Chapter 16

While her grandparents and uncle’s family hadn’t arrived yet, Su Wanwan quickly put the fabric and meat into her space.

No matter which room the fabric was in, her grandmother would turn the place upside down whenever she was “looking for food.” She was basically a bandit.

If not for her father being the brigade leader, always going to the commune, the bicycle her eldest brother had bought for him would have long been taken by her grandmother and given to her uncle’s family. Truly absurd.

Sometimes she even doubted whether her father was really their biological child. But in the book, the “cannon-fodder family” was only mentioned in a few strokes.

Zhao Hefen returned from work earlier than usual to prepare dinner.

Su Heng helped slaughter the chicken. While working, he said to their mother:
“Mom, later just make wild vegetable pancakes. For meat, we’ll have chicken. Don’t cook too much else. Wanwan and I have a way. From now on, grandma’s family won’t be able to take our things anymore.”

Mother Su was surprised:
“What way?” If it was really like her son said, that would be great. At home, they didn’t dare leave anything out—no other household in the whole village had a mother-in-law like hers.

Every quarrel with Jianjun was because of this. If not for the children, she would’ve taken them back to her mother’s house long ago.

Su Heng just smiled:
“You’ll find out soon.”

After work, Su Jianjun walked in first, followed right after by the grandparents and uncle’s family.

As soon as they entered, Yang Guixiang, full of energy, said to Su Wanwan:
“Why are you so clueless? Hurry up and serve tea.”

Her sharp triangular eyes scanned Wanwan up and down. The girl really was growing prettier. Tsk, the village rumors must be true.

If that was the case, she happened to know a wealthy family—perfect to marry Wanwan off.

The way the old woman stared at her made Su Wanwan instantly aware she was plotting something again. Her gaze wasn’t even subtle.

Wanwan carried a big chipped bowl of well water, placed it between her grandparents, and said, “Grandpa, grandma, drink some water.”

Yang Guixiang’s face darkened:
“You dead girl, no manners at all. I told you to make tea, and you bring a bowl of well water?”

Of course Wanwan fetched well water—she wasn’t about to let them drink from the family’s water mixed with spiritual spring water.

Luckily she hadn’t put any spring water in the chicken soup today, otherwise it’d be too much of a waste on them.

Wanwan nodded seriously:
“Grandma, there’s no tea left at home. The last batch was all taken by you. You also took the enamel mugs and even the spare bowls. That’s why I used a big bowl. Drink up quickly—dinner will be ready soon.”

Then she turned to her uncle and aunt:
“Uncle, aunt, you can drink after grandpa and grandma are done.”

Yang Guixiang’s face instantly soured:
“You dead girl, talking back now?”

Su Jianwei scolded his younger brother Jianjun:
“How can you serve guests water in bowls? That’s so improper. You should buy more cups.”

Su Jianjun glanced at him:
“What’s the matter? Brother, don’t you have cups at home either? We still have a spare chipped one here. Take it back with you later.”

Jianwei’s mouth twitched.

Su Heng stayed silent but smirked. Rare to see his father snap back at his uncle. He wished tomorrow would come faster.

Meanwhile, Jin Hua (his aunt) had been eyeing the house since walking in. Finally, her gaze fell on Wanwan, and her eyes lit up.

Her younger brother back at her maiden home was still unmarried. If they arranged this match, it’d keep things “in the family” and save them a bride price.

At that moment, Su Jinbao piped up:
“Grandma, didn’t you say we’d eat meat here? I’m hungry, I want meat.”

Yang Guixiang soothed him sweetly:
“My precious, wait a bit, we’ll have meat soon.” Then she turned and snapped at Su Heng, her face changing instantly:
“Quick, bring out the pastries. Bao’er’s hungry, let him snack first.”

Su Heng answered helplessly:
“Grandma, our family is so poor we can barely scrape by. Where would we get money for pastries?”

Wanwan looked at her cousin, only eleven years old but easily weighing 170–180 pounds—a proper little fatty. In this era, it wasn’t easy to eat that well.

Just then, Zhao Hefen came out:
“Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law, dinner’s ready.”

At the table, Yang Guixiang looked over the dishes and immediately scolded her younger daughter-in-law:
“Why didn’t you buy some meat? Or cook some fine grains?”

As she complained, she used her chopsticks to dig through the chicken soup.

She pulled out a drumstick and put it in her grandson’s bowl:
“Bao’er’s growing, he should have a drumstick.”

Then she found the second drumstick and dropped it into Jianwei’s bowl:
“Jianwei is the eldest son, he should have a drumstick.”

Not done yet, she took the two large wings—one for the old man, one for herself:
“The old man is the head of the family, he deserves one.”

Jianjun frowned. His mother was always like this. He set his chopsticks down.

Su Heng’s face darkened. Every year it was the same. Before the family split, they’d never get a bite of meat.

Zhao Hefen was long used to it. Before splitting households, her mother-in-law always divided food this way. Thankfully, now that they lived apart, it only happened occasionally. Not worth arguing—if she did, they’d be the ones suffering.

But Wanwan couldn’t stand to watch. She hadn’t expected the old woman to pull this kind of stunt.

She wasn’t about to let it slide. She dashed into the kitchen, grabbed the big ladle, and came back to the table.

Scooping a heaping ladleful of chicken into her father’s bowl until it was full, she smiled:
“Dad, it’s your birthday today. You’re the guest of honor. You should eat more.”

Then another ladleful into her mother’s bowl:
“Mom worked hard cooking. She should eat more.”

Another ladleful into her brother’s bowl:
“Second brother is the youngest son. He’ll be caring for our parents in the future. He should eat more.”

Finally, she scooped the last few chunks into her own bowl:
“I’m the youngest daughter. It’s only right for me to eat less.”

The chicken soup pot was nearly empty.

The entire table froze in shock.

It was Jianjun’s birthday today. He’d been dreading this dinner with his parents and brother’s family, but suddenly his mood lifted. His daughter had just done what he’d always wanted to do but never dared.

Su Heng stared at his sister as if she were a stranger, stunned for a moment, then broke into a grin and started eating the meat in his bowl.

Zhao Hefen, frightened, quickly looked toward her mother-in-law.