Shen ng watched Lu Mingkai, who still appeared sowhat timid, and beckoned to him,
"Ming Kai, co here."
Lu Mingkai hesitated for a mont before slowly shuffling towards her, his blood relations and a child's yearning to be close to his mother still burning brightly despite his fear.
"Mom."
Shen ng got off the kang and took Ming Kai into her arms, then sat down with him diagonally on the kang. The three-year-old child felt almost prickly to the touch on her lap, too skinny. She stroked Lu Mingkai's hair.
"Ming Kai, were you asking about dinner because you're hungry?"
Lu Mingkai cuddled in his mother's embrace, inhaling her sweet scent, and felt almost lightheaded.
"Mom, I'm not hungry. I was just asking. Mom's cooking is really delicious. I want to eat the als you make."
"Alright, later on Mom will cook for you, making you plump and white like a little piggy, okay?"
"Hehe, okay, Mom, you're the best."
"Silly child."
Inside the house, mother and son shared a warm mont, while outside, Lu Mingyang felt as if he'd been hit by a thunderbolt. That wicked woman said Ming Kai looked like a pig; what did she an by that? Was she implying that once Ming Kai grew up a little, she would sell him?
Fear-struck, he glared at Shen ng with a sinister look. If that bad woman dared to sell Ming Kai, he would fight her with all he had.
By evening ti, Lu Jiaxuan and Zhou Jiaojiao had just finished work and were promptly assigned to deliver food to Shen ng—a small basin of stir-fried vegetables topped with five stead buns, and a small basin of cornal lumps soup. As they carried the food over, there were many people on the road coming back from work, who frequently glanced over, drawn by the aroma.
"Wow, what's that delicious sll?"
"Eating so well tonight, huh? No wonder you're a surplus grain household, still having proper dinner!"
Zhou Jiaojiao, hearing people's inquiries, cheerfully responded: "How could we? This is for my elder sister-in-law and Mingyang. We just prepared it and are sending it over. We'll have sothing simple when we return ho. My sister-in-law is still not well!"
After Zhou Jiaojiao responded to the inquiries, she said to Lu Jiaxuan, "Hurry up. The sister-in-law and the kids must be hungry. When we get back, I still have laundry to do—so much work!"
Lu Jiaxuan, hearing her words, looked displeased for a mont. His wife was working hard like an ox, while his elder sister-in-law just waited for soone to deliver her al. He scowled a bit but said nothing, quickening his pace.
"So people were saying that the Lu Family wouldn't deliver als to Zhenping's house this afternoon, but here I see it, so that must have been a lie. Aunt Sanjin is such a good person; how could she not deliver als!"
"I'm saying, it might have just been that they delivered late, and Shen ng got unhappy and started spreading lies. Never seen a daughter-in-law like this. Jiaojiao has been busy all afternoon, her work points nearly equal to those of a heavy laborer, and after work, she still has to deliver food to her sister-in-law. That's so pitiful."
"Jiaojiao is such a good daughter-in-law; Jiaxuan is really lucky. Luckily, Jiaxuan is capable, earning three yuan a month in wages, allowing Jiaojiao to enjoy so good fortune."
"The one who knows how to enjoy is still Shen ng—living in a house with blue bricks and tiles, having brother and sister-in-law delivering als. Just look at the life she's living, what good fortune!"
"Like a capitalist..."
......
Shen ng ca out from the west room with a dark face. The children's cabinets didn't contain a single decent piece of clothing; it was all patches on top of patches, and they were all filthy, clearly laundered by themselves.
She held Ming Kai in her arms in the afternoon and noticed that he slled bad and his head was dirty. She had been too busy soothing everyone at noon to notice. If Lu Mingkai, who was normally taken care of by the other children, was already like this, there was no need to ntion the others.
The group of Lu Mingyang and his siblings watched Shen ng walk around their room, and then their expressions changed. They all started to feel an inexplicable tension. Just when Lu Mingliang was thinking about running away the mont she raised her hand, Shen ng let out a long sigh.
"Mingyang, you and Ming Liang heat up so water later. Your mother will wash you all tonight. It's so hot, you can't go without a bath. When I held Ming Kai this afternoon, the little guy was all sweaty."
"Okay, Mom." No matter what, he would agree to her. That's what Lu Mingyang thought.
Lu Mingkai's face turned red with embarrassnt when his na was brought up. Lu Mingfang also felt a bit awkward and subconsciously shrank her neck sniffing herself. Yep, it slled a bit unpleasant; only Lu Mingliang did not care, thinking it was the scent of a man.
"Elder sister-in-law, Jiaxuan and I have brought food for you and the kids. May we co in?" Zhou Jiaojiao called out loudly from the doorway.
"Co in, the door isn't locked."
As Zhou Jiaojiao walked in holding a dish, she imdiately saw Shen ng standing at the entrance of the main room, with several children lined up in front of her.
"Oh dear, elder sister-in-law, what are you doing? Mingyang and the others are good kids. This afternoon, they went back and forth several tis to collect firewood for the household. Everyone saw it. No matter what, you shouldn't hit them!" Zhou Jiaojiao hurriedly advised.
The door was not completely closed when they entered, and the neighbors passing by began to stop and peer in after hearing Zhou Jiaojiao's words.
"What are you talking about, Jiaojiao? I was just telling the kids that it's too hot, and they should heat so water for a bath tonight, and now you all have co. They are very well-behaved. Heaven has blessed with such good children; how could I raise my hand to hit them?"
The onlookers outside, finding the conversation uneventful, turned their heads and left.
No matter what happens with the male and female protagonists, she has the golden finger. She is not afraid of them. She never thought about avoiding them since she promised the original owner of the body that those responsible and those who benefitted must pay back what they owe.
Zhou Jiaojiao's smile froze briefly, then she turned to Lu Jiaxuan and said, "It was a misunderstanding. Jiaxuan, quickly put the food on the table. Aunt Sanjin cooked today, and Mom specifically asked Aunt Sanjin to cook an egg for you. Elder sister-in-law, you should eat and nourish yourself."
Shen ng looked at the al on the table and smiled, nodding her head. It seed Liu Sanjin really invested in it; the stir-fried vegetables were glistening with oil, probably the Lu Family's oil consumption for several days.
"Thanks to Mom. Jiaojiao, Jiaxuan, have you guys eaten? Why not join us?"
"No need, elder sister-in-law. We have to get going. There's still a pile of work to do at ho. Whatever you need, elder sister-in-law, just tell . If I can help, I will."
"That would be too embarrassing. If you're not busy, could you help Mingyang heat so water? He's just a child and has to tend the fire at night. I'm worried he might wet the bed. My head really hurts and I won't be able to wash their clothes after they bathe. It's just, I'm not very capable."
Lu Mingyang: "..."
I wet the bed? I'm nine years old, do I wet the bed???
Zhou Jiaojiao had planned on being politely dismissive when leaving, but she found herself climbing up the pole offered by Shen ng. She stiffened montarily, then quickly said, "Okay then, Jiaxuan, help Mingyang heat so water. Elder sister-in-law, leave the dirty clothes, I'll co to get them tomorrow."
Lu Jiaxuan, seeing Zhou Jiaojiao acting amiably, felt like his wife was being bullied pitifully. He frowned, ready to refuse, but then he suddenly rembered Sun Shanzi talking about the commune recruiting cadres during work, and after a mont's thought, he quietly closed his mouth.
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