Si Nian smiled and agreed, bending down to pat Zhou Zedong's head. "You guys start eating. I'll pack some more and bring it back here so we can all have lunch with Daddy, okay?"

Zhou Yue Shen cleared the documents from the table and stepped forward, his voice low. "You all eat. I'll go back and prepare the rest."

Si Nian's packing seemed ample, but there were three kids to feed. Zhou Yue Shen couldn't just eat in front of them and didn't want Si Nian to make another trip. Her suggestion was practical, and the kids were eager for it.

Having his family with him for lunch was a new experience. Zhou Yue Shen was used to eating alone, followed by either work or a brief rest. The routine had become monotonous, but the presence of Si Nian and the children brought a refreshing change to his otherwise dull life.

Si Nian glanced at him and quickly said, "No, let me go. You've had a long day."

"Mom, I'll go," Zhou Zedong suddenly stepped forward. He had initially considered saying he could do without the food, but he knew his parents wouldn't let him just stand by while they got food for him. As the oldest child, Zhou Zedong felt it was his responsibility to help out. His parents worked hard every day, and he didn't want to just wait for them to bring him food.

Without waiting for a response, he dashed out of the office.

Seeing his older brother's determination, Zhou Zhehan glanced at both Zhou Yue Shen and Si Nian, then quickly followed, saying, "Bro, I'll come with you."

As Zhou Zedong ran out, Zhou Zhehan caught up to him, adding, "Let's go together. We'll run fast and eat with Dad and Mom!"

Normally they ate at home, but having lunch at the pig farm was a novel experience for Zhou Zhehan. He ran swiftly, even faster than his older brother, talking nonstop without catching his breath.

Si Nian watched the two little ones dash out and exchanged a bemused glance with Zhou Yue Shen.

The lunch box was opened and neatly arranged on the table. It contained a bowl of soup, two dishes of stir-fry, and two servings of rice. The creamy soup was filled with tender, well-marbled pork, soft and starchy yam, floating oil droplets, and goji berries. Just looking at it made one's mouth water.

Si Nian placed the soup in front of Zhou Yue Shen and said, "Zhou Yue Shen, you didn't get enough rest last night. Drink this soup and replenish your strength..."

Before she could finish, there was a commotion at the door. She turned to see Yu Dong and the factory workers standing there with meat in hand.

The group stood frozen, their expressions blank. Were they talking about their boss?

Seeing their silence, Si Nian straightened up and asked in confusion, "Is it because I'm here that you're not speaking?"

The group of workers exchanged uncertain glances until Yu Dong was pushed forward. Yu Dong, caught off guard, met their gazes and felt a pang of frustration. These troublesome young men!

He forced a smile and said, "No, it's nothing. Sister-in-law, you're here at just the right time..."

He stole a glance at Zhou Yue Shen, sweating nervously. Why did he always end up in these awkward situations? He had forgotten about this matter, only to have Si Nian bring it up in front of everyone.

The great reputation of the boss was at risk of being ruined!

Wiping his sweat, Yu Dong continued, "Boss, Sister-in-law, these are the meats we saved for today. Since you mentioned you and Aunt Lin were planning to make some braised meat, I thought I'd bring these over for you to check if they're enough. If not, I'll save some more tomorrow and bring it over."

Si Nian glanced at the assortment: pig intestines, pig's feet, and ears and tails. These cuts, often less popular because they contain less meat, were the leftovers.

Si Nian nodded, acknowledging that those cuts were indeed excellent for making braised dishes. She then looked at the other meat being carried and asked, somewhat puzzled, "And what about these?"

The workers, still processing the shock of hearing that their formidable boss might be in poor health, were stuck on the realization that their boss was actually in need of some bodily repair. They had always seen him as robust and vigorous, but it turned out he was just outwardly strong, needing to bolster his health with soup.

The realization that their boss was secretly struggling and needed to supplement his diet was quite a revelation. It made sense now why Si Nian often prepared soups to accompany meals and why Zhou Yue Shen preferred to eat alone in his office, hiding the truth of his condition.

With this new understanding, they felt a mix of sympathy and admiration for Si Nian's thoughtful care. Despite Zhou Yue Shen's apparent strength, he was indeed running on empty, and Si Nian's gesture of cooking him a nourishing soup was heartening.

The workers were struck by Zhou Yue Shen's harsh words and scrambled to correct themselves. They hurriedly reassured him, "Old boss, we didn't hear anything at all. Really!"

As they hastily collected their meat and fled the scene under Zhou Yue Shen's stern gaze, they felt a mix of relief and embarrassment. They had come with the hope of getting some of Si Nian's famous braised meat but ended up witnessing an unexpected side of their boss and his wife's relationship.

Yu Dong, feeling particularly awkward, forced a smile and said, "Oh, I just remembered I have something urgent to attend to. Boss, Sister-in-law, I'll be on my way now."

He quickly grabbed his meat and darted out, feeling a bit like a scapegoat in the chaotic situation. His initial intention to mooch a bit of food had turned into an unintended spectacle, leaving him to wonder how he'd explain the day's events later.

As everyone left, the office settled into a quieter atmosphere. Zhou Yue Shen's demeanor softened slightly as he looked at Si Nian, who was now focused on setting up the meal. Despite the interruptions and the awkwardness, he appreciated her effort and care.

Originally, when Yu Dong saw that the older two boys had run out, he thought Si Nian had already left. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to come over so casually. Based on his usual experience, whenever the eldest sister-in-law came here, something unfavorable for him always seemed to happen. Now, everyone at the pig farm knew that the boss was not in good shape. What had all his efforts been for?

Si Nian actually didn't want to agree. Although making braised meat wasn't difficult, once she helped one person, others would follow, and she couldn't keep turning people away. She definitely didn't want to deal with trouble. But in front of Zhou Yue Shen and his employees, it wasn't right to refuse, so she decided to leave the decision to Zhou Yue Shen. Fortunately, this man wasn't someone who could be easily swayed. He wasn't afraid of offending people.

"Don't worry about them. Let's eat," Zhou Yue Shen said, shifting his gaze back to her.

Si Nian agreed, "Okay."

Zhou Ze Dong and Zhou Ze Han brought their small lunchboxes over. The family of five quietly sat around the table, eating as usual. After finishing their meal, the two children quickly cleaned up the dishes and left. Si Nian's chili dipping sauce today was particularly aromatic and spicy.

She loved spicy food so much that her forehead was already beaded with sweat from the heat. Her mouth was making little gasping sounds. Zhou Yue Shen glanced at her, noticing that Si Nian's lips had become swollen from the spice. Her already full and red lips now looked even more vibrant, like a blooming cherry blossom.

Zhou Yue Shen turned his gaze away, grabbed a bottle of water from the side, opened it, and handed it to her. "If you can't handle spicy food, you should eat less next time. It's bad for your stomach," he said.

Si Nian gulped down the water and retorted, "I can handle it." The spice was intense, but it was within her tolerance. If she had to eat as blandly as him, life would lose its joy. Si Nian felt that a world without spice was incomplete. Her body was just too sensitive, causing her current reaction.

Looking up, she met Zhou Yue Shen's puzzled gaze. Indeed, those who couldn't handle spice would never understand those who loved it.

"Zhou Yue Shen, have you ever really tasted spicy food?"

Zhou Yue Shen was wiping the table.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yue Shen paused and turned to look at her. He usually preferred a bland diet and wasn't fond of spicy food. Si Nian, on the other hand, cooked with only a minimal amount of chili peppers, just enough to suit his tolerance, as she was mindful of the children.

He truly couldn't understand why she would want to dip meat in chili sauce, even when it made her sweat so much. Although he didn't find it entirely incomprehensible, he was concerned about how it might affect her health, worrying that too much spice could lead to stomach pain.

He gave a slight nod.

Si Nian smiled, her face glowing with charm. She beckoned him with a finger. Though not quite understanding the gesture, Zhou Yue Shen approached her.

In the next moment, Si Nian's delicate hands wrapped around his neck, her eyes sparkling seductively. "Zhou Yue Shen, do you want a kiss? I just drank water and rinsed my mouth."

Zhou Yue Shen was taken aback, his gaze fixed on her.

"Hmm," he murmured.

Si Nian, holding onto his neck, stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips against his. Her tongue gently explored his mouth. The scorching heat of their breaths quickly filled their mouths.

Zhou Yue Shen's brows furrowed visibly. Si Nian fluttered her eyelashes and then slowly pulled away.

"Ugh! Spicy..." Zhou Yue Shen's lips felt like they were on fire, the heat overwhelming his senses. He grabbed the water Si Nian had set aside and took a big gulp.

Seeing the rare look of discomfort on his face, Si Nian couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly.

"How is it? Can you understand now?" she teased.

Zhou Yue Shen remained silent, still feeling the lingering heat.

---

The next day, Si Nian visited the Lin family. She had already sent the pork over in advance. This time, she rode her bicycle with Yaoyao and brought a package of seasoning for the marinated meat.

Although she had mentioned this plan to her family before, it had been delayed due to Lin Mama's injury. Now that Lin Mama had been discharged and the wedding of Lin Sisi had passed, Si Nian thought it was a good time to get the marinated meat underway.

She hoped to complete this task quickly, aiming to earn some extra money before the New Year so that the Lin family could have a good holiday.

While Lin Sisi's situation was still being handled, it was essentially resolved. Si Nian would soon need to focus on her studies.

After the New Year and the start of school, she won't have time to teach others how to cook.

Although Lin Mama had been discharged from the hospital, there was no special feast or celebration. In rural areas, such wounds aren't considered severe and will heal with time. There was no need to host a meal just because she had been discharged.

Moreover, the atmosphere in Lin's village was somewhat awkward now. When Si Nian arrived, the villagers started gossiping.

Clearly, the arrest and imprisonment of Lin Uncle's only son had left the community in a state of confusion and disapproval. The villagers thought the Lin family had gone too far.

It was widely known that Lin Uncle's family only had one son, and having him imprisoned was seen as a devastating blow. In this era, such an event was considered a catastrophic setback for any family. If the families were unrelated and from different villages, the outcry might be more understandable.

But given that they were from the same village and related by blood, the villagers couldn't comprehend such a drastic and familial betrayal.

As soon as Si Nian left, the crowd immediately gathered to discuss the situation.

Many people believed that Lin's family had earned money and were worried that the eldest son's family might take their business. That's why they had reacted so harshly. According to them, earning money led to looking down on poor relatives, which they saw as a betrayal. Consequently, the Lin family had been the subject of criticism and gossip in the village.

Si Nian understood this well and didn't find it strange. If people weren't gossiping, she'd actually find it odd. Such conflicts between relatives would be the topic of gossip even in the future, thirty years from now. And this was the backward 1980s, after all.

But it was okay; the strong are always lonely. Only the weak need to form groups.

She arrived at the Lin family's house with a blank expression.

Seeing Si Nian, Lin Mama and Zhou Sui Sui were genuinely happy. To be honest, the recent criticism had made them feel somewhat embarrassed. If it hadn't been for Si Nian's support, the Lin family wouldn't have reached this point.

They had come to deeply understand that while walking the path to prosperity carved out by Si Nian, they would also lose certain things. Their relationship with the Lin family had never been particularly good, so it didn't matter much if it fell apart. However, they were always afraid of gossip.

They had endured in the past to avoid criticism. Now that things had already broken down, although they were hesitant to face the village's accusations, it was a peaceful era. What could they do about it? At most, they would simply avoid contact with these people in the future. It wasn't a big deal.

Instead of suffering in silence like before, it was better to be a bit selfish and live a better life now. After all, once they had earned money, who would care about these matters?

"Si Nian, come in quickly! The meat has arrived, and I was just thinking of coming to find you," Lin Mama said with a smile upon seeing her daughter. She had been worried that Si Nian might be too busy to come.

After all, her hospitalization had delayed the matter. With her daughter busy taking care of the children and having to teach them various things, Lin Mama felt quite guilty.

However, unlike the Zhou family, they didn't have a refrigerator, so the meat couldn't be stored for long and had to be processed quickly. They had been planning to go find Si Nian, but she had come to them first.

"How's the recovery?" Si Nian asked with concern, nodding.

Lin Mama touched the bandage on her head and smiled, "It's all healed. It just feels a bit itchy, probably because it's healing, but it's not a problem."

"We've washed the meat. How do you want to prepare it?" Lin Mama asked.

Si Nian nodded and said, "I've brought a seasoning pack. You can use it according to the instructions. It will be quite simple in the future. I'll teach you how to use it..."

Before she could finish, there was a knock on the door.