Chapter 5: Novice Gift Pack

Shitou looked at the egg custard she handed over with a face full of panic, swallowing his saliva: "Can I really eat this?"

"Why wouldn't you be able to? Since I gave it to you, hurry up and eat." After saying this, Xu Ying had already fed Huzi a spoonful of the egg custard.

【Congratulations to the host for gaining +1 favorability. Once you reach 50 favorability points, you can unlock new recipes, and the corresponding areas for those recipes will also be opened.】

Hearing the voice in her mind, Xu Ying’s face lit up with joy. She scooped up another spoonful of egg custard and fed it toward Shitou’s mouth.

Looking at the egg custard right in front of him, a blush appeared on Shitou’s face. He said with some embarrassment, "Little Aunt, I’m already grown up, I can eat by myself."

Seeing his bashful appearance, Xu Ying teased him with a smile: "You’re only eight years old, still just a child. Little Aunt will feed you every day from now on."

"No, no way!" Shitou’s face turned beet red, and he refused.

"Hahahaha!" Watching his resistant expression, Xu Ying couldn't help but burst into laughter; this kid was too funny.

Just after feeding Huzi a bite, the little guy’s drool began to flow from the corners of his mouth again.

Seeing the drool, Xu Ying frowned.

She remembered people in her later life saying that if a child drools constantly, it might be due to a lack of trace elements in their body. Looking at Huzi’s malnourished appearance, it would be strange if he wasn't lacking something.

It was all because of poverty. Since she had been reborn, the first thing she had to do was to improve the family's diet.

After wiping Huzi’s drool, Xu Ying divided the egg custard into two portions, giving half to Huzi and half to Shitou.

As luck would have it, Mother Xu walked in just as she saw the two boys eating the egg custard, and her anger flared up instantly.

She scolded them furiously: "You two little brats, have I ever let you go hungry or thirsty? You even have to snatch a bit of egg custard from your Little Aunt’s hands.

Your Little Aunt just recovered from an illness and needs the nutrition. You two starving ghosts, get out of here right now!"

Hearing her mother-in-law’s cursing, Eldest Sister-in-law realized something was wrong. She dropped the bowl in her hand and hurried into the room, only to look up and see her mother-in-law glaring at her with fury.

She looked at the bowls in the children’s hands and shrank her neck in fear: "Mom, I... I’m sorry."

Mother Xu snorted coldly and said nothing.

Although Eldest Sister-in-law was afraid, she felt a bit resentful.

"Shitou, Huzi, hurry up and get out here! Eating, eating, eating—you even snatch your Little Aunt’s things. I’ll beat you gluttons to death!" Eldest Sister-in-law’s words were dripping with sarcasm.

It was clear that her sister-in-law didn't do anything all day yet could get eggs to eat, while she and her husband worked themselves to the bone every day to earn full work points, yet couldn't even give their son an egg.

Mother Xu rolled her eyes, completely unaffected by Eldest Sister-in-law’s words: "If you want to hit them, do it now. Don't just talk about it."

Eldest Sister-in-law choked, her face unable to hold its composure.

Xu Ying quickly intervened: "Eldest Sister-in-law, you are not allowed to hit Shitou and Huzi. I’m the one who let them eat this egg custard.

Mom, if you’re angry, hit me instead. Sister-in-law, hurry up and take Shitou and Huzi to go cook."

Eldest Sister-in-law was surprised to hear this, but she sensibly grabbed her sons and ran off.

Mother Xu couldn't bear to hit her own daughter. She hummed and walked over: "What nonsense are you talking about? I just wanted you to eat more good things to nourish your body.

And you, you gave it to those two little rascals. What use is it for them to eat it?"

Xu Ying felt a warmth in her heart. She got off the bed, affectionately took Mother Xu’s hand, and said with a smile: "Mom, I know you love me, but I didn't have an appetite.

Shitou and Huzi are my nephews, and I just felt they were a bit pitiful!"

Pitiful? Who isn't pitiful? But in this day and age, whose family isn't like this? Shitou and Huzi were much better off in their family than in others.

At the very least, they could get half-full at every meal, while other families sometimes couldn't even manage that.

"Alright, hurry up and get up to eat. Your dad should be back soon." Mother Xu was so angry that smoke was practically coming out of her head; such good egg custard had been wasted on those two boys.

Xu Ying smiled obediently and said, "Alright!"

Once Mother Xu left, Xu Ying bolted the door and quickly opened the system.

【Does the host wish to open the Newcomer Gift Pack?】

Xu Ying nodded, waiting for the gift pack with excitement.

A bright light flashed before her eyes, and a frame similar to a computer interface appeared.

It displayed the gourmet recipe unlock levels and the dishes she had already unlocked.

The Newcomer Gift Pack was in the top right corner of the screen, and she reached out to tap it.

【Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Newcomer Gift Pack: one bag of rice, one bag of flour, five catties of pork, one basket of eggs, one basket of duck eggs, one bag of coarse grains, five portions of healing powder, one bag of random ice blades, and a set of bow and arrows.

Also, five Level 1 recipes: Chicken Stew, Spicy Stir-fried Rabbit Meat, Mapo Tofu, Tomato Scrambled Eggs, and Vinegar-glazed Cabbage.】

Looking at the gift pack, Xu Ying was filled with excitement. Having something was better than having nothing.

After storing everything in her space, Xu Ying opened the door and stepped out.

The entire Xu family, except for Father Xu and the Third Brother, were gathered in the courtyard.

Looking at her familiar family, Xu Ying was overcome with emotion, her eyes brimming with tears. The Xu family had three sons and one daughter.

Xu Ying was the youngest and the most pampered. Her three brothers had doted on her since she was a child.

No matter how unreasonable she was or what outrageous demands she made, her three brothers would always find ways to satisfy her.

In the family, her status was such that they were afraid she would melt if held in their hands, and afraid she would break if placed on their backs.

"Little Sister, is there anywhere you still feel uncomfortable?" the Eldest Brother asked with concern.

The Eldest Brother was the second pillar of the family after their father. Because of long-term labor, he looked as weathered as a thirty-year-old despite being only in his early twenties.

There was a trace of sorrow between his brows, and the clothes he wore were covered in patch upon patch.

Xu Ying shook her head and gave her eldest brother a sweet smile: "Eldest Brother, I’m fine now."

The Eldest Brother was dazzled by her smile and began to laugh foolishly: "As long as you’re fine, hurry up and eat. Everyone has been so worried these past few days. Your Third Brother doesn't know yet; if he did, he would have definitely come back."

The Second Brother waved at Xu Ying affectionately: "Little Sister, sit here by Second Brother."

Xu Ying looked at her Second Brother’s devil-may-care attitude, smiled, and ran over quickly: "Second Brother, I missed you so much!"

The Second Brother chuckled and scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed: "You see me every day and you still miss me? Well, I missed you too."

Mother Xu looked at the two of them and laughed: "Smooth talkers."

Xu Ying said sincerely: "Mom, I really missed you all. I missed Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, my two nephews, and Second and Third Brother too."

Everyone beamed at these words.

This girl certainly had a sweet tongue.

Only Eldest Sister-in-law was pleasantly surprised; this was the first time the Little Sister had looked her in the eye while speaking.

Xu Ying felt her sister-in-law’s gaze, turned, and gave her a gentle smile. Eldest Sister-in-law was startled and pulled her husband as if she had seen a ghost—this Little Sister seemed to be acting strangely.

Xu Ying didn't know what she was thinking. Her mind was filled with memories of her past life, where her Eldest Brother had broken his leg and her Eldest Sister-in-law had guarded him faithfully, showing how deep her love for him was.

So, in this life, she would love her sister-in-law as well.

"How is it, Jianguo? Has Lu Daya woken up?" Mother Xu asked with concern as she saw her husband return.

Xu Jian-guo’s weathered face was etched with the marks of time, and his deep eyes were full of wisdom. Because he had been a team leader for many years, he had accumulated a certain air of authority that made people somewhat fearful when they saw him.