"Mom, he really didn’t scold me just now. He even praised me for being clever," Su Qing said, tugging at Wang Cuifen’s sleeve as she defended Xie Jianhua.
She hadn’t meant to frame him on purpose—it was just a habit of hers to whine a little to Wang Cuifen, hoping to coax more affection out of her.
Even the closest relationships needed nurturing.
Xie Jianzhong and the other biological children, despite sharing blood ties, had managed to ruin their bond with their mother through their behavior.
As for her and Wang Cuifen, their connection was built purely on affection. Of course, it had to be handled with care.
What surprised her, though, was how sharply Wang Cuifen drew the line between insiders and outsiders. Those within her protective circle could act however they wanted and still be endearing, while those outside it were detestable no matter what they did—or didn’t do.
Xie Jianhua hadn’t done anything wrong, but with his ungrateful siblings, it was only natural for Wang Cuifen to take her anger out on him.
Even after Su Qing vouched for him, Wang Cuifen still seemed suspicious. "When Jianhua praised you for being clever, was he being sarcastic?"
"Absolutely not!" Xie Jianhua clenched his fists, frustration written all over his face.
Realizing she’d wronged him, Wang Cuifen didn’t bother reflecting. Her tone remained unapologetic. "Hmph! Good. If you dare bully your wife, you’ll have me to answer to."
"With you protecting me, he wouldn’t dare," Su Qing said with a playful grin, smoothing things over.
No wonder Wang Cuifen had such a fierce reputation. She was far from the gentle, refined elder one might expect.
Listening to her berate Xie Jianhua, Su Qing wiped away imaginary sweat.
If Wang Cuifen weren’t on her side, backing her up, living under the same roof with that stubborn temper would’ve meant constant clashes.
Maybe they’d been rivals in a past life before becoming allies, Su Qing mused.
After scolding Xie Jianhua, it was almost time to prepare lunch. Wang Cuifen hadn’t forgotten her earlier promise—the first thing she did in the kitchen was steam an egg for Su Qing.
With no outsiders around, Wang Cuifen naturally called Su Qing into the kitchen to eat it in secret.
"I added sesame oil and soy sauce—it’s extra fragrant. Eat up, and I’ll wash the bowl right after."
"Now? But it’s not mealtime yet," Su Qing said, unused to sneaking around like this.
"Now. Before Jiankang and Guiying come back. We’re running low on eggs."
Wang Cuifen would later enjoy better days, with plenty of eggs to spare, but for now, resources were tight, and she had to prioritize.
In the past, she’d secretly given extra to her children. Now, Su Qing was the one receiving her favors.
"In a couple of days, I’ll see about trading for some ration coupons or visiting relatives in the countryside to barter for supplies. Can’t have you going without eggs. You’re still growing—you need proper nourishment."
As Wang Cuifen plotted future covert meals, Su Qing glanced around the kitchen and noticed only one bowl of steamed egg.
She fetched another bowl and spoon, dividing the egg in half.
Wang Cuifen assumed she meant to share with Xie Jianhua and quickly stopped her. "What are you doing? Jianhua doesn’t need any! This is just for you."
Even when upset with her children, Wang Cuifen’s first instinct was still to give them everything—never once considering herself.
This self-sacrificing maternal nature made Su Qing’s heart ache.
"It’s not for Jianhua. It’s for you," Su Qing insisted firmly. "If you won’t eat, neither will I."
Before Wang Cuifen could refuse, Su Qing looked at her earnestly. "Mom, you can’t just pour all your love into your kids. You have to treat yourself well first! They need to know you’re worthy—worthy of gold bracelets, worthy of this bowl of steamed egg! If you give endlessly without expecting anything, you’ll only raise ungrateful wolves."
At first, Wang Cuifen hadn’t paid much attention, but the phrase "ungrateful wolves" struck a nerve.
She had raised a few of those, hadn’t she?
Reflecting on the past, Wang Cuifen suddenly realized Su Qing’s words might hold truth—maybe even wisdom.
Her stubbornness melted away. "Fine! I’ll eat. We’ll share."
As for Xie Jianhua? No one cared whether he ate or not.
Assigned to keep watch, he stood coldly by as the two women ate right in front of him.
Only after the egg was finished and the bowls washed was he called into the kitchen to help with prep work—without so much as a whiff of the treat.
At least he’d been allowed to stay during the secret meal. He still had the privilege of knowing.
When the rest of the Xie family returned, all they saw were stir-fried shredded radish and cabbage soup.
This was the norm for ordinary households, and the Xies were no exception. Even cadre families couldn’t afford meat every day. Their ration coupons had run out days ago, and from then on, meals would be vegetarian.
Facing his family, Xie Jianhua felt a rare pang of guilt.
But he couldn’t betray his allies. Not when his wife was part of the conspiracy. Exposing them would make him look complicit too.
Wang Cuifen, long accustomed to secretly favoring one child or another, kept piling food onto Su Qing’s plate during the meal, terrified she’d miss a single bite.
Her focus on Su Qing meant she didn’t notice her eldest son, Xie Jianzhong, staring at her.
After over a dozen glances, their eyes still hadn’t met.
With Wang Cuifen’s attention diverted, Xie Jianzhong’s gaze darkened, and he shot Su Qing a few resentful glares.
A timid new bride might’ve been frightened, but Su Qing simply winked at Wang Cuifen, urging her to pay attention to her son.
If Xie Jianzhong didn’t get his mother’s notice soon, another tantrum was inevitable.
Wang Cuifen finally noticed Xie Jianzhong—but only when he took an enormous bite of food.
She couldn’t resist a jab. "Oh? I thought you’d lost your appetite. Eating that much, are we?"
