Chapter 20

Mother Lu was enjoying the fish soup, when suddenly Liu Hongyan spoke up, “What fish soup are you talking about?”

The old lady gulped down the last sip of her fish soup, glared at Liu Hongyan, and said, 

“What fish soup? What do you want with the fish soup? This fish soup is from Old Third to honor us elderly. What does it have to do with you? What’s going on, just because you’ve got a baby in your belly, you think you can show off in our old Lu family? You only had two boiled eggs for breakfast, and now you’re craving fish soup? What, can’t those two eggs fill you up?”

If this had been any other time, Liu Hongyan would have kept quiet, like a quail after being scolded by her mother-in-law. But now that she was pregnant with the Lu family’s golden grandson, having a baby in her belly gave her a lot more courage. 

At this moment, Liu Hongyan quietly said: “I just wanted to drink some fish soup to satisfy the baby’s cravings, why are you so stingy?”

Lu Ershan also felt sorry for Liu Hongyan and her baby, so he spoke up to defend her, 

“Mom, what are you doing? Hongyan is carrying our Lu family’s grandson. Old Third’s family is eating fish today. If Hongyan wants some fish soup, just go ask Old Third’s family for some.”

“Yes, Mom, Second Sister-in-law just wants some fish soup. It’s no big deal. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the village and catch a fish to make soup for Second Sister-in-law.”

Lu Dashan also spoke up, taking on the role of the eldest son.

When Liu Hongyan heard this, she frowned, not pleased. She didn’t want to eat the small fish and shrimp her eldest brother-in-law caught. Every time he went fishing, he only caught tiny fish, and their grandmother always cooked it poorly—lacking oil and salt, the soup was awful, smelling strongly of fish. She definitely didn’t want to drink that!

Lu Daxiao, sitting across from them, noticed the disdain on Liu Hongyan’s face. Normally a quiet person, she got upset and sneered, 

“The fish soup made by Old Third is for Dad and Mom. Why are you eyeing their things?”

As soon as Mother Lu heard the eldest daughter-in-law’s words, she immediately got angry and snapped back at Liu Hongyan.

“Who are you calling stingy, Second Daughter-in-law?” Mother Lu cried out. “Oh, my life has been so hard. I’ve never been able to eat or wear much. Whatever delicious food there was, I always saved it for the kids. And in the end, my daughter-in-law points her finger at me and calls me tight-fisted. My life is really hard!”

Mother Lu slapped her thigh and wiped her eyes dramatically. Lu Dashan, the dutiful son, saw that his mother was upset and hurried to calm her down, pulling Lu Daxiao along to console her. Father Lu, puffing on his cigarette, wore a stern expression, clearly upset with Liu Hongyan too.

Seeing the situation, Lu Ershan quickly pretended to scold Liu Hongyan, telling her to apologize to the old lady. With no choice, Liu Hongyan could only obediently apologize several times in front of the entire family. Finally, Mother Lu, feeling somewhat satisfied, went back to her room.

Once they were back in their own room, Liu Hongyan couldn’t hold back her tears and began to cry. While wiping her eyes, she complained to Lu Ershan: “Today I just wanted to get a bowl of fish soup for the baby in my belly. Look at what your parents and the eldest brother’s family are saying! Oh, just because I’m carrying a child, I want to show off in the family. What does that mean? I’m carrying the Lu family’s grandson, so what’s wrong with that? How could the grandmother say her own grandchild is just a baby? If my baby hears that, how upset would he be?”

Lu Ershan, sitting with his feet up on the kang, listened to Liu Hongyan and chuckled: “Stop using the baby as an excuse. We’ve been married for so many years, do you think I don’t know what’s on your mind? You just saw how good Old Third’s fish soup smelled and got greedy for a bowl. Honestly, you’re being a bit silly. If you wanted the fish soup, just admit it! Don’t pretend it’s for the baby. You’ve been pregnant for just over two months—do you really think the baby’s going to tell you he wants fish soup? You’re trying to fool me, huh?”

Liu Hongyan, flustered and angry, retorted: “I just really wanted it, okay? What’s wrong with that? You, as a man, can’t even get your wife a bowl of fish soup when she’s carrying your child. I must have really bad luck marrying you!”

After saying that, Liu Hongyan covered her face and pretended to cry. Lu Ershan, knowing it was one of her usual tricks, didn’t expose it. He just pulled her into his arms. Liu Hongyan, still trying to pout a bit, soon had a smile on her face as Lu Ershan whispered something in her ear.

“Ershan, is what you said true?”

Liu Hongyan looked at Lu Ershan with a flushed face. “Can you really make so much money by selling grain?”

Lu Ershan, looking confident, replied: “Of course. My brothers in the county does it this way. He secretly transports grain from here to the south to sell. I hear that there are a lot of wealthy people down there, and they’re used to eating rice and such. They want a change of taste, so they buy our local sorghum flour. It sells fast on the black market down south. You can earn forty or fifty yuan in one trip. These days, it’s the bold who thrive and the timid who starve. Our prosperous days are coming.”

Hearing this, Liu Hongyan got excited. Forty or fifty yuan could last their family of three for a whole year. If they did this business long enough, their family would be set for life.

Once they had money, she could separate from the Lu family and live a good life like those rich people!

Liu Hongyan began daydreaming about the future, completely forgetting the risks involved in grain smuggling. After all, the government strictly forbade private trading of agricultural goods, and if they got caught, they could face hefty fines or even imprisonment.

But Lu Ershan’s words, “The bold thrive, and the timid starve,” had taken root in Liu Hongyan’s mind, giving her ideas.

However, to smuggle grain, they would need some capital. All the money in the Lu family was with the old lady. Where would they get the money?

Liu Hongyan voiced her thoughts, and Lu Ershan chuckled. “That’s easy—Old Third has money. Just borrow from him!”

Liu Hongyan thought for a moment, and it made sense. Old Third earned quite a bit every month, and their family of four didn’t spend much, so surely Old Third had some savings! 

Tomorrow, she would go to Old Third’s house to borrow some money. After all, they were family. Surely Old Third wouldn’t mind lending them a bit.

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The next day, the sun was shining brightly. Lu Changshan’s wife, taking advantage of some free time, gathered the eggs they had saved up and took them to the market to sell. Her eldest son went with her to the county, buying a small sugar figurine.

When Lu Changshan’s wife returned home, she happened to pass by the Lu family and, thinking she hadn’t seen Springzao (Jiang Chunzao) for a few days, brought some fruit candy she had bought from the county.

In the small courtyard of the Lu family, Mother Jiang was still making shrimp paste, while Jiang Chunzao was learning from her.

When she saw Lu Changshan’s wife and her son enter, Jiang Chunzao quickly served them two cups of chilled mung bean soup. The kids, Liangshi, Xiao Shitou, and Little Moli, were playing happily together. As soon as they entered, the three children, holding the milk candies that Jiang Chunzao had given them, gathered together in the yard to watch the ants move their nest.

Lu Changshan’s wife took a sip of the cool mung bean soup, savoring the sweetness on her tongue. She exclaimed: “Chunzao, did you put sugar in this mung bean soup?”

Jiang Chunzao, holding a plate of sliced watermelon, came out of the house with a smile, 

“My two kids are picky. If I don’t put sugar, they won’t drink it happily.”

“Oh, you really spoil your kids.” 

Changshan’s wife sighed, then looked around at the neatly cleaned Lu family yard, the lush vegetables in the small garden, and the roses blooming on the trellis. She said with envy: “Chunzao, your life is so comfortable. Look at you, living so well—it’s a life even a god wouldn’t trade.”

Jiang Chunzao led Mother Jiang into the kitchen and then sat down, smiling brightly as she replied, 

“Sister-in-law, your life is good too. Changshan is capable and considerate, and Grain is doing great! I heard he got second place in the school exam. He’s really promising.”

When Changshan’s wife heard this, her face lit up with pride: “Oh, in this life, I don’t wish for great wealth. I just hope my two kids do well in school, pass the exams, and find good jobs in the city. That way, they won’t have to work in the fields anymore.”

Jiang Chunzao followed Changshan’s wife’s gaze and saw Liangshi, standing like a big brother, seriously explaining to Little Shitou and Little Moli the reasons why ants move their nests.

Seeing the three children so earnestly engaged, Jiang Chunzao’s eyes sparkled with a deep smile: “They will. The country is getting better and better, and the kids’ lives will get better too.”

Changshan’s wife smiled upon hearing Jiang Chunzao’s words, and feeling in a good mood, she began chatting with the two sisters, sharing some casual family gossip.

Just then, Lu Lin came home, carrying a basket. He wore a black shirt and had recently cut his hair short, making him appear even more handsome and energetic. He walked briskly into the house, and upon seeing Changshan’s wife, he awkwardly greeted her.

Changshan’s wife cheerfully greeted him back and then noticed the large basket he was carrying. With a smile, she asked: “Lu Lin, what’s in the basket?”

Lu Lin glanced at the happy Jiang Chunzao, then awkwardly opened the basket, revealing wild grapes he had picked from the mountain. Just then, Mother Jiang came out of the kitchen carrying some water, and when she saw the wild grapes, she smiled widely and said: “These grapes—aren’t they the ones Chunzao wanted to eat last night?”

Lu Lin blushed and nodded. Amid Changshan’s wife’s cheerful laughter, he quickly left the room in embarrassment.

Jiang Chunzao’s fair face also turned red.

Changshan’s wife smirked and teased: “Chunzao, you really are lucky.”

“What’s so lucky about it? What good things are there at Old Third’s house? Why not share them so Second Sister-in-law can be happy too?” 

Jiang Chunzao tried to divert the conversation with a lighthearted comment, but just then, a loud voice echoed from outside the yard. The Lu family turned to see Liu Hongyan, holding Lu Mutou’s hand, grinning as she stood at the door.

Jiang Chunzao’s smile vanished instantly. Well, as the saying goes, “Trouble never knocks before entering,” and Liu Hongyan, who never visited uninvited, was sure to have come with bad news.

“Like a weasel wishing the chicken well—there’s no good in this visit!” Jiang Chunzao thought to herself.