Under the afterglow of the setting sun, wisps of cooking smoke rose from the village, enveloping everything in silence.
Si Nian stepped into the house and glanced at the two boys. Zhou Yuedong was still engrossed in his book, but Zhou Yuehan was visibly restless, his expression drowsy. Only when he noticed her return did he abruptly straighten up, pretending to be studious while his eyes desperately darted toward the items she carried.
When he caught sight of the large bag of candy, his eyes widened in awe.
Si Nian placed the White Rabbit milk candies and biscuits on the table before carrying the vegetables into the kitchen.
Zhou Yuehan rubbed his eyes. "Big brother, look! She bought so many biscuits and candy!"
Zhou Yuedong spared it a brief glance before looking away. "It’s not for you, so why bother looking?"
Their foster father used to give their previous foster mother money to buy them treats, but she would always hide and eat them herself, never sparing them a second glance.
Zhou Yuehan swallowed hard and muttered, "Yeah, you’re right."
In the kitchen, Si Nian organized the groceries, neatly arranging the seasonings before pouring the rice and flour into their respective storage jars. Then, she began preparing dinner.
As she filled the pot with water to cook the rice, her mind wandered to what she should do next.
After today’s shopping trip, she had only a hundred yuan left—a sizable chunk had already been spent.
Though she and Zhou Yueshen were married, they hadn’t officially registered yet. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, and she wasn’t the type to ask others for money. She needed to find a way to earn some herself.
She couldn’t rely on a man’s money, especially if she planned to take the university entrance exams later.
Zhou Yueshen’s family might live in a big house, but the boys were as thin as sticks. She couldn’t tell if they were truly well-off or just putting up a front.
No matter what, depending on a man was unreliable.
She had to rely on herself.
Si Nian took out the remaining half-piece of meat from the morning, washed it, blanched it in boiling water, then tied it tightly with string. She marinated it with scallions, ginger, garlic, cooking wine, star anise, and other seasonings for half an hour.
Once the rice was cooked, she turned up the heat, fried ginger slices in oil until fragrant, then added water and the meat to the pot. She tossed in more seasonings and let it simmer on low heat until the liquid reduced into a thick, glossy glaze, the meat turning a rich, glistening red.
The rich aroma of braised meat filled the kitchen, its savory scent curling through the air until the entire room was saturated with its mouthwatering fragrance.
Normally, Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan would have been asleep by now. But the tantalizing smell rooted Zhou Yuehan to the spot, his eyes glued to the kitchen.
They usually only ate two meals a day—breakfast and dinner.
Aunt Liu had to leave early to cook for her own family, so their last meal was typically served around 4:30 PM. After that, they went hungry until morning, no matter how much their stomachs growled.
He had already eaten an extra meat bun today, so he shouldn’t have been this hungry.
Yet the succulent aroma drifting from the kitchen made his mouth water uncontrollably. He couldn’t move.
He had completely forgotten his vow never to eat this stepmother’s food again.
The meat buns this afternoon had already surprised him.
But now, the scent of braised pork and steamed rice?
When Si Nian walked out carrying a steaming plate of red-braised pork, Zhou Yuehan gaped in disbelief.
Steamed rice? Braised pork? Stir-fried tomatoes and eggs? Was today some kind of holiday?
Even during New Year’s, they only got a faint taste of meat at best.
Because holidays were when their father was busiest.
Aunt Liu would just throw together whatever was available.
Though they had rice at home, they mostly ate cornmeal porridge.
With pickled vegetable soup, he could wolf down two bowls.
Even when they had rice, it was usually watery congee—never a proper, hearty bowl like this.
And the meat they’d had before was always fried until dry, nothing like the glistening, tender braised pork she had just served.
Zhou Yuehan couldn’t tear himself away.
He glanced up at Si Nian, then back at his equally stunned older brother.
Zhou Yuedong refused to believe any woman would willingly cook meat for them.
From the moment he could remember, his mother had beaten and cursed him, never caring whether he lived or died. Only when that man visited would she soften slightly—but if she failed to keep him, she would fly into a rage, beating him half to death.
After that woman died, his father brought him here.
Every woman since had been the same.
At first, they’d smile sweetly to win his father’s favor.
The moment his father left, their masks would drop.
Without fail.
This woman was probably no different—luring them in with kindness before eventually driving them out, or worse.
A surge of resentment burned in Zhou Yuedong’s eyes.
Si Nian looked up and met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat.
Such intense hostility.
A chill ran down her spine, raising goosebumps.
No wonder he’d become one of the most cunning figures in the future. Even at this age, his aura was unnerving.
The novel hadn’t gone into detail about the side characters’ backstories, so she only knew their eventual fates.
She knew the original host had abused him, which was why he hated her so much.
But now, even though she hadn’t laid a finger on him, the boy already radiated malice.
Like a wary wolf cub, silently watching, waiting for the day she let her guard down—so he could sink his teeth into her throat.
Si Nian sighed. Changing the nature of someone already set in their ways wouldn’t be easy.
Still, she had to try. Their fates were tied to hers.
If she didn’t treat them well now, even if she left Zhou Yueshen in the future, there was no guarantee these children wouldn’t come after her for revenge.
"Why are you just standing there? Eat."
She tossed the words out bluntly before walking past them to wake the still-sleeping Yaoyao.
The little girl slept soundly, her cheeks flushed pink, unbearably adorable.
Even when shaken awake, she didn’t cry—just giggled and reached up to pat Si Nian’s face.
Human babies were truly the cutest.
"Yaoyao, time to eat. After dinner, you can go back to sleep, okay?"
She carried the little girl downstairs and glanced outside. Night had fully fallen.
She couldn’t help but ask, "When will your father be back?"
The two boys exchanged glances before Zhou Yuedong answered, "He comes back when he’s done working."
Zhou Yueshen often returned late—sometimes in the dead of night, sometimes not at all.
Si Nian frowned. She’d made extra, thinking he might join them for dinner.
But it seemed he rarely ate at home.
She softened a bowl of rice for Yaoyao, feeding her between bites of her own meal.
The moment the fragrant rice touched her tongue, the rich flavor nearly made her swallow it whole.
