Mi Laidi placed a piece of eggplant into Mi Duoduo’s bowl. “Take your time. Eat it with the flatbread.”
Mi Jianye also muttered quietly, “Eat up. The more you eat, the faster you’ll recover. After you finish, I’ll figure out a way to buy some eggs.”
He picked up a flatbread himself and took a big bite with the eggplant. The dry, hard bread crunched loudly as he chewed.
Looking at the steamed egg custard in front of her, Mi Duoduo felt a pang of sadness.
In these times, eggs were precious. It was rare for the family to have them—not because they couldn’t afford them, but because egg coupons were so limited. Even with money, you couldn’t buy them without coupons. Occasionally, they would secretly trade for a few eggs with familiar families in the countryside. If that didn’t work, they’d have to try their luck on the black market. None of these options were easy. She knew very well that these eggs were compensation from the Zhao family, and the thought made her feel even worse.
She scooped a spoonful of the egg custard and held it to Mi Laidi’s mouth. “Big sister, you have a bite first.”
Mi Laidi smiled and dodged. “I don’t like this. You eat it. It’s good for your brain.”
Mi Duoduo then turned the spoon toward Xiao Sheng. Xiao Sheng shook his head earnestly. “I won’t eat it. Second sister, you eat it. Big sister and I steamed this especially for you, and we used two eggs!”
Mi Duoduo’s nose tingled with emotion. She stopped insisting and began eating slowly, taking small bites.
The smooth, tender egg custard carried a faint savory aroma—a rare delicacy in these times.
As she ate, she listened to her family chatting—her father talked about the machinery at the factory breaking down again, her eldest brother mentioned who was slacking off the most in the workshop, her eldest sister complained that the soy sauce at the Gongxiao She had gone up by two cents, and Xiao Sheng brought up how Mi Duoduo had borrowed a headscarf earlier that day.
Mi Duoduo just kept her head down, slowly sipping her porridge, occasionally responding softly when asked.
She picked up a piece of mixed-grain flatbread and took a bite. The coarse texture scratched her throat, so she washed it down slowly with corn porridge. After eating less than half, she put it back in the basket, took a couple of bites of eggplant, and reluctantly finished the porridge in her bowl.
After the meal, Mi Duoduo was persuaded to go back to bed and rest.
While her eldest sister was clearing the table, Mi Mancang quietly slipped in and pressed two bills and some grain coupons into her hand. “Duoduo, take these. Buy something good to eat and build up your strength.” It was two yuan and two one-jin grain coupons.
Mi Duoduo’s heart tightened. She knew her eldest brother did physical labor and had a bigger appetite than anyone else. These two jin of grain coupons—who knew how many meals he had to skip to save them up.
“Brother, I’ll take the money, but you keep the grain coupons. How will you work if you don’t eat enough?”
Mi Mancang pressed the grain coupons firmly into her hand. “Just take them. I can eat with Mom and Dad at the factory. I won’t go hungry.” Without another word, he turned and left.
Mi Duoduo couldn’t argue, so in the end, she accepted the two yuan and the two jin of grain coupons.
Not long after, Mi Laidi came in after washing the dishes. She pulled a greased paper packet from her cloth bag and opened it to reveal half a packet of crushed walnut cookies. “Duoduo, take these. I bought them today. The crushed ones are cheaper. When big sister earns more money, I’ll buy you whole ones.”
Just then, Mi Jianye walked in, holding ten yuan in his hand. “Laidi, you’re on the late shift tomorrow. Take Duoduo to the hospital to change her bandages, then bring her back. It shouldn’t interfere with your work.”
Mi Laidi worked at the Chengguan Gongxiao She. Her shifts were usually flexible, but during the busy farming season, they were divided into early and late shifts—the early shift opened at six in the morning and ended around four or five in the afternoon, while the late shift started at nine in the morning and lasted until the store closed at eight in the evening. She replied, “Understood, Dad.”
Just then, Xiao Fu's voice suddenly rang in Mi Duoduo's mind: "Host, your wound has almost healed thanks to the Fuyuan Pill. If the doctor from last time sees it at the hospital, you'll definitely be exposed!"
Mi Duoduo's heart stirred, and she quickly said to Mi Jianye: "Dad, I think my wound is much better. There's no need to go to the hospital tomorrow. Let Xiao Sheng accompany me to Dawang Village to have Doctor Wang change the dressing. By the way, I also want to see if I can exchange for some eggs—let Xiao Sheng have a few too. Look at Xiao Shun, he's about the same age but almost a head taller."
Fangzhichang Jia Shu Yuan was close to Dawang Village. Most residents preferred going to Doctor Wang in Dawang Village rather than the county hospital, as it was both cheaper and more convenient.
Doctor Wang held consultations right in his own home. No matter when you went, he was usually there, making it far more convenient than the hospital.
Mi Jianye frowned: "You're still injured. Can you walk that far?"
"Yes!" Mi Duoduo nodded, her tone firm.
"Alright then." Mi Jianye turned to fetch some money. "I'll get you some small change."
Mi Duoduo hurriedly asked Xiao Fu in her mind: "Xiao Fu, can you duplicate Dad's money? Will the duplicated money be real?"
"Host, both money and coupons can be duplicated. What's duplicated is the amount. The money and coupons the System provides to the host are all genuine, with clean sources—either unclaimed or taken from bad people. You can use them with confidence. However, you must touch Dad to duplicate them."
"Good. When he brings the money later, I'll touch him and duplicate it."
Soon, Mi Jianye returned with a stack of small change—one-yuan bills, fifty-cent notes, twenty-cent notes, ten-cent notes, and even a few cents, adding up to quite a sum. "Take it, and don't lose it."
"Don't worry, Dad. I've been to Dawang Village with Mom several times. I know the way well." As Mi Duoduo took the money, she deliberately let her fingertips lightly brush his hand.
Almost simultaneously, Xiao Fu's voice rang out: "Ding! Host has successfully duplicated Mi Jianye's money: 792.85 yuan, stored in the System Space. Host's second successful duplication rewarded with 8 Integral Points! Host's Duplication Points are zero, Integral Points are 18."
Mi Duoduo felt a surge of joy and asked again: "Xiao Fu, can Integral Points be exchanged for Duplication Points? Exchange two first. I want to duplicate Dad's grain and meat coupons."
"Okay, host. 2 Duplication Points have been exchanged. Current remaining Duplication Points: 2, Integral Points: 16."
"Xiao Fu, do you know how many meat coupons Dad has?"
"Host, you need to touch him to find out."
Mi Duoduo nodded, forming a plan in her mind: I'll check Dad's grain and meat coupons first. If there are too few, I won't duplicate them for now.
She slowly walked to her parents' room. Mi Jianye was leaning against the headboard reading a newspaper, the dim yellow light illuminating the white hairs at his temples, making him look much older than his actual age.
Mi Duoduo walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently leaned against his leg, her voice soft: "Dad, tonight, big brother insisted on giving me two yuan and two jin of grain coupons."
Mi Jianye put down the newspaper and patted her shoulder gently: "If your brother gives it to you, just take it. He feels guilty for being too impulsive and causing you to get hurt and suffer."
"I know, but if he gives me his grain coupons, what will he eat?" Mi Duoduo handed over the grain coupons. "He does heavy labor. He can't work if he's hungry."
As she spoke, she urged Xiao Fu in her mind: "Xiao Fu, how many grain and meat coupons does my dad have?"
Xiao Fu's voice immediately sounded: "Host, your father has 97 jin of grain coupons and four jin three liang of meat coupons."
"Xiao Fu, duplicate the grain coupons and meat coupons," Mi Duoduo silently thought to herself.
Mi Jianye sighed: "These past few days during meals, I've tried to eat with your brother as much as possible, so he won't go hungry. He should learn a lesson too—being so grown up yet still so impulsive."
"Mm, then you rest up, I'm heading back."
"Don't move around too much, lie down more," Mi Jianye reminded.
"Got it, Dad."
Mi Duoduo walked out of the room and hurriedly asked in her mind: "Xiao Fu, was the duplication successful?"
"Host, successfully duplicated Mi Jianye's grain coupons with a face value of 97 jin, already stored in the System Space. Host's third successful duplication, reward of 5 Integral Points."
"Host, successfully duplicated Mi Jianye's meat coupons with a face value of four jin three liang, reward of 0 Integral Points. Host's Duplication Points: 0, Integral Points: 21."
Mi Duoduo was taken aback: "Why are the rewarded Integral Points getting fewer and fewer?"
"Host, the first three times were beginner rewards, 10 Integral Points, 8 Integral Points, and 5 Integral Points respectively. From now on, it will be calculated based on the value of the materials—the higher the value, the more Integral Points; the lower the value, the fewer the points. Duplicating money coupons does not reward Integral Points," Xiao Fu explained.
Mi Duoduo nodded, silently calculating in her mind—with these money coupons, at least in the short term, the family won't have to worry about food and drink.