Severed ties and living in a dilapidated house? No worries, the poor thing has a space.

“Yes, sis.” Fang Xin chimed in, “I saw it too. Fang Youcai was barely alive when he came back.”

“Hmm…” Fang Yu deliberately dragged out the last syllable: “It was a mistake by the people in the prison who hit the wrong prisoner, but he has already confessed, and he will not use this matter to cause trouble in the future.”

Did they call the wrong person?!

Both Li and Fang Xin stared wide-eyed, filled with disbelief.

Fang Yu held one in each hand: "Oh, it's alright, let's go home first."

Fang Yu was in a good mood, not at all like someone who had just been to jail. She was squatting at the door peeling taro.

Fang Xin squatted down next to her and poked her arm with her fingertip: "Sis, why are you so happy after going to jail?"

"Really?" Fang Yu subconsciously touched her face. "I just thought of a delicious snack. I'll make it for you to try later."

"Snacks?"

Fang Xin's eyes lit up at the mention of food, looking at the taro in Fang Yu's hand: "Is it made with this taro?"

"Okay." Fang Yu nodded: "Go and start the fire, I'll be right there."

Fang Yu skillfully sliced ​​the taro into thin, thick slices.

Fang Xin's eyes lit up with anticipation. They often ate taro, but she didn't know how else it could be prepared.

The flickering firelight illuminated Fang Xin's face, while Fu Zhou, perched on the tree trunk, watched this scene, a faint glimmer of starlight appearing in his eyes.

Heat the oil in the pan until it's hot, then add thin slices of taro; they will immediately crackle and pop.

Fang Yu slowly stirred the potatoes in the pot with a spatula, and soon the aroma of the potatoes wafted out.

During the break, Fang Yu prepared the seasonings she usually used for grilling meat, and specially ground the chili peppers again until they were as fine as powder.

Seeing the taro in the pot turn golden brown after being deep-fried, Fang Xin was already swallowing her saliva even though nothing had been added yet.

"Sis, this looks delicious."

Fang Yu was amused by her: "Little glutton, it'll be ready soon."

Fang Xin was already imagining how well her business had been when she set up a stall to sell these taro chips.

After frying the potato chips until golden brown and draining off the excess oil, Fang Yu added the prepared ingredients one by one.

It was a very simple method, yet it caught Fang Xin's eye.

One bite, and you'll taste the fragrant, crunchy, finely ground chili peppers with just the right amount of spiciness.

Fang Xin tasted one piece and then took the bowl into the accounting room to find Li Shi: "Mother, quickly try the snacks that my sister just made, they are fragrant and crispy."

Li took a slice of golden taro, took a small bite, and found it so crispy it crumbled.

"Mmm, it smells really good."

Fang Xin placed a portion in front of Li's table: "Then Mother, please eat slowly, there's still plenty left in the pot."

She took another bowl outside, found a corner where no one could see her, and called out to Fu Zhou's usual hiding place, "Fu Zhou, come out quickly, I'll give you something delicious to try."

As soon as she finished speaking, a dark shadow flashed before her eyes, and Fu Ju appeared in front of her.

Fang Xin held a piece between her fingers and brought it to his lips: "Try it, it's crispy and delicious."

"Mmm." Fu Ju took it and, under her expectant gaze, took a small bite.

"How about it?"

Her eyes were clear and bright; with a slight blink, it seemed as if endless starlight was blooming.

"Mm." He had just nodded when Fang Xin shoved the bowl she was holding into his arms: "Then eat slowly, there's more in the pot if you're not full."

……

Fang Ling didn't sell a single skewer of grilled meat today, and didn't return until the sun had already set.

"You brat, where have you been all day? Your father almost got beaten to death!"

As soon as Fang Ling entered the door, she heard Zhang's cursing.

"My father?" Fang Ling suddenly looked up. "Grandma, what happened?"

Just as Fang Ling was about to enter the courtyard, Zhang suddenly noticed what was in her basket, grabbed it with her hand, and pulled out a handful of meat skewered on a wooden stick.

"Where did you get the money to buy meat?" Zhang suddenly asked her.

"I..." Fang Ling couldn't think of a way to explain for a moment, but Zhang suddenly reacted, grabbed her hair and questioned, "Did you steal this old woman's money?"

After a busy day, she hadn't sold a single item. Fang Ling was already furious. She was exhausted after a long day and hadn't even been scolded. Thinking about how Fang Yu had tricked her, she was even angrier and forcefully pried Zhang Shi's arm away.

"Grandma, how could I dare steal your money? I bought this with the money I saved up myself. Where is my father?"

"How did you earn the money yourself?" Upon hearing the word "money," Zhang Shi was not angry that she had dared to fight back earlier. Instead, she touched her waist and said, "You brat, you've gone too far! You've earned money, why don't you hand it over to this old woman for safekeeping?"

Zhang didn't get a single penny. Fang Xin stepped back, looking dissatisfied: "I don't have any money. Grandma, if you want money, go earn it yourself. I'm going to see my dad first."

Fang Ling went straight into the inner room, where Fang Wande was smoking opium and pacing back and forth by the bed.

Zhu sat by the bed, holding a wet handkerchief in her hand, wiping Fang Youcai, who had been in a deep sleep for an unknown amount of time, with a pale face.

Fang Ping held Fang Youcai's hand and whispered, "Dad, wake up..."

"Mother, what's wrong with my father?" Fang Ling asked as she went inside.

Zhu sniffed, choked with emotion, and put down the handkerchief in her hand: "It's nothing, just a minor injury, I'll be fine after a few days of rest."

"What minor injury!" Zhang rushed in, pointing at Zhu and scolding, "If you weren't such a woman who couldn't control your husband, how could he have gone to see that wretched girl Yu'er, how could he have been arrested and thrown into jail, and how could he have been beaten half to death?"

As she spoke, Zhang was about to tear at Zhu when Fang Ling suddenly growled, "Enough! Grandma, what do you want? Do you want to drive my mother away too?"

"You!" Zhang was utterly astonished: "You brat, are you going to defy the heavens too? How dare you speak to an old woman like that! I'll teach you a lesson today!"

"okay!"

Fang Wande, who had been silent all along, exhaled a puff of smoke, glared at Zhang Shi, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.

Zhang glared at Fang Ling, then glanced at Fang Youcai on the bed. After thinking for a moment, she turned and left.

Looking at Fang Youcai, who was barely breathing on the bed, Fang Ling had tears in her eyes, but not because she was worried about him.

Rather, it was resentment. Ever since Fang Yu instigated Li to sever ties with the Fang family, nothing peaceful had ever happened in the family.

"Mother, what happened?"

Zhu wiped away her tears and recounted the whole story.

Fang Ling clenched her fists at her sides, her voice low and heavy: "Mother, Fang Yu tricked me. I didn't sell a single skewer of grilled meat today."

In the past, Madam Zhu would have been heartbroken over the money, but today she was very calm: "It's alright, Ling'er, you must be tired. Go wash your face and rest for a while."