A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

At this moment, Chen's mother, second aunt, third aunt, and sister-in-law Huiniang came in from the kitchen carrying steaming hot food.

The aroma of the food immediately filled the entire house. A small bowl of glistening, smoky stir-fried cured pork, a bowl of shredded radish mixed with shredded pork, and a large plate of golden, shiny scrambled eggs—these were rare hearty dishes in a rural household. The rest consisted of some homegrown greens and pickled vegetables, as well as a bowl of mixed grain rice.

Chen's mother was the last to enter, carefully carrying a large bowl filled with steaming, clear noodles. The noodles were clearly made from fine white flour, making them stand out among the many dishes on the table.

She walked straight to Chen Wanxing, gently placed the bowl in front of her daughter, her eyes reddening again, her voice choked with emotion and a barely perceptible hint of pleading:

"Chunlan, hurry up and eat it while it's hot. This is a noodle that your mother specially made for you. It's made with fine white flour. When you were little, you always asked for noodles, but back then it was rare for our family to have white flour. Try it and see if it still tastes the same."

As she spoke, she wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked at her daughter with expectant eyes.

This bowl of white noodles, so different from the other dishes, carries a mother's clumsy yet sincere desire to make amends, as if she wants to compensate for the lack of care over the years through this bowl of noodles.

Looking at the steaming bowl of noodles in front of her, and then at her mother's weathered face, filled with expectation and guilt, Chen Wanxing felt a gentle touch on the hardest part of her heart.

She picked up her chopsticks and, under the watchful eyes of her family, gently picked up a mouthful of noodles and put it in her mouth.

The noodles are smooth and have the most authentic aroma of wheat.

She chewed slowly, then gave Chen's mother a faint but genuine smile and nodded: "It's delicious, Mother."

Those four simple words caused Chen's mother to burst into tears instantly. She quickly turned her back, her shoulders trembling slightly, a release of mixed joy and sorrow.

Seeing this, Grandma Chen quickly said, "Alright, alright, everyone pick up your chopsticks and eat. And eldest daughter-in-law, Chunlan is now called Wanxing, so don't call her Chunlan anymore."

The reunion dinner then officially began.

Looking at the generous bowl of noodles in front of her, Chen Wanxing felt that if she were to eat this huge bowl, she would either have an upset stomach for several days or vomit from overeating.

She didn't want to make things difficult for herself, especially since her younger siblings were all watching with bated breath.

She knew perfectly well how precious this fine white flour was in a farming family. She had already eaten in Ping'an Town and wasn't hungry at the moment. So, eating a bowl of noodles like this alone would not be a pleasure for her, but rather a burden.

She picked up her chopsticks, but instead of eating herself, she looked up at Chen's mother and gave her a gentle smile: "Mother, I've already eaten in town, and I really can't eat this much right now. This flour is precious, don't waste it."

As she spoke, she pushed the large bowl to the center of the table, her gaze sweeping over her younger siblings who were looking on expectantly. "I came back in such a hurry this time that I didn't bring any gifts for my younger siblings," she said.

She said naturally, "This bowl of noodles is a small token of my appreciation. Let's all share it and share in the joy."

Her words were very eloquent, fulfilling her mother's wishes, avoiding waste, and expressing her care for the younger generation while subtly doing a favor.

Chen's mother paused for a moment, looking at the bowl of noodles that had been pushed out. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, it turned into a tearful smile as she nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'll do as you say, we'll share it, we'll share it..."

This girl is generous and thoughtful, and she has her own ideas. Seeing her granddaughter's actions, Grandma Chen immediately instructed Chen's mother, "Eldest daughter-in-law, what are you standing there for? Divide it among the children."

The children around, especially the younger ones, immediately cheered and their eyes lit up.

Chen Qinghui also moved closer to Chen Wanxing and said softly and happily, "Thank you, big sister."

Chen Wanxing smiled and patted her head.

This little incident made the atmosphere at the dinner table more harmonious and natural.

Chen Wanxing left only a few bites of noodles in her bowl and ate them slowly. Watching her younger siblings happily share the bowl of white noodles, the initial awkwardness she felt upon arriving in this new place seemed to melt away a little with the warmth of this sharing.

After lunch, the dishes were cleared away, and the family remained gathered in the main room, the atmosphere more relaxed than before. Grandma Chen cleared her throat, her gaze sweeping around the room before finally settling on Chen Wanxing.

"Wanxing, you've just gotten back. You need to familiarize yourself with this place, this chicken coop and dog hole. I wonder if you still remember it."

As Grandma Chen spoke, she took Chen Wanxing's hand and led her to the door, pointing to the mud-brick house in front of her.

"This main house has five rooms, and it's fairly tidy. The middle room is the main hall, where we entertain guests and eat. The two rooms on the left," she pointed in the direction of her own house, "are where I live. The two rooms on the right are for your parents and your eldest brother and sister-in-law."

Chen's mother added in a low voice, "Your father and I live in the room next to the main room, and we separated a small corner inside with a curtain for Qinghui to live in."

Your eldest brother and sister-in-law live in the room next door. Che'er is older now, and it's inconvenient for him to squeeze in with us, so we built him a small separate room to the right of your eldest brother's room, against the wall.

Grandma Chen then pointed to the left: "These four rooms that were built next to each other on the left side of the main house were built after you left home. The two rooms on the east side belonged to your second uncle's family, and the two rooms on the west side belonged to your third uncle's family."

She then pointed to the right, "Over there, next to the main house is the kitchen, and to the right of the kitchen, against the courtyard wall, that shed is where firewood and farm tools are stored."

The Chen family's courtyard was quite large. Although the houses were all made of adobe, as Grandma Chen said, they were built tall and spacious, with a clear layout.

After the introductions, Grandma Chen made the decision: "Eldest daughter-in-law, go and tidy up the room next to mine. Use the new bedding and let Wanxing stay there for now."

Mother Chen readily agreed and went to get busy with her eldest daughter-in-law, Hui Niang. However, Aunt Chen was a little unhappy at this moment. She pouted as if she wanted to speak, but seeing the situation in front of her, she didn't say anything.

Without waiting for a reply, Grandma Chen took Chen Wanxing's hand again: "Come on, Wanxing, come sit with Grandma in the house for a while, let's have a good talk."

As he spoke, he led Chen Wanxing into the main room on the left.

Upon entering the house, a faint scent, a mixture of the smells of the elderly, mugwort, and sun-dried bedding, wafted towards you.

The room was more spacious than Chen Wanxing had imagined. There was a simple wooden bed by the window and an old wooden cabinet next to it. The cabinet was dark in color but clean.

Against the wall were two wooden chests stacked together, presumably for storing clothes and valuables. Old New Year pictures were pasted on the wall, yellowed but adding a touch of life to the simple house.

Grandma Chen pressed Chen Wanxing down to sit on the edge of the bed, then walked to the old wooden cabinet and rummaged around for a while before pulling out an oil paper package. She carefully opened it and found several pieces of maltose that had become damp and soft.

She pushed it in front of Chen Wanxing like a treasure: "Here, this is what I secretly hid for your younger siblings. You eat it first and see if it's still sweet."

This gesture carries the unique, clumsy affection of an elderly person.

Chen Wanxing felt a warmth in her heart. She picked up a small piece and put it in her mouth. The sweetness was a bit cloying, but it carried a simple and comforting warmth.

"Sweet, Grandma."