Nan Sheng had overestimated her stamina. After returning to her room, she yawned and slept straight through till dawn.
What woke her wasn’t a thoughtful child but the system.
System: "Amazing! Favorability has increased by another five points, reaching 35. Keep up the good work, Host, and complete the mission soon!"
Nan Sheng feigned indifference. "I preferred it when you were all aloof and uncooperative."
Who was it that used to complain daily about her slow progress, barely uttering a word? Now, it had even learned to modulate its tone, sounding downright sycophantic.
System: "…"
By the time Nan Sheng got up, Sizhe was already braiding his younger sister’s hair. A pot of corn porridge simmered in the kitchen. She fried six eggs in lard and boiled another four in water.
"Eldest child, if you can’t steam buns, at least cook rice. Otherwise, what will you take for lunch? You’ll go hungry again!"
Sizhe had been meaning to bring this up with his stepmother. "Starting tomorrow, I won’t bring lunch. Once the drought hits, every family will struggle to eat. If I bring food to school, I might attract trouble."
Nan Sheng knew he had a point, but having endured hunger herself, she couldn’t bear the thought of the children suffering.
"Then skip lunch starting tomorrow. From now on, I’ll make dry rice or steamed buns in the morning—eat as much as you can."
Sizhe didn’t argue further. But when he saw the six glistening fried eggs on the table, it hit him: their family was different now—so well-off they’d have no friends left.
Nan Sheng and Siqi each had one fried egg with a bowl of porridge, which was enough to fill them. Sizhe devoured four eggs and four bowls of thick porridge.
Before he left, Nan Sheng peeled the boiled eggs for him and reminded him not to crush them on the way.
"Mm, thanks!"
Well, wasn’t he polite?
At least her efforts to care for the two children weren’t in vain.
After her son left for school, Nan Sheng dressed herself and her daughter neatly and headed out to work. Just as they passed the village chief’s house, she was called over.
"Lin Han’s wife, skip work today. Stay at the brigade office to receive the town head and the officials from the city."
Nan Sheng smiled. "They won’t arrive until noon. I can still get some work done this morning."
The village chief glared at her. "You stubborn girl, are you refusing to listen? Go to the brigade office now. If anyone dares to gossip, I’ll back you up!"
He’d realized Nan Sheng was capable. Yesterday, no one else had managed to impress the town head—only she had.
With her around, he felt more at ease.
The town head and the meteorological experts arrived earlier than expected, showing up at the brigade office before ten, their expressions grim.
They came by car. Besides the driver and Yu Feng, there were three experts, the youngest looking at least forty.
Before the village chief could exchange pleasantries, the experts demanded to inspect the riverbed and fields immediately. Yu Feng shot Feng Wuquan a meaningful look, but the latter didn’t catch on.
Hopeless fool!
Noticing this, Nan Sheng whispered to the village chief, "The experts look troubled. The situation might be worse than we thought. Uncle, do you have any food at home? They don’t seem to have eaten."
The village chief nodded. Of course he did—steamed buns fresh from the morning.
"Old Lin, go ahead with them. I’ll run home first!"
Aside from the village chief, the reception party included Lin Guozheng, Nan Sheng, and the village accountant, who stayed behind to mind the office.
Lin Guozheng answered the experts’ questions, guiding them efficiently since he knew the village inside out.
Nan Sheng wasn’t needed there, so she stood by Yu Feng’s side, occasionally chiming in.
"Where’s Old Feng?" Yu Feng asked.
"The village chief went home to fetch some food for the experts—just something to tide them over."
Nan Sheng apologized sheepishly. "Forgive us, Town Head. We misjudged the timing. We should’ve arranged a proper meal for them."
Yu Feng gave her an approving glance. "No need to apologize for such a small thing. Besides, the situation is urgent. Even if you’d prepared a feast, they wouldn’t have wasted time. Dry rations are enough."
As Yu Feng predicted, after three hours of surveying, the experts directed the driver to another location and left.
Before departing, Yu Feng instructed Feng Wuquan to attend a meeting in town the next day—and to bring Nan Sheng along.
The village chief immediately cornered Lin Guozheng.
"Old Lin, what’s really going on?"
The experts had moved on to other villages without clarifying the severity. Since Lin Guozheng had spent the most time with them, he was the only source of information.
Lighting a roll of tobacco, Lin Guozheng spoke gravely. "Old Feng, warn the villagers in advance. I’m taking my two sons to town now. It’s worse than we imagined—not just Huaishan Town, but the entire county is facing drought."
The village chief cursed under his breath. "Damn it, of all the cursed years… Go to town quickly. I’ll get the money for you."
Lin Guozheng didn’t forget his second son’s family. "Lin Han isn’t home, but a thousand jin should be enough for you and the kids. I’ll secure your share at the black market."
Nan Sheng first fetched Qiqi from the village chief’s house, and the three headed home. Since she’d been on official duty today, no one dared criticize her for leaving early.
"I already brought our grain rations back last night. If you’re going to the black market, could you pick up a few knives for me? I’ll give you the money."
Lin Guozheng was surprised—his daughter-in-law had managed to procure the grain so quietly.
"My father and brother helped. Both families ordered together. The black market delivers to specified locations. Tell them to come around the back of the village today—it’s closer to your place."
Getting ahead had its perks. If they’d bought alongside everyone else, their stockpile would’ve been common knowledge, inviting trouble.
Nan Sheng had suggested Lin Guozheng and his sons take bicycles to town, but the three men returned after a futile search—they didn’t even know where the black market was.
Xiangyang Village had always been prosperous, with enough grain to go around. No one had ever needed the black market—at least, not the Lin family.
Eldest Brother Lin took Qiqi to his house. Zhou Wei was still bedridden, but she could mind a child.
Lin Guozheng returned Nan Sheng’s money and listed the orders.
"All cornmeal. I’ll take fifteen hundred jin, Eldest Brother two thousand, Third Brother one thousand, and your Uncle Feng wants five thousand!"
Nan Sheng nodded, memorizing the figures. "The co-op sells at eight fen per jin, but the black market charges fifteen. Have the money ready—payment’s due upon delivery."
Third Brother Lin balked at the price. "I only have a hundred yuan left!"
What could they do? The three families pooled together—Lin Guozheng and Eldest Brother Lin lent him twenty each, Nan Sheng ten. If he didn’t buy enough grain, he’d end up mooching off the elders.
"Second Sister-in-law, go to town first. We’ll walk fast and catch up in half an hour at most."
Nan Sheng rode off on her bicycle. Lin Guozheng shut the gate firmly behind her and turned to his youngest. "Show your second sister-in-law more respect. When it counts, it’s family who’ll help you."
Third Brother Lin knew it was true, but he couldn’t resist grumbling. "I’m plenty respectful! She’s practically stomping all over this family—there’s no one she won’t scold."
Eldest Brother Lin found his sister-in-law's temperament quite a headache. On the day his younger sister returned, Nan Sheng had publicly scolded Father Lin, which left him feeling aggrieved.
"Then you’d better not provoke her. Your sister-in-law is usually quite filial to Father and Mother—more so than you and your wife."
