Chapter 31: Different Tastes of Meat in Every Family

“Wife, is that the smell of meat?” Zhao Zhigang couldn’t help but ask while in the kitchen where He He was cooking.

“He He, you’re really something. I just made meat a few days ago,” He He replied, somewhat exasperated.

After the first allowance distribution, when they went shopping in the city, He He had bought some meat.

“Wife, you should learn from your sister-in-law how to cook. Really, it smells so delicious.”

He He didn’t feel like responding anymore. How did she not realize she married a foodie?

“Wife, don’t we still have some meat left? How about asking sister-in-law how to make it tomorrow?”

“I’ll write to Mom tomorrow and ask if you were always like this when you were young.” He He gave him a side-eye.

“No way, our family is still part of the Eastern Military District’s compound…” Zhao Zhigang said, only realizing what He He meant after he spoke.

“No, wife, you’re twisting things and insulting me now?”

“Oh? So you can still hear the insults, huh?” He He smiled.

Just as Zhao Zhigang was about to argue with He He, they heard a knock on the door.

“See, my brother-in-law is sending meat over,” Zhao Zhigang said proudly, lifting his head to He He.

“Eh, wait, are you really going to accept that? They only get the same meat tickets every month,” He He quickly grabbed him.

“Well… I’ll pass then.” Zhao Zhigang thought for a moment and realized that no matter how hungry he was, he shouldn’t keep taking other people’s meat.

When Zhao Zhigang opened the door, it turned out that Cheng Jinghao was indeed delivering some braised pork bones.

“I don’t want it,” Zhao Zhigang said, staring at the braised pork bones, even though he was still saying no.

“These are pork bones, I didn’t need any tickets to buy them,” Cheng Jinghao said, offering some more of the braised bones.

“No thanks, take them back and eat them yourself,” Zhao Zhigang turned his head, trying not to look.

“Ha, I knew it, your mouth is practically watering,” Cheng Jinghao laughed, shoving the bowl into Zhao Zhigang’s hands.

Zhao Zhigang quickly wiped his hand, “Hey, you little rascal, you’re playing tricks on me.”

“Remember to return the bowl,” Cheng Jinghao said, waving as he left.

“You really took it?” He He, standing at the kitchen door, saw Cheng Jinghao leave and immediately went up to pinch Zhao Zhigang’s ear.

“How about we let you starve next time?”

“Wife, wife, Old Cheng said these are pork bones that didn’t use any tickets,” Zhao Zhigang quickly ran off holding the bowl of pork bones, hoping not to spill it.

“But these bones have so much meat on them. How could they not use tickets?” He He asked, curious.

“Ah, maybe it’s fine. Without the meat tickets for this month, we probably just have enough to eat this bowl of pork bones,” Zhao Zhigang thought for a moment. That bowl was quite full.

“Old Zhao, go get 3 yuan, and while you’re at it, wash the bowl and send it back. We can’t let Momo and them get a bad deal. Even if it wasn’t paid for with tickets, this meat still costs money,” He He thought for a second and said.

“Got it.” Zhao Zhigang nodded, thinking it was a good idea.

Zhao Zhigang cleaned the bowl and went to deliver 3 yuan back to Cheng Jinghao.

“Why is it back so soon?” Cheng Jinghao had just sat down to eat when Zhao Zhigang arrived.

“Your sister-in-law asked me to bring it back.” Zhao Zhigang stuffed the money into Cheng Jinghao’s pocket.

“What’s this for?”

“If you don’t take it, I won’t dare to eat anything from your place next time. My wife will twist my ear.”

“Alright then.” Cheng Jinghao took the money.

“Let sister-in-law teach you how to cook meat,” Zhao Zhigang whispered, worried that He He might hear him from the other room.

“Okay.”

“She’s gone.”

Cheng Jinghao smiled as he watched Zhao Zhigang’s retreating figure, locked the door, and went back inside to eat.

There was another family in the housing complex that was also having meat for dinner tonight.

“Jiao Jiao, the meat is delicious, eat some more,” Ge Mei kept placing more meat on Huo Jiao’s plate. Half of the dish was already piled up in Huo Jiao’s bowl.

“Mom, I know.” Huo Jiao looked like she had never eaten meat in her life, and even though her bowl wasn’t finished, she started loading up her plate again.

“Huo Jiao.” Huo Jun took the meat plate away.

“Third Brother, what are you doing? I’m still hungry,” Huo Jiao complained.

“Mom, Huo Jiao, most of the meat has already been taken, and Gui Lan hasn’t eaten yet. Let her have the rest,” Huo Jun said, placing the remaining meat in front of his wife, Xu Gui Lan.

“What does she need to eat meat for? Give it to your sister.” Ge Mei reached for the plate again, but Huo Jun pulled it away.

“Mom, remember to have Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother send the pension money over for these three years,” Huo Jun said, emptying the remaining meat into Xu Gui Lan’s bowl.

“Huo Jun, what do you mean by this?” Ge Mei stared at her youngest son.

“Mom, when Gui Lan was pregnant, you said you’d come and take care of her, but how did you take care of her? Now Xiao Hu is already two years old, have you ever changed his diaper?”

“The old house we’re living in — we built it with our own money, remember? At the time, you said you’d live with Eldest Brother. We’re paying ten yuan a month for the pension, and Fifth Brother’s contributing five. Gui Lan and I have agreed to it.”

“When Huo Jiao came over, you only told me after she had already gotten on the train. If we don’t get the pension money from Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother, then we’ll need to take back the old house from the hometown.”

“I’m not asking for too much, just five yuan per month from each family. Mom, isn’t our food here better than Eldest Brother’s family?” Huo Jun looked at Ge Mei.

“Also, Huo Jiao, you need to help your sister-in-law with the housework. If not, I’ll send you back to the old home. You can go help Eldest Brother with his work.”

When the Huo family split, Huo Jun had paid to build a new house for Eldest Brother and gave the old house to Fifth Brother. He himself hadn’t received anything from the division.

Huo Jun knew that his mom had gotten used to the comfortable life in the family housing complex and wouldn’t want to go back to the old home, but if he was going to ask for what he deserved, he had to take it.

“Mom, if Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother don’t send the pension money, don’t blame me for sending you and Little Sister back to the old home. After all, the family division documents are very clear.” Huo Jun finished his meal, scraping the last of the rice in his bowl.

“I’ll write to Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother tomorrow,” Ge Mei said, genuinely not wanting to return to the old home.

Returning to the old home would mean helping Eldest Brother with his work, cooking, and taking care of the children. It was nothing compared to the comfort of the family housing complex.

“Also, Huo Jiao, don’t cause trouble for me. Don’t blame me if I stop caring about the sibling bond.” Huo Jun looked at Huo Jiao.

He wasn’t unaware of why Huo Jiao had come to the military base. If fate brought her and Cheng Jinghao together, he wouldn’t stop them, but if she had inappropriate thoughts, he wouldn’t be lenient.

The meal ended awkwardly, and everyone left in a bad mood.

Later that night, Huo Jiao was in the room, complaining to Ge Mei.

“Mom, what does Third Brother mean by this?”

“Jiao Jiao, just listen to your Third Brother. At least in the family housing complex, you won’t have to work in the fields. You should help your sister-in-law with some work,” Ge Mei shook her head. “I know Huo Jun well. Once he says something, he’ll do it. He’s filial, but he’s not blindly obedient. The family division really hurt him.”

“Mom, what do you think about me marrying a military officer?” This was the main reason Huo Jiao had come to the military base.

“Let it be. Recently, don’t provoke your Third Brother. He really will send you back to the old home.”

In the main house, Xu Gui Lan smiled at Huo Jun.

“I haven’t even told you, and you’re already doing this.”

“I can’t just let my wife and little sister suffer, can I?” Huo Jun said with a smile.

“Anyway, when it comes to family matters, let Huo Jiao handle it. She’s not useless, she can help Eldest Brother’s family with work. We can’t spoil her bad habits. When she gets married, maybe Big Sister-in-law can give her a good dowry — we shouldn’t rely on others.”

“Got it. So, we’re really asking Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother for the pension money?” Xu Gui Lan asked.

“Yes, why not? They’ve been asking us for it too. This money can be saved for Mom and Little Sister to use later. Anyway, we need to get it from them.”

Xu Gui Lan looked at Huo Jun and smiled. It was a relief that her husband wasn’t stupid. If he were, dealing with such a biased mother-in-law would have been suffocating.