Even if it's not allowed, it has to be allowed today.
Let the Fourth Branch enjoy their temporary victory tonight. Tomorrow I'll make sure her skin splits and flesh tears." Old Lady Liu said through gritted teeth.
In the Fourth Branch's dilapidated courtyard, Xu Xiu's plain porridge was finally ready.
"Mom, it's so thick! I can already smell the rich aroma of rice." Da-Tou gulped eagerly.
As if responding to the porridge fragrance, everyone's stomachs growled simultaneously - including Zhang Zixuan's.
They glanced awkwardly at each other before bursting into laughter.
"Alright, alright. This time I used more rice and less water. Everyone will have their fill today," Xu Xiu said cheerfully. Looking at her sallow-skinned children with their dry, yellowish hair, she gently stroked their heads. Remembering how they'd protected her earlier, she secretly swore to safeguard them completely.
She wasn't a saint, but lived by a principle: If someone respects me an inch, I'll respect them a foot.
Those who treated her well would receive tenfold repayment.
Similarly, she'd show no mercy when exacting vengeance.
After preparing the bowls, Xu Xiu immediately served one to Zhang Zixuan.
"I'm not hungry. You eat first!" The bedridden man automatically refused.
This was his perpetual excuse during days when their branch could only share one bun, secretly wanting his family to eat more.
Now he resembled a skeleton draped in skin.
"Eat. I put in plenty of rice - there's more than enough. From now on, I won't let any of you go hungry," Xu Xiu stated firmly.
She wouldn't abandon him until he recovered. Memories surfaced of him returning from town in heavy snowfall, frost coating his clothes yet keeping steamed buns warm against his chest - never tasting them himself, saving every bite for his family.
He'd protected them before. Now it was her turn.
"Am I... a burden?" Zhang Zixuan finally voiced the question.
Xu Xiu froze, unprepared for this sudden vulnerability.
Though paralyzed for over a year, he'd never expressed such despair. She knew even in death he'd worry about them.
"What burden? If you truly feel that way, then fight harder! Work to stand again. "Didn't the physician say recovery was possible?"
"I know. I keep trying... but my body won't respond." Despair tinged his voice. Each time he heard his family being beaten, agony tore through him. He yearned to protect them but remained helpless. Sometimes death seemed preferable.
"Take time. With me here, everything will improve." Her voice held steel. Keke said finding special ingredients could purchase miraculous medicine for his recovery.
She needed to venture into deep mountains, but glancing at her children, temporarily abandoned the thought. Until separating from the main family, she couldn't leave them unprotected.
Given Old Lady Liu's temperament, mere beatings or scoldings wouldn't suffice next time - she might truly sell them.
Suddenly remembering something, Xu Xiu asked, "Did you grow up entirely in Zhang Village?"
Zhang Zixuan blinked, confused but answered truthfully: "I don't remember my childhood."
At twenty-four, this seemed normal to Xu Xiu, yet she pressed: "No memories at all?"
He shook his head. "Perhaps I was unlikable. I only recall being obedient, yet Mom always beat me."
"That proves it!" Xu Xiu murmured thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?"
"Truthfully... I suspect you're not her biological son."
Zhang Zixuan stared, stunned. Through years of marriage, he'd never realized her sharp perception. Secretly, he'd long harbored similar suspicions.
But even if true, his adoptive parents had raised him. "A birth Mom can't compare to a nurturing Mom" - he'd always believed this.
Reading his expression, Xu Xiu understood. "You've doubted it before, haven't you?"
"Yes. But it no longer matters." His tone held resignation.
She nodded - survival overshadowed identity crises now.
"Yet your looks and bearing don't match country folk." She studied his gaunt frame critically. Despite emaciation, an innate elegance lingered - the poise of nobility.
Zhang Zixuan's cheeks flushed pink. Though long-married, his wife had never spoken so bluntly. The directness disarmed him.
Suddenly, he looked sharply at Xu Xiu. Today's changes alarmed him - daring to confront Old Lady Liu, displaying unexpected martial skills.
Though serving porridge to children, Xu Xiu felt his piercing gaze. She remained calm - she was Xu Xiu in the flesh, merely housing a new spirit. Having inherited original memories, she feared no exposure.
"Mom, is this really plain congee? It smells amazing!" Liu-Tou asked excitedly.
Qi-Tou, standing nearby, chimed in with a smile, "Mom, I haven't had such thick porridge in so long."
"Er-Ya, what's wrong with you?"
"Mom, I'm scared to eat. If I eat this now, Grandma will beat us again later. She'll stomp on my belly and make me vomit it all up!" Hearing this, Xu Xiu immediately felt a pang of heartache.
She pulled Er-Ya into her arms and comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, Er-Ya. Mom will always protect you, just like today."
After saying this, Xu Xiu herself froze, stunned that she'd spoken such tender words.
Since when did I develop this kind of maternal warmth?
I didn't even know I had it in me…
The entire large pot of porridge was devoured by the family of five.
Even Xu Xiu couldn't resist having three full bowls herself.
"Well? Are you all full now?"
"Full, full! I've never been this full before!"
"Good, Tomorrow, I'll stew that old hen to nourish you all, okay?" Xu Xiu announced.
She hadn't forgotten how she'd snapped the chicken's neck earlier that day.
That chicken would be perfect for replenishing their health.
Unbeknownst to Xu Xiu, while her family laughed and chatted happily, Old Lady Liu was on the verge of exploding with rage elsewhere.
"My hen! We only have two egg-laying hens left in the house! I was counting on those eggs for my eldest grandson when he returned from the academy!" Old Lady Liu wailed mournfully.
Old Zhang was also furious. He hadn't expected his usually timid fourth daughter-in-law to suddenly become so fierce. But recalling her demeanor that day, he felt temporarily powerless to confront her.
"Old man, look! She took my precious rice—the rice I saved for my eldest grandson!"
The "eldest grandson" referred to Da-Tou, the son of the eldest branch's Fang Miaojuan. As the firstborn grandson, Old Zhang and Old Lady Liu had gritted their teeth and sent him to Huaheng Academy in the county seat. They'd even asked the village's only scholar, Zhang Xiucai, to give him a proper name: Zhang Tianyi.
Two years into his studies, every time he returned home, Old Lady Liu reserved the finest things for him.
But before Old Lady Liu could finish her complaints, she saw Xu Xiu approaching again.
With Old Zhang present, Old Lady Liu momentarily forgot the events of the day and began shrieking at Xu Xiu, "You wretched—!"
"Move!" Xu Xiu cut her off coldly, her expression blank.
Under Xu Xiu's narrowed gaze, Old Lady Liu instinctively swallowed her words and obediently stepped aside.
Xu Xiu snorted dismissively, then picked up the dead hen from the ground right in front of them.
After giving the couple a scornful glance, she turned and walked toward the fourth branch's dilapidated shack.
"Old man, look at her! Just look at her! What kind of behavior is this?!"
Old Zhang was equally livid but helpless.
Only then did Old Lady Liu realize Xu Xiu had come to claim her hen. She immediately chased after her, yelling, "Put that down! That's my hen!"
"Yours? Didn't I say earlier that everything here—the chickens, ducks, even the family pig—was raised by me? Didn't I also say I'd eat every last bit of them?"
Old Lady Liu gaped, stunned, as Xu Xiu continued, "I always keep my word. You want to kick our fourth branch out of the family now? Well, I won't agree. Know why?"
"Why?!" Old Lady Liu blurted reflexively.
"Because I haven't finished eating all the chickens, ducks, and pigs yet!"
With that, Xu Xiu strode away, leaving Old Lady Liu staring at her retreating figure.
She should be grateful she didn't provoke me further today, Xu Xiu thought. Otherwise, I can't guarantee she'll still be breathing.
The only reason Old Lady Liu had survived their earlier confrontation was Xu Xiu's weakened state from prolonged hunger. Otherwise, the old woman would already be halfway to the grave.
"Old man, what…what does she mean? 'Eat all the chickens, ducks, and pigs'?!"
Old Lady Liu turned ashen, her voice trembling. She'd been counting on that pig for a prosperous New Year's feast. At less than a hundred pounds, slaughtering it now would be a catastrophic loss.
The next morning, Xu Xiu rose early and began processing the hen openly in the courtyard.
When Er-Tou saw this, he whined to his Mom, "Mom, I want meat too!"
Fang Miaojuan thought bitterly, So do I…
After preparing the hen, Xu Xiu marched into the kitchen, grabbed a handful of salt, and returned to the fourth branch's dark little room. Soon, rich aromas wafted out, so tantalizing that even Old Lady Liu couldn't help salivating.
Inside the fourth branch's quarters, Xu Xiu simmered the whole hen in a pot. To her, the proper way to enjoy chicken was in hearty chunks.
"Mom, it smells incredible! Can we really eat this?" Liu-Tou asked, eyes wide.
"Of course. I'll give you each a big drumstick later."
"I don't like drumsticks," Liu-Tou suddenly declared.
"Me neither. Let's give them to my little sister and Dad!" Qi-Tou added.
Xu Xiu's heart ached at their words. Such thoughtful children…
With only two drumsticks among three children, portions were tight. When the chicken finished cooking, Xu Xiu removed both drumsticks and wings. Despite the Zhang family's poverty, the hen was plump—each wing nearly half a pound.
She gave the wings to Liu-Tou, the drumsticks to Qi-Tou and Er-Ya, then placed the remaining wing in Zhang Zixuan's bowl.
"Mom, you have this wing. I'll just drink the broth," Liu-Tou offered, pushing his portion toward her.
"Eat it. I don't care about this."
Zhang Zixuan accepted his wing silently. He knew arguing would be pointless.
At dawn the following day, Xu Xiu reappeared in the courtyard.
"What do you want now?!" Old Lady Liu demanded, throat tight with dread.
Without responding, Xu Xiu strode toward the fattest duck.