Chapter 16: Asking for Humiliation

With the backing of her system, Ji Sisi could afford to be generous. Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to make use of the pork and pig's trotters she had just acquired?

Looking at the spotless kitchen and the water vat filled to the brim, Ji Sisi’s satisfaction with her husband grew even further.

When her daughter-in-law announced she would be cooking, Lin Jinghua didn't just stand by; she busied herself with boiling water and preparing the rice. Once the water boiled, Ji Sisi took out a tin of malted milk powder and prepared a cup for everyone in the family.

Lin Jinghua initially declined, saying, "Such a precious item—it would be a waste for me to drink it."

"Mom, it’s already prepared. It would only be a waste if you didn't drink it."

On this point, Ji Sisi was incredibly open-handed. She decided she would take another tour of the department store tomorrow. She was certain she could acquire more fine things. On the night of her wedding, after she had fallen asleep, her system had quietly upgraded.

The rules of the upgraded system had changed; for instance, she could reset her check-in location for ten points. This meant that for a total of eleven points, she could check in at the bank again. Furthermore, the system had thoughtfully gifted her an upgrade pack containing one hundred points.

The joy in Ji Sisi’s heart was overflowing. Heavens, having gone from rags to riches overnight, her points had finally surpassed three digits. Because of this, a triumphant Ji Sisi felt she could walk with her head held high. Once she upgraded and unlocked the space mall, she would be the most formidable magical girl warrior in the world!

But that was for the future. For now, she would content herself with preparing a sumptuous lunch for the family.

It was the first time not only for Lin Jinghua, but also for Gu Wei and Gu Ning, to taste malted milk. Gu Ning, in particular, widened her eyes at the first sip and began to dance with excitement.

"Sister-in-law, it’s delicious! It’s truly delicious. This is the first time I've ever tasted something so wonderful."

After finishing, she licked her lips, her face beaming with a joyous smile, her eyes large and bright. Gu Yu and Lin Jinghua exchanged glances, their hearts filled with unspeakable bitterness. Lin Jinghua was once again grateful for the Ji family’s arrangement of the bride swap; she felt that she had truly gained a wonderful daughter-in-law, and she resolved to treat Sisi like her own flesh and blood from now on.

Hearing his younger sister’s words, Gu Yu felt as if his heart had been pricked by a needle. The pain was unbearable. For the past few years, he had been struggling outside, risking his life to earn a living. The Gu family’s current quality of life was largely due to his efforts. Yet, these so-called relatives had been so cruel to his mother and siblings.

*Second Uncle, well played,* he thought. *You had best ensure I never catch you in any wrongdoing!*

Because of the turbulent emotions swirling within him, the usually meticulous Gu Yu forgot to ask where Ji Sisi had gotten the malted milk. As luck would have it, the various vegetables sent by County Magistrate Chu also included pig's trotters, along with pork, potatoes, tofu, chili peppers, green beans, and other staples like rice, flour, and oil.

Gu Yu told his wife to use whatever she needed, promising to replenish the supplies tomorrow. As for the favor from Magistrate Chu, he would find other ways to repay it. Ji Sisi remained noncommittal; she intended to go out tomorrow, but she had no plans to accompany Gu Yu. Regardless of anything else, at the very least, she was not ready to tell anyone about the check-in system.

With her mother-in-law tending the fire, Ji Sisi used the open flame to singe the remaining hairs off the pig's trotters. She then chopped them into pieces and blanched them in boiling water to remove the blood. After skimming the foam, she rinsed them and set them aside. She heated oil in the pot, added rock sugar to create a caramel color, and then tossed in the trotters.

Magistrate Chu was truly thoughtful; he had sent not just rice, flour, oil, and vegetables, but even a wide array of seasonings and spices. As far as she knew, while Magistrate Chu wasn't the top official in the county, he was a man of real power. Having connections with such a prominent figure meant that Gu Yu himself was a man of substance.

*Hm,* Ji Sisi suddenly thought, *perhaps having a capable, hardworking, considerate, and handsome husband in one's life isn't such a bad thing after all?*

She stir-fried the trotters, added red chilies and ginger strips for fragrance, and then tossed in star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, and other spices. An alluring aroma quickly filled the room. Even Gu Yu, who usually claimed not to care much for the pleasures of the palate, found himself filled with anticipation for the meal.

In addition to the braised pig's trotters, Ji Sisi stir-fried spicy and sour shredded potatoes, made Mapo tofu, and prepared a plate of sautéed greens. Since no one in the family was afraid of spice, she didn't have to hold back. Everyone savored the meal, full of admiration for Ji Sisi’s culinary skills.

Only Lin Jinghua felt a pang of heartache. Cooking skills weren't innate; she wondered how much abuse the poor child had suffered at the Ji household to have become so adept at such a young age.

Since Ji Sisi had cooked, she didn't have to worry about cleaning up. With her mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law all pitching in, the work was finished quickly.

Gu Yu sat down with his wife to discuss family affairs. "Staying here is only temporary. I’ll go speak with Uncle Chu to see if we can rent this house." He held his wife’s hand and said earnestly, "I’ll take on more missions and strive to earn enough money before the end of the year to buy a home for you all."

They were accustomed to living in the military compound, and perhaps they could ask Uncle Chu if the houses there could be bought. Ji Sisi raised an eyebrow. "Are the bonuses for your missions that high?" She knew Gu Yu worked hard in the military, constantly facing life-and-death situations, and his sharp mind had earned him many meritorious honors. That was why he had been promoted quickly and always had a decent salary. However, Ji Sisi understood that in this era, no matter how high a salary was, it only went so far; significant raises for soldiers wouldn't come for another decade or more.

Gu Yu didn't hide anything, telling his wife honestly, "What I turned over to the family before was just my regular monthly allowance. I take on private assignments during missions, and those carry bonuses."

In short, the higher the risk, the greater the reward.

Ji Sisi didn't ask further. She knew this man was risking his life for this money—it was truly blood and sweat. She sighed again at how heartless the old Mrs. Gu was, pushing away such a fine grandson.

Since they planned to stay there for a long time, there was much to be purchased. Gu Yu and Ji Sisi were preparing to go out when Ji Manrou suddenly arrived.

She spoke directly to Ji Sisi, "Sister, Mom and Dad told me to tell you: you don't need to come back for your homecoming visit tomorrow." Ji Manrou’s tone was excited, her expression one of someone waiting to see a spectacle.

*Oh,* Ji Sisi thought. *So, after the fallout with the Gu family, her own maiden family was cutting ties with her too?*

Ji Sisi looked at Ji Manrou and replied flatly, "Fine by me. That saves me from having to prepare homecoming gifts, so I’ve saved myself a bit of money."

Ji Manrou felt snubbed, thinking that she and her eldest sister were simply destined to clash.