Chapter 441: Chapter 431: Change

Ever since they’d gotten together, Zhou Jingyi had always done as Xu Jinsan said. The same was true in her previous life.

That was why she had never objected to his excessive generosity toward his family.

Perhaps Zhou Jingyi had felt uneasy about it, but she was so used to treating her husband’s family well that it was difficult for her to say no.

In the previous life, Xu Yin had been a rather cold person. She never shared any intimate, mother-daughter confidences, not even with Zhou Jingyi. Understanding her daughter’s disposition, Zhou Jingyi never brought up such topics with her.

But things were different now. Tang Mo had arrived.

"Your dad is definitely going to let them stay."

Zhou Jingyi was already reluctant, but she knew her husband would never turn his sister and brother away, especially not now.

As reluctant as she was, it seemed there was nothing she could do about it.

"Mom, let’s hide some of the food."

Tang Mo immediately proposed a solution and set to work.

Their kitchen had a storage cabinet built into the wall. It was completely hidden behind several large freezers, making it impossible to spot.

Tang Mo moved the freezers aside and began stuffing the sacks of rice and flour from the kitchen into the cabinet.

Because the spot was very inconvenient for retrieving things, it had been left empty ever since they got the freezers. Now, it was the perfect place to store things they didn’t want others to see.

After filling the hidden compartment, Tang Mo moved the freezers back, blocking it securely once more.

The two freezers Tang Mo had bought later were both equipped with locks. Since their contents were still untouched, Tang Mo promptly locked them.

Zhou Jingyi watched her daughter’s maneuvers without a word of protest. After a moment of stunned silence, she started to help.

The kitchen door was shut tight. Just like that, the mother-daughter duo protected the majority of their family’s food supply as best they could.

"Sister-in-law, let me help you."

Even though Tang Mo had already refused her offer, Tan Jing couldn’t resist her greed and pushed open the kitchen door herself.

Inside, Zhou Jingyi and Tang Mo had already finished their real task and were now dishing up the food.

"You must not have eaten on the way here. Hurry and eat," Zhou Jingyi said politely.

Tang Mo directly handed the plate in her hands to Tan Jing. ’Didn’t you come to help? Then get to work.’

The meal wasn’t lavish, but in times like these, a family that could still serve a large basin of rice and a potato dish was exceedingly rare.

Zhou Jingyi hadn’t made any meat. She had simply steamed extra rice and prepared a potato dish.

Seeing the food on the table, Xu Yuanshan and the others’ eyes lit up. Forgetting everything else, they grabbed their chopsticks and began stuffing food into their mouths. From the looks of it, they were one step away from just grabbing the food with their bare hands.

"Eat slowly. There’s more if this isn’t enough."

He was his younger brother, after all. Seeing them so starved made Xu Jinsan’s heart ache.

Mrs. Xu and Tang Mo both glanced at Xu Jinsan. He was certainly being generous.

Mrs. Xu had indeed steamed a lot of rice—this single meal was normally enough for their family for two days—but it was all eaten, down to the last grain.

"I’ll clear the bowls."

Having eaten and drunk for free, Xu Shan felt a little embarrassed. Once she was full, she stood up to start working.

She hadn’t had a full meal in a long time. She usually did chores at her brother’s house anyway, so this little bit of work was nothing.

"Auntie, you should rest. There are two of us from the younger generation here, me and Xu Ru. How could we let you do the work?"

Tang Mo said.

Although she disliked this biased aunt of hers, she disliked Xu Ru even more.

She remembered how in the previous life, Xu Ru had eventually taken over Xu Yin’s room, worn her clothes, and gone through her things. She’d even taken Xu Yin’s phone, just because it was the latest model.

"Isn’t that right, little sister?" Tang Mo asked, looking at Xu Ru.

"Huh?" Having eaten her fill, Xu Ru was looking around the house. ’This house is so nice. Which room should I choose for myself later?’

"Xu Ru, you clear the table."

Tan Jing, however, knew how to read the room. She nudged Xu Ru with her elbow, and only then did Xu Ru reluctantly get up to clear the table.

’Why should *I* have to work? I’m a guest.’

Xu Ru was annoyed. ’I don’t even do chores at my own house!’

Zhou Jingyi started to get up to help, but Tang Mo, who was beside her, grabbed her hand and made her sit back down.

’Help her? Why?’

’I can’t stop them from eating our food for a few meals, but they expect to be served like royalty without lifting a finger? Dream on.’

"Uncle, where am I sleeping tonight?"

After the table was cleared, everyone sat back down on the sofa to discuss the next steps.

"Well..."

Only then did Xu Jinsan remember that their house only had three bedrooms. Before Pingping and An’an arrived, there had been a spare one, but now with them here, not a single room was free.

"How about it, Xiao Yin? Could Xu Ru stay with you?" Xu Jinsan asked.

"Dad, I’m a restless sleeper. You know I’ve been training every day. I tend to practice a few moves in the middle of the night. It would be bad if I accidentally hurt her."

Tang Mo spoke with such sincerity, it was as if she were genuinely concerned for Xu Ru.

Xu Jinsan nodded. That was true. Xu Ru was a guest. If his daughter really injured her, he would have no way of explaining it to Xu Yuanshan.

Based on how Xiao Yin trained them during their usual exercises, Xu Jinsan had a good idea of her skills.

"You can fight, Sis?"

Xu Ru pouted inwardly. ’Xu Yin is just a girl, and she’s talking about "training"? Isn’t it obvious she just doesn’t want me to stay in her room?’

"Mhm. And I hit really hard," Xu Yin said, nodding seriously.

Xu Jinsan and Zhou Jingyi nodded along. She wasn’t wrong. Sometimes, Xu Yin would lead them through simple training exercises, and getting hit by Xiao Yin really, really hurt.

"Then how about we stay in that room?"

Tan Jing pointed to Pingping and An’an’s room. She had visited Xu Jinsan’s home before, so she was familiar with the number of rooms and the layout.

"Our little brother and sister are sleeping there now. The bed is small. Including the two kids, it can fit three people at most."

Tang Mo shook her head.

The same expression appeared on Tan Jing’s face as had been on Xu Ru’s. As expected of a mother and daughter—even the way they pouted was identical.

’What "little brother and sister"? Aren’t they just some strays they picked up? And they’re treating them like treasure.’

Of course, Tan Jing didn’t dare say this out loud.

"Then let Xiao Ru sleep with those two kids."

Tan Jing still doted on her daughter. If someone could sleep in a bed, of course she wanted her daughter to have that comfort.

"Sister-in-law, Pingping and An’an are too young, and Xiao Ru is still a child herself."

Zhou Jingyi already saw Pingping and An’an as her own children. She knew a little about Xu Ru’s disposition and didn’t want her sleeping with them.

Even Xu Jinsan nodded in agreement with Zhou Jingyi’s words. He had been the one most determined to rescue Pingping and An’an, and he planned to raise them as his own. In his heart, their standing was far more important than that of Xu Yuanshan’s family.

Though one could call it foolish kindness, Xu Jinsan still had a clear ranking of who was most important to him.

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