She looked over and saw a completely unfamiliar face.
The girl was young, about her own age.
Si Nian: "?"
Who are you?
Then she heard the girl greet the two brothers who were grilling meat: "Lin Feng, Lin Yu, you're here too? Just now when I passed by, your mom asked me to tell you to hurry back home."
Only then did Lin Feng and Lin Yu turn around to look at her, their expressions shifting slightly: "Second Sister."
Si Nian asked in confusion, "You are...?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lin Xue. My dad is your father's elder brother. I'm six months younger than you—your cousin."
Si Nian: "...Oh. What do you want?"
Lin Xue's eyes flickered, and she pursed her lips, dissatisfied with Si Nian's attitude.
But remembering her purpose, she held back. "Sis, I just went to the farm to buy pork and heard your family slaughtered a pig, so I thought I'd come by and ask you to save me ten pounds of pork belly."
When she had gone earlier, the good cuts were already sold out.
Only the less desirable parts remained.
She had been about to leave when she overheard people nearby talking about the Zhou family slaughtering a pig. Then she remembered that her uncle's biological daughter had married into the Zhou family, so she hurried over.
The last time the Zhou family sent meat to the Lin family, she had heard about it.
Since she was only a few months younger than Si Nian, the moment Si Nian married into such a wealthy family, gossip inevitably turned to her.
When they were young, Lin Sisi had always had it better—better grades, prettier looks.
Lin Xue had only been allowed to finish middle school, while Lin Sisi got to attend high school.
People their age were always compared.
Lin Xue had never measured up to Lin Sisi.
Now that Si Nian was here, she wanted to see what made her so special.
The moment she saw Si Nian, she was stunned.
How could any woman be that beautiful?
But soon, she dismissed it.
No matter how pretty, wasn’t she still just married into a village? No different from the rest of them.
Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little envious. Even though Zhou Yueshen had a questionable reputation and so many children, he was undeniably a boss, living in such a big house.
She had also just heard that half of this pig was going to be sent to her uncle’s family.
Considering their family ties, surely Si Nian wouldn’t refuse to save her a few pounds of pork belly?
This wasn’t her first time buying meat. The farm never kept much stock—the good cuts were always snatched up fast, and the prices were cheaper than at the market, especially for people from Xingfu Village.
For folks from other villages, it cost a bit more, but still manageable.
But now that the Zhou family had married her uncle’s daughter, shouldn’t close relatives like them get an even better deal?
If she got familiar with them now, they could save the best cuts for her in the future.
Thinking this, Lin Xue straightened up with more confidence.
Si Nian: "? Why should I save you ten pounds of pork belly? Can’t you just buy it at the farm yourself?"
Ten pounds of pork belly—a pig only had about twenty to thirty pounds of it to begin with. Pork belly was arguably the best part of the pig, especially the kind with three parts fat and seven parts lean—a true delicacy.
It was also the most expensive.
Usually, people fought just to get their hands on it—supply never met demand.
And here this girl was, demanding ten pounds right off the bat. What nerve.
Her tone made it sound like they were close. Anyone listening would think they were best friends.
Lin Xue’s expression darkened, but she forced an explanation: "The farm was already sold out. I heard your family slaughtered a pig, so I came to see. It’s not like your family is short on pigs—what’s a little pork belly between relatives?"
Si Nian was speechless. "This pig is for our banquet. We don’t even have enough for ourselves, let alone to give away. And even if we are relatives, who just shows up asking for free meat? What kind of logic is that? Since when did begging become so shameless?"
"Sis, how can you say that? We’re family. My dad is your uncle. You’re giving half the pig to your father’s family, but you won’t spare ten pounds for us? How stingy can you be?"
"Also, I heard you caused a rift between the Zhou siblings. I thought it was just rumors, but now I see it’s true. First, you ruin the Zhou family’s harmony, and now you’re doing the same to the Lin family?"
The onlookers exchanged glances.
While the earlier incidents had been others’ faults, cutting ties completely did seem excessive.
In the countryside, every family had conflicts, but they still stuck together.
When trouble came, you needed people to rely on. If you pushed everyone away, what was the point?
Si Nian laughed. "The Zhou siblings fell out because Zhou Tingting betrayed her own family, bringing outsiders to cause trouble—only to realize she was in the wrong. Now she’s too ashamed to show her face. How is that me ruining their relationship?"
"Don’t twist the facts. Their fallout had clear reasons. Unlike you, showing up out of nowhere demanding ten pounds of pork belly and accusing me of breaking family ties when I refuse."
"The Zhou family isn’t short on meat, but that doesn’t mean we’re fools. Our neighbors, who’ve lived here for decades, still pay for their meat. But you? You want to freeload and then insult me? Ten pounds of pork belly—at market price, that’s over ten dollars. In an era where the average wage is thirty dollars a month, you’re asking for ten days’ worth of pay upfront. Have you no shame?"
Lin Xue’s face turned even uglier at Si Nian’s words.
The crowd murmured in agreement.
"Exactly! Even we neighbors pay for our meat. She’s got some nerve asking for ten pounds of pork belly just like that!"
"Right? Even if they’re relatives, Si Nian just returned and got married. She barely knows the Lin family. Why should she save any for her?"
Flustered by the whispers, Lin Xue snapped, "I—I never said I wouldn’t pay! Don’t accuse me!"
"Fine. Let’s call it a family discount—twelve dollars. Hand over the money now, and I’ll have someone save it for you. Wouldn’t want you saying we’re too harsh on family." Si Nian smirked.
Lin Xue’s face burned red, trapped.
Truthfully, her family had only asked her to buy two pounds of meat to try. But after hearing half the pig was going free to the Lin family, greed got the better of her, and she asked for more.
In reality, she didn’t have that kind of money.
After stammering for a while without producing payment, torn between humiliation and anger, she finally blurted, "It’s not like I won’t pay! Just give me the meat first, and I’ll have my family bring the money later."
