Chapter 22: Speaking Too Soon

Lu Mingyang dropped the firewood. He didn't run to the kitchen immediately; instead, he watched Shen Meng's stumbling steps with great alarm.

Sugar-coated bullets! These are sugar-coated bullets!!!

That wicked woman has so many tricks. In just one day, she’s already on the verge of winning over both younger brothers and the little sister. They’re forgetting everything that happened before just because of a little kindness and small favors. They're so foolish. Lu Mingyang clenched his fists. Tonight—no matter what delicious things that wicked woman makes tonight—he absolutely will not eat a single bite. Absolutely.

"Brother, what are you dazing off for? It's sweet mung bean soup, a huge bowl! Come have some. It's too hot; let's not go picking firewood in a bit!"

Lu Mingyang walked into the kitchen, picked up the bowl of mung bean soup sitting on the table, and gulped down two big mouthfuls.

"We're not going. The firewood is picked, and what needed to be said has been said. I'm going to lie down on the *kang* in a bit. Hey, did you trip on something just now? Wash your feet with clean water later."

"Alright!" Lu Mingliang agreed, his eyes darting around. He spotted a sand basin on the stove and lifted the lid; sure enough, there was still plenty of mung bean soup inside. Overjoyed, he grabbed the spoon beside it and took a scoop.

"Brother, do you want more? There's still some here."

"I'm done. One bowl is enough. If you want more, have some, but do it secretly!"

"Hee hee!"

One brother secretly drank another half a bowl while the other poked his head out of the kitchen to keep watch. After a long while, they emerged from the kitchen, spread out the firewood, washed their hands and feet, and then went back to lie down in the west room.

On the *kang*, Lu Mingfang and Lu Mingliang were nearly asleep. Lu Mingfang raised her hand to rub her eyes before she could clearly see where she was. Lu Mingkai felt a surge of joy; having been held by Shen Meng all afternoon, he had grown bolder. Taking advantage of the fact that Shen Meng wasn't awake, he whispered a soft "Mother."

Looking at Shen Meng, Lu Mingfang's instinct was to grab her brother and run. But then she thought about how Mother had held her to sleep this afternoon and even asked Second Aunt to make her cotton clothes and shoes. To think such fine fabric and cotton were being made for her—she still found it hard to believe.

Shen Meng hadn't actually slept this afternoon. She had been sleeping for the past two days, and it had made her feel quite lazy. While the two children were sleeping, she had watched a movie in her Space and then brought out a basin of mung bean soup before coming out.

She pretended to have just woken up, frowning at the two children.

"Oh dear, when did you two wake up? Why didn't you call for Mother?"

"Mother was sleeping, so we didn't call," Lu Mingkai shrank back slightly, not leaving Shen Meng's embrace. He felt so comfortable being held by her that he didn't want to leave at all, so he answered boldly.

Looking at the soft, cuddly Mingkai, Shen Meng felt a surge of affection and gave him a loud "mwah" kiss.

"Good boy. Mingfang, Mother made some mung bean soup with rock sugar while you were sleeping. Take Mingkai to have some. Keep it quiet, though—Mingyang and Mingliang are resting in the west room!"

Lu Mingfang froze for a moment, then climbed off the *kang* and complied. She carried the equally dazed Lu Mingkai out, turning back to look at Shen Meng just before reaching the door.

"Mother, lie down a bit longer. If you need anything, just call me."

"Alright, go on, daughter."

Hearing Shen Meng's words, Lu Mingfang gave a slightly shy smile and walked off with Lu Mingkai.

As the siblings drank the mung bean soup, they couldn't stop praising how delicious it was. As Lu Mingkai drank, he started giggling.

"Sister, Mother just kissed me! Did you see? She kissed my forehead, hee hee!"

"I saw. Mingkai, be good, and Mother will surely love you." Lu Mingfang felt a bit melancholy as she spoke. No matter what, Mingkai was Mother's biological child. Mother said she was being good to her, but... but she hadn't kissed her just now.

Lu Mingfang bit her lip, wondering if she had been too cold. After all, Mother said she was going to change and was being so good to them—even giving them fine flour and white noodles and sweet mung bean soup while she was sick. She had done nothing, yet she kept wanting to run away. Would Mother be heartbroken and turn back to her old ways?

The thought caused a moment of panic in Lu Mingfang's heart. But seeing her little brother so happy, she made up her mind: next time, next time she would definitely say some nice things to Mother. Adults like children who are sweet-talkers. Yes, be a bit sweeter.

***

Liu Sanjin was in a foul mood. She had taken leave halfway through her work this afternoon to go home, which had nearly infuriated Lu Debang. It was the busy farming season; every household, except for those unable to work, had everyone from young to old out in the fields. She had been in good spirits and had come home halfway through, which made the village cadres in charge of production quite unhappy.

Xie Jinghao brought a bowl of cold water to her bedside and called out softly, "Mother." Liu Sanjin gave a cold snort.

Xie Jinghao didn't mind. In this house, aside from her husband and children, only her eldest brother's family was of any concern to her.

"Mother, didn't you say the sun was making you dizzy? Drinking some cold water will help. Drink it and then sleep."

"Hmph, save your filial piety. If you stop irritating me, I might live a few more years!"

Xie Jinghao didn't respond. She placed the cold water on the small table by the *kang*. Knowing that the woman was going to bring up old grievances again just to torment her, she simply listened.

"Our third son is so unlucky. If he hadn't married a jinx like you, he wouldn't have lost his chance to go to school. Now he's working temporary jobs at the mine, working himself to death to support you people." Liu Sanjin sat up abruptly and began scolding Xie Jinghao.

Xie Jinghao remained silent. She was an orphan, raised by a kind grandmother. After her grandmother died, nearby relatives had seized the old house and tried to kick her out. She had no relatives and nothing to hold onto. When she tried to end her life by jumping into the river, it was Lu Jasheng who saved her. Originally, that year, Liu Sanjin had picked out a girl for Lu Jasheng. If he had married her, not only would they have gained a good marriage connection, but he would have been recommended for the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University. Graduation meant a guaranteed job—a lifelong "iron rice bowl." But at that time, Xie Jinghao's relatives took the opportunity to blow up the scandal of Lu Jasheng's involvement in ruining Xie Jinghao's reputation, forcing the Lu family to marry her.

At the time, she didn't want to be the villain. Someone had kindly saved her, yet she had ruined his future. It was Lu Jasheng who had sought her out, saying he wanted to marry her and swearing to treat her well. Lu Zhenping had paid for the house and the bride price, giving Xie Jinghao a home.

After marriage, the couple had a good relationship, but Liu Sanjin always looked down on this third daughter-in-law who had no family of her own to back her up.

Seeing her silence, Liu Sanjin frowned deeply. Recalling the things she had heard this afternoon, she said in a heavy voice, "You'll cook tonight. Make some cornmeal dough soup. Boil two eggs for the eldest son's family and go over there with a dish. When you stir-fry the vegetables, add some lard. Take Jiao Jiao and Jia Xuan with you and deliver it to the eldest son's house when they finish work."

Xie Jinghao's eyes flickered. She had heard something unpleasant outside and wanted to send something good over to save face for her own family!

***

Lying on the *kang*, Shen Meng was idling when Lu Mingkai cautiously poked his head in. Seeing his mother looking at him, he let out a "hee hee" giggle.

"Mother, what are we eating tonight?" He had just finished his mung bean soup and was already looking forward to dinner. Just then, Lu Mingyang walked out of the west room, snorting inwardly. No matter what was being made, he wasn't eating it.

"We aren't cooking tonight. Your grandmother and the others will be bringing food over."

Lu Mingyang: "..."

So annoying! He had spoken too early!!!