Chapter 2

In the afternoon, Eldest Sister-in-law Lin steamed a large pot of white bread buns and slaughtered an old hen that had been raised for over a year to make chicken soup.

The rich aroma of the broth filled the house, making even the adults’ mouths water. She also sliced potatoes into thin strips, stir-fried them with salt, and sprinkled green onions on top just before serving, making a dish that was as visually appealing as it was fragrant.

Second Sister-in-law Lin nudged her with an elbow as she came over from feeding the chickens. “Hey, did you see that Third Brother’s family brought back two tins of malted milk powder yesterday?”

“Malted milk powder?”

Li Hongmei, eager to ensure her sister-in-law knew what a rare treat it was, quickly explained, “It’s top-quality stuff, only sold in the county town. Last month, when I took Caogen to visit my family, my sister-in-law made me taste a small bowl of it. It was rich, sweet, and full of creamy milk flavor.”

“I thought Third Brother and his wife brought it back for you and me, but they still haven’t taken it out,” Li Hongmei muttered, unable to hide her longing. Her son Caogen had a frail constitution, and a bit of that malted milk would be just what he needed to strengthen his health.

“And they’ve been married for so many years without children. Maybe it’s just not in their destiny to have any,” she added, her voice dropping to a more gossipy tone. “Haven’t they thought about adopting a child?”

Her own daughter Fengyin was five years old now. Third Brother and his wife were both county-level cadres with stable jobs and a comfortable life.

If the third family adopted Fengyin, her family would have one less mouth to feed, while Fengyin would get to attend school in the county and, in the future, inherit Third Brother’s property and savings. She, as his biological mother, might even get the benefit.

“What? Adoption?” Zhang Yueju was startled by her words but quickly regained her composure.

Her sons, Shuanzhu at twelve and Tiezhu at ten were already well-suited for succession if needed, and she could hardly bear to part with them.

During dinner, Li Hongmei couldn’t resist bringing up the subject of adoption.

“Third Sister-in-law, Caogen, has always been frail, and with your Second Brother and I taking care of three children, relying solely on his earnings, things have been tight. I noticed that you and your husband seem fond of children. How about we transfer Fengyin to your household so you can raise her as your own…?”

Fengyin, who was quietly eating nearby, quickly lowered her head, shoveling rice into her mouth to hide the delight on her face.

Indeed, Li Hongmei brought up the idea of adoption for Lin Youqing and his wife, exactly as Fengyin had hoped after her long efforts to influence her subtly.

Li Hongmei had calculated her plans precisely, but He Guijuan felt uneasy about it.

They wanted to adopt a child of their own, not take on the responsibility of raising a child for their second brother’s family.

Lin Youqing glanced at his wife and gently turned down the offer: “We’re both busy with work and haven’t planned on raising a child yet. As for Second Sister-in-Law’s concerns about finances, Guijuan, Big Brother, and I all contribute to the household expenses every month. We all eat from the same pot, and all children are treated equally. In times like these, none of us are particularly well-off.”

“This…”

“Let’s just finish our meal.” Lin Youqing said, placing a piece of fish on his wife’s plate, clearly indicating he did not want to continue discussing this matter.

When it was evident that the couple had no intention of adopting, Li Hongmei changed the topic, asking about two cans of malted milk powder, “Third Brother, yesterday I saw you brought back two cans of malted milk powder…”

He Guijuan responded calmly: “Second Sister-in-Law has quite a sharp eye, but someone asked us to deliver those two cans of malted milk powder. When we have time, we’ll pass them on to that person. Honestly, it’s not easy to get hold of malted milk powder these days.”

Sensing the sarcasm in He Guijuan’s tone, Second Brother’s brows furrowed in irritation. He looked at Li Hongmei, “Just eat. You always have so much to say.”

The evening meal ended with each person lost in their own thoughts.

—o—o—o—

At Jiang Jiang’s house.

After dinner, she put away her old hen and washed her face and feet with warm water before lying down.

Jiang Jiang’s home had only a single kerosene lamp, its shade long broken. Last month, Uncle Fugui gave her a small amount of kerosene, but Jiang Jiang had been saving it and rarely used it. Usually, she finished dinner and went to bed before it grew completely dark.

Jiang Jiang’s home was a simple earthen cave. Although it looked quite dilapidated from the outside, lacking in furniture and decor, Jiang Jiang kept the inside remarkably clean, with not a hint of mildew.

Jiang Jiang, the old hen, felt like family.

This chicken had been bought by Jiang Jiang’s father when he was still alive and intended to lay eggs.

He had promised to cook her a boiled egg every day once the hen started laying, but unfortunately, before the chicken could lay any eggs, her father fell off a cliff and died.

In the late December days, dawn broke late; it was probably past six o’clock before the horizon revealed a hint of light. The icy well water splashed on Jiang Jiang’s face, making her shiver from the cold.

Jiang Jiang opened the bag Lin Youqing had brought her the previous day and pulled out an apple. She took a small bite and found it juicy and crisp, even sweeter than the candies she had eaten before.

“So delicious~” Jiang Jiang said, her eyes squinting with happiness.

—o—o—o—

As dawn broke, Zhang Yueju was already busy cooking. He Guijuan recalled that during their two days back in Dongxi Village, all the cooking had fallen to her elder sister-in-law, which made her feel a bit guilty.

Lin Youqing was still asleep, so He Guijuan got up, dressed, tucked her husband in a little tighter, and decided to help Zhang Yueju with breakfast.

“Sister-in-law, let me help you,” she offered.

Zhang Yueju was momentarily surprised, then replied, “Sure, you can wash those vegetables for me.”

While He Guijuan was washing the vegetables, Fengyin, the daughter of her Second Sister-in-Law, ran over. “Third Aunt, is there anything I can help you with?”

Zhang Yueju watched on, feeling quite amazed. This girl usually avoided work at all costs, yet today, she was willingly offering to help.

He Guijuan smiled as she looked at the child in front of her and pointed to a bunch of chives on the table next to the stove. “Why don’t you help Third Aunt by bringing the chives over? We can prepare them together.”

The family hadn’t bought any meat today but had saved up a dozen eggs from earlier, planning to fry them with the chives. It would make for a decent dish.

“Okay!” Fengyin replied, grabbing the chives before bringing a small stool over to sit in front of He Guijuan, her little head bobbing as he balanced himself.

Breakfast consisted of chive scrambled eggs, corn gruel, and a plate of pickled vegetables that Zhang Yueju had made with radish sprouts.

—o—o—o—

After breakfast, He Guijuan rewarded Fengyin with a small handful of mint candies.

“I see Fengyin is quite attached to you.” Lin Youqing commented as he focused on writing a work plan. He saw how Fengyin had clung to his wife during breakfast and couldn’t help but mention it.

“It’s not like Fengyin has been this close to us before.” He Guijuan remarked dismissively, busy sorting through clothes. “At her age, she doesn’t really understand anything. It’s just the adults teaching her what to do.”

In the end, it was all about how Second Sister-in-Law wanted to have Fengyin adopted by them, but He Guijuan would never agree to that.

“Second Sister-in-Law is quite cunning. I had put those two cans of malted milk powder in a cloth bag, yet she still managed to find out about them.”

He Guijuan was not lying to Li Hongmei.

Her high school classmate, Wang Shuwen, had married someone from their village and had just given birth half a month ago.

One of those cans of malted milk powder had been bought on behalf of Wang Shuwen’s husband, which had taken her quite some effort to arrange.

As for the other can, Lin Youqing had digestive issues that had persisted for many years. Malted milk powder was known for its benefits in strengthening the spleen and stomach; drinking some could help improve his health.

“How do you feel about Jiang Jiang?”

He Guijuan nodded: “She’s a good child. Although she looks a bit pale, probably due to years of hunger, her facial features are decent. Even if she ends up pursuing something artistic as she grows up, she would be suitable for it.”

In any case, she was unwilling to help her elder sister-in-law or second sister-in-law raise a child.

In the end, the child would still have a closer bond with her biological parents, rendering her efforts futile.

Lin Youqing agreed, noting that his wife’s thoughts were similar to his own. “We still have a few days of vacation left. Let’s spend more time with the child and see how she feels about everything.”