The twins had eggs too, but this time they weren’t steamed eggs—they were hard-boiled.
The vegetables came from the batch they had traded for last time. Lin Zhi placed some in a basin, sprinkling a little water occasionally. When it was time to use them, she would swap in a fresh bunch from her grocery stock. The twins didn’t notice anything unusual.
She also prepared two cups of breakfast milk and didn’t wait for the twins—she started eating herself.
By the time the two brothers returned, each carrying a bundle of wild vegetables, Lin Zhi had already eaten and was sitting under the eaves, wondering whether she should have brought a reclining chair.
Thinking about the few coins left in her pocket, she felt anxious. In novels, people in the seventies could live on a few yuan per month. Why was it impossible for her?
She didn’t even have enough to buy a recliner. It was infuriating.
She briefly considered visiting the black market like the heroine did, but quickly gave up.
Unlike the heroine, who somehow always returned safely, Lin Zhi wasn’t that lucky. With her size, she couldn’t outrun anyone—not a red-uniformed guard, not even an ordinary starving person.
Since she wasn’t forced into that situation, she decided not to take the risk.
Next month, she would get another fifty yuan. She could endure until then.
Thinking that she only had to wait another half-month, Lin Zhi felt much better. She took the wild vegetables from the twins’ arms and waved for them to go inside and eat.
“We still have to feed the chickens!”
“You go eat. I’ll feed the chickens for you,” Lin Zhi said, nudging them inside.
He Ze took a couple of steps, then turned back, looking conflicted.
Lin Zhi didn’t understand why a little kid always had such an adult-like expression. She pinched his face. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
He Ze hesitated. “Today, when you feed the chickens, if they lay eggs, will the eggs still be ours?”
Lin Zhi hadn’t expected him to think of that. Her mouth twitched. “Do I look like someone that stingy?”
The twins exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.
Lin Zhi’s expression darkened. She gritted her teeth. “Don’t worry, the eggs are still yours.”
She lightly tapped the two boys’ heads and went to fetch the chopping knife.
Even without experience, she knew you couldn’t feed chickens wild vegetables directly—they had to be chopped.
“Big Aunt Liu said you can’t just feed chickens wild vegetables. You need to mix in some grains,” He Ze said quickly, afraid she wouldn’t understand.
Lin Zhi didn’t care how he had learned it—she just did as he said.
After feeding the chickens, the twins had finished their porridge. Each now held a tin cup in one hand and a hard-boiled egg in the other, eating happily.
Lin Zhi washed her hands, wiped her face with a wet towel, and, seeing them eat slowly—each egg taking more than two minutes—she prompted them.
“Eat quickly. Once you’re done, we’ll go to the village. We need to trade for more vegetables and get someone to make shoes for you.”
Their shoes were no longer wearable. One pair each wasn’t enough. She had to prepare extras, especially since the weather was getting hotter. She also planned to give them a few pairs of straw sandals.
He Ze looked down at his exposed toes. “We don’t have money, right? How will we trade?”
Lin Zhi held up the clothes she had prepared. “Trade with these.”
She had gathered many old clothes that weren’t being used. She planned to take them to the village to exchange.
Even if patched, the clothes could still be worn. Even if not, they could be turned into several pairs of shoes.
The old sheets she had collected were no longer for use, so she wouldn’t trade those. The clothes alone were sufficient.
“Will people really accept old clothes?” He Ze doubted her plan.
“Why wouldn’t they?” Lin Zhi put the clothes back and placed her hands on her hips. “The ones I brought can make at least seven or eight pairs of shoes. I only need four pairs. They’ll profit from it.”
Many elderly people in the village couldn’t work in the fields. Just a little effort would earn them a few pairs of shoes, which made them very happy.
He Ze didn’t know whether the villagers would agree, but since it was for making shoes for them, he didn’t hesitate. He finished his egg, drank his breakfast milk, and grabbed He Run to head out.
“Let’s go quickly. We need to hurry,” he said, kicking at stones along the way. He had thought they would have to wait for Dad to return to exchange shoes. He hadn’t expected her to take the initiative.
The vegetables they had traded for last time weren’t enough to last half a month, so Lin Zhi carried a basket out, intending to trade for more.
As they went out, they ran into Wen Xiuxiu, who was taking her kids to school. Lin Zhi glanced at her and noticed she looked unwell, with faint dark circles under her eyes.
Looking at the house behind Wen Xiuxiu, Lin Zhi pursed her lips. No wonder—they were neighbors.
The village was large, so when the houses were built, each yard had some distance between them. “Next door” was still three or four meters apart.
Conversations within the yard were inaudible at that distance. Only when someone spoke loudly could the voice carry over.
Lin Zhi didn’t intend to greet her. Proudly flicking her twin braids, she turned and walked away.
Once she was gone, Wen Xiuxiu was still fuming. What was that look just now?
Previously, Lin Zhi’s eyes had been full of envy and jealousy. Why did it suddenly change?
“Why aren’t you moving? We’re almost late!” Lin Weiqing tugged at her.
This stepmother didn’t seem to understand—they wanted to go to school, but she refused to leave.
Looking in the direction Lin Zhi had gone, he frowned, then turned to Wen Xiuxiu. “I heard you gave that pair of twins candy yesterday?”
“You were supposed to take care of them, and that’s how you do it? You didn’t even give it back to them, but gave it to someone else?”
Wen Xiuxiu’s brows furrowed. Very few knew about yesterday. How did Lin Weiqing find out?
Since there were many people around, she didn’t want a scene. She pacified him briefly and handed out one fen to each of the three siblings to settle the matter.
After eating full meals for several days, the twins had gained a lot of energy. They hadn’t stopped once from the housing compound to the village.
Under the large tree, the old lady immediately came forward.
“Comrade, you’re back to trade again? Did you finish the vegetables? That’s good. I still have plenty.”
Several elderly women were sitting under the tree. Seeing the twins come made them slightly excited. But when the old lady approached and heard their purpose, the excitement faded.
“Grandma, I didn’t come just to trade vegetables this time. I want to find someone to make a few pairs of shoes for the kids.”