Lu Minggui, being older, had a smaller appetite.
She had originally planned to eat one of the five buns herself and give two each to Manman and Shen Juye.
But as they kept insisting on letting the others have more, in the end they all ate them anyway.
Five big meat buns plus a large basin of sweet porridge left the three of them full and satisfied.
Manman’s young voice piped up: “Grandma, I wish we could eat our fill every meal.”
Lu Minggui’s mind immediately drifted to that other place—the market. People there had fair skin, clean and tidy clothing, walked upright and proud; clearly, they had never known hunger.
If only they could be like those people…
She didn’t know whether she was comforting herself or coaxing Manman, but she spoke decisively: “We will. We will eat our fill, every meal.”
“With Grandma around, we’ll always eat our fill.”
Manman’s eyes shone with hope, lost in her own imagination.
Shen Juye, touching her full stomach, also felt her eyes glint as she imagined a better life.
These past few days felt like a dream to her. If only Dahe were still alive…
Of course, Shen Juye knew in her heart that Dahe was likely gone. The battlefield was merciless, survival extremely difficult.
But since Grandma believed he was alive, then he must be alive. It was a way to keep hope alive, to give Grandma something to hold onto.
In that moment, mother and daughter were thinking for each other—they reached an unspoken agreement.
Dahe was alive!
After tidying up the bowls, Lu Minggui reminded Manman to take care of Shen Juye, then took her bamboo basket back to the fields.
Meanwhile, in the fields, Hu Cuihua was urging Song Dazhi: “It’s almost noon. Take a break!”
“This work won’t finish in a day. Why are you working so hard?”
“Haven’t you seen your mother and the second brother’s family enjoying themselves at home?”
“I’m heading back to see what’s for lunch. I’ve been working half the day—tired to death.”
“Really, no one came to bring us food either. Are they trying to starve us?”
Hu Cuihua complained nonstop. She usually did less fieldwork, spending most time weaving.
Compared to weaving, fieldwork was harder—sun beating down, insects flying everywhere.
By noon, her back ached from all the labor.
Song Dazhi finally straightened up and glanced at the sky. “Fine. You go home first. I’ll finish this last bit and come back.”
“Do your work—get exhausted, then!” Hu Cuihua spat, turning toward home.
In the village, smoke rose from every household, but Song’s kitchen remained cold and quiet.
Hu Cuihua sniffed the air in disbelief. She clearly smelled a sweet fragrance, but on trying again, it vanished.
She peeked at Lu Minggui’s room but found the door locked—completely inaccessible.
She knocked on Shen Juye’s room door: “Second brother’s wife, it’s noon, why isn’t lunch ready?”
“I and your brother have been busy in the fields all morning. Coming home without a hot meal?”
It was Manman who opened the door for her.
Shen Juye leaned on the bed, embroidering, and responded: “Big sister-in-law is back?”
She tried to get up, but Manman stopped her: “Mother, Grandma said you must stay in bed. If she sees you up, she’ll be angry.”
Shen Juye immediately pulled back her legs. She wanted her child to be safe; following Grandma’s words was more important than anything.
Hu Cuihua frowned, realizing the little girl was speaking to teach her a lesson. Such a young age, yet clever!
“Hmph, I wasn’t telling you to get up and cook either. You’re precious enough already!”
She sniffed again. “Eh? Why do I smell meat?”
“Did you eat meat at home?”
Her sharp eyes scanned the mother and daughter, as if trying to sniff them out.
Manman quickly shook her head: “No, we didn’t eat any.”
Clearly, it had been with Grandma, the head of the household—not theft.
Hu Cuihua, convinced Manman wouldn’t lie, relaxed her gaze but found nothing suspicious.
Shen Juye’s room was almost empty—a bed, a small table with one leg propped on a block of wood, nothing else.
There was no way the two could have secretly eaten meat—Shen Juye likely didn’t even have a proper coin.
Hu Cuihua pursed her lips. “Where’s your mother? Why isn’t she cooking?”
“Don’t you think Grandma seems different since she woke up?”
Shen Juye could feel the change—it was a positive one, at least now she and Manman could eat their fill.
Previously favored households were now ignored, so Hu Cuihua felt disgruntled.
“Really?” Shen Juye shook her head. “Hasn’t she always been like this?”
“She’s diligent. Even at her age, she works in the fields every day. Other mothers-in-law aren’t as hardworking.”
Hu Cuihua scoffed. “Diligent? Diligent enough not to cook lunch?”
Shen Juye quickly explained: “Grandma went out to the fields early, that’s why no lunch.”
“Too bad my body isn’t good, otherwise I’d make lunch myself.”
Without Shen Juye backing her, Hu Cuihua was slightly displeased.
The second brother’s family was always simple and obedient—no use expecting them to argue.
“So we’re skipping lunch? Don’t you think your mother would let you go hungry after we’ve been in the fields all morning?”
“Besides, she’s treating you like a treasure these days!”
Shen Juye felt guilty. After drinking sweet porridge and eating meat buns she’d never tasted before, she didn’t dare speak too loudly, worried she might burp.
The buns were clearly a secret Grandma didn’t want Hu Cuihua’s family to know about.
Being obedient, Shen Juye didn’t know what to say.
But clever Manman spoke up first: “Big sister-in-law, today Mother and I haven’t been to the fields or worked. We’re not hungry.”