While hauling soil to reinforce the dike, Xu Tongdao spotted Xu Tonglin's father, Xu Weiguo. Xu Weiguo also saw him, gave him a kind smile, nodded, and greeted him.
After what happened last night with Xu Tonglin falling into the river, it was obvious Xu Weiguo no longer dared let the boy come to the dike.
"Uncle, is Linzi doing okay?" Xu Tongdao asked quietly while digging.
Xu Weiguo nodded. "Tongdao, we really owe you for last night. His mother and I both heard about it. There were plenty of villagers there, but you were the only one who dared jump into the water to save our Linzi. If not for you… I don't even dare imagine what could've happened."
From his words, Xu Tongdao could clearly feel the gratitude.
Xu Tongdao smiled. "Uncle, Linzi and I grew up together—we're basically real brothers. He can't swim. How could I not save him after seeing him fall in? Please don't be so polite."
Xu Weiguo nodded repeatedly. "Right, right! Oh, by the way—Linzi's mother got up early this morning and cooked several good dishes. She specifically asked me to bring them for you. When we eat at noon, don't be shy."
Xu Tongdao smiled and accepted. "Alright. Then thank you in advance, Uncle."
Xu Weiguo waved his hand. "Look at you. This is only right—I should be thanking you. I know your family's having a hard time right now. Tongdao, listen to me: if your family ever needs help, you or your mother just say the word. Don't stand on ceremony, alright?"
"Alright. Thank you, Uncle."
…
At noon, when everyone went to the house below the dike to eat the communal meal, Xu Weiguo really did bring Xu Tongdao an aluminum lunchbox. When he opened it, there was fish, meat, and green peppers stir‑fried with eggs.
The lunchbox was packed full.
Xu Tongdao thanked him with a smile and didn't refuse, but said, "Uncle, this is way too much for me alone. Why don't you eat with me? I won't be polite, and you shouldn't be either—how about that?"
Xu Weiguo waved him off with a laugh and turned away. "I won't be polite, but I've already got mine. This is all for you! You're at the age where you need to grow—eat it all. Don't leave any leftovers!"
Many people saw this scene, and soon teasing remarks followed.
"Weiguo, this isn't right, is it? We didn't jump in the river last night, but we all helped out. Bringing good food just for Tongdao alone—that's not fair, right?"
"Exactly! If you cooked good food, why not make more and let everyone have a taste?"
"Tongdao! Since you can't finish all that, why don't I help you out a bit? Hahaha!"
…
Hearing this chatter, Xu Weiguo rolled his eyes at them, took out his own rice bowl, and held it out. "If you want to eat, eat from mine. That food is all for Tongdao! He risked his life last night to save my Linzi!"
Xu Tongdao smiled and said to the villager who offered to help him eat, "Sure."
That man really came over, grinning, and picked a few pieces of braised pork and green‑pepper eggs from the lunchbox.
"Thanks, Tongdao! You're a good kid. Heh—more generous than your dad!"
The man was skinny and dark, an old bachelor in his forties who still lived with his elderly mother. He wasn't as domineering as Xu Hengbing, but he often stole small things or took petty advantages.
Xu Tongdao looked down on people like that, but had no interest in offending him—there was no point. It was only a few bites of food.
Aside from that man, none of the others who joked earlier actually came over to take any food.
Xu Tongdao carried his lunchbox and rice to sit under the eaves, set the box on the windowsill, shoveled down a few mouthfuls of rice, and stuffed a piece of braised pork into his mouth, chewing heartily.
Just as he was enjoying himself, he glanced up and caught sight of another skinny figure not far away.
That person was also staring his way—and had just swallowed.
Xu Tongdao paused.
He knew that person too. Also from Xu Family Village.
About the same age as him—maybe two years older.
His name was Xu Changsheng.
The name sounded auspicious, but he had a bitter fate.
Why?
Because Xu Changsheng's biological mother died from complications during childbirth.
A few years later, his father remarried. The new wife was good at bearing children and gave Xu Changsheng a younger sister and a younger brother.
And just like that, Xu Changsheng became a child raised by a stepmother.
It wasn't that stepmothers were always cruel to children from a previous marriage—but Xu Changsheng's stepmother truly treated him poorly.
As far as Xu Tongdao knew, Xu Changsheng had been living in his family's kitchen for years, sleeping on a makeshift bed built from bricks and wooden boards in the firewood area.
Xu Tongdao also remembered that once, in the original timeline, he went to find Xu Changsheng and saw him plucking feathers from a chicken. That day, Xu Changsheng's family had killed a rooster.
His stepmother sat under the eaves knitting, chatting with neighbors, and casually left the feather‑plucking to the ten‑year‑old Xu Changsheng. That alone wasn't the issue—the problem was how calculating she was.
While knitting and chatting, she repeatedly said something Xu Tongdao would remember for many years:
"Our Changsheng is pitiful—no taste for good food. Our Changsheng doesn't eat chicken…"
Yet later, when Xu Changsheng was cooking the chicken in the kitchen, Xu Tongdao clearly saw him sneak two pieces of chicken into his mouth when his stepmother wasn't looking.
Xu Tongdao had been two years younger back then, simple‑minded, and even asked him foolishly,
"Didn't your mom say you don't eat chicken?"
…
These memories surfaced, and Xu Tongdao sighed softly. He raised his hand and waved to Xu Changsheng nearby.
"Changsheng! Come here! I can't finish all this food—come help me eat some. Hurry!"
Xu Changsheng froze, pointed at himself in disbelief. "Tongdao, you mean me? You serious?"
Xu Tongdao smiled and nodded, beckoning again.
This time Xu Changsheng believed him. He jogged over, face full of joy. "Tongdao! You're really something. Thanks! Hehe."
"Why be polite with me? Eat. Hurry and eat."
As Xu Tongdao urged him on, his thoughts drifted again to Xu Changsheng's fate in the original timeline.
To be honest, he didn't really know what became of him.
He only remembered his mother saying that Xu Changsheng hadn't come home for several Spring Festivals—apparently his stepmother was too vicious. Every time Xu Changsheng returned home, the hard‑earned money he'd saved for a whole year would be forced out of him, all of it handed over…
TL: If you want to read ahead by at least ten chapters, patreon.com/EdibleMapleSyrup