After finishing their al, Lu Mingyang cleaned and put away the dishes, then took his younger brother and sister to the west side room. He helped Lu Mingkai with his shoes and carried him onto the kang, then covered his little belly with a worn, thin blanket.
"Be good, Ming Kai, you stay ho with elder sister. Don't co out for no reason. Your second brother and I will bring the firewood back ho soon. If anything cos up, we'll discuss it after we return. If you need to pee, just use the pee pot, okay? Ming Fang, take good care of our little brother!"
"Okay, big brother, I'll make sure to look after Ming Kai properly."
Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang gave instructions for a good while before silently leaving the house. Facing the blazing sun, the two children walked toward the foot of the mountain. Passing by the Lu Family's front door, they were suddenly called out to.
"Mingyang, Ming Liang, wait up!" Xie Jinghao called out to them softly, looking around before quickening her pace to catch up with them. She then took two stead cornbreads out of her pocket, which she had swiped without the Lu Family noticing. She had rummaged through her own storage chest for a while and found nothing else to eat.
"You must be starving, eat these quickly. Your third aunt only managed to get two, so you guys can use them to fill your stomachs. Tonight, your third aunt will try to bring you so more food. There's cucumber in the private plot; I'll see if I can pick so for you later to stave off hunger!"
Lu Mingyang knew that she didn't have it easy at the Lu Family either. Xiao Gang was still young, their third uncle was working away, and she was pregnant. If they ate these two pieces of stead cornbread and got found out, their third aunt would be scolded again.
"No need, third aunt, you take them back. You see, my mom made us wheat noodles for lunch and even fried so eggs. We're full, really. She said she's going to make us a delicious dinner too. Just look after Xiao Gang for us, don't worry about us."
Xie Jinghao looked at Lu Mingyang in surprise. Shen ng cooking noodles and frying eggs for the children? Why didn't she believe it?
"Really? You can't lie to . Your mom is still injured, could she stand up and cook for you guys?"
"Really, third aunt. My mom is much better today. When we went ho, she made us wheat noodles, and the fried eggs were glistening with oil. My brother and I each had a big bowl. Third aunt, my brother and I still have to go gather firewood, so we'll be leaving now. You better hurry ho, don't let anyone see you."
Once Lu Mingliang finished speaking, he grabbed Lu Mingyang and ran off. He had just seen soone from the Lu Family snooping around; he didn't want them to see their third aunt giving them food, or hear so unpleasant words said.
Xie Jinghao watched the two children run off, mouth hanging open, about to call out to soone, when she saw Zhou Jiaojiao coming out from the courtyard.
"Did third sister-in-law give sothing to eat to Mingyang and Ming Liang? Why did they run off?"
Xie Jinghao stood straight and took two stead cornbreads in her hand, motioning to Zhou Jiaojiao.
"Of course. I was worried the kids might be hungry, so I brought them two stead cornbreads. Speaking of which, my Jiasheng is working outside to earn money. With him not ho, we have one less mouth to feed in our third branch. The saved share is to help big brother's children. Jiaojiao, you shouldn't have any complaints, right? After all, every month big brother and elder sister-in-law contribute three yuan for our parents' support."
Zhou Jiaojiao quickly hid her smug expression, speaking to Xie Jinghao with a gentle voice: "How could I, third sister-in-law? I also wanted to ask Mingyang and the others to co ho for a al. Mom was just speaking out of frustration; how could she really not feed the children? If big brother cos back and finds out, he would be furious. Ah, what ti it is already, and elder sister-in-law hasn't co over for a al yet. This won't do; I'll bring sothing over to check on her!"
As Zhou Jiaojiao spoke, she made to walk towards her house. Xie Jinghao didn't stop her, but slowly wrapped the cloth around the stead cornbreads properly.
"No need, Jiaojiao. Mingyang said elder sister-in-law made them food. Elder sister-in-law doesn't get along with you, so she might not be happy if you went. Let do it. I'll just have a look. If they haven't eaten, I'll co back to you, and you can make sothing warm for elder sister-in-law and the kids. If they have eaten, that'll be exactly what Mom wants to see, right?"
"I....."
"I'll be going over; you head back. It looks like these stead corn buns won't be needed anymore. Take them with you!"
Zhou Jiaojiao watched Xie Jinghao walk towards Shen ng's house, gnashing her teeth in anger. For so reason, ever since Shen ng woke up, nothing had gone smoothly for her.
Xie Jinghao hesitated at the gate, but her concern for the children compelled her to push the door open. Even from there, she could faintly sll a lingering fragrance in the air, which eased her mind. It seed Mingyang and Ming Liang hadn't lied; the elder sister-in-law truly did cook for the children.
Shen ng had a fitful sleep and heard so noise in her dazed state. Upon hearing the knocking, she opened her eyes.
"Who is it?"
"Elder sister-in-law, are you awake? It's Jinghao. Can I co in?"
Xie Jinghao didn't co alone; Lu Mingfang and Lu Mingkai were with her. The children rushed out of bed upon hearing soone enter the yard, thinking it was Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang returning, only to see Xie Jinghao and hurriedly surrounded her.
Xie Jinghao, thinking that if Shen ng really wanted to live a good life, she must get along with the children. So, she coaxed the two children to co with her.
"Co in; the door is unlocked," said Shen ng as she got out of bed. Raising an eyebrow upon seeing Xie Jinghao enter with two children.
"Elder sister-in-law, are you feeling better? I didn't get a chance to see you yesterday. I'm free now, so I ca to visit. Ming Fang even told that you made them noodles with eggs for lunch. It was so delicious that each of them had a big bowl!"
Shen ng smiled at the timid children without saying anything and poured a cup of brown sugar water for Xie Jinghao.
"Oh dear, I'm fine; I don't need such good things. Keep it for yourself to replenish your body!"
"Drink up. You're pregnant and need to take care of yourself too. I'm feeling much better. The children went early in the morning to collect pigweed. We waited for a long ti and didn't get called for a al by the people at the old courtyard, so I got up and cooked myself. Thanks to the production team, we had so fine grains at ho, so I made so noodles."
Xie Jinghao didn't drink the brown sugar water; instead, she fed a sip to Lu Mingkai. The little guy glanced at his third aunt and Shen ng, couldn't resist taking a few small sips, but dared not drink anymore.
"Ah, mother is like that. You might as well make ands with her, elder sister-in-law, so in the future, you could take the children back ho for als," Xie Jinghao probed subtly.
Shen ng's eyes flickered subtly, pretending not to catch on.
"Mother probably doesn't want us to co over for als. What's the use of making ands? I shouldn't have to give up the house again. As autumn approaches, it gets colder. How are we supposed to spend the winter living in a drafty room? If we don't go, then we don't go. Your eldest brother will soon be sending the subsidy. Either way, he won't let us starve."
Xie Jinghao seized the opportunity to say, "It feels so awkward to live like this, eating separately while living together. It's as if we haven't really split the family, and it's really embarrassing in front of others."
"Indeed, it might as well be an actual split!" Shen ng added with that.
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