The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

At Zhang Xiaohua's home, she was lying face down on the table, her eyes red from crying.

The younger siblings stood on either side of her, offering quiet words of comfort.

"Husband, where are we supposed to get fifty catties of grain?"

Zhang's mother slammed her hand on the table, her voice both urgent and angry: "That old hag is clearly trying to push my daughter into a fire pit!"

"Honey, calm down."

Mr. Zhang quickly stepped forward and helped his wife up: "I went to see Team Leader Li today, and he has agreed to lend me some grain."

"So what if we borrowed it? How are we going to pay it back?"

Zhang's mother leaned against her husband, her eyes reddening: "The food supply is already tight, how much is left after deducting our family's expenses from your meager salary?"

Zhang Xiaohua raised her head and wiped away her tears: "Dad, Mom, please stop arguing. Maybe... maybe I'll just listen to Grandma."

As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn't help but think of Li Kai, who always had a smile on his face in front of her.

"Xiaohua, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Zhang's mother's voice suddenly rose, "That man is over thirty and has a child. If you marry him, your life will be ruined!"

"But...but..." Zhang Xiaohua started to say, but tears fell again.

"Xiaohua, don't be afraid." Zhang's mother hugged her daughter tightly. "If that old woman dares to pressure you, I'll just go directly to the Women's Federation and report her!"

She then looked up and glared at her husband:

"Zhang Daqiang, let me tell you, I can't stop that old hag from trying to get grain for her second son's wedding. But if she tries to sell my daughter for grain, I'll fight her to the death!"

Mr. Zhang sighed, his voice low and somber:

"Don't worry, wife. Consider this fifty catties of grain as repayment for her past kindness. I won't get involved in things over there anymore."

Actually, this old lady was his father's second wife, not his biological mother.

I wasn't very nice to him when he was a child, but I never expected him to go so far.

"Fine! Zhang Daqiang, you said it yourself." Zhang's mother stared at her husband and said, word by word:

"If you can't do that in the future, I'm not going to stay with you anymore. I'll just take the kids and go back to my parents' house!"

In recent years, because of Zhang Daqiang's soft heart, his family has sent money and food to that place countless times.

Seeing that his wife was truly angry this time, Zhang's father wanted to say a few kind words to coax her.

Suddenly, a shout rang out from outside the door: "Daqiang, Daqiang, open the door! Someone's here to see you!"

Mr. Zhang was taken aback and quickly walked towards the door.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Aunt Liu standing under the eaves with Li Kaixin and his two siblings in the front yard.

"Xiao Kai, Xiao Xiao, what brings you here so late?" Zhang's father asked in surprise, his gaze falling on the sack.

He naturally knew Li Kai and Li Xiaoxiao, who often came to visit his daughter.

Li Kai grinned and handed over the sack in his hand: "Uncle Zhang, my dad sent us to deliver grain to you."

"So fast?" Mr. Zhang instinctively took it from his hand.

"My dad said your family needed it urgently, so he asked me to deliver it today."

Li Kai responded, but his eyes kept glancing into the house: "Uncle Zhang, where's Xiaohua? I can't see her."

At first, Zhang's father was quite touched that Team Leader Li was able to borrow grain so quickly. But upon hearing this, several black lines immediately appeared on his forehead.

My daughter is already asleep.

Zhang's father was fully aware of Li Kai's little scheme, and unconsciously blocked the doorway.

"Alright then, Uncle Zhang, we'll head back now after delivering the goods."

Li Kai looked regretful; he had planned to make a good impression on Xiao Hua, but now he had no chance.

Just as the three siblings were about to leave, a voice came from inside the house: "Li Kai, Xiaoxiao, is that you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Kai was overjoyed and immediately stopped in his tracks.

A short while later, Zhang Xiaohua came out.

"Xiaohua, didn't you go to sleep?" Li Kai blurted out.

Mr. Zhang, standing to the side, looked a little embarrassed and coughed twice: "Well... Xiaohua must have gotten up to go to the toilet."

Zhang's mother, who followed behind, rolled her eyes at her husband and bluntly stated:

"Come on, blocking the doorway and not letting anyone in. Do you think everyone can't see through you?"

Mr. Zhang looked embarrassed by his wife's words and awkwardly stepped aside.

Zhang's mother ignored him and warmly greeted Li Kai and his two siblings, saying, "Xiao Kai, you must be tired from such a long journey. Come in and sit for a while."

Li Kai didn't agree immediately, but looked at his older brother expectantly.

Seeing her younger brother's state, Li Kaixin nodded helplessly.

The three siblings entered the house and sat down around the table.

Zhang Xiaohua lowered her head, poured them three bowls of hot water, and then sat down next to her mother.

Sitting opposite, Zhang's mother smiled and looked Li Kaixin up and down a few times: "Xiao Kai, this must be your older brother, right?"

"Yes, yes!" Li Kai nodded quickly. "My older brother's name is Li Kaixin, and he's a truck driver now."

Although Li Kaixin had been completely betrayed by her younger brother, she still greeted him politely, "Hello, Aunt Zhang!"

Hello, hello!

Zhang's mother quickly responded with a smile, "I'd heard my husband mention before that Team Leader Li's eldest son was quite successful, and today I finally get to meet him in person!"

"Aunt Zhang, you flatter me. I'm just a driver, I don't have any ambitions."

After exchanging pleasantries, the room fell silent.

Just then, Li Kai suddenly spoke up: "Xiao Hua, what happened to your eyes?"

I couldn't see clearly outside because it was dark, but now, by the light of the kerosene lamp, I can see that her eyes are terribly red and swollen.

"It's nothing, Li Kai, I've just been feeling a little unwell lately." Zhang Xiaohua looked up and forced a smile.

Li Kai had no idea, so he moved closer to her and asked, "Xiao Hua, is this your grandma...?"

Seeing this, Li Kaixin, who was standing nearby, immediately kicked her younger brother under the table.

Almost simultaneously, Mr. Zhang, having finished dealing with Aunt Liu, walked in and immediately saw Li Kai approaching his daughter.

"Xiao Kai, why are you so close to Xiao Hua?"

Li Kai then realized what was happening and quickly shrank back: "Uncle Zhang, I just... I just noticed that Xiaohua's eyes were a little swollen, so I was asking what happened."

Zhang's father snorted, sat down on the stool, and just kept staring at him.

Zhang's mother didn't react much; instead, she looked at Li Kai as if he were her son-in-law, and the more she looked at him, the more she liked him.

Li Kai couldn't stand the stares and immediately stood up: "Aunt Zhang, Uncle Zhang, it's getting late, we'll head back now."

"Alright! It's too late to go back, so I won't keep you any longer."

Zhang's mother stood up with a smile, then tugged at her daughter beside her, "Xiaohua, go see them off."

"Yes, Mother!" Zhang Xiaohua replied obediently.

Mr. Zhang opened his mouth as if to say something, but was silenced by a glare from Mrs. Zhang.