Chapter 16: Everyone at the Dinner Table Was Stunned

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Before Grandpa and Grandma’s family arrived, Su Wanwan took the opportunity to put the cloth and meat into the storage space. No matter which room the fabric was placed in, Grandma would always search every room whenever she couldn’t find food. She was practically a bandit. If it weren’t for Father being the squad leader and always away at the commune, the bicycle that Big Brother bought for Father would have long been taken by Grandma for Uncle’s family. It was truly absurd. Su Wanwan even suspected that her father wasn’t their biological child, but the book only briefly mentioned the family as expendable. Zhao Hefen came home from work a little earlier than usual to prepare the meal. Su Heng helped kill the chicken, saying to his mother, “Mom, make wild vegetable pancakes and chicken as the meat dish. Don’t cook too much of anything else. My sister and I will figure out a way so Grandma’s family won’t take our things anymore.” Su’s mother was surprised, “What way?” If only it were as easy as her son said. The family dared not leave anything out, afraid no one in the whole village would be like her grandmother. Every quarrel with Jianjun was because of this. If it weren’t for the children, she truly wanted to take them back to her own family. Su Heng smiled, “You’ll see soon enough.” After work, Su Jianjun came home just as Grandpa and Grandma, along with Uncle’s family, arrived at their house. Upon entering, Yang Guixiang spoke loudly to Su Wanwan, “Why are you so inconsiderate? Hurry up and pour the tea.” She then sized Su Wanwan up from head to toe. The girl was indeed growing more beautiful by the day. Tsk, it seemed the village rumors were true. If that was the case, she had someone wealthy and well-off in mind to marry Su Wanwan off to. Su Wanwan immediately recognized the scheming gleam in the sharp-eyed old woman’s gaze. It was completely unhidden. Su Wanwan took a chipped large bowl from the house, filled it with well water, placed it between Grandpa and Grandma, and said, “Grandpa, Grandma, here’s some water.” Yang Guixiang scowled, “You brat, no manners at all. I told you to make tea, and you bring a bowl of well water?” Of course, Su Wanwan scooped from the well water—did she look like she’d serve them water mixed with that sacred spring water? Thankfully, the chicken soup today hadn’t been mixed with the spring water; giving it to them would be too generous. Su Wanwan nodded seriously, “Grandma, there’s no tea left at home. You took all the tea leaves last time, and even the enamel jars and extra bowls were taken away by you all. That’s why I’m using a big bowl for water. Please drink quickly; we still have to eat later.” She then looked toward Uncle and Aunt, “Uncle, Auntie, after Grandpa and Grandma finish drinking, you can have some.” Yang Guixiang’s face darkened immediately, “You little brat, you’re talking back now?” Su Jianwei reproached Su Jianjun, “How can you have guests and still use bowls to drink water? It’s so improper. You should buy a few more.” Su Jianjun glanced at his elder brother, “What’s wrong? Does your family have no cups again? We have these chipped bowls here; you can take some back later.” Su Jianwei’s mouth twitched. Su Heng quietly watched from the side, lips curling slightly. It was rare to see Father talk back to Uncle. He was eager for tomorrow to come quickly. From the moment she entered, Jin Hua had been assessing the belongings in the house, finally focusing on Su Wanwan, her eyes brightening. Her maternal cousin’s younger brother hadn’t found a bride yet. This match would deepen family ties and save a dowry. At that moment, Su Jinbao said, “Grandma, didn’t you say we’re eating meat here? I want meat; I’m hungry.” Yang Guixiang soothed him gently, “My treasure, soon, you’ll eat meat.” She then looked at Su Heng and her expression changed, “Hurry and bring out some pastries. The little one is hungry; bring some to fill his stomach first.” Su Heng replied helplessly, “Grandma, the family is so poor we’re almost out of food. Where would we have money to buy pastries?” Su Wanwan looked at Uncle’s 11-year-old youngest son, estimating him to weigh around one hundred seventy to one hundred eighty pounds—a little chubby boy. It was rare to be so well-fed in these times. Just then, Zhao Hefen came out, “Father, Mother, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, dinner is ready.” As they sat down, Yang Guixiang eyed the dishes and scolded the young daughter-in-law, “Why didn’t you buy some meat or cook some fine grains?” She sifted through the chicken soup with her chopsticks. She placed a chicken drumstick in front of her little grandson, “The little one is growing; he should have a drumstick.” Then she found a second drumstick in the soup and put it in Su Jianwei’s bowl, “Jianwei is the eldest son; he should have a drumstick.” But that wasn’t all—she took two large chicken wings from the soup and placed one in the old man’s bowl and one in her own, “The old man is the head of the family; he deserves one.”

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Su Jianjun frowned. No matter the occasion, his mother was always like this. He put down his chopsticks. Su Heng’s expression darkened. Every year it was the same—before the property division, they wouldn’t even dream of having a piece of meat. Zhao Hefen was already accustomed to this scene. Before the division, her mother-in-law always divided the food this way. Fortunately, after the division, when her mother-in-law came over occasionally to divide the food, she didn’t say much. There was no need to oppose her; in the end, they would suffer the most. Su Wanwan couldn’t bear to watch this anymore. She hadn’t expected the old woman to pull such a stunt. She refused to tolerate it and quickly went to the kitchen, grabbing a large ladle from the big pot. Returning to the table, she scooped a generous spoonful of chicken meat from the soup and placed it in her father’s bowl until it was full. Smiling brightly, she said, “Father, today is your birthday. You’re the oldest; you should eat more.” Then she scooped a big spoonful into her mother’s bowl, “Mother, you work hard cooking; you should eat more.” Next, she placed a big spoonful into her second brother’s bowl, “Second Brother is the youngest son and will take care of our parents; he should eat more.” Finally, she took the last few small chunks of meat and put them in her own bowl, “I’m the youngest daughter; it’s right that I eat less.” The chicken soup was nearly gone. Everyone at the table was stunned. Su Jianjun’s birthday was today. Knowing that his parents and elder brother’s family were coming for dinner, he had been in a foul mood. Now, in an instant, he felt joyful. His daughter had done what he had wanted to do for years but never dared. Su Heng stared at his sister as if she were a stranger, stunned for a moment before finally curling his lips into a smile, enjoying the chicken in his bowl. Zhao Hefen was frightened and immediately glanced at her mother-in-law.

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