Everyone saw with their own eyes that the Lu Family’s Lao Si and his wife brought food to Shen ng and the several children earlier. How could it be that just after one day, they stopped providing food, leaving a patient and four children so hungry they had to go out and look for sothing to eat.
Liu Sanjin stomped his feet in anger and pointed trembling fingers at Shen ng.
"You’re spouting nonsense, what a bad seed you are! Doctor Lu said you couldn’t get out of bed for a year and a half, yet next thing we know, you’re capable of running off to the county town. How do you manage to go such a long distance just like that? When you moved back, you were also given your share of food, and the production team gave you grains and eggs as well. How could you be starving to the point that Mingyang and Ming Liang had to go out to catch fish? Full of lies. Do you have no conscience speaking such things?"
When Shen ng moved, not only did Lu Debang and Zhang Hongfa personally bring things to visit, but they also had their family mbers bring things over as well. Many people knew about this, and Liu Sanjin’s character over the years was well known to everyone; it’s impossible for him to be the kind of person who would mistreat his daughter-in-law.
"Mother, everyone knows Doctor Lu’s dical skills in our ten-mile radius villages are beyond reproach. Initially, when I was not in good health, I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to accept it right away, so I had him tell you it was more serious to prepare your heart. Otherwise, when the village chief and the others ca, I wouldn’t have been able to handle my own funeral affairs. With Zhenping not at ho, I had to plan ahead for the kids in case they lost their mother. I received a letter from Zhenping yesterday, and I don’t know if it was a sudden burst of energy or what, but I felt very strong and went to the county. I had a headache from the journey back, and as soon as I arrived ho, I lay down on the kang. We still have so food at ho, but who would have the heart to eat it? If I were to pass away and Mingyang couldn’t take good care of himself and the children, I’d have to crawl out of my grave to cry."
Liu Sanjin: "....."
Lick your bear face! The children have grown up this big, when have they ever relied on you!!!
"Ah, mother, did you co here just to scold ? I thought, cough, cough, cough... I thought you ca to see the children and . Didn’t I have Jinghao send you the retirent money Zhenping mailed? And the Diannan vermicelli and mushrooms, Mingyang took so for you when he went out too!"
"Nonsense, I never saw Mingyang when I ca. Shen ng, that stuff was sent by my son; it was naturally supposed to include a share for us old folks. You didn’t even let read the letter that Zhenping wrote. What are you thinking, to make the children go out and catch fish in the river late at night just because the food was delivered late? What kind of mother does that?"
Shen ng was on the verge of collapse, practically leaning on the door fra as she listened to Liu Sanjin’s scolding. The onlookers who had always been watching were also frightened, afraid that Liu Sanjin’s harsh words might push Shen ng over the edge.
"Aunt Sanjin, Aunt Sanjin, please calm down. What can’t we discuss amicably as a family?"
"Yeah, Da Niang, you’re usually the kindest. Seeing you get so angry is quite frightening. Zhenping is your son, and he must be very worried about you. Xiao ng, go get the letter, let your mother read it."
"Xiao ng, hurry up. Don’t let your mother-in-law get too agitated. She’s missing her son. Can you do it? If not, ask Ming Fang to help. Hey, Uncle, go see if Mingyang and Ming Liang are by the river. Auntie is right, it’s getting dark soon, and it could be dangerous."
...
Shen ng looked at Liu Sanjin’s stiff face and snickered inwardly. So you’ve set up a pretense but now you can’t even throw a fit, it must be killing you, you old hag!
"Mingyang and Ming Liang went with Yong Jun. They took a bath along the way, it’s fine. Mother, wait for , I’ll go get the letter right now."
Shen ng turned around and staggered toward the courtyard. Now, everyone who had just been persuading her felt uneasy. With her body in such a state, they were still forcing her to go back and fetch the letter. Anyone who understood the situation would now let her go back and rest.
Now it’s a fine ss. It’s such a ti when it’s not even possible to leave.
Not long after, Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang walked ho, happy as mud monkeys carrying a not-so-large grass carp, and from afar, they saw a crowd of people standing at their doorstep.
"Grandma, why did you co over? What happened?"
Liu Sanjin was snubbed and, seeing how affectionate Lu Mingyang was, hugged him tight, pushing Lu Mingliang a couple of steps back,
"My dear grandson, grandma’s dear grandson, you’re really brave. If you’re hungry, why don’t you go find grandma? Instead, listening to your mom, daring to go to the riverbank at night. What if sothing happened?"
As she spoke, she sized up Lu Mingyang.
"Grandma, I’m fine. Ming Liang and I were with Uncle Yong Jun. Uncle Yong Jun even shared two fish with us!" Lu Mingyang said cheerfully, as he had been in a good mood since he got the things Shen ng bought earlier that day.
For several days, his mother had been doing well, and he just wanted her to keep doing well, not to revert to how she had been before.
Lu Yongjun laughed goofily, "While going for a bath, I casually caught these few fish, hehehe. Sanjin, your grandsons are really filial; they love their mom and want to catch a fish to nourish her. Well, it’s getting late, I’m heading ho."
The neighbors who had been awkwardly standing not ready to leave saw Lu Yongjun picking up his bucket and leaving. They didn’t inquire why there were so many people here or what had happened, but just left with a brief word. While blaming him, deep down, they envied such an unsociable guy, as he seed to live without worries.
"Mingyang, your mother ntioned your dad sent vermicelli and mushrooms. Did you and Ming Liang give a pack to grandma? Is that true?"
"No, Gran..."
Liu Sanjin’s eyes lit up, raising her voice, "I knew it. She doesn’t have such a good heart to think about sharing what my son sent with . If she really was willing, she wouldn’t have taken out the letter that Zhenping wrote. And the remittance receipt, bring them all out for this old lady to see. For so many years I’ve treated her like my own daughter, yet she’s always guarded against , as if I’d covet her belongings. I really am..."
"No, Grandma, those things weren’t sent by dad. They were special products from Diannan sent by uncles from the military. Many tis before, it was the uncles from the military who sent them. Dad doesn’t send much allowance usually, and doesn’t mom always give you the pension first? Plus the food coupons, cloth tickets, and kerosene tickets. Grandma, you always talk about how tough life is at ho, asking mom to be mindful of the family. She also sees you as her own mother, and thinks of you whenever there’s anything good!"
Lu Mingliang was in a panic, trying his best to keep calm. He might not know anything else, but the things his father and uncles sent from the military were to be kept by his family as much as possible—they all belonged to their main household.
Shen ng, holding the letter, listened to Lu Mingliang’s words and praised internally, no wonder he could beco a person who could resell imported goods later—his mind was sharp from a young age, with a mouth as slick as a knife blade, sweet indeed.
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