Lin Xiuyuan chuckled lightly, "That's good, the mountains are dangerous."
"Mm-hmm, I know, Grandpa. You and Grandma should eat. I'll head back now; my mother and the others are waiting for me."
Lin Tang said and got up to walk outside.
Before she reached the courtyard gate, Zhao Shuzhen came out holding an empty bowl.
"...Tangtang, wait a moment, you don't want the bowl?"
Saying that, she stuffed the bowl into Lin Tang's hand and turned back into the house.
Lin Tang took the bowl.
When she looked down, two apples that truly weren't very good-looking were placed inside the already washed clean bowl.
Thinking of the proud old lady, Lin Tang smiled and went home.
Walking on the road, all the members of the Lin Family flashed through her mind.
Grandpa Lin Xiuyuan and Grandma Zhao Shuzhen had three sons and one daughter.
The Eldest Uncle, Lin Fu, was the Brigade Leader of Shuangshan Brigade. He married Gao Ping and had three sons and one daughter.
The Second Uncle, Lin Lu, who was her father, had three sons and one daughter.
The Third Brother, Lin Shou, married Zhang Hongyan and only had one son and one daughter.
The fourth child was a daughter named Lin An'an, who married into the County.
After Lin An'an got married, the Lin Family separated their households.
The two elders did not want to watch others' faces, so they stayed in the Old Residence when the family split, not going with anyone.
The three sons all built houses in the village, and they already had quite a few great-grandsons.
No matter what delicious food the three households usually made, they would send a portion to the Old Residence.
The old couple's life was envied in the Production Brigade.
Although they didn't enjoy great fortune, having food to eat and a place to live was much better than those who starved or froze to death.
Lin Tang recalled this as she walked.
As soon as she reached her home's entrance, before she could even knock, the door suddenly opened with a 'swish,' and she was pulled inside by Zhou Mei.
"Younger Sister, hurry up! Your nephew and niece are hungry. Let's eat quickly."
The attraction of pork was too great.
So much so that she automatically ignored the two apples in Lin Tang's hand.
Lin Tang was dragged to the Kitchen, and everyone was seated.
Seeing her, even the head of the household, Lin Lu, who always maintained a dignified and authoritative image, seemed a bit excited.
They could finally eat.
The younger ones clapped their hands and cheered softly.
"Ooh-ooh, we get to eat meat!"
"Meat, meat!!"
"Eat... now!!" This was Niu Niu; she meant to say 'eat meat,' but in her excitement, she said 'eat now.'
Everyone burst into loud laughter at the sound of it.
The Lin Family was eating late today, but not a single person was unhappy.
Both the old and the young were extremely expectant.
That was just how things were in this era; people didn't have grand desires. They were happy as long as they could eat their fill.
Li Xiuli said with a smile, "Everyone sit properly quickly, Grandma will portion out the meat for you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the children immediately sat up straight, looking eagerly at their grandmother.
The Wild Chicken Lin Tang caught was plump, and there was quite a bit of meat. Coupled with the many Potatoes, the portion looked substantial.
Li Xiuli began distributing the meat one spoonful at a time—
The one in charge, Lin Lu, and the three sons received slightly more.
Lin Tang also got a good amount, while the wives and the younger ones each got a few pieces.
By the time it got to her, only one spoonful of Potato was left, and not much meat remained.
Lin Tang noticed, and the others saw it too.
And so—
Unanimously, Lin Lu, the three sons, and Lin Tang all simultaneously picked up a piece of meat and placed it into Li Xiuli's bowl.
"Old Lady, you eat too. Everyone has some; how can you not eat?" Lin Lu's thin face wrinkled slightly.
"Yes, Mother. If you don't eat, doesn't that make us brothers look bad?"
"Right, right. Even if we don't eat, we must show filial piety to our old mother!"
After the Lin family's three brothers spoke, Lin Tang also said:
"What my father and brothers said is right, Mother, you must eat too! I have plenty of meat!"
Li Xiuli didn't pay attention for a moment, and several pieces of meat appeared in her bowl. Her heart warmed, and her eyes grew a little moist.
The hardships etched on her face were washed away by her smile.
What does a person live for in this life? Isn't it just to have a confidant and children who are filial?
The one in charge was so considerate, and her children were so filial.
Her efforts hadn't been in vain.
Li Xiuli swallowed the emotion that was rising in her throat and first looked at Lin Tang, saying:
"Silly Daughter, you eat it yourself. These Potatoes are delicious too; they taste like meat. I love this flavor."
Things were much better now compared to two years ago.
Although it was still hard to eat one's fill, there was water in the river.
The Grain in the fields could grow, and people wouldn't starve to death in the end.
After speaking, she looked at her three sons, and her words became less gentle.
"You all eat yours. I'm an old woman; I know how to feed myself.
If you're not enthusiastic about eating meat, there's something wrong with your brains. How did I give birth to you Blockheads?"
The three Blockheads: "..." What did they say?
Zhou Mei happily took a bite of meat, swallowed it in two or three mouthfuls, her mouth greasy.
"Mother is right. If you're not enthusiastic about eating meat, there's something wrong with your brain. My brain is very smart."
She was the most enthusiastic about eating meat!
Li Xiuli: "..." What kind of thick-skinned person was this?
She probably couldn't be pierced even by swords and blades!
Ignoring this simple-minded daughter-in-law, Li Xiuli said, "Alright, hurry up and eat!"
The little ones happily bit into the meat, their eyes shining brightly.
They buried their little faces in their bowls, eating quickly.
Wuwuwu, the meat was too delicious!!
Time flew by, and a week passed.
Li Xiuli lifted Lin Tang's house arrest.
The little tail following behind her finally stopped trailing her constantly.
It turned out that—
Although Lin Tang claimed she found the Wild Chicken and Rabbit at the foot of the mountain, Li Xiuli didn't say anything outwardly, but she didn't entirely believe it in her heart.
Therefore, she specifically called Gou Dan over and told him to keep an eye on Lin Tang.
Afterward, she repeatedly warned him several times, firmly forbidding her from going up the mountain again.
This situation only eased up after the injury on the back of Lin Tang's head was completely fine, lifting her house arrest.
Everyone in the village had to rely on Work points to live; even the children went to the fields to pull weeds.
They only hoped that when the harvest came, their families would have more food.
On this day.
Gou Dan saw that the cloth on his Little Aunt's head had been removed.
After asking his Grandma and receiving a definite answer, he stopped following Lin Tang.
Lin Tang had rested for so long that the injury on the back of her head had almost healed.
Li Xiuli was worried and insisted she rest for a few more days.
Once her body recovered, it was time for Lin Tang to go to the Fields to earn Work points.
Earning Work points, she wasn't afraid of that.
However, she was unwilling to.
She knew clearly that even if she earned the maximum Work points every day, she could only manage to feel about seventy percent full at best.
More things, like sugar, Eggs, Pork... were things she couldn't even dream of eating.
As for New clothes, a Bicycle, and similar items, those were completely out of the question.
Many years later, people who ran businesses would be looked up to.
But now, everyone took pride in eating Public Sector Meals.
As long as one had a Formal Worker status, receiving a Salary and ration tickets every month without having to Work in the Fields, who wouldn't want to be a Worker?
Lin Tang planned to go to the County tomorrow to take a look; she wasn't expecting to find a Job immediately.
At least she needed to scout things out first.
She needed to find a Job so she could take out the good things in the System Space.
Lin Tang opened the System Panel, and a transparent virtual panel appeared before her.
【Name: Lin Tang】
【Gender: Female】
【Age: 16 years old】
【Points: 39】
【System Space Contents: Two catties of Pork, one packet of Dried Noodles, three Toothbrushes, one box of Malted Milk Food, one catty of Eggs】