Chapter 2: The Brazen-faced One

"Mom's right, we rural folks aren't that delicate. I remember I once cut my thumb to the bone, and I only rested for three days before going back to work in the fields," the shrewd, lean woman added fuel to the fire immediately.

Of all her nieces, the one she disliked the most was the lazy one right in front of her, who not only slacked off but also competed with her two precious sons for food every day!

A less thick-skinned person might have felt embarrassed by now, but Jiang Changhai was shameless and still said cheerfully,"Since you, Laosan's Wife, are so capable, why not help your niece with her chores? When Mianmian grows up, she'll definitely be grateful to you."

Jiang Mianmian also sweetly said, "Laosan Auntie, when I grow up, I'll buy you candy and meat to eat every day."

Once the country allowed private trading in a few years, doing any kind of small business would be profitable. Then, eating candy and meat every day would be a piece of cake.

However, Laosan's Wife, Sun Lixia, wasn't fooled at all and couldn't help but roll her eyes in disdain.

This girl was just as lazy and greedy as her parents. She'd likely starve herself in the future, let alone buy candy and meat for her? The mere thought was laughable enough to shake one's head!

The rest of the Jiang Family felt the same way. It would be a blessing if the eldest branch didn't hold them back.

After an eerie two seconds of silence, the head of the family, Jiang Dashan, spoke up: "Let's all wash up and eat."

Zhang Guihua didn't scold any further. After all, her eldest son was just a good-for-nothing, and no matter how much she ranted, it was useless and would only strain her voice!

But seeing the father and daughter dash into the courtyard at the mention of "mealtime," she still felt a lump in her throat.

And Su Wanyu, who had been hiding in the kitchen, also came out—a beauty with a fair complexion, a slender waist, and graceful looks.

Seeing her, Zhang Guihua's anger rose even further; this daughter-in-law was good for nothing and couldn't withstand a bit of extra work without falling ill. She was like an ancestor they had brought home to worship!

She quickly looked away and patted her chest, fearing that she'd be angered to death by this family of three if she kept watching.

Su Wanyu walked up to her husband and daughter and softly said, "Dad, my girl, you've worked hard."

Her gentle, watery apricot eyes were filled with tender love as she looked at her husband and daughter; it made one want to cherish and protect them.

But Jiang Mianmian held her head high, a look of grievance on her face, and said, "Mom, Grandma was really shouting at me just now."

Ignoring it was impossible!

Su Wanyu's expression tensed, then she whispered, "Today I'll let you eat the biggest tomato."

"Mom, I love you to death!" Jiang Mianmian's aggrieved face instantly bloomed into a smile, and she joyfully hugged her biological mother's thigh.

Su Wanyu tapped her nose with a finger and scolded with a smile, "You little slicker!"

At the same time, she deftly slipped a small piece of fried pork rind she had been hiding into her daughter's mouth.

Jiang Mianmian had smelled the aroma of the pork rind the moment her mother raised her hand and, with lightning-quick reaction, opened her mouth. The mother-daughter pair coordinated perfectly.

Sigh, once upon a time, she was a little landlord with two buildings and a commercial street, collecting rent. And now she had sunk to sneaking bites of fried pork rind.

Upon hearing her sigh, the Scholar Tyrant System in her mind said: "Host, golden houses exist in books, as long as you study hard and become a top student, you'll soon be able to enjoy meals with plenty of meat and fish again."

The system knew its host was a salted fish, always trying to coax and persuade her to study whenever it found an opportunity.

"Not going!" Jiang Mianmian rejected the idea without a second thought.