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"Big brother, second brother, you're back. You must be tired. Please sit down and have some tea to soothe your throats."

Tao'er quickly poured a cup of tea with spiritual spring water for each of her two brothers.

"Thank you, little sister. I was a bit thirsty."

Liu Tiezhu gently put down the basket on his back, then picked up the bowl of tea, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The spring water slid down my throat, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

This tea was poured for him by his younger sister herself; he had to drink every last drop.

"Brother, why does this tea taste even better today?"

It also has a slightly sweet taste, don't you think?

Liu Tiechui also drank a bowl of tea in one gulp, and habitually wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. His eyes lit up as he savored the special sweetness in his mouth.

"Yes, I noticed that too. The tea tastes especially good today."

Liu Tiezhu nodded. At first, he thought it was just his imagination because he was thirsty.

"It might be because I added a little white sugar that you find it a bit sweet."

Tao'er said with a sweet smile.

He thought to himself that he couldn't let his older brothers get suspicious.

We must not tell them about the spirit spring water.

It's not that I don't trust them, but this kind of thing is too strange.

"Oh, I see!"

However, this saccharin is expensive, so you should keep it for yourself to make your own tea!

Liu Tiezhu said in a serious tone.

In his mind, such precious things should be left to the youngest sister in the family who needs the most care.

For these rough people, plain water is just fine.

"Little sister, your second brother can't eat such precious things. You can keep them for yourself and drink them slowly later."

Liu Tiechui nodded in agreement, his rough hands unconsciously rubbing the corner of his clothes.

"Big brother, second brother, I have a lot more. I brought a lot back this time."

Seeing her two brothers like this, Tao'er felt both warm and bittersweet, and quickly explained.

"It can last a long time, and I only put in a little bit each time, not much."

So from now on, everyone can drink tea with added sugar.

Tao'er knew that white sugar was precious in ancient times, so she had made preparations long ago.

She bought a lot from the wholesale department. A bag of white sugar costs only two or three yuan per kilogram at wholesale price, and she bought more than a hundred kilograms in one go!

She had not only white sugar, but also brown sugar and rock sugar, which she had bought in bulk and stored carefully in her space.

"Just listen to your little sister!"

Seeing this scene, Zhang Su'e's eyes welled up with tears, and she spoke softly.

"She always thinks of everyone, so don't let her down."

Zhang Su'e knew what her two sons were thinking; they didn't want their sister to spend money, and they also understood that their daughter wanted the whole family to eat better.

Just then, Huanhuan's tummy made a series of rumbling sounds. She looked at Tao'er shyly, then at everyone else, her little face flushed. "I'm sorry, Sister Tao'er, my tummy can't hold it in anymore. I'm probably really hungry..."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone in the room burst into laughter, even the usually serious Liu Daniu grinned, and the atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed and cheerful.

Tao'er smiled and gently patted Huanhuan's soft hair, her eyes tender: "Big brother, hurry up and take out the roasted rabbit and pheasant to share!"

The two children must be starving.

"Okay!"

Liu Tiezhu responded loudly, and the two brothers quickly took the two pheasants and two rabbits out of the basket and carefully placed them on the oil paper they had laid out.

The room was instantly filled with the enticing aroma of meat.

It's a blend of spiciness and the rich aroma of wild game, so intense it seems to steal your soul.

The two little ones were practically drooling, their eyes glued to the glistening roasted meat.

The eldest and second eldest brothers couldn't help but swallow hard.

In the Liu family, they rarely ate meat.

Every time meat is bought, the best cuts are always given to the elders and aunts, leaving none for the able-bodied men.

They have almost forgotten what it tastes like to eat meat.

"Little sister, you divide it up!"

Second Brother Liu Tiechui said.

"Second brother, give Ayan and Huanhuan each a chicken leg and a rabbit leg."

The remaining chicken leg and rabbit leg were given to my parents.

"You and your older brother can take the lion's share of the remaining pheasant and rabbit meat, and Qingge and I can have the smaller portion."

Tao'er said with a smile.

She had already planned it out in her mind. The two children were growing up, and their parents were in poor health and needed nutrition. The older brothers had done the most work and should eat more, while she and Qingge, being two girls, had small stomachs and couldn't eat too much.

"Tao'er, Mother doesn't eat chicken legs or rabbit legs, I'll just eat some meat."

The chicken and rabbit legs are tender, you can have them!

You need to eat more nourishing food; look how thin you are, you look like you'd be blown away by the wind.

Zhang Su'e looked at her daughter with heartache.

This child has been away from home for so many years, I don't know how much hardship he has suffered outside. He finally came back, but his body is still so thin.

"Iron Hammer, give your sister your share too. I'm fine with having meat."

I've hardly eaten meat in most of my life, so I'm content just to smell its aroma today.

Liu Daniu also spoke in a deep, muffled voice, waving his calloused hands, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

They haven't been able to stay by their daughter's side all these years, and they owe her so much.

Let alone one chicken leg, even if he gave his daughter two chickens, he still wouldn't feel it was enough.

Tao'er shook her head, but her attitude was firm: "Father and Mother, no need. I've eaten plenty of good food before, so a little meat is fine."

Parents, please stop talking. If you keep talking, the pheasant and rabbit meat will get cold, and it won't taste good when it's cold.

"Big brother, second brother, hurry up and divide the meat!"

Seeing that his younger sister was determined, the two brothers stopped refusing and started fighting decisively.

The meat was divided up in no time.

Neatly cut pieces of meat were piled on the oil paper, with golden skin and tender white meat, still steaming.

The two little ones ate with great relish, their mouths greasy, Huanhuan's little face covered in grease like a little kitten, while Ayan ate more elegantly, but his speed was by no means slow.

The eldest and second eldest brothers practically wolfed down their food. They were adult men who did manual labor, so their appetites were naturally quite large.

Most importantly, in their more than 20 years of life, they had never eaten such delicious barbecue.

In the past, when pigs were slaughtered for the New Year, the pork was just boiled in plain water and dipped in salt. It was nothing compared to the rich and delicious flavor of roasted meat.

"Little sister, this roast chicken and rabbit meat is absolutely delicious with all the seasonings you gave me!"

As Liu Tiezhu chewed the meat with gusto, he gave a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with amazement.

"Little sister, this is the best barbecue I've ever had! It's a hundred times better than the pork we had for Chinese New Year!"

Liu Tiechui ate with great satisfaction, nodding repeatedly, wishing he could chew even the bones to pieces and swallow them.

"Tao'er, I feel like I'm living the life of an immortal today!"

Having lived most of my life, I have never tasted such delicious food!

Also, Dad hasn't eaten meat in a very, very long time.

Thanks to you today, I'm able to eat meat... Waaah... It'd be worth dying for!

As Liu Daniu was talking, something seemed to touch a nerve, and he suddenly started to sob.

Rough fingers gripped the chicken leg, tears streaming down his wrinkled cheeks and dripping onto the oil paper.

"Honey, why are you crying? It's so embarrassing!"

"Your children are all here, why don't you try to save some money..."

Zhang Su'e grumbled, but her voice grew softer and softer, and her eyes reddened. She couldn't help but turn her face away and secretly wipe her tears with her sleeve.

How could she not understand the mindset of the head of the household?

Over the years, haven't they kept all the grievances and hardships they've endured bottled up inside?

"Father, Mother, eldest brother, second brother, our family will have meat to eat often from now on."

Don't be sad.

Tao'er could understand how they felt at that moment.

She understands the complex emotions one feels when they've suffered for so long and suddenly see hope.

She secretly vowed in her heart: she must make this family live a good life.