯s family.


    She couldn¡¯t blame Old Lady Yu, so she could only blame this family.


    In the past, when the eldest¡¯s family was poor, Old Lady Yu would help them, and she would turn a blind eye.


    But now?


    The eldest¡¯s wife even said Xu Niannian could earn ten yuan a day, and their family was eating rice, still taking money from Old Lady Yu.


    Did they see her family as a big sucker?


    In truth, Xu Erhong¡¯s home was poor too, but just slightly better than the eldest brother¡¯s home.


    In those times, every household was poor, especially those in the countryside.


    Who said that being poorer was more honorable at that time?


    So, Liu Guimei felt aggrieved all night and the next morning, got up with dark circles under her eyes to make breakfast for the whole family.


    Old Lady Yu saw it but said nothing.


    That day, she directly took out the money Xu Erhong and his wife had with her and gave it to Liu Guimei.


    She didn¡¯t speak of other matters, only said she was old and couldn¡¯t manage the household affairs anymore, and from now on, Liu Guimei and Xu Erhong should make their own decisions.


    With this move, Xu Erhong and Liu Guimei were both very clear.


    It must have been that Old Lady Yu overhead their conversation the night before.


    Liu Guimei¡¯s face immediately flushed red, and she repeatedly refused, saying that the money should still be kept with mom.


    But Old Lady Yu was adamant about not taking it back, which made Liu Guimei feel even more guilty.


    In fact, apart from having a sharp tongue, Old Lady Yu treated her daughter-in-law quite well, caring for her during two childbirths, and even raised both children by her side.


    This made Liu Guimei frantic, internally criticizing herself for hurting Old Lady Yu¡¯s feelings.


    Xu Erhong was even more upset, feeling he had let down his own mother.


    She was of such an old age, what was wrong with showing a little favoritism?


    After all, she still raised his two children, whereas the eldest brother¡¯s three children were all looked after by the eldest brother himself when they were young.


    Because of this matter, Xu Erhong was not kind to Liu Guimei, feeling that she was nitpicking, and for the sake of a few bucks, she had upset Old Lady Yu to the point of affecting her health.


    Liu Guimei felt she had done nothing wrong but also truly felt guilt toward Old Lady Yu, so she took out all her grievances on Xu Niannian.


    On the other hand, Xu Niannian had no idea that because of her, her second uncle¡¯s family had a little dispute.


    She was still preoccupied with making money to open her own shop.

 Chapter 77 - 77 76 Business Savvy

    ?77: Chapter 76: Business Savvy 77: Chapter 76: Business Savvy The next day, Xu Niannian made eight hundred Liuyue Su pastries, a task so exhausting it nearly took her life.


    Luckily, she was quick with her hands and feet, and had the help of Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng.


    The three siblings were exhausted beyond measure, working from five in the morning until eleven at noon, almost six hours straight.


    After finishing the Liuyue Su, Xu Niannian fetched some stream water from the space, allowing the three to take baths.


    They felt fresh and invigorated after bathing.


    Xu Zhicheng even cheerfully said, ¡°Sis, I don¡¯t feel tired at all now.¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang also appeared re-energized.


    Both thought it was the cold baths that had revived them, not realizing it was due to the stream water.


    Xu Niannian¡¯s lips curled into a silent smile.


    Eight hundred Liuyue Su pastries¡ªhefting two full carrying baskets.


    Xu Zhicheng also wanted to tag along for the excitement, but Xu Niannian didn¡¯t let him, asking him to stay home with Xu Duoyu and promising to make his new clothes when she returned.


    That made Xu Zhicheng happily agree.


    Xu Dawei, puffing on his dry pipe, felt joyful inside seeing his daughter being so good to her three brothers.


    It was already midday, and the villagers were all out working in the fields when they saw Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang carrying a basket each and asked.


    ¡°Xu girl, where you headed?¡±


    Xu Niannian was always smiling at outsiders.


    Upon hearing this, she replied, ¡°Off to the county town to sell some things.¡±


    The one who spoke was an old matron from the head of the village, also surnamed Xu, and she had the same reputation for being a shrew as Yang Cuihua.


    She and Yang Cuihua usually didn¡¯t get along.


    But things were different now.


    The rumor that Xu Niannian had married into a wealthy family had already spread throughout the village.


    The fact that Xu Niannian¡¯s family was now eating rice had also gotten out.


    In the past, Xu Niannian¡¯s family struggled to afford even corn and could only eat rice bran, the kind of stuff fed to pigs.


    Now that they could afford rice, how could others not be jealous?


    It was Ding Guihua who¡¯d spread the word.


    She told everyone how Xu Niannian had earned money through business and thus was able to change her family¡¯s situation.


    Now, most rural folks still clung to old-world thinking; even with reform and opening up, they believed that doing business was akin to speculation and profiteering.


    After hearing Xu Niannian¡¯s reply, Auntie Xu feigned cheerfulness.


    Once Xu Niannian was out of earshot, she spat on the ground and said to a few women behind her.


    ¡°Listen to that, pretending to be all ladylike.


    Doesn¡¯t know the first thing about working the fields to earn work points for the family, only knows how to engage in speculation.


    Had this been just two years ago, she¡¯d have been paraded through the streets.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly.


    If you ask me, Yang Cuihua should keep a closer eye on her own daughter.


    She¡¯s married to a rich family but can¡¯t stay out of trouble.


    Wait until she¡¯s sent back, she¡¯ll have nowhere to cry.¡±


    Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, nor did she care what stories they spun.


    After all, with her mother holding the fort, not many dared to come seeking trouble.


    And if they were green with envy, they¡¯d simply have to stew in it.


    An hour or so later, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang found their way to Li Qingshui¡¯s dried goods store, each carrying their goods.


    Li Qingshui stood at the counter, constantly glancing outside.


    As soon as she saw Xu Niannian, her eyes lit up as if she had spotted a gold ingot.


    She greeted warmly, ¡°Oh, big sister, you¡¯ve finally arrived.


    I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Previously, Xu Niannian and Li Qingshui had agreed on a twice or thrice-weekly supply schedule.


    Li Qingshui had initially worried whether five hundred pastries would sell, but to her surprise, they sold out within two days, and people kept asking for them throughout.


    Business was booming, and it also boosted the earnings from other items in her dry goods store.

 Chapter 78 - 78 77 Business Savvy 2

    ?78: Chapter 77: Business Savvy 2 78: Chapter 77: Business Savvy 2 This made Li Qingshui ecstatic; she was just wishing for Xu Niannian to hurry and deliver the goods.


    She even worried Xu Niannian wouldn¡¯t come, which made her incredibly anxious.


    But she didn¡¯t have Xu Niannian¡¯s contact information and didn¡¯t even know where Xu Niannian¡¯s home was.


    Apart from being anxious, there was nothing else she could do.


    Having finally managed to anticipate her arrival, how could Li Qingshui not be happy?


    Therefore, she was also exceptionally welcoming.


    Seeing her warm and enthusiastic demeanor, Xu Niannian also felt reassured.


    It seemed that her Liuyue Su was selling very well.


    ¡°Sister Li, I¡¯ve come to supply you with the goods.¡± Xu Niannian said with a beaming smile.


    Li Qingshui saw her and Zhiqiang carrying two baskets on their backs and her face lit up with joy.


    ¡°My dear girl, I¡¯ve been looking forward to your arrival.


    Your Liuyue Su is incredibly popular.


    How many did you bring me this time?¡±


    Xu Niannian honestly replied, ¡°Just five hundred.


    Didn¡¯t we agree before to supply five hundred at a time?¡±


    Hearing there were only five hundred, Li Qingshui instantly became worried, ¡°Then can you supply me with a few hundred more next time?


    How about this, you supply me once every three days, and each time, you give me eight hundred, how does that sound?¡±


    The previous batch of five hundred Liuyue Su had sold out in a day and a half, so eight hundred should be able to sell out in three days.


    Xu Niannian knew Li Qingshui was being greedy and quickly asked, ¡°Tell me, how many days did it take to sell out the last batch of Liuyue Su?¡±


    ¡°A day and a half.¡± Li Qingshui was a straightforward person and didn¡¯t give Xu Niannian any runarounds.


    After hearing Li Qingshui¡¯s answer, Xu Niannian then said, ¡°How about this, Sister Li, I agree to supply you once every three days, but I¡¯ll still only give you five hundred each time.


    What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Li Qingshui asked puzzled, unable to understand why someone would refuse to expand their business.


    Xu Niannian cared quite a bit about Li Qingshui, her straightforward partner.


    She explained the benefits and detriments to Li Qingshui.


    ¡°Sister Li, listen to me, in business, we need to practice scarcity marketing.¡±


    Li Qingshui didn¡¯t understand at all, ¡°What¡¯s scarcity marketing?¡±


    Xu Niannian explained simply, ¡°Scarcity marketing, to put it bluntly, is about keeping customers hungry and yearning.


    Think about it, rarity adds value.


    If we have our products available all the time, customers will definitely think, ¡®I¡¯ll wait until I have more money to buy.''¡±


    ¡°By continuously delaying, over time, they lose that thought altogether.


    We can¡¯t be too greedy now; we need to let the customers know that our product might run out of stock at any time, so that the moment they see new stock, they will rush to buy it.¡±


    Li Qingshui was an intelligent woman and immediately grasped the complexities of the idea, and said plainly,


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do as you say, but if we have stock every three days, won¡¯t the customers pick up on that pattern?


    Over time, it¡¯ll be the same¡ªthey¡¯ll think they can just wait three days for the next batch and won¡¯t be in a hurry.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I suggest, Sister Li, that after selling five or six times, you stop selling for seven or eight days at random.¡±


    When Li Qingshui heard that she¡¯d have to stop selling for seven or eight days after selling five times, the thought pained her, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean losing a lot of money?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no.¡±


    Xu Niannian shook her head, ¡°The same principle applies; stop for seven or eight days, and the customers who thought they had figured out the pattern will also worry about missing out.


    After a break of seven or eight days, when we supply again, we can provide twice the amount.¡±


    Having understood the key point, Li Qingshui¡¯s eyes shone with realization, ¡°Alright, then, we¡¯ll do as you suggest.¡±


    Having reached an agreement with Li Qingshui, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang moved on, carrying the remaining three hundred to two other dried goods stores on the outskirts of the city.


    They gave 150 to each store.


    Both storeowners, just like Li Qingshui, also requested more goods.


    Xu Niannian shared the same rationale with them.


    Xu Niannian aimed to grow her business; this matter made her think of a more long-term money-making strategy.

 Chapter 79 - 79 78 Confident Woman

    ?79: Chapter 78: Confident Woman 79: Chapter 78: Confident Woman This time, Xu Niannian only supplied goods to Li Qingshui and the two grocery stores on the outskirts of the city.


    As for the other two breakfast joints, Xu Niannian didn¡¯t go to inquire about any news, nor did she offer them any goods.


    Doing business requires following certain principles; one can¡¯t be too casual.


    She now had quality goods in her hands and wasn¡¯t worried about finding partners.


    The two stores had previously shown hesitation, and while she understood their reservations, she also wanted them to learn a lesson¡ªthat many people were eager to buy her products.


    Besides, they hadn¡¯t set up a next order with her.


    Given that, she decided she might as well wait another couple of days.


    The eight hundred Liuyue Su she had sold had netted her 240 dollars in an instant.


    After deducting her expenses, she now had almost 350 dollars.


    With these three hundred fifty dollars, she could afford to rent a place and open a small eatery in the county town.


    She had asked around at Li Qingshui¡¯s place and learned that buying a decent house in the county town cost just over a thousand dollars.


    Even though the current prices were low and a thousand dollars was considered a lot, it was much less than in future times.


    Xu Niannian was hesitating between renting a place to open a small restaurant and climbing up step by step, or waiting until she had earned enough from the Liuyue Su to open a larger establishment with more presence.


    If she were to do business in the county town, she would definitely not be able to go home.


    Not only would she need to rent a storefront, but also a living space.


    The most important thing was she couldn¡¯t handle everything on her own.


    Moreover, with the level of indulgence and concern Yang Cuihua and Xu Dawei had for her, they would definitely not be at ease with her living outside on her own.


    This matter required long-term planning and wasn¡¯t something to rush into.


    After all, she had waited a good amount of time, so a little while longer wouldn¡¯t make much difference.


    Having thought it through, Xu Niannian, with Xu Zhiqiang in tow, went back to the Department Store and bought a bunch of glutinous rice flour, white sugar, and various other ingredients she needed.


    You have to enjoy life when you make money.


    Not only did she buy the ingredients needed to make Liuyue Su, but Xu Niannian also bought a large rooster to take home.


    She planned to make spicy fried chicken, letting her family enjoy a little as well.


    Thinking of the money her grandmother had slipped her secretly, Xu Niannian decided to buy some tasty treats for her grandmother as well.


    Apart from her grandmother, her Uncle Xu Erhong and his wife had also been pretty good to her, so Xu Niannian bought some things for them too.


    Although she wasn¡¯t Xu Niannian herself, perhaps because she possessed Xu Niannian¡¯s memories, she felt familiar with the old lady, and the Xu Erhong couple, as well as her Young Aunt.


    Finally, as they left the Department Store, Xu Zhiqiang carried numerous items.


    All of them were nutritious supplies and fine grain food.


    When giving gifts, they should be practical; those vague and impractical items wouldn¡¯t be of any use to her grandmother.


    There was Malt Extract, milk powder, walnut powder, and two large bags of high-gluten flour, which cost her almost fifty dollars, and Xu Niannian felt the pinch.


    After leaving the Department Store, Xu Niannian went to buy a chicken.


    This chicken was prepared for her own family.


    Whether due to an unfortunate entanglement or a debt, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhiqiang had only just walked out of the Department Store when they encountered a familiar-looking woman.


    This woman was no other than Zhu Xinyu, the one who had previously gone on a blind date with Jin Yu.


    Xu Niannian recognized her at a glance.


    After all, beauties always stand out more than ordinary people and are easier to remember.


    However, Zhu Xinyu didn¡¯t notice Xu Niannian because Xu Zhiqiang was walking on Xu Niannian¡¯s left, blocking the view, and Zhu Xinyu turned her head to talk to her friends, so she didn¡¯t see her.


    She huffed to her friend, ¡°I¡¯m so mad.


    Jin Yu is actually engaged.


    I don¡¯t believe it.


    This must be his excuse to reject me, to find some reason at random.


    He didn¡¯t even consider me; which other woman could catch his eye?¡±


    Zhu Xinyu had a lot of confidence in her own attractiveness.

 Chapter 80 - 80 79 The Miser

    ?80: Chapter 79: The Miser 80: Chapter 79: The Miser Highly educated with a prestigious background, and also beautiful.


    She was firm in her belief that Jin Yu hadn¡¯t fallen for her yet, only because he hadn¡¯t seen her good qualities.


    Xu Niannian listened and rolled her eyes in silence.


    This girl sure was confident.


    But she did have the capital to be confident.


    Niannian just didn¡¯t understand, why such a beautiful girl would like Jin Yu, that pig¡¯s trotter?


    Could it really be because of Jin Yu¡¯s bewilderingly handsome face?


    On reflection, sometimes a person¡¯s appearance can indeed be quite deceiving.


    Before the engagement at Xu Niannian¡¯s home was settled, Xu Zhiqiang had seen Jin Yu a few times.


    However, he didn¡¯t remember Zhu Xinyu, because he was so focused on eating during his first visit to the state-run restaurant that he had no time to look at anyone.


    But this time, he heard clearly what Zhu Xinyu said.


    After Zhu Xinyu and her group of girls had walked away, Xu Zhiqiang curiously asked Xu Niannian, ¡°Sis, the Jin Yu she mentioned, is he my brother-in-law?¡±


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Xu Niannian almost choked on her spit and said annoyedly, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?


    What brother-in-law, we¡¯re not even married yet, right?¡±


    Xu Zhiqiang frowned; in the countryside, once you¡¯re engaged, marriage is almost certain, unless something extraordinary happens.


    He said, ¡°Once engaged, isn¡¯t marriage just a matter of time?¡±


    ¡°Of course...¡± Not!


    The last two words almost slipped out, but Niannian fortunately held them back.


    ¡°Of course, but...


    we¡¯re not married yet, right?


    If it gets out, people might laugh, thinking I¡¯m desperate to get married.


    Don¡¯t call him that again; your sister isn¡¯t lacking suitors.¡±


    Although Xu Zhiqiang didn¡¯t understand Xu Niannian¡¯s thoughts, he was very obedient.


    Seeing that Niannian was concerned, he earnestly asked, ¡°Then sis, what should I call him?¡±


    Xu Niannian: ¡°...¡±


    Looking at her brother¡¯s innocent face, Xu Niannian was at a loss for words for two seconds, before finally saying dryly, ¡°Just call him Jin Yu.¡±


    Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, the term made her skin crawl.


    She had nothing to do with that pig¡¯s trotter, not a thing.


    It was all fake; even the engagement was fake.


    Thinking this, Xu Niannian¡¯s mood instantly brightened.


    Back in the village, Xu Niannian had Xu Zhiqiang take the chicken home while she carried the items to her uncle¡¯s house.


    She had initially planned to make a trip home first, but worried that Yang Cuihua would object to giving the gifts away, Niannian decided it was best to act first and report later.


    With her mother¡¯s stingy nature, she really feared that she wouldn¡¯t want to give anything away.


    True to form, except when it came to her daughters, Yang Cuihua was stingy with everyone, including herself.


    Niannian used to dislike such selfish people.


    But when this selfish woman became her mother and was stingy with the whole world, yet willing to give her everything, Niannian couldn¡¯t help but stop disliking her.


    She even felt a warm affection for Yang Cuihua.


    Thinking of her mother¡¯s sharp tongue, Xu Niannian couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh.


    Niannian was the center of attention in the village, so she didn¡¯t dare to be too ostentatious.


    The items she bought were all hidden in a carry basket, covered with a cloth so no one could see.


    But she underestimated the villagers¡¯ curiosity about her.


    Auntie Xu happened to be coming back from picking wild vegetables and saw Niannian heading to Xu Erhong¡¯s home with a heavy-looking basket, so she hurriedly followed behind her.


    However, she didn¡¯t rush inside but lingered outside first.


    When Xu Niannian arrived at Xu Erhong¡¯s house, the whole family was there.


    Xu Sisi was leaning over the table doing her homework, and her grandmother was in the main hall sewing shoe soles.