In the past, Lu Shaotang was impatient with the trivial matters at home, thinking that men shouldn’t be involved in family affairs.

However, after surviving life-threatening situations, his perspective had changed.

He began to step down from his lofty position and became willing to appreciate the everyday intricacies of ordinary life.

Father, mother, wife, children, siblings, nephews and nieces, and so on.

Especially seeing Lin Mu (Mother Lin) cry for her brother, the suffering and struggle that the old lady endured, and Lin Shu’s proactive effort to get along with Old Lady Xie—all these made him feel that this is the life of ordinary people.

The slogans he once shouted, the supreme ideals he pursued, the beliefs he guarded, if put into practice, are these fragments of ordinary people’s daily life, their joys and sorrows.

He and his comrades are just ordinary people with flesh and blood, with family and friends.

They also experience the everyday struggles and emotions of life.

His own lack does not mean others don’t have.

He couldn’t see it before, but now he sees it very clearly.

His brother Chen Yanming is deeply immersed in it.

He felt that his wife should help enlighten Chen Yanming.

He himself was not suited for it.

He couldn’t say it and wouldn’t break down the reasoning.

He would only follow the rules or speak in a dry manner about how things should be, and no one wants to hear such advice, even if it’s well-intentioned.

But his wife was different; she had a special ability, and Chen Yanming would definitely be willing to listen.

..

Inside, Chen Yanming was still trying to mentally prepare himself, deceiving himself.

It was really strange.

Clearly, he was a tough man, not feeling pain even when his arms and legs were broken, but he ended up crying without warning because of the two children.

So disappointing!

So embarrassing!

Fortunately, Brother Lu and the others didn’t see it!

Fortunately, the two children were innocent, thinking he cried because of pain.

Sigh, no wonder Brother Lu has changed.

If he gave advice, the changes would be even greater.

Looking at Lu Shaotang’s family, he couldn’t help but think of his own family, even if he was unwilling.

His family was also a big one. Perhaps because the family was too large, with grandparents and parents, they didn’t lack children.

Apart from those they valued, others were dispensable.

He memorized an article and showed it off to his parents, who scolded him, “So what if you can recite a few lines? There are many people who are better than you.”

They valued his second brother, who could write his own name.

They were so pleased that they wished to make him a literary star.

When he was ten years old, he followed the men up the mountain to cut wood in the wind and snow, earning two yuan with wounds all over his body.

He excitedly brought it back to his parents, hoping for praise, but his parents said, “It’s only two yuan. What’s there to show off? Come back when you earn twenty yuan.”

At ten years old, earning one yuan was nothing, while the second brother, at twelve, urinated from the wall at passersby…

…is what I’ve heard.

Sometimes it helps to let it out.

Chen Yanming was taken aback by their concern.

He smiled at their innocent words and patted their heads. “You two are really thoughtful.”

The warmth from the kids and the atmosphere of the household had softened Chen Yanming’s heart.

He looked around at the bustling, caring environment and couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing for something he had missed out on for years.

Outside, Fang Dihua called to Lu Dage, urging him to hurry and bring a flashlight to the south village entrance to welcome his wife back.

She couldn’t help but add a comment about how Lu Dage only had words to show his affection, not much else.

Chen Yanming chuckled at the scene.

He envied Lu Shaotang’s family life—a warm, loving home where care and affection were freely given.

In contrast, his own family had never shown much concern for his well-being.

Their interest was mostly transactional, focusing on money and material needs rather than his personal life or health.

As he sat in the best chair of the house, receiving the tender care of the two children, Chen Yanming reflected on how different his life had turned out compared to Lu Shaotang’s.

While he was out in the harsh world facing life and death, only his comrades and superiors showed genuine concern.

His family had always been preoccupied with their demands and needs, never once asking how he was faring in the dangerous situations he faced.

Feeling a mix of embarrassment and self-pity for having cried so openly in Lu Shaotang’s home, Chen Yanming slapped himself lightly on the forehead.

The two kids, Panpan and Tiantian, were startled by his action and quickly tried to stop him.

Tiantian said, “Don’t hit yourself! If you get hurt, it’s okay to cry. It helps to let the pain out.”

Panpan added, “Yeah, if you’re hurting, just let it out. It’ll feel better after you cry.”

Chen Yanming looked at them, touched by their empathy and care.

He realized that, despite the difficulties and emotional scars he carried, moments like these reminded him of the goodness and warmth in the world.

“It’s something my mother said. I find it really useful.”

Chen Yanming had stopped crying, sniffled a bit, and embarrassedly said, “You must keep this a secret from everyone, especially your father. He’ll make fun of me.”

The two children said, “Don’t worry, we won’t tell Dad.”

They then encouraged him to lie down on the bed.

Children love to play house.

They pretend to be parents and take care of the ‘baby’ when the baby is sick, giving injections and medicine.

Now, Chen Yanming was their big baby, and they needed to take care of him.

When it was bedtime, they kindly helped Chen Yanming to the eldest brother’s room.

They then, with great care, tucked him in and coaxed him to sleep.

Once Chen Yanming was “asleep,” they ran back to Fang Dihua’s bed to get some sleep themselves.

Fang Dihua also told Lin Shu, “Tomorrow, let Shaotang go to the commune to buy some pig’s feet. If there aren’t any, some pig trotters will do. We need to supplement Yanming.”

Simple chicken feet might not be effective; pig’s feet were better.

In this season, pigs are not slaughtered in the countryside.

Only the pigs that were not delivered last year are sent to the commune now.

The commune slaughters pigs every seven or eight days.

In the countryside, no one buys pork outside of festivals.

Most of it is consumed by the commune itself, and there’s reportedly not enough to sell.

If you want to buy some, you have to pull some strings, asking someone to reserve some meat or pig’s feet, or offal.

Last year, Lin Shu taught many people to make sausages and other pork products.

The slaughterhouse at the commune also learned.

They made several batches of pork head meat and sausages as welfare for the workers and sent some to the county leaders, receiving praise.

Therefore, Lin Shu had a good reputation at the pig collection station and slaughterhouse.

Early the next morning, Lu Shaotang used his exercise time to go to the commune and managed to buy four pig’s feet.

As Fang Dihua had said, using his wife’s influence worked well.

His wife was now recognized as an advanced worker, the most beautiful military wife, a praised person from the public security bureau, and a teacher of braised meat and sausages…

With all these titles, her influence was very effective at the commune.

Fang Dihua had previously mentioned that the pig’s feet were for Chen Yanming, not for the whole family.

The family could just have some soup.

Of course, Chen Yanming was unwilling, but being “under someone else’s roof” meant he had to follow arrangements.

After breakfast, Lin Shu started cooking the pig’s feet and asked Lu Shaotang to help make some egg cakes.

She took the opportunity to make use of him while he was at home.

Hmm, with a bit of a sense of revenge, since he had disturbed her last night, didn’t he?

He deserved a bit of trouble in return.

She asked him to help separate the egg whites from the yolks.

No need to beat them like for a cake…

She only needed to beat the egg yolks until they turned white, which she couldn’t do on her own.

Previously, Fang Dihua and Second Brother Lu Erge had helped her with this task.

Today, it was all on Lu Shaotang.

Lu Shaotang found it quite easy and managed to meet her requirements without appearing tired.

Lin Shu was amazed and examined his arm, finally praising him sincerely, “You’re really impressive.”

Lu Shaotang quickly kissed her on the ear, causing her to glare at him, though it was more playful than serious.

After steaming the egg cakes, Lin Shu asked Lu Shaotang to take the two kids to Linjiatun to deliver some eggs to Lin’s mother.

Lin’s father and Lin Yue were busy with the agricultural machinery team and needed a boost.

They should also inform them that Lin Xia had come to Qingxian.

On their way back, they stopped by to deliver two pieces of egg cake to Old Lady Xie.

The cakes were still small, just enough to tease her appetite.

Since his wife couldn’t go, Lu Shaotang made sure not to waste much time even at his father-in-law’s house.

He would just deliver the cakes, say a few words, and then leave.

The same went for Old Lady Xie.

He only took care of the delivery while the kids handled the socializing.

“My mother really misses great-grandmother.”

“Even though spring planting is so busy and tiring, she still secretly used eggs and fine flour to make egg cakes for great-grandmother while my grandparents weren’t home.”

“One cake equals three egg!”

Old Lady Xie savored the cakes with great care, reluctant to take big bites.

She nibbled slowly, enjoying the taste and the melt-in-your-mouth texture.

It was a taste she had never experienced before in her life.

Xie Jinkui’s face was so dark with anger that it couldn’t get any darker.

When Lu Shaotang and the kids left, they heard him slamming the door behind him.

It turned out that even a few pieces of cake could overshadow the so-called “good grandson.”

Lu Shaotang thought his wife was truly cunning.