When Wang Qiqiang returned home from hunting in the mountains, he heard a mournful wail coming from inside the house. His heart trembled, and he dropped his bow and arrows and rushed into the inner room.

"Mother, what's wrong with you?"

When Wang Ningjing saw her older brother return, she cried even louder: "Brother, it's all my fault. I was so ignorant and made Mother so angry that she died."

Wang Qiqiang didn't ask why. He couldn't believe it. His mother was perfectly fine when he left home. How could she have just died like that?

"Third sister, don't cry." He was a little angry. His third sister had been behaving terribly lately, arguing with their mother all the time and driving her crazy from time to time.

He should have been stricter and played the role of a strict father earlier, otherwise things would have come to this.

"Mother, it's my fault for being unfilial. I didn't discipline my sister properly, and you've suffered because of this. I'll go get a doctor for you now. Wait for me." Wang Qiqiang was convinced that his mother had fainted from anger, and that she hadn't died as his sister had claimed.

Zhang Aiju was pretending to be asleep, but when she heard her son say he wanted to call a doctor, she slowly woke up.

"What's wrong with me?" she asked weakly, looking as if she were ill.

Overjoyed, Wang Qiqiang burst into tears: "Mother, you're finally awake! We thought you were..."

He didn't dare say anything that would be taboo.

Zhang Aiju turned to look at Wang Ningjing, whose face was streaked with tears, her eyes lifeless: "I had reached the gates of hell. Yama asked me why I died. I told him the reason and was about to be reincarnated when I heard someone say that my daughter knew she was wrong and would never disobey me again. The Black and White Impermanence were moved and released me."

"Mother, it's my fault for being unfilial and almost causing you harm." Wang Ningjing covered her face and cried bitterly.

Her father is gone; she can't be without her mother too.

"Alright, Mother knows you're a good child. Someone must have bewitched you. From now on, you must be a good person, speak and act properly, and never say anything hurtful."

Mother cannot be with you for a lifetime. If Mother is really gone, you will need to be able to stand on your own, which will definitely require good character.

"Ningjing, you are a young woman who will one day marry and become the matriarch of a family. You must have the ability to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil. You must never be cold-hearted or forget propriety and shame."

Wang Ningjing's eyes were red from crying: "I will remember what you said, Mother."

Zhang Aiju was not at ease. She turned to her second son and said, "Qisheng, you are not the eldest brother, but you are still an older brother. Your sister needs your support. If she does something wrong, you should help her correct it, instead of indulging her and letting her get worse. You all know that Dou Dou is a person with a hard life, but you have no empathy or compassion. You think that bad things will not happen to you."

Mother is also a widow. Do you all think it's unlucky for her?

I raised you all with great care and hardship, not to raise a few ungrateful children, but so that you could all grow up to be good adults, live good lives, and raise your own children well. That is roughly the meaning of life.

Wang Qisheng felt increasingly distressed as he listened. He was a scholar, yet he was not as good a person as his illiterate mother.

"Mother, your son knows he was wrong and will definitely correct it."

After dinner, Yuan Doudou was about to wash up and read to Anji when she heard a knock on the door.

Who would knock on the door so late?

Yuan Doudou straightened her clothes and, finding nothing amiss, went to open the door.

"Ning Jing, what brings you here so late?" Yuan Doudou asked in surprise.

After saying those nasty things during the day, she comes to my door again. Is she planning to continue cursing me? I'm really unlucky.

If it weren't for Aunt Zhang's sake, she wouldn't have left so calmly without holding a grudge.

"Sister Dou Dou, don't misunderstand." Wang Ningjing saw the wariness in Yuan Dou Dou's eyes. "I'm here to apologize to you."

Her mother didn't say it directly, but waited for her to come by herself. Her two older brothers also wanted to take her, but she refused.

She should admit her own mistakes. She is already fourteen years old and cannot continue to live under someone else's wing.

"Admit your mistake? What mistake have you made?" Yuan Doudou asked knowingly.

She's not stupid; Wang Ningjing's sudden 180-degree change in attitude must be a trap.

"I shouldn't have spoken rudely to you and damaged your reputation." I especially shouldn't have spoken disrespectfully to my mother.

Yuan Doudou smiled and said, "You mean this? Actually, I didn't take it to heart at all." There was no need for her to apologize separately.

"Sister Dou Dou, I was blind and thought you were a petty person. Regardless of whether you forgive me today, I have only one thing to say: please watch my future performance."

Yuan Doudou really wanted to laugh. They wouldn't have much interaction anyway, so why make things like this and make people feel awkward?

"Okay, I forgive you. Don't feel pressured. I'm not a petty person." Of course, I don't have the magnanimity of a prime minister.

Wang Ningjing smiled and said, "Sister Dou Dou, you're so kind."

Yuan Doudou got goosebumps from the cheesy display of affection. We mean, we don't have to hate each other, and we don't have to be so intimate.

"Sister Dou Dou, if you ever need my help in the future, just let me know. I will do my best. For example, taking care of the children, I have absolutely no problem with that," Wang Ningjing said confidently, patting her chest.

Yuan Doudou smiled slightly: "Okay, then I'll let you know in advance that I'm sorry to bother you."

After finally seeing Wang Ningjing off, Yuan Doudou smiled helplessly. What was going on? Why did this happen so late at night?

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

Yuan Doudou led Anji into the carriage, which was empty.

Anji was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, so he nestled in his mother's arms with his eyes closed.

"Go to sleep, we're here, Mommy will call you." She had originally planned to leave Anji at her godmother's house, but it was too early and she was afraid of disturbing the people's rest.

After much thought, I decided to bring Angie along.

Upon arriving in town, the driver took Yuan Doudou directly to the stall.

"Thank you, sir. Here's your money." He deliberately gave her an extra five coins.

The driver refused the money, threw the extra money onto the stall, and drove away.

"Mommy, we're here so early!" Angie rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at the empty streets.

There are far fewer people today than last time.

"The earlier we come, the earlier we can go back." Let's take advantage of the cool weather and quickly sell our goods.

Yuan Doudou busied herself packing things up, lighting the fire to make soup, and preparing to welcome the guests.

Soon, the first regular customer arrived.

"DouDou Foodie." He saw the sign hanging on the food truck and found it very interesting.

"Hello, snail rice noodles and fries, would you like both?"

The man in the long robe glanced at the fries; they seemed quite delicious.

"Okay, give me one of each."

Yuan Doudou first cooked the rice noodles, then packed them up after they were done cooking, and also took a pre-packaged bag of fries.

"Thirty coins in total."

"The price has gone up?" the man in the long gown asked casually.

Yuan Doudou smiled and said, "There's no other way. It's a small business, and it's not worth doing it at a loss."

The man in the long gown explained, "I'm not complaining. You did the right thing. Everyone in business wants to make money; nobody wants to lose money."