Zhang Yu walked out of the house with little energy, his unsteady steps making it clear that his gait was unstable. He rubbed his stomach, "So hungry." Auntie Wang also lacked energy, "Little Yu, aren’t you having breakfast at home?" Zhang Yu responded, "Not having breakfast at home, going to work for a bit at the unit and will eat around nine." "Two meals a day." Everyone was low on energy, and there were fewer people selling scrap. Before, some people would chat near the scrap station, but now even that’s rare. This also made Zhang Yu relieved, at least when improving meals, the chances of being discovered are reduced. "Two meals a day?" Du Zhong exclaimed. "What else can we do? My job is logistics, and there’s a child, the monthly rations are just that much." He drank another bellyful of water and then slowly walked home. Auntie Wang looked at Zhang Yu’s back and sighed, "Xiao Zhang has gotten thinner again." "Everyone’s lost weight, my old pants now just hang loose." "I don’t know when the supplies will return to normal." Previously, supplies were barely sufficient, luckily there were still meat and egg supplies. Occasionally one could go to the Pigeon Market to improve the meal, so it wasn’t too bad. Now the supplies have decreased, as for the meat coupons and egg tickets, although they’ve decreased in quantity, they are still issued monthly. But what’s issued are vouchers, not the actual meat and eggs, and every time the market gets meat and eggs, it’s not only in small quantities, but the timing is also inconsistent. Often everyone could only watch helplessly as these coupons expired, "At least Zhang Yu is better off, getting something every week." Everyone was really envious of Zhang Yu now, even though the fish caught weren’t big, they were at least fish, and fish were also meat. "Yes, now there are so many people fishing by the river." Fish are scarce, and there are too many fishermen, people are too many, and the porridge is too little, everything is not enough. "It’s not just by the river, even on the mountains, not just wild vegetables, even the grass would be dug up by people." It’s worrisome for everyone. After a brief chat, everyone went back to their own homes, not because they didn’t want to talk, but because conserving energy was more important at this time. Everyone prioritized the breadwinners at home, trying not to let them go hungry. Zhang Yu returned home with a dangling belly, feeling all sorts of discomfort, although a bit hungry, it was just a bit. Just to cover it up, he had to drink water diligently, sigh, how bloated. "Zhao Juan, you?" Auntie Wang sat at the door, staring at some green onions she had grown. Last year, after turning over unused flower pots, she planted a few things. Though it was just a few pots, it was something anyway. Several old neighbors were really stunned to see Zhao Juan whom they hadn’t seen for a long time, "You, you..." The last time Auntie Wang happened to meet Zhao Juan on the street, she saw that she had lost a lot of weight. When she asked, Zhao Juan said it was morning sickness. Although it didn’t quite seem like that, since the person in question had said so, there was no need to press further. Now, her belly had grown bigger, but Zhao Juan herself looked even thinner. If it weren’t for her big belly, you wouldn’t be able to tell she was pregnant. Zhao Juan knew her current state wasn’t good. If possible, she wouldn’t want to appear . Initially, she chose to not want anything from her family and insisted on marrying Liu Ming. Back then, people said she would regret it, but Zhao Juan was very determined. The man was her choice; she was confident she would live better than Zhang Yu, and the couple would be loving. She did not expect that after marrying Liu Ming and becoming the daughter-in-law of the Liu Family, she realized that Liu Ming’s coldness before marriage was not even the worst. Clearly, she had a chance to completely leave the Liu Family, but it was like she was possessed; she cried and insisted on marrying Liu Ming. Strong-willed Zhao Juan didn’t want the marriage to end just like that, as it would mean she was a failure. Moreover, even if she were willing to divorce, her family had no place for her anymore. Her room had long been repurposed, and if she divorced, Zhao Gui would not only sarcastically mock her but definitely wouldn’t support her. She gritted her teeth, believing that as long as she behaved well in the Liu Family, Liu Ming would definitely recognize her worth. Follow current novels on n0velfire.net Once she got pregnant, she thought the hardships of life would pass, and life would gradually improve. Little did she know, even when she had a child, the Liu Family wasn’t the least bit happy, just the same as before. As a pregnant woman, her food was the worst in the family. Auntie Zhao lethargically washed items in the central courtyard, and seeing her daughter whom she hadn’t seen in a while, she didn’t dare to recognize this state. "Xiao Juan, Xiao Juan, why, why are you so thin." Auntie Zhao didn’t dare to embrace her daughter, really worried that a little force might break her. Zhang Yu saw Zhao Juan through the door and was startled by her skeletal appearance. In a previous life, it was around this time that she also got pregnant, but the difference was that Zhao Gui hadn’t adopted a son. Even if he was unhappy with Zhao Juan’s marriage. After she was pregnant, he often brought her back for meals, and although she was still a bit thin, it was much better than now. The mother’s body was so frail, the belly seemed prominent, Zhang Yu looked at the belly a couple more times, thinking it would definitely require a cesarean section, as a natural birth would be unlikely with such a weak maternal body. "Isn’t that Sister Xiao Juan." Zhao Hong was also startled to see Zhao Juan and didn’t understand how she had become so thin. "Doesn’t she eat?" Zhao Hong was puzzled, although there was a tight supply of food and many people were not getting enough to eat, if there was a pregnant woman at home, they would usually make some effort to care for her. Zhang Yu knew the Liu Family was dissatisfied with Zhao Gui’s adopted son, but couldn’t show it openly, so they took it out on Zhao Juan. Zhang Yu thought that once she was pregnant, the Liu Family would quiet down a bit, as it was still their family’s child after all. Now she was sure, some people truly cannot be reasoned with in normal ways. Auntie Zhao wanted to ask Zhao Juan why a pregnant woman like her had become so thin, but looking at the surrounding neighbors. "Xiao Juan, you’re tired too, go home and rest a bit." Zhao Juan didn’t want the surrounding neighbors to know why she returned, so she didn’t oppose the suggestion and followed her into the house. Inside, Zhao Gui didn’t even glance at his muddle-headed daughter when he saw her return. "Sister." Zhao Jian gave a greeting, quickly finished his meal, and went inside to grab his bag. "Dad, Mom, I’m going to school now." He casually picked up a cornbread nearby. Zhao Juan saw the cornbread on the table and felt so hungry; it was since last night that she’d had a bowl of porridge so thin you could see your reflection in it. Auntie Zhao noticed Zhao Juan’s motion and wanted to tell Zhao Jian to give the cornbread to Zhao Juan. "Zhao Jian, go to school." Zhao Gui quickly intervened before Auntie Zhao could speak. Zhao Jian knew what Auntie Zhao wanted to say, but deep down, he didn’t want to acknowledge Zhao Juan as his sister; she’d never been kind to him.