Jiang Dafeng was covered in dust.

He didn't sit on the bed.

Instead, she stood by the bed, holding Yun's hand, their eyes filled with beautiful fantasies about the future.

Happiness seems to be within reach.

"By the way, where are Awan and Atong? I can't find them." Jiang Dafeng walked from the yard into the house but didn't see any of his children.

“Awan was called away by your mother to help the neighbors. As for Atong, he’s in your father’s room. Your mother said I’m not feeling well and don’t want to pass on my illness to Atong, so she won’t let me take care of him.”

Yun's left hand gripped the corner of the quilt tightly.

Her once bright eyes had lost their luster.

"According to Mother, your illness should have passed to me long ago. How come I'm still alive and kicking? You're just too weak. You don't have any serious illness. I'll bring dinner back later, so you can eat more and nourish your body. Mother is just like that. Don't take her words to heart. Just bear with it. You'll be fine once you move out. I'll go and bring Atong in. Don't be sad."

Having shared a bed for over ten years, even if Yun didn't say anything, Jiang Dafeng could still sense it.

He comforted his wife.

I went to my father's house.

"Dad—" This expectant "Dad" was not called by Jiang Dafeng.

It was four-year-old Jiang Tong.

He crouched in the corner, his eyes bloodshot, and saw Jiang Dafeng enter the house.

She ran straight towards her father, hugged his leg, and started crying.

Jiang Dafeng squatted down and hugged his son. "Daddy's back, don't cry. What's wrong, Atong? Did you miss Daddy?" Seeing his son crying like this, Jiang Dafeng's heart broke.

He wanted to wipe away his son's tears with his sleeve.

I've been working all day.

He was filthy.

Jiang Dafeng could only hold his son and coax him softly.

"Dad, I want to see Mom, but Grandma won't let me. Grandpa also said I wet my pants and won't let me go to bed. I'm so tired from squatting."

The four-year-old is already speaking very clearly.

He rubbed his eyes.

The crying stopped.

They look so well-behaved.

"Father, please take me to find Mother."

Atong clung to Jiang Dafeng's neck, refusing to let go.

Jiang Dafeng simply stood up, picked up his son and took him away, without even glancing at the old man lying on the bed.

"Pah, ptooey—"

Old Jiang didn't say a word. He turned around, watched his son and grandson leave, and spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground.

It was both yellow and green.

Back inside.

Jiang Dafeng took off his son's shoes and put him on the bed.

Yun quickly pulled Atong into her arms.

They live under the same roof, but they can only see each other when they are sleeping and eating.

She felt extremely bitter.

"Did Mother give Atong an egg today?" Jiang Dafeng asked Yun Shi when he noticed that his son's stomach was very flat while holding him.

"Eggs? Where did we get eggs? I don't see any. We had brown rice porridge today, but it wasn't cooked long enough. It made my throat sore. A-Tong doesn't like it, so he only ate a little over half a bowl."

Yun shook her head.

He said he didn't see the egg.

"Oh, it seems Mother has given the eggs away again. Has A-Tong's bowl been returned?" Jiang Dafeng asked again.

“No, Atong was clamoring for a small bowl today, and his mother scolded him. He didn’t dare to cry, so he didn’t eat much tonight.” Madam Yun also felt sorry for her son.

When other children were four years old, their bellies were round and plump, but her son looked like he had just fled a famine.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was skin and bones.

"I'll make you a bowl of brown sugar water. You and Atong can drink some together. You'll feel better tomorrow. I'll bring you some meat to eat tomorrow. Does Atong like meat?" Jiang Dafeng ruffled his son's straw-like hair.

"I like it! Is the meat delicious?" This statement is quite contradictory.

You like it but don't know if it tastes good?

Jiang Dafeng fell silent.

It's been almost half a year since we last ate meat at home.

My son is still young; he changes every year.

No wonder you can't remember it.

Moreover, last time we ate meat, each person in the family only received one piece.

It's called eating, but it's really just a taste.

"It's delicious. Eat more tomorrow, Ah Tong. Honey, I'll make you some brown sugar water." Jiang Dafeng felt really choked up.

He quickly walked out of the house and into the kitchen, only to remember that he had locked the brown sugar in the cupboard inside the house. But with his eyes red, he didn't want his wife and children to see him, so he stood in the yard to calm himself down.

But he unexpectedly heard something that enraged him.

"Sister Chen, your granddaughter is so efficient. She cleans my house spotless. If she were sold to be a maid, she would surely please the master. You are so lucky. With her help, you don't have to worry about anything at home. It's a pity that my grandson is still in my belly. I really envy you, Sister Chen, your grandson and granddaughter are all fussing over you."

That voice—it's definitely Song's.

"She's just a little girl, worthless. Do you have any other chores at home? Let her do them all, and then let her come back when she's done. You can order her around as you please, it's fine."

The woman surnamed Chen was so flattered that she forgot what her surname should be.

She waved her hand dismissively, as if the girl she was referring to wasn't her granddaughter, but rather a roadside weed.

Chen's face was all smiles, like the pleats on a steamed bun.

It was all crumpled up.

“She went to fetch water because we ran out of water. My daughter-in-law was clamoring to take a bath, and you know how it is with her big belly, it’s not convenient for her to do anything. I’m not in good health either, so I had your granddaughter help her take a bath. And let me tell you, that girl is really efficient. She boiled water and scrubbed her back. She’s even better than the maid I had when I was young. It’s a pity that our family has fallen on hard times. Luckily, you’re here to help, Sister Chen. As the saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. I’ve truly come to understand that saying.”

Song grabbed Chen's hand.

She seemed so moved she was about to cry.

But not a single tear fell from her eyes.

"Not at all, we all live in the same alley, it's only right to help each other. If you ever need anything, just come to my house. If I'm not home, just ask my granddaughter to help you..."

Chen didn't finish speaking.

It was interrupted by a shout of cursing.

"You want Awan to work as a maid in someone else's house? Mother, are you blinded by greed? Awan is your own granddaughter! You want her to serve this old hag?" Jiang Dafeng was so angry that his hands trembled.

He never imagined that his beloved daughter would be treated so badly by her own mother.

"You brat, how dare you talk like that? What old hag? Apologize to your Aunt Song!" Chen shouted angrily, spitting as she spoke.

Song also glared at him menacingly with her three-white eyes.

Jiang Dafeng snorted coldly, too lazy to argue with his mother.

He ran to the Song family's house.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw my daughter Jiang Wan squatting by the bed, massaging the feet of a woman who was heavily pregnant.

"Awan! Come out!"

Jiang Dafeng shouted into the house.

"Huh? Dad?" Jiang Wan's legs were numb from squatting. When she heard her father's voice, she didn't react for a moment and fell backward, landing on her bottom.