"You can eat now!" Lin Wanqiu handed the bowl to Nian'an. "Eat slowly, don't burn yourself."

Shen Nian'an took the bowl, picked up the spoon, scooped up a big mouthful of rice and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing a few times, his eyes lit up: "Mom! It's so delicious! It's even better than white steamed buns!" He then scooped up a piece of cured meat and put it in his mouth, eating with his mouth full of oil, his little face full of a happy smile.

Watching her son eat with relish, Lin Wanqiu picked up a spoon and took a bite herself—the rice was soft, sticky, and sweet, and the cured meat was fatty but not greasy, with a faint smoky flavor. It was indeed better than the cured meat rice she had eaten in her previous life. She secretly rejoiced, thankful for having the space as a cheat code; otherwise, she and Nian'an would have suffered countless hardships in this era.

Just then, there was a knock on the gate, accompanied by the voice of Sister-in-law Shen, Zhang Lan: "Wanqiu, open the door! I know you're home! Open the door quickly!"

Lin Wanqiu's heart tightened. Why was Zhang Lan here? Did she smell the aroma of the cured meat? She quickly hid the remaining cured meat and rice in the cellar, washed the bowls in the kitchen, and then opened the door.

As soon as Zhang Lan entered the house, she peered into the kitchen, sniffing the air. "Wanqiu, what delicious food were you making? It smells so good! Did you eat meat?" She had heard that Lin Wanqiu was doing well lately, and was even secretly selling vegetables and making tofu. She had been incredibly jealous. Today, when she passed by Lin Wanqiu's house and smelled such a delicious aroma, she couldn't resist coming in to see for herself.

Lin Wanqiu sneered inwardly, but feigned composure on the surface: "What delicious food? I just cooked some sweet potato porridge. Maybe it smells good because I added some chopped green onions." She deliberately pointed towards the kitchen, "Look, there's still some sweet potato porridge left in the pot. If you don't mind, why don't you take a bowl and try it?"

Zhang Lan went to the kitchen, lifted the pot lid, and saw that there was only leftover sweet potato porridge in the pot, not a single piece of meat. She was a little disappointed, but still wouldn't give up: "Wanqiu, don't lie to me. I clearly smelled the aroma of meat just now. You must have hidden it! Now that you're living a good life, you've forgotten about us poor relatives? I'm your sister-in-law. If you have something good to eat, you should leave some for me!"

Lin Wanqiu frowned, her tone turning cold: "Sister-in-law, you can't say that. If I had meat to eat, would I only be drinking sweet potato porridge? You know how hard it is for a widow with a child. I'm lucky if I can even fill my stomach, let alone have extra money to buy meat."

Zhang Lan didn't believe it and looked around the yard again, trying to find any trace of meat, but after searching for a long time, she found nothing. She wondered to herself, could it be that she had smelled something wrong? But the aroma just now was clearly the smell of meat.

Just then, Old Mrs. Shen arrived. As soon as she entered, she shouted, "Wanqiu! Come out here! I heard you've made a lot of money lately and even bought meat to eat? You unfilial daughter-in-law, you don't share the good food with me, but instead secretly eat it yourself. I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

Lin Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat. Why was Old Lady Shen here too? Zhang Lan must have tipped her off! She took a deep breath, walked up to Old Lady Shen, and said calmly, "Mother, don't listen to my sister-in-law's nonsense. I don't have any money, and I didn't buy any meat. I just cooked some sweet potato porridge. My sister-in-law must have smelled it wrong."

"You still dare to argue!" Old Mrs. Shen pointed at Lin Wanqiu's nose and scolded, "I've found out everything. You secretly sold vegetables to the commune canteen and made tofu to sell to the neighbors, making quite a bit of money! You think you can hide it from me? Today you have to take out the money and buy me some meat, or I'll go to the commune and report you for speculation! I'll make sure you and your little brat suffer the consequences!"

Lin Wanqiu was burning with anger. Old Mrs. Shen was really pushing her luck! Just as she was about to retort, she heard Shen Tingzhou's voice from outside the courtyard gate: "Auntie, isn't it going too far for you to bully a widow and a child like this?"

Grandma Shen and Zhang Lan turned around and saw a tall man in a dark blue work jacket standing in the doorway. He was burly, with sharp eyes and looked intimidating. Grandma Shen felt a little intimidated, but she still forced a defiant stance: "Who are you? What business is it of yours what we Shen family's affairs are? Mind your own business!"

Shen Tingzhou walked into the courtyard and stood beside Lin Wanqiu, coldly looking at Old Lady Shen: "I am Comrade Lin's friend, and I'm here to help those in need. If you dare to bully them again, don't blame me for being impolite!" His aura was powerful, and Old Lady Shen and Zhang Lan felt uneasy under his gaze, daring not to speak again.

Lin Wanqiu felt a warmth in her heart, never expecting Shen Tingzhou to suddenly appear and help her out of that predicament. Looking at Shen Tingzhou, her suspicions lessened somewhat—regardless of his motives, at least for now, he was genuinely trying to help her.

Old Mrs. Shen swallowed hard, grabbed Zhang Lan, and headed for the door. "I...I'll let you off the hook for now, but if you dare to disobey again, I won't let you get away with it!" With that, she hurriedly left.

Watching Grandma Shen and Zhang Lan's retreating figures, Lin Wanqiu breathed a sigh of relief and said to Shen Tingzhou, "Thank you, Brother Shen. If it weren't for you, I don't know how long this would have gone on today."

Shen Tingzhou shook his head: "No need to thank me, I just can't stand them bullying people. If you encounter something like this again, just blow your whistle and I'll come over as soon as possible." He paused, then added, "Your cooking is delicious, Nian'an must have enjoyed it very much."

Lin Wanqiu was startled. How did he know she had cooked? Had he been secretly observing her all along? She looked at Shen Tingzhou, her doubts growing—just how many secrets did this man hold?

Shen Tingzhou seemed to sense her suspicion, smiled, and said, "I just passed by and smelled something delicious. I guessed you were cooking for Nian'an. It's getting late, I'll head back now. Take good care of Nian'an." With that, he turned and left.

Lin Wanqiu watched Shen Tingzhou's retreating figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She touched the jade pendant on her chest, then glanced at Nian'an eating sweet potato porridge in the inner room, and silently vowed: no matter how many secrets Shen Tingzhou held, no matter how much trouble they would encounter in the future, she would protect Nian'an, using the resources in her spatial dimension and her own hands to make their lives better and better. And those who wanted to bully her and her child, she would never show mercy!