Chapter 34: You Are Being Too Unreasonable

Chapter 34: You Are Too Thoughtless

Da Qing, Er Qing, and Gao Gao did not get angry because Lu Mingliang had teased them; instead, they let out a few chuckles. Their hearts were filled with warmth. Because of their poverty, they could rarely even eat white flour dumplings during the New Year. Coming from such struggling families, they couldn't simply bring home such high-quality grain.

Er Qing and Gao Gao had been feeling quite hungry just moments ago, but after hearing what was said, they actually felt hesitant to eat, not even daring to look at the food.

"Eat! In the past, my brother, my younger siblings, and I ate plenty of the rations from Aunt Lianhua and Aunt Xifeng. My mother specifically bought meat to make these dumplings this time, and she even told you to secretly take some back. Just don't let your mothers or grandmothers find out. Hurry and eat! I don't know why my mother suddenly had a change of heart, but if you want more next time, it might be gone. Go on, eat!"

As Lu Mingliang spoke, he pushed the three of them toward his small table. A large, fragrant bowl of dumplings was placed before them. The three of them stared at it for a long time, still afraid to eat. Even the youngest, Gao Gao, tried to slip past him to leave, but Mingliang was quick-handed; he caught him, grabbed a dumpling, and stuffed it into his mouth. Gao Gao, who instinctively bit into the dumpling, froze instantly.

The skin of the white flour dumpling was chewy and resilient, and the filling was fresh, savory, and slightly spicy, causing saliva to flood his mouth. Gao Gao couldn't control himself; he chewed two more bites and swallowed with a gulp.

"Hehe, is it good? Setting everything else aside, my mother is truly a great cook. Da Qing, Er Qing, you eat too! We are all full, so this bowl is left for you. My mother is still in the kitchen boiling more dumplings—they are for your mothers. Eat quickly so you can get back and let your mothers taste them too."

Lu Mingliang was somewhat excited. He was happy to finally be able to repay those who had helped him before, and his appreciation for his mother, Shen Meng, grew a little more.

Listening from outside the door, Shen Meng returned to the kitchen, shaking the strainer. Hearing Lu Mingliang's words, she didn't feel much herself. They had a familiar relationship now, but as for a close mother-son bond, she felt something was still missing.

When Xie Jinghao arrived with Xiao Gang, Shen Meng had just finished serving a large bowl of mixed-flour dumplings. She left the rest on a plate to cool, waiting for Da Qing, Er Qing, and Gao Gao to finish so they could take them back to Lianhua and Xifeng.

"Jinghao, come quickly. Xiao Gang, look at the dumplings Auntie made. Hurry and eat them while they're hot. The sauce is already seasoned; it's fine for a pregnant woman to eat, it won't cause any harm."

Xie Jinghao felt a bit embarrassed. Xiao Gang had been coming to the Lu house frequently lately, and his courage had grown; he was no longer as afraid of Shen Meng as before. Instead, he looked forward to nightfall every day, as that was when he could come to Auntie's place for good food.

"Sister-in-law, why are you saving food for me again? Following you these past few days, I've had meat buns, fish soup, and meat noodle soup. I haven't even finished making two sets of clothes for the baby, yet I've eaten quite a lot of your good things."

"Don't mention that. You're pregnant; that's the important thing. Eat more to nourish your body so that giving birth will go smoothly. Xiao Gang, eat by yourself."

"Thank you, Auntie."

After speaking, Xiao Gang reached out his small hand, took one, and began eating in small bites. Tonight, his grandmother had made him cornmeal porridge and mixed-flour steamed buns; he and his mother hadn't eaten much. His second uncle, second aunt, fourth uncle, and fourth aunt were all eating so fast that he hadn't paid much attention, and the food had already been distributed into their own bowls. If he wanted to eat something good, he could only hope his eldest aunt would think of him and his mother.

"Jinghao, eat. I've already eaten. You've been busy all evening; you can't let my kindness go to waste."

"Sigh, thank you, sister-in-law."

Xie Jinghao picked up her chopsticks with tearful eyes. Shen Meng watched her and smiled. Xie Jinghao had eaten well over the past half-month, and her complexion had improved significantly. Previously, she had been as thin as a stick while carrying a large belly, which was truly frightening.

In the original novel, Xie Jinghao's ending was not very good. She gave birth to a daughter, which damaged her health and left her unable to conceive again. Her daughter was considered bad luck by Liu Sanjin and suffered constant disdain from childhood. Xie Jinghao and her husband spent their lives farming two acres of land in the countryside with Lu Jasheng, and neither their son nor daughter achieved much. Shen Meng didn't want to think about the future, but seeing how good she was to the children, she wanted to lend a hand.

While they were eating, Shen Meng boiled hot water, mixed it with cold water, and then went to the room to catch the children. Lu Mingkai's eyes lit up when she entered, but seeing her expression, he began to pout.

"Mother, I don't want to bathe."

"No. If you don't bathe, you'll go sleep with your eldest and second brother. You can't sleep with Mother; Mother doesn't like smelly children."

Lu Mingfang was writing. Hearing Shen Meng's words, she immediately raised her hand and said, "Mother, I'll bathe! I can bathe by myself now. I won't make Mother tired, and I'll be all fragrant so I can sleep with Mother."

Lu Mingkai: "...Sister is a villain."

"Come on, you. You rolled around on the ground several times today. If you don't wash, you can't get on the heated kang bed." Without another word, Shen Meng picked up Lu Mingkai and walked out of the room. Lu Mingfang breathed a sigh of relief; luckily, Mother agreed to let her bathe herself. If not, she would have been scrubbed vigorously like a fish.

When Mingyang returned, he heard his younger brother's familiar cries. He rolled his eyes. It was just a bath; how much could it hurt? If Mother bathed him, he certainly wouldn't make a sound.

In the kitchen, Lu Mingkai covered his face with his small hands, his eyes tearful and his face flushed. His mother was truly too annoying! His third aunt and little brother Xiao Gang were right here, yet she stripped his clothes off. If he hadn't covered himself quickly, they would have seen.

Shen Meng found his little reaction funny and quickly dressed him and put shoes on him before sending him out.

After finishing the dumplings, Da Qing and Er Qing followed Mingliang to the kitchen. The three of them were hesitant to enter. Da Qing blinked several times and whispered to the busy Shen Meng, "Thank you, Auntie."

"I should be thanking you. In the past, you saved your own food to feed Mingyang and the others. I've packed two portions of dumplings here. Take them home to your mothers while it's still dark. Do it secretly, understood?"

"Understood, Auntie. We'll head back now. Thank you, Auntie." Da Qing led his two brothers out a few steps, then hesitated and walked back. He pressed his brothers' heads down and bowed to Shen Meng.

Wang Lianhua was currently holding her daughter, trying to soothe her to sleep, her heart filled with worry. It was getting late, and Da Qing and Er Qing had not yet returned. She worried the children had run to the riverbank, and her husband was nowhere to be found, always wandering off to play when she actually needed him.

After seeing Gao Gao into his room, Da Qing and Er Qing hurried back to their own room and shut the door with a "thud."

"Why are you only coming back now? And you brought your brother! You can't do this next time. Hurry, get on the kang and sleep!"

"Mother, look what this is!"

Wang Lianhua's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Dumplings? Where did these come from? Such precious things—how could you bring them home!"

"Mother, Mingyang's mother made them. She told me to bring them to you after the brothers and I finished eating. She said it's to thank you for looking after Mingyang and the others."

Looking at her two silly boys, Wang Lianhua felt a surge of anger.

"Oh, you two! Our family has only given Mingyang and the others a few meals, and they weren't even good. Every time, you're even mocked by your eldest aunt. How can we accept such expensive things? Da Qing, why are you so thoughtless, eating and taking things from someone else's house?"

Da Qing and Er Qing were very flustered; his mother had never been this strict with him before.

"Mother!"

"It was Auntie who insisted on giving them to you. She even said to eat them while they're hot and not to let Grandma or anyone else know. She said not to give any to Father, either." Da Qing didn't dare speak loudly; walls have ears, and one slip-up could lead to others overhearing.