Honey, you didn't really drugged me, did you?

Chen Jie had just gotten home when he saw Little Douding sitting by the doorway, enviously watching some kids play with a Pork Hock nearby.

Also known as a pig's knee bone, this was a favorite toy for children their age.

In this era, any child who had such a Pork Hock to play with was like a kid nowadays having a set of Transformers, which would make all the other children envious.

At that moment, Little Douding was watching the other kids playing with their Pork Hock, a mix of boys and girls, the eldest being no older than six or seven years and the youngest around four.

They were all squatting on the ground, busy with the Pork Hock.

Only Little Douding sat alone by the doorway, ignored by everyone, looking incredibly pitiful.

Chen Jie walked over to her and asked, "What's wrong? Why aren't you playing with them?"

Little Douding pouted and said, "I don't want to play with them."

Upon hearing this, the children nearby retorted, "It's because we don't want to play with you."

"You're talking nonsense, it's me who doesn't want to play with you..."

Little Douding cried urgently, but the group of kids countered, "It's us who don't play with you!"

Chen Jie, hearing this, looked at the children and asked, "Why don't you play with Ruirui?"

When questioned by Chen Jie like this, the kids fell silent and then took off running.

Chen Jie turned to Little Douding and asked, "Why do they..."

"It's because I don't play with them."

Little Douding argued back, and hearing her response, Chen Jie patted her head; the little one was quite stubborn. So, crouching down, he asked, "Then why don't you play with them?"

"They, they say my sister is a jinx, and I'm a little jinx," she said. "Playing with me would bring bad luck…"

Hearing Little Douding's words, Chen Jie sighed. Children wouldn't think of such spiteful language on their own; it must have been taught by adults. This showed just how much hardship the Su Family sisters had endured in the past.

While speaking, Little Douding's eyes were fixed on the big yellow apricot in Chen Jie's hand.

"Brother-in-law, what is this?"

Chen Jie, seeing her eager look, couldn't help but laugh. How could she not know what an apricot was?

Asking like this clearly showed she wanted a taste.

"An apricot, but it's a bit hard, quite sour."

Little Douding smacked her lips, "May I try it?"

She pursed her lips in anticipation, looking at Chen Jie.

"If you don't mind the sourness, go ahead and eat," he said.

He handed her the apricot, and taking a bite, her expression instantly changed— it was sour.

Chen Jie thought she would give it up, but after adjusting for a bit, she bit off another small piece, followed by a grimace of discomfort. Yet, after a pause, she took another bite.

In this way, one bite after another, she was simultaneously experiencing sourness and joy, and she ended up eating more than half of it.

The child really wasn't picky about her food.

Chen Jie thought of taking Little Douding back home; dinner was already prepared. Today's lunch was rice mixed with pork fat residue.

The refined lard was already sealed in a jar; this time, enough to fill a large jar, saving a bit could last two to three months. However, Chen Jie did not want to eat too plainly, so this amount of lard would only last a month.

The pork fat residue had already been scooped out, freshly chopped into pieces while hot, and then fresh sorghum rice was served out. Pork fat residue was added to the rice, along with some chopped wild green onions and a bit of soy sauce.

A bowl of rice mixed with pork fat residue was thus ready.

"Dinner's ready."

Su Yunjin called out, then brought the food to the table. Little Douding had been unable to restrain herself, and now stared eagerly at the rice mixed with pork fat scraps, saliva flowing freely.

Chen Jie served her a large bowl, and then filled another for Su Yunjin, handing it to her with the words, "You've worked hard, wife."

Su Yunjin paused, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue.

It was a strange feeling.

Chen Jie filled a bowl for himself, then said to Su Yunjin, "Wife, please save a bowl of the pork fat scraps for Ruirui this afternoon."

"Hmm?"

Su Yunjin looked puzzled at Chen Jie.

Chen Jie smiled and said, "Ruirui, this afternoon, you take a little stool and eat the pork fat scraps at the doorstep. If any of the kids want to play with you, give them a piece. Then, they'll play with you in the future."

"What? Why should I give those annoying brats such good pork fat scraps?"

Little Douding looked at Chen Jie, not understanding.

Chen Jie laughed, "Ruirui, remember this, everyone needs friends. With more friends, life will be better. You don't want to play alone every day, do you? Listen to your brother-in-law, I guarantee you'll soon have a bunch of kids behind you."

"Really?"

Little Douding blinked in surprise.

"Listen to your brother-in-law, that's right."

Chen Jie said, while Su Yunjin piped in, "Isn't that a bit too...Our household isn't wealthy."

Hearing this, Chen Jie chuckled, "It will be alright. With me around, our family won't be short of food."

Saying so, Chen Jie patted his chest and said, "By the way, wife, I redeemed this for you."

Chen Jie, saying this, pulled out an old hairpin.

When Su Yunjin caught sight of the hairpin, her body visibly shook, staring blankly before tears began to flow.

The hairpin was the only keepsake her mother had left her, but regrettably, she had pawned it at a pawnshop.

That day, after being beaten by Chen Jiusi, she had lost all hope. With the hairpin, she went to the pawnshop and got two hundred coins, which she then used to buy a package of arsenic and two jin of polished rice.

She poisoned Chen Jiusi's meal, but to her surprise, he detected it...

She had thought she would never see this hairpin again, but today, it was right before her eyes.

She held back her tears, but cried in heartfelt sorrow.

Clasping the hairpin to her chest, she sobbed without sound.

Little Douding, puzzled, watched her sister, but continued to shovel the pork fat scraps mixed rice into her mouth. She wondered why her sister was crying again. Was it because the pork fat scraps mixed rice was too delicious that it brought tears of joy?

Chen Jie watched Su Yunjin. He could sense her emotion and reached out to hold her hand.

Su Yunjin felt her hands enveloped by a warm grasp, a sensation she had never experienced before, which unsettled her composure.

Chen Jie then whispered in her ear, "It's all in the past. Everything's in the past. From now on, I will give you and Ruirui the best life possible."

Su Yunjin looked up into Chen Jie's eyes. She melted into the gentleness of the man's gaze and never imagined he could be so tender.

"Eat, let's eat."

Su Yunjin and Chen Jie locked eyes, and after a moment, she bashfully lowered her gaze. From Chen Jie's vantage point, her ears turned red, like a tempting peach, making him want to take a bite.

Smack!

Overcome by emotion, Chen Jie planted a kiss on her, startling Su Yunjin who covered her face, flushing with embarrassment and disbelief, thinking the child was still there, and that he was being too audacious.

Meanwhile, Little Douding seemed to hear something, glanced up at the two adults, then continued eating without concern for those two odd grown-ups.