The sisters Su Manxiu and Su Manxiang were only a year apart in age.
Early on, after Grandma Su gave birth to Su Manxiu, she became pregnant again. However, her pregnancy was difficult, and she was unable to care for herself, let alone her elder daughter.
Later, after Su Manxiang was born, she was naturally frail, like a kitten.
The family paid more attention to their youngest daughter. It was only with great difficulty that they managed to raise this little girl, who seemed as if she could die at any moment, until she was three years old.
As Su Manxiang's health gradually improved, she had already become accustomed to ordering her elder sister around like a little maid. Su Manxiu, in turn, had grown used to being the elder sister and taking care of her younger sibling.
Over time, Su Manxiu and Su Manxiang grew into two extremes.
Su Manxiang believed she was the best in the world, full of confidence, even to the point of arrogance. She always felt that everyone in the world should indulge her.
If anything went wrong, it was always someone else's fault.
Su Manxiu was the opposite; she was self-deprecating.
From childhood, she felt inferior to Su Manxiang, and this feeling never changed even as she grew up.
As she got older, Su Manxiang constantly told her that it was precisely because she wasn't good enough that their parents loved her more.
In reality, Su Manxiu was no less capable than Su Manxiang. From a young age, she was adept at household chores, skilled in needlework, could cook, and was excellent at farm work.
In contrast, Su Manxiang was actually quite incompetent. Her needlework was so crude that the needles could be thrown away, her cooking was unappetizing, and farm work was out of the question. She was the epitome of someone who ate well but did little.
Even in terms of appearance, both sisters were beautiful. Su Manxiu's beauty was subtle and refined, making her pleasant to be around.
Su Manxiang's beauty was more flamboyant. At first glance, she appeared radiant, but over time, she could become unpleasant.
Later, when both sisters reached marriageable age, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su thought of compensating their elder daughter and finding her a respectable family.
However, Su Manxiang somehow met a worker from the town's supply and marketing cooperative and got married at the age of eighteen.
Two years later, Su Manxiu finally married into the Wang family in a village ten miles away, now called Wangjiahe Brigade, with her parents' arrangements.
At the time, Wang Jiefang, also known as Wang Gouzi by Wang Xianghua, seemed like a good young man, with a simple and honest appearance.
Who would have thought that the Wang family was merely a facade? They looked good on the outside but were truly lacking in substance.
Wang Jiefang himself was lazy and good-for-nothing, but his mother was an extremely difficult old woman.
Of the four daughters-in-law in the family, not one was not tormented by her.
Especially Su Manxiu, who had no children, she was like a thorn in the old Wang family's side.
It could be said that Su Manxiu was at the bottom of the food chain in the old Wang family.
Liang Xiu knew about these things, and so did others in the family.
But Su Manxiu's personality was already set, and they couldn't do anything about it.
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease," Liang Xiu remarked sarcastically.
Seeing Liang Xiu standing still in the main hall, Su Manxiang put on a displeased face.
"What, I can't order you around anymore? Third sister-in-law, aren't you afraid people will gossip about you?"
Su Manxiang was unconcerned, believing that Liang Xiu cared about her reputation and would suppress her dissatisfaction.
"What are you talking about? Am I your family's servant? If I don't serve you, people will gossip about me? Painting eyebrows on your backside, do you really think you're that important?"
Ever since Liang Xiu's daughter was pushed into the river by Kang Meihua, she had regarded Su Manxiang as an enemy. How could she let Su Manxiang flaunt her authority in front of her?
"I'm a guest, have you no manners?"
"Manners? That's hilarious. You, Su Manxiang, have manners? Do married daughters come to their maiden home to show off? And bring their husbands along?"
Su Manxiang saw her husband's displeased expression and rushed forward, intending to slap Liang Xiu.
"Su Manxiang, if you're looking for trouble, don't blame me for tearing you apart!" Liang Xiu grabbed Su Manxiang's arm, pinching it painfully.
Su Manxiang couldn't help but wince and groan in pain.
"Mom, Dad, are you just going to watch Third Sister-in-law bully me like this?" Su Manxiang appealed to her parents for help.
"You brought this upon yourself. If you want to put on airs, go back to your own home." Grandpa Su, unlike Grandma Su, spoke words that Su Manxiang disliked hearing.
"Dad, I'm your daughter!"
Su Manxiang was surprised that her own father would say such a thing.
"Shut up!" Kang Rende glared fiercely at Su Manxiang before saying to Grandpa Su, "Dad, my daughter misspoke, please don't be angry with her."
Grandpa Su did not like this son-in-law. After all these years, he had seen clearly that this was a selfish person to the core.
Grandpa Su remained silent.
Grandma Su, seeing the situation, said, "Third daughter-in-law, go to the kitchen and make them a bowl of sweet potato porridge. Guests should be offered food, or people will laugh."
Liang Xiu was very displeased. Should she still offer food to people like them? They were dreaming.
But her mother-in-law had spoken, so she had no choice but to obey. She turned and reluctantly walked out.
Hearing that she wouldn't be given egg soup, Su Manxiang was dissatisfied. But thinking of the white steamed buns and the smell of pork, she didn't fuss.
Sweet potato porridge wasn't delicious, but the white steamed buns were! She could just eat the buns and skip the porridge.
She cast her gaze upon the steamed buns in Su Xiaotian's hands. This little brat, why was she hugging the buns? Didn't she know that these buns would eventually end up in her own mouth?
"Third daughter-in-law, take these buns down and save them for our children to eat tonight, so they don't get ruined by outsiders," Grandpa Su said, seeing Su Manxiang's gaze. He was feeling agitated.
He had truly given up all hope for his youngest daughter.
Grandma Su did not object to Grandpa Su's arrangement, clearly agreeing with him.
However, the Kang family's expressions turned sour.
Although Kang Rende didn't say it directly, he also wanted to eat the white steamed buns. The aroma of the buns had deeply attracted him.
The skin of these buns was slightly yellow, but it was definitely more white flour than corn flour.
He could eat his fill of such buns.
But these country bumpkins were actually unwilling to give him any? He was the son-in-law of the Su family, the most honored guest!
He glanced at Su Manxiang, who understood immediately and started making a scene.
"Dad, Mom, my sister comes and gets white steamed buns, but when it's my turn, it's sweet potato porridge? I won't accept it, I won't!"
Su Xiaotian suspected that Su Manxiang would start throwing a tantrum and rolling on the ground like a child in the next second.
She wondered if such actions from a woman nearing thirty would blind people's eyes.
Grandpa Su glanced at his youngest daughter, who was acting coy and spoiled, and said calmly, "When you return the grain you borrowed from us, I'll have your mother make you white steamed buns, pure white flour ones."
Hearing Grandpa Su specifically mention "white flour," Su Xiaotian couldn't help but smile sweetly.
As for Su Manxiu, although she didn't look up, she heard everything clearly.
She felt uneasy. She held the bun she had just bitten into, unsure whether to eat it or not.
Liang Xiu felt vindicated. She took the plate of buns from Su Xiaotian. Seeing Su Manxiu acting like a quail, she gently tugged at her.
"Eldest sister, let's go to the kitchen to talk. I'll make sweet potato porridge for little sister! It's been a while since I've seen you, so I wanted to chat."
Liang Xiu said the words "sweet potato porridge" with particular satisfaction, and her conversation with Su Manxiu was exceptionally affectionate, clearly indicating a preference.
Liang Xiu pulled the dazed Su Manxiu away with her.
As the two of them left, Su Manxiang's gaze was murderous. When had she ever been so insignificant at her parents' home?
When did this start?
It seemed to have started after that wretched girl Su Xiaotian was pushed into the river by Meihua last time.
She was truly petty. Wasn't that dead girl alive and well? Why were both of them holding a grudge against her?
"Grandma, I want to eat steamed buns, I don't want sweet potato porridge!" Kang Xiaobao started to fuss as the white steamed buns flew past him.
He had been spoiled since childhood. The best things in the family were always given to him. Seeing food he couldn't have was absolutely unacceptable to him!
"Your dad is a cadre at the supply and marketing cooperative, he can get anything! Go back and eat at your own house!" Su Xiaotian's soft voice was firm: "The buns at my house are mine, they belong to my brothers!"
Hmph, they have nothing to do with you siblings!
Su Xiaotian even couldn't resist smiling triumphantly at Kang Meihua.
Kang Meihua didn't mind that Su Xiaotian was the most doted upon at the old Su family's house, did she? Then let her see what being doted upon meant!
Kang Meihua understood this look, and her features were almost contorted.
A lowly peasant girl, what was she so smug about? She was from the town!
It was just a steamed bun, so what if she didn't eat it? She hadn't eaten one before.
"What are these buns with corn flour you have here? The meat buns I eat in town are made of pure white flour, those are truly delicious. You've never even seen them, have you? Country bumpkins!"
Kang Meihua said this without considering the consequences, just to have the last word.
Su Xiaotian still smiled and said, "You eat your meat buns, we eat our vegetable buns!"
"Fine if you don't eat them, but in the future, you poor ghosts won't be able to eat my family's things!"
Grandpa Su's face changed instantly, and Grandma Su's expression also darkened.
"So in your hearts, I'm a country bumpkin, a poor ghost. Since that's the case, you can all leave. Don't even eat the sweet potato porridge, lest it tarnish your noble mouths!" Grandpa Su felt a grief that surpassed death for Su Manxiang.
The child's words were definitely not her own. To a large extent, it was the elders who said such things daily that led the child to have such a perception.
As the five members of the Kang family left the old Su family, their faces were all grim.
For the first time, they visited the old Su family not to be served with good food and drinks, but to leave on empty stomachs.
Along the way, Su Manxiang received no pleasant looks from her husband and resented her parents for not giving her face.
Why didn't they think of her? She was a country girl married into town. If her maiden family didn't provide some support, how could others look up to her?
She hadn't taken anything home recently, and her mother-in-law, Old Mrs. Kang, spoke to her sarcastically, and her husband never said a kind word to her. She had originally thought that since her whole family had come this time, her parents would at least give her some face.
But what did her parents mean by this?
As for Su Manxiu, even after Su Manxiang left, she still didn't understand what had happened.
In the past, whatever her little sister wanted, the family would give it to her. Why had things suddenly changed?
She hadn't brought anything with her, yet her parents and sisters-in-law had given her noodles with meat sauce and eggs, and even meat buns.
"Eldest sister, Mom and Dad actually love you too," Liang Xiu said, offering a word of comfort.
She could somewhat understand her eldest sister's thoughts. She had been neglected by her family for too long, to the point where she couldn't even believe that she was loved.
Su Manxiu looked confusedly into the distance. Really?
Did her parents also love her? But from childhood to adulthood, how had she never realized it?
"Eldest sister, little sister went too far. Don't have any other thoughts," Qi Liangying walked up to Su Manxiu with a pair of shoes and said, "Your feet are about the same size as Second Sister-in-law's. These are shoes Second Sister-in-law just made. Try them on to see if they fit!"
Su Manxiu quickly waved her hands: "Second Sister-in-law, I can't accept them. I have..."
She said this with very little confidence.
What did she have? She had nothing at the old Wang family.
"Just take them. Look at your shoes, they're in such a state!"
If she truly had something, would she wear shoes like these to visit relatives?
"Second Sister-in-law, could you give me a pair you've worn? Such good shoes, once I wear them back, they won't be mine anymore." Su Manxiu lowered her eyes and said.
Qi Liangying sighed inwardly, but then gave Su Manxiu a pair of worn, almost torn shoes to change into.
Although these shoes were almost torn, it was only the outermost layer of cloth that was worn. They could still be mended, unlike Su Manxiu's shoes, where it was unclear how to even begin mending them.
On the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the whole family reunited, and the old Su family's meal was very good.
This was partly because it was a festival, and partly because Su Manxiu was staying at her parents' home for the first time since getting married.
Grandma Su, intending to compensate her elder daughter, wished she could give her daughter all the best things in the house, to the point where she even forgot about Su Manxiang, who had left in a huff.
Su Manxiu looked at the table full of delicious food, and tears streamed down her face.
How long had it been since she had eaten such food?
At the old Wang family, if there were leftovers, she would eat a little. If there were no leftovers, she basically got nothing. Sometimes, she was so hungry that she would dig for wild vegetables in the fields, not even having time to wash off the dirt.
Su Xiaotian paid close attention to Su Manxiu's expression. Seeing Su Manxiu cry, she stretched out her short arms and hugged Su Manxiu.
"Eldest Aunt, from now on, we will all be able to eat delicious food, even better than what's on the table!"
Hearing her little niece say this, Su Manxiu hugged Su Xiaotian back, hiding her tears.
"Auntie believes you, Auntie believes there will be such a day."
When she looked up again, there were no more tears in Su Manxiu's eyes.
"Dad, Mom, there's so much good food, leave it for the children to eat!"
There was meat and eggs again. This must have cost a lot of money.
Grandpa Su said, "Eat quickly. The family isn't short of food for you. Don't save it for the children; they have their own."
Su Manxiu watched her brothers and sisters-in-law eat naturally, and finally believed that her parents' family was indeed doing well and didn't need to save on food.
Could it be that the rumors before were true, that the family had received help from a high-ranking official, and their lives had improved?
After dinner, the moon was hanging brightly in the sky, its silvery moonlight casting a peaceful and serene glow on everything.
"It's a pity we can't worship the moon god!" Grandma Su sat in the courtyard, looking at the moon, and said with regret.
"Dad, Mom. I'm going to deliver some things over there," Third Master Su came out with a basket.
Li Zhuzi's share had already been delivered by Su Shouwen in the afternoon. It was difficult to deliver to the cowshed during the day, so they had to go quietly at night.
Moreover, the amount delivered to the cowshed was significantly more than that for Li Zhuzi, which would not look good if seen.
"Go, be careful!" Grandpa Su instructed.
Although Su Manxiu didn't know where her third brother was going, she wasn't one to gossip, so she didn't ask.
"Xiù, our family is doing well now. If you're not eating well, come back, and Mom will make you something good," Grandma Su said, vigorously poking at the sole of a layered shoe.
She wished this daughter could visit more often so she wouldn't be so skinny.
"Mom, how did the family's life suddenly improve?" Su Manxiu was very curious about this.
She had been worried that her parents might have taken out all the good things to entertain her today, and then they would go hungry later.
But her parents had repeatedly assured her that the family was living well, so she couldn't help but ask.
"Your father saved someone many years ago. That person is now a high-ranking official and has subsidized our family quite a bit. And everyone in our family is diligent, so we have enough to eat," Grandma Su said while sewing a shoe sole, smiling. "When you go back tomorrow, take some food with you too. Don't mistreat yourself at the old Wang family's."
Su Manxiu stopped her action of tidying up the scraps of cloth and resolutely shook her head.
If she took food back, would it reach her mouth? No!
Her mother-in-law would unceremoniously take all the food. Even if a little was left for her, Wang Jiefang would give it to that shameless widow!
Why should she use her maiden family's things to subsidize unrelated people?
Wang Xianghua was meticulously piecing together the scraps of cloth. Thinking that Su Manxiu was too embarrassed, she persuaded, "Eldest sister, take some things back, maybe..."
Maybe the old Wang family would treat her better if they had food.
But to her surprise, Su Manxiu interrupted her directly: "Eldest sister-in-law, we don't feed our things to animals!"
Su Manxiu's attitude was resolute.
The daughters-in-law in the courtyard looked on with some astonishment. Su Manxiu had never been like this before.
It was good, perhaps her personality would change, and she would suffer less at the old Wang family's.
"Then you can go back later tomorrow, after you've had lunch," Wang Xianghua immediately said. "If you take it back and can't eat it, then eat it before you go back."
Several people chuckled.
Just as they were talking harmoniously, they heard someone banging on the door.
The main door was being knocked on loudly.
"Who is it? Is there something urgent?" Grandma Su said curiously. "Little Five, go open the door and see what it is!"
Su Wu ran a few steps and pulled down the bolt.
The moment he unbolted the door, it was pushed open forcefully!