Chapter 18: Being Overeager Is Not a Good Business Move

Chapter 18: Being Overeager is Not a Good Business

Looking at this family and Liu Sanjin's attitude, Xie Jinghao knew that neither Shen Meng nor the children would be eating lunch today. While feeding Xiaogang, she began calculating what food she still had left in her own room.

After Lu Mingyang took his younger siblings to turn in the pig grass and record their work points, he began the walk home. Lu Mingliang, who had been chirping away earlier, grew silent as they drew closer to the house.

Lu Mingfang was even too afraid to continue walking forward.

Seeing the state of his younger siblings, Lu Mingyang's expression darkened, and he tightened his grip on Lu Mingkai's hand.

"Don't be afraid. Once we get home, you guys go straight to your room. I'll go find you something to eat. If Mother gets angry and starts hitting people, let her hit me instead. Don't be scared."

As long as she didn't beat him to death, he would make sure this wicked woman paid the price once he grew up.

"Brother, maybe I should go with you. If we get hit together, we can split it, and it won't hurt as much."

"No need. Just keep an eye on the little ones," Lu Mingyang said, pulling Lu Mingkai along as they headed toward the house.

Lu Mingfang and Lu Mingliang exchanged a glance and hurried after them, both deciding in their hearts that they had to stay with their brother; they couldn't let him face a beating alone.

As the children entered the courtyard, their instinct to run toward the western rooms was halted. An aroma wafting from the kitchen caused them to turn their heads repeatedly; even Lu Mingyang began to swallow hard.

"Brother, smell! It smells so good. What do you think the bad Mother made?"

Lu Mingyang said nothing, but he snorted inwardly. How could that wicked woman make them food, especially something that smelled this good? It was likely someone else had cooked it and sent it over, and there was no telling if she had even left any for them.

"You're back?" Shen Meng emerged from the kitchen, slightly hunched over. Her face held no extra expression. She knew well that being overeager was not a good business strategy; building peace or rapport with these children wouldn't happen overnight. There was plenty of time ahead.

The children were still inhaling the aroma deeply. The youngest, Lu Mingkai, was so hungry his mouth hung open; seeing Shen Meng suddenly speak, he was so startled he forgot to move.

"Mother isn't fully recovered yet, so I just made some noodles. I've served them for you, go eat. If it's not enough, there's more in the clay pot. I'm going to lie down on the heated bed first. Mingyang, wash the bowls after you're done eating. Don't go to work this afternoon; go gather some firewood instead. From now on, it'll just be us. It looks like your grandmother doesn't care whether we live or die, so be diligent and bring back plenty of firewood so we can cook."

As she spoke, Shen Meng rubbed her head and slowly shuffled toward her room.

Once she had left, Lu Mingliang bolted toward the kitchen. On the small low table in the kitchen sat four bowls of steaming noodles, each topped with a golden-brown fried egg that looked delicious.

He ran out of the kitchen in excitement.

"Brother, there really are noodles! There are even golden fried eggs, and it smells amazing! There's even a plate of smashed cucumber! Let's eat quickly!"

The noodles were incredibly fragrant. Beside the golden eggs were a few bright green vegetables. The scent made the hunger in his stomach roar so loudly it was unbearable.

Lu Mingkai and Lu Mingfang watched him, unable to find the words to refuse. Lu Mingyang nodded. Even if he didn't want to eat, he couldn't let his siblings go hungry. Hadn't the wicked woman just said they should gather firewood? She was clearly telling them to eat their fill so they could work.

With that thought, Lu Mingyang straightened his back.

"Go eat. Don't waste the food. We won't eat for free; once we're full, we'll go gather firewood. The little bit in the courtyard won't last two days!"

"Okay!"

Shen Meng appeared to have returned to her room, but she was actually hunched over, peering through the window to observe the children's movements. Today, she had simply boiled a pot of water and added two handfuls of handmade noodles. The broth and side dishes were high-quality stock and organic vegetables taken from her Space, so the taste was naturally exceptional.

No one could resist the temptation of delicious food, especially children. Using food to win over the little ones was naturally the first step.

Shen Meng did not eat with them. Even without thinking, she knew the children wouldn't want to eat with her; if she were present, they probably wouldn't even dare to eat.

Seeing them all head to the kitchen, Shen Meng finally felt at ease to lie down on the heated bed. There wasn't much food in the house, and they couldn't rely on the Lu family—in fact, the Lu family might even try to morally kidnap her into giving up her supplies later, especially since it wouldn't be long before Lu Zhenping sent money home.

Shen Meng was calculating her next move. Making the noodles had been somewhat exhausting; she hadn't used a traditional earthen stove in years. She had struggled to strike the matches several times, and the bellows were difficult to use—she wondered if Zhou Jiaojiao and Lu Jiaxuan had kicked them when they moved out.

After entering her Space to eat some bird's nest porridge and light side dishes, she finally lay down to rest. Everything had to wait until her body recovered.

In the kitchen, the children devoured the four bowls of noodles like a whirlwind. Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang, being growing boys, were naturally not full. Lu Mingliang remembered what Shen Meng said about the clay pot; when he lifted the lid, there were indeed more noodles inside. Without hesitation, he scooped them into his own bowl and shared the rest with Lu Mingyang.

"Brother, eat some more. Who knows if there will be anything left tonight? Eat more, and we'll gather more firewood this afternoon. Let Mingkai and Mingfang rest at home; the sun is too harsh this afternoon."

"Brother, let Mingkai stay home. I'll go with you. I ate so much; if I don't work, Mother will be angry." Perhaps because she had served them delicious noodles, or perhaps because she had made them while injured, Lu Mingfang suddenly felt that the wicked woman wasn't so bad. Come to think of it, she had been decent to them before; if it weren't for the Second Aunt and the Little Aunt constantly talking, Mother wouldn't have changed.

Lu Mingkai pouted without speaking. He didn't want to be home alone; if Mother saw him by himself and was unhappy, she might pinch him.

"You stay with Mingkai. Mingliang and I will go gather firewood. What if our little brother gets bullied while home alone? The wicked woman just gave us a meal; don't think it's anything special. Who knows when she'll hit us again." Lu Mingliang lectured Lu Mingfang while stuffing noodles into his mouth, clearly sensing his sister's softening heart.

Lu Mingyang remained silent, but he shared the same thought. He wasn't afraid of her being mean or hitting them; he was afraid of her suddenly being kind. His aunt had previously mentioned sending them away to save food for the family; that wicked woman had likely thought the same, she just didn't dare because she was afraid their father would stop sending money.

This thought haunted him, which was why he always kept his siblings with him and never let them separate. Today, the wicked woman had actually made them food—and such good food, too. White flour noodles and eggs, glistening with oil. If she wasn't planning something bad, she must have been struck by lightning.

He agreed with Mingliang's idea to leave Mingfang and Mingkai at home. He also wanted to see what the wicked woman was up to.