After the family split up, my stepmother and scumbag father begged me to come home.

Lin Guozhu stood outside Lin Qianqian's house all morning, but was refused entry.

The wind was chilly, and he was cold. He didn't know if it was his daughter's attitude or if he was genuinely cold.

He didn't know how he got back; his mind was filled with Lin Qianqian's words—"Isn't Ah Long your son? Did you ever care about him after he was born?"

He knew that his daughter and son had lost touch with him.

But what could he do? He needed to live alone. His wife's well-being was his priority.

He didn't go to the main house, but went straight back to his east wing.

When Ding Yuxiang saw him return, she hurried over to greet him: "How did it go? When did Qianqian say he would teach you?"

"...She didn't agree." Lin Guozhu lowered his eyes.

"You're her father! Why won't you agree!" Ding Yuxiang's voice shrieked.

"What can I do if she doesn't agree? She doesn't even recognize me anymore."

Ding Yuxiang plopped down on the kang (a heated brick bed), her face long and drawn. Just two days ago, she was planning to buy meat and new clothes once she earned some copper coins, but now all her plans had vanished.

Lin Guozhu is a good-for-nothing; he can't even manage his own daughter.

After dinner, Grandma Lin and Lin Xiaohua went to town. Grandpa Lin took his eldest son, eldest daughter-in-law, eldest grandson, and second son to the fields.

Today it was Ding Yuxiang's turn to clean the house, cook, and do laundry. Lin Rourou stayed home to look after her younger brother, Lin Yuxuan. Lin Yuanyuan also stayed to help.

"Mother, why do those two bastards get to live so well? I want to wear new clothes too." Lin Yuanyuan leaned closer to Ding Yuxiang.

Ding Yuxiang added some firewood to the stove and lowered her voice, "What's the rush? Invite Yulong out to play tomorrow. That kid's timid; scare him a little, and he'll surely talk."

Lin Yuanyuan was taken aback, then her eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously.

Her mother is really amazing.

With her mother's guidance, Lin Yuanyuan began to make plans.

But she didn't expect that Lin Yulong would go up the mountain.

Today's task is to dig up poisonous potatoes. You don't need to go deep into the mountains to find them; they grow right outside the village—because nobody dares to eat them, and they spread like wildfire, growing exceptionally well and covering the entire mountainside.

But when they got up the mountain, they were dumbfounded.

The mountain was full of people digging for poisonous potatoes, in groups of them.

"Sister Qianqian, what do we do?" Ding Xiaohu asked anxiously, "Why is everyone digging?"

"Let's dig our own." Lin Qianqian glanced around, her expression unchanged.

The group found a spot, squatted down, and began digging.

People around greeted Lin Qianqian warmly. The aunties and grandmas were all very friendly.

Lin Qianqian felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

It wasn't until aunties and grandmothers kept coming up to her, chatting about this and that, and starting to ask about the poisoned potatoes—that she realized they were there to get information from her.

"Qianqian," Widow Wang said with a grin, "you know it's the lean season now, and everyone's starving. Do you know how to make those poisonous potatoes? Teach your auntie, okay?"

Lin Qianqian didn't even look up: "I wouldn't dare teach you. If I mess it up and someone dies, I can't take the responsibility."

"Huh?" Widow Wang was taken aback. "Didn't you say before that it wouldn't kill anyone?"

"Yes, if done properly, it definitely won't kill anyone." Lin Qianqian finally looked up at her. "But—why should I teach you?"

"We all live in the same village, so just tell me!" Widow Wang persisted.

"We live in the same village," Lin Qianqian said calmly, "Could you lend me some money, auntie?"

"Why should I? That's my money!" Widow Wang's voice suddenly rose.

Lin Qianqian laughed instead, her voice not loud, but everyone around her could hear her clearly: "Then why should I teach you?"

Widow Wang opened her mouth, her face flushed red, and she couldn't say a word for a moment.

Lin Qianqian ignored her and continued digging for poisonous potatoes. She knew that many people around were listening intently and glancing over furtively.

People kept coming up to her, some indirectly, some directly. Lin Qianqian wasn't annoyed or impatient; she simply brushed them off without giving an inch.