Chapter 14: Eat First, Talk Later

Chapter 14: Eat First, Worry Later

Shen Meng didn't understand why the family members of two village officials had come to check on her. She suspected both families wanted something, though she didn't know what, nor did it matter—it clearly wasn't anything they were asking of her.

Wang Guizhi stir-fried a plate of shredded potatoes, griddled a stack of flatbreads, and boiled a pot of brown sugar eggs. She used all ten eggs that Zhou Jiaojiao had given them; whether it was the two old folks or Shen Meng and her children, everyone needed to build up their strength today.

Seeing that the two women who had come to check on Shen Meng hadn't left yet, she thought for a moment before washing the bowls and scooping out two bowls of brown sugar water. As she scooped the last spoonful, a stray egg flower slipped into the ladle. Wang Guizhi quickly pushed it aside and scooped again; the brown sugar water alone was already a treat, and the eggs were meant for her own family.

"Old man, take the children and start eating. I’m going to take some sugar water to the room. I heard it’s the village chief’s sister-in-law and the branch secretary’s mother. I’ll say a few nice words; that way, after we leave, our daughter might have someone to look out for her."

"Alright, go ahead. I’ll heat up some water in a bit so everyone can wash up."

Wang Guizhi stopped at the door and called back to Shen Fugui, who was standing up from the stove: "Just make it lukewarm, don't bring it to a boil. It wastes firewood."

"Got it!"

After she left, Shen Fugui moved the small kitchen table toward the door. It was already getting late, and they needed to make the most of the remaining light to eat before they had to light the kerosene lamp.

"Mingyang, Mingliang, hurry and bring your brother and sister over to eat. Eat up, wash, and get to sleep quickly before it gets too dark to see." After calling out, Shen Fugui began serving the food in the kitchen.

In the other room, Mingliang sat up on the kang with a start.

"Brother, did you hear that? Grandpa is calling us to eat. Let's go, let's go!"

Mingkai had eaten egg cake today, and with his grandparents in the house, he felt a bit bolder. Seeing his second brother getting off the kang, he moved his own short legs to follow.

"Let's go, let's go."

Lu Mingyang didn't move. He grabbed Lu Mingliang and said, "Don't go. If you eat now, once Grandpa and Grandma leave, the bad woman will definitely beat us hard. We’re older, so we can run when she hits us, but what about Little Brother? He can't run fast; he’ll be caught before he can even lift his legs."

Mingyang’s voice was cold. He frowned at Mingliang, thinking that everything their stepmother said was just a performance for the village chief and the branch secretary, all to move back into the brick house. Besides, she looked perfectly energetic—nothing like someone who was about to die.

Whether it was Grandma, the Fourth Uncle and Aunt, or the village chief and the branch secretary, they had all been fooled by her.

She hadn't just reclaimed the house and the grain; she had even made Grandma and the village officials pay her money. She wasn't acting like the pig-headed fool she used to be. Mingyang glanced at the stone in the corner of the wall. Could hitting one's head really change one's brain and make someone smarter?

"Second Brother, I think Big Brother is right. What if Mom beats us later? She hits so hard. Last time she hit my bottom, my legs still tremble whenever I see her. Anyway, we don't eat at night usually, so it's fine. Don't go, and don't take Little Brother either."

Ignoring them, Lu Mingliang scooped up Lu Mingkai, who was trying to shrink back onto the kang.

"We're going. Why wouldn't we? There’s brown sugar eggs tonight, and flatbread. Grandma’s flatbread has lard on it; it’s delicious. If she wants to hit us, let her hit us. We’re filling our bellies first."

Before he could even put on his shoes, he ran out barefoot. He was only seven, and as he carried three-year-old Lu Mingkai, he wobbled as if he might fall at any moment. Frightened, Mingyang scrambled off the kang and ran over, snatching Lu Mingkai from him.

"Be careful, don't drop Little Brother."

"Hehe, Big Brother, I’ve got a good grip!"

By the time they reached the courtyard, Shen Fugui had already spotted them and pointed toward the washbasin by the kitchen door.

"Wash your hands and eat quickly. Grandpa heated some water; wash up, and then you can sleep with me. Where’s Mingfang? Come here quickly. Your grandma made plenty, so eat your fill before you sleep."

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa," Mingyang said quickly. He turned and called toward the west room, and Lu Mingfang came running, shuffling in her shoes. Her little stomach was growling with hunger. She would have been afraid to eat alone, but with her brothers there, she wasn't scared anymore.

The fragrant scallion flatbread, the sweet brown sugar eggs, and the large basin of shredded potatoes—though simple, it was a feast compared to their usual meals.

The children ate until their eyes squinted in delight. As Lu Mingkai ate, he suddenly began to sob, scaring Shen Fugui into quickly putting his flatbread back into the basket.

"What’s wrong, Little Kai? Why are you crying?"

Lu Mingkai looked at Shen Fugui with watery eyes, his small hand clutching the corner of his shirt.

"Grandpa, *sob*, I don't want you to leave. Can you stay? And Grandma too? If you leave, Mom will hit us. She hits my brother and sister, and she hits me too. *Sob*, I'm scared."

Blood is thicker than water, after all. Looking at the young child, Shen Fugui let out a deep sigh.

"Don't be afraid, Little Kai. Your mother said she would change. Grandpa and Grandma will come to see you often from now on. If your mother acts up again, Grandpa won't acknowledge her as my daughter anymore."

Hearing this, Lu Mingkai shook his head vigorously.

"No, no! You have to acknowledge Mom. If you don't, you won't come to see Little Kai anymore."

Shen Fugui felt a pang of heartache. He stroked Lu Mingkai’s hair, thinking that when he left tomorrow, he would have to have a serious talk with Shen Meng. The children were still so young; she couldn't keep raising them with beatings and scolding—it would ruin their bond as mother and son!

Lu Mingyang glanced at his grandfather and then lowered his eyes.

Change? Change my foot. He didn't believe for a second that the bad woman would change!

In the east room, Tian Guihua and Chen Jinling each held a bowl of brown sugar water, sipping it shyly and responding to Wang Guizhi’s words from time to time.

"Sister, the old man and I are heading back tomorrow. There’s a mountain of things to do at home. With Shen Meng’s condition, we don't know when she’ll be fully recovered, so we’ll have to trouble you to look out for her a bit."

Chen Jinling immediately replied, "Don't talk about trouble. From now on, Shen Meng’s business is my business. Speaking of which, today was that brat of mine’s fault. He’s only been the branch secretary for two years and is always so busy. When he heard from Old Lady Lu that Shen Meng was fine, he rushed off to work. Sigh, he’s still young and doesn't realize that some people’s hearts are like hornet nests."

As a mother-in-law herself, how could she not know Liu Sanjin’s tricks? Sweet-talking but bitter-hearted, twisting every word into a trap—she had been like that when she was young, and it seemed she hadn't changed a bit in her old age.

"Count me in, too. Don't you worry, Auntie. If Shen Meng needs anything, just have her come to me. If I can lend a hand, I won't refuse."

Shen Meng smiled and agreed. One was the village chief’s sister-in-law, the other the branch secretary’s mother. Building a relationship with these two was like stacking buffs for herself.