After a busy morning at the construction site, Leng Minghui finally had a chance to rest. He sat in his office, enjoying the air conditioning, drinking tea, and taking out today's newspaper.

When he saw the side profile photo of Xia Baozhu shaking hands with another man, he spat out the tea in his mouth.

Xia Zhaodi went to help with flood relief? Is she tired of living?

The same words came from Chen Shanlou. In their view, women should just stay at home and not go out and show off.

What good is it for a woman to go to a disaster area besides gaining fame?

Can you work as well as a man?

Besides, with so many people there, is she really necessary? One more or one less makes no difference.

There isn't even a place to stay there; you'd be lucky to find a clean, leak-proof spot.

Where will she sleep at night? She'll have to squeeze in with a bunch of big men.

She might even be taken advantage of by other men.

Chen Shanlou picked up the newspaper, his lips pressed tightly together.

This woman is really restless.

...

Xia Baozhu never expected to meet Xia Laidi, Xia Zhaodi's younger sister, who is now her sister.

Xia Baozhu rushed over from the new shop and saw a thin woman sitting in the shop, holding a child and carrying a small package on her shoulder.

She looks somewhat like Xia Zhaodi, but her awkward and distressed expression ruins her beauty.

This is Xia Lai Di; Xia Baozhu knows without even looking through her memories.

Xia Zhaodi had the most memories of this younger sister before she got married, and the two relied on each other in a family that favored sons over daughters.

Xia Baozhu watched Xia Laidi stand up timidly, just like seeing Xia Zhaodi from the past. The two overlapped, even their timid expressions were so similar.

His dry lips parted slightly, then closed again.

Beside them was a man of average height, around twenty-five or twenty-six, who looked quite ordinary.

When he saw Xia Baozhu enter, a look of amazement and surprise flashed in his eyes, but soon a fawning smile appeared on his face.

"It's you, big sister! I almost didn't recognize you."

Liu Guangjun had met Xia Zhaodi once before his wedding. She was very beautiful even then, and she left a deep impression on him.

When they met again, even though she was dressed like someone from a movie, he still recognized her at a glance.

"Laidi, your older sister is back! Quickly call her over!"

Xia Laidi had wanted to call out for a long time, but Xia Baozhu's aura was too strong, which made her somewhat puzzled.

"Big sister."

She looked up and called out softly to Xia Baozhu, then quickly looked down at the child again. She felt that Xia Baozhu didn't look like her older sister, even though they looked the same.

Her older sister had a similar personality to her, and she was afraid to make eye contact with people, but now she has changed so much.

"Yes, you're here. Have you eaten yet?"

Xia Baozhu asked a question casually, which made Liu Guangjun and Xia Laidi feel uneasy.

Does this mean the older sister doesn't welcome them?

"Not yet," Liu Guangjun said with a slight bow and a smile.

Xia Baozhu asked Jia Hongying to pack some food and drinks for her, which she then carried in her hand.

"Come on, come home with me."

Xia Baozhu took Xia Laidi and Liu Guangjun home.

As Xia Laidi saw the city people warmly greeting Xia Baozhu along the way, her doubts grew. Her older sister had completely changed.

How did she become like this?

She was never intimidated by anyone when she spoke to them, and she always walked with her head held high and her steps firm. She would only pause briefly when she was talking to someone before continuing on her way.

Her walking posture is very graceful.

Fortunately, they hadn't forgotten her, which gave Xia Laidi some peace of mind.

Liu Guangjun was overjoyed.

He saw in the newspaper that his wife's older sister owned a shop in the city, and he thought she must have become successful.

After discussing it with my family, I brought my child along.

The reason she brought the child was because no one in her family was willing to take care of him, and since Sister Lai Di didn't have any children of her own, she would definitely like her blood relative.

As expected, Sister Lai Di really does own a large store and has several workers. Just paying their wages must cost a lot of money.

Liu Guangjun looked around excitedly, his eyes dazzled by the various bright signs, and he walked past without taking a good look.

His steps became lighter and lighter, and he settled down there, never to go back to farming again.

The child in Xia Laidi's arms woke up; it was a girl, about two years old.

Since Xia Zhaodi got married and came to the city, the two sisters haven't seen each other since they went back to her parents' home three times and when Xia Laidi got married.

Even Xia Laidi had only heard about the birth of her child; Xia Zhaodi had no money and couldn't even afford a gift for the baby.

Of course, the main reason is that the Liu family, upon seeing that it was a daughter, did not notify any relatives or friends.

Hearing the child call for her mother, Xia Baozhu turned around and said, "The child is awake. Let her father hold her."

Liu Guangjun quickly took the child: "Ni'er, let Daddy hug you."

When children see an unfamiliar environment, they are a little shy and hide in the arms of their relatives, looking down and peeking out the window.

When she saw Xia Baozhu, Xia Baozhu looked at her big, round, dark eyes and smiled at her, then continued walking forward.

Xia Laidi felt relaxed, and this time her steps were lighter.

Back home, Xia Baozhu treated Xia Laidi and her husband to dinner and fed the children before asking, "You're here looking for work, right?"

“Yes, sister, we can’t make much money farming at home, so it’s better to come to the city and find a job,” Liu Guangjun quickly replied.

He smacked his lips. The food at his older sister's shop was so delicious, every dish was unforgettable. It was a pity that the portions were too small; he hadn't had enough.

“Many people in our village have gone out to work in construction, earning a couple hundred yuan a month. After a year of hard work farming at home, that's about all they can save.”

“Alright, you two can stay here with me and live in the west wing.” Xia Baozhu intended to help Xia Laidi.

Xia Baozhu's words delighted Xia Laidi and Liu Guangjun; they hadn't expected their seemingly aloof older sister to be so easy to talk to.

"Guangjun, go clean the west wing. I need to talk to Lai Di for a bit."

"Okay, big sister." Although Liu Guangjun was reluctant, he had to do his best since he was staying.

"What's her name? Why do you keep calling her Ni'er?" Xia Baozhu took the child from Xia Laidi's arms. The two-year-old baby weighed less than 20 pounds and looked pitiful.

“The baby is so light,” she added.

"Her name is Liu Runan. Girls are all this thin."

Xia Laidi looked at her daughter, who was curiously peering out from Xia Baozhu's arms, and gave a bitter smile.

Her mother-in-law made her go back to work in the fields on the third day of her postpartum period because she had given birth to a girl. She didn't eat well, so she didn't have enough breast milk, and the baby was always hungry and grew thin and small.

Xia Baozhu nodded, offering no comment.

"You can familiarize yourselves with this place today, and tomorrow you'll go to the store to help out. If you do well, you'll get the same pay as everyone else."

"Thank you, big sister."

Upon hearing about her salary, Xia Laidi finally smiled.

The woman, only twenty-three years old, looked thirty-two, which made Xia Baozhu sigh inwardly.