Crossing the famine to find the white moonlight

While Ye Wan endures the indifference of her mother, Ye Cui Niang, and her brother, Ye Er Shun, her life remains far from peaceful. Instead, it becomes even more difficult due to the arrival of her new sister-in-law, Li Ruo Tao. Li Ruo Tao is known in the village as a "shrew." While somewhat beautiful, she possesses a sharp and sarcastic personality, always striving for dominance. Ever since Ye Wan arrived, Li Ruo Tao has been constantly making things difficult for her, offering her constant sarcasm and ridicule.

Ye Wan initially thought nothing of Li Ruotao, believing her to be just an ordinary village woman. However, she had never anticipated the deep hostility her sister-in-law harbored towards her. Whenever she approached her home with Xiaotong, Li Ruotao would immediately feign disgust, her words filled with sarcasm, and she treated her coldly, both at home and in the village.

That day, Ye Wan returned from outside, holding Xiao Tong in her arms, wondering if she could get some food from home. However, just as she entered the house, she heard Li Ruotao's voice: "Oh, who is this? She comes here so early in the morning to eat and drink for free. Does she really think she's a princess? Does she really want us, her family, to support her and her burden?" As she spoke, she deliberately raised her voice, as if speaking specifically to Ye Wan, who was standing at the door.

Ye Wan silently endured the harsh sarcasm, knowing she couldn't expect even a slight smile from Li Ruotao. Seeing her keep her head down and remain silent, Li Ruotao couldn't help but sneer, "Ah Wan, although you are Ershun's biological sister, everyone is having a hard time right now, so don't worry about our food all the time. If you really care about your child, why not go out and find some work yourself, rather than just come to our house and eat and drink for free every day."

Ye Wan's face turned pale, but she still restrained herself from saying anything back. She knew that if she retorted, Li Ruotao would definitely use the opportunity to embarrass her even more. She gently patted Xiaotong's back and whispered, "Xiaotong, let's go." She wanted to turn around and leave with the child, but just as she stepped out the door, Li Ruotao suddenly said, "Hey, what's wrong? Do you know you're not welcome? Are you really going to go away? So as not to be an eyesore?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Wan's fury was almost uncontrollable. She clenched her fists, her palms wet with sweat. However, she ultimately chose to remain silent, lowering her head, hugging Xiaotong tightly, and silently leaving the yard. She knew she couldn't explode at this moment. She and Xiaotong were in danger, and revealing her emotions would only make her appear more helpless.

After leaving the yard, Ye Wan sat alone under an old tree, lowering her head to stroke Xiaotong's little hand. Xiaotong seemed a little timid, with a hint of uneasiness in his eyes, as if he could also feel his mother's helplessness. Ye Wan hugged him gently and whispered, "Xiaotong, mother will not let you starve or suffer. Mother will work hard, and we will definitely live well."

Day after day of harassment and sarcasm made it clear to Ye Wan that Li Ruotao wouldn't let her off easily. Not only did Li Ruotao find every opportunity to provoke her, she would even sow discord in front of Ye Cui Niang and Ye Er Shun. Whenever Ye Wan returned with Xiao Tong, Li Ruotao would distort the facts and exaggerate, portraying Ye Wan as a shameless freeloader. Over time, Ye Cui Niang and Ye Er Shun's indifference towards Ye Wan grew even more pronounced, even refusing to share a bowl of porridge or a sliver of grain from their home with her.

Once, Ye Wan saw Xiao Tong shivering with hunger and couldn't help but want to take some leftover dry food from home. But just as she reached out to pick up the shriveled steamed bun, Li Ruotao immediately snorted coldly, stepped forward and snatched the bun away, saying coldly: "What, you see this bun? I saved this. You don't have the ability to raise your child, and you still rely on us to support you and your child? I can't give this bun to you for nothing."

Ye Wan's face turned incredibly pale. Seeing Li Ruotao's sneer, she felt a surge of bitterness and anger. However, she held back her tears and stood there stubbornly, not saying a word. She knew she had to carve out a path to survival in this environment and couldn't rely on these indifferent people. She needed to find a way to give herself and Xiaotong a future they could rely on.

Ye Wan returned to the village and constantly sought opportunities and resources. She no longer relied on her family, but instead found odd jobs in the village. She scavenged leftover vegetable leaves from the fields, helped with laundry and cooking, and gradually earned a meager living through her labor. Despite the hardships, it at least gave her a modicum of independence.

Li Ruotao saw it all, but she didn't let her off. She would intentionally or unintentionally spread rumors in the village, saying that Ye Wan had "deserted herself," was not doing her duty, and was begging with her children everywhere, shameless. She even suggested that Ye Wan seduced people to gain favor in exchange for food.

When Ye Wan heard these rumors, her heart ached like needles, yet she remained silent. She knew that a direct confrontation with Li Ruotao in this village would only make her situation more difficult. She had to endure, to continue surviving in this difficult situation, for Xiaotong and for her own survival.

Once, while digging for wild vegetables in the wasteland outside the village, she met an old woman from the same village. The kindhearted old woman, seeing Ye Wan and Xiao Tong's plight, not only gave her some dry cakes but also taught her some edible wild vegetables and grass roots. Ye Wan was deeply grateful to the old woman, who sighed softly, "Girl, although life is difficult, as long as you persevere, you will eventually find your way out. Don't let the village rumors discourage you. You are your own support."

Ye Wan took the old woman's words to heart. After returning to the village, she quietly began searching for more ways to survive. She learned to forage for wild grass roots, scavenged scraps from the fields, and even learned to weave and mend clothes. Despite the hardships, she gradually fought for a chance of survival for herself and Xiaotong.

However, Li Ruotao refused to relent. Instead, she considered Ye Wan's stubbornness and forbearance a provocation. She constantly provoked Ye Cui Niang and Ye Er Shun at home, causing them to increasingly dislike Ye Wan and even distance themselves from her, treating her like a complete "outsider." Li Ruotao's provocations gradually escalated, becoming more subtle and malicious. Knowing Ye Wan wouldn't resist, she became even more reckless in causing her all kinds of trouble.

Despite this, Ye Wan chose to endure. She suppressed all her grievances and anger deep within her heart, silently enduring all the hardships. She knew that resistance and complaining would not solve the problem. Only by relying on her own hands, wisdom, and patience could she gain a firm foothold in this chaotic world.

As time went by, Ye Wan gradually accumulated more experience. She learned how to find a way out of difficult situations and how to survive with the smallest resources. She became stronger and more stable, and the will to survive in her heart burned brighter and brighter like a flame.

Ye Wan was determined. No matter how difficult the future, she would carry on with Xiaotong, never letting anyone break her will. Her forbearance wasn't weakness, but rather a sign of accumulating strength. She knew that one day she would find her feet on her own two feet, escaping this shadow of indifference and hardship.