Divorced woman with child travels through time

Little Grass looked at Chen Wenfang with sparkling eyes, her gaze filled with admiration. She looked like her mother—no, she was prettier than her mother, only just as gentle. Little Grass suddenly lowered her head, wiping away her tears. She had almost forgotten what her mother looked like. Would her mother be angry with her down there for not taking good care of her little sister…

"Second sister-in-law is the best. I'm really hungry." Wang Hanyang smiled at Chen Wenfang, gently put Chengcheng down, and covered him with a blanket.

Dazhuang put down the wood and said to the children, "Let's go, let's go eat first."

Chen Wenfang noticed Xiaocao's gaze, walked over, took her hand, wiped away her tears, and said with a smile, "Your name is Xiaocao, right? Are you hungry? Let's go eat."

Little Grass looked at her own dark little hand that was being held, with dirt between her fingers, while Madam Chen's hands were clean, white, and tender. How could she not mind? Little Grass obediently followed her.

Upon reaching the main room, the children were astonished by the large table of meat and dishes. There were over ten dishes: braised chicken, stewed pork ribs, roast duck, braised fish, stir-fried pork with chili peppers, steamed eggs, braised pork knuckle, radish stewed with mutton, fried tofu, stir-fried cabbage, and so on. Big Bear swallowed hard and unconsciously walked over.

Chu Yi said, "Come on, everyone come and wash your hands. You have to wash your hands before you can eat."

Washing hands before eating? The children looked at each other, then obediently followed Chu Yi to wash their hands. There was even fragrant soap to wash their hands with. Xiao Cao's eyes welled up with tears as she watched Chen Wenfang rub her little hands. Chen Wenfang didn't say anything, just wiped away her tears and led her back to the table. Chu Yi and Da Zhuang also helped the younger children wash their hands and faces.

Seeing their pitiful state, Aunt Liu specially gave them each a large bowl, saying, "You're really lucky, I cooked rice today. Come on, have a taste." After saying that, she filled each of them with a large bowl of white rice.

Chen Wenfang also called out, "Come on, everyone, let's eat!"

Big Bear Iron Head happily grabbed the chopsticks and took a couple of bites. The younger ones also happily picked up their bowls and started eating. Little Grass hugged her bowl, which was as big as her face, and was even eating rice by herself. If Little Flower had had rice to eat back then, would she not have gotten sick? Thinking of this, tears started falling again.

"Why are you crying again? Here, have some meat." Chen Wenfang didn't know how to comfort the little girl. Her own son had been tough since he was a child and had hardly ever cried.

Aunt Liu's heart softened instantly. She went over and hugged her, coaxing, "Good girl, don't cry. Come on, eat your food. It won't taste good if it gets cold." Little Grass ate her meal while sobbing.

The dishes in Chenjiazhuang were always freshly prepared and served on the spot. They were also made with only a mild spice to accommodate the children. Even so, the children had never eaten such delicious food before. They wolfed down their food, eating with astonishing speed, which made Aunt Liu feel very sorry for them. "What have these children done to deserve this? Eat slowly, there's still plenty left."

Chen Wenfang then instructed Aunt Liu to bring over a large basket of steamed buns. Da Xiong and Tie Tou's eyes lit up. They were just thinking that they would feel embarrassed if they finished their rice when Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Come on, come on, eat as much as you want, it's all you can eat."

Big Bear took a bite of the steamed bun, and ah, this was the taste! It was chewy yet soft, with a satisfying texture. He ate four in one go, only reluctantly putting down his chopsticks when he was completely full. Iron Head also ate a large bowl of rice and three big steamed buns. The other little ones also ate their rice in one go, each holding a steamed bun in their hand, reluctant to put it down, slowly munching on it with great satisfaction.

Wang Hanyang smiled as he looked at the group of little ones. It's not easy for them to be so young; it's good that they're alive.

After lunch, Chu Yi took them for a walk around the village to digest their food. Everyone looked at the group of children with great interest. Lulu and Xiao Fang were the happiest. There weren't many children in the village, and even fewer girls. This was like gaining a little sister.

After touring the village, Chu Yi took them to take a bath. The detached houses all had specially built-in bathrooms with attached kang beds, so there was no worry about not having hot water. Aunt Liu and Da Zhuang helped them take a bath, while Chen Wenfang went to find Chen Xuanyu and Ahao's old clothes. They were all clean but not brand new, and they fit perfectly when they changed into them. The sleeves were a little long, but they could be rolled up. Tie Tou wore Shi Tou's clothes, Da Xiong wore Da Zhuang's clothes, and Xiao Cao wore the old cotton-padded clothes that Lulu found for her.

Except for Big Bear, the children, exhausted from a long day after their baths, were all quietly asleep on the kang (heated brick bed). Wood slowly woke up, glanced at Chengcheng who was still fast asleep, but didn't wake him. He got off the kang and wandered around aimlessly. He reached the main room just as Aunt Liu was tidying up. Seeing him awake, she asked, "Are you hungry?"

For the first time ever, Wood spoke up, saying, "Hungry."

Aunt Liu didn't think anything was wrong. She went into the kitchen and brought out a bowl of meat and a plate of steamed buns. "Here, eat up."

Mu Tou nodded and obediently sat down to eat. Da Xiong and Chu Yi came in and saw him eating, but didn't say anything. They sat down and chatted. After Mu Tou finished eating, Aunt Liu said, "Chu Yi, why don't you take him to take a bath?"

Wood nodded, "Mm..."

The bear stared in disbelief at the wooden figure and began to speak, "He...he...he..."

"What's wrong?" Aunt Liu asked, puzzled. She hadn't spent much time with Chu Yi, so she was also surprised by his reaction.

Big Bear suddenly smiled. "It's alright." This is good too; at least he spoke.

When Chen Xuanyu and his two friends got home from school, they were overjoyed to find a group of kids suddenly at home. He was the type to act like a madman, and he was immediately ecstatic. "Great!" he thought. "Now I don't have to go to Wangjiazhuang to call for friends to play games anymore..."

Chen Ji, after Wang Hanyang returned to town, recounted what had happened. Wang Erniu nodded and said, "Your idea is excellent. Let's resolve this just like that. Do you need me to go?"

"No need, I've already called Lü Xiong, it'll be taken care of in a few days."

Wang Erniu instructed, "Yes, be careful."

Wang Hanyang nodded, and the matter was dropped.

As evening fell, Wang and his companion hummed a tune and went out for a drink. They strolled leisurely along the riverside path, found a brothel, spent two taels of silver on a night of wine and women, and returned home drunk and blissfully satisfied.

The next day, it happened again. The boatman on the river looked at the two thugs with great curiosity and laughed, "Wang Da, where have you been stealing things? You have money to drink and carouse every day."

"Bullshit, see this wound? I'm a real man, this little injury isn't worth seeing a doctor for. This little bit of money for drinks will be used to pay for other people's medical bills in a fight," Wang Da boasted.

“That’s right, my brother is incredibly skilled, this little injury is nothing to him.” Wang Er was very supportive.

The boatman rocked the boat, wondering which unlucky fellow had run into these two and been scammed. These two were no good; they wouldn't be so easy to shake off...

While Big Bear and his friends were enjoying a comfortable life at Chen's restaurant, Wang Da and Wang Er went out drinking and carousing every day, living the high life. For five consecutive days, they spent two taels of silver each day. An ordinary family would spend less than one tael of silver a month, but they were spending it all, drinking until late at night every day, making others extremely envious.

On the last night, Wang Er reluctantly paid off his last two taels of silver, and asked, slightly drunk and worried, "Brother, what if that man doesn't bring the silver later?"