Chapter 2

Qiao Yanxiang couldn’t figure her daughter out. She worried that Lu Miao only liked the He family’s wealth. She also feared Lu Miao might’ve been triggered by Lu Lu and Li Si and was acting out of despair.

The room was stuffy and hot. Lu Miao had only just lifted her hand to fan herself when Lu Congge, their family servant, immediately picked up a palm fan and started fanning her.

Qiao Yanxiang waved him away. “Your sister’s head is hurt. She can’t be exposed to wind.”

So even though it was already sweltering, the windows in the room stayed tightly shut — not even the smallest breeze allowed in.

Lu Miao didn’t know exactly what would happen if the wound was exposed to wind, but she did know that keeping a wound all covered up in the summer could make it fester.

She told the servant to keep fanning. “I heard it’s actually worse for a wound if you keep it sealed. It can get infected and worsen.”

Qiao Yanxiang snorted, “And who did you hear that from? Someone better than Wang Dabao?”

Wang Dabao was the barefoot doctor of their Xiaoxi Brigade. If someone got a cold or a headache, they’d go to him first for medicine. Only if he couldn’t handle it would they bother going to the commune hospital.

When Lu Miao hit her head, Wang Dabao happened to be passing by. He helped bandage her up and told them not to let the wound get any air.

Everyone in the village trusted him. Since he’d already treated her, Qiao Yanxiang didn’t bother taking her daughter to the hospital.

Lu Miao muttered, “Maybe the person I heard it from is better than him.” Honestly, she didn’t think much of Wang Dabao — all he ever gave out were painkillers and those red and blue antiseptics.

Back then, people didn’t have many ways to get information. Most of what they knew was passed down from the older generation, like how Wang Dabao said a head injury couldn’t be exposed to wind — which really came from the old rule that new moms couldn’t be exposed to cold drafts.

Qiao Yanxiang didn’t ask who Lu Miao had heard it from, nor did she stop Lu Congge from fanning his sister.

“Before getting married, you’ve gotta meet the person first. If it doesn’t feel right, then just call it off,” Lu Miao said. “Let’s just meet him first.”

She remembered Lu Lu once said that He Mingchuan was “wasted on his looks.” That made her curious — what kind of guy actually got Lu Lu to praise his looks?

If it turned out He Mingchuan was average-looking, she swore she’d hop on the next bus and head home that same night.

There really weren’t many better options anyway. Qiao Yanxiang sighed. “Fine, we’ll see how it goes.”

She secretly hated that she and her husband hadn’t done better in life, hadn’t been able to give their daughter more choices.

Lu Miao’s body was still weak. She had only been sitting up for a bit when she felt dizzy and hungry.

When Qiao Yanxiang saw her rubbing her belly, she scolded her youngest son, “The brown sugar water’s for your sister, and you’re trying to steal it? She didn’t even have breakfast!”

She sent Lu Congge to fetch the steamed egg cakes.

Lu Miao defended her little brother. “I told him to drink it.”

The egg cakes were in the cupboard in Lu Miao’s room. She remembered how greasy his hair felt when she patted his head. “Wash your hands before touching food!”

That unfamiliar feeling of being in a new world slowly faded, thanks to Qiao Yanxiang and Lu Congge’s overwhelming concern. Lu Miao started speaking her mind more naturally.

Lu Congge’s hand was halfway in the bag when she said that. He immediately ran outside to wash up.

Watching the way the siblings interacted, Qiao Yanxiang smiled a little but didn’t say anything.

After thoroughly washing up, Lu Congge brought back the cakes. Lu Miao broke off a small piece and popped it into her mouth.

The bland texture exploded in her mouth.

Sweet. Really sweet. Like, way too sweet.

She didn’t like it. Ate half and gave the rest to her mom and brother. “Here, Mom, you eat.”

“This good stuff is for you. You want me to eat it and end up with a toothache?” Qiao Yanxiang said. “You should eat more and stop thinking about sharing.”

Lu Miao rolled her eyes. “I am sharing it because I think it tastes bad.”

She had always been picky. Only liked tasty food. If something didn’t suit her palate, she wouldn’t eat it — not even a bite. And ever since bumping her head, she’d only gotten pickier.

Seeing her daughter like this, Qiao Yanxiang couldn’t help but soften. “Fine, I’ll get your dad to check at the commune, see if they’re selling pork. We’ll make you some dumplings.”

Dumplings weren’t a big deal to Lu Miao, but Lu Congge was practically drooling.

Afraid the meat would sell out, he jumped in. “Mom, I’ll go buy the pork!”

But Qiao Yanxiang didn’t trust him. She was afraid he’d either pocket some for himself or buy the wrong cuts.

“You just stay home these few days and stop getting into trouble.”

After she left, Lu Miao had Lu Congge open all the windows and doors.

Even with the room ventilated, it was still hot. But having “human fan” Lu Congge around kind of made up for not having an electric one.

Lu Lao’er (Lu Miao’s dad) rode his bike to the commune, bought pork, and came back. Qiao Yanxiang started chopping it up in the kitchen with loud thuds.

There wasn’t much to do to kill time, and Lu Miao couldn’t just lie in bed anymore.

She climbed off the heated brick bed, Lu Congge trailing behind like a little eunuch following the empress dowager.

The pork was only meant for Lu Miao — just a few dumplings for her since she was hurt. Everyone else would get vegetable ones. The leftover pork would be salted and used sparingly in future meals.

To be honest, the rest of the family was already grateful just to get dumplings made from white flour thanks to Lu Miao.

Lu Miao caught onto her mom’s thinking. She didn’t like the idea of “special treatment,” even if she was the one benefitting.

“Mom, just chop all the pork. Let’s all have a nice meal together.”

Qiao Yanxiang wasn’t having it. “You think money grows on trees? We’re not made of cash.”

Lu Miao clutched her head, “Ugh, my head hurts…”

Obviously threatening that unless she got her way, the pain would keep going.

Qiao Yanxiang cursed under her breath. “You kids are gonna be the death of me.”

But she still took out the pork.

Lu Congge looked at Lu Miao with shining admiration. Since they were kids, only she could get their mom to give in.

“You eat and eat. With the way you spend money, there’s no way you’ll ever marry into the Li family.”

Lu Miao grinned, “When I marry into the He family, I’ll ask for a huge dowry and give it all to you to spend!”

Qiao Yanxiang smirked. “What nonsense.”

Lu Congge, who’d been standing awkwardly, piped up, “You’re not giving me any?”

Qiao Yanxiang’s hand twitched — she was tempted to hit him. “Your sister’s dowry is going with her to her new home. If I catch you even thinking about it like those other good-for-nothing village brats, I’ll break your legs.”

Lu Congge had a slight limp from birth — not obvious when walking slowly, but noticeable when running. Because of this, finding a wife was tough, even though their family had some money.

To help him marry, the family had to offer a hefty dowry. Qiao Yanxiang’s parents basically sold her off for one back in the day.

Even though she got along well with her husband after marriage, she never forgave her parents and brothers for treating her like a commodity. That’s why she always felt the need to make up for it by spoiling her daughter.

Lu Miao was raised like a princess — didn’t lift a finger at home. The whole village laughed at it. What kind of farmer’s daughter doesn’t know how to do chores?

No mother-in-law liked daughters-in-law who acted like royalty. They wanted help around the house, not a “young mistress.”

But the Li family was poor, and Lu Miao’s parents had agreed not to ask for a dowry — even promised to buy her a bicycle. A pretty daughter-in-law basically for free? The Li family jumped at it.

Later though, when  Lu Lu came with better conditions , they dropped Lu Miao like a hot potato.

When Qiao Yanxing was first married, her family hadn’t given her a single cent to bring with her — which is why her mother-in-law looked down on her. Because of the dowry and the fact that her first child was a girl, she had a rough few years. Qiao Yanxiang had lived through that kind of suffering and was determined not to let her daughter go through the same. Since Qiao Yanxiang had already gotten soaked in the rain by herself, she wasn’t about to let her daughter do the same again.

Lu Congge had only gone along with what his mom and older sister said—he definitely didn’t expect things to turn out like this. Feeling wronged, he mumbled, “I wasn’t even involved in the whole bride price thing.”

Just then, a kitchen knife came down hard on the cutting board with a loud thwack. The sound was so intense it made Lu Congge flinch in fear.

Qiao Yanxiang’s dumplings looked amazing—plump and round like little ingots, lined up neatly on a straw mat.

It was August, during the farming off-season. The sun outside was scorching, and no one was working in the fields. At the brigade office, Lu Lao Er and a few other idle men were gathered around the radio. When it was time for dinner, everyone headed home, and he did too.

As soon as he stepped into the yard, a boy around seven or eight came running up. “Second Master, Grandma says it’s time to eat!” That boy was the grandson of the eldest Lu brother, Lu Xiaohui. Lu Lu had an older brother, Lu Jiang, who was six years older and worked as a livestock vet at the commune’s veterinary station. The eldest Lu brother and his family lived with his parents, since he had inherited the house. But that also meant he was responsible for taking care of them.

Lu Lao er instinctively glanced at his wife’s face. His niece had caused this mess, but the one he felt most guilty toward was his daughter—his wife came second.

His wife, though, had never liked his parents or his brother and sister-in-law. She rarely joined them for meals before, and this time wasn’t going to be any different. Whether they were inviting them over to apologize or for some other reason, she wasn’t planning to go. And she already had her excuse ready.

Qiao Yanxiang didn’t hide her displeasure. Without saying anything to the child, she banged her spoon twice on the edge of the basin.
“We’re making dumplings here. We’ll eat at home.”

Lu Lao Er didn’t dare go against her, so he turned to the nephew who had come to call them, saying, “We’re cooking here too—won’t be coming over.” He didn’t think much of it, just went back inside. Soon, he could hear voices rising from next door.

Little Lu Xiaohui was busy reporting everything he’d just seen to his parents and relatives. Then came the sarcastic voice of the eldest aunt:
“Don’t want to come? Fine by me. More meat for our Xiaohui!”

Both Lu Congge and Lu Lao Er held their breath. They were terrified that Qiao Yanxiang, the true boss of the house, would lose her temper. Luckily, she didn’t explode. Instead, she calmly told her husband to fetch water and start the fire.

When Lu Miao overheard there was meat next door, her eyes lit up. She turned to her brother—who was about her height—and whispered,
“Wanna go eat some meat?”

Of course he did. They hardly ever had meat at home. Qiao Yanxiang had been strict about saving every bit she could for her daughter’s dowry. Even though the family’s income was decent, she kept things tight.

If Lu Miao hadn’t recently gotten hurt and needed the nutrition, Qiao Yanxiang wouldn’t have bought meat at all.

Lu Congge gave a tiny nod, and Lu Miao turned to her mother, who was busy making dumplings.
“Mom, we’ll just go to Grandma’s to have a bite or two of meat. We’ll be right back!”

Both Lu Congge and Lu Lao Er’s eyes went wide. They couldn’t believe Lu Miao had the guts to say something like that when their mom was clearly fuming.

Everyone knew Qiao Yanxiang cared a lot about saving face.

To her, this kind of behavior looked like begging for scraps.

She almost lost it—but then she caught sight of the bandage on her daughter’s head and reminded herself that the girl had already been through enough.

Trying to keep her voice calm, she said,
“If you want meat, ask your dad to buy some tomorrow.”

Lu Lao Er quickly jumped in,
“Don’t worry, Sanshui. Dad’ll buy some first thing tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Lu Congge’s wrist was grabbed tightly—he didn’t dare follow Lu Miao. But she was impatient and urged him, “Hurry! Or there’ll be nothing left!”

Then she turned back to her pale-faced mom and added,
“Mom, cook the dumplings later. We’ll be right back!”

Qiao Yanxiang gave her son a death glare, but Lu Congge still followed Lu Miao out, trembling the whole way.

By the time they arrived next door, the table was already set.

“Oh? I thought the dumplings at home were too good for our food,” the eldest aunt sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

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