But Li Jianmin didn't answer.
He simply stood there, completely stunned, one hand slowly rising to point toward the old wooden table in the center of the kitchen.
Li Jianguo followed his gaze.
Then he too fell silent.
Spread across the table were several steaming dishes.
The warm fragrance filled the small kitchen, drifting through the air like an impossible dream.
For a moment, neither brother could speak.
Li Jianguo slowly turned his head toward Li Shuying, who had just walked into the kitchen behind them.
His voice carried pure disbelief.
"You… made all of this?"
Li Shuying smiled and nodded naturally.
"I came home early today, so I thought I'd make dinner."
She began listing the dishes proudly.
"I made radish and egg drop soup, chicken stir-fried with radish slices, coarse corn buns, and a bowl of pickled radishes."
The two brothers stood there as if struck by lightning.
"Chicken…?"
"Egg…?"
They murmured almost at the same time, their voices full of disbelief.
Just two days ago, Li Shuying had mysteriously found a cooked chicken dish.
Since none of them knew where it came from, they had simply assumed someone might have accidentally left it behind.
But now—
Their little sister was calmly saying she had cooked chicken herself.
That alone was shocking enough.
And then there was the egg drop soup.
Ever since their only chicken had been sold months ago to pay for tuition fees, their family had not eaten eggs for nearly half a year.
The brothers slowly turned their eyes back toward Li Shuying.
Confusion filled their expressions.
If that was the case…
Where exactly did the chicken and eggs come from?
Li Jianguo was the first to recover from his shock.
"Shuying," he asked slowly, "where did you get the eggs and the chicken?"
Li Shuying had already expected this question.
She smiled calmly, her expression perfectly composed.
She had prepared this explanation long ago—and her third brother was conveniently present to help shoulder the blame if necessary.
"Last week," she said lightly, "I helped one of my classmates. Out of gratitude, she gave me the eggs and the chicken."
Even as she spoke, Li Shuying knew the excuse sounded rather weak. But at the moment, it was the most reasonable story she could offer.
Sure enough, Li Jianguo frowned even more deeply.
"Listen to yourself," he said skeptically.
"Someone gave you chicken and eggs just because you helped them?"
He crossed his arms.
"What kind of help was it? Did you save her life or something?"
He glanced again at the steaming dishes on the table.
"In times like these, chicken and eggs are as precious as gold. Unless you performed some life-saving miracle, who would casually give them away?"
Li Shuying remained calm.
Her attitude was relaxed, almost dismissive.
"Second Brother, I know it sounds unbelievable," she said.
"But the classmate I helped isn't an ordinary person."
She paused slightly before continuing.
"Her family has very wide connections. For them, a little chicken and a few eggs are nothing special."
Then she deliberately turned toward Li Jianmin, who was still standing stiffly beside the table.
"You can ask Third Brother," she said.
"He knows that classmate of mine."
Li Jianmin was still trying to process everything he had just seen when suddenly his name was mentioned.
He looked up in surprise.
Li Shuying shot him a quick glance, subtly gesturing with her eyes.
Instantly, Li Jianmin understood.
His mind quickly recalled the people Li Shuying had mentioned yesterday—those mysterious individuals who supposedly had wide connections and could obtain supplies.
Today she had planned to pay them six yuan for the radishes she bought.
So perhaps…
Had she obtained these supplies from those people as well?
But this was clearly not the time to ask questions.
Li Jianguo was already staring at him intensely.
Li Jianmin knew he had no choice but to cooperate.
He scratched his head awkwardly and sighed.
"I… I know that classmate," he said.
He hesitated slightly before adding,
"Her… her father is a factory cadre."
Li Jianguo's eyes narrowed slightly.
Something felt off.
He knew his twin brother very well.
Li Jianmin had never been good at lying.
The moment he heard that slight stutter, Li Jianguo already knew something was wrong.
Earlier he had also noticed the subtle glance exchanged between the two of them.
He let out a small snort.
"Oh?"
"So you know Little Shuying's classmate… but I don't?"
Li Shuying sighed inwardly.
Convincing her second brother was always more difficult than convincing her third.
Li Jianguo was far more observant and cautious.
But she had no other choice.
She absolutely could not tell him the truth about System space let alone the story she had said to her third brother and selling supplies at the black market.
Even if he believed that story, he would never allow her to do something so dangerous.
Before Li Shuying could speak again, Li Jianmin quickly stepped forward.
"I met her once when I went to the county with Shuying," he said, forcing himself to sound natural.
"That girl is quite generous… and kind-hearted."
Li Jianguo looked between the two of them.
He was certain something strange was going on.
But after a moment, he simply nodded.
Although he suspected they were hiding something, he chose not to expose them directly.
For now, at least.
About half an hour later, Chen Meilan returned home from the fields.
Her clothes were dusty from farm work, and a faint trace of exhaustion lingered on her face.
But the moment she stepped into the house....
She froze.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the wooden table.
Several dishes were neatly arranged there, still steaming.
And in the center—
A plate of chicken stir-fry.
Chen Meilan stood there in stunned silence.
Her shock was even greater than that of Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo earlier.
After all, she had not seen chicken in years.
In these difficult times, meat had become an almost unimaginable luxury.
To her, the sight of that dish was nearly unreal.
"Chicken…?"
She murmured faintly.
Her gaze shifted toward the pot of egg drop soup, where golden strands of egg floated gently in the broth.
Her voice trembled.
"Eggs too…?"
Li Shuying and Li Jianmin quickly repeated the same explanation they had used earlier.
Hearing that a classmate had given the food as thanks, Chen Meilan actually believed it.
In truth, it sounded weak.
But it was far easier to accept that explanation than to imagine her daughter doing something risky to obtain food.
Worry lingered in her heart.
"But Shuying," she said uneasily, "this is food. Such valuable food…"
She hesitated.
"How could you simply accept it? What if that girl's parents find out and come asking for it back?"
Li Shuying smiled gently and stepped closer to her mother.
"Mother, you're worrying too much."
She spoke softly.
"My classmate brought it to school herself and insisted on giving it to me. She said her family has plenty at home."
Chen Meilan still looked hesitant.
"But even so… chicken and eggs are precious things. What if her parents blame you?"
Li Shuying shook her head with a reassuring smile.
"They won't. She told me clearly that her family already knows. Her father is a factory cadre, remember? Their household receives better supplies than ordinary families."
Chen Meilan frowned slightly.
"Even cadres wouldn't waste food like this…"
Li Shuying laughed lightly.
"Mother, I didn't take it for nothing."
"She said I helped her from school bullies. Giving me some eggs and a chicken was simply her way of saying thank you."
She gently held her mother's arm.
"So don't worry. No one will come asking us to return anything."
Chen Meilan studied her daughter's face for a long moment.
She sighed softly before speaking again.
"Well… since it was given with good intentions, then we should not waste it."
Her expression soon turned serious as she looked at Li Shuying.
"But Shuying, you must remember this carefully. From now on, you must never accept food from your classmates, no matter what the reason may be."
Her tone carried the stern gentleness of a mother who had endured far too many hardships.
"You are still young, but you must understand how precious food is in these times. Even if someone is willing to part with it, we should not casually accept such generosity."
She paused for a moment before adding in a lower voice,
"And what if someone with ill intentions discovered you carrying such things?"
Her brows knit together in worry.
"You could be harmed. These days people can do desperate things for a single bite of meat."
Her gaze drifted to the dish of chicken on the table.
"Pork itself has become a luxury people struggle to obtain, yet chicken…" She shook her head slowly. "Chicken is even rarer than pork. In times like these, even the smell of meat is considered a blessing."
She sighed again.
"People may go to any extent for such things."
Li Shuying nodded obediently.
"Rest assured, Mother. I will never do that again."
Chen Meilan nodded and than glanced around the room. She frowned slightly.
"By the way," she asked, looking around the room, "where is your elder brother?"
"Didn't he come back with you?"
Li Jianguo answered.
"He said he had something to take care of and went another way."
Chen Meilan's brows furrowed with concern.
"But it's already dinner time."
"Shouldn't he have returned by now?"
She glanced at the two brothers.
"Did he say where he was going?"
Both Li Jianguo and Li Jianmin shook their heads.
They did feel slightly puzzled, but none of them thought too deeply about it.
Chen Meilan soon spoke again.
"Well then, I'll go to the communal canteen first."
She wiped her usual bowl and chopsticks as she continued giving instructions.
"You three lock the door properly and eat your dinner. Remember to keep aside your elder brother's portion. And when you are finished…"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Dispose of the bones carefully. Do not let anyone see them."
The three siblings exchanged glances.
A faint reluctance appeared on their faces.
Li Shuying hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
"Mother…"
She looked at the table and then back at Chen Meilan.
"There's more than enough food for all five of us. Why don't you skip the meal at the communal canteen and eat with us tonight?"
Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo also turned to look at their mother expectantly.
They knew very well how hard Chen Meilan's life had been.
Before they claimed their father's allowance, they mostly survived on little food here and there. four siblings had often climbed the mountains to gather wild vegetables and roots, but those were limited, because many village kids did the same, the mountain resources were exhaustive.
So sometimes they even worked small tasks for the production brigade to earn a few extra work points, but those were again limited to weekends or holidays.
It is Chen Meilan who carried the greatest burden.
Despite being a woman, she worked with the strength of a sturdy village man and often earned full work points in the fields.
Earning a full meal from the communal canteen.
Everyday she would bring that meal home and share it among her children.
As a result, she herself rarely ate her fill.
Years of hardship had taken their toll.
She looked far thinner than a woman of her age should, her face hollowed slightly by long-term hunger.
Because of this, all siblings silently wished for their mother to share this rare good meal with them.
Chen Meilan's heart warmed when she saw the hopeful expressions on her children's faces.
But she still shook her head with a gentle smile.
"It's alright. You children enjoy the meal."
She sighed softly.
"If I suddenly skip the communal canteen, people might start asking questions."
Her voice lowered cautiously.
"And what if Grand Aunt Li or Lu Lingmei sends someone to look for me? If they happen to see us eating such good food…"
She shook her head again.
"That would only bring unnecessary trouble. So it is better for me to go."
"But Mother," Li Jianmin insisted stubbornly, "you can just go to the communal canteen and bring the meal back home. Then you can eat this with us."
Chen Meilan chuckled lightly at his persistence.
"And wouldn't that be wasting the food from the canteen?"
Li Jianguo immediately shook his head.
"No, we can eat that meal as well. There's nothing wrong with having an extra bowl of food."
Li Shuying and Li Jianmin both nodded eagerly.
All three of them looked at Chen Meilan with hopeful eyes.
Chen Meilan finally relented.
"Alright," she said with a helpless smile, "since you children insist so much, I will bring my meal back from the communal canteen."
The moment those words left her mouth, the three siblings burst into cheers.
Their laughter filled the small kitchen.
Seeing their joy, Chen Meilan could not help but chuckle as well.
For a brief moment, the heavy burdens of life seemed to lighten.
In these harsh years, where hunger and hardship shadowed every household, such simple happiness was as rare as spring blossoms after a long winter.
Perhaps this was what the old saying meant...
'Even in bitter days, a family's warmth can sweeten the heart.'
With a light shake of her head, Chen Meilan left for the communal canteen.
About half an hour later, she returned carrying a large enamel bowl containing her portion of sorghum porridge.
The children had patiently waited for her to return before starting dinner.
However, Li Jianhua was still nowhere to be seen.
Chen Meilan glanced toward the courtyard gate, a trace of worry appearing on her face.
"It's already so late…"
But after a moment she shook her head.
Her eldest son was the most steady and responsible among the siblings. If he had something to do, he would surely return once it was finished.
Thinking this, she did not dwell on it further.
Instead, she sat down at the old wooden table and began serving the dishes carefully.
Each person received two coarse corn buns, a small portion of pickled radish, a full bowl of radish and egg drop soup, and half a ladle of sorghum porridge from the communal canteen.
Then came the most precious part—
The chicken stir-fry.
Chen Meilan carefully divided the pieces with her chopsticks.
Each person received a small piece of chicken.
Though the portion was modest, it was already far better than nothing.
For a family that rarely tasted meat, even such a small amount was a luxury.
When everything had been distributed, Chen Meilan paused.
She stared at the remaining two pieces of chicken in the dish.
For a long moment, she did not move.
She still hesitated to take any for herself.
Her instinct as a mother urged her to leave the meat for her children.
After all, they were still growing.
But when she looked up, she saw three pairs of eyes staring at her expectantly.
Chen Meilan sighed softly.
In the end, she picked up a small piece of chicken and placed it in her own bowl.
Truthfully, it would be a lie to say she was not tempted.
After all, who did not like meat?
And chicken—especially in these difficult times—was even rarer than pork.
For ordinary villagers, it was something one might not even taste during the new years.
Her mouth watered slightly as she lifted the piece with her chopsticks.
The rich aroma rose gently with the steam.
Carefully, she took her first bite.
The moment the chicken touched her tongue—
Chen Meilan's eyes widened slightly.
The flavor burst across her palate.
The meat was tender and fragrant, infused with the sweetness of radish and the warmth of lard and seasoning.
It was far more delicious than anything she had eaten in years.
For a moment, she could hardly believe such food had come from their own kitchen.
"Ah…"
She could not help but sigh softly.
"This… this is truly delicious."
The children immediately began eating as well.
Li Jianmin bit into his corn bun first.
Normally, coarse buns were dry and rough, sometimes even hard to swallow.
But tonight, they tasted unexpectedly satisfying, even the colour of the buns was light brown, unlike the one in communal canteen which were rough, yellow with dark spots here and there.
"Even the corn buns are soft and not scratchy," he said with a grin.
Li Jianguo scooped up a spoonful of egg drop soup.
The golden threads of egg floated among slices of radish in the clear broth.
When he tasted it, warmth spread through his chest.
The soup was simple, yet comforting.
"So good…" he murmured.
Li Shuying watched them with a faint smile.
Even she had to admit, the meal was really excellent, it was even better than the one she used to have in her past life with many seasonings. She knew this was the effect of system space. Whatever produced in system speace was extraordinary.
Today even the usually bland sorghum porridge from the communal canteen seemed far more pleasant tonight.
Mixed with the flavorful dishes, it no longer tasted dull or bitter.
Instead, every bite felt comforting and satisfying.
By the time dinner ended, the sky outside had already grown dim.
occasional barking of a dog.
The table had been cleared and the bowls neatly stacked.
The rare feast had left everyone in unusually good spirits.
Yet Li Jianmin could barely contain the questions swirling in his mind.
He waited until Chen Meilan stepped outside briefly to rinse the bowls in the courtyard.
Then he leaned closer to Li Shuying and lowered his voice.
"Did you… go meet those people again today?"
His whisper was so soft that it was barely louder than the rustle of paper.
Li Shuying had already expected this question.
Without the slightest hesitation, she nodded.
"Yes."
Then she added calmly,
"I even brought some supplies back."
Her voice dropped even lower.
"I'm planning to sell them at the black market tomorrow."
Li Jianmin's brows immediately knitted together.
"What supplies?"
But Li Shuying did not answer directly.
Instead, she simply stood up and glanced toward the door of her room.
"Follow me."
With that, she quietly walked toward her small room.
Li Jianmin quickly getting up and following her.
Li Jianguo was sitting nearby noticed their hushed whispers and furtive glances.
From where he sat, he watched them slip toward Li Shuying's room like two conspirators sneaking away.
His brows slowly furrowed.
"What are those two doing…?"
He murmured to himself.
A hint of suspicion flickered in his eyes.
"And what exactly are they hiding from me?"