When the family returned home, Grandma Lu had already finished cooking dinner.
Meanwhile, next door at Grandma Jiu’s house, dinner was also ready. Apparently, they were eating meat today, because the faint aroma drifted straight into Lu Yuning’s family courtyard the moment they entered.
Lu Yuning: …
As expected of the female lead. She could even eat meat at a time like this. Impressive.
Sure enough, Lu Yuqing asked Grandma Lu in confusion, “Grandma, Grandma Jiu’s family is eating meat?”
No way, right?
With Grandma Jiu’s personality, after having paid Third Grandma twenty yuan at noon, would she really be willing to spend money buying meat?
Since Hong’an Production Team had its own farm and livestock breeding grounds, buying meat was relatively easier here compared to other places.
But most of the commune members could barely fill their stomachs. Who would be willing to spend money on meat?
Besides, life was finally beginning to improve this year. Shouldn’t they hurry and save money to build houses and arrange marriages for the younger generation instead of spending it all on food and drink?
That simply wasn’t how proper people managed their households!
Grandma Lu sneered. “Bought? Not at all. Their little lucky treasure picked it up at the foot of the mountain.”
Honestly, it really was rather strange.
Hong’an Production Team had several mountains, though they were only hills rather than deep wilderness. Of course, there were pine nuts, hazelnuts, and things like that, and some people had even found ginseng before.
But truthfully, there had never been anyone like the Fubao from Ninth Sister-in-law’s family, who seemed to pick up something good every single time she went out.
Jiu Sao believed it was Heaven bestowing blessings upon them.
But Grandma Lu felt that Heaven was digging them a pit instead.
—How could there really be such a thing as free pies falling from the sky?
Even if there were, it would definitely require sacrificing future blessings in return!
Otherwise, everyone in the world would’ve become rich and turned into lucky children long ago!
In any case, Grandma Lu found this so-called “good luck” abnormal. The more she thought about it, the more frightening it felt.
But Ninth Branch’s family enjoyed it themselves.
Even though she was their neighboring clanswoman and sister-in-law, she naturally couldn’t interfere or say too much.
Lu Yuqing instantly understood. Her brows shifted slightly as she smiled faintly. “No wonder. So it’s the neighboring family’s Fubao again.”
Lu Yuning felt that her eldest sister’s words carried a deeper meaning, but before she could figure it out, Lu Yuqing had already grabbed her in one swift motion and efficiently stripped her bare!
Lu Yuning: !!!
As Lu Yuqing pressed her straight into the wash bucket, she said, “Hurry and wash up. Yuming and the others will be back soon.”
Lu Yuning: …
Fine.
Being young really had its disadvantages. Sometimes even bathing wasn’t up to you!
Enduring Lu Yuqing’s quick yet forceful scrubbing from head to toe, Lu Yuning was cleaned spotless in barely ten minutes. Soon she was dressed in fresh clothes, her hair wrapped in a cotton towel, straw sandals on her feet, and carried by Grandma Lu into the dining room, where she was set properly atop a tall stool.
That tall stool had been specially made by Grandpa Lu for the children in the family.
From Eldest Cousin Lu Yuxin all the way down to the current Lu Yuning, every child had used it.
Mm, perhaps in the future even Fifth Cousin Lu Yuwei’s children would use it too.
As long as it didn’t break, the stool might very well continue being passed down for decades, truly witnessing the grand scene of five generations—and perhaps even six generations—living under one roof.
By then, this ordinary pinewood stool could probably be considered a “century-old antique.”
Thinking of that, Lu Yuning suddenly burst into laughter.
First Aunt Lu was carrying in a basin of food when she saw Lu Yuning sitting there giggling to herself. She couldn’t help laughing too. “Yuning, what are you laughing about?”
“Nothing, First Aunt. Do you need my help?”
“No need. You’ve already washed up, so just sit there. Food will be ready soon.”
There were several washrooms in the house. After all, the family had properly split households and divided the courtyard, and they had expanded the place several times over the years.
So after returning home, Grandpa Lu and the others all separated to wash up. Their heads and faces were covered in chaff and dust, and it was unbearably uncomfortable.
Lu Yuqing was the same. After helping Lu Yuning bathe, she cleaned herself up and came out to help. Then Eldest Aunt Lu, Second Aunt Lu, and Mother Lu all took turns washing up as well.
Only after Lu Yuming and the others returned did the whole family gather around the table to eat.
Smelling the aroma of meat drifting over from next door, Lu Yuting said gloomily, “If I’d known earlier, I would’ve gone with Second Brother and Little Brother to catch some sparrows.”
At least that would be better than eating pickled vegetables and greens while smelling someone else’s meat.
Grandma Lu: “…”
“Alright, there’ll be sugar-coated ciba to eat later. No need to envy other people.”
Lu Yuting’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really? Grandma, you’re not lying to me?”
Grandma Lu snapped irritably, “Why would I lie to you? Is there meat to eat, or money to earn?”
Lu Yuting immediately grinned foolishly and shoveled rice into his mouth, trying to finish as fast as possible.
Grandma Lu frowned. “Eat properly! Aren’t you afraid of choking? Why are you eating so fast? Nobody’s fighting you for it!”
“I want to eat sugar-coated ciba!”
Grandma Lu: “…”
This was exactly why having too many children was troublesome!
In the end, it was only after Mother Lu glared at Lu Yuting that he finally settled down.
Lu Yuning: “…”
She seemed to still have one piece of ciba left.
Mm, she’d better eat slowly later and definitely not too quickly!
Otherwise, she’d be the one drooling while watching everyone else eat.
Sigh, being a child was really difficult.
After dinner, Eldest Aunt Lu and the others divided the chores among themselves—washing dishes, tidying up, and hanging laundry to dry. Only then did the family sit under the corridor, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans and chatting.
The courtyard gate was left open, and some neighbors came over to visit.
Grandma Lu carried over a bowl of ciba and distributed pieces to everyone.
Naturally, the visitors wouldn’t eat any, nor would they even ask about it. Lu Yuning used a bamboo skewer to poke her piece and took tiny bites one at a time.
Father Lu saw this and burst out laughing. He didn’t like this kind of sticky, overly sweet food anyway, so he handed both of his pieces to Mother Lu and Lu Yuning.
“Yuning, you eat them.”
Lu Yuning frowned. “Dad, you’re not eating?”
Lu Yuqing also handed her ciba to her younger brother Lu Yuting and Lu Yuning. “Dad and I both don’t really like this stuff.”
Lu Yuning: “…”
Alright then, she wouldn’t stand on ceremony.
Sixth Cousin Lu Yuyang from Second Uncle Lu’s family didn’t like it either, but Second Aunt Lu did, so he simply gave all of his to his mother.
Lu Yubo thought it was just average. Ninth Cousin Lu Yufeng only ate one piece to have a taste, then gave the rest to Second Aunt Lu.
Lu Yuwei, Eldest Uncle Lu, and Seventh Cousin Lu Yujian didn’t like it either, so they each gave theirs to Grandma Lu, Eldest Aunt Lu, and Tenth Cousin Lu Yuhou.
Grandpa Lu also gave his portion to Grandma Lu.
“Once we harvest the grain from our private plot in a while, I’ll grind twenty jin of fine flour.”
The ciba made from that would be truly delicious.
Grandma Lu smiled. “Alright, then I’ll wait for you to make it for me.”
Grandpa Lu nodded. “Mm, and I’ll make some sesame balls too.”
Grandma Lu frowned. “Sesame balls only taste good when they’re deep-fried.”
“It’s fine. I’ll go to the livestock farm and get some chicken fat.”
That stuff was still fairly cheap.
After all, the chickens from the livestock farm supplied the town’s supply cooperative and state-owned restaurants, so plenty of chicken fat was scraped off every day.
As long as families had a bit of spare money, they’d usually buy some chicken fat from the farm to supplement their meals.
Although eating too much of it made people prone to internal heat, their family lacked oil and fat in their diet anyway. They only ate it occasionally for a short period, so there was no need to worry.
Grandma Lu naturally understood this, and after hearing Grandpa Lu say so, she smiled and nodded in agreement.
A glimmer flashed through Lu Yuning’s eyes. Judging from this, Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu really did have an exceptionally good relationship!
Over on the other side, Father Lu was also talking with Mother Lu.
“Once the busy farming season is over, I’m going to make a trip to Hongping Brigade. Several families there are preparing to build houses and arrange marriages. Fifth Brother already talked to me about it.”
“The Fifth Brother from Great Clan Uncle’s family?”
“Mm. Fifth Brother said this time they’ll be paying cash.”
The last two words were barely audible. If Lu Yuning hadn’t been sitting right beside them, she probably wouldn’t have heard it.
Lu Yuning: “…”
Who would’ve thought? Her dad was actually henpecked too!
Meanwhile, Lu Yuwei, Lu Yuyang, and Lu Yuqing were also chatting.
Lu Yuwei said, “I’m planning to try my luck at the steel factory in the city. There are too few positions at the town factories. I’m afraid I can’t compete with the town people.”
This year, several factories in town were recruiting temporary workers from rural households who had graduated from junior high school. But Lu Yuwei knew there were plenty of middle and high school graduates in town waiting for those jobs already. How could it possibly be their turn?
Back then, if Second Brother hadn’t apprenticed under a good master at the brigade’s mud-brick factory and been brought into town by him, he might not have been able to stay at the town’s brick factory.
As for Fourth Brother, it had been even more accidental. He had simply stumbled into good luck by helping an old lady in town. Who knew she turned out to be the mother of the furniture factory director? So in gratitude, they gave Lu Yusong a temporary worker position.
And Lu Yusong had seized that opportunity. He worked diligently and was eventually kept on by the furniture factory as a permanent worker.
He had even met Fourth Sister-in-law there, gotten married, and settled down in town.
Although his household registration issue still hadn’t been completely resolved, sooner or later Lu Yusong would have the chance to convert from rural to urban residency and become a true city resident!
In any case, his future looked bright.
Now it was Lu Yuwei and the others’ turn. They had also graduated from high school, but they didn’t dare take the college entrance exams.
Of course they wanted to attend university, but with the family’s financial situation, if they all went to school, the whole family would truly have to tighten their belts and go hungry just to support them.
How could they bear to do that?
Wasn’t Eldest Cousin Lu Yuxin the perfect example? He had first joined the army, then continued his studies in the military, attended military academy, earned promotions through merit, and eventually rose to deputy battalion commander.
Even Lu Yuxiu, Lu Yujun, and Lu Yusong had all worked while looking for opportunities to further their education through their workplaces. That was how they slowly improved their positions and salaries.
In any case, there were plenty of ways to continue studying and improving themselves. There was no need to push the entire family to the point of selling everything they owned.
Lu Yuqing still wanted to test for a teaching post at the town elementary school.
“I’ll try one more time. If I still can’t pass, then I’ll go to the provincial capital.”
Lu Yuwei raised a brow. “Alright. Your grades are better than ours anyway. Just be careful if you go.”
“Mm, don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
Lu Yuyang said, “I saw that the commune is recruiting clerks. I want to give it a try.”
Lu Yuwei frowned. “That’s not exactly an easy place to deal with.”
Lu Yuyang smiled. “Mm, I know. Fifth Brother, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Lu Yuqing rolled her eyes. “Fifth Brother, instead of worrying about Little Six, you should worry about the people who’ll end up working with him.”
Lu Yuyang looked refined and scholarly. No matter how much sun he got, he never tanned, and he was so skinny he looked like a bamboo pole.
But this guy’s schemes and calculations were absolutely terrifying. Ordinary people were no match for him.
Actually, even extraordinary people might not be his match.
Hearing Lu Yuqing’s words, Lu Yuyang merely smiled faintly, looking gentle and cultured.
“Thank you for the compliment, Second Sister.”
Lu Yuqing: “…”
Lu Yuning: “…”
Good lord!
So her cousin was actually that formidable?
Just as she was happily munching on her sugar-coated ciba while listening to her family chat casually, an earth-shattering burst of crying suddenly erupted from next door!
“Waaahhh—!”
Good heavens!
Lu Yuning jolted so hard from fright that she nearly dropped the ciba in her hand.
“Little Sister, are you alright?”
“Yuning, are you okay?”
Lu Yuqing and Mother Lu asked at the same time, both wearing identical expressions of concern.
Lu Yuning shook her head. “I’m fine. I was just startled.”
That really scared her to death!
What was going on next door now?
Wasn’t this supposed to be a pampered-darling Fubao novel? Why was there never a moment of peace?