Chapter 42
◎ The kitchen is hot enough to light a fire.
At around seven o'clock in the evening, Bei Bitang put half of the pot of
The kitchen is hot enough to light a fire.
Around seven in the evening, Bei Bitang brought a half-cooked pot of rice with pickled duck and vegetables to the table. The pickled duck in the rice was the same dried pickled duck she'd bought last time. The last bit was perfect for the rice.
Lin Bilan was the first to scoop up the rice. She picked at the rice with her iron spoon and looked at Bei Bitang, who was sitting on a chair with her eyes downcast. She smiled and said, "Little sister, Shanghai's feng shui is very beneficial. How long have you been back? You've become even more beautiful."
Then, she looked at Miao Xiuxiu again, seeking approval, and said, "Mom, don't you agree?"
Miao Xiuxiu raised her head, glanced into Lin Bilan's eyes, and said calmly, "Pretty? What's the use? You might as well ask her to pay more attention and see if she can find a job with a higher salary."
Lin Bilan smiled awkwardly, put down the iron spoon, picked up the carefully selected rice porridge, and sat down.
Ever since the last precedent of not waiting for Huang Dashan was set, as long as Huang Dashan hadn't returned by the appointed time, Bei Bitang and the others would not have to wait for him and could eat first.
Bei Bitang and the others ate dinner quietly, with the only sound in the room being the occasional sound of someone coaxing the little one to eat.
Huang Dashan pushed open the curtain with his face and strode in. His footsteps were so heavy that the wooden boards trembled.
He threw the oil-paper bag in his hand onto the dining table with great courage, not caring whether it would hit people or dishes.
Then he whistled without saying anything and went to wash his hands.
No matter what Huang Dashan does, Miao Xiuxiu, his mother-in-law, is the first to respond.
Miao Xiuxiu quickly caught the oil-paper bag and opened it. The bag was half full of edamame, peanuts, lotus root slices, duck tongues, and chicken feet.
Bei Bitang could smell it from the side, a unique aroma of wine and sauce.
Miao Xiuxiu put her nose close to the oil-paper bag, sniffed it hard, and said in a very sure tone: "Uncle, this is the bad stuff you bought at Shao Wansheng. Uncle, you don't mind being tired. Shao Wansheng has to queue for a long time. Thanks to Uncle, we are in for a treat tonight."
Huang Dashan sat down, shaking off the water. He was delighted by Miao Xiuxiu's flattery and reciprocated with a smile, saying, "Mom, you have a really good nose. You'll know just by smelling it."
Miao Xiuxiu grinned and said, "Of course. I won't talk about those small shops in the corners. But I can definitely tell the difference between Lao Renhe's, Shao Wansheng's, Wang Baohe's, and Lao Banzhai's."
The little boy has sharp ears and only knows that there is something delicious. He put his hands on the table and tried to grab the oil-paper bag.
Lin Bilan grabbed his hand, pushed him back into the chair, and said in a serious tone: "Children can't eat it. Just eat the soaked rice."
Huang Dashan said nonchalantly, "Let the little brat eat a few peanuts, it's okay."
Normally, Miao Xiuxiu and Lin Bilan care a lot about the little one, but occasionally Huang Dashan gets the urge to talk about his experience in raising children.
In the eyes of Miao Xiuxiu and Lin Bilan, Huang Dashan seemed to be a nationally famous parenting hero mother, and they all did as she said.
Lin Bilan immediately put a few pickled peanuts into the little boy's bowl.
Miao Xiuxiu said, "It's okay to be drunk, life shouldn't be miserable. Uncle let the little brat eat some pickled peanuts, it's also for the good intention of the little brat. Uncle is really a good father."
I saw the little boy was about to scoop up the peanuts with a spoon and put them into his mouth.
Bei Bitang tried to hold it in, but then couldn't help saying, "Brother-in-law, if a child drinks something containing alcohol, he won't grow taller and will become dumber. Don't you want your little one to go to college in the future?"
Isn't this a curse on the little brat?
Lin Bilan, the little boy's mother, was furious. She glared at Bei Bitang and shouted, "Little sister, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
Bei Bitang's face remained calm. She said steadily, "I'm not talking nonsense. You've forgotten that Uncle Fan from the alley up ahead drank industrial alcohol and became stupid. His family thought he was a burden and wanted to send him to 600 Wanping South Road."
Lin Bilan's face changed drastically, and her voice became weaker. She said, "How much wine did Uncle Fan drink? We little brats just ate a few peanuts soaked in rice wine dregs."
Bei Bitang said calmly: "That's why I said to become stupid and go to college."
She muttered to herself, "I didn't say the little brat would become a fool like Uncle Fan. And how old is he? He can't even walk steadily, and eating peanuts can easily cause him to choke."
In the northwest, a child of an educated youth choked on a boiled peanut fed to him by an unreliable adult. A nearby barefoot doctor, who had just gone to the city for further training and learned all sorts of things about seaweed and first aid, lived next door to the educated youth. It was a blessing in disguise.
Huang Dashan said calmly, "My little sister hasn't even become a mother yet, so she has her own ideas about how to raise a child."
Bei Bitang pretended not to hear this. She just felt sorry for the little boy, who had an unreliable father like Huang Dashan, and a mother and grandmother who had no principles when it came to Huang Dashan.
Miao Xiuxiu glanced at Huang Dashan hesitantly and whispered, "Then the little brat won't eat these pickled peanuts. He still needs to go to college in the future to make his uncle proud."
Huang Dashan peeled the edamame and put it into his mouth without saying a word.
Lin Bilan quickly picked out the pickled peanuts from the little boy's bowl, and the little boy was very angry.
Huang Dashan reached out to grab the beer on the cabinet, which he had asked Miao Xiuxiu to bring back a few days ago.
It was a rare occasion for him to do something himself, so he poured himself a large bowl and drank most of it in one breath.
Bei Bitang picked up a piece of pickled lotus root, and Lin Bilan said, "My little sister usually doesn't eat this or that, it's rare to see her eat something brought back from the mountains."
Bei Bitang couldn't help but pursed her lips, but didn't say anything and took a bite of the pickled lotus root.
It’s the taste of Shanghai summer.
Huang Dashan was chewing a chicken foot, spitting out the bone, and said, "Mom, I have something good to tell you."
Hearing this, Miao Xiuxiu laughed so hard that her eyes and teeth were not visible. She quickly said, "What's the matter? Uncle?"
Huang Dashan said with a smile: "It's so hot, and Mom is stuck in the house. She can't go out, and no one comes to chat with her or play cards. Mom is so bored. I am filial, so I spent a lot of effort to find a TV ticket and plan to buy a TV for Mom to entertain herself."
He paused, took a sip of beer, and continued, "The large, color ones are too expensive for a family like us. Nine inches is too small and bad for Mom's eyes. I figured I'd buy a 12-inch black and white one for four hundred yuan."
Lin Bilan winked and tried to signal Huang Dashan. Seeing that Huang Dashan seemed to be saying that the TV would be moved back tomorrow, she gritted her teeth and gently kicked Huang Dashan under the table, kicking the chair he was sitting on.
400 yuan! How could the couple have so much money? This would definitely empty their coffers.
She also wanted a TV, but it wasn't worth it.
We only have a few days off each month, and we have to work three shifts during the week. Even on vacation, there are still chores to deal with. I also heard that the factory is buying a few TVs to put in the workers' activity room, so there's no need to buy one for our family.
Miao Xiuxiu seemed oblivious to Lin Bilan's expression and hesitated. How much money could her son-in-law have in his pocket? He wouldn't let her pay for the TV, would he?
Although Miao Xiuxiu usually acts like Huang Dashan is her greatest source of confidence, she becomes insecure when it comes to real money.
Lin Bilan said loudly, "I don't agree. Dashan, don't be so crazy! The little brat will need money a lot in the future. Mom is in such good health, and she will be waiting for the little brat's filial piety in the future."
Miao Xiuxiu whispered, "Son-in-law, this TV is too expensive..."
All this seemed to have nothing to do with Bei Bitang. She lowered her eyes, smiled at the little boy, and comforted him.
Huang Dashan snorted coldly and said, "I have to buy this TV! I've already said it, and I've even paid a big price for the TV and plane tickets."
Lin Bilan glared at him and said, "Just say I don't agree! Don't take the TV tickets or the plane tickets. Just thank them politely. For people like us, face is worthless. We should bow our heads when we have to!"
Bei Bitang paused with the chopsticks in her hand, her expression changing slightly.
Miao Xiuxiu shook her head, also expressing her attitude, and said, "Son-in-law, I don't want this TV."
Huang Dashan said with a relaxed expression, "Mom, wife, why are you so anxious? It's not like we don't have money at home."
Lin Bilan and Miao Xiuxiu looked at each other with puzzled expressions.
Huang Dashan turned to look at Bei Bitang and said with a playful smile, "Little sister, four hundred yuan is nothing to you, right? Out of a thousand yuan, your brother-in-law only asked you to give four hundred yuan to show filial piety to Mom. You can enjoy the TV after we buy it."
Bei Bitang raised her head, her brows cold, and she said in a cold voice: "Brother-in-law, what do you mean by this?"
Huang Dashan put away his smile and said in a deep voice: "What I mean is, little sister, I know you have a thousand yuan, maybe even more!"
Miao Xiuxiu and Lin Bilan were both confused.
But one thousand yuan! Lin Bilan widened her eyes and asked in disbelief: "Dashan, are you telling the truth? I really have one thousand yuan?!"
Huang Dashan nodded and said, "Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"
Bei Bitang sneered as she said sarcastically, "Brother-in-law is incredibly well-informed. The wharf is the farthest from the small vegetable market, yet you found out about this on the same day. Not only that, you even had time to go to Nanjing East Road to buy some fermented meat!"
Home and the textile factory are much closer to the small vegetable market. Miao Xiuxiu and Lin Bilan don’t know about it, but Huang Dashan knows it, which shows how leisurely his work is.
Thinking of Wei Bili's ten kilograms of cotton, Lin Bilan's eyes suddenly turned red. She said in a teasing tone, "Okay, little sister, you have so much money in your hands, but you secretly hid it and didn't tell us, and only gave it to Bili!"
"I've been working my ass off taking over Mom's job! I don't keep a cent of my salary, I have to give it all to Mom. It's not fair!"
After saying that, Lin Bilan looked at Miao Xiuxiu with red eyes, wanting her to seek justice.
Bei Bitang listened and watched, her heart calmed down. She herself found it incredible that Huang Dashan and Lin Bilan were like this, and she was not angry?
Bei Bitang sneered and said firmly, "Big Sister, you think it's unfair? Well, Big Sister has been taking Mom's place for almost ten years now. Second Sister and I haven't done it for a single day. So why don't we rotate among the three sisters? Now it's my and Second Sister's turn to go to the textile factory."
Lin Bilan was so angry at Bei Bitang's words that her chest heaved violently.
Bei Bitang continued, "As for handing over all your wages? Big Sister, you haven't paid anything to Mom since I returned to the city, right?"
Lin Bilan blurted out, "How do you know?"
Bei Bitang's face was full of sarcasm. She said coldly, "I have eyes to see!"
Just because she doesn't say it openly doesn't mean she is a confused person.
After Bei Bitang returned to Shanghai, she paid for almost all the household necessities to make sure Lin Bilan and the others didn't dislike her. This made Lin Bilan think about not paying the household allowance anymore.
As for other miscellaneous expenses, only Miao Xiuxiu's pension can cover them.
Lin Bilan said that Dashan also meant the same thing, so Miao Xiuxiu agreed.
Lin Bilan was timid. She stammered, "Then you can't hide it from us, little sister. You can't tell us a word and make us think you have no money."
Bei Bitang's eyes were cold as she said, "Mom, Big Sister, and Big Brother-in-law, tell me how much money you have."
The room was silent, there was no way to respond.
Huang Dashan was the first to break the silence. He said, "Little sister, let's not talk about anything else for now. Let's just talk about this TV. You can't let your brother-in-law work for nothing, right?"
Bei Bitang snorted coldly, threw down her bowl and chopsticks heavily, and said nothing. She stood up and walked into the inner room, lowering the curtain to block the view of Miao Xiuxiu and the others.
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