So of them had accompanied their husbands to the military, so had visited relatives, and so had attended gatherings like this several tis, often being ridiced or having their speech, actions, eating, and even drinking criticized.
If their own n had the gumption to stand up for them, that would be one thing, but so, after coming ho, even looked down on their wives. This really stifled their hearts, after so many years of hard work, not knowing what it was all for. But Shen ng had spoken their minds.
These were the exact things that they wanted to say but didn’t know how to express.
"Girl, what you said is so right, I always wanted to say these things too, just didn’t know how to put them."
" too, too. I’ve also co here with Old Chang for gatherings. The way they spoke about , ah, they said I eat with a smacking sound, drink water like an old ox, can’t even handle my liquor, and they even talked about burping and farting. Tell , who doesn’t burp and fart, then she must be a goddess."
"Hahaha, oh my, alright, let’s stop the crude talk for now, lest we get talked about again later."
"Hehehe, I’m just expressing my opinion. Captain Lu has really good taste, I genuinely like you a lot, Xiao ng."
...
The crowd started to chatter away; the group of intellectuals next to Qin Hao’s wife blushed, because previously they did indeed have similar thoughts. Shen ng’s words felt like a slap in their faces.
Having been soldiers for years, they’d forgotten about the wives who’d toiled so hard at ho. If it weren’t for their diligent care at ho, how could they serve at ease in the military?
Several military wives exchanged glances with their husbands, seeing the guilt and compassion in their eyes, they felt even more fond of Shen ng.
Shen Pingping turned pale with the realization. She had never expected a rural woman to speak so eloquently and to the point. "Sss, what are you doing, brother? You’re pinching my leg blue."
"Shen Pingping, I warn you, stop talking. If you want to stay, then just sit quietly and finish this al. If you don’t want to stay, then hurry up and leave. Don’t embarrass any further."
Shen Yi said with a smile, leaning in close to whisper to Shen Pingping.
Shen Pingping also realized that Shen ng was not to be trifled with, and with Lu Zhenping clearly angry, she decided not to say anything more. After all, with so many people around, even if Lu Zhenping wanted to defend her, there were so things that were not appropriate to be said.
All she could do was sulkily shut her mouth.
Her resentful gaze almost made Lu Zhenping too sick to eat; several tis he turned his head to look at Shen ng to feel a bit better.
Lu Mingkai ate a few dumplings, then clumsily picked up another one with his chopsticks and fed it to Shen ng, earning another round of praise for being a good child.
Shen ng tasted one and thought it was delicious, planning to buy a few more servings to take ho for Mingyang’s children to try.
With the troublemaker silent, the dinner went much smoother. After eating, everyone gathered their food coupons and money to settle the bill.
Shen ng and Lu Zhenping were the last to leave. Once most of the people had left, she went back and asked a waiter for three servings of pork and cabbage dumplings.
"These dumplings are quite tasty. I’ll buy so to take back for Mingyang and the kids to try."
"Sounds good. Oh, and Qin Hao just told that the officer boots I ordered have arrived. He will help deliver them to the Cooperative Society later. Let’s go ho together after that, Ming Kai seems tired."
"Alright."
Shen ng waited for him for a while at the entrance of the alley outside the Cooperative Society. In addition to handing him a gunnysack, there was also a bag and a bundle of food coupons.
"Here, these are for you to help deliver to Li Jun and Da Niu."
"Okay!"
Qin Hao had seen Shen ng before but wasn’t familiar with her; he hadn’t expected her to be so articulate. He nudged Lu Zhenping with his elbow.
"Hey, I didn’t expect your wife to be so eloquent. Didn’t you say before that she wasn’t educated? She seems to know more than those who are educated. You didn’t see it, but when she was speaking, those military wives who always put on airs—their faces were so sour!"
"How could I not see it? I was there, wasn’t I?"
Qin Hao gave him a look,
"Tsk, you didn’t see jack. Your eyes were practically glued to your wife. So many old comrades were speaking with you, but it was like you were deaf—the words just didn’t reach you. Oh well, what your wife said is true; being a military wife isn’t easy. I feel sorry for my own wife again. I have to make a trip to my mother-in-law’s place; she makes noodles that my wife loves to eat. I have to trouble her for so."
"Roll off, I get annoyed just by looking at you!"
Lu Zhenping couldn’t stand it when others flaunted their wives in front of him, especially since he hadn’t started boasting yet!
Shen ng bought three pairs of rain boots and three rain capes at the Cooperative Society, along with two bags of milk powder and four bottles of malted milk. She also bought four boxes of shortbread. The weather was never short of apples and oranges, but it seed neither Li family’s sister-in-law nor Da Niu’s wife could bear to buy such things.
At the State-Owned Restaurant, she had specifically ntioned these two people. Lu Zhenping had visited both families over the years, so she rembered them well.
"Mom, we have these at ho; we have these at ho."
"I know, I know. These are for other brothers and sisters; it’s not a waste of money. Don’t worry!"
After leaving the Cooperative Society, while bending over to pack things, she took out a dark blue corduroy fabric from her space—a piece just right for two families, enough for each to make clothes.
"Why did you buy so much stuff?"
"Here, everything in this gunnysack is for the two sister-in-laws. You take it!"
Shen ng looked at the sowhat surprised Lu Zhenping and said with a speechless expression, "When you were ho, you always ntioned how Li Jun and Da Niu’s families were struggling, especially Da Niu’s family, which had a really hard ti. They have three kids to support, and after he was discharged, his parents made them move out. I rember the years we sent things to support Mingyang; both Li Jun and Da Niu sent things as well. Everything in here is in double portions; you distribute them as you see fit. I also spent about thirty yuan to buy a piece of fabric, a full fifty ters. Split it between the two families. Li Jun’s family has more people, so you can give them a bit more. Deliver the items after dark and remind them to hide things away so as not to attract envy from others."
Lu Zhenping’s eyes brightened when he looked at Shen ng. He did ntion that Li Jun and Da Niu’s families had a rough life since most comrades had jobs arranged for them by their families or the military. Only Da Niu was discharged due to injury, and Li Jun was still waiting for an arrangent.
But he never imagined that Shen ng would be so thoughtful, preparing so many items including food, clothing, and necessities.
"Hehe, wife, you’ve gone to quite an expense."
Shen ng chuckled, reached out to twist his ear, leaned in, and said, "It’s not a big expense, but I really want to know, when you ca back ho initially, you clearly said you gave all your money to . So, what did you use to buy all those officer boots and large woolen scarves?"
Lu Zhenping: "....Uh!"
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