Chapter 123. Large generation gap
After giving Sister Mei the food coupon and the money, Lin Qing He carried these things back home.
It was still early when she arrived home. But she still needed to start cooking pigs again at this hour. Both pigs in the backyard have grown up and become big chubby pigs. They got hungry very fast.
It was currently the time for them to grow meat, so Lin Qing He fed it.
She worked hard for a while and Mother Zhou came in holding little Su Cheng.
Mother Zhou set little Su Cheng in the room to play by himself before coming out to help.
Lin Qing He said: "It's nothing much. Mother, go, and rest."
Mother Zhou responded: "No need to rest. It's just minding a child, how can I get tired."
Lin Qing He passed the pig food cooking to her and said, "Why didn't Father come over to eat this morning?"
"Just let your father eat breakfast at home." Mother Zhou didn't expect her to mention this. She answered after being stunned for a bit.
"Don't have to skip this meal. Mother, you must get up in the night to bring Little Cheng over to drink milk. No need to get up in the morning to busy away. Just ask Father to come here and eat. I'll make it together, it's quite convenient to do," Lin Qing He urged.
She didn't discuss this with Zhou Qing Bai. Still, the couple had similar thoughts.
They eat lunch and dinner together. No need to skip out on breakfast either, right?
Mother Zhou grinned in response to this, "Alright, I will tell him when your father comes back."
"I'll tell Father when I deliver lunch at noon." Lin Qing He replied.
"Okay." Mother Zhou nodded with a smile.
Lin Qing He took out the lean meat and chopped it. She was making spring pancakes for lunch and this was going to be the minced meat filling. No need to remark on how good the taste will be.
Mother Zhou saw this but said nothing.
She had opened up her mind. Fourth's wife can do what she wants. She and her old spouse can save the money for the three grandsons.
And Fourth's wife can still buy meat back when she and her husband came over to eat. She really didn't mind about them eating and talk about making something casually at the sight of them joining. Things went they should be.
What can Mother Zhou complain about?
Lunch was spring pancakes, even if the season wasn't right. Spring pancakes were quick and simple to eat.
Inside were cucumber sticks, aromatic minced meat, and scallion sprinkles. It tasted undoubtedly delectable with it all wrapped within the dough.
There was also a pot of egg drop and tomato soup, making the whole person feel cozy.
Lin Qing He told Father Zhou that it was fine to come to their house for breakfast.
Father Zhou laughed and said that Qing Bai also brought this up in this morning.
Zhou Qing Bai grinned at his wife. Sure enough, hie and his wife connected.
Lin Qing He also chuckled. Seeing that they were full and drunk until content, she packed up and went home.
This autumn harvest was really tiring.
A chicken at home was killed by Lin Qing He to stew.
The whole family gathered around to eat together. One was consumed about every half a month, so two were used for nourishment in one autumn harvest.
Mother Zhou drank soup as well and ate a lot of chicken.
On the night when the autumn harvest was completed, everyone was relieved.
Mother Zhou laid on the kang with her old spouse and emotionally remarked: "No wonder Fourth's wife is so thin. From my observation, she ate so little during every meal."
Because they ate together she could witness this. It was one bowl of rice or half a mantou. She also preferred to eat vegetables. The meat was all for old Fourth and the boys.
"Fourth's wife is pretty good." Father Zhou also had this perspective.
Since old Fourth retired, Fourth's wife had changed. Her current self was really great. Even though she can't save any money according to these meal plans, there was only so much consumed by her. Wasn't it all eaten by old Fourth and these grandsons?
What was there to say about her?
Mother Zhou nodded in agreement.
It was impossible to say Fourth's wife was acting. Fourth's wife couldn't be bothered to act in front of the old couple. She was always the kind of person to say one is one, act on two, then it was two.
The most she ate were those vegetables. She can often be seen holding a tomato or snacking on a cucumber.
"Say, San Wa isn't small now. Why is there no reaction from Fourth's wife's stomach?" said Mother Zhou.
Father Zhou replied: "Already got three sons. Better to not give birth anymore. Go ask old Fourth to ligate."
Any more, them two old couple can't save money for their granddaughters-in-law.
"Sons are enough. Isn't there still a daughter to be born." Mother Zhou whispered.
"Can you guarantee that it'll be a girl? What to do if it's a son again?" Father Zhou shot back.
Mother Zhou wanted to say if pregnant, then give birth. Who would disdain in having too many sons in this era?
But at the thought of Fourth's wife's lifestyle, she didn't say anything. And also, Fourth's wife's stomach was quite capable.
If she got pregnant again, there was a bigger chance of being a son.
No matter how the two of them save more money, they might not be able to accumulate the gift money for the four grandsons. After all, they were over sixty, their work-life can only last for several years.
Unknown to her parents-in-law's worry for her sons' future, Lin Qing He was exhausted from Zhou Qing Bai's tossing and turning until she was a salty fried fish. (T/N: what an image... basically she's dead and drained of all moisture)
But still, she didn't forget to tell Zhou Qing Bai off: "Can't you save some strength and rest?"
"I am resting." Sated, Zhou Qing Bai hugged her.
At this time, it was already the end of October and the weather was getting a little bit colder. It wasn't too hot to be held by him. Lin Qing He let him be and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will cover the backyard!"
The autumn harvest was over, he should do what he was supposed to.
Zhou Qing Bai concurred and talked about going to the hospital for a check-up after a while.
"Wait until the winter isolation is here." Lin Qing He could only utter..
Once winter isolation, she'll explain it to him then. Don't let anger get to this man's health.
After all, she knew exactly how much he wanted a daughter. If she could, she would actually bear the pain and give him one.
But there was really no way, she got ligation done.
"Hurry up and sleep," Lin Qing He ushered.
Tomorrow was food distribution. She had to bring some more back home to sell and make a fortune.
Food distribution was indeed a major event in the village. Lin Qing He called Zhou Dong to join her.
This way, she'll be able to pull the grain back together with Zhou Dong's cart.
Father Zhou and Mother Zhou gave their food book to Zhou Qing Bai and asked him to go over and carry the two's rations back.
Yes, directly to their youngest son's house.
Lin Qing He saw Zhou Qing Bai take out the old couple's work point food book: "..."
She didn’t plan to take care of the old couple's three daily meal. It was just because the autumn harvest was too hectic. The old couple only made so much. She thought might as well make it together as it was only an increase in amount.
But it seems that the old couple thought they would eat with her family in the future...
"What's the matter?" Zhou Qing Bai asked her when she looked at food book in a daze.
Lin Qing He saw his 'entirely natural' expression and thought, this was the large generation gap between her and this man. What else can she say?
She could only accept it!
As long as Mother Zhou doesn’t interfere with how she does it things or how extravagant the dishes were, it was fine. If she does, then in the future, it'll be back to how it was.