Occasionally, when she cooked, she would sneak a bite or two when no one was around, but she dared not eat too much, or she would get beaten if her family found out.

Since her brother came home, perhaps grateful for her help in taking care of his nephew, he would intentionally leave her two mouthfuls of food every time they ate.

Two mouthfuls, indeed.

If he left more, her mom would make a fuss and throw a tantrum at her brother.

But these past two days, with her sister-in-law at home, she finally got to eat meat, rice, and delicious foods she wouldn’t even get during the New Year’s.

Her sister-in-law said that the countryside was good; as long as one was willing to work hard, they could fill their stomachs and sustain themselves. She desperately wanted to leave this family and go somewhere without relatives to live the life she desired.

She didn’t ask for wealth or prestige, only for every meal to be filling.

No matter how bitter or tiring, she wasn’t afraid.

In the evening, Father Guo, Mrs. Guo, and Guo Jingling came home from work. Mrs. Guo carried a large cabbage and some fist-sized potatoes, "Yuan Chun, these are the vegetables for today and tomorrow. I’ll put them on the lower shelf of the cupboard."

"Okay, mom, I got it." Yuan Chun was in the kitchen cooking, making rice.

Mrs. Guo glanced at the half-empty rice bag, her heart aching, "Yuan Chun, our family still has coarse grains. We need to mix the fine and coarse grains when we eat. If we run out of fine grains and only eat coarse ones, you’ll end up hurting your throat."

"Oh, got it, mom. I’ll cook coarse grain rice tomorrow morning."

Only then did Mrs. Guo’s face soften a bit, "Alright, you get back to cooking, I’ll go rest in my room."

In the evening, Yuan Chun fried a plate of green onion and eggs, a plate of cabbage slices, and a plate of shredded potatoes. After placing the food on the table, she filled a large bowl to the brim with rice for herself and placed the plate of green onion and eggs in front of herself, eating in big bites.

Father Guo, Mrs. Guo, and Guo Jingling saw this and didn’t dare make a sound, fearing that Yuan Chun would erupt and give them a severe beating.

During the day, Guo Xiaotao had received three beatings. Now, looking at Yuan Chun, his little eyes were filled only with hatred, not fear.

He picked up his chopsticks and quickly grabbed three pieces of egg into his bowl, then lowered his head and ate in big gulps... After finishing, when he tried to grab more, Yuan Chun shot him a glare, "What, craving more? You want more eggs? Do you believe I’ll sew your mouth shut with a needle?"

"You wouldn’t dare," Guo Xiaotao said hatefully, "These eggs were bought for me by my grandma, I have every right to eat them."

He threw down his chopsticks and reached directly with his hand to grab from the plate.

Oh, let him grab it.

In any case, she had eaten her fill.

This time Yuan Chun didn’t stop him.

Guo Xiaotao seemed crazed as he grabbed big handfuls of eggs and shoved them into his mouth as if he hadn’t eaten in eight hundred years.

Yuan Chun laughed mockingly, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, for a son whose grandparents and father have decent salaries, and those combined wages go to just raising a single child like you, how can they still leave you so starved? Are they mistreating you, not giving you good food?"

"Your uncle works at the slaughterhouse, if you want meat go ask your uncle for it. He’ll definitely give you some, and if not, keep pestering him until he does."

"Shen Yuanchun, what nonsense are you spouting, how can you teach a child like that?" Guo Jingling’s face was as dark as ink as he glared at her somberly, "Shen Yuanchun, Xiaotao is still young and doesn’t understand much, don’t fill his head with such nonsense, he could easily pick up bad habits."

"Oh dear, hasn’t your precious son already gone bad? How can you blame me for spoiling him?" Yuan Chun pointed at Guo Jinghong, "Last night, when things didn’t go his way, he beat and scolded his own aunt, the very aunt who took care of him as if he were her own son. Such a bad child, how can you have the nerve to say it was me who spoiled him?"