Yuying felt utterly embarrassed. Being called out for her frugality in front of so many people was undeniably humiliating.
"No need. I’ll make them something delicious when we get back," she grumbled as she dragged her child upstairs. Nan Sheng disliked gossiping, so she took her own little one home as well.
Siqi was delighted. "Mom, are you done with work?"
Since moving to Rongcheng, Nan Sheng had become much busier than before. She no longer had as much time to spend with her child, taking her out or telling her stories. Fortunately, the little girl was sensible and never caused trouble, understanding that her parents were occupied.
Nan Sheng smiled and patted her daughter’s head. "You’ll understand when you’re older—work is never-ending. I’m just stealing a moment of leisure."
As the saying goes, good food heals the soul. For lunch, she planned to stir-fry garlic sprouts with cured pork to whet their appetites, then stew chicken with potatoes for dinner. Even after a tiring day, a hearty meal would leave them refreshed.
Siqi lost interest as soon as "when you’re older" came up. "Mom, when can we buy a TV? Dabao’s family has one. He says you can see important officials and even watch movies on it."
Dabao?
That nickname was something else.
Seemed like they’d be seeing each other every day now.
Nan Sheng wasn’t particularly interested in TVs. Having grown accustomed to large color screens, black-and-white ones held little appeal. Color TVs did exist, but the vouchers were hard to come by—only two or three households in the entire military compound had managed to get one.
"Fine. If you really want to watch TV, we’ll buy one if we can get a voucher."
Black-and-white TVs were cheap, costing only four or five hundred yuan—about two months of their combined salaries. Nan Sheng agreed without hesitation.
Sizhe was a punctual child, always returning home at mealtime without needing reminders.
"Mom, I heard Auntie next door hitting her kid when I came in. It sounded pretty bad. Should we go over and stop her?"
During the times when his relationship with his mother was strained, Sizhe had believed he and his sister were the most pitiable children in the world. But after stepping outside, he realized all kids were the same—everyone got spanked. Still, few were as harsh as Auntie Yuying, who beat her two- or three-year-old child mercilessly.
"Haven’t you figured out Auntie Yuying’s temper yet? If someone tries to intervene, she’ll hit the kid even harder. Earlier, a neighbor upstairs brought her a plate of fried pastries, and she started beating the child again out of embarrassment."
Siqi seemed to recall something. She jumped off her stool, scurried over to her mother, and stuck out her bottom, startling Nan Sheng.
"Qiqi, are you about to fart on me?"
"No!"
She raised her rear even higher. "Mom, hit me!"
Back in the village, she could at least forage for wild greens or tend to the chickens. But in Rongcheng, her days were filled with school, meals, and play—too comfortable, making her uneasy. A few smacks would settle her nerves.
It was all Dad and her brother’s fault for doing all the chores, leaving her as the only freeloader in the house.
Nan Sheng swatted her twice in exasperation. "Enough clowning around. Eat your food."
Noticing Sizhe watching, she added, "What about you? Want me to kick you a couple of times too?"
Sizhe shook his head vigorously and shoveled food into his mouth. He wasn’t stupid—he never wanted to be hit again.
After dinner, Nan Sheng resumed her "great mission of technological revival," while Siqi lay on the bed watching until she dozed off. Sizhe, meanwhile, washed dishes, swept the floor, and wiped the table before heading back out to play. Before leaving, he listened carefully—the neighbor’s house had finally gone quiet.
When Lin Han returned that evening, the aroma of stewed chicken greeted him as soon as he opened the door. Nan Sheng had also prepared a small pot of hot-and-sour soup.
She peeked out from the kitchen. "You’re back. Go shower and change. Dinner’s almost ready."
Lin Han took less than five minutes to wash up and change, even tidying the bathroom afterward.
"Sweetheart, I asked the procurement team to get two chickens. They’ll arrive before New Year’s. Let me know if we need anything else."
The cured chicken had two legs, each cut in half by Nan Sheng so everyone got a piece. Lin Han gnawed on his portion, savoring the flavor.
The household lacked nothing, but Nan Sheng suddenly craved coconut chicken. Since that was unlikely, pork stomach chicken would do.
"Then have them bring two pork stomachs too. I’ll cook you all something new."
Sizhe immediately knew his next chore—this one would require a trip to the riverbank to avoid the stench.
Mid-meal, Nan Sheng remembered something important.
"Hua Fen and Yuying came by today, asking if the team on this mission would return before New Year’s. Any news?"
Lin Han said he had no details about the mission’s location or duration but promised to inform everyone as soon as he knew.
After dinner, Lin Han returned to the military compound. Nan Sheng felt exhausted just thinking about his four daily trips, though many families had husbands doing the same during the holiday cooking frenzy.
Just as Nan Sheng was about to sleep, frantic knocking startled her and the children.
Opening the door, she found her neighbor Yuying in a panic. "Sister, can I borrow your bike? Something’s happened to Wangdi—I need to get her to the clinic."
"Of course. Let me grab the keys. It’s parked in the shed, left side."
But when Yuying carried Wangdi out, Nan Sheng froze, the keys halfway extended.
The little girl’s exposed stomach was covered in bruises, her face flushed an unnatural red—clear signs of a severe beating.
Yuying snatched the keys and hurried off, likely avoiding questions. Nan Sheng sighed, sending the children back to bed while she lay awake.
In this world, there were loving parents—and then there were beasts unworthy of the title.
Nan Sheng slept late and woke near noon to an empty but spotless house, breakfast porridge and buns waiting on the table.
She cooked lunch, combining it with breakfast. Mid-meal, the children returned with news: the entire compound was talking about how Yuying had beaten her daughter half to death. The Women’s Federation had stepped in.
Neighbors downstairs were condemning Yuying’s cruelty. Sizhe overheard snippets.
"Mom, they say the clinic sent Wangdi to the military doctors because her injuries were so bad. The medic reported it to the Women’s Federation this morning. They’ll deal with Auntie Yuying severely once Uncle Li returns."
Nan Sheng thought this was for the best. She’d known Yuying frequently hit her child, but never imagined such brutality—as if the girl were her sworn enemy.
With the Women's Federation involved, even if Li Gongliang returned, he wouldn’t let Yuying off easily. She probably wouldn’t dare to hit the child again after this.
Yuying was released and sent home in the evening by the Women’s Federation, while the child remained placed under the care of the military district.
When she came to return the keys, her eyes were swollen from crying, but Nan Sheng felt she deserved it and didn’t offer a single word of comfort.
