《Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s》 Preface Just as Si Nian was waking up, trying to digest the unfamiliar memories, she heard the sound of a woman crying. "What else can we do? Are you suggesting we let our own daughter marry an old man with three kids?" "Sob... She''s already endured over a decade of hardship. It''s not that I don''t care about Si Nian, but she''s our biological daughter after all." Si Nian''s blurry gaze swept over the two people by the bed: a middle-aged couple in their forties. The man was smoking, his brows furrowed, while the woman was wiping tears from her face. It had been two days since Si Nian transmigrated into this world, but she was still struggling to wake up fully due to the original host''s physical condition, and she was trying to digest the melodramatic memories swirling in her head. She had transmigrated, yet it seemed she was stuck in the backward 1980s. And still, she was a fake wealthy daughter. Just a month ago, the real wealthy daughter had shown up at their doorstep, claiming her rightful identity. After a thorough examination, it turned out she was indeed the real one. The original host''s status became precarious. The real wealthy daughter had grown up in a poor rural family. Si Nian, not wanting to endure a life of poverty, had thrown tantrums and refused to leave, fearing her parents would drive her away. Moreover, she was engaged to the son of the chief of the military district, about to marry into a wealthy family. But the sudden appearance of the real wealthy daughter disrupted her plans. The original host was furious, and she grew to hate the real wealthy daughter. Even if it''s just a pet, there''s still affection after over a decade, let alone a living, breathing person. Originally, the family had thought of letting both of them stay since the Si family had been officials for three generations and could afford it. But unexpectedly, the real wealthy daughter''s parents in the countryside had also arranged her marriage, wanting her to marry an old man who had been divorced and had three children, running a pig farm. The real wealthy daughter, of course, refused to accept it. The Si family''s parents were heartbroken to see their biological daughter suffer for over a decade and then have to marry an older divorced man. They couldn''t bear to let her go through with it. But to their surprise, the real wealthy daughter''s parents from the countryside took the money and ran away, leaving her with no choice but to marry. After much deliberation, they came up with the idea of having the fake wealthy daughter take her place. Although it sounded unpleasant, the Si family felt that since they had raised the girl for over a decade and she was doing so well, it was only reasonable to ask her to help out. Besides, she wasn''t their biological daughter, so if they let her marry into that family, they would lose out. The good should be kept for their own daughter. Upon learning of this, the original host was overwhelmed with anger and despair, and she attempted suicide by jumping into the water. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. The incident caused a lot of gossip, and even the Si family lost face. They began to feel a bit disgusted with the original host. People had always commented on how the child didn''t resemble her parents, which made the couple feel embarrassed. Their daughter also had a rude and unreasonable personality, nothing like a proper young lady. They wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. Si Nian blinked her eyes. Although the original host attempted suicide, she didn''t die. In fact, because of this incident, her family thought she was too extreme and immediately sent her to the countryside. After the original host married the older divorced man, she blamed all her faults on him, abused his children, and finally, when he couldn''t bear it any longer, he divorced her. The fake wealthy daughter ended up becoming a destitute beggar and tragically died on the streets, ending her melodramatic life. It''s truly an unbelievable plot. For the past few days, Si Nian has been lying on the bed, barely alive, wishing it were all just a dream. She had finally saved up a down payment of three hundred thousand, only to have it disappear after paying the deposit. It infuriated her to the point where she couldn''t sleep at night. Now, seeing the mother of the female lead discussing the matter, she couldn''t avoid it any longer. Clearly, her family was biased towards the real wealthy daughter. Staying would only bring embarrassment and dependence, making life difficult. It might be better to leave voluntarily, perhaps earning a good reputation. So Si Nian spoke up, "Don''t cry anymore, I''ll leave." The room fell silent for a few seconds before Zhang Cuimei realized her daughter was awake. Her expression briefly showed embarrassment before she spoke with guilt, "Nian Nian, don''t blame us for being heartless. It''s just that your mom is really helpless." Si Nian nodded faintly, "I understand. If I stayed, I might end up competing with Lin Si Si for the military officer fianc¨¦, which wouldn''t be good." Her words were too straightforward, making the two adults feel a sense of shame as if their secret had been exposed. After all, it was because Si Nian was pretty that they had agreed to the engagement in the first place. But they both agreed that it was definitely because of their own status. "I have a hundred yuan here, enough for you to get by for a while. If you encounter any difficulties, you can call us." Yes, call, not come over. Clearly, they had already planned to distance themselves from her. But a hundred yuan was still acceptable. After all, in the 1980s, a hundred yuan was equivalent to a thousand yuan in the future. Si Nian didn''t push for more. Since she wasn''t familiar with them and her identity as a fake wealthy daughter was embarrassing enough, it wouldn''t be wise to demand more. After being raised by them for over a decade, causing trouble and lingering on would only make them resent her more. She took the money and exchanged a few words with them, then they told her to pack up early as they would send her over tomorrow. They left one after another, afraid she might change her mind. Tomorrow was the wedding day. Although they said it was a wedding, a second marriage in this era was never honorable, so they didn''t plan to hold a wedding ceremony. Sending the person over would be enough. Si Nian got up, surveying the room. It wasn''t large, but it was well-furnished with a beautiful iron bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a vanity mirror. A room like this would be beyond the means of an ordinary family. The Si family had treated the original host reasonably well, at least in terms of providing food and clothing. So the original host had quite a few clothes, including some lovely French and Chinese dresses, accessories, and plenty of pearl necklaces. On the table were trendy skincare products of the era, such as "Pond''s" and "Snowflake Cream." Due to the pre-engagement with the chief''s son, the Si family spared no expense in her upkeep. Consequently, the original host was pampered and had the appearance of a fair-skinned, beautiful, and well-to-do daughter from a wealthy family. Having become accustomed to such a luxurious lifestyle, she naturally didn''t want to marry an older man. Si Nian packed up all the good things and left the next day, carrying her suitcase onto the bus. It was unexpectedly easy to send her away, leaving the Si family feeling a bit disoriented. After all, for a month since they found out she wasn''t their biological daughter, Si Nian had been causing various troubles, insisting on staying. Suddenly, her departure felt too straightforward, making them feel uneasy. After raising her for over a decade, their daughter was simply gone. Who wouldn''t feel upset about that? Seeing their parents'' slightly reluctant and guilty looks, the real wealthy daughter, Lin Si Si, with red eyes, said, "Dad, Mom, did I do something wrong? I didn''t mean for this to happen. Should we bring Nian Nian back?" Immediately, the parents averted their gaze, looking at their frail biological daughter with guilt in their hearts. "Nonsense, you did nothing wrong. Nian Nian is eighteen now; she should leave. We can''t support her for the rest of her life." Crossing through the era as the fake wealthy daughter Just as Si Nian was waking up, trying to digest the unfamiliar memories, she heard the sound of a woman crying. "What else can we do? Are you suggesting we let our own daughter marry an old man with three kids?" "Sob... She''s already endured over a decade of hardship. It''s not that I don''t care about Si Nian, but she''s our biological daughter after all." Si Nian''s blurry gaze swept over the two people by the bed: a middle-aged couple in their forties. The man was smoking, his brows furrowed, while the woman was wiping tears from her face. It had been two days since Si Nian transmigrated into this world, but she was still struggling to wake up fully due to the original host''s physical condition, and she was trying to digest the melodramatic memories swirling in her head. She had transmigrated, yet it seemed she was stuck in the backward 1980s. And still, she was a fake wealthy daughter. Just a month ago, the real wealthy daughter had shown up at their doorstep, claiming her rightful identity. After a thorough examination, it turned out she was indeed the real one. The original host''s status became precarious. The real wealthy daughter had grown up in a poor rural family. Si Nian, not wanting to endure a life of poverty, had thrown tantrums and refused to leave, fearing her parents would drive her away. Moreover, she was engaged to the son of the chief of the military district, about to marry into a wealthy family. But the sudden appearance of the real wealthy daughter disrupted her plans. The original host was furious, and she grew to hate the real wealthy daughter. Even if it''s just a pet, there''s still affection after over a decade, let alone a living, breathing person. Originally, the family had thought of letting both of them stay since the Si family had been officials for three generations and could afford it. But unexpectedly, the real wealthy daughter''s parents in the countryside had also arranged her marriage, wanting her to marry an old man who had been divorced and had three children, running a pig farm. The real wealthy daughter, of course, refused to accept it. The Si family''s parents were heartbroken to see their biological daughter suffer for over a decade and then have to marry an older divorced man. They couldn''t bear to let her go through with it. But to their surprise, the real wealthy daughter''s parents from the countryside took the money and ran away, leaving her with no choice but to marry. After much deliberation, they came up with the idea of having the fake wealthy daughter take her place. Although it sounded unpleasant, the Si family felt that since they had raised the girl for over a decade and she was doing so well, it was only reasonable to ask her to help out. Besides, she wasn''t their biological daughter, so if they let her marry into that family, they would lose out. The good should be kept for their own daughter. Upon learning of this, the original host was overwhelmed with anger and despair, and she attempted suicide by jumping into the water. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The incident caused a lot of gossip, and even the Si family lost face. They began to feel a bit disgusted with the original host. People had always commented on how the child didn''t resemble her parents, which made the couple feel embarrassed. Their daughter also had a rude and unreasonable personality, nothing like a proper young lady. They wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. Si Nian blinked her eyes. Although the original host attempted suicide, she didn''t die. In fact, because of this incident, her family thought she was too extreme and immediately sent her to the countryside. After the original host married the older divorced man, she blamed all her faults on him, abused his children, and finally, when he couldn''t bear it any longer, he divorced her. The fake wealthy daughter ended up becoming a destitute beggar and tragically died on the streets, ending her melodramatic life. It''s truly an unbelievable plot. For the past few days, Si Nian has been lying on the bed, barely alive, wishing it were all just a dream. She had finally saved up a down payment of three hundred thousand, only to have it disappear after paying the deposit. It infuriated her to the point where she couldn''t sleep at night. Now, seeing the mother of the female lead discussing the matter, she couldn''t avoid it any longer. Clearly, her family was biased towards the real wealthy daughter. Staying would only bring embarrassment and dependence, making life difficult. It might be better to leave voluntarily, perhaps earning a good reputation. So Si Nian spoke up, "Don''t cry anymore, I''ll leave." The room fell silent for a few seconds before Zhang Cuimei realized her daughter was awake. Her expression briefly showed embarrassment before she spoke with guilt, "Nian Nian, don''t blame us for being heartless. It''s just that your mom is really helpless." Si Nian nodded faintly, "I understand. If I stayed, I might end up competing with Lin Si Si for the military officer fianc¨¦, which wouldn''t be good." Her words were too straightforward, making the two adults feel a sense of shame as if their secret had been exposed. After all, it was because Si Nian was pretty that they had agreed to the engagement in the first place. But they both agreed that it was definitely because of their own status. "I have a hundred yuan here, enough for you to get by for a while. If you encounter any difficulties, you can call us." Yes, call, not come over. Clearly, they had already planned to distance themselves from her. But a hundred yuan was still acceptable. After all, in the 1980s, a hundred yuan was equivalent to a thousand yuan in the future. Si Nian didn''t push for more. Since she wasn''t familiar with them and her identity as a fake wealthy daughter was embarrassing enough, it wouldn''t be wise to demand more. After being raised by them for over a decade, causing trouble and lingering on would only make them resent her more. She took the money and exchanged a few words with them, then they told her to pack up early as they would send her over tomorrow. They left one after another, afraid she might change her mind. Tomorrow was the wedding day. Although they said it was a wedding, a second marriage in this era was never honorable, so they didn''t plan to hold a wedding ceremony. Sending the person over would be enough. Si Nian got up, surveying the room. It wasn''t large, but it was well-furnished with a beautiful iron bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a vanity mirror. A room like this would be beyond the means of an ordinary family. The Si family had treated the original host reasonably well, at least in terms of providing food and clothing. So the original host had quite a few clothes, including some lovely French and Chinese dresses, accessories, and plenty of pearl necklaces. On the table were trendy skincare products of the era, such as "Pond''s" and "Snowflake Cream." Due to the pre-engagement with the chief''s son, the Si family spared no expense in her upkeep. Consequently, the original host was pampered and had the appearance of a fair-skinned, beautiful, and well-to-do daughter from a wealthy family. Having become accustomed to such a luxurious lifestyle, she naturally didn''t want to marry an older man. Si Nian packed up all the good things and left the next day, carrying her suitcase onto the bus. It was unexpectedly easy to send her away, leaving the Si family feeling a bit disoriented. After all, for a month since they found out she wasn''t their biological daughter, Si Nian had been causing various troubles, insisting on staying. Suddenly, her departure felt too straightforward, making them feel uneasy. After raising her for over a decade, their daughter was simply gone. Who wouldn''t feel upset about that? Seeing their parents'' slightly reluctant and guilty looks, the real wealthy daughter, Lin Si Si, with red eyes, said, "Dad, Mom, did I do something wrong? I didn''t mean for this to happen. Should we bring Nian Nian back?" Immediately, the parents averted their gaze, looking at their frail biological daughter with guilt in their hearts. "Nonsense, you did nothing wrong. Nian Nian is eighteen now; she should leave. We can''t support her for the rest of her life." Going to the countryside for a substitute marriage Si Nian reminisced about the reasons why the older man was getting married as she rode in the car. The older man was named Zhou Yue Shen, thirty years old, running a pig farm in a relatively remote area in the countryside. The three children weren''t his own; they were his sister''s orphans, aged ten, seven, and just under two years old. Due to the busy schedule running the farm, Zhou Yue Shen couldn''t take care of the three children on his own, so he thought of finding another wife. Being a pig farmer, he was willing to spend money, so it didn''t take much effort to convince Lin Si Si. Who knew Lin Si Si had another layer of identity! Fortunately, Si Nian didn''t share the same mindset as the people of this era. Having a painless childbirth was the best thing ever. As the car swayed, they arrived at the village entrance. The driver, who was from the Si family, didn''t show any courtesy, dropping her off at the entrance. "Miss Si Nian, the road in this village is rough. You can make your own way from here," the driver said with a sarcastic tone before turning and leaving. Si Nian''s mouth twitched. No matter the era, people were always so pragmatic. Once vulnerable, they were easily taken advantage of. She carried her heavy suitcase and entered the dilapidated village. The road was lined with earthen brick houses, and the path was rugged with muddy trails. But not far away, there was a brand-new two-story building, catching Si Nian''s attention. There were still many people working in the fields. Suddenly, a lively and beautiful girl appeared, attracting many people''s attention. "Hello, excuse me, do you know how to get to Zhou Yue Shen''s house?" Si Nian withdrew her gaze, seeing someone approaching, she quickly asked for directions. She couldn''t wander around aimlessly like a headless fly. "Zhou Yue Shen? What do you want with Brother Shen?" The young man carrying a hoe was surprised to see her. Originally, he felt embarrassed to look at this obvious city girl, but he didn''t expect her to be here to find Brother Shen. "You know him? That''s good," Si Nian said, feeling familiar with the tone, so she didn''t hide anything and said directly, "I''m his second wife, here to get married." Perhaps no one had a more miserable experience of getting married than her. Not only did no one come to pick her up, but she also couldn''t find her way. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. It was truly embarrassing. But it was clear that the Si family had no intention of sending her off as a relative, as marrying a rural man would be extremely shameful for them. "Huh? It''s you?" The young man stared at her in disbelief, his dark face showing astonishment. "Yes, could you please show me the way?" Carrying such a heavy suitcase in the scorching June weather, and with the original host''s delicate body, Si Nian felt like her hands were about to break. The young man realized and blushed, hastily pointing to a nearby two-story building. "It''s, it''s right there." Si Nian was dumbfounded. She had just thought that it was the wealthy neighbor''s luxurious mansion in the village. She hadn''t expected it to belong to the Zhou family? Was the wealthy man actually me? Was this house even better than the Si family''s? In this era, being able to build a two-story building in the countryside was a sign of substantial wealth. It seemed that things weren''t as bad as she had imagined. She thanked him and hurried over. The young man wanted to say something, but seeing her walking away with a smile on her face, he was left speechless for a moment. Didn''t he hear from the neighboring village that the girl from that family wasn''t willing to marry and caused quite a scene? He thought they had already called off the wedding, so why did she suddenly show up? And she''s so beautiful too... "Is anyone there?" Si Nian stood at the doorway and knocked on the door. A large Tibetan Mastiff was tied at the entrance, which scared her to the point of almost collapsing. Si Nian was terrified of dogs because she had been bitten by one before. Fortunately, the dog just stood up and gave her a vigilant look, as if sensing that she posed no threat, then lazily lay back down. Si Nian: "?" What''s the meaning of this? Can you explain clearly? "Coming, coming! Who is it?" A middle-aged woman hurried over to open the door, her expression astonished when she saw the lively young girl. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" The Zhou family didn''t have many relatives, and visitors were rare. Especially young girls. The one who came last time was supposed to be a relative, but she was unwilling and caused a lot of trouble. "Me?" Si Nian blinked and said, "I''m Zhou Yue Shen''s new wife. And you are?" Wait, didn''t it say in the book that Zhou Yue Shen was an orphan without parents? Then who is this person? "I am the aunt who came to take care of the children for Little Zhou. Are you Lin Si Si?" The other woman looked at her, her gaze carrying a mixture of scrutiny and inexplicable hostility. Si Nian felt puzzled but still said, "I''m not Lin Si Si. You must have heard that Lin Si Si isn''t the biological daughter of the Lin family; I am. So, I''m the one who''s supposed to get married here." "Nonsense! It was agreed that it would be Lin Si Si. How come it''s changed? Are you playing games, Lin family? Get out, get out, get out!" the woman scolded angrily. Si Nian frowned. "You''re the one hired by the Zhou family to take care of the children, meaning you''re a nanny. Can you make decisions for the Zhou family?" The aunt was momentarily stunned, then realized that Si Nian was scolding her as a servant. Her face darkened. "I''ve known Little Zhou for over ten years, and our families have always been close. I''ve been helping him raise the children since they were young. Of course, I can make decisions," she said, adopting a stance that clearly indicated she wouldn''t let Si Nian in. Si Nian was getting annoyed. "Where''s Zhou Yue Shen? I need to talk to him." "I told you, Little Shen isn''t home. I''m in charge here now. Get out, get out, get out. If Lin Si Si isn''t coming, then return the three thousand yuan to the Zhou family!" the aunt insisted, urging Si Nian to leave. "What''s going on, Aunt Liu?" Suddenly, a puzzled male voice came from behind Si Nian. Si Nian turned around and saw it was the young man from earlier. Upon seeing him, Aunt Liu''s eyes flickered for a moment, and she said, "Who knows where this wild girl came from, inexplicably showing up at our door and refusing to leave!" Since the Zhou family became prosperous, many women had tried to approach them, but Zhou Shen never took an interest in any of them. So, when Aunt Liu said this, the villagers didn''t find it strange. However, the young man had just spoken with Si Nian and thought she looked quite neat and clean. How could she be described in such a way? As he had just left and remembered that Zhou Shen wasn''t home, he hurried back to inform her but didn''t expect to see them arguing. So, he said, "Isn''t she the bride that Brother Shen got?" I will be a very good stepmother "What bride? Lin Si Si called off the wedding. This person is definitely not Lin Si Si. I reckon the Lin family doesn''t want to return the dowry, so they found some random girl to replace her." Hearing this, Li Tiezhu opened his mouth, then looked at Si Nian''s beautiful and charming face, and said uncertainly, "But... she''s so beautiful, doesn''t look like some random girl." He had never seen such a pretty girl before. In the village, the only ones who were slightly attractive were those sent down from the city for rural work. He had heard that those urban youths had high standards and looked down on rural folks like them. But this girl was even more beautiful than those urban youths. How could she be considered random? Si Nian also realized that this woman wasn''t from the Zhou family but still wouldn''t let her in. She probably feared that Si Nian, as Zhou Yue Shen''s wife, wouldn''t need to take care of the children anymore and would lose her job. That''s why she was so eager to drive her away. Si Nian sneered, "Regardless, I am the true daughter of the Lin family. Since it''s the Lin family''s money, it should be the Lin family''s real daughter who marries over. This auntie won''t let me in. I wonder what her intentions are!" She looked at the bewildered Li Tiezhu and asked, "Where is Zhou Yue Shen? Do you know?" With such a commotion outside and no one coming out, it was clear that he wasn''t home. "Brother Shen is at the pig farm. He usually comes back late. Shall I go and get someone for you?" Li Tiezhu offered. Si Nian smiled, "No need. I''ll wait for him here. When he returns, I''ll tell him it''s not that I refuse to marry him, but that someone won''t let me in. If that''s the case, it''s the Zhou family that''s backing out of the marriage. I don''t need to return the money to the Zhou family." Upon hearing this, Auntie Liu''s face turned pale. Li Tiezhu also looked confused, turning to Auntie Liu and asking, "Auntie, why wouldn''t you let her in?" Auntie Liu awkwardly smiled, worried that the situation would escalate and bring trouble upon herself. She quickly opened the door wider and said, "It''s a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. I wasn''t clear about the situation earlier, so I didn''t let her in. Come in quickly now." She gave Si Nian a fierce glare. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. This person couldn''t stay. That was Si Nian''s first thought upon entering the house. If there was someone like this in the Zhou family, she might not have an easy time. She sneered and thanked Li Tiezhu behind her before stepping into the small building. The house was spacious, at least three hundred square meters. As she entered, she saw a large living room with not only leather sofas but also a television and a radio, luxury items of this era. Although the decoration seemed casual, it looked extremely good. This was a hidden wealthy person! Si Nian''s eyelids jumped fiercely. Just as she set down her suitcase, a barefoot, dirty little girl ran over, grabbing her clothes and looking at her with curiosity and longing. The little girl''s hair was messy, but she was quite pretty, with big, watery eyes and a round little face. However, she was very dirty, with food residue all over her mouth, and her clothes were soiled to the point that their color couldn''t be distinguished. The child, almost two years old, couldn''t even speak yet, just babbling as she looked at Si Nian. Nobody can resist a cute child, and if someone can, it''s because the child isn''t cute at all. Si Nian reached out and picked up the little bean, pulling out a big White Rabbit candy from her pocket and handing it to her. The dirty little hands of the bean immediately grabbed the candy, making a mess of it. Living in such a luxurious house, yet the child was like this. No wonder Zhou Yueshen wanted to find a wife. Now it seemed there was a reason. A cold snort came from behind, "Putting on an act." Si Nian turned to see Mrs. Liu, who had been hostile to her earlier. The two had formed an enmity, and Si Nian had no intention of interacting with her. The little bean seemed curious about the visitor, as if she had never seen a guest in the house before, and followed her like a little tail. With just a candy, Si Nian had won her over. Si Nian smiled and took out a tissue from her pocket to wipe the child''s mouth. With a little companion, she wouldn''t be bored anymore, quietly waiting for the master of the Zhou family to return. Perhaps Li Tiezhu had informed someone of the situation, so it was only a little over an hour before Si Nian heard the steady footsteps outside the door. A tall man pushed open the door and walked into the living room, bringing with him a faint smell of blood. Si Nian instinctively looked up and was stunned. She had heard he ran a pig farm and assumed he was an older, overweight man, otherwise he wouldn''t have had trouble finding a wife at his age. Little did she know, he turned out to be such a refined and handsome man. He had a slender figure, a stern face, and at first glance, one might mistake him for a medieval officer. The light in the room accentuated his sharp features, making them more pronounced, yet his expression remained aloof. "What''s your name?" Seeing Si Nian remain silent, Zhou Yueshen spoke first, his voice deep and magnetic. "I''m Si Nian," Si Nian snapped out of her daze, feeling embarrassed for zoning out. She stood up, introducing herself, "I''m eighteen years old, and I''m the biological daughter of the Lin family." Zhou Yueshen didn''t show any surprise, as the matter of the delayed marriage with the Lin family had dragged on for a month now. Even though Lin Sisi wasn''t his biological daughter, their actual daughter was unwilling to return. She didn''t expect her to come knocking on the door. "I''m Zhou Yueshen, thirty years old," the man spoke succinctly. His deep gaze swept over the suitcase in the living room, something seemed to flicker in his eyes, then he looked at Si Nian. "Have you made up your mind?" He''s a smart man, Si Nian thought. Just from her actions, he had already guessed that she was ready to marry him, for whatever reason. Si Nian nodded. "Yes." Zhou Yueshen continued, "Do you know about my situation? I have three children, although they''re not my biological ones, I''ve legally adopted them under my name. I don''t intend to have more children." Si Nian took a few steps forward, extending her soft, delicate hand towards the man, smiling gently. "Firstly, being a mother is noble. Secondly, I''ll be a great stepmother." A smaller version of the future boss Zhou Yueshen was stunned for a moment. "Alright, you can stay." "No, Yueshen, how can you let her stay so easily? Clearly, the Lin family just wants to take advantage of your three thousand dowry. This family is a fraud!" Mrs. Liu panicked and urged. Yueshen glanced at Mrs. Liu, his tone low, "She is indeed the true daughter of the Lin family, so there''s no deception." Si Nian glanced at Mrs. Liu with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile. "From the beginning, this auntie seemed very opposed to me entering the house. So, Auntie, do you have a better candidate in mind?" Mrs. Liu was at a loss for words. Yueshen withdrew his gaze calmly, his expression somewhat icy. "Mrs. Liu, you don''t need to worry about this matter." With that said, he glanced at Si Nian, "You can stay. I don''t have many requirements for you, just treat the children well. As for the wedding, if your family doesn''t want it and the bride-to-be isn''t willing, we haven''t made any preparations yet. If you need it, pick a date." "I have some matters to attend to at the farm. You still have anything important to ask?" Si Nian nodded. "Whether we have a wedding or not doesn''t matter to me. Do I have a place to stay?" Yueshen fell silent for a moment before replying, "There are five rooms in the house. The master bedroom on the second floor, first room on the left, is yours for now. I and Xiaodong will sleep elsewhere." His sister''s three children were named Zhou Yuedong, Zhou Yuehan, and Zhou Xiaoyao. After being registered under his name, it was directly changed to the Zhou family surname. It was quite sudden for Si Nian to arrive, and the family hadn''t made any preparations in advance. Usually, there was only one room for himself, Zhou Yuedong shared a room with his sister, Zhou Yuehan had one room, and the remaining rooms were for guests, with nothing prepared for her. It was quite uncomfortable for her to stay there. Si Nian nodded, "Alright, you go ahead." Zhou Yueshen nodded slightly and turned to leave. Mrs. Liu couldn''t hold back any longer after he left, and sarcastically taunted, "Don''t think I''ll be nice to you just because you''ve entered the door. I want to see how long you can keep up the act." Si Nian found Mrs. Liu''s remarks inexplicable and retorted with a sneer, "Auntie, you''re quite capable, with such a big attitude. Anyone would think you''re my future mother-in-law, acting so arrogantly?" Si Nian chuckled, "At least I''m getting married properly. Some people are just hired help, essentially servants. Crossing the line like that might get them fired. Auntie, be careful." Mrs. Liu was furious, feeling humiliated. Although she was hired to help, given her relationship with the Zhou family and her age, she felt fully justified in lecturing Si Nian. Now, she was being looked down upon by her, feeling extremely aggrieved. "You''re still a city dweller, typical city people!" she pointed at Si Nian''s nose and scolded. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "My quality is based on how I treat people," Si Nian grinned, making it quite clear: you''re not one. Mrs. Liu was furious, but then she thought of something and sneered. "Just you wait and see." After saying that, she carried the babbling little bean and left. Si Nian didn''t bother with her and carried her suitcase upstairs to the master bedroom. The room was quite spacious, but there was only a wooden bed, a table, and a wardrobe in the middle. There was nothing else, giving it a feeling of desolation. Si Nian fell silent for a moment. Living in such a luxurious house, the room was unexpectedly shabby. It seemed that men''s lives were just so simple and plain. However, the folded bedding was neat and clean, without a speck of dust. Looking at the tofu block, Si Nian raised an eyebrow. Was this man a former soldier? She tidied up her luggage and opened the wardrobe. There were only two pieces of clothing in the man''s wardrobe, neatly folded. A comfort lover with OCD tendencies. Clothes in the tropics should not be left untouched, or they would easily develop odors. So Si Nian quickly hung up her clothes, filling the empty wardrobe with colorful garments, feeling an instant sense of satisfaction. Although she was caught off guard by her sudden transmigration, the outcome was much better than expected. She had been worried that it would be a dilapidated house where she couldn''t even get enough to eat. But now it seemed she had been overly concerned. In the 1980s and 1990s, opportunities were everywhere, as long as one had bold ideas and courage, there were plenty of people making money. Clearly, Zhou Yueshen was one of those brave and visionary individuals. With no worries about food and clothing, she was spared the trouble of striving to earn money like the protagonists in time-travel novels. Anyway, since she was here, she might as well make the best of it. After tidying up, Si Nian continued to inspect the room. The master bedroom even had a separate bathroom. She had worked up a sweat on the journey here, so she immediately grabbed some clothes and headed into the shower. Although there was no hot water, using cold water on a day like this wasn''t uncomfortable. In the 1980s, not many people had water heaters, except for the extremely wealthy. But judging by Zhou Yueshen''s circumstances, it wouldn''t be long before he could afford one. She took a refreshing shower, feeling rejuvenated afterward. Si Nian changed into a simple and casual apricot home dress, her long black hair dripping wet and cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Sitting at the table, she neatly arranged her bottles and jars on the surface before carefully wiping herself down. The original owner had taken such good care of herself, and Si Nian couldn''t afford to slack off. In addition to these items, she also brought along some of the original owner''s books. Yes, the original owner was a high school student with decent grades. But in order to marry her military officer fianc¨¦ sooner, she actually dropped out of school. It was mainly because the fianc¨¦ was not young anymore, reportedly already twenty-five years old, and his family was pressuring him to settle down. Otherwise, the Si family wouldn''t have been willing to sacrifice her education. Obviously, when it came to academic pursuits versus the son of a high-ranking official, they chose the latter. As a result, shortly after dropping out, the real heiress came knocking. The original owner was so consumed by love all day long, how could she still have the mood to study? Love really can be terrifying. After neatly arranging the books, she would study them once she got used to this era. Si Nian stood up and wiped her hair. As it was almost dry, she heard the sound of a dog barking downstairs. Turning her head to look downstairs, she could see the entrance from this master bedroom. Two teenagers with red scarves, one slightly older with a stern expression reminiscent of Zhou Yueshen''s demeanor, and the other bouncing around happily, entered the courtyard. They were both quite young but slightly taller, one of them bearing a resemblance to Zhou Yueshen. The other, carrying a worn-out backpack with holes, seemed cheerful. They both looked very similar and were quite slender. Si Nian remembered Little Dou, the one downstairs, who was also terribly thin. Considering Zhou Yueshen''s family background, they shouldn''t be this skinny. Si Nian had quite a lot of memories of these three children. In the novel, the original owner mistreated them, leaving them orphaned and lacking affection from a young age. Consequently, the three children grew up twisted. Zhou Yueshen, being a man responsible for earning money and managing the household, couldn''t take care of three children on his own. Moreover, he was naturally reticent and couldn''t express himself well, making the children fear him. The original owner''s mistreatment compounded their fear, leaving them too frightened to speak up and endure silently. At their young age, being subjected to such treatment left them scarred and psychologically unhealthy. Raising babies scientifically The smarter a person is, the more likely they are to go astray. This applies to the eldest brother, Zhou Yue Dong. Due to the abuse from his stepmother and the betrayal from his own mother, who is Zhou Yueshen''s sister, he developed a lack of emotion. From then on, Zhou Yue Dong harbored a deep resentment towards women, which ultimately led to his involvement in the original owner''s death in the later stages of the story. He eventually joined a scientific research team and became one of the country''s researchers. Although the second brother appears foolish now, he later became a prominent figure in the underworld. In an era where the underworld was thriving, he was one of its founding members, but his life ended tragically when he was killed in a street fight. The youngest sister, Zhou Xiaoyao, had an even worse fate. Unlike her brothers, who at least spent a few years with their biological mother, she was sent to live with Zhou Yueshen from a young age. Being raised by a man who had never shown affection towards women, she lacked any parental love. She only started speaking at the age of three and later suffered from bullying and abuse in school. Due to her timid nature, she never spoke up and ultimately died by suicide. In the end, none of the siblings had a long life. Zhou Yueshen sacrificed his own happiness for his sister''s three children, only to be met with tragedy. It''s a family bound by sorrow. Si Nian sighed heavily. Although she usually didn''t care much about others'' lives, now that she was here, she couldn''t follow the original plotline. The three little ones hadn''t gone astray yet, and the old man wasn''t bad either. With some effort, she believed she could make a difference. Si Nian set her goals: 1. Take good care of the three children and raise them scientifically. 2. Study hard; even if she was married, she couldn''t slack off and needed to secure her own future. 3. Develop a relationship with Zhou Yueshen and have a love affair without having children. The old man was so handsome, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. He was silent and reserved, and she was curious to see what he was like when moved by emotions. With her plan set, Si Nian got up and headed downstairs. Downstairs, Mrs. Liu had already prepared dinner. The two older boys were sitting at the table with their schoolbags on their shoulders, while Mrs. Liu fed the little girl, Xiaoyao. With a large spoon in her hand, Mrs. Liu was stuffing spoonfuls of rice into the little girl''s mouth, who swallowed mechanically, her chin and clothes smeared with grease. On the table, there was a bowl of sour soup and a plate of burnt fried potatoes, which looked unappetizing. The children''s bowls were filled with plain rice porridge. Seeing Si Nian, Mrs. Liu snorted coldly, clearly not pleased to see her. The first to notice her was Zhou Yuedong. Sensing that there was an additional person in the house, he stopped eating and looked over, instantly stunned. A beautiful and delicate-looking girl stood at the staircase in a white dress, her long hair casually cascading over her shoulders, giving the impression of a celestial being descending to earth. Zhou Yuehan also glanced over curiously, not as composed as his brother, but instead exaggeratedly gaping with his mouth wide open. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Young as she was, little Yaoyao seemed to recognize the girl who gave her candy, and she began to babble excitedly, forgetting about her meal. Mrs. Liu, impatient, slapped her and scolded, "Why are you making noise? Eat your food!" Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan were startled, immediately lowering their heads. Zhou Yuedong''s knuckles turned white as he gripped the chopsticks, too afraid to utter a word. Yaoyao seemed frightened into silence by the slap, her face pale and her body trembling, though tears had not yet come. Mrs. Liu rudely forced food into her mouth. This scene enraged Si Nian. While she wasn''t particularly fond of children, she detested people who took out their anger on them! The three siblings were clearly being mistreated, and although ten-year-old Zhou Yuedong might have understood the situation, he dared not rebel, clearly having been oppressed for a long time. She had to say it. How could all of them turn out this way? It wasn''t entirely the original host''s fault. Her appearance was just the last straw. With a stern face, she stepped forward and snatched the child away, speaking in a low voice, "Do you even know how to take care of children? People pay you to take care of them, and this is how you treat them?" She was filled with fury. Mrs. Liu, already irritated by Si Nian''s presence, mocked, "How am I mistreating them? You need evidence to speak, unlike you city folks who are so delicate. Every child is raised like this in the countryside!" Si Nian sneered, "Is that so? So, can I discipline your sons and grandsons the same way when I see them in the future?" Mrs. Liu was almost speechless. "How dare you!" "Isn''t this how you''ve been treating me?" Mrs. Liu, furious and unable to argue with Si Nian, retorted, "I think you''re just taking your frustration out on me because I''m not doing your bidding! Well, let me tell you, Yueshen only asked me to cook for the three children, not to take care of you. If you want to eat, do it yourself!" She had previously inquired about the Lin family''s situation and heard that they had tried three times to take their biological daughter back, but she stubbornly refused. She was probably used to a life of luxury and didn''t want to return to a life of hardship in the countryside. If she was so unwilling to lift a finger, no wonder Zhou Yueshen lost his mind and wanted her as his wife. If she couldn''t cook now, then she could starve! Let''s see if she can still be so sharp-tongued then. Si Nian had been waiting for Mrs. Liu''s response, and as soon as she heard it, she gently set down the trembling Yaoyao and wiped her mouth, saying, "Yaoyao, sit here obediently. Auntie will make something delicious for you, okay?" Yaoyao seemed to understand, her eyes fixed on Si Nian. Her face was dirty, almost unrecognizable, but her eyes were exceptionally clear. How could such a innocent child endure such treatment? Si Nian felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She glanced at the table where Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan sat, their expressions complicated, then stood up and walked into the kitchen. The kitchen was simple, with a stove burning and a large iron pot on top. Miscellaneous items were placed on the side cabinet, including rice, flour, and simple seasonings like salt and MSG. In the corner, there was a rice jar nearly empty, a small bag of sprouting potatoes and sweet potatoes, and a jar of pickled vegetables. Other than that, there were no other vegetables. Seeing this scene, Si Nian couldn''t help but furrow her brow. How did this family manage to ruin such a good hand? As she rummaged around, she suddenly noticed a bamboo basket underneath the cabinet. Opening it, she found half a piece of pork belly and some eggs inside, with a small bag of refined flour underneath the eggs! These were all good things! There was no reason to hide such good things and not use them. Thinking about the meager food on the table, Si Nian''s face darkened. The best How could Zhou Yueshen not notice how busy he was? He''s supposed to have a pig farm, so meat shouldn''t be scarce. Yet the three children are as thin as monkeys. No wonder this old woman harbors such animosity toward me. Taking care of these two children here, she could make quite a profit! Si Nian took a deep breath and poured out all the meat, eggs, and flour. Liu Shen, who came in to collect the dishes, screamed, "What are you doing?!" Si Nian sneered, "Of course, I''m cooking. What''s wrong? Do you have a problem?" Liu Shen choked up, feeling guilty as she looked at the slab of fat on the cutting board, feeling as if her heart were bleeding. This meat was delivered by Zhou Yueshen this morning, and she couldn''t bear to eat it. She never expected this woman to find out! If she says anything now and this woman reports it to Zhou Yueshen when he comes back, she''ll be finished. Liu Shen wasn''t foolish; naturally, she couldn''t admit that the meat was hers. She gritted her teeth and said, "You''re really a wasteful woman. Just arrived and already so greedy." Si Nian didn''t get angry but instead chuckled, "Wasteful is fine. After all, if I weren''t wasteful, this meat might have ended up in someone else''s mouth. Don''t you think?" Liu Shen was shocked and furious but dared not say more. She angrily left the dishes behind and stormed off. This woman was different from the one who came before; she had no way of dealing with her. This situation was definitely not beneficial for her. Liu Shen clenched her teeth, determined to find a way to get rid of this woman. As she walked out of the kitchen and saw the silent Zhou Yuedong and his brother, she glanced around and whispered, "Yuedong, Yueshan, look, this is the stepmother your uncle got for you. She''s already so arrogant just after arriving today. Who knows, in a few days, she might ask your father to kick you three out! Be careful." Zhou Yuedong tightened his grip on his sister''s hand. Liu Shen knew that although Zhou Yueshen wasn''t good at taking care of the children, he still cared deeply about their lives. If the children expressed dissatisfaction with Si Nian, she wouldn''t be able to stay. After all, Zhou Yueshen had found someone to take care of the children. If she couldn''t do that, why would she stay? Thinking that Si Nian wouldn''t stay for long, Liu Shen felt some of her frustration dissipate and left swaggeringly. "Wuwu, brother, Xiao Han doesn''t want to be kicked out," the younger Xiao Han whimpered, frightened. Ever since they came to this family, they knew that the women who came were all bad people, none of them treated them well. Now another one had come, and she wanted to drive them away. What were they going to do? Zhou Yuedong tightened his jaw, not saying a word, but his gaze was deep. Only the clueless Yao Yao sat in his arms, tugging at his clothes. Si Nian had no idea what the two brothers were thinking. With Liu Shen gone, she felt much more at ease. She poured flour into a basin, added water, and began kneading the dough. After kneading it until smooth, she let it ferment. Then she chopped the fatty and lean meat into minced meat, seasoned it with salt and MSG. Since there weren''t many vegetables in the house, she decided to steam some meat buns. The ingredients she had on hand were fresh. After the dough fermented well, she kneaded it again and started wrapping it. Outside, the three children were unusually quiet, not making a fuss like children from other families, devoid of any liveliness. Si Nian remembered the little Dou Ding, so she beat two eggs with a little salt and warm water, planning to steam some smooth eggs in the pot along with the buns for the children to eat. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Altogether, she made a dozen or so meat buns, using up all the meat filling. The remaining dough was shaped into plain steamed buns. It was a pity there was no sugar at home; otherwise, sweet steamed buns would have been exceptionally soft and delicious. Kids loved them the most. Sinian had been up early, and until now, she hadn''t eaten anything, feeling dizzy from hunger. Fortunately, the buns cooked quickly. Soon enough, the enticing aroma wafted through the air. Sinian swallowed her saliva and realized it was about time. She reached out and lifted the lid. In that instant, a wave of hot steam rose, filling the entire room with the savory scent of meat buns. Made with top-quality flour and a mix of lean and fatty meat, the meat buns were the best. "So fragrant, so fragrant!" Outside, Zhou Yue Han, who had been doing his homework, suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming like a famished wolf cub, staring fixedly in the direction of the kitchen, his mouth watering. At an age when both children were growing, they only ate two meals a day, and it was just plain rice porridge. They weren''t even remotely full. They went to bed hungry every night. Just now, Zhou Yuehan caught a whiff of the meaty aroma. He thought he was imagining it because he was craving meat. But now, the scent was unmistakable, wafting through the entire house. He watched as the beautiful woman carried a big bowl of buns, each as big as an adult man''s fist, out of the kitchen. Steam rose from them, and the aroma was irresistible. Even the more composed Zhou Yuedong couldn''t help but glance over repeatedly. Little Dou Ding, aka Yao Yao, couldn''t help but drool and cry out in excitement Bad Woman The freshly baked buns exuded an enticing aroma, causing the two kids who had been doing their homework to stop in their tracks. Soon, a pair of dusty cloth shoes appeared in front of Sinian. She looked down to see a face dripping with saliva, eager and longing, yet hesitant to touch. Zhou Yuehan, at the tender age of seven or eight, had just started first grade but looked no different from a five-year-old. His big eyes seemed even larger due to his thinness. The cracks and scars on his cheeks made him look older than his years. His hands, dirty and calloused, were a far cry from what one would expect from someone living in such a nice house. A hint of amusement shone in Sinian''s almond-shaped eyes as she picked up a large bun and blew on it, teasing the child whose eyes followed her every move. Then, she handed it to Zhou Yuehan. "Eat up," Sinian said gently. "Don''t be afraid, let''s eat together." She tried to make her voice as soothing as possible, knowing well that these two children harbored a deep aversion to women. Before Sinian could finish her sentence, Zhou Yuehan''s face lit up with undisguised excitement as he reached out to grab the bun and stuff it into his mouth. But the next moment, *slap*¡ªthe bun in his hand was swiftly knocked to the ground. Zhou Yuedong immediately shielded his brother behind him, his expression a mixture of vigilance and fear as he stared at Sinian. When Aunt Liu left earlier, she warned that this woman was here to steal their father away. The previous woman had even tried to poison their food, nearly killing his brother. Surely, this woman had ill intentions too! Sinian was taken aback, while Zhou Yuehan was left stunned, nearly in tears at the sight of the large bun falling to the ground, feeling heartbroken. "Brother," his voice trembled with a hint of tears. "We can''t eat it," Zhou Yuedong said firmly, biting his lip. Zhou Yuehan trembled, too scared to say anything. Meanwhile, Yao Yao burst into loud sobs. Sinian felt a mix of shock, anger, and sympathy for the fallen bun. But considering the description of Zhou Yuedong in the novel¡ªnaturally suspicious, never easily trusting anyone, and sensitive¡ªshe understood why he would be wary. Having been mistreated by several women before, he wouldn''t easily believe that someone could be kind to them. So be it. Such a personality trait couldn''t be changed in a short time. Just as Zhou Yuedong thought the woman before him was about to explode in anger and strike them, she surprised them by bypassing them, picking up the dirty bun from the ground, brushing off the dust, and taking a bite. Zhou Yuedong froze, and Zhou Yuehan stared in disbelief, eyes wide and watering with saliva. With a few bites, their stomachs finally stopped growling. Sinian wiped her hands before walking over to the sofa and picking up the sobbing little Yao Yao. She gently patted her thin back and coaxed, "Yao Yao, don''t cry. Stepmommy will make you delicious food." Yao Yao was easily comforted, especially since she had a fondness for Sinian. She stopped crying almost immediately. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. After wiping away her tears, Sinian went to the kitchen and brought out a bowl of steamed eggs. Placing it on the table, she sat Yao Yao on her lap and fed her the steamed eggs while blowing on them to cool them down. The steamed eggs were fragrant and tender, with no hint of fishiness, melting in the mouth with each bite. As soon as Yao Yao tasted the delicious food, she eagerly devoured it, nothing like the force-feeding she experienced with Aunt Liu. Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan were both stunned by the scene. That woman actually steamed eggs for Yao Yao to eat. Although there were plenty of good things at home, Aunt Liu would always take the best for herself or bring them back home, leaving them with leftovers. Their father was busy and worked from dawn till dusk. They didn''t want to cause trouble for him and didn''t dare to say much, fearing retaliation. But this woman had just arrived and already made delicious food for Yao Yao. No, that couldn''t be right. She must be pretending! A year ago, the woman Dad brought home was just like this. She came, petted his head, saying how cute he was. But later, she poisoned their meals to secure the Zhou family''s assets, almost killing the three of them! After that, Dad kicked her out. Aunt Liu, when she arrived, was also kind to them, cooking delicious meals every day. But as Dad got busier, she started neglecting them, making less and less appetizing food. He and his brother went hungry every day. He even saw Aunt Liu secretly taking the meat Dad brought home, but he couldn''t say anything because without her, his sister wouldn''t have anyone to take care of her. Zhou Yuedong endured silently, thinking that when he grew up a little more, he could take care of his sister properly. But Dad''s new wife showing up out of nowhere was like a bolt from the blue for him. Even though this woman now seemed nice, he couldn''t let his guard down. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuehan was salivating over the steamed eggs and meat buns in his bowl, dying of hunger. Sinian calmly finished feeding Yao Yao, waiting until both boys were stiff from standing and their legs were numb before saying, "I accidentally steamed too many buns. If you want to eat, eat; if not, then don''t. Don''t just stand there." These kids were too sensitive. If you suddenly showed them too much kindness, they''d think you had ulterior motives. Sure enough, when she said that, Zhou Yuedong visibly relaxed. Zhou Yuehan immediately grabbed a bun and stuffed it into his mouth. It smelled so good that even if there was poison inside, he''d eat it. He''d rather die full than starve. Sinian withdrew her gaze, still favoring Yao Yao. Perhaps it was because she was young and didn''t understand much, making her easier to connect with. Seeing the child still wanted to eat, she pinched off a small piece of bun and fed it to her. However, she dared not let her eat too much, considering Aunt Liu had just fed her. Overeating could lead to indigestion, which wouldn''t be good. Once the child in her arms was full and satisfied, she began to eat slowly. The buns made by Sinian were made with genuine ingredients, and after one bite, she felt completely satiated. She didn''t eat much, as the sour smell emanating from the child in her arms was affecting her appetite. She didn''t even know how long it had been since they last bathed. Unable to tolerate the filth any longer, Sinian ignored Zhou Yuedong and the voracious Zhou Yuehan, getting up to heat some water in the kitchen for Yao Yao''s bath. "Good girl, Yao Yao, do you want stepmom to give you a bath?" Sinian carried Yao Yao upstairs to bathe under the gaze of Zhou Yuedong. Yao Yao didn''t understand anything; she just giggled at whatever Sinian said. Sinian chuckled and pinched her little nose before entering the children''s room to find two sets of clothes. However, they were a bit small; children grow quickly, but someone like Zhou Yueshen probably wouldn''t notice such details. After pouring hot water into the basin and ensuring the temperature was suitable, Sinian stripped the little one of her dirty clothes. However, when she saw the myriad of lice crawling on the clothes, she instantly abandoned the idea of cleaning them. Her whole body felt itchy, and her scalp tingled. The little girl seemed to be afraid of water, struggling as soon as she was put in. Sinian quickly peeled a piece of candy and stuffed it into her mouth, calming her down. The girl closed her eyes, savoring the candy as if she had never tasted anything so delicious before. "Good girl, Yao Yao, you get candy for bathing," Sinian reassured her, tossing the dirty clothes into the nearby trash bin and then using her own shower gel to diligently wash the child. She had never bathed a child before, but she had bathed her own cat. It was similar, but her cat was even more obedient than the little girl. During the first rinse, there was hardly any lather. The child was just too dirty. Fortunately, there was plenty of hot water she had boiled, and with the weather not being too cold, the child seemed to relax and enjoy the bath, obediently extending her arms and lowering her head as needed. She occasionally let out giggles. At the door, Zhou Yuedong stood outside, his tense expression relaxing upon hearing his sister''s laughter from inside. This woman probably wouldn''t harm them so soon; the previous woman took a month before making a move. So he still had time, and during this period, he had to find a way to deal with this woman. He couldn''t let his siblings suffer from their persecution again! Zhou Yuedong clenched his fists, his face exuding a fierce aura that didn''t match his age. Downstairs, Zhou Yueshan, who had eaten one of the buns, dared not eat more. But he secretly kept one and, seeing Zhou Yuedong coming down, quietly handed it to him. "Brother, you eat." "I won''t eat," Zhou Yuedong said, glancing at the delicious smelling meat bun, unconsciously swallowing his saliva before patting his brother''s head. Zhou Yueshan looked at him cautiously. "Brother, are you angry with me? I ate the bun made by the bad woman." Zhou Yueshan had been poisoned before because of his greediness, causing Zhou Yuedong great anxiety. Zhou Yueshan also had his own shadow, but he really wanted to eat. This big bun was so soft and fragrant, the most delicious one he had ever eaten. He almost burst into tears when it entered his mouth. His brother must despise him for lacking discipline and being easily swayed by the food made by the bad woman. He promised earnestly, "Brother, rest assured, even if I eat her buns, I won''t acknowledge her as our mother. I won''t eat her food again. If I do, I''ll be a little dog."