Chapter 7: My Pretty Girl Made It

“I learned it because I liked it; it’s just a personal hobby.”

Liu Liang didn’t want to dwell on the past. To her, the past was the past. Isn’t it better to live in the present? No matter what happened before, she was still alive now, and so was her mother.

Having lived two lifetimes, she was no longer that naive little girl. She had grown up, and she had grown weary. The temperaments typical of young girls no longer suited her.

Her personality had become reserved, even to the point of being somewhat indifferent. Because of this, when she thought of the things she had suffered in the past, she no longer cried; instead, she suppressed it. It had become a habit.

She stood up and walked into the kitchen.

“Liangliang, there’s no need.”

Zhou Lanping actually wanted to say that there was no need to cook more; the two of them couldn’t finish all these dishes.

But Liu Liang had already stepped into the small kitchen. When she came out, she was holding a large enamel bowl filled with braised pork ribs.

Zhou Lanping’s stomach was already full, but the moment she smelled the ribs, she couldn’t help but swallow. The aroma was absolutely mouth-watering. What was she to do when she wanted to eat more?

She had thought she didn’t have much of an appetite, that anything would do as long as it filled her stomach. Even if it were just steamed buns and pickled vegetables every day, it wouldn’t matter. After all, that was how she had lived until now—she had grown up, lived half her life, and remained healthy without any major illnesses. Otherwise, how could she have supported herself on such a meager salary?

But these ribs made her feel an urge to eat a piece, even if it meant bursting at the seams.

“Liangliang, Mom really can’t eat any more.”

Zhou Lanping waved her hands hurriedly. If she kept eating, she felt she would be committing a sin.

“Give this to the elderly woman with the mole on her temple. We’ve always been taking things from her; shouldn’t we return the favor?”

Liu Liang lifted her eyelids. Taking from others without giving back was not her style. In her previous life, when she was half-dead and unaware, there were very few people who felt pity for a girl without a father or mother who was nearing death—and that elderly woman was one of them.

She would remember those who owed her, but she could not truly forget those she owed.

Zhou Lanping was stunned, feeling a sudden surge of shame at her daughter’s words.

Liu Liang, who had only been here for half a year, felt this way, so where had her own sense of shame gone?

If anyone had been most caring toward her, it was Old Mrs. Wang. Yet, she had never thought to give her anything. It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried, but Old Mrs. Wang wouldn’t accept it. To this day, the old woman had never taken anything from her.

But food was different; Old Mrs. Wang would surely accept it.

“You want to give this to Old Mrs. Wang?”

Zhou Lanping asked again, unable to believe it.

“Yes,” Liu Liang pushed the bowl toward Zhou Lanping. “While it’s still hot.”

Zhou Lanping reached out and took the bowl of ribs. “Then Mom will go deliver this to Old Mrs. Wang.”

Liu Liang nodded. Her pupils were incredibly dark; the night could hide many things, and what was hidden in her eyes, only she knew.

Zhou Lanping walked to the door with the bowl, but she soon stopped in her tracks.

“Liangliang, are you… doing well at their house?”

Liu Liang curled her lips. A faint smile spilled from her mouth, but it felt somewhat cold.

“Whether I’m doing well or not, Mom will know.”

That word “Mom” made Zhou Lanping’s eyes turn red instantly.

Was she calling her “Mom”? Had this child finally been willing to call her that? Was she starting to accept her as her mother?

But when she looked up, she found that Liu Liang had already gone into her room. She had missed the perfect moment.

No rush, she told herself. Such a huge change—not to mention a twelve-year-old child, even she, an adult, hadn’t fully processed it yet.

She looked down at the enamel bowl in her hands and couldn’t help but lick her lips.

It really smelled delicious. Should she keep a few pieces for herself?

In the end, she decided against it. It felt like snatching meat from someone else’s mouth, even if the meat belonged to them now.

She carried the ribs to Old Mrs. Wang’s place. She lived on the second floor, which was her good fortune. When they were drawing lots for apartments, she had washed her hands several times and finally managed to get a good floor. Those who drew the fifth or sixth floors had shed so many tears over it. Old Mrs. Wang lived in the first unit on the second floor and had always been very caring toward her as a neighbor. When such a huge tragedy struck her family, she had been completely lost; she didn’t know how she would have managed without Old Mrs. Wang.

Now, no matter what, her child was back. Even if she were alone, she would raise her daughter. She wouldn’t let her daughter lack anything or be inferior to others.

She carefully carried the bowl toward Old Mrs. Wang’s door. It was the time of day when everyone was cooking. Her family had finished the fastest because Liu Liang had prepared the meal early. Even though they were done, many other families were just starting to cook. As she walked by with the bowl of ribs, she didn’t know if everyone’s sense of smell was just too sharp, or if the ribs were truly that fragrant. The scent wafting out made everyone’s senses tighten.

“Teacher Zhou, what’s in that bowl?”

Someone couldn’t help but ask.

Zhou Lanping smiled sheepishly, revealing a dimple. In her youth, she must have been a very beautiful woman. But what had turned such a woman into someone so aged? She was only in her thirties, yet she looked like she was in her forties or fifties, and even her hair had turned half-white prematurely.

“Braised pork ribs. My Liangliang made them.”

“Your Liangliang made them?”

It wasn’t just one person who wanted to ask that. Could Liu Liang cook?

She was afraid the girl couldn’t even boil water. Even her undergarments were washed by Zhou Lanping. Zhou Lanping had spoiled that girl rotten, just like she had spoiled the previous one. But the previous one was smart and pretty, so spoiling her didn’t feel like a loss.

But the one who had been swapped back was stupid and ugly, and her personality wasn’t very likable. She wouldn’t even speak when she saw people and loved to roll her eyes. If any family ended up with a girl like that, wouldn’t they be worried to death?

If she weren’t her own flesh and blood, who would want her? It was no wonder; they had raised her for over a decade. From a small child, even a cat or a dog would develop an emotional bond. Yet, the other family had simply sent her back, all because she was stupid and clumsy.

And how could someone stupid and clumsy make such delicious braised pork ribs?