C6 The Cooked Duck Flew away

Luo Lingyan didn't have any memories from before; she was brought to this house five days ago in the evening while unconscious. In her impression, Mrs. Chung was always gentle with her children, so when Mrs. Chung shouted, Lingyan reluctantly took the bowl of soup from the woman.

But there wasn't much to begin with, and if she took some, the family wouldn't have enough to eat.

"I should have known you all wouldn't appreciate me. I shouldn't have bothered with your family's business in the first place."

"Aunt, please don't hold it against Yan. She was frightened a few days ago and is still a bit out of sorts. She'll be back to her old self soon and will appreciate you like before," Mrs. Chung said softly, getting up from the bed despite her injuries to apologize to Luo Lijuan.

"Hmph!" Lijuan was even more displeased seeing the pot of Russule chicken soup, noticing Lingyan hadn't given her even half.

"Yan, hurry and give your aunt more chicken," Mrs. Chung said sternly to Lingyan.

"Mom, I can give her more chicken, no problem. But I just want to ask, do you all still want to eat?" Lingyan asked coldly.

This aunt was a benefactor to their family, not to Lingyan personally. She wasn't about to be generous before filling her own stomach.

"You... you little brat, do you want a beating?" Mrs. Chung raised her hand and slapped Luo Lingyan across the face.

"Mom, why did you hit Sis..." Luo Zixuan, just back from the woodshed, was heartbroken seeing his sister get hit. Truth be told, he didn't agree with their mother's actions either.

Clutching her aching left cheek, Luo Lingyan turned away in grievance. She believed she wasn't wrong; even if she was repaying a favor, it should be within her means, not like Mrs. Chung, who disregarded her children's well-being.

"Hurry up and scoop."

"Oh, Lijuan, you're here earlier than Mom? Come on, you little brat, fill this up for Grandma. Your aunt needs plenty of chicken soup to produce milk after giving birth." Mrs. Hong, panting from running, handed over a soup bowl.

Luo Lingyan passed the ladle to Mrs. Chung with a smile, "Mom, you do it!"

"Sis, Mom's hurt. You should serve it," Luo Fengjiao tugged at Luo Lingyan's sleeve. She knew if the ladle ended up in their mom's hands, their family wouldn't get any.

"Mom, hold on!" As soon as she took the ladle, Mrs. Chung, ignoring the resentful looks from the kids, scooped two extra pieces of chicken into Aunt Luo Lijuan's bowl.

Lijuan finally managed a smile. "Chunfang, when the kids have some free time, have them bring me those little pheasants!"

"Got it, Aunt Lijuan. Take care," Mrs. Chung replied with a polite smile as she saw Lijuan out the door.

"Hand over the ladle," Mrs. Hong demanded, snatching it from Mrs. Chung's hand. She helped herself to the chicken, not stopping until the pot was nearly empty. Only then did she set the ladle down.

"So, you caught some pheasants, huh? Save a few for me. My daughter-in-law just had a baby and needs to eat well."

It wasn't until Mrs. Hong left the kitchen with the Russule chicken soup that the younger kids, Little Four and Little Five, started to cry.

"Mom, I'm so hungry. I want a drumstick," Xianer wailed.

"Mom, I want a drumstick too. I want some of that Russule chicken soup," added another.

"Mom always gives the good stuff to others," one of them grumbled.

Hearing her children's complaints and cries, Mrs. Chung felt a pang of guilt.

Luo Lingyan sighed softly, "How about we cook some wild greens or maybe eat some wild berries?"

"Hey, Sis, maybe I can just eat my portion for tonight now," Luo Fengjiao suggested, tugging at Lingyan's sleeve.

Noticing Fengjiao eyeing the pantry, Luo Zijin quickly ran over and opened the cupboard. Seeing a pot of chicken soup inside, he grinned with delight, "There's still some chicken soup left, and there's even some chicken in it!"

Luo Xianer clung to Luo Lingyan's legs, pleading pitifully, "Big sis, Xianer's so hungry. I want a drumstick, I want a drumstick..."