"Molin, it’s time for dinner. You go ahead, I’ll take care of this." A cheerful little girl of about sixteen or seventeen came over, looked at Liu Molin with a friendly expression, and was surprised to see Xu Ancheng and Yi Roujing across the counter, astonished by their good looks.

"What would you like to buy?"

"I’ll grab it first." Liu Molin picked up milk powder and malt extract, collected the money and tickets, and the little girl’s eyes widened.

"Buying so much!"

"They are regular employees, they can afford it." Liu Molin replied nonchalantly.

"Molin, you can too, you’re a regular employee now, you’re amazing, it only took a few months to get the position." The little girl looked at Liu Molin with a flash of envy, mixed with a hint of jealousy.

Liu Molin felt a sense of smugness, glanced at the little girl in front of her, looked at Xu Ancheng and Yi Roujing who had already left, instructed the girl to watch over the place, and left to have her dinner.

Liu Molin had lunch at the Department Store, but dinner was at home, after all, Liu Mohe was there, and she had to cook for her.

Thinking of Liu Mohe, a trace of guilt surged in Liu Molin’s heart, but thinking about her current lifestyle reinforced her resolve; she was now good to Liu Mohe, and could make it up to her.

Once Xu Ancheng and Yi Roujing walked out of the Department Store, they saw Liu Mohe squatting at the entrance of the building. She raised her head, looking at the gloomy sky, her eyes devoid of light, her face wrapped in a red cotton jacket, had grown thinner, Yi Roujing was somewhat surprised by the child’s change.

Yi Roujing paused, and Liu Mohe turned her head at the commotion, recognizing it was Yi Roujing, her eyes flickered in shock, and she stood up.

Liu Mohe was conflicted, but the emptiness in her eyes ignited a ray of hope, "Roujing, I..."

"Mohe—" Liu Molin came out and immediately saw Liu Mohe facing Xu Ancheng and Yi Roujing, her voice raised in panic.

Yi Roujing was startled by Liu Molin’s shout, her voice cracked, then Liu Molin’s figure quickly passed by Yi Roujing, approached Liu Mohe, and held her, "School’s out, right? Come home with big sister, big sister will make something delicious, tonight we’ll have braised pork."

Liu Molin hugged Liu Mohe and swiftly left.

Yi Roujing frowned slightly, feeling that Liu Mohe wanted to say something to her, but Liu Molin only dragged her away without covering her mouth, Liu Mohe didn’t say anything, Yi Roujing didn’t pursue it.

"Let’s go." Xu Ancheng turned to look at Liu Mohe, a deep thought flashed in his eyes, "If you care, I can check it out."

Yi Roujing was surprised, then shook her head, "Forget it, since she didn’t say anything, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions."

Leaving smoothly, Liu Molin breathed a sigh of relief, Liu Mohe’s heart grew cold.

"Big sister, I want to go home." Liu Mohe said.

"Why go back, isn’t the city nice? The schools in the city aren’t ones that just anyone can attend." Liu Molin replied.

"Big sister, do you not have a conscience?" Liu Mohe’s voice carried a hint of sarcasm; she was precocious and smart, seeing more clearly than her peers. Before, when she schemed a little against her family to seek small benefits for herself, she never wanted to harm anyone.

Although her own experiences were not caused by Liu Molin, she did nothing after learning about them, thinking only of herself, asking her to endure, which chilled her heart.

Thought she met a benefactor, but it turned out to be a wolf; huh, to Liu Molin, it was indeed a benefactor, but a wolf for herself, and she was only twelve.

"Mohe, big sister tells you, if today Mr. Liao favored me, I’d certainly be delighted," Liu Molin said, "who knew he liked..."

Liu Molin did not continue speaking, "It’s not just me, your second sister is also delighted, now she does so well at your school, all thanks to Mr. Liao."

"Think of grandma’s age, married at fourteen, you’re almost there too." Liu Molin said, touching her nose.

"Once we earn some money, we’ll buy a little girl that Mr. Liao likes, then you won’t have to... rest assured, big sister won’t neglect you, once you finish high school, big sister will find you a good match."

The more Liu Molin spoke, the more she felt that this was right, and the original guilt grew less, at worst she could give her job to her little sister, by then she could certainly find another good job by herself.

Liu Mohe’s eyes flashed coldly, holding hope for them is something only a fool would do, she had to save herself.

The issue with the Liu Family Sisters was something Yi Roujing didn’t focus on, but before New Year’s Day, a big event occurred in Huaixi County. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The Liao Family was criticized, Liao Yongzhong was found to have misconduct issues, was suspended and checked, Liu Molin and Liu Moli’s jobs were directly dismissed, and they were taken for labor reform.

When Yi Roujing found out, more than half of Huaixi County already knew the news.

The hospital was most affected by Ye Xiangli, since she was dating Liao Shiqi, then the topic turned to Feng Lishu, complimenting her sharp judgment in knowing the Liao Family wasn’t good, and thus rejecting Liao Shiqi’s pursuit.

Feng Lishu felt puzzled by this, Ruan Qingru upon knowing took Feng Lishu to visit a friend at the Liao Family, seeing her expression unchanged from before, thinking she might have known beforehand, no wonder she had been cool to her husband all these years.

Liao Shiqi, as a son at the power plant, faced controversy, feeling unable to hold his head up, immediately severed ties when Liao Yongzhong was demoted, thankful that Ye Xiangli stood by him, strengthening his resolve to marry.

However, Liu Mohe disappeared from Huaixi County, the school noticed she hadn’t attended in a while, probably embarrassed by her sisters’ issues, but no procedures for dropout or transfer had been done, teachers went to her home at Wan Tang Production Team, only to find she was missing.

When Yi Roujing learned of this, a sense of doubt crossed her mind, Xu Ancheng went ahead to inquire and investigate.

Though the family’s attention on this matter was fleeting, as New Year’s Day arrived, meaning Li Honghua mother and daughter would come.

From East Province to Huaixi County, the train ride took about forty hours, but Li Hongying had been busy preparing since before New Year’s Day, now dealing with the cold weather, it was possible to buy more without fear of spoilage, previously prepared fermented tofu was sealed in glass jars, totaling six large jars, recently made tofu was stored outside to freeze, yielding three boards of tofu.

Pork belly, pig’s feet, ribs were bought in increments, dried vegetables filled an entire sack, fresh white radishes and cabbage were stored in the cellar, the family’s rice and flour from the harvest, along with commercial grain bought in the city, ensured a full month’s worth without buying anything, feeding everyone sufficiently.