At dinner ti in the Lu Family, the atmosphere was oppressive. Liu Sanjin glared at Xie Jinghao, his voice filled with anger. He couldn’t believe she wasn’t benefiting from taking Xiao Gang to see Shen ng every evening.
Wu Xianglan was also displeased. Today, she had wanted to borrow sugar tickets from her elder sister-in-law, who was reluctant to lend them. Yet, she easily gave away dumplings stuffed with at to Daqing and Erqing, failing to offer anything to her own Yong Qiang and Yong Li.
Yong Qiang and Yong Li were unaware of their mother’s sches, eating vigorously just like their father.
"All you do is eat, eat, and eat! Can’t you find sothing else to do, like playing nicely with your brother Mingyang? Look at your elder aunt, always thinking of others whenever she gets sothing tasty, not sparing a thought for you, her own nephew and niece. She doesn’t know how to be caring at all."
"Why bla the children? It’s not their fault. Shen ng is so capable; she doesn’t care for the kids nor shows any respect to , her elderly mother. Jiaxuan, has your elder brother replied to your letter yet? It’s been so long already, and not a word. Next ti the postman cos, you should ask him!"
Lu Jiaxuan swallowed his porridge in one gulp, his voice low: "No, I’ve written two or three letters, but haven’t received a single reply. Mom, do you think brother doesn’t want to reply?"
"That’s impossible! You know what kind of person your brother is. Apart from anything else, if he knew I was being mistreated, he’d co right back to see , even if he’s on a mission." Liu Sanjin said proudly, raising her chin. She knew her son well.
Lu Jiaxuan didn’t respond. To drop a mission to co see his mom seed unlikely, but he definitely would have replied had he seen the letters. It has been almost three years since he last ca ho; he must be missing it.
"Jiaxuan, I think Mom’s right," Zhou Jiaojiao comforted him, patting his arm, "Last letter said he was in Diannan, right? I heard that place isn’t very peaceful. Maybe he’s just busy and hasn’t seen the mail. Don’t worry too much."
But how could Lu Jiaxuan not worry? A job at the commune was at stake, not just a stable salary, but benefits as well— a real permanent job, unlike being a storeroom keeper at the production team. If he did well, he might even get promoted in the future. Opportunities were scarce, and if he didn’t figure sothing out, he might lose this chance.
"I’m not eating anymore; I’m going out for a walk."
"Hey, Jiaxuan, wait for ! I’ll co with you." Zhou Jiaojiao hastily dropped her chopsticks and ran after him, still pondering the matter of building a new house. Last ti, Lu Jiaxuan had ntioned asking Lu Zhenping to try and get so bricks for them so they could also live in a brick house.
She couldn’t let it go, always stirring things up.
Watching Xie Jinghao and Xiao Gang still eating, Liu Sanjin was infuriated.
"Xie Jinghao, you really are a good daughter-in-law, always running to Shen ng’s place, and she gives you nothing in return? Everyone else gets to enjoy dumplings, and with your eager pleasing, she’d probably serve you dragon at!"
Terrified, Xiao Gang dared not open his mouth to eat, shrinking closer to his mother. Xie Jinghao didn’t put down her chopsticks. Her husband was out there earning money; they had their own grain at ho, so why shouldn’t she eat?
"Fine, you eat. Eat it all and then wash the dishes, launder the clothes, sweep the floors, and feed the chickens and ducks, hmph!" Liu Sanjin coldly huffed, grabbed a vegetable bun, and turned to go back inside.
Lu Jiahe finished eating and got up to leave, fed up with the constant quarreling.
"What are you going to do? You’ve been at work all day, and you still have energy? You don’t even know what’s out there, yet you insist on going out every single day. People might think you’re off to et so demon."
Stopping in his tracks, Lu Jiahe spun around and pointed at Wu Xianglan, yelling, "You just love to start trouble, don’t you? When will you ever calm down? Listening to your noise gives a headache. I’m going to the river to take a bath."
"Autumn is here, the river water’s too cold for bathing, I’ll heat so water for you, child’s father... hey, what’s the hurry, really." Wu Xianglan took a few steps, then turned back, giggling at the silent Xie Jinghao.
"Jinghao, you see, technically today should be my turn to do the dishes and laundry, but since mom has spoken, I won’t compete with you, haha."
"It’s okay, elder sister-in-law, I can handle it."
Wu Xianglan looked at her indifferently and did not get angry, she leaned closer and whispered, "Hey, Jinghao, I want to ask you, you go to elder sister-in-law’s house every day, does she cook delicious food for you every day?"
"What kind of person is elder sister-in-law, how could she cook delicious als for , I go there to help her sew clothes, elder sister-in-law agreed to give the leftover fabric, and Xiao Gang can’t sleep alone in the room, so I took him with ."
Wu Xianglan pouted, she didn’t believe it at all, Shen ng can be really stingy, but she has her generous monts too, if she can take Daqing and Erqing’s dumplings to eat, she’ll definitely give her nephew and niece good stuff too, her eyes darted around, she waved to Xie Jinghao and took her daughter and son back to their room.
After Shen ng figured things out, she found a basket, gathered so items, and found a bottle of Red Flower Oil from the space.
Outside, Mingyang and a few others were sitting together murmuring about sothing unknown, the door suddenly opened startling the children for a mont.
"Mingyang, mom is going to visit your Aunt Lianhua, take good care of your brother and sister at ho, your second aunt will be over soon, there are still two bowls of noodle soup in the pot, let your second aunt and Xiao Gang have them later!"
"Okay, mom!"
"Mom, I want to go too, I want to go." Lu Mingkai felt afraid inside, worried the gentle mom would disappear, he wanted to always watch her to feel at ease.
"Alright, Ming Kai, co with !"
"Great, mom, Ming Kai will carry the basket for you, Ming Kai is really strong."
Shen ng touched Lu Mingkai’s head and said, "Silly child, mom can carry it. If you really want to help mom, grow up, study hard, make good money, and let mom enjoy life with you, okay?"
Lu Mingkai didn’t understand much, but earning money he understood, his dad sends money to the family every month,
"Mom, when I grow up, I’ll make sure you enjoy life, you won’t have to do anything!"
"Good boy!" Shen ng felt sweet inside.
Lu Mingyang in the back, preparing to sweep the floor, curled his lip, his two younger brothers, older and younger, always sweet-talked mom to win her favor, he wouldn’t do that. Being the eldest son of the main family, with dad not around, he had to stand tall for the family, he couldn’t be like his brother and sister, acting coy and cute, lacking any manliness, how could he protect mom, humph!
In the evening, after work, Chen Zhaodi and Zhao Jingui were taken out by Guo Xiuqin for a round of public criticism, fined three yuan for Wang Lianhua, Lu Yonggang also got a scolding, the village wives secretly squeezed their belts tighter in worry, scared that if soone snitched, they’d have to pay the price.
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