Xu Qinglin was caught off guard, knocked to the ground by Xu Changsheng.
Zhang Xiaoying's temples pulsed uncontrollably.
Pointing at Xu Changsheng, she said, "Try laying a hand on me again, see what happens?"
Xu Changsheng harbored resentment but dared not clash with Zhang Xiaoying anymore.
Clenching his teeth in pain, he limped away to fetch a water bucket and shoulder pole to carry water for watering the vegetable field.
Upon seeing this, Xu Qinglin quickly scrambled up, grabbed another set of empty buckets and pole, and followed Xu Changsheng.
Zhang Xiaoying entered the kitchen with a huff.
In the corner of the kitchen, dry straw and firewood were piled up to the edge of the stove, which could easily catch fire if one was not careful.
On the stove stood two worn earthen jars, one containing oil and the other salt, both nearly empty.
On the other side of the stove, the rice bin was empty, the original master kept all the grain in his own room to prevent the two daughters-in-law from secretly cooking and eating it.
Besides this, there were some dried vegetables hanging above the stove.
So poor!
Zhang Xiaoying sighed again.
Even during New Year's, the Xu Family couldn't afford white rice, as the original master would count each grain of rice before cooking.
Zhang Xiaoying moved all the grain to the kitchen.
Madam Lin saw this and was incredulous but then sneered, "Go ahead and eat, eat it all up until there's nothing left, then we can all starve together. Anyway, the old man looks like he doesn't want to live on properly!"
But with her son in her thoughts, Madam Lin's resentment flared again, feeling her fate was too bitter, her only child now targeted by a possessed elderly woman!
"Everyone might as well die!" she thought bitterly.
Zhang Xiaoying, of course, had no idea that moving the grain to the kitchen could provoke such thoughts in Madam Lin.
The two children, Da Niu and Er Niu, could only pick at leftovers every day, looking much thinner compared to their peers, and as for Madam Liang, with a baby on the way and insufficient nutrition, how could the child be healthy?
"It's only you who could be so heartless toward your own family. Now that I have become you, I certainly can't be as partial as you were. If you're aware of this down below, even if you're unwilling, you have to endure it. I simply cannot bring myself to abuse a pregnant woman and children," whispered Zhang Xiaoying to herself.
There wasn't enough rice in the house for the entire family to have white rice, so Zhang Xiaoying had to cook it mixed with other grains. However, the rice was still the main component, and the meal was better than what they had on New Year's.
After closing the door, Zhang Xiaoying washed the pig offal and processed it again, completely removing the unpleasant smell, and cooked a pot of pig offal soup.
Ensuring no one was near, Zhang Xiaoying then searched her space and found some spices for cooking.
What she thought would be of no use, luckily was not discarded!
Zhang Xiaoying stir-fried some wild boar meat, then took out the sugar, which the original master treasured, and cooked a dish of braised pork.
The tempting aroma filled the air, compelling Madam Lin to knock on the kitchen door, curious to see what Zhang Xiaoying had made.
Zhang Xiaoying had already tidied up the remaining condiments, picking them out of the dishes, and then opened the door to let Madam Lin come in.
Madam Lin stared at the two large plates of dishes on the stove, her jaw dropping, "Did you cook all these, Mother?"
"Otherwise, do you think the wild boar meat could turn itself into a dish?" Zhang Xiaoying gave her a look, "Go check why Da Niu hasn't returned yet. We're only short of frying some greens before we can eat."
Madam Lin swallowed hard, "Are we still frying greens?"
Zhang Xiaoying handed over a piece of braised pork, "Look at how you're salivating. Eat this and go fetch them."
Madam Lin looked at the fragrant braised pork in front of her, completely stunned, unable to believe that her mother-in-law would do such a thing.
In the past, her mother-in-law had favored her more than the eldest sister-in-law, but never shared any of the tasty food with her.
"Eat it, try it, it's been a long time since I've cooked. I'm not even sure how good my cooking is," Zhang Xiaoying said. She actually bore no animosity toward either of the Xu daughters-in-law; after all, she was about their age before she died.
Moreover, despite each having their own faults, they haven't committed any major evil; they were just ordinary people!
Madam Lin couldn't describe the feeling in her heart. The meat was already at her lips, and she instinctively bit into it.
Zhang Xiaoying turned around, "Go find Da Niu, and also call your husband and your elder brother back, so we can eat sooner."
The fragrance spread across Lin's taste buds, oily and so delicious that Lin was reluctant to swallow it down.
The pork was chewy, and Xiaoying cooked it with a texture that was very pleasing despite not being as good as domestic pork; still, it was the best meat Lin had ever tasted.
"You better go now, the meat won't taste good once it cools down!" Xiaoying's voice rang in Lin's ears, pulling her thoughts back to the present.
Lin stole a glance at Xiaoying, being fed meat like this was a first in her life, and it was by the mother-in-law she liked the least.
Lin left the house with mixed feelings.
As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, Daniu came back carrying a basket of vegetables.
"Second Aunt," Daniu called out upon seeing Lin.
"Hmm, have you seen your Second Uncle?" Perhaps Xiaoying's attitude had softened Lin's resentment, as her tone was much kinder to Daniu.
"He's still in the vegetable patch, I'll head back first, Second Aunt."
"Alright."
Daniu passed by Lin, who watched her go back into the courtyard.
"Granny, I've washed the vegetables already."
"Leave them there, add some wood to the stove to stoke the fire up. Your father and the others aren't going to be home this early. Call up Daniu later, and the two of you go bathe first."
"Got it."
The Xu Family was still the Xu Family, but Lin felt like something was different.
When Lin called Xu Changsheng and his brothers back, the food was already set out in the main room.
Xiaoying happened to be carrying food as she knocked on Liang's door, the meal topped with meat, and there was even an egg lying on it.
The slight touch of emotion Lin had felt earlier vanished into thin air.
So it was that the delicacies were all given to the First Branch just because, as the saying went, they've reported to Father-in-law that the First Branch had a son. Hmph, doesn't the Second Branch have a son?
Liang inside the room was also taken aback by such a meal.
"Mother... this..."
"After you're done eating, just put it on the table, and let Laoda or the kids take it out. You shouldn't get up and move around for a while."
"Mother, you can have the meat. I'm not hungry, and I'll be fine with just a few bites of rice, I don't have much of an appetite..."
"You may not eat but the child in your belly needs to eat, so eat up," Xiaoying said sternly.
Liang immediately didn't dare to make a sound.
Xiaoying stuffed the food into Liang's hands and then turned away.
Before closing the door, she didn't forget to warn her, "If you don't eat, just throw it away, don't even think about saving it for Laoda or the kids."
Liang, who had just entertained that thought, was startled by Xiaoying.
Xiaoying closed the door.
Liang always looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, which the original host had found less appealing than Lin.
But Xiaoying treated everyone equally!
Qinglin and the rest were already waiting in the main room, each of them eying the dishes on the table, swallowing hungrily.
Changsheng even felt like the places where he had been beaten didn't hurt as much!
His mother truly loved him.
In the Xu Family, it was always the original host who divided the food.
Xiaoying didn't want to break this rule either, or else the First Branch wouldn't be able to get anything.
Changsheng was the first to pick up his bowl, but before he could speak, Lin spoke up, "Wencong studies hard, shouldn't we save some for Wencong to replenish himself?"