NOVPUB
Chapter 360: Chapter 350 Daily Life
"Sister-in-law, Brother Chen hasn’t come back yet?" Shen Yunfang didn’t see Chen Jing and knew he might have gone to the train station for manual labor again.
This kind of work purely relies on physical strength, it’s a young man’s game, doing too much is bad for the health, Shen Yunfang really wanted to persuade Ma Huilan to stop letting Brother Chen do it, it may look like making more money now, but it’s damaging to the body, and when they get old, they’ll suffer.
But for the sake of living, she had no better solution, so it was difficult to say such things. Sigh, we’ll see in the future, if there’s a chance, she’ll help the couple out. During the few months of getting along, she found that Chen Cheng’s family were all good people.
Chen Cheng was the type with a straightforward nature, who didn’t like to beat around the bush, always direct in his dealings, whether it was work or anything else, he never cut corners or played tricks. Analyzing the situation, Shen Yunfang concluded that such a person might find it difficult to start his own business, but he was an excellent subordinate; whatever task was given to him, he would complete it with both quality and efficiency. His wife Ma Huilan was held back by a lame leg, otherwise, she might be even stronger than Chen Cheng. Not to mention other things, Shen Yunfang saw that Ma Huilan had a good disposition, usually gentle and demure, capable of enduring hardships, efficient in her work, and most importantly, skillful with her hands.
Her own daughter Manman was now wearing a little skirt made by Ma Huilan, of course, the fabric was bought by Shen Yunfang, and she provided the design too, but Ma Huilan handmade it.
The result was, every time Shen Yunfang carried Manman back home, they would receive attention from the neighboring sisters and aunties, either complimenting the child’s good looks or praising the beauty of the clothes, which spoke volumes of Ma Huilan’s craftsmanship.
"He, oh, there’s no telling with him, don’t worry about him," Ma Huilan was in front of a large iron pot, sticking cornmeal pancakes to the pot, "It so happens I made cabbage stew with potatoes. Your Brother Chen doesn’t know when he’ll be back, so you guys should eat here tonight."
Since Shen Yunfang sent her child to the Chen Family every day, and also because Shen Yunfang had less rest time at noon, they three mothers and daughters would have lunch at the Chen Family’s place. Naturally, Shen Yunfang also contributed to Chen Family, paying everything from money to goods; the monthly fee went from ten to fifteen, and she would also bring over some rice, flour, vegetables, eggs, meat, and such from time to time, so it could be said she never took advantage of the Chen Family, rather, she silently helped them out in secret.
Although Chen Jing always did manual labor, they barely had meat once a month. Since Shen Yunfang started having lunch at their house, almost every week she would bring meat twice and cook for everyone to eat together.
Chen Jing and Ma Huilan initially refused, reasoning that they were supposed to help friends look after children without charge, but due to poor family conditions, they had no choice but to accept the money. However, now it was clear that their sister-in-law meant to support them with food; how could they accept it? But Shen Yunfang wouldn’t listen to them; adults could eat less or go without, but not children. Children were growing, and if they didn’t eat well, even good children could end up stunted.
Seeing their own son grinning happily while eating meat, Chen Jing and Ma Huilan ultimately compromised, but they kept this kindness firmly in their hearts.
"Alright, it so happens that this morning I also braised some quail eggs, they should be marinated enough by now, I’ll go back and bring some over, Chen Cheng really enjoys them," Shen Yunfang didn’t stand on ceremony, she was like family to them.
"Oh dear, don’t bother, save them for Pangpang to eat. Our rascal likes everything, we can’t spoil him," Ma Huilan, seeing Shen Yunfang actually walking away, hurriedly called out.
"That won’t do, if there’s food at home, you should let the child eat to his fill," Shen Yunfang said nonchalantly, waving her hand as she went home to fetch the quail eggs.
Originally, Qiu Shuping had ravaged her quail farm once, reducing over five hundred to less than seventy. Later, Li Hongjun, to make up to his wife, began hatching quail eggs by himself and expanded the flock back to five hundred.
When Shen Yunfang came to this place for university, she intended to bring the quails along if she rented a place outside, so the child could eat quail eggs every day.
The plan was good, but the reality did not allow it. The house was only the size of a palm, and the kitchen was squeezed outside, leaving no room to raise quails. Of course, she could not understand how those families of three generations could live inside a house less than twenty square meters.
In the end, the quails were not brought over, but Li Hongjun took over her breeding work, diligently tending to the quails thrice daily, all to ensure that they would lay eggs so the child and his wife could get nutritional supplements.
Li Hongjun did something better than Shen Yunfang: unlike her, who would raise five hundred quails for months without having the heart to butcher them for meat when they grew old,
he made a deal with a military wife in the housing area to buy thirty quails every week for ten cents, which meant he would slaughter thirty old quails and, along with the week’s quail eggs, bring them to his wife and children to feast on.
Of course, Shen Yunfang and her two children couldn’t eat all those quail eggs, so she would occasionally bring some eggs or quails to the Chen Family to enjoy together.
When Yunfang returned home, she brought the plates of marinated quail eggs to the Chen Family. Upon entering, she saw Chen Jing already home, chatting intermittently with Manman on the bed, naturally speaking past each other.
After the meal was ready, Chen Jing stood at the courtyard gate and called out, "Chen Cheng, come home for dinner."
In no time, Chen Cheng came running home, holding Pangpang in his arms.
"Mom, what’s for dinner?" Chen Cheng hadn’t even entered the house when he started thinking about food.
"Go on, you go wash up first, look how dirty you are. You need to wash your hands and face before you can come to the table," Ma Huilan said with disdain, looking at her son covered in dirt.
Pangpang, the little friend, was already skilled at reading the room and had found his own mother to get cleaned up.
Finally, from oldest to youngest, the three little ones lined up at the dinner table, tossing quail eggs into their mouths.
"Take it easy. Eat your meal first, then the quail eggs." Ma Huilan smacked her own son, knowing he liked to eat but disapproving of his method; he didn’t even peel them and just kept eating one after another non-stop.
Chen Cheng, seizing the moment his mother wasn’t paying attention, grabbed several quail eggs from the bowl and stealthily stuffed them into his mouth.
Shen Yunfang couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing how much the child enjoyed eating.
It was she who had told Chen Cheng not to peel the quail eggs, claiming that the skin was nutritious, helpful for digestion, and beneficial for absorbing nutrients.
Chen Cheng didn’t understand all this, but he asked his aunt, "Does eating them like this help me grow taller?" Upon receiving an affirmative answer from her, he started eating quail eggs without peeling them. At first, it felt odd, clicking uncomfortably in his mouth, but as he continued, they became crunchier and more flavorful, and he grew to like eating them that way.
Pangpang wanted to follow his brother’s lead, but his teeth weren’t strong enough yet, so he eventually had to settle for the peeled ones his mother offered.
"Sister-in-law, Li Hongjun said he’s planning to take the kids to the park on Sunday. Do you guys have time? We should all go together," Shuping mentioned.
