Chapter 14

Gu Yueqian was really speechless. She was cooking, yet Lu Cheng stood there with a face as dark as a thundercloud, shoving firewood into the stove like mad. To anyone looking, it might seem like he was “helping,” but if you didn’t know better, you’d think he was venting his anger.

“You’d better go do something else. Leave the stove to me,” Gu Yueqian said irritably.

Lu Cheng said nothing, just kept stoking the fire.

“…”

Luckily, she was only cooking rice porridge; a little too much heat wouldn’t hurt.

She mixed cornmeal with lard and vegetables, shaped it into patties, and stuck them around the side of the pot. Before long, the aroma of savory vegetable pancakes filled the room.

Once the pancakes were done, she took them out, then ladled the porridge into a large basin.

Rice was precious at this time. Even in the city, it wasn’t easy to buy, let alone cook openly at home. So, she only brought a handful, mixed with eggs, enough to stretch into a big pot of rice porridge.

In the afternoon, they could bring it to the fields—thirst-quenching, tasty, and rare for these times.

“Yao Yao, come eat.”

“Coming!”

Lu Yao came running, took the bowl of pancakes, while Lu Cheng put out the fire and—without being told—picked up the pot of porridge and carried it inside.

Seeing he at least had some sense, Gu Yueqian’s irritation eased a little. She went inside, scooped some pickled mustard from the jar, and took a can of tomato-braised fish from the cupboard. She opened it and set it on the table.

Lu Yao couldn’t help swallowing her drool.

Who could blame her? At this time, how many people had ever eaten canned fish? And how many could even buy it?

Lu Cheng’s eyes also lingered on the can, his brows furrowing. “Keep the canned food for yourself. Don’t bring it out.”

Oh? He actually spoke.

“Yeah, sister-in-law, this is too precious! You’d better hide it, otherwise if the other side sees, they’ll make trouble again,” Lu Yao chimed in.

Gu Yueqian ignored them. She split a pancake, tucked a piece of fish inside, and spread the tomato sauce and fish bits evenly across the middle.

The fragrant, oily sauce soaked into the pancake, mixing with the savory aroma—it made eyes shine just to look at it.

She stuffed the pancake into Lu Yao’s hands, then handed her a bowl of porridge. “My food isn’t free. From now on, you both listen to me. Whatever I tell you to do, you do it. Understand?”

Lu Yao held the still-hot pancake in awe, unable even to imagine how good it must taste with the fish.

“My brother and I already listen. Whatever you say, we’ll do,” she quickly pledged loyalty. “Right, brother?” She turned to ask him.

But Lu Cheng’s face darkened, his gaze cold as he shot her a sidelong glare.

Lu Yao: “…”

What now? Wasn’t this exactly what he’d said before? Why was it suddenly wrong to say so?

“Lu Cheng, she’s your sister. Stop being so harsh with her.” Gu Yueqian couldn’t hold back. This family’s way of getting along was far too twisted. Since she’d decided to protect Lu Yao, she had to speak up.

“Lu Cheng, these are your family members. Don’t keep treating them with that cold look. If you want to eat the food I cook, soften your temper. Stop glaring at your sister like your eyes are knives.”

She handed him a pancake and a bowl of porridge.

She waited for him to argue back, or at least say something. But unexpectedly, he lowered his head and just started eating, treating her words as if they were nothing but wind.

Gu Yueqian was furious. Eating her food but refusing to listen—what kind of man was this?

“Sister-in-law, your pancakes are amazing—the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life!” sensing danger, Lu Yao quickly piped up.

Gu Yueqian looked at her sweet, eager little sister-in-law, then at the stone-faced Lu Cheng, and sighed deeply. Forget it. It was only for a year—she could endure it.

But during this year, she would help build up Lu Yao’s health. That way, when she left with her baby, she wouldn’t need to worry.

She pinched Lu Yao’s soft cheek. “Then eat more.”

“Sister-in-law, you eat too.” Lu Yao took another pancake, stuffed it with fish, smeared it generously with sauce, and handed it over.

Now that was a good child!

The family ate in silence. Pancakes with canned fish, rice porridge, and pickled mustard—it was a feast.

The fragrance of lard pancakes and rice porridge, mixed with the tomato-braised fish, drifted to the house across the way, where Lin Yufen’s family of five were eating dry cornbread and pickles. The rough, hard cornbread scratched their mouths going down. Smelling the rich aroma from next door only made it worse.

And when they thought about Lu Cheng taking away labor points—meaning less grain for them at year’s end—Lu Zhuang’s chest burned with frustration.

“Dabao, starting tomorrow you’re going to the fields to earn points. No more lazing at home.”

At this, Lu Dabao’s face froze with fear. “Dad, I don’t know how…”

“Then you’ll learn! Kids your age in this village can already earn half a labor point. What makes you so special that you can sit around like some young master?”

Dabao’s face crumpled, tears threatening.

Lin Yufen couldn’t bear it. Her precious son was only ten, still growing. Hard labor so young would stunt his height.

“Husband, maybe wait a bit longer. He’s still too young.”

“Too young? Lu Cheng was twelve when he started. Within a year he was earning full points like an adult, and you never said he was too young then.”

“Lu Zhuang, what’s the point of bringing that up now? Are you picking a fight with me?”

Lin Yufen flared up too. What was the use of dredging up the past—blaming her for not shielding Lu Cheng back then, and now shifting all the fault of today’s split household onto her? Ridiculous!

“For years you went along with it. Now that there’s trouble, you dump it on me? I could just as well say it’s your mother’s fault! If she hadn’t gone harassing that new daughter-in-law, would things have blown up this way? It’s her fault the brigade leader laughed at our family!”

“How dare you talk about my mother? Looks like I haven’t hit you in too long!” Lu Zhuang exploded. He couldn’t stand anyone insulting his mother.

The two started fighting, shouting loud enough to shake the roof.

Gu Yueqian shut her door. The curses outside were too filthy—bad for the children to hear!

“Yao Yao, go get a jar from the cupboard for your brother’s porridge this afternoon.”

“Okay~” Lu Yao dashed off, fetched it quickly, then peeked at her brother, who was silently eating. She thought about how he had flatly refused to eat a second pancake earlier—until sister-in-law had personally cut one, spread sauce on it, and handed it to him. Only then had he eaten.

Her eyes darted mischievously. “Sister-in-law, the porridge’s too hot.”

“I’ll do it.” Gu Yueqian had just finished eating, so she took the jar and ladled porridge into it.

Lu Yao grinned to herself, but immediately her brother shot her a vicious glare. In the past, that glare would have made her shrink. But now—hadn’t she just found his weakness?

Boldly, she stuck her tongue out at him, making a face.

Go on then, hit me! If you dare, sister-in-law will take care of you!