"Wei Zheng, go, fetch a few more things from the cellar." Jing Pan's expression was displeased.
Wei Zheng felt unbearably awkward. He glared at Qiao Lian's whole family. How could they wipe out the food the moment it hit the table, without leaving a single scrap for anyone else?
He had long anticipated such an embarrassing situation where there wouldn't be enough to eat. "Don't trouble yourself. We brought plenty with us. We'll just cook some of our own things. You all go ahead."
Jing Shu took out beef jerky and diced rabbit from the RV, threw together two simple dishes, warmed up the naan, and poured everyone milk. The family sat down to a casual meal, occasionally tossing scraps to Xiao Dou.
The plump chicken was uneasy in this new environment and stuck close to Jing Shu, as if terrified of being abandoned. When such a large bird appeared, Eldest Aunt's family was stunned.
A brat shouted, "There's chicken to eat, there's chicken to eat!"
Grandma Jing immediately shot him a fierce glare. This was her treasure. Who would dare think of slaughtering it?
"We'll just make do today," she said. "Tomorrow, on New Year's Eve, we'll eat dumplings."
Qiao Lian's mother swallowed hungrily. "Calling this 'making do'? Who are you trying to fool?"
Her youngest son ran over without a word, reaching straight for the beef jerky. Jing Shu showed no mercy. She stretched out her leg and lightly tripped him.
The child crashed to the ground with a loud thud and didn't even dare cry.
Qiao Lian scolded, "You brat, haven't you eaten enough? Get back here with me! You've completely embarrassed our family!"
Humiliated, they slunk away after stuffing themselves. The farce ended there, and Qiao Lian's family suddenly realized that this side of the family was even more formidable than Wei Zheng's.
Second Aunt's family, meanwhile, was fortunate enough to enjoy a rich dinner. Second Uncle had always looked down on her father's household, thinking them simple, rigid, stuck in their meager salaried jobs with no future.
But now, in the second year of the apocalypse, when his family had nothing to eat, her father's family not only took in two burdens but still fed and supported them, living in far better conditions than anyone else. He began scheming how to cling closer. Even a bit of the leftovers from this household would be enough to sustain his own.
During the meal, Second Aunt's son Li Yun hid quietly in a corner, sneaking glances at Jing Shu. Whenever she caught his eye, he shrank back, haunted by memories of the devilish smile she had worn before.
The little girl he had bullied in childhood had turned into a demon. Just earlier, she had tripped a child without the slightest ripple in her expression. And at noon, when that brat clamored about eating chicken, that chicken had leapt out with a flash and pinned the boy flat to the ground. Everyone had been terrified, and the child never mentioned eating chicken again.
That night, Grandma Jing helped Eldest Aunt prepare everything for the coming celebration, including the procedures. Jing Shu, meanwhile, diligently practiced with the Cube Space, while tending to the poultry and plants inside. With the Spirit Spring's catalysis, the snake was growing quickly. In less than ten days, it should be ready to use as medicine.
Under the pretense of going for a walk, she handled the poultry manure. If left for more than two or three days, the Cube Space would be overflowing with feces. This daily "walk" had become one of her best habits.
When it was time to sleep, there were simply too many people. Even Jing Zhou's family had to sleep on the floor. Luckily, they had brought a tent. They cleared out Jing Pan's storage room, laid down planks and mats, and finally set up the soft tent inside.
The smell was awful. A month of heavy rain had left the house moldy. Even after Su Lanzhi's thorough cleaning, the stench lingered. They had no choice but to spread lime powder and bring in a dryer.
Grandpa Jing, with nothing else to do, dug up clay and built a kiln. Nights were still bitterly cold, and the charcoal fire could not be allowed to go out.
Their preparations left even Wei Chang clicking his tongue. Qiao Lian's mother, watching from the sidelines, was practically dumbfounded. A house that kept out wind and rain was already a luxury compared to shacks of plywood, yet this family fussed over mold, wiping and drying, even building a kiln for heat. It was pure extravagance.
The government had long ago confiscated all timber and fuel. Now, if you wanted any, you had to exchange points for it. Yet Jing Shu's family casually brought out basket after basket.
…
Later that night, Qiao Lian hugged her husband from behind. "Why are you giving me that face all day?"
After a long silence, Wei Zheng muttered, "Did I marry you, or did I marry your entire family?"
"Didn't your Second Aunt's family also come to stay?"
"They've only been here a few days. How long has your family been camped here? How about this: I'll split from my parents. I won't meddle in their affairs, and they won't meddle in mine. I have a hundred virtual coins each month. I'll give them all to you. Do whatever you want."
Without his parents, what would he have?
Qiao Lian was clever enough not to use the child in her belly as leverage. She said instead, "After New Year's Day, aside from my eldest brother, the rest of them will go back. I'll still give thirty virtual coins a month for my filial duty. Don't worry about it."
"…Alright."
Relieved, she let out a soft breath, her hand slipping deftly into his pants. "How about I take care of you…hm?"
"Fine."
…
Finally, New Year's Eve arrived. At dawn, Jing Shu's family prepared a lavish breakfast from their own stores. Perhaps because of what Qiao Lian had said, her family didn't show up to scrounge food again. They obediently ate their watery porridge.
The day remained busy, with preparations for the wedding banquet of Wei Zheng and Qiao Lian: cooking, arranging guests, keeping things simple yet orderly. Only after everything was ready did Grandma Jing turn to making the New Year's Eve meal.
In addition to the dishes, there had to be dumplings.
For the first time, Qiao Lian's family saw dumpling wrappers made from several kilograms of flour at once. They were used to watery paste with just a sprinkle of flour. To witness such extravagance, using so much flour at once, left them swallowing hard.
Qiao Lian's mother couldn't help stepping forward. "In-laws, let me help wrap dumplings." If she could sneak a few back, that would be ideal.
Grandma Jing frowned at her grimy hands, uncertain what she had touched. "Xiao Wang, your hands aren't clean enough for dumpling making. If you really want to help, go tend the firewood."
"I just remembered Qiao Lian called me to fetch her water." She quickly scurried away.
Grandma Jing shook her head, and Jing Pan whispered, "If I had known Qiao Lian's family was like this, I'd never have let Wei Zheng marry her, even if it killed me. Back then I panicked, thinking he was already thirty with no wife. Now look, there are women lined up outside wanting to marry him."
===
So, in this scene Qiao Lan just reaches for her husband's pants and says she's want to take care of him But if I remember correctly, there's another part (maybe in a different chapter) where it's described a little differently—she actually squats down in front of him, pulls down the zipper, and then makes her offer to give him a bj.
I'm not 100% sure if this difference is because the author revised the text later or if it simply shows up in another chapter, but my guess is that it's from a different place in the story.