Chapter 9: Hoeing the Land, Planting Vegetables, Speaking in Reverse

The corners of Lu Zhinan’s mouth curved slightly. Although he was very happy, he still did not step forward.
“Mom, you’re carrying so many things in your hands. It would be tiring to carry me as well.”

Ye Qiu placed one hand on her waist, her voice carrying a trace of laughter.
“Mom can still carry you.”

Even though Ye Qiu had said so, Lu Zhinan still did not agree. Instead, he even stood on tiptoe to try to help take some of the things. Seeing how sensible the child was, Ye Qiu felt an indescribable ache in her heart.

When she had been his age, she had only known how to play. As the saying went, children from poor families learned to take on responsibilities early—this was absolutely true.

On the road from the village entrance to home, Ye Qiu alternated carrying the two children. When Lu Zhinan had just lain in his mother’s arms, his back had been stiff, his small hand cautiously gripping Ye Qiu’s collar, not daring to get any closer.

Ye Qiu directly kissed him on the cheek.
“What are you being shy about, little one? Hold onto Mom, let’s go home.”

Lu Zhinan nestled into Ye Qiu’s embrace, inhaling the soapy fragrance on his mother’s body, rubbing against her with attachment. Seeing this, Lu Zhibei did not feel jealous—after all, their mother had just carried him too.

When the three of them arrived home, Ye Qiu cooked a bit of rice soup, pairing it with the braised pork and steamed buns she had bought at the State-run restaurant at noon. After the two children had eaten their fill, they became drowsy. Ye Qiu, however, was not the least bit sleepy, and by the light of the oil lamp, she began cutting fabric to make clothes for them.

Summer clothes should have been easy to make. After sewing for half the night, she managed to produce two pairs of shorts. But when she held them in her hands, she saw that the waists were too big and the legs too wide—completely unfit to wear outside.

Still, the two children gave her face. Both Lu Zhinan and Lu Zhibei put on the shorts. Lu Zhibei even held up the waistband and ran a lap outside.

Zhao Menglan saw her little grandson clutching the waistband as he ran back and forth. Squinting her eyes, she beckoned him over.
“Xiao Wa, who made these pants for you? Why do they look so ugly?”

“My mom made them. They’re not ugly at all.” Lu Zhibei proudly raised his head and even spun around to show his grandmother.

She made them herself? Just by looking at the stitching, it was clear she had never made clothes before. Why did the pants look like a burlap sack?

Zhao Menglan took her little grandson’s hand and walked back together. As soon as they stepped into the yard, they saw Ye Qiu holding a hoe, working the ground.

Seeing that the third daughter-in-law’s hoeing could not even dig out a proper hole, Zhao Menglan could not bear to watch any longer. She took the hoe from Ye Qiu’s hands and taught her to bend at the waist and use more force.
“What are you planning to plant?”

“I want to plant some vegetables.”

“Then you’d better hurry. Otherwise, once this season passes, it’ll be difficult to plant again.”

Ye Qiu was unconcerned.
“No rush. This little bit of land will be ready in about five days.”

Five days still seemed too long to Zhao Menglan. She straightened her back and made a decisive suggestion.
“I’ll have your eldest brother and second brother come help you later. That way it won’t take five days—one day will be enough.”

Ye Qiu did not refuse. She knew very well she was not skilled at this work, so she nodded and went to the kitchen, taking out two catties of mixed flour and half a bowl of braised pork, handing them to Zhao Menglan.
“Mom, take these. Just think of it as Zhinan and Zhibei’s meal money.”

With a stern face, Zhao Menglan refused to accept it. Da Wa and Xiao Wa were her grandsons, children of the Lu family. If they ate at home and she still took money, what kind of person would that make her?

Even though the family had already been divided, one still needed to have a conscience. No matter how much the two children could eat, it would not amount to much.

“I already told your eldest sister-in-law. Keep these for yourselves.”

“No need. After I split from the family, eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law would definitely have opinions. As they say, taking food from others ties your hands. Once they see the grain, they’ll have less to say.”

Zhao Menglan had no choice but to accept. She even spent the whole morning at home altering her two grandsons’ pants. Ye Qiu also gave her some of the fabric scraps she had gotten from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative the day before.

By noon, seeing Zhao Menglan still threading her needle and sewing clothes, Ye Qiu quietly went into the kitchen to prepare lunch. She also told the two children to make sure to keep their grandmother for the meal.

Ye Qiu was not someone who could not distinguish right from wrong. From beginning to end, Zhao Menglan had never harbored ill will toward her. For the sake of her caring for the two children, Ye Qiu was more than willing to keep her for a meal.

She scooped two bowls of rice, washed them, and poured them into a pot. Into cold water she placed pork belly, along with cooking wine, scallions, ginger, and garlic, blanching it and skimming off the foam. After a few minutes, she took it out, cut it into thumb-sized chunks, and stir-fried it until golden before setting it aside.

Soon, waves of delicious aroma drifted from the yard. Zhao Menglan, catching the scent, thought her nose was playing tricks on her. She sniffed several more times, then followed the smell to the kitchen.

Seeing Ye Qiu cooking, she rolled up her sleeves to help tend the stove. Ye Qiu naturally agreed, nodding as she poured oil into the wok and added rock sugar to caramelize for color.

“This rock sugar is really nice. Did you buy it from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative?” Zhao Menglan peeked in and could not help but praise it. It was crystal clear without any impurities—surely not cheap.

But she was already used to the third daughter-in-law’s spendthrift ways. If one day she suddenly started pinching pennies, Zhao Menglan might not be able to get used to it.

“Yes, I bought a lot. After we eat, Mom, take some home. It’s good to add a bit of rock sugar when stir-frying vegetables—it makes them tasty.”

The pork belly went back into the wok to stir-fry again, then in went star anise and cinnamon. She added hot water and salt to braise, and when it was nearly done, she added potato chunks, cooking them on high heat for about ten minutes.

When the meal was almost ready, Zhao Menglan stood up to leave.
“Third daughter-in-law, I’ll head back now. It’s about time for us to eat at home too.”

“Mom, since you’re already here, stay and eat. Zhinan, go to the Lu family and tell them Grandma is eating with us so they don’t wait.”

Lu Zhinan obediently agreed and quickly ran off.

At home, with just the two of them left, Zhao Menglan hesitated for a moment before asking,
“Do you still have money at home? Before, the money Chuanzi gave us old folks—we’ve been saving it. We were planning to use it for Da Wa and Xiao Wa when they grow up and get married. If not, I’ll give it to you now, so you can keep it for them.”

Ye Qiu found it both funny and touching. She would never go so far as to use her in-laws’ money to support her family of three. As for marriage, the older one was only a little over five—it was far too early to think about.

At noon, they had one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and steaming white rice. Both Lu Zhinan and Lu Zhibei ate without lifting their heads. Even Zhao Menglan ended up stuffed by the end.

On the way home, savoring the lingering taste, she could not help but click her tongue. She had to admit—third daughter-in-law’s cooking was truly delicious.

By the time Zhao Menglan returned to the Lu family, they had already finished eating. In her hand she carried the mixed flour and braised pork Ye Qiu had given her. Seeing her two daughters-in-law eyeing the braised pork like hungry wolves, Zhao Menglan snorted coldly.
“What are you looking at?

Da Wa and Xiao Wa ate a few meals at her place, and third daughter-in-law gave us two catties of flour and even left us some braised pork.

First daughter-in-law, weren’t you longing for two taels of flour? Take it and weigh it—see if it’s enough.”

Zhuang Meifeng forced an awkward smile. She knew perfectly well her mother-in-law was speaking in reverse. If she really dared to weigh it, she might be accused of being a troublemaker again.

She had not expected the third household to act so quickly—just yesterday it was mentioned, and today she had already sent over two catties of flour. If they were frugal, it could last them several days.

“Second daughter-in-law, this is the fabric scrap Chuanzi’s wife gave you. Take it home and make some socks for the baby in your belly, and maybe some hair ties for the two girls.”

Supporting her waist, Wu Laidi had not expected to receive something as well. She happily took the fabric. Seeing that the second household had gotten fabric, Zhuang Meifeng also gazed at it eagerly, eyeing the remaining cloth in Zhao Menglan’s hands.