The Lucky Wife of the Era Married a Rough Man With Space
Chapter 5
Shitou stared at the bowl of egg custard Xu Ying handed him, his face full of horror as he swallowed nervously. “Is this… really edible?”
“Why not?” Xu Ying replied, unconcerned. “I made it just for you, now hurry up and eat.” As she spoke, she was already feeding Huzi a spoonful of the soft custard.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind:
[Congratulations to the host! Favorability +1. Once favorability reaches 50, new recipes will be unlocked, and the corresponding areas will also become accessible.]
Xu Ying’s face lit up in delight. Without hesitation, she scooped another spoonful and brought it up to Shitou’s mouth.
Blushing, Shitou looked at the spoon nearing his face and said awkwardly, “Aunty, I’m already grown up… I can eat by myself.”
Xu Ying chuckled at his embarrassment. “You’re only eight years old, still a little boy. From now on, Aunty will feed you every day.”
Shitou’s cheeks flushed even deeper. “No, no! That’s embarrassing!”
Xu Ying burst out laughing. His flustered reaction was simply too amusing.
Just then, Huzi—who had only taken one bite—began drooling again.
[Read More Here]
Xu Ying frowned, wiping the trail of saliva from the child’s mouth. In her past life, she’d heard that excessive drooling in children could be a sign of trace element deficiencies. Looking at Huzi’s clearly malnourished frame, it would be a miracle if he wasn’t deficient.
She knew she was poor now, but she had a second chance at life—and the very first thing she intended to do was improve her family’s diet.
After carefully wiping Huzi’s mouth, she divided the bowl of egg custard in half, giving one portion each to Huzi and Shitou.
Just then, Mother Xu came in and immediately saw the two boys happily eating egg custard. Her face turned red with anger.
“You two little brats!” she roared. “I don’t even have enough food for myself, and yet you’re drinking egg custard like it's free! That’s your Aunty’s food! She’s just recovered and needs nutrition, and you two—like starving ghosts reincarnated—have the nerve to steal from her? Get out! Both of you!”
The noise drew Sister-in-law Xu over. Hearing the outburst, she dropped her bowl in a panic and rushed inside. Her heart sank when she saw her furious mother-in-law glaring at her.
She glanced nervously at the bowls in the children’s hands and shrank back. “Mom, I—I’m sorry.”
Mother Xu snorted but didn’t respond.
Though scared, Sister-in-law Xu couldn’t help feeling resentful.
“Shitou! Huzi! Get out right now!” she snapped sharply. “All you ever do is eat, eat, eat! Even stealing food from your Aunty I’ll beat you two greedy pests to death one day!”
Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
After all, Xu Ying got to sit around doing nothing and still managed to get eggs for herself. Meanwhile, she and her husband worked themselves to the bone every day, earning full work points, and still couldn’t give their sons an egg.
Mother Xu rolled her eyes, completely unaffected by the jab. “If you’re going to complain, at least have the guts to act on it.”
Sister-in-law Xu choked on her words, visibly frustrated.
Before things escalated, Xu Ying quickly stepped in. “Sister-in-law, don’t hit Shitou and Huzi—it was me who let them have the egg custard. Mom, if you’re angry, then take it out on me. Sister-in-law, take the boys and go start cooking, please.”
Sister-in-law Xu was stunned for a moment but quickly grabbed her children and rushed out.
Mother Xu’s face softened. She didn’t have the heart to hit her daughter, especially not now. She grunted and walked over. “What nonsense are you spouting? You need nutrition right now, not those two little rascals. What’s the use of feeding them such good food?”
Xu Ying felt a surge of warmth in her chest. She got up and affectionately grabbed her mother’s hand. “Mom, I know you care about me. But I haven’t had much appetite lately. Besides, Shitou and Huzi are my nephews—I feel sorry for them too.”
Sympathy was one thing, but few people acted on it like this. Compared to others, Shitou and Huzi had it better in their home. At least they got half a bowl of food each meal—many children in the village didn’t even have that.
“Alright, alright, stop with your sentimental nonsense,” Mother Xu huffed. “Get ready to eat. Your father should be back soon.”
Xu Ying nodded quickly. “Okay!”
Once her mother left, she quietly locked the door behind her and opened the system.
[Does the host wish to open the Novice Gift Pack?]
Xu Ying nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
A bright light flashed before her eyes, and a translucent interface appeared, resembling a computer screen. It displayed her current unlocked recipe levels, and the list of foods available to her.
In the upper-right corner, the novice gift pack icon glowed. She reached out and clicked it.
[Congratulations! You have received:
– One bag of rice
– One bag of flour
– Five pounds of pork
– A basket of chicken eggs
– A basket of duck eggs
– A bag of bean dregs
– Five portions of healing powder
–[Read More Here]
A bag of random ice blades
– A full set of bows and arrows
– Five level-one recipes: Chicken Stew, Spicy Stir-fried Rabbit, Mapo Tofu, Tomato Scrambled Eggs, and Vinegar Cabbage.]
Xu Ying beamed with joy. It wasn’t much, but it was something—and it was all hers to make good use of.
She quickly stored everything into her space and stepped out of the room.
The rest of the Xu family—except for Father Xu and the youngest son—were all gathered in the courtyard.
Seeing their familiar faces, Xu Ying was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes. The Xu family had three sons and one daughter. Xu Ying was the youngest and most pampered of them all.
Her three older brothers had doted on her since she was little. No matter how unreasonable her requests were, they would always find a way to meet them. She had been the treasure of the family—cared for as if she were made of glass.
“Little sister, are you feeling unwell anywhere?” asked Brother Xu, his tone full of concern.
As the eldest son, Brother Xu had carried much of the family's burden alongside their father. Years of hard labor had aged him well beyond his age—he was only in his twenties but looked much older. His brow was creased with worry, and his clothes were patched in several places.
Xu Ying shook her head and gave him a bright smile. “Brother, I’m fine.”
The smile dazzled Brother Xu, and he let out a hearty laugh. “That’s good! You gave us all a scare. Your third brother doesn’t know yet, or he’d have come running home.”
Second Brother Xu waved at her warmly. “Little sister, come sit here by your second brother.”
She ran over with a grin. “Second brother, I missed you so much!”
He laughed, scratching the back of his head shyly. “You saw me just yesterday! Still, I missed you too.”
Mother Xu watched them and smiled. “You and your sweet-talking mouth.”
Xu Ying responded sincerely, “Mom, I really missed you, big brother, sister-in-law, my two little nephews, and my second and third brothers.”
Her words made everyone beam with joy.
Even Sister-in-law Xu was a little stunned. It was the first time the younger sister had spoken to her directly like that.
Noticing her gaze, Xu Ying turned and smiled warmly. Sister-in-law Xu stiffened in surprise and grabbed her husband’s arm as if she’d seen a ghost. What was going on with this girl?
But Xu Ying wasn’t thinking about that. All she remembered was how, in her previous life, her eldest brother had broken his leg, and her sister-in-law had never left his side—proof of her deep love for him.
In this life, Xu Ying wanted to cherish her family more. She’d show her affection not just to her brother, but to the woman who stood by him through everything.
“Jianguo, how’s Lu Daya? Has she woken up yet?” Mother Xu asked worriedly as Father Xu returned home.
Xu Jianguo’s weather-beaten face was marked with the passage of time. His sharp, commanding gaze carried the weight of years spent as the village captain, giving him a quiet authority that demanded respect.
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