C7 Could It be a Foster Daughter?

Luo Lingyan wanted to set some rules or maybe teach the kids a lesson, but when she saw their hopeful eyes, she swallowed her words.

"Xuan, can you go to the roof and bring down a handful of the Russule mushrooms and wild greens your sister just laid out to dry?"

"On it."

In the end, Luo Lingyan poured out half of the chicken soup and added an extra ladle of water.

"Yan, how about you take a couple of those small chickens to your aunt and grandma?" Mrs. Chung felt a pang of guilt for scolding Luo Lingyan earlier, but she had no choice. After all, one was her mother-in-law and the other a family benefactor.

Luo Lingyan replied, "I don't agree. I worked hard to catch those chickens, and I can't even bear to eat them myself. Why should I give them away?"

"Yan, you're all grown up and rebellious now, aren't you? If it weren't for me back then... Oh, why is my life so hard?"

"Alright, stop crying. I'll do it." Luo Lingyan agreed not because of Mrs. Chung's emotional appeal, but to avoid making things difficult for her.

What did she mean by "if it weren't for me back then"?

Luo Lingyan wanted to ask but held back, worried Mrs. Chung might get suspicious.

"Mom, you're kind and grateful, and I have no issue with that. But before you repay others, can you think more about your own children? Look at us—aren't we all looking pale and thin from hunger?"

Mrs. Chung's eyes, filled with guilt, fell on her children's faces.

"I know, but if your aunt hadn't taken us in back then, we would have frozen to death at the foot of the mountain. And your grandma, she's your dad's mom. If your dad were here, he'd do the same."

Luo Lingyan's imagination started running wild. If Mom hadn't taken you in back then, you would have starved on the streets?

Unconsciously, Luo Lingyan looked at Mrs. Chung. She was fairly attractive, but compared to Lingyan's previous stunning looks, Mrs. Chung was a bit plain. She was of average build, around thirty, and didn't resemble Lingyan at all. Could it be that Lingyan was only her adopted daughter?

"Mom, I'm not saying you shouldn't help them, but you shouldn't neglect us. If I hadn't saved half the chicken soup today, wouldn't we all be going hungry again? It's fine to repay kindness, but only when you have the means to do so." Luo Lingyan had thought there was no dad in the picture, but it turns out he was just away.

"Ah, who knows when your dad will be back," Mrs. Chung said, casting a puzzled glance at Luo Lingyan. She felt like her daughter had been different these past few days, speaking with such wisdom.

"Also, it's strange how Aunt and Grandma found out we were having chicken," Luo Lingyan remarked, her gaze shifting to Luo Xianer and Luo Zijin, who both looked down in unison.

"It must have been Xianer and Jin talking too much outside," Luo Fengjiao said angrily.

Luo Zijin, who had been called out, lowered his head even further. If he hadn't brought Aunt and Grandma over, those four drumsticks and wings would have been his and Xianer's. He resolved to keep quiet next time.

"Sis, the mushrooms are here."

"Bring them over."

Seeing the steam rising from the pot, Luo Lingyan knew the chicken soup was boiling. She lifted the lid to confirm, and the rich aroma of the mushroom chicken soup filled the kitchen.

She added a handful of mushrooms and covered the pot again.

In no time, she lifted the lid once more, added some wild greens, and stirred until they were cooked through. Then she sprinkled in some salt.

"Big Sis, are there any drumsticks left?"

"Mom's being sneaky, giving Xianer's drumsticks to Aunt and Grandma."

"Everyone, stay put and sit tight." Lingyan placed a steaming bowl of chicken soup on the table.

Once Fengjiao set the table with bowls and chopsticks, Zixuan ladled the soup into six bowls. Lingyan was eager to take a shower, so she quickly cleaned the pot, filled it halfway with water, and returned to the table.

"Big sis, the chicken drumstick is really delicious."

"Sis, I didn't expect something so tasty!"

As soon as Lingyan picked up her chopsticks, she grabbed a piece of chicken. Since the wild chicken was small, the meat was incredibly tender, and the flavor of the russule mushrooms was perfectly infused. As she lifted the bowl, the aroma hit her immediately. She took a sip of the soup, and the taste was exceptionally fresh and savory.