C10 Chapter 10

Wan Qiqi rolled her eyes at Mrs. Zhao’s retreating back, then gently poked An’an’s chubby cheek and said softly, “Come on. Mom’s taking you home for a bowl of rice.”

She glanced at Pingping beside her and held out her other hand.

Pingping looked up, almost like he couldn’t believe it. Carefully, he reached out and took Wan Qiqi’s hand.

He realized Mom’s hand was so soft and warm—nothing like Grandma’s.

When she turned around, Chen Yongnian was standing at the yard gate. No one knew how long he’d been there.

He watched Wan Qiqi holding An’an while also holding Pingping’s hand, and a genuine smile spread across his face.

After he’d brought Wan Qiqi back, he’d already made up his mind: if the family wouldn’t accept her, he’d take her and the kids and move out, doing whatever hard labor he could to earn money and support her.

Now, seeing she truly meant to live well, he was overjoyed.

Wan Qiqi froze for a beat, worried he might notice something off. But when she saw his smile, she figured he wouldn’t read too much into it. Folks out here were usually straightforward—what you saw was what you got.

Even if all of this felt unreal, and the situation was hard to swallow.

Still, being around them felt oddly comfortable. Their feelings were written all over their faces—if they didn’t like something, they said so.

Back in their own yard, Mrs. Wang had just lifted the pot lid, revealing white rice porridge with a sprinkle of chopped wild greens on top.

Wan Qiqi took one look and couldn’t help feeling a little helpless.

She’d clearly said to cook rice, yet they’d made porridge instead. Were they really that stingy with rice? Still, porridge was fine.

People in times like these didn’t have the strongest stomachs anyway—porridge was easier on you.

After Wan Qiqi washed the two little ones’ hands and came back, everyone else was already seated at the table.

The way they looked at Wan Qiqi held a hint of fear.

Even so, she could see it in their eyes: as they stared at the pot of porridge, their eyes lit up with a greedy kind of hunger.

Even before the pantry ran dry, they’d never been willing to eat rice this white. And after running out of food, they were somehow getting a chance to eat such good white rice porridge—like a dream.

Chen Yongliang leaned in boldly and took a deep whiff of the rice aroma, so hungry he wiped his mouth.

Chen Yongxing bumped him with an elbow, signaling him to rein it in. Anything the sister-in-law brought out was usually meant for them to make for her to eat—not for everyone to share.

Besides, even if Wan Qiqi offered them some, they’d still wonder if she was up to something. After what she’d been through, who knew what she might do.

Wan Qiqi saw them staring at the porridge and practically drooling, yet no one made a move. So she stood up and ladled herself a bowl first.

She lifted it, blew on it gently, and took a small sip.

The flavor wasn’t as rich as what she was used to, and there was still a bitter edge from the wild greens not being prepped well. But compared to that earlier pot of watery greens mush, this was practically a feast.

A moment later, Lee Chongniang couldn’t sit still anymore. She shot to her feet, poured herself a bowl, then filled bowls for everyone else.

Even if Wan Qiqi really had poisoned it today, she was still drinking porridge!

Watching Lee Chongniang’s indignant face, Wan Qiqi sipped her porridge and stifled a laugh.

So that was it—they were scared to eat because they thought she’d poisoned it?

She shook her head, glanced at the two little ones beside her, and said softly, “Slow down. Don’t burn your mouth.”

An’an nodded hard and praised, “Rice porridge—it’s so good!”

Pingping nodded too, drinking as he studied Wan Qiqi.

Mom had never cared about them before. When they cried, she only scolded them. Now she not only cared, she even comforted them.

He didn’t understand why Mom had changed, but he liked this version of her and hoped she’d stay this way.

Wan Qiqi didn’t know what the little kid was thinking, but she could see the wariness in his eyes fading, replaced by warmth and happiness. For her, that was a win.

In the end, her gaze settled on Mrs. Wang, her mother-in-law.

She sat far from the table, and there was barely any porridge in her bowl—almost just a single sip.

But she stayed seated, slowly sipping her porridge, her eyes moving from one son to the next.

Wan Qiqi stood and walked over to Mrs. Wang.

Everyone’s gaze followed. Chen Yongliang and Chen Yongxing were already starting to rise, looking ready to throw down, but Chen Yongnian pressed them back down with both hands.

Wan Qiqi swept her eyes over the room and snatched the bowl from Mrs. Wang’s hands.

Mrs. Wang’s heart dropped. She couldn’t help swallowing hard.

She... was she still the same as before—still not going to let her eat at the table?