Seeing her daughter-in-law making progress, the mother-in-law seized the opportunity to discuss the children's schooling with her.
"Second daughter-in-law, marrying Lin Han has put you through hardship. He's older than you and left you to raise his two children."
Nan Sheng knew what her mother-in-law was hinting at and answered honestly, "It’s not hardship—he paid a high bride price."
The mother-in-law continued, "Here’s what I think: the older boy is doing well in school. If he can get into university, he’ll surely take care of you in the future. Why not let him go back to studying?"
Nan Sheng thought to herself how different it was having an educated mother-in-law—she knew how to speak and act with grace. "Alright, I actually told him a couple of days ago to return to school. He just got delayed because he fell sick."
The mother-in-law hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Her face crinkled into a smile. "Good, then he’ll go tomorrow. Don’t worry—if the boy grows up ungrateful, I’ll stand up for you!"
That wasn’t necessary. Nan Sheng figured even biological children weren’t guaranteed to be filial, let alone stepchildren. Doing her duty was enough.
"Grandma, you don’t need to worry. At first, the kids weren’t close to me, and it upset me, so I might’ve acted out of line. But I won’t do that anymore.
Sizhe and Siqi are good kids. I’ll treat them as my own, but if they misbehave, I’ll still discipline them."
Back then, parents believed in the saying, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." As long as Nan Sheng fed and clothed them, no one would interfere if she gave them a few smacks.
"Of course! You’re their mother now—washing their clothes, cooking their meals—you have every right to discipline them."
With their agreement settled, the conversation flowed even more smoothly. The mother-in-law stayed for a long while before leaving. Outside the window, Sizhe was lost in thought again.
Would his stepmother really treat him and his sister as her own?
Pork trotters needed to be stewed until tender and flavorful. Nan Sheng had her son start a fire outside to singe off the hairs. Sizhe burned them off one by one while she rinsed each piece clean. They worked in perfect sync.
Siqi watched eagerly, practically drooling. Nan Sheng found her in the way and assigned her a task—picking some greens for a mixed stew.
Excited by her mission, Siqi scampered off to work. The three of them looked like a harmonious family.
"It’s too hot. I wish we could move the stove outside."
Nan Sheng muttered to herself, but to her surprise, Sizhe responded, "Should I ask Uncle to help?"
A wave of warmth washed over her. Her son seemed hard to approach, but after just a few days of proper meals, his attitude had softened.
Children were more forgiving than adults—better at letting go.
"Never mind. We only have two stoves indoors, and we’d have to move them back when it gets cold. Are you feeling better? Can you go to school tomorrow?"
"Yes!"
Nan Sheng didn’t push further. Once the pork trotters were ready, she brought them inside to stew. Just then, a cry came from the garden—"Brother, help! I can’t carry it!"
Sizhe shook his head and went to fetch the vegetable basket, dragging his sister back with him.
"Little sister, you only have two sets of clothes. Try not to ruin them, okay?"
He was tired of washing them!
Siqi covered her ears, pretending not to hear, and happily ran inside to tend the fire for her stepmother.
Nan Sheng found the little girl adorable and fetched two pieces of rock sugar, giving one to each child. Siqi ate hers happily, but Sizhe hesitated.
He still felt awkward around his stepmother, unused to such gestures. Nan Sheng noticed but pretended not to.
After an hour of stewing, Nan Sheng lifted the lid and added soaked soybeans. She shifted the fire to the side, scooped out the rice, and started on the stew.
The elderly couple arrived just as the food was ready. Nan Sheng also prepared a cucumber salad to cut through the richness.
Dinner was a mix of rice and crushed corn, cooked with a few drops of oil—fragrant and inviting.
Lin Guozheng, her father-in-law, was surprised by the feast. "Rice is so precious. You should save it for yourself and the kids. We old folks can eat anything."
Nan Sheng smiled without replying and filled everyone’s bowls. Her in-laws didn’t live with her—it would be petty to nitpick over an occasional meal.
Besides, she had no one else in the village to rely on. A few meals were a small price for their support.
Siqi pouted. "Mom, why is my bowl so small?"
Nan Sheng dropped a pork trotter into her bowl and warned sternly, "Use your hands if the chopsticks are hard. One more word, and I’ll spank you."
The grandparents chuckled and picked up their chopsticks. The stewed pork trotters with soybeans filled two large plates, accompanied by a pot of mixed vegetables and a small dish of salad.
The meal was absolutely divine!
After dinner, the mother-in-law helped Nan Sheng clean up. "You’re quite the cook. It’s been ages since we had meat at home."
Nan Sheng felt a pang of sadness—even the leftover stew broth had been mixed into rice by Sizhe and his grandfather. Times were tough.
With the summer sun still lingering, Lin Guozheng and his wife boasted to everyone about their daughter-in-law’s cooking and kindness toward the children.
Some neighbors smiled in agreement, while others scoffed in disbelief. But it was none of their business.
Back home, the eldest daughter-in-law, Zhou Wei, frowned when she saw them return empty-handed. "Dad, Mom, didn’t the second daughter-in-law send any pork trotters back? We have kids too!"
Her husband, the eldest Lin son, scolded her. "What kids? Our youngest is fifteen! And how much meat could they have bought? Must you be so greedy?"
He was content that his brother’s wife had invited their parents. His own wife was just petty and quarrelsome.
"Of course I must! We’ve helped raise those two kids. If she had any sense, she’d have invited all of us!"
Hearing the neighbors stir, the eldest Lin didn’t want to argue. Thankfully, his sons were reasonable.
Sizhong: "Mom, Second Aunt sent rock sugar and milk candies with Grandma. She did think of us. Don’t hold it against her."
Sicheng: "Yeah, Mom! I’ll get you a piece of rock sugar. Sweet things make you happy."
Pacified by her sons, Zhou Wei finally quieted down. The elderly couple exchanged a weary glance.
They still worked hard, sharing their earnings and work points with the eldest and third sons. Yet the eldest daughter-in-law begrudged a few meals for the second son’s children.
What would happen when they could no longer work?
