Song Fanxing happily ran over to kiss Fang Jie.

"I love Mom..."

Fang Jie was amused by her cuddly daughter and said, "Mommy loves you too."

Looking at his beautiful wife and young daughter, Song Darong felt a wave of tenderness wash over him.

Although his early life was full of hardships, he has now made it through.

Li Zhen boiled four eggs: one for her son, one for Song Dalong, one for herself, and one for her mother-in-law.

I didn't want to give it to my mother-in-law, but I was afraid she would beat me.

The four of them were happily eating eggs, while Song Xiaomei watched from the side, her mouth watering.

"Mom, I want to eat it too."

Li Zhen: "What are you eating, you little brat? You think you deserve to eat such good food?"

Song Xiaomei was so upset that she ran outside and squatted in the corner crying.

She was the least liked person in the family. Her grandmother didn't like her, her parents didn't like her, and her brother bullied her. Her life was so miserable.

Two figures appeared in front of her.

She looked up and saw Song Dani and Song Erni, and cried even harder.

"Waaah... Go away from me, don't look at me!"

Song Dani took a sweet potato out of her pocket and handed it to Song Xiaomei.

"Eat it, but don't let my mom see it. She'll beat me if she does."

Seeing Song Xiaomei stunned, she stuffed the sweet potato into Song Xiaomei's arms and then pulled Song Erni into the house.

It took Song Xiaomei a while to come to her senses. She picked up the sweet potato and started eating it in big bites, crying as she ate.

Her closest relatives were not as good as strangers; even strangers knew to give her a bite to eat.

Song Erni secretly asked Song Dani, "Sister, why did you give Song Xiaomei food? Don't you dislike her?"

Song Dani: "Who said I hate her? I hate my second uncle and aunt, and Song Haitao, and I hate my grandma the most. Song Xiaomei is just like us, a person with a hard life, and she is not liked by her family. So I don't hate her."

Song Erni seemed to understand, "We are all girls, and our families don't like us."

"Yes, from now on we'll stick together. If they don't treat us well and don't treat us like human beings, we'll rely on ourselves."

Song Erni clenched her fist and nodded emphatically, "Okay."

With nothing to do, Song Darong said to the children, "I'll take you fishing."

"Yay! Dad, I'll go!"

Song Yaohua was the first to jump up.

Song Yaohui quickly found a fishing rod and a bucket, and also found some dried earthworms.

He and Song Yaohua often went fishing in the river, digging up a lot of earthworms to use as bait, and drying and storing the unused ones.

This is exactly the kind of opportunity that comes in handy right now.

Song Yaohua took Song Fanxing's hand and said, "Little sister, come with us."

Song Fanxing was also somewhat interested. "Okay, let's go."

Zhou Zan was Song Fanxing's little shadow, following her around like a shadow, saying, "I'm going too."

Song Darong waved his hand and said, "Let's go, everyone."

Fang Jie made sure the group was properly protected, covering their ears and necks completely. She told them to be careful, and then the group went to the riverbank.

At -30 degrees Celsius, the river was covered with a thick layer of ice.

Song Darong used a knife to chisel a hole in the ice.

Song Fanxing secretly sprinkled some spiritual spring water into the basin where she had put the fish bait.

Zhou Zan noticed her subtle movements and stared at her with a puzzled look.

Song Fanxing gestured for him to be quiet, and Zhou Zan didn't say anything.

Song Darong threw the baited fishing rod into the river, and then the group waited for the fish to bite.

A minute later, Song Darong shouted, "They've taken the bait!"

What a big fish! Song Darong had to put in a lot of effort to reel in his fishing rod.

A large silver carp weighing seven or eight pounds was pulled up.

Song Yaohui and Song Yaohua cheered with joy, "Dad, what a big fish!"

Zhou Zan was also excited; he had never seen such a big fish before.

Song Darong was also somewhat surprised; he was having good luck today.

Next, they caught four more fish, smaller than the first one, probably weighing four or five pounds each, and filled a large bucket.

Song Darong announced that they could go home, but the four children were still not done having fun.

Song Yaohua: "Dad, let's come again tomorrow."

"We're not coming back. We've caught so much fish, enough to feed us for several days. We'll come back in a while."

It wouldn't be good if someone else saw it.

As darkness fell and it grew too cold, no one ventured out of the village, and they made their way home without encountering a single person.

Back home, Song Yaohui and Song Yaohua poured their spoils into an abandoned water tank in the yard.

Fang Jie was so surprised that she couldn't speak. After a long while, she finally said, "We'll have braised fish for dinner."

"Yay! Great! Time to eat fish!"

Song Yaohua shouted excitedly.

Fang Jie said with a laugh, "Yaohua, why are you so impatient, like you're starving? Learn from Xiaozan, he's younger than you, but he's much more composed."

Song Yaohua glanced at Zhou Zan.

"Tch, who wants to learn from him? He's always crying."

"Xiao Zan is only 5 years old, what's wrong with him crying a little? Don't you dare scold him!"

"Mom! Who is your real son?"

"From now on, Xiao Zan will be my son and your brother."

After Fang Jie finished speaking, she picked up Zhou Zan. Zhou Zan's little face was flushed, and he was a little embarrassed.

Fang Jie said to Zhou Zan, "Xiao Zan, from now on they will be your brothers and sisters. If anyone bullies you, tell me and I'll beat them up."

Song Fanxing's face fell; had she fallen out of favor?

Fang Jie turned her head and caught her daughter's adorable expression, which melted her heart.

He knelt down and hugged his daughter.

"My little star baby would never bully Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Zhan must also protect his little sister, understand?"

Zhou Zan nodded, "Auntie, I will protect my sister."

Fang Jie: "Xiao Zan is so sensible, he will definitely have many girls who like him in the future."

Zhou Zan's face turned even redder.

Song Fanxing couldn't help but reach out and pinch his cheek. "Little Zan Zan, you're too easily embarrassed. That won't do. You need to be thick-skinned to win over the girl you like."

Song Darong burst out laughing.

"How old are you? Teaching Xiao Zhan how to woo girls? What do you know? You're such a precocious child!"

Fang Jie was also shocked by her daughter's behavior and words.

Zhou Zan didn't react much, as if he was used to Song Fanxing treating him like this, letting her pinch his cheeks without getting annoyed.

Song Yaohua leaned over and reached out to pinch Zhou Zan's cheek, but Zhou Zan dodged him.

He was heartbroken. Why did this kid let his sister pinch his cheeks but not him?

Song Yaohua was indignant at not getting a chance to pinch his cheek.

For dinner, Fang Jie stewed a pot of braised fish with her homemade soybean paste; it smelled delicious.

We quickly stir-fried a couple more side dishes, and a delicious dinner was served. The whole family enjoyed their meal.

Soon it was time to deliver eggs to the county town again.

Song Darong and Fang Jie went together and witnessed firsthand how his wife earned 10 yuan from selling 200 eggs.

Fang Jie said, "I can make four deliveries a month and earn 40 yuan."

Song Darong exclaimed in surprise, "So much! More than I earn!"

Fang Jie said smugly, "Isn't your wife amazing?"

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Fang Jie chuckled. Little did Song Darong know how capable their daughter was. Their family's success today was all thanks to her, but they couldn't tell him yet.