After lunch, Lu Mingyang cleaned the bowls and tidied up the kitchen, making sure everything was in order. Then he took his younger siblings to the west room, where he helped Lu Mingkai take off his shoes, lifted him onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and covered his belly with a thin, worn blanket.

“Mingkai, be good and stay here with your sister. Don’t come out unless it’s necessary. Me and your second brother will go gather firewood and bring it home. If you need to go to the bathroom, use the chamber pot. Mingfang, keep an eye on him!”

“Don’t worry, big brother—I’ll take good care of Mingkai.”

Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang repeated their instructions several times, then left the house and walked toward the foothills under the blazing sun. As they passed Old Lu’s house, someone suddenly called them.

“Mingyang, Mingliang, wait!” Xie Jinghao’s voice was soft. She glanced around, then jogged over and pulled out two cornbread rolls from her pocket. She had secretly taken them from the Lu family when they weren’t looking. After rummaging around her own cabinet, she hadn’t found anything else to eat.

“You two must be hungry. Here, take these. I only managed to bring two, but they’ll at least fill your stomachs a little. Later tonight, I’ll try to sneak you some more food. I’ll check the family plot for cucumbers, too—at least they’re filling.”

Lu Mingyang knew that she didn’t have it easy in the Lu household either. With Xiaogang still young, her husband working far away, and herself expecting another child, he didn’t want her to suffer for their sake. If anyone found out she’d taken food, she would definitely be scolded.

“No need, Auntie. You should keep them. My… mother made us white noodles for lunch, and she even fried eggs. We’re full, really. She said she’ll make us more for dinner, too. Just take care of Xiaogang—you don’t need to worry about us.”

Xie Jinghao looked at Lu Mingyang in surprise. She could hardly believe Shen Meng had made noodles and fried eggs for the kids.

“Really? You’re not lying to me, are you? She’s still injured—was she really able to get up and cook?”

“It’s true, Auntie. Mother’s feeling much better today. When we got home, she’d made us white noodles and fried eggs with oil all over them. My brother and I each had a big bowl. Auntie, we need to go gather firewood, so we’ll head out now. You should go home before anyone sees you.”

Before he finished speaking, Lu Mingliang grabbed Lu Mingyang’s arm and pulled him away. He’d noticed someone from Old Lu’s house peeking out, and he didn’t want anyone seeing their aunt sneaking them food.

Xie Jinghao watched them run off, wanting to call after them. Just then, Zhou Jiaojiao walked out from the yard.

“Sister in law, did you give Mingyang and Mingliang food? Why did they run off?”

Xie Jinghao straightened her posture, lifting her belly slightly, and displayed the two cornbread rolls she had been holding.

“I was afraid the kids were hungry, so I brought these out. Besides, my Jiasheng is working outside to earn money. Without him at home, our third room will have one less ration. The saved ration will be given to the children of my eldest brother. Jiaojiao, you don’t mind, do you? After all, the eldest brother and his wife send three yuan a month to help support our parents.”

Zhou Jiaojiao’s playful smile faltered. She forced herself to look pleasant. “How could I mind? I actually came out to call the kids home for lunch. Mother only said that in a moment of anger. She wouldn’t really let the kids go hungry. If their dad came home, he’d be furious. Speaking of which, why hasn’t their mother come to ask for food yet? Maybe I’ll take her something myself.”

As she turned to leave, Xie Jinghao stopped her with a polite but pointed tone.

“That’s not necessary, Jiaojiao. According to Mingyang, his mother already made them food. Besides, she’s not too fond of you, so your visit would probably only upset her. Let me go instead—I’ll check in on them. If they haven’t eaten, I’ll come get you to make something hot. If they have, then mother’s wishes are fulfilled, right?”

“I…”

“No need to trouble yourself. I’ll handle it. I doubt they’ll need the cornbread rolls now. You can take them back.”

Xie Jinghao calmly walked toward Shen Meng’s house, leaving Jiaojiao fuming. Ever since Shen Meng had woken up, nothing seemed to go her way.

At the courtyard gate, Xie Jinghao hesitated briefly, but she couldn’t stop worrying about the kids. When she opened the gate and stepped inside, she could still faintly smell the fragrance of cooked food in the air. Relieved, she figured that Mingyang and Mingliang hadn’t lied after all. Their mother must have really cooked for them.

Shen Meng, who hadn’t been sleeping well, was half awake when she heard a faint noise. She sat up as someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Sister-in-law, it’s me, Jinghao. Can I come in?”

Xie Jinghao hadn’t come alone; she had brought Lu Mingfang and Lu Mingkai with her. The two kids thought Mingyang and Mingliang had returned and had come out of their room to check, only to find Auntie Jinghao instead.

Figuring it might be a good way to help Shen Meng bond with the kids, Xie Jinghao decided to bring them along with her to visit.

“Come in; the door’s not locked,” Shen Meng replied, climbing off the kang. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Xie Jinghao enter with the kids.

“Sister-in-law, are you feeling better? I didn’t get a chance to check on you yesterday, so I thought I’d come by. Mingfang told me you made egg noodles for them earlier, and they each had a big bowl!”

Shen Meng glanced at the timid children without responding, then poured Xie Jinghao a glass of brown sugar water.

“Oh no, there’s no need for such good things. Sister-in-law, you should keep it to nourish yourself.”

“Drink up—you’re expecting a baby, so you need to keep up your strength too. I’m much better now. The kids were out all morning gathering pig feed. After waiting and not hearing anything from the old house, I made something myself. Thanks to the production team, we had some white flour, so I made noodles.”

Xie Jinghao didn’t drink the brown sugar water herself but offered it to Lu Mingkai, who glanced at her and then at Shen Meng. He hesitated, then took a few small sips.

“Mother is just that way. Why don’t you soften up to her? That way, you and the kids could go over and have meals together.” Xie Jinghao tested the waters cautiously.

Shen Meng’s eyes flickered, but she pretended not to notice the hint.

“I don’t think Mother wants us around. Even if I made up with her, it wouldn’t make a difference. It’s almost autumn, and the days are getting colder. When winter comes, she’ll probably ask us to give up our room again. We’d end up in the old, drafty room. No, thank you. Your brother will be sending us money soon. We’ll manage just fine.”

Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Jinghao chimed in, “Living like this is so awkward. Staying together but eating separately—it looks bad to others.”

“It does,” Shen Meng agreed, adding pointedly, “It would be better to split up the family directly!”