Yan Qiuxing has grown very quickly in the past year.

She was no longer the thin, bony creature that her mother and Sun Jinhua described as someone who couldn't gain weight no matter how much she ate, and who was simply unlucky.

It turns out that when children get enough nutrition, they always grow faster.

The clothes I made after the family split up last year are all unwearable this year.

In the past, it was normal for Jiang Hehu to wear his two older sisters' hand-me-downs, or even be lucky to have any to wear. But now that conditions have improved, Yan Qiuxing's clothes are either in a light pink color or have small flowers on them, making her look quite charming.

Wearing clothes picked up from rivers and lakes... well, it's not comfortable.

Fan Zhaodi not only didn't mind, but was actually very happy, happy that her second aunt was willing to give her these clothes.

You know, if these fine clothes were given to any woman in the village, she would be grateful and want to reciprocate with a gift.

If you don't have anything good to bring back, fresh vegetables from your garden or chicken, duck, or goose eggs will do.

At worst, you can take it apart to make handkerchiefs, soles and uppers for cloth shoes, or handkerchiefs... they're all good!

As Shuiqing folded the washed and dried clothes, she said, "These are all hand-me-downs from your eldest and second eldest sisters. You've been at your second aunt's house for two months, and I haven't made you a new dress to take back with you."

Actually, there was still some fabric suitable for little girls at home. After the heavy rain stopped, she said she would ask the women in the village to make two new outfits for Zhao Di, but Zhao Di shook her head like a rattle drum.

She said she only likes to wear her older sisters' clothes, which are without patches or holes and made of good fabric. Aren't new clothes just like that? If we make her new clothes, she won't be able to wear them all, and it would be such a waste.

This child, how should I put it, has a very good sense of boundaries. He never compares himself to Yan Qiuxing and the others when it comes to food, clothing, or other necessities, and he never treats himself as an outsider when it comes to work, doing everything himself.

As Fan Zhaodi listened to Shui Qing's words, she felt her eyes welling up with tears again.

My second aunt always felt it wasn't right to let her wear her older sisters' old clothes, so she thought about making her a couple of new outfits. But if she took the new clothes back, her mother would definitely pack them up and take them to her uncle's house. She didn't even know how many of these clothes would be fit for her after they got back.

"Second Aunt, this is enough. Any more... we won't be able to wear it all." These are all good clothes. Even if Second Aunt uses them as rags, it's better than when Mother sends them to Uncle's house!

Shuiqing knew Sun Jinhua's character, but if she didn't pack more clothes for Zhaodi, she was afraid that even less would fall on her.

They packed a whole basket full before they stopped.

She tested the weight of the basket on her back and said, "Let Dajiang take you."

Fan Zhaodi quickly shook her head, "No need, no need, Second Aunt, I can go back by myself. None of you need to see me off. I can carry the basket myself."

If my parents saw how well my second aunt's family treated her, giving her clothes and taking her home, and how much they cared about her, it would probably bring countless troubles to my second uncle and aunt later.

My parents' character... is indeed not very good.

Shuiqing didn't hand the basket over. She and Fan Jin escorted them to the downhill section of the road before she handed the basket to Fan Zhaodi to carry.

This is a corner, so you can't see Sun Jinhua's house. Besides, the village walls have been built and there's a patrol team now, so no outsiders will enter the village. So you can rest assured.

Watching the small figure carrying a large basket turn a corner and disappear until it was no longer visible, Shuiqing felt a little worried.

"Zhao Di is probably going to have a hard time again when she goes back." Having a hard time isn't so terrible; what's terrible is being oppressed.

Extreme favoritism from elders and close relatives, endless chores often accompanied by beatings, and verbal abuse-style education—it's truly remarkable that one wouldn't go astray in such a repressive environment.

Fan Jin gave a soft "hmm," his dark eyes looking in the opposite direction of the house. "Yan Qiu and the others will probably be upset if they don't see Zhao Di when they come back from work. Tell them to try not to go looking for Zhao Di. If my elder brother and sister-in-law see her, Zhao Di's life will only get harder."

“...Okay.” Shui Qing agreed.

"Brother Wu said he's going to the prefectural city to sell rabbits tomorrow, and my older brother is going too."

Shui Qing looked at the tall, slender figure beside her in surprise. "He doesn't keep rabbits at home, what is he going there for?"