After Jiang Yuning finished washing the clothes, the only thing left in the pot was so-called “white porridge” made from leftover rice soaked in hot water—obviously another one of Wang Xiangmei’s lazy shortcuts.

Jiang Yuning didn’t even feel like drinking it.

Instead, she returned to the room and cleaned spiderwebs out of every corner. Then she neatly folded the pile of messy clothes and tucked her own things inside as well.

At that moment, Xiao Fangdong came by and mentioned that he wouldn’t be home for lunch because he was attending a wedding banquet and would only return at night.

After Jiang Yuning acknowledged him, he left.

The younger children had all gone to school and wouldn’t be back at noon, while Xiao Liye and the others usually ate at the factory cafeteria. Since she was alone, Jiang Yuning had no motivation to cook.

She simply ate two pieces of osmanthus cake to fill her stomach, then spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the entire house inside and out.

By the time evening approached and she was about to start cooking, Li Youyou suddenly walked in.

Surprised, Li Youyou exclaimed,

“Xiaoning, you really married Brother Liye? When I heard the villagers talking about it earlier, I thought there must’ve been someone else with the same name as you.”

Seeing her, joy appeared in Jiang Yuning’s eyes.

Li Youyou had been her closest friend since childhood, and their homes used to be near each other.

But last year Li Youyou had married into Xiao Village. She’d recently given birth to a daughter who was only a little over eight months old, and the man she married happened to be Xiao Liye’s cousin.

Smiling, Jiang Yuning replied,

“It’s only temporary. I’ll leave after six months. Don’t tell my parents, okay? Otherwise they’ll start pressuring me to remarry again.”

Li Youyou laughed happily.

“Forget six months—Brother Liye will definitely fall for you within two. When the time comes, I’ll have Xiao Lian keep praising you in front of him every day. There’s no way it won’t work.

Honestly, back then I even tried introducing you to Brother Liye and you refused. Who knew fate would turn out this way?”

Jiang Yuning laughed helplessly.

“How was I supposed to know I’d coincidentally end up marrying him? But don’t flatter me too much. With his personality, I’m lucky if he doesn’t hit me—let alone fall for me.”

Li Youyou immediately defended her.

“Don’t put yourself down like that. You’re this beautiful. Jiang Zhiming was the fool—he had such a good wife yet never even touched you before dying.

If it had been almost any other man, you’d probably already have two kids within three years. Don’t overthink it.”

Ever since both of them got married, Li Youyou and Jiang Yuning still kept in touch often.

Of course, because they each had their own households to manage, most visits happened when Li Youyou returned to her parents’ home and stopped by to see her.

Because of that, they knew almost everything about each other—including whether they had ever consummated their marriages.

Jiang Yuning’s cheeks reddened slightly.

“You should stop talking about it. Someone like him… is way out of my league.”

Li Youyou immediately objected.

“You have no confidence at all. What do you mean ‘out of your league’?

Actually, let’s make a bet. I bet within six months Brother Liye will fall for you and refuse to divorce you.

If you win, I’ll help watch my baby for two months. If I win, I’ll give you my precious watch. How about it?”

Her voice wasn’t quiet, and outside the window, Xiao Liye happened to overhear every word.

At first he didn’t think much of their relationship, assuming it was just ordinary gossip between friends.

But hearing those words, he stopped walking.

He suddenly wanted to know what Jiang Yuning’s answer would be.

Then he heard her say—

“Fine. Since you put it that way, for the sake of your watch, I guess I’ll just have to win him over.”

The warmth in Xiao Liye’s eyes instantly froze into ice.

He knew it.

Jiang Yuning absolutely wasn’t as simple as she pretended. There was no way she truly intended to quietly leave after six months.

A cold sharpness flashed through his eyes.

Suddenly, he didn’t even want to go home anymore.

Turning around immediately, he spent the entire walk thinking things through.

He believed Jiang Yuning genuinely had feelings for Jiang Zhiming.

As for him? At most she was attracted to his money and status.

If that was the case, then wouldn’t introducing her to another equally successful—or even more suitable—man make it possible to get rid of her?

Once that thought occurred to him, he headed straight to Jiang Ping’s house.

“Help me find a few decent men from good families. Divorced ones or widowers.”

Jiang Ping looked puzzled.

“What do you need that for?”

Then, as if remembering something, he grinned and continued,

“Wait, wasn’t there a girl at the factory yesterday who liked you? How’s that going?”

“Don’t ask about that. Just help me find some men first. Have them waiting at the restaurant tomorrow at noon.”

Then, worried the men might refuse if they learned too much about Jiang Yuning’s situation, he added,

“Just tell them I’m introducing them to someone.”

Though Jiang Ping still had no idea what was going on, he instantly felt this task would be easy.

“With your reputation? Once your name gets attached to it, people will line up to come on blind dates whether it works out or not. Leave it to me.”

Only then did Xiao Liye finally feel satisfied.

“…She’d better actually agree. If she starts nitpicking and deliberately finding faults, then don’t blame me for refusing to come home for the next six months.

The one who’ll lose face in the end will still be her.”

…

Meanwhile, Li Youyou chatted with Jiang Yuning for quite a while before finally leaving.

Jiang Yuning prepared to cook dinner, but Xiao Fangdong couldn’t bear the thought of her cooking for such a large family alone.

So he personally made two large dishes himself: shredded potatoes stir-fried with pork, and scrambled eggs with chili peppers.

Afraid Jiang Yuning still wouldn’t have much appetite, he even steamed her a bowl of egg custard.

“Xiaoning, finish this bowl of eggs before going out. Otherwise those people will start complaining again.”

Jiang Yuning didn’t eat immediately.

“Dad, don’t the chickens at home lay plenty of eggs? Why not steam more so everyone can eat?”

Xiao Fangdong chuckled.

“Look around this house—can you even find a skinny person? We can’t eat rich meals every day. But your body needs nourishment, so don’t worry about them.”

Looking at the steaming bowl of golden-yellow egg custard, Jiang Yuning’s lips curved into a smile.

This time, she didn’t refuse.

“Thank you, Dad.”

The moment she finished speaking, Xiao Liqing pushed open the kitchen door after catching the smell.

He looked at what Jiang Yuning was eating, then at the two dishes on the table. His expression immediately darkened.

Jiang Yuning stiffened slightly, suddenly feeling guilty—as if she’d been caught secretly eating something special.

But Xiao Fangdong didn’t feel guilty in the slightest for favoring her.

Instead, he directly scolded his son.

“What’s with that dead look on your face? You’re making Xiaoning unable to eat.”

Xiao Liqing didn’t even get the chance to complain before being completely shut down.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately didn’t dare say anything because of Xiao Fangdong’s authority.

Yet after dinner, when the sky had already turned dark and Xiao Liye still hadn’t returned, Xiao Liqing deliberately used him as an excuse to stir trouble again.

“Looks like Liye’s been driven to the point he doesn’t even want to come home anymore. It’s only the second night after getting married and he’s already staying out overnight. Bet he feels miserable inside.”

Even Xiao Fangdong sounded a little less confident this time.

“If you don’t know how to talk, then cut your mouth off. Liye will definitely come back later. He’s just busy—not everyone’s as useless as you.”

Xiao Liqing couldn’t help muttering,

“I work at the factory every day. You think I wouldn’t know whether he’s busy or not? But honestly, what’s the point of coming home? Seeing a little widow lying beside him would scare him awake.”

Jiang Yuning merely sat by the stove quietly heating bathwater and didn’t react much.

But Xiao Fangdong became so furious he ripped off one of his shoes and hurled it at Xiao Liqing.

Xiao Liqing slammed the door shut just in time, narrowly dodging the attack as the shoe smacked heavily against the door.

Relieved, he let out a breath.

But Xiao Fangdong was still furious.

“Pick up my shoe!”

Xiao Liqing unwillingly obeyed.

Yet the moment he picked up the shoe and stepped back through the doorway, Xiao Fangdong snatched it from his hands and smacked him hard across the head with it.

“Let’s see if you dare call your younger brother’s wife ‘little widow’ again!”

Xiao Liqing was nearly dazed from the blow.

Clutching his head, he glanced at Jiang Yuning, then at Xiao Fangdong.

He was grinding his back teeth so hard they nearly shattered, but he still didn’t dare say a single word.

Swallowing his anger, he stormed back to his room.

“…A widow is still a widow. Now we can’t even say it out loud?”

Jiang Yuning let out a small laugh but remained silent, continuing to tend the fire.

Looking at the darkening sky, Xiao Fangdong also realized Xiao Liye probably wasn’t coming home tonight.

Feeling guilty, he said awkwardly,

“Xiaoning, don’t be upset. I’ll go drag him back from his friends’ houses right now.”

As he spoke, he put on his shoes and prepared to leave.

But Jiang Yuning stepped into the main room and stopped him.

“Forget it, Dad. It’s cold outside at this hour. If he doesn’t want to come home, then let him be. I don’t mind.

If he doesn’t want to return in the future, then he doesn’t have to. Don’t bother with him.”

“You’ve really suffered after marrying into this family.”

As Xiao Fangdong spoke, guilt filled his expression.

Then he suddenly returned to his room and pulled out all of his savings for retirement.

A thick stack of colorful bills and coupons—along with at least a hundred yuan in cash—was stuffed into Jiang Yuning’s hands.

“Xiaoning, take this money. From now on, buy whatever you want. Don’t force yourself to go without food or clothes.”