“Come here, let Mom take a look. Why do you look so thin?” This was the first time her youngest son had been away from her side for so long, and Li Xiulan was both missing him and worried about him.
“Thin? I weighed myself before coming back. I’ve even gained two catties,” Gu Xingye said with a grin.
“Your scale must be faulty. You’ve definitely lost weight,” Li Xiulan refused to believe her own eyes. She pulled her son closer for a better look.
“The child must be hungry after coming back. Let’s eat first,” Gu Shoufuy, unable to stand it any longer, reminded them.
Li Xiulan nodded, “Right, right, let’s eat first.”
Meanwhile, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping had already laid out the dishes. Everyone sat down, and as they smelled the fish aroma from the pot, they eagerly picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
After the meal, Gu Xingye went back to his room to get the things he had brought. “I drove south this time. They produce apples there. I specifically bought them from local fruit farmers. They were very cheap and fresh.”
During this time, with scarce resources and inconvenient transportation, the fruits sold in stores were very expensive. Anyone who could afford to eat fruit was considered quite luxurious.
Due to geographical reasons, Chen Lishu’s family here only had those small fruit trees. The children had no snacks, and often, the fruits were plucked while still green before they could even ripen on the trees.
Seeing the large red apples, bigger than their fists, that Uncle Gu Xingye had brought out, the children all looked at them pitifully.
“These things won’t keep. Let’s divide them among everyone,” Li Xiulan said, taking the bag and making the decision.
Although Gu Xingye had bought quite a lot, the Gu family was large, and each person only received one.
The children were overjoyed to receive the apples and ran out to play with cheers. The adults also returned to their rooms to rest.
Chen Lishu thought for a moment, then got up and picked out two of the remaining fish to take to the Chen family.
The Chen family’s house had already been built, and they had moved in. As she entered the courtyard, she happened to meet Chen Liyuan coming out of the door. The latter’s eyes lit up when she saw her, “Big sister, you’re back.”
Chen Lishu nodded, her gaze falling on the item Chen Liyuan was carrying. “What are you doing with that?”
Chen Liyuan frowned and said with some annoyance, “Taking out Grandma’s chamber pot!”
Taking out Grandma’s chamber pot? Chen Lishu was surprised. “Grandma is at our house?”
Chen Liyuan nodded. “She came a few days ago. Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt brought her. Eldest Aunt said Grandma got sick from the fright of being in the detention center for half a month and wanted to come to our house to recuperate.”
Chen Liyuan looked at Chen Lishu with a hint of excitement, “Big sister, did you really send our Grandma and eldest brother to the detention center?”
Chen Lishu nodded. “You should go take out the chamber pot first. I’m going inside to take a look.”
Chen Liyuan wanted to say more, but seeing Chen Lishu’s words, she had no choice but to comply.
As Chen Lishu pushed open the door, she suddenly heard the sound of bowls and plates breaking from inside the room, followed by Chen Laotai’s booming voice: “I came here to recuperate, and you’re giving me this to eat? Are you trying to torture me to death? Your whole family has black hearts. The elder abuses me, and the younger one sends me to the detention center. I really have no way to live…”
As Chen Laotai’s scolding continued, the door creaked open, and Wu Chunmei emerged from the inner room, her eyes redder upon seeing Chen Lishu. “Why did you come back?”
“I caught two fish today. It’s hard work in autumn, so I thought the family could improve our meals.”
Wu Chunmei nodded, took the fish, and then found a basin, filled it with water, and placed the fish inside.
“Mom, where’s Dad?” Chen Lishu hadn’t seen Chen Mandun and asked casually.
It was better that she didn’t ask. As soon as she did, tears began to stream down Wu Chunmei’s face.
“Your Grandma said she had no taste in her mouth and asked your Dad to go get some wild game.”
Wu Chunmei looked up at Chen Lishu, “You, child, what’s the big deal that you sent your Grandma to the detention center? She’s already so old, can’t you just tolerate it? I think she’s seriously ill this time. She complains about pain all day and can’t be left alone at night. Your Dad and I are thinking of taking her to the village clinic to have a look.”
Upon hearing Wu Chunmei’s words, Chen Lishu’s heart immediately flared with anger. Judging by Chen Laotai’s booming scolding, her health was probably better than hers.
This wasn’t recuperation at all, but a clear excuse to torment their family.
“Fu Chunmei, where are you?” Chen Laotai’s voice was heard again from inside the room, yelling at the top of her lungs. “I want to eat canned food. Go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy me a bottle. Why hasn’t Mandun come back yet? Are you trying to starve me to death?”
“Mom, I’m coming,” Wu Chunmei wiped her tears and got up. Just then, Chen Liyuan came in carrying the chamber pot, and Wu Chunmei ordered, “Second child, go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy your Grandma a bottle of canned food.”
Upon hearing her command, Chen Liyuan immediately threw down the basin in her hand. “Mom, third sister was just sent to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy rock sugar, and now you’re asking for canned food. Why can’t you say everything at once? Do you want to torment everyone in the family to death before you’re satisfied?”
“How can you speak like that? She’s your Grandma, and she’s sick. It won’t kill you children with busy legs to run a few steps,” Wu Chunmei said unhappily, scolding her.
“Can’t you hear me talking? You unfilial brutes! When I get better, I’ll report you to the commune. You’re a family of ungrateful wretches who don’t care if I live or die, and you’re unwilling to buy me canned food to eat,” Chen Laotai’s voice came from the room again.
“Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and go!” Wu Chunmei urged, frowning.
Chen Liyuan reluctantly turned and went out.
“Mom, I’m going into the room to see Grandma,” Chen Lishu said, stepping forward and pushing open the inner door.
Chen Laotai was lying on the kang. As soon as she saw Chen Lishu enter, her eyes flashed with anger. She scrambled up from the kang and pointed at her, scolding, “How dare you come back? If it weren’t for you, would I have gotten sick? You…”
Blah, blah, blah. Chen Laotai cursed for a good few minutes without repeating herself. Chen Lishu truly admired her talent.
“Lishu, why don’t you go back first? If you really anger Grandma and worsen her condition, how many people will point their fingers at our family?” Wu Chunmei couldn’t help but persuade her.
Chen Lishu looked at Chen Laotai, who was ruddy-faced and could curse without losing her breath, and was even more convinced that she had no illness at all. She had simply come to torment their family because she couldn’t swallow her pride. Thus, Chen Lishu thought for a moment and said, “Mom, Grandma’s illness this time is all my fault. I feel very guilty. You are working during the day and taking care of Grandma at night, so your bodies must be exhausted. Since I’ve taken a leave of absence from work, why don’t I move back for a couple of days and personally take care of Grandma?”
Chen Laotai hadn’t expected her to dare to walk into the line of fire. She had originally intended to torment her second son’s family to vent her anger since she couldn’t do anything about her daughter who was already married. Hearing Chen Lishu’s words now, a flicker of excitement flashed in her eyes.
Wu Chunmei was also tempted by Chen Lishu’s words. After not eating or sleeping well for several days, she and Chen Mandun were getting groggy while working.