Chapter 23: Every Creature Has Its Nemesis

At the doorstep.

Zhou Qiuxiang reached out to check the two bamboo baskets on the black calf’s back. Finding not a single river snail left inside, she was more pleased than surprised. She turned to her drunken husband, Liu Dazhao. “Look at this, just look! You went to sell the river snails and couldn’t move a single one, but your son sold them all. Don’t you feel any shame?”

Seeing that Liu Dazhao didn’t care in the slightest, Zhou Qiuxiang grabbed him by the ear. “I’m talking to you, did you hear me?”

Having his ear twisted hurt a great deal, and Liu Dazhao instantly sobered up. Covering his ear, he pleaded, “Wife, let go! Give me some face, will you? The kids are watching!”

Liu Ziran, overhearing this, couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He pulled Liu Ye along and headed indoors.

Liu Dongju was about to take the little one and Gua Zi away as well, but upon seeing Liu Xing return, she quickly said, “Mom, just give Dad a little dignity. You can’t really blame him for this—it’s just that Liu Xing is too capable. He could even sell the river snails Dad couldn’t.”

“Are you helping me or making fun of me?” Liu Dazhao asked, half laughing, half exasperated.

Liu Dongju covered her mouth, stifling a giggle, and said no more, her gaze turning to Liu Xing, who was walking toward them along the village path.

She was startled to discover that after just over a month, Liu Xing had grown noticeably taller—he must be well over one meter seventy-five now. He also seemed much more mature, especially his eyes, which now held a trace of world-weariness.

“My little brother, what on earth has he gone through this past month?” Liu Dongju wondered inwardly, but she didn’t ask. She knew that something must have happened at home for Liu Xing to have changed so much, for so many burdens to fall on his shoulders.

Otherwise, Liu Xing would never have changed this drastically.

But now was not the time to ask. Taking Gua Zi by one hand and the little one by the other, she headed into the kitchen. Everyone was probably hungry by now, so preparing dinner was the priority.

But when she opened the crude bamboo cupboard, she was stunned by the food inside.

On the top shelf sat a large bowl of sliced pork belly—perfectly balanced between lean and fat, clearly cut from prime meat.

But this wasn’t even the most astonishing find.

On the third shelf, there was a bowl of cooked pork ribs. Though not yet seasoned, their appetizing appearance made her mouth water.

“Mom, what’s been going on at home these days