Four years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Wenxue Restaurant in Qingxu Town became the largest restaurant in the surrounding towns, and many merchants from the north and south would go there to join in the fun and have a good meal when they stopped in Tanzhou.

In the backyard of the restaurant, Ye Wenxue lay lazily in a rocking chair, glanced at the sky, and was about to get up to call for someone when a lovely little girl came running over and jumped on her, saying in a clingy voice:

"Mother, my eldest brother is off today, let's go pick him up."

Ye Wenxue smiled and picked up Yuanyuan, carefully wiping the sweat from the tip of her nose.

After pinching her rosy cheeks, Ye Wenxue carried her outside while laughing, "Where did you go? Why are you sweating so much?"

Yuanyuan puffed out her cheeks and touched her nose guiltily: "I went to play with my third brother."

Ye Wenxue narrowed her eyes: "Sanyuan went to the mountains outside the city to find herbs. How could he have time to play with you? Tell the truth."

The eldest brother was studying at a government school, the second sister practiced martial arts at the martial arts school every day, and the eldest brother, Zhiwang, was in charge of the accounts at the restaurant...

Her round eyes darted around, but after a long while, she couldn't think of any reason, and she hung her head dejectedly.

"My fourth brother and I went to the kitchen to sneak some food, but he told me not to tell you."

Ye Wenxue laughed in exasperation; she knew it was Siwang!

Yuanyuan carefully observed her mother's expression, then leaned in and kissed her: "It's not Fourth Brother's fault, I was just hungry."

Ye Wenxue didn't believe it. Yuanyuan was good in every way, except that she always liked to cover for others when something happened.

She scanned the restaurant from top to bottom: "Where's your fourth brother?"

"Let's go out and play."

Just as Ye Wenxue was about to grab the person, a handsome boy of about twelve or thirteen years old strolled into the restaurant, carrying a listless little boy in his hand, and smiled gently:

"Mom, I'm hungry. When is dinner?"

Four years have passed, and the once skinny and thin child has grown up as fast as a seedling, now standing tall and straight with a defined waist and legs.

He exudes an air of refinement and affability. When Shuangshuang and Siwang are causing trouble outside, they are most afraid of running into this older brother who has a more scholarly air about him.

"Are you hungry? Then you eat with your brother Wang and Grandma Zhang first. I'll come after I finish scolding Siwang and Yuanyuan."

Helpless, Dazhuang stepped forward, took Yuanyuan who kept giving him meaningful glances, tapped her little nose, and softly pleaded for his younger siblings who were always causing trouble:

"Mother, I only come back once every ten days."

Ye Wenxue understood the meaning behind his words and glared at Siwang, who was keeping his head down and remaining silent:

"Alright, let's eat."

Sanyuan returned just in time for lunch, carrying a basket of herbs. After washing his hands, he sat down at the table, greeted everyone, and then said mysteriously:

"Guess who I saw?"

Siwang quickly chimed in, "Is it Da Niu from next door? Or Er Zhuang?"

Ye Wenxue and Dazhuang ate their rice in silence.

After adding meat to Yuanyuan's chopsticks, Sanyuan continued:

"It's Sui Bao from the Zheng family in Shanqing Village... Is that her name Sui Bao? Last year, Sui Bao's mother was disliked for only giving birth to a girl, and was kicked out of the house along with Sui Bao. Later, she remarried with Sui Bao."

When I returned just now, I happened to see them leaving Qingxu Town. Judging from Suibao's appearance, she's doing much better than before.

Ye Wenxue remained noncommittal. Sui Bao had never harmed her villainous son in her life, so whether she was doing well or not was none of her business.

The eldest brother He, the fifth brother He, and other members of the He family who had committed violence and harmed others all suffered retribution.

—He Laoda is gone, He Laowu was forced to do corvée labor and is half-dead, lying in bed feeling like he's dying, and He Laosan, I heard, is still studying even though he didn't pass the imperial examination.

He Lizheng was stripped of his position as the head of Shanqing Village, and the He family members split up. He was supported by He Lao Er, but he was not even fed enough, and he lost his shrewdness.

Recalling the scene when she first arrived and the scene now, Ye Wenxue was quite emotional. She looked around at the five children who were safe and sound, and suddenly smiled.

Shuangshuang, Sanyuan, Siwang, and Yuanyuan were listening to Dazhuang talk about some interesting miscellaneous things, while Zhiwang was thinking about today's accounts and removing the bones from Yuanyuan's fish.

Seeing Ye Wenxue smile as she ate, everyone became curious.

Dazhuang asked gently, "Mother, what's wrong...?"

Ye Wenxue raised an eyebrow: "Life is getting better and better."

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Dazhuang offered a toast with tea instead of wine and said with a smile, "Life will get better from now on."

Meat at every meal, no worries about food, family reunions, happiness and fulfillment.