Chapter 51: Eating with Such Savory Smacking Sounds

Chapter 51: Eating with Such Gusto

Liu Sanjin looked around at her sons and daughters-in-law with a pale face. Her entire body was trembling slightly, and she felt a sense of trepidation in her heart. Her family had saved some money over the years; even though her son, Lu Zhenping, sent an allowance every month, she had still lived a very frugal life. The reason was simple: her maiden family had a difficult life and frequently required her financial assistance.

"Jiahe, look around the village—how many families have split their households? Your eldest brother has listened to that wench's whispers and now wants to tear our family apart. He's even using your younger brother's future to threaten me. My heart is so bitter! Why are you being so unreasonable at a time like this?"

In the past, Lu Jiahe would have softened his heart upon hearing this, but not today. His attitude was firm.

"Mother, if you don't want to split the household, then don't. You can't force a cow to drink water by pressing its head down. You are the mother-in-law, so Shen Meng wouldn't dare say anything to you. Even if she makes a scene, it's her own reputation that suffers. It's perfectly fine for my little brother to be the production team's warehouse manager, isn't it?"

Liu Sanjin felt a lump in her throat. She shot a silent glance toward the main gate. *Old man, when will you come back? These children are going to drive me to death. My life is so bitter, yet there is no one to hear me cry.*

"Fine, fine, fine! Here, take it all! Fourth son, go call the Lu family elders, the village chief, and the party secretary. Also, call your eldest sister-in-law and Mingyang. Bring them all here. We'll split the household, settle everything clearly, and divide it all! Second son, Mother will divide it for you. But if the eldest daughter-in-law wants the private plots, I won't be able to decide that."

Lu Jiahe frowned. He didn't argue with his mother, but in his mind, he was already calculating how to get those private plots into his own hands later.

Wu Xianglan felt a surge of secret joy. She hadn't expected that the first branch splitting the household would bring her benefits. Looking at Lu Jiahe, she gave him a subtle wink, tilted her head, and pulled her two children close, her smugness impossible to hide.

Over in the house, Xie Jinghao, who was peeking through the window, couldn't help but curl her lip. Why was her second brother so eager for money and things? It was all because of that woman outside making such a fuss. Otherwise, he wouldn't be using the children as an excuse to squeeze benefits from his own mother. She used to think this second sister-in-law was clever, but it turned out she was just blind.

By the time Lu Debang and Zhang Hongfa arrived, the Lu family members had already gathered in full. Even Chen Zhaodi sat silently to one side.

When Shen Meng arrived at the Lu house with the children and heard about the household split, she learned it was because Lu Zhenping had sent a letter explaining the situation. He had specifically requested his eldest son, Lu Mingyang, to help handle the matter.

Though only nine years old, Lu Mingyang, entrusted with this heavy responsibility, sat upright and solemn in front of Shen Meng, his small frame straight and his expression serious.

"Don't be afraid, Mother is here. Relax a little."

Not just him—even the three little ones standing behind them had equally serious faces. Anyone walking in would have thought they were there to pick a fight.

Shen Meng sat steadily. Although she had never met Lu Zhenping, for some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of being backed by a man.

"I've invited everyone here today because the eldest son sent a letter saying he wants to split the first branch off. He is the eldest, the firstborn of our branch, so as his mother, I must listen to him. Eldest daughter-in-law, how do you want to divide it?"

Shen Meng waved her small hand dismissively.

"Oh, Mother, what are you saying? I only just found out that Zhenping wants to split the household. I assume he knows that the children and I are often mistreated. But as he said, let Mingyang decide. Our eldest son's intention is to follow the rules—divide it as it should be divided. As a woman, I won't say much more."

Seeing how Liu Sanjin had kicked the topic back to her, Shen Meng pursed her lips and swallowed her indignation.

"Then we'll follow the rules. The family has saved some money over the years, all scraped together bit by bit. It's not much, only three hundred and twenty-five yuan. This is our total assets. The old man and I need fifty for our old age, and the rest will be divided by branch. The first branch gets sixty-eight yuan. The other three branches aren't splitting yet, but in front of everyone, I'll set aside five yuan each for the third and first branches, and I'll save the rest for when they eventually split. As for grain, some was distributed last time, but considering Zhenping is away, I, as the matriarch, will give another hundred pounds of corn. Eldest daughter-in-law, have someone carry it home later. That's that."

Shen Meng raised an eyebrow. This old woman certainly loved face; even when splitting the household, she had to show off her generosity. Since things had come to this, it would be excessive if she asked for more.

She cleared her throat lightly, and Lu Mingyang immediately spoke up.

"Grandmother, we'll divide it just as you said. You are the most fair. But... Grandmother, did you forget about the private plots? You haven't divided our family's private plots yet!"

"You little brat, what are you saying? You've gotten so much and you're still not satisfied? How can you be so greedy? Your father is a soldier, and your mother is a la... your mother doesn't really farm. What do you need private plots for? Give them to your second uncle. He'll farm them and give you grain later, alright?"

"No way! Second Uncle, those are ours! We want to grow vegetables!" Lu Mingliang poked his head out from behind Lu Mingyang before quickly ducking back.

Lu Jiahe's expression turned cold. Lu Mingyang was not afraid at all; he had been reading people's expressions since he was a toddler, and he wasn't intimidated by threats.

"Second Uncle, don't call the child a little brat. If you keep doing that, I'll start making a scene," Shen Meng said, picking at her fingernails while giving Lu Jiahe a meaningful glare.

With his mother backing him, Lu Mingyang lifted his chin slightly.

When Zhang Hongfa arrived, he had been warned by his own family, so naturally, he sided with Lu Zhenping's branch. Besides, it was this family that wanted the split; if the division wasn't clear, he would feel embarrassed to ask them for favors in the future.

"Auntie Liu, Jiahe, Jiaxuan, if the private plots aren't divided, then what kind of household split is this? What do we farmers value most? Isn't it the farmland? Zhenping's family has a special situation; the production team gave them five *fen* of private plots. Whether they grow vegetables or grain is for them to decide. If these plots aren't divided, what will Zhenping say when he writes back? Jiahe, go tell your brother—are you refusing to divide the plots because you want them for yourself?"

Zhang Hongfa pointed it out directly, causing Lu Jiahe's face to turn bright red.

With the grain, the money, and the private plots divided, Shen Meng returned home full of joy, her exhaustion instantly vanishing. She made a pot of shredded meat noodles and reheated some braised pork and shredded potatoes.

Taking advantage of the darkness, Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang carried steaming bowls of noodles and two buns to Xie Jinghao's room. The aroma drifted through the Lu courtyard. Liu Sanjin, who had been too angry to eat dinner, heard the scent and felt her stomach growl. She had originally thought Xie Jinghao would bring some to her.

She never expected that shameless thing to just close the door with her son and eat with such gusto.