Chapter 130: Qian Yuxiang’s Scheme

Xia Yan’s tone did not soften in the slightest just because she was dealing with children; if anything, she grew even more incensed. They had arrived and immediately demanded things by name, using a tone of interrogation. This was no longer a simple matter of bad manners—it was a complete lack of upbringing.

"Are you making beef soup this morning? There are a lot of people in my family, so fill this pot up for us. Hurry up; we have to take it back."

The eldest boy showed no fear of Xia Yan’s glare, instead becoming even more boisterous.

Xia Yan was so angry she laughed. "Whose children are you? And who told you my house had beef soup?"

"None of your business whose we are."

The boy remembered his mother’s instructions from when they left: do not reveal who their parents were, and leave the moment they got the soup. To ensure no one would recognize them, they had specifically arrived before the morning reveille sounded.

Before Xia Yan could even react, a pot was thrust toward her.

This pushed her anger to the limit. She threw the pot away with force; it hit the ground with a loud clatter and spun several times before coming to a stop.

"Why did you throw our pot?"

"Why did you bang on my door? I don't even know who you are!" Xia Yan stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the boy.

"Your name is Xia Yan, and your house has beef soup, so I knocked on your door."

"Hey, you ill-mannered brat, whose child are you anyway? What does it have to do with you if I have beef soup?"

"If your family is eating beef soup, then it has everything to do with us! You said yourself that you were inviting everyone to eat beef soup, so we are allowed to come and eat!"

"Your logic is certainly sharp. I did say yesterday that I would treat everyone to beef soup, but I was referring to the people on the transport truck. I recall that you lot were not on that truck."

Xia Yan’s sleepiness had vanished. She looked at the five little ones with intrigue. Given their conduct and the fact that their mother was the woman from the truck yesterday, she had a rough idea of whose children they were.

Xia Yan glanced toward the distance and, sure enough, spotted a familiar green headscarf near a wall.

"I don't care. We’re here to eat the beef soup today, that's all."

The boy, acting like a little hooligan—just like his mother—refused to listen to reason. As he spoke, he ran over to pick up the pot, then turned and began trying to push his way into the courtyard with his younger siblings in tow.

"You kids stop right there!"

Xia Yan dashed in front of them and slammed the courtyard gate shut.

"I’ll say it one more time: there is no beef soup here for you today."

"You..."

"Don't you 'you' me! If you want beef soup, you need to learn some manners first!"

At that moment, the camp’s morning reveille sounded. In the residential compound, women were beginning to wake up and prepare breakfast.

Wang Guilan remembered Xia Yan saying she would treat everyone to beef soup. Knowing Xia Yan couldn't handle it alone, she came over early to help. When she opened the gate, she saw Xia Yan standing there with her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at the five children.

"Sister Xia."

"Auntie Wang."

Hearing Wang Guilan’s voice, Xia Yan put on a smile.

"What’s going on here?"

Wang Guilan walked over, curiously eyeing the five children. "If I’m not mistaken, you’re from Qian Yuxiang’s family, right? You must be Zhu Daqiang."

Seeing that he had been identified, the boy glanced toward the distance. Deciding not to linger, he turned and ran off with his siblings.

"Hmph, that child has absolutely no manners."

Wang Guilan couldn't help but grumble before turning to Xia Yan. "Sister Xia, you said yesterday you were going to treat everyone to beef soup. I’ve come to give you a hand."

"Auntie Wang, I was just worrying about that. If a lot of people show up later, I wouldn't be able to handle it alone. I really appreciate your help."

"Oh, you’re always so polite. Don't talk about 'trouble' or 'not trouble' in the future; it’s just a matter of lending a hand."

"Deal!"

Xia Yan smiled and agreed. "Then, Auntie, if you could help me get the fire going, I’ll go fetch some water. Once it boils, I’ll start making the soup."

Not far away, the five children reached a corner of the wall. Qian Yuxiang saw the empty pot. "What happened? Where is the beef soup?"

"Mom, she wouldn't give it to us! I don't care, I want beef soup! You go get it!"

Zhu Daqiang’s tone when speaking to his mother was even worse than it had been with Xia Yan.

Instead of being angry, Qian Yuxiang laughed. "Daqiang, your mother just had an argument with that woman yesterday; even if I went, she certainly wouldn't give us any meat. Here’s what we’ll do: you wait until some other people show up, then go. That Xia Yan cares about her reputation—she’ll definitely fill a big pot for you. If she doesn't, you just scoop it yourself!"

"And what if she still doesn't give it to us?"

"If she still doesn't?"

Qian Yuxiang’s eyes darted around. "Er Ya, come here. You grab a handful of dirt. If that Xia Yan doesn't give it to you, you throw it into the pot. If our family doesn't get to eat, then nobody else will either."

Inside the courtyard, Xia Yan was working up a sweat. She took out the pre-boiled beef offal, chopped up the tripe and intestines, and put them back into the pot. A full pot like this weighed at least twenty pounds.

Once that was done, she took out some cilantro and chopped it up as well.

By now, the beef bone broth was boiling, and its rich, savory aroma instantly filled the entire courtyard.

"Mom! It smells so good!"

"You're up so early today?"

Usually, her youngest son was the last one to wake up, but today he was the first.

"The food Mom is making woke me up with its smell. Good morning, Grandma Wang."

Seeing Wang Guilan behind the stove, Lin Hongzhuo greeted her politely.

"Go wash your face and brush your teeth."

"Xiao Xia, you've raised this child to be more and more well-behaved." Wang Guilan praised.

Xia Yan watched his retreating figure. "It’s my blessing. All three children are good kids; otherwise, I wouldn't have it so easy."

"Meeting you is their blessing, too," Wang Guilan sighed.

Xia Yan smiled, said nothing more, and dropped the glass noodles into the pot, followed by shredded cabbage. She then took some dried chilies from the kitchen and prepared a large bowl of chili oil.

As the aroma wafted out, even Wang Guilan’s stomach couldn't help but growl.

"Xiao Xia, this soup smells even better than last night’s. Just the scent alone is enough to make a person crave it."

"I was in a rush yesterday, so I just seasoned it simply. Today, I added some extra spices."

"No wonder."

Xia Yan covered the pot, waiting for it to come to a full, rolling boil. She checked the time, calculating that everyone should be arriving soon.

Early morning…

Many families in the residential compound had just woken up, and the moment they opened their doors, they were greeted by the enticing scent of beef soup.

Over at the wall, the Qian Yuxiang family was stomping their feet in frustration.

"What is wrong with these people? Can’t they even get here in time to eat?" Qian Yuxiang gritted her teeth.

"Mom, I’m hungry."

The youngest of the five girls was wiping her nose, staring longingly at Xia Yan’s courtyard.

"Hungry, hungry, hungry! I’m hungry too! What do we do now? Nobody has even arrived yet!"