Chapter 12: The Clue

When Chen Manman arrived at Uncle Chen’s house, she saw Chen Xiaoli wearing a brand-new pink floral dress. She was momentarily stunned—not because the dress was pretty, but because Chen Xiaoli’s skin was so dark.

Ugh! It was a bit hard to look at directly!

That pink was seriously making her look even darker!

“Yo! Manman’s here!” Chen Xiaoli’s tone was a bit arrogant, as if showing off her new dress.

Chen Manman found it a bit harsh on the eyes and just replied simply, “Mm.” Then she quickly walked toward the inner room. “Grandpa, Grandma!”

“Manman’s here!” The voice came from Old Chen, still sitting by the kang (heated brick bed) smoking his pipe.

“Grandpa, are you coming to our house for dinner tonight? Did Grandma tell you?” Chen Manman looked around but saw no sign of Grandma. “Where’s Grandma?”

“She said—cough cough… Grandma went to the backyard to pick persimmons.” Grandpa Chen’s hoarse voice came with a cough.

“Grandpa, why are you coughing?” Chen Manman asked worriedly, seeing him cough from time to time.

“Nothing much, just old age!” Grandpa Chen didn’t elaborate.

“Grandpa, I’ll go to the backyard to find Grandma, you wait a moment and we’ll go together.” Chen Manman got up and headed outside, just in time to see Grandma Chen carrying a basket of tomatoes back.

“Grandma, we’re going to eat at my house!” She reached out to take the basket from Grandma.

“Oh! Leaving already? These persimmons were picked by Grandma, they’re really sweet. Take them with you.” Grandma Chen was very happy and shouted inside, “Old man, let’s go to Manman’s house!”

Chen Xiaoli was listening all along, and shouted, “Grandma! You’re going to Manman’s house for dinner? Then who’s cooking for us? And those persimmons belong to my family!” Her face was arrogant and sharp.

Chen Manman heard that and immediately knew that Grandpa and Grandma usually cooked dinner. “Don’t you have hands? You want Grandpa and Grandma to do everything? What do you even do? Besides, those persimmons were grown by Grandma; she can give them to whoever she wants!” She said as she helped Grandma walk outside.

Chen Xiaoli’s eyes kept darting around. “Manman, what delicious food does your family have? Why are Grandpa and Grandma going there too? I want to go too!” Her eyes shone greedily.

Grandma Chen couldn’t stand her eldest granddaughter, who was usually lazy and selfish. “Xiaoli, Grandma and Grandpa are just going to Manman’s to stroll around. They won’t come back for dinner. Remember to cook for your parents.”

“Grandma! You’re eating good food without me? I’ll tell Mom!” Chen Xiaoli’s tone carried a hint of threat.

Grandma Chen stopped in her tracks, hesitating a little.

Chen Manman noticed something was off. “Xiaoli, I’m planning to make some clothes for my mom, want to learn embroidery from Grandma!” She said casually to cover up.

“Hmph!” Chen Xiaoli snorted coldly and gave Chen Manman a fierce glare.

The more Chen Manman looked, the more she felt something was wrong. Looks like she needed to ask Grandpa and Grandma carefully later.

“Grandpa, Grandma, let’s go!” Chen Manman linked arms with the two elders and headed home.

On the way, “Grandma, Auntie doesn’t treat you well!” Chen Manman said firmly.

“That’s not true! Your Uncle’s family is also struggling!” Grandma Chen didn’t want to say more.

Chen Manman didn’t get any more information and decided to have her dad inquire after dinner.

At the Chen family house, Yao Chunzhi saw the two elders and greeted, “Grandpa, Grandma.”

“Oh! Bright daughter-in-law.” After greeting, Chen Manman took them inside. “Grandpa, Grandma, have a seat. I’ll call Dahu and Erhu back.” Then she rushed outside.

“Dahu! Erhu!” Soon, two little rascals ran from the backyard. Chen Manman looked at the dirty Dahu and Erhu, and her blood pressure shot up. She hadn’t seen them for just a moment, yet they were all messy and dusty.

“Mom~” Dahu spoke timidly, as if knowing he had done wrong, and Erhu’s face was also red.

Chen Manman took a duster and dusted the kids off, then made them wash their hands and faces before letting them accompany Grandpa and Grandma inside. She went to the kitchen to get two bowls of warm malted milk to prepare for the elders.

“Grandpa, Grandma, drink this first.” Chen Manman handed the two bowls of malted milk.

The malted milk was fragrant and sweet-smelling. “Manman, this is too expensive! Give it to Dahu and Erhu! Grandpa and Grandma won’t drink it!” Grandma Chen quickly refused.

Chen Manman gave Dahu and Erhu a look.

“Great-grandpa, great-grandma, this is really delicious, you have to try it!” Dahu climbed onto Grandma Chen’s lap.

“Drink!” Erhu lifted the bowl toward Grandpa Chen’s mouth.

Chen Manman was glad to see the two boys were quite obedient!

Then, carrying the steamed buns and dishes she’d packed from the state-run restaurant in the morning, she got up and headed to the kitchen.

Yao Chunzhi was already serving braised potatoes and pork. She was now stir-frying loofah. “Manman, I think it can’t be just meat, it needs some vegetables, so I cooked a few veggie dishes.”

“Good! Sister-in-law, you handle the cooking. These are the lunch leftovers I saved, clean enough. We can warm them up later.” Chen Manman handed the buns and dishes to her sister-in-law.

The sky darkened as hardworking commune members finished work and headed home.

At the brigade commune, Lin Shuhe was registering the last worker’s labor points. The educated youth Li Yan stood outside, looking around nervously. Seeing Lin Shuhe come out, she hurried forward.

“Comrade Lin, how were you yesterday? Manman didn’t get angry, right?” Her tone was still pitiful and pleading.

Lin Shuhe ignored her and quickly walked home, thinking: I wonder if she came back from the county? Why didn’t she bring green bean soup this afternoon?

Li Yan followed quickly, “Comrade Lin, wait for me! Manman was so fierce yesterday, she even threatened me…”

Before she finished, Lin Shuhe interrupted, “I told you yesterday, don’t appear in front of me anymore. Can’t you understand human language?” His tone was icy, his eyes stern.

Li Yan took two steps back, nervous, trembling as she handed a handkerchief to Lin Shuhe. “Comrade Lin, you misunderstood me. I want to apologize to Manman. This is my apology gift; please help me give it to her!”

“No need!” Lin Shuhe internally cursed. Did this woman not understand human language?

Ignoring the woman’s calls behind him, Lin Shuhe strode home.

Li Yan heard “No need!” and somehow blushed shyly as if imagining something.

At the Chen family, Lin Shuhe hadn’t entered the yard when he heard Chen Manman’s proud voice, “Of course! Don’t you know whose granddaughter I am?” He smirked and pushed open the gate.

Grandma Chen: “Son-in-law’s home!”

Mother Chen: “Everyone’s here, wash up and eat!”

“Oh~ time to eat!” Dahu cheered happily.

A large bowl of braised potatoes and pork, crystal clear and enticing; a big pot of chicken stewed with mushrooms, the soup bright and fragrant; several vegetable dishes on the table; and a basket of fluffy steamed buns.

This meal was more lavish than many families had even during New Year.

Father Chen: “Dig in! Parents, come eat!” He scooped a spoonful of chicken for Grandpa and Grandma.

“Sigh! I really need to taste Manman’s cooking!”

Chen Manman was eager: “Grandma, this is mushroom stewed chicken, try it, it’s delicious!”

The chicken was tender and melted in the mouth, the mushrooms chewy, the chicken soup rich and mellow, topped with scallions—it was perfect! Grandma Chen kept praising, “Really delicious!”