C6 Everywhere Was Full of Knowledge!

"It actually looks quite good, and it smells delicious too," Sun Guiying offered a fair assessment as the dishes were served on the large table in the living room.

Old Madam Han's expression soured when she noticed Old Third and Laosi's wife looking for faults. She was pleased that Laoliu's Wife had finally come around, taking initiative around the house, and she didn't want to dampen her newfound enthusiasm. She shot the two complainers a stern look. "Enough already. Be grateful there's food on the table. Stop nitpicking. I've spoiled you too much. If you don't want to eat, then leave. Don't waste my food!"

With Old Madam Han's word, Liao Xiaofang and Zhao Xiaomei clamped their mouths shut, their faces flushed with embarrassment, clearly upset over their mother-in-law's favoritism.

Then Ann Yan arrived, setting a large plate of cornbread on the table. She seemed oblivious to Liao Xiaofang and Zhao Xiaomei's earlier comments, smiling at Old Madam Han, "Mother, everything's ready. We can start the meal now."

In the Han Family, meals couldn't begin without Old Madam Han's approval, and she was also in charge of distributing the main dishes. This prevented any discord among the large family at mealtime.

Following tradition, Old Madam Han portioned out the porridge and cornbread. The men, as the primary laborers, were served first, followed by the women, and then the children, with each portion decreasing in size. Last in line were Ann Yan's stepchildren, Han Rui and Liuya.

Ann Yan stirred her noticeably thicker serving of porridge, casting a glance at her mother-in-law, who appeared to be the picture of fairness. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly; she knew all too well the consistency of the porridge she had cooked, and though her portion was the same size as her sisters-in-law's, it was surely the denser part from the bottom of the pot. Indeed, there was a subtle art to everything in this household.

With a slight smile, Ann Yan refrained from voicing any complaints. She quietly lifted her bowl and alternated between bites of potato pancake and sips of porridge, musing to herself about the complaints of favoritism from the third and fourth branches of the family. It was clear Old Madam Han had her favorites, but being on the receiving end of that bias didn't feel too bad at all.

Ann Yan sipped her porridge while stealing glances at the children beside her, whose bowls contained the same porridge as everyone else's, albeit slightly more diluted. It was clear that not all members of the sixth house were treated equally. Old Madam Han's favoritism extended only to her youngest son, Han Ze, and his wife, the Little Daughter-in-law.

Han Ze's children from his previous marriage were not only deprived of Old Madam Han's affection but also suffered her disdain due to their association with Han Ze's former partner. The matriarch typically turned a blind eye to the other children's bullying of the siblings, intervening only when it became excessive. Yet, bound by the ties of blood to the Han Family, she ensured they were never left to starve, offering them just enough to survive. This neglect had shaped their resilient characters.

During a time of turmoil, the original owner of the house had abandoned Han Rui, who, despite his tender age, had bravely protected his sister. Consequently, Liuya had grown into an antagonist. Ann Yan, their stepmother, felt an uncommon surge of compassion for the two waiflike figures.

"Come on, eat up. You two are far too thin," Ann Yan urged, passing the last two potato pancakes from her bowl to the children and heaping their plates with a generous helping of vegetables.

In the household, Han Rui and Liuya were accustomed to being overlooked and harassed, never daring to serve themselves food for fear of reprimand from their aunts or bullying from their older brothers, who labeled them gluttons. The other children had their parents' protection, but these siblings, without a mother and with a father who seldom returned, were easy targets.

This was the first time anyone had served them food. Even when they had a mother, she had not shielded them, instead expressing contempt for their inability to fend off their aunts' greedy hands. The little ones couldn't grasp why their mother was so different from the others.

Noticing the children's bewilderment, Ann Yan gently tousled their hair. "Don't just sit there in shock. Eat up," she encouraged.

With bowed heads, Han Rui and his sister ate in silence, their demeanor meek. Unseen by others, a sheen of tears glistened in their eyes.

Everyone was surprised to find that Ann Yan, who never stepped foot in the kitchen, actually had impressive cooking skills. With the same ingredients everyone else used, the meals she prepared were somehow more delicious, and people were reaching for seconds faster than usual.

Liao Xiaofang watched as Ann Yan occasionally served herself and even dished out portions for the two little ones. She was irked. Why should they, who didn't toil in the fields, get to indulge while others worked themselves to the bone?

"Laoliu's Wife, you ought to have some sense. There's only so much food to go around, and the rest of us have been slaving away in the fields all day. How can you, just sitting at home and eating without contributing, have the nerve to keep helping yourself to more? Have a little self-awareness."

When Han Rui and his sister heard Liao Xiaofang trying to corner Ann Yan, they paused mid-bite. Exchanging a glance, their faces tensed with anxiety; they didn't want their own overeating to cause trouble for Ann Yan with their Third Aunt.

Ann Yan, however, didn't put down her chopsticks. Instead, she calmly took another helping before responding, "Third sister-in-law, what do you mean by 'eating for free'? The children's father joined the army for the sake of our family. He risks his life in the barracks, his life hanging by a thread, so that we can sit here and eat in peace. After all his sacrifices, don't his wife and children deserve a full meal? Besides, I recall that he sends money home every month. We're not living off anyone else; it's earned with his life on the line."

Ann Yan stood her ground against Liao Xiaofang. She may have been deferential to Old Madam Han, who called the shots in the Han Family and treated her well, but that didn't mean she had to bow down to everyone, especially not to Liao Xiaofang, who was always targeting her.

"Laoliu's Wife, what are you saying?"

"Is what I'm saying incorrect? If you're unhappy, Third sister-in-law, you're welcome to have your husband replace mine in the barracks. Otherwise, stop with the passive-aggressive comments. I'm no pushover, and if someone pushes me too far, I'm ready to fight back with everything I've got!"

Ann Yan's face chilled, her tone biting as she bluntly put Liao Xiaofang in her place. Such a retort was far more fitting for the original owner's temperament, wasn't it? After all, neither Ann Yan nor the original owner were the types to suffer in silence.