Chapter 28: Sharing Meals Together

They spent a full four days watering the crops.

On the fourth day after finishing work, the team leader announced they could rest for two days.

Originally, they were supposed to rest just one day so the villagers could go to town to buy things, but since the watering was busy and done early, they decided to rest for two days straight.

Of course, not everyone got to rest; some people still had to work the fields.

In fact, this kind of half-monthly rest only started after the educated youth (zhīqīng) arrived in the countryside.

Before, the villagers worked every day; if someone had something urgent, they just needed to explain their absence.

Later, because many of the youth weren’t willing to work, causing quite a few conflicts, these rest days were introduced.

But most people didn’t rest — working one day earned them one day’s work credit.

People like Tang Wan definitely needed to rest. Even though drinking the Lingquan spring water helped relieve physical fatigue, the continuous four days had taken a toll on her spirit.

During the watering days, Tang Wan stayed at the youth work point, but still ate at Grandma Bai’s place.

Today, on the rest day, Tang Wan woke up a bit late.

Sister Yanhong came in that morning and asked if Tang Wan wanted to cook her meal.

Tang Wan nodded, “Thanks, Sister Yanhong, but today I’ll eat at the youth work point.”

“There’s no trouble at all. Having one more person doesn’t matter, your food ration is still here anyway,” Sister Yanhong wiped her hands and went back to the kitchen.

The educated youth were mostly not well-off, so their meals were basically low-standard.

Some who had money and ration tickets sent from home would choose to buy extra food during breaks or eat meals at other villagers’ homes.

But in recent years, youth eating at others’ homes had become rare; Tang Wan was already a special case.

She had been thinking about how to tell the team leader about sharing meals at Grandma Bai’s place, and figured she could settle this during the rest days.

Li Qing, who had just washed her hair nearby, overheard Tang Wan staying to eat and said, “Our youth work point’s meals aren’t that great, huh? Isn’t it better to eat at a fellow villager’s place like Tang Zhīqīng?”

Tang Wan raised her eyebrow, puzzled why Li Qing suddenly said that.

“That’s true.”

Hearing Tang Wan’s answer, Li Qing snorted, “I knew a fancy lady like you wouldn’t like the youth point meals. But no way, if you want to eat at someone else’s place, they won’t agree. If it weren’t for you helping her, you couldn’t just hang around so long at a fellow villager’s home.”

“Hanging around?” Tang Wan didn’t expect this phrase to apply to her.

“Yes, see, Liu Zhīqīng pays with money and ration tickets when eating at others’ homes. What you’re doing is just freeloading.”

Li Qing gave Tang Wan a sideways glance, looking a bit disdainful.

“Which Liu Zhīqīng?”

“The one in the courtyard wearing a white shirt,” Zhong Ling came in just then, overhearing the question. “Why are you asking about Liu Zhīqīng?”

Zhong Ling looked at Tang Wan, trying to analyze her intentions.

“Li Qing said Liu Zhīqīng eats at other villagers’ homes, so I was just asking,” Tang Wan replied calmly.

“He does pay with ration tickets…” Li Qing tried to imply that Tang Wan didn’t pay and was eating free meals.

But Tang Wan didn’t have time to argue, “Liu Zhīqīng is sharing meals with others?”

“Yes, at the family next door. They have two sons working in town, their meals are good. Liu Zhīqīng shares meals there, brings his food rations over, and pays three yuan plus other ration tickets monthly,” Zhong Ling answered.

“When did this start?” Tang Wan was curious.

The book never mentioned such minor details. She only knew Zhong Ling started sharing meals at Zhao Dong’s home later, but there was no mention of anyone before her. And when she first came, this wasn’t happening.

“Just a few days ago,” Zhong Ling glanced outside.

Zhong Ling knew all the details because she was the one who arranged it.

She thought this was a good way to get closer to Zhao Dong, since marrying Zhao Dong was progressing slowly, especially with his recent strange attitude toward her. She wanted more time with him.

So before going to share meals at Zhao Dong’s place, she convinced Liu Zhīqīng to share meals there first, so no one would notice when she joined later.

Tang Wan didn’t know Zhong Ling was involved.

Even if she did, she would have been grateful to Zhong Ling.

With Liu Zhīqīng sharing meals there, it wouldn’t be so strange for her to join in as well.

“If you want to share meals, just tell the team leader?” Tang Wan asked.

“Just agree with the family you want to share with, then tell the team leader. As long as it’s arranged privately, the leader doesn’t interfere. Telling him just makes it easier when rationing food later.”

Zhong Ling knew all the procedures clearly.

“Are you thinking of going to share meals too?” Zhong Ling could tell Tang Wan was considering it.

The more people do this, the better. That way it wouldn’t be awkward when Tang Wan goes.

“I’m thinking about it, but haven’t decided,” Tang Wan said happily, not hiding her thoughts.

“You can think whatever you want, but they might not want you,” Li Qing said sourly.

“No need to worry about that,” Tang Wan tidied her bed and planned to first go to Grandma Bai’s to talk about how much money and ration tickets she would give monthly.

Grandma Bai never wanted her to eat at the youth work point, so this was a good time to settle it.

After breakfast, Tang Wan went to Grandma Bai’s place.

Grandma Bai usually didn’t work in the fields; except during busy times like watering or harvesting, she stayed home or did light work like picking pig fodder.

Qin Zheng alone took full work credit, had no children to raise, so their food supply was quite ample.

When Tang Wan arrived, Grandma Bai was watering peach trees in the yard.

Although these two peach trees were dug up from the mountain, Grandma Bai cared for them very carefully, watering every two mornings.

Tang Wan knocked and entered.

Grandma Bai’s eyes lit up when she saw her. “You’re here. I saved some food for you, it’s in the pot.”

Tang Wan felt a little embarrassed, “I already ate at the youth work point.”

“What can you eat there? Today I made red bean porridge, come have some—it’s good for your energy and blood,” Grandma Bai said as she went into the kitchen.

Tang Wan silently followed her. Since Grandma Bai saved it just for her, she couldn’t refuse.

Besides, the breakfast at the youth work point had just been a wild vegetable dumpling and rice gruel with only a few grains.

“Don’t eat at the youth work point anymore. I told you to share meals here. I’ll go talk to the team leader later,” Grandma Bai said sympathetically, watching Tang Wan lift the bowl.

Tang Wan wanted to speak about this matter, but Grandma Bai thought she was about to refuse and quickly interrupted:

“You’re not allowed to refuse. If you don’t eat here, when A-Zheng comes back there’ll be less people, and no one will praise my cooking.”